She was a little younger than my 11 years of age, and we were best friends. Everyday during the weeks we were out of school, mom would drop me off at her house where Mary's mother looked after me. I would run through the house and say hello to her mother and then go out into their backyard to play and wait for lunch. Mary usually was waiting and eager to follow me outside. Though I was a year older than Mary, she was nearly as tall as me. In the next few years she would stop growing and I would shoot on up, but at 10, she was my physical superior. That meant she could run faster and jump higher, and when we competed, I would lose. She would laugh at me when she beat me but it was great fun.
    This day was to be a little different. For starters, I usually came in the summer, but this was an early spring break. Though it was early April, the weather was still acting like it was March. But the weather was not the only difference that day. This time as I went through saying "Hi" to Mary's Mom, Mary was not waiting for me. I looked outside, and when I did not see her, I turned and asked her mother where she was. I found Mary in her bedroom looking really angry.
    "Want to go out and mess around?" I asked cautiously.
    "Too cold." was her curt reply.
    "Nah, not really, just put on a coat and lets go outside." I said, thinking that this would solve everything.
    "A coat would not help enough. It is too cold for me when I am wearing this stupid dress." she explained to me as if I was too stupid to even comprehend small simple words.
    "Oh, do I need to leave you alone so you can change into some pants?" I asked.
    "No, I can't change."
    "Why not?"
    "My mother says that I am too much of a tom boy, and just because I gave myself a haircut, she is making me wear dresses all the time."
    I looked at her. Her hair looked about the same as the last time I saw her a month or so back. I did not understand. Her hair was one of the nicest things about her. She had shoulder length red hair, and it was beautiful to me. It might be an inch or two shorter, and it was in a new flipped under style with a little curl that pointed to her mouth on each side, but it looked plenty long to me.
    "It looks just fine to me, what did you do cut off an inch or two without her permission." I asked.
    "No"
    "Then what?"
    "This" she said as she reached up and grabbed her hair and lifted it off.  To my surprise, the hair was now revealed to be a wig and flopped into her hand. She held it out to me. Her own hair was as short as mine. It was barely an inch long. I stood there in shock.
    "But Mary, why? I always thought your hair was beautiful."
    "You like it, you take it." she said tossing it at me. I caught it quickly and stood amazed at her transformation.  Where a pretty girl had been sitting before me, now sat someone that looked like a boy in a dress.
    "Oh my God! You look like a boy in a dress." I blurted out.
    "That is what mother said. She was mad as I have ever seen her. After getting my aunt, who runs a beauty shop, to shape it up like you see it now, she borrowed this wig from her. I hate the wig, I hate the dress, and I hate my mother." she wailed and broke into tears. Then she added, "I hate my life."
Well at 11 years of age, you are not yet ready to handle such comments. All I could do was stand there with her hair in my hand and watch. In a moment or two she calmed down.
    "I know you do not understand, but I do not like being a girl." she explained.
    "Oh yeah, I see."
    "How can you see? You are a boy. You can go anywhere-- do anything. If you want to play in the mud you can, if you want to ride bikes across town, you can. But not me. Its always, (mimics her mother here) "Behave like a lady, ....be sweet, .....stay where I can see you, .....don't get your clothes dirty."  How can you know. And these clothes. They are designed to make us look weak, and helpless. I have to worry about boys looking up my dress, the wind blowing my skirt, I have to sit with my knees together, hands in my lap, how can I have fun when I have to spend 90% of my time looking after what I have on.......Oh you do not even have a clue!" she vented her frustration.
    "Well, I guess you are right. Still, we boys have our troubles too." I tried to argue.
    "Yeah, sure you do. Well I would gladly trade problems with you. Particularly on a day like this.  If you had to wear that dumb wig and this dress, and I could go out in your nice warm shirt and pants, you would sing a different tune." she said.
    "Well, I ain't a girl, and I guess you are right about that. So what do you want to do?" I said trying to get out of trouble. I handed her the wig back and she bent over, and put it back on. Getting up she went to the mirror and started brushing it out. Finally she started pinning it into place with some bobbie pins. After a minute she turned around. There was my pretty friend again.
