The Settlement

[Sandra B]

Chapter 38.  Shaniya Scores.

It was after ten when they got back, and Philip remembered he had some lines to write.  He’d done this before, and he knew the technique   Write all the “I”s first, then the “must”s, then the “not”s, and so on.  A hundred lines doesn’t sound much, but its four of five sheets of paper.  And when you written “masturbate” forty or fifty times, not only does it get tedious, but you start making spelling mistakes.  It was bedtime by the time he’d finished, and he was exhausted.  As a result, he overslept Tuesday morning, and his aunt wouldn’t let him off his duties, so he ended up being late for school, and had to report to the office with his excuse.  By the time he got to class, registration was over.  Miss Waters was not impressed.
“I hope you didn’t think you were going to escape from reading out your lines, Philip.”
“No, miss.”
“I’m not going to interrupt lessons, so you can come in at lunchtime and do it.”
“Yes, miss.”  Great, he thought, now I won’t have to do it in front of the class.
“But don’t think you’re going to escape public ridicule, young man.  I understand Shaniya was very disappointed she was allotted the least eventful period of your life to film.  So I’ve arranged with her teacher that she will come in at lunch and set up the camera to film you.”
“What?  That’s not fair, miss.”
“It’s perfectly fair.  We’ll put it onto discs and distribute them to every girl in the class.  It will be the perfect punishment for yesterday’s shocking exhibition.”
“Miss!  No, please!  If you do that they’re all going to upload it to Facebook!”
“All the better.  It’ll be a lesson to you not to be late for school, too.”

It was not a pleasant experience.  Shaniya was delighted that at last she had something compromising to record.  She wasn’t asked to, but she decided to stay for the whole session, experimenting with zoom and hand-held filming as well as static.  Miss Waters gave him a sheet of paper to stand on and ordered him not to move off it.  She sat at her desk, occasionally correcting his pronunciation, emphasis, or enunciation.  It was a short film – no more than five minutes – but Shaniya was delighted.  However, he had something worse to worry about - the Art and Media Society meeting on Thursday.
At lunchtime on that day, Shaniya approached him in the playground.
“Coming to the meeting this afternoon, Philip?”
“Of course.”
“Kim can’t stop talking about you.”
“Really?”
“She wants a fairy costume.”
“Oh, I’m not surprised,” he laughed.
“And she wants you to have one, too.”
“What?”
“She said that you said you would like to be a fairy.  Is that right?”
“Oh, yes, maybe I did…”
“Well, I hope your wish comes true…”

When Philip arrived at the Society’s meeting, all the girls were already there.  He could hear the commotion of chattering and laughing as he approached along the corridor.  It subsided quickly as he appeared at the door.
“Here he is!  The star!” said Madison.
Miss Lambert arrived right after him.
“Good evening, students!  So, tell me all about the filming.  Were there any problems?”
“Oh, no, miss,” laughed Freida, “quite the opposite.  We got loads of great video, didn’t we girls?”
The others nodded vigorously in agreement.  Philip frowned.
“Well, then, let’s start at the beginning.  Let me see…”  She consulted her memorandum.  “Cynthia – you were the first.  Could we have a quick flick through your footage?”
Cynthia had brought her laptop, and inserted the memory card.  The video opened with Philip waking up.
“Oh, good.  I see you started early, Cynthia.  That’s what I was hoping for – a truly candid…”
She broke off.  On the film, Philip had emerged from his bed.
“Oh…”
“It was just temporary, Miss Lambert.  My pyjamas were in the wash.  I…”
“No, Philip, don’t apologise.  It’s…very nice.”
“Wait till you see his maid’s outfit, miss!”
“Yes!  And his baby pants!”
“And sometimes he’s a naughty maid, miss, with…”
“But wait till you see mine, miss!” chimed in Katsumi.  “No-one’s seen it yet, but it’s incredible!”
“And miss, miss!” screamed Shaniya, jumping up and down.  “Miss, I’ve got a sort of little epilogue, which Miss Waters asked me to film on Tuesday.  It’s so cool!”
Philip wanted the ground to open up and swallow him.  There was no way any of this was going to be hidden from Miss Lambert.  He looked at her, hoping she might spare his blushes.  But she was already fast-forwarding Cynthia’s contribution, stopping at the interesting bits.  She had a slight smile on her lips.
“Well, well.  This is very good…very good.  If all your films are as…as competent as this…  I shall need to see all the segments, I think, before we discuss the editing.  I’ll collect up all the cards later and review them at my leisure.”
I think you’re going to like our film, miss,” said Shaniya, calmer now.  “The problem will be deciding what to leave out.”
“Well, that’s the best sort of problem to have.  Let’s hope you’re right, Shaniya.  Now, Philip, do you still want to join our little society?”
“Yes, Philip, do…” pleaded Madison.
“Yes, I’d like to.  I’ve had enough of being filmed.  Now I want to be behind the camera for a change.”
“Well, then, you’re in!”
There was no further discussion about Philip’s biopic that evening.  Instead Miss Lambert gave them some instructions on the technicalities of editing – stuff like fades in and out.  It was interesting, and Philip decided he had done the right thing to join. 
The meeting broke up at five, and he headed home.  He hadn’t yet asked his aunt about Friday evening, so when he arrived he broached the subject.
“Aunt?  I was wondering…  I wanted to go out with one of my friends tomorrow evening.  Do you think I could do my work Saturday morning instead?”
“I don’t see why not.  Anyone I know?”
“No, I don’t think so.  Rebecca from my class.  She sits right behind me.”
His aunt couldn’t conceal a look of surprise.  “Rebecca?”
“Yes.  Do you know her?”
“No, no, not at all.  Well, that’s very nice dear.  I hope you have a nice time.”
That’s odd, thought Philip.  She acted like she knew her.  Is it possible someone at school is spying on me, and reporting back to her?  That would explain why she seemed to know something about what had happened on Monday, too.  I wouldn’t put it past her.
“I have something to tell you, too,” she continued.  “I had a call from Mrs Williams today – Shaniya’s mother.  Apparently you told her youngest a bedtime story when you were over there?”
“Yes, aunt.  So what?”
“Well, now she’s bugging her mum for a fairy costume.  But according to her, you said you wanted one too.  Is that right?”
“Well, she asked me if I wanted one, and I sort of just said I did to keep her happy.  That’s all.”
“Well, I’ve arranged for you to have one, darling.  There’s a shop called Daring Designs, who’ll make anything, and I booked you in to be measured for one.  They’ll show you the available styles.  Pick something pretty, won’t you?”
“Aunt…”
“Now, now, no arguments, Philip.  It’s all arranged.  And then you’ll be able to go and play with…Kimona, is it?  Two little fairies together.”
“Aunt, no.  She’s, like, seven years old!”
“Nearly eight, I believe.  And Shaniya was a bit disappointed about her contribution to the film, because she was the last.  But now she’ll be able to film the two of you together.”
“She made up for it on Tuesday.”
“Sorry?”
“Nothing, aunt.”
Philip was going to say something else, but he knew it would be pointless.  So he stomped off up to his bedroom and threw himself on the bed.  But as he lay there, an idea began to form in his mind.  Daring Designs.  Wonder if mum still goes there on a Friday?  Daren’t get in touch, though.  Perhaps….

