(This is an old story i wrote about 20 years ago which i found hidden onv my system. i need to change it to get the italics and bold and underlining on this forum
Do people want more of it)
Mattie’s life in PETTICOATS
MY FAMILY:
It was not easy being a girl in 1951. For me strangely it got easier in 1952. Life changed for a couple of boys I knew as well.
I am Frances, known as Frankie. I was the oldest in the family. I was a 20 whole minutes older than my brother. Both of us were born December 16 1933. There were six of us in all- five girls and a boy.
I remember feeling it was very unfair that I had to share a room with Lesley (16) and Toni (14). Matt got a room to himself. Jo (13) resented sharing a small room with Sophie who was not yet 6.
We were poor. I know it was supposed to be the age of affluence. Well it was not for our family. Nor for Westford as a whole. Lots of men were without work.
I liked my dad. We were always pretty good children. However we seemed to be especially well behaved when he was at home. He listened to us. I didn't think about it at the time but I even remember him helping mum with housework.
In fact I had spied in them almost simultaneously cuddling, kissing and hugging whilst washing dishes and drying up together. I now think that it was a strange kind of fore-play.
My dad was also a hero. He never shot at anyone. Instead for 6 years he stoked the boilers that drove the ships that kept us all fed. On May 4 1945 his ship struck a mine.
My mother was, in her way, a heroine. She managed to keep all of us during that time. During the war she also worked in a factory making parachutes. I am proud of both of my parents.
MY SCHOOL:
The school I was at was unusual. It was a co-ed High school. These schools were set up to give a very good education to children who passed an exam at 11.
Perhaps teaching boys and girls together should have been good. But at that time the headmaster, Mr Pringle, was an evil piece of work. He also seemed to pick on the girls.
Sometimes he ordered Miss Smart to hit us. That was painful and humiliating. Often it was for quite small things.
At 18 I would now be considered an adult. Not then. I wore socks which were the right colour but which were not quite right for the uniform. This was because mother could only afford three pairs of uniform socks. She had been nursing Sophie with flu and I had been managing the other children.
I was ordered to write 500 lines.
"I must attend school dressed properly."
That would have been bad enough. However at 3 O’clock on the last day of term I had to stand in the play-ground and read out those lines.
Jim:
Jim Hay was an evil boy. He was always "accidentally" pushing at girls. He was also lazy at school. He did get caned quite often but he thought this was an honor.
For some reason he did not like me. On my way back from that humiliating experience I met him. He blocked my path. I tried to get away but he tripped me.
Now I was five foot eleven and quite broad and strong for a girl. However Jim was six-two and strong for a boy. He got on to my back. He pulled up my skirt and pulled down my grey school knickers. He hit me a dozen times with a ruler. His younger brother saw it.
"I'm only giving you the hiding you deserve!"
He smirked. He also made the mistake of boasting about it. I did not complain. I told my mother and she hugged me. She did not complain either. There did not seem any point
Jim's PUNISHMENT:
However in those 2 weeks things had changed. Whilst I was experiencing one humiliation Mr Pringle was experiencing another. The governors had compared our academic performance with similar schools and with how things had been before he came.
He agreed to retire- at 49. They also decided to make the head of the most successful department headmaster. They were surprised when they checked things over and found it was the Maths department.
Miss Hoffman became headmistress. In those days a headmistress of a mixed Selective School was a very unusual thing. Miss Hoffman might have been the only such headmistress in England.
Before Pringle left in disgrace Miss Hoffman had found out about my official punishment. In early January she found out about my unofficial punishment. She did two things. She wrote a letter to the National Assistance board. These were the people who paid Mum's pension. She got a grant for more clothing. It was unbelievable.
She did something else. She said that Jim had to be properly punished. I later found out that Jim Hay had been given the choice between accepting a school punishment or facing charges of indecent assault.
