RELUCTANT PRESS

Mom had me sit on the edge of the bed while she unrolled a pair of sheer stockings up my legs and attached the tops to the four garters on the girdle.

"Oh dear," said Mom. "I did not realize just how much hair you had on your legs. It's so light I never noticed, but now you can see it all sticking through the stockings."

What a relief, I thought. At least I would not have to wear the nylons.

"We'll have to shave your legs, Danny," Mom stated. "Let's go to the bathroom."

I could have protested, but what use would it have been? I just had to suffer through this for the next twenty-four hours or so and maybe some day I would be able to look back and laugh at the whole situation.

"Sit on the edge of the tub," Mom suggested as she reached under the vanity and got her razor and shaving cream. "And cheer up, for gosh sakes! This is usually a big moment in every girl's life, her first shave."

Yeah, it was also usually a big occasion for a boy too, on a different part of the body. In fact, most of the guys at school had begun shaving their faces, but I only had some very soft peach fuzz so far.

Mom lathered my leg and carefully drew the razor up from my ankle to my knee until all the lather was removed. Then the other leg, followed by a rinsing. It felt real funny to run my hands over my now smooth legs. It was back to the bedroom where the stockings were rolled up again.

"Much better!" exclaimed Mom.

And I had to agree.

"Now, let's see what we have for a slip. I think a full slip would be best."

She got a white slip and bunched it together to get it over my head. I was surprised by how light it felt on me, almost as though it was not there, but the softness of the fabric as it slid down my body was not something I could ignore. Mom had me follow her to her closet where she began to remove dresses from their hangers and hold them up against me to check the size.

Finally she decided on a white cotton number which she put on me and buttoned the back. The top was snug, with a scoop neck decorated with scalloped lace. It had a wide, light

Page 6

RUFFLES & CURLES

By Kammi Morton

blue belt which Mom drew tight, and a full skirt fell to just above my knees.

"Yes, I think that suits you perfectly," said Mom, walking around me and adjusting the dress here and there, but not asking me what I thought, which probably did not matter in any case.

She next pulled out a pair of white, open toed shoes that had a small heel. She knelt on the floor and put them on my feet.

"OK, let's see how well you can walk across the room." I thought to myself, "No problem," but found I was quite wobbly walking on the low heels. How did women ever manage to walk so gracefully in those very high, narrow heels?

"Do they feel all right? I mean, not too tight or too loose?" "No, they fit just fine, except I feel like a real klutz." "Oh, don't worry. Before the day is over, you will be walking as steadily as the rest of us. Maybe you'll even be ready for a higher heel!"

"You mean I have to keep them on all day?" I asked.

"Of course! How do you think you will pass for a woman unless you become comfortable in your clothes as though this was all perfectly normal?"

"I have to keep all these clothes on too?"

"Yes, Danny. Is that really so bad? I can see already you are going to make a very pretty girl. You should be thrilled to look so good."

"But what if anybody stops by?"

"I'm not expecting anybody and you said Billy is away for the weekend so I don't think you have anything to worry about."

Billy was my best friend who lived a few doors down on the same street. I would have died if he ever saw me like this. "So, let's see what a little make-up does for you. Come sit at my dressing table."

"Make-up! You never said anything about make-up! Can't we skip that?"

"Sorry, Danny. I just assumed you would realize makeup would be a part of dressing up. Come on, it's really a lot of fun."

Maybe for you, I thought, but certainly not for me.

Page 7