“Well they’ll dry out eventually.” Mum replied, before taking hold of a J-cloth with one hand, me with the other and barging me back to my sister’s room. She ordered me to clean up the mess I’d made on the floor, before hanging up the clothes I’d been trying on, which were now scattered around Jenny’s bedroom floor.
Jenny was crying in the kitchen when her mother entered. She was upset because not only was Peter wearing her things… but they were her favourite things. Her mother assured her that Peter would replace them with his pocket money. “It’s obviously not the first time he’s done it!” her mother said as she realised just how well he’d applied the make up.
Jenny said she often found things out of place, but she’d just assumed it was her mother. “I never thought for a second it was Peter!” she said. “The thought of him rummaging through my drawers makes me sick!”
“Well something needs to change.” her mother said, before a flash of inspiration. “You always said you’d prefer Peter’s room because it’s bigger and has a better view.” she said, “Would you like to help me clear Peter’s things out and you can move in tonight?”
“Tonight!?” Jenny exclaimed. “What about Peter?” she asked.
“He’ll move into your room of course.” her mother stated. “If he’ll go to such extremes to play dress up with your things, then maybe the ideal antidote is not to give him the choice.”
“What do you mean?”
“If he wants to dress as a girl, that’s exactly what he’ll be doing, whether he likes it or not.”
Jenny’s jaw hit the floor at her mother’s suggestion. She was speechless. “Even for school?” she asked, visualising the scene as a thoughtful grin crossed her face.
“Well much as I’d like to see him squirm… no, not for school.” her mother replied.
“Pity.” Jenny frowned.
Her mother opened a cupboard and removed a large roll of bin bags. “Well, let’s get started shall we?”
Jenny turned her nose up a little. “I’m not overly keen on moving into his room… it’s dirty and smelly and…”
“Don’t worry Jenny, we can decorate this weekend… plus it’s about time you had a room more your age.” her mother smiled.
“Really?” Jenny grinned. She bit her lip as she imagined what her new room would be like, what colour she could paint it and what curtains to have. It was a dream come true for any 15 year old girl who’s eager to be a young woman.
Peter was still hanging his sister’s clothes back on their hangers when he heard them climb the stairs. He braced himself for the shame he’d feel when they saw him once more, wearing only his sister’s stockings, knickers and bra. However they did not enter, so Pete relaxed a little. He cursed himself for getting caught as he hung the clothes back in his sister’s wardrobe. He recoiled at the horrible frilly and floral affairs which shared the same space as the trendier skirts and dresses he preferred.
Once he’d tidied up, he shyly exited his sister’s room and crept, in his underwear, across the landing. He knew his mother and sister were in his bedroom, so he poked his head around the door, hiding his near nakedness from view. His heart, already fairly low, sunk to new depths as he saw his mother and sister mercilessly filling bin bags with his posters, air-fix models, old toys and new gadgets. “Wha… what are you doing?” he rhetorically asked in a tone which lacked any hint of authority.
His mother turned to see her son whimpering behind the door. “What does it look like?” she replied. “We’re making some changes… This will be Jenny’s room from now on.” she said as Jenny looked at her brother’s face, streaked with eye-liner and his shoulder clad in nothing but the thin strap of her favourite bra.
Peter looked around his bedroom. The shelves almost bare, the walls held only fragments of his posters, the floor, once littered with video games, odd shoes, dirty socks and clothes is now an ever growing pile of black bin bags. “Mum can I put some clothes on please?” Peter asked in the same humble voice.
“No!” his mother spat as she pulled open his drawers and began filling a bin bag with the contents.