A Christmas Carol by Mary Beth Sanford

[archives]

A Christmas Carol by Mary Beth Sanford

Part 1



"I don't sing!" Brandon said sounding as sad as he felt. He did sing and more than a few people told him his voice was extraordinary. Unfortunately it sounded like a girl's and worse, he looked too much like a girl anyway. So, when he was old enough to realize that boys who look and sound like him get picked on, Brandon quit singing.



Helen on the other hand had heard that voice from her young employee and there was no question she wanted him in her caroling group for these holidays. She'd walked past the mail room and admittedly thought it was a girl singing. She was surprised to find only Brandon in there sorting that days mail. That surprise only lasted for a moment or so and with her composure back asked Brandon to join her and her group.



Helen and her group spent evenings caroling on main street behind an ornate kettle that collected donations for the children that wouldn't have a Christmas without this support. Helen's company matched what was taken in. The carolers also did the shopping for those children using a list of those children from one of the local agencies. All in all it was a worthy cause. Worthy enough to press on Brandon a little.



Brandon, understanding and very sympathetic to Helen's cause, tried to get Helen to understand what he had faced when he was younger and why he couldn't be part of that group. Helen did understand and suddenly laughed. She laughed for an uncomfortable few minutes while Brandon tried desperately to figure out what it was that was so funny. That story should have made Helen understandably sad.



Only it hadn't. It had made her laugh. It was a thought that she had. A fleeting moment of insanity that prompted it she said apologizing and catching her breath, then her composure shared it with Brandon. Truth was she was hoping that voice would join with hers and the groups because she'd thought she'd heard a girl singing. She needed a girl because the girl that would of been part of that group was still in the hospital recovering from emergency surgery.



Brandon nodded to each statement. He'd heard that comment before - that one about him sounding like a girl. Although he was still not clear why his story was as funny as it had been. That part of her explanation came when she said that Brandon was that girl's size or rather she was Brandon's size and what had made her laugh was visualizing Brandon simply wearing the outfit that Susan would wear if she was able to. Brandon forced a smile and gave his own laugh. An uncomfortable laugh.



There were twelve in the group: Six men and six women and each wore a traditional late eighteen hundreds costume that Helen had commissioned for each of the members. Beautiful outfits that gave a sense of the season to the group and warm enough to make them comfortable standing on the corner those three hours. If Brandon was to wear Susan's costume, Helen noted, there would be no one the wiser. It would be their secret.



It was Brandon's turn to laugh again. Brandon laughed as hard and over that same sort of image, but with a slight touch of sarcasm given the irony of Helen's solution. Of course that was out of the question and of course the reasons were obvious. Which didn't seem to phase Helen one bit when Brandon said no.



Brandon said no till Helen added that bonus. It was only fair Helen noted. A special bonus for being so special. It was that special Christmas bonus that made Brandon hesitate in saying anything else suddenly.



That bonus weighed on him. Brandon's tuition and books were paid for through his scholarship. His rent, utilities and a few amenities came from working there in Helen's mail room. There was little left at the end of each paycheck but he got by. A thousand dollars would change some of that. A thousand dollars would change a lot of that Brandon decided.



That money along with Helen's promise that no one besides her would even know it was him also helped and his no became a maybe, which quickly changed into that yes. His bonus would be in his next pay check Helen promised. The rest of it they worked out before Helen left the mail room for her office. She called Susan's mother, asking after Susan once more, and then about Susan's outfit and if Helen could borrow it for the holidays.



It wasn't until she hung up that she realized what was really giving her those goose bumps she had. Those goose bumps were only part of it and she smiled over the warmth at the pit of her stomach. It was the image of that pretty young man in that pretty outfit singing alongside of her causing most of it. Her taste for the companionship of women on occasion as well as men had suddenly blended together in her thoughts and she shuddered.



She grabbed the phone again....



She knew Marge's number by heart and after making sure Marge was past her initial panic over making an outfit on such short notice settled into Helen's request. Marge was a seamstress with extraordinary skills and it wasn't the whole costume that Helen wanted. Just the "underpinnings".



Helen was sure that if Brandon were to spend a few evenings in something delightfully sensuous she'd have a chance at getting him into other things delightfully sensuous. An evening with Brandon in layers of Chiffon next to her between those satin sheets left her breathless.



Marge laughed over the reason for Helen's request, promising Helen her highest priority and all the skill she possessed. Brandon's outfit would look identical to the other women's costumes, but underneath that gown would be the most delightful of garments. They would be ready for pick up at four that very day. It was eight in the morning and Helen spent the rest of that morning singing to herself.



