"I can't believe I'm doing this...again!" I sighed.

"You've gone dress shopping before?" asked Sammie with a tilt and puzzled look on her face. Come to think of it mom does the same thing.

"No! Last time it was bra shopping and I ended up in a skirt and flats." I looked down at the floor of the car as I said that.

"I'm sure you looked so pretty Belle!" Sam teased as she sat beside me in the back seat. Dad had elected to not come. I wanted to stay with him but..

"Mom why do I have to wear this junk? For that matter why am I even coming? You have my sizes you said just run in get a stupid black dress run out."

It started yesterday when a telegram, yes you can still get those, guy rang the doorbell. Turns out he was from the family of the Peters. I still remember that guy as I stood there with my mouth open.

"Is this the house of one Ms. Belle Thorne?" he asked me as I stood there. Since the only two people in the house dressed decently were Sam and myself. Mom had on her robe and dad was still wearing his sweatpants that he wears to bed.

"I..I..I...I.. yeah sorta maybe."smooth words I know. I should have slammed the door in his face.

"Belle who is it?" Mom called totally ruining it for me. The guy who never gave me his name put a small whistle into his mouth then did that me me me thing. He didn't sing but he had a great voice.

"Ms Thorne and family are hereby invited to attend the wake of Ms. Bethany Peters on the morrow at Kalstien's funeral chapel at 2 pm. Semi formal attire would be appreciated." with that said he gave me a salute before giving me the card with that exact thing written on it. I stood there in a daze as he walked to what looks mostly like a postmans truck and drove away. I finally got my head together and shut the door before bringing the card to the table. On the back was listed our family's names except mine was Belle instead of Bill.

Immediately mom and Sam started to discuss what they would wear while dad pour himself a cup of coffee with a little extra courtesy of the locked china cabinet. I don't know what the bottle was but it did say cream. I just sat there looking blankly between the paper where a very girly me was in the news and the invitation. Dad interrupted mom at one point about what I would wear when it suddenly got quiet.

"Uhm Bill dear what do you want to wear?" Id rather not go period but I guess that isn't really an option. I looked at the paper then down at my chest where even under the loose sweater you could tell I had small boobs. Not a manly chest at all. I looked up again and held up the paper with my picture.

"Do I really have a choice?" Sam looked guilty. Dad winced. Mom opened and closed her mouth a few times before she decided on an answer.

"Soo...we need to do some quick shopping. Dan check the car while I help get the girls ready."

"Mom! Son remember!"I whined.

"Are you sure?" She asked me with the look. Yeah that look that makes you feel about the size of a bug with something all over you. Point taken.

"Fine but don't make me look stupid."

"Fat chance of that lil sister. We will have so much fun you'll see!" Sam gushed while pulling on my arm. Meaning take me upstairs to my room. I couldn't wait till she could use crutches.

"Belle.. pssst Belle knees.. Belle!" my reverie was broken by Sam who was hissing at me. I looked down at my nylon encased knees to see them apart in my normal relaxed position. Ie a foot apart. I shifted and put my knees together. The loose denim skirt wasn't bad nor was my makeup, I never thought I would say that and mean it was makeup of my own not .. forget that. Where was I oh yes, it wasn't the skirt or my flats that bothered me. It was the stupid top with the wide neck that exposed one bra strap letting everyone know I was wearing a black one. How embarrassing. Mom and Sam had conned me into it. They said it would be easier to take on and off between stores as we shopped since I was looking for a dress. Gods how many boys have to go shopping for a dress for a funeral? Really I want to know! Wonder if there is a internet sight that keeps count?

I guess I'd been lost in thought longer than I guessed at first because we were pulling into the huge parking lot of the mall. I thought briefly of trying to hide in the backseat before anyone saw me then thought about the stupid tv thing, everyone had already seen me as Belle in one form or another so there was no point. Did I have a scowl on my face? You bet! Mom pulled the car into place after driving around the lot a few times to find the closest parking space to the doors available. I never understood why women do this everytime. Just park in the first spot you see that's open and get out. By the time you find a spot you could have walked into the bloody mall already.

No sooner had she parked that I got out. No I did not swing my legs first like a lady I was far to upset for that. I stood at the back of the car to get Sam's wheelchair out of the trunk waiting for mom to pop it. She did finally and I reached in to grab it overbalancing myself in the process and almost falling into the trunk when I fell someone steady my hips from behind. I looked over my should to thank the person when I saw who it was.

"What the fuck do you want? And why are you not at school?" it was Jason.

"Fii haff a fenfal affoinffenf." he replied with this lopsided grin on his face.

"A what?" blink blink go ahead and tell me if you understood that. I sure as heck didn't. I could see him strain his face a little.

"I fad a fental apfointment at the fentist. Fozen fip." Ohhhh. Yeah the frozen lip makes it hard to speak.

"Fet me gef fat." Translation Let me get that.

" I don't need your help thanks." Thus saying I reached in again, somewhat better and lifted the chair to the edge of the trunk for a better grip when Jason just pulled it out of my hands and opened in up.

"Four fairyot afate mifady!" He gestured with a flourish and a bow. I slammed the trunk closed and wheeled it to the side of the car where mom was already getting Sammi out.

"Thanks but its for Samantha now piss off." the nerve of that guy! I mean really he just pisses me off so much!

"Young lady no language like that! Say your sorry to the nice gentleman!" mom was mad. In more ways than one.

"But mom...."

"No! Apologize right now!" I looked down at the ground and turned around to see that the asses shoes were of course right behind me.

"Sorry about the you know. And uh thanks for getting Sam's chair out."

"Fo foblem"and he is still going with the half frozen mouth grin from ear to ear. It was then I realized that I probably looked way to Belle for him. The realization also sent me hiding behind mom before I knew I did it. Why was I hiding from him to begin with? I'm a guy! I shook my head and helped a very amused Sammi to get set in her wheelchair.

"Not a word! Not one word Sam I mean it!" I growled under my breath at Sam.

"But you look so cute as a .."

"Shut it! Not one word you can keep him! Actually..." lets try this Belle thing on the poor smuck. So with a coy look and a bit of body movement ,courtesy of watching Sam do so with dad a few times, I gave him a pouty look.

"Jason would you be a dear and push Sam around for us while we shop please." I laid on the drippy girly gushie voice while I did it. Mom and Sam both snickered with barely kept giggles as I did it. Well it worked I think he stood there with his mouth open and his eyes wide before he nodded his head. Somehow I think this may come back to haunt me but what the hell these darn flats will kill my ankles if I have to push Sammi around all afternoon. Why do I feel so guilty then as he takes the handles of Sam's chair and pushes a giggling Sam all the way into the mall.

"So what store we going too? Lets get this farce over and done with." I snarl to mom. She smiles back at me with this smile that is just weird.

"We will start at the first and go along till we find the right one of course."she smiles at me.

"But I only need one simple dress for one time funeral after that Belle is gone mom."

"Silly girl! You have a lot to learn young padawan." with that she takes off leaving me standing there with my mouth open.

"I'm not a girl!" I yell after mom before I move after her swing my hips back and forth with a straight back as I follow her into what I just know will be hell.

Lil Jaci pushes herself back from the barbie laptop giggling to herself.

"Tante! Jaci is not playing nice!"Dottie yells.