Dedicated to Sephrena Lynn Miller, in the hope that this story fits her expectations. Thank you for all you have done for the group.

Frances and Jill were friends from a long way back. They had met in their nursery school and unlike many small girls, or boys for that matter, had not been selfish, but had played happily together with imaginative games like ‘Doctors and Nurses’ or ‘Mummies and Daddies’ for as long as they were awake.

The pre-school years were not that long in reality, but the summers seemed to go on for ages, and the autumns and springs were not that bad either! Eventually their parents decided that as neighbours, they would go on holiday together. Balmy days in the New Forest in southern England filled several weeks each year. Both families enjoyed the dappled shade of the trees, the multitude of wild flowers and at the New Forest ponies. These added to make an idyllic childhood for both girls.

Eventually the Infant School beckoned and being a rural school, there was only one Reception class. Frances and Jill joined twenty-one other wide-eyed children who trouped purposefully into the classroom and were introduced to formal education by the kindly Miss Burrell.

The two girls sat together and whispered together (when they should have been listening!) and played in the playground together all the years in the Infant and then the Junior School. One would always support the other if some nasty boy made a hurtful comment, or if another girl was spiteful. Various children managed to break into the pair to share their play for a few weeks or days, but eventually the third child went their own way and the pair remained stronger than ever. In most ways they were inseparable and of course, chose the same Comprehensive School when they were rising elevens.

Frances at eleven was taller than most of the year seven boys. She had a head of dark brown hair that would have reached her shoulders if she hadn’t had plaits. She tended to wear dresses with a belt at the waist that emphasised the early signs of developing womanhood, and seemed very comfortable with most of the other children. She was outgoing and vivacious … the opposite of Jill.

Jill was a pretty girl, who usually appeared with her head hanging down. Her clothes tended to cover any signs of her development, although at eleven, there was little sign of that even in the shower! She was quiet and only became voluble when she was with Frances. Yet, she had a sweet pixie-like face that was framed by a well-styled cut. On holiday she filled out a pair of shorts and a tee-shirt and tanned much more easily that Frances who tend to burn and was smothered with Factor 50 before she was allowed to go outside each morning.

Strangely, it was Jill who first attracted a boy to share with in any of their holiday adventures. Peter was their age and about as naive as they come. Basically he hung about, not knowing what to do or say to the two girls. Needless to say, the liaison did not outlast the holiday but they did exchange addresses and the parents of all three children thought nothing would come of it.

Frances, at fifteen, had a little coterie of boys who would hang around her at school. One would occasionally and rather diffidently, ask Frances out for a date to the local cinema. Equally occasionally she would go with them and once again, the adventure would lead to nothing.

Peter lived only about twenty miles from Jill, and by chance, Jill, Frances and Peter met in the Market Town that was the shopping metropolis for both their homes. All three were nearing fourteen and Jill and Frances were allowed to visit the shops as long as they remained together.

After meeting, the three spent much of the time that had been planned for serious shopping, sitting in a cafe drinking colas, and chatting about all the things that had happened to them since the holiday in the New Forest. When it was time for them to catch their buses home, they exchanged phone numbers and it was not many days before Peter had rung Jill.

There were two options for Sixth Form studies in the area. Jill and Frances could stay for the Sixth Form at the local Comprehensive school where they had been studying since they were eleven, or they could travel into the town and go to the Sixth Form College where Peter was due to go.

Jill had not given much thought to going elsewhere for her Sixth Form studies, but the variety of A Levels was much greater than at her Comprehensive and the idea of seeing Peter regularly was clearly an attraction!

Frances was dismayed. “Why do you want to have to get the bus every day. It is much easier to stay here.”

“I want more choice of subjects, and a greater chance of getting in to a good University. I think the Sixth Form College is a better option all round.”

“It is not just because Peter is going there is it?”

“I like him, but it is not the main reason.”

“What subjects do you want to do, that you cannot do at our local Sixth Form?”

“I have decided that I would like to do Ancient History, rather than a more modern time frame, and I would like to do Spanish and Latin rather than French and German. I would also like to do Music A level.”

“That seals it for me. What am I going to do if you are off at the Sixth Form College and I am back here?”

“There is no reason why you cannot do the same subjects as you were planning to do, but do them at the College rather than here.”

“Think about it. It may be a good thing to see somewhere new.”

Frances could see the advantages of doing Fashion and Design A level as it was not offered at the Comprehensive. She also wanted to do Home Economics and Accountancy.

And so it was. Frances and Jill, opted to leave their small rural Comprehensive School and went to the Sixth Form College on the bus each day.

