The Adventures of Sammy Watkins

[Sissy Little Girl]

Sandra B, All I can say is "WOW!!  Sammy and the pageant and now Oscar wants to be in it, too.  Fantastic chapters.  Keep up the fantastic work.

[Sandra B]

Exploit the Third.  The Pageant.

1.
Cecily didn’t have to wait long to get a response from the West Counties Pageants Association.  She received an email the following Monday, confirming that they would be delighted to accept Sammy for next month’s pageant, and that he could enter for the intermediate girl’s class, or the intermediate boys, on receipt of the appropriate entry fees.  She also received a call from Oscar’s mother.
“Hello?  Is that Cecily Pemberton?”  (Cecily had never married.  Pemberton was also Vivien’s maiden name.)  “My name is Ashley Warren.  I got your number through my son Oscar and your nephew.  It seems they’ve become friends all of a sudden.”
“Oh, yes.  He did say something about it.  How can I help?”
“I understand Sammy wants to enter a pageant next month.  Oscar is desperate to go with him.”
“Really?  Well, I wouldn’t say he wants to.  It’s all part of a process.  I won’t go into details, but his mother’s had a…a difficult time with him in recent months.  I’m giving her a bit of a rest as much as I can, and the pageant idea is an attempt at…shall we say, reform?  We’re trying to - how can I put it - we’re trying to nurture his feminine side.”
“I saw some of the pictures Oscar took at Amelia’s party.  I would say you’re succeeding.”
“We’ve made some progress.  But I’m still afraid he might try to chicken out at the last minute.  I’ve recruited the niece of a friend to help, but if Oscar were able to accompany him, that would be amazing.”
“Well there won’t be any problem with Oscar.  He’s always been into dresses and things.  What do I have to do to enrol him?”
Cecily gave Ashley the contact details, and it was left that she’d be in touch once his participation was confirmed.

Cecily’s next task was to read through the rules and conditions.  She got the impression, partly from the photographs on the website, partly from the eagerness with which Sammy had been accepted, that the Association was small and desperate for more members.  Pageants, she knew, were far more popular up north than here in the south.  The first thing was to understand the structure of the competition, though she didn’t like the idea of children competing against each other – she was rather naĂŻve about how these things worked in practice – but preferred to think of it as a show where the individual could express her or his sartorial taste.  There were three classes in the girls’ section: first, a dress, second, swimsuit or leotard, third and last, open.  She read the rules for the “open” stage.  Essentially, the child could appear in any costume it chose, from formal to fancy dress to, well, anything – it seemed he or she could dress as a gorilla, or a tree, if they wanted.  Plenty of scope, there, she thought.  This stage was worth twenty percent of the marks, the others forty percent each.  Her mind immediately started working on ideas for something original.  As a creative person, she should have been in a good position to come up with something memorable.  But there would be time for that.  The priority, she decided, was to decide on the costumes for the other two stages, so that the necessary purchases could be made.  And whatever they were, Sammy had to be convinced or persuaded or cajoled into acceptance.  That was where Kayley would come in. 
She emailed all the information to Vivien, then started scrolling through reams of dresses, knickers, camisoles, leotards and the rest.  Two hours later, her head spinning, she was still at it, having made precisely no firm decisions.

[Sandra B]

