I had to wear uniforms, all white, white socks and white shoes. My hair (long) was to be tied back or braided. BRAIDED, NO WAY! Clean-shaven was a must and no underwear that would show through my uniform was allowed. Was she serious? GEEZE! I think she liked seeing me turn red as a beet! She then asked me to follow her again so she could introduce me to everybody. Ok, what the heck. I did not know then that I was the first ever male to be hired by this facility.

I was nervous again! I had thought the interview was over. Not so!

She smiled down at me and said; "Just a few small points I need to stress with you Ricky." (I HATE BEING CALLED RICKY!!!) I interrupted... Not a smart thing to do ... and informed her, my name was Rich or Richard. She then proceeded to inform me how impolite it was to interrupt someone while they were speaking. UUHHGG!

Then! To my surprise she informed me it was time to complete my application and for her to gather other pertinent information. She asked the questions and wrote the replies. Good, because my spelling and penmanship sucked big time. BUT! Wait a second here! Some of these questions can't be on any application! I really think she enjoyed seeing me turn beet red! Especially when she kept using the ‘RICKY’ name! She then asked for my parent's names and phone numbers for their work and for home. I had to tell her I was living with my mother and that my parents were divorced.

Oh crap! This set off another bunch of questions I really did not want to have to answer, but being such a ‘young’ and inexperienced ‘boy’ I answered all of them. Red as a beet! I had to tell her my mother worked and I took care of my little sister and brother. My little brother is mentally handicapped and my little sister has a physical defect that keeps her in diapers most of the time. RED, RED, RED! She really smiled then! She asked me how and what I did to take care of them. So, reluctantly I told her. She pressed in certain areas for details. She just got happier and happier! I got a permanent blush from head to toe!

She smiled and dialed the phone. Who was she calling? My mother! Oh Crap again! With me sitting there, she introduced herself to my ‘mom.’ Then of all horror of horrors, she told my mom all the things she told me, PLUS! She asked about my brother and sister and confirmed what I had told her. Her smile got bigger! She then informed my mom about the uniform requirements. Her smile vanished for a second. (OH NO!) She looked over to me and asked if I would mind giving up 50% of my future earnings each week to pay back the facility for uniforms. OH GEEZE!!! What could I do? I said ‘K.’ She frowned and I quickly said "Yes Mrs. Brown" she smiled again. I'm learning!

Well, Mrs. Brown started to chuckle and said for me to relax and calm down. Then she asked me to think again about what I was doing. HUH? She started to express things in a way I never thought of. She said “Ricky, you are starting a job almost exclusively performed by women. Your appearance and demeanor will be very important. You will be learning something new almost every minute you are here. It is very important that you do well from day one.”

And the list went on and on, but then she said the words that made me decide to really give this more than a shot. She smiled, looked me in the eyes and said "I believe it is the right time for males to show they are more than providers and rulers. It is time for them to open up their hearts and give from within themselves; to use their strength in a gentle way with caring and compassion. My interview with you has led me to believe you are that type of person. I believe you can do this and do it very well indeed. It will not be easy and you will probably want to just get up and walk out more than once. BUT! If you decide that this is something you can and would like to do, I will help you in any way I can. So, what is your decision?"

Holy Crap my decision? I took a little time here; many things went whooshing through my mind at light speed. She stood up and walked around her desk stopping right in front of me. "Well," she said, "what have you decided?"

I said, "Let’s go shopping!"

Her smile was a reward in itself to me. She nodded and said; "Let’s go." So, we were off to the uniform shop. I have never been to a specialty shop that I could remember. All I had ever heard of special stores was EXPENSIVE for everything! We stopped at her secretary's desk and she told her she would be gone for the rest of the day. Now, boy, did I get some looks! And smiles and chuckles and, and, and.

"Very nice car," I told her. Wow, a Caddy! Cloth seats, AC, a radio with a wonder bar! (For you folks that are too young, a wonder bar was the first search and scan gizmo invented for a car radio.) V8 engine! Automatic transmission! Very nice car! I was pleased to say the least to be able to ride in this vehicle.