At sixteen, Frances was very involved in Fashion. She designed and made all her clothes, and whilst some scant outfits seemed to be the embodiment of youth culture, she also made skirts and a dress for Jill. Her hair was now bright pink and every bit of her that was visible had piercings of some sort. The harem trousers and crop top in a selection of colours became like a statement of her choices. She had threatened to get body art over very bit of her … mostly as a challenge to her parents who were against tattoos of any sort, but she could not be tattooed without their consent until she was sixteen, and the designs she created rather wistfully on paper would cost thousands to create on her soft pale skin that tanned so poorly.

Jill had just her ears pierced and used makeup sparingly. Her diffident look from earlier years gave way to a confident, ‘girl about town’ look with classic styles.

The relationship with Peter bubbled on in the background, and they would have described themselves as good friends, but nothing more. Jill rarely dated with Peter or anyone else for that matter. Her goal was a degree in Music History or Musicology and she worked unwaveringly towards that goal.

When the A Level results were released, both Jill and Peter had got into Birmingham University. Jill to do her beloved Musicology, and Peter to do Civil Engineering.

Frances’ combination of A levels with only a high grade in Fashion, meant that she had to go elsewhere. Her parents found the money from somewhere for her to go to the London College of Fashion, and she got in with a portfolio of her work and the modest A levels. Because of the distance, the three friends gradually lost contact.

Most of the boys at the London College were interested in each other rather than Frances, so apart from a few one night stands thrashing about in a sweaty bed of vigorous, if rather unrefined sex, she was without male company.

Unfortunately one of the last events in her college course meant that Frances fell pregnant to a young man with no money and few prospects. He was as bewildered by the event as much as she was. After the announcement, his parents made sure that he disappeared very promptly. Apart from a routine payment to Frances for Billy’s upkeep, he disappeared from Billy’s life as soon as it began.

Frances and her parents agreed to her keeping the little boy when he was born. Her parents were barely fifty at the time, and were very much against her having the pregnancy terminated. They became surrogate parents to the baby while Frances looked for work in a design workshop.

Frances found that unless you had a great deal of money or you had excelled in the final show at the College, that a life in the Rag Trade was probably not all it was cracked up to be. Most of the time she was altering bespoke dresses for models to show off on the catwalk, or making dresses created by the artistry and imagination of the couturier who owned the salon.

She was very good at cutting fabrics economically and could take an designer’s sketch and turn it into a pattern very accurately. Such skills are invaluable, but regrettably they are not well paid. They are also unlikely to build fame in the couture arena.

Jill and Peter had become an item as soon as their two degrees had finished. It was almost a matter of inevitability rather than romance. Both Jill and Peter were pragmatic to the point of being boring. Jill was studying for a doctorate in the music of some obscure composer from the mediaeval period, and Peter was fitting into a life of being a quantity surveyor. He was good at being a quantity surveyor, but it was not an exciting prospect for him to be spending the rest of his life doing essential, but tedious tasks. That is … until someone designed a sophisticated computer program that would make him and all quantity surveyors, redundant.

For the time being he was able to support Jill in her studies, but inevitably they found it difficult to make ends meet. After a discussion, they approached a letting agent about leasing their spare bedroom to a lodger. This was particularly important because Jill conceived during her second year of her doctorate and had to put her research on hold until Raven was old enough to go to nursery.

Although neither mother knew it, they were in the labour ward of two neighbouring hospitals only days apart and it was Frances who had been recommended to apply for the spare room at Jill and Peter’s three bedroom house.

Jill opened the door to Frances one summery evening. The two women recognised each other immediately and were in each other’s arms within seconds. Peter was surprised by the commotion and came out with Raven in his arms. All three adults were beaming, but Raven did not enjoy being squashed by another woman’s boobs. He made his displeasure known. His little face crinkled up and he let fly with a tirade of tears and wails.

Frances was invited in after it had been sorted out that she was the client, rather than just making an unexpected visit.

She stayed the whole evening. The three old friends shared a bottle of wine, and reminisced about their youth.

Her moving in was a foregone conclusion. She arrived to occupy the spare room within the week.

It was only a few months later that Peter decided to go freelance. His job was undemanding and he could earn more working from home.

This created a problem. The shared flat was not big enough. Peter needed an office, and Frances wanted to have Billy live with her, and he would need a room eventually. Frances ideally would need a work room as she now had a small but select group of women who had her make dresses for them.

Five or six bedroom properties were scarce in their part of London, but a rather dilapidated warehouse in the East End of London came on the market and they purchased a 99 year lease of the top floor with a hefty mortgage.

This space had been used for open plan living previously so all the facilities were in place, but the property had been taken over by squatters and needed a lot more than just cleaning to make it safe for children.

The three adults set to with masses of enthusiasm which balanced their lack of skill to some extent.

Jill, Peter and Frances moved in with little Raven into a clean but sparsely furnished empty space. There were no dividing stud walls between what might become bedrooms and work areas. They sat late into the evening trying to sort out where the walls and doors should go and failed for the most part.

