45th Annual Gala of Tiresias: 1

 

Skyler finds himself in an awkward situation and, because the situation could lead
to a huge scholarship, all the women in his life seem to want to keep him in that situation.
As I have done in a previous story, there are links posted at the end of each chapter that
will bring you to a YouTube version of the music mentioned. There's only one link for this
chapter, but there will be more as the story progresses. Please feel free to leave comments!
A QUICK NOTE: This was a long and somewhat challenging story for me, AND it
was written during the most busy, exhausting and frustrating six months of my life. I hope
it appeals to you. If it doesn't, that's cool, too, but regardless,
it was my link to sanity during a tough time.

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Author's Note:Please, if you like my story, leave me a review? Good or bad I read them all! ~Clara.
 
This version of 45th Annual Gala of Tiresias: 1 has been updated with many corrections towards spelling and grammar.~Sephrena.
 
Image Credit: Image created through the use of ai at https://perchance.org/beautiful-people .~Sephrena.

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Chapter 1
 

"I'm going to be introducing a bill that will make it a felony to perform any sort of gender-affirming medical care to anyone under the age of twenty-five anywhere in the United States," the congresswoman said on the television and thousands of people screamed in support.

"What the hell?" Jenny mumbled, looking at the screen.

"What does this mean?" Jenny's wife asked.

"It means they're attacking trans-kids for their own political gain."

"I don't know about you," the congresswoman said with a superior sneer on her face, "but when it comes to the children of this great nation, I think we have a duty... We have a sacred responsibility, and that is to be the people who protects our children."

"Unbelievable," Jenny said, shocked and angered. "With everything that's going wrong in this world, why the hell are they picking on trans-kids? Lord, I'm only twenty-four myself! When did I become the enemy of the entire nation?"
 

~^~
 

"Oh, come on, mom, no!" Skyler whined from the passenger side back seat. He glanced at his girlfriend sitting beside him in the backseat, who seemed confused by the interaction. They'd only been dating a few months or so and up till now, Skyler and his mother seemed to get along well.

"Come on, Skyler," his mother said, with an exasperated sigh, pulling into a parking space, "it'll take fifteen minutes or so. I'm up against the clock here."

"This is Regina's thing. Let her deal with it."

"There's not enough time, Sky. She has dance class and and a voice lesson after that. She needs this for Thursday and I don't have time to get back here again with her before then. Please. You've done this before. You know it's no big deal."

He glanced at Hanna, his girlfriend, again, not knowing what to say.

"Is everything ok?" Hanna asked.

When Skyler didn't answer, his mother gave out that same sigh again, then asked, "Hanna, what size dress do you wear?"

Hanna looked a bit confused, but answered. "Usually a six, but if it's tight, I go with an eight. Why?"

"And how tall are you?"

"Five ten."

His mother turned in her seat and looked at him. "Well, that won't do, Skyler, will it?"

"I won't do?" Hanna asked, confused and a little insulted.

"Mom..." he looked from her to Hanna and back again, "why would you have just driven us here without telling me why we're here? This is so embarrassing."

"Well, I didn't tell you why because I want there to be enough time for you to say no," she said, matter of factly, "and I didn't think it would be a big deal because I didn't know that Hanna would be with us until I picked you up at the repair shop. So... best laid plans and all that, but I still need your help. So, come on. Please."

He folded his arms across his stomach and slammed his back into the back of the seat with a frustrated, childish grunt.

"Ummm..." Hanna looked around. "Can I ask what is happening here?" No one said anything, so she continued, "I mean... I don't want to get into the middle of a family thing, but... I kinda feel like I already am, so... what's going on?"

"Well, if you're not going to tell her, I will," Skyler's mother said.

Skyler shook his head a few times, angrier than a bee, then said, "My youngest sister, Regina, has a talent show - a pageant, really - this weekend and my MOTHER has to deal with her final fitting for her dress."

"And?" Hanna was just as confused as she had been before.

"And..." Skyler's mother took over, "as it turns out, my nineteen-year old son and my fourteen-year-old daughter are both a perfect size two. How do I know this, because I made Regina's last two dresses myself and I used Skyler as a model more than once. Unfortunately, I was too busy to sew this dress, so I had to hire a seamstress. As it turns out, though, Regina has been too busy to get here this week for fitting."

"So, all you want is for Sky to try on the dress?"

"Yes, that's all," his mother confirmed with a nod, shutting off the car's engine.

Hanna unbuckled her seatbelt. "Well, come on, Sky. Let's go. It's no big deal."

"No big deal!? Hanna!? I don't want to do this in front of you!"

"Oh. Ok. I'll wait in the car, then," she replied, sounding frustratingly logical.

"No... ARGH!... I don't want to do it AT ALL! I mean... doing it at home was bad enough, but... having other people see me like that..."

"Alright, you're being overly dramatic, Skyler," his mother said, nonchalantly. "The shop closed at five, it's almost five fifteen now and the only person in there will be Janis, the woman sewing the dress. You've met her before when we dropped off the sketches and the measurements. She knows you're coming in to be Reggie's proxy. The quicker we go in there, the quicker we'll be done, and Hanna, you are certainly NOT waiting in the car in a deserted parking lot in this part of town. It's too dangerous. You will be coming in as well."

Hanna looked at Skyler and shrugged. "Sorry. I guess I'm coming in."

His mother and his girlfriend got out of the Toyota RAV 4. Skyler saw no alternative. He punched the side of his seat with his left hand and opened his door.

Skyler was a small guy. Five foot five inches tall and only a hundred and twelve pounds. In high school, he'd pretty much hung out in the music wing playing piano and hanging with other music kids. The other music kids weren't exactly his friends, in that they never hung out after school or anything, but at least they appreciated his abilities. He never had a girlfriend until he'd met Hanna when she'd transferred to his college mid-year. They were both Music majors and became instant friends. Skyler had really wanted to ask her out, but she just seemed like forbidden fruit to him because she was not only several inches taller than him and as personable as he introverted, she was also beautiful in that cute 'girl next door' kind of a way. That is, of course, if the girl next door was a tall, confident savant who knew more about music history and the lives and works of composers than most of the professors at his college.

She'd shocked him when she'd asked him out to dinner and a movie one night. He'd happily accepted, and fully expected to pay, but Hanna had taken the lead that night, and frankly had continued to take the dominant role in the relationship. She paid for everything and even told him how nice he looked. It was an odd thing for a woman to tell a man, but he'd liked it.

