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Companion Author's Note: I could feel myself clinging to the darkness of sleep but something was trying to drag me into the light of the new day. "Charlie?" It was my mother's voice. I gave up and surrendered to consciousness. "Yeah, I'm awake." "Hmph." She shook her head at me. "First day of your summer vacation and you are already trying to sleep the day away. Well, I am still worried about leaving you hear all by yourself today." "Mom," I complained. "I'm going to be fifteen next month. I'm plenty old enough to spend a day alone. I'm definitely too old for day care, or some lame summer day camp stuff. Besides, you only work three days a week, you'll probably be sick of me on the days you have to be home. You'll be happy for the break." "Ha, ha," she deadpanned. "Fine, I left a list of things that would be really nice if you could do around the house today. I don't want you wandering off on your bike either. Please stay in the house. And if anything happens, call Mrs. Peterson next door. She has numbers to reach me or your father. OK?" "OK," I groaned tired of the lecture. She had only told me about staying home and Mrs. Peterson about a dozen times already. "Fine, well, I need to get going or I'll be late." She came to the bed and kissed my forehead. "I'll see you a little after 5:00. Be good." "I will." I pushed the covers back and swung my feet to the floor. "Have a good day!" I sat on the edge of the bed and listened to her shoes tapping on the floor as she went to the front door. At last I heard the door open and close, the harsh clack as the deadbolt was engaged. I leapt from my bed over to the window and peered out toward the front of the house. After what seemed like an eternity I saw her car pass by taking her off to her part time gig. I hurried to my closet and pulled the box from behind the shoes and sweatshirts that had collected on the floor. I carried it to my bed, opened the flaps and looked inside. Two weeks ago I had ridden my bike to a Wal-Mart that was a few blocks away. I chose to go there because they have self-checkout aisles. I had been saving my lunch money from school for a few months and decided to buy my own dresses and panties. I bought a package of five neatly rolled up cotton bikini panties, and two dresses. My heart was racing from the fear of being seen by someone I knew and wanting to know why I was buying these things. Or worried that someone would question me in the checkout because I was so young and they might think I was trying to shoplift. I ran the tags across the scanner and shoved them in the bag as quickly as I could. Once the money was fed into the slot I took the receipt and headed for the door, trying to walk as casually as possible but wanting to run the whole time. Finally I reached my bike unlocked it and was on my way. I couldn't believe it! Now I stand here looking at the fruits of my labors that day. I pulled out a pair of the yellow panties with a delicate orange lace trim and my heart began to race again. I quickly stripped off my night clothes and put them on. I was terribly excited, maybe even more than when I tried on my mother's things because these were mine. My mother's things felt really nice but they were a little big on me, I wasn't very big for my age, so when I bought these things I got a size smaller than my mom's. I pulled out the dress I was going to wear that day. The top half looked like a short-sleeved denim shirt, and at the waist it was a yellow skirt. The skirt was short in the front, well above my knee, and just below my knee in the back. I pulled it on over my head and tugged it down into place. My heart was still racing from excitement. I walked to parent's bedroom. I bought my own dress because I almost got something on one of my mom's and it scared me so bad I stopped wearing them for a while. But I loved doing it so much that I had to do something. One thing that does fit me is her shoes. I found a pair of tan heeled sandals and fastened my feet into them. I looked at myself in her mirror and liked the outfit. My legs looked so long with the short skirt and high heels. My face was still smooth enough I thought I might really be able to pass for a girl if I tried. For now, spending the day doing things around the house would be enough for me. I went to the kitchen and prepared myself a bowl of cereal. I think I walked around extra just to feel the longer back of my dress tickle the backs of my legs. Finally I carefully sat at the table, tucking my dress under me, and ate breakfast. I read over my list of chores Mom had left to see what I needed to try and do for the day. Most of the list was easy things and wouldn't really take much time. I cleaned up my dishes and went to work about the house. I cleaned my room, vacuumed the carpeted areas, and did a load of laundry (just my clothes, which will make it easier when I need to clean my panties and dresses). Once I finished all the chores it was still just past lunch. I settled in front of the television and watched some afternoon movie. Suddenly I realized it was 5:00! My mother would be home soon and it would not do well for her to catch me and have to explain where my dress came from. I ran to their bedroom as quick as I could in the heels. I stripped them off and put them back in their spot in the closet. Then I scampered to my room feeling the dress flutter about me as I went. My excitement turned to fear as I heard the car door close outside. I pulled the dress off over my head, and though I was hurrying I still took time to fold it neatly and place it in the box. I peeled off my panties and tucked them in the box with the others. Then I put the box in the closet pushing things back in front of it camouflaging it as well as I could. I heard the lock disengage and ran to my dresser grabbing underwear, shirt and shorts. I finished putting them on as the click of my Mom's heels grew louder in the hallway outside my room. "Hey, Charlie." She poked her head into my room. "How was the first day of being alone?" "Great!" I answered. "I got all the things on the list