    "That is better, you looked funny with short hair and a dress.  You know, it may not be fun for you, but I like seeing pretty girls."( I was trying to compliment her and get her to laugh a little.)
    "Yeah, my pain is your pleasure" she retorted.
    Just then her mother called my name and I went to see what she wanted.
    "How do you like the new Mary?" she asked.
    "She is real pretty, but she sure don't like it. I think she really hates the dress, though the wig is a close second."
    "Oh, so she showed you the wig. Well, it is time she stopped being a tom boy and started acting like a young lady."
    "Yes ma'am."
    "Now Bobby , I have to run a few errands that will take some time.  Ms. Johnson, a lady that used to work with me years ago, will be by in a little while to check on you two. Since your older, and the boy, I am going to leave you in charge. You need to be careful and look after Mary. Do not leave the yard, and do not do anything you know is dangerous. OK? Now Ms. Johnson will be driving a white Ford Station Wagon and has short white hair. Do not let anyone else in. Do you understand?" she explained.
    I nodded then asked. "But won't Mary know her?"
    "Not really, it has been years since they last saw each other. Ms. Johnson is going to give Mary some lessons in proper etiquette, so you will be free to roam around the neighborhood AFTER she gets here. She will most likely fix you some lunch, and you are to mind her in every way. Do you have any other questions?" she asked.
    "No."
    "Well then I am off. BYE MARY!" she yelled. Mary made some sound from her room that could have been a good bye. Her mother then kissed my forehead and said, "Be good, and if there is any problem you know who to call." she said pointing to a list of numbers on the wall. I nodded and she was gone.
    Turning around I heard Mary coming down the hall. Looking up I saw her walk in and flop down on the couch. Aware that I was watching her, she adjusted her dress, and brought her knees together.
    "See what I mean. You would gladly look up my dress if I let you." she chided.
    "I would not." I said. Then added. "Hey now that she is gone you can put on some pants and be comfortable for a little while."
    "Wish I could, but she took all my jeans and locked them up in her dresser, along with her slacks. I am afraid that you are wearing the only available pants in this house."
    "Oh, well, what do you want to do?" I asked. We had the day, and needed to find something to do.
    "We could sit and look at each other" she said sarcastically.
    "Why don't we go outside. It ain't that cold, and we could play on your tether ball, or shoot a few hoops." I suggested.
    "Too cold." was her reply.
    "It is not, your just mad because you have to wear a dress." I argued. I was getting angry because she was killing my day with her gloomy attitude.
    We sat in silence a minute. Then a light went off in her head, I could see the look change on her face. In seconds she was actually grinning at me.
    "I know what we can do." she smiled.
    "What?" I was a little suspicious.
    "Have you ever seen a girl's naked body?" she asked.
    "What?"
    "You know, have you ever seen a girl without her clothes on?
    "Well, no." I was real nervous now, and beginning to get a little aroused by the question.
    "Well then lets play a game called . . . I'll show you mine if you will show me yours." she giggled..
    "We better not. What if we get caught.?" I was real nervous now.
    "Oh you're a fraidy cat." she said cutting off her smile and turning away.
    "I am not, but....but... well I am just nervous is all."
    "Well, nothing to be nervous about. Here is how we will do it. I will go into my  room, you go into my mother's room. I'll undress and you undress and then at the count of three we both come out and show ourselves." she explained.
    "I don't know, what if Ms. Johnson comes?" I asked.
    "In that case you hurry and get ready, and she would never know the difference."
I paused to consider. At that moment she re-crossed her legs in order to tempt me even more.
    "Come on Bobby, lets do it now." she said and jumped up to take my hand.  She shoved me into her mother's room and turned to leave.
    "Now it won't take me very long, so hurry up. Take all your clothes off. Then when I count three, come out into the hall."
