SATURDAY MORNING â GETTING STARTED
As soon as Claire Dixon turned into the street for her walk, Caitlin texted her cousin Stephanie: âGet over here! Itâs game time!â Almost an hour ago, she had rousted her still-drowsy little brothers and prodded them to start getting cleaned up and then get down to the basement. Both boys had groaned softly, rubbing their eyes and burying their faces deeper into their pillows in a futile attempt to ward off the morning that awaited them. Jack, still tangled in his bedsheets, had muttered something unintelligible about needing five more minutes. Justin had thrown his arm over his face, trying to block out the light streaming in from the hallway.
Despite their initial protests, the boys had slowly shuffled out of bed, finally giving in to Caitlinâs gentle but persistent encouragement. Their teenage antics had just made her giggle. She found their tousled hair and dramatic, adolescent sighs hysterical but still somewhat endearing. After some playful coaxing, Caitlin got her way, and they had begun to come alive. With a shared look of nervous resignation, they felt the Mother-Daughter Easter Brunch rushing toward them.
Now, Caitlin could hardly contain her excitement. She headed down to the basement herself to make sure they were doing as she had instructed to prepare for their day as her âlittle sisters.â Meanwhile, Stephanie had briskly walked the two blocks to come over and join them, a pink tote bag swinging merrily from her shoulder. As Caitlin opened the basement door to let Stephanie in, she called out with mock sternness to her brothers, âTime for your makeovers, boys!â Her voice carried a teasing lilt that made Jack and Justin exchange shy, nervous smiles. Their cheeks began to flush with anticipation, a mix of nerves and excitement swirling inside them. They were fully awake now.
As things kicked into motion, Stephanieâs voice rang out with playful authority, âFirst, letâs see those nails!â
Dressed in their gym shorts and tee shirts again, the boys blushed but held out their hands. Once they had gotten to the basement, they had carefully painted each otherâs fingernails with the cotton-candy pink polish Caitlin had given them, struggling to keep their hands steady and avoid smudges. It was a virtual repeat of their nail-painting escapade at Christmas, and this task had been the subject of the giggling and playful arguing their mother had overheard a little while earlier. The scent of nail polish lingered in the basement air now as a reminder that their return trip to girlhood had truly begun. As instructed, they obediently extended their fingertips to reveal darling, shimmering pink nails. Both boysâ cheeks flushed red as the girls leaned in for a closer inspection.
Nervous but committed now, Jack wiggled his freshly painted fingers playfully, âNot bad, huh?â He nodded toward his twin, âI mean, his look better of course because I did them!â
Justin rolled his eyes and replied gamely, âOh please sweetheart, you know Iâm the true artist here!â He held up his hand, âLook, you totally smudged my thumb!â
There was indeed a little smudge there, but overall, the boys actually had done a nice job on their manicures. Their playful banter eased some of the tension.
Caitlin rolled up her sleeves with delight flickering in her eyes. She gently took Jackâs hand, tilting it to the light, and examined the glossy pink finish. Stephanie took a seat next to Justin, and he compliantly turned his hand palm down with fingers splayed wide when she gestured. The twins silently hoped their efforts would pass muster. Caitlin and Stephanie murmured in amusement. The boysâ embarrassment was palpable.
âLovely, little sisters⌠not bad,â Caitlin teased. âGuess thereâs no turning back now!â
Stephanie used her own fingernail to daintily test the polish on the very edge of Justinâs pinky fingernail, and she was pleased to see it was no longer tacky. âGreat!â she nodded approvingly, âlooks like they are dry⌠and we can clean that little smudge up in no time.â
âI see you are becoming manicure experts⌠second timeâs the charm I guessâ Caitlin observed drolly. Then she added expectantly, âItâs time to get girly!â
The brothers looked at each other sheepishly as Stephanie agreed, âLetâs get to work then!â She reached into her tote bag and cheerfully handed each twin a small package wrapped in tissue paper and tied with a bow. âHappy Easter, darlings!â she giggled.
Jack and Justin looked at other with pained looks, as it was already obvious what these were. They opened the tissue paper tentatively.
âCâmon, do we really have to?â Justin asked with chagrin.
âYeah, canât we just wear our shorts like yesterday? Please?â Jack added hopefully.
Caitlin waved off their protests somewhat impatiently, âOh, donât be chicken! It will keep you in the right frame of mind, and as I recall you both survived Christmas just fine!â She insisted, âNow scoot and change! The clockâs ticking!â Her teasing left the twins no room to argue. With pink faces, they shuffled off to the bathroom with their dainty parcels in hand.
A couple of minutes later, the boys bashfully tiptoed from the bathroom as if they were walking on eggshells. Gone were their gym shorts and tee shirts; now they both wore utterly adorable matching bralette and bloomer short sets! The tastefully modest underthings were satiny white, edged with sugary pink accents and nearly overflowing with bouncy ruffles. Their charming bralettes featured slender spaghetti straps that were trimmed in soft frills and tiny bowknots in front. The matching bloomer-style panties were made of the same soft white satin with layers of frilly ruffles and adorable pink trim. Generous lacy fringes made the ultra-girly garments all the more precious.
Caitlin's laughter practically bubbled out the moment she spotted them. âOh, would you just look at you two!â she squealed, âyouâre so cute I can hardly stand it!â
Stephanie added with a wide grin, âYou look like little princesses!â She continued cheerfully, âmaybe you should just go like that!â
Jack and Justin shifted awkwardly, cheeks deepening in color as they twisted their hands awkwardly. Caitlin teased them gently, âOh, donât be so shy!â She mischievously reminded them, âI used to help Mom change your diapers all the time when you were babies⌠Iâve already seen it all!â She then asked them slyly, âbesides, did you know those are actually called âboy shorts?ââ
âBoy shorts?â Jack repeated in disbelief. He wasnât sure if Caitlin was pulling his leg or not.
Stephanie explained that they really were called âboy shorts.â She said, âTheyâre just like your boxer briefs, only, well⌠a smidge daintier.â She chuckled as she said the last part.
Justin groaned and Jack sighed. Nothing about these⌠panties⌠was remotely boyish. The twins were already feeling less boisterous and much more⌠girly. The tickle of lace along their waists and shoulders sent shivers up their spines, leaving them squirming and a little breathless. The lacy frills tickled their skin in a way that was vaguely familiar but still unsettling. They felt more subdued. Anticipation mixed with nervousness as they braced themselves for what came next.
Before they could really catch their breath, the girls rapidly bustled around them again.
âPetticoat time!â Stephanie announced.
Caitlin opened Justinâs frothy white petticoat for him as the layers of tulle rustled noisily. A few feet away, Stephanie held out Jackâs, pulling it open so he could step through the elastic waistband. As the boys slipped their feet inside and the girls guided the petticoats up their legs and over their ruffled bloomers, the process felt familiar but much more electric. In contrast to the gym shorts they had on yesterday, their elaborately frilled âboy shortsâ amplified the sensations as each brush of ruffles and tulle against their skin created a little tingle of energy. As the frothy petticoats were tugged into place around their slender waists, the wispy layers rustled with every slight movement.
âJust like little angels,â Stephanie observed gently as they stood barefooted in their precious petticoats and charming ruffled bralettes. There was significantly less teasing in her voice now, and the twins couldnât help but blush even more.