Twins?

Robert Graves had got up particularly early, had dressed with care. He brushed his pony tail until his blond hair shone. His suit was removed from the bag from the dry cleaners and his shoes were studied to see that they were uniformly clean.

The suit was mid grey, but his shirt was magenta to contrast with it. His tie matched the shirt. His feet were only size eight which matched his 5 ft 6 inch height.

He had taken time over his breakfast before walking to the station then catching the Underground from Brixton into London. In an hour was in the centre of the City of London at the foot of a large glass and steel building. He was only interested in the company that occupied three floors about half way up the high-rise building.

A commissionaire at the reception desk waved him to a bank of lifts and he was soon whisked up to the 35th floor where a pretty receptionist in a dark blue uniform guided him to a waiting area.

Robert, or Bob as her preferred to be called, went over the possible questions in his mind. What could he do for the Company. How were his skills relevant? How had he got experience in managing a team of computer based workers?

Soon a door part of the way down a carpeted corridor opened and a middle aged woman dressed in a well cut business suit came over to him and held out her hand.

Robert acknowledged his name and jumped to his feet to shake the proffered hand.

“Please come with me. I am Dawn Pomfrett, the Managing Director and I will be chairing this interview panel.”

Robert was guided into a spacious office and introduced to two other members of the interview panel. One was the director responsible for all the IT systems for the company, Jeff Roan, and the other was a senior accountant, April Hurst.

The interview was conducted in the way that Robert had expected. They were thorough in going through his CV, exploring his paper qualifications and the software that he was confident managing. He was told about the team he would be responsible for if employed, and the expectations of the company.

After two hours the interview was wound up.

“Please wait in the waiting area. Sharon, the receptionist will bring you tea or coffee. We will bring you up to date with our conclusions as soon as we can.”

Robert stood, and shook the hand of each of the interviewing panel and thanked them for their time, then left.

Sharon was prompt in bringing coffee and biscuits to Robert but he had only just finished his coffee before Dawn re-emerged from the office and walked Robert into the office once more.

All was smiles. Robert was asked to take up the post after serving a month’s notice at his current job, and the salary that he had asked for was accepted.

Clearly the details of the post had been sorted out before the interview because a young man was called into the office with a contract already made out. Robert only had to read it through and sign both copies. The young lawyer countersigned the contract.

After the paperwork had been completed Robert was invited to share a light lunch with the interviewing team. They were joined by a select few from the team of programmers and web designers who would be his responsibility.

He was handed from one group to another in quick succession. Each group wanted to see how he would fit in with their particular skill set. It was almost harder work than the interview!

Eventually the staff drifted back to work, and Robert was left with April and Jeff. They chatted about the company informally but eventually even those conversations reached a conclusion. April was due to walk Robert back to the Reception area and off the premises.

“I have been wondering?“ she said. “I have an accountant in my team who looks like a twin of yours.”

“I don’t have any twins or even siblings. I am an only child. I don’t know how anyone can come to look so similar to me to be regarded as a twin? I should like to meet them.”

“I am sure you will. You will be expected to work closely with them over the company accounts.”

“In the pack I am giving to you are instructions for your first day working here. Please attend in whatever clothes you would normally go to work in, and arrive at 9:30 am. Ask for the Badge Team. They will be expecting you and will go through all the biometric details that are needed to be encrypted onto your security tag.”

The month went past very quickly, and Robert said all his goodbyes in a leaving party two days before he arrived at the new offices in Central London.

The Reception team phoned through to the Badge Team and a young man arrived and guided Robert to a small suite outside the secure area of the building. Once Robert had had his passport, drivers licence and a number of other documents copied he was photographed from the front and side.

All the data was entered into a computer that was linked to the badge-making machine and onto the database of those who’s had access to the building.

“There seems to be a problem, the young man said. There is another user of this building whose face and upper body are so similar that the recognition algorithm cannot distinguish between the two of you. I am not sure how we can resolve this. Fingerprints or retinal scans will separate you but the software is not geared up for that yet.”

“I was told after my interview that there was another employee who looked remarkably like me.”

“ I think perhaps we need to call your double down here and re-process you both to see if the software can separate you. I will get onto the accountancy department to get them down here.”

“After ten minutes Robert’s doppelgänger arrived. She was as near a double of Robert as her chest development would allow.”

Robert looked at Leslie and Leslie looked at Robert!

“April said that you looked like me and I didn’t believe that a man could look so exactly like me, but here you are.”

“I can see that the images of us which are only from the shoulders upwards makes it difficult to resolve which of us is which.”

“The technician, Giles, looked at the two people and could offer no credible way of separating them.”

Height, build, head shape, eye colour, nose shape, foot size. All the same. An identikit image would be as near identical as would make no difference. It was only Leslie’s modest bust that separated the two workers and her development was such that a chunky knit jumper would hide even that difference.

Giles left the two in the ground floor coffee bar while he went to find a resolution to the conundrum.

“You know that this is not only a problem of access to the building. The tags also give access to the washrooms, and other gender specific places, like the guidance suite.”

“I hadn’t thought of that. Only being able to use the women’s restrooms or vice versa would be a real difficulty, I can see that.”

Robert and Leslie soon realised that there was no link between their families. Robert had grown up in North London and Leslie had grown up in Lancashire. Robert had gone to University in the Brighton to study computer science, and Leslie had done Accountancy in Manchester … and yet, they found that they both liked Indian food, and enjoyed the same music and art and both went regularly to the street markets of North London.

One of Leslie’s colleagues was also in the café and had heard about the lookalike workers. The image of both smiling into the phone’s lens was soon shared round the company.

It took an hour before Giles returned with new identity tags on lanyards for Robert and Leslie to wear.

“The access software has a system for admitting several people with identical biometrics if the identity used is Visitor 1 and Visitor 2 etc. I have the lanyards for you, but for the moment you will have to use the visitor’s toilets as they are unlocked and undefined. We will have to sort that out as soon as possible for you, but it is the best I can do for the moment. You can, of course, access the appropriate restrooms if someone lets you in with their tag.”

Before parting to their respective bases, Leslie suggested that they meet again to go to an open jazz night at a pub near her home. She was already going with several friends from the accountancy team. Phone numbers were exchanged before they went their respective ways.

The days before Robert and Leslie were due to meet flew by. Robert was working hard go get up to pace with the team of programmers and web managers he was responsible for, and new tasks for the team had to be appraised and allocated. He saw Leslie in the distance a couple of times, but only to wave and then to get on with whatever was uppermost in his mind at that moment.