Now, that great relationship was about to come to an end because his stupid car needed new brakes and his mother drove to the garage to pick them up. She said that she'd pick him up as long as they could 'make one stop' one the way home. Skyler had been willing to help out as Regina's stand-in for fittings at home a couple of times as long as no one knew about it, but this... THIS was too much. When Hanna saw him in whatever over the top confection his mother had designed for Regina to wear to her talent show next weekend, she'd drop him like a hot potato. No beautiful woman like Hanna would be interested in a pansy wearing a pageant dress.

"Hey, what's the matter?" Hanna asked with a bit of a chuckle as Skyler lingered behind them. "You seem upset."

"Of course I'm upset!" Skyler steamed, but he did so quietly so that his mother didn't hear him. "This is bull. For like the last eight months or so, Regina and I have been the same size and, with Reggie being the golden child, my mother has used me as a human dress form a half dozen times to pin hems or see how a dress hangs... whatever... and that was all bad enough, but to drag me out and have me do it in public... and in front of YOU! It's just too much."

"Hey, it's ok," Hanna laughed. "I think it's great that you're willing to help out your sister. I'd help out mine, if I could. It's no big deal. And don't worry - I won't think any less of you as a guy for doing it. It's the twenty first century, Sky. Clothes are clothes. Who cares? Just do it and we'll go back to your mom's house for a few hours, then I'll get an Uber back to my dorm later. Ok?"

He took a deep breath and shrugged. "Yeah. I guess." He shook his head. "The only good thing about all this is that I noticed the other day that Regina is just a little taller than me, now. So, pretty soon we won't be the same size."

"Oh, cool," Hanna smiled as they walked towards the custom clothing shop. "Then you'll be her little brother."

"Very funny," Skyler scoffed. "I'll always be older."

"Yes, so you'll always be Reggie's OLDER brother, just like Amanda and Kathy will always be YOUR older sisters, and since they are taller than you, they are your BIG sisters as well, but if you say that Reggie is taller than you, too, then that means that she is your BIG SISTER, too. So, you might not be the youngest in the family, but you're still kind of the baby of the family, and I think that's very cute." She was teasing him in a playful voice. Usually, when she made playful taunts about his petite stature, he was turned on. Now, he just seemed ticked off.

"Great. Cute. Just what I wanted to hear." He pushed his long hair, that had not been cut since his high school graduation a year and a half earlier, behind his shoulders, which made Hanna smile. He was cute, whether he wanted to admit it or not.

The door chime sounded as they entered the strip-mall store and a smiling, thirty-something woman came hustling into view from behind the counter. "Mrs Moynihan and party?" she asked.

"Yes," Skyler's mother smiled.

"Wonderful," the woman bubbled. She hurried to the door and turned the lock so that no one else could enter. She turned and smiled at Skyler. "So... this must be Regina, then?" She extended her hand.

Skyler looked at her as if she was just a bit crazy. "I'm Skyler. Regina is my sister."

"Oh," the store owner, Janis, squinted, concerned as she looked at Hanna. "I'm hoping you're not Regina, because you've got more curves than I accounted for when I made the dress."

Hanna laughed. "No. I'm Hanna. I'm Sky's girlfriend."

Janis looked at Skyler's mother. "Sooooo... I thought we were doing a final fitting tonight...?"

"We are," Mrs Moynihan smiled. "I'm sorry. I thought I'd explained this. Regina has a very busy schedule and is unable to be here tonight. As I've mentioned, I have sewn many dresses for all of my daughters, and I discovered that my son, Skyler, is exactly the same size as Regina - Well, he is when he has a padded bra on, and I brought one for him to wear."

Skyler blushed a little, and then blushed a little more when he heard Hanna let out a little giggle.

"Ok," Janis flashed a nervous smile, "Just to be clear, there are actually two separate people - Regina and Skyler. Correct?"

"Correct." All of the other three said together.

"Alright. I'm sorry. I was confused," Janis chuckled at herself. "When Skyler came in with you and you dropped off your sketches and the measurements, I guess I just assumed that the dress was for the person with you."

"You thought my son was my daughter!?" Mrs Moynihan guffawed. "See, I told you to cut your hair, Skyler! Janis thought you were a girl!"

Skyler shook his head, seeing no humor in this conversation.

"No, no, no," Janis said. "I knew Skyler was a boy, I just assumed that the dress was for him. You know... for the Gala, and everything. I guess I just leapt to the conclusion that Skyler was part of the competition at the Gala. See, I've been commissioned to design and sew several dresses for contestants in that event, but... never mind. I was wrong, anyway. Skyler, please come with me. The dress is in the changing room back here."

"Oh, take this bag," Mrs Moynihan said, holding out a bag. "There's a bra, panties and a pair of heels."

"Geez," Skyler grunted, shaking his head and taking the bag.

"Right this way," Janis said and led him toward the back of the store.

"So..." Hanna smiled impishly, "how frequently have you dressed Sky up in Reggie's clothes."

Mrs Moynihan huffed a bit. "It's not like that, Hanna. Regina goes through a lot of outfits in these competitions, and I had to sew a lot of dresses. I don't have one of those dress dummy things and I needed to set hems, etc... Regina is never home and one day Skyler was just hanging around...I measured him, and he was the same size as Regina, so... To answer your question... maybe a dozen times... maybe a few more than that."

That was interesting.

"Ok, he'll be out in a few minutes," Janis said, appearing again. "Sorry about the confusion."

"No problem," Mrs Moynihan smiled.

There were a few moments before Hanna asked, "So... this Gala you mentioned? What's that all about?"

"Oh!" Janis grabbed a flier and handed it to Hanna. "It's a yearly thing that happens in different locations all over the country. This year it's at The Ansonia Mansion over off of Salisbury Street. It's next month. It's a drag competition with a talent show and a big prize. Oops... sorry... they really hate the term 'drag.' It's kind of a womanless pageant, though.

"How big a prize?" Hanna asked, looking at the flier.

"A hundred thousand dollars in cash and scholarships to the big winner," Janis smiled. "It's only open to amateurs, so a lot of local boys are throwing their hats into the ring."

"Huh," Hanna said, decidedly interested.

"I need a little help with the zipper!" The cry for help came from the rear of the store.

"I'll be right back," Janis laughed and went to help.

"This is just unfair," Hanna muttered.

"What's that?" Mrs Moynihan asked.

