By Nina Adams

Please read Part 1 first----

Author's note: Most of my stories have been about gifted teens that found their calling after after getting the proverbial push. While I have received occasional criticism (mostly warranted) by readers that felt my reluctant heroines had been cruelly forced, I always found myself fantasizing that this lad/lass had been me. Unfortunately, these stories have been 100% fiction. The dribble that begins below is also mostly fiction, however it is to a small degree 'based' upon my childhood. I will leave it to your imagination to know where fact and fiction leave off. If I haven't already lost you, I hope you enjoy "The New Tradition."

Please, please, please comment or let me know if you like it.
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Chapter 4

My older brother David was going to meet us for a few days down in Florida, but he could not take the whole week off from his new job. We're all grateful to arrive on the sunny beach after nearly 24 hours of nonstop driving. We quickly settled into our beachfront rental condo.

On the second day of our trip I slipped on my first new pair of shorts. They fit well, but the design and color was different than most of my others. They were yellow denim, had a cuff at the bottom and the zipper only went down about halfway. They were from a place called ‘The Limited’ which I had never shopped at before. They looked okay so I didn't really give them much thought.

I also discovered over the rest of the relaxing week that she had bought me additional shorts, flip-flops and T-shirts from there. Other than some odd bright colors and oversize necklines most of the items were comfortable. It wasn't until nearly 2 weeks after we returned from the vacation that I discovered The Limited sold only women's clothing. None of my new summer selections were from their sister store called The Limited Express, which sold some men’s stuff. All of the new things I had been wearing came directly from the girls department.

When I confronted my mother about this after returning from the mall, she played it down.

"You needed some new things and there were just more new summer selection at the Limited. Were there any specific items you didn't like? I think everything looked very nice on you."

“It's not that. The selections were nice, but I was wearing girls clothes in public."

"I don't think anyone noticed. You certainly didn't. You can wear whatever you want. Remember we talked about this."

"That's different."

"Is it? If you want to experiment with some new fashions, I think it's perfectly acceptable. This is an innocent way to take a small first step.”

"I admit that I have thought about that one time event, but wearing girls casual clothing out and about was not my objective."

"We will focus on your objective later honey. I would think after our trip to Florida you would know it is no big deal to be a little more stylish. Do you disagree?”

“I was just very surprised to discover this when I was walking past The Limited with my friend Alex. I saw my new shorts on a female mannequin in the window and I awkwardly stopped in my tracks and stared at it. I had to make a lame excuse to my friend that I thought I saw a girl I knew inside the store.”

“Maybe sometime soon we can go out together and pick out some additional summer and spring wear. A few expanded style selections couldn’t hurt.”

“If you are suggesting what I think you are… I’d be way too embarrassed.”

“If you change your mind just let me know. I’m sure it would be a fun and beneficial experience.”

Much like our conversation back in November, I had a hard time getting this follow up discussion out of my head. She was almost encouraging me to try more girl things, and certainly at the minimum, she had no hesitation or did not see anything wrong with me wanting to experiment. After that exchange I sort of accepted the new pieces as part of my everyday wardrobe. Nothing screamed girl, and when I previously wore them I had enjoyed the new look and remembered feeling stylish in them.

As before, I did not receive any immediate follow up comments from her on the subject. She did not mention a followup shopping excursion and basically left it to rest. About a month later I did get some new Jeans, khakis, T-Shirts and a summer sweater. This time I was quick to look at the labels and saw they were mostly from The Limited and The Gap. I checked them out to make sure they were not too unusual and put them with the rest of my clothes.

The jeans felt a little snug and had a squiggly pattern on the back pocket, while the off-white sweater was a little longer and softer than any of my other tops. I knew I probably should not have been so quick to accept the new items, but I thought my mother probably put great effort into purchasing them for me. The only time I was aware that the clothing might have sent out the wrong signal was at an assembly at school. I noticed a girl sitting two rows in front of me wearing the exact same white and grey striped cotton T-Shirt. Her rounded chest gave it a much different emphasis and the top was clearly designed for her shape. I was nervous throughout the pep rally, until I could put some extra space between us. I thought it looked very nice on her and later at home whiling looking in the mirror, I felt a little deflated how relatively boring it looked on me.

Chapter 5

The school term was nearly over and Memorial Day had arrived. Much like Thanksgiving this was a major family gathering. The weather was cooperating so my cousin’s back yard BBQ would include a healthy dash of sunshine. It was almost exactly the midpoint between Thanksgivings.

It had also been nearly two months since our last discussion about my foray into her Holiday dress. During that time I periodically reminisced about wearing the dress and how it made me feel. I didn’t want to seem too anxious, but the idea of slipping it on again had grown intense. While Memorial Day was also loaded with family traditions, there was no magical dress to contemplate.

While I was helping my mother make an apple pie for the festivities we began an unexpected discussion almost out of the blue.

“Ash, I had thought about waiting a little longer to have this conversation, but school is nearly out and your hair has gotten very long. It’s been over a year since you had relatively average length hair and now it must be at least 8-9 inches in most places. You last saw Lulu about 10 weeks ago and we probably should get you back to the salon soon. I warned your father about saying anything about it to you, but it really is quite long now.”

"I know Mom. Most of the time I need to wear a rubber band in the back so it does not blow in my face. I guess you want me to get it cut.”

"Is that what you want?"

"Weren't you just saying it's too long?”

"It is long, but you do have very beautiful hair."

"Thanks, I think. So what's the issue?"

"I know it's only Memorial Day, but I just want you to consider an idea about Thanksgiving."

I quickly sensed the nature of where that she was going with this.

"And?"

"I think we have two choices now. Next week I can take you to LuLu and we can trim your hair back to a more manageable summer length or we can let it grow."

“I’m confused.”

"We have not really had a meaningful follow up talk about last Thanksgiving’s secret adventure, but I think this is a good time to bring it up again. If as I suspect you want to explore that experience again, but this time with me, I have a proposal."

She knew I still had that bug in me even if I was not ready to fully admit it to her.

"Mom, I haven't really decided for sure about that. What are you suggesting?"

"It's pretty simple, but I want you to make a decision."

"Why now?"

"My proposal is that you continue to grow your hair until after Thanksgiving. Early that week when school is on break, but before our big gathering, we will have some fun and dress you up so that you look your absolute best in that dress. Instead of just slipping it on and off, we will make you appear as perfect as we can in the dress. Maybe even take a photo so you can compare it to how I looked when I first wore it.”

"Are you serious? You want to completely dress me up?”

"Honey, I think it is something we both would enjoy and have fun with. I know it has to be something you have at least wondered about."

“Truthfully, it crossed my mind a couple of times. I figured I would probably look ridiculous and besides theirs dad and my brothers? My hair is so long now, what would they think?”

"I'll handle the family if this is something you want to do. We will make sure your hair is professionally taken care of and I will work on all of the other details. You just have to decide if you really want this and I will work out the plan and preparations and bring your little fantasy to life."

"It seems you have thought about this too. Is this such a good idea?"

"I'd be lying if I didn't think it would be fun. You know how much I love you, but having some daughter fun with you sounds very appealing, but only if you want to do it. This has to be something that you really want.”

"Why are you bringing it up now?"

