Chapter 9

As mum continued rubbing my shoulders I started to relax and was enjoying the massage when the doorbell rang

“ You stay here Jo. I will get it” mum offered

Wondering who it was I panicked and went and hid behind the kitchen door to listen

“Oh hi Martin” mum said as she answered the door to our next door neighbour.

Martin was nearly 2 years older than me and a month away from his 20th birthday. We occasionally hung out together as we had lived next door to each other for about 10 years, although lately we hadn’t seen that much of each other as he had got a really good job with Marks & Spencer’s as a junior manager in the men’s department of our local store

“Hiya Mrs M. Is Joe about?” he asked mum. He always called mum Mrs M.

“Erm he’s a little busy at the moment Martin” mum replied sounding less than convincing

“Oh right. It’s just that Joe has been asking me to take him to see Ipswich play and I managed to get a spare ticket for tomorrow’s cup game. I was wondering whether he wanted to go otherwise I will let one of my friends have it” Martin stated obviously wondering why I was so busy that I couldn't see him

“Erm ok. Well I don’t know" mum responded sounding like she was flustered "Let me see where he is. Come in love and take a seat in the living room” mum offered

I groaned at mum's invitation and thought to myself how can I get out of this. Martin was a season ticket holder at Ipswich Town football club and although I really had no interest in football Martin had often offered to take me to see my first live game, as he was convinced I would like it.

I had always said no when he had mentioned taking me however last week when Martin asked me for some reason I had replied "yes I would like to go one day"

I liked Martin and thought of him as an older brother. I looked up to him both emotionally and physically. Martin was a lot taller than me at over 6 feet tall. He was very athletic from playing rugby for a local team. He was the total opposite to my small frame really.

Mum came through to the kitchen “ did you hear that?” she asked in a whisper

“Yes thanks very much mum. Why did you ask him in? I can’t see him like this” I said angrily motioning to the clothes I was wearing “ He will think I am a weirdo”

“ So what do I tell him them Joe” mum asked

“ I don’t know. Do anything to get rid of him. Tell him whatever you like” I replied very annoyed and worried

Mum glared at me as if she was annoyed at having to do my dirty work for me and turned to return to the living room and said, “ I am not going to lie for you Joe”

Before I could grab her she was through the door into the living room

“Martin sit down I have something to tell you” mum said obviously offering him a seat “ Joe is too embarrassed to see you at the moment due to the way he is dressed”

“Dressed?” Martin queried

“Yes dressed Martin” mum replied and then for the next few minutes proceeded to tell Martin the whole story of the last two days thankfully missing out some parts like the photo shoot at the mall.

During this time I stood behind the kitchen door listening and quaking in my hosed feet awaiting a response from Martin

After mum had explained why I was so frightened to see him, Martin spoke “ Crikey Mrs M. Is Joe still dressed as a girl?”

“Yes he is. We haven't been in long” she replied

“ Can I see him?” Martin asked

“That’s up to him. Hold on let me see” mum answered before returning to the kitchen

“ Joe he wants to see you” mum stated

“ I do know mother. I have been listening. Why did you have to tell him how I am dressed? He is going to laugh at me and hate me. Thanks a lot mum” I replied tearfully and annoyed.

“Joe he won't laugh at you and he certainly won't hate you” mum tried to soothe me.

Before I had a chance to speak Martin walked through into the kitchen

“Joe is that you" He asked bewildered looking me up and down

“Yes its me” I answered in a timid voice close to tears

“Crikey you look great. You look just like a girl. A good looking girl at that” he said walking towards me.

After a difficult few seconds where no one spoke Martin eventually found his voice “I eh was wondering whether you wanted to go to the football with me tomorrow afternoon’ he asked whilst still checking me out

“WHAT? I replied “ Don’t you think me weird” I said whilst motioning my hands to the clothes I wore

“No you did if for a good cause and you do look cute “ he teasingly replied

At that moment I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I somehow managed to force an embarrassed smile

“ Look why don’t you two go through and get comfy in the living room whilst I make us all a nice cup of tea” mum offered.
Mum's answer to a crisis was always a nice cup of tea!

“ Do you want a cuppa Martin?

Martin responded, "Yes please" as he followed me through to the living room not taking his eyes of me.