    She disappeared and I shut the door. I quickly removed my shoes, socks and pants. Then my shirt and T-shirt. Finally I removed my underwear and had them all piled on the  bed. I was naked as a street pigeon waiting at the door. My mind was racing with excitement, I could not wait to see Mary naked, and I was getting aroused in anticipation. After what seemed like hours (but was only another minute or so)  she finally said she was ready. I heard the count and stepped into the hall. There was no sign of Mary. Cautiously I moved closer to her room and called her name. At that instant, I heard a door open behind me. Mary, fully dressed ran out of the hall closet and into her mother's room laughing.   At first I tried to hide from her, but all too late realized she was going into that room and as I turned to stop her, found the door locked and her inside with my clothes. I yelled, I cussed, I banged on the door and even tried to bust it open. It was no use. After only about five minutes she came out. I had to run to the bathroom and get a towel, and returned with it wrapped around my waist..  Mary stood there grinning. Her wig was gone, and her short hair had been combed over like mine. Of course she was wearing my clothes and swaggered around  as if she owned the world.
    "Those are my clothes, give them to me!" I demanded.
    "I will, when I get ready."
    "No, I want them now!"
    "Sorry, I am going to go outside and play. You can come if you want." she snickered.
    "Yeah, what am going to wear, your dress?" I said sarcastically.
    "That's right. It is not that cold, remember?"
    "I am not going to put on a dress, I am not a girl." I seethed with anger.
    "Well, then suit yourself." she attempted to move by me.
    I reached out and grabbed her arm. I had momentarily forgotten about her strength advantage. She snatched away, then grabbed me and pinned me to the wall. Then with a grunt she shoved  me a couple of feet down the hall causing my to fall to my knees and lose the towel. She then grabbed it up and calmly walked down the hall. It was obvious she was going to win a physical contest. Frustrated and humiliated I started crying and begging for my clothes. In a moment she returned and I thought for a second she was going to give them back. Instead she took my hand and led me to her mother's room. Pointing at the clothes she had been wearing, she said "There you go. When you get ready for the wig, call me." With that she walked back into the living room. I went to the bathroom looking for a towel and found the door locked. Edging close to the living room door I peered in.
    "If I do this for a little while will you give me back my clothes?" I asked.
    "Sure." came her prompt reply.
    So then reluctantly I went back to her room and looked at the clothes. There were some clean panties laid out on the dresser, so I went first and pulled them on to cover my nakedness. They were very tight. Peeling them back so I could ready the label, I found that they were a "panty girdle". They nearly cut me in two, being so small. But I did mange to get my "not to generous" manhood packed into them. Looking around I found the bra. When I picked it up I discovered two small foam pads in the cups, and the cups looked to be nearly a quarter of an inch thick.  I tried fastening it several times before hitting on the idea of putting it on backwards and twisting it around. Next I put on the long slip which fell to just above my knee. Slipping the dress on over that, I then looked for the knee socks she had been wearing. Pulling them on, I stepped into the shoes, which had a strap across the instep and buckled them on. I then called for Mary, who must have been peeping around the corner watching me. Now I was really  mad.,
    "OK, Here it is." I said.
    She entered with some bobbie pins and had me lean over while she put the wig on my head. Next she pulled it back and pinned it into place. Finally she brushed it out and stepped back grinning.
    "Well, you do look mighty pretty."
    "I bet I look like a guy in a dress."
    "No, actually you look quite pretty. Come see." she told me and then led me to the bathroom. After unlocking the door with a small nail that lay on a ledge above the door she led me inside. Closing the door revealed it was backed by a  full length mirror.  I looked at my reflection and was amazed.  I would never tell Mary, but she was right.  I looked like a girl. The hair, the dress, my youth, all made it possible.
"See, I told you. A boy in a dress."
    "Yeah, whatever." she replied and then walked out.
    "Now what?" I asked following her out.
    She stopped and grabbed my coat.  "Now, we do what you have been bugging me to do since you got here. We go outside."
    And with that she turned and went out the back door. I could feel the cool air move through the house as she left. My legs were particularly sensitive, though I had on the knee socks. It was cold out there. I realized that the tables had turned completely. While before she had stood before me in a pretty dress and beautiful hair, it was now me. To anyone who did not know, I was the girl, and Mary was the boy.