"I've made you an appointment at Claire's with mine. Claire's is a magician with hair and makeup. We can use the back entrance to Claire's so no one sees you come in. I'll bring the costume with me so you can dress there as well. You can go to my place to change out of it when we're done!" Helen said to Brandon later after walking into the mail room.



Brandon nodded wishing he hadn't said yes because he hadn't thought about what dressing as a woman might mean. He also didn't know that Susan's costume was being changed slightly and almost eight hours later Helen was actually hugging Marge over those changes.



Marge had picked up a pair of lace shoes to match hers but in Brandon's size along with Susan's dress, bonnet and cape. Helen put the cotton petticoats and pantaloons into a large plastic bag that went into her trunk. The replacement petticoat and pantaloons were exquisite.



Ultra feminine with the light pink ribbon that went around the underskirt of the petticoat just above the ruffled lace. That shimmering pink matched the dainty look of the ruffled ankles of those pantaloons and the silk glistened to match the shine of the satin. Helen smiled as she ran her hands over the material imagining them warm to the touch by the young man wearing them.



It was a mischievous sort of smile...



Part 2



Helen decided that she'd love to wear these almost as much as putting Brandon in them and commissioned another set in her sizes to match those. That second set not nearly as important as the first and could wait. Brandon's outfit was ready when Helen picked up a rather expensive pair of silk stockings as well. The panties, also from that store were silk. Helen had a great deal of trouble focusing on their small talk as they drove to the boutique.



Helen explained the schedule: At five forty five they would gather in front of the mall to begin singing by six. fifteen songs from sheet music lasting roughly forty five minutes with fifteen minutes break in between three sets. They would stop at nine. She would introduce Brandon as Brenda.



Mr. Camaro, the owner of the Italian restaurant nearby, reserved and set a table aside for them so they could warm themselves during their break. He provided them with Italian cookies and a lightly laced Italian coffee which was delightfully warm going down. At nine Helen and Brandon would drive back to her place so Brandon could change and she would then drive him back to his studio apartment.



Brandon nodded as Helen moved through traffic towards Claire's and his makeover. Brandon had seen the large bag for his gown on the back seat and another he guessed correctly as the petticoat that went under it. There was a large shoe box and another bag plus a hat box for the bonnet. Brandon's mouth was dry as they pulled in behind the "Claire's Hair and Nails". Claire was smiling at the two when they entered.



Brandon's transformation took less time than most women Claire said out of ear shot of Brandon. He was beautiful Helen agreed as she watched her young man become a very pretty young lady. Brandon avoided the mirrors surrounding him, or tried to. His own hair was blended with a long cascading fall in the same dark brown color to nearly match and lightly fluffed around his face.



He hadn't expected to get his nails done but that was first and he avoided looking at those as well as the woman shaped them into delicate points before adding the red enamel. His lipstick matched although that was only from a glimpse and only for a second. Lavender above and black around his eyes gave Helen the shivers as she watched from her own chair.



Brandon was stunning. Should have been born a girl with that voice Claire said to Helen in a whisper. Helen nodded to that, but paused just beyond it. She liked it better that he was a boy as well she noted. A Part time girl would be ok Helen said making them both laugh. They shared some of the same life styles.



"Ready!" Helen asked as she stood from the chair she'd been sitting in and Brandon, with a mouth too dry to speak, only nodded. Claire invited them upstairs to her residence and Brandon used her guest bedroom. Claire, it was decided would help with Brandon's dress while Helen used Claire's bedroom to change in.



Helen hadn't said anything about panties and Brandon, for a few fleeting minutes almost decided to keep his own shorts on. It was the silk between his fingers that changed his mind. Odd how the feel of silk could make someone so dizzy Brandon thought after the panties were in place.



He did worry some over returning them deciding before he did so that they need to be laundered or at least rinsed. It wasn't all he thought about as he gathered his first silk stocking and worked it up his leg. A panel of elastic gripped his thigh just below the panties. He was dizzy again when he stood and his knees touched. There is something to be said of silk Brandon noted.



It got a little worse when he stepped into those pantaloons. Bloomers? He wondered not what they were called. They were closer to harem pants with a layer of opaque nylon next to the skin under a layer of sheer organza connected only at the waist and gathered ankles. The two layers moving over and independent of each other only held by those gathers and a narrow ribbon. A delicate ribbon in pink circled his waist to a tiny bow in front that matched the same treatment at the ankles.