I sat on the edge of an armchair across from Martin who sat on the three seater settee opposite. I could feel his eyes boring into me as I sat down naturally smoothing my skirt under me. We didn’t speak for what about 30 seconds before he spoke

“You know you look really pretty Joe. I wouldn’t know you were anything but a girl if your mum hadn’t told me. You look like a younger version of your mum”

I wondered if mum would thank him for that comment and could feel myself go red

“ You even blush like a girl,” he teased

“Don’t tease me Martin. This wasn’t my choice you know,” I pleaded whilst brushing a loose lock of hair from my face and tucked it behind my ear, which in doing so probably exposed my dainty earrings.

We spoke for a few minutes. Martin asking me lots of questions about the last two days and my predicament. He was trying his best to put me at ease and wasn't nasty in any way before he cheekily asked “So you coming to the football tomorrow then Joanne?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle “ Martin thanks but I can’t as I won’t be getting my hair cut until Monday and I am sure I would get murdered if I turned up with my hair like this" I gestured to my tamed mop

Just then mum walked in with the teas “ Go as Joanne then” she suggested to Martin’s obvious delight

“Yeah go as my date” he jokingly answered “Go as Joanne”

‘Oh yeah of course I will” I joked back with no intention of going

“Please Joe it took a lot to get this spare ticket. I promise I will look after you” Martin tried to assure me

“I can't even if I wanted too. I haven’t got any other clothes to wear apart from this uniform and I think I would look out of place wearing this” I motioned whilst playing with the bow of my blouse

Mum chirped up “ We can find you something to wear Joe. I’m sure I may have something you can wear or maybe Julia may have something”

Julia was Martin’s mum. She was about 40 and I always thought she was trendy for her age. “I’m not sure mum. It's not right. I don't think so” I protested

Both mum and Martin ganged up and kept on to me until they eventually wore me down “Ok I will go as long as I don’t look stupid and as long as you don’t leave my side Martin”

I had finally given up my resistance just for a quiet life as I was really tired up and thought myself as pathetic as I reached into my blouse and adjusted a bra strap that had fallen from my shoulder

“Great lets see if mum has anything you can wear then girlfriend” Martin enthusiastically answered whilst winking at me

“MARTIN!” I shrieked in a high pitched voice. I instinctively ran across to him and weakly punched him on the arm

Martin thought this highly hilarious and wrestled with me, managing to grab me around my waist. He hoisted me into the air which made my skirt and slip rise up my legs which must have given him a good eyeful of my hosed legs

“MARTIN” I screeched as he playfully and gently threw me on to the settee and then jumped on top of me and pinned me down

I felt totally helpless as he grabbed my wrists with his hands and held my thrashing legs down with his own legs. I tried to escape however I hadn't the strength to lift him off me.

Both mum and Martin were by now laughing hysterically as I blushed and pleaded “Ok I give in Martin. Please let me go”

“Say pretty please Martin’ he taunted

‘No” I sulkingly replied

“Then I will hold you here then” he said as a strand of hair fell across my face. I could feel his breath just inches from my face

“OK pretty please” I screamed

Martin let me go. I was really embarrassed and jumped up from the settee and as I turned to walk away he slapped me on my skirted bottom causing me to turn and yell

“ Martin stop being a bully otherwise I won’t go out with you tomorrow”

GO OUT WITH YOU? Was I now thinking like a girl?

By this time Mum had tears of laughter running down her cheeks and chipped in “come on you two love birds. Let's drink our tea before it gets cold”

Where was this all leading too I wondered as I looked over to Martin who was still looking at me as guys often do when in the company of pretty girls.

Chapter 10

I felt really flustered after Martin had slapped my bottom. I could still feel where he had playfully slapped me through my tight skirt and satin knickers.

There was a silent pause before he piped up “anyway I better be going. I’m off out tonight with friends and need to get ready as my friends are coming around at eight. Do you fancy coming out Joe?” he asked

“Oh yeah, like this?” I screamed again in a high pitch voice

“ Guess not then” he cheekily grinned, “I need to dash. I will have a word with my mum and ask her if she has anything you can wear tomorrow to the footie JoJo”

“Gee thanks a lot Martin,” I sarcastically answered

Martin smiled warmly at me “I will call for you in the morning Joe. Be ready by about 11.30. That way we won't be rushing"

" Bye Mrs M. Thanks for the tea” He yelled out as he turned and made his way to the front door having not touched the mug of tea

“Bye Martin love” mum replied as she walked behind him to the door.