"Oh," Hanna laughed, looking up. "This competition. 'The 45th Annual Gala of Tiresias.' It's a womanless pageant to benefit young people in crisis, but the prizes are incredible! The winner gets twenty-five thousand dollars in cash and seventy-five thousand in scholarship money. Even the other final five contestants get big scholarships. I wish I could enter! God, Sky should enter this. He could win in a heartbeat. Too bad."

"Here we go," Janice said with a smile, hustling back onto the store. She made a show of introducing Skyler by making broad arm gestures. She was a tad deflated when it took Skyler a moment to appear, though.

"Oh, yes!" Mrs Moynihan said as her son appeared in a slightly retro looking, scoop necked dress with short, puff-ball sleeves, a wide 'belt' area that ran from just below the breast line to the high waist, a wide skirt with an un-hemmed bottom that ended just below his knees. The dress was a white material with little blue flowers on tiny branches printed all over it. It was a kind of classic 1960s cocktail dress with a few twenty first century updates. Very pretty. Very elegant. Very feminine. "That is perfect, Janice! The theme for Regina's performance is 'Beehive: The Girl Singers of the Late Fifties and Sixties.' This will just be perfect. Just perfect!"

What Skyler's mother saw was the perfect dress for her youngest daughter.

What Skyler's girlfriend saw was something very different, though. Until just a moment ago, this was just a cute little romp. 'It's just clothes,' she'd just said to Skyler and she'd meant it.

But it wasn't just clothes.

It was a very, very, very, very pretty dress and a guy she was dating and had strong, romantic feelings for was wearing it and, to be honest, looking pretty damned cute in it. Even with the little bit of hair on his legs and no shoes on his feet.

"So, there are a couple of choices," Janis started her pitch. "The neckline is elastic, so you can wear it open shouldered if you'd like." She pulled the puff-ball sleeves to the side and slid them down Skyler's arms a few inches to demonstrate the more daring way to wear the dress.

"No. I don't think that's appropriate," Mrs Moynihan said, her head shaking. "Regina is only fourteen, after all."

"Of course," Janice said, returning the puff-ball sleeves to Skyler's shoulders.

Skyler was relieved to have his shoulders covered again.

Hanna was disappointed that the little, white bra straps on his shoulders were suddenly covered again. Why on earth would she find bra straps exciting!? Well, she certainly did that day!

"Ok, now, before I hem the skirt," Janice said, a little excited, "we have some options. A dress like this can be worn just as is, with the wide skirt hanging loosely. This way it's kind of flirty and flouncy and a bit less formal."

"Um Hmm," Mrs Moynihan nodded and looked at the skirt.

"It can also be petticoated, though," Janice continued, "and in the era you're discussing - the late fifties and early sixties - a woman singing from a night club stage would most certainly be wearing at least one, probably two petticoats."

Skyler's mother thought for a moment. "I think you're correct, Janice. The fuller the look, the better."

"Ok, now with that in mind," Janice smiled, "we could use an outer petticoat with a lace ruffle around the bottom. That way we could hem the dress so that a little lace peeks out from the bottom of the hem. That was a very stylish touch at the time."

"Hmm," Mrs Moynihan considered. Then she turned to Hanna. "Hanna, you're on stage a lot. What would you prefer? Just the clean hem of the dress or the lace fringe peeking out?"

"Oh, the lace peeking out," Hanna answered entirely too quickly and entirely too excitedly. "I mean... if that was the style of the day..." she calmed her words, "... then I'd go with that."

"I think you're right," Mrs Moynihan nodded.

"Excellent!" Janice smiled. "Come with me and let's pick out the petticoats."

She and Skyler's mother walked to the other side of the store, giving Hanna a minute to walk close enough to Skyler to speak.

"That is a very pretty dress, Sky."

"Very funny."

"I'm not being funny. I like it." She began preening the puff-ball sleeves and neckline, making everything 'just so.' "I'm sure it'll be even prettier with the petticoats. I kind of like you like this. I could get used to having a 'little woman' around to take care of me. A nice 1950s housewife kind of gal to greet me at the door when I come home from a hard day's work."

She was being flirtatious, and it was working. Inside the high waisted cotton panties that Skyler wore, there were stirrings that he'd rather not be having right now. Not dressed like this. Not is this shop. Not in front of Hanna.

"Come on," he whispered. "Stop teasing."

She raised her eyebrows and smiled. "I am only teasing a little, Sky. I really do like the way you look in this."

"Here we go," Janice said as they returned with two very flouncy petticoats over Janice's arms. "Skyler, if you'd hop up on this platform, I will help you put the petticoats on."

"Great," Skyler mumbled as he climbed the two stairs onto the platform.

"Here, we'll start with the outer petticoat first. It's a little longer and fuller," Janice said, her smile broad and sincere. "Now, you turn your back to me and step into this. I'll guide it up under the skirt of the dress."

When Skyler had turned his back to her, Janice held the larger and more ornate of the petticoats open and Skyler placed his bare feet into the waistband. Then she helped him raise it up to his waist.

"This one is smaller and shorter," Janice explained, holding it open from behind. Again, he stepped in and again she raised it, so it tucked up under the first one. "Now, let me grab my pins."

"I'll help you with your shoes," Hanna said, grabbing the pumps off the sales counter where Skyler had left them, and bringing them to the platform.

"I feel like an idiot," he muttered.

"You look like a princess," she whispered. "I'm not kidding. You look amazing."

"I don't want you to see me as a princess, Hanna."

"Oh, don't be that way, and slip on your glass slipper, Cinderella." She smiled up at him and slipped the pump onto his foot, then stepped out of the way as Janice returned.

"So, in the style of the day," Janice jumped into gear, "the petticoat would just cover her knee, and the hem..." she folded the edge of the skirt back under the front of the skirt until the lace fringe of the top petticoat just peeked out. Then she put a pin in to hold it in place. Before she spoke again, she did this four more times so the lace trim was peeking out for about eight or ten inches across the front of the retro style dress. She stepped back and pointed at her work. "What do you think?"

"I think that's perfect!" Skyler's mother enthused. "She'll look just perfect in that. Don't you think so, Hanna?"

"Hmm?" Hanna asked, quickly hiding her phone, with which she'd been taking photos. "Oh, yes... he'll look perfect... I mean... Reggie will look perfect in that. I love the petticoats and the little bit of lace peeking out. So pretty and feminine."

"Alright, then, perfect!" Janice said clasping her hands together. "Then, if you can wait for twenty minutes or so, I'll hem the dress, Skyler can try it on once more and we'll be done. Sound good?"

