Jon followed his mother to Mary’s bedroom and before long found himself wearing a pair of standard-issue black ballet pumps, with a little strap over the foot. Jon turned to face the full-length mirror which stood in the corner of her room. The grey pleated skirt looked marginally more protective than Mary’s skirt which he’d worn yesterday, being a few inches longer. Coupled with tights instead of ankle socks along with his sister’s shoes and the little white blouse… Jon looked every bit the schoolgirl. Especially with the way his mum had brushed his hair!
“Mum I can’t have a center parting!” He protested.
“I’ll send you in a hairband if I want, young man!” She snapped.
Immediately Jon quietened down. His mother gave him his packed lunch and packed him and his sister off to school. She made it perfectly clear that she was not happy with either of them, but did smile to herself as she watched her children walk down the lane together… in their matching school uniforms!
“You’ll be OK Jon.” Said Mary as they neared their school. “It’s only ’til Friday and you honestly look OK… for a boy.” She added.
“It was bad enough yesterday.” He quietly moaned. “I’m going to get so much grief today!”
A group of kids were loitering at the entrance as they walked ever closer. “Hey, nice legs Jon!” Shouted one of the boys as Jon and Mary entered the school gates. Jon blushed and kept his head down.
“Oh look he’s got tights on today!” laughed another, “And girls shoes too!”
Again, Jon didn’t respond.
During registration, everybody in Jon’s class seemed to be pointing and giggling at him, especially when he removed his blazer to reveal his pretty blouse with its lace-edged collar and short puffed sleeves. “Oh, he’s got a lacy vest under it too!” Blurted one of the girls as his lacy vest was plainly visible beneath his blouse. “Are you wearing knickers to Jon?” She added.
Jon wanted to die. He couldn’t possibly tell them the truth, so again, he responded with silence and embarrassment.
“Mrs. Beadle would like everyone to be fully aware that anyone who steps out of line… and that INCLUDES teasing Jonathan… will be sent directly to her office!” Shouted the form teacher as she heard the teasing. “Do you understand?”
The class quietened down and the teacher proceeded to call the register. When she called out Jon’s name, Michael Jenkins shouted, “Don’t you mean ‘Jane’ Miss?” A wave of giggles echoed around the room. “What about Joanne?” One of the girls suggested.
“Jenkins that’s it!” Shouted the teacher. “You will go to Mrs. Beadle’s office immediately!”
As the bully stormed out of the room, he passed Jon and said under his breath, “I’m gonna get you for this… fucking queer!”
“That’s enough Jenkins!” Shouted the teacher, noticing his hostility towards Jon.
Jon wanted to cry. He glanced around the room nervously. The other pupils were either watching Michael Jenkins as he left, looking at Jon or looking at their shoes. He caught a glance of Sharon, who looked at him with concern, she smiled reassuringly. He half-smiled back, as much as he could muster under the circumstances. The threat from Michael Jenkins echoed around his skull.
As Jon left the form room and headed to his first class, the teasing and sniggering began once again. However, it was in hushed tones and some of the more sensible and less boisterous kids frequently reminded the others that they’d best not cross Mrs Beadle.
Jon attempted to hang around with his two best friends, Mark and Stuart, during morning break but they were obviously not comfortable being around him dressed as he was, so Jon eventually chose to hang around on his own.
“Hi, Jon.” Said a girl’s voice. Jon turned around and saw Sharon approaching him, along with one of her friends. “You look much better with those shoes on.” She smiled.
“They’re my sister’s.” He replied, looking at his little shoes. He was never going to get used to seeing his legs, clad in opaque navy blue tights appearing from beneath his grey pleated school skirt.
“So what did your Mum say when you got home last night?” She asked.
“She said I had to wear this until Friday.” He moaned as he smoothed the skirt over his lap.
Sharon’s friend giggled. “Do you like it?”
“No!” He replied short and sharply.
“Oh well.” She replied. “We think more boys should have to wear skirts.” She added.
“No way!” He protested. “It’s horrible dressing like this.” He looked down at his legs again. “And these tights are itchy.”
Both girls looked at Jon’s legs. Sharon suggested he should shave his legs seeing as he’s wearing tights.
“I’m not shaving my legs!” He protested.
“I was only making a suggestion Jon.” Sharon retorted impatiently. “You took my advice on the shoes didn’t you?”
Jon pondered for a moment. He remembered Sharon saying the previous day that he looked OK, apart from his boy’s shoes and it was that thought which prompted him to wear some of his sister’s shoes instead. “Sorry.” He replied. “I didn’t mean to snap.”
“That’s OK.” She replied. “I know you must feel a bit weird being the only boy in school wearing a skirt.”
Jon nodded and gulped in agreement.
A brief pause followed until Sharon’s friend said, “Hey we have PE on Friday… will you be wearing a gym slip?”