What was decided was that Frances and Peter would have one end of the space as a work area. Neither were noisy and the few offcuts from the materials Frances used would be cleaned up each evening. Her sewing machine and overlocker made a little noise, but that meant that the children’s bedroom space would be at the other end of the barn-like home.

With high ceilings and most of the light coming through skylights in the old commercial building, they gave up on subdividing the remaining space. The kitchen and lounge were always going to be open plan. The cost of materials for the stud walls, with the high ceilings became too expensive to do all at once. They were lucky to be able to buy a lorry load of second hand moveable office screens that could be used to create bedrooms and work spaces. There was not much privacy with such a system as all the adults were tall enough to look over the screens, but it had to be enough. After living together in the old flat there were not many secrets left after all.

Just occasionally, Frances would join Jill and Peter in their bed and enjoy intimacy together, but Frances’ needs did not seem very great and she would often be making dresses late into the night when Jill and Peter had gone to bed hours before.

Billy came to live with them when all the work that could be done had been done to their living space. He and Raven were almost identical in age and seemed to treat each other as twin brothers, and were inseparable. Peter seemed to manage being a house husband balancing his work with caring duties. When Jill got home she would take over bed time and allow Peter some more work time.

Family life is made of routines. Trips out to see the ducks the pond in the park in a double buggy, gave way to play parks, and then to theme parks and so on. The boys were supported by three parents and whilst they were very clear about whose mother was whose, the absence of Billy’s father meant that both boys called Peter … Dad.

Family holidays were no different to home life, the three adults would hire a cottage near a sandy beach where the boys could play. Like many ‘twins’, they were self sufficient, and it was difficult for other children to join in their games.

During these years Frances’ dressmaking business grew steadily and she took out a lease on a small workshop where at first one, then two and finally four seamstresses took on the donkey work of the dress design business, but all the final teasing the dress into the shape that Frances had imagined was done at home. She had several dressmakers mannequins in her studio area, but on many occasions Billy, at twelve years old was persuaded to get dressed in a padded bra, a light corset to give him a waist and hip pads. He walked up and down to show how the dresses moved. He also had a pair of high heels that he hated as much as the dresses.

Often the fabrics were so expensive that he couldn’t sit down and he had to parade back and forth until his mother was happy with the drape and the detail of the hemming.

During one summer when the two boys were thirteen Jill and Peter took Billy and Raven away on holiday. Frances’ business was doing too well for her to stop for a whole fortnight.

This time the four looked like a nuclear family so Jill and Peter had hired a two bedroom apartment in a holiday complex, and the boys had the swimming pool and many other activities to keep them busy while the two adults could relax poolside. They had a selection of novels that they had intended to read but had never quite got round to reading.

At this stage Billy was becoming more masculine. His shoulders were widening, and his hips were narrowing. His blond hair was cut short, just as he liked it.

Raven, on the other hand chose to have his hair collar length and his almost black hair had a shine to it. His skin was paler and there was no sign of broadening shoulders or any other sign of his impending manhood.

The two boys looked very unlike lying on their sun loungers beside the pool. Peter and Jill were on the other side of the pool, so the two boys could chat without being overheard.

“I hate having to help my Mum do the finishing touches on the dresses. She says that I will soon be the wrong shape. Roll on that time!”

Raven had long since admired the dresses Frances made for her very select group of women clients, and had one or twice slipped into the workshop area and had run a hand over the luxurious fabrics wondering what the dresses would be like to wear. No one had thought to ask if he would like to model the dresses for Frances.

“I wonder if she would like me to help when you have grown too big?”

“Would you like to? I have never imagined that you might volunteer. Seeing you dressed in just your swimming trunks, you still have the body of a young boy.”

“I have thought of little else for several years, but I was too small for even me to consider offering, but I am now 5ft 6 inches and most of your Mum’s clients are the same height as me.”

“Keep quiet about your offer until we get home, I would like to talk to my Mum first before your parents have a chance to comment.”

Billy spoke to his mother every night on the phone, but did not mention the conversation he had had with Raven until they got home.

Later that week when the holiday was a recent memory, Billy went to have a talk to his mother. He explained how much he hated dressing up and wearing heels.

“I am sorry that the time for you to be able to help me has finished, but it was bound to finish sooner or later now that you are growing up. Thank you for everything you have done to help me grow the business. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

“I have a solution for you. Raven and I had a talk round the pool a few days ago. It seems that he has loved seeing the dresses and has dreamed of wearing some of your dresses.”

“Do you mean that he would like boys clothes made up from those fabrics?”

“No, he wants to wear the dresses and help with the final detailing of them.”

“I had never considered Raven as a model for exclusive dresses, but now you mention it. His body is just ideal for some of my thinner clients. He must be a size 8 in women’s clothes. With a small breast enhancement he would be ideal.”

