Margo told him what to do as she applied his eye-liner, eye shadow and mascara. She further defined his eyebrows with a pencil, all the time keeping herself between him the mirror until finally, she applied a pale pink lipstick and asked if he was ready.

Peter gulped and nodded. Margo removed the pink plastic shawl from around his shoulders an moved to one side. Peter was speechless as he observed every detail. His hair is shorter, lighter, curly and framed his face perfectly. It seemed almost weightless as it bounced with every movement. His skin was like porcelain with pale pink lips, his eyes looked bright and wide, his lashes long and dark, his brows like pencil lines.

“Well… what do you think?” his mother asked.

“I may as well be wearing a dress.” he gulped. “You’ve turned me into a girl.”

“Who needs a dress?” his mother grinned. “Plus, the dresses I liked to put you in aren’t really suitable for a job interview.”

“Mum… I understand what you’re doing… teaching me a lesson, but you’re seriously not going to make me go like this?”

“I’ve already told you Peter, they’re expecting a feminised boy… and you’re far more presentable now than you were when you arrived.” his mother replied. “In fact, Margo will be wanting that ‘after’ photo.”

Margo, who’d been sweeping up the clippings, said “There’s just one last thing for him.” she put the broom to one side, opened a drawer and removed a few lengths of ribbon. Turning to Peter she asked, “Pink, white or blue?”

Peter gulped at the prospect of having a ribbon in his hair too, not that it would make him look any more feminine… he was never going to request the pink one, but feared that would go in if he doesn’t decide. “Blue.” he hesitantly said.

“I was going to suggest blue.” his mother said. “It’ll bring out your eyes.” she smiled.

Margo put the ribbon in his hair, tying it in a bow slightly to one side. She arranged his hair around it, perfected the bow and trimmed the ends into snake tongues before securing it with a couple of hairpins. Then she took his photograph.

“It’s got to be my best before and after.” Margo said, passing Heather the camera.

“What a transformation!” heather gushed. “You’ll have to send me a copy.” she asked.

“Of course.”

Heather held the camera so Peter could see and flicked between the two pictures for him. “You must admit the after shot is a huge improvement.” she said. “It will also be your profile picture on Facebook if you’re behaviour today is anything less than exemplary.” she threatened. “And yes, I know your passwords.”

“You can’t know my passwords!” Peter claimed.

“Oh I do.” his mother assured as she dipped her hand in to her bag and removed her iPad.

“But… how?”

“Because you’re not very bright Peter… you use the same password for everything, even your savings account.” she said as she tapped and swiped the screen. “Look…”

She holds her iPad for him to see. She’s logged into his savings account. “That can’t be right… I should have over five hundred.” he says.

“You did until you needed a nice suit and shoes… which came to the grand total of one hundred and ninety four pounds including a handbag.” his mother replies, pointing out the transactions.

“What?!”

“Quality doesn’t come cheap Peter.” his mother grins. “Margo… I think Peter’s ready to pay his bill.” she says.

“Oh yes.” Margo says as she puts down the broom and grabs a clip board. She works down a printed order form, “Cut and colour, style and set, eye brow shaping, ears plus six silver studs, make-up, nails…. I think that’s everything.” she says before adding everything up. “One hundred and sixty four pounds…” she says as his jaw slowly yet surely drops. “…plus ten percent service charge equals… one hundred and eighty pounds and forty pence but we’ll call it a straight one hundred and eighty.” she smiles.