I stood in the middle of the room totally bemused by the events that had occurred. Had Martin asked me to the football as a friend or a date? I was confused to say the least.

Mum returned and teased “well well well. My little girl is going out on her first date”

“MUM DON’T" I protested

“Don’t what” she interrupted “you could have said no if you had wanted to Joe. Instead you ended up flirting with poor Martin”

“POOR MARTIN? I questioned “why poor Martin. He’s not the one going dressed as a daft girl to a football match with thousands of people” I frustratingly exclaimed whilst undoing the neck bow from my blouse

" Daft girl? There will be other daft girls there as well miss” my mother angrily replied “Martin will look after you, you spoilt brat”

I looked at my mum and thought to myself has she lost the plot “ This is madness mother. I am not a woman. I’m going to get changed” I shouted at her as I made my way to the stairs

“ What do you want for dinner Joe” She asked as if it was the most normal thing in the world for her 17 year old son to be climbing the stairs in a tight skirt that showed off his cute bum and shapely hosed legs whilst carrying his heels in one hand

“Anything” I sulked. I really wasn’t that hungry and didn’t feel like eating.

I was thankful to make the sanctuary of my bedroom, slammed the door shut and threw myself onto my bed. Whilst staring at the ceiling I recalled the events of the last two days and wondered if dad had still been around whether any of this would have happened.

Mum and dad had split up when I was only 2 years old. I therefore never had a father figure around me and at times like these I really missed him even though I didn't know him.

Mum and I had often spoken over the years about my father and although she was entitled to have a lot of animosity towards him she never really showed it. She had told me that he wasn’t ready for happy families and advised me that their trial separation had ended in divorce 18 months after my birth.

She had told me that initially after the separation dad had regularly visited and had often taken me out however this all stopped after about 5 months when he met another woman.

Mum had told me that after a while he then stopped sending her maintenance money and she had therefore been forced to find a job.
I found out in later years that he had apparently moved to Canada to live.

“That bastard” I muttered to myself whilst shedding a few tears “why couldn’t he have been here for mum and me”

I sobbed for about 15 minutes or so feeling desperately sorry for myself before I pulled myself together.

I had to get out of these clothes I thought as I unbuttoned the blouse and pulled it out of the waistband of my skirt and slid it off my shoulders and threw it onto the bed

I pulled the skirt around my waist so that the button was at the front and undid the button and pulled down the zipper before letting the skirt fall to the floor. I stepped out of the skirt and that too was thrown unceremoniously on the bed.

I now stood just in my lingerie “my lingerie?” I puzzled

At that moment my thoughts were interrupted when the front door bell rang. I heard mum answer it but couldn’t make out who it was. After a minute or so she shut the door and shouted up the stairs “Joe our takeaway has arrived. Come down before it gets cold”

I didn’t answer her as I really didn’t fancy eating anything. I sat on the edge of my bed still mulling over the last two days, dad and Martin. Was Martin a replacement father figure? No he couldn’t be. He was only 2 years older than me. I reasoned with myself

Again my mum interrupted my thoughts as she knocked on my bedroom door “ Come on Joe your Chinese is getting cold. It’s on the table”
‘I don’t fancy it mum and anyway I am getting undressed” I sulkingly responded

She came into my room without asking “mum” I protested, “I'm getting changed”

‘So what? Put your dressing gown on and get yourself downstairs now. I paid good money for the takeaway and I am not having you waste it young lady!” She shouted whilst picking up the silk dressing gown I had worn earlier that morning

I knew arguing with her was futile so I grabbed the gown from her and put it on over the full slip, bra, knickers and tights that I still wore.

Mum held her arms out and motioned for me to come to her “I am sorry Joe. You have such a lovely figure baby. Any girl would be pleased to have your body” she tried to convince me as she pulled the thin dressing gown silk cord around my waist before tying it in a big bow

‘Hold on a minute. Lets do something with your hair” She said before leaving the room and returning within no time with some items in her hand

“Sit on the bed darling” she commanded

I sat down on the edge of the bed and unknowingly crossed my legs at the knee and pulled my slip and dressing gown over my legs so as not to expose too much leg.