done that you wanted." "That's wonderful, thank you!" She smiled, then the smile faded. "Are you feeling ok? You look little flushed." "Um, no, I'm fine. I was just messing around in here waiting for you to get home." "OK, we'll be eating dinner in about an hour when your father gets home." "OK!" * - * - * The first couple weeks went pretty much the same. I wore either my blue and yellow dress or a red dress. The red dress was layered and a single short length. I liked the way the sun shone through the top layer. I started thinking about wanting more. It was summer and too warm for hose but I had already decided to make another run to Wal-Mart when the weather started turning cooler. Also, I wanted to see if I couldn't buy another dress or two. Maybe I'd get something long for the winter. I was fantasizing about having a huge wardrobe of dresses but also realizing I couldn't hide all that. And I seriously doubted my parents would like it if I were found out. I had once again finished my chore list, it was getting shorter all the time since I had nothing else to do, and noticed that the trash can in the kitchen was full. I thought about taking it out at 5:00 after I changed clothes but then thought maybe it would be fun to go out now. Nobody else would see me walking to the trashcan in my backyard. I pulled the trash from the receptacle and tied off the bag. After I placed the new bag in the can I picked up the trash and went to the back door. Once again I could feel my heart pounding away in my chest from the excitement of going outside. I had on the red dress and a pair of Mom's black pumps. I pulled open the door. The sun streamed in through the door and felt warm on my bare legs. I nervously glanced about at the other houses I could see but I saw no signs of life. I stepped onto the patio and strode to the large bins waiting by the side of the house. I dropped in my contribution and walked back to the entrance into the house. I pushed the door closed and giggled. "That was great," I told nobody there. A couple hours later I carefully placed my dress and panties in the box and dressed in my other clothes. I was lazing in front of the television when my mom got home. I had a real nice summer going for me. I used to think I would be so bored being stuck in the house three days a week. * - * - * "Charlie?" "Yes, Mom." "Mrs. Peterson called me this morning and was wondering if you would be available to help her with something today. I told her I was running out of things for you to do and that you would be happy to come by. Be sure to take your key and lock the doors before you leave. She is expecting you at about 10:00. OK?" "Yes, Mom," I sighed. "Hey, she is a nice lady and she is older and needs some help. Be nice to her." She had totally misread the reason behind my disappointment, and I was glad for that. "I will be. I just don't know what she is going to want me to do is all." "OK then, I'll see you tonight." She left. I thought about putting on a dress for the couple hours I had before I would need to go next door but I didn't feel like digging out the box just for that short time. Perhaps if I got whatever she needed done quickly I'd still have most of the day. I ate some breakfast, did a couple things that needed doing and still had time to sit and play a video game for a while before it became time to head next door. After being sure our house was locked up tight I trotted up the sidewalk and walkway to Mrs. Peterson's front door. I knocked and waited wondering what she might need done. I've seen visitors come by at times but mostly she seemed to be alone. The door opened. "Charlie, how nice of you to come by. Please, come in." She stepped back out of the way letting me into her home. Mrs. Peterson was easily in her 60's. She looked good for a woman her age, not movie star good, but good enough that I believed a man her age would find her attractive. And she always dressed real nice. Even today she wore a dress with heels. "Hi, Mrs. Peterson. Mom said you needed some help with some things today." "Yes, just a couple things, if you don't mind." She led me back toward her kitchen. "No problem at all, happy to help." I tried to sound enthused. "Well, first I have some boxes stored in my garage that I would like put into my car. I need to take them over to one of my daughter's house this weekend and I am afraid I can't manage them by myself. And of course they are too busy to come over and help." "I'm sorry to hear that, Mrs. Peterson. I can take care of that for you easily. Just show me which ones you want moved." She led me out the back door to the detached garage in the back. Her car sat in the driveway just outside the large door. She reached into the car and the trunk lid popped open followed by the garage door rolling up its track. Inside the door stood a pile of about thirty boxes, there was no way I would be able to fit them all into the car. "OK, Charlie," she explained. "You'll see on the side of the boxes some say Beth, others say Marie. I need the Beth boxes that also say "Baby" on them. My daughter is about to have her first and asked if she could have her old clothes. I think there are only three or four but the boxes aren't in any order so you'll need to sort through them all." "Oh, that's no problem, Mrs. Paterson." I smiled. "I was afraid you wanted them all in the car." "Oh, yes, I see where you might have been concerned about that," she laughed. "After you finish that, please close up the garage, lock the car and come back into the kitchen." "Will do. Shouldn't take too long." I watched her walking back toward the house, her skirt swinging loosely back and forth. I looked a little closer at her legs and was certain she was wearing hose! I could see a faint line of a seam running up her legs. I was amazed and a little excited about it. I quickly turned toward my task afraid she might look back and catch me gawking. At first I started pulling the boxes and restacking the ones that didn't meet the selection criteria out of the way. Then I decided to go a little above and beyond. About two hours later I closed everything up