Schools like to think they are preparing their charges for the world outside the classroom and for many years have been making the students get a taste of what they might like to do once they leave the education system.
Joe enjoys the taste and can't stop going back for more
Joe was struggling at school, he was not that academic, he was not much good at sport either, well who wants a spindly short kid on their team, he was good with his hands and got along well with people around him, so life was not too bad. Still he was proving a difficult child to place for work experience. Now he was sixteen and in his last compulsory year of school it was in the timetable that for at least one week every child in that year gained some experience working in a job he or she felt might be something they would like to take as a career. Joe had no ambitions though, he just wanted someone to tell him what to do, it was that simple for him, as long as he could do whatever was asked of him, he was happy.
As always the school was short of places to send their students and rely on the good will of parents and relatives every year to find opportunities for some students. Joe was one such child, and as a consequence of not specifying a career he ended up spending a week at a job his mother had come upon.
Kutz, was not the first thing Joe had on his list of possibles, but Kay was a friend of his mother and did in fact need a bit of help at the time, so it seemed like a good thing when everything was sorted between school and Kay. Joe was to start the week before half term in February. He was not ecstatic but it was better than school.
His first day was spent sweeping up and making drinks for the customers. His easy manner made him a hit with Kay who liked him straight away. Kay also had an odd sense of humour and liked to tease people to see what reaction she got. Joe would be no exception, at the end of Monday she gave him a pink tabard and told him he should wear it the next day to keep himself clean, just like Denise and herself did. Joe asked if she was sure, she said yes, so when he got home he asked his mother if it seemed right for him to wear the tabard. He showed it to her and realising he was being teased, so she decided to play along with it and say that if Kay wants him to wear it then he should.
The next day when he got to work he put the tabard over his clothes and started working. Kay could not help herself and smiled as he wiped down the work stations. Then she thought what else could she get him to do.
It was slack in the middle of the morning, so after they had had a coffee, Kay suggested that it would help Joe to understand what the customer experience is like by letting her or Denise do some of the treatments on him that they did on the customers. When Joe asked what sort of treatments, because he was thinking big hair does, she reassured him by offering to wash and dry his hair. No harm in that he thought, he did it himself at home anyway. So for the next half hour Joe's hair was massaged, shampooed, conditioned and then blow dried. He especially liked the washing and massage, but when she had finished drying his hair he felt rather conspicuous. Gone was his rather ordinary boy look, now he had a straightened fringe gelled across his forehead, the back of his head was a mass of spiky randomness. When he was asked if he liked it, he was diplomatic enough to say it was different and might take some getting used too, but yes he liked it. 'Super' said Kay and told him he should continue with his learning by doing it himself the next morning before he came to work.
This was a little harder to work round, the tabard was just in the shop, the women knew he was a lad and they only had pink tabards, so that was nearly ok. But his hair was for outside and not an easy thing to disguise, then he remembered his hoodie. His mum was a little surprised to see him home Tuesday night sporting a new style but flattered him as much as a teenage boy can be flattered. And when he said he had to do it for work in the morning she offered to help.
So Wednesday morning he was up early to replicate the style Kay had shown him, and with his mum's help did a reasonable job of it. Kay was full of compliments when he arrived for work, a little disappointed with the hoodie, but then quietly had a word with Denise over 'how far will he go?'
Neither was sure just how far they could push him until he said no, so waited till there was a lull and brought up the subject of experiencing what the salon has to offer. Joe did ask what else they could do, he had had a wash a blow the day before. Almost before he had said it he knew there was so much more that they did, Kay and Denise picked up a treatment menu. Colour. Permanent wave. Extensions. Cut. Styling. That was without turning over to the nail and beauty treatments they offered. Joe felt a little uneasy and asked what they had in mind, but had turned it around as Kay offered to do anything he chose. He had seen some women under the big hoods as he gave them coffees, but not knowing what they were for, but thinking it would be interesting to be in one, he asked if they would let him have a go in one. The two women looked at each other and in unison said 'yes'.
Joe was shocked when they did not just wash his hair, but wetted it, then wrapped his hair around curlers until his scalp hurt with the pulling of the hair. Then sprayed with something else and he finally got to sit under the hood. He was given a coffee and a cosmo to read. But after a little while Denise came and took a hand and started to file his nails, then she did the other. Nice and neatly rounded tips he now had, then to his horror she pulled out a bottle of varnish, he was stuck under the hood and could not get out, but soon relaxed when he saw the varnish was clear and not a bright colour like the woman who had been in first thing had chosen. Finally the hood timer clicked off and Joe was lead to the styling chair. A lot more spraying and brushing and drying was to happen before Kay was finished. Now the straight fringe was gone, now his hair flicked up all over his head, the opposite to curling it all under. The beauty of this treatment Kay told him was that it would not take as much to get it looking right in the morning as the products would hold the style overnight. He was not sure if that was a good thing or not. Worse was to come though, for the first time he was called miss by a customer. Then when he got home his mum told him the style was great but maybe a few highlights would make it better, then she saw his finger nails and told him he was supposed to be working not being pampered by Kay and Denise.