"Nothing specific, but I wanted you to have some time to let last year’s experience sink in and with your hair getting so long, it just seemed like the right time to discuss it."

"Thanksgiving is still about six months away and my hair is already past my shoulders. It's longer than a lot of the girls at school."

"If you want to do this, we will need to take extra special care of it. Longer hair looks terrible if it is not well maintained. LuLu will still need to give you a trim next week, but with six months more growth the possibilities will be almost endless. I am sure you already have nicer hair than many of those girls at school."

"Gosh mom, what you're suggesting sounds a lot more than just trying on a dress on a lark."

"It is, but if you really want to know how wearing something so beautiful feels and looks, I think putting your best effort into it would be worth it. You have been wearing the nicer clothing that I picked out for you this spring with no reservations and I think your experience last year just piqued your interest."

"It's just a lot more involved than I was been occasionally contemplating."

"At least you were still thinking about it. My guess is this anticipation will continue to grow on you."

"I know my brothers are out of the house most of the time, but what about Dad? Will he really just let me grow my hair even more? He already had made some goofy comments about it."

"I will manage your Brothers, your Father and if necessary anyone else including your cousins. Growing your hair extra long and exploring some fun with your mother is perfectly okay if it is something you want to do and we do it appropriately."

"It’s just hard to justify planning something so elaborate."

"I think after you let this idea sink into your imagination, you will put any lingering reservations to bed. If you decide against trying it, you probably will regret the missed opportunity down the road. Also, in 2 to 3 years it might be more difficult to make you look like a lovely debutant.”

"A what?"

"Debutante. I'm just saying at this stage in your life you have a great deal of potential to look ravishing."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"So I need to decide now?"

"We'll not this very moment, but by the end of the Memorial Day weekend. After the barbecue would be fine. I will make an appointment with Lulu and depending on your decision she will cut either a little or a lot."

"Alright, I will think about it."

"Let's finish making the pie. I will anxiously await to hear if you have chosen to be Ash or Ashley for Thanksgiving.”

I smiled at her comment, but did not say anything. I knew that my parents named me Ashton, but they had planned to call me Ashley if they had found out a daughter had been on the way. Hearing her say that name was one more piece of evidence that she was very serious about this idea.

I had already pretty much decided long ago that I wanted another opportunity to try on the dress, I didn't want to appear too determined, but now my mother had dramatically up the ante. The concept of going all out and adding elements beyond just the dress was more than I had expected, but also sounded like quite a rush. It made me question in my heart why the dress had such a pull to me.

That dress in my mind represented the ultimate in female beauty and having seen it on my mother so many times it was my favorite way to think about my mother.

I loved my whole family, but I always idolized my mother and felt my personality and her’s were most aligned. I did not specifically wish I was just like her, but at least subconsciously I knew I did want to emulate her to a degree. Dressing completely like her was beyond any game plan I had considered, but the concept of doing that if even for a brief mother-daughter encounter had great appeal.

She somehow knew how I felt and her encouragement tended to remove my last inhibitions. I think verbally admitting my acceptance was just a mental hurdle and was probably already anticipated by my mother.

I didn't wait until the end of the weekend to give my blessing. In the kitchen Sunday morning when we were alone, I told her that I would like to try being Ashley when I put the dress back on.

My timing caught her a little by surprise, though she was clearly happy by my declaration. The smile that radiated in my direction confirmed to me I had made the right choice.

"This is going to be so much fun. We have six months to get you ready and prepare.”

"You mean grow my hair?"

"Well of course that, but we need to get you a few other things you will need and get you mentally ready."

"Like what Mom?"

"That's why it will be so much fun. You have no idea what is involved to be a beautiful woman. You don't just put a dress on and say look at me. There are so many little things necessary to looking your best. You'll need preparation from head to toe and in between your ears. I'll be your guide and you just have to just pay attention and follow my lead.

"I guess that shouldn't be too hard, But it is still a long way off."

"That's true, some big things will have to wait, but along the way I will provide you with my coaching and insight. We'll probably be doing more things and spending more time together if that is okay with you?

"Sure mom. As long as it doesn't interfere with summer school."

"I'll try to do it gradually and it should all be easy for you. In the end we'll make your transformation totally worth all of the effort.”

By Nina Adams

Please read Part 1 & 2 first----

Author's note: Most of my stories have been about gifted teens that found their calling after after getting the proverbial push. While I have received occasional criticism (mostly warranted) by readers that felt my reluctant heroines had been cruelly forced, I always found myself fantasizing that this lad/lass had been me. Unfortunately, these stories have been 100% fiction. The dribble that begins below is also mostly fiction, however it is to a small degree 'based' upon my childhood. I will leave it to your imagination to know where fact and fiction leave off. If I haven't already lost you, I hope you enjoy "The New Tradition."

Please, please, please comment or let me know if you like it.
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Chapter 6

I was both excited and nervous about having committed to letting my mother fully dress me up as a woman. I knew our little playtime agreement was out of the ordinary, but having the opportunity to experience the thrill of looking pretty was a bug I could not shake. I could not understand why I wanted to look pretty or why my mother thought it was a good thing for me to do. My brothers were successful in everything they did, but the challenge to try and look beautiful would be an alien concept to them. I guess in my heart I felt looking pretty like my mother was something that would be unique and a special personal activity just for me.

My biggest fear was making a fool of myself. I knew my mother would help make the experience wonderful, but I was still scared that others would laugh at me if or when they learned of the plan. It was going to be hard for my other family members not to know. My long hair was already a center of distraction. Mom said she would handle that, so I just hoped that she would know the best way to deal with them. I certainly did not want to pronounce to the world that I wanted to dress up as a girl. It sounded even stranger when I thought about it that way.

Later that morning when we were getting ready to go over to my Aunt's house for the picnic BBQ my mother gave me some additional new clothes. It was going to be an unusually warm Memorial Day and she told be that I might me more comfortable in the shorts she had just purchased. The new white shorts were very thin cotton and the legs were much shorter than any of my other pairs. They were very lightweight and had no pockets in the back. Along with the shorts was a rust colored T-Shirt with a squared neckline and a new pair of sandals. The sandals had a corked bottom with one wide leather strap over the top and a strap to wrap around my heel.

I looked at them curiously until my mother asked me to go try them on. I was not surprised that everything fit, but the style was more feminine than the previous Limited items I had worn. The T-shirt was fairly long and covered the majority of the shorts. I paraded around in the new clothes for mom in the kitchen.

"Turn around for me."

"I did as she requested and waited for her comment."

"Wait there for a moment dear."

A minute later she returned with a plastic packet of something also white.

"Ash, these are new jockey underwear that will look much better under the shorts than the lumpy style you are currently wearing. The edges are smoother and they will not be as noticeable under your new shorts."

I took one of the three pairs that were in the pouch and looked it over. I knew immediately that these were not like any of my Jockey briefs and I presumed they were girl's briefs.

"Mom, are you kidding me? These are girl's panties."

"You wear them underneath your clothes. Are you already going to complain about wearing things no one will see? You need to loosen up and get comfortable with insignificant changes before you are ready for anything more meaningful. I thought we had an understanding."

"I was just surprised."

"Please go put them on, Ok?"

"Fine, I guess so long as the are not obvious it's no big deal."

