I reached for the door handle and stopped. Turning around, I kissed George on his cheek.

His hand went to his cheek in surprise.

“What was that for?” he asked.

“Oh… just for being you. And for giving me the chance of tomorrow night.”

Healing Cousin George
Part 20 - Preparations
by Karin Roberts

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The week passed by slowly with me and Debbie’s daily routine seeming somewhat mundane as my excitement built towards attending the Ball this coming weekend. Debbie’s chatter was all around the dress: you know, that one that I had not even seen yet, how good of a time we were going to have, etc., etc.

At last, Thursday arrived and I felt like we were finally getting somewhere. Earlier in the afternoon I had packed a bag for Melissa. I had prepared her for an already promising great adventure at her Gran’s, so like me, she was a bundle of excitement! Mum arrived just before the night’s tea.

“I see your still Alex. Isn’t about time you got changed?” Mum fussed, eyeing me carefully.

“Eh, Saturday Mum. I’m going over to Debbie’s to change, then go for my interview and come back Monday night.”

“What about your hair and all that? It’s so long now, and the colours different. And those nails…” she said pointing to my long acrylic extensions.

“Don’t fuss Mum. Debbie’s got it all covered. I’ll be fine” I replied.

“I hope so, where’s George?” she asked.

“Oh he’s got a meeting tonight to go over the final details of the Ball. He won’t be back too late.” I finished, finally relaxing.

Melissa came charging into the room at that point.

“Hi babes, you all ready for your trip?” I grinned and made a face at her. Melissa broke out in a smile and nodded.

“I’ll get her bag,” I said rising from the table as I went upstairs and grabbed the suitcase I had prepared for Melissa and headed back down to the kitchen.

Mum placed Melissa’s small delicate hand inside of hers. “I suppose we had better get going then darling,” she stated, looking down at Melissa as we headed outdoors.

Once we had reached the car, I popped open the boot and put Melissa’s case inside while Mum secured her in the child seat in the back. I popped my head in just before the door was closed and kissed Melissa on the cheek.

“You be good for Gran babes! I’ll see you Tuesday, I’m… I’m gonna miss you” I tried to hold back my tears, but somehow they found their way out and I hugged her. Melissa’s arm had snaked around my shoulders and she was hugging me back to her. I stepped back and closed the door. Mum was already seated with the window down.

“You know Alex, I don’t quite believe you about this weekend. But, you must have some reason for not wanting Melissa around. But hey! You’ll probably tell me in your own time. Take care hon.”

“I will Mum… and thanks,” I smiled, a bit sad at not having Melissa around, as the car engine started and Mum began to back away.

Back in the house, I lit up a cigarette and poured myself a glass of wine. The house was painfully quiet without Melissa. Tomorrow was going to be a long day without her. I winced at the thought and turned my mind to other things.

Soon after George arrived home and I set out his dinner and chatted while he ate.

“She get off ok?” he asked.

“Yeah no problem. Melissa was really excited about it too, but I miss her already,” I replied rather glumly.

“Yeah… so do I. Look, Alex, it’ll only be a couple of days though.”

“If you don’t mind, I was going to stay at Debs tomorrow night. Then we can have all day Saturday to get ready.”

“Fine by me. You’re really looking forward to this, aren’t you?”

“Yeah. I just wish Debs would tell me what the damn dress looked like!”

“Listen to you!” he laughed.

………….

The next morning I was up early and showered. I was hoping to catch Debbie before she left to collect our dresses. I picked up the phone and dialed. Several rings passed, then the sounds of the receiver being picked up were heard.

“Debs? It’s me. You’ve not left yet?”

“Well, I wouldn’t be answering the phone if I had, now would I?” she sarcastically replied.

“Funny. Look, I was really wondering if I could come with you.”

A pause. “No”

“Oh go on! Let me come with you. I mean… look, it might not fit.”

“Alex you’ve been fishing about this dress for days now, so you can just wait another day. Besides, how many times have we been shopping? I think I know your size by now.”

“Oh Debs!” I whined.