Jon’s mind flooded with dread at the prospect of doing PE wearing the girl’s kit. Both Sharon and her friend giggled at him, before wandering off, still giggling. “I hope not!” Said Jon to himself as they left him to spend the remainder of break alone.
Each lesson that day started with the usual whispers, points, and giggles aimed at Jon. But this quietened as each teacher would remind the class that they would be sent straight to Mrs Beadles office. Jon was still nervous about bumping into Michael Jenkins after the threat he issued at registration. Although Jon did notice that Jenkins was not in any of the classes they would usually share.
The last lesson of the day was Geography. Jon was teased on two fronts when this final lesson began. Firstly and most obviously, he was teased for his shoes, his tights, his skirt, his blouse, and the lace-edged vest which was plainly visible beneath it. And secondly for choosing to sit next to Michelle Greene; the shy girl who was cruelly nicknamed ‘Smelly Shelly’.
As on the previous day, Michelle helped Jon with a subject he was usually hopeless at. Although Michelle didn’t say much aside from the subject at hand, Jon felt an affinity with her. She had always been subjected to cruel teasing from the other kids and the last two days, Jon has found himself in the same situation. One of the kids made a joke about Michelle being smelly, and Jon quickly retorted to defend her, “Leave her alone! She doesn’t smell.” He insisted.
Michelle smiled at Jon, before quietly saying “You don’t have to defend me you know.”
“I hate it when they’re like that though.” He replied. “It’s not fair.” He added, knowing full well of his hypocrisy. If it wasn’t for the fact that he too was now a subject of ridicule, he would have joined in the teasing of ‘Smelly Shelly’.
“I just ignore them.” She said confidently. “And so should you if you want to learn anything.” Her advice steered their attention back to the books for the duration of the lesson.
As the lesson drew to a close, one of the prefects knocked and entered, gave the teacher a note, and promptly left. The teacher read the note, looked over to Jon, and said. “Jon, Mrs. Beadle would like to see you after class.”
Jon complied with a simple nod and before long, they packed their books away. Jon thanked Michelle for helping him yet again. The bell rang and they exited the classroom together, along with several jibes from some of the other pupils. “Just ignore them.” Reminded Michelle quietly.
They parted company and Jon made his way to Mrs. Beadles office. “Ah, Jon.” She said as he entered, “How have your lessons been today?”
“OK, Miss.” He replied.
“Well yet again I’ve had nothing but good reports about your behavior. It appears that this punishment is having a positive influence on you!”
“Yes Miss.”
She removed her glasses and placed them in front of her. “Now… I understand you had a bit of a run-in with Michael Jenkins this morning?” She asked rhetorically.
“Err… Yes, Miss.” He replied, bowing his head in shame.
“Well, Michael has something to say to you.” She replied. “Michael!” She shouted towards the head’s office door. “Could you come in here please?”
The door opened and Michael Jenkins appeared. His well-built frame was somewhat diminished by the sheepish look on his face.
“You have something to say to Jonathan.” She instructed.
“Er… I’m er… sorry for what I said before.” He nervously muttered. “And for calling you a queer.”
“Thanks.” Jon nervously replied to the notorious bully, who stood a good six inches above him. Despite his height and build, the bully appeared non-threatening for once. He held out his large hand as a gesture of goodwill. Nervously Jon shook his hand and they made their peace.
“That’s better.” Said Mrs. Beadle. “Now, I will not tolerate fighting, bullying, teasing, or…” She turned her attention directly to Jon, “… any other stupid pranks in or around this school… Do you understand?”
“Yes, Miss.” Both the boys muttered in unison.
“Now Michael…” She said. “You are fully aware that Jon is being punished, hence his current attire.”
“Yes, Miss.” He replied.
“Well… to make things 100% clear…” She said as she stood up from behind her desk and opened one of the large built-in cupboards, “…if I hear of any more incidents like this one, you will find yourself in exactly the same situation as Jon.”
Michael gawped, his jaw hanging limp at the contents of the open cupboard. Within it was a selection of school skirts, blazers, and blouses, all hanging in sets on individual hangers.
Mrs. Beadle removed one of the hangers and held it up proudly for Michael to see. “I think this one should fit you perfectly Michael.” She stated, looking him in the eye, “So please bear that in mind before you disobey any of the school rules or disrespect any of your classmates.” She suggested before returning the skirt, blouse, and blazer to the cupboard.
“Yes, Miss,” Jenkins replied sheepishly.
Even Jon felt Michael’s relief when the girl’s uniform was placed back into the cupboard.
Mrs. Beadle checked her watch. “Michael… you have 20 minutes left of your detention. Jonathan… you may leave.”
Eager to get out of there, Jon promptly left. He nodded at Jenkins as if to further seal their truce. Jenkins nodded back. Jon was relieved that Jenkins was unlikely to give him any more grief, especially with the threat of him having to wear a girl’s uniform hanging over him.