We got in and she told me to fasten my seat belt. (Not done in those days for most people. Optional equipment back then actually.) We were off and then the nice conversations started. Oh, sure! She started on what I needed to purchase. Five shirts, five pairs of pants, two jackets, two pairs of shoes and you need to order your name pin. (PIN?) Then she asked me about underwear of all things! RED, RED, RED! Did I mention my face, neck, well, GEEZE! My whole body was a shade of red!

I think by the expression on her face she was struggling not to laugh. She looked at me briefly (Thank goodness, she was driving after all.) and asked me; "Ricky do you prefer plain white underpants or colors?" GEEZE!!! I didn't think they even had colors for males! She then told me briefs would be better they were more comfortable under slacks. (How would she know?) So I asked her. (GOTCH-YA!) Or so I thought.

She matter of fact told me, "Common sense really, briefs will not bunch up with all the moving, bending and running you are going to be doing." Ok, she got me again! Will I ever learn?

Ok, so on we went and the conversation moved to my siblings. I ended up telling her that I had no real social life. I had to go straight home from school to take care of my brother and sister. No after school activities, no real dates. Just hang out with my girl on weekend afternoons.

I had very few friends because I just did not have any time for them. Well, actually I had no friends really. That sucked, but family is much more important isn't it? Clothes? Ha! One suit for church, one nice outfit for special events like this one, one pair of dress shoes, three pairs of school pants and three button-down shirts also for school. I had two pairs of jeans, one pair of beat-to-heck sneakers and a few pullover short sleeve shirts. That was my clothing total. Mr. Fashion I was not. But, who cares really. This was the first time I was allowed to do anything outside of taking care of my siblings, the house and yard.

Go and run a bath for my little sister. She hated showers she is only six. Go get her out of bed and carry her to the bath. That was much easier than trying to wake her up and make her walk. Help her out of her night things and soaked diapers and into the tub. She would wake enough to do the rest by then.

Ok, then to my brother. He was ten but more like three due to his handicap. Get him up and sit him on the toilet. We had a small bathroom with just a sink and toilet in my mom's room. Ok, holler to my sister to get out of the tub and dry off. Bring my brother to the living room with his toys.

Go back to my sister's room and help her get dressed. Training pants in case of an accident. Not often, but it did happen from time to time. Most of her dresses buttoned up the back so she usually needed my help. I then brushed her hair, fixed it in a ponytail or two, her choice.

Then it was time for breakfast. Ok, after they both had breakfast it was time to dress my brother. That done we waited for Mrs. Smith. She would take my sister to school and watch my brother while I was at school. I should mention she was also a licensed teacher for handicapped children. Ok, now I got dressed and walked to school.

Well, Betty told me to call her Betty and she of course called me Ricky! GEEZE! She asked Mrs. Brown what we were looking for and of course Mrs. Brown said; "Everything!" Oh please God be merciful! I promise to go to church every Sunday from now on with no hassle!!! PLEASE???

Now there were several other women and girls in this shop at the time and yes, they were all staring at me! Betty asked me what sizes I wore and of course I had no idea. They both smiled at me like this is going to be more fun than we thought. Betty asked me to follow her and we went in the back of her shop. She then really surprised me by telling me, not asking. to remove everything but my t-shirt and panties. PANTIES? Now I right away exclaimed that I did not wear panties! Turning very red in the process I might add.

Betty apologized saying she did not get many men in her shop and it was an automatic request. Ok, but I then asked where the dressing room was. She laughed and said that this was it for me unless I would like to join the women and girls. Oops, no way! Ok, this will have to do.

Betty left and there I was taking my clothes off with a bunch of women and girls right outside the stupid thin curtain! That was the only thing separating the back room from the store. I could hear Mrs. Brown and Betty talking in low voices outside, but I just could not make out everything they were saying. Just parts like "a nice boy, innocent and naive, gentle and caring," Man, could they stop! GEEZE!

