Summary: In the first of three parts, Eric finds himself in deep trouble. He makes a bargain with his family that will ultimately lead him down a path he never dreamed of.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My high school spring break was less than two days away but I was still focused on summer vacation. It would be nice to be off school for over a week, but the big prize would not be arriving until summer.

I had turned 15 in January and had managed to convince my parents to let me take drivers education over the summer vacation. I was signed up to begin my lessons at an agency near our home in Highland Park, as soon as school finished at the end of the spring semester. My mother promised to take me to the Secretary of State's office and get me my learner’s permit. Some of my best friends already had their permit and I wanted to get mine more than anything.

It took a lot of convincing of my parents to let me take driver's education over the summer, because I had recently found myself in the doghouse. My dad was not pleased that I quit the Junior Varsity high school baseball team after only two weeks. I liked baseball, but I really did not love playing at such an intensely competitive level.

The bigger issue that pushed me deep into the doghouse was my mother finding a joint in one of my socks in my bedroom. I thought it was well hidden but I guess she picked up on the smell. I had only smoked a joint twice and didn't really like it. I was read the riot act and put on family probation at home. I lost some privileges and had to stay in for three consecutive weekends.

The punishment had ended two weeks ago, but I knew I was still on a short leash around them. I was grateful that Drivers Ed did not begin until the summer or I probably would have lost that too.

I knew my parents were concerned about me, but I was generally not a problem for them. My grades in school were generally good and for the most part I got along with my sister Sasha, who is a year and a half older than me.

I think the marijuana thing was just a part of my rebellious side that seemed to crop up from time to time. As I said I was a good student, but otherwise I really did not standout. I stood a mere 5'7" tall and according to my doctor I was not likely to grow much more. I have very small feet and hands, so he had predicted that I would only be 5'6” at the most. I was happy I had out grown his prediction. My dad was almost 6 foot tall, but my mother was only 5'4" tall. I ended up almost exactly the same height as my sister, and she often reminded me of that. We were both quite thin, but I think I outweigh her by about five or 10 pounds.

Clearly I'd gotten more of my mother's DNA than my fathers. My features were fairly delicate and I had thick dark brunette hair just like my sister and my mother. Even my voice had a high inflection to it and I was often mistaken for a girl on the phone. I was proud of my main, and I currently wore it quite long.

Over the years my hair had taken on an almost ritual tradition. Each year I would get it cut short before school in the fall and then let it grow until school got out in the spring. I would then get it trimmed a little before the summer heat rolled in. Then in the fall it would be cut way back again and the cycle would repeat itself. During the school year I would only see a barber if there was some special occasion that necessitated a trim.

This tradition had been going on as long as I could remember and I was told that originally it was my mother’s idea because she contended my hair was too beautiful to always wear it short. Later as I grew older I developed an appreciation for wearing it long. My thick hair was one of my few distinguishing characteristics.

My father was less fond of my long hair and typically early each spring suggested that I get it cut. Most people’s hair typically grow at about a half an inch a month, but mine always seem to grow even faster than that.

This spring my hair was easily the longest it had ever been. My hair had been given a head start due to my last two haircuts. At the beginning of last summer my mother decided that she would take me to her stylist, since our neighborhood barber had retired. Instead of giving me my typical quickie trim, Sonia had given me more of a styling. She trimmed a fair amount off, but the results were still much longer than any of my previous summer haircuts. It looked much fuller on the top and the length tapered on the sides. It was a unique style that I thought was kind of cool other than having to go to a salon to get it.

When it was time for my fall preschool cut my mother brought me back to Sonia. Instead of cutting it short for the beginning of the school year, she mostly just trimmed it. She left it very long on the top and only trimmed some length on the bottom and sides. My hair only brushed my neck, but it looked much longer. The top hair reach almost as far down as the somewhat shorter strands on the sides and in the back. If I brushed it straight down it all reach to about the same length all around my head. It already look longer than it typically did in the spring just before I would get most of it cut off.

My mother thought it looked great, but my father made the comment, “This is what happens when you take a boy to a woman’s salon.” I was not sure about it myself, but after hearing my dad statement I got a little defensive. Instead of questioning it, I insisted it looked in style and was perfect.

In the six months since that fall cut my length grew at least 3-4 inches. It managed to remain pretty even in length and I usually had to use a ponytail to keep it from flying in my face. I knew it was beyond long, but every time my dad suggested I get it cut, I resisted. I usually played the “tradition” trump card, but it still did not make him happy.

If it sounds like my father and I were at odds, that was not the case. We disagreed about a lot of things, but overall we got along just fine. I knew he cared a lot about me and for the most part he let me be myself.

I was probably a little bit of a disappointment to him from an athletic viewpoint. My father wanted me to play baseball, because he had been a very good college ballplayer and up until now I had not shown much interest in other competitive sports. I was more the nature person and even enjoyed helping my mother in the family garden. My only typical macho endeavor was my interest in getting my drivers license.

I had some friends in the neighborhood and at school, but I generally had a hard time being social. I always seemed to find myself interested in the most attractive girls, and they generally did not even give me the time of day. My guy friends were into sports, cars, and video games, which I liked, but not to their level. I smoked a joint, because of peer pressure and trying to fit in. I know my mother was particularly concerned with me finding the right friends and just being happy.

This brings us a spring break and the cruise we were about to embark on. Our parents decided that with Sasha almost ready to go off to college that we needed to take a family vacation. They wanted to take a trip in which we would all spend a lot of time together. They felt that cruise would be a good choice, as most families ate their meals together and usually went on excursions together. They also liked the idea, because the new mega-ship Oasis of the Sea had virtually every type of activity on board and no one in our family had ever been on a cruise before.

The ship would be a new experience for all of us and it would probably have something that each of us would like. When I looked at the brochure, I had to admit there was a lot of cool stuff on the ship. The only thing I didn't like was that some of the evening entertainment was kind of formal. There were two fancy dress dinners and some art shows and even a theater. I liked the daytime options the most, and didn't really want to get dressed up on vacation. I expressed that thought at dinner earlier in the week and clearly found I was the only one who felt that way.

The evening before we were set to leave, each of us had to pack our suitcases. My mother was very specific in telling us what to bring. Besides all the bathing suits, shorts, and T-shirts, I was told specifically what nice clothes to pack. My sports jacket, dress slacks, and ties were neatly folded and left on top of my dresser for me to add to my suitcase. I was also told to pack some nice slacks and a couple of nice short sleeve shirts. My leather shoes were placed right next to my suit and I was told to take those with as well. With my extra large Delsy suitcase I had plenty of room for everything I needed, so space was not going to be an issue.

As I was packing, I got a sneaky idea that I should not have acted upon. I decided to "forget" to put my fancy clothes in my suitcase. I figured that my parents and Sasha could do the dressy things and I could find other things to do when they were gone. I would just claim it was a mistake. I certainly would not go hungry as a casual dinner buffet was served on all evenings, even on nights of the formal dinners. I thought I had it all figured out.

We flew to Miami the night before the cruise was to leave. We did not want any possible chance of problems with our connections. The weather was 80 ° when we arrived and I was suddenly very happy to be out of the cold Chicago area weather.

At midday on Saturday, we made our way to the cruise ship. I think we were all blown away by the sheer size of the ship. It was bigger than any of us imagined. The loading process was fairly slow and it took a long time to make it to our suites.

I was not thrilled, but I had to share a suite with my sister. It was attached to a larger suite that my parents were in. I wanted my own room, but then Sasha and I would have been charged as singles, which would have been a lot more expensive.

Dad told us to unpack and then we would go for a tour of the vessel. The room was pretty nice with plenty of drawers and one good-sized closet. It did not take long to put our stuff away. As I was finishing up and putting away my underwear in the bottom drawer, my sister looked at me and asked where my jacket was.

“Oh Shit, I think I forgot it! I meant to put it on top and I must have forgotten. Damn it! I won’t be able to go to the formal events with the family.”

“Mom and dad are going to be really pissed off with you. You don’t have a prayer of them believing that crock.”

“It’s true Sasha, I forgot.”

“Yeah right. We’re still going to do all of those formal things and you are not going to ruin it for all of us.”

“You can all go, it’s no big deal for me.”

“That might be what happens, but Mom and Dad wanted this to be a family trip and they are going to go ballistic.”

“Now you are scaring me.”

“You better be scared. They spent a lot on this trip and they are not going to be happy.”

“Well at this point there is not much I can do.”

“You better go face the music. I would tell them now, to give them time to cool off before tomorrow night’s first formal dinner.”

“I think I will wait.”

“Tell them or I will.”

“Come on sis, can’t it wait?”

“I would tell them now so maybe you can have some fun on the trip before it is over.”

“All right then, I will tell them.”

My sister was so right. They did not even remotely believe it was an accident. They knew I intentionally forgot those clothes and they were also very upset that I tried to lie to them. I pleaded that I was sorry, but they were too upset with me to immediately forgive me.