I think mum noticed this as she smiled and came around to my side and started brushing my hair straight. After a while she gathered my hair at the nape of my neck and tied it into a scrunchie achieving a high curly ponytail on my head. She then wrapped a wide pale pink silk ribbon around the base of the ponytail and created a big bow at the nape of my neck. She finished off by sliding two pink tortoiseshell hair combs either side of my forehead to stop any stray hair from falling into my face.

“Oh you look so cute honey” she said with glee “here let me show you in the mirror”

I followed her into her bedroom and stood in front of her full length wardrobe mirror. What stared back was a pretty teenage girl who looked like she was ready for bed or worse ready for her boyfriend!

My hands went to my hair and in doing so I again noticed my perfectly manicured pink nails which nearly matched the ribbon in my hair. My earrings accentuated my little earlobes. The only thing that spoilt the precious look was my make up that was somewhat disheveled from my earlier crying.

Mum must have guessed my thoughts and proceeded to clean up my face before adding further foundation and blusher. She said we didn't have time to redo my eyes and lips as our food was getting cold.

I followed mum downstairs and although I didn’t think I was hungry I ate a fair bit of the meal that she placed in front of me

Whilst eating I asked mum whether I could wear jeans tomorrow. She replied that she didn’t see any reason why not
That cheered me up no end as I thought she was going to make me wear another skirt

“After we have cleaned away the dishes we can have a look through my wardrobe to see what you can wear” she excitingly exclaimed

Once we had finished the take away I helped mum clear up. She had me wear yellow marigold gloves whilst I washed up
“We don’t want you ruining your soft hands” she advised whilst tucking the lace sleeves of my dressing gown back so they didn't dangle in the washing up water

‘”You know Joe it’s nice having a daughter around. Even if it is only for a short while” she smiled as I washed and she dried the plates
At that moment the doorbell rang again “what is it with that bloody door tonight” I thought to myself.

Mum dried her hands and went to answer the door.

Within seconds she returned and Aunt Julia from next door walked in the kitchen behind her. I had always called her Aunt Julia and her husband David, Uncle David

“Oh my god, oh my god” she shouted as she first saw me “ GOOD GOD! Martin said you looked good. He didn’t say just how good. Crikey you look stunning sweetie” she excitingly exclaimed as she embraced me in a big hug

‘Erm thanks Aunt Julia” I replied hot and bothered

“Look at you blushing like a virgin bride” she joked. All these years later I still remember her muttering those exact words and still laugh at that comment of hers.

She fussed around me whilst I finished the last of the dishes. Whilst we finished cleaning up mum told her about everything that had happened including our visit to the photographers.

‘So anyway what are you going to wear tomorrow then Joe” Aunt Julia asked as we sat down in the living room

“Hey Claire look at him. He even tucks his skirt under him when sitting” she screamed in noticing me tuck my slip and dressing gown under me when I sat in the armchair "isn't he precious"

I kept my legs together and leant forward to speak “ I don’t know Aunt Julia. Mum said that I could wear jeans” I nonchantly answered

‘JEANS? You can’t wear jeans with legs like those. You need to show off your legs honey” she enthused “ what size shoes do you take” she asked

“Erm size 5 why?” I questioned

“Great. I will be back in a few moments” Julia replied whilst exiting the room. ‘Claire come with me. I have a great outfit for Joanne to wear to the football. Come and help me”

I was left to ponder my destiny as Aunt Julia and Mum left to go next door

I went upstairs to my room and wondered what mum and Julia were up to next door. Within about 15 minutes they returned and mum shouted “Joe where are you?”

‘In my bedroom mum” I answered

Within seconds both mum and Julia barged there way through into my room without asking. So much for my privacy I thought

“Right try these on honey” Aunt Julia asked whilst holding up a pair of black leather boots “Come on sit on your bed and put your left leg up” she demanded whilst pushing me backwards onto the bed.

I did as I was asked and within a couple of minutes I was wearing a pair of black leather boots that finished just below my knees “right stand up princess” Aunt Julia commanded

I stumbled to my feet and straight away noticed that I had gained in height “how high are these heels?” I motioned to the thin spiked heels of the boots

“4 inches I think’ Julia answered “ Oh they look great on you Joanne. You have stunning legs you lucky girl!”