Thursday and Joe was not sure what to expect, his hair was still looking Ok even when he got up and a quick brush brought it back to life. But then as he left the house he overheard his mum on the phone saying 'that will be fine with me, just check with him though'. It was almost the first thing Kay said when he walked into the salon 'your mum thinks we should highlight the ends for you' Joe admitted she had said as much the night before but was not so sure about it himself. Kay managed to twist it around and somehow he agreed to letting her do the highlights as her choice this time, then next time he could choose. By dinnertime he had blonde tips on his flicking out bits, and even he agreed it did bring out the style. Kay could then say 'now your turn to pick'. Joe just thought 'what do I pick, none of these things are really for a lad' but then as he looked down the menu he saw the waxing and thought 'girls make such a fuss about it why not try it and find out for myself'. 'Waxing please' said Joe, 'Oh' said Kay 'best come this way right now before you change your mind'
Joe could not believe how painful it was, and off course it had to be quiet just at that moment, so when his arms had been done, Kay said they might as well do the rest of him and give him the full treatment. The moisturiser was a lovely massage to recover with though. His mum was getting to expect something new to have happened to her boy while at work now and asked what he had experienced that day. When he lifted the hood of his head his mum let out a little whoop, 'I knew it would look great', 'Also got myself waxed' 'what......all over?' 'yes, feels a little odd, all my clothes are so rough, my skin is like super sensitive'. While the tea was cooking she took him up to her room and gave him a silk 'shirt' to try on and some soft cotton trousers, luckily they were about the same size so he fitted the new clothes well enough, and enjoyed the softer fabrics on his skin. That night she gave him some satin pyjamas to wear, he was about to say 'mum' in an exasperated teenage manner, but she just cut in with 'I was right about the shirt and pants, just try them' he accepted but did manage a resigned 'but pink!'
For work on the Friday his mum got him to wear a soft cotton top, not unlike his normal t shirt but a lot softer, three quarter sleeves that he did not realise until later as they kept riding up after every time he pulled them down. And under his jeans some tights to lessen the rough texture of the demin. He was in the locker room putting on his tabard with Denise and Kay, when they saw the white top. 'That's nice' 'my mum lent it me, my skin is so sensitive now' 'looks lovely' said Denise 'just perfect' said Kay. The comments made Joe think this was not perhaps the look he would have chosen on Monday just gone, but then when he heard the first customer say to Denise 'could you ask the girl to fetch me a coffee, white no sugar' it took a moment for it to register that she was talking about him, moments later Denise spoke 'Josie, could you get Mrs Whirle a coffee dear'. All he did was mouth 'Josie' back and go to make the coffee as requested.
During the mid morning lull they were having a quiet drink together, 'so the last day of your week with us dear, have you enjoyed it?'
'It has certainly been an experience'
'Well if you want, I would like to take you on part time till you finish school, then as an apprentice after you leave school' offered Kay
'Oh er, thank you'
Kay and Denise went on to explain how they thought he had the right attitude to the salon world, good with customers, able to do the tasks required, and happy to make the most of himself using the beauty treatments, adding in a dismissive way 'even barbers are well groomed'. The clincher though was to get paid for his week and asked if he would work the next week as it was half term.
'Excellent Josie'
'Josie?.....please don't tease me' Joe replied
'but it suits you. especially in that top of your mothers. Come here and look in the mirror...........now tell me what you see, a butch lad, muscles bulging out all over the place, or a slim girl who looks a little like a boy'
'but I am a boy, I still look like me, well almost'
'we have not done that much, new hair and you have some different clothes on, but you are really the same slim person you were before just looking a little softer now'
'softer, more like a girl you mean'
'if you want to say so Josie, we can't disagree'
Just then the door opened 'Ah Kathryn, good morning, come for your wash and style this morning, manicure as well, going somewhere nice tonight.' then turning to Joe 'Josie would you take Kathryn's coat'
And that was it, Joe's name for the rest of the day was Josie, much to the amusement of Kay and Denise, and to the apparent acceptance of all the ladies who came through the door who referred to him as a her. One even commented that Joe was not made up like so many young girls these days, Kay replied that after a week with them Josie was a lot improved on what she was a week ago.
Because Alison and Dorothy asked.
A further dip into Joe's introduction to work.
Message for Stan, Joe only lives in my head, don't worry about him I will keep him safe.
Joe would tell you that something changed in him that day, being taken for a girl was weird at first but not the first time it had happened, it was the first time it happened consistently though, so he just fell into playing the role of Josie. It did not come as a surprise on reflection really when Kay asked if he wanted to try one last treatment as part of the work experience, he looked at Kay's neatly manicured oval nails and asked what it was like to have long nails. 'Don't even think about them now, they make my hands look better than with short nails I think' then turned to look at Joe 'why do you fancy some?'
'was just pondering the idea'
Kay stepped in quickly 'they would look good on you, but they are not just for a day you know I would expect you to keep them on till you go back to school.' Then added 'If I do them I will expect you to work next week for me as Josie'. Joe took a deep breath, this was a rather big step that he was consciously taking,
'yes please, and I thought I had said I would work next week'
'Not as Josie'
'Oh I see' Joe said slowly, but he was admiring Kay's nails and thinking what it would be like to have his own 'as Josie then' Joe confirmed.
Kay told him to ring his mum and tell her he would be late home. He did ring but only told her he was trying out another of the salon's services. She was intrigued but happy to wait and see what he came home with on his last day at the salon.
She was waiting but trying to look busy with the meal. Joe came in with hands in pockets, hood over his head feeling rather conspicuous outside of the salon. Not wishing to appear eager she calmly said 'Your tea is on the table in two minutes' Joe went to his room and removed the hoodie, he stared at his bare hairless lower arms, then at his hands with there now enhanced nails, they were only half as long again as they were before Kay started fixing the acrylics to them, nothing like the really long ones Kay sported, but with the hint of pink on them it would be a mistake to think of them as boys hands, and yes they did make his fingers look longer and more delicate. His mother noticed striaght away, 'let me take a look' she admired 'they do look nice, what sort are they?'
