Our dress rehearsal yesterday went very well indeed and we were all in good spirits as Denise’s Dad drove us home. I therefore used the opportunity to have a quiet word with my sister before we went to bed.

‘Jenny and I have been looking forward to sharing a hotel room together at the Convention, I don’t suppose you’d be willing to share with Josie, since you seem to get on well together?’ I asked.

Karen smiled.

‘So you would allow your twin sister risk her maidenly honour,’ she said in a mock surprise.

‘I hardly think there’s much danger of that since we’ve stuck ‘her’ penis between her legs, quite securely,’ I replied.

‘Alright then, I don’t mind sharing with Josie, if it is alright with her. At least I won’t then have to put up with your untidiness.’

‘Thanks, Sis, and I won’t now need to complain about your snoring.’

I sent a text with the good news to Jenny, who was sharing our spare room with Josie. Five minutes later Jenny confirmed that the new arrangement would be ok with her sister as well.

Mum was ready and packed by nine o’clock this morning, but she had to pop in to her work for an hour or two to make sure that everything would be alright over the weekend. She left us to get on with our own packing during the course of the morning, but insisted that there would only be room in the car for one large suitcase per hotel room, so Jenny and I, and Karen and Josie would have to share cases. I took responsibility for drawing up a packing list for everyone. We also arranged over breakfast that everyone would bring their stuff to my bedroom so we could co-ordinate our packing, and make sure that nothing was forgotten

‘We are all going to need our two costumes plus one further change of clothes,’ I said. ‘Make sure that you pack enough underclothes, a nightdress or pyjamas, two pairs of shoes, any jewellery you’re likely to need, a grooming set for your hair, cosmetics, handbag, money, a camera and tampons if you are likely to need them.’

Jenny was on the point of making a clever comment with respect to the last, but Karen was able to get in a subtle kick to her shins before she could do so and without Josie noticing.

Over the next hour we neatly packed the two cases, double-checking that everything was included. By this time Mum had returned from work, and seemed quite pleased that we’d made such good progress.

‘Alright girls, I now suggest that you should all change into your clothes for the journey, and put on some makeup, so that we can close up the cases and take them down to the hall to await Aunt Carol’s arrival.’

I was changed first followed by Josie who’d put on a rather attractive dark red shirt dress (loaned to her by her sister), together with Karen’s pendant and earrings and a pair of my high heels. As usual, she looked pretty good.

‘May I finish off my makeup in your room, Sue, as Jenny is using the dressing table mirror in the spare room?’

‘Go ahead.’

Karen came in at that point.

‘You know Josie, to look at you put on your lipstick and mascara I would have sworn that you had been doing it every day for the last year or so, and not just a few days’ commented Karen.

‘Well isn’t that what you wanted, for me to look and act as much like a girl as possible?’ she answered, defensively.

‘Yes of course, I think you make a great girl,’ she answered, sounding as if she really meant it.

Josie smiled, and then looked at her polished finger nails.

‘I don’t suppose that either of you have some darker nail polish that I could borrow; this colour doesn’t go very well with my lipstick and the dress’.

My sister and I exchanged significant glances with one another.

‘How about this one?’ I said handing her a bottle from my dressing table. ‘But I suggest you ask Mum to put it on for you whilst Karen and I take the cases downstairs.’

Aunt Carol arrived soon afterwards to find our luggage packed ready in the hall and Jenny Karen and myself laying the table and preparing some sandwiches.

‘Hello everyone, how has it been during the last week?’

‘We have all had a great time teaching Josie how to behave like a proper young lady’ I replied.

‘So where is she now?’ she asked.

‘Having her nails painted by Aunt Jean: she insisted that her nail varnish should co-ordinate with the dress she was wearing,’ answered Jenny rolling her eyes in mock disgust. ‘She has turned into a real girly girl during the last week’.

‘Now then,’ said Karen coming to her friend’s aid, ‘let us have no sibling rivalry. Josie is only doing what we all asked of her, and in fact has been doing it very well’.