We were told that each evening we would have an assigned table if we wanted to go to a sit-down dinner. Even on the non-formal nights the sit-down dinners were a little dressier than the buffet area. You didn’t need to wear a jacket or tie, but you usually would come looking a little nicer than shorts and a T-shirt. I had managed to pack only casual clothes and it was already coming back to bite me.

My dad began raising his voice at me before my mother helped him regain his composure. My mother sent me back to my room and told me they were going to discuss my fate. I knew I was in deep Doo Doo and I was seriously regretting my intentional oversight.

I went back to my room and just sat on my bed with my hands on my forehead. I was trying to figure out how I was going to get out of this mess. My sister was less than sympathetic and said my mistake was very selfish. She was probably right about that, but I didn’t say a word.

About 10 minutes later my parents came through the private adjoining door and they still did not look very happy. I could see my troubles were not over. I tried one last time to plead for mercy.

“I am so sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking. I was wrong and I will stay in the room while you all go to the formal dinners and dress up activities. Please forgive me.”

“Well Eric, is not going to be that easy. This was supposed to be our family trip and we were planning on spending a lot of time together. Your mother and I planned this to be a special time and you have made that nearly impossible. Maybe we can find you some slacks and a polo shirt, but you have no nice shoes or other things. It’s not really the money, but you just don’t deserve to have us purchase new things for you because of your transgressions.”

“Okay, so what now?”

“We have decided that you are not going to be taking your driver’s education this summer. You will just have to wait.”

“DAD! Come on, not that. I wanted that more than anything. That’s not fair.”

“You should’ve thought about that before. At this point our whole trip is messed up and there is no way around it.”

“I’ll do anything. Please don’t take Drivers Ed away, please.”

“Like I said you should’ve thought about that when you were packing. Your sister didn’t have to be told. Look, she packed clothing for every possible thing we might do, even extras in case of problems. You should have done the same.”

“Yeah, but Sasha is a clothes-horse. I wasn’t thinking. I am sorry. Isn’t there some other way you could punish me. I’ll do extra chores forever.”

“Well if our trip wasn’t so impacted I might have considered that, but that is not possible now.”

At that point my sister chose to speak up.

“I have an idea that might fix our problem and at the same time could serve as punishment for Eric.”

“I don’t see how that is possible.” My father shot back.

“Well dad, how about Eric borrow some of my things so he can join us for the dinners. You said I have plenty.”

“You’re crazy sis, I’m not wearing your things, they are all for girls.”

“Remember on Halloween two years ago you wore the cheerleader costume. You actually looked so good no one knew you were not a girl.”

“That was three years ago, and that was for a stupid party.”

My dad looked directly at my sister, “Sasha, that is a cute idea, but he is 15 now and this is not Halloween. “

My mother who had been silent through the whole discussion decided to interject, “Well Bill, it’s not such a bad idea. He has managed to avoid getting his haircut and he is about Sasha’s size. It might work. At a minimum he will know he should have followed orders.”

“Rita, that’s all well and good, but I still don’t think he could possibly pull it off.”

“I don’t think I can either, so let’s forget it.”

“Bill, how about I have him try on one of Sasha’s outfits and fix him up a little bit. If it looks possible, we can work on perfecting his look tomorrow.”

“Mom, I can’t believe you’re really considering this. I’m not going to dress up in girl’s clothes. I’ll look stupid.”

“I think with a little work, you should probably be passable. If you are not willing to give it a try, you can just forget about Driver’s Ed.”

“But….”

“Son, your mother and Sasha are giving you your one and only opportunity to get out of trouble. I do not see any other options.”

“There’s no way this is going to work dad. Sasha’s idea is just crazy.”

“Well here’s the deal. You will do a dry run here in the room. If your mother thinks it will work, then I will give you the opportunity to earn back your driver’s education class. You have to listen to your mother and do absolutely everything she says. If you do not cooperate 100% then you can just forget about driver’s education. You may not drive until you are 17 or more.”

“What if mom and Sasha’s don’t think it’ll work after dressing me up. Then do I get to take Driver’s Ed? “

“If you cooperate, then I will consider it if you stay out of trouble between now and the summer. But remember, if they think it might work, you have to do whatever they tell you to.”

I couldn't believe it, but I was about to try on some of my sister's clothes for the whole family to see. This was going to be very humiliating and I couldn't believe it was happening.

I was ordered to take a shower and shave my body of any stray hairs. I had very little hair on my body and most of it was very fine. I was told to shave under my arms as well as up and down my legs and chest. I was also told to wash my hair and wrap a towel around it.

Shaving my legs was not as easy as I thought. I actually nicked myself a couple of times, drawing a small amount of blood. I was very embarrassed when I emerged from the bathroom, both hairless and feeling very exposed. My sister looked at me and told me to calm down.

I could see that they had laid out a complete set of clothes on top of my bed. I began to squirm a little and said, “Let’s get this over with.”

First came some of my sister’s undergarments. I had to put on a pair of her briefs and one of her brassieres. They stuffed some of my socks in the brassiere to give me some shape. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and began to squirm even more. It was strange seeing my own image in some of my sister’s lingerie. I’m not sure what came over me, but I started to get an erection. My arousal did not go unnoticed.

My sister commented, "if this is going to work, we are going to have to do something to cover that up. I guess he enjoys being Erika more than he cares to admit."

"Don't tease him, we still have a lot of work to do here."

They slipped over my head one of my sister’s sundresses that only reached to mid-thigh, which was followed up by a pair of wedge sandals onto my feet. I could tell they were pleased with my progress. They told me to sit on the bed while they blow-dried my hair. They worked on my hair for about 15 minutes. They kept brushing it under and using the blow dryer to create one large wave. When they were done my hair curled slightly under my chin. I had never seen my hair like that and it definitely looked more feminine. At that point I thought they were done. Instead, my mother laid out her makeup kit.

“Eric, I am only going to put a little makeup on you to bring out your eyes and cheeks.”

“ I feel so stupid.”

“You look just fine, let me finish.”

Over the next 10 minutes my mother outlined my eyes, and brushed some mascara into my lashes and eyebrows. She worked some powders above my eyes and on my cheek line. Finally she put some lipstick on my lips.

When she was done she stood back a couple of steps and stared at her work.

“That one earring looks wrong with everything else. Eric, please take it out.”

After I took the stud out of my left ear she smiled.

“I think this is going to work. You look very nice, and with a little more effort I think you will look very pretty.”

I turned to the large mirror in our room to take in the full affect. With the makeup on, I looked a little too good. My hair didn’t look quite right, but otherwise I looked like an attractive teenager. I began to get uncomfortable knowing that the charade was unlikely to end anytime soon.

My father got his first look at me and he sealed my fate.

“Eric, you look amazingly like your sister. I think with your small frame and long hair you should have no problem spending some time dressed in your sisters clothes. It looks like our family vacation is back on.”

“Bill, Eric looks pretty good, but his hair looks very odd and his hands and feet look like a mess. If this is going to work, we need to make an appointment for him at the ship salon. I am sure they can do a better job than I did.”

“Rita, you have total freedom to do anything you want to get him ready. I want him to be as perfect as possible to avoid any problems. It will also teach him some good lessons.”

“I will call the salon to get him in tomorrow.”

“I’m not going to a salon! That’s not fair.”

“Son, you know the drill. If you do not do everything your mother says, you can forget about your summer driving plans.”

“How many times am I going to have to get dressed up like this?”

My mother quickly responded, “We will see. There are only two formal evenings, but we may want to go to a show or possibly some other dressier event. You are in no position to make demands.”

“Can I take this off now?”

“Yes, Sasha will show you how to remove the makeup and moisturize your face. Please take good care of her clothing, it needs to last for both of you.”

When I was done we finally went for our tour of the ship. As the brochures’ indicated, the ship had everything. There were many exciting entertainment areas including pools, game rooms, an ice rink, and even karaoke booths. The ship also had many restaurants, spas, salons, and shopping areas. The shopping areas were almost as large as the mall back home. I could probably get all of the boy clothes that I needed in there. I even mentioned that to my parents.

“Eric your father and I have already dealt with that issue. You will be fine and this will teach you to listen better in the future.”

We walked around for nearly 2 hours and only stopped for a quick beverage on the top deck. We decided that after walking around so long we were hungry. Instead of doing the sit-down option we decided to try the buffet. It was plentiful, but nothing exceptional. My parents said that the sit-down and formal dinners typically had better food. We had some dessert and went back to our rooms.

Sasha and I decided to go for an evening swim and our folks decided to check out the onboard casino. It was a fun evening and Sasha and I managed to get over the conflict we felt earlier. By the time we got back to the room around 10 PM I was very relaxed and had forgotten about the coming challenges.

My mother stopped in our room while we were watching a little TV and told me that my appointments were to begin at 10 AM. She said we would all go and have some breakfast at 8:30, and then we could come back to the room to get ready. We were told to turn in, and get a good night sleep.

I ask what she meant by appointments, and all she said was they had a lot to do.