    Still, time was running out. I could not let anybody, least of all Ms. Johnson catch me in this humiliating position. But I also knew that unless I completed this exercise, she would not trade back. I needed to get it over with as soon as possible.
    Going back to her room, I found her coat and slipped it on. Fat lot of good it will do me with my legs exposed like this... I thought. Opening the door I went outside to find Mary. As I hit the outside air, the dress tried to billow a little. The cold air hit my legs and went up to my pantied bottom. I looked down, thinking that the dress must be blowing up, but found it was only billowing out and swishing around.  I suddenly felt naked, and vulnerable.
    "Hello, MARY." she said laughing.
    "Hi." I said flatly.
    "Cool enough for you. You look cold in that pretty dress." she ribbed.
    "I am fine. What now?" (I was wanting to get it all over with.)
    "Lets play tether ball."
    "OK," I agreed and we played a game.
    It was more difficult to play because every time I tried to raise my hands high, it would raise the skirt and Mary would start singing the "I see Paris, I see France", rhyme. She beat me soundly, like she usually did. While I waited for the ball to unwrap for my rematch, the wind caught my dress and nearly blew it over my head. I struggled to get it back down, and waited to hear the "I see Paris..." song again. Instead I heard Mary running off. When the dress finally fell back into place I turned to see where Mary had gone. I heard the door to the house slam and turned back just in time to see her cross the back porch and enter the house. I was relieved. At last, it would soon be over. The wind was picking up, and as I walked the motion of my legs lifting the skirt caused the hem to want to fly up. I stopped and pushed it down. No wonder she hates dresses I thought. Well, at least my time in skirts was about to end, I thought as I approached the house holding the skirt down with my hands.  Mounting the steps I entered the back door only to see, Mary talking to someone.  MS. JOHNSON.
    Oh no, she had caught Mary, I thought. Now we were in real trouble. I tried to dash to Mary's room and remove the clothes, but got caught by Ms. Johnson.
    "Mary, where are you going?" she said as she grabbed my arm.
    "Mary? Who...Er Mary? I am not Mary." I said turning to look up at her.
Just then, Mary came up behind her and spoke.
    "See Ms. Johnson, I told you what she would try and say."
    "What?" I said with alarm. "I am not Mary. I am Bobby." I added.
Ms. Johnson just shook her head, while Mary grinned at me. Then Mary went on talking.
    "When I got here this morning she was crying about not wanting to be a girl, and not liking dresses. Then after her mother left, she tried to trick me out of my clothes. But I was too smart for her."
    "That is not true." I said angrily " It was her, it was YOU that did that. And you did trick me out of my clothes." I explained.
    Ms. Johnson pulled my arm and led me into the living room.
    "Listen here young lady. Your mother told me all about your little tricks. I know all about how you hate to be a girl. Do not think that I am going to fall for such a lame attempt to get Bobby's clothes. You know very well that I could verify this story with a quick look. So just be quiet and behave yourself." she scolded.
    "But I am Bobby, and she is Mary. She does have my clothes and these are hers. I swear."
    And with that I grabbed my skirt and raised it up. However, in my lack of experience in such things I only grabbed the skirt and failed to grab the slip. Ms. Johnson was suddenly angry. Grabbing me by the arm she forced me to release the dress, even as I was trying to reach, through my slip, and grab the panties.
"You stop that young lady!! There is a young man present. You do not lift your skirts in public like that. You know better than that."
    Then before I could say anything she reached behind her on the end table and grabbed a switch. Holding me by my arm she then bent over, pushed my knee socks down and started slapping my legs with the switch. It was a sharp, biting sting, that was really unbearable.  I yelled and tried to run, but she held fast. "But I am not Mary!! I am not Mary!! I cried out.