I was allowed to watch and help with the preparation of my tormentor for his punishment. He lived ten miles away and had to get two busses to school. However he was very frightened of Police involvement.
So he arrived at eight in the morning- as per instructions. Miss Hoffman took him by the hands and led him into the nurse’s room.
"Prepare Master Hay for his punishment."
Jim was very surprised when the school nurse started undressing him.
"But you can't this is crazy!"
Miss Hoffman was very insistent.
"Of course it is up to you. If you withdraw your consent to my punishment you can leave the school. We will put the matter into the hands of the Police."
He did not actually resist. The nurse told him about he next thing.
"You now need some injections. I will go upstairs to get my things."
He had to wait, with nothing on for about ten minutes. He was hating it. I was loving it. Finally the nurse came down.
She produced a hypodermic. It seemed to have a longer than average needle. She took a very long time pumping the drug into the syringe.
"Please don't- I hate injections."
The nurse was not sympathetic.
"Don't be a baby. I know it is hard for you but do TRY not to be a baby."
He was very embarrassed. The nurse was enjoying her role.
"Now lie on the table on your left side and make sure you look at the mirror."
There were in fact two mirrors one on each side of the medical table. The nurse wanted to make sure that Jim could see her pushing the long needle into his arse.
"Ow ah!"
A second injection was given to his right buttock then he was told to lie on his right side. Two more injections were given. Miss Hoffman then addressed him.
"At 9:45 you will be expelled from this school. You will no longer need your uniform. I have therefore donated it to our charity department in case there is a boy who NEEDS uniform.
"I know that your parents are quite rich. You had 19 shillings and eight pence in your pocket. You will give all of that to Frances as Compensation."
That was nearly a pound. It was a lot of money in those days. Miss Hoffman continued her explanation.
"Of course you will have to get home. There will be a bus to Darrington at half past ten. If you then wait there for an hour there will be another bus to your home village just after 12. It is market day I believe.
"I have made out a travel warrant. The bus company will honor it.
"I note that you favor hitting naughty children on their bare behinds. I will do this to you- in front of the whole school.
"Finally you show a real fascination for correct girl's uniform. You will wear one during your punishment. That is how you will be attired when you are expelled."
I then smiled.
"It is going to be my job to get you dressed. Sit down."
He sat on the medical table. I first put on his green regulation socks. Grey knickers followed. He was really embarrassed by the bra. This was stuffed with Kleenex. Mind you I knew lots of Girls who did that with their brassieres.
Then came his blouse. I took my time buttoning this up. Next a white waist slip. The slip was not compulsory but I liked the idea of him wearing an actual petticoat. Then his skirt. Next his tie. Finally his dark green cardigan.
Of course Jim was bigger, especially taller, than most girls. It was hard for him not to show his panties and very hard not to show his petticoat. The nurse then gave him some unwelcome information.
"You may have wondered what those injections were for. Well I will explain. You have heard of a local anesthetic. There is also a ‘Local Stimulant’. It can help where there has been some nerve damage.
"In a case where the nerves are not damaged it will of course amplify the effects of any stimulus- for instance pain. Oh yes and you will find your inhibitions weakened. If you feel like crying- you may well cry."
The first assembly of the school was set up differently to the usual one. The girls were at the front and boys at the back. We had our short religious service then Miss Hoffman told us what her plans were.
She was in favour of self expression. But she was also in favor of hard work. She would not tolerate misbehavior. Especially if stronger people hurt of upset more vulnerable ones. Then she described Jim Hay's crime. She did not name his victim. Finally she told them something of his punishment.
"Because Jim was so interested in the girls' uniform we thought it good he should wear it on his last morning. He will be expelled in a few minutes.
"He also favours corporal punishment on the bare bottom. It will be interesting to find out his views from a more direct experience.
"Because his behavior, like that of other bullies, was childish that will be the style of his punishment."
A soft chair with no arms was put onto the stage. Miss Hoffman sat down.
