The Weekly Dormouse. (aka Bike, est. 2007) Part 3386 by Angharad Copyright© 2023 Angharad

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This is a work of fiction any mention of real people, places or institutions is purely coincidental and does not imply that they are as suggested in the story.
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Sîan who came by the shop again thought it hilarious that I had served my own father and he hadn't recognised me. "He wasn't looking for you, so he saw you out of context and it didn't resonate with him and you have your hair down which partly hides your face, no wonder he didn't recognise you. If you wore makeup, he would be sure not to recognise you and you'd look a lot prettier."

"I don't want to look any prettier, if I wore make up then I'd possibly offend my mother who is only going along with this because she thinks it a wonderful prank."

"She doesn't know about the change of name then?"

"No, you're the only one who does. Galbraith thinks I'm a girl..."

"He isn't the only one there is he?" she threw back at me.

I blushed and had to serve a customer and we broke off the conversation the boss was back at cash and carry again with another list I had drawn up for him of things we were running out of like crisps and toilet cleaner.

"So what time do you finish tonight?" asked Sîan, "I thought we could go somewhere," she added. I had to admit my evenings were virtually non-existent in terms of social activities.

"I'll have to go home and change," I answered.

"Not if you were to go as a girl."

"What?" I said perhaps too loudly, it was wonderful that there was no one in the shop as I ejaculated my answer.

"It's easy, bring something and change in here and we'll go out and do the flicks or something, perhaps go for a drink after by which time you dad will be fast asleep."

"You have forgotten, that I don't have a lot of stuff at home, my parents go looking for it and purge it."

"Well, wear that, I'm sure it'll be okay."

"What? I've been wearing this since five o'clock I need a wash as well and don't forget I need to get to bed."

"Not on a Saturday?"

"Yes, very much on Saturday, it's only Sunday I have off and old Galbraith has asked me to do those as well before I start college."

"I just thought you'd like a girl's night out before we go our separate ways."

"I'd love that but I'm not too worried about going out in boy form with you to say cheerio for now."

"Yeah, but I have standards and you as a boy look more like a girl than anyone I know. So how about I loan you a dress and we go out for a meal?"

"How do I know it'll fit?"

"My stuff all did last year."

"But we've changed somewhat since then, I mean, you've got bigger boobs."

"So have you."

"They're little breast buds, probably all I shall grow until I can take hormones."

"How many boys do you know who have breast buds at your age?"

"I have no idea," I stated wishing to end this conversation.

"Practically none, it usually happens younger during the start of puberty when hormones are running amok, it's called gynomastia or something like that not only that but puberty seems to passed you by. You're not taking something are you?"

"No, I'm not, I'm probably just a late developer."

"Yeah, so late it missed the bus."

"Look, I'm quite happy I haven't got a deep voice or body hair, I don't know why but if I do transition as I plan to, all those things would have to be sorted."

"I reckon you should have a chromosome test in case you're something odd."

"Oh, thanks. I am something odd, I'm a girl in a boy's body how odd is that?"

"Looks quite a female body from where I'm standing."

"What d'you mean?"

"You have narrow shoulders, small waist and broader hips than most boys and those girl's jeans you're wearing fit you perfectly, but that because your arse is bigger and your long hair. Yeah, all typical boy."

I blushed and she got fed up with me and went. I missed her company but I really didn't need her pointing out what she thought were my female dimensions. I was already aware that I had to buy women's trousers or jeans if I didn't want them to fall down, my hips and waist measurements were more female than male and now my chest was starting to let me down, oh boy, why couldn't I just transition now. Because my dad would kill me, that's why.

I hadn't worked a Sunday before and I had to get Mum to buy me a couple of tops and more jeans so I could continue working. I largely wore trainers, ladies ones of course, but even there I had to get mum to order me some more through her catalogue. Fortunately, I had quite a narrow foot and could wear a size six in UK sizing so girl's ones fit me okay.

I crawled into work as Galbraith was making up the paper rounds , just as well you came in Charlotte, Mike's sick with some sort of injury from soccer last night, his mum rang just after you left yesterday, so I'm going to have to do his round so you'll have to man the shop on your own.

"That's okay Boss," I said to him noticing that we had a range of makeup we hadn't carried before. I'd have a look before he came back. It was six o'clock and she shop was open as was my mouth in a terrific yawn.

