I woke early on Saturday morning, after again struggling to get to sleep the previous night. Too many excited thoughts running though my head, from the experiences of the last few days and the anticipation for the coming evening. I got up much earlier than I would normally have on a Saturday, and very early considering how tired I had felt.

I still hadn’t got around to properly sorting out my new clothes. I had simply emptied my wardrobe and drawers, putting their previous contents temporarily on the floor, replacing them with the new items. It felt wrong to leave the new items, many of them so beautiful, on the floor.

My Mum and Sister were still in bed. Not surprising as it was only an hour after sunrise, on this dewy early Summer morning. I thought about going for a run, but instead took our black lab, Barney, for a walk. Having not yet done my hair or makeup, I put on a black North Face baseball cap, taking my hair up into a pony, and feeding that through the strap hole at the back of the cap. I wore some black leggings, and an over-length grey t-shirt. I put on my black Hunter wellington boots, and as it was still cool out, I grabbed my green Barbour waxed jacket. Finished with a bit of lip gloss and mascara, I actually thought it looked a pretty cool outfit.

Seems that my sister was right, I can indeed mix and match my girl and boy wardrobes. But then, wellies and wax jackets are pretty unisex. She was also right about leggings, I loved how my bum looked in them. It was so early that I think Barney thought he should still be asleep when I called him. However, once we got started, he was clearly happy to be out and about.

When I got home Mum was up, sipping a coffee in the kitchen. Looking at her phone, no doubt reading work emails. She is practically glued to that phone. “Morning!” she called through the house towards the front door, where I was freeing Barney from his lead.

“Morning!” I shouted back, walking towards the kitchen behind the dog who had bounded through the house for a drink of water.

“I heard you leave earlier, and had wondered where you’d gone? I was just about to message you. You were up very early. Everything okay?”

“Sorry Mum, I thought I’d be back before you and Claire were up. I had lost track of time, walking through the fields that the farmer currently has the lambs in. I didn’t mean to worry you. And yeah, everything is great.” I smiled, despite still feeling tired from the lack of sleep.

My Mum smiled back, “That’s okay, I wasn’t worrying. Not yet, anyway. However, as I’m sure you realise, there are extra precautions you need to take as a girl, to keep yourself safe. Walking through open farmland at the crack of dawn, on your own? Hmm, probably not the best idea.”

“Yes, sorry Mum. I just got into the zone, thinking about other stuff, and I just auto-piloted myself around a route I know so well. I’ll try to be more careful.” I apologised, joining my Mum sat on one of the bar stools under the kitchen island.

My Mum nodded her agreement to my suggestion, “We do need to have a chat about these sorts of things. Things girls pick up as they grow up. It’s not that we go out of our way to teach girls any differently, it’s just, well,” my Mum paused, “and I hate to have to say this, but some men make the world a dangerous place for women.”

I nodded, with a resigned frown. It was undoubtedly still an unfortunate fact of life.

“How about we grab some breakfast, and make a start? It’s never too soon, and you are out in the city this evening. Do you want any toast?” My mum asked, me nodding my acceptance of her offer.

As Mum put some bread in the toaster, I started to get the accompanying items from the fridge. “I’ll be with James tonight, so should be okay. But yeah, it can’t hurt.”

“Yes, I’m sure James would look after you, and of course, you can still physically look after yourself as you always have. It’s just that being so pretty, you’ll now attract a different, and sometimes quite threatening type of unwanted attention. I suppose it’s just in case you get separated, or perhaps you have an argument. It’s really basic, obvious stuff, just needs to be that you think about your safety, rather than going into that autopilot mode.”

We sat down for a breakfast of toast with jam, coffee and juice, as Mum outlined the common sense rules for staying safe on a night out. Drinking in moderation to as not to lose control and never leaving your drink unattended, staying in well lit areas, only getting into booked taxis, staying in a group and always knowing how you’re going to get home. All sensible stuff, I thought.

“There’s something else that I’d rather discuss sooner, rather than later,” Mum went on, after discussing the safety tips, “I don’t want you embarrassed by any of this, as I said the exact same to Claire. Albeit, she was about fifteen years old at the time; she was quite the early starter.”

Even not entirely sure what was coming, I knew I was going to be embarrassed by it. I did have a hunch, from the clues my Mum had given.

“Boyfriends and sex,” declared my Mum, as if she were titling a parable about to be delivered to the congregation in a church sermon. “If and when you decide the time is right, with someone you trust, you don’t need to do it in backs of cars, on piles of coats at parties or wherever else young people find these days. You can do it here, in your own bedroom. If you’re going to do it anyway, it’s better to do it somewhere comfortable, and safe. We’re lucky enough to live in an old, large house with thick walls, no one’s going to be hearing what you may or may not be getting up to. Okay?”

She may not have wanted it, but me being embarrassed is exactly what she got. I did have some thoughts, and even some questions. I couldn’t work out why this applies only to girls, and why girls I’ve known didn’t have these agreements with their parents. I was more familiar with piles of coats on spare bedrooms at parties.

“Okay, yeah, that’s, erm, fine.” I got out.

As Claire entered the kitchen, after getting herself up, I wished she’d have been five minutes earlier. I think I’d have rather not had this chat with my Mum.

“Mornin’,” mumbled Claire, still bleary eyed, with hair that looked like she’d been dragged through a hedge. “Have I missed breakfast?”

