The Adventures of Sammy Watkins

[Sissy Little Girl]

Sandra B, That was 2 more great chapters.  Thanks for writing some of the best stories on this site.

[babycakes]

Sandra B, you are a skilled writer pulling the reader into the story and not just touching on triggers generally found in this genre.  Sammy states, “Of course not, Oscar!  She’s [Kayley] different.  She’s my friend.  She knows when to keep her mouth shut.”  Sammy's in for quite a shock and huge disappointment, not for the fact that he'll be blackmailed into pageant participation but because he'll be crushed that Kayley never was and never will be his friend.  This won't be a prank to Sammy but something much deeper.  The pageant will be humiliating but Sammy could pull it off with his coc-kiness and end up the winner in more ways than one.  Nevertheless, the trust he puts in Kayley will be shattered and could/will seriously affect future relationships, especially with females.  Likewise, his aunt/mom invent over the top punishments for fairly minor infractions that erode his trust in authority rather than enhance it. As Sammy says, “I’ve got problems now.  My mum.  And Auntie Cecily.  When I grow up, I’m going to leave home, and go away somewhere, where they won’t be able to find me.  I’ll only tell Kayley where I am.  Oh, and you, of course.”

Who's he to turn to?  As you can see, this reader is heavily invested in your work and apologizes for anything that may appear negative.

On a tangential note, your mention of "Kinscem's Cafe" prompted some research.  Could you be referring to "Kincsem [who] was the toast of five European nations during her illustrious racing career. She began life as an unprepossessing liver chestnut filly who went unsold on the grounds that she was too common looking. By the time of her retirement from racing, Kincsem was a European household name, winner of fifty-four races without a defeat, a stunning record which to this day marks her as one of the greatest horses that ever raced."?

[Sandra B]

I appreciate and take on board all such constructive criticism, babycakes.  You're right, they're giving him a hard time at present.  But we'll see what transpires.
Kinscem - yes, the famous horse.  But it's a pub called "Kinscem's Cat".  If you research a little further, you'll find she had a cat as a companion who even travelled abroad with her.  It is recorded that once she refused to go on board ship until her cat appeared and jumped up onto her back.  She died in 1887.  She was unbeaten and still easily holds the record for the number of consecutive wins.

[babycakes]

Will go back and read further.  Couldn't find the pub in a Google search. Like the fact that Kinscem had a feline companion.  All creatures great and small need a loving companion's support at times.

[Sandra B]

8.
The following Monday, the children were back at school.  Sammy and Oscar linked up in the playground at lunch.  Oscar was enthusing about the pageant, and Sammy was beginning to feel guilty that he was planning to abandon his new friend.  The more he got to know Oscar, the more he liked him.  He offered unconditional friendship, and though naĂŻve, he was also fearlessly loyal.  As had been happening ever since the Charlotte incident, a group of year nine kids approached Sammy and started teasing him.
“Hello, Sammy.  How are you today?  What happened to your ballet outfit, anyway.  Do you secretly dress up in it after you get home?”
Sammy ignored them, and continued talking to Oscar.
“When are you going to come out as a girl?”
“What colour panties are year wearing today?”
“Shut up and leave me alone!”
“Is this your new boyfriend?  What’s your name, kid?”
“Oscar
”
“And leave him alone, too.  Do us both a favour, and f*** off, all of you!”
“Ooh, she’s getting upset now.  Probably her panties are too tight
”
“Why don’t you go away, you bunch of idiots?” put in Oscar.  “Leave my friend alone.  Don’t you know how pathetic you are?  There’s no one of you wouldn’t wet his pants if he had to face up to us by himself!”
This was so unexpected the group was temporarily struck dumb, and Sammy couldn’t suppress a laugh.
“Well said, Oscar!”
But the bullies had recovered, and began to advance on them.  Sammy knew that only radical action would put an end to this.  He bunched his fist and was preparing to hit the ringleader, when a female voice made him pause.
“Hello Sammy
Oscar.  How are you guys today?”
It was Denise.
“What’s going on here?  Is everything okay?”  She looked from Sammy to the group of boys, and back again.
“I hope you’re not bothering my friends
”
They stared at her, and looked at each other.
“Well?”
One proffered an explanation.  “N-no, miss, no, we were just asking Sammy
about
er, homework and stuff
”  He trailed off lamely.
“Oh, that’s good.  Because I wanted to have a chat.  Boys, would you like to come to our canteen and have a coffee?  Do you have time?”
“Sure Denise,” said Sammy, with a victorious grin.  “Let’s go.”
They left the scene together, leaving the group of would-be tormentors shocked and traumatised.
“Who’s she?”
“Dunno her name.  She’s year thirteen.”
This was said in a hushed voice.  Year thirteen was never seen in the junior playground.  The gods and angels of which it was composed never condescended to such depths.
“She’s fantastic-looking!” whispered one of them.  In fact Denise was average-looking, though she had a very nice, expressive face.  Nevertheless, there was universal agreement on this point, fuelled by the rarity of the appearance of an older girl in those lowly environs.
“How do they know her?” was the next question – and the rest of the break was dedicated to speculation on this enigma.  But Sammy’s reputation had been restored at a stroke, and it was agreed there could be no more taunting of an individual with such connections.  At least for the time being.

