Mum looked puzzled. “Who’s Rita?”

“Oh er… Rita is the lady who helped me change into the Victorian clothes, then later, she said I’d be make a good tour guide.” I explained, “I said I was still at school and she suggested that I should get a weekend job helping out with the tours.”

“I see…” Mum added hesitantly. “And would this weekend job be as Rebecca or Peter?”

We all fell silent for a moment until I said. “Well, Rebecca I guess…. which is where the problem lies.”

“Quite.” Mum retorted dryly.

“I say Peter, would you make your Mother and I a pot of tea please?” Mrs. Barnes asked.

“Of course.” I replied, leaving mum and Mrs Barnes alone.

I returned a few moments later with a tea tray and placed it on the desk between Mother and Mrs Barnes. “Would you like me to pour it?” I politely asked.

“No thank you.” Mum replied. “But you can change out of your smart suit please.”

I did as asked and changed out of my trouser suit. It was barely 3 o’clock so I changed into my school uniform, held my hair off my face with a hair band and returned to the study.

“Your photos are brilliant Peter.” Mum said as she passed me the camera.

“Mrs Barnes took some of them.” I said as I took it from her and connected it to my PC.

Mum and Mrs. Barnes gathered around me as I copied them from the camera to my PC so they could see the photos on a larger screen. I blushed as I saw myself in the Victorian dress with my hair plaited tightly to my head, stood next to the two younger girls dressed as scullery maids and the cook. Mrs. Barnes told me to write an essay about the visit and to include some of the photos.

I did as I was told and Mum and Mrs Barnes retreated to the kitchen so I could work in peace.

About an hour had passed when Mrs Barnes came to see how I was getting on with my essay. She picked up a few spelling and grammatical errors but over all she was pleased with it, although it wasn’t finished. I’d put a few photos in of the smithy, the kitchen garden and of course the cook with her three helpers. I also included a paragraph explaining the Victorian dresses and their numerous layers of undergarments including the uncomfortable and constricting corset.

“You didn’t appear to be either uncomfortable or constricted in your corset Rebecca.” She mentioned after reading my account.

I explained that my waist had only been taken in about an inch and that in reality, the Victorian girls would be taken in a good 4 inches, often more. “So mine was quite comfortable and it didn’t really reflect what is was like to wear one far tighter, for an entire 18 hour day of hard work.”

Mrs. Barnes smiled. “Well I think you’ve been very brave today Rebecca and the experience you’ve had has been invaluable.” She also mentioned that she and mother had discussed the possibility of me working at the museum and that mother would give it some consideration. With that, she packed her things and said she’d see me in the morning. I thanked her for the trip and said goodbye, before tuning my attention back to my essay.