"Across my knees, child."
Jim obeyed. Up came his skirt. Up went his petticoat. Down came his grey panties. His punishment was to be administered as if he were a child of 6 or even two He received six heavy hairbrush blows.
These blows really were VERY heavy. Miss Hoffman was 41, but very fit. Although her specialism was maths she had been a sportswoman. She had played cricket for England ladies. It was said she could send a cricket ball down the pitch at 80 miles an hour. That may have been an exaggeration but she certainly had an extremely strong right arm.
By the fifth blow Jim was crying. Boys at the back and girls at the front were laughing. He had a nasty surprise coming. After six blows he stood up.
"Now, Miss Smart will deal with the other side."
Miss Smart was the Games teacher who usually ended up being told by the previous head to carry out corporal punishment on girls. She happened to be left handed. Jim Hay’s left buttock received the same treatment.
Then he was expelled. His journey home took 3 hours. He had no chance of getting out of his humiliating clothing until he got home. Lots of people saw him. One of them was my brother Matt.
MATT:
My brother is not as clever as I am, but he's not stupid. Unfortunately at least since Dad's death he was amazingly lazy. He did nothing to help in the house. I kind of resented that. Of course few other people even noticed it. He was a boy. Girls were the ones who did housework.
He was also lazy at school. He failed his eleven plus. He also twice failed an examination called an "O" level.
There was one other exam he failed three times which had an even greater significance. This was the "Western Insurance Company" exam.
The Insurance Company was by far the biggest local employer. Of course this was before the age of computers. They had lots of jobs. They recruited very strictly according to an exam. About two thirds of their workers were girls. Even so it was the biggest local employer of males- not excluding agriculture.
The truth was that Matt could have passed the eleven plus. He could have passed the "O" levels. He could have easily passed the Company exams. He could even have got to University. He would have got a grant to pay for his studies and his keep because Mum was so poor.
The Insurance Company exam was not that difficult. The papers were published. I did one of them at age 11. I passed. Dad was very proud, although even then he thought I should set my sights much higher. He was determined all his children would have the chances he never got
Instead Matt lazed about. Officially he was still at school. He missed about half the days. Mum did not want a fuss made. If he was treated as her dependent she got extra money. It certainly did not seem likely that he would get a job.
He read comic books. He listened to the radio. He sneaked into the picture house without paying. He hung around with other unemployed lads. He was getting more and more unpleasant to live with.
Some people have suggested he may have had a complex about his size. Dad had been short and fat. Mum was tall and thin. I was tall and broad. Matt was short and thin. He was five one. That is not a midget. However Jo at age 13 was as tall as he was.
MATT’S STORY:
When I got home I met my brother. Mother was busy ironing. Matt said.
"You'll never guess what I saw today in Darrington. Hay, that horrid boy at your school.
"Saw him. He wore his school uniform, only it was the girls' uniform. And it was even funnier. He kept trying to hide the waist slip, petticoat whatever you call it, but he couldn't. And a lot of the time you could see those grey knickers.
"He was standing at the bus shelter for over an hour. I don't know why he didn't sit down."
I chipped in.
"I know why he didn't sit down. His botty was VERY sore. We all watched it get sore. He has also been expelled."
Matt laughed. He had not been told of what had happened to me but he knew a great deal about Jim's reputation.
"Bet he deserved it too."
I added something else.
"And it was on his bare skin."
Matt’s attitude changed a little.
"Hay really is a nasty bit of work. But I don't quite think anyone really deserves treatment like that. I mean I'd do anything not to be put in girls' clothes and have my bare bum...â€
Mother heard the conversation.
"Don't use that word, it's rude. And what were you doing at Darrington?"
His reply was not very coherent.
"I was err..."
Mother's comment was very clear.
"I do not know what you were doing, but you can't have been at school. You'll not get a job next year. But you'll stop being able to pretend your at school. And they'll stop your money. And I can't keep you.