    That just made Ms. Johnson all the fiercer on the switch. She countered with, "Now you hush that nonsense up. I will not tolerate another word about it."  I had started crying now because the pain was tremendous. I had been spanked before, even with a belt, but that was nothing like the rising pain from that switch on my bare legs. I tried one more time, pleading. "But I am Bobby, I am Bobby." I said sobbing. She  stopped the switching and turning to Mary told her, to leave the room. Mary, shocked at my treatment paused then left.
    "OK, Bobby," she said sarcastically. I am going to check and see if what you say is true.  But if you are lying, I will give you another switching. I was relieved, At last she was going to listen to me. I stopped sobbing, though my legs throbbed from the pain, I was sure they were bloody by now.
    "OK, lift your skirt. Bobby is gone now." she instructed.
    I carefully lifted my skirt and this time was careful to raise the slip.
    "Ok I have seen enough." she said sternly.
    "Don't you want me to pull the panties down?" I asked surprised that she could tell so much from just looking at my underwear.
    "That won't be necessary. I have seen young girls in their panties before."  She said angrily and with that grabbed my arm and started switching me again. As I protested again the pain somehow seemed even worse. She spoke again.
    "I do not want to hear another word about you being a boy. I can tell from your outline that you are Mary. Now tell me the truth. Who are you?" she demanded as she paused with the switch.  "Bobby" I replied. With that the switch onslaught started again.
    "Who....Who are you?" she demanded again.
    It was obvious that the only way out of this now was to say Mary. So I said it.  "MARY...please stop." I cried.
    "Mary? Are you sure. Maybe you are just saying that to avoid the switching." she said as she paused in the switching.
    "Yes ma'am, I am sure." I sobbed.
    "Are you a Boy or a Girl?"
    "I am a girl." I said choking back a sob.
    "Are you sure?" she asked waving the switch.
    "Yes ma'am, I am Mary, I am a girl." I choked it out, calming down.
    " Are you going to try and raise that skirt again? She asked.
    "No Ma'am" I said now able to breathe without a sob.
    "Now I want you to apologize to me and to Bobby. Do you understand?" she asked. I nodded. Then she turned and called Mary. She had, of course, heard the whole thing. At this point a confession on her part would have been crazy.  When she walked in, Ms. Johnson let go of my arm and said, "OK dear, lets hear it."
I took a deep breathe, then looking at Ms. Johnson said. "I'm sorry."
    "Sorry for what?" she asked.
    "I am sorry for trying to make you believe I am really a boy." I said carefully.
    "Are you?" she asked.
    "No ma'am, I am a girl." I said with pain and humiliation rising up in my throat as I looked over at Mary.
    "Good. Now Bobby." she ordered. Turning to Bobby I started to speak. Ms. Johnson stopped me.
    "Straighten your skirt. And wipe your eyes. A young lady must always look her best around the gentlemen of this world. "
    "Yes Ma'am." I said looking down at my dress. Sure enough the hem was turned up and it had to be knocked down. I dried my eyes and then caught Ms. Johnson pointing to my legs. Bending over I went to pull the knee socks up and she stopped me.
    "Like a lady. Do not bend over. Do it like this. Modesty, dear girl Modesty." she said as she half bent over and then raised one leg to demonstrate by pulling an imaginary sock up. I carefully copied her and realized that I had seen hundreds of girls do it this same way.
    Choking back the humiliation, I looked at Mary with longing. I tried to tell her by my eyes, that she needed to end this. Instead I got a sympathetic, but non helpful smile.
    "Apologize Mary," said Ms. Johnson who still waved the switch.
    "I am sorry Mary." I said without thinking.
    "WHO?" demanded Ms. Johnson as she grabbed my arm again.
    "Bobby, Bobby, I mean Bobby." I pleaded quickly.
    "That is better. Tell him what you are sorry for." she ordered.
    "Bobby, I am sorry I tried to make you wear this dress." I said woodenly.
    "Oh, that's Ok," Mary answered.
    "Now that is better" said Ms. Johnson. "Bobby, you can go on out and play. Mary and I have a lot of work to do." she added.
    Bobby shrugged and left. Suddenly I remembered what Mary's mother had said about Ms. Johnson teaching Mary how to behave. It had not seemed so important at the time, but now I was Mary, or so she thought, and it was I who was going to receive this training. I started to get upset again.