The bus journey on a Saturday night across London took rather longer than he was expecting, so he arrived to find that there were five attractive young women sitting in a bay in the pub lounge and there was just room for him to slip into the vacant space beside Leslie.

Conversation was muted whilst the musicians played, but it was clear that Leslie’s colleagues and friends were primarily interested in Robert’s similarity to Leslie.

The conversation moved from work, to how the London teams were doing in the Soccer leagues, then back to music.

Angela was clearly interested in the finer points of cosmetics and was going on and on about a new range of cosmetics she had been trying out. Robert was happy to compliment her on her nails and the natural look of her face. Angela glowed with the compliment.

“Have you tried any male cosmetics, Robert?”

“I have tried the usual range of aftershave and different antiperspirants. Apart from that I had stage makeup for a couple of school plays. That is about it.”

“If you had a pair of adhesive breast forms and a bit of help with your hair, and some basic makeup, you could pass for Leslie anywhere.” Claire offered.

“I am not sure that I would want to ‘pass for Leslie.’ “ She is a pretty girl and I don’t think I could act in a way that is both poised and feminine however similar I looked. I would disgrace what people see in Leslie.”

“We don’t agree. We were discussing it before you arrived Robert. It would be such fun to dress you up and to go out as a group with a pair of identical twins. How about it?”

“I think Leslie has to have a view in this discussion. I haven’t heard what she thinks. I know I look feminine, but it doesn’t matter as a Computer Software engineer. No one cares about long hair, or even makeup, as long as the person can do the job.”

“What do you think, Leslie?”

Five pairs of eyes looked across the dimly lit club.

“This has been quite difficult for me. I can see the similarity between Robert and me, and I am sure that good makeup and a re-styling of Robert’s hair would make us almost indistinguishable. I can see it being fun for the rest of you, but I don’t know what to feel, and I am as sure as I can be that Robert would feel the same.”

“I think we have to give it some time to get used to the idea. I don’t mind having a bit of fun en femme, as it were, but would not want to embarrass Leslie or cause problems at work for her.”

“I suggest”, Robert said, “that just the two of us meet for coffee tomorrow morning near Regent’s Park and we can discuss this in confidence.”

Leslie smiled. “That’s a date. Lets make it brunch at the café in Regents Park at 10am. OK?”

“Yes, I shall look forward to it.”

“Now, let’s enjoy the music and have a couple of drinks before it is time for me to get back on the bus home. I must leave by 10:30 for the last bus.”

Robert seemed to fit into the group seamlessly. He enjoyed the banter about boyfriends and who was going out with whom. He seemed to enjoy the chatter about clothes and more clothes and even more clothes AND which department store had a sale.

It was soon time to say goodbye and the girls were quite happy to stay for a bit after he had left.

A bit of gentle pressure was put on Leslie to ‘allow’ Robert’s ‘conversion’ to take place, and after she had absorbed one too many drinks she agreed that it would be fun to have a twin for a few hours.

The following morning Leslie was nursing a bit of a sore head, but she had promised Robert that they would meet, so she had a hot shower and braced herself for strong coffee and a fried breakfast at the café on the Outer Circle road.

The day was warm for that early in the year so a short summery floral skirt, over Greek style laced sandals and a strappy top was all she needed. She felt confident during the twenty minute bus journey to the Outer Circle and was glad to see Robert already there nursing a coffee.

He stood as she approached and offered her a chaste kiss on the cheek, which she accepted.

The waiter approached within a minute or so. She ordered a Flat White and asked him to return in a few minutes when she had had a chance to study the menu.

“I think a glass of orange juice and double scrambled eggs on toast would set me up well, she offered.”

Robert had already chosen a Full English, but without the black pudding.

He called the waiter over and their orders were taken.

“So what do you think about the deception your friends have contrived.” Robert said with a grin.

“I really don’t know. I suppose it would be alright if we went nowhere near work and just treated it as a fun day out. We could catch the train to the seaside. Southend or Margate perhaps?”

“Yes I agree with you. I haven’t got any strong feelings about going dressed as a girl, and you are very attractive. If I could look like you then I would be very happy. I wouldn’t want to look like a bloke in drag, a caricature of a woman.”

“I can assure you of that. If your hair was restyled and you were given a facial makeover you would be the spitting image of me from the neck upwards. What is done to your front to give you a bust is another thing. I am only a 32A bra size so it wouldn’t need much of an enhancement to give you a chest like mine. Your legs and body are the same as mine so that really would be easy to pass you off as me. I am split between having a temporary twin, or trying to discourage the group from their determination to make you into me.”

During the brunch, the sky had been getting darker and rain was imminent. They had some minutes walk back to Leslie’s bus stop and in that time the heavens opened and both were soaked to the skin.

Robert had an hour on the bus to get home and dry but Leslie only had 20 minutes.

“Come back with me and go home after you have got dry she offered.”

Robert’s teeth were chattering and there was another half hour before his bus was due so he gladly accepted her offer.

Leslie only lived a few yards from the bus stop so they were soon in the warm in her flat.

The flat was large and obviously had two bedrooms.

“Can you afford to live in this flat alone?” Robert asked.

“No, I lost my flat mate several weeks ago and haven’t found anyone suitable since then. Marjorie paid me a full month she left so I have another fortnight to find someone.”

Leslie gave Robert a large bath sheet towel and suggested that he went into the spare bedroom and took off his clothes and wrapped himself in the towel. She would run his wet clothes through the tumble drier for an hour or so.

Robert was wrapped up in the towel and sipping a cup of instant coffee the next time they spoke.

“I live over an hour away from work in a bedsitter flat. I wonder if you would allow me to share this flat with you?”

“That is an idea!” Leslie thought and said the same.

“How would that work?”

“We would pay half the rent and half of all the bills and do half of the chores. I am quite a good cook, but never much liked cooking for just me. I would enjoy cooking for you some of the time. I would also enjoy the company. I already get on well with you, or that is my opinion.”

“I am sure we could be civilised if we wanted to bring boyfriends or girlfriends home with us.”

“I am not sure if you are Gay or Straight, Robert. I am definitely standard straight female.”

“I may not be the most manly of men with my height and looks, but I am definitely into girls. I can appreciate boys, but don’t want a relationship with them.”