[Sandra B]

Chapter 39.  The Date.

Philip and Rebecca had suddenly developed a mutual shyness.  Philip was in class first, and when Rebecca and Valerie made their way to their desk, Valerie, seeing him redden slightly at their approach, directed a triumphant smirk at him.  But Rebecca herself blushed and looked straight ahead.
“You all right, Becca?”
“Sure.  Just thinkin’ about my maths stuff.”
They sat down.
“Can’t wait to see the film, can you?” Valerie continued.  “Watch this.”  She poked Philip in the back.  “Hey, you!” she hissed, “gonna to give us another performance today, are you?”
“Leave ‘im alone, Val.”
“What?  Why?”
“Cos I say so!”
Valerie stared at her.  “What’s up with you today?”
“Nuffin’.  It’s not your place, anyway.  I was the one what did it.”
Valerie frowned, bemused, and was about to make a reply when Miss Waters entered the room.
“Settle down, students.”  (She tried to remember not to address them as “girls” now.)  “Settle down.  Now, the first thing is, I’m afraid you won’t be receiving the DVDs of Philip’s penance after all.”
A chorus of disappointed groans.
“Because that footage is now part of his biopic…”
Cheers and laughter.
“…which is now subject to the expert editing of the Art and Media Society.”
Puzzled silence.  What did that mean?
“So will  it be in the film, miss?” asked Winny.
“I really have no idea, Winny.  It’s not my decision.  Now, let’s get on.”

At lunchtime, Valerie was determined to have it out with her friend.
“Becca, what’s going on?  Has something happened?  Tell me.  Have I said something to annoy you?”
“No, Val, course not.”  She took a deep breath.  “Look, you musn’t tell anyone, right?  Not anyone.  After school Monday, Philip apologised to me for the other day.”
“He apologised?  After what you’d just done?”
“Yeah.  And…and ‘e asked me out.”
“He did what?”
“Yeah.”
“So…what did you say?”
“I said okay.  We’re goin’ for a drink tonight.”
Valerie stared at her, temporarily speechless.
“I don’t believe it.  Why?  I mean, why did you agree?”
“I told you.  I can’t ‘elp it, Val.  I like ‘im.  Listen, I agreed cos once I’ve spent a bit of time wiv ‘im, I know I won’t feel the same.  I know.  ‘E’s too posh for my taste, for one fing.”
“I hope you’re right…”
“I am.  Wait an’ see.  But don’t tell no-one, okay?”
“I won’t.  Trust me.”
“Okay.  Gotta go to the loo.”
Rebecca and Philip had surreptitiously exchanged numbers during the week, and Rebecca needed to text him to make arrangement for that evening.
“Where we meeting?”
“Let’s go to Paul’s and have a pizza first.”
“Okay.  About 4 then.”
Paul’s Pizza House was in town.  It was only visited by girls from Caroline Norton on birthdays or special occasions.  When Rebecca arrived, Philip was waiting outside, looking shifty, hoping no-one he knew would see him.  They slipped quickly inside and found a table in the far corner.  It was quiet.  The waitress approached them with menus.
“Good evening, ladies.  How are you today?  Any drinks?”
“Want a beer, Becca?”
“Sure.”
“Two Becks, please.”
“Thank you.”
Nothing was said until the waitress came back with their beers.
“Are you ready to order?”
“Oh, Rebecca?  Do you know what you want?”
“I’ll ‘ave a Veneziana, thanks.”
“I’ll have a pepperoni with mushrooms.”
They sat sipping their beers, looking warily at each other.
“I wouldn’t ‘ave been surprised if you’d stood me up.”
“Why would I have done that?”
“So why did you ask me out?”
“Why did you ask me out.”
“No, come on.  I asked you first.”
“Well, I was sorry about what I said to you…”
“That all?”
“No, course not.  I like you.  I noticed you the first day.”
“What do you like?” asked Rebecca, tilting her head to one side and smiling enigmatically.
“Well you’re so…up front, you know?  And clever.  And you do things that no-one else would.”
“Ah.  Like Monday?”
“Well, yes, for instance.”
“Aren’t you angry?”
“No.”  Rebecca looked doubtful.  “Really I’m not.”
“You’re not playing some sort of prank on me?”
“No.  I wouldn’t do something like that.”
“I’m flattered.  You know that.”
“You’ve got no reason to be.  I didn’t think you’d say yes.”
“But you knew I liked you.”
“Maybe…  But I didn’t really know why you asked me out.  I thought it may be a trick.  You were in on the other stuff, after all.”
“Yeah.  Sorry about that.  I would never have done anythink to hurt you.  I’ll tell you.  I shouldn’t.  I’ve been out with blokes before, and I know you should never give yourself away.  But I’ve never known any bloke who would have the guts to wear a girl’s school uniform and go to a girls’ school, like you 'ave.  And you’re so polite an’ everyfink.  And you’re clever.  And you’re very ‘andsome.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.  You could ‘ave any girl in the school if you wanted.  But you probably don’t even know it, do you?”
“I don’t want any girl.”
“Do you want me?  I don’t mean…  You know, do you feel okay just bein’ wiv me?”
At this point the pizzas turned up, and the conversation froze momentarily.
"Was she lookin’ at us funny?”
“Maybe.  I didn’t notice.” 
“She probably finks we’re a pair of perverts.”
“She’s probably right.”  They laughed.
“To answer your question, I do like your company.  You’re so easy to talk to.  And you’re funny.”
“You must fink I’m a bit ignorant, don’t you?  You know, the way I speak.  I’m workin’ on it though.”
“Rebecca, I couldn’t care less how you speak.  You’ve got a nice voice.”
“You sound really, you know, educated.”
“I can’t help it.  It was just how I was brought up.  If you’d prefer, I can speak like one of those geezers who hang out in the King’s Arms watching the football.  Loik, know wo’ I mean, darlin’?  Gis us anuvver beer, cos Man U’s just gone one up, innit?”
Rebecca nearly choked on her Beck’s.  “Please, don’t!  That’s not a bad impression.  I know several guys who sound just like that!”
“So what do you think?”
“What about?”
“You and me.  Why we’re sitting here together.  The odd couple.”
“You’re odd.  I’m normal.”
“So why are you with me?”
“F*** knows!  No, I’ll tell you the truth.”  She grinned mischievously.  “I want you to kiss me later, to see if you’re any good at it.  If not, we’re finished.”
“Hmm.  Well at least I’ll get one kiss, then.  But it sounds like putting the cart before the horse to me.”
“Oh yeah.  ‘Ow was the cart, by the way?”
“How was it?  Shattering.  I don’t know where you learnt that.”
“I’m not gonna tell you.  But it’s not all I learnt.  So if you want to see the rest, that kiss better be a good’un!”

