I pulled my frock over my lap just as quickly as I felt myself blush. “Sorry.” I sheepishly said. In spite of enduring regular petticoating since early November, today is the first time I’ve worn knickers. The fact that I’d forgotten about them didn’t sit easy with me.
“You have got your new knickers on haven’t you?” Mother asked.
I forced a smile through pursed lips and nodded. “Are you going to turn me into a girl too?” I asked, making sure I sounded as miserable as possible about the prospect.
“Of course not.” Mother smiled. “Sonia’s my girl and you’re my boy.” she said. “But even boys can have the occasional girlie day.” she added. This was followed by an uncomfortable silence which Mother broke by asking us if we were warm enough. Peter and I nodded. Mother put her hand on my knee and said, “These tights do look nice and warm.” as she rubbed the thick woolly fabric with her thumb.
“My dress is nice and warm too.” Peter added as he ran his fingers over the velveteen fabric.
“That’s why I bought them.” Mother smiled and spent a moment admiring us. I forced a smile and look at my festive frock and festive tights and thanked my lucky stars that my big brother wasn’t here to witness this. “Right, shall we have a bit of a clear up before we start on the next batch?” Mother suggested.
After clearing up the discarded wraping paper and gift tags, Mother asked ‘Sonia’ is he’d take his nightie & dressing gown along with my pyjamas up to our rooms, and he did.”Mother?” I asked.
“Yes dear.” she replied.
“Would you have bought me a dress if Gregory was here?”
“I don’t know.” she replied. “But Gregory isn’t here so there’s no point worrying about it.”
“I guess.” I gulped as I stared at my knees and the faux-fur trim of my festive frock.
“It means an awful lot to Sonia you know.” Mother told me. “Even if she’s not your little brother anymore… she still looks up to you.”
Peter returned and asked if we could open some more presents. “Of course.” Mother said. “In fact…” she began as she routed beneath the tree. “There’s a couple here which I forgot to wrap with your dresses.”
I feared the worst as I took the gift from her. But it wasn’t that bad, being a green Santa style hat that matched my dress. Peter unwrapped a red one and immediately wore it. I followed suit. My hat might have looked daft but it was warm and cosy and unisex… so it stayed on my head. Mother took another photo of us sat together on the sofa. “Oh that’s a nice one!” she said as she showed us the preview on the back of her camera. “I’ll print one off to put on the telly.” she suggested.
“Please don’t Mother.” I moaned. Mother assured me that she was only teasing, which I’d sort of suspected. One can’t be too cautious I suppose. Especially since she wasted no time in showing Peter off to all and sundry after turning him into Sonia. Dressing like a girl isn’t so bad, so long as no one else knows.
The rest of our gifts were mostly knick-knacks and stocking fillers. All in all we ended up with seven selection boxes each, as well as boxes of Maltesers, Matchmakers and After Eight mints, trivia books, and DVDs… mine being boyish and Peter’s all being girlie. I did get a pair of slipper socks which I suspected to be girls, but I wasn’t sure so I didn’t say anything. They are nice and warm though. I felt sorry Peter who opened one girlie gift after another. How many hair accessories and items of underwear can one girl need? I thought as I ripped open yet another sparkly present. “Are these for me?” I hesitantly asked.