“I am not sure what else to ask. I know that you have had references taken up recently and have had a criminal check done, so I know that you don’t have criminal record so I don’t think I need references. What about your financial status?”

“ I will use the app on my phone. I will show you my balance in my Current Account and the Savings account I have.”

“Phew. Those are healthy amounts of money.”

“What about you. Do you SPEND SPEND SPEND when the pay comes in at the end of the month?”

“It is quite expensive being a girl and I don’t have the salary you have, but I am solvent and can hold my end up as it were.”

“What do you think then? I am on an open contract with my current bedsit. I just have to give a month’s notice and then I can move.”

“The decision has to be yours, Leslie.” I don’t want you to feel in any way pressurised, but I would expect to be put onto a new short-hold lease when the current one expires, if not before.”

“Now that my old flatmate has left, I need a new lease anyway, so you could be on the lease from the date you move in.”

“There I am getting ahead of myself again. I hope you will be able to move here. I think we will get on well together. If I had taken on a flatmate arranged through the Agency it might have been a disaster. Here I feel as if I have known you for a long time, because we are so much alike.”

“i will give notice to the Agency on Monday and will be able to contribute from the date I move in. In fact I can give a month’s rent in advance if that helps. I am sure you have a deposit stored with the Agency for that amount.”

“I have got to repay Marjorie her deposit, and it would have cleaned me out to do that.”

“That is sorted then. I will transfer her deposit to you now, and then will pay half the rent before I move in on 26th of next month.”

“If you want, please move some of your things, like work clothes. I am reluctant to give you a key until the arrangement is formalised, but I shall look forward to eating some of your cooking!”

“You don’t have to wait for month for that. How about me cooking for you here next Saturday?”

“Done. That is brilliant. Serendipitous really.”

“Now about your clothes.”

“Robert, I have made a mistake with the tumble drier. Your trousers are partly melted and are stuck to your underpants. I can salvage your shirt. What do we do now?”

“I think I will need to lend you something to get home. We should be the same size!”

“Are you suggesting that I get dressed up as a girl sooner than your friends had anticipated?”

“I don’t think I have much that is boyish, so probably that is the one option that remains.”

“OK find what you think will suit and get me decent.”

“I am going to ring one of the girls as I know she has a pair of breast forms that would fit into one of my bras.”

“I thought you said the shirt was OK?”

“It is, but you will look odd being entirely flat chested and wearing a skirt.”

“I thought you would get some trousers, or at least shorts. I don’t know if I am up to going out in a skirt just yet.”

“You will be fine. Amanda is bringing some styling mouse to train your hair and the breast forms.”

“That was quick. I am not being set up am I?”

“No, definitely not. I am trying to make amends for the mess I have made of your clothes. Amanda is a good friend and will help without sharing the knowledge with anyone else.”

Five minutes later Amanda arrived carrying a back pack of all the things a girl needs to be seen about town.

Robert was offered a thong, but thought better of it and chose some fairly opaque knickers and changed in the spare room. He was soon sitting in an upright chair with breast forms glued to his chest. The feeling was odd but not unpleasant. Once the glue was setting, the 32A bra was put on carefully and used to hold the glueing forms in place.

Robert was given a bottle of the breast form releasing fluid to take with him.

I am going to wash your hair then set it in a more feminine style. The mouse will hold it in that style until you want to wash it out.

“How often do you have to shave?”

“My hair is very fine. I only need to shave once a week, if that. It is more like a light down. I have seen girls with the same sort of peachy complexion.”

“You seem to be taking this all in your stride, Robert. Many men would be having the screaming abdabs about this, but you are a model of composure.”

“I don’t know, but I just feel a bit excited about this. I am not nervous. It just seems if a door is opening for me to explore another part of my personality. It is a sort of newfound freedom.”

“Well said, I am sure there is a bit of girl in every man if they would allow it to come out.”

“You seem very well prepared for my transformation, Amanda. How is it that you had all these things ready and got here in fifteen minutes?”

“I had an inkling that I would need these things sooner than later, but not for you. I have a nephew who is on the verge of transitioning to a girl and has to live as a girl for a year before being accepted for surgery. He only started on hormone treatment three weeks ago and the difference in him is so marginal that he has decided to delay the more obvious changes until he has finished his A level examinations. He thinks University life will be more accommodating as he goes through gender reassignment.”

“That is why everything was ready. It is nothing to do with contriving the change in you, although I must admit that I am enjoying doing this.”

“I am really looking forward to going out with two identical and beautiful girls who will turn heads wherever they go.”

Leslie brought out two nearly identical miniskirts. She seemed unconcerned as she slipped her shorts off revealing a thong that hid very little. One skirt went up her legs and was zipped up before being rotated so the zip was at the back. She offered the other to Robert who eased it over his legs and then his knees until it fit beautifully on his hips.

“You may want to wear more exciting underwear soon, but I am sure the knickers you are wearing will do for now.” Amanda said.

“You may need a gaff in time, that skirt has enough fullness to hide any bulges.”

Next came a blouse with a ruched neck and puffed sleeves in green was the same design as Leslie’s, but hers was cerise.

Leslie looked at Robert and Robert looked at Leslie. They both seem to say “Wow” simultaneously.

The click of Amanda’s phone camera brought them back to reality.

“I don’t want that circulated for the time being”, Robert said firmly.

I also insist that it stays on your phone. Promise me, Amanda, that that image will not be circulated until we are both in agreement.”

“Yes, I absolutely agree not to release it. I know It would destroy our friendship.”

“What about a name? I cannot call you Robert all the time.”

“What about Bobbie?”

“Yes. Bobbie works fine for me” said Amanda and Leslie simultaneously, and both laughed.

“Let’s travel to your bedsit and see what can be moved here.”

“Whoa … what is this about moving here?”

“Is there something I am missing?”

“Yes, we have decided that this flat is closer to our work now that Robert … Bobbie, that is; is in post, and I need a flatmate. He is going to flat share with me and have Marjorie’s room.”

“I know you look the same, but you also seem to think the same!”

“Are you going to share clothes as well as the flat?”

“That is a thought!”

“Have you got a chest binder in that bag of yours?”

“Sadly no … but I am sure they are easily obtained.”

“Do you think that the two of you might go out dressed as young men as well as young women?”

“Who knows? I suspect that almost anything is possible the way I feel at the moment.” Bobbie both thought and said.” It is a sort of freedom that I am feeling. It is a feeling I didn’t know existed. Perhaps more exhilaration rather than freedom? No, I think freedom is probably more accurate.

