As Becky stepped into the bedroom with Vanessa right behind her,
I turned my back to them.
I know it is stupid to try to hide in plain sight but I did not want Vanessa to see the two large bumps on my chest.
“Hey Bobby, do you want to study Spanish with me?” Vanessa asked.
I stood there in silence.
I prayed for a lightning bolt to strike me down.
I could not believe I let myself be talked into wearing the bra and panties.
I was so embarrassed.
It was all Becky’s fault.
So I prayed for a lightning bolt to strike her down instead.
“Are you wearing a bra?” Vanessa asked.
Neither Mom nor Becky said a word.
‘Shit!’ I hated the both of them at that moment.
I straightened and turned to face her.
I thought, ‘Go ahead and laugh.’
“I made him wear it,” Mom came to my rescue.
“It’s a favor for Becky. She is sewing a dress and needed a dress form.”
“Oh,” She shrugged her shoulders,
“I came over to see if you have time to help me study Spanish for the quiz tomorrow?”
‘That was it? Oh. I expected her to laugh at me.’
It was at that moment I learned that Vanessa was a true friend.
“I don’t know.
When do we do the dress thing?” I asked Becky.
“You have time to study,” Becky said, momentarily confused by Vanessa’s acceptance,
“But don’t take your bra and panties off.”
My face turned red. I thought, ‘You bitch; you had to tell her I’m wearing panties.’
“If you have a quiz tomorrow, take all the time you need,” Mom said.
Vanessa stepped into the living room where I followed her to the sofa.
She sat in the middle forcing me to sit next to her.
I felt awkward sitting next to her wearing a bra.
I tried to cover my bumps with my arms.
She leaned in and whisper to me in Spanish,
“I think that you are the best.
If I had a brother I would hope he would be like you.”
I thanked her in Spanish.
Her compliment relaxed me; however, I could not forget that I was wearing a bra and panty.
After I got my Spanish notes and book, we spent the next hour studying.
We decided to only speak in Spanish.
Off and on during our studying, Vanessa made comments to me.
When she told me how great I looked, and how we could now do things like girl friends, I wasn’t sure what she meant or how I should respond.
Her acceptance was pleasantly unexpected.
The giddy feeling I felt earlier returned.
I didn’t have the heart to tell her that it was only for a week,
but I did remind her I was only doing it to help Becky.
As Mrs Strikler watched her son from the kitchen,
she realized he looked different, changed, and not just because she was seeing him wearing a bra.
It was his mannerisms, his high spirits.
He was happy. She even heard him giggle.
She could not remember the last time he was happy.
She imagined him wearing a dress, with his long black hair pulled back in a ponytail, laughing.
The image was real.
She couldn’t provide many material things, but she was determined to provide a loving happy environment.