Ok, at least ten minutes must have gone by which seemed like ten hours! There I am standing in my underwear when they both come walking in the back. OH GEEZE! No place to hide! Talk about embarrassed! But, then again what did I expect anyway?

Betty had a cloth tape measure in her hands and she started measuring me everywhere and I mean everywhere! She called out my measurements, which Mrs. Brown being ever so helpful wrote down on a form. Now I have been measured for a suit before but these measurements were much more thorough! Betty said; "Now that the measuring is all done let us pick out a few items for you." Oh great, now they are going to do the picking out! Yupper, just like mom always did. They ask you if you like it and if you do that's great, but if you don't tough crap!

I started to put my pants back on and they both said at the same time "DON'T"! I was handed a robe (At least it was a blue one.) that I would never be caught wearing in a million zillion years! Blue satin, oh wonderful! NOT!!!

The curtain was pulled aside and of course just about everybody in there looked around and right at me! DARN IT!!!!!! I hate this!!!! Yupper, giggles and chuckles and laughter! Betty said to me; "Don't let it bother you. It is only that they are not used to seeing a boy in the shop." Sure, especially one, wearing a girl’s blue satin robe!

Well, at least there were others in the shop wearing robes. No boys, but there were others. They should have given me a bright red robe. At least then it would have matched my skin color!

Off we walked to a corner. Yes, a small corner that had a few items on shelves and three racks. One rack which held a few dozen shirts. Another rack held a few jackets and one rack with a few dozen pairs of pants. On the shelves were the underwear, socks, shoes and various other items I did not have a clue as to what they were for. Now why couldn't they have selected one of each for me and brought them to the back room? No fun in that I guess!

Betty asked me; "Ricky look around my shop and tell me what you observe and what you think about it, please?"

What? Ok, so I did and noticed that the women and girls had a lot more to choose from. The choices for the men and boys paled in comparison! I also noticed that the females had nice dressing rooms. The males did not even have one!

I also noticed every female in the shop was looking at me! Not out in out staring, (SOME WERE THOUGH!) but quick glances. When they saw that I had seen them, they would chuckle and smile while they looked away. So after I looked around I looked at Betty and said; "The shop is obviously mostly for women and girls. The men and boys section looks like it was an after thought. The females have very nice dressing rooms while the males have none. The biggest difference is in the choices of items. Where as, the women and girls have many choices of styles and colors; the men and boys have very few choices at all. Another point I would like to point out is that it is uncomfortable for a male to shop here. All the staring and laughing at me by the women and girls shopping here would tend to make me not return."

Mrs. Brown and Betty laughed and Betty spoke saying; "Ricky, you would be surprised at what men and boys can wear. (OH GEEZE!!! NIGHTMARE!!!) You are a very observant and smart boy! You are correct in many of your observations and I thank you for your honest opinion. The truth is that we get very few male customers here. You are correct that there are very few choices in the male section. I will fix that shortly though. You see Ricky there are many items in this shop a boy could wear. I just have not added them to this area yet."

Another lady nearby looked up and chuckled. She had to add her two-cent's worth then! (Will this nightmare ever stop?) She said, "So much of what you boys wear is never seen and you could actually wear a lot in this shop and no one would ever know."

Yupper, I think I will just die right now and never worry about life again! Chuckles, giggles and laughter resounded through out the shop! Yes, they were having lots of fun. At my expense!

Betty then cleared her throat rather loudly and the laughter stopped shortly after that. Betty continued by saying; "You are also correct about the dressing room situation. The next time you come I promise that a male dressing room will be in place." She smiled and gave me a hug saying, "You are such a thoughtful and sensitive boy. I love you already and we have just met." OH GEEZE!

"Well," said Betty; "Let us choose something for you shall we?"

THANK GOD!!!!! "Yes, please," was all I could say. I think I had a fever, my skin felt like it was 120 degrees!