[Sissy Little Girl]

Sandra B, sounds like Philip is going get a fairy costume so he can have playdates with Kimona.  That's what he gets for saying he wanted one, too.  Philip also had to endure the Art and Media Society's editing of all of the film they have of Philip during his maid service for his aunt's dinner party.  He was also filmed reciting his lines that he had to write.

Now, he is going on a date with Rebecca.  He is having quite a time.

Can't wait for more.  :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D   

[Sandra B]

Chapter 40.  Foiled Again.

After the pizza, Rebecca and Philip wandered around town till they found a nice-looking bar, and had a few drinks.  They left at closing time, each of them a lot wiser about the other’s life and ambitions, and, since they couldn’t return to either’s house that night, they strolled in the park and found a bench in a secluded corner.  Rebecca got her kiss, but she seemed unable to make up her mind about its quality, and it had to be prolonged and repeated several times, and accompanied by other acts of affection, after which she expressed the opinion she was still undecided, and would have to suspend judgement and postpone a final decision to a later date.  Philip gallantly walked her home, though it was in the opposite direction to his aunt’s house, and after some delay in the region of the front door, rang for a cab for himself.   He got back at half-past one, and crept upstairs to bed.  He fell asleep with an imbecile grin on his face.
From that day, the dynamics of the relationships in U.1 changed.  Rebecca updated Valerie on Saturday, and she, being an open-minded and well-disposed individual who respected and trusted her best friend, immediately extended her affection to Philip as well.  Nikki, who thought of Rebecca as one of hers, started to see Philip in a different light.  And the rest of the class, who came in on Monday morning inexplicably cognisant of the new liaison, regarded it with surprise and excitement.  The last thing they could have imagined.

Tina?  Philip was concerned about how she would react.  Not that she had shown much affection towards him over recent weeks, but he felt they had a sort of understanding.  After his late return that Friday night it was inevitable he should be cross-examined by his aunt, who soon managed to extract from him all the information she wanted, information that would immediately be passed to Tina.  But he needn’t have worried.  Whatever she may have led him to imagine, the fact was that her investment in him was limited to the amount of entertainment he could provide. 
“Wait till his little titties start popping out, mum,” she laughed. “She won’t be so interested in him then.  Though I might be, I suppose.  I think we should increase the dose a little, don’t you?”
“That’s your province, darling.  Do what you like.”
Philip’s relationship with Rebecca continued to develop.  They found little secret corners in which to make love, and one glorious day, when his aunt and her daughter had gone to visit a friend, they had an uninterrupted eight hours in the house.  It was one of those rare relationships between two apparently dissimilar people, which works for that very reason – that their personalities are so complex that neither ever really gets to the bottom of the other’s, and so the mutual fascination is never lost.

