– Little girls should start with smaller heels before they try on shoes for big girls. Marie said in a slightly overbearing tone of voice which brought laughter from those who heard her including mom and Aunt Helen. I clenched my teeth my cheeks taking on the colour of beetroots, knowing full well that I had to take their ridicule or face exposure.

– That was the second time we saved you from being found out. You owe us big time, sister. Hissed Lisa in my ear then we were going into the ferry terminal. All I dared to do was to nod in acknowledgment. This was not the time nor the place to make a scene. Even so I feared it was just a matter of time then someone did find out that the girl in the flowery dress was really a boy. Would mom, Aunt Helen or the twins come to my rescue or would they just leave me at the mercy of the wolfs.

The crew was making the boat ready to leave the harbour then mom finely got to the counter in order to have our tickets checked. After that we had more or less to run to the gangplank there a sturdy sailor helped us with our luggage.

– Hurry up ladies, hurry up. He grabbed me by the arm then I tripped on the last step. Im found out, Im found out I thought in absolute panic and fought to loosen his grip. The man let go of my arm mumbling something that he had just tried to be helpful.

The ferry wasnt large and we had to fight with other passengers to find seats. Finally we found some in a corner of the main saloon. The twins got some money to go and get us something to eat while mom, Aunt Helen and I got seated. Only then did I discover that my panties there wet as was the sock on my left foot. A quick look confirmed my worst nightmare, I had somehow wet myself, probably then I fell and the sailor grabbed me. I could not prevent myself from crying. Oh, God please take me away from here before mom sees what I have done.

– What is it girl? Mom said and shook me by the arm.

– Calm down or you will have everyone looking in our direction. Then mom saw what I was looking at.

– Oh, this is just too much, do I have to buy you diapers now on top of everything else.

– He has wet himself. Mom explained to Aunt Helen. Aunt Helen gave me an angry look and shook her head in disbelief.

– Oh, What a sissy you are, just because we put you in girls clothes you have to freak out like this. But just you wait till we get to the cottage, just you wait, I promise you it will be a long time before you will be able to sit down with any degree of comfort. Now you will have to sit there in shame till we can get of the ship.

Then the twins come back with a big tray laden with sandwiches, sodas and coffee mom immediately informed them about me.

– That was a brand new dress and now you have ruined it. Said Lisa with a hiss of undiluted anger.

– He will have to repay me, wont he mom.

– Yes of course dear. Said Aunt Helen.

– I am sorry I was so scared. Please dont put me in diapers. Just after my outburst did I notice a movement behind me. Turning around I saw it was the same girl I had first noticed then we got to the ferry terminus. She was looking at me with wide eyed amusement before she runs of to tell her mom, pointing in my direction the whole time. Several heads turned to watch me. I repeated my pray to God but nothing happened.