I pulled them up my legs and immediately got aroused. I pulled the shorts over them and looked my self over. The briefs were not really noticeable, but the overall look was far from masculine. With my long hair and the androgynous clothing selection, I was beginning to push the fashion envelope in a mildly uncomfortable direction.

When I returned for inspection, my mother was clearly pleased. You look very nice. Now was that hard?"

I didn't answer, but she knew I felt a little different dressed like this. As we prepared to leave to drive across town she took out her brush and worked on my hair. Before she finished, she brushed the right side back behind my ear and slipped in a black metal Bobbie pin to hold it in place.

"No one will see the pin in your dark hair and this way you will be able to see where you are going."

I could make-out my reflection in the window, which confirmed it was one additional feminine detail. I was preparing to say something, but she spoke first.

"You look perfect for a picnic and this will be an opportunity for me to see if you are serious about learning what will be ahead."

I knew if I complained she would be disappointed. I wanted her to be happy with me, and even though I felt a bit strange, I didn't want to seem ungrateful.

As we were about to get in the car my oldest brother David told me I looked very nice in my new clothes. It was not so much what he said, as the fact that he acknowledged my new style and complimented me. I never recalled him ever saying anything about how I looked before.

The BBQ was our typical wild family gathering with enough food to feed an army. When we first got there I did receive some mildly uncomfortable greetings, but my new look quickly became a non-issue. Most of the comments were along the line of cute, stylish, or fun. My oldest cousin called me a Fashionista, which I really didn't know what that meant. No one laughed at me or said anything to hurt my feelings. I knew I looked very androgynous, but I quickly just blended into the party.

I found myself helping my mother and Aunt more with the food and in the kitchen. My two High School aged cousins Rachel and Lori, also joined us and we sort of formed a culinary tag team. It was the first time I didn't participate in any of the sporting games or activities and spent most of the time trying to be helpful. My aunt even complimented me on how much she liked the way I was growing up. Even without having relaxed much at the picnic I managed to have a fun time.

The last week of school included a couple of final exams, but otherwise shot by quickly. I was happy to have a couple of weeks off before summer school would begin. I planned to take physics to get it out of the way and free up a period to take something more enjoyable in the fall term.

Over the weekend I was told I had an upcoming appointment with Lulu for my trim. With each extra inch of growth I had become more attached to my hair. I was beginning to understand why some girls had hair all the way down their back. I didn't want hair that long, but I did like the way my thick hair was getting longer. Getting it trimmed was inevitable but I was happy that it would still be relatively long.

On Tuesday morning I learned of some additional tweaks to my summer appearance. The morning began with my mother handing me a Pink Venus disposable razor. I did not shave as yet, but my mother explained to me that she wanted me to remove any fuzz on body. I only had a few very light patches and the hair on my legs that was nearly invisible. When I asked why it was necessary, she just said that it was a good time for me to feel what it’s like to be perfectly smooth all over. She helped me get started and showed me how to properly do it. Despite having almost no hair, it still took me a long time and I nicked myself twice.

After completing the task, I went to get dressed and discovered that all of my old underwear had been replaced. The new ones were similar to the ones I wore on Memorial Day. The new additions were not all white and came in various pastel shades. Upon inquiry, I was told that they looked better with my new summer clothes. I selected a white pair and pulled them on.

On my bed was yet another new pair of shorts and matching top. There was nothing unusual about either, but they were a matching set. Both had a soft multi-coloring that looked similar to tie-dye, but more uniformed. Individually I could see wearing the items with no problem, but I never wore matching shorts and t-shirt together before. I was told to hurry as our salon appointments were nearing. Having dressed somewhat androgynously for Memorial Day, I was not quite as nervous looking a bit feminine again. I would never have worn this to school, but knowing it was summer, I just complied and got ready. Little by little I was pealing away any lingering resistance and accepting my mother's encouragement.

Inside the salon I felt even more conspicuous than the last time I had an appointment with Lulu. Now I was dressed much more androgynously and had ambiguously long hair that was creeping down my back. I certainly did not look like a typical boy going for a haircut. Lulu was also more enthusiastic when she greeted me.

"Ash, I love how wonderful your hair is coming in. You look scrumptious."

"Thanks Lulu. I like it too, except when it's in my eyes."

"Most boys never get to learn how to handle that problem, but the solutions can be part of the fun. Before long, I am sure you will get used that and become a pro at the various options."

"So Mom says you should just trim it again. She likes it long."

"So it's your Mom that likes it long... somehow I think she is not alone."

"Yeah, I am getting to like it too. However, this is a first for me."

"Well looking at you, it appears you are adjusting nicely."

"Mom wants me to have more style. I am just going along."

"I'll do my best to make you both happy. Today I am not going to take that much off. I will do a little layering to give you more body and trim a few hairs in front to give you some fringe bangs across the front. That might help a little with your eyes. It certainly will give you more style than you have now. First I need to wash and condition you again."

"I'm in your hands."

After washing and conditioning my hair, but before she beginning my trim, Lulu spent some time plucking my eyebrows. When I complained of the discomfort she merely said that to be stylish and to blend with longer hair it will look better if I have better groomed brows.

The whole hair and eye treatment took about an hour. When I finally got to see the finished look, I was shocked. Whereas, I came in as an androgynously dressed boy with long hair, my new look was much more girl. My hair was not only long now; it was styled like one of the girls in the hair magazines. The bangs were definitely not boyish. As I turned my head, the layered hair bounced around my neck. From any angle the new cut looked pretty. My eyebrows were also styled in a feminine way. They were tapered with an obvious peak over my eyeballs.

I looked totally different with bangs and layered hair

My initial shock drifted into a momentary queasiness. In the past I was able to pass off my long hair as a form rebellion, but now the impression would be much different. The style was not an overtly feminine cut, but much too sculpted for a teenage boy, especially one dressed as I was. It would be very easy for someone to confuse me for a girl. In my mind I knew my long-term objective was to experience being a girl, but months ahead of schedule I was already pushing the envelope.

“LuLu, I don’t look like me anymore. No boy has hair like this.”

“What were you expecting? How many boys have hair as long as yours? I just trimmed it and gave you bangs. I think you look wonderful.”

“It’s just how should I say this, but kind of girlish.”

“You have long beautiful hair, so in that respect I would say yes. It’s not that much different than before. You can still look butch if you pull it back, but in my opinion that would be a waste. The layering helps bring out your handsome yet delicate features. I certainly can see more of your mother in your face now."

Almost on cue, my mother re-appeared. “God, I wish my hair was still as thick and beautiful as yours. Don’t you love it?”

“Mom, it looks very nice, but its so…”

“Ash, it’s summer and you look stylish. Are you having second thoughts about growing your hair? I think it looks attractive on you.”

“Really? You don’t think it looks too feminine?”

“How much is too feminine? I think it is a nice look for summer. You can look like a boy with long hair or if you like you now have the potential to be more adventurous. I don’t think you are quite ready for that, but we have summer to work on it. When regular school begins again in the fall you will not have as much freedom to experiment.”

“I am going to summer school in two weeks. I don’t want to look weird there either.”

“Honey, I would hardly call how you look weird. You look very groomed and stylish, besides summer school is not even at your regular High School. You are only taking one class and I bet you will hardly know anyone at Glenbrook. Relax and enjoy it.”