“Snooze you lose,” joked my Mum, “and good morning. How did you sleep?”

“Yeah, good, thanks. What did I miss?” asked Claire, hoping that Mum was not about to tell her it was the ‘boyfriends and sex’ talk that she’d missed, so I was relieved when Mum told her that we’d both just had some toast.

“Beep! Beep!” went my phone. “Really looking forward to tonight. See you later. XXX” read James’s message, that I didn’t respond to.

Claire left to head up to Manchester at about midday. By that time, we’d had a full, detailed run-through of what preparations I’d need to make, ahead of my date that evening.

We’d put my dress, shoes, handbag, bra and knickers to one side, picked out some of Claire’s jewellery that she was lending me, and agreed what look I’d be going for with the makeup. I was going to apply some slightly better quality fake nails later, so had already taken the opportunity to change the bra straps to the clear ones. The dress had quite thin shoulder straps, and whilst they should cover the bra straps, I wanted them to be as invisible as possible, should the dress straps move slightly. I thought best to do this before wearing slightly longer nails than those I had become used to. I wondered how long nails would take to grow, before I could paint my own ones.

My sister had shared suggested timings for when to shower and wash my hair, shave anywhere that needed it, when to moisturise, to do my makeup, when to style my hair, etc. I wasn’t anywhere near good enough at styling my hair, and needed lots of practice. Claire had shared some good tips with me, and so I was confident of achieving the sweep at the front that I was looking for, with softish curls or spirals for the full length.

I was going to be getting something to eat very early. James wasn’t taking me out for dinner, which Claire said was actually a very good idea for a first date. Lots of guys choose dinner as a lazy first date. I hadn’t considered this before, but I’m told lots of women are paranoid about being watched eating, and that’s kind of unavoidable whilst looking at someone, talking to them and getting to know them. Then there’s always the factor about a dinner is long; if the date isn’t working out, getting away can be a bit more difficult. Not to mention, if you happen to have a first goodnight kiss, you don’t want garlic breath or bits of food between your teeth. I wasn’t, however, expecting to share a first kiss this evening. James and I are in a rather unusual situation, and I expect he’ll want to take things a bit more slowly, to be sure we’re not making a mistake.

The afternoon went quickly, after spending much of it chatting with my Mum, watching a bit of YouTube and doing some school work. It was 5pm when I came to get ready.

I sat at my desk, which I had converted into a dressing table with the addition of a mirror borrowed from my Mum. I looked at my pre-makeup reflection, “Getting ready for a date with another boy? What am I doing?” I thought to myself, pausing before just smiling and making a start.

Everything was going like clockwork. Nice and relaxed, following the slow and steady plan. Hair washed, conditioned, dried. Body washed, shaved, moisturised. Nails applied and painted. Lingerie on, under a robe. My makeup was going well. I was happy with how it had all gone, until I couldn’t get an eyelash to stay stuck. One kept falling off, and even when I managed to get they to stay put, I was paranoid they were going to fall off later.

I replaced my robe with the dress.

“Mum! Mum! Can you help me? I called through the house.”

I heard my Mum keenly charging up the stairs. She knocked on my door. “Come in,” I said, as Mum popped her head around the door with a broad smile.

“How can I help?” she asked

“Well, I think I am very nearly there. I just have jewellery, shoes and perfume to take care of. And...” I said, turning around to show my Mum my back, and gesturing towards the fastener. “I think I’d be able to reach it myself, but don’t want to risk ripping the dress.”

“I’m more than happy to help, kind of special being part of my baby girl’s first date,” said my Mum, as she stepped forward, fastening the dress in two seconds. “Anything else I can help with?”

“I don’t think so? Thanks Mum,” as we shared a hug.

“Now, let me see you,” taking my hands in hers, as she took a step backwards, looking me up and down. “You look incredible, Sam. Absolutely beautiful. James is a very lucky boy.”

“Thanks Mum,” I blushed.

“Don’t forget to FaceTime your sister, like she asked. Oh, and do it after you put your heels on, you’ll make her so jealous of your bum posing to the camera in that dress. But she deserves it for all her teasing of you!” we both laughed

“Oh,” my Mum added, “when James knocks on the door, I will answer and tell him that you’re still getting ready; you come down two minutes after I first call you. Okay?”

“Okay, but what for?” I asked

“I don’t know!” she laughed. “Tradition? Your Dad made Claire’s boyfriends wait a good 10 minutes, when he was meeting them for the first time. I don’t know if you recall when Dad and Claire had that big falling out when she was about 17? That’s because Claire thought Dad must have given the would-be date such a hard time, he left!”

“Really? No? He didn’t, did he? Give him a hard time, I mean?” I asked

My Mum laughed, “Oh god, yes. I didn’t hear the start, but this lad must have said something that rubbed your Dad up the wrong way, to initiate the grilling your Dad gave him. The poor fella couldn’t get out of there quick enough.”

“You’re not, going to give James a hard time are you?”

“Of course not!” My Mum laughed. “James is a lovely boy. And your sister used to get picked up by all sorts of random guys. Anyway, I’ll leave you to carry on and finish getting ready,” Mum said, leaving after another hug.

I tried calling my sister, but I couldn’t get through. I’m guessing she didn’t have good enough WiFi in her hotel room for a FaceTime call, or was perhaps getting ready herself. I checked my reflection, touched up my lips, and then messaged her a selfie, thanking her for all her help.

At two minutes to eight, the doorbell went.