A few minutes later we were joined by Jean and Josie, the latter sporting some immaculately polished finger nails.

'Hi Mum, it's nice to see you,’ she said. ‘I would give you a kiss but I don’t want to spoil my makeup’.

‘Well young lady, you certainly look the part. How have you been over the last week?’

‘I have been having a good time and, believe it or not, I’m actually looking forward to the convention?’

Once again, Karen, Jenny and I exchanged glances. It seemed as if we’d done somebody a good turn.

It was just before 5.00 pm when we arrived at the hotel. There were dozens of other teenage competitors, some of whom were already dressed in their costumes. Mum and Aunt Carol suggested that we should verify the times and locations of the two competitions whilst they checked in at the hotel reception and picked up the keys to our three rooms. Apparently there had been no difficulties arising from the last minute changes and we were pleased to discover that all three rooms were adjacent to one another. As soon as we’d returned Mum handed out the keys to each pair and suggested that we should go to our rooms, quickly unpack and then come down for an early dinner so that we would have plenty of time to get ourselves ready for the first competition.

Jenny, Karen and I had been looking forward to the convention for a long time and we chatted together excitedly comparing our own costumes with those of other competitors, but I noticed that Josie was no longer joining in with us. In fact, for the first time since she’d become Josie, she was showing distinct signs of nervousness. Aunt Carol must have noticed as well.

‘Are you feeling all right Josie?’ she asked.

‘No Mum, I’m not feeling well. I’m sorry to let everyone down but I don’t think I can go through with the competition tonight,’ she said.

My sister, Jenny and I looked at one another, absolutely horrified.

‘Whatever is the matter Josie, you’ve been so confident until now?’ asked her mother.

‘I know Mum, and I feel dreadful about it, but it has gradually been dawning on me what I’m doing and what would happen to me if I were to be found out during the course of this weekend,’ she answered.

‘I am certain that nobody here has given you a second glance, except perhaps to admire your good looks,’ suggested my Mum.

Josie didn’t look convinced.

‘Josie, you’re not going to do anything so unusual, you are merely entering a competition as a member of a team, all of whom will be wearing fancy dress,’ added my sister in her kind voice.

‘I know but it is pretending to be a girl in front of an audience of several hundreds of people. I don’t think I can go through with it.’

‘Oh Josie, you can’t back out now and let us all down. Remember how I said I was so proud of having you as a sister,’ added Jenny.

‘I’m sorry,’ said Josie beginning to cry.

‘Look why not at least let us go in for tonight’s competition as we really need your help. If you really hate it, we can easily withdraw your entry for tomorrow night,’ said Karen.

‘I don’t know what to do,’ said Josie, sniffing.

‘Would it make any difference if I were to help you to get yourself ready?’ asked Aunt Carol.

‘Maybe, I’m not really sure,’ she continued sounding rather pathetic and forlorn.

‘Alright then, Carol will help Josie to get ready in our bedroom. I’ll help the other three of you if required,’ said Mum.‘

‘Aunt Carol took Josie away and the rest of us were left looking at one another and wondering whether our entry would be going ahead or not.

‘Alright girls, the only thing you can do is to get yourselves ready, as if nothing had happened. I’ll be happy to help in any way I can,’ said Mum.

I’m not sure what Aunt Carol said to Josie, but forty five minutes later the two of them joined the rest of us. She’d changed into her costume and renewed her makeup, and was looking pretty good in her baby blue dress, high heels and her hair in two pig-tails. Of course Aunt Carol isn’t a professional hair and makeup artist, like Mum, but a few last minute adjustments by the latter improved things.

‘How are you now Josie?’ asked Mum as she put in a couple more hair grips.

‘I am still feeling pretty nervous, I’m afraid,’ she answered.

‘Well you look like a real beauty, and if I were your mother I’d be proud to have you as my daughter for the weekend’.

‘Thanks for all your help Aunt Jean, I’ll try not to let everyone down tonight’.