“I am just a little surprised by how I look. The cut is nice, but I am not used to looking so different.”

“You will get used to it quick and I suspect it will help make your summer a fantastic one.”

“We’ll see, but Dad’s going to go ballistic.”

“I doubt that, remember I told you I would handle that issue.”

“If you say so.”

Chapter 7

I didn’t see my father until we sat down for dinner. I could tell he was looking me over, but he held back saying anything until we were all at the table. My brother Paul, who was home from school, just smiled when he saw me.

Dad finally broke the heavy silence. “How are you adjusting to your summer adventure?”

“What Dad?”

“You know what I am talking about. I have to admit, I think your hair turned out very nice.”

It was obvious that both my father and brother knew more than I was previously aware about the growing out of my hair and possibly even my Thanksgiving agreement with Mom. Instead of criticizing my extra long style they both were totally accepting and complimentary. I didn’t know whether to get mad at Mom or to be grateful that I was not receiving grief. For at least the moment I elected to not fight it.

“It’s LuLu’s handiwork and I guess it looks pretty good.”

“As long as you are happy with it, then we are too.”

“Really?”

“Son, I have always been proud of all of my boys. Each of you is different in your own way and it is very important that you figure out what makes you happy. If growing your hair and exploring some new activities is important to you, then I don’t think there is anything wrong with it. I have always supported David and Paul in their activities and education, so I plan to do the same with you. I don’t expect you to be a clone of anybody.”

“Thanks Dad, I was a little nervous that you would not be thrilled with my hair still remaining long.”

“If one of your brothers came home from school or work with super long hair, I think I might not like that. Each of you is unique and at this time I think allowing you to grow your hair is perfectly fine and maybe even necessary. Your hair does remind me of your mother’s when we met.

“Mom had said almost the same thing. I’ll have to look for some of her older photos later. Paul, you haven’t said much.”

“I’m Ok with it. You have changed a lot since I went off to college, but if this is something you really want, then that’s cool. Your hair looks pretty amazing.”

“This longer style is a new thing for me too and I am going through some mental adjustments. I am going to have to learn quick how much I like it. I appreciate that no one has laughed at me. Thanks”

It took me a few days to get used to my new hair. My mother showed me how to care for it and I had to wash it and brush it every evening. Beyond that, the next few days passed uneventfully. Each day I got more comfortable with my bouncy hair and my initial anxiety gradually dissipated.

On Saturday I went over to my aunt's house to spend some time with my cousins and help my Aunt pack up some household items for charity. It didn't take very long for me to box up the books, clothes, and miscellaneous items and stack them in the garage. My mother was not planning to pick me up until around dinner and I still had over three hours to kill with my cousins Sarah and Lori.

I was sitting with Sarah on the deck when Lori snuck up from behind with her best friend and neighbor Lilly. Sarah could see them coming up behind me, but they nearly scared me to death when they grabbed me from behind. I let out a high-pitched squeal.

"Lilly this is my cousin Ash. He's the one I told you about. Isn't he precious?"

"Hi Ash. Your cousin was just boasting about you. I can't believe we haven't met before or at school."

I recognized Lilly from school. She was probably one of the prettiest girls at the High School and extremely popular.

"I'm not surprised senior girls rarely hang with sophomore boys."

"True, but at least we have met now. You're even cuter than Lori told me. I adore your hair it's so beautiful."

Thanks Lilly, since it's summer I thought I would leave it long."

"Good choice, you should never cut it. It looks great on you."

"I appreciate that. What are you two up to?"

Lori cut back into the conversation." We been over at Lilly's place and wondered if Sarah and you wanted to join us."

"And do what?"

"Lilly's mom has made some sun-tea and it's brewing by the pool. We thought it would be fun if we all went over there and had a little pool party. The weather doesn't get much better than this."

"I'm in!" Sarah was first to acknowledge.

"We are obviously in." Lori added for Lilly and herself.

"I'd love to join you all, but I didn't bring a bathing suit. I'll just hang back here and watch the Cubs game."

Sarah put her arm around my shoulder and said." I'm sure we have an extra bathing suit in the house that you can wear."

"Alright, a little pool time with three cute girls sounds like fun."

Lilly smiled at me before saying," I'll call my mom and let her know we will be there in about 15 minutes. I already have a swimsuit on under my sundress."

"Okay, find me some trunks that won't look ridiculous on me. They better not have rubber ducky’s or SpongeBob on them."

"We'll go and put on our suits and dig around and find you a nice one." Sarah giggled.

A few minutes later my cousins emerge from their room dressed in revealing bikinis. They were also wearing wraparound sarongs that covered much of their legs. My eyes dilated looking at their enticing images.

I was distracted by their beauty and did not immediately notice what Lori was holding with her right arm. She was caring a small stack of clothing.

"Well Ash after you close your mouth and stop gaping at us we can see which of these swimsuits fits. I have one of my father suits and a couple of mine."

"Your suits! No way."

"Well you're a lot closer to my size than your Uncle's. He probably outweighs you by 50 to 75 pounds. We can see if his works first."

"I am sure I can get by in his trunks. I will just tie them up extra tight."

"Here, go put these on then."

In the bathroom I undressed and then pulled up my uncle’s bathing suit. They were huge and hung down below my knees. Worse yet they were so big that even drawing the string tight hardly helped to keep them in place. I looked like a circus clown in these oversize red trunks. I stepped out of the bathroom and the girls began to laugh in unison.

Lori was the first to stop laughing and speak." No way I'm swimming with someone dressed like that."

"Yeah sis, he looks pretty ridiculous. Let him try one of the other suits. They have to be an improvement."

"You want blue or fuchsia?"

"I don't want either? I'm not wearing a girl's suit."

"Just humor us. What difference does it make, we are going to be in Lilly's backyard."

"I'll know it’s her backyard, but unless you all have been smoking something you know I'm not built for a girls bathing suit."

"Ash, they're both one piece so it shouldn't be difficult to fit in one of them."

"Come on, are you serious? You just want to keep laughing at me."

"If you try on one of these suits we promise not to laugh."

Lori and Lilly shook their heads in agreement.

"Okay, but if I look really stupid I'm going to just stay here and watch the game."

"Agreed, just keep an open mind. So is it blue or fuchsia?"

"I'll stick with the blue."

Lilly added, "Good choice, because that color matches your eyes."

I was so infatuated with Lilly that she managed to get my mind off the craziness I was participating in.

Back in the bathroom I swapped into the blue bathing suit. I was reluctant to leave the bathroom. It was a formfitting halter styled suit that had built-in padded cups and exposed most of my back. My image scared me because with the obvious artificial cleavage and my thin frame, I looked pretty good in the suit. I had to admit it fit much better than my Uncle's trunks, but with my long hair I now looked like one of the girls.

The only visual tell, was a small bulge were a girl should not have one. The bump looked very out of place in the mirror so I tucked my boy thing under between my legs. The tightness of the bathing suit did a pretty good job of holding my only manly characteristic in hiding. It was a little uncomfortable, but my appearance no longer had an obvious inconsistency so after regaining my composure I slowly made my way back to the girls.

