Cheryl seemed as surprised as I was when her friend appeared, poking her head around the door, “And you must be the elusive Rebecca?” She asked with a smile.
“Erm..” Was the only sound I made before going bright red. “Yes.” I peeped.
“Hi.” She said enthusiastically. “Sorry for barging in but…” she turned her attention to Cheryl. “…can we get going please? I don’t want to miss the bus again.”
“Oh, er…” Stammered Cheryl, fully aware of my embarrassment. “Yes, er… me and er… Becky we’re just talking about earrings.”
“Oh are you buying some new ones?” Asked Tina, glancing between myself and the catalogue.
My mouth moved but little came out. “Er… yes.” I eventually squeaked, then blushed some more.
“Er… yes.” Cheryl added to cover my inability to speak. “She er… had them pierced just yesterday.”
“Oh really!” Enthused Tina. “I bet you can’t wait to get some different styles.”
I thumbed one of my studs. “Oh… er… sure.” I murmured.
“And I love that dress!” She added. Turning back to Cheryl she said. “Can we get going?”
“Oh… er… sure.” Cheryl replied, before being dragged out of my room by Tina. She mouthed a ‘sorry’ as she left.
I just blushed. My heart was racing ten to the dozen. I took a few deep breaths, waited to hear the front door close and went downstairs as soon as it did.
Mother was sat at the table reading the Sunday papers as usual. She glanced up as I entered. “I wondered when you’d show your face.” She said dryly.
“Sorry.”
“Oh it’s OK.” She looked me up and down. “I understand you not wanting to bump into Cheryl’s friends dressed like that!”
Without thinking I asked, “Don’t you like it?” Thinking she didn’t approve somehow. I looked down at my feminine chest and the pale blue dress which hung over it and smoothed it instinctively.
“Of course I do it’s lovely.” She replied, “I meant wearing a dress… not that dress.”
“Oh… er… sorry.” I stammered, realising my mother thought I liked it too, hence wearing it.
Mother just smiled and turned her attention back to the newspaper.
I made myself a drink. There was an uncomfortable silence as I did so. I remembered Cheryl had told Tina that I (her brother) was actually her sister called Rebecca! “Mother must know!” I thought. “She and Tina must have chatted this morning and surely my name (cough) was mentioned!!” My mind was racing. I spent the next few hours watching TV. In the meantime, Cheryl returned, popped her head round the sitting room door and said, “Hi Pete!” Before joining Mother in the kitchen,
Eventually Cheryl joined me and apologised for my embarrassment this morning. She paused before adding, “Tina didn’t suss you though!”
I knew I looked surprised. “She must have!” I insisted.
“She didn’t!”
“She must have!”
“Why not?” Cheryl asked. “Look at you.”
“Exactly.”
“What do you mean? ‘Exactly’?” She quizzed. “Look at you. You’re short & skinny, you’ve got a cute little nose, and with your hair off your face like that you look really quite pretty…. especially with your new eyebrows!”
I still internally fought it every time is was referred to as ‘pretty’, but in spite of my best efforts, I was learning to just accept it. Every time I fight back I only get more grief. What’s the point? I smoothed my frock over my knees and pondered my situation. Other people think I’m a girl now!
“Does Mother know about the name you gave me?” I asked shyly.
She nodded, “I had to… in case Tina asked about you… er… I mean Rebecca.”
“And?” I asked hesitantly.
“Well, She wasn’t overly impressed with ‘Rebecca’…”
“Neither was I!” I snapped sarcasticly.
“Sorry.” She said, chewing her lip. “Still, nothing is carved in stone and you’ll always be Pete to me.”
I smiled. “I guess having a back up name is a good idea…. I mean…. If you’d introduced me to Tina as Pete this morning I’d have been mortified!”
“I think you were mortified.” Smiled Cheryl. “By the look on your face anyway.”
“I was… but if you had said “this is my brother Pete” it would have far worse!”