Betty said my t-shirt was much too small for my size. I had to agree it was tight, but well, I thought it made me look good. (I was in great shape.) She held up a t-shirt Not a regular cheap T-shirt I will tell you that. and said, "You should try that on, but wait a minute."

Just then another women asked; "What is his size?" WHAT? WHY? Betty told her, but it was just a number not a size. I was a 36 regular. Not a single digit number! The lady started looking through a rack. Now that rack was not meant for man or boy! This could not be happening to me!!! (GOD? Please God! I promise I will be good for the rest of my life! What did I ever do to make God so angry with me?)

Well, I decided to just get this over with and as fast as I could manage it. I took the T-shirt and asked them; "What else do I need?" I had hoped I had asked this before they could start something else.

Betty then said; "You will need several pairs of panties."

PANTIES AGAIN! OH GEEZE! Will she ever stop? I heard several of the girls and women nearby chuckle so I said, "Betty I do not wear panties. I wear boy's underpants. There is a difference you know!"

Betty and Mrs. Brown chuckled and Betty apologized saying; "I am sorry again Ricky. Here, try these U-N-D-E-R-P-A-N-T-S they are the brief style and should fit much better under your uniform slacks than the boxer style." She handed them to me and off to the back room I went. Thank GOD!!! I was hoping they would just pick out a shirt, jacket, and a pair of pants and bring them back to me. RIGHT! SURE! NOT!!

I knew I had to be real quick about changing into the new underwear because I had a feeling they would just barge right in a few seconds after I got in the back room. I set a speed record for changing my underpants I can tell you that! I had just taken off my t-shirt and they walked in. I beat them to the punch this time!

Betty handed me something soft and silky to try on instead of the t-shirt. I took one look at it and said no! It was plain white and had a round collar and no sleeves. They both told me it would be much more comfortable to wear and it WAS plain. I said NO! They did look disappointed, but I had held my ground.

So I put on the ‘boys’ t-shirt. After doing what I refer to as the ‘MOM’ checks they were satisfied with the fit. Then to my utter surprise Betty told me; "Ricky wait here and we will get you a few uniforms to try on ok?" Wow, cool! NOT!!!!!!!!!!....

I put on the robe and waited. I peeked out into the shop and they were talking to the lady who must have picked out the other undershirt. A shake of a few heads and a shrug of a few shoulders and that was that. So I thought!

I swore I would never complain about clothes shopping with Mom ever again!!! I could always count on her to be fast. Pick a few things out. Ask me if I liked them. Even though it did not matter one hoot if I did. Try them on. Have her do the "MOM" check and that was that.

Most of you readers know what the mom check is right? No? Ok for those who do not know here is a short description of what boys go through when their moms are checking the fit of their new clothes. You have just changed into your new school clothes and come out of the dressing room. (Moms are not allowed in the men's dressing room so you have to step out in front of who ever are also outside.) Mom then pulls on the waist and then pulls on the damn crotch to make sure we are not too tight in that area. You jump as she does this. It is an automatic response. If anybody is standing around they laugh at you. They always do! That is why boys hate to shop for pants with their mothers!

NOT HERE and not with these people!! Oh no! This was a fun outing for them! I took another peek out into the shop and they were not in ‘the male section.’ I could not even see them! Where in heck did they go? All of a sudden someone spoke to me from behind me. I must have jumped ten feet in the air! Yes, another side entrance from the main floor through the dressing rooms! GEEZE!

Mrs. Brown and Betty had several shirts and pants they wanted me to try on. But first they had several different styles of socks. What? Ok, so I sat as Betty handed me the first pair. She told me, "Ricky these are white dress hose and lighter than regular work style or athletic hose."

Hose? What the heck! "Socks," Mrs. Brown added.

Oh, ok! Light was right. These were hardly anything at all! Like lighter then ban Lon! I did not like them. Ok, the next pair was heavier but they went up way to high. I did not like them either. GEEZE, they went up past my knees! Ok, the next pair was cool and I liked them. Over the calf and they were thicker.