"I'll have to do something about you."
FINAL WARNING:
The next morning was Tuesday. An urgent letter arrived. It was from Matt’s form teacher. He was very worried about the number of classes Matt was missing. He was also concerned about his behaviour when he did actually turn up.
Mother was very angry. She was also frightened. As she saw it her boy was throwing away his life. She spoke loudly and clearly.
"Mat, this is your last warning. If you do not from now on attend every class, do every bit of homework, and act properly in class, I, I'll deal with you."
The truth was that Mother did not know what she would do. She had thought of hitting my brother. Somehow that did not seem the right thing to do to a boy- a young man of his age.
Matt was 18. I don't mean that she was frightened of her son. The truth was if it came to a physical contest mother would have probably won on her own. She would certainly have won with my help. That help would certainly be available.
We had all been hit occasionally when we were younger. This had not happened often. We had not been naughty often. Mother had only hit us when were really awful. Looking back I do not think that dad had hit us at all.
Matt went off to school. He even stayed there all that day. Mother wrote a letter to Matt’s form teacher.
Matt did LOOK as though he was doing some homework. He did not want people to see it though. We were not sure what was happening. I sincerely hoped that he had changed.
WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT MAT?
Now I was legitimately home early that Friday. As part of our history study we went to a local churchyard. It happened to be near our house. I saw mother in a waiting line for the public call box. I said hello. Then about ten minutes later mother came home.
She was really upset. She was also livid:
"He missed Wednesday mornings lessons, all of yesterday and all of this afternoon. My warning has done no good at all. I'll have to get a strap...
"I don't want to hurt him. I never like hitting you. It was just that, everyone said that was how we could do something about misbehavior.
"I don't want to do it, but what else?"
Jo was doing her homework. She was at the same school as Matt. This was the Secondary school- for kids who had failed the exam. She was not as clever as he was but she worked MUCH harder. And although she was not academically bright she did notice people. Her comments were very helpful.
"Mum, maybe Matt deserves to be hit. But I don't think that will make him good. They hit him at school. It's at school he's worse.
"What we need is something that will change the way he acts."
Then the crazy idea came into my head. The more I thought about it the less crazy it felt.
Something else happened to make mother cross. Matt did not come home for tea. He stayed out. Mother stayed up. I kept her company. I kept on brooding. Finally I told her.
"Matt has told us what would change his behavior. Remember he said
“‘I’d do ANYTHING not to wear girl’s clothes.’â€
“Suppose we put him in dresses and told him that he would be allowed to wear boys things if he did all his homework and either passed the "O" level or the Insurance Company exam."
Mother did not agree.
"Your brother might be dead in some ditch and all you can think of is ways to be cruel to him. How could you?"
I tried to explain myself.
"I'm worried too. But don't you see. I want him to start being the person he could be. And as they say sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind."
My brother was NOT dead in some ditch. At half past midnight he got home – VERY drunk. God knows where he got the money for the booze. He probably stole it.
We carried him upstairs.
MATT’S SURPRISES:
At eleven o'clock that morning Matt was still asleep. His bedroom smelled of
booze and urine. Mother snapped. She had lost patience with her son and agreed with me:
"Frankie darling, you were right last night. I am only worried about school and about it not being horrid enough to make him change his mind."
During the night I had thought about things. I went through my ideas with mother. She agreed with all of them- even the selfish one. She also had one more threat of her own. There were few things that made our plans easier. The first was that all the time mother was worried she got busy. All of Matt’s clothes except the ones he was wearing the previous night were washed and ironed.
Then there was the fact that all my younger sisters and worn hand me downs. Then there was Matt’s own size. Finally there was a local second hand clothes shop.
Jo went into Matt’s bedroom. She emptied his chest of drawers. She took the clothes the to the second hand shop. She sold them. She bought just two items of clothing. There was a lot of change. This was handy. We were always short of money.