“Leslie, do you feel the same way?”

“I know that it can be a real experience to go out as a man, rather than a young woman, but I think we both look better as women than either of us looks as men. Our looks, heights and strengths are not very manly.”

“Don’t emasculate me too soon. I have lived 26 years of my life perfectly happily as a man, albeit a small and rather puny one. I was successful Hooker in Rugby and at University I did well as a cox in the rowing eight. I coxed for the women’s eight before the men’s First Eight.”

“Coxing an eight boat depends upon skill and command. The smaller you are physically, the better.” was Leslie’s observation.

“I came up to the boobs on the very well muscled athletes in the women’s eight. I enjoyed that. I came up to the waist of several of the 6ft 8in giants who manned the central part of the men’s First Eight. They were very kind to me but I had to keep them working as a well-oiled machine. I enjoyed that also.”

“Did you get thrown into the river if you won. I know that it is something of a tradition for coxes to be doused.”

I got thrown in a few times, but some of the women clearly enjoyed it a bit too much. I often saw the worst offenders leave the boat club holding hands, so some clearly had more interest in each other than with me.

“Doesn’t sound as if you will fancy men in your new guise.”

“The way I feel at the moment, no; but it is weird. I look like Leslie and it seems almost narcissistic to fancy her, but I do.”

“I think you will have to watch out when you are living together.” Amanda laughed “or you will only be needing one bed!”

At the moment, that is one step too far at present.” Leslie said with a smile, “but it is food for thought!”

They all laughed.

“Are you ok going out in your new persona?”

“Do you know, I haven’t given that a moment’s thought. It seems natural and normal. Isn’t that strange? I should feel concerned, or should I?”

“I don’t think it is strange at all. If you look like a woman, and seem to think as a woman, who is going to question your identity sitting on a bus or tube? Just stay on the lower desk of the bus as you may get some voyeur getting an up-skirt view. That is particularly undesirable at present!”

“Isn’t it always undesirable?”

“Of course, but it is even more undesirable, if that is possible, if any bulge is showing that shouldn’t be there.”

“Are you coming across the city to see Bobbie’s place?”

“If it takes an hour each way, then no, but if you are going to be bringing loads of stuff back and need an extra set of arms, AND are prepared to get a taxi back here then I am happy to help.”

“Right then, bus and tube followed by black cab back. I have enough food at the bedsit. Can I entertain you both to lunch?”

“I think we will be able to manage lunch! Shall we get a bottle of Chablis or something fizzy to celebrate? It is a red letter day after all.”

“Let’s push the boat out. Yes a bottle of Chablis would be lovely, but one of us will have to drink it out of a mug!”

“Shall we do the route voted the best tourist route for people on a shoestring budget?”

“What is that?”

“It is the Route 73 bus that goes from Stoke Newington just round the corner from here and ends up at Oxford Street, then we can get the Tube down to Brixton to get to your place.”

“Yes, lets do it, but can we go on the upper deck. If one of you follows me up the stairs I am sure I can get up and down decorously.”

“Leslie? Do you have an empty suitcase we can take. I only have one and a holdall. That will not be enough for my clothes.”

“Yes, one empty suitcase but it is pink!”

“I can live with pink. It goes with my new persona.”

So three young ‘women’ left the flat arm in arm. One was swinging an empty suitcase. All had Oyster cards and travelled across town in the Spring sunshine.

The 73 bus travels past many London landmarks such as the bustling area round the Angel of Islington, Clissold Park and Abney Park then past the Victorian Gothic glory of St. Pancras, and the imposing King’s Cross and the British Library, before travelling past Euston Station and the shopping area around Tottenham Court Road and finally into the tourist nexus of Oxford Circus.

Bobbie fitted in to the feminine banter of the two women. They commented on the Spring flowers in the parks that filled beds with yellows of the daffodils and reds of the tulips, these were interspersed with blue of the Grape Hyacinths. They commented on the crowds enjoying the sunshine outside the many coffee shops near The Angel. Leslie was not backward in saying what feminine fashions would suit Bobbie. They were amazed by the hoards of travellers that surround the main stations in Euston Road. The crowds surged across the junctions at Caledonian Road, and Gray’s Inn Road in a never ending stream controlled only by the Pelican Crossings.

Amanda reminisced about the wonderful Christmas decorations that were used in Warren Street and Oxford Street only a few months previously; then they were soon at Oxford Circus where they could journey on to Brixton on the Jubilee Line Underground.

Bobbie had negotiated the bus stairs decorously with Amanda going in front and Leslie behind to avoid any clothing malfunctions, but with a smile and an almost unconscious smoothing of her skirt, Bobbie stepped out onto the ‘down escalator’ into the cavernous maw of Oxford Circus tube station. This was familiar ground and the three travelled quickly to Brixton for the ten minute walk to Robert’s bedsitter. They stopped briefly at Robert’s local Offie (ed. Offie is an Off Licence or shop that sells alcoholic beverages) for a bottle of Chablis that was already in the shop’s chiller.

The shopkeeper knew Robert well, but paid no heed to Robert as Robbie. The card payment machine accepted Robert’s bank card without any problem and they were soon on their way again.

Brixton Market was on their way. The smells of fresh fruit and vegetables assaulted their nostrils. Some of the smells were less attractive but most made them stop and admire the piles of brightly coloured fruits. The colours and shapes of all the exotic and familiar fruits was almost intoxicating and there were comments called out by vendors to the two supposedly identical twins. The banter was good natured and pleasant and the ‘girls’ gave as good as they got. There was one ‘catcall’ and Amanda reminded Bobbie that she should ignore catcalls as it was not acceptable in this day and age.

Robert’s bedsitter was in a block of similar properties and no one was on the stairs or landings to question his access. In fact he was only familiar with two other residents as people came and went very frequently.

Amanda and Leslie were quick to appraise the small property. He was complimented on the state of his bathroom and particularly the toilet!

“What do you own in the way of large items. I suspect that the bed, and white goods come with the flat.”

“Yes, most do as well as the tv, table, dining chairs and the little two-seater sofa. I own the microwave and coffee machine, and a small hi-fi unit but other than that, none of it is mine, except, of course, my two laptops and some books!”

“That makes life very easy. Just clothes, toiletries and shoes and you are almost away, as it were.”

