Mother paused for a moment, I knew she hadn’t though of that. “Well you’ll just have to wear something of Cheryl’s.” She said as she entered my sisters room. I followed. She opened the wardrobe to find something for me to wear “There you are.” She said, handing me my sister’s old school dress, “It should fit”.
“Mother I can’t wear that!” I protested. “It’s…”
“It’s to save me from nailing all the windows shut, that’s what it is young man.”
“But please Mother. I promise.” I begged.
“I know you do.” She said with a smug grin. “And with you wearing this I’ll be sure you’ll keep that promise.”
“But Mother… I’m a boy!” I insisted.
“All the better.” She opened a drawer next to my sisters bed, “You can wear these too.” She said, removing a pair of knickers and a vest. My eyes were almost popping out of my head, my vocal cords made a barely audible whimper as I realised what was happening. Mother continued, opening the next drawer down and removing a pair of white knee socks. “And these too. Now, I want you dressed and downstairs in ten minutes.”
“But Mu-um.”
“No buts! Dressed and downstairs in ten.” She insisted.
I stood shell shocked for a moment before stepping into the knickers, my eyes filled with tears as the humiliation sank in, I sniffled as I pulled them up to my waist. “And you can stop that sniffling young man, you’ve brought this on yourself!”
“Please Mother?” I begged, tears flooding down my cheeks, “Don’t do this to me.”
“Now you’re acting like a girl.” She said sternly, showing no sympathy. “If you going to act like a girl you can dress like one from now on.” She insisted as she exited my room, slamming the door behind her.
I reluctantly removed my dressing gown and pulled the vest over my head. Like the knickers it had lace trim on every edge it had. I then removed the dress from the hanger. It was green & white gingham, with the school crest embroidered on the breast pocket, buttons all down the front and a matching belt at the waist.
“Five minutes.” Mother shouted from the ground floor.
I buttoned myself into the dress before pulling on the white knee socks. I checked my reflection in the mirror. I couldn’t believe Mother was making me wear this. I fastened up the belt before reluctantly heading downstairs for breakfast.
Mother was sipping her tea as I entered. “She barely looked up at me as she said. “After breakfast you can tidy up in here.”
I nodded but said nothing and sat at the table opposite her. I poured myself a cup of tea and buttered myself some toast. Once I’d finished I cleared up the table and washed the pots. I didn’t know what to do next. My room was out of bounds. I had no reason to go to my sister’s room so I went through to the lounge where my Mother was now seated, reading the morning paper. “I’ve done the washing up.” I said shyly as I entered.
“Good.” She replied. “Could you put the bins out please?”
“Er.” I stammered, panicking at the thought of going outside wearing my sister’s old school uniforms and her white knee socks.
“All you have to do is go out the back door, around the side of the house and put the bins out.” Mother stated, as if there wasn’t a problem.
“But… I’ve no shoes… they’re in my room.” I pointed out.
Mother paused for moment and thought about it. “Hmm….” ( I knew she knew I was right, I couldn’t possibly take the bins out bare foot ) “Well…..” She said as she folded her newspaper and stood up, “We’ll have to find some then won’t we?” She said.