Within minutes, Raven and his parents joined Billy and Frances.

The story from the pool was repeated.

“How do you feel about Raven helping me with my work? I will happily give him some extra pocket money?”

“Raven, how do you feel now that you have had a few days to think about it?”

“Raven swished his black shiny shoulder length tresses and everyone saw the girl hidden in his boy’s body for the first time.”

He smiled. “I think you have your answer.”

Frances thought for a moment.

“Come with me Raven. We will see how you feel dressed up. You can back out at any time. There will be no makeup as I don’t want there to be any risk to the dress, but otherwise you will seem to be ‘all girl.”

Frances had seen Raven without clothes many times, and he thought nothing of it when Frances asked him to undress.

“First of all we will give you a flat area in your groin with a pair of shaping knickers.”

The knickers were tight but not uncomfortable. This was followed by a rather unattractive bra with padding that filled each cup.”

“If this works then we will get you some pretty strapless bras and use adhesive breast forms to fill the cups.”

Next came a suspender belt and some sheer stockings.

Frances had to show Raven how to put them on without laddering the delicate fabric.

A shimmering green dress slipped over Raven’s shoulders and sank in folds to his hips before falling like a wave to his calves.

Raven did an involuntary shudder as he was sheathed in the dress, followed by a sort of hum of contentment.

Frances tied his hair back into a pony tail with an off-cut of the green silk that had been used for the dress and finally he put his feet into the pair of black patent leather heels Frances put on the floor beside him.

Raven slipped on the shoes and smiled an almost incandescent smile.

Frances thought about that smile many times over the next few years. Was it “ I am me now?” or was it excitement. It was a most exceptional smile.

Frances took Raven’s hand to prevent him overbalancing in the heels, but he really didn’t need steadying as he was brought out for the rest of the family to see.

“Is that beautiful young woman really my son?” was Jill’s first reaction.

Billy said nothing but his mouth remained open for what seemed like minutes.

Frances added “You really need your hair up to wear with that dress. It is not right with a ponytail.” and clipped Raven’s black tresses into a knot at the back, held in place with a claw clip. His hair was left as a fringe at the front, and two tendrils of hair were curled with a heated curler to frame his pretty face.

“We can see that Raven can carry off being seen as a girl. Having seen how Raven looks I wonder if you are going to be happy with him just dressing up in the flat here?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t given it any thought. I had not considered Raven as model. I must have been blind not to see the pretty girl sharing my own home.”

“Firstly, I will need to invest in some adhesive breast forms and some pretty lingerie in all sorts of colours to go with the dresses. I have measured Raven’s chest and I think 32B will be the right size with some well made breast forms. Often the wearer’s lingerie is partly on show with my dresses, so the lingerie should match the dress. I must see if there are thongs that can cover Raven’s maleness.”

“I am still here!” Raven commented. “I am excited by all the things being discussed, but please include me in the discussion.”

“Yes, of course. My apologies. You should always be part of the discussion.”

“It is not uncommon for a model to demonstrate a dress to a discerning client. I wonder if Raven would feel able to come to the workshop, then get made up by my team before doing a little catwalk in front of my clients?”

“I think I would be happy to be seen walking in the dresses but would not want to be touched by your clients.”

“Yes, that is an absolute. However beautiful you look we must not have any clients touching something they shouldn’t.”

“Are any of your clients buying dresses for their wives or girlfriends for surprise presents?”

“You would be surprised how often that happens. I would make absolutely sure that no male clients could get close enough to you for it to be awkward.”

“I will help you out of that dress even though it looks amazing on you. One of my clients has ordered it and is paying £1200 for it, so no marks on it please.”

“We will have another session when I have got the lingerie and forms. I have a couple of dresses in the workshop where women put on a lot of weight between fittings and lost their deposit as a result. Both dresses are size 8, but the women were not!.”

Raven didn’t go to sleep quickly that night, but nothing was due to happen until several days had passed so he finally went to sleep and school passed uneventfully until Saturday arrived.

The bathroom in the house had been altered so there was a double shower in a wet room. Raven went in and showered while Frances was washing her hair. Both had seen each other in the shower many times since they had moved in together so sharing a shower had no novelty.

“I was amazed how you looked on Wednesday evening. I must have been blind not to notice your body when we see each other so often.”

“I was also surprised. I knew that I yearned to try on some of your dresses. I love the feel of them and want to try them on with just a thong so I can feel the fabric on my skin.”

“You will certainly be able to try on the two dresses I have in mind. I will bring them home this evening. I have all the lingerie I ordered and some makeup that a young girl might wear.”

“Can’t wait. See you later.”