"Sounds wonderful," Skyler's mother said, happily. "Step down, Skyler, and let's get you out of that."

'Thank God,' he thought, not really thinking ahead.

Hanna hurried to the steps and held out a hand to help him step down. Without thinking, he took her hand in his right hand and pulled his skirts to the side with his left so he could see where he was placing his heeled feet. It was a simple gesture, but it spoke of womanhood of a bygone era.

"Here, just turn your back to me and I'll get the zipper for you," Janis said.

"Thanks," Skyler replied, relieved to be taking off the very feminine dress.

Once the zipper was lowered, he took a step towards the changing room, but Janice stepped in front of him and just lowered the sleeves down his arms and then the entire dress down past the petticoats to the floor so he could step out of it, leaving him in a lace covered bra, a lace trimmed petticoat and a pair of shiny, black, pattern leather, pointed toed, three inched pumps.

"Here," Janice said, handing him a short, white, silk robe with the word 'bride' embroidered across the left breast in a flamboyant script of bright pink thread.

Skyler put it on quickly in an attempt to cover the bra, but the silky material only made the shape of the bra more apparent than it was without the garment, and the word 'bride' combined with the vastness of the petticoats only made him look more girlish.

Janice headed into the sewing area behind the counter and Skyler's mother followed to watch her work in the hopes of picking up some pointers.

"I can't believe she did this," Skyler sulked, crossing his arms in front of him and sitting in a chair in the waiting area, unconsciously crossing his legs at the knees as his petticoats splayed about him. "I helped her and Regina out a couple of times and this is how she repays me? By embarrassing me in front of you? I seriously cannot believe it."

"Oh, stop," Hanna smiled and gave his top knee a playful slap. "If it's any conciliation, I'm enjoying myself tremendously! I think you look adorable, and I'm not just saying that. If I could have my way, I'd like to see you like this more frequently."

"What are you talking about?" Skyler asked, looking at his girlfriend, completely confused.

"I'm serious, Sky. Remember before, when I said it was just clothes? Well, I was wrong. This dress isn't just clothes. This dress is like a whole leap into sexuality that I never expected to take. I'm not a lesbian, Sky, but... damn! I mean, seeing you dressed that way... I wish I could just have you alone for a couple of hours looking like that. Actually, I'd take you for a couple of hours looking like this!"

He shook his head. "You're nuts."

"No, I'm horny because you're hotter than hell, babe. You're not seeing yourself, I am. You know, if you did your hair a little nicer, wore a little makeup and got used to walking better in heels, no one would ever suspect..."

She stopped dead and looked away from Skyler.

"What?" He asked.

"Shit," she muttered as she hurried to the counter and grabbed the pamphlet she'd had before. She handed it to Skyler. "Sky, you've got to do this, babe. You could win this in a heartbeat. You have to do this."

"'The 45th Annual Gala of Tiresias?' What is it?" He asked, unable to even read the pamphlet due to Hanna's excitement.

"It's like one of Reggie's pageants, Sky, but it's for guys - guys pretending to be girls. It's like it was made for you to win! Look at the freaking prize, Sky! You can win this!"

"What are you talking about? A drag show? No way!"

"No, it's not a drag show... well, I guess it kind of is, but it's not that kind of outrageous drag you're thinking of. It's more of a... like... a tribute to women by men, you know? Like men doing their best to impersonate women. Anyway, Sky, I'm looking at you right now and you already look more like a woman, well, a girl really, than I would have thought possible, and there's a talent section in the competition and you're probably the best singer/piano player at the college! Sky, this could pay for the rest of your college and then some! Maybe even pay for some of your grad-school if you wanted to do that! You have to do this!"

"Wait, wait wait!" Skyler said, trying to read the pamphlet. "This is in like three weeks. The deadline to sign up is the day after tomorrow. I don't know about this, Hanna. I mean, it's a lot to think about. I'm not sure I want to be known around campus as 'the drag queen,' you know?"

"You won't be a drag queen, Sky, you'll just be... I don't know, but it won't involve any of that over the top makeup and stuff you're thinking about. None of the RuPaul's Drag Race stuff, just... I don't know how to say it, but... just being ... like Reggie is at her pageants. Just being... beautiful and... female, I guess."

"But. I'm not a female, Hanna. Why would I want to do this?"

"For a hundred thousand dollars, Sky! Twenty-five thousand in cash and seventy-five thousand in scholarship money. If that's not worth it, I don't know what is!"

He sighed. "Alright. I'll think about it. Ok?"

Hanna shook her head in frustration. How could he not see this as a golden opportunity? "Ok."

It took a few minutes, but eventually Skyler's mother and Janice reappeared with the fully hemmed dress.

"All set, Regina," Janice said, then corrected herself, "sorry, Skyler. Ready for your final fitting. Please stand and I'll help you get this on."

Skyler stood and Janice lowered the dress over his head. Once it was past his shoulders, she raised it up his arms and zipped it up his back, finally clasping the tiny hook and eye clasp at the top of the track. She took a moment to adjust the dress, then said, "Ok. Up on the platform with you. Let your mommy see how pretty you look."

She wasn't teasing at all, it was just force of habit. It was the way she spoke to her clients all the time. Skyler looked like a teenaged girl who was trying on a new, fancy dress. That's an exciting moment for a teenaged girl. Janice was just on autopilot and was speaking to Skyler the same way she'd spoked to dozens of teenaged girls in the past.

Skyler carefully mounted the stairs and stood, ready for inspection. He knew from experience that he needed to stand straight and tall. Slouching in protest would just result in prolonging the experience.

"There! What did I tell you?" Janice said with pride. "Perfect, right?"

"Absolutely perfect!" Skyler's mother said, clapping her hands together. "Oh, Janice, I never could have sewn something this precious. What do you think, Hanna?"

"Precious is the right word," Hanna smiled. "Reggie will look just precious in it, too."

"Well, I certainly hope so," Skyler's mother smiled. "Skyler, if you could see yourself in that dress, I swear, you'd wish you were a girl so you could wear that yourself."

"Doubtful," Skyler replied, without much interest in engaging in a conversation.

"So, are you happy with everything?" Janice asked.

"Thrilled," Mrs Moynihan confirmed. "I will send you pictures of Regina on stage so you can see her in her full makeup and everything. You'll love it!"

"That will be wonderful! If you don't mind, I may put those on my website."

"That's fine."

"Now, do you need help getting out of that dress, Skyler?" Janice asked.

Before he could answer, Hanna responded, "You two take care of the paperwork. I'll help Sky."