'Acrylics'
'Oh, they take some removing don't they'
'Yes but I can't wash hair with anything that might come unglued, these are bonded to my nail Kay says'
'But you finish today don't you?'
'No, been asked to work next week'
'That's good, well I guess so. Rather makes you feminine looking you know'
'Yes I have noticed, but I was getting called Josie anyway so thought what the heck, and I wanted to find out for myself what long nails are like'
'What do you mean Josie'
'Ever since I had my first hair cut every now and then women called me a girl, and you must remember those times when we have been out and they called me your daughter. Well it got more frequent after I had the highlights, and then I reckon your top did nothing but help that. I have been called Josie all day today.'
'You fine with that?' she was getting concerned that her son though encouraged by her Denise and Kay was becoming the main mover in what had just been fun teasing till then. 'and do you plan on being a girl next week?'
'don't worry mum, it is only for a week, I can't go to school like this can I'
'Just for a week, then?'
Joe then went on to tell of his news that he had been offered a job starting when he finished school and on the Saturdays till then.
'What are you doing tomorrow?'
'I was going to have a lie in, I am knackered'
'Just thought you could spend your wages on new clothes instead of borrowing mine, TK Maxx and Primark will be open and cheap'
After his Sunday lie in he dressed in the blouse and trousers his mum had lent him the day he had been waxed. His mum had grown used to the idea of a girlie son by the morning and happily went with him shopping. Initially nervous, Joe relaxed as they browsed the rails, eventually being brave enough to use the changing rooms. He came away with four tops, three were like t shirts, but with longer sleeves and different styled necks to his usual, one top was a blouse, buttons up the front, small collar and little cap sleeves in a shiny black, no way was that anything but a girls choice his mum said. A pair of tight jeans with a waist band on the hips and some plain white trainers completed his new look.
Once home he changed and gave his mother a bit of a show of what he had bought, ending up wearing the black blouse for the remainder of the day.
'So do you like being a girl?' his mum suddenly asked
'I am not a girl, I just look like one'
'Whatever, do you like it, the extra time needed to get ready, the cleaning of the make up'
'I like taking a bit of care about my appearance if that is what you mean'
'And what else can I expect to see you doing next week at the salon?'
'Not sure what else Kay or Denise would like me to try'
'Oh I can think of lots, just don't let her make you do anything you don't want'
'Been a good experience this, and I know she was teasing me but it is good to know how the customer feels, yes'
'Well if you put it that way, then yes'
Monday when he would in the past have just lounged about all day as it was a holiday, he was up and ready for work, a grey top, new tight jeans and trainers, hair brushed and gelled, eye lashes enhanced and though his mum had not commented some of her lip gloss on as well.
'New clothes?' Kay asked
'Yes can't keep borrowing mum's'
'that is true, and the nails, any trouble?'
'A little awkward at first but no trouble, been fine as long as I remember'
'I think me and Denise will have to think what will be your next experience'
'It's fine, I am just happy like this, no need to put you to any trouble'
'No trouble, and besides we want you to learn what it is like being the female client in a salon, so you can treat our customers better'
Joe was wondering what she meant by all that, but needed to get on with his cleaning jobs while Denise restocked and Kay did some book keeping.
A slow morning and about eleven there is no one in so Kay invited Joe to take a salon chair. It took one pull for Joe to realise what she was doing, plucking his eye brows. 'Just neatening up the lines, and letting you know how it feels, hold still while I get the next one' A few minutes later 'there nothing much different, just neater. Take a look' Joe could not see a big difference but they did look more defined. He thought the plucking would not be noticed but that evening his mum gave him a good look over and commented on how nice his brows were, then asked for her lip gloss back. He picked it out of his hoodie pocket and returned it. 'You can keep it, but next time ask, I spent ages looking for it this morning and ended up buying myself a new one at lunch time' Joe apologised and asked if he could have a play with her cosmetics to see what does what.
That evening the two of them spent their time going through Joe's mother's make up, she would show him a product, he would then try applying it to himself. He was amazed at how much he could change his face with the use of colours, he particularly liked the lipsticks that were near his own colour but added some depth and sheen to his own, his other delight was eye shadow, especially the pale ones giving just a hint of colour next to his long blackened lashes. That was also the day that regular moisturising became part of his daily routine along with cleansing.
Tuesday, and he is wearing a lemon top, and after his time the night before, a pale glossy pink lipstick.
'My word Josie, you are looking more pretty every day now' Denise commented, Joe unused to such comments, blushed.
Kay came in and agreed with Denise, then added 'I think today it would be good if you found out what it is like to have a piercing. Anywhere you fancy?'
Joe a little wrong footed suggested an ear as he had thought of getting one ear stud for a while 'ears have to be in pairs' continued Kay. After a moment, Joe agreed and it was arranged that Joe would take a trip to a nearby shop that did piercing while he was out getting the lunch order.
It all got a little confused as messages got passed from Kay to the shop, and when Joe turned up they were expecting him, well her really. The confusion lay in the way Kay had said pair, so Joe braced himself for the first stud, which he was surprised by how little it hurt, and then not knowing what to expect thought nothing as the girl continued to attend to the same ear, it was as the second hole was made that Joe questioned if they had got it right, he was expecting a pair to be one in each ear not a pair in each ear. The girl got all flustered and asked Joe not to complain, he then explained how Kay had said girls wear there piercing symmetrically, to which the girl offered to match the other ear at no extra cost. Joe was not sure if four studs would look right, so she swapped a stud for a ring sleeper and everything was sorted, at least for the girl. When he got back to the shop, Kay noticed right off and asked why he he got carried away, so he explained it was not meant to be, Kay just said 'oh right' in a knowing tone. It was when he got home that his mum made the biggest fuss, he tried to argue that boys have pierced ears, 'not two in each ear' his mum insisted, Joe just went to his room saying, 'well it is done now, she said don't remove them till they have healed, so that is it, I am stuck with them even if you don't like them'
Thanks for your comments.