His shoes went on but he wasn't thinking of the shoes as he bent to lace them. He stood and tried not smiling as the layers of satiny materal moved about him. The short heels gave him another inch in height and a pretty foot as he found the small bra already padded and as lavender as his panties.



That bra took a few minutes and a bit of contortions before adding his camisole of silk. Marge had used the same lace inset to match the other girl's bodice but using an expensive raw silk for the rest instead of cotton. . The noisy petticoat was last and it was Brandon's red nails against the stark white of his slips that made him pause.



The good news, he thought, was that no one would know how wonderful he felt since the petticoat hid what he couldn't. He had never felt so wonderful as he did in those minutes before Claire knocked on the guest room door. Claire too was struck by this pretty young man deciding to give him a complement that would shake most men badly but only made Brandon blush.



There was no question that he made a pretty girl, a very pretty girl, and being told so seemed a little ok in those things. He was actually feeling pretty if that was the way to describe it. He was more surprised over the dress when Claire removed it from the bag. Elegant! Elegant beyond words was Brandon's thoughts as Claire slid the back zipper to the waist.



A queen's gown or at least someone in the queen's court Brandon decided.



"Next time honey put your petticoats on after the dress!" Claire said chiding her young man as she lowered the dress for Brandon to step into. Brandon nodded blushing a little at the thought of stepping into that burgundy crushed velvet. A darker satin lining shimmered as Claire guided his petticoats into the vastness of the dress.



It took a bit of doing but Brandon's slips fell within the skirt of the dress before Claire brought it up sliding it right and left as she did so. Nosily! A few seconds more to guide his arms into the sleeves and a bit of tugging to bring the waist to Brandon's.



Lovely! Claire said as the waist sat over Brandon's hip. She was behind him instructing as she tugged the dress right and slightly left again to set the bodice.



"Hands on your hips precious and when I say press your sides do so while bringing your stomach in!" Claire said as she prepared to bring the zipper up. Brandon did as he was told and felt the tug of the zipper beginning at the small of his back before it went suddenly smoothly to his neck. Those movements causing the nylon lining to slip over his camisole making him forget to breath.



"Well, if you want an opinion, and it's free, you are far too lovely to ever be put back into pants." Claire said as she brought a hand against his bottom in a single pat. He could just feel that pat which only made his cheeks flair redder than they had been. There wasn't anything to say to that as Claire spent a moment fluffing the skirt around his slips.



It was a nearly perfect fit. A bit tighter at the waist than he would have liked but as she helped him with the cape he was decidedly female looking. Very female as Claire came around the front to button the single button that fassoned the cape at the neckline. It flaired outward so you could see the lace inset of his dress. Very Victorian... Right out of the pages of dic-kens as Brandon formed an image of himself on a winter street below an oil lamp somewhere in London.



It was the bonnet last. A stiff velvet with that french vision lined in satin. Lined and trimmed in dark lace next to a deep burgundy satin ribbon that finished his look. Claire was suddenly envious of Helen and the night before her.



"Sweet heart, is there anyway I can convince you to come back here this evening? A spot of tea while I explain how wonderful I'd treat you in the days ahead?" Claire said as she finished forming the large satin bow beneath Brandon's chin.

[archives]

Part 3

Brandon felt himself respond and grow slightly giddy suddenly.

"I don't think so!" Brandon said but smiling at the thought of what that might mean.

"Too bad!" Claire said as she fussed with his bonnet and then added: "Helen is a very lucky woman."

"Why?" Brandon asked thinking that Claire meant singing but knowing he didn't.

"She loves feminine men and you are perhaps the most feminine I've seen in a long time." Claire said before realizing that Brandon might not know this, adding quickly: "Not feminine men! Did I say feminine men? I'm sorry, feminine young ladies. I meant to say ladies! Silly of me."

"Oh." Brandon said not wishing to know what Claire really meant.

"All set?" Helen said from the other side of the door.

"Ready!" Claire said as she moved to the door letting Brandon stand there alone. Helen would see him fully as Claire opened that door and she did so she was out of the way when it opened fully.

Helen simply gasped. She gasped holding her hand over her ample bosom and smiled. She didn't move for a moment, then did only slightly before saying: "You are so lovely!"

Brandon wasn't sure what to say. A thank you would mean something else. Something odd that was tugging at his thoughts. Brandon shrugged, it was too late for reason. "Thank you!" He said deciding it was the right thing to say no matter how he felt. He almost reached down and gathered his skirt in his two hands wondering as his thoughts drifted how girls curtsied.