2.
The events of the party had not eased Sammy’s anxiety about the prospect of appearing in a pageant.  He had left inwardly determined to avoid it if he could.  When Kayley brought up the subject on the drive home, he immediately became suspicious of her motives.
“So, Sammy, I heard you’re thinking of entering a pageant next month.”
“You did?” he replied, noncommittally.
“Yes.  I’m sure you’d do well.  I mean, your costume is amazing.  Don’t you think so, Daphne?”
“Yeah, it’s great.  All my friends were jealous.”
“I’m sure they were.  I’m jealous.  Where did you get it?”
“I didn’t get it.  My aunt made it up for me somehow.  You’d have to ask her.”
“But you like it, right?”
“Not really.  Anyway, I think I’m should skip this pageant thing.  Since I’ve been staying with auntie, I haven’t really seen any of my friends.  I need to link up with them again.”
“Sammy!  Please go!  We’re all looking forward to it!  ” cried Daphne, disappointed.
“Yeah, well, we’ll see…”
“Auntie Cecily’s made all the arrangements.  So you’ve got to go.”
“Daphne’s right, Sammy.  But I thought you liked it at your aunt’s, anyway.”
“Yeah, I guess…  She’s not as strict as my mum, I suppose…”
“There you are then.”  She paused, and then added, in the most persuasive tone she could assume, “You know, I’m going to be staying with Cecily for a bit.  I could be your friend, if you liked.  I know I wouldn’t be as good as your real friends, but I could be a stand-in.  What do you say?  We could do some interesting stuff…  You know, go places, and things…”
Sammy’s eyes widened.
“Are you staying, Kayley?” cried Daphne, excited.  “That’s great!  I can come see you whenever I want!  In any case, my mum’s always round at Auntie Cecily’s these days.  They just natter all the time.  So boring.  But if you were there…”
Kayley laughed.  “I heard they get on, those two.  Yes, Daphne, I’m going to stay for a month or so.  Of course we’ll do lots of nice things together.  But I’ll have to spend time with Sammy, too.”  She glanced over her shoulder at him.  “I’d really like to get to know you better, Sammy.  I’ve heard so many good things about you.”
“You have?”  He felt slightly puzzled, and put his satisfaction at her flattery in temporary abeyance.
“Yes.  I know you’re a bit of a prankster, but I like that.  I was just the same at your age.  Maybe I still am…”  She laughed seductively.
Sammy found his suspicions beginning to crumble.
“What sort of things did you….?”
“Well, I remember once, at school, there was this girl…she was so snooty…after gym one day, I nicked all her clothes and dumped them in the rubbish!  She had to sit there wrapped in a blanket waiting for her mother to come and collect her…”
“Didn’t she find out who did it?”
“No.  I was very careful.  And then I let all the air out of a teacher’s tyres.  He was horrible.  He deserved it.”
“Really?”  He was becoming more and more impressed.
“Yes.  And there was the time I put honey in the washing machine with the powder…  My mum never worked out why the clothes came out all sticky!  Oh!  Never tell anyone about that, will you?  Nor you, Daphne.”
“Wow.”
“And once I put melty chocolate on this girl’s chair…”
Sammy was hooked.  Not only was Kayley the real-life personification of Beryl the Peril, but she was incredibly pretty.  He stared at the smooth hanks of blonde hair lying across her shoulders.  He watched the confident, easy way she drove her little car.  He listened to her light, musical laugh.  His suspicions had now evaporated entirely.  He decided it would be a good idea to stay at his aunt’s for a while after all…  Maybe, say, a month or so?

[Sandra B]

3.
Oscar’s mother received the same enthusiastic response to her enquiries of the Pageant Society, and soon he too was fully signed up for the girl’s section.  Oscar himself was immensely excited by the news.  The first thing he did was to text Sammy, the second to start searching the internet for a dress suitable for the opener. 
“Mum?  What sort of thing do you think I should go for?”
“Something not too expensive, ideally,” she replied, with a smile.
“Mum, you know I’ve got my savings from my paper round and stuff.  I won’t ask you for anything.”
“I was only joking, silly.  No, I’m going to help you with this.  I know it’s something you’ve always wanted to do.  But I hope you realise you’re going to have an audience.”
“I know that.  That’s part of the fun.  Coming out properly at last.”
“Yes, I understand that.  But this audience is probably going to be ninety percent parents of your competitors.  I can’t imagine they’re going to be very sympathetic, especially given you’re a boy in what they probably consider exclusively a girls’ world.”
“Oh.  I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Yes.  So I would play down the exhibitionism a bit if I were you.  I think modesty is the key, and the judges won’t penalise you for that.”
“Okay.  I get it.  I’ll let my clothes do the talking.”