    "Wait," I yelled.
    "What now dear?" asked Ms. Johnson. She still held the switch, and waved it casually at me. "WE are not going to start up again about being a boy are we?" she asked.
    Realizing my current status, I re-thought my actions. I was, in fact, going to start again, but thought better of it.
    "No, I just wanted to tell BOBBY, bye," I lied.
    "Oh."
    With that Mary left. I could see her through the window as she at first idly hit the tether ball, then shrugging she walked over to the bikes under the shelter, sorted through to a boys bike, pulled it out and started to pump up the tires with a hand pump she found hanging on a nail in the shed.
    As I watched, Ms. Johnson puttered around the house for a few minutes then finally pulled my attention away from Mary, just as she jumped on the bike and peddled out of sight.
    "Well, young lady. That was quite a display. Now if you can pull your eyes off that cute young man, we will get started." she said. Then she added, "Only ten years old and cannot keep your eyes off the boys. How do you think you are going to get their attention if you keep on trying to be a boy?" she asked and chuckled.
    "I wasn't looking at him like that." I said. I did not even realize that I had called Mary a "him".
    "Sure." she grinned. "At least your admitting Bobby is a "him". That is progress."
    When she said it I was aware that she was right. I was a little angry at myself for making that kind of slip. Still Mary, did look like a boy, and I had just been beat to within an inch of my life so that I would call her a boy. It wasn't my fault. Still, here I was in Mary's clothes. I looked down at the dress and wanted to cry. I was interrupted again by Ms. Johnson who wanted to begin the "lessons."
    "Now Mary, you do need some help in you manners. You walk like a boy, and you wear that dress like a boy. If I had not inspected you myself, I might almost believe you when you say you are one. So lets start with the basics. First, you are a girl. This is a good thing. Girls can do things no boy could ever dream of doing, and Girls get to be desired. Did you get that? I said that Girls get to be desired. There is nothing to compare with the feeling you get when some handsome young man, desires you. The desire to kiss you or hold your hand, or even to hear your voice, are almost magical. Your only challenge then, is to help the boys in that department. That is why we go to such trouble to be beautiful. The boys will notice you and then they will start to shower you with their affections. It is a wonderful place to be in. Understand?"
    Wow, what a talk. I knew there was secret stuff like this but had no idea it could be talked about so openly. I answered. "Yes ma'am." Then I went over and plopped down on the couch. Ms. Johnson just shook her head.
    "OK, very good. Now on to the next level.  In order to be beautiful, you need more than a pretty dress. Like right now, you have on a very pretty dress, but it is all destroyed when you move like a bear and plop down like a sack of feed.. A dress needs to be worn with grace and dignity. You should flow in your motions like your dress flows with the breeze.  When sitting you should take up as small a space as possible, and definitely keep your knees together. In fact, it is best to always keep your knees together." she smiled and then pointed to my own dress.
    Suddenly aware that this was not just to be a revealing of girl secrets, it was to be my re-invention as a proper young lady, I moved to correct the dress faux pax. She came over and kept on talking. She made me get up, sit down, squat, walk back and forth and even taught me to curtsey. This went on for nearly two hours. Lecture, practice, Lecture, practice, was the drill till nearly 11:15. Finally she sighed and smiled.
    "Well, you are looking much better. Time to start lunch so lets get in the kitchen and see if any of this training has sunk in." she smiled and pointed into the kitchen.
"Now, something else you need to know Mary. From here on out I do not want to see your panties again. If you sit, squat, jump or run, you will do it as a lady. Keep your elbows in, your knees together and you will do fine. Let me see those panties, or suspect that someone else has seen them, and you will get another switching. Understand?"
    "Yes ma'am." I replied warily.
