McKenzie is enjoying the park when he sees StacyLyn with her family on the trail ahead. Will she out him or be nice?

Fairyland Trail - Part 2

Here I was, getting off shuttle bus at the trailhead and dressed in girls' clothes. Everything I had on from the pink baseball cap covering my clip-on ponytail to my brightly colored shoes was functional but distinctly feminine. I had agreed to do this so that my mother, Carol, could have an all-girls minivacation with Aunt Karen and my cousin Kaylie. Mom had been terribly upset by my father's abrupt asking for a divorce, and I certainly was willing to do anything to help cheer her up. Still I was very nervous. Dressing as a girl was totally new to me, but my cousin Kaylie had already been a good coach. She was the same age as me, and most of what I was wearing was borrowed from her.

Bryce Canyon National Park is a spectacular place with pine forests on the plateau rim high above the wild rock formations below. The road and parking lot are on the top so the scenic trails all start with a steep descent into the canyon. We were going to do the Fairyland Loop trail, which we had been told is one of the best in the park. We had been warned that this was a long trail so we were carrying plenty of water.

We walked for an hour or so past fantastic rock formations; fluted cliffs, balanced rocks, compact knobs, and soaring spires and columns. As Mom had assured me, most of the people we met on the trail were busy taking pictures and looking at the scenery. No one seemed to notice the awkward girl with a boyish walk that I likely presented. I gradually became less nervous and started to focus on the magic of the light bouncing off the red, tan, and white rocks. Being outdoors has always been relaxing for me. As we walked the ideas of Fairyland and femininity swirled in my head.

Kaylie was walking beside me when she pointed out a particular rock spire. "That one looks just like a 'male member,' but I guess those things don't interest you."

"Kaylie! I warned you to stop teasing McKenzie. Remember, this is something SHE is doing for HER mother."

I blushed and ignored Kaylie's remark. There was so much to see, and I decided to just have a good time. I figured that if I acted like a tourist I would be less noticeable.

Suddenly I realized I was in trouble. Ahead I saw StacyLyn, the girl who read me at the hotel. I had dashed into the wrong restroom by mistake, and she had confronted me about being dressed like a girl when she saw me exiting the men's room. I had tried to explain my situation, but I wasn't sure she believed me. That time she had been alone, but now she appeared to be with her family. They had stopped to take some pictures and there was no way I could avoid overtaking them without being even more obvious.

StacyLyn spoke first as we approached. "Hello again, McKenzie. Meet my sister Sara and my brother Jacob. Those are my parents sitting on the rock."

Her brother was a bit older than me and was wearing baggy pants low on the waist and a backwards baseball cap. He looked like a skateboarder with an attitude. He started checking me out with an admiring smirk. At the same time her younger sister Sara was also starting at me with a curious expression. I was terrified that StacyLyn would tell them my secret. To my relief I saw Kaylie dashing over to rescue me.

"Kaylie, this is StacyLyn. We met at the hotel. And that is her brother Jacob."

"Hi, Jacob," Kaylie responded seductively. She moved over next to him, brushed back her hair and stared into his eyes. Suddenly his attention switched to Kaylie and I gratefully stepped back while she distracted him with her flirting.

Sara looked at Jacob and Kaylie and warned, "Watch out, Jacob hits on every cute girl he sees." With that she ran off toward her parents.

I figured I best make myself inconspicuous and keep our group moving. More time spend around StacyLyn meant more opportunities for her to out me. Maybe we could hike faster and avoid them the rest of the day. I went over to Mom and Aunt Karen and indicated we needed to get going. Before I could maneuver Mom and Aunt Karen down the trail our path was blocked by an older man. He was wearing a khaki vest and was loaded with camera equipment.

"Hi, I am Jeff King, a travel writer for Western Highways magazine. Do you mind if I ask you charming girls to pose for me. Landscape photos always look much more interesting with people in them."

I hesitated, but again Kaylie took the initiative. "Sounds like fun. Where do you want us?"

"I love posing. Come over here, Sara," added StacyLyn

"Why don't you four girls start by going over in front of those red-colored balanced rock formations? What are your names?"