At 6pm Raven showered and conditioned his hair and put on a black thong that Frances had given him. He emerged smelling just of freshly washed boy and sat on a hard backed chair while Frances first dried his hair, then moussed it into a feminine style with ringlets that framed Raven’s face with his naturally black hair.

Next the breast forms were glued in place and a pretty lacy bra, also in black was added. Frances adjusted the straps and it sat comfortably over the breast forms.

A matching suspender belt was added and black sheer nylons were drawn up over Raven’s shaved legs. He ran his hands over the nylon surface and smiled to himself.

The first dress was a midnight blue strapless cocktail dress that just reached down to Raven’s knees. The full skirt with inbuilt petticoats spread out round his hips, and the boned top clung to his waist and rib cage, leaving his shoulders and neck bare. There was even a modest amount of cleavage showing. The breast forms were doing their job by being nearly invisible.

Frances applied a small amount of makeup that was suitable for a mid-teen, and a dash of eau de toilette in a light fragrance, again suitable for Raven’s youth.

Raven stepped into the black patent leather heels with more confidence than last time and was able to walk the length of the building to the applause of the rest of the family.

She (and how could it not be a she as she was dressed now?) curtsied and smiled.

“Thank you Frances. This is wonderful. I feel amazing.”

“I have done little enough. You make a startlingly pretty girl. All I have done is to bring out the best in you. It has been a pleasure to meet the new Raven.”

Frances went forward to give Raven a kiss on the cheek as she would any other woman of her acquaintance.

Jill held Raven’s hand as she swirled and the skirts spun out to show her legs to perfection.

Peter stayed back with a bemused look on his face.

“Do I have a son or a daughter he said aloud?”

“Dad. I am your son, but you may have the best of both worlds. I will be your daughter as often I or we, wish.”

Frances whisked Raven back into her work area and the first outfit was changed for a scarlet dress that was just begging to be whirled across the dance floor. The bodice was boned like the first dress, but the skirt was a sheath of iridescent lined silk slit almost to the top of Raven’s thigh. The dress looked like a second skin on her and she clearly loved it.

Raven whirled round the living area with an imaginary partner for several minutes until Frances dragged her back into her work area. He was sad when the finery was removed.

“When can I dress up again for you?” Raven asked expectantly.

“I have a client coming in for a fitting late next Thursday. I will show her the dress on you as part of her fitting if that is OK.”

Billy had said nothing while Raven was pirouetting round the room in front of him, but it was clear from his face that he was subject to many thoughts, some were deeply conflicting.

The show was over as soon as it had started, Raven was back in his old clothes and the mousse had been brushed out to return to a boyish look, but the cat had been let out of the bag, as it were. No one who had seen the show would forget the image of Raven in her element as a beautiful young woman.

It cannot have been easy for Raven to return to his life as a rather undeveloped boy, but the needs of family life, albeit a non-typical family, took precedence and there were the pressures of school as well. Thursday arrived eventually and Raven went down to Frances’ workshop with her. She had promised that she would photograph Raven in the dress for Jill and Peter, so they were happy to see him go.

Frances took two hours to transform Raven. The breast forms were glued on and a pretty bra in pastel blue was added. The thong was just a bit more concealing than some and covered her undeveloped manhood sufficiently. The suspender belt was in the same pastel blue and the sheer blue stockings clung to her slender legs so their delicacy was emphasised.

It was not the intention to upstage the woman who was visiting and there was always a risk of makeup getting on to the dress so Raven was not made up at all, but her hair was moused into a feminine style, and clip on droplet ear rings with pale blue paste stones were added. The final addition was a delicate gold necklace with a matching pale blue paste droplet stone that hung just above Raven’s imagined cleavage.

That was a risk, but the breast form was so good and had been matched to Raven’s skin tone that Frances could not see where silicone ended and girl started!

Raven was not allowed to sit or use the loo until the show was over, but the final piece of the jigsaw of boy to girl only took place a quarter of an hour before the woman was due to arrive.

Mrs. Grey arrived on time, but unexpectedly had two teenage daughters in tow.

Frances found two more chairs and the show began.

Raven did all she had been asked to do. She was not expected to speak, but stood still when the skirt was lifted to show the detail of the sewing.

Raven’s part was over. One of Frances’ staff who had stayed late helped her remove the dress and it was taken on a hanger to be seen by the client.

Raven stayed behind a screen, but could hear all that went on with Frances and the clients.

One daughter was mortified that she could not try the dress on, but as a size 10, verging on a twelve, she was just too big.

“Blame your dad’s large bones” was the unsympathetic comment of their mother.

Mrs Grey tried the dress on and it was perfect fit. She was ecstatic about it and her daughters were equally enthusiastic. The dress was wrapped carefully in tissue paper and a strong cardboard box with Frances’ business name printed in large letters on the top. Her card machine did not protest about the £1200 transfer and mother and daughters left saying that they would spread the word about the service they had received.