Despite being very tired, I had some trouble sleeping. I woke up two or three times and each time I was thinking about wearing that sundress. Normally I have a hard time waking up, but on Sunday morning I was up before Sasha. I listened to music on my iPhone for a while, until everyone else was up.

We all made our way to breakfast as a family. Today would be our first full day on the ship and there would not be any island excursions. The ship had to make a long journey to its first stop deep in the Caribbean Sea before we would make our first stop in Jamaica. My mother emphasized that it was good we were on the ship all day as I would need extra time to prepare myself for the evening.

I told her that I dreaded the appointment that was growing near and asked one last time if it was really necessary.

“Eric, you need to start getting into a better frame of mind to make this as easy as possible. If you keep making faces and resisting you will have a miserable time and much more likely embarrass yourself. When we get back to the room to change you have to start thinking and acting more like a girl.

“Can’t I just wait until this evening?”

“Honey, when you go back to the room, you have to change into proper clothes for the salon and after the salon we’re going to have to work on teaching you some basic lessons. For the rest of the day you are going to have to be Erika. Tomorrow we go ashore and it is a casual dinner so maybe then things will be easier.”

“I have to go to the salon dressed up?”

“Yes, it would look very odd getting some of your treatments as a teenage boy.”

“I guess you are right, but I don’t want to look stupid.”

“That is why you need to relax and start getting into a better mindset. You’re going to feel different looking and dressing more like your sister. You need to accept that, and just go with it. Don’t try and be a boy in a dress or everyone will see through it. Try and enjoy the experience. If someone compliments you, just smile and say thank you. You are much less likely to be ‘read’, if you make an effort to act in a more feminine way.”

“This is all so much to take in. I’ll try and do my best, just don’t expect me to wear white if I ever get married.”

“That’s very funny Eric. I’m glad you can find some humor in this. But don’t be so quick to plan your life, you probably would look beautiful in white.”

With that we all laughed a little. Breakfast moved along too swiftly for me and it was time for me to get ready for my makeover. We headed back to the room where my mom once again helped me prepare. Sasha and my father went up to the deck to enjoy some of the morning sun.

My mother laid out some clothing for me again, but added a few items. I was surprised by some of the things lying on the bed. She had me put on a maxi pad after I tucked my penis between my legs. Following that uncomfortable maneuver she pulled a very tight bikini bottom up over the pad to hold everything in place. When I looked down I could see I was flat where my family jewels used to reside.

I slipped on the same brassiere from yesterday only my mother had some new inserts for me to put in them. She had found thick rubber breast pads at one of the shops last night. She explained that on the ship a lot of girls like to look much more fully endowed, so they sell waterproof inserts. She had bought the largest ones they had, which almost completely filled my sisters ‘B’ cup bra that I was wearing. They really weren’t meant for someone with no cleavage at all, but they did the job on my chest.

I pulled on the sundress and wedge sandals and walked over to my mother.

“Hold your elbows in a little and take shorter strides.”

She had me walk back and forth a few times until she thought I had a more acceptable motion. She then went to work on my face. She put on me only a little makeup this time; as she said one of the salon stylists plan to touch me up later. She gave me matching silver bracelets for my wrists and also spritzed me with some sweet smelling body mist. With that we were out the door and on our way to the salon.

Just being in the hallway looking as I did, gave me some chills. I knew I had to get used to it, but I could only think about some of my school friends seeing me this way. I told my mother how nervous I was and she seemed sympathetic.

“It probably is a little difficult now. This is all so new to you, but I am sure you will feel much better later. When they are done with you at the salon you’ll look so much nicer and after you have had more time to adjust, I am sure you will feel much more natural. Remember, don’t fight it. You’re going to be pampered at the salon and that is something every girl loves. So just go with it.”

At the salon I was introduced to Lulu who would be trimming my hair. When she first saw me she had an unpleasant look on her otherwise attractive face.

“I see we have a little work to do. Your thick hair has potential, but it looks like no one ever gave it much thought.”

My mother responded, “My Erika has always been kind of a tomboy. On the cruise we want her to look and feel much more like a pretty young lady. We want her to look nice for the evening events, but with something that is not too hard to take care of.”

“Your daughter is going to be very beautiful. She has nice features and wonderful eyes. We will give her a styling, makeup, manicure, pedicure, and pierce the other ear as you requested.

“Mom, what about my ear?”

“Honey, you need to pierce your right ear to wear Sasha’s or my jewelry. Don’t fret, the hole will just fill in later.”

“Mrs. Adams, we have a lot to do and this is going to take a long time. She could be here as much as three hours.”

“I understand. I have scheduled a manicure and pedicure for myself, and Erika’s sister, at noon. We thought it would be nice to have some family girl time.”

“That’s fabulous. We will get to work on Erika and you can see her when you return.”

“Now Erika, please cooperate with Lulu. She knows what to do. I don’t want to hear about any problems or you know what the punishment will be.”

“Yes mom. I will try and be a good girl. Please hurry back, I’m not real comfortable being here all alone.”

“Yes dear. Have a great time.”

Lulu began washing my hair and then she played with it for a couple of minutes, before deciding on how to begin.

“I guess it needs a trim. I had been meaning to get a haircut.”

“A trim, that’s funny. You need a complete restyling. Your hair is very healthy, but has absolutely no body or style. We will take care of that and maybe bring out the color a little more. You have a hint of red in your brown hair and I think we will bring that out just a little bit more. When we are done you will be so thrilled.

“Restyled, like how?”

“Don’t think about that, just sit back and enjoy.”

I never had someone spends so much time working on me as Lulu did. She cut, brushed, died, and even used hot rods in my hair, while I patiently sat in her chair. Shortly before she was done working on my styling, a person entered the salon and called over to her. Lulu waved the girl over to her station and she pointed at me.

“This will only take a minute.” The girl dabbed my right ear and almost immediately I felt a small prick. Moments later I was wearing my mother’s diamond studs on both of my ears. I couldn’t believe what was happening to me, but I just kept thinking it would be over soon enough.

When she was done working on my hair she called over a very beautiful woman that appeared to be of some sort of Caribbean or Latino descent.

“Calia is going to work on your make up. Your mother instructed her to give you some basic highlighting that could be adjusted for different needs or for the time of day.”

Calia’s accent was a little hard for me to understand, so just before she was done I had Lulu explained to me what she was doing.

“Most of the makeup is pretty standard. She uses blends that hold up a little better under the hot sun than traditional cosmetics. She will give you some samples of those to take with you and apply, as you need it. You also received some special treatments for your eyes and your lips”

“What kind of special treatments? She seemed to work on those for a very long time.”

“For your eyes, she put on some long-lasting eyeliner and mascara. Neither is permanent, but should last a week or two. If you swim a lot or are out in the sun a great deal it might not last quite as long. It just wears off gradually and then you will need another treatment.”

“What! This is going to stay on me. That cannot be! You have to take it off.”

“Sorry Erika that would be a very bad idea. When the treatment is fresh, you could get an irritation or even infected if you try to take it off too soon.”

“Oh God, so what did she do to my lips?”

“That was pretty minor. She just stained them to give you a slightly pinker lip color. That also is temporary and you probably will want to wear lipstick on your lips anyway.”

“Can I see myself? I am getting very worried.”

“I am almost done and you can see your pretty self in a moment.”

Almost on cue, my sister and mother re-entered the salon. They immediately made a beeline to our station.

“Holy shit! You are stunning!” My sister nearly screamed.

“Quiet now Sasha. Honey you look adorable. I knew you would be pretty, but I wasn’t certain you would look this fabulous.”

“Mom, they use long-lasting makeup on me, and Lulu still hasn’t let me see myself.”

“It’s called semi-permanent makeup and you look great.”

Lulu informed us that she was done and that I could look now. I stepped out of the chair and I could feel the blood rushed back into my bottom. I walked the 10 feet over to the full-length mirrors and quickly started to feel faint. My mother dashed over to grab me.

“Are you okay Honey?”

“Mom, that can’t be me. What have they done?”

“It’s you dear, and they brought out your inner beauty.”

I started to look again. I was still feeling flush, but I focused more on the image staring back at me. The girl in the mirror was as pretty as any I knew, and I looked almost like my sister. I was originally concerned about passing as a girl in a dress, now I was more concerned as to passing as a guy. With my restyled hair and the makeup, I did not see any way that was possible.

My hair had been cut into what Lulu described as soft cascading curls. Every strand of my long hair had loose spiral shape. My hair while still brown had more red in it and bounced along on my shoulders as I turned my head. I was in shock by the extreme makeover, but also fascinated by how attractive I looked. The longer I looked at myself more I became mesmerized by my appearance. I even found myself getting turned on by the image. I was grateful for the moment that the feminine pad was holding down my private parts.

I was pulled back into reality by Lulu who told us that the manicurists were ready for us. Our feet were submerged into warm tanks of mineral enhanced water. The whole process was much more involved than I imagined. They worked on my hands for about 15 minutes before they began adding fake nails to my fingers. I looked over at my mother and she smiled and said “Acrylic nails will hold up much better at the pool or on the beach. I asked for nails sizes that are just a little longer than your previous length.”