No one was laughing. They all had huge grins on their face and we're clearly please by my humiliation.

Lori gave me a big hug to try and relieve my discomfort. "Isn't this much better? That suit fits you 100% better."

"Lori, I know, but it looks too perfect, I look like a girl now."

"Nothing wrong with that. We're just going to swim and besides I think you look cute."

"God. This is so embarrassing"

Lilly came up to me and gave me a quick peck on my cheek." This afternoon will you be my girlfriend?"

I probably would've done anything Lilly said, but I quickly warmed to her attention, "I'd be your girlfriend anytime." It was probably a really stupid thing to say, but she had an undeniable spell over me.

Lori broke my trance, "Let's go swimming."

I hesitated briefly before saying. "What if someone sees me?"

Lilly looked me straight in the eye, “Remember you are my girlfriend and that's all anyone would see."

Sarah countered, "Let's remove any doubt. Let me touch her up with a little makeup."

"That's a good idea." Shot back Lori.

I had gone this far so I didn't resist and I let her touch up my face. A few minutes later I was adorned with waterproof eyeliner, mascara, and lipstick. When I first saw Sarah's handiwork I was oddly grateful that I looked so authentic. At this point there was no turning back. Lilly gave me a pair of pink flip-flops and a terrycloth wraparound skirt. I held her hand as we walked over to her house, which was only two doors down. I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins.

The first thing we did was go for a quick dip and then we followed that up with some iced tea. After my initial trepidation had passed I found myself beginning to mimic the girls. What they did I did. With my altered appearance looking being so completely feminine, it did not make sense for me to not act the part. The girls even gave me tips on how to handle my wet hair and added a few pointers on posture and attitude. They were clearly having fun with me, but in no way made me feel like a joke.

For the next hour or so we all just lounged on deck chairs and basked in the warm sun. The conversation was minimal, but I was bonding with my cousins like never before. As I stole a glance of the pretty girls I wondered what someone would think if they saw me relaxing by the pool. I never had vain thoughts like that before, but now dressed in a skimpy bathing suit, I strangely wondered if I looked nice.

A short while later, my daydreaming was jarred by the rumble of visitors. My heart skipped a beat when two male friends of Lilly's entered our quiet pool party. I did not recognize them, but my cousins knew who they were. I quickly learned that they were college freshman home for the summer. They had graduated from our High School the year before and one of them had even taken Lilly to the prom last year.

I was the only one that didn't immediately jump up to greet them. While the girl's were reacquainting themselves with their friends I tried to figure out my exit strategy. I didn't know whether to dash away or just try and muddle through the situation. Sarah ultimately made the decision for me.

"Matt and Aaron, I'd like you to meet my cousin Ashley."

I was almost frozen with fear. The guys were giving me the once over and standing almost within arms reach. Both were looking straight at me and clearly presumed I was a girl. It took me a few seconds to regain my fragile composure, before I weakly muttered Hi.

Matt took the lead in getting the scoop on me. His flirtatious inquiries were more than just a polite greeting.

With his eyes drilling into mine, Matt commented, "It's amazing how all the prettiest girls always seem to hang out together."

All I could muster was a small smile. I appreciated the compliment, but fumbled for an appropriate comeback. My silence did not deter him from further one-liners.

"How is it that we have not met before? I certainly would have remembered meeting you."

Sarah spoke for me as she could easily sense my distress. "You both met Ashley early last year at the high school. She was a lowly freshman then and had shorter hair. She's sort of a late bloomer."

"Sorry I didn't recognize you Ashley. I won't forget you now, I promise."

"Thanks Matt. It's Ok, I just stopped by for a dip in the pool."

"Same with Aaron and me. Hopefully we will get to see a lot more of you over the summer."

"I don't know. This is the first time I have swam over here."

"Well if it's not here, then we will have to get together somewhere else."

Sarah cut him off. "Let's just all go for a swim. Matt, stop being such a dog."

The next 45 minutes or so was a blur. We all spent time together in the pool and talked mostly about college life. Lilly and Sarah were both going off to college in the fall and ready to move on from High School. I gradually became more relaxed, but still kept my conversation to a minimum. Both guys were very friendly towards me, but Matt's attention to me was clearly greater. I wondered at first if he suspected anything, but in the pool he picked me up a couple of times in a playful way. He was treating me like a girl and more than a little friendly towards me.

My mother was due to pick me up in about a half hour so I politely said I had to leave. Lori and Sarah also said their goodbyes and we dried ourselves off before preparing to depart. Matt, Aaron and Lilly also exited the pool. Just before leaving Matt put his hand softly onto the edge of my shoulder before saying, "I certainly hope we get to see more of you this summer. It was really nice meeting you."

All I could say was, "It was nice meeting you too. It's a long summer, you never know."

On the way back to my cousin’s house the girls could not help smiling at me. Lori said "I was sort of hoping to hook up with Matt this summer, but I guess he has other ideas. You made quite an impression Ashley."

"It's Ash. I can't believe what just happened. I should never have gone swimming like this."

"Admit it. You had fun. Ashley is a real attention getter."

"This was supposed to be a secret thing because I did not have a swim suit. I need to get back to your house and get out of this gig before my Mom picks me up."

"That's too bad. Lori and I enjoyed having Ashley around more than Ash. She's welcome anytime."

"That may be, but I am Ash, so get over it."

As we entered the back sliding door at my cousin’s house I found myself standing in front of my Aunt and Mother drinking coffee. As if I had not been through enough, once again I had explaining to do.

"Well look at you.” My Mother said as she realized I was wearing makeup and a girls bathing suit.

"I can explain." as I said those words I realized I really couldn't.

Sarah saved me. "It was our idea because we wanted to go for a quick swim and Ashley, I mean Ash, didn't have a suit. We talked him into it. I hope you are not mad."

"No not at all. Just a little surprised. 'Ashley' come a little closer so I can have a better look."

Her use of Ashley was very obvious. I shuffled over to her as she took in my transformation.

"You look very nice in that suit. You may have gone over for a quick swim, but I am guessing that's not what you did."

I got concerned that she knew more than what she could see. Possibly even, that the two guys had joined us.

"What do you mean Mom?"

"From your strong tan lines, its obvious your swim was not a quick one. Those lines are here to stay."

I had not thought about that. I was now adorned with tan lines that would be impossible to explain away in normal swim trunks.

"My God Mom. What am I going to do?"

"Honey I'm not sure. You really should have put on extra strong sunblock. What's done is done. You will not be able to swim in just swim trunks until the lines fade."

"I'm sorry. I'll go and change now."

"That's ok dear. Why don't you wait until you get home? You can shower at home and get all the chlorine off."

"I can't go home in a bathing suit."

Lori quickly ran down the hall and grabbed one of her sundresses. "Here, you can wear this as a cover-up."

My Aunt thanked Lori for sharing her dress. "Ashley, you are about the same size as your cousins so I am sure that her clothes should fit fine."

"Thanks Aunty, but wearing Lori's dress home was not what I was thinking."

"Nonsense." my mother interjected. "Thank your cousin and please slip that on. At this point I see no point in you arguing about it."

I mouthed a weak thank you to Lori and awkwardly slid the dress over my head.

"Now that wasn't too difficult was it? It looks nice on you."