In the year thirteen canteen, the boys were sitting down with Denise.
“I just wanted to say how nice it was to meet you two the other day.”
“You too!”
“Did you go to the park?”
“Oh, yes, it was great!” replied Oscar, enthusiastically.  “They’ve got one of those huge timber climbing frames, like a castle.  And there’s a little farm over in one corner.”
“And the café’s amazing,” added Sammy.  “They have scrumptious chocolate croissants, and they warm them up for you!”
“I see.  Sounds like heaven.  You should come for dinner one day, stay over, and we could all go there in the morning.  Maybe have a picnic.  What do you think?”
The boys looked at each other excitedly.  “Yeah!” they chorused.
“Thanks!” added Oscar.
“Not at all.  It’d be fun.  I live right near Harriet, so you could come to my house this time.  I’d ask Harriet and Kayley too, of course.
Denise had taken a shine to the boys.  She was an only child, and she had always wanted a kid brother.
“By the way
Kayley's never actually explained quite how she met you
”
Denise had noticed that her friend seem a little evasive about her relationship with the boys.
“Oh, I was staying with my aunt, and Kayley’s my aunt’s friend’s niece, and she staying with us too for a while.  But how did you meet her?”
“Me?  Oh, we were at school together a few years ago.  Then we both moved.  My family moved here, and hers went right out to Sandford.  So why is she staying with you?”
“Why?  I don’t know, really
”
“I think she’s helping with the pag
” said Oscar, forgetting their secret.
Sammy cut him off.
“Yeah.  She’s helping Aunt Cecily with something
that’s all.”
Denise looked doubtful.  She remembered what sort of a girl Kayley had been back then, the things she had done, and she didn’t altogether trust her motives.  There was something about the way she behaved round the boys
  Not quite sincere

“All right.  Now listen, you two.  We’re friends, right?”  Vigorous nodding.  “Right.  That means if you have any problems, any worries, you can come to me with them.  And I can come to you, as well.  Agreed?”
“Yes, Denise!”
“Yes!”
“It’s nearly the end of lunch.  You’d better get back.  See you around!”

[Sandra B]

9.
The boys returned to their routine.  Now they felt surrounded by a shield of invulnerability.  There was no more teasing, and when they left for the day the group of tormentors could be seen huddled in a corner of the playground casting stealthy and uncertain glances in their direction.
Over the succeeding days, Sammy was feeling more and more uncomfortable about his plan.  And the more excited Oscar became, the worse he felt.  It was the week of the pageant.  Sunday night.  He was staying at Oscar’s.  Oscar was in bed, and he was in his sleeping bag on a mattress against the wall.
“Sammy?  Mummy has suggested I wear a summer hat with my dress.  What do you think?  Would it be too much?  I mean, you’ve got those lovely hairbows
”
“Good idea, Oscar.  It would look nice.  What’s it like?”
“You know, a straw hat with a pink flowery band.  It’s very cute.  I really think
”
“Oscar?”
“Yes?”
“Listen.  I have to tell you something.”
“Yes?”
“I’m not going to the pageant.”
A long pause.
“Not going?  What do you mean
?”
“I’m not going.  I can’t.  Those outfits I chose
  I chose them just to upset my aunt.  I never intended to wear them to any pageant.  I couldn’t do it.  It would just be too
”
“But
you’re joking, right?  I mean
”
“No.  I’m serious.  I’m gonna sneak out at six in the morning that Saturday and go to my friend’s house to hide out till it’s over.  I’m sorry, I should have told you
”
Oscar sat up in bed and stared at him.
“You are serious.”  His eyes began to fill with tears.
“Look, how can I?  You’ve seen what it’s like for me at school
  Suppose anyone found out?  It would be
a hundred times worse.”
“If you’re not going
neither am I!”
“Oh, come on, Oscar!  You’ll love it!  You don’t need me there!  You’re gonna be a big hit.”
“There’s no point.  I only wanted to do it cos you were gonna be with me.  It won’t be fun any more.  I thought we were friends!”  And he collapsed in tears, covered his head with the duvet, and despite Sammy’s pleadings, wouldn’t say another word.