They looked a lot longer to me, but at least they looked pretty natural. I was just getting over the anxiety of having fake nails when my manicurist started painting them ‘sunshine red’. Not that the rest of me looked remotely boyish anymore, but having red nails would just add to the illusion. Before I was done I had matching red toes as well.

My resistance to being humiliated had evaporated. I had no energy to fight back or complain. When the whole idea had been originally suggested, I assumed I would be able to switch back and forth in appearance with ease. Now I knew that would be virtually impossible. I had been given a new identity for the rest of the cruise. I was even a little worried about the ability to remove some of the handiwork after the vacation was over. For now, I was just going to have to stay focused and try to adjust.

When we signed the tab for the extensive services, we thanked and tipped all of the people who helped us. I received a number of compliments on my new look and returned each comment with a polite thank you. The very last compliment though caught me off guard.

“I loved cutting and styling your hair. I think it turned out gorgeous. You’re going to have such a wonderful time on the cruise. Looking at yourself now, isn’t this so much better than being plain old Eric?”

“I nearly froze. Lulu had known from the beginning that I was a boy and never let on. I gave her a quizzical look and answered, “I guess I’m going to find out.”

________________________ END OF PART 1

Cruising For Trouble -- Part 2

Author:

Nina Adams

Audience Rating:

General Audience (pg)

Publication:

7,500 < Novelette < 17,500 words

Genre:

Illustrated

Character Age:

Teenage or High School

TG Themes:

TG Elements:

Permission:

Posted by author(s)

CRUISING FOR TROUBLE

PART 2

Summary: In the second of three parts, the bargain Eric made with his family has him spending the rest of the cruise as Erika.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We left the salon and made our way to the ship’s center shopping and restaurant area. We stopped to get a salad for lunch and to discuss my new circumstances.

“Erika, everything went so well at the salon and I’m sure you’re going to have an exciting time this week. Your sister and I will help you however we can and point out things that will help you with your feminine comportment. You seem to be adjusting pretty well already, but I bet it will feel totally natural before long.”

“Mom, this is not supposed to feel totally natural!”

“Dear, that is a figure of speech. I just mean that over time you will feel more comfortable this way.”

"You just never told me that this would be so extreme. This is more than a little punishment. I think I would have skipped drivers education, instead of being turned into a girl."

"Look at the bright side little sister, your drivers license picture will look so much prettier now."

"Sasha, I told you not to tease him. That does remind me, Lulu has arranged to get you a new ID card this afternoon. We need to stop by “ship's services’ and have your picture re-taken."

After our light lunch, we stopped at a couple of the boutiques and my mother picked out a few outfits and swimsuits for me. She thought that this would help Sasha's wardrobe last longer and we wouldn't have to share as much.

When we were done we made the quick stop to get my new ID. The clerk asked why we needed a new one already and my mother said that they misspelled my name and I was embarrassed by that. He looked at my old card and then me. He kept looking at the ID card, and me and then told me to sit in the photo chair and smile. Click-click, I was now Erika for all to see.

---The picture on my new ID---

Back at the room my mother ushered my dad inside to see his new daughter. When he saw me, I could tell he looked very confused.

"Rita, I can't believe this is really Eric. I thought you were just going to have his hair trimmed a little."

"Bill, he needed to feel like a girl if he was going to try and pass as one. Isn't she beautiful."

"She!"

"Bill, for now you need to think of Eric as Erika. If we don't treat her as a girl, she won't feel like one."

It was almost like I was not there. They were discussing my situation and planning my vacation without me. My mother reminded my father that he had told her that she had complete freedom in getting me ready to pass.

I could see my father was shocked by the complete makeover I had received. He went along with my mother's recommendations, because he thought it would teach me a good lesson. Now he was clearly not as sure about the idea. The lessons I would be learning were a little different than I think he anticipated. I was now effectively another daughter and he had to treat me just like Sasha for the rest of our vacation.

For the first time in a long while, I could see that he felt some sympathy for me. He sat down next to me on my bed and put his hands on the back of my hands, which were on my lap. He spoke to me very softly and with a very kind tone in his voice.

"I know this must the very difficult for you. Your mother and I will try and make it go smoothly and help you out however we can. I never thought it would end up going this far, but you do look lovely. I guess I am going to have to get used to calling you Erika. That is the name your mother and I originally were going to call you, before we found out at the last minute you were a boy. The doctors had told us they thought we were having a girl, and then you surprised us when you were born. We were never disappointed, but now I guess we can use that name for a little while. It is probably a nice treat for your mother."

"You never told me that before."

"It didn't seem that important. I think your mother would have been happy either way. For your first six months or so you had to wear a fair amount of baby clothes that was styled for a girl. It was easier than returning all of the baby gifts."

It was a nice talk with my dad and it lasted for nearly 20 minutes. I think it was the first time in over a year that we just sat and chatted. He made me feel loved and I appreciated his empathetic acceptance of my current situation. When we were done he gave me a sweet peck on my cheek. He would never have done that with Eric.

It was late afternoon, but our first formal dinner would not be until 7 PM. Sasha convinced me it would be a good idea if the two of us went up on deck and got some sun or just fresh air for a while. She thought it would be good for me to get used to being outside as Erika. We made our way up to the main deck and just strolled around. I still needed practice walking in shoes with high wedges so the practice was good. After walking around the entire topside twice, I began to feel more stable and in control. Sasha helped me adjust my hips and stride to walk more girl like. The breeze felt nice on my naked legs and when it blew up and under my sundress. The sensation started to feel almost pleasant.

When we first started walking I noticed a few guys look in our direction. At first, I assumed they were checking out my sister, but I realized I was getting eyed as much as her. This was something I never contemplated or had a clue how to cope with. When I was Eric I don't ever remember getting checked out by girls. Maybe I was, but it was never so obvious. I was now a girl for only a few hours and I had guys attracted to me.

Sasha told me not to worry about the boys. "I'll just have to get used to that. You are as pretty as any teenager on the ship, so it's just going to be something for you to learn to handle. Most guys are just lookers anyway.”

“What about the others?”

“It’s not hard to be polite and let them off easy. If you are not interested, just tell them that you have a boyfriend already.”

“What do you mean, ‘IF’?”

“Erika, I’m not telling you how to have fun, but you are on vacation and you may want to socialize. I’m not always going to be there for your company.”

“I was never that good at talking with girls, how can I talk with guys?”

“You do have a lot of questions. My guess, with girls you were trying to get their attention and sound interesting. With guys, you already have their interest and you just have to decide which one you want to be with.”

“I don’t want to be with any of them!”

“Relax, you have a lot to learn or should I say re-learn.”

We returned to the room to get ready for the evening. I took a quick shower, but made sure my hair did not get wet. It still looked fabulous from the styling and I did not want to deal with drying it. Sasha told me to remove my makeup and she would replace it with evening makeup.

I washed off all of the regular makeup, but the semi-permanent makeup remained. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I still looked completely girlish. The eyeliner highlighted my eyes, and my lips look plumper due to the tinting. My hair was unmistakably styled and I found myself smiling back at my reflection.

My sister noticed my mood shift and told me to get my pretty butt over to her for some more makeup.

“It looks like someone likes how they look.”

“I was just looking at my face.”

“It’s okay Erika, I am not trying to tease you. You are very attractive and I know you like it.”

“I am just glad I look passable.”

“Passable, very funny. You look great. Just admit you like how you look. I am not going to give you a hard time or tell anyone.”

“I am not sure what I think, but it is kind of nice. I shouldn’t like this at all, but some part of me is enjoying this. Please don’t tell mom or dad.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll help you try and figure it all out. Tonight should be fun, and we can take each new experience as they come.”

I wore Sasha’s blue formal cocktail dress. It had better coverage of my breasts, so it was the obvious choice over her black one. I had a hard time navigating on heels, which were only connected to my feet by some very thin straps. I practically looked like a bridesmaid when I saw the full affect of my ensemble.

blue dress.jpg

Sasha was equally beautiful in her black dress with black pumps. Together we looked like a pair of knockouts. My father looked at us with a little fear in his eyes.

“You girls look much older than your ages. I can’t believe how grown up you both look. I am a little nervous taking you two to dinner looking that sexy, especially you Erika. Sasha, I need you to watch out for your sister. She is going to get a lot of attention and may need some help.”

“I already talked to her about things like that and I think she is ready.”

“Then it’s time for us to go and enjoy dinner together as a family.”

We entered the main dining room, which had been set up elegantly for the evening affair. We had stopped by the dining room on our earlier tour of the ship, but had not experienced a meal there as yet. We had to wait to be seated. As it turns out, all meals in the formal dining area are by assigned seats. Each family is assigned a table, and it is their table for the rest of the cruise. Some of the tables are small and others are very large. They set up the tables so that families can have some privacy, but also so they can socialize with other families. Since our family was only four people, they placed us at a table with another family of four people. We would be eating with this family each night that we elected to eat in the formal dining room.