Frances came round to the other side of the screen and hugged Raven, who had covered up with a track suit, but still looked the epitome of a pretty teenager.

“Lets go home. I can sort you out better there, and I want to lock up the workshop.”

“Do I look ok, dressed as I am?”

“Even in a track suit and without makeup, you still look stunning. It is such a shame that you have to return to being a boy.”

Raven didn’t answer that question.

Frances thought to herself that Raven’s silence was more eloquent than if she had spoken. Frances was going to have to get used to Raven’s silences that meant so much.

End of Part 1

Whilst Raven’s slow development caused some family discussion, everyone knew that hormones would kick in sometime soon.

Billy was out at a rugby practice, but the rest of the family were at home and the dishes left over from the evening meal had been cleared away.

Frances chose that time when everyone was relaxed to start a discussion.

“Raven is very popular amongst my clients, and my staff. They all know her as a very pretty, no beautiful, girl who shows off my dresses to perfection. I know that one cannot stop development, but my business is growing steadily, and part of that success is due to Raven.”

“I have done some research and would like to ask all three of you to consider whether Raven could take puberty blockers for perhaps a couple of years to firm up my client base.”

“I deliberately haven’t spoken to Raven about this. This must be his decision with parental support and guidance, of course.”

“Let me explain a bit more before opening up the discussion. I am able to give Raven £50 an hour when she models for me, and I will pay for the private prescription for the puberty blockers for the next two years. I know she recently turned fourteen, so that would take her to being sixteen and the law changes at that point as regards working. Puberty blockers are widely seen as safe and allow young people to delay important decisions about gender for a time.”

“Let me say also, that I have been approached by a modelling agency who are very interested in Raven. Dressed as a girl she looks much older than thirteen or even fourteen, but the Agency stepped back when they knew her age. They will be back I am sure.”

“We all know that puberty can be delayed and I was not aware of how important Raven has become to you and your brand. I am uncomfortable with Raven taking puberty blockers unless there is a very good reason for doing so. I don’t think £50 a week is a good enough reason, but if Raven was interested in a part-time career as a model, particularly if it was combined with good school grades, then that might be different.”

“Raven, I don’t know if this is something that you have thought about, but are there any questions you want to ask or opinions that you have?”

“I have thought many times of how much I enjoy being the pretty girl dressed in sublime clothes, as compared to the wimpy boy at school. I don’t want to be either the wimpy boy or the very powerful rugby player like Billy. He dwarfs me now. Anyone who thought we were brothers years ago has had to change their opinions in the last couple of years.”

“I think that I would like to give the blockers a chance. I also look forward to the time when I can have implants. I don’t care for the breast forms as they can be uncomfortable, itchy and sweaty after a long day in front of a camera, and I would like to be able to wear very feminine things and also be able to wear a bikini on holiday.”

“I think it is good thing that Frances has raised this now. I don’t think any of us knew how deeply you felt about working for Frances, or even that you would like to go further in having a boob job done.”

“Are we all agreed that we will ask for a prescription for Raven to start puberty blockers to allow her to continue to model the dresses she appears to adore?”

Four hands were raised.

“Then I will take Raven to see the doctor we all share as soon as I can, to start the ball rolling. I understand that we will need extra appointments with an endocrinologist or other professionals before a prescription can be issued.”

Raven dressed as a teenage girl for the appointment with her doctor. Jill came with her and the doctor was sufficiently impressed with Raven’s appearance and the answers to her questions to refer her to an endocrinologist as an urgent referral.

The appointment happened three weeks later, as it was a matter of urgency. Raven was dressed by Frances as a teenage girl and the endocrinologist explained that the appointment was double. He would only take a blood sample at this stage, but she would have an in depth interview with a mental health practitioner to decide on what was the best recommendation.

A week later when the blood test results were received, it was shown that Raven had a delayed adolescence because of low hormone levels and it would take only a small dosage of the puberty block to delay matters further.

The consultant was not prepared to authorise more extensive treatment like surgery, but was prepared to delay Raven’s puberty and she could start the treatment immediately. Mother and ‘daughter’ went down the corridor to another room where a senior nurse put an implant under the skin of her thigh. She was given a card with the date on it. It gave authority for a second implant to be given in a year’s time.

After a brief discussion with Frances, Jill wrote a letter to the nurse at Raven’s school for a note to be added to the school records that Raven was on puberty blockers and the school might need to take this into account at some point.

After that, it was back to normal. Raven was a normal boy in a mixed school most of the time, but he tended to gather friends from amongst the girls. Billy supported him whenever needed. Usually when someone was rude or threatening, but much of the time Raven disappeared into the background. He was a good, but not outstanding student. Just one of the mass of students that are part of any school that has a couple of thousand on roll.