“Let me start packing. I think my clothes will all fit into my suitcase, the one of yours and a couple of holdalls I have.”

“What is in the fridge?”

“There is bread in the plastic bread bin on the work surface, then six eggs, a pack of ham and some green salad with some celery. Mayo is in the fridge door as well as a litre of milk.”

“I will open the Chablis. We can drink as we work.”

Amanda and Leslie set the meal out on plates as Robert packed his clothes and shoes.

Leslie sat cross-legged on the single bed leaving a view that left very little to the imagination. Amanda and Robbie sat on the two upright chairs.

“Isn’t your sitting a bit revealing?” Amanda said with a smile.

“I don’t care. The bathroom in the flat has no lock. I might as well start as I intend to continue.”

Robbie mused aloud. “This needs thinking about. Just how revealing are we intending to be?”

“I don’t think Amanda and I have ever held back since we got to know each other. We share changing cubicles when we go shopping and the bathroom door is never closed. I have seen her without a stitch on more times than I can remember and I expect that it will be the same for you.”

“How do you feel about me seeing you naked, Amanda?”

“I hadn’t thought about it, but I would like to go shopping together, and my experience is that it makes more fun if you can share in choosing lingerie as much at outerwear. Having a clean palette will make it exciting to fill up your closet with pretty things.”

“I think I need to check my bank balance! I am already looking forward to having a selection of pretty clothes, but all this excitement means that I mustn’t lose sight of my job, and the need to visit my parents from time to time. I don’t want to be all female, but the option to be both is engrossing.”

“If I am seeing either or both of you naked, I wonder how to deal with my body’s reaction to that?”

“We have both seen men with erections. It is a sort of compliment. It is what you do when you are stimulated that makes the difference.”

“We will need to discuss that, but we will not expect you to be abstinent. We all have needs.”

“Anyway. Back to today’s activity. I have enough bedding and towels for us both, and I don’t think we have hands enough to carry all your sheets and so on so we will leave them for today if that is ok.”

“Yes, fine by me. I think there are perhaps two more journeys that need to be done to move everything. I will phone for a black cab to take us back if you are both ready, then we will cart the bags downstairs to wait for the cab in the sunshine.”

Leslie commented that Robbie looked very comfortable in her outfit.

“I am enjoying it. It seems quite natural to me now. I don’t know why, but it is.”
“Amanda, do you want me to buy the breast forms from you or give them back and buy my own?”

“I think that size is ideal for you. What do you think Leslie?”

“Yes, it would be too obvious to be larger, and too small would be lost on your chest. They are 32A I think. Yes?”

“Yes 32A.”

“So shall I buy them from you?”

“Yes, if you wish, but my nephew didn’t want the quality that would allow him to wear them all the time. You may want a better quality that will feel a bit more natural and will move more as you move.”

“Mmm I think I might like the best boobs that nature cannot provide.”

“I hope you are not shocked, but the best will cost you about £500 for the pair, but they are fully customisable for your skin tones or details like freckles, and you can swim in them as well. They will move as you move.”

“Yes, that is a sizeable amount of my savings. I have consider what I will need to buy to be dressed as a girl at least some of the time.”

“What is your deposit on the bedsit rental?”

“The deposit is a month’s rent, so £800 will come back from the deposit holder. That will help buy some clothes.”

“I am really looking forward to us sharing the flat, so I will not expect you to pay into the deposit for my flat for the time being. That is in exchange for buying all new underwear. I will allow you to share my outerwear until you decide how you want to go on. I always buy too much and have to give stuff away to the charity shops that has hardly been worn.”

“That is great. I will go out with you, Leslie, to get everything I need next weekend. We can talk it over during one of the next few evenings.”

“How long does it take for the breast forms to arrive?”

“I don’t know exactly. They are made in Canada and would have to be customised, then sent over. I am sure a bit of research will put your mind at rest, but please use the ones you have for one or two more sessions.”

I will have to stay dressed as a man during the working week. Back to Robert tomorrow morning.

“I shall transfer a month’s rent to you when I have logged on to your network at your … no … our, home.”

The Black cab arrived and conversation was muted for the journey. The cabbie was animated in his chatter to the group that he assumed were all girls. They giggled politely at some of his slightly risqué humour. Bobbie paid the £35 bill without a murmur and his belongings were carried inside.

He set out all his clothes in the wardrobe and chest of drawers only to find when he re-emerged that Leslie and Amanda had rustled up some supper for them all.

He noticed immediately that neither woman had a bra on.

“What is with the unfettered breasts?”

“Bras get uncomfortable after many hours. It is a house rule that we go bra-free after work.”

“I shall enjoy watching you. Unfortunately these breast forms are not the same or I would join you.”

“Leslie, I would give it three months before Bobbie wants her own implants and hormone injections to go with them. What do you think?”

I think it may take a bit longer for that but I think bottom surgery need longer if it ever happens.”

“I am not sure I like you betting on surgery for me with quite such relish.”

“I am sorry, we are just having a joke at your expense.”

“Yes, a considerable expense if I remember correctly. Several years of saving before either, unless the NHS will help.”

After spending the evening watching a rather unmemorable film, Amanda prepared to go.

“Can you help me remove the breast forms before you go.”

“OK, although you could do it yourself easily.”

After helping Robert, Amanda went home and Leslie and Robert sat and chatted. “How do we sort out the chores and when do you want me to pay you for the various things like Council Tax, and Rent?”

“We can sort those things out over the next few days, but I am the leaseholder so all the payments will have to go through my bank account until we get a new lease together. For the time being at least, you will be an unsecured tenant.”

“I understand that, but it is useful to already have a record of being a good renter to establish a creditworthiness as a lessee. I don’t want to lose that.”

“That is absolutely fine.”

“Over the next few days please explain what clothes you can spare. Perhaps we can go shopping for lingerie on Saturday with Amanda … or without?”

“Amanda would be spitting blood if we went without her. She is usually free on Saturday mornings so I will ask her to come with us to Primark or even SHEIN if their PopUp shop in Oxford Street is still open. Both are cheap, but are not transparently ethical in their labour rules.“

“I have been to Primark before. They always seem to have loads of stuff piled up. I am happy to give it a go. Lots of cheap undies!”

“Can I use the bathroom first, Robert asked.”

“Yes, but one of the evening tasks is to wash out your delicate things. No lingerie goes in the washing machine.”

“Very good Marm!”