"Lets go Mom. I have had enough excitement for one day."

With that we were off.

By Nina Adams

Please read Part 1, 2 & 3 first----

Author's note: Most of my stories have been about gifted teens that found their calling after after getting the proverbial push. While I have received occasional criticism (mostly warranted) by readers that felt my reluctant heroines had been cruelly forced, I always found myself fantasizing that this lad/lass had been me. Unfortunately, these stories have been 100% fiction. The dribble that begins below is also mostly fiction, however it is to a small degree 'based' upon my childhood. I will leave it to your imagination to know where fact and fiction leave off. If I haven't already lost you, I hope you enjoy "The New Tradition."

Please, please, please comment or let me know if you like it.
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Chapter 8:

I was exhausted from all of the sun and emotional gymnastics. I hardly said a word on the brief ride home. I was anxious to get changed and put an end to my bizarre adventure. Before I could exit the car my mother insisted that I help her in the kitchen with dinner. I began to object, but she pointed out that I would need help taking off the makeup and that she would not have time until after dinner. I was doomed for some additional time parading around as Ashley. Worse yet, my father would be eating with us at dinner.

In the kitchen my mother began a conversation or should I say lecture on my dressing activity.

"Ash, as we discussed before, I never had a problem with you exploring a little fun and experiencing some feminine pleasures. In fact, we both agreed this would be a special project for us together. I am just surprised that you have jumped the gun and put yourself in such a vulnerable position. What would you have done if some strangers had found you? You need to be prepared and ready for any circumstances."

I felt a lump in my throat as I remembered the encounters with Aaron and Matt. I was too shaken to share that fact with my mother based upon her tenor.

"I'm sorry Mom. None of it was planned and the girls kind of talked me into it."

"I'm sure that was not too hard."

It was the first time my mother ever referred to my unusual feelings in such a blunt way. She was probably right that most kids would not have gone along so easily, but I also didn't feel I had sought out the turn of events.

"It just happened... I guess it was not a great idea. I won't let them talk me into this again. OK?"

"That's not it. I am fine with you enjoying your Ashley side, but there is so much more to being a girl than just putting on something pretty. You certainly look very cute right now, but I don't think you were ready for today's events. I planned to help you learn some of your missing knowledge and skills over the summer, but I was a bit shocked that you moved ahead so aggressively with out consulting me. Now you have obvious tan lines and your cousin's family will undoubtedly have a new mental perception of you with your long hair."

"Should I cut it?"

"Of course not. I think just the opposite. I am going to have to accelerate your feminine education and indoctrination so should you find yourself in a similar position you know how to act and be completely convincing. The wrong little cues and inappropriate behavior could quickly put you in a very embarrassing position."

"Feminine education and indoctrination? This was just so I could wear your Holiday Dress for fun."

"You wanted to feel like a beautiful woman in that dress, correct?"

"Yah, but..."

"To do that you have to understand what being a woman is... To be a woman is more than a matter of physical characteristics, it is a matter of gender. I can't snap my fingers and change your body, but your emerging gender expression can be developed so that when the you finally wear your dream dress, the feelings you experience are totally maximized."

"Wow. That's a lot to process. You want me to think like a girl?"

"Ash, I just want to help you bring out that part of you which is already there. Together we can explore why wearing my dress has appeal to you. Maybe by the end of summer you will not want to continue with our November endgame, but this is the best time to find out."

"I sort of get it, but as I said before, what about Dad?"

"I have already talked with him about your wishes and that is why he stopped complaining about your hair. When he sees you in a few minutes looking appearing as you are now, I think your remaining fear will be mute issue."

"Where is he now? Are you sure I should let him see me like this?"

"He should be home from golfing shortly. This moment was going to happen at some point. I originally thought it would be much at some later point over the summer, but it's probably a good thing to do now. This way everything will be out in the open."

"Mom, how did this ever get so far? This is all because I tried on your dress in secret. It all seems to be spinning out of control. I'm assisting you in the kitchen dressed like your daughter, not son, and waiting to greet my father. Is there something really wrong with me?"

"Don't think like that. Think of what you are doing as something special. Many people wonder what it would be like to be the opposite gender and you are lucky enough to be able to experience it. It's not a sickness; rather it is more a self-discovery. You may just out grow it or you may find spending time as Ashley as comforting. From this time forward when you present as a girl, we will refer to you as Ashley."

"That's fine. If I do something like this again, you can call me whatever you like."

Our conversation was interrupted by my sweaty father's return. He immediately headed for the kitchen to retrieve a cold beverage. While he may have been thoroughly prepped for my Thanksgiving plan, it was clear he was startled by my appearance. He almost forgot what he came into the kitchen for.

"Oh my, what have we got here? Ash, you look so... real."

"I can explain..."

"Not necessary. If you want to talk, I'm here. I already discussed this with your mother. I was just caught a little off-guard seeing you this way for the first time. You are looking more and more like your mother every day."

I had to smile at that comment, since of course he had never before seen me with makeup or in a dress.

"Really Dad. I kind of think I look more like you."

Now we were both smiling.

"So asking what you did today would be a very stupid question."

"Lets just say it was eventful."

"Fair enough Ash."

"Frank, try and call our child Ashley when she looks like this. You can use Ash or Ashton when you see your son."

"I'll do my best. Ashley, could you get me a glass of ice water. I am going to take a quick shower before we eat."

"Sure Dad."

Dinner went off without any additional hitches or twists. There were a few minor tips directed at me by Mom, but otherwise no new lectures. She insisted that I sit with better posture and with my legs together. There was a perceptible shift to how she was treating me, but I loved the extra attention from her.

After dinner she gave me a quick lesson on how to remove makeup and then to moisturize. I was instructed to do the moisturizing ritual each night even if I was not wearing makeup. It would promote healthy skin and hygiene. She also had me rub aloe onto my light red tan. As I did so, I could not help but stare at the unmistakable tan lines that was a keepsake of my afternoon adventure.

My mind was racing with thoughts about what I had experienced as one of the girls and about having deceived the two guys. It had been almost too easy to fool Aaron and Matt and I was not sure how I felt about that. I contemplated my situation and apparent altered family dynamics as I drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 9

The next day passed as if nothing had happened on Tuesday. I wore an oversized t-shirt to cover over the tan lines, but even that did not completely hide the neckline strap marks. I expected some sort of follow up comments or remarks, but Wednesday passed without incident. I mostly hung out around the quiet house. My mother and aunt had lunch together and were gone most of the afternoon. I wanted to talk with my cousins again and get their take about the previous day activities, but I didn't know what to say. I wanted to know what they thought about my transformation, but they most certainly would have asked me questions that would be difficult for me to answer.

Thursday began much like Wednesday without a mention of Tuesday's activities. My week off before summer school that had started with such a bang had settled back into a typically boring routine. That was until my mother came back from my Aunt's house in the mid-afternoon. I immediately knew something was up when she yelled to me, "Ashley can you help me bring in some things from the car?"

I had not heard her call me that since Tuesday so I suspected something might be up. She had me bring carry in four boxes and two grocery bags full of items. She told me two put them in the guest room. That was the room that my brother David previously occupied when he still lived under our roof.

"What's all the stuff Mom?"

"It's a treasury trove."

"A what?"