But to return to the present.  By the Thursday following Philip and Rebecca’s date, Miss Lambert had had a chance to review the footage, including Shaniya’s final contribution.  And review it.  And review it.  And show it to various friends.  And make a carefully-edited version, “with all the good bits in” as she put it to the school staff, as she handed them their copies.  She was surprised – no, shocked – at the things that went on in Philip’s home, and at last she understood why the girls had been so enthusiastic.  For the Society’s editing sessions, however, she maintained an air of calm disinterestedness, and they eventually came up with a version which, while acceptable for public viewing, nevertheless contained enough material to ensure the school would be entertained at the end of term showing.  The “fancy maid” episode, up to the point Jill’s hand started roving, and the baby episode, were both retained in full.  The recitation was edited to a few ambiguous episodes, which might have appeared puzzling to those unaware of the truth.  Philip argued strongly against any inclusion of the line-reading scene, which would of course have enlightened the audience.  But in the end he was outvoted, and Miss Lambert added a rather clever voice-over;
“As we can see from his deconstruction of Keats, Philip is a rather shy public speaker when it comes to verse.  But he is much more confident with prose.”  Cue, twenty seconds of Shaniya’s final footage.
“That will make a great climax, miss,” said Madison, enthusiastically.
“No!  Come on, miss, that’s not fair!” countered Philip.
“This is not all about you, Philip.  Sometimes the requirements of good art have to be put before mere personal considerations.  The film will be judged by its reception.”

It was now April.  The weather was getting a little warmer.  The following weekend Aunt Estella offered to drive him to Daring Designs to be properly measured.  But, remembering his drive from the station, he elected to go alone.  At the suggestion of his aunt, he wore a lightweight dress under an overcoat, to make the measuring process easier.
It was a gaudy-looking establishment, with some unashamedly fetishistic costumes in the windows, the sign over the shopfront painted in bright yellow letters on a royal blue background.  The interior lived up to the promise of the outside.  It was empty of customers, but staffed by two women, mother and daughter he guessed, by the matching physiognomy.  He approached the elder of the two, a flamboyant fifty-year-old, who had the receiver of the telephone lodged under her chin, and was writing figures on a form of some sort..
“Hi.  Er…I’m Philip?  I think my aunt….”
“Ah, Philip!  Yes. The fairy costume.  Nice to meet you.  I’ve heard a lot about you.  I’ll be with you in a second…”
She didn’t bat an eyelid.  His aunt must have warned her…
“Shall I see to him, mum?”
“Oh, would you, Susie?  Thanks.”
“Follow me, if you would,” said the girl, with a smile.  Philip followed her into a back room, where there was a large oak table covered with offcuts and rolls of material, suissors and rules, two full-length mirrors, and countless half-finished projects. 
“If you’d just slip off your coat…you can put it on the chair.  Now, this won’t take long.  I just need to get some basic measurements, then we can look at designs.”
She got to work with the tape, noting down the measurements in a little duplicate book.  When she had finished, she asked him to confirm his name, address, email and phone number, which she wrote on the top of the page.
“Well Philip, that’s done.  Now, let me find the catalogue…”
“Excuse me.  Do you know Alice Timothy at all?”
“Alice?  Of course.  You’re her daughter – I mean son – aren’t you?  She was in here yesterday.  She comes in every week.”
“Yes.  But I live with my aunt.”
“I know.  Your mum’s told us all about it.  It’s awful.  I can hardly believe Miss Crowthorne would….”
“Do you think you could do me a favour?”
She looked at him uncertainly.
“Wait a minute.”  She went to the door.  “Mum, are you free?”
The older woman came in.
“Philip was asking….”
“I was wondering if you’d help me see my mum.  Here.”
The mother grimaced.  “Philip, I’d love to help.  But your aunt gave us specific instructions that you were not to be allowed to bump into your mum here, and if you made any attempt to arrange a meeting we were to report it to her….  Now don’t look worried.  Of course we’re not going to say a thing.  But by the same token, if you arranged a meet I couldn’t look in your aunt’s face and lie about it.  So, I’m sorry, but it’s best you say no more about it.”
That bitch had thought of everything.  He would have to devise some other strategy.  He was so distracted he hardly paid any attention to the catalogue. 
“Your aunt suggested this one…”
He glanced at the page.  “Fine.  Whatever.”
“Are you sure?”
“She runs my whole life.  Who am I to object?” he said, bitterly.
“Only it doesn’t have a skirt…”
“Oh.  I see.  Yes.  That’s not good…”
“If you like I can supply you with an elasticated one.  Layers of gauze?  Velcro fastening?”
“Oh, thank you.  Yes.  That’d be great.”
“It shouldn’t take long.  We’ll call you when it’s ready.”
“Thank you, Susie.”

[Sandra B]

Chapter 41.  Underhand.