As he wrote our names in his notebook I looked at Mom. She was clearly amused by all this. "Go ahead McKenzie, Karen and I will watch.

With that the photographer steered us into position along the side of the trail. StacyLyn and Kaylie immediately posed like experienced models. "OK, now look pretty and smile. Sara, pick up your pack and act like you are looking for something. You in the gingham shirt, McKenzie, right?"

Suddenly I realized he was talking to me. I did not want to be the center of attention.

"Put your hand on your hip and pull your shoulders back. Good, now turn a little; tilt your hips a bit. OK, now tilt your head and look right at me. Good."

I gave him my best effort. Pulling my shoulders back made the padded bra much more obvious under my shirt. At first standing like this seemed embarrassing, but after a few pictures it began to feel natural. We moved several times to have different rock formations in the background. I started to imitate whatever Kaylie and StacyLyn were doing in response to his requests. Kaylie seemed to be ready to break out in giggles at my situation. StacyLyn and Sara just went along with the picture taking and seemed to ignore me.

"You're doing great," Kaylie whispered.

Finally the photo session was done. StacyLyn's parents announced that the loop was too long for them and the family should go back the way they came. Mom and Aunt Karen started to continue around the loop. I headed off behind them when I felt StacyLyn grab my arm.

"Wait a minute. I want to talk to you."

I was afraid of what would happen next. This time Kaylie was not with me for support. At least our respective groups were headed in opposite directions and were already out of earshot.

I decided to speak first. "Thanks, StacyLyn."

"Thanks for what?"

"For not telling everyone my secret."

"Why should I? You told me you were doing this for your mom. Not every boy would do something like that." She looked at me closely. "Besides, you really pass."

"You mean that?"

"Do you think that photographer would have had you pose if he thought you were a boy? He didn't ask my brother."

"I guess I didn't think about that. I just did my best to pose for him."

"I noticed. You have potential as a girl. Got to run, bye."

I watched her run back up the trail, then I turned and rushed to catch up with Kaylie, Aunt Karen, and Mom. The rest of the loop trail was just as fantastic as the start. Ponderosa pine trees, incredible rock formations, cliffs above, and forested mesas in the distance. I kept thinking about what had happened. Hiking on the Fairyland trail seemed to make me into some kind of fairy, a boy who could pass as a girl. Where was this all heading? By late in the afternoon I was tired and we still had the uphill hike back to the road and shuttle bus.

We returned to Ruby's Inn and I collapsed on the bed in our motel room. It had been a physically and emotionally hard day. I was in the middle of a dream about fairies and princesses when I felt Mom shaking my shoulder.

"Wake up, dear. You need to take a shower and get dressed for dinner. Kaylie and Karen have already freshened up and are napping until you get ready."

"Do I have to dress up for dinner? I'm tired."

"You did great as a girl on the trail today, and now I want to show off my daughter in the restaurant. We didn't pack all those nice clothes for nothing. Now get cleaned up."

She must have seen the apprehension on my face as she handed me a change of underwear.

"I told you before, don't be embarrassed. We are all girls on this trip. Put your clean panties and bra on in the bathroom and wrap a towel around yourself before you come out. Meanwhile, I will get your evening outfit out of the suitcase."

I took a really quick shower, and got partially dressed as asked. When I came out Kaylie was talking quietly with Mom and Aunt Karen.

"OK, take off the towel and put these on."

Mom handed me a frilly white blouse with ruffles down the front and a pleated skirt. I was totally embarrassed about standing in the motel room wearing a bra and panties in front of my mother, aunt, and cousin, but Mom's look told me I had no choice. Aunt Karen was acting like she was enjoying the show.

"The preppy school-girl look really fits you," Kaylie giggled. "Here, try these on," she added as she handed me a pair of open-toe sandals. "Looks like we have to do your toes to match your pretty finger nails."

"Kaylie, go ahead and help McKenzie with her pedicure. Then Carol and I will help both of you with your makeup. Given your age, we have discouraged you from wearing too much makeup, but tonight is a big occasion. We will give the two of you real big-girl glamour looks."