Mrs. Brown looked at me sternly with a tight frown on her face and said, "RICKY, these are shirts and you better relax. Betty is used to outfitting women and girls, so she uses the female names for the clothes. So please don't make her or me angry by any further childish outbursts." She went on, "Betty has been patient and kind towards you and her help is greatly needed and you should be thankful instead of so argumentative!"

I apologized to Betty and to Mrs. Brown, thanking Betty for all her help and adding that this was new to me and I was very uncomfortable and embarrassed. I went on to say that I had never worn girls or women's clothing and I really was not interested in the least to start now. They both just shook their heads and gave me one of those ‘What are we going to do with you looks.’ I truly believe that you really know when you have reached adulthood when you can give someone young ‘THAT LOOK.’

Ok, on with the ‘blouses’ AKA (also known as) shirts. The first one was real cool! I liked it. It was very form fitting and was made out of what they called gabardine. It looked good, felt great, only it was not quite right.

For one thing, there were seams coming from each side even with my chest, like thick lines. Another thing that was different was the darn buttons were on the wrong side! I had a heck of a time buttoning it up at first! Yes, here is where being innocent and naive did not serve me well at all.

I asked them. "Why are the buttons on the wrong side and why does this shirt have seams coming out from the sides to my chest?" They told me the seams were there for extra support and strength. Ok. The buttons were not that important were they? I said I guess not I will just have to get used to them being on the wrong side. Ok, one ‘blouse’ I actually thought was a ‘shirt’ added to my pile.

Next was a shirt I did not like at all. It was very light and had short sleeves, but the sleeves had a button on them and this I knew was a girl's shirt! NOPE! Ok, on to the next one. Nice plain white dress shirt, the chest pockets were a little on the small side, but it was a nice shirt. That darn button thing again! Ok, add that one to the pile. I also wished it did not have those support seams.

Ok, on with the next one. WOW, a real shirt! Buttons on the correct side, no support seams, nice normal sized chest pockets! I got two of those; Five shirts. Cool, that part was over!

Nope! One more shirt! They both informed me that this one was a gift from Betty. OH GEEZE!!!!!! Ok, it wasn't that bad and it was a gift so I did not have to pay for it. It was a short-sleeved pull over shirt. The sleeves had cuffs that fit comfortably but tightly just below my shoulder muscles. Instead of a pocket it had "Nurse Aide" on it sewn in thread and written in script. The color of the writing was a light blue. It had a regular collar just a little smaller than I was used to. I said; "Thank you Betty." What else could I say? They told me to keep that shirt on.

Now for the slacks ‘AKA’ pants! The first pair was not to my liking at all. No back pockets and they fit too tight for me to even put anything into the two front pockets. Add to that they buttoned on the wrong side and the zipper flap was opposite of my other pants as well. NOPE!

Ok, next pair was much better. Still no back pockets, but they were roomy in the seat and comfortable to move in. The darn zipper and button were wrong again. They did have deep front pockets, which I liked. The belt loops were smaller than my regular pants as well. I told them I didn't have a belt for these pants. Betty told me not to worry. Why did that make me worry even more?

Ok, next pair were the best! Nice back pockets, nice front pockets, zipper and button were where I thought they should be. They fit great! I got two pairs of them! The next pair was different. They were made from a stretchy fabric that hugged my butt and legs down to just above my knees. They felt good but I was uncomfortable about my male parts being hugged liked that and being on display so to speak. Also, they felt like they lifted and separated my butt as well.

I was caught off guard when Betty asked; "Ricky, what is wrong with them? I thought you would like them."

Red as heck I began telling her why, "Betty, firstly they are too tight." She then told me to bend and squat. I did and they stretched with no real discomfort.

Betty said, "Ricky, these are very functional slacks. They are supposed to fit snuggly without binding you. Did they bind or squash you when you moved?"

I had to admit they did not. So I then said to her; "Betty you can see right through these!"

"Now, Ricky, what can you see?"