    With that she led the way into the kitchen. I was super conscious of my movements after that. I tried to make every move as she had directed, and found that in time it became easier. As I brought things to the counter, reached up for items, squatted to retrieve items from below, I got better and better. In fact, By the time Mary, aka Bobby, came in for lunch, I was not even thinking about it anymore.  I was not aware that she had come in and was still setting the table. I had gone under the counter to retrieve a gravy bowl, and then carried it to the stove. Realizing that all was ready, I walked over and sat down in the chair and crossed my legs. Of course, I straightened my dress as I sat down, and gave a little sigh of fatigue. Ms. Johnson had gone to the bathroom so I was alone.  Then I heard a noise and startled I spun around in the chair, being careful to keep my knees together. There was Mary, covered in dirt and grinning at me.
    "Well, quite the young lady." she said.
    I was still angry at her. And turned away. As I did it, my hair spun back and forth and caused me to brush it back out of my face. It was a habit I had picked up after only 3 hours in a wig.
    Mary walked closer and spoke, "I know you are mad at me, but honest, I did not know she was going to be so mean. But after what she did to you, I was not about to tell her the truth. You understand." she explained in a whisper.
    I sat silent for a second and then turned to look at her. "Yeah, I know. Still if you had not made me put on your dumb clothes to start with....." I started, but she interrupted.
    "I know, I know. I am sorry. But now you know why I did it. Don't you?"
    I thought about it. She was right. All this fuss over clothes was a bit much. And to tell the truth I had not been warm since I put on the dress. "Your right, it is hell." I admitted.
    She smiled back, "First chance we get we will fix it back. Still you are moving in that dress like you were born in it."
    "I have no choice. If she sees so much as one "boy movement" she lectures me, and now says that even if I accidentally expose my panties, she will give me a switching."  I explained.  Just then we heard the toilet flush, and Mary move back to the door and waited.
    Ms. Johnson entered the room and saw her there.
    "Oh there you are Bobby, just in time. Mary, get up and show him what you have learned." she directed.
    "Ma'am?" I asked not understanding.
    "Get up and curtsey for him." she said smiling.
    "Yes ma'am." I got up and did as she directed.
    "Very pretty." said Mary smiling.
    I was helpless to do anything but say thanks. Then Ms. Johnson sent Mary off to clean up as we sat down to eat. When Mary returned we ate, but I had to fetch the tea, pour Mary's tea and otherwise wait on them both. After eating I washed the dishes, then dried them and put them away. Mary, as Bobby, had to go take a bath. I was mystified. If Bobby took a bath, what was "he" going to wear. My answer came shortly as Mary reappeared in some clean jeans and a new shirt.  It seems that Ms. Johnson had done her homework and brought me some clothes. This explained Mary's mother's comment about me doing what I was told. Now  I was told to hop in the tub and bathe up next. This was my chance. Certainly now, Ms. Johnson would find out the truth.
    However, when I entered the bathroom, I found all my clothes laid out, and a tub of smelly water waiting for me. I took off the wig and bathed. Then I dried off and surveyed the clothes. They were clothes a 10 year old might wear out to play, not fancy or frilly. As I stood looking the bathroom door opened and another pair of panty girdle was dangling there. I heard Mary whisper, "Put these on first." As I took them from her She quickly shut the door and left me alone. I put them on, then put on the clean bra and falsies and finally looked at the slip. It was not a normal slip in that it stuck out. I later learned that it was called crinoline, and was worn just for such a purpose.  Putting in on I then slipped the dress on over it all, but it buttoned up the back. I got one button but could not get the rest. Just then Ms. Johnson came in and looked at me.
    "Here turn around." she said as she buttoned up the back. "Now the bow" she said as she pulled it tight around my waist and tied it off. "Now come with me for a big surprise." she said as she led me down the hall to Mary's room.
    Once in the room she shut the door and then told me to sit down and close my eyes. I sat at the vanity table, fully aware of the overflowing skirts that I tried to control as I had been taught. I did a good job, they fell to either side as they should and my knees were in perfect alignment.  Closing my eyes I waited.  In seconds, she had placed the wig on my head and pinned it into place, all the while telling me to keep my eyes closed. Finally finished, she brushed it a couple of times and then told me to open my eyes.  Handing me a mirror she told me to look at the back. With some difficulty I looked and found that my hair had a big bow in the back of the same material as the bow on my dress. It had long strings on it that fell into and mingled a little with my hair.