We were introduced to the Grant family. They had arrived in the dining area a few minutes before us, and already had been seated. We had been grouped with them, because they had two children that were approximately the same age as Sasha and I. They seemed very happy to meet us and were quick to engage us in conversation. One of the first things that they said was that they were surprised to see two girls. Their family included two boys that were a junior and seniors in high school, and they were told that we had a senior girl and sophomore boy. My mother was quick to the explanation, and told the story about the messed up ID cards. The two boys did not seem at all upset by the error.

I squirmed a little when I was seated next to the younger of the two boys named Mark. Sasha was paired up with David and we were all seated. The agenda for the evening was a multicourse meal, followed by a speech from the captain and some ballroom dancing. I planned to make my exit as early as possible.

Mark told me that they lived in Boston, but that they had lived in Hinsdale, IL when they were much younger. They still had some family in Northbrook, which was only one town over from our home in Highland Park. They had not been in the Chicago area for nearly 3 years, but always liked it there. This was also their first cruise and so far they have been enjoying it. Mark and David had spent the afternoon at one of the topside pools and even did some surf boarding in the special wave pool specifically designed for that. Mark said we really should try that.

I didn’t want to say that I had spent the day in the salon, so all I said is that we went to one of the spas for a while and spend some time relaxing up on the deck. We talked a little bit about school and I even managed to say how excited I was that I would be getting my learners permit this summer. Mark told me that he had just recently passed his driving test and now had his license. He was so excited that he took it out of his wallet to show me. We did not seem to have very much difficulty finding things to talk about. Every now and then, I had to use choice words when describing some of my past activities. I had to be very careful not to say anything that might blow my cover. After some initial jitters, I found it pretty easy to talk with him.

After talking almost exclusively with Mark for about 10 minutes, I engaged my sister in a brief conversation about the food. I could see a small smirk on her face and she looked at me and then shifted her eyes over towards Mark. She then smiled at me and blinked her left eye in a sign of approval. I had been feeling pretty good until then, but realized that she was acknowledging that there might be something between Mark and me.

Following Sasha’s silent comment, I looked over towards my mother until we made eye contact. She seemed pretty happy, but fortunately did not make any similar gestures like Sasha. My father seemed to be engaged in conversation with Mr. Grant. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the evening and I was clearly passing my first test with flying colors.

The meal lasted about an hour and a half. You can cover a lot of conversations in that period of time. Before we were finished with dessert we all seemed to know a lot about each other. After the meal we made our way to the main ballroom to hear the captain’s speech. It was a nice welcoming speech and provided us with a lot of information about the amazing ship that we were on. When he concluded, I started to think about heading back to the room.

At that point they started some live music for entertainment and dancing. For the adults they passed around Champaign and for those of us underage, they provided other sparkling beverages. We gathered around as a family listening to music while enjoying our beverages.

As we were relaxing David came over and asked Sasha if she would like to dance. They headed out to the dance floor to do some formal dancing. Sasha had always been pretty graceful, even though she did not have that much experience doing formal dancing. I was watching her dance when Mark came over and asked me to dance. I became a little flustered, but Mark held out his hand as if to guide me. A few moments later his hand was on the small of my back and I was holding him. It was a strange sensation and I was in a little bit of shock. I kept trying to smile, but I didn't know the right way to react. The longer we were out on the dance floor the more I seem to get comfortable. I could see in Mark’s eyes that he was very happy sharing the dance with me. He was obviously attracted to me and I wasn't sure how to respond. He was not acting in any way inappropriate, but he was clearly trying to act charming in my presence. Before the evening was over I had danced four numbers with Mark and one with my father. When dancing with my father, he made the strange comment that Mark seemed to be a nice boy. I let it pass, but was not sure what he meant by that.

At the end of the evening we all said our goodbyes and my parents commented that we would look forward to seeing them for dinner the following evening. It was then that David suggested that the boys could take Sasha and me to the pool in the morning. It was supposed to be a hot day and later in the afternoon they were going on an excursion into the Montego Bay to do some sightseeing. We were also welcome to join them for that, but they thought swimming in the morning might be a fun start to the day. Before I could answer, Sasha said that would be great. With that we headed back to our cabin.

“Hey little sister, how long has it been since you’ve had a date? I’m not sure you would call this a date, but it should be fun hanging out with them.”

“Why did you do that?”

“We were probably going to the pool anyway. You seem to be having a good time with Mark and having him around should help keep other guys away from you.”

“Probably right about that, but he might get the wrong idea.”

“What idea is that? Like I said before, when was the last time you were out with somebody of the opposite sex?”

“He’s not of the opposite sex!”

“It’s just for fun. It’s not like you’re going to sleep with him.”

“You’re making me nauseous.”

“I think you’re just seasick.”

“You’re supposed to be looking out for me.”

“I am. Mark is a nice guy and if he does anything you don’t like you know his parents will hear about it. It’s about as safe as it could be.”

“It just gives me butterflies to think about it.”

“Butterflies can be good. The guys are going to meet us at the pool at 9:30. You can wear one of your new bathing suits and the pink flip-flops.”

When we got back in the room I found a new pair of silk pajamas on my bed. They were ocean blue and had the name Oasis of The Sea on them. I had not forgotten my pajamas, but my mother wanted me to spend the entire trip as Erika and that included time in the room. It seemed like a moot point to argue, so I took them and put them on. They immediately felt so different than my old pajamas and made me ponder my current situation. Up to this point my makeover had been so that I would appear female for other people; the pajamas however were so that I would feel like a girl when I was by myself. Everything that had happened so far seemed to be geared to draw me deeper and deeper into my female persona.

I was very tired from the events of the day and fell asleep very quickly. It felt like the night had passed so quickly when it was time to get up in the morning. Sasha and I went together for a quick breakfast so we could meet up with the guys.

We met them as planned by the largest pool on the main deck. We were lucky to get four deck chairs exposed to the early morning sun. The temperature was still comfortable, but with the direct sun it felt very warm.

We had been on the ship for a day and a half and this was my first time lying out in the sun. Sasha had spent some time while I was at the salon yesterday, but for me it was a first. My skin was very pale, so I had to make sure I put on plenty of lotion. I liberally spread the lotion on my body everywhere but my back. I asked Sasha to put some on my back, but she said she was busy putting on her own lotion on. Mark overheard me and volunteered to put it on my back. It was an unusual sensation having a guy rubbing lotion onto my back. Almost without thinking I asked him if he needed me to rub any onto his back. He smiled at me and said that would be very nice. I think I made the offer instinctively without thinking. I started to rub some lotion into his back and could feel that there already was some there to begin with. I mentioned to him that it felt like there was lotion already there, but he again smiled at me and said he thought he could use a little more.

After sunning for about an hour we decided to go for a swim. I was nervous about getting my enhancements wet and wondered if they would stay in place. I was careful getting into the water and fortunately did not seem to have any trouble. The water felt invigorating and we all started swimming around playing games and splashing each other. It was all good-natured and we were having a lot of fun. The games led to a lot of touching and I found myself being lifted out of the water by Mark. He was holding me under my legs and back almost like a baby. I was laughing and I gave him a big smile while I glanced into his eyes. It was a moment I never intended to happen, but it was too late to take back. Our friendly socializing had taken an unexpected small step forward. For the rest of the time at the pool, I tried to avoid a repeat moment, but our friendly interaction clearly had escalated. When we got out of the pool, he rubbed some more lotion on my back and neck, even before I asked for assistance.

We stayed at the pool for about two hours but had to leave to get ready to go on shore. Sasha had a great time with David and seemed very pleased that I have had fun with Mark. We did not go to shore with the Grants, but confirmed that we would be joining them for dinner in the evening. My mother wanted us to do some shopping at the local island boutiques. Sasha was thrilled to be going to the boutiques. She wanted to pick out an authentic Island style dress or two.

“Well did you two girls have a nice time at the pool?”

“Erika and I had a very nice time. It was fun being with David and Mark and we all just hung out by the pool.”

“Yeah mom, the pool was very nice.”

“It was more than the pool that was very nice, right Erika?”

“That’s enough Sis. We had a good time.”

“You know mom, Erika is probably going to want to pick out a new dress before she sees Mark again this evening.”

My mother gave us both a raised eyebrow look “ Well girls, it sounds like we have some shopping to do."

On the island, we were hounded by locals trying to sell us just about everything and offers of services like hair braiding. There was no way my hair was going to be braided after getting it so completely restyled just yesterday. We got very good at saying "no thank you,” sometimes multiple times to the same vendors.

In some of the nicer boutiques, we shopped for summer dresses and stylish accessories. The first time I was sent in the back to try on a dress I was a little afraid, but I quickly got over it and started enjoying it. I had never particularly enjoyed clothes shopping before, but then this was more recreational than out of necessity. I liked how some of the dresses were flattering on me. My dad who was just tagging along had to critique our new Looks. I could see him trying to adjust to seeing me look and begin to act more girlishly. In only one day I had gone from totally reluctant, to strutting my stuff. He looked just a bit forlorn by my new attitude, but he never outwardly complained.