"Thank you, Hanna. Oh, and bring the petticoats out, too. I'll be taking those as well." Skyler's mother smiled and walked into the office area with Janice, while Hanna offered Skyler a hand so he could navigate the stairs without falling.

"There you go, my princess," she giggled as he reached the floor.

"Hilarious," he smirked. "Just unzip me, please."

"When we're in the dressing room, milady. When we're in the dressing room," she laughed.

She took his hand and led him to the rear of the store and into the changing room where she turned and threw her arms around him, clamping him into a tight hug and planting a firm kiss onto his lips, catching him completely off guard.

When the kiss ended, he looked up at her, blinked and said, "What was that?"

"That was a kiss, silly," she giggled as she ran her finger gently along the side of his bra. "You don't mind, do you?"

"No, but... what if my mother comes in?"

Hanna gave a small giggle. "It's her fault I'm so hot and bothered, actually. If she hadn't dressed you up like this, I wouldn't be so revved up."

"Revved..."

She kissed him again. This time, while she kissed him, she undid the hook and eye at the top of his zipper and ran the zipper down to the top of his rump.

When this kiss ended, Hanna sighed, "Ahh, what a shame. I'd love to keep you dressed like this all night."

"What?"

"You get changed and meet me out front, but," she grabbed his boxers off of a hook on the wall and stepped out the door, "leave the panties on."

"What!? Why!?"

"Because I like them and knowing that you have them on is sexy for me." She smiled a very devilish smile. "See you out front."

It took a few minutes for Skyler to get completely changed out of the dress, bra, petticoats and pumps, and get into his jeans, tee shirt and sneakers again, and get out to the sales floor where his mother, Hanna and Janice were waiting. Over one arm, he was carrying the dress and petticoats, and in the other hand he was carrying the bag his mother had given him containing the bra and shoes.

"Here. Let me take those from you," Janice said, taking the dress and petticoats from him. "I'll just put these on hangers and into some garment bags so you can get going."

"So," Skyler's mother looked at her son as they waited, "I know that Hanna showed you this flier, have you given any thought to participating in that gala?"

Skyler shot Hanna a suspicious look.

"Don't look at me," she said, holding her hands up defensively. "It was Janice's suggestion, not mine. I just told them that I'd mentioned it to you."

He shook his head. "Mom... I don't know. I mean... it's a lot to think about..."

"What's to think about, Skyler?" His mother asked, confused by his hesitation. "Look, I'm a single parent and I'm still paying off your older sisters' college educations. You've done well with scholarships to this point, but there is still a good deal of debt adding up, and you still have a long way to go. Skyler, I still have Regina's education to pay for, too. Do you think that all of these pageants and contests that she's involved in are just to massage her ego? No! They're scholarships, Skyler. Every time she wins one, that's a few thousand dollars more that I don't have to pay for her college education. This is seventy-five thousand dollars in scholarship money, Skyler. SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS! Just think of how much debt you could save for each of us if you were to win that money."

"I know, but mom... wearing dresses and makeup..."

"Which is no more than I ask of Regina, Skyler." She shook her head, showing her frustration. "You know what, Skyler - Do whatever you want. Don't let me make up your mind for you, but just remember that this could really help out our family."

"Seriously? You're going to guilt me into wearing dresses?" Skyler asked.

His mother made a sour expression, shook her head, turned to see Janice approaching. "Do what you will, Skyler. I'm done talking about it anymore." She walked away, smiling at Janice as she took two, full garment bags from her.

They loaded up the back of the SUV and headed out of the parking lot.

"Would you like me to drive you home, Hanna?" Mrs Moynihan asked.

"No, that's ok. My computer and guitar are at your house and it's still kind of early. My roommate practices until around eight-thirty in our dorm, so it's kind of painful to be there until she's done. I'll take an Uber home in a couple of hours."

"Nonsense," Mrs Moynihan scoffed. "Skyler will drive you home in this car. Won't you, Skyler?"

"Huh? Oh... sure," he replied, jostled from his thoughts. "Yeah. Whenever you want."

"Great," Hanna smiled.
 

~^~
 

"In this state," the governor of a southern state said into a microphone at his rally, "we recognize the threat to our American families posed by the gay and trans agenda!"

"Oh, my God," Jenny sighed. "Will this never end?"

"We shall not be silenced on this matter and I am here to lead the charge to protect our citizens..."

She shut off the radio in the rental car. "I just don't get it," she shook her head. "These assholes say these terrible things and thousands of people are there to applaud them. Why? I have a good job - two, in fact, I have a wife and a baby on the way... how am I a threat to any of these people?"
 

~^~
 

When they reached their home, Skyler opened the back of the vehicle, pulled out the garment bags and carried them into the house. When they entered, they could smell pasta sauce coming from the kitchen stove.

"Oh, hey!" Skyler's older by three years sister, Kathy called out from the kitchen. "How did you make out? Is the dress pretty? Did Sky look pretty in it?" She hip checked her brother playfully due to the sauce on her hands.

"Very funny," he mumbled.

"He looked gorgeous," Hanna said, without any trace of humor.

"I bet he did," Kathy smiled. "You know, when he was little, Amanda and I used to dress him up in our old dresses all the time. He was a prettier little girl than either of us ever were."

"Oh, God, just stop," Skyler said, shaking his head and walking away.

Kathy smiled at Hanna. "We tease him, but he's a good sport."

Hanna nodded and looked to be sure that Skyler wasn't nearby. She handed the older girl a copy of the pamphlet for the gala they'd been discussing earlier. "I think he'd be a shoo-in to win this and so does your mom, but he doesn't want to do it."

"Geez, this is real money," Kathy laughed. "Why doesn't he want to do it?"

Hanna shrugged. "He's afraid that he'll be 'the campus drag queen' if he does it."

"Yeah, but he'd be the campus drag queen with a ton of money," Kathy said, shaking her head. "Want me to talk to him?"

"Maybe tomorrow. Let me work on him a little tonight."

"Hey! We're home!" Came a shout from the back door.

"Oh, hi," Kathy said, as she and Hanna turned to greet Amanda, Skyler's oldest sister, and Regina, his youngest, coming in the door.

"Did mom get my dress?" Regina asked excitedly.

"We did," Hanna said. "It's beautiful."

Regina smiled. "You went with mom and Sky? So... you saw Sky?" Regina giggled a bit.

"I did?" Hanna laughed. "Do you want to see the pictures of the dress?" She pulled out her phone and called up the pictures.