I didn't like the sound of all this, but cooperated. As they painted my face I got more and more apprehensive. After all I had zilch experience as a girl in eating in a restaurant. The way they were dolling me up knew I would be attracting unwelcome attention from males. I should know; after all I had personal experience checking out attractive girls. Finally everything was ready, and the four of us walked from our room to the main Ruby's Inn building.

The dining room on the north of the main building was imitation old west, just like the lobby area. It was decorated with peeled logs used as posts alongside the dining booths, coat hooks made from horseshoes, vinyl imitation-leather benches, and dark green wall paper like you see in cowboy movie saloon scenes. We decided to eat from the buffet since that seemed faster and easier than ordering off the menu.

As we returned to our table with loaded plates I suddenly noticed StacyLyn a couple of tables over. Not surprising, her family likely was staying here too. I sat down and tried to avoid eye contact with her. She had been nice to me on the trail, but there was still the potential for her to cause me big trouble. I could just see her announcing in a loud voice 'that the girl over there is really a boy' or something like that.

Glancing up from my food I noticed the she was looking right at me. As our eyes met she smiled then started to get up. I ignored her. Maybe she was going back to the buffet for a refill. Then I saw she was heading straight to our table. What next?

"Hi, McKenzie. Could you come with me? I want to talk to you a moment."

This was the second time she used that line today, and I was wondering what she wanted now. I looked around the table for support.

Kaylie tried to rescue me. "I'll go with you."

"No, I want to talk to McKenzie privately. OK?"

I looked around again. Mom and Aunt Carol were nodding approvingly.

"Go ahead, dear. I am sure it's all right."

StacyLyn grabbed my hand as I stood up. "Follow me," she said as she dragged me past the cash register and toward the ladies room.

This didn't look good but I was helpless. Any resistance would call more attention to me, and I didn't want that. StacyLyn pulled me thorough the door then pushed me back against the wall and looked into my eyes.

"Heading to the restroom to talk is a favorite girls' trick when they have something they don't want the boys to overhear. I am treating you like another girl, now cooperate."

I started to relax a little and she sensed my decreasing tension. "What do you want?"

"I watched you today on the trail, and started suspecting something. Seeing you come into the restaurant tonight convinced me."

"What?"

"I don't think you are just dressing up because you mother asked you. It may have started that way, but you are really getting into being a girl. I like that, and wanted to tell you."

"Thanks. Do you really think I pass?"

"Of course you pass. My brother couldn't take his eyes off you until your cousin flirted with him. Didn't you notice?"

"I guess not. I am new at being a girl, you know."

"Let me tell you something else. I think girly boys can be a big turn-on. You are really cute and I like you. Maybe we can see each other again tomorrow."

"I'd like that." Suddenly I wondered why I had agreed. Maybe I was becoming comfortable with my feminine identity. She took out her cell phone and entered our motel room number before we headed back to our tables.

"Did everything go all right," Mom asked as I sat down.

"Yes, she wants to know if our families can do something together tomorrow."

"I bet she has a crush on you," Kaylie teased.

"Doing something together is certainly possible if you are comfortable with it," Mom added.

Aunt Karen looked right at me with a big smile. "So, McKenzie, how do you feel about being a girl? Are you enjoying the experience?"

I saw Kaylie waiting for my answer. I took a moment to think. I recognized that there were a lot of implications to the question. People were really nice to me today, and it was fun posing for the photographer. The Fairyland trail must have had a magic effect on me and my attitude. StacyLyn's compliments helped too.

"Well?" Kaylie's question interrupted my thoughts.

Suddenly I knew the answer. " I like being a girl and am looking forward to staying a girl the rest of the trip. Thanks for giving me this experience." Seeing their approval gave me the incentive to go on. "I am glad I did this for you, Mom."

"Thanks for doing this for me, dear. But, how do you feel about today?"

"I noticed today how everyone smiles at girls and is nice to them. I like that." I suddenly realized I might be showing too much enthusiasm, and paused to collect my thoughts. Looking down at the table I continued, "Would you be willing to let me do this again?"

As I looked up I saw Aunt Karen giving Mom a thumbs up. Kaylie was smiling.

____

Should this story be continued?