I ended up with three new dresses before we were done. I especially liked the last one I picked out, since it had local flowers in the pattern and I thought they were really colorful. If I could have grown those flowers in the Chicago climate I would have bought some seeds to bring home. I planned to wear that one in the evening.

Before we returned to the ship we stopped for a frozen island drink at the Port. My dad and I chatted some more about my changes.

"Dad, you've been pretty quiet all afternoon, is everything okay?"

"Yes Erika, I am just not as interested as you in dress shopping."

"I didn't think I was either. I feel almost like a new person. It is kind of liberating."

"I am glad you are doing fine with it. I just never thought you would adjust so quickly and completely."

"I know that underneath my dress I am not really a girl, but I am experiencing sensations that are all new to me and I am enjoying it."

"Well we are on vacation so it's good you are happy."

"Thanks dad, Mom seems all right with it too."

"I think she is more than alright with it. I think she really is enjoying this."

"I never expected to feel this way, but in being Erika I feel more girlish, than I ever felt boyish when I was Eric. It's hard to explain, but this has not been that difficult for me to adjust too."

"Let's just see how you feel in a few days. Maybe the thrill will wear off."

"Okay daddy, how does my hair look?"

We showered up and readied ourselves for dinner. I wore my new print dress. My sister lent me a pair of her dangly silver earrings and showed me how to put on some of my own makeup. It was part of the whole experience of looking pretty, but I wanted to look my best for everyone at dinner.

The Grants arrived at dinner about five minutes after us. We had just received our beverages and were still looking over at the dinner alternatives. When they saw us, Mark quickly made his way over to meet me. We had an awkward moment when he didn’t know whether to hug me, give me a peck or what. Ultimately, he gave me a big smile and said he was very excited to see me again. I told him I was very happy they were able to join us.

We all heard about their eco-tour and swimming experience in the spring fed pond. It sounded like a fun afternoon. We told them about our shopping afternoon, which Mark said sounded a little dull. I told him that I bought the dress I was wearing and he perked up.

“You look spectacular in the dress. It makes your afternoon totally worth it.”

I thanked him for the compliment and felt myself blush a little.

Dinner was almost as good as the previous night’s formal menu and we spent most of the dinner talking about each other and about life at school. I had to embellish my stories to keep the descriptions consistent with my new appearance.

Instead of having dessert off the menu, Mark asked if I would like to go to Johnny Rockets up on the entertainment deck for dessert later. I looked at my parents to see if it was okay. I could see by their faces they were not sure it was a good idea.

“Erika you have had a very long day, your mom and I think maybe tonight you might want to take it easy and get some rest.”

“Come on Dad, we are on vacation. The whole trip is rest. I can sleep in tomorrow if I am tired.”

“Well I guess that would be okay, but I don’t want you out really late.”

Mark’s parents made him promise to bring me back to my room by 10:30 PM. It was about 8:30 and Mark said he would come by my room at nine o’clock to pick me up.

Back at the room I got a lot of attention from my sister and parents. My parents were somewhat panicked that I was going out with a boy for ice cream. They had pushed me down the slippery slope and now I was putting myself in a position that that no one was prepared to deal with. They warned me that I had no experience being with a boy and I had better just go for ice cream and no more.

“Don’t fret, I am just going out to be social. We went to the pool this morning and he was quite the gentleman. I am just trying to get the most out of the cruise and I am feeling much better adjusted to being Erika.

My sister did not say that much to me, but she clearly was encouraging me on.

“You seem to understand relationships much better as a girl that you ever did as my brother. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

I had to laugh a little at that last comment, but I know she really meant it.

______________________________END OF PART 2

Cruising For Trouble -- Part 3

Author:

Nina Adams

Audience Rating:

General Audience (pg)

Publication:

7,500 < Novelette < 17,500 words

Genre:

Transgender

Character Age:

Teenage or High School

TG Themes:

TG Elements:

Permission:

Posted by author(s)

CRUISING FOR TROUBLE
By Nina Adams

PART 3

Summary: In the third of three parts, Erika now experiences feminine bliss and is unsure of where this will take him. His secret comes out and he has to fight his feelings.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When Mark came to get me he held his hand out and our palms embraced. We strolled down the hall casually holding hands. I was feeling 100% girlish, still not sure what to expect or what I actually wanted. I was no longer the reluctant girl, but I knew I was still male under my façade. As we walked, I was feeling nothing but chills through my veins.

Mark was so polite and nothing like the guys I knew back home. He made me feel special just by his presence and his complete attention to me.

When we checked in to Johnny Rockets the hostess told us it would be about 15 minutes and she gave us one of those pagers that flash when it is our time. We decided to hang out outside under the clear sky that was sprinkled with the most stars I had ever seen. We shared a small space at the railing with our bodies brushing up against each other.

For a short moment there was no conversation between us. I was just looking up at the amazing sky and taking in the pleasant evening breeze. Mark looked over at me and asked, “What are you thinking about?”

I really was not thinking at all. My mind was on ‘cruise’ control and I was just drifting through the moment. I answered, “I was just thinking how wonderful it feels right now and how nice it is to be here with you.”

I was probably a little more forward than my parents would have approved of, but I think I hit the magic chord with Mark.

“I feel exactly the same way being here with you. I am with the most beautiful girl in the most romantic setting and I don’t know what I did to deserve all of this.”

“You are making me blush.”

With that thought still gliding off my tongue, Mark turned completely towards me and put his hands on the inside part of my shoulders. He slowly drew me into his body and guided his lips to mine. It was like an epiphany had swallowed my soul. I felt like I was attending a festival for my senses. I never imagined anything could feel so good and I never questioned that my impulses were anything other than what they should be.

I had wondered what that moment might have felt like, but it exceeded any possible expectation. I knew in that flash that part of me wished I really was Erika, and I wanted to feel more of the passion I was immersed in. We kissed and held each other until our pager went off. It was like it signaled the end of the most significant 15 minutes in my life. My psyche would never be able to erase this magical moment I had no desire to ever forget it.

We floated back into the diner and sat together on the same side of the bench in our booth. We decided to share one giant strawberry sundae. We had a hard time concentrating on the sundae and basically fed each other in an almost erotic fashion. It was playful, but also made me aroused just sitting there looking into his eyes. I had never felt that way as a boy and knew that I never wanted this feeling to end.

We knew the evening was one we would unlikely ever forget, but we did not want to ruin it by staying out too late. I could have remained in his arms almost forever, but I knew we had to get back and I also knew I was hiding a very big secret. Mark walked me back to my room and I leaned up against my door for another minute of glorious kissing. I realized, as we were finishing that we had been making quite a commotion in the hallway and against the door.

Nothing had to be said; we both knew that the rest of the trip would somehow be inalterable changed by the flames that were stoked in our hearts. I slid through the door and let out an audible exhale. Sasha turned to me and her gaze immediately translated my emotional overload.

“That was you, you little tart. You two sounded like cats in heat out there. It sounded like Erika has totally emerged.”

“Sasha I don’t know what came over me, but my body is tingling all over. I’ve never felt like this before and I’m not sure what’s happening to me.”

“Your feelings are absolutely normal.”

“But I have never felt like this before.”

“That’s because they are normal for a girl. You are just catching up for lost time. This cruise is your chance to experience the girl that I always thought might be inside of you.”

“Why do you think I really want to be a girl?”

“Take a look at yourself. It took you all of a few hours to sashay yourself into a full-fledged girl. We gave you a little nudge and you adjusted completely. I don’t really see any signs of my brother in front of me.”

“I never asked for this. I was all boy until yesterday.”

“Little sister, you may have dressed like a boy, but mom and I would often comment to each other how you seemed to have so many feminine personality traits. You also have such a wispy looking physique and such delicate facial features. It’s not your fault you are so pretty.”

“I didn’t act like a girl, I liked girls.”

“I like how you said ’liked’ girls. You never seemed that comfortable dating girls, but always felt comfortable hanging around with me and my friends. Most of your interests and the way you project yourself was never very macho. You even love growing your hair very long and keeping it shiny and healthy. I know some guys with long hair, but none that look like yours.”

“It’s just so surreal; I just never asked for any of this. Even Mom seems into me looking this way.”

“Mom’s been dying to see what you would look like fully dressed this way. We have even talked about it a few times since you dressed up that past Halloween. I am pretty sure she was looking for an excuse to see you this way. You and I just gave her an opening.”

“Well I am glad this is fine with her, because right now I am enjoying my little time as Erika.”

“I know she must be happy for you, but I think you may have taken this further than Mom and Dad ever anticipated. Hell, you already have a boyfriend!”

“That’s the weirdest part. I like looking like I do, but I am even more surprised that I wanted to be kissed so badly. When he was holding me, I was just melting in his caress. I never wanted to let go.”