"Oh, man that's great!" Regina said, with the kind of enthusiasm only a fourteen-year-old girl can muster. "This is going to work great."

"Can I see?" Kathy asked.

"Me, too?" Amanda asked as well.

Hanna showed them all the pictures of Skyler in the dress and they all oohed and ahhed at how attractive this garment was and how pretty it looked on their brother.

Eventually, Hanna brought two small bowls of ziti and sauce into the family room and gave one to Skyler while keeping one for herself. They nibbled on that while watching a series on a streaming service that they'd heard great things about. It was pretty good, and they were enjoying it.

Regina came in with her own bowl of pasta and joined them. They all watched the show in silence for a while.

"Hey, Sky, thanks for standing in for me tonight," Regina finally said. "Mom said that you were kinda ticked off about it. Sorry. I thought she'd talked to you about it ahead of time."

Skyler shrugged. "You're welcome, I guess."

Regina picked up a flier from the arm of the couch. "What's this?" She asked no one in particular. She looked at it for a few moments, then said, "The 45th Annual Gala of Tiresias" she read aloud. "Who's Tiresias?" She wondered, also aloud. "Oh. Here it is. It's a Greek Mythology thing. 'Tiresias was a blind prophet of Apollo in Thebes, famous for clairvoyance and for being transformed into a woman for seven years." Suddenly she sat up straight. "Whoa! Sky! Are you doing this!?"

"I don't know. Maybe, but... probably not."

"Probably not!? Are you crazy! Sky, you could win this with one hand tied behind your back. Hanna, tell him he has to do this."

"Don't look at me," Hanna said, finishing her food and wiping her lips with a napkin. "He knows what I think."

"Give me your phone for a sec," Regina demanded.

"Say please," Skyler instructed his kid sister out of habit.

"Please," Regina said.

Hanna smiled and chuckled as she handed Regina her phone. She scrolled through a few pictures, then showed her brother one in which he was standing bolt upright with the completed dress hanging prettily from his shoulders. "Sky, look at this picture. I mean... you and I look practically like twin sisters in this picture for crying out loud, and you're not even wearing makeup. So, you already pass as a girl, you have the talent part of the show down, all you have to do is work on the other stuff - you know - the deportment, the Q&A, the bathing suit competition, and a few other things and you can win it! You got three weeks to prep for this, Sky! Do it! Do it! Do it!"

"Ok, back off, Reggie," Hanna said, holding up her left hand, while wrapping her right arm around Skyler's shoulders. "This is a big deal for Sky and we're going to let him make his own decision. Ok?"

"For real?" Regina asked, making a face. "I'm in a pageant almost every month because mom says if I want to go to college for musical theater, I have to win all these scholarships and you get to waltz through music school without any effort because you're the only boy in the family? That's not exactly fair, is it? And now that you can maybe win this huge scholarship, you might not do it? Well, I'm calling bull shit on that!"

"Hey!" Skyler said, setting his empty bowl aside. "First off, I have earned some scholarships through my playing for both semesters since I started college. Second, we do not look like sisters. You have blonde hair, mine is brown and mine isn't all layered like yours. Third, you are too young to be swearing like that, so knock it off."

"Yeah, I know about your scholarships, Sky. A few hundred here and a few hundred there. We should compare sometime. See how much I've got saved from pageant awards and see how much you've earned in scholarships. And 'bull shit' isn't a swear when it's what your brother is doing. It's just a noun... or maybe a verb... I'm not sure. And you should try to win the money, Sky. Even if you kept the cash for yourself, it'd still be a huge help for the rest of us if you had all of that scholarship money."

He shook his head. "I'm considering it. Ok?"

"Well... consider it a lot harder."

They went back to watching the show for a while. At one point, Hanna got up to use the rest room. Before coming back to the couch, she called in to Regina. "Umm, hey, Reggie... can I bother you for a second? I need a little help. Girl trouble."

Regina got up and hurried toward the downstairs lavatory. "Yep. Coming."

Skyler just shook his head and mumbled, "Gross."

Minutes later, they were back, and they all watched the show for another hour or so, until Hanna announced that she should be getting back to her dorm.

"Ok. I'll drive you back," Skyler said, standing. He found his mother in the kitchen. "Mom, can I take your car to drive Hanna home?"

"Of course. The keys are in the bowl by the door. Good night, Hanna."

"Good night, Mrs Moynihan," Hanna said as she headed out the door.
 

~^~
 

"So, after hearing from our citizens," the town councilor said through the TV as part of the evening news, "we are removing the Pride flags from all public buildings, and we are cancelling the Pride events that were scheduled to take place on the town common next month."

"What is going on with these people?" Jenny asked herself since she was the only one in her hotel room.

"This is ridiculous," a woman with a very short, military-style haircut said to a reporter. "We applied for a permit more than a year ago and we have performers and vendors who contracted to be on the town common for that day. Not only that, this is the fifth year that we've hosted this event and it has never caused any issues within this community. We even make sure that we don't interfere with traffic..."

The newscast continued, but Jenny was on her phone. "Hi, it's Jen," she said into the phone. "Did you see the story on the national news about that little town in Massachusetts canceling their Pride Day activities?" She listened for a moment. "I understand, but this town is only a few miles from The Ansonia Mansion... Yes, but you specifically picked this location because of the tolerant nature of the community and I'm not seeing a lot of tolerance at the moment... Ok... Alright. I'll get things prepared."
 

~^~
 

It took about twenty minutes to drive to the college campus and a couple of minutes to walk to the dorm. The whole time, Skyler was pretty quiet, seemingly preoccupied.

"Ok," Skyler said as they reached the dorm building's lobby, "I'll talk to you in the morning."

Hanna looked at her watch. "It's still early. Come on up for a few minutes."

He thought for a moment. "I don't know, Han..."

She took his hand in hers and motioned towards the upper levels of the building with a gesture of her head and a smile. "Come on." He looked at her and found her sweet smile irresistible. She let her smile grow a bit wider. "Come on," she said again.

Skyler smiled and let himself be led through the lobby, into the elevator and up to the fourth floor, where Hanna's dorm room was located. She picked up a note that had been written on a Post-It Note and stuck to the door as she entered.

"Huh. Yuki is out for the evening," she said, referring to her roommate. "We have a couple of hours to ourselves."

Without waiting for a reply, she towed him to her bed, which sounds more seductive than it should. The room consisted of just two beds and two desks with two chairs, so the bed was as much a couch as a bed it her mind.

