Janice woke up yawning as she usually did, with a stretch and grin she hopped out of bed and went to the bathroom where she sat and did her business making sure to wipe afterwards. Next she took off her pjs and put them in the hamper and started her bath with a little bit of bubbly that smelled so nice. Today was christmas eve and she was to help mommy do the baking! She was so excited.
Getting into the tub she washed all over and made sure to clean behind her ears and her private then using the shampoo she washed her long brown hair really good then she used her good conditioner with the flowery lilac smell that she loved so much. After rinsing off with the shower she stepped out of bathtub onto floormat. Using a towel she patted herself dry all over then wound that towel around her head and with a twist set it in place. Then using another towel wrapped it around herself, exited the bathroom and quickly made her way to her room.
With the door closed she went through her dresser and pulled out a pair of pink panties, because she was in a girly mood, and one of her training bras although she didnt really have anything it still made her feel grown up. She put both of these on with the ease of long practice. Next she took out a pair of white silk tights and was about to put them on when she realized she hadnt painted her nails or toenails last night. Although she thought this strange she guess that in her excitement for today she forgot, which was ok mommy said that once in awhile it was good for her nails to breath properly. Like most little girls she preffered to have them painted like big girls do. After three coats had been applied she decided to do her hands as well.
*Hmm my nails need a bit of filing too* she thought. Grabbing her nail file she quickly and expertly filed each of her nails into nice ovals, making sure that there was no ticks to catch on anything. she knew that it would take time to dry her hands so she put on her tights, carefully rolling them up so they wouldnt run. Then put on her full slip.
That accomplished she sat at her vanity and proceeded to carefully paint her nails with the same light pink as her toes. When she had them done with three coats and no mistakes, she blew on them to get them to dry a bit faster. She wanted to wait a few more minutes for her nails to be dry so she started on her makeup. She knew she wasnt allowed to wear too much as mommy had said repeatedly "Sweet little girls dont need makeup". She looked deep into the mirror and noticed her eyebrows needed a bit of plucking which she did. The pain of plucking only lasted a little bit and it didnt take her long to have the delicate femine arches she so preffered. Like most 9 yr olds Janice didnt really have all that much for eyebrows anyways but since seeing mommy do this once it made her feel like a big girl.
Using her blush brush with nothing on it she brushed away any fine hairs from her face before applying a light dusting of brown to the white skin above her eyes. Next she used her mascara with the curved brush to bring out her eyelashes so they were nicely long and dark being careful to also bring out her lower ones. With a bit of rose on her blush brush she pit a bit of color on her still smooth cheeks.
Since her nails were now almost dry she unwound her hair and used the blow dryer to finish drying her hair. After a few minutes of careful drying she then spent a few minutes brushing it out till it was completely dry. Her brown hair was very shiny and reached down to her back with a slight wave to it that also gave it a bit of volume. Smiling to herself she brought down her bangs and found to her surprise and many of them almost reached her nose.
*This wont do at all* Janice thought and spied the scissors that she had used last night with her brother when they were in her room wrapping the presents for grandma and grandpa. A few quick snips restored her normal just above her eye length and by back brushing a bit gave her that girl style bangs she usually had.
At this point she decided that it would be a good idea to put on her dress before finishing her hair. Walking to her closet she opened the doors onto her wonderful wardrobe of girly dresses blouses skirts and her 3 school uniforms. Moving the dresses from side to side she searched for her new dress but it was strangely not there. Puzzled she decided that mommy took it to sew that one piece of lace that had come loose. It was ok as she had another dress just as pretty anyways.
Taking out the velvet dark red dress with white lace trim and white satin sash she unziped it and pulled it up making sure that her slip was free and pulled down after as well as settling the pettycoats just right with a bit of difficulty she got the zipper pulled up and went to the full length mirror to admire herself so far. In the mirror was a pretty girl in a very pretty christmassy dress. After a few adjustments and tying the bow sash in back she went back to her vanity and pulled out a matching ribbon for her hair. She finished brushing her hair just right and put the ribbon in her hair so that it ended with a tiny bow ontop to left side which just added to her cuteness.
Now it was time for some jewerly although she didnt have that much by way of jewerly being so young she choose a plain gold necklace that would rest just ontop of her dress with the white lace collar, next she choose some gold earrings that should also match the necklace. She didnt really need to look in the mirror to put in her earings so with a bit of fiddling as it seems her lobes had almost grown shut. This momentarily puzzled her as she couldnt remember why they would be closed. The other girls in school were allowed to wear earrings but she couldnt remember why she was told once she wasnt allowed.