“No! You’re not coming.”

“You witch!” I snarled.

“Aren’t I just? I’ll see you tonight about eight ok”

“Yeah I suppose.” I paused for a second. “You sure I still can’t come?”

“No Alex! Goodbye!”

The phone clicked, and I hung up the handset. Damn! My plan had failed.

“I guess I just need to wait” I said to myself while lighting a cigarette and settling down on the couch. Without my little princess to look after, I was like a lost sheep. For the rest of the afternoon, I was looking for things to do: I tidied cupboards that didn’t need it, I washed windows that were fine, and swept floors that were spotless just aching for something to do and time to pass. Gradually, it did. By early evening and dinner over, I left George watching TV as I went to pack my overnight bag. I packed a fresh skirt for in the morning, a white tie front blouse, and a pair of low kitten heels. I dropped in some toiletries and some makeup and I was ready to go.

Back downstairs, I shook George gently, who had just nodded off.

“Can you give me a quick run over to Deb’s?” I asked.

“Yeah sure. Let me get the keys and I’ll take you over.”

I stood in the kitchen waiting as George collected the Landrover keys. Soon we were on our way, me chatting away in the car. In what seemed like minutes we were pulling into the driveway in front of Debbie’s farm house. George braked and the Landrover came to a stop.

“You coming in?” I asked, looking at George.

“Ummm, no thanks. I think I’ll just go home and get an early night. I’ve a few thing’s to tie up tomorrow before the ball” he replied.

“Ok…” I was slightly disappointed again.

“Give Debs and Gavin my love. Tell Gavin I’ll meet him in the village tomorrow at ten. He’s helping me with the something”

“Ok I will” I said as I reached for the door handle and stopped. Turning around, I kissed George on his cheek.

His hand went to his cheek in surprise.

“What was that for?” he asked.

“Oh… just for being you. And for giving me the chance of tomorrow night.” I opened the door.

“You’re really that excited about tomorrow?”

“I am.” I admitted.

“Alex, you’ll be fine. You will have a great time. Now sleep well and I’ll see you tomorrow night. Oh! And Alex…” he continued as I turned.

“Yes?”

“Calm down!”

I pulled a face as he started up the engine and began to back away. I almost ran up the steps as the taillights of the Landrover faded away.

…………

Debbie woke me early the next morning.

“What time is it?” I asked.

“Just gone eight thirty,” she said. “You need to be up and showered. The hairdresser is due at ten.”

“Hairdresser? What hairdresser?”

“Yeah silly. No-one goes to a Ball without getting their hair and nails done. Now get dressed and I’ll meet you downstairs after your shower.”

Half an hour later as me and Debbie enjoyed a coffee and a cigarette, the hairstylist and her assistant arrived. Debbie went first as they attacked her hair with venom, restyling it in a bob cut and removing her acrylic extensions before refitting fresh longer nails.
Soon it was my turn. I sat patiently as the girl worked on my hair. Her assistant set about doing my nails as well.

Around lunchtime, we were both finished. As the girls packed up, we inspected the results in the hall mirror.

“What do you think?” Debbie asked, striking a pose in the mirror.

“You look different, but no less gorgeous.” I admitted. She blew a kiss in the mirror at me.

“What did she do to my hair?” I played with the cascade of thick luscious curls that fell onto my shoulders and curled onto the top of my back.

“She just fitted you with some new extensions. Don’t worry. They come out quite easy and you’ll never notice that you have them.”

I looked at my nails.

“And these are just positively talons…” I stared at the long sharp sculptured nails.“I’ll be lucky if I can pick anything up at all.” I worried as Debbie admired her new nail extensions as well.

“Well I’ll be pulling these down Gavin’s back early tomorrow morning.” she smirked.

“Too much information!” I retorted as the hairstylist and her assistant joined us in the hallway.

……………

The rest of the afternoon was pretty boring really as we sat around waiting for the Ball. I protested my hunger mid afternoon as my stomach thought my throat was cut.* Debbie insisted that we do not eat, promising that we were in for a feast at the Ball tonight. Around four, Gavin returned and the three of us sat around the table with a coffee, killing time.