Here is Joe gently being teased into a different style of dressing.
Wednesday and his ears are throbbing a bit, but now he has got used to them he is getting to like them and wonders what he will wear when he can change them. At work Kay asked if he liked his ears, he told her he was getting used to them, then she retold a conversation she had had with his mum the night before, where his mum had accused her of influencing him and his style. But as far as Kay could tell, the tabard and first hair styling, maybe the second were her doing as part of a tease, but from then on it had been Joe who she felt was driving the choices, even his mum had suggested the highlights. Kay finished with a question 'do you feel I have pushed you into any of these treatments, and have you felt it wrong of me to do anything to you these last few days?'
'Not sure I liked the tabard at first, but I have seen it as part of the experience, and I am getting to like making myself look better, and it is good to see how life is from the other side, isn't it?'
'So you have no problem looking like a Josie rather than a Joe?'
'Still not sure about the name, but no I don't mind being Josie while I am here at the salon'
'Till Saturday then I look forward to seeing Josie, but maybe we had better cool it a bit with the feminine stuff, for your mum's sake'
'Maybe' was Joe's short reply.
Kay just kept eye contact and smiled at the ambiguos reply.
Things were frosty when Joe got home that evening, ending up with him stating that he liked looking pretty and being taken for a girl. Rather said as a teenage reaction to her ringing Kay than any real desire to dress that way, but as many know, if you tell a teenager no, then that is what they will do. So come Thursday morning while his mum is in the shower he is at her vanity unit giving himself a full face make up, foundation, blusher, stronger eye shades, brighter lipstick. And then before she could say anything he was out of the house and off to work. Kay saw him first 'does your mum approve?'
'She doesn't know'
'I see, well come inside and lets just take a closer look at what you have done' Kay then took five minutes toning down the roughly applied cosmetics explaining what she was doing as she did so. When finished the make up looked far more natural and Joe felt more comfortable. Though what his mum would say when he got home was another problem.
His mum was rather relaxed about the made up face when he got home, and just asked about his day at the salon, not wanting to exacerbate his teenage rebellion. But before they went to bed, Joe was downstairs in his soft pink pyjamas, she suggested that she help him in the morning with make up if he was going to do more than a lip gloss, Joe not sure what to make of this U turn, managed a 'oh right, thanks' in reply. But come the morning felt able to sit beside her while she did her face and accept tips as he did his own. That morning he decided to wear the black blouse because he might never get another chance. Kay just summed it up when he got to work 'very pretty Josie, I tell you Joe is disappearing a little bit every day now, but one day left then it is back to school'
Saturday was a bit of an anti climax due to there being a constant stream of customers and no chance to enjoy the last day being called Josie. If Saturday was dull, Sunday was a real down. First he had to take the highlights out of his hair and try to get it back to a pre work experience look, which ended up looking scruffy, the make up was easy but the nails took an awful lot of filing to reduce the depth of added nail, and then there were the four ear piercing, as he understood it he could not take them out, so they had to stay at least for another three weeks. His hope was they would be seen as being 'cool' and not sissy by his mates.
Over the first week Joe got used to being Joe again, he was proud of his news that he had been offered a job when he left school, but some made the connection between a job in a salon and the studs, luckily Joe was confident enough to brush them off and tease whoever was making the comments.
He was back at work the following Saturday, as Joe really, his hair was wrong so he opted for a plain look which got a disappointed reception from Kay. Joe promised to try a little more in the future. So for the weekends he started to blow dry his hair into a style something like he had had before, and would wear light make up and his female tops to work, this clearly met with Kay's approval who clearly preferred Josie to Joe at work. What was surprising to Joe was his mum was coming back to encouraging him again, at first she had helped him, but then cooled off trying to stop his feminine development, but now with Joe back six days a week she seemed to be looking forward to Saturday and having Josie back. She said he was softer and less bullish, also more helpful around the house the more girlie he was. This change was most clearly noticed when she bought him some pjamas and then pointed out his body hair was returning a few weeks later and bought him some hair remover.
With exams to focus on Joe was stopped from working full time at the easter holidays, but knew that within a few months he would be leaving school behind and starting a job he had enjoyed.
At last the exams were over and Joe started working at the salon permanently. The first thing he did was to make arrangements with Kay so he could fit in better as Josie. This meant a definite change in his appearance she insisted, no switching back and forth between boy and girl. Joe just said he wanted to enjoy the pleasures of the salon once again so he would better understand what the clients were experiencing. It took half a day but by the end Joe would have more trouble being a boy on his way home than cow being taken for a dog. his now blonde hair was a mass of spikes and sculpted fringe, his eyebrows were neat tadpoles, his nails were longer and brighter, and along with his female tops and new 3" hoops and red studs in his ears he looked very much a girl at work. Then to his surprise when he got home his mother had bought him a new white hoodie to replace his grey one and filled his drawers with panties which would not show through his tight jeans. He had expected never to wear his school uniform again, but it was looking more like he would not be wearing any boy clothing at all, after a moments consideration as the penny dropped he smiled and knew he liked the feel of his new clothes more than his boy stuff, so why not forget about the harsh boy things and enjoy his more female things. The decision was made that Tuesday over tea, he asked his mum about the knickers and nightwear, she said it would either get it out of his system or be his way in the future, he said he preferred female clothes and did not see it as something he would give up. So in a sort of ceremony they cleared his drawers of all underwear, school clothes and overtly boy clothing. The end of which left big spaces in his cupboard, prompting the suggestion he goes shopping as he will need several outfits for working in, tops, trousers, shoes and coats, because no girl wears the same thing two days on the run or in the same week if they can help it.
