Soubrette Chapter 10b Nick was happy playing the system,unemployed and unemployable but it had to end some time.

Chapter 10b

Life on the streets was hard, and Janice had to practically push me through the door, where a cold sea breeze waited to ruffle my petticoats. Goosebumps even rose where my thighs were bare. Unlike the day before, there were already people milling about awaiting my appearance.

'Are you really a man?' Everyone asked that question, and some were quite insistent.

'I really am,' I said, handing out leaflets, while trying to ignore prodding hands and pinches.

A woman asked if we had the uniforms in stock, as her husband had been quite animated about the scantily clad maid on the High Street.

'We don't usually sell them, but you might ask inside,' I replied, keeping to myself the opinion that a leggy boy in preposterous heels, had drawn his interest, rather than the uniform. A few days before, the notion would have scandalised me, yet now I could laugh it off. What was happening to me?

Lost in thought I barely noticed Kirsty breeze past. 'Back in a mo,' she called, as the shop's door was closing behind her.

'Yes they are fishnets,' I answered one gawper absently, as I peered through the door's glass.

'Ow!' I cried out as someone snapped my garter. Janice was right I thought, my underwear was in the public domain. Was that what Isabel was now telling my girlfriend about, or my clumsy pass. Whatever was said, it was the source of great hilarity. .

'Yes it's true I'm a man,' I answered in resigned tones, while I still peered into the shop. Kirsty and Isabel were hugging as they continued to laugh..

'Right you,' Kirsty said, while bursting through the doorway. In a heartbeat I was caught in my girlfriend's embrace, and passionately kissing.

'Was that a flash?' Kirsty asked as I came up for air, adding, 'why am I asking you, when you always close your eyes.

Still sputtering I hung loosely in Kirsty's arms enjoying the sensation of being held. Had there been a flash? As far as I knew, there had been several million.

There wasn't time to answer anyway, Kirsty turned like a whirlwind and was off down the street. The words "getting my hair done" hung in the air in her wake, but I was already fending off impertinent questions about what I did with my willie. Were people so unimaginative? Most men had to have tried it at some point, with further instructions necessary?

When foot traffic dwindled, Janice allowed me back into the shop. With a huge sigh of relief I closed the door behind me, and nerved myself to confront Isabel.

Whatever was said in the shop, Isabel didn't seem at all perturbed. As always, the impeccably presented older assistant was glacially calm. It was almost as though I were not there, until she beckoned me to her side, and silently began straightening my petticoats. Which of course, entailed lifting them clear of my knickers.

'What did you talk to Kirsty about?' I asked as she fussed around under my skirt.

'Oh it was nothing,' Isabel said while her palm lingered on my bottom. 'We just decided to share you.' And as if underlining her words, she patted me there.

'Share me?' I gasped, incredulously.

'Don't be such a drama queen,' Isabel groaned. 'It'll take the two of us to look after you.

'Look after me?' My voice jumped a couple of octaves with each question. Why were they discussing me as though I were a burdensome child.

'You're lovely…' Isabel wrapped an arm around my shoulders. 'But you're so naive, so willing to please, and so bloody enthusiastic about it.'

'You say that like it were a bad thing,' I said fiercely.

'We just want to stop you being taken advantage of,' Isabel said, 'to stand up for yourself once in a while.'

'So you're my girlfriend now too?'

'Of course not, I babysit you in work, and Kirsty gets to do all the girlfriendy things with you.'

'So you don't want to have sex with the me?' I wasn't sure why that annoyed me, but it rankled. Vanity perhaps, but it seemed important.

'Of course I do, lovely.' Isabel lifted my chin, and very gently pressed her soft lips to mine. My eyes closed, as I settled into Isabel's arms, breathing very slowly. But there were no flashes.

'You've very realistic breastforms,' I murmured, nestling against her.

'They are breasts, silly.' Isabel slipped my hand into her blouse, guiding my fingers to her bra.