"Oh well" she thought and check her earings in the mirror. "hmm i guess that one was almost closed" as she noticed a bit of red on the bottom of one lobe. Using a bit of the earing stuff on a tissue she carefully cleaned around the earing so that it was all clean. Then checked to make sure there would be no more blood, there wasnt, she next put on some light pink lipstick. It wasnt a big girl lipstick, in truth it was more of a lip balm with a bit of red color in it, it was all she was allowed to wear. Her makeup complete she went to check herself in the full mirror again.
"My arent you pretty" she said it was then she noticed that something was missing.
"Shoes!" and went to her closet again and looked for her shoes.
"I guess I left my new black sandles downstairs" she mumbled to herself. So she chose her older pair but they needed something.. "I know my new lace socks!" Giggling to herself she went to the draw that should have had them. Strangly these were also missing her old lace socks were still there but the new ones she thought she had put there were missing.
"I wonder if I left them with my shoes" she said and then bit her bottom lip just a bit in thought. She couldn't remember so she just used her old ones, they looked that same as new ones, and then put on her black sandles with the tiny gold strap onto her feet.
She checked herself in the mirror again. All she saw was a pretty little girl in her cute christmassy dress. She considered herself perfect. She just hoped she wouldnt spill anything on it while making the cookies before going to grans at noon. Satisfied she was ready she opened the door of her room and went down the hallway.
As she passed the bathroom she saw her father intently shaving his face in the mirror.
"Hi daddy" Janice said as she passed by.
"Morning princess" her father replied.
She skipped down the stairs in her excitement to help with the baking and entered the kitchen. Mom wasnt there.
"Mommy" she called out.
"Im just finishing up in here sweety. Can you be a dear and get the milk, eggs, and butter out of the fridge. Oh and put on an apron so your clothes dont get dirty." She called out from her sewing room.
"Yes mommy." Janice replied with a smile on her face she chose her favorite apron with ruffles and little pink fairy on it. She then pulled out the egg carton and placed it on the table being careful not to drop it. This was followed by the milk and the butter.
Using the foot stool that brought her up to to actually see the top of counter she read the recipe that her mother had chosen for the cookies to grans.
At this point her mother entered the kitchen and stopped looking at her with round eyes.
"Ja ...Jaa.. What on earth are you wearing?" Her mother cried!
Turning to her mother " Oh mommy I couldnt find my new dress socks and shoes so I decided on this dress. Dont I look pretty" Janice beamed at her mother for approval.
"Well yes very pretty and um very christmassy." She replied.
At this point Janice's missing dress shoes and socks entered the kitchen. "Mommy have you seen..."
Janice was stunned there standing not 5 feet away in her new dress shoes and socks was Sam her brother, Looking every inch a girl just like her. Stepping down off the stool the two girls walked up to each other circle around inspecting.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY CLOTHES" They said to each other at the same time.
"Oh my ..." with that Mommy ran from the room. Presumably to get her father.
"Now your in trouble" Janice said to Sam.
"Me? Im not the one dressing in his sisters clothes." Said Sam.
"These are MY clothes Samual" Said Janice with a touch of anger.
"No they are MY clothes Jason" Said Sam also with a bit of anger.
"My name is Janice and im the girl so these are my clothes!"
"My name is Samantha, IM the girl and these are my clothes!"
"Are not"
"Are too"
"Not"
As you may have guessed this was done in rather loud voices. Both equally girly sounding btw which confused there father as he entered this sight in the kitchen.
"WHAT IN GODS NAME IS GOING ON HERE!" He thundered.
"HE is wearing my clothes Daddy!" they both said while pointing at the other.
"I Am not!These are my clothes" again both in unison.
"Daddy Im Samantha your daughter and these are my clothes." said sam.
"Daddy Im your princess Janice and these are my clothes." said janice.
"Your name is Jason" fumed Sam
"Your name is samual" fumed Janice
"I I I uh" Stammered a very confused father.
At this point the two girls, both being equally upset, started to cry. Unfortantly for thier father this was a double team that turned him to mush.
"Well uh you both look very pretty." He said for lack of anything else.
"Really! Thank You Daddy!" Both girls said with that little girl preen and big smiles.
"Harold!" Screached thier mother.
"I uh gotta go shovel the driveway" with that there father quickly put on boots, one workboot and one snow boot, His wifes raincoat over his pajamas and rushed out the door. This was funny since the family didnt actually have a car at the moment as it was still in the shop.
Holding her hand to the top of her nose with to fingers as if she had a huge headache their mother just said"GIRLS!"
At once both the girls were quiet.