"It's a magnificent collection of items from your cousin's and Aunt for Ashley."

"Collection of what?"

"You know how they have been sorting through their house and putting together things to donate?"

"Yeah, I helped on Tuesday."

"Well, after the events of Tuesday, they put together a giant care package for you. Some of it were things they had planned to originally donate, but quite a bit of it is additional items your cousins thought you would like."

"What do you mean after Tuesday and what is all this stuff?"

"You should be thrilled. You know your cousins are clotheshorses and most of this is almost new apparel of all types. Your cousins have provided you a nearly complete instant wardrobe. Some of it they don't wear anymore, but a lot of it is things your aunt said your cousins just wanted you to have. Your Aunt was so excited to finally have a niece to give things to, that they went a little overboard."

"I am not her niece!"

"You know what she meant. She really enjoyed putting these things together and thought you would so happy to get them."

"MOM, I don't need all these things. This is way out of hand."

"Now Ashley, your cousins put a lot of effort into all of this and besides I think having so many new choices will be a wonderful part of your summer learning experience. I am sure there are a lot of things in those boxes that you will love."

"What am I supposed to do with all these things?"

"You have a whole summer to figure that out. Tonight we will sort through everything and find a home for the keepers. There may be a few things that you don't need or want, but you are certainly on your way to being a very fashionable teen."

"Teen Girl you mean?"

"This is an a very special opportunity and don't try and pretend that you didn't want this."

"But, I only..."

"Let's not get into a ridiculous debate. This may be more than you originally bargained for, but ultimately you will have a once in a lifetime chance to truly experience what you have been feeling. I am not forcing you to do anything, but it's only us in this room. I know you better than anyone. Look me in the eye and tell me that you don't want to experience a dose of femininity. My sister and I would never push you into this if we didn't think you wanted it or that it would hurt you."

"Maybe, but I guess I am a bit scared. I liked how I felt in the dress, but I know I shouldn't have."

"Stop feeling guilty. There is nothing wrong with you and once you realize that it will be much more fun. You are not the only boy in the world to have those kinds of thoughts and it is healthier to deal with them now than to repress them for years. By the time the summer is over you will probably understand yourself much better. If it is really just a phase you will probably know before long."

"I know it is summer, but I still don't know what I am going to do with all of this stuff. On Monday I start my Summer School at Glenbrook."

"Ashley, I really don't see many limits for you this summer. I will help you explore as much of this side of you as reasonably possible. You will probably have a few emotional hills to climb, but you have already shown you are up to the challenge."

"But school."

"We can tone things down a bit for school, however it's probably not going to be an issue anyway. The class you are taking is not at your High School. You chose to take a subject they didn't offer at your school; as a result you will be in a completely different school district. I highly doubt anyone will even know you there. If you are a little gender ambiguous, no one will question it."

"Gender Ambiguous...you mean feminine."

"Call it what you like, but unlike my school days, there are few gender expressions that are taboo now in schools. As long as you dress within acceptable standards for a boy or girl, there should be no problems. I think that once you put your mild reluctance aside, you will have very few issues."

"So I am supposed to flip a switch and start living as Ashley?"

"You already flipped that switch. Maybe someday you will turn the switch off, but for the rest of the summer you are going to experience your dream."

"You are totally serious? You want me to be Ashley all summer?"

"We're just facilitating the opportunity. You are a special child and we just want you to be happy. Nothing is set in stone, so just try and let your heart dictate things for a while. You have a lot to learn and unlearn, but I think you will quickly adapt to the new perspective."

"What if I don't? I'm not sure I can do this."

"Nothing ventured...nothing lost. If down the road you are unhappy or unable to adjust, we can cut your hair and you can go back to being our loving son Ashton. The summer will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to find out how much Ashley there is in you. No expectations, just freedom to go all out for 2-3 months."

"Well if you are sure about this. I'm clueless what to do next."

"First we start by going through your treasure trove of gifts from your cousins and tomorrow we can go and fill in any gaps and take care of any other prep details that need to be addressed. It's going to be so much fun to help you blossom as I know you will."

Chapter 10

I spent over an hour trying on clothing, shoes, accessories and even some lingerie. There were very few things that we discarded. Most of them were because they fit poorly. The only lingerie that we kept was a couple of 'training bras' that fit snuggly and created almost no cleavage. My mother had me keep one of those on when we finished going through the clothing. She told me that one of our stops Friday would be to purchase for me my own properly fitting bras.

It was strange, but I liked the feeling of wearing the bra under my T-shirt. It was probably undetectable unless you were observant, but it definitely made me feel different. While I was trying on the new clothes my mother made the point that I had stop thinking of them as girl’s clothes, but rather as my clothes. The sooner I understood that distinction the sooner I would be comfortable being Ashley.

I assumed that Friday's agenda would include a continuation of the prior days activities and I was correct. We got an early start after a light breakfast. My mother had me dress casually in jeans, a black crepe tunic top, and a pair of clogs. She explained that it would be best to wear clothes that could be easy to take on and off. She insisted that I also wear panties and the training bra for our planned excursion. We hit our first stop shortly after the doors opened at 10:00.

Despite my resolve to totally cooperate and go with the flow, I was still a little nervous as we entered the lingerie chain Soma. While I always had a fascination with woman's intimates, this was really my first time in a store that sold only that type of merchandise. It certainly was not a common hangout for members of the male population.

There were two employees working in the store when we entered and my mother immediately asked if she was Ginger the manager. As it turned out we had a scheduled appointment with Ginger. My mother had apparently discussed my needs with the manager on the phone and she was prepped and more than willing to assist me. Before turning to my specific needs she gave us a quick tour of the store and the different styles and purposes of their many products. I am sure this was done for my education and not part of their typical service. I learned about some of the subtle differences between full coverage, push-up, minimizer, strapless, and t-shirt bras among others. I received some similar facts about panties and even shape-ware. All of this was explained before I was brought into the back fitting area and told to take off my top.

In the privacy of the back area Ginger measured my chest and body from various angles before declaring I was likely a size 34. She was very attentive and clearly had no issues with sizing up a boy for a bra.

"Now we just have to make certain we have the right size breast forms for your frame. Your mother wanted you to have an attractive shape, but also be respectfully modest. I believe you will look very nice with a 'B' cup. In time you might like to be a little bigger, but for now this should provide you with some obvious cleavage."

"Breast Forms? What breast forms?"

"Though it is not part of our traditional merchandise, after my phone discussion with your mother, we ordered these silicone inserts."

In her hand was a skin colored blob that was rounded just like an actual breast. When she handed it to me I immediately sensed the significant weight that would be resting on my chest. While I stared at the bizarre object she quickly stepped out and retrieved three different bras. As soon as she returned it was back to business and she took the form back from me.
The training bra was quickly replaced by a full coverage T-shirt bra. Ginger quickly inserted the 'B' size forms into the cups to create the illusion of cleavage.

"Now your lady, you have a much more appropriate shape for someone as pretty as you."

I could not get over the feeling I was experiencing in the changing room. The added weight on my chest along with the silky smooth but slightly constricting pull fascinated me. The edges of the forms were visible to me, but I was mesmerized by how my breasts had miraculously become sexy.

"I can't believe how different this bra makes me look."