"I suppose we're ready then?" Helen said but almost wishing the night of singing was over. Brandon nodded and took a step. His first since the last of his things were added. He was wishing the night would last forever.

It was his soft smile that prompted Helen to move forward and gently hug her pretty young man. For a second Brandon hesitated then hugged back. A few more seconds passed before Helen broke the hug off. Something passed between them then. Both noticed it and Brandon flushed a little. He allowed Helen to take his hand as they walked from the room.

"Have fun you two!" Claire said looking after both as she followed them to the steps.

The drive to the mall was in silence, both lost in their thoughts as Helen parked near. Brandon saw the others a moment later gathering by the malls entrance. "Ready for this?" Helen asked as Brandon carefully exited the car. He shook his head yes but he wasn't truly ready. He was in women's clothing sure that everyone would know that.

"Everyone! This is Brenda! She's going to be joining us while Susan recovers." Helen said coming up to the group with an enthusiasm growing since she'd parked. It took a few minutes for the introductions to end and Brandon, now Brenda took the music book given to him by the gentleman who acted as the groups leader.

"Page one! We Wish You A Merry Christmas!" Mr. Vanderbilt said opening the dark red book. Brandon opened his and Mr. Vanderbilt put the pitch pipe against his lips. He raised his hand and said: "Begin!" Brandon sung softly but grew louder as he found his voice. The others took turns taking glances at who they thought was a young woman that very much sounded like a young woman.

Brandon forgot everything but the music and how wonderful it was singing in full voice. The kettle filled quickly as shoppers walked past, paused and made their contributions. That first forty five minutes came too quickly Brandon thought as the crowd once again showed their pleasure.

Mr. Camaro stood at the restaurant door already having had the table set with a nice range of Italian delicacies. All but the large table reserved for the carolers were full with a line formed just to the door of those waiting. There were more claps and congratulations as the carolers filed into and around the table.

"That young one! Can she drink?" Mr. Camaro asked in nearly perfect English.

"Of course!" Helen said.

Mr. Camaro nodded. She looked too young to be of legal drinking age but then again so did his daughter. Lightly laced espressos were made and handed out as each of the carolers started taking this and that from the anti-pasta dishes set before them. The drinks warmed them from the inside out and conversations become animated.

Brandon joining in only when a question was posed kept his answers short. He was a freshman at school, taking business and working at Helen's place. Only once did he forget he was not Brenda when his girl name was spoken. Helen watched mesmerized over Brandon's performance. No hint that he was a young man ever surfaced.

By the end of the third set they had collected nearly five hundred dollars not counting the two hundred Mr. Camaro added. Brandon was tired but it was a wonderful tired as he took each of the hands offered and their complements as well. The night had passed far too quickly he thought as he gathered his dress and slips into the car.

"That was pretty amazing!" Helen said. "I really enjoyed myself!" Brandon answered without guarding his words. "Really?" Helen said with no small amount of hope in her voice and then added: "Could you do a few more days of this?"

"Yes!" Brandon said far too quickly making him laugh before he said: "Maybe!"

"Too late!" Helen said taking the first answer as his most honest. Brandon blushed again but in the dark of the car it wasn't seen.

"You're going to be very mad at me!" Helen said as she pulled into the narrow driveway of her old Victorian. "Why?" Brandon asked nervously. "Your damn clothes! I left them in a bag at the boutique!" Helen said in frustration.

Brandon's heart leaped. With nothing to change back into he was stuck! He was stuck in those things! He moved his knee again as he forced himself to take on the same frustrating tone as Helen's: "Now what?"

"You can use my guest room and if you don't want to wear something of mine you're welcome to sleep in the buff. I can leave early enough in the morning to gather up your things." Helen said sounding like a giddy school girl. A tone not missed by Brandon nor what it suggested.

Brandon could have said any number of things: "Works for me. I just don't want to be late for work!"
Helen laughed. She was the president! Brandon she noted couldn't be late. Brandon shared that joke as they entered the house. That guest room was done to match the age of the house with a bed that stood nearly waist high on four gigantic post under a chiffon canopy.

Helen showed Brandon the bathroom and taking the initiative noted where the bath salts were as well as a new toothbrush. The robe when she returned was in a buttery soft satin tinted in a peach to match the gown in nylon. Helen laid those on the bed telling Brandon to join her for a toddy when he was done with his bath.