Within a month despite his mother's reservations, Josie had become a permanent presence at both the salon and home. Though Joe still thought himself as a lad that preferred to dress in a rather unusual way for a boy. It was under Kay's now more gentle prompting that Josie became softer a gentler person, and generally a more feminine looking person. The hair had taken on an even more defined cut emphasising the girl in him. His ear rings became more decorative over time, small stones grew into hoops and onto dangling chains.
By the end of the summer holidays and the time came for him to enrol at college as an apprentice hairdresser he was admitting even to himself that work had rather taken over his life, he rarely went out other than to the salon and his whole world seemed consumed with finding out more about how to improve the way people looked, partly from reading, partly by seeing what happened at the salon and partly from trying things out on himself.
For the enrolment day he did not know what to wear, should he be as girlie as possible or back off to more boyish look. In the end he went for jeans, a plain top and no make up. The nails were still kind of longish, his ears still carrying studs and his hair a well cut blonde, but he felt easier signing in as Joe looking vaguely male than vaguely female. He still had to acknowledge his gender when he signed up as a male, so he was happy with style choice.
The reaction when he got home was unexpected, his mum asked if this more camp look was how he was going to be. He explained how it had been for college not work that he had changed his style, this made him feel she was wanting him to revert back to being a dull looking boy and only fired his enthusiasm to be more contrary to her wishes. The next day he went to work, fully made up, hair revitalised, biggest ear rings, and his prettiest blouse.
Kay and Denise asked if it was something they had said but Joe just pointed out he enjoyed feeling feminine so what was the problem. No problem they assured him and set him to his usual tasks. Come the break time Kay asked if he wanted to be a girl, he said not, he was a boy who just happened to enjoy looking feminine. So Kay asked 'how feminine?'
Joe asked 'what do you mean?'
'Well would you wear a dress or high heels, how about going out with a boy, all can be very feminine things'
'I just like being me' was all he could think to answer.
'Well just let me know if you want to develop that femininity some more, I am sure you would look great all dolled up.'
When he got home his mum noticed his pretty blouse and made the mistake of challenging his chioce. His reaction was to make up some argument about he felt restricted by societies constriants on how people dress and he was thinking of looking for something prettier at the weekend. 'But you are prettier than any boy I know already, what could make you prettier?'
Without thinking Joe just said 'A dress'
'A dress?'
'Yes I want to find out what it is like to wear something other than trousers' as he said it he was thinking that this maybe a hole to deep to get out of easily.
'A dress is very much a girl thing, would rather stop you being somewhere in between boy and girl that you are at the moment'
'Maybe, but I like being feminine and a dress seems like a next step'
'And what if I said no?'
'Then I would just have to find out on my own' Joe could not believe he had just dug his hole deeper, but then felt there was time to back down.
'I am not keen'
'I know but you can't stop me, it was you who had me have highlights, it was you who taught me the basics of make up, bought me the clothes and satin night wear what is wrong with a dress?' That was enough he thought, point made.
His mum thought for a moment and decided to take this head on, 'Right if you are so set on wearing a dress then you must do it properly. A dress looks best with heels, the higher the better, dresses are for a female figure so you need a smaller waist and a bigger chest, and maybe not essential but I think worth doing, your make up has to be full on, not the muted colours you currently use.' There was a pause 'You want to wear a dress Joe? then you bury the boy completely. Right Josie!'
Joe was backed into a corner he had just thought a dress would be an interesting bit of fun, but how could he back down, 'Fine. As long as you stop calling me Joe' This was said with maybe too much fight, but he was feeling pressured.
Both not wishing to back down 'Ok Josie I expect you by Sunday dinner to be looking like a complete girl, anything less and you go back to being a boy and we get your boy stuff out of the loft'
This was turning into a real fight that niether wanted to lose, but almost as soon as Joe had left the room both realised that they pushed it too far, if Joe turned up in a dress then it would rather seal his fate for how he looked in the future, which meant no more Joe. Why is he so set on the idea, was a puzzle niether never understood.
After all the new experiences, fights with his mother and his internal discussions, which way will Joe go when the pressure builds.
This is as far as I will take Joe in his life, unless I can be persauded (not bullied off course) otherwise, or someone else can see his potential :)
Joe was quiet at work the next day, when Kay asked him what was up she listened to his tale. Then told him he should not be upsetting his mother, but if he was sure he wanted to try a dress then she would help him in any way she could. Her first offer of help was to let him read through some fashion magazines suggesting he pick out a style he liked. Over lunch he looked and looked but was unable to settle on any one style so Kay suggested he think what he wants from the dress and asked him to pick a few words to describe what he likes about his favourite clothes then.
'Soft, smooth, nice colours.'
'Ok, so how about patterns?'
'Yes I suppose flower patterns would be more feminine'
'What about length, short, knee or long, what fits your idea of feminine?'
'Short is what girls wear, knee is more mature, more what a woman would wear. I suppose long is elegant'
'Ok we are getting somewhere. A mid length, soft cotton maybe, print dress. Flared skirt works best with soft fabrics.'