It was about ten days later that he arrived home from school to find a parcel waiting for him.
“I was in Daring Designs this morning, just when your fairy costume arrived, so I collected it for you, dear.”
“Oh, thanks very much, aunt,”
She ignored the faint tone of sarcasm. 
“Well?  Don’t you want to try it on?”
“Later.  I’ve got stuff to do now.”
“No, Philip.  Now, please.  I’m paying for this, so I’d like to see what I’m getting for my money, if you don’t mind.”
With a sigh, Philip snatched up the parcel and headed for the door. 
“Don’t forget this, dear.”
She handed him a large flat box like one of those oversized chocolate boxes that used to be popular.  It was secured with white tape.  He took it with a grunt and went upstairs.  He couldn’t remember what the outfit was supposed to look like.  He was reminded, however, as soon as he pulled off the wrapping.  For a minute he just stood there, staring at it.  But he had endured so many humiliations already, he was becoming resigned to them.  The little silver spandex body was cut quite high on the leg, and decorated from the waist up with swirls and circles of sequins which glinted in the light in rainbow colours.  It had a high round collar but was sleeveless.  Just as well they had remembered the skirt, he thought.  Layers of white gauze, twinkling with minute jewels, with an elasticated waist and Velcro fastening.  The costume came with accessories, neatly packed in a separate parcel.  White fishnet tights, silver Mary Janes, silver elbow-length gloves, and a sparkly tiara.  Oh, and, inevitably, a silver fairy wand with a glittery heart at the end.  There was also a little rectangular cardboard box, which when opened, proved to contain a set of matching cosmetics, namely a bottle of silver lip gloss and pots of silver eye-shadow and glitter face powder.  He turned his attention to the big flat box.  He thought he knew what that was, and he was right.  A pair of gossamer wings, the rainbow gauze stretched over light wire frames, and attached to a little elastic harness. 
“Darling?  Are you dressed?” his aunt called from downstairs.
“Just coming!”
He quickly divested himself of his uniform and pulled on the tights, then slipped into the leotard, and fastened on the skirt.   He replaced the lid on the chocolate box and put it under his arm.  Then he grabbed the gloves and tiara and headed downstairs.
He sidled awkwardly into the lounge, where his aunt was waiting. 
“Oh, darling, that’s gorgeous!  Turn around.  It fits you like a glove.  But I don’t remember ordering a skirt.  It rather spoils the line, don’t you think?”
“No, I don’t.  I asked for it specifically.  I’m not parading about in this thing without it.”
“Oh, why do you have to be so coy?  I’m sure you’d look perfectly nice without it.”
“Aunt, I’m wearing it.  End of story.”
“Well, come here and I’ll help you put on your wings.  And don’t pout so, please.”
He reluctantly handed her the wings.
“Put your arms through.  That’s right.  Now this goes over your head.  There!  If you need to tighten the elastic there’s this little buckle.  We’ll adjust that before you leave.  Oh, my goodness.  You’re a real fairy now!  Kimona will be so happy.”
“Can I take it off now?”
“All right, then.  Let me have a picture to show Tina, first.”
“She see it on the day, whenever that is.”
“Oh, yes, the day.  I forgot to tell you.  Kimona’s mum called me today.  It’s Saturday week.  Kimona’s having a few friends around.  You’re invited to lunch, and there’ll be tea later on.  And Kimona wants you to tell her friends the fairy story.  She loved it so much.”
“A few of her friends?”
“Oh, literally a few.  Three I think.  Of course, Shaniya will be there too.”
“Of course.  With her camera, I bet.”
“Darling, don’t be so negative!  Relax and have a nice time.  And be nice to the girls, won’t you?  Now, put on your gloves and stand over there, by the window.  There.  That’s done.  You can go and change now and get on with your duties.  And put your costume away nicely, won’t you?  The drawer under the wardrobe is empty, and I’ve lined it with tissue for you.”

As Philip stripped off his fairy outfit and stowed it away, he reflected on how little resistance he put up these days to the indignities imposed by his aunt.  Not that this was really an indignity, he thought.  This outfit is quite sweet in its way.  No, he quite enjoyed dressing up, and the feeling of soft, silky fabrics against his skin.  It was just…well, it was just the embarrassment of being paraded in front of others, especially his peers.  He shivered slightly at the thought of the end of term showing of his biopic.  However, Kimona’s little party shouldn’t be too bad.  They were just kids, and he was sure that, as the senior fairy, they would regard him with due deference.  The same couldn’t be said for Shaniya, however.  Nor parents.  But with luck they’ll drop off their kids and leave before I arrive, he thought.

That weekend, Rebecca’s parents had gone away, so he had got time off from his maid duties, and they spent Saturday night together and stayed over at her house.  On Sunday morning they were having a lie-in, and Rebecca was lying on her side next to him and stroking his chest, when all at once she sat up and leaned over.
“Philip!  Are you growing little boobs?  Look, I’m sure they’re bigger than before.”
“No, no, of course not!” he blustered, feigning a laugh.  “I probably need to go on a diet.”
“No, really, Phil.  It’s not fat.  Look, they’re shaped like, sort of, little courgette-ends or somefing.  I’m serious!  I’m not imagining it.  And your nipples are longer, I’m certain!”
Philip had noticed his nipples had stopped itching recently.  Perhaps the change was underway.  He looked down at himself, alarmed.  She was right.  There was no doubt about it.  They had started popping out, like little fruits.  My god, he thought, I’d better stop those meds.  They do work, after all! 
“I don’t mind,” grinned Rebecca.  “I’ve told you, I like you as a girl.  Breasts would be a bonus as far as I’m concerned.”
But not as far as I’m concerned, thought Philip.  That’s it.  No more pills.

When he got home he confronted his aunt and Tina.
“No more meds, right?  I’m actually growing breasts!  I am!”
He expected an argument, but to his surprise, they acceded without demur.
“Okay,” said Tina, “I’m sure you’re not – no, please don’t show me – I’m sure you’re not, as I said, but we’ll stop them if you’re worried.  They were only very mild, anyway.  Mainly to inhibit hair growth.”
“Yeah, well, they’ve done that all right.”
“I’m going to make supper,” said his aunt, extricating herself from what could have been a difficult conversation, and disappearing into the kitchen.
“Okay, Philip..  Calm down,” said Tina.  “We’ll stop them, all right?  If they have had any effect – which I doubt – I’m sure it’ll soon wear off.  Relax, Philip.  Have a beer.!”
“Yeah, okay.”
“Sit down.  I’ll get you one.”
She joined her aunt in the kitchen.  She winked as she opened a bottle of beer.  She went to the cupboard, took a tiny bottle from the back of the shelf, and, using the dropper attached to the lid, put two drops into the beer.
“He can have it this way, instead,” she whispered to Estella.  Sally left me a good supply.”
“Clever girl,” smiled Estella. 
“And I’ll tell you something else, mum.  Breast growth is absolutely non-reversible.  Once they’re grown, they’re there for good!”
“Where’s my beer?” called Philip from the lounge.
“Coming, darling!”  replied Tina.

[Sandra B]

Chapter 42.  Fairyland.