Finally, Debbie announced that it was time to get ready and the two of us flew up the stairs to start our makeup. At last! I would get to see the dress that Debbie had ordered for me! Butterflies floated around my stomach as we stripped off and changed into our underwear. The first hint of what my dress was going to be like was Debbie’s insistence on wearing a strapless bra. So with a matching black strapless bra and cute black lacy panty, I sat down and began to work on my face. Debbie had taught me well, and soon a sexy smouldering look was appearing as I finished off my face with a deep burgundy lipstick.

I gleamed at the sight in front of me in the mirror, one that I had become familiar with over the last couple of months. The old Alex was gone. In front of me was a woman, beautiful and unrecognisable from the old male me that had appeared at the farm months ago. The transition had been not without its problems, but secretly behind it all, I really loved being this Alex and being a woman. The friendship I had with Debbie, the closeness with Melissa and my life with George were all new, but they were relationships I hoped that would go on forever.

“Hey dreamer!” Debbie called. My head snapped back to reality.

“Time to put you out of your misery and let you see this dress.”

I got up and followed her to the closet. She opened the door and pulled out a hanger a zipped with a protective cover covering what was underneath. She unzipped it in a provocative manner, humming a familiar stripper tune as she did so.

“Get on with it Debs!” I chastised.

Finally it was uncovered. A slight tear formed in my eye, not because I was disappointed, but because I was thrilled with her choice.

“Oh Debbie! It’s fabulous!”

“Told you so! Now let’s get it on.” she laughed as she took the hanger out from the straps.

The dress was full length; black layered lace with a split running high up the front, the bodice was a shiny silver with thin solid silver metallic spaghetti straps. I stepped into it, luxuriating in its feel. It literally hugged my body as I pulled it upon myself. I slipped my arms through the straps just as a slight chill from the metal clasps zinged me with, running goosebumps all over my body. Debbie, behind me, began to zip it up. I felt the fabric contract and compress my body. Fully zipped up, the back fell to just below my shoulder blades. I stepped back to witness Debbie’s creation — me.

“You like it?” she asked.

“I love it!” I turned and surprised Debbie by hugging her tightly.

After a few moments, I released her with tears in my eyes. She returned the embrace.

“Eh, enough with the waterworks girl. There are shoes in there as well and a pair of evening gloves. Put them on while I get dressed.”

The shoe box contained a pair of killer heels about five inches high, black with silver metal heel. I slipped them on and walked around getting used to their feel before pulling on the tight black evening gloves which moulded to my arms. Soon Debbie was ready and dressed in her own stunning gold shiny dress which was as tight as it could be. Debbie picked out some jewelry for herself and loaned me some for the night as well. Tossing me a black leather clutch purse, we filled our purses with the necessities for the night. With a black fur short jacket for me, also provided by Debbie, we headed off downstairs to find Gavin.

We both walked into the lounge where Gavin was seated, dressed in a Tuxedo.“Well look at this…” he wolf whistled in our direction.

“Hey Debbie? You want to stay home tonight and do some knitting? I’ll take Alex to the Ball.”

I blushed.

“Shut it buster, otherwise you won’t get lucky tonight.” Debbie growled as she bent down and planted a light kiss on his mouth.

“A drink before we go?” asked Debbie.

“Ok ladies, what will it be?” Gavin asked.

“Eh glass of white wine will do me.” I replied.

“Same here, let’s have a seat.” Debbie joined me.

Gavin scuttled off to pour our drinks. Debbie opened her bag and took out her cigarettes, offering me one. I took it and we both lit up.

“You looking forward to tonight?” Debbie questioned me.

“Yeah… I am.” I said blowing a cloud of smoke high towards the ceiling. I let certain fantasies of George and how the evening might go cross my mind as I stared into the cloud of smoke.

“It should be an interesting night.” Debbie finished. What she didn’t know at that point though, was just how interesting it would get!