At noon I dragged my still drowsy brother out of his bed.
"Bath time brother!"
Having a bath was big operation. We did not have hot running water. The kettle had to be boiled several times on the gas ring. It then had to be poured into the bath. You also added cold water. It took a lot of effort to get it exactly right.
On this cold winters morning the bath was not that hot. I did not want Matt to enjoy it too much. Matt was very disoriented.
"What's happening?"
I explained:
"You stink! You need a bath."
He was still cross.
"But shouldn't I decide that?"
Mother shouted from the hall.
"Matt for some time to come you are not going to be deciding anything."
Whilst I was busy scrubbing my brother with carbolic soap and a rough cloth he could hear certain things being moved from one room to another. It was nearly one o'clock when I was finished. I told him
"Now you're coming downstairs."
He replied
"But I've got to get dressed."
I smiled as I said
"You’re getting DRESSED downstairs."
He protected his privates with a towel. It was very like a skirt. Totally appropriate in the circ-umstances.
He stood in the middle of our living room. Five females surrounded him, all seated. Toni had a job in a shop on Saturday afternoons. Mother explained his new life style and the reasons.
"Matt you have behaved dreadfully ever since your father died. Now of course we were all sad about that. But all your sisters have been specially careful and helpful.
"You've been specially lazy and difficult."
Matt replied briefly:
"I can't help being no good at school work. Lots of children are no good at writing and sums and things."
Mother could see through him.
"Matt the trouble is that you are lazy. If I thought you were trying hard but just could not manage I would not mind. But that's not it- is it? You are just lazy."
Matt was still trying to be defiant.
"Well why should I bother to be any different?"
Mother then gave him very cogent reasons.
"Mattie, I am going to give you some very strong incentives to improve your behavior and you studies.
"Until you have been regularly at school and at all your lessons for three months; AND you've either passed at least 3 "O" levels OR the insurance company exams you will be subject to the following discipline:
"One I will take you to school. I will hold your hand.
"Two Jo will collect you from your class at lunchtime and will walk you to your first class after lunch.
"Three Jo will check every afternoon with the teachers to make sure you have been to all your classes..."
I think Matt felt this was the end of the World. His mother would walk him to school as if he were very little. His sister, five years younger than him, would be allowed to supervise him. I think he imagined nothing in the World could be worse. He had several more surprised to come.
"Four, I have checked that there is no school uniform. You will wear short trousers to school.
"Five you will move in with Sophie. Frankie and Lesley will have your room. Toni will share a room with Jo."
That was the selfish bit. Every girl would prefer a room of her own. But having to share a small room with two others was really difficult. Mother had not finished.
"Six, from now on you will do a share of the housework."
"Seven, if you act like a naughty child you will be treated as such- over my knees with a hairbrush.â€
Matt was in shock. He had a bigger shock waiting for him.
"The last punishment was inspired by what you said. You said you would do anything not to wear girls' clothes. We will see if that is right.
"Until you pass some exams you will wear girls' clothing all the time you are at home. You remember Frankie did the insurance exam as a bit of fun at age eleven and passed. You failed at age 17.
"I think you will fit in the clothes she wore at age TEN."
Matt was furious:
"No! NO! NO!"
The news for my brother was even worse than he thought. Dad had liked girls to be girls, and little girls at that. Even though there was a war on at the time of my 10th birthday he had smuggled some clothes for me. They were very well made in America. They were very frilly.
I remember not being too happy when I got them. They made me look younger. Except they were in my size- so they just made me look stupid. When Jo finally inherited them she liked them a lot. But of course she was now too big for them round the waist.
Mother offered my brother a pair of knickers with Minnie Mouse on them.
"I won't wear those bloody panties."
Mother was very cross.
[/i]"Right child, across my knees."[/i]
He tried to run away. Jo grabbed him. I took hold of his feet. Jo kept firm hold of his hands. We lifted him onto mother's lap.