Philip started to monitor his new acquisitions each evening when he went to bed.  By Friday night he felt certain they had grown some more.  There could be no mistake.  They were like small lemons.  But he knew he had stopped the meds, so it could only be some sort of natural process.  Perhaps acting and dressing like a girl makes your body think you are a girl, he speculated.  In any case, if they go on like this, soon I’m going to have to get some sort of a bra.  I wonder what that feels like?  He found the idea mildly exciting, despite himself.  The thought that he would have some real claim to being female was a postive, anyway.  It would mitigate the feeling of being a bit of an outsider at school.  The girls might be inclined to accept him as one of them if he looked more like them physically, mightn’t they?  In any case, he didn’t have time to think about that.  Tomorrow was fairy day.  Tina had offered to drive him, as long as he consented to change at home.  Her logic was that the girls would be disappointed if he were to turn up dressed as anything else but a fairy.  I suppose she’s right, he thought.  I’ll take a change of clothing in my backpack.

So at twelve the next day he found himself sitting next to Tina being driven to Kimona’s house.  His rucksack was in the boot - Tina had insisted it went in the boot, because, she said, if it were on the back seat and she had to stop suddenly, it could fly into the front an injure them.  Philip thought this a little odd, since normally she was not averse to putting anything there, including bottles of wine, heavy parcels, and her gym equipment.   On the back seat were his wings, and a little present for Kimona, prettily wrapped in silver paper.  He was feeling all neat and snug in his little fairy outfit, clutching his fairy wand, though he was conscious of the prominence of  his newly-budding breasts under the close-fitting silver spandex.  Tina had made him up, and his eyelids and cheeks and lips were silver and sparkly.  They pulled up outside the house.  Shaniya was at the door, waiting, and he could see Kimona and some other kids behind her.  Tina reached back and handed him his wings and the little packet. 
“Shaniya will help you put them on,” she grinned. 
He sighed, and, checking up and down the road, and smoothing down his skirt, he got out and went to collect his bag.  But before he got to the back of the car, Tina had pulled away.  He shouted after her, but she cannot have heard, because she didn’t stop.
“Damn!” he said out loud, “now this is all that I’ve got to wear!”
But there was nothing for it now.  He walked up to where Shaniya was waiting, an expression of unalloyed delight on her face, her phone in one hand - ready for action, thought Philip.
“Mum!  Philip’s here.”
“Well, bring him into the kitchen, Shan.”
As he crossed the threshold, he was immediately surrounded by Kimona and her three little friends, all admiring his costume, and his makeup.  They all had fairy costumes of their own, of varying sophistication, at least one of which had been adapted from a ballet leotard.  Kimona was wearing one almost exactly like his.  It must have come from the same source.  He gave her her present.  She ripped it open. 
“Wow!  Thank you Philip!  It’s lovely!” 
It was a little tiara.  Her mother had confided she hadn’t been able to get her one.  Kimona insisted on giving him a thank you kiss.  A sweet moment, captured by Shaniya’s phone.  She was making the most of his arrival.
“Love the fairy wand, Philip! Girls?  Let me introduce Philip.  Philip always wanted to be a fairy – isn’t that right. Kim?”  Kimona nodded eagerly.  “And now he’s bought himself this beautiful fairy costume.  Philip.  Let me introduce Kim’s best friends.  Abigail…”
“Hello, Philip!  I love your costume!”
“And Lucy…”
“Hi, Philip!  Did you do your own makeup?  It’s amazing…”
“And Dorelia…”
“Hi.  My mum can’t wait to meet you.  She says she won’t believe you have a real fairy costume until she sees it for herself!”
“Oh, really.”
“Yes, Philip, really,” said Shaniya.  “Come and meet her.”
She led Philip into the kitchen, where her mother was chatting to another woman.  They both stopped dead and stared at him open-mouthed.  Shaniya’s mother was the first to recover.
“Oh, Philip, that’s…you look wonderful!  I didn’t really think…”
“Mum?  Aren’t you going to introduce Jessie?”
“Oh, yes, of course…  Sorry, forgetting my manners…  This is my good friend Jess – she’s Dorelia’s mum.  She’s kindly agreed to stay and help with everything.”
Jess had recovered from the initial shock.  Her eyes lit up, and she came over and kissed Philip lightly on both cheeks, being very careful not to smudge his makeup.  She was a rather showy lady, with red nails and lipstick, bronze-coloured hair, and a matching blouse.  She had green eyeshadow, which clashed with everything else, but somehow seemed to suit her style.
“I didn’t believe Dana when she told me you were coming as a fairy!  That’s so nice of you.  Kimona’s been talking about nothing else since we arrived.  Who did the makeup?  Your cousin?  She should be a beautician.  I think I’ll ask her to do mine!  But your little leotard!  So cute!  And you’re so sparkly!  Can I see?  Do you mind?  Where did you get this?  The same place as Kimona’s!  Ah, that explains it.  I’ve been past that shop so many times, but I’ve never been in.  But next time…  Ooh, the material so smooth!  I love how it shines…”  Her eyes were riveted on Philip’s little breasts.  “Goodness me, and such a good fit.  And these little sequins…all sewn on by hand.  And the tights and the shoes…and the gloves!  And that sweet little tiara.  Do you mind if…”
She took out her phone.  What was the point in objecting?  If that’s what it took to shut her up…  I wish this wand were real, he thought.  I’d turn her into a frog, or a rat, or something. Wouldn’t take much, anyway. 
She was still snapping away when Dana interposed.
“Jess, why don’t we finish preparing lunch, then the kids can eat.  Oops, I mean Philip and the kids, of course,  Sorry, Philip.”
“No problem, Mrs Williams..”
“Dana, please…”
“Dana…”
“Shaniya?  Perhaps you’d like to help Philip on with his wings.  No point him standing there holding them.”
“My pleasure, mum!”  And then, in a lower voice, “Philip, turn around.  That’s right.  Arms in,  Over your head…  Good girl.  Now let me adjust the front.  Don’t want to pinch your little titties, do we?” she added with a malicious smile, tightening the elastic.
“Shut up, Shaniya.”
“What a pity the film’s all finished.  But I’m gonna get some good footage of you today, don’t worry.”