"OF all the days to pull this! We dont have time for... Oh my god what are we... "
"Ok lets just get the baking done" Thier mother said in a desperate voice. She had promised she would bring these cookies and buttercups for the family gathering. They had to be done. It gave her some measure of peace of direction.
Samantha dutifully put on her own frilly apron and the two girls set about helping thier mother with the baking. Both girls were just happy and excited to help and thus soon forgot about the arguement and just acted like to sisters. Thier mother always loved baking or as she put it"Just add a bit of love and its delicious" And soon all three were chatting and giggling away in thier mutual love of baking. The mornings even almost completely forgotten.
Some time later a much sweaty and somewhat cold harold returned to the house. All that time spent shoveling snow had cleared his head as to what he was gonna say and do. However upon nearing the kitchen all he saw was 2 girls and thier mother giggling away while baking, he could almost taste the smells that wafted out. But of his son there was no sign. Sighing deeply he just went upstairs for a long hot shower. After his shower Harold got ready in his "best" clothes or simply suit pants golf shirt and watch. Spying his watch he noticed that it was almost time for his brother to come by and pick up his family in his minivan. Quickly putting on his socks and dress shoes he went downstairs.
The site he was greeted with was a mother bent over a table patiently teaching to pretty girls how to decorate cookies with some icing. Both of them standing on chairs next to table in thier frilly aprons. Although he didnt say anything he was filled with a sense of proudness.
"Uh dear.. the time"
"Huh? Oh my goodness! Common children we have to get these cookies in the pail and then wash up and ..." At this point his wife of 12 years Mary remembered that one of these girls was infact her son.
The time to deal with the issue was at hand.
"Ok.."started thier mother.
BRINNGGGG rang the doorbell.
Or not.
Harold looked at his wife in horror. Mary in turn looked at Harold and just shrugged.
"uh Girls lets get you in some coats to cover your uh dresses" stated thier mother. "Harold put this in the bag along with the presents."
"But what about ...you know?"
"Just have to wing it. What other choice do we have?"
To be continued
Hey bat fans....oh wait wrong one.. In the last episode of days of ... oh darn wrong one again ...where was that ...
Various sounds of searching continue.
Hmm is this it? Nope oh hey Ive been looking for that! What was I looking for again Oh yea...
In our last episode Janice and Samantha come face to face and accuse the other of being the brother while in thier fancy dress finery.
Brinnngggg Brinnggg Bringg.
"Harold get that while I get these two into some coats."
"Yes dear" Harold approaches the door almost as if it will bite him. While muttering under his breath"Please please let it be some mormon selling a bible." Click.
"Hi Harold!"
"Your early!"
"Merry Christmas to you too. Now are you guys ready? Bill and the girls are getting anxious." His inlaw Stacy replies.
"Hi Aunt Stacy!" chime two girls in slightly different coats that come down to thier knees. Janice has on a blue coat with purple fur trim and Samantha has on a black coat with red fur trim. Both looking the picture of two sweet girls. Both are carrying a tuperware container of thier cooking. "We helped Mommy with the baking!" proudly smile the two girls.
"Hi Stacy. Thank you so much for coming and giving us a ride. Is the rental big enough for all of us?" Asks Mary.
"OH its no problem." Stacy leans in close to Mary and whispers"I thought you had one of each?"
"We do. Dont ask we got a surprise this morning."
"Oh uhm well" Somewhat at a loss for words Stacy turns back to the girls and looks closely. Both seem like girls in every way to her one brown hair one red, one in a red dress and one in a brown dress from what she can see through the coats."Well dont you two look pretty and so grown up too"
"Oh Aunty" both girls blush furiously and chime at same time leaving Stacy just as confused. "And what are the your names?"
"Im Janice and this is my younger brother Samual"
"Im Samantha and this is my older brother Jason"
"Am not"
"Are too"
"GIRLS!"
"Sorry Momma!"
"I expect you both to be proper young ladies!"
"I will Mommy Ill be a good girl"
"You cant be a good girl your a boy, Ill be a good girl Mommy."
"No you cant im the girl, your the boy."
"Am not"
"Are too"
"GIRLS!"Shouts Mary then in a more calmer voice" Today you are both girls and i expect your best Behavior"
"That goes double from me"Confirms thier dad."Now apologize to each other"
"Ok, Im sorry Samantha your just as much a girl as me sis."
"You too sis, Hugs?"
Both girls put down thier burdon and hug each other in their heavy coats. Picking up thier burdon again they walk outside to the waiting van.
"Are you sure about this?" Asks Stacy.