I blushed and protested, “I can’t wear these. I will break my leg”

“Don’t be silly Joanne. Julia has been kind enough to loan these to you. You can wear them. You will be closer in height to Martin then” she teased

‘Right footwear sorted. Slip them off honey” Aunt Julia asked “ let's see if this outfit fits you ok

For the next 15 minutes or so mum and Julia dressed me in the clothes they suggested I wear to the football. So much for jeans! The outfit consisted of a fitted black woolen pinafore shift dress. The hem came to approx 4” above my knees. Under the sleeveless dress they made me wear a long sleeved royal blue satin blouse.

The blouse had a Peter Pan collar and buttoned at the back. It had intricate lace detail at the collar and sleeves.

Aunt Julia was an Ipswich Town fan and told me that it was a colour close to the Ipswich strip and told me that she had worn it once before when she had gone to a game.

The pinafore dress zipped up the back. The peter pan collar of the blouse overlaid the round neck of the dress and the tight fitting form of the dress accentuated my false bust.

Aunt Julia asked me to take off my navy work tights. After taking off the tights I appreciated the freedom of bare legs after wearing tights all day long, however this was short lived as Aunt Julia waved a pair of nearly black seamed tights before me.

She assisted me in pulling the tights on my legs and advised me that I was to check that the seams were straight at the back of my legs. After a lot of messing about she exclaimed that the seams looked great before again helping me on with the boots and zipping them up.

As I stood again teetering on the high heeled boots, mum and Aunt Julia fussed over me by first pulling my skirt up and pulling the blouse and my slip down so that they didn’t bunch up underneath the dress. As mum pulled down the satin slip she advised that I would need to wear a full slip otherwise the woolen pinafore dress wouldn’t sit right and told me that the hem would keep hiking up.

That was the last thing I wanted to happen and therefore reluctantly agreed that I needed to wear a slip if I had to wear the stupid dress.

Aunt Julia put a wide black leather belt around my waist and pulled my waist in until I thought I would snap.

‘Aunt Julia that’s too tight” I cried out

“Don’t be a baby it’s only a belt” she admonished me “your figure looks great Joe. Martin will have a job keeping all the men away from you tomorrow” She laughed

Julia tapped me on the shoulder “Oh that reminds me. Martin told me to tell you that you will be meeting a few of his friends in the pub before the game and that you may have met some of them before as Joe”

“Oh great. I’m not going then” I screamed

“Of course you are going” mum shouted back “stop being a silly girl. No one will recognize you as Joanne will they” she reasoned

‘Of course they won’t” reassured Aunt Julia “however to be on the safe side I think you should choose another name other then Joanne. It’s too similar to Joe although you may get away with it”

“GET AWAY WITH IT. I WILL BE MURDERED” I cried close to tears

“ Stop being silly and calm down Joanne" mum shook me

"Look to be on the safe side lets choose another name for you’ mum said again fussing with the ribbon of my ponytail

“What do you want to be called” Aunt Julia smiled “any ideas?”

“ No I have changed my mind. I am not going” I screamed

“Yes you are going missy. Stop acting like a spoilt brat” mum shouted at me “You have agreed to go and you are not going to let Martin down. That ticket must have cost him a lot of money so you will go ”

I became all teary eyed and pleaded with mum however I knew it was to no avail

“ Look I am fed up with your whining Joanne. You are going end of story” mum cut me off before grabbing hold off me and giving me a big hug

“I know its difficult baby, however I know what’s best for you and you will really enjoy tomorrow” she said whilst wiping away my tears with her fingers.

She continued to hug me tight and at that moment a lot of my fears subsided as mum and I had a mother/daughter moment whilst Aunt Julia looked on

“ Claire what was Joe going to be called if he was born a girl” Aunt Julia asked

“ Lucy Jane why?” Mum asked before it dawned on her why Julia was asking

“That’s it then. You will be Lucy Jane tomorrow" Julia gushed

"Why didn’t I think of that” mum beamed at me and Aunt Julia

By now it was getting quite late. Aunt Julia advised me that she wanted to paint my fingernails with a blue nail polish to match my blouse and further added that she had a great idea for my hair although I would need to sleep on curlers

Oh great I thought. Another night of sleeping on curlers. Just what I needed.

End of chapter 10 - Chapter 11 to follow soon.