“I am sure Mom and Dad must have heard you out there too. I think this little experiment may have gotten a little out of control. At least they don’t have to worry about you getting pregnant.”

“Very cute. I am going to put my confused self to bed. God only knows what tomorrow could bring.”

“Sweet dreams Erika.”

“Thanks for listening, Sweet dreams Sasha. Goodnight.”

The next morning I got up with more bounce in my step. I was looking forward to hanging at the pool again with Mark and continuing to have fun with my Erika side. I had slept in late and Mark and I plan to touch bases sometime in the morning. After getting dressed and fixing my hair my father called me into their suite. He had a troubled look on his face and my mother’s expression also looked tense.

“What’s up, you both look so serious.”

My father quickly answered, “Eric, we need to have a talk.”

They had not called meet Eric since I headed off to the salon.

“You both are scaring me. I didn’t do anything wrong. What’s going on?”

“Your father and I are very concerned that we took this punishment thing too far. I thought it would be a good lesson and maybe even a little fun for you, but now we’re not so sure.”

“It’s okay. I am actually enjoying it. I like how I feel. Don’t worry about me.”

“That’s just it honey. You seem to have taken to being Erika too well. We know about last night and it is not something that any of us were prepared for.”

“Mom, Dad I never expected it either, but I have never been happier. Mark is very nice and he made me feel even more like a girl. It’s like a light went on in my head. You wanted me to act like a girl and I am trying to feel that way too.”

“Son, we can’t be mad at you, because we are responsible for this, but you are a boy and so is Mark. I am glad you two became friends, but remember underneath it all you are still Eric.”

“You both wanted me to find what makes me happy, and right now being a girl makes me happy. I like being Erika in more ways than just looks. I am finding I just relate to being this way more than being an unhappy boy.”

“I think your mother and I pushed you too hard and this has been hard for you to process. We have decided that it’s okay for you to spend the rest of the cruise as a boy.”

“You aren’t listening! I want to stay this way for the rest of the cruise. I like the new me and Mark likes me too.”

“That may be all well and good, but he didn’t know you were a boy.”

“What do you mean ‘didn’t?’’

“We felt we had to speak with his parents. It’s not right that it went this far without his knowledge. It would be one thing if he knew, but your makeover was not meant to affect or hurt anyone else.”

I can’t believe you told them. That’s not fair, I hate you! You tell me to be a girl and then you punish me for being one. I’m not talking to you anymore.”

I was so furious I just ran out of the room and slammed the door. I went up to the topside and found a private area and let my tears flow. I was sad on so many fronts. My parents had turned on me and my relationship with Mark had been torpedoed. I wanted to explore being Erika and I knew that in my heart, but now I was being made to feel dirty.

The cruise had been like a roller coaster of emotions. I was feeling on top of the world and now I felt so alone. I didn’t think I could face Mark ever again even though I wanted to see him more than anything. I wanted to stay as Erika, but my parents were now pushing me back towards being Eric. I just decided to stay away from everyone as long as possible.

I had been alone for nearly 2 hours when Sasha finally found me. I was grateful it was Sasha and not my parents. She was the only one who had been truly honest with me and supportive. When I saw her I started to cry again. She sat down on my lounge chair and held me while I let out a few more tears.

“Erika, are you going to be okay?”

“Don’t you mean Eric? Isn’t that what Mom and Dad want you to call me?”

“They feel terrible. When you left, mom started crying also. It took Dad almost a half-hour to settle her down. They know everything is their fault and that they handled it like shit.”

“That doesn’t change anything. My life is all fucked up.”

“We all spoke and they realize that this ‘new you’ is something that they are going to have to cope with and accept. They just aren’t as quick to adjust as you were.”

“They should’ve talked to me before they spilled the beans to the Grants.”

“You’re right and they handled it wrong. At this point it can’t be undone. At some point you were going to have to tell him and maybe it’s easier this way.”

“I should have told him, not his parents. I’m sure he hates me or worse.”

“Try and be positive. When it all began you didn’t know what you wanted and now with his help you have found an important part of your soul. Even if he never talks to you again you now know so much more about yourself.”

“I didn’t want it to end that way. I was feeling on top of the world. Besides, Mom and Dad want me to go back to being Eric.”

“Let’s go see them together. First things first, you need to talk to them about remaining as Erika. Maybe after that you can try and talk with Mark. I’m supposed to see David later this afternoon and he might be able to clue me in on Mark.”

“Sasha, I appreciate what you are doing, but I still feel like I was run over by a truck.”

“Let’s go find Mom.”

We went back to the room and waited for them to return. My Mother was first to return and she was happy that I was back. She started the conversation with another apology. She also made the point of calling the Erika when she entered the room.

“Your father and I have managed to make some poor decisions and you’ve been the one to pay for our mistakes, some of these were of bad judgment and others possibly even out of selfishness. We love you and always will. We obviously have opened a door that cannot easily be closed.”

“I don’t want it closed.”

“I understand that and we will just have to figure out how to go forward. Whatever decisions or actions are taken, it is not going to be easy or uncomplicated. We will figure this out as a family.”

“I guess that’s reasonable, but I don’t want to go and switch back to Eric while on the cruise.”

“We have thought about it some more and for the rest of the trip you can stay as Erika. We still have to talk about what this all means. This unusual vacation is going to have implications after we get home, but for now it’s probably best that you learn and experience as much about being Erica as you can.”

“Is Dad going to go along with this or is he going to be mad and keep calling me Eric?”

“It’s a little harder on him, but he wants the best for you. He is on board with what I am saying, so just be a little patient with him.”

“What did the Grants say? Were they upset? Have you heard how Mark took it? I really did like him and I’m feeling horrible about how all of this went down.”

“Mrs. Grant at first appeared pretty shocked, but then shifted more towards curiosity. We didn’t have many answers, but inferred that this was who you are and not a game. Mr. Grant sat there and didn’t say much through most of the discussion. It was kind of strange, but when we were just about done discussing your changes he mentioned that one of his good friends from college recently had told him he was transgendered. It probably explains why he took it so calmly.”

“What about Mark?”

“I don’t know, but they said they would talk to him. It would be understandable if he did not take the news well.”

“I never wanted to hurt him. It just happened and I reacted out of instinct.”

“We will just have to see how he is. We have tentative plans to see them at dinner, but if they call and if it does not go well with him we can adjust our plans for the remaining part of the trip. At least his parents took it pretty well and were not noticeably put off by the turn of events..”

“Do you think I should call him? Should I apologize?”

“I would give him some time to think about it. His parents said they would have a discussion with him and go from there.”

“I’ll just hang out then and hope he wants to talk. I don’t want to make it harder on him, but I so want things to be okay between us.”

“We will figure it all out. Why don’t you change into your bathing suit and go relax on deck. I will try and track you down if I hear from his family.”

“Okay mom, tell dad I don’t hate him.”

“He knows.”

I went back up to the pool after having a small bowl of soup at the buffet. Everywhere I walked I kept looking around to see if I spotted Mark. I saw no signs of the Grant family, which was not surprising with over 5000 passengers on board and so many areas to choose from. I went up to the main deck and found a spot near the center of the ship. The ship had over 20 pools and Mark might not even want to be hanging out by any of them. I spent the afternoon up there and never spotted any of them. I went back to the room at about 4:30 PM and no one was there. I remember that Sasha was planning to meet up with David and maybe I would get some feedback after that.

I showered and waited for my family to return. My parents returned first, but had no news from the Grants. They had bought a beautiful sarong for me as a peace offering and to show that they supported my desire to maintain my feminine appearance.

Sasha returned about 20 minutes later dressed in her sunning attire and looking very refreshed.

“Well did you see David?”

“Hello to you too Erika.”

“Come on, did you see him?”

“Who?”

“Stop trying to be funny!”

“I actually saw David and Mark.”

“You saw Mark?”

“That’s what I said.”

“So… What do you have to report?”

“David found the whole thing kind of funny, but not in a mean way. He even asked if I was a real girl. It was a good icebreaker.”

“And?”

“Mark was clearly upset. When he first found out he locked himself in his bathroom according to David. He stayed in there until his family convinced him to come out and talk. His father spent quite a lot of time explaining to him about your apparent transgendered sexuality. He told him about his friend and how difficult it can be for everyone including friends, family, and especially you.”

“I would never have guessed his father would be so understanding, but I’m not sure what he meant by transgendered”

“He didn’t tell Mark what to do and even said that his reaction was very reasonable and understandable. His father suggested that he take some time before he did or said anything. David told him that eventually he would have to face me and it would be good to at least try and be civil.”

“Did Mark say what he was thinking or planned to do?”

“No, only that he was going to hang alone this afternoon and give it some thought. David said he planned to join us at dinner and he was pretty sure that Mark would be showing up.”

I didn’t know how to interpret the news other than the knowledge that the door to our friendship was not completely sealed shut. I wanted to talk with him and was not sure that dinner with both families was the forum I really wanted. I decided to accept that opportunity and make the most of it.