Once seated, she pulled out her laptop and opened a music streaming service, then began playing some quiet music from her playlist.

"Ralph Vaughan Williams?" Skyler asked.

"Very good!" Hanna complimented. Recognizing legitimate music wasn't Skyler's strongest skill.

Skyler smiled. "Not bad for a pop music guy, right? This is 'In The Fen Country.' I wrote an in-depth analysis of it last semester. I love this piece. It's not as well-known as 'The Lark Ascending,' but I think it's more interesting in a lot of ways..." He stopped speaking because Hanna was suddenly kissing him... kind of a lot.

In less than a minute, Skyler was on his back and Hanna laying on top of him, as they kissed and groped at each other in the throes of awkward, young passion.

It wasn't long before Hanna had pulled off her top, allowing Skyler a perfect view of her modest, but beautiful breasts and the somewhat plain bra that contained them.

They'd been going at it for a few minutes when Hanna suddenly jumped off of the bed, leaving Skyler alone, and began to look into her rather large pocketbook.

"What are you looking for?" He asked.

"You'll see," she replied, looking at him over her shoulder with a mischievous smile.

In the short time that they'd been together, Hanna and Skyler had been somewhat adventurous. Lots of kissing and feeling each other up, some heavy petting, some hand and finger work and even some oral satisfaction for both parties, but no actual intercourse. If Hanna was digging out condoms, then this was a big step - one that Skyler wasn't sure he was ready to take just yet.

When she did pull something out and set it aside, Skyler couldn't see what it was, but it was too big to be a condom. In fact, it looked like it was just a neatly folded shirt or something. Anyway, she set it aside, and turned to face him, resplendent in just her jeans and bra.

She grinned and then theatrically, almost comically, she strutted sexily back to the bed where she took off first one, then the other of Skyler's Keds' high-top sneakers, then his socks. Then she gently gripped the cuffs of his jeans and gave a soft tug. Skyler lifted his bottom, and the pants rode past his rear and hips, and then were completely removed.

Then, in an almost motherly way, Hanna gathered the bottom of his oversized tee shirt and gently guided it past his arms, head and long hair, leaving him in just his underwear.

She took a moment to admire her nearly naked boyfriend. She smiled at him and shook her head. "My goodness, you are a sexy little thing, you know that?"

Skyler chuckled at that. "Yeah, I'm sure I am."

"Oh, you are, baby, trust me. That nearly smooth little body of yours, your thick, long hair and oh," she made a show of shivering, "those soft, cotton panties."

"W - What!?" He sputtered, having completely forgotten he'd kept those on. He looked down at the plain, yet obviously girlish panties and immediately clapped both hands to his face. "I don't believe this!"

"What?" Hanna laughed. "I'm the one who asked you to keep them on, remember? Didn't you think I'd want to see them again?"

"Oh, this is so embarrassing," he grunted, his face still covered.

"There is nothing embarrassing about looking nice, Sky. I love the way you look, and..." she reached down and began caressing him through the soft material of the panties, "...doesn't that feel nice?" Her voice sank to the level of a whisper.

He kept his face covered a moment or two longer, but the biology of the human male made it impossible for him to deny his enjoyment of the stimulation of certain erogenous parts of his body.

"It does, doesn't it?" She whispered once more.

He nodded and his hands moved away from his face as he relaxed.

She rubbed gently, careful not to let him get too aroused. "Sky... since we met, how many times have you seen me wear a dress?"

"I don't know. Twice maybe?"

"That sounds about right. And why did I wear a dress?"

"For performances."

"That's right," she smiled. "See, Sky... I don't mind putting on a dress and makeup and all that, but it's not something I look forward to like some girls do. It's just part of what I have to do. I never got that whole 'dresses are pretty' thing... until today."

She felt him tense up a bit, so she kissed him and was a bit more playful with his nether regions.

When he relaxed a bit, she continued. "Seeing you in that dress today, Sky... it really did something to me. Like, it made my heart beat a whole lot faster... the hair stood up on the back of my neck and... baby, I have wanted to touch you like this ever since."

"Really?"

"Really," she smiled down at him. "Sky, I have always thought that, for a boy, you were really cute - almost pretty - and I really liked that. I know most girls go for macho, but I prefer cute. But today... honey... in that dress, with those petticoats and all that pretty hair of yours... Sky, I've never felt like I wanted a boy the way I wanted you today."

Even though it seemed like there was a lot to unpack in that statement, Skyler was still enthralled by the compliment. So, he just smiled and blushed.

"I'd really like you to wear something for me, baby. Will you?" She teased in playful voice.

He shrugged and sighed. "Is it something girly?"

She nodded.

"And you really think it's a turn on?"

"Oh, yeah," she smiled. "I really do."

He thought for a moment before saying, "Ok, but no pictures or anything. Alright?"

She smiled. "Alright."

Hanna got up and retrieved what she'd taken out her bag earlier and shook it open. It was shiny, black, had spaghetti straps, a kind of Vneckline and wasn't very long. It also had black lace around the neckline and hem.

"Is that a slip?" He asked.

Hanna shrugged. "It's a long chemise. It can be a slip, or even a dress, or a nightgown. Right now, it's your nightie."

He looked at it for another moment or two. "And this is how you see me? As a girl?

She shook her head. "No. Not as a girl. I have no interest in girls. I'm only interested in you, Sky. I just want to see you looking pretty. Please." She wasn't begging, just asking.

He took a big breath and let it out. "Ok," he said at last, and he got up and stepped closer to Hanna so she could lower it on to him.

It was soft, and fluid, and electric on his skin. Of course, he'd worn a slip before in his role as dress-form, but a slip was different. A slip held snugly about his chest. This was different. This flowed around him.

He'd also gotten used to wearing bras and slips in front of his mother and sisters from time to time. Heck, he'd even worn a bra and petticoats in front of Hanna earlier that day. This was different, though. This time, he felt small, and... exposed and... aroused.

"Wow," Hanna whispered, "you really are adorable."

"Adorable..." Skyler said, shaking his head. "I'd prefer that you saw me as manly."

Hanna gave him an understanding smile. "Sky... I really, really like you, and I find you very attractive, but 'manly'... no, babe, I don't think that's a word I'd ever use to describe you. Cute? Sure. Adorable? Definitely. But never 'manly.'"

Skyler looked a little sad.

