Meanwhile, Andrew is going through more or less the same at his home. His dad is going bonkers, his Mum is disappointed and Andrew’s been forbidden to remove his dress. “We only thought you needed petticoating so you’d be a good boy for your sister.” he’s told. “How wrong we were! If only we’d kept it up, you wouldn’t be in this mess.”
Both were sent to bed early. And both were out of bed early too. Andrew’s mother had a bath full of pungent bubbles waiting for him, and just as Mrs Arkwright had done the day before, she scrubbed his skin and washed his hair as if bathing a toddler. He whined when his mother gave him the very same clothes that Mrs Arkwright had given him, reminding her that she’d said it doesn’t matter what they wear. “And how do you think William will feel if he gets on the bus wearing his dress and you’re not wearing yours?” his mother asked. Andrew claimed that William won’t be wearing a dress but he couldn’t be sure.
At seven-thirty sharp, a mini bus pulled up outside Andrew’s house bearing the St Felicity’s school crest on its doors. He wanted the world to open up and swallow him whole as he approached it. A handful of kids are on board, staring through the windows at him. It’s bad enough having to wear a dress but his mother has added to his sense of shame by tying his hair into two high bunches that bounce around his ears. The door slides open and he climbs inside, briefly glancing at the faces before taking a vacant seat. One of the girls smiled at him and asked “First day?” Andrew gulped and nodded, but on hearing her speak, he realised that she wasn’t a girl at all!
The van pulled away. His mother waved but he didn’t wave back. He kept his head down as best he could whilst the handful of other kids chatted. Andrew felt completely out of place in his white pumps, knee socks and dress whilst the others wear black Mary Jane style shoes, burgundy tights, blue plaid pinafore dresses over a white shirt & tie with a burgundy school blazer. Initially he presumed the minibus was full of girls, then he quickly realised some boys were on board too… but soon enough he discovers that they’re all boys! Those with hair long enough for plaits, ponytails or bunches wear them tied with white or burgundy ribbons. Those with short hair wear clips bearing either white or burgundy bows. The minibus draws to a halt. A boy wearing the same uniform trots toward it. The door slides open and he climbs inside, greeting his classmates before looking at Andrew and saying “Another new boy?”
Andrew gulps and nods. The boy asked if he’s been excluded or suspended. “Suspended.” Andrew meekly replied.
“How long for?”
“Two weeks.”
“That’s not so bad.” the boy says. “By the time you’ve got used to it you’ll be back at your old school.” he claimed, before asking which school he normally goes to.
“Cromwell Road.” Andrew replied. He’s asked why he got suspended. “Nicking off.” he replied. “Me and my mate William.”
“Oh.” the boy replied. “Is he coming to St Flick’s too?”
“Yeah.” Andrew replied.
The minibus trundled trough the residential streets and eventually drew up outside William’s house. But rather than William walking towards the minibus, it was his mother. She spoke to the driver before opening the sliding door. “Do you know where he’s got to Andrew?” she asked.
“No.” Andrew replied.
“You sure? You didn’t arrange to leave early and meet up somewhere?”
“No, honestly Mrs Dowson.”
“Well if you can think of where he might have gone, please say something.”
“I will.” Andrew said. Although he wasn’t sure he’d grass on his pal.
“OK.” William’s mother replied. “Your hair looks cute.” she said, before sliding the door shut.
14
Douglas in Diapers Scene 4
15
A Broken Dolly Draft = A Broken Dolly Scene 3
16
Life and Death Choices Made Casually = Life and Death Choices Made Casually Scene 7x
Angela = Alison
Bridget = Deborah
Mrs. = Mrs
17
From Hubby to Bubby, a Wife’s Diary = From Hubby to Bubby Scene 7x
Sue = Sandra
Joe = Jason
Joey = Jason
9th Oct
I have met Jason’s boss a couple of times at social functions his firm held and Jocelyn and I have always got on very well, so I had little hesitation ringing her and asking if I could meet her for lunch sometime next week. One of the things that have been a niggling concern is how regressing Jason to be my baby would affect his state of mind at work. Would he for example under stress start sucking his thumb, or would he forget when he had no nappy on and wet his trousers in front of his work colleagues? Would he be able to keep his two lives separate? I was eager to find out why he had been promoted.
We met at Big Julies Café and I could see that Jocelyn was curious about why I had asked to see her, but we both chatted about the weather and other inconsequential stuff and Jocelyn with the quiet patience that is characteristic of her waited. Once our food arrived and when we were comfortably into our meal I explained to her the purpose of this meeting. “The truth is Jocelyn, over the last six months there has been some changes at home between Jason and me, changes for the better I hasten to add, and I am curious about whether those changes at home also may have impacted at work and I wondered if you might tell me why Jason was given a promotion.”
Jocelyn looked at me thoughtfully for a moment before she gave a quiet smile. “Jason has always been a talented marketer Wendy, in fact he would have been promoted earlier except for the fact his team leaders, and he has had two now, have both commented on how difficult Jason found it to take direction. It may have been because they were in both cases women, it may have been because Jasons conscious that he shorter than most of the men and women in the office and was trying to compensate, I just don’t know. As I said Jason is talented, but in an organization that has a very collaborative style Jason’s relationships were often abrasive.” Encouraged by my nod of understanding she continued, “You see Wendy, in a team situation it’s just as important to listen as it is to give your point of view, and Jason was not good at listening especially to the women on the team. When he gave his opinion, which was often worth listening to, he gave it with a kind of,” – Jocelyn paused.
“Arrogance?” I said.
She laughed, “I was going to say superiority but arrogance fits very well.”
“So what has changed?” I said.
“Well over the last few months its as though he has had a revelation, he now listens respectfully to his team members especially women. When he offers his opinions it is with a new humility, even with the girls in the secretarial section he now uses the words please and thank you, and that was a rare occurrence. Don’t get me wrong Wendy, I am not saying Jason was a nasty person, he is often kind and generous but he is a different person now. Do I detect a wife’s hand behind this transformation?”
I smiled, “Perhaps more a Mummy’s hand,” I said.
Jocelyn looked puzzled for a minute, slowly nodded and smiled, the twinkle returning to her clear blue eyes, “Yes sometimes the answer to going forward is to go back, isn’t it.” There was another pause, “Well” she said briskly, “I must be getting back to the office. It has been nice meeting with you Wendy”
“Like wise” I said, “and Jocelyn do you mind if we keep our conversation confidential?”
“Of course my dear, and Wendy, well done!”
Sandra wanted a blow by-blow account of my conversation with Joe’s boss and of course I gave it. To say that we were both very pleased with ourselves is probably an understatement but for Sandra I think this conversation was particularly validating of her feminist views. She sees Joe’s promotion as another example of how most if not all men would benefit from being put back into nappies and put under the authority of a woman’s training again. Nursery therapy she called it.