Leslie was dressed in an outsized tee shirt when Robert emerged. ”Is that what you sleep in, he asked?”

“Yes, normally.”

“I will keep to my pyjamas for now. They are basically a Tee shirt and shorts anyway.”

“Shall we go to work together tomorrow morning or separately?”

“You will need to change your address at the HR department tomorrow anyway, so I suggest we go together.”

“I hope you sleep well. We will need to be out of the flat by 8.15 so one of us needs to be in the bathroom by 7:30 while the other brews up.”

“I will set my alarm for 7:15. I think I will be quicker than you getting into my normal male clothes for a day at work.”

“I hope you sleep well. I will see you in the morning.”

“Yes. The start of a new adventure!”

End of Part 1.

Part 2

Robert looked from the bed up to the ceiling. There was just the faintest lingering smell of perfume. I wonder what life holds for me when it might be my perfume that lingers?

Sleep came quickly after the business of the day, and it seemed a very short time before the alarm on his phone played the theme from a Mozart concerto with increasing volume. He pressed a button to show he was awake rather reluctantly.

Still recovering from sleep he stumbled into the bathroom. The door was open and he did not clock the fact that the shower was running.

“Good morning, Leslie said through the steam and glass partition. “Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, very well. I have not woken up entirely yet. Do you want me to give you some space until your shower is finished.”

“Don’t worry, I think it is easier to be comfortable with our bodies. Being embarrassed is really such a bore.”

“Do you mind me doing a wee as you shower?”

“No go ahead. What needs to be done ought to be done!”

Leslie was dressed by the time Robert had showered. He dressed in his normal jeans and tee shirt then had the same breakfast of flakes, milk and coffee he always had.

“Will you be ready in ten minutes, Leslie asked?”

“Yes, ten minutes is fine.”

The two workers left together with their lanyards round their respective necks and managed to get access to the suite owned by their company without any problem.

“I will see you in reception at 5pm if not before”, Leslie whispered as they parted. If you need to be late let me know. We will get a key cut on Saturday.”

Robert looked back on the week that Friday evening wondering where the five days had gone. He and Leslie had settled into a routine. They ate together and travelled together. The team of Leslie’s friends were all in the know about Robert’s change of address and the HR team showed no interest and just recorded the change without comment.

Leslie and Robert went through the list of necessaries that would be needed on Saturday. It was a long list but possible in one store in one day.
Amanda was rapping on the door at 8am loaded down with mousse, cosmetics and breast forms. Robert was both excited and daunted by her irrepressible enthusiasm. He emerged damp and pink from his shower. He had used a depilatory and no body hair remained.

An hour later and the effect was total. The breast forms were in place and were covered by a lacy bra that Leslie had ‘donated’ for the day and a pair of knickers that rode high on his hips covered his masculinity.

Her hair was swept over and held rigidly by the mousse. The effect was unmistakably feminine.

The weather was warm for the time of year and the summery cotton dress fitted snugly over ‘her’ curves. The effect was youthful and feminine.

The cosmetics were kept light with pale pink the dominant colour.

Amanda kept up a dialogue of how to maintain the effect she was creating.

Robbie tried to retain all the information she was giving him, but it all got too much and eventually he just basked in the pleasure of being pampered.

Robbie was lent a pair of sandals that seems to fit very well. He hardly noticed the 5cm heel although it was the first time he had worn a shoe anything like that.

Amanda’s phone eventually contained a series of images of the transformation and the last showed two almost identical women in similar cotton frocks ready to ‘do’ the shops.

The journey down to Primark’s flagship store in Oxford Street by bus was uneventful. Robbie and Leslie were both acutely aware of the heads that turned in their direction from both men and women. Amanda walked beside them and was also aware that she was not the centre of attention!

“Hold back with the purchases. When you get into buying lingerie, it can get addictive! Leslie, hold onto Robbie. I can see a glazed look on her face. Buy … BUY … BUY it says written large across her forehead.”

“Robbie, have you got your list?”

“Robbie to Earth. HAVE YOU GOT YOUR LIST?”

“List, yes, but there are so many nice colours here. I can see bras in every colour imaginable. How to choose?”

“Your list says white. Keep to white. I don’t want you blitzing the rent money!”
In fact the range of 32A bras and matching knickers was quite small and Robbie emerged a little sadly with three sets of everything and a bikini, so the hit on his wallet was reasonable.

Shoes were also in short supply in the correct size, but a pair of feminine trainers and a pair of leather sandals were added to the list of purchases.

Leslie said NO! more times than she thought possible.

“NO, that is too big for you. You always need to look for the petite range of clothes. NO, that is too revealing. NO, the arm holes are too big and someone will be able to see the sides of your breast forms. NO, that is not your colouring. NO, that is for the wrong season.”

Amanda was in fits by the time they had paid.

“You would have bought the whole shop given the chance. You are incorrigible. Most women would enjoy looking, then trying things on, refining the choices and discarding most of the items before buying sparingly. Always take someone with you to buy clothes to help rein your spending in.”

“I did enjoy it though! I would like to visit one of the more upmarket lingerie stores one day. The buying spree was like getting a Latte with an extra shot. A real Buzz of what I suppose is retail therapy. So many pretty fabrics and colours to choose from. My male clothes are so drab by comparison.”

As they were walking down Oxford Street back to the bus stop, Leslie saw a summer dress in a rather upmarket shop window. She stopped and looked, and Amanda and Robbie looked. The dress was a pale yellow lined crêpe de chine silk and fell in waves over the mannequin’s contours. There must have a been a fan in the shop window because the dress seemed to move subtly.

“That would suit both of you so well. It is exactly right for a slightly formal summer garden party or barbecue.”

“Lets go and look. Perhaps they will have two of them in our size.”

The shop had two of the dresses in size 8, petite, so both Leslie and Bobbie slipped into a large cubicle and tried the dresses on.

Amanda and the shop assistant were on the verge of applauding when the girls emerged in the matching dresses.

“That is amazing. You look absolutely stunning in those dresses, irresistible even. They are worth splashing the cash to get something so eye-catching.
Leslie looked at Bobbie, and Bobbie looked at Leslie. Shall we?

“Sometimes, a dress is a must and I think it is one of those occasions.”

Amanda looked wistfully at the dresses. “I would love to have one of those but I am larger than both of you.”

“We have the dress in a size 14, in pale green if you are interested.?”

“I am, but no, I must resist the temptation.”