"Oh, come on, Sky, don't look like that. I didn't mean that as an insult. What I meant was... I guess I just saw something there that I didn't even know I saw until I saw you in that dress today. Then, whatever it was that I saw, came screaming out at me." She played with his long hair a bit. "It's not that I'm into woman or anything like that. It's just that I find you... beautiful. And there's nothing wrong with that, is there?"

He shrugged. "I guess not."

She bent lower and softly kissed his lips. "Of course not." She kissed him, again. This time, she slid her hand behind his head and gently held it there while she pressed a little harder. She took a little breath, then kissed him again, and this time, she pressed a bit harder and also, her other hand rubbed against the front of the black, nylon chemise, creating a smooth, exciting sensation on his panty clad manhood.

She moved her kisses to his cheek and then to his ear and then to his neck and then, somehow, he was on the bed, again, looking up at the ceiling and feeling the weight of the girl he loved on top of him as she kissed his neck and chest and lips and cheek and neck and lips and cheek and neck...
 

~^~
 

"Hi," Skyler said casually as he entered the kitchen through the back door.

"Hi," Kathy answered from the table where she had a computer and textbook open working on a project for her history class. She stayed focused on her work as she spoke. "Did you hit a lot of traffic?"

"No, not really. Why?" Skyler opened the refrigerator, pulled out a pitcher of vegetable juice and poured a glass.

"Oh, no reason," his sister smirked a bit. "It's just that it took you quite a while to get back from the..." she finally looked up for the first time. "Oh, Geez, Sky!" She stood and grabbed his hand, "Come with me. Quick!"

"Why? What's wrong?"

She didn't slow down, though. She pulled him past the entrance to the TV room where their mother was watching the nightly news and into the large bedroom at the end of the hall that she shared with their youngest sister, Regina, and she closed the door as quickly and quietly as she could.

"What's going on?" Regina asked, looking over from the desk in their room.

"Sit there," Kathy insisted, pointing Skyler to a chair in front of an old table they used as a vanity. Then she looked at her sister and said, "Look at his neck."

Regina stood and crossed to look at her brother's neck which was covered in small black-and-blue marks. "Oh, my God, Sky! You've got like a billion hickies!" She laughed at the silliness of it.

"Hickies!?" Skyler couldn't believe what he was hearing. He'd never heard of a boy getting a hickey before. "Seriously?" He turned to look in the mirror, shocked to see that she was right. He certainly didn't have a billion hickies, but he had plenty and they were very obvious against his pale skin.

"Is it really noticeable?" He asked.

"Is it noticeable!?" Kathy laughed. "When I first saw you, for a moment I thought that you had leprosy or something. If mom sees that, she'll bust a gasket!"

"How do I cover it?"

"I usually wear a scarf," Regina offered.

"Since when do you come home with hickies?" Skyler asked.

She shrugged. "I don't know... since fifth or sixth grade, I guess. Basically, if you've ever seen me wearing a silk scarf, it's because I was covering a hickey."

"Mom will be suspicious if her son is suddenly wearing a silk scarf around the house," Kathy pointed out. "I'll just put some makeup on it."

"Make up?" That concerned Skyler.

Kathy grabbed a small, round case. "Just some foundation to cover the hickies."

She opened the case and took out a sponge applicator, then began spreading the skin-colored makeup on her brother's neck. She was working quickly when she heard mother's voice from the doorway.

"So, what's going on in here?"

"Oh, umm..." Kathy began, but she was at a loss for an explanation.

"Oh," Regina chimed in, "you know that scholarship pageant thing that you heard about at the dress shop? Well, Sky asked us how he'd look with makeup on. I think he might do it if he looks good with his makeup done right."

"Hmm," their mother snorted, "he looked pretty good without any makeup." She came into the room and looked at her son. Luckily, Kathy had already managed to cover the hickies. "What are you planning?"

"Oh, nothing too fancy," Kathy said with a shrug. "Just a kind of daily makeup so he can see what he'd look like as a girl."

Their mother shook her head. "Go a little fancier, I think. Maybe... a dinner date kind of look. Something a little closer to a pageant look so he gets the flavor of the evening."

She moved around in front of her son and began to monitor her daughter's work. She nodded as Kathy spread the base, then blended the blush into his cheeks.

Just then, a cell phone rang in another room. "That's mine," their mother said. "I'll be right back."

"Thanks a lot," Skyler hissed at his younger sister when his mother had gone.

Regina grinned. "Would you have preferred that I told her that your girlfriend put you into one of my nighties and gave you a ton of hickies?"

Kathy stopped for a moment and looked at Skyler. "What's this about a nightie?"

"Nothing," he said. "Just keep going. Let's get this over with."

She shook her head. "Oh, what a tangled web we weave..." She went to work on his eyelids and when their mother returned, she was already doing his lips.

"There," Kathy said. "It's a quick job, but it'll give us all an idea of what he'll look like."

"Hmm," his mother said, looking closely at him. She grabbed something from the table. "Look up."

He did and she used some sort of machine on his eyelashes.

"What are you doing?"

"Curling your eyelashes," she explained. "Keep looking up while I curl the other one."

She used the odd little machine on that one, too. Then she grabbed a tube of something and opened it, producing a cylindrical brush. "Keep looking up." She brushed the brush through his eyelashes, several strokes on each side.

She stood back and appraised his look. "I like it," she smiled.

"You look nice, Sky," Kathy said, supportively.

"You look a lot like me, actually," Regina said with a smile. "I mean, you need to have your hair done better, maybe have it colored, your eyebrows need some work, and your lips need some plumping, but we could definitely pass as sisters."

Skyler wanted to lash out at that remark, but he knew that she was continuing her teasing from earlier and that he needed to keep the hickies a secret from his mother.

"Take a look in the mirror," Regina said, a bit excitedly.

With a quiet sigh, Skyler turned and looked into the mirror on the makeshift vanity, and he saw a slightly quirky version of his sister Regina staring back at him.

"What do you think?" Kathy asked.

"I'm not sure what to think," he half gasped.

"Do you want a dress to try on, too?" Regina offered, helpful as always.

"No, that's fine," he assured her.

"So, are you going to try to win that money, then?" His mother asked.

He shrugged. "Can I just sleep on it one night, please?"

"Ok," she agreed, "but there is a deadline approaching, and you'll need to have some pictures taken to submit with the application."

He nodded. "Ok."

"It's getting late," their mother said with a tired voice. "Show your brother how to get that war-paint off and let's all get ready for bed."
 
 
MUSIC LINKS:

In The Fen Country: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R9RA_BR_p0
 
 
To Be Continued...