PJ asked me to post the rest of this story which he very kindly shared with me. PJ will feature in the Nursery soon. All this story is written by PJ Prettybutton and I have not changed it at all. It is one of my favorites.
Girls Just Want To Have Fun
As usual, there werenât many people in the laundromat at this still early hour of the morningâjust two teenage girls on the other side. Prettybutton felt their eyes on him as Mama led him to a machine. He was sure he heard the girls giggle. He didnât dare look at them. He plopped the laundry basket on the machine.
âDo three loads,â Mama instructed, âone white, one dark, and one delicate. You know which clothes go where.â
âYes, Mama,â said Prettybutton quietly, hoping no one else would hear the childish way he addressed her.
âWork on your baby bonnet while the clothes are washing,â Mama said, handing him his sewing basket.
âYes, Mama.â He wished she hadnât mentioned the bonnet.
âIâll be back in 90 minutes to pick you up. Be sure everything is nicely folded in the basket.â
âYes, Mama.â
âDo you need to tell Mama, anything?â
âNo, Mama.â
âDo you need to make wee-wees?â
âNo, Mama.â He felt himself blushing crimson. This time there was no mistaking the laughter from the teenagers. There were more shrieks than giggles.
Mama seemed oblivious to it. She pressed her finger under his chin to tilt his face up toward her. She looked at him kindly. âWill you be a brave little Pretty-b and not be afraid?â
âYes, Mama,â he said, feeling not very brave at all.
âNow kiss Mama good-bye,â she said. He puckered up his lips and closed his eyes, as she had taught him. She kissed him gently on the lips, then on the tip of his nose, and then on each eyelid.
âBye-bye,â she whispered. He opened his eyes to see her waving from the door. âDo wavies for Mama!â she called. He held up his arms at his elbows and wiggled his fingers, as she had taught him. He couldnât bear to think of the girls.
They were laughing again, of course. And now there was no one left to protect him. Mama was gone. Prettybutton felt very little.
âDo you need to make wee-wee?â one of the girls said in a mocking voice.
âNo, Mama, Iâm a big boy now!â the other answered. More laughter. Then the girls made horrid kissing noises and laughed again.
He dared not look up. Mama had instructed him to be polite to strangers, but he didnât know how to be polite when he was being teased. He went about sorting the laundry into the machines and tried his best to ignore the girls.
When he had loaded all the laundry and started the machines, he found himself with a problem. To finish the sewing on his bonnet, he had to sit down, but the only seats were near the girls. Worse, they girls were sitting on top of some machines and facing the seats directly. He didnât want to start any more teasing by approaching the girls, but he had no choice. He crept over to the seat farthest from where they were. They watched him. He raised his head and smiled as best he could. They smiled back with sparkling, mischievous eyes. He took the bonnet out of the basket and began sewing. His hands trembled as he felt their eyes on him.
âSuch a good little boy,â said one. Her voice seemed almost friendly this time.
âAnd so pretty,â said the other. âThat cap frames his face so nicely. And those Mary Janes are perfect for him.â
Prettybutton smiled shyly in spite of himself. He peeked. Two dark-haired pretty teen-agers looked back at him. They wore jeans and T-shirts. Feeling shy again in his girlish clothes, he looked down. One girl hopped off the machine and sat next to him, as if his glance had invited her over.
âMay I sit next to you, sweetykins?â She did not seem to require an answer. Her companion remained perched on a machine.
âWhatâs your name, sweetie?â the girl next to him asked softly. âIâm Maddy and thatâs Andie over there.â
Prettybutton could feel Mandy almost touching him. He was very shy around strangers, particularly anyone who showed interest in him. He wanted to hide behind Mama, but Mama was gone. He wanted to suc-k his binky, but he didnât have one. He wished he could suc-k his thumb.
âMy name is PJ Prettybutton, maâam,â he managed. He knew they would laugh at his sissyish name. Everyone did.
âWhat a perfect name for you,â said Maddy, stifling a giggle. âYouâre very sweet, and I love all your pretty buttons.â
âThank you, maâam.â
âWeâve been wondering about something,â said Andie. She paused. The sissy kept sewing, but his hands were trembling again.
âAre you a boy or a girl?â
Yet again the girls burst into laughter and Prettybutton blushed scarlet. He had just begun to hope they would be nice to him, and now they were being cruel. He tried desperately to hold back his tears. He knew that crying would only make matters worse, but he couldnât bear to be teased. He looked down sadly.
âIâm sorry, honey,â said Andie, stil laughing merrily. âItâs just that you are the biggest sissy Iâve ever seen.â
âYes, maâam,â PJ admitted. He tried to continue sewing, but his hands were shaking too much.
âOh dear, now weâve scared him,â said Maddy. She stroked him gently on the leg. She kissed the tip of her index finger and planted it on the tip of his nose. âDonât be afraid, sissy,â she said softly.
Prettybutton shivered. âIs prissy buttons chilly?â she asked.
âNot âprissy buttons,ââ Andie corrected. ââPrettybutton.â Although he is kind of prissy, isnât he?â
âWhatever,â said Maddy, buttoning the rest of his sweater. âWe canât have a chilly sissy.â
Prettybutton offered no resistance. He was used to being handled like a doll. Mama said thatâs what he was: a sissy baby doll for ladies to play with. She said he should feel proud when anyone found him amusing. Prettybutton didnât feel proud. He felt vulnerable and frightened but also a little excited. He did like being fussed over, even if it was a little scary. He wished the girls would be nice to him.
Maddy was fussing over him and being very nice. âSuch a sweet, pretty sissy,â she cooed in his ear. Then she kissed his cheek. She cupped his face in her hands and turned it to her.
âNow I have a little errand to do,â she announced, âso you stay right here until I come back. Make sure he doesnât run away, Andie.â
The girls snickered. Everyone knew the shivering sissy wasnât going anywhere until his Mama fetched him