'I guess that sounds about right'
'good it is late night shopping in town tonight so get yourself down there and have a look round'
He got home about eight and with some delight told his mum he had been out looking at dresses that evening, she asked if he had chosen anything but said nothing seemed right. When she suggested he was taking this very seriously he replied that she was making it a serious issue. To which she backed down but not before reminding him he had till Sunday to make his mind up. It might have felt like a truce but it was just a tactical reorganising of strategy really.
Sunday came and he had spent his wages on his first dress, a pink and cream print with flowers running up the skirt and bodice, the fabric was a truly soft cotton which had been rouched around the bust and fell in flowing pleats down past his knees, a round neck and little puffed sleeves completed the dress. He had also bought himself some more tights and a pair of cream court shoes. He felt he had gone far enough, the dress felt lovely as it wafted around his body, he had the heels as she had wanted but he was at a loss as to how to alter his shape. So he dressed and did his make up, put in the long pink chandeliers and hung the pendant around his neck to remind his mother that she had given him them.
'hi mum, what do you think?'
She looked him up and down realising this could be a big moment in their lives. 'Very pretty, where did you get it?'
'Debenhams'
'Always nice stuff there, how does it feel?'
'Very nice, ever so gentle on the skin'
'Would you wear it again?'
'I think so it is very nice on, and if you don't mind'
'Well I think we have a problem if you want to look like a girl' she looked him in the eye 'you have failed in at least two ways today, one you are flat chested and though I can't see it I guess your waist is no smaller. I think I could add that the shoes are a bit plain for that dress, higher and dressier would look good'
'sorry I was trying my best' then he inexplicably said 'do you like the dress?'
'I do, but before I let you have some dinner you must fulfill my instructions' he began to look distressed as he had no idea how to do what she wanted. 'Come this way' she lead him to her bedroom 'Take the dress off' Then after a little rummaging in her drawers passed him a white satin padded bra 'Here slip this on' After a little fumbling he had the bra around his chest 'Now to give you a waist, lift your arms' She wrapped a corselette around him and pulled the laces tight 'Pull your stomach in and breathe out' and the laces went a bit tighter.
'Mum is this necessary?'
'If you want to feel feminine, you have to look feminine. Now slip these shoes on' she pointed at a pair of brown mules with just a strap across the toes and a narrow 3" heel. Her last action was to spray scent on her son. 'Ok put your dress back on and lets see how things have improved'
He had difficulty standing in the new shoes and had to take them off as he lower the dress over his head, but then once it was positioned correctly he stepped back into the shoes and carefully went to look in a mirror.
'Better?' his mother asked
'I see what you mean'
'Right, this is how it will be, if you want to be feminine I will expect you to wear a bra all the time, the corset until you have lost some wieght and heels, maybe not high like those but at least not flats or trainers.' She was hoping that making such tough rules would make him think again about being so girlie.
'But mum what about college'
'That is your problem Josie unless you want to be called Joe all the time'
His mum was pushing him and she hoped pushing him into backing down and being more of a son even if it was a very feminine son, but Joe was wanting to prove himself and reckoned a baggy top would hide his mother's new additions, the shoes he could swap once outside with a pair in his bag. Besides that set too, the rest of Sunday went well, Josie being reminded to tuck the skirt underneath when sitting, a few tips on walking in heels and small portions to start the diet.
The following Monday to prove a point to himself and his mum, he went to the shops at lunch time and bought himself several bras and when he saw some low wedge heeled black ankle boots he bought those also. So come Tuesday morning he went out of the house wearing an unfilled bra the corset and his new boots. His mum said nothing as she was not sure if this was a victory or not. The reaction of Kay at work was very different, she noticed the bra pushing the top out first and then the boots.
'Oh very nice I must say, but why?'
'Mum says if I want to feel feminine, then I have to look female, hence the boots and bra'
'Oh that is interesting, so was the dress nice?'
'Very'
'I see. Anything else your mum wants you to do?'
'Wear a corset'
'Thought you were but did not like to say, why?'
'Because I need a waist to be the right shape'
'If only I had a waist, but I think I know what she means. All or nothing is what she is getting at'
'Yes'
'and you can't give up the nice feminine things?' I nodded, 'so it will be full on female from now on'
'Well except for college, I am known as Joe there'
'Bit of a cop out and you will look very camp on you days in class, but it is up to you. Now the bra, what size did you get and have you anything to fill them?'
'32 B I think'
'Well for today get some tissues and pad them out to make them look more realistic, and might I suggest you save up and buy some inserts like the women who have a breast removed use, they would look so much better'
It was not long before Joe had saved up for his inserts and besides college days wore his filled bra all the time. And as the autumn chill grew he bought leggings and long tops, which he assumed rightly were just short dresses. With these new additions and another pair of low heels to work in, plus a new jacket he was unrecognisable as the boy that first started at Kutz the hair and beauty salon.
His mum was working on his diet as a way to make his life harder, but what was more of a challenge was the feelings Joe had for a lad who had come in for a trim. A nephew of Kay's who was a bit older and far more masculine in looks and manner than Joe could ever be, but what got Joe was that besides being good looking, Lee flirted with him. And then a week later with some lame excuse of a message from his mother for Kay, he turned up again and once agian flirted with Joe.
When Joe was alone with Kay next he asked if Lee knew that he was a femmy boy. 'Should think so I have mentioned it to his mum'. This confused Joe because he could not get his head around the thought that a boy would or should be chatting him up, even more worrying was that he enjoyed the attention. Kay broke into his thoughts, 'Nice boy Lee, don't you think?'
