Part 7 Christmas
I awoke on Christmas morning with all the excitement of a 9 year old and opened the gifts from my stocking. I could already hear my sister in her room doing the same. Mum had always bought us a selection of small items which we were allowed to open first thing, I think it allowed her a bit longer in bed.
When we finally got up and went down stairs, mum always insisted on us having breakfast and clearing up before opening any more presents. That done we raced from the kitchen in to the room with the tree and presents. Everything was going fine when mum handed Mary a present from Aunty Emma, which turned out to be a pair of boyâs leather gloves.
âIt looks like aunty got the labels mixed upâ I said.
âMaybe notâ said mum, âshe knows Mary is a bit of tomboy.â Mary was obviously pleased with them. A short while later mum handed me my present from our aunt. When I opened it up I realised my initial comment was correct. Inside was a pink nylon petticoat with a white lace trimmed bodice and inch deep lace on the hem. Also there were two pairs of matching pink knickers with three rows of white lace across the back.
âSee, I said aunty got the labels mixed up, these are obviously meant for you.â I held them out for Mary to take but she didnât.
âShe knows Iâm a tomboy so maybe she thinks youâre a sissy, you would look very sweet in those.â
âIâm not wearing these!â
âWell neither am I. Look at them, only toddlers or babies wear frilly knickers like those, Iâm not the baby round here. Iâm going to keep my gloves.â Before we could continue mum said
âThatâs enough from both of you. Weâll sort this out later, I donât want any arguing on Christmas day. Daniel, just put them with the rest of your presents for now. Reluctantly I did so, whilst my sister sat there with a big grin on her face.
During the afternoon as my sister was chatting to her friend on the phone, I went to mum to ask her about the underwear.
âMum, the underwear that Aunty Emma sent, it must be for Mary so can we just swap the presents over, or at least phone Aunty Emma?â
âWell, for a start I am not phoning your aunt, it would seem that we didnât appreciate the effort she went to get each of you a present. As for swapping them, you can as long as you both agree to it.â
âBut mumâŚâ
âNo buts. You both agree to swap or keep what youâve got, period.â I knew, more by mumâs tone of voice than what she had said that she wouldnât change her mind. I also knew that Mary would insist on keeping my gloves, but when she got off of the phone I decided to try.
âMary could we please swap Aunty Emmaâs presents? She obviously got the labels mixed up.â
âShe probably didâ replied Mary âbecause for the last three years I have had similarly frilly and childish underwear from her which mum has insisted I wear. So no I wonât swap, you always get the decent presents, so this year I do. I canât wait to see you wearing your frillies.â
âIâm not wearing girlsâ underwear!â
âYouâve still got those frilly panties that I gave you so you do wear girlâs underwear.â
âWell Iâm not wearing the new stuff.â
âI wouldnât bet on thatâ laughed Mary.
As it approached New Year mum told us that we had to write our thank you letters, mum always insisted we did that during Christmas week saying that it showed that we appreciated the gifts by writing soon after Christmas.
I had written all my letters except the one to Aunty Emma. What was I to say? As Mary had refused to swap presents, the frilly underwear was still in my draw, well hidden under everything else. Iâd be a laughing stock if any of my friends found out. It was bad enough when I had to wear the frilly panties that I got from my sister but managed to avoid anyone at school finding out about them so far.
Eventually I managed to write the letter to Aunty Emma with veiled references to her present rather than actually mentioning that I had ended up with the frilly underwear. I knew Mary would be thanking her for the gloves, my gloves so that aunty would know what I had but I couldnât bring myself to say so, even in a letter.
I gave the letters to mum which she read through and all was okay until she came to the one for Aunty Emma.
âYouâll have to rewrite this letter to Aunty Emma. You havenât mentioned how pretty your new underwear is.â
âMum, itâs not mine it should be Maryâs. Aunty will think Iâm a sissy if I thank her for frilly knickers.â It was no good, I might just as well be talking to a brick wall. Mum then dictated the beginning of my letter making sure I included
âThank you very much for my pretty petticoat and knickers. They are lovely and silky with lots of pretty lace and I look forward to wearing them.'
I tried to complain but mum would not compromise. Subsequently the letter was sent to Aunty Mary and I shuddered to think of what her reaction would be. Mary had managed to see the letter and thought it was hilarious and teased me about my new underwear. Fortunately despite her efforts she could not persuade mum to insist on my wearing them but she did get her to make me wear the Party dress form her last party, in fact mum had me wear it a number of times when she punished me occasionally with nappies on instead of the panties.
It was a couple of days later that we all found out my aunts view. Mum answered the phone whilst Mary and I were in the next room listening.
âHello Emma, thatâs alright, you know I always like them to write them quickly. I think it shows respect.â After a pause she continued âYes, well we suspected as much but as they both wanted to keep the presents they opened so I decided to let them.â When I realised what she was saying I felt I had to say something but before I could move Mary pounced on me pinning me to the sofa and placed her hand over my mouth.
âYou are not going to spoil my fun by disputing mums comments. By the time mumâs finished aunty will probably think you are a sissy. Sheâll be right tooâ she laughed. Struggle as I might I was no match for Mary and she knew it, in truth it had been this way for the last few years. I should explain. Having been born prematurely I have always been smaller than kids of my age whilst Mary takes after mum and is big built. By the time she was five she was as big as I was and by six bigger and loved to bully me about. Mostly by persuading mum to do things that embarrass or humiliate me or as now by preventing me from giving the true version of events. Unfortunately due to dadâs leaving her, mum went along with most of Maryâs suggestions.
âYes Emma, I was surprised but he has always been a bit girly, just look at the bibs he wearsâ continued mum. This was most unfair as mum insisted I wear them and I was never allowed any bibs other than my sisters old ones and new ones she bought which were also meant for baby girls. âIâm sure he would wear them so that you can see them on himâ I didnât want this but Mary was still keeping me pinned down. It got worse. âOh thatâs no problem, I sure we can find a pretty dress or two from Maryâs wardrobe. Yes he is older than her but sheâs bigger than he is.â
âWhat a lucky pansy you are, getting to wear my old dressesâ whispered my sister âI know just what pretty dresses of mine you can try on, Iâll even let you keep them. Mind you I know that there more than two frilly ones and Iâm going to make you try them all onâ she added giggling. Meanwhile mums phone call was getting worse.
âIf you want to, Jane and Kirstyâs dresses are very frilly and he would look sweet in them. Well I leave it up to you but weâll see you on Sunday, bye.â She hung up the phone. Mum came back with a smile on her face, Mary had released me before mum could see what she had been doing.
I should explain about Jane and Kirsty who lived next door to Aunty Emma, they were twins of the same age as I was. The problem was that their mum always dressed them as if they were going to a fancy party even for playing in the garden, that is, their dresses were in pastel colours either plain or floral but always with lots of lace, ribbons and bows. Most girls I knew would not be seen dead in them but now my aunt was suggesting borrowing some for me to wear.