Mary and Harold look at each other in that silent communication that almost all parent seem to have give a short nod and say yes. They all then proceed outside, after grabbing coats purse and more tupperware, to follow Stacy to the waiting van where the two girls are climbing into the back with their two other cousins. Stacy and Mary occupy the middle seat which has only two belts and Harold joins his brother Bill in the front. Bill looks to his wife for an explaintion who shrugs in return.
Have to take a break and sleep ill continue tommorow...or maybe not
Hey boys and girls its howdy... oh wait thats wrong.. In our last episode our heros battle the mighty... nope that one either.. lets see.. darn muses always moving my stuff around... Donatello does machines, Michelangelo is a party dude tutoo... ok thats definatly not it..
Janice and Samantha have helped their mother bake cookies and have been introduced to their aunt and uncle.
Bill leans over to Harold and in a low voice asks.
"Which one is which?"
"Don't ask just drive."
Bill starts driving with a puzzled look on his face same as his wife Stacy. The Drive to Mom and Dads doesn't take all that long and is very quiet their daughters Nancy and Susan in the back are unsure what to say or do since they were told they were picking up there cousins. One a boy and one a girl yet there was two girls.
Janice and Samantha are oblivious to all this since they are looking daggers at each other and are embarrassed that their brother is in their dress. The silence is not lost on Mary who is sitting their trying to figure out how they were gonna pull this off.
Upon arrival the four girls disembark in a flurry of heavy coats all covering their dressed being careful to not snag their tights or get their shoes dirty. The four confused parents follow behind them all loaded with the remaining Tupperware containers, and gift bags. The four girls are each carrying something as well. Janice and Samantha are carrying the smaller Tupperware containers of cookies while Nancy and Susan are carrying utensil bags and cups.
Janice being the older of the four girls reaches for the doorbell and rings it. The door opens to their Grandfather.
"Merry Christmas Grandpa!" screech the four girls in unison. Grandpa Charlie is a little stunned as he seems to have acquired a new grandaughter and his one grandson seems to be missing.
"Well Merry Christmas to you to girls. And may I ask you pretty girls for your names and your coats?"
"I am Janice this is my brother Samuel please excuse him."
"I am Samantha this is my brother Jason he is nuts."
"GIRLS!"
"Sorry momma."
"I am Nancy."
"I am Susan."
Well young ladies you are all very pretty. Uh go bring your containers to Grandma in the kitchen."
With that the four girls now free of their coats move as a group to Grandma's domain the kitchen. Grandpa Charlie looks to his children and their spouse for an explanation of some type.
"For today we have two girls." Utters Mary.
"I see.. Uh Harold Bill care to join me for a glass of christmas cheer?"
The men move off with all the coats while Stacy and Mary go to the kitchen. In the kitchen is the muttering of four very excited little girls.
"...and I put the frosting on the chocolate chip cookies all by myself Nana." Janice finishes saying to a very confused grandma who is trying her best to maintain a false smile. She looks to Mary with an eyebrow raised. Mary replies with a wave of her hand to mean let it drop/ later.
"Since all four of you are all wearing very pretty dresses it would be a shame for any of you to get them dirty here in my kitchen. Uh Janice I hold you responsible for all the girls and you may decorate the tree."
The four girls leave enmass to go decorate the tree which is a tradition for the children. It is the first time Janice has been put in charge of the group but they all proceed to delicately decorate the tree with the antique ornaments, the lights and streamers have already been hung along with the ornaments on the upper branches of the fresh pine christmas tree.
Left to themselves in the kitchen but still in visual view of the four girls Stacy, Mary and Grandma Denise confer in low voices.
"Mary I may be getting old but I am fairly certain that one of your children is a boy."
"Well this morning brought me a surprise. At the moment, aside from desperately needing therapy, I seem to have two very pretty girls and no son. I cannot explain it. And truthfully I am not even sure which is which anymore. Lets just go with both are girls for today."
"As you wish but you do know something will need to be done. While both gifts I made for your uh girls can go either way I am not sure how we will handle this."
"Thank you. This is really really strange and difficult. I never would have guess one of my children would be one of those trans people."
"You seem to be handling it better than either Bill or I would have Mary."
"I hope you do far better than Charlie or I did with Terry." At the mention of the long lost sibling there is a moment silent grief. The suicide of Terry some 8 years ago is still a hard burden to bear for the family. It is because of this that the whole family is trying very hard to accept the new girl without making a big fuss. Poor departed Terry could not stand the angry looks and comments of his/her family when he/she started to transition. The resulting video played to the family upon his/her death had a profound impact. They all look hard at the new girl in her dress and really see that she is a girl just the same as all the others.
