After a delightful Christmas breakfast of smoked salmon, scrambled egg, croissants and bucks fizz, Mark and his mother watched some festive TV shows until the early afternoon. “Right…” she said. “…shall start getting ready to visit the Robson’s?”
“We’re not due ’til three.” Mark said, glancing at the time.
“I know but you need a bath and a shave before you get dressed.” she told him. “When was the last time you shaved your legs?” she asked.
“The day before yesterday.”
“Oh well they should be OK.” she replied, suggesting a quick shower instead. “We’ve got your make-up to do remember and we don’t want to be late.”
“Do I have to wear make-up?” he frowned.
“You’re wearing a dress, so yes.” his mother stated.
Mark sighed before taking himself upstairs, grumbling “Why is she making me wear a dress today of all days?!” to no one but himself as he grabbed his bathrobe. He showered and shaved his face as closely as he dare before conditioning and rinsing his hair. On returning to his bedroom, Mark found the dress laid out on his bed, along with his new pair of festive tights and some ‘nice’ underwear.
His mother popped her head around the door. “I’ve put your vanity on the desk.” she told him. He responded with a blank expression. “Your new mirror.” she said in layman’s terms.
“Oh er… thanks.” he gulped, seeing the mirror and his new handbag on his desk. “Do I have to wear those undies?” he asked, turning his eyes back to his bed. The set she’d selected is one he’s hardly worn because it’s far too lacy; ivory lace boy shorts with a satin front panel and a matching vest with wide lace shoulder straps. A little lace trim he’s used to but lots of lace is something he’d rather avoid and apart from the stretchy satin front panels, this underwear set is all lace.
“Nice outerwear means nice underwear.” she told him. “Let me know when you’ve done your foundation and I’ll help you do your eyes.”
“OK.” he mournfully replied. Mark sighed at the dress but knew he’d have to wear it whether he liked it or not. At least it’s not an infantile style like many boys frocks are so it could have been far far worse. He pulled on the lacy boy shorts before removing his robe and pulling on the matching vest. Mark couldn’t help but look at his reflection in the small oval mirror on his desk. He knows it’s boys underwear but why does it have to be so girlie, he thought as he perched on the edge of his bed and opened the new pair of tights he’d been gifted.
Whilst there’s nothing unusual about boys wearing tights as a thermal base layer under long pants, Mark, like most other boys would never choose to wear a pair that could be seen. However he did have to wear a pair of really thin skin coloured tights at that wedding in summer and felt doubly self conscious because of them. Unlike the tights he wears under his pants in the winter, which are fleece lined and black, these are ivory in colour with a knitted ribbed pattern and a peppering of small glittery snowflakes all over them which will perfectly complement the festive pattern on his dress. After gathering up each leg, he pushed his toes in them and pulled them up to his knees, before inching each leg up over his lacy boy shorts. The ribbed knit stretched around his knees and calves. The snowflakes sparkled and the boy breathed a long deep sigh. He sighed again as he picked up the dress and pulled it on. The polyester velveteen fabric fit snugly around his arms and torso, then flared out into a circle skirt, the hem of which landed a good few inches above his knees.
The thick fabric had a downy texture and a weight that made the frock feel warm and cosy. If it was just a jersey he’d have liked it but it being a dress makes him feel sheepish and self conscious. The glittery snowflake details begin sparsely at the waist and fill the skirt more and more toward the hem. “How are you getting on?” his mother asked as she opened his bedroom door. “Ooh that does look nice.” she smiled. “Very festive.”
“I feel stupid.” Mark moaned. “It’s too swishy.” he said as the heavy skirt swayed this way and that as he moved. “…and it shows my vest.” he noticed. The dress has long sleeves and a broad ‘boat’ neck that leaves the broad lacy straps of his vest on display.
“That’s why I chose that vest.” his mother told him. “It’s the little details that make a big difference.” she said, before complimenting the sparkly pattern on his new tights. “Are they nice and warm?” she asked.
“Ask me in a bit when we’re out in the freezing cold.” Mark dryly replied.
“I’m sure you’ll be fine.” she told him. “It’s only a ten minute walk.”
“In heels!” he reminded her.
“You’ll be fine.” she stated. “Walking in heels is like riding a bike.” she claimed. “I haven’t worn them for years but I’m sure I still could.” she said. “Shall we do your make-up?” she suggested.
“Yeah I guess.” Mark glumly said.