Only twice in the next two years did Jill have to apply for a Child Performance Licence when Frances wanted Raven to appear at an exhibition for up and coming fashion designers. The local authority were a bit difficult at first, but saw photographs that Frances submitted, and they eventually agreed to the ten days of authorised absence in each case.

After the second authorised absence, several girls questioned the absence. If you are allowed to go on holiday without being fined, why can’t we go as well?

“I was working. This was a paid trip.” said Raven noncommittally.

“This was not enough for those particular girls. They worried at the question and various rumours were spread throughout the school with some rather unpleasant suggestions attached.”

Billy was kept busy fending off awkward questions, but did so to the best of his ability.

Eventually the head teacher called Raven and her mother in to a meeting.

She said to Jill on the phone. “I need to know how to counteract these nasty comments that seem to be spreading.”

We will come to a meeting with you and the School Counsellor with Raven dressed for work.

The following Tuesday after the students had gone home, Raven was dressed in one of Frances’ best known creations. It was a day dress in a luxurious fabric that flattered the wearer in every way possible.

Raven emerged from her mother’s car with the cream dress fitting her like a glove. Her accessories were all matching and her hair had been set by Frances who had come home early to tend to her dress and the wearer.

Staff remaining at school after hours to do marking and preparation noticed the clicking of Raven’s heels and looked up.

“Who was this girl walking with Raven’s mother?”

The school secretary knew who was expected and remained non-plussed for the several minutes before the headteacher used the intercom to ask Raven and her mother to come in.

To give her credit, the Headteacher blinked several times before recovering her poise.

“Would you both sit down please.”

Raven smoothed her skirt in a very professional manner before sitting decorously on the edge of the sofa.

The School counsellor rushed in late as usual, and stopped short.

“Do we have a new student?”.

“No, you know Raven very well. I am lead to believe that these are her working clothes, although I would guess that her outfit would cost me three months salary.”

Raven smiled prettily.

“It really is me. This is what I may do for a living when I leave here.”

The counsellor recovered her poise in short order.

“I think any Modelling Agency would employ you on first sight. I think most sensible people would describe you as ‘drop dead gorgeous’, but how did you find out that you could be a model.”

“It is a long story, and I may tell it one day, but I want to stop this nastiness and rumours. I need you to tell me how to do that.”

The counsellor and head teacher looked at each other.

Mrs Craig, the counsellor said very slowly, and after what seemed to be much thought.

“I think you need to show the school the real you.”

The conversation continued for some time about how this should be done, but eventually it was decided that ten images of Raven in her ‘work’ clothes should be put on the school website with a brief story of Raven’s success as a model.

Some images were posed. Others were informal and three showed her walking down a catwalk at a show in front of a group of very expensively dressed buyers.

The following morning Raven and Billy had to run the gauntlet of hundreds of students wanting selfies of Raven.

Very few students made it into Registration. They just milled around the hall and corridors sharing the images and talking very loudly.

Eventually the Head Teacher gave in. The whole school was marshalled into the main school hall and Raven was invited to the front to explain how she got into modelling as a beautiful young woman.

Raven was self-assured and walked purposefully to the stage at the front. Several staff who were, less well informed were still looking at the images on their phones.

After a brief introduction, Raven talked the whole school through each image as it was projected on the screen at the front.

When she got to the detail of the construction of the fifth dress she had lost the younger students. By the time she had spoken at length about the eighth dress she had lost most of the senior students.

The head teacher could see that the whole school was getting irritated by the everlasting litany of detail about the dresses. She touched Raven on the shoulder before she got into her stride about dresses nine and ten!

“It is time to let the students get to their classes.”

Raven had defused the situation. The school now saw that Raven and her dresses were just ordinary, and nothing to get excited about.

At the end of the presentation, Raven announced that she would return to school after the vacation with implants. Neither the head teacher or either of Raven’s parents knew what she was going to say, but the money she had earned was her money and she was old enough to spend it how she wished.

Billy texted his parents with the news of the implants.

Jill and Peter had an exchange of texts.

“I could see this coming. She has hated the breast forms for a long time. I think we go with the flow. The implants can always be removed later.”

Frances was copied in to the messages.

“I am not at all surprised. It will be a great benefit to me as Raven will be able to model swimwear. The Agency I spoke about a couple of years ago have been on the phone again. I don’t think there is any doubt that Raven will be successful as a model, particularly with a good surgeon.”

“Do you know a really good surgeon?”

“Yes, I think I do. I dress his wife. She is great advocate of my clothes. Both she and her husband have been to my private shows where Raven has worn the dresses.”

Please send us the details so we have them before Raven gets home.

“Will do.”

As children Billy and Raven had held hands as many small children do. Later that day when Raven and Billy were walking home there was a quieter part through a park. Raven looped her little finger round Billy’s larger little finger.