“You can try it on, was the assistant’s final shot.”

“No. I don’t want to upstage you two. You both look gorgeous so why try to compete.”

“Home straight away after this. I don’t want to get caught out again.” Leslie commented wistfully.

The dresses were boxed up in tissue paper and the credit cards took the hit, but both women found it difficult to avoid peeking into the boxes on the bus on the way home.

On their return, Bobbie, removed the tags from her lingerie purchases and put them away in what had become her lingerie drawer. She had a cardboard divider that separated these delicate things from the rather more robust underwear items from Robert’s stock of clothing.

When the three girls were sitting in the flat with a cup of tea, Robbie asked to for help in ordering the rather expensive breast forms.

“I need to look at the variety of shapes, and colour. There is a chart to help one choose the skin colour. Then there is another chart that you can cut out to choose nipple and areolar colours. Finally, I need help with any features that are to be added.”

“You will need to strip off to the waist to help with that, and I will remove your breast forms to show your natural breast colour.” Amanda offered.

The two girls looked over the colour chart that Robbie had printed out. They held it up to Robbie’s chest to match the surrounding skin type.

“I think you need number 3 from the chart for the skin colour and the A cup size. The nipple size is small, medium or large. I would go for medium. Your areolae will be a bit darker, but with such blonde hair your skin will be pale anyway. I think colour 5 would be good, and the nipples should be the same colour. What do you think Leslie?

“Why don’t I show you mine. Since we are so similar you can judge for yourself.”

As normal, the two women had stripped off their bras when at home, so Leslie only had to unbutton her shirt to strip off and show her breasts to Amanda and Robbie.

“Yes, the sizes and colours are good choices. The idea is for you two to look as similar as possible after all. I also think that the breast shape should be symmetrical for a breast of such modest cup size. No gravity effect.”

“What about freckles or other features?”

“No, you don’t have freckles on your face so why should you have them on your chest or boobs?”

“It all sounds good to me. I shall get them ordered. The website says about a fortnight for those manufactured in Germany.”

“Excellent. I am sure you will look stunning in them Bobbie, or is it Robert now you are out of Leslie’s clothes?”

“I feel like Bobbie, but look more like Robert at the moment. I ought to keep my male persona fully functional for everyday matters like work, but I am very comfortable as Robbie.”

I know you can swim with these expensive prosthetics, but what about sunbathing. When we go on holiday together I normally sunbathe topless. Every woman on the beach does. You will not be able to particularly as your boobs will not tan in the sunshine.

“This is new to me. When did we decide to go on holiday together?”

“I just decided. Amanda and I have been going to somewhere sunny every year since we met. It just seems normal for you to come as well.”

I am sure I would enjoy it. I haven’t been on a beach holiday since childhood, but isn’t the idea to get a tan and get laid on that sort of holiday?”

“I suppose it is, but it doesn’t have to be so. It does emphasise that you getting a boob job might get on the menu sooner rather than later.”

“I think it would be great to be able to sunbathe topless and get a tan right across my chest, but that is going to take some time to arrange, and my life would need to be altered quite a bit.”

“With a sports bra on, and A size implants, I think your side profile would be little different from now. What do you think Leslie? Have you ever worn a sports bra?”

“Yes, a sports bra would conceal the small implants, but it would be a big thing for Robbie to undertake just so we could go on holiday together.”

“I think it is more than that. The movement in your natural boobs while you are braless here in this flat is very obvious. I know the posh breast forms will have some of the movement, but I don’t think they will be very convincing. Maybe I should go for small implants immediately.”

Amanda was looking at the Internet on her phone.

“An insert that would take you from flat chested to an A cup size would need to be 250ml. This almost the smallest size that is made. You would also need round inserts rather than the teardrop shape that is more commonly used for larger inserts. The surgery is completed as an outpatient appointment, and you would need very little time off work. Ideally you would be able to work from home for a few days.”

“I know you don’t want your transformation to be widely known yet, but the girls from the office got a fair idea the way the wind was blowing. I think we can trust them all to Keep Mum.

“I would like to have made a bit more progress with my transformation before going out socialising with the girls. When I have the new prostheses then is the time for a reveal.”

“OK, I will fend them off for the time being.”

“I think it is amazing how you have adapted to being Robbie. In only a week you have shown that you can live two separate lives very successfully.”

“Thanks. I feel very comfortable as both Robert and Robbie. I would like to consider a beach holiday with you both, but wouldn’t want the breast forms to get in the way of the holiday, as it were.”

“Where were you thinking of going this summer?”

“We usually leave it until the last minute then get to somewhere on the Spanish mainland or the Greek islands.”

What about my passport?

“If you can still dress as Robert and go to work as Robert then why should you need any alteration to your passport?”

“Point taken.”

“What about you getting laid on holiday. Even if I wanted it, there isn’t an option there.”

“As a couple of identical beauties, you would certainly be the centre of attention for large numbers of young men.”

“Possibly the best answer would be to make it clear you are into girls then keep a low profile.”

“This all needs thinking about. I need to understand my sexuality and how I need to live my life. I can understand the advantages of having a small boob job, and I will do some more research on that. I like being pretty, beautiful even, and like being a twin with Leslie, but going on a beach holiday wearing little more than a thong is quite a big step.”

“We know that and everyone will understand when you have made your decision about the future.”

“Who is the ‘We”?

“Oh, the whole crowd that you met at the Jazz evening.”

“I didn’t know that. I would be going on holiday with five beautiful women?”

“Yes, and I am sure one or two would take very little persuasion to enjoy a night in the sack with you!”

“I am getting worn out by all the possibilities.”

“I shall go to my room and do some research into the breast augmentation surgery.”

“What are you two planning to do tomorrow?”

“We haven't discussed it. Perhaps Leslie would like do something without me. I don't want to monopolise her time when she would prefer to do something else.”

“You are fun to be with, Bobbie. Why wouldn't I want to be with you?”

“I am flattered. I enjoy your company as well. Do you enjoy visiting galleries? There is a special exhibition on at the National Gallery on the Pre-Raphaelites that I want to see?”

“I am sure you know more about them than I do but, yes it would be nice to go with you.”

“My membership is under Robert and the card is photo ID,, so I will have to go as Robert.”

“I think I will cope with that!”

“Do you two want to help me research about the breast implants?”

“Sure. It is not something that I have had much to do with.”

Amanda and Leslie sat either side of Bobbie and looked at images of every sort of breast whether natural or enhanced.