'Err well yes' stammered Lee.
'He fancies you, it is written all over him'
'Nooo, cant be I am a lad really'
'And he is gay'
Joe swallowed deeply, 'Oh'
'You should be flattered, nice lad like Lee. Does it make you feel more girlie to think of yourself as being chatted up because of how you look?'
'Not sure just yet, I need some time to think about that one' but Joe was blushing all the time.
'You are really cute when you blush you know' and after a pause 'So should I tell him you will see him after work?'
'What?'
'He asked me to find out if you would meet him after work and maybe go for a pizza or something, so yes or no?' Josie blushed some more and fiddled with his hair 'I shall tell him yes, being with a hunk like Lee will make you feel so feminine'
'But what should I wear, do I need to redo my make up? I will feel so awkward, are you sure?'
'Don't worry, wear what you are in now, he is not taking you anywhere for a date, just spending time to get to know you, but maybe we could give your face a little more sex appeal'
'Sex appeal !!'
'Just make you look a bit more girlie, not full blown night club look but something that says, I want to look nice for you, but not necessarily to have sex'
'Ok but definitely not an I want sex look'
Kay made the call, and at half five Lee was waiting for them to lock up, Joe had used a darker eye shadow and a darker pink on his lips with a wet look gloss which got Kay and Denise's encouragement. His mum was not expecting him home after he had called to say he was meeting up with some friends and would get something to eat. She had asked what friends as he lately hardly went out, from college he lied, admitting that a lad had been flirting with him was not something he felt his mum would like to hear. They walked round the local park that lead them into the town where Lee made for a Pizza Hut. They chatted about his family, his aunt Kay, the salon, Lee's job at a local newspaper. But after the small talk dried up Joe could stand it no longer and asked the only question that was bothering him 'You know I am not a proper girl don't you, I just prefer to dress femmy'
Lee took one of Joe's hands on the table and looked straight at him 'It is what makes you so special, you are real pretty and yet being a boy means I still fancy you, wierd I know. Maybe some sort of half way for me, with you I could hold your hand and not worry about being called queer, you look so great and yet I know that you are not really a girl. For me perfect'
'sorry I am not sure about all this, I just like being feminine never really considered if I like boys more than girls' then Joe thought he might have offended Lee 'but tonight has been lovely, I am enjoying myself. Honest'
Lee did not let go of Joe's hand until they had to leave. And once out of the building took hold of the hand again 'Have you kissed a girl?'
Joe was surprised by the question 'Well er, one or two'
'Have you kissed a lad?'
'No'
'Would you like to find out what it is like?'
'Er' was all Joe managed before Lee had stooped down a little and kissed his lips gently.
Joe did not have to pull away 'So now you have kissed a boy, any objections?'
'Er' he could not think what to answer but then said 'No'
Which meant Lee leant in and let his lips carress Joe's for a little bit longer. Joe opened his mouth slightly to breath which Lee took as a sign of acceptence and kissed a little harder letting his tongue lick Joes lips. Joe was even more confused than ever, this was the best kiss ever but it was not with a girl which is what he had always thought would be his default kisser. After what seemed like an age, but was barely a minute, Joe moved back and broke the moment.
'I take it you have no objections then?'
'I think I should be getting home' was Joe's reply, but instead of walking off, kept hold of Lee's hand as he moved away. Lee followed keeping a firm grip on his 'girlfriends' hand.
That was a rather defining evening in more ways than one. Yes he had kissed a boy and not been repulsed by it, but it was what his mum said when he got home.
'Right then Josie I have been working with you on this feminine boy life style you seem to like, but I think it is time for you to decide if you are a boy or a girl. You look like a girl but I know you are a boy and it is doing my head in.'
Joe had always felt his mum was more black and white than himself but still asked 'Why can't I be a boy that looks pretty, sort of somewhere in between'
'I have tried to put you off by forcing you into more and more aspects of being a girl, but you just go one step further it seems, so I want you to either make a commitment to stop or to consider that you might be transgendered'
'Trans what?'
'It means you are a girl trapped in a boys body, your physical looks do not match your emotional state'
'So you want me to go back to being a scruffy lad or what?'
'Go and see a specialist who knows about these things, maybe you are a girl'
Joe then had a flash back to his kiss with Lee and did not even have to consider the options, he had enjoyed being with Lee and to be with Lee would mean he had to behave like a girlfriend, if he went back as he suspected his mum wanted, to being an ordinary Joe then Lee would not want him. Decision made 'I am a girl, I like looking like this, I feel better when I am not dressing down to look less female for college days. Yes I want to be Josie.' but then added 'Sorry I am not sure that is what you wanted to hear'
His mum was starting to well up, 'No it is fine, you have to be true to yourself' she managed. But Joe felt himself drawn to her and gave her a hug.
'We'll be fine, you'll see, just let me be your daughter and I will try not to dissappiont you'
Joe went to bed in his satin nightie that evening after working through his beauty routine beforehand, but sleep was not easy after the evening he had just had. A kiss, the first that felt like a connection and not something that should be done. Then his declaration that he was a girl inside if not on the outside completely. Questions such as how different is Joe from Josie? Could he become a real girl? What does a real girl feel like? Are breasts important? In the end he fell asleep at what seemed to be just before the alarm went off.
That morning for work he picked out a long floral top, leggings, his higher heels and used scent for work which was a new thing to him.
His mum said 'You look nice this morning'
Then at work. Kay said 'Last night went well then'.
To his mum he said thank you.