“Thank you for looking out for me Bro. I hope all the nastiness will have gone now. I want to enjoy the last couple of terms at school.

Raven got home after an exciting day at school. She clearly expected a confrontation.

“I want to get a boob job. Its my money and I want it done.”

“We know! … and yes to the implants, and yes to the modelling contract if that happens.”

The wind was take out of Raven’s sails. There was no confrontation. She was given the details of Frances’ contact.

“I know them both. They are kind to me, when many of the clients just ignore me. When I have my surgery I would like Mr Patel to do it.”

Some four weeks later Raven returned to school a bit sore but supporting her new chest. Lots of admiring glances, but not many comments except from a few rude boys who seemed to relish calling her implants ‘hooters’, or saying that she had a nice rack!

Some weeks later Billy was in a difficult mood.

“Why are you so deep in thought?”

“It is the Leavers Ball in five weeks and I haven’t anyone to go with.”

“I think lots of the boys are too nervous to take Raven. She hasn’t got a date either.”

“I couldn’t go with her, could I?”

“Of course you can. She isn’t even your step-sister.”

After some more thought Billy approached Raven.

“Shall we go to the Leavers Ball together?”

“Are you asking me out on a date?”

“Yes, if you want to go out with me, then yes … I am asking.”

“Then yes, I shall be delighted to go to the Leavers Ball with you.”

“Mum… Dad … Frances. We need your help.”

“Billy needs a tux and all the trimmings.”

“I need the best dress and all the accessories for it.”

There was a moment’s silence.

“I will make you the best dress I can, if Jill and Peter buy the materials and the accessories.”

“Done.” said Peter with some relief.

“BUT … and everyone looked at Frances, I insist that the dress and Raven are professionally photographed, and that I can use the image after the Ball.”

‘Done.” said Raven, Jill and Peter simultaneously. Then they all laughed.

Raven chose a tea length A-line dress in claret coloured velvet. The bodice had a square neck and was open to reveal much of her décolletage, then continued with tiny mother of pearl buttons to below her waist. The dress was fitted to follow her contours exactly and when she spun the skirt spread out to show its fullness. The short sleeves were ruched and the back was laced with ties of the same claret velvet.

With an afternoon at the hairdressers, her black hair shone and was held in a waterfall braid. A style that is said to be incredibly romantic.

Matching nails and an hour of a professional makeup artist almost finished the tour de force. Pendant ear rings now hung down from her pierced ear lobes and a similar bracelet was added that matched the dress. A fine gold chain with a deep red droplet pendant was added so the gem hung between her breasts.

All that remained was for Raven to slip into the dress and two years of hormone suppression made it very easy to conceal the remnants of her manhood under a suitable thong.

The professional photographer had set up in the family home with a screen and several powerful photofloods. A quarter plate Hasselblad film camera was in evidence, and he took several films of high definition images in numerous poses, before kissing Raven’s hand and wishing her well for the evening.

Billy had dressed in his hired tuxedo. He had deliberately chosen a cummerbund and bow tie that matched the colour of Raven’s dress. All that remained was for him to pin the matching orchid corsage onto the front of Raven’s dress, then the taxi arrived to drive them to the venue.

Billy and Raven shared the buffet with some of their friends, but really their eyes were for each other, and most of the evening they danced in one corner of the dance floor largely unaware of all the other leavers sharing the evening.

Later into their evening, their lips brushed, and having broken the ice they danced more and more closely and the lip brushes became more frequent and intense.

When Carriages was called at midnight, Raven and Billy sat in the back of the cab with Billy’s arm round Raven, holding her tightly.

“I know it sound silly, but it seems as if I have only just seen you. All those years we have lived together, you have been hidden. I think you are the most gorgeous girl I have ever seen.”

“I want to go out with you again very soon.”

“I want to go out with you as well.”

…and their lips locked again for the rest of the journey home in the taxi.”

After the taxi had left the two had a final kiss, and in the middle of it, the door opened to reveal three anxious parents.

“Was it good?”

“It was dreamy.“ Raven said as she drifted through the door on a cloud.

“Please help me out of the dress. It is so beautiful. I want to wear it again and again.”

No one really noticed that Raven was standing in the middle of the floor dressed only in a thong, suspender belt and nylons.

Billy came to his senses.

“Phew, he said you are beautiful dressed and even more beautiful undressed.”

“I don’t mind you seeing. We have been unabashed for all the years we have been living together. Why change the habits of a lifetime?”

“But you are different now.”

“Yes, I am, aren’t I.”

As each went off to bed, Frances whispered to Raven. “I can do this dress in white, with a veil and a train if you like.”

Raven just squeezed her hand and gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek.

“We will see.” she said quietly.

“See you in the morning.!”