'I'll introduce you to my surgeon,' she said, letting my hand rest there. 'Breasts would really suit you, though I think a larger cup size would be better.'

'Oh I don't know…' I wavered, my hand still cupping her breast.

'That's not a "no",' Isabel laughed, and cuddled me closer. 'Perhaps Janice will pay for them.'

I didn't think it was a serious offer, and hadn't even thought about surgery before then. Still, they would make life easier, my clothes would fit better, I wouldn't need to wear a bra to bed… Though I started to list the drawbacks almost immediately too. Perhaps breasts just weren't from me.

I was still mulling it over , when a customer walked into the shop, and approached the counter.

'Don't mind us,' Isabel said, and squeezed me. 'How may I help you?'

She was also in search of a maid's uniform, and explained I'd made her husband quite frisky (her word not mine)

'Ann Summers sells them,' I said, 'though we do have fishnet stockings, that might float his boat.'

'Aren't you a clever poppet?' Isabel drew me closer. Kissing me deeply, and letting her hand roam quite visibly and in my skirt. .

'I love it when you're embarrassed,' Isabel said when the customer had left with an harrumph. 'You're blush is almost incandescent,' she laughed, 'you are the best little pet my sister has ever given me.'

'I don't suppose you could run up a few cheap uniforms, could you?' Janice asked, emerging from her office.

'Leave the poor girl alone,' Isabel said sharply, 'it's bad enough you're sending her to that woman's house tomorrow; even if she is made of money.'

'I'll be okay,' I said, but Isabel wasn't to be reassured.

'There you go again,' she answered crossly, but wrapped a protective arm around me.

We had half a dozen housewives after that, all seeking to and a little spice to their marriages.

'I made my own uniform,' I told the last one, 'but it's meant to be a lot harder wearing when I do jobs outside the shop.'

'I'm sure you ges a lot of hard usage,' she replied, and I nodded my agreement.

'She's not talking about housework, sweetie' Isabel hissed in a stage whisper.

'Oh.' Even my toes were blushing.

'You do housework as a French maid?'

'It's a premium service,' Janice said, reappearing to press a leaflet into her hands.

'You make it sound like prostitution,' Isabel grumbled.

'The prices make it sound like that too,' the customer replied, before bidding us a good afternoon.

I picked up the discarded leaflet, and looked at what was printed upon it. Although I'd been handing them out for two days, I'd never bothered to read one.

'£25 per hour!'

'For a minimum booking of four hours,' Janice said, 'that's why everything has to go well with Mrs Armstrong tomorrow.'

'If she asks you for extras, then for God's sake run,' Isabel said, hugging me.It was a lot of money, and I was more worried that my cleaning would be up to scratch. Saying so made Isabel laugh and squeeze me at the same time.

'Every time I come in here you're having a ball.' We hadn't noticed Kirsty coming into the shop as the last customer departed.

'Your hair,' was all I managed to say. Since lunchtime Kirsty's beautiful blonde locks had been shorn into quite a severe bob.

'You like it?' Kirsty asked, 'it's just like your wig, but blonde obviously.'

'It's lovely,' I said, 'and it'll be just the thing for our night out.'

'It's gone four,' Janice said, looking her watch. 'Why don't you call it a day, Verity?'

'She's not going home to make those bloody dresses,' Isabel snapped.

'But Verity will need to change back into her new uniform before going home,' Janice said evenly, not rising to her Isabel's challenge. 'Just wait there, Kirsty and I'll get you the address to drop her off in the morning.'

'I'm not sure I will need dropping off,' I bristled, 'I'm not a child.'

'Ssssh it means I'll be staying the night,' Kirsty whispered in my ear.

'And you wonder why we are looking after you,' Isabel added.

author's note - sorry it's a bit clunky, but I wanted to post something fun :) Going through a pretty bad flare at present, but I've managed to stay out of hospital so far(not least because I didn't want to explain my undies and jammies).