To Kay he blushed, she knew where he had been and what might have happened.
Lee was waiting for the salon to lock up at the end of the day. 'You look nice. Would you like to go to the pictures at the weekend or something?'
Kay came out of the door 'Oh hi Lee'
'Hi aunt Kay'
'If he asks you out, make sure he pays, and if it is to see a film pick a chick flick, none of that macho sci fi stuff' Kay said to Josie.
'That would be nice, Saturday, but give me chance to get home a change after work'
'Seven?'
'See you at seven then'
He walked home considering what he had just done, this was a proper date with a boyfriend the whole thing. Sometimes he thought about what he should wear, alternating with times he thought he must be mad to have accepted.
Saturday came and Kay gave him a quick wash and style before he went home. He had already told his mother he was going out and would not be eating, so she was partly ready for going out socially, something he had not done for months. What she was not ready for was the sight of her son coming into the living room wearing his dress, some new sandals with really high narrow heels, a neat jacket and for the first time a handbag. She was just getting used to the sight of her son when the front door bell rang.
'I'll get it' Josie said rather too quickly. 'Oh hi Lee' then turning back into the house 'See you later mum.' And he was gone, the door shut behind him. His mum was up and looking out of the window like a shot. She told herself she should have expected something like this but to see her son walking down the road with Lee was a rather abrupt shock. She had until recently always imagined seeing her son walking down the road as one half of a couple, with Joe walking beside a pretty girl, not Joe being the pretty girl. But then as she watched them walk away she felt an odd sort of pride, Lee was a good looking lad and Josie made a good looking girl beside him. This she knew would take some getting her head around as she went back to watching a Saturday evening game show.
Sunday and Josie was up early and making herself as pretty as possible, Lee was coming round later and they were going for a walk. Leggings, top that doubles as a mini dress and high heels. Josie wanted to look as much a girl as was possible for Lee and his mum noticed.
'This boy, more than just a mate I guess.'
'Oh Lee is just one of Kay's nephews, we enjoy each others company.'
'You seem to enjoy being more feminine for him as well.'
'Do I?' Josie said hoping to sound surprised.
'Yes you do, I would even say you fancied him if you were a girl.'
'Well I'm not, I don't fancy him and we are just friends.' Josie lied.
But the day was to get far worse than a little spat between mother and child. Josie was done up to the nines and walked down the road not considering how others might be reacting, teenagers can be quite unaware at times. But that afternoon while she was tidying the garden on more than one occasion neighbours passed comment over the front fence about a girl they had seen coming out of the house and Joe was wearing some unusual clothes lately. She defended by saying he was training as a hair dresser and it has changed him a little but she had no real answer to the questions about who the girl was that day.
When Josie came home he found his mother sitting quietly in the back room clearly upset. He gave her a hug and asked what was wrong but she told him nothing then went to get the tea ready. It was later that she asked how serious he was about his new feminine look. His reply was pretty much expected, he liked it and to the question of whether he preferred to look like a girl or a boy his immediate answer was a girl. This made her go quiet and Josie knew he was the cause of her distress. Eventually she told him about the comments and his bubble was burst. He never really thought anyone bothered, yes it had been a concern at the beginning but as the changes got more feminine so his ability to hide them got harder and he stopped trying and had felt no one really cared how he looked anyway. This was a big shock. There was not much said after that, Josie went to his room and cleaned himself up then tried to work out who he was, what he was and what he was going to do. The upshot was that he went to work in the morning with no make up on, flat hair, baggy jeans, trainers and a loose sweat top, he even clipped the nails shorter. His mum saw him and cried a little.
'Oh Josie, I am so sorry I should have said nothing.'
'No mum I am fine, maybe best if I just accept that people with my body should dress like this.'
'Still I am sorry.' she repeated as she gave him a hug.
At work Kay was shocked and sent him in the back so they could have chat, she knew something must have happened and initially thought it was Lee, but as she got the tale right she became rather indignant that nosy neighbours should be controlling him to this extent. Surely he should be able to dress how he wants, though in truth she did know there was a lot of people who were rather narrow minded to anything they dont understand, Lee had had to endure some unkind comments so could understand something of Joe's upset.
The dressing like a boy continued for a few days but it was clear that Joe would rather be Josie, comments from customers like 'Where is that nice young girl today' only made things worse. In the end Kay rang his mother and they had a discussion after work, Kay, Denise, Joe and his mum. Joe was the only topic, did he see himself as a boy? what would he do if he could not dress as a girl? how much did he fancy Lee? could he live as a girl all the time? Not that any of the others knew it but Kay had a plan and once they had asked questions and discussed the merits of Joe versus Josie, and was satisfied Joe would be happier dressing like a girl, she made her offer. She lived some distance away and had a large house, Josie could be her lodger but there were conditions so as nosy neighbours were not a problem again. Joe would have to present as female all the time, ideally ultra feminine so as to leave no doubts, she would contact the college and infrom them of the changes and make sure that there would be no problems, if there were then he should enrol at another the next year hopefully his history better hidden.
Joe and his mum went home hardly speaking until the evening meal was on the table.
'So what do you want to do?'
'What do you want me to do?'
'I want you to be happy, if that means you live with Kay and I have a daughter then I will handle it.'
'I am so sorry, this was not meant to be how I wanted to be.'
'But it is, and the choice is yours, not mine. Unfortunately it is what nieghbours say not me, so how do you want the world to see you?'
'Will you be upset if I say Josie.'
'I will cope, you have to leave home sometime.'
We hugged a lot that evening but the world was changing and life would be different from then on.