Sammy was none too pleased to receive Oscar’s ecstatic message.
“Shit!  I could do without this.”
“What’s the matter, Sammy?”
“It’s my friend Oscar, Kayley.  Now he’s going to the pageant too, and he’s all worked up about it.  It just makes it more complicated for me.”
“Complicated?”
“Now I’ve got to disappoint him as well.”
“Oh.  Do you really want to get out of it, then?  Daphne tells me you were boasting about it to Hannah and the girls.”
“I wasn’t boasting!  I probably said something, and they misunderstood.  They’re stupid!  Everyone at that stupid party kept going on about it.”
“So Oscar wants to do it, but you…you don’t?”
“No!”
“Are you frightened?”
“No!  Of course I’m not frightened.  I just don’t want to.  I’ve got other things to do…”  He frowned.  “I’m not like Oscar.  He a fully-fledged cross-dresser – or at least, a wannabe.”
“And you’re not.”
“No!”
“Do you have any idea how beautiful you looked in your pageant outfit?  Any idea at all?  When I saw you, it blew me away.  I thought you were the most attractive boy I’d ever seen.”
Sammy looked at her, startled.  “Really?  Do you mean that, or are you…just…”
“I mean, I know you probably don’t want to hear that, but it’s the truth.  I’d sooner be seen around with you dressed like that then any of these flash guys in what they think are really cool duds.”
“You would?  You wouldn’t be…embarrassed?”
“Embarrassed?  You’re joking.  I think your one of the cutest boys I’ve ever met.  Maybe you just think I’m an idiot…”
“No, no.  Course I don’t.  If you liked me in girls’ clothes, you know I’d wear them for you…  I’d do anything for you…”  He sighed.  “It’s not even that I don’t like wearing them.  It’s just that if the guys at school found out, after that other stuff – you know, the doll-box – I’d be toast.  They’d never let me forget it.  And the girls are even worse.”
“Okay…  Yeah, I get it.  I’m beginning to understand…”
At last!  Someone who understood him, or at least, wanted to.  Someone who was sympathetic, caring….pretty…  Sammy felt he could confide in Kayley.  They weren’t so different, after all.  They were both pranksters.  Anti-authoritarian.  Rebels.
“That’s why I’ve got to get out of this pageant thing, Kayley.  Don’t mention this to anyone.  But I’ve decided I’ll seem to go along with it, but I’m gonna disappear on the day.  Michael’s parents are away that weekend and I’ve arranged to go round there Saturday morning early.  No-one will know where I am.  I’ll leave a note saying I’m with friends.”
“Oh, well, if that’s your decision…I guess I understand.”
“It is.  I feel much better now I’ve told you.”
“But Oscar…  Will you play along for his sake for the time being?  Your aunt says she’s going to invite him and his mum round so you can choose your costumes.  He’s very excited about it.”
“Well I guess I’ll have to.  Anyway, he’s a good guy.  I don’t mind helping him.  I’ll act like everything’s a go, so he can get his costumes sorted out.”
“You’re a good guy yourself, Sammy.  I like you a lot.  And if you would dress up for me…sometimes…I’d like you even more.”
“I-I like you, Kayley.  Course I will, if you want…”

[Sandra B]

4.
So that’s how things were left.  It was only a few weeks till the pageant, so Cecily arranged for Oscar and Ashley to come round the next Saturday.  Patricia and Daphne would be coming too, so she asked if Paige could come with them.  Sammy was not looking forward to it.  But he knew he had at least to pretend to participate, otherwise they’d give him no peace.  And Kayley had promised to take him out on the Sunday, just the two of them.  She wanted to drive to the coast and eat fish and chips on the beach.  He was really looking forward to it.
“You know what?” she said to him, that Friday night. “It’s just occurred to me.  Since you’re not actually going to the pageant, you can choose whatever outfits you like.  The more outrageous or daring, the better.  Your aunt will think you’re a reformed character.”
Sammy stared at her.  “Wow, Kayley, you're right!  That’s a great idea.”
“It’ll be worth it just to see her face.  It can be our first conspiratorial prank!”
“But wait a minute.  She’s going to order all this stuff.  She’ll be furious with me when she finds out I’m not going.”
“So what?  Let her be.  From what you’ve told me, she’s played some pretty nasty tricks on you.”
“It’s true.  It’ll serve her right.  It won’t even begin to pay her back for the doll box.”
“It was her and Patricia, wasn’t it?  I heard all about it.  It sounds terrible!”  Sammy noticed Kayley had a strange expression on her face, as if she was stifling a smile.  But it must have been his imagination, for she added, “Fancy them doing that to you!  And then putting you in a shop window for everyone to see.  It’s inexcusable!”
Yes.  That was the word.  Inexcusable.  But he’d pay them back.  Both of them.  Aunt Cecily first.
“And then we can go off to the coast on Sunday and leave them to it,” grinned Kayley.
“Yes, and eat fish and chips on the beach!”
“It’ll be fun, Sammy.”