    I was stunned. The bow was so feminine that I felt queasy in my stomach. The reflection in the vanity was of a very pretty girl. The dress was beautiful and as a boy I knew that any other boy would be drooling over this girl.
    "Oh my God..." I said in astonishment.
    "Hey, young lady, watch that mouth." she said to me. Then added. "It is beautiful isn't it."
    "I'm sorry." I said.
    "Here put on these shoes and lets get the whole picture." she said indicating some shinny shoes near the door.
    Stepping into the shoes, they felt a lot like the ones I was wearing earlier, but they did not have the strap. Also without the socks, they were on my bare feet. As I stepped they flopped up and down a little and Ms. Johnson instructed me in how to prevent that. I followed her across the hall to the bathroom and looked in the full     length mirror.
    "Why have you dressed me like this?" I asked.
    "Remember what I said about being desired. This dress will have every boy at the skating rink desiring you. With that shorter dress, you will knock them dead."
    "Skating Rink?" I asked with rising anxiety.
    "Still another surprise. You do not think I would teach you so much and not provide you an opportunity to show it off.  You need to be rewarded for your hard work. So I set this up for today knowing that I was going to chaperone my grand niece's birthday party. She is 11, and this is her first boy/girl party. "You may even get to skate around with some boys." she explained.
    "With boys?"
    She laughed. "Well, I have seen the girls skating together at this age, but you are not getting all dressed up for the girls."
    "I can't skate with boys." I started to explain.
    "Nonsense, Bobby said the same thing about girls.  Now come on to the living room and show Bobby what his date looks like." she said and left the room.
    I was stunned. Go like this in front of people? It had been OK for Ms. Johnson and for Mary , but to go and let boys think that I am really a girl?  I had to tell Ms. Johnson the truth.
    As I rushed into the livingroom with my skirts flying, and every intention of again telling her that I was really a boy, I was stopped short by the switch in her hand and the worried look on Mary's face.
    "Now Mary, I know that you are afraid of going to this skating party, and are working real hard to think of a way out, but if you try to tell me again that you are really a boy, this switching will be even worse than before." she said sternly.
    "No ma'am." I said.
    "Good so lets load up and go have some fun." she said enthusiastically.
    As we left, Mary got my coat and held it for me. I put it on and followed them outside.
    "Mary?  Forget something?" asked Ms. Johnson.
    "No ma'am." I said starting to shiver in the cold wind.
    "What about your pocketbook?" she asked.
    "Ma'am?" I asked dumbly.
    "Your purse. You do have a purse, I know." she said in exasperation.
    "Yes Ma'am." I answered. Then just stood there.
    "Go get it." she ordered. Just then, Mary moved back to the door. "I'll get it for you Mary. I saw it in your room." she said as she entered the house.
    I was just wanting to get inside the car and get out of the wind but Ms. Johnson waited for Mary to return with the purse. "When he returns be sure to thank him, he is such a nice young man." she told me.
    When I got the pocketbook I thanked "Bobby" and we then went to the car. I tried stepping into the car as always, but Ms. Johnson grabbed my hand and made me wait.
    "Enter with your caboose...Your rear end, dear, then swing your legs in." she explained.
    "Like this?" I asked as I did like she told me.
    "Very good." was her reply as she got in on the other side.
    I slid on over and let "Bobby" have the shot gun position. So in the middle, I rode to the skating rink, knowing that humiliation and disgrace was only a revelation away. The ride was silent and uneventful. I dreaded every mile. I was going to have to be around these people as a girl. Certainly, I would be found out. Worse, I did not really know how to skate that well. I would fall. In a dress, it would be nasty on my bare knees to fall. Plus it could result in showing my panties, and maybe get another switching from Ms. Johnson.  All in all this day was looking like a real downer. Like Mary before me, I hated being a girl.

(Read Part two: The Skating Party)