In the private office/den a similar conversation has taken place with some alcohol mixed in to soften the blow.
"Harold she really does look and act just like the other girls. Do you have any idea how to go from here? We still have the number for that therapist who specializes in trans people."
"I guess we will have to see first. This is the first time we have even seen any sign that he wasn't happy being a boy at all. He seemed so normal to us."
A single tear escapes Harold's eye.
"I don't want another Terry. I will do my best to help my new daughter."
"I think we will all try a little harder this time to be understanding. Not many get a second chance to do things right."
"Here."
"Here."
And the clink of the three glasses can be heard over the softly playing Bing Crosby record of Christmas music.
To be continued at some other time.
Look I have all this cleaning I need to do..
I don't care if it's time again I need to...
Meh your not gonna drop this are you?
Fine!
In our last episode Princess Nighty nigh... that's not it.. Hey Bat fans!... Nope definitely not.. OHH a new story by that awesome author Dottie!... oh wait.....
In our last episode Janice and Samantha have been asked to decorate the tree with Nancy and Susan. Our confused grandparents and parents have revealed that the missing member of the family was also once trans.
Janice, being the eldest, was hanging the highest glass ornaments as far as she could reach. Samantha and Nancy were behind her holding the next ornaments while Susan was busy trying to unravel the package of tinsel that had gotten all messed up with another package.
As was the usual the lower portion of the tree was heavy with ornaments while the top was neatly filled. The middle, far less than previous years, was still somewhat bare.
Under the tree was the red with white trim tree mat in velvet awaiting it's own decorations. Grandma Denise had been given the family heirloom Sears nativity set. The set, all in porcelean, had at one point been a cheap christmas decoration. However time had turned this once cheap set into something priceless as it was now onto it's third generation of children.
The girls, now finished with the ornaments and tinsel, hurried into the kitchen to retrieve their parents and grandmother, amid many squeals along the way. The squeals also notified the men that the girl's were done. Like all girls they were proud of their work and wanted praise for making the tree so pretty.
The adults all noted that the one missing boy, who was usually pretty glum at this point, was smiling just as much if not more than the other girls. Mary and Harold somehow came together to gaze upon the christmas tree and were both smiling proudly at there little bundles of joy.
Nancy, Janice, Samantha, and Susan were all vying to get grandma's attention showing the peices they placed, or helped place. Grandma Denise was in her element. Christmas was her time of the year. She also loved her granddaughers, all of them, so much as it made her feel younger just by being with them. This was easy for all to see as she smiled so much she glowed.
Grandpa Charlie came up behind his children and their spouses and opened his arms to put a shoulder, or arm, across each.
The four girls waited impatiently for Grandma to put her naviety set in place. This was also tradition for them as it was like watching an artist put each piece lovingly into place beside another. When grandma was done the girls approached the tree, carefully tucking their dresses so as to not crease them, and kneeled down on their knees sitting on their feet. Grandma carefully winded the music box and the first sounds of tiny christmas music was heard. Each of the girls hugged her Grandma.
"Merry Christmas Grandma." was said by each.
As Grandma was getting ready to leave the tree she picked up the box, tears in her eyes, she noticed that the box was not empty. Checking the tissue papers she searched for the rattling item and found a small angel.
The small angel, who you could not tell was either male or female, was something she didn't remember seeing before. With a shrug she put the angel into place on the top of the manger set were a tiny little nail was sticking out.
It was not till she was ready to walk away, with a groan for getting up, that she quickly turned around and looked at the angel carefully.
Along the sash of the porcelain angel was a simple Merry Christmas. However she could swear that the writing was that of her missing child. She said nothing but looked at her new granddaughter for a moment and wondered.
With the decorations done around the tree it was now Grandpa's turn, also tradition. He pulled out the old train set that he had gotten when he was young and set about setting it up. The girls each wanted to help grandpa and held out various track pieces. When it was set up Charlie sat back and looked on it with pride. The motors on the engine had long ago burnt out but the detail of the old electric train had been something that he had loved even as a child.
"Turn it on grandpa!"
"Yeah how come you never turn it on grandpa?"
"It doesn't work anymore girls"
"Really?" Little Janice reached for the simple knob that turned to start the old train. As she did so the once dead lights came on in the train and every so slowly the train started to move along it's bright copper track.
Charlie was shocked. While he occasionly turned it on before for the one or two lights to come on this was different. It was like someone had given the train of his youth new life. It had been almost forty years since he last saw this train move. And yet, here it was moving on it's own accord. Just like his wife he looked to his new granddaughter and wondered.
To be continued next christmas.
Merry Christmas to all!