All of a sudden I felt awkward and didn’t know how to respond. Whilst there’s some items up there that I’d love to get my hands on, there’s many I wouldn’t. Then there’s the fact that most of the things I’d like are ‘dress-up’ items rather than something I’d casually wear around the house; Hannah’s old school uniform, for example… and her tap dancing outfit. I can imagine Mum holding a variety of frightful frocks against me, telling me they’re nice and putting them on the ‘to keep’ pile regardless of my opinion. Then there’s the prospect Hannah dressing me in her old favourites… and she wasn’t always a cool, sassy seventeen year old. Maybe I’m letting my imagination get the better of me? Maybe I’m just creating yet another scenario designed to exonerate me. A scenario such as being sent to a Scottish boarding school where I’d have to wear a really short kilt with thick woolly tights, or accompanying my sister to her tap dancing class and being told that I can’t just wait… I have to participate. Of course I’d have to wear a leotard and dance tights before being sent to join the beginner’s group. “Huh? What?” I said as my mother’s voice dragged my out of my thoughts.

“I said I’m going shopping tomorrow if you fancy coming.” my mother repeated.

“Yeah can do. Can I go to HMV?” I asked.

“So long as you don’t spend hours in there.”

“I’m nearly fifteen Mum.. you go round ‘your’ shops whilst I’m in there.”

“I know but… I was thinking, since certain things have come to light… you might like to come round ‘my’ shops with me.” my mother suggested. “I did say I’d buy you some tights… I might buy you a few other bits and bobs too.”

Tempted as I was, I didn’t ask the burning question. Instead I asked, “Won’t it look a bit weird… a mother and her teenage son shopping for tights?”

“Well… not really… lots of sons go shopping with their mums.” she replied. “And I want to make sure I’m buying something you like… there’s so many to choose from in the big department stores.”

“Is Dad or Hannah coming too?”

“Hmmmm.” Mum mused. “I hadn’t actually mentioned it to them… they might, but we could always shoo him off so it be just us girls.”

“I’m not a girl Mum.” I groaned.

“I know but you know what I mean.” she replied. “Although… with a bit of work, you could pass as one.”

I gulped. It was almost as if I could read her thoughts. I could almost feel her painting my face and teasing my boyish hair into cute pixie style. “Huh… what?” I said, startled out of my daydreams once again.

“I said, with a bit of gel, I could tease your hair into a cute pixie style.” my mother repeated, grinning at me.

I responded with a nervous grin and forced a chuckle. “You’re not being serious are you Mum?”

“No… not really.” she replied. I wasn’t sure either way. She looked me up and down again and teasingly asked if I’d be wearing the same shorts tomorrow. I knew she knew the answer so I replied with an orchestrated roll of the eyes. “Are you going to wear your new undies?” she asked in the same teasing tone. I rolled my eyes again, this time, adding a skewed chin to my silent retort. “Oh go on!” she enthused. “You’ve got to try them one day.”

I sighed and thought for a moment. “OK… just don’t make a big deal about it.” I requested.

Mum smiled a triumphant smile. “I can’t wait to see how they look.”

“That’s what I meant about not making a big deal about it… I bet you don’t ask Hannah to show off whatever she’s wearing?”

“If it’s something nice I would… such as new lingerie.” she claimed. I’ve no idea if she’s teasing me or not. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.