"Sophie, go to mummy's room and get my hairbrush!"
Matt protested.
"Let me go you bitches!"
Mother told him what would happen.
"I am going to spank you twelve times. And for the next two evenings I am going to supervise you in making a VERY soapy drink of water. Then at seven o'clock, just before you go to bed you are going to drink it.
"If you want to use nasty words again you can drink soapy water three times a day, every day, until June."
He shut up but still struggled. He did not cry when mother hit him. I think it hurt a bit. The main point was humiliation. He certainly DID feel humiliated. His spanking was finished but we still held him. Mother addressed him again.
"I can see that someone else will have to dress you. Would you dress your new little sister Frankie?"
Jo then piped in:
"Can I dress him- err her?"
Mother agreed.
"That's a good idea. Now Mattie don't Minnie mouse knickers suit you?"
He answered very quietly.
"No."
Mother asked him.
"Do you think Minnie mouse knickers are a good idea for little Mattie. Speak up so I can hear you."
This time his reply was audible.
"No!"
Mother had another threat
"Perhaps you would prefer napkins."
Mattie was not quite sure what she was talking about. He may have had an idea. He still felt scared by its confirmation.
"What?"
His fears were confirmed
"Napkins, diapers, didies NAPPIES. Maybe you need them anyway judging from last night."
He surrendered:
"I'll wear what you make me wear."
We allowed Mattie to sit down on a chair. Jo fitted the childish panties over his feet. They went up to his knees. Jo gave her instruction
"Stand up little Mattie."
The panties were pulled up around his bottom. He then allowed Jo to lower a full length petticoat over his head. Then came another. On this the skirt was very full. Next came white ankle socks. His sandals were black
Finally came the Dress. It was covered in flowers. The sleeves were very full. The petticoat pushed the skirt right out. It had a great big pink bow at the front. Except for his size he looked like a six year old.
One thing that stopped him being a convincing girl was his short hair. In those days boys did NOT wear long hair. Girls rarely wore short hair. Mother however explained something.
"I don't think you should have your hair cut until June."
She then added:
"If you fail your exams would you prefer a pony tail or pig tails?"
WASHING DISHES:
We had our lunch. In the kitchen there was a pile of dishes to wash from breakfast and as well as the lunch things.
"Mattie, you will now be doing the dishes."
Mother hung a pinny over him. I guess he was pleased that it hid his dress. Mother carefully showed him how to do the dishes. She washed three plates. Then we left him to it. An hour later Mother went back in.
"Mattie, this is not good enough. You'll have to do it again."
In fact it took a third try.
MOUTH WASH:
I was really looking forward to that evening. My brother was going to learn not to use horrid words. Mother watched whilst he carefully cut up a whole bar of soap. Then he gradually stirred it into a saucepan half full of water. The heat on the gas cooker helped it to dissolve. Then it was allowed to get cold.
At half past six the punishment began. Mattie was already in a night-dress ready to go to bed. I think he thought he would be able to get it over quickly. Mother had other ideas.
She took an egg cup and filled it with soapy water from the saucepan. Mattie wore a pinny over his nighty. The Saucepan was right in front of him.
"Now little Mattie. I want to make sure you remember this. So don't swallow until I tell you to. Open up."
The soapy water was poured from the egg-cup into the child's mouth. Then mother talked to Sophie.
"Sophie, would you please count to thirty, very slowly."
Each installment of his mouthwash was given in the same way. Finally mother said.
"Mattie, it is half past seven. That is half an hour after your bed time. So what we are going to do is start giving you your mouthwash tomorrow at half past five. Then you can go to bed at half past six.
"Sophie because you have been such a good girl you can stay up until eight o'clock.
"And Mattie, remember you sleep in the bottom bunk."
Betty Pearl's Sissy Stories 20.1
Topic: Mattie's life in petticoats part 1 (Read 20748 times)