For lunch, the five fairies had their own little table in the dining-room.  There was lots of food, so Dana suggested a little rest before dessert.
“When you’re ready we’ll have some ice-cream, yes girls?”
“Yes, please…” they chorused.  So the five fairies repaired to Kimona’s bedroom to play…fairies, of course!  And Kimona insisted Philip tell them all the story he had told her at bedtime.  Which he did, with a few embellishments, while they all listened spellbound.  It’s amazing how a simple story can fascinate them, thought Philip.  It must be because they have such unfettered imaginations at that age, they supply all sorts of details I hadn’t even thought about.  Which is true, up to the age where they start thinking what they are trained and expected to think, rather than what they feel like thinking.
Then Jess called from downstairs.
“Children?  Shall we have ice-cream now?”
“Yay!” they shouted, and tumbled downstairs, Philip following behind.
He found Dana and Jess and Shaniya in the hallway.  They had their coats on. 
“A-are you going out to get the ice-cream?” he asked, nervous apprehension rising in his chest.
“We’re all going, silly,” said Jess.  “Valentina’s in the high street.  It’s the best!”
“But…but…”
But the girls were already running down the front path, and piling into Jess’s people-carrier.  Shaniya took his hand.
“Come on, Philip.  Now you’ll be able to show of your lovely fairy outfit in public!”
And in a moment the door had slammed behind him, and he was climbing in the back, the colour rising in his cheeks.
“You forgot your wand, Philip.  Never mind, I brought it for you,” smiled  Shaniya, pushing it into his hand. 

[Sandra B]

Chapter 43.  Valentina’s.

While Philip was agonising over his predicament, the girls enthused about his appearance.
“Philip, you’re so lucky,” said Lucy, “I wish I had such a beautiful fairy costume.  Do you think you could really magic things with your wand?  It looks real, just like the one the fairy in my book has got.”
“I dunno.  I’ll try, shall I?”  He waved his wand at the driver.  “Dorelia’s mummy?  Turn the car round and go home!”
Jess laughed.  “You can’t put a spell on me, fairy.  I’m a witch!”
“Well, you said it,” murmured Philip.
“Sorry?”
“Nothing, Jess.”
“Oh, no, don’t wish that!” cried Dorelia, horrified.  “We’re going for ice-creams!  Don’t you remember?”
“Oh, yes.  So we are.”
“I’m going for a good laugh,” murmured Shamiya.  Philip glared at her.

There was a parking space right outside Valentina’s, but Jess had to drive past and park fifty yards down the street.  Saturday afternoon.  The shops were busy..  The ladies took ages getting organised, allowing the passers-by to get a good eyeful of Philip.  Some actually stopped to stare.  Philip was not amused.
“What’s up with you, dear?” he said to one woman who was unashamedly gawping at him, “Never seen a real fairy before?”
“Not one like that,” she countered, moving on.