I wanted to look my very best and took my time getting myself ready for dinner. I even had Sasha check to make sure I looked good. She had me switch earrings to better match the sundress I chose to wear. I knew that the “Mark” that I went out with yesterday would love how I looked tonight, but I had no clue what Mark would think now. I was hopeful, but not too optimistic.

XXX IN ANOTHER SUN DRESS

We were a few minutes late arriving for dinner and the Grants were already seated when we arrived. Unfortunately, Mark was nowhere in sight. David said that he decided at the last minute that he did not want to come to dinner tonight. His parents made a small effort to change his mind, but he had made his decision.

I felt deflated that he was not there. Sasha insisted that I sit next to her at the table. She knew I was near tears by his absence.

The dinner felt like one of the longest meals I ever sat through. I did not want to be there and I had lost my appetite. I only participated in the conversation went initiated by others. I could tell the Grant’s wanted to ask me some personal questions, but they kept it pretty generic. They remained very pleasant, almost to an extreme. I was obviously the 900 lb. gorilla in the room that no one wanted to touch.

When dinner was over I asked to be excused so I could go back to our suite. My parents insisted that we take a stroll on the decks so we could chat some more. Being outside in the evening air would probably keep confrontational discussions to a minimum.

“Erika, I know you wanted to see Mark this evening, but that was out of our control.” Stated my Mother.

“It’s just that last time I saw him we were and such good terms and now he doesn’t even want to see me. I know his anger is easily justified, but I really liked him and at least want to have a chance to apologize.”

“I am sure you’ll get that chance before we leave the ship. Until then, you need to get out of your funk. We have three full days left after tonight and you need to move on. These are three important days for you to experience being a girl without having to deal with people you know back home. When we get home you will have to get used to being Eric again.”

“It’s just that last night, I felt better than I ever had and I didn’t want that feeling to go away.”

“I am sure you will feel that way again sometime, but for now you have other new feelings to explore. Back at home I am not sure the opportunities will be so available.”

“I really like being Erika, when I go home I don’t want this to disappear.”

“Your father and I have been thinking about this and we don’t have any perfect solution. We will probably seek some professional advice for all of us and go from there. If at the end of the trip you have not gotten this out of your system, then we can figure out some way for you to come to terms with this. If it means dressing some more then we will just have to figure it out. You have to remember; you cannot go from Eric to Erika overnight. You have school friends, extended family and neighbors to consider. We will do it all with your best interest in mind, but you may need to be patient. This is uncharted waters for all of us.”

“I’m scared that my life is now all messed up. Yesterday everything felt good and I really liked who I was. Now I am not so sure. I kind of feel more alone than ever before. How can I ever have a relationship with anyone now? What am I? I’m starting to get freaked out by all of this.”

“You’re not alone, you will always have us. We will help you through this and figure it out as a family. If that means spending some more time as Erika we will accept that. You have been a boy for over 15 years and a girl for only a few days, so it’s understandable that you’re confused and stressed. Try and relax and see how you feel in a few days.”

“What do I do now?”

“For now just be the best girl you can be and take it one step at a time.”

“I’ll try.”

Everything had been happening so fast that I had not really thought much about the big picture Implications of my rapid-fire transformation. I had been operating on cruise control and I had reacting based upon my feelings and emerging sensations. I previously had never experienced such an intense hormonal overload. As a boy I was excited to be by the side of a pretty girl, but now I was even more excited to be one. I was clearly aroused by my newfound sexuality, but I was more confused by how easily it came to me.

I had some very important personal issues to work through on the ship, but these probably would be pale compared to the ones I might have to deal with back at home. The past two days have been a roller coaster of emotions, but the ride was only beginning. I was happy for the belated support of my parents and I know I would not get through this without all of them. Right now, I wanted to rekindle those feelings with Mark, at least for a brief evening. I had the emotional clarity to know to feel true happiness. I never had that clarity as Eric.

As it turned out, I didn’t have to wait that long to talk with Mark. He called me the next morning and asked if I could have lunch with him at the pizza parlor. Not a lot was said, but I jumped at the chance to meet up with him.

I did not know what I was going to say. I did not regret what happened between us, but I knew I had to express some sort of apology for my deception. The sparks between us had occurred spontaneously and I just figured I would let Mark’s feelings dictate my actions. As much as I wanted him to look at me and hold me as he had before, I also wanted him to not hate me.

I wanted to look my best for him, but I was careful not to look like a tart. I wore a pink top and a casual pair of white shorts. I wore some silver wrist bangles, and matching earring studs along with Sasha’s white canvas wedge sandals. Sasha helped me with some simple but attractive makeup. I wanted to look and feel pretty, but not like I was trying to seduce him. For the first time we would both know I was a boy, even though I had hardly felt like one for last couple of days.

I entered the pizza parlor and found Mark at a corner table sipping a cola. It was half gone so he must’ve been there for a while. As I walked up to the table he stood up in a polite gesture, but did not make a move towards me. The Mark I had fallen for would have intercepted me before I could have made my way to the table.

When I sat down there were about 5 seconds of total silence, which seem more like 5 minutes. At first, Mark avoided making eye contact, but then began to regain his composure. I could sense he was checking me out, almost like someone might on a 1st date. I wondered whether he was still seeing me as a girl or now as something completely different.

I wanted to start the conversation with an apology, but I had no idea where to start or what I was most sorry for. I certainly was sorry it all led to hurting Mark, but I was still grateful to have had the time with him.

Mark started the conversation. In a very reserved voice he broke the fragile ice. “My dad told me about you and what you are. I'm still not sure I understand it.”

“I'm not sure either.”

“Should I still call you Erika?”

“I would prefer that. I really don't feel like an Eric right now.”

“You don't look like one to me either.”

His last comment brought the first light moment to our chat.

“You look so girlish, but you are really a guy like me. Have you always been gay?”

“I'm not gay, at least I don't think I am. I've never been with a guy until I met you. This may seem strange to you, but I don't feel gay when I'm with you. You made me feel all girl.”

“I sort of understand, but I am a guy and only like girls. This is really hard for me to process. Have you always felt like this?”

“Mark, you ask some tough questions which don't have any simple answers. I guess part of this has always been inside of me, but it was really just on this cruise that I realized it. Besides my family and yours, you are the only person to have met Erika.”

Wow. You seem more like a chic than most of the girls I know back home.”

“I guess I will take that as a compliment.”

“It's true, but I'm sorry that something just feels different now.”

“I wish it didn't. My feelings were genuine and I never meant to hurt you or deceive you. I never expected to fall for you like that. It just happened. I am very sorry that I hurt you. It's probably asking too much for you to think of me like you did before.”

“I won't deny what I felt, but all of this is too bizarre for me to just forget.”

“Bizarre? Is that what you think of me now.”

“That was a bad choice of words. It's just complicated. I'm not trying to be mean or anything, but I've never met anyone like you. I'm trying to not be judgmental, I'm still a little stunned.”

“The last few days have been the most unusual in my life and I don't really know how to change your feelings. If you are uncomfortable being around me I won't be angry, maybe just disappointed. You made me feel so special and right now I feel anything but that.”

“Erica you are special and I don't mean that in a bad way. I really do like you. It's just hard for me right now to flip the switch and forget that last week you were just another guy. At some point I was going to find out.”

“That's probably true, but I never planned any of this. In fact, I thought I was going to be Eric on this trip. My family did the switcheroo on me. I think they knew something about me I did not understand or consciously know.”

“Well you took to it like you were always this way. Is this an experiment or are you planning to stay this way?”

“When I think about that I want to cry. Am so much happier this way, but when we get home it will be so hard to stay this way. My family and I will have to try and figure it out and adjust.”

“I like Erika, so I hope she gets to stick around.”

“Thank you, I hope we can stay friends.”

“Deal! At least for now let's just enjoy the rest of the cruise as friends.”

“Sounds fair”

“Do you think you and your sister might want to hang out at the pool later?”

“I know I would and my sister would certainly show if your brother comes.”

I felt so much better walking back to my room and than when I had headed out. It wasn't perfect, but we were at least friends again. The old mark would've held my hand and walked me back to my cabin, but I knew it could have been much worse.

After climbing and falling off an emotional mountain the remainder of the cruise was much less dramatic. I spent a significant amount of time with Mark and his family, but we never kissed again. There were a few awkward moments between us as we both still felt a flicker of the magic. The remaining 3 days were still enjoyable as I settled into a daily routine as Erika. I would love to have experienced more passion, but with each passing day I was beginning to fret about returning to Eric back on the mainland. The conflict in my mind was very consuming.

In only a week I had gone from a socially outcast Eric to a confident attention-getting Erika. Returning to my old life self and at least for a while as Eric was going to be difficult on so many fronts. The future would be anything but predictable and maybe someday I can report back to you all on where it took me. My only certainty is that I know what its like to feel wonderful.

----The end.----

All comments -- are welcome and encouraged.......