Sammy slid down in his sleeping bag and tried to go to sleep.  He lay there, turning from one side to the other.  It was no good.  He checked his phone.  Three fifteen.  Oscar was beathing heavily.  All at once he tore open his bag and clambered out.
“Oscar.  Oscar!  Wake up!”
“W-what?”
“Okay.  I’ll go.  I’ll go, I’ll wear my costumes.  We’ll have fun.  All right?  Happy now?”
“B-but you don’t want to go
” he said, sleepily.
“Now I do.  I’ve realised we should be doing things together.  And I can’t wait
  I can’t wait to outrage all those silly, doting mothers and their simpering little daughters!  I’m gonna give them such a show like they’ve never seen
”
“Really?  You’re the best, Sammy.”  And for the second time, he threw his arms around his friend’s neck.
 

[Sandra B]

10.
Sammy was of course intending to tell Kayley of his decision.  But that week she was nowhere to be found, and she wasn’t even answering her phone.  He asked his aunt.
“Auntie, where’s Kayley this week?  I can’t get in touch with her.”
“Oh, she said she was going back to Sandford for a few days.  Probably left her phone turned off.”
“But she’ll be back for the pageant, right?”
“Oh yes, I’m sure she’ll be back for that,” said his aunt, sourly.
“Okay.”

The truth was, Kayley no longer needed to be around at Cecily’s.  She’d got everything she wanted – and more – and now she had to prepare Sammy’s nasty surprise.  She’d arranged to meet up with Denise, at a coffee shop near Cranfield School, on the Wednesday lunchtime.  They ordered their coffees and took them to a corner table.  Kayley was carrying her camera.  She looked confidential.
“What’s up, Kay?  Was there something in particular?”
“Yes, there was.”  Her eyes twinkled.
“I know that look.  Still up to your pranks?”
“Sometimes,” she replied, casually.  “Take a look at these.”
She allowed Denise to scroll through the pictures of the dress rehearsal.
“Oh!  Sammy and Oscar!”  She laughed.  “They look delightful!  Oh my god, Sammy in that pink dress!  He looks
well, quite a dish.”
“Carry on
”
“Swimsuits?  Really?  What’s this all about?  Sammy?  He got a jewel in his navel!  And that swimsuit!  It’s a bit over the top, isn’t it?  What’s going on here?”
“They’ve entered for a pageant.  This Saturday.  They’re going as girls!”
“Really?  They’re brave, then.”
“Oscar’s brave.  Sammy?  Maybe not so much...”
“I don’t blame him
.” She murmured, continuing to flick through the photos.  “Oh, god!  What’s this?  This outfit he’s wearing!”
“Like it?”
“It’s outrageous.  And that sash
 ‘I’m so gay’?  What’s that about?  He’s not really going to wear that, is he?
Evading the question, Kayley changed tack.
“See that last piccy.  Do you think you could make a poster of it for me?  You’re the only person I know with a printer big enough.”
“Well, it’s my dad’s.”
“Yeah but he lets you use it.”
“Yeah, but
”
“Naturally I’d pay for the paper and ink.  Matt photo paper.  Maybe half a dozen copies?”
“Well, of course I could
  But what are you going to do with them?”
“Oh, nothing, really.  The boys wanted one each, and then there’s the aunt, and the mother
and me
and perhaps you?”
Denise looked at her friend suspiciously.
“You sure this isn’t for some malicious purpose, Kayley?  You used to do some pretty unpleasant things
  I remember Sally’s clothes
and poor Mr Turnbull’s car
”
“No, silly.  A memento.  The two of them together.  They’ll be separated at the pageant.”
“I don’t know
”
“Well if you don’t want to, I can easily go to the printer’s in the High Street.”
Denise hesitated a moment.  Then she said, “No, it’s okay.  I’ll do it for you.  When do you need them?”
“Friday ideally.”
“Okay.  Give me the memory card.  I’ve got to get back.  I’ll call you later, okay?  Bye.”
“Bye, bye darling,” replied Kayley with a satisfied smile.