“Your areolae are much more obvious than any of those men's chests, and your nipples are more prominent as well.”

“I have never really noticed that but yes,I think you are right. I wonder why that should be?”

“I have been reading on a bit. Can I ask you some quite private questions?”

“Ask away. We have seen each other naked. There cannot be many secrets between us now.”

Leslie looked down at her hands and asked quietly.

“Have you ever had an emission, either from masturbation or naturally as a wet dream?”

Robbie coloured up, but said quietly. “No, I never have. I have never felt the need.”

“... and you are a virgin as well?”

“Yes. I always seem to be studying or working too hard to form close relationships.”

“Will you let me look at your groin and touch your testicles?”

“Sure. I might enjoy it?

Robbie pulled his skirt up and pulled the knickers down.

Both Leslie and Amanda were surprised that Robbie had no erection when they handled his scrotum and penis.”

“You are not normal down there. Both of us have fondled and indeed sucked and licked a variety scrotums. Your testicles are both smaller than normal and harder than testicles should be.”

“Look up the effects of Mumps on a man's fertility on the net.”

The three looked down a page that outlined the consequences of Mumps. At its most serious the disease could cause bilateral atrophy of the testicles that could not be treated.

“Didn't you have the MMR vaccination when you were a baby?”

“I don't know. We were abroad with my father's job for my first two years. I have no record of what I had and didn't have.”

“Neither of us is a doctor of course, but we have the experience of being sexually active women. I think your testicles are atrophied, and that would account for your lack of male secondary sexual characteristics. Do you agree Leslie?”

“Yes. The website says that atrophied testicles may become cancerous. I do think you need to see your doctor sooner than later.”

“Very well, I will go onto the surgery and make an appointment to see one of the doctors.”

“The surgery has a triage system in place. What do I say is the matter with me?”

“Concern about bilateral testicular atrophy as a result of childhood Mumps.”

A message from the triage team arrived a few hours later with a code to access the booking system to make an appointment.

Robert didn't know any of the doctors, but the first appointment he could attend was with a lady doctor, called Miriam.

Late on Tuesday afternoon,Robert excused himself from work and made the short journey to the surgery.

Dr. Miriam proved to be a kindly middle aged woman with a nice smile.

“I understand that you have some concerns about your development. I hope you will not mind me taking a history before we discuss your specific problems.”

Dr. Miriam was very thorough going through Robert's twenty- five years. She recorded all the medical events in his life including the severe case of Mumps when he was seven.

She then gave him a thorough examination including a rectal examination to palpate his prostate gland.

When Robert had dressed, Dr. Miriam gave her conclusions.

“In my opinion, both your testicles are atrophied as a result of Mumps. Such cases are incredibly rare as a result of the almost universal introduction of the MMR vaccine. This has had the knock on effect of inhibiting your male secondary sexual development. You have told me that you sing as a Counter Tenor. In fact I think it would be more appropriate to call you a Soprano.”

“I need to send you to the hospital because your testicles are likely to become cancerous if they are not cancerous already. You will need a bilateral orchidectomy.”

“How do you think this will this affect your life?”

“I already spend half of my life as a woman and am exploring having breast implants.”

“If I may say so, you already look the part. Your hair and complexion show that you are taking care of your skin and your speaking voice is in the higher range for a man.”

“Can I show you a photo of me with my flatmate?”

“Certainly. “Which of these beauties is you? The two of you look identical.”

“Everybody thinks we are identical twins.”

“I am on the left of the picture in the red top.

“The bilateral orchidectomy will leave you with prosthetic testicles in your empty scrotum. Everything else will remain in place. It seems to me that it might be better to consider a full gender reassignment. I cannot guarantee it, but in my opinion the surgery would be done on the National Health as it is a treatment to prevent cancer, just as a mastectomy is done to prevent breast cancer.”

“That sounds quite amazing and would answer a lot of the questions I have going on in my head at the moment.

“I will let you go home now, but will make the urgent referral immediately. You should have an appointment sent out within a couple of weeks as it is a cancer referral.”

“Thank you for your time Doctor. Perhaps the next time you see me I will have had my name changed to Bobbie on my Medical notes.”

“If that is what you want then I hope you have a brilliant life as Bobbie.”

Bobbie had a spring in her step as she left the surgery. She had so much to tell Leslie.

On the way Bobbie popped into the Offie and bought a nice bottle of Prosecco.

Leslie was making a salad for them both as Bobbie bounced up the stairs and gave Leslie a big hug from behind.

The cork from the Prosecco hit the ceiling as Bobbie caught the froth dextrously in a glass.

“What is the celebration?” Leslie asked laughing.

Robbie sat her down and explained everything that had happened with the doctor.

“The possibility of cancer is serious, of course and I am not trying to diminish that risk, but it means that I can live as Robbie full time.”

“You are sure that is what you want?”

“Absolutely. I am clear in my mind for the first time in years.”

“I don't think I will not come on holiday with the girls this year, but if we still live together the next year, then it is a dead cert!”

“How about boys and getting laid?”

If I have the right anatomy, the mindset will follow I am sure. All this will take time, but I am happy to have that night on the town with the girls now. Can you let Amanda loose with the information?”

“She has been champing at the bit over the last few days. I suggest we wear those posh frocks and have our hair and nails done professionally.”

“You are on! Go for it girl!”

Leslie and Robbie looked a million dollars as they emerged from the black cab. Bobbie’s hair extensions glowed as her golden locks cascaded down her back. They smiled at each other and swirled their matching skirts. As they emerged into the bar more than twenty colleagues rose to their feet and applauded the pair. Amanda had really let the cat out of the bag. There was no going back now … if, indeed there ever had been!

Epilogue

Eighteen months later six young women piled out of a short haul aircraft and very quickly registered at a modest 3-star hotel overlooking a golden beach. Within minutes they were on a set of sun loungers on a wide beach of the pristine sand overlooking a crystal blue sea. The first of many Pina coladas was enjoyed, particularly during the Happy Hour each day.

A young man called Garth had learned to apply Factor 50 expertly to 90% of Robbie’s pale delicate skin. The 10% he didn’t have access to was covered by a micro-bikini bottom that was little more than a small strip of lemon yellow fabric and a few bits of yellow string. Rumour had it that he had access to the rest of Robbie’s body on more than one occasion, but it would be impolite to confirm that one way or the other.