PART 18
After their meal of sandwiches and chips, Kathy kept asking Josh to twirl around for her. She loved the way his skirt floated so airily around her brother’s waist. While Gwendolyn was clearing things away in the kitchen, Kathy got the idea to teach Josh how to do a curtsy, so they practiced that for a few minutes. At Kathy’s insistence, Josh did a passable curtsy for his mother to her utter delight and his great chagrin. Before the flustered boy knew it, his mother had whipped out her cellphone and taken several pictures.
In short order, Josh was propelled out the door by his mother and Kathy for an early evening stroll into town. It was a short walk in the hot evening weather, but Josh had to walk more carefully than he was used to in his new sandals. With a light breeze blowing, he found that his skirt and petticoat tended to float up occasionally. The frothy tulle danced merrily over his legs as he tried to get used to walking this way.
Gwendolyn loved the sight of her son stepping so daintily, and she reminded him to make sure his dress didn’t blow up and expose his panties. Red-faced, Josh did his best to walk modestly as they moved onto the main street of the little town. Kathy was also dressed girlishly but much more casually in a denim skirt and fashion tee shirt. To anyone watching, she was clearly the older sister. People smiled at the mother and her daughters as they passed. No one seemed to realize Josh was a boy underneath, but that did nothing to ease his discomfort.
As they walked they came upon a quaint little dress shop with fancy dresses and very feminine clothing in the window. There was a sign on the window in elaborate script writing that announced the name “Smyth’s Clothing and Bridal, Bespoke Fashion for Ladies and Children since 1955.”
“Oh my those are lovely, don’t you think?” Gwendolyn looked at the beautiful dresses admiringly. The window display seemed to be nothing but soft pastels, ruffes and gauzy lace. There was only one boys outfit that Josh could see, a fancy little sailor suit that looked like it was meant for a toddler.
“Oh yes,” Kathy agreed, “Can we go in and look around? I’ll bet we could find something nice for you in there Josh. Wouldn’t that be fun?”
Put on the spot, Josh replied, “Oh yes Kathy that would be very nice.” Beet-red, the feminized boy felt trapped. However, a moment later, he finally caught a break as he saw a very well-dressed older lady exiting the door. She appeared to be the shop owner who was closing up for the day.
“Oh dear,” Gwendolyn sighed, “it looks like they are closed. Perhaps another time.” Josh breathed a huge sigh of relief. The last thing he wanted to do right now was look for dresses and girlish clothes. He found himself clinging near his mother as he wished they would move on from the shop quickly. It was such a girlish looking place it felt almost radioactive to him.
Overhearing their conversation, the lady turned to them. “Why what lovely girls! Yes I’m afraid I’m closed for the day, but you are more than welcome to come back next week. I’m Dolores Smyth, and this shop is my little piece of heaven. I’d be happy to help you find something you like,” she said agreeably. “My mother started this business years ago. She was the original ‘Mrs. Smyth.’ I took it over from her twenty years ago and have been running it ever since.”
“Thank you so much, Dolores,” Gwendolyn replied warmly. “I’m Gwendolyn Hartley, and we are here for a little vacation during the kids’ spring break. We’re staying at the house of a friend. Perhaps you know Mrs. Meriweather?”
“Why yes we’re acquainted. She and her girls were customers for years. It’s a pretty small town,” Mrs. Smyth replied.
“You really have some very nice pieces in the display,” Gwendolyn offered as they made small talk. Kathy listened to the conversation with interest as Josh squirmed self-consciously.
“Why thank you Gwendolyn, and are these precious angels your children?” she asked.
“Yes of course,” Gwendolyn answered. “Where are my manners?” Turning to Kathy and Josh, she directed, “Please introduce yourselves to Mrs. Smyth.”
“Hi I’m Kathy,” Kathy introduced herself. “I really like your shop and hope we can come back soon.”
“Thank you dear, you are welcome any time,” Mrs. Smyth responded. “And this must be your younger sister,” she gestured to Josh. Sensing his shyness, she continued, “That’s a lovely gingham dress you are wearing and such a pretty hairbow. What’s your name dear?”
Blushing furiously now, Josh didn’t speak for a moment. Now this lady was going to realize he was a boy. Gwendolyn fixed her gaze pointedly at her sissified son. This was an interesting moment. Finally, after several awkward seconds, he stammered to Mrs. Smyth, “I’m J… I’m Josh.” He immediately dropped his eyes and studied the sidewalk. Knowing that more was expected, he continued awkwardly, “your dresses are very pretty.”
In a moment of surprise and then clarity, Dolores Smyth arched her eyebrow and appraised Josh much more carefully. A different kind of smile appeared at the corners of her mouth and her eyes gleamed. “I see. Josh, is it?” she said, not unkindly. “Well young master Josh you wouldn’t be the first special boy to visit my shop. I’ve helped a few lucky boys find pretty frocks over the years. Why should girls have all the fun? You come back and I promise we will find something scrumptious for you.”
Seeing his mother looking expectantly, Josh knew a reply was required. “thank you very much, Mrs. Smyth. That sounds wonderful.” The expression on his face seemed to say that he didn’t find it wonderful at all, but Mrs. Smyth seemed not to notice.
Gwendolyn nodded approvingly. “We will definitely come back to see you, Dolores, thank you so much.”
Mrs. Smyth replied with a giggle, “it would be my absolute pleasure. I don’t get this chance very often. I think it’s been at least five years since the last one. And he’s lucky to have such a marvelously feminine build.” Mrs. Smyth happily handed Gwendolyn a business card. “How old is he? I’m guessing eleven or twelve perhaps?” Mrs. Smyth asked.
“Josh is fifteen,” Gwendolyn replied knowingly.
This seemed to genuinely shock Mrs. Smyth. “Goodness, most boys his age are not nearly as delicate. I’d never have pegged him as a teenager.” Speaking cheerily to Josh, she added “Indeed you really are an extra special little boy. I can’t wait to get my hands on you, my dear.”
Genuinely worried now, Josh noticed his sister insistently gesturing at him. When it dawned on him what she wanted, Josh looked pleadingly at his mother. Gwendolyn gave her son a piercing look, and he sensed that same edge of firmness in his mother as when she had pushed his knees together earlier. Grimacing slightly, Josh delicately took the hem of his skirt in both hands, placed his right foot behind his left, and performed a wobbly curtsy as he said, “Thank you, Mrs. Smyth.”
Mrs. Smyth was impressed and thrilled with the sweet gesture. Kathy beamed and Gwendolyn nodded approvingly. With that final flourish, they said their goodbyes.
Mortified, Josh didn’t trust himself to speak and his face was hot. He had just curtsied in public like a simpering little girl. Not only was he already exposed as a boy, but now he had a trip back to the dress shop to dread. The breeze lifted his petticoat again and he had to hold it down as he walked. He felt the breeze catch his hairbow too but it was clipped securely in his light brown, or rather his brunette hair. It wasn’t going anywhere. Kathy was excited about the prospect of helping shop for her sissy brother. Gwendolyn hummed happily to herself as they continued their walk. This was really going splendidly.