It was all done so casually as Brandon stood in stunned silence while Helen fused with guest towels and those instructions. The tub, sitting on ornate legs, held twice the water most modern tubs held and Brandon ignored the voice in his head warning him that he'd smell like a girl "still" if he used those bath beads.

Brandon soaked for a time then dried before returning to the bed. His whole time in the tub was spent in what to do about that nightgown and robe. His makeup was gone with the cold cream before his bath but he'd left the fall on for no other reason than how that long hair felt on his back. Another moment only before he gathered the gown and slipped it over his head.

part 4

Brandon slipped his feet into the warm cuddly soft slippers and moved to the door with far more confidence than he should have had. He also should have protested some or at least complained a little over doing what he was doing but it didn't seem necessary.

Brandon's reasoning, as he moved from the room, was that if Helen was comfortable with him like this then perhaps he could be as well. Truth was he was comfortable dressed as he was. He was more than comfortable as it happens and smiled over that. He was still smiling as he walked into the large kitchen.

Helen once again held her breath in silent awe over this young man so pretty as a girl. It was all she could do to hold back from doing what a part of her mind kept insisting on. "Fit ok?" Was the best she could come up with in that long minute she took.

"Yes." Brandon said looking down at the peach robe and hint of nightgown that fell slightly past the robes hem. Again he let caution slip as he added: "Feels good."

"Does it really?" Helen asked knowing the answer but surprised over the fact Brandon had admitted to that.

"Yes." Brandon said moving to the counter and sitting across from Helen as she finished making their cocoa. Brandon wasn't stupid and there was more than enough hints over what was happening to suggest he didn't need to act stupid either as he added: "Fits perfect!"

Helen sensed the change in Brandon. She handed him his cup and took a moment to blow on hers as her smiled changed to something a little more mischievous. "I was hoping you'd like it!" Helen said letting her caution go.

"I know!" Brandon said sensing the last barrier coming down between them.

"Then if I asked you to spend the next few days doing this would I be risking too much?" Helen asked as she moved a finger to Brandon's chin.

"If I said yes would I be risking too much?" Brandon asked feeling light headed again as Helen's finger teased the edge of his chin.

"I'm afraid the answer to that would be yes!" Helen said taking Brandon's face into her hands as she bent to kiss him. Brandon bent slightly allowing himself to give into the warmth of her lips and accepted the tongue that teased itself past them. His own arms slipped around Helen and he stood.

Their kiss lasted for an eternity before Helen slowed her passion just long enough to take Brandon's hand and start the short walk towards her bedroom. Brandon allowed himself to be led while taking that pause to say: "Then my answer is yes!"

Post Script:

It was noon before they left Helen's room. Any doubts over their relationship long gone by the time Brandon started getting dress and any doubts over that part ended with the things he'd be wearing out that day. Brandon wore a leather skirt with a silk blouse over a teddy and pantyhose. The small cup bra already padded slightly gave him just enough Helen said teasing him into his skirt before helping him with his lightly lined boots.

His calf high boots nearly matched his new leather coat. Lightly tan gloves were last as they talked about where to have brunch. Brandon already knew how he looked but seeing himself again as a girl left him almost as breathless as Helen.

The only down side was that this would end Brandon noted with a touch of sadness as they drove once more to the mall that night for another evening of caroling. Of course it didn't have to Helen said with a touch of authority in her voice.

His questioning look promoted a laugh then and Helen's explanation. Helen needed a personal assistant and she saw no reason why Brandon as Brenda couldn't do that job. The mail room already had another temp in place. Jennifer in personnel would be the only other person in the company that would know who Brenda was.

Brandon was shocked beyond words at the prospects and found himself suddenly scared over what all of that meant. Helen sensing his change patted his knee as she slipped the car into a parking slot. Obviously it was a bold move for Brandon she said but just as obviously it wasn't given how pretty he was.

Brandon this time only nodded. He nodded but thought about it. He thought about it hard because oddly enough he was more comfortable these past few days than at any time in his life. He said as much leaving that statement as his answer. Helen again patted his knee before they exited the car.

"I could do this!" Brandon said quietly as they walked towards the rest of the carolers now gathering by the mall doors.

"Wonderful!" Helen said taking Brandon's hand and giving it a squeeze before letting his hand go.

Brandon was in full voice that evening and took on two solos at the insistence of Helen and the group. Although his voice came with that first song. In fact, Brandon laughed a little with Helen the only one knowing why as they opened to the tab that separated the grouping of songs by each day as the group began:

"Don we now our gay apparel, fa la la la la, la la la la."

Hugs
Mary Beth