It had been arranged that everyone would come for lunch first, before embarking on the choosing of costumes.  Oscar, Paige and Ashley arrived first.  Oscar was so pleased to see Sammy, and bubbling over with excitement.  Sammy was almost sorry he was going to have to disappoint him.  But he was sure Oscar would have lots of fun by himself.
After lunch, they sat down at the table with two laptops, and got to work.  The rules specified that the dress for the first class should be “formal to semi-formal: ideally suitable for a ball gown or evening wear or a decorous party.  Candidates may be penalised for appearing in ordinary party frocks or similar outfits.”
“Snooty lot,” remarked Sammy.  “I can see exactly where this is going.”
“Well, darling,” said his aunt, “don’t worry.  You’ll have a chance to express your natural barbarism in the open class.”
“Huh.”  Sammy had spent an hour the previous evening ensconced in his room scrolling through pageant clothes.  He wanted to make sure he knew exactly what he was going to choose, so he couldn’t be corralled into anything by his aunt or anyone else.  He had realised there was no scope for fun in this class, so all by himself he chose a rather plain pink sleeveless satin dress with a flared skirt, embroidered bodice, and oriental collar.  He chose it because he thought it was beautiful, much nicer than all the frilly, flouncy things the grown-ups were suggesting.
“That’s so nice,” cried Daphne.
“It’s lovely,” agreed Paige.  “I wish I had a dress like that.” 
“Where did you find that?” said Cecily, not altogether pleased at having been circ-umvented.  “Let me bookmark that.”  She stared at him, puzzled.  “You’ve got better taste than I thought…”
Sammy blushed slightly.  Yeah?  Well maybe I do, he thought.  Not that you’ve ever noticed.  But keep on watching, aunt.  In a minute I’m gonna show you what bad taste is!
“Do you want the hairbows too?” she asked, with a faint smirk.
“Of course, aunt.  And pale pink tights, and pink ballet shoes.”
Cecily looked at him suspiciously, but he was quite serious.  Was he really getting into this stuff?  Didn’t he realise this was supposed to be part of his punishment?  Never mind.  Wait till he was up on stage in  front of an audience.  Then he wouldn’t be so damn self-satisfied!
“So I see you’ve been doing some research, then.  Have you chosen all of your outfits?”
“Yes, aunt.  I thought if I was going to do this, I’d better do it properly and wear things that I liked - not whatever you and Patricia might want.”
“Oh, I see!”  Cecily felt rebuked.  She was a little annoyed by this setback to her plans, and couldn’t think what to say.  But while Sammy was irritatingly cool and decisive, Oscar was ecstatic at the prospect of the pageant.  He chose a much more flowery creation in the same general style, with a big satin rose sewn to the waistband and layers of gauze under the skirt.  Sammy wasn’t surprised.
 
They moved onto the leotard and one-piece swimsuit class.  This would be more interesting.  Oscar ended up with a pale pink short-sleeved leotard decorated with tiny violets and a dark pink waistband, mauve tights, and a little mauve cape with silver edging.  Then it was Sammy’s turn.
“Okay.  This is what I’ve chosen.”
He turned his laptop to face Aunt Cecily.  As Kayley had predicted, it was worth it just to see her face.  She pulled back from the screen.
“Really?”
Sammy had chosen a pierced one-piece in yellow spandex, with a high collared neck and circular apertures front and back, cut high on the thigh.  They all stared at the picture.  Paige giggled.  Her mother muttered “goodness me” under her breath.  Patricia looked at him.
“Are you sure, Sammy.  I mean, it’s a bit…”
“A lot…” added Cecily.
“I’m sure,” he replied, matter-of-factly.  “And  I ‘ve found just the accessories it needs.  Matching opera gloves, sheer white stockings – hold-ups - lemon ballet pumps, and a cute yellow bucket hat, to add a hint of the beach.  Oh, and I’ll need a jewel to go in my navel.  I guess it’ll have to be stick-on.  It doesn’t have to match.”
“Opera gloves, stockings, and belly jewellery?” said Cecily.  “What has all that got to do with the beach?”
“Nothin’ aunt.  Cos this is a pageant, not the beach.  I just want to stand out.”
“You’ll do that, all right.”
Oscar looked at his friend admiringly.  He was so brave!
“Okay, then,” sighed Cecily.  “Just the open class to go, I suppose.  And I suppose you've already chosen your costume for this too, Sammy?”
“Oh, yes, aunt.  I have.”  And he grinned a malicious grin.

[Sissy Little Girl]

Sandra B, Sammy and Kayley are two of a kind.  They both like pranks.  I do love the dresses that you showed at the end of the 3rd chapter.  As usual, you did not disappoint with these three chapters.  Thank you for doing such a great job.

[Sandra B]

Yes - but I suspect Kayley is a double prankster.