"That's why we sell such beautiful lingerie. Now you have a lovely shape that matches you better."

"I am stunned that's me in the mirror."

"This style bra will be your safest bet unless you add a little adhesive to the breast forms. The coverage of this style looks natural and will hold everything in place. I have an adhesive bra called Nubra that I will show you a trick with to provide you the appearance of real breast. It will pull your natural tissue to the middle and with the inserts and one of our Demi Bras will give you the appearance of real cleavage. That will look great if you wear something with a more revealing neckline."

"I don't think that will be necessary."

"I am sure someone as pretty as you will want that flexibility if you are out on a date."

"Hold on! That's definitely not on the agenda."

"I'm just saying, that with a little shape, you are now going to be getting a lot of attention."

"Are we done? I am ready to go."

"I'll send your mother in to have a look."

To say my mother was pleased would be a big understatement. Just like Ginger, she couldn't stop telling me how much better I looked. She added that she would select some additional bras in different colors and coordinated panties.

I was prepared to take off the new figure enhancing Bra and the inserts, but she insisted that I wear the combination out of the store. My tunic top took on a decidedly more feminine appearance. There was little left of my image that did not scream girl and most of that had a short shelf life.

After paying for the selections, my mother left little doubt how she expected me to behave.

"Ashley, its time you completely embrace your budding womanhood. There is little point in maintaining or defending your masculinity. You are still the same person, but now you need to release the last vestiges of the boy inside. Everyone that sees you now will assume you are a young lady and you need to project that as well. You are a very pretty young woman and that is the roll you must accept. I know some of this will be awkward for a while, but please don't fight it. Let yourself fully experience what you have been dreaming about and later we can look back and figure out what this all means. For now just enjoy being my daughter. Are we clear?"

"I understand Mom. It's just that my head is spinning how quickly this whole thing escalated. One moment I am playing around and now it’s just become surreal. Next week you will probably have me walking down the isle in a long white dress."

"Ashley, don't get ahead of yourself. You are way too young for that."

"MOM! That was a joke."

"Honey, I may seem old to you, but I am not senile. I know it was a joke... but you probably would look lovely as a bride."

"I try my best, but that last concept is even too much for me to fathom. Ok, what now?"

"Next stop is the MAC counter at Nordstrom’s. You need a consultation and your own makeup. We can get a majority of the important things there. Being an attractive woman takes effort and you can only get so far with your natural gifts. At your age its easier, but even you can create amazing changes with the right skills and tools."

Unlike Soma, I was not introduced as a boy. Inside the cosmetic department I was just an inexperienced 15 year-old late blooming girl, learning the ropes of makeup for the first time. I certainly knew more about makeup than a typical 15 year-old boy. I had not played around with my mother’s cosmetics, but I often watched her apply them and often looked at her fashion magazines. I think I surprised my mother by my knowledge and ability to pick up on what the cosmologist was doing so quickly. I left the counter with an expensive assortment of products and a made over face that looked at least a couple of years older than I actually was.

The new look raised my confidence another level and further stripped away any perception of Ashton. I was feeling confident as we drifted from the high-end counters of Nordstrom into the mall and over to the tackier racks at Claire Stores. I could see my mother was not fond of most of their merchandise, but she quickly found two gold studs which almost as quickly became the centerpiece of my now pierced ears. My heart skipped a couple of beats as I absorbed the permanence of having my ears pierced. Something inside told be I should have objected, but I couldn't verbalize any reason not to. My mother expressed the joy of now being able to share her jewelry with me.

"Ashley your transition to beautiful young woman has gone even better and smoother than even I suspected. I am sure you are still trying to process all of this, but there is little doubt that you will have no problem adjusting to the changes. Seeing you now, I have a hard time thinking of you as my Ashton."

"I feel so different. I don't know how to put it. I never thought I would ever do anything like this, but now that I have I am glad I look convincing. Maybe if I didn't look so real, I would hate it. Truth is, I like how it makes me feel. Don't lie to me Mom, do I really look like a woman?"

"Not only that, but a very pretty one. That is something that you will have to get used to. You are going to have to learn how to deal with boys."

"I'll just keep clear. Not a problem."

"See... you do have a lot more to learn. I have one more thing I want to do today."

"What’s that?"

"I want Ashley to pick out her first dress."

"Huh."

"I want you to select something that you like at a dress shop. Not a hand-me-down, but something that is your taste."

"I have plenty."

"That is not the point, but most girls your age have already picked out a closetful."

Into Cusp we went on a mission to find me my first dress. Cusp, which is owned by Neiman Marcus, was loaded with a gorgeous selection of styles geared for teenagers and twenty-somethings. I didn't know where to begin, but I was in heaven looking at the racks of feminine merchandise. My mother steered me around the store and gave me some style tips, but she made sure that her influence was minimal. The girl in me had taken over and I ended up trying on over a half dozen potential alternatives. Ultimately, I selected a sleeveless summer styled dress with a flared skirt. It was a classically feminine style and it emphasized my inverted A shaped body.

My simple but very feminine dress selection went over very well with my mother. She commented about the type of girl I was becoming. It was obvious from the turn of events and the conversation that the Thanksgiving endgame might simply be an exclamation point on my journey. I was not merely being allowed to experience a little bit of femininity; I was being immersed in it. The goal now seemed set on making me as totally realistic a girl as can be possible. I had done very little to slow the process.

I left the store wearing my new purchase. I was a bit overdressed for the mall, but the image was entirely girl. I received some wandering glances in my direction, but they were more like gawks than questioning looks. As two teenage boys walked by the smile on mom's face broadened.

"We are going to have to finally have that talk about dating. It didn't seem necessary until now, but I think it is obvious you are going to be very popular following your makeover. If those two boys are any indication, you are going to have to learn how to act around them. We are going to have to set some firm rules for you on dating. Boys can be very immature and very pushy. You'll need to slowly learn how to be around them."

"Mom, I am one!"

"Not in their eyes, or even mine right now. As for the foreseeable future you are part of the girl team."

That aspect of this adventure was something that I had not really thought much about. I certainly had never thought of myself as gay, but here I was throwing myself into creating a desirable appearance that would be attractive to other guys. I was enjoying myself in the female role, but I also was taking pleasure in my ability to appear pretty. I was far from prepared for the attention, but oddly felt proud to be getting it. As a guy I never gave my male friends a second look, but in this altered reality it didn't feel so wrong.

"Honey, you will find out soon enough about that aspect of your makeover. Just take it very slow."

I almost told her then about the guys at the pool, but I didn't want to ruin the afternoon’s activities. We were done shopping for the day and so much had already transpired.
I quickly found out that I had one more hurdle to navigate. We were heading to my Aunt's house for dinner. There would be no way to tone down the giant steps I had taken this afternoon. I knew they would be OK with my new look, but I still felt somewhat nervous to be showing them how fully I embraced my changes.

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Learning my feminine tricks

So now you know how I got to where I am today. The summer is just beginning and there are so many new things for me to experience. What will happen at school? Will being a girl just be a stage for me? What about boys? Will I be able to go back to being a boy at summer's end? And what will it feel like this time when I wear my mother's traditional Thanksgiving dress? And did I mention, my mother said she still has her wedding dress...could another tradition be out there in the making?