"Nice teeth," said a male voice as my yawn repeated itself. I managed to mutter a grunt which could have meant anything. "Doing anything tonight?" he threw at me and apart from shock the last thing I needed was a date.

"Yeah," I answered, "Sleeping."

He laughed, "Okay we sleep if you want," he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"Go home to your wife," I responded as I collected his money for his Sunday paper, she was in here the other day with your two little girls."

"I was only joking, you needed cheering up," he said leaving.

"Yeah, right..." I had seen him with his kids and with his wife as well. She was no oil painting but she was female, which I wasn't, at least physically, the girls were lovely and I envied them with their promises of growing into proper women, all I'd be was a facsimile but I felt I'd be happier than I was now, being a nothing. I failed the exam to be male and didn't quite have the required bits to be female.

I tidied up some more shelves writing down on a scrap of a cardboard box what we were short of. I also perused the makeup and treated myself to various bits including mascara and lipstick. I got ten per cent discount so it was cheaper here than in a chemist's shop and I loaded my treasures into my Care Bears back pack which was under the counter. I'd tell Galbraith when he came back. I had a till receipt.
It got to lunch time on the Sunday and Galbraith told me I could go, I told him about the makeup and he gave me the rest of the price of it as a token of his appreciation and that he would pay me until one o'clock so I made half an hour on the deal as well as a fe freebie items of makeup. He told me he approved of my honesty and gave me a bottle of nail varnish as well. How he'd balance the till was his problem. I pulled on my backpack and walked towards home. I should have warned Mum that I was on my way home in case she'd cooked, but she hadn't we were having our main meal at six because she didn't know what time I'd be home. Dad was in his office and very busy with work so I don't know if he even knew I'd been out or returned. I'm not sure he cared either, I know I didn't and although I was hungry I was tired more than anything else. I had a cup of soup thing and went to my bed for an hour's rest.

Once I had worked out where I was and what time it was, I felt much better and helped Mum with the dinner I had changed out of my shop clothes and she told me she had held back a machine wash so I could include mine. It was a pity because it was fine today and rained the next. However, we dried the essential stuff over the radiators and put the rest on the clothes-airer in the utility room. After dinner she told me I could either pay her for my catalogue items or do the ironing until I went away. I worked out it was about forty quid's worth of goods so I accepted her deal. I spent an hour ironing before I went to bed, no wonder I had such a poor social life.

While I was out the next day her catalogue order was delivered and I was pleased that everything I had ordered fitted me like a glove. What I didn't know was she had ordered me another bra and a new pair of shoes. These were casual flats in black which she thought I could wear with jeans when I was working.

I was so tired that I thanked her and went to bed. I should have asked why she apparently supported me this time but any other time she told my dad and he would play hell with me. Having gone early to bed I then couldn't sleep because this puzzle was going round and round in my head.

I heard her come upstairs for something and leapt out of bad wearing panties and tee shirt so I had to call her into my room. I asked why she was supporting me working as a girl but generally was against it.

"I don't quite know, I suppose when Mr Galbraith said he needed someone in the shop I thought it would suit you, then he mistook you for a girl, so just felt it would be quite a giggle to make him think you were my daughter and as everyone seems to think your name is Charlotte, I thought what the hell? and volunteered you. I thought working as a girl would teach you something about women and also I thought you would enjoy the opportunity to do so. Have you enjoyed it?"

"I suppose I have except for the early mornings but even those are becoming easier. Oh, by the way, my name is officially Charlotte."

"What?" she looked at me wide-eyed.

"In order to be paid I had to produce documents from the tax office and National Insurance. I told them I was transitioning to female and wanted my name to be registered as Charlotte. I had to do a statutory declaration with a solicitor to make the changes."

"Good gracious if your dad ever finds out he'll kill both of us." She looked shocked.

"Relax I will only need it if I do any paid work, Oh, Galbraith offered me a job in the Christmas recess, I told him I'd let him know as we only have just over two weeks and I don't know if continued sleep deprivation is worth it."

"Yes, I take your point."

"Anyway, he seems to have got fond of me working for him he told me I was honest and reliable, unlike the kids who do the paper rounds."

"Well that's nice to know, but I understand about the paper boys, they don't seem to have any moral fibre these days."

"Whatever, I need to sleep."

"Yes, of course." I was just about at the entrance to my room when she added, "Charlotte, sleep well.," and smiled to me.