Finally they were headed back to the ice-cream parlour.  Outside on the wall there was a painted notice: “REAL ITALIAN ICE CREAM”.  And underneath, on the pavement, chained to the wall, was a big model ice-cream cone on a long, heavy black base. 
“That used to have a model of a little girl next to the cone, holding the sides as if she was about to eat it.”
“Yeah,” said Shaniya, “I remember it.  Some idiot stole it one night.”
“Really?” said Philip.
“Yes.  Look - you can still see the steel loops on each side where her hands were attached to the top of the cone.”
“Well, it’s a bit stupid to keep it if half of it is missing.”
“Maybe they’ll find a replacement one day.”
They crowded in.  The parlour was busy.  Philip wanted to go to a table in one corner, but the ladies insisted on a centre table.  Pretty much everyone in the place was staring at them – at him.  They sat down.  Kimona grabbed the seat next to him.  Shaniya took up a place directly opposite him, and started recording the event.  Philip was forced to sit up very straight, thrusting out his chest so as not to crush his wings.  His aunt would not have been pleased had he damaged them.  He put his wand down next to his place setting.  The waitress brought them menus.
“Ooh, what a pretty little group of fairies!” she smirked, looking straight at Philip. 
“Aren’t they?” said Dana. “Do you still do that rainbow ice-cream with silver balls on it?”
“We do the ice-cream, but we don’t have any balls at present.  Fairies shouldn’t have balls, should they?”
Jess fell about laughing.  Silly cow, thought Philip.
Everyone chose an ice-cream.  Philip would have liked chocolate, but eventually decided on vanilla, just in case he dropped it on his costume.  The waitress came and took their order.  She went round the table.  When she came to Philip, she said,
“And now the biggest fairy of all?”
“Vanilla please.  Two scoops.”
“Two vanilla balls.  For the fairy whose got everything,” she added, with a glance at his chest.  “Yes miss, right away.”
Philip couldn’t think of a smart response, so he just pretended not to hear. 
The orders arrived.  The waitress must have given them extra large portions.  The girls all had tall glasses filled with multicoloured layers, which they were excavating carefully.  Philip took a spoonful of his.  As he looked down at his dish, he caught a glimpse of his little breasts, pushing against the sequined spandex, the nipples standing out proudly.  He blushed.  No wonder people were staring at him.  The stimulation of being encased in the taut little high-collared leotard was heightened by the pleasant awareness of his pretty accessories, the long, silky gloves, the sexy tights, the sweet little silver shoes.  Moreover he had thought it essential to put on his most restricting pair of latex underpanties, but while they provided the highest degree of physical constraint, that was accompanied by a proportional level of arousal.  He fidgeted self-consciously in his seat, and surreptitiously touched himself under the table.  It was as he feared.  Imagine if his aunt had denied him his skirt!  He flushed scarlet at the thought.
“Are you feeling all right, Philip?” asked Mrs Williams.
“Yes, yes, fine, thank you, Dana.”
“It’s quite warm in here.  Eat up your ice-cream.  It’ll cool you down.”
“Yes.  Yes, of course…”  He was clearly flustered.  Jess was looking at him with a smug smile.
“So Philip.  Tell me all about school.  Shaniya tells me you’re the only boy in the whole place.”
“Er…yes.  That’s right.  It’s a very good school.  I like it there.”
“But you wear a girl’s uniform, and everything.”
“Yes.  My aunt knows the headmistress.  She said it was the best place for miles around to help me get the grades I need..  Anyway, I’ll be leaving soon, and hopefully going to uni next year.”
But she persisted.
“So was it your decision to wear a girl’s uniform?  Or did the school insist?”
“No, it was my…”
He was saved by Kimona.
“Mummy, I dropped my spoon!”
“Oh, dear, never mind.  We’ll get you a clean one.  Now, where’s that waitress?  They’re never around when you want them.  Philip?  Would you mind?”  She indicated the counter.
“No.  Of course not.” 
He stood up.  To his horror, he felt his skirt sliding down his hips.  He grabbed it just in time, and stood there, uncertain what to do.  Why had that happened?
“Oh, the Velcro’s come undone,” said Dana. 
“I’ll fix it,” cried Abigail, jumping up.  “Turn around, Philip.”  She took both sides and pressed them firmly together.  “There.”
“Thanks, Lucy,” said Philip, relieved.  “I don’t know why that happened.”
“I think some of the gauze got caught in between,” said Dana, as Philip made his way to the counter.  “Did you make sure it was nice and firm, darling?”
“I think so.”
“Okay.”
The tables were close together, and Philip had to squeeze between the backs of chairs to get to the counter.  He could feel people’s eyes on him, but he ignored them.  But he kept one hand on his skirt just in case.  There was a different girl at the counter, writing out someone’s bill.
“Excuse me, could we have another spoon?  One of the girls has dropped hers.”
“Sure.  Just give me a minute and I’ll get you one.”
She finished the bill, then produced another spoon from under the counter.
“There you go, Tinkerbell.”
Philip was just about to walk away when her words sunk in.
“Excuse me?”
“You’re excused.”
“No. What did you call me?”
“Tinkerbell.  You are Tinkerbell, aren’t you?”
“You’re very rude.”
“Okay, so I am.  Fairy nuff!”
She stared him out, trying not to laugh.
“You…you.  I should report you to the manager!”
“I am the manger, Tinkerbell.  So go on, report me then,” she smiled cheerfully.
Philip realised he was being stupid, and worse, he was losing the argument.
“Oh, oh, never mind!” he said, testily.  He made his way back to the table.  But the girl was after him.  He sat down.  What did she want now?
“Good afternoon, ladies.  I’m Susanne, the manager.  I hope you’re enjoying your ice-creams?”
There was a chorus of yesses.
“It’s scrummy!” said Dorelia.  “I could eat another one.”
“Well, girls, I have a little proposition.”  She looked at Dana and Jess.  “You see, my staff were so entranced by your little fairies here, that they wondered….”
“Yes?” said Dana, curious.
“You know our poor little lonely ice-cream cone outside?  The one someone stole our little girl from?”
“Yes…”
“Well, they were wondering if your little fairies would like to pose where the girl used to be, and have their photos taken.  Then we could put them up on the walls, or even on our website.”
“Yes!” shouted Kimona, “I will!”
“And me!”  “And me.”  “And me!” shouted the other three.
Susanne looked at Philip, encouragingly.  “And you, maybe….?”
“Go on, Philip!” said Kimona, “please…”
“If all five of you do it, there’ll be no charge for the ice-creams.  And you can eat as many as you want.”
“Yippee!  Yes.  Philip will come with us, won’t you, Philip?  Won’t you?”
“Oh, go on, Philip,” said Jess, “be a sport.”
Susanne had made it impossible for him to refuse.  Sly bitch, thought Philip.  First she cheeks me, then she tricks me.
“Come on then, girls.  Wait by the door while I fetch my camera.  When you come back you can all have seconds.”
“That’s nice,” said Dana to Jess.  “Looks like we’re going to have a cheap afternoon.”
The girls finished their ice-creams, then jumped up and waited by the main door.  There was an empty table there, and they sat down, chattering excitedly.  Philip looked at the others.
“I hope this isn’t gonna take long,” he complained.  “I don’t want to be standing out there for everyone to stare at.”
“This is just too perfect,” laughed Shaniya.  “Philip?  Please don’t rush it.  Just a minute or two would be enough.  Please…”
“Oh, stop moaning and go and join them,” said Mrs Williams.  “And cheer up.  Don’t be a spoilsport.  The girls are so happy you’ve come to play with them.  Don’t upset them now.”
Philip sighed.  “Okay, Dana.  But I’m doing it for them – not for you, Shaniya!”
“Goody!” said Shaniya, happily.  And he rose slowly from the table and went to join the other fairies.

Susanne reappeared holding her camera, but first she went over to where the grown-ups were sitting.
“He’s going to do it then?”
“Yes, said Jess.  Not for you, but for the girls, he said.”
“Will he stay still while I take the photos?”
“I dunno,” said Shaniya.  “He said he would, but he gets so self-conscious….”
“I see.”  Susanne thought for a moment.  “Listen.  Suppose we…..”
Her voice dropped to a whisper.  The others listened, smiles slowly spreading over their faces.
“Do you have any here?” asked Jess.
“Out the back.”
“Well get them then.  Let’s try it!”