and went back to the house. I knocked on the kitchen door. "Come on in, Charlie," she called. "No need to knock when you are doing things for me and I am expecting you to come back in. "So, that took a bit longer than I expected." "Well, I thought you might need to get back into them again so I rearranged them against the wall. I put all Marie's together and Beth's together. Plus I put the school clothes 6-8 on the bottom, toddler on top of those and the baby clothes for Marie on top. I hope it will make it easier to find what you need later. Plus I moved a couple other things around and I think you'll be able to park in the garage now so if the weather is bad you won't have to worry about getting in and out in the rain." "My, my," she smiled at me. "Aren't you just the go-getter. I was planning on giving you a couple dollars for the work today but I think it might not be enough." "Oh, that's ok, you don't have to pay me. And besides, I did more than you asked so it wouldn't be fair for you to pay something you didn't ask for." "You are so sweet!" she continued to smile. It was a dazzling smile that just made you feel good being around her. "Surely there is something you would like to buy." "My mom has been giving me an allowance for the summer for doing things around the house. I'll probably use it to buy some new video games, or music, or something. I haven't decided yet." "Hmm, ok. What about a new dress?" My heart stopped. "W-w-w-what?" "I saw you taking the trash out the other day. I thought perhaps your mother had decided to bring in someone to watch you after all. Then I saw your face a little clearer when you got closer. You make an adorable girl. The dress is too young for your mother to wear so I assume that it is one you somehow managed to get for yourself," she sat at her kitchen table still smiling at me. I thought to panic, to run. I quickly realized that I couldn't outrun what she had already seen. Her smile through the whole thing bothered me, but as I stood there looking at her weighing my options I realized that it wasn't the wicked queen type of a smile that was threatening behind the niceness, she still seamed nice. "I bought it at Wal-Mart," I whispered. "Really, that must have been quite an adventure for you. Please, have a seat here with me." "It was." I pulled the chair out and sat in it. "Are you going to tell my mother? Or did you already tell her?" "No, dear," she shook her head very slightly, "I don't think it is something that needs to be brought up. I've heard some boys enjoy dressing in their mother's clothes. I'm surprised that you have gone so far as to buy your own dress, though." "Two actually." I swallowed. I felt at ease talking with her, though I didn't understand why. Perhaps the tone of her voice made me feel like I wasn't going to suddenly be chastised for my little hobby. Perhaps it was the smile. Whatever it was, I guess deep down I decided to talk to her. "Two? You are industrious, aren't you? Tell me about it. Why did you start and why did you decide to spend your money on your own outfits?" I told her how I started wearing my mom's underwear a couple years before because I was curious at first, then enjoyed the feel of them. How I started wearing dresses a short time later. I told her how I almost spilled something on one of the dresses one day and how I decided I needed to have my own and described my trip to Wal-Mart. Then I told her how I spent my days at home doing chores dressed up in one of my outfits. She listened to the whole story, occasionally asking me to clarify my reason for doing one thing or another, or my feelings when I was putting on various things. I was honest with her about all of it except about how excited I got at times, or how I relieved that excitement. I thought that might be too much information. "Oh, dear, I have been so wrapped up in listening to your story that I totally forgot it is lunch time. Would you please stay and have some soup and a sandwich with me?" She got up and started moving about the kitchen. "OK," I answered. I almost felt like I didn't have a choice, though I didn't mind that too much. "I get so lonely sometimes," she went on as she started the soup on the stovetop. "My daughters only come by when they feel obligated to: Christmas, Thanksgiving, my birthday. They have their own lives, I know, but I feel like they could at least come by a little more often." "Do you always dress up so nice?" I didn't know what to say about her daughters so I decided to try and change the subject. "Not every day, but most days." She smiled at me as she put together a couple turkey sandwiches. "Thank you for noticing. I like to look good even if it is just for me." "Well, I think you look very nice." I wanted to ask about wearing stockings in the summer but thought I might be overstepping my welcome. So I waited for lunch to be ready. I couldn't help but watch the way she moved about the kitchen and how she delivered the lunch to the table and sat down across from me. She moved so elegantly. "Do you like to play games?" she asked me between sips of her soup. "I mean regular games like Scrabble, or Yahtzee, or card games. Things like that?" "Yes, I've played them some. I usually play the video games on the television because I can play alone. Sometimes I play online with other people that way." I was being chatty now that we were getting away from the problems she had with her daughters or my dresses. "Would you like to play some games with me for a while?" she asked. "Sure." I was being polite. But going home to spend what was left of the day in one of my dresses wasn't going to be all that special. I'd make up for it next day I was able to be alone. We finished our lunches and Mrs. Peterson put the dishes in the sink and went to the other room. She returned holding a Scrabble game. "Let's see just how well our schools are doing with your vocabulary," she challenged. I sat up straighter ready to take her on. We played and talked the rest of the afternoon. Although she beat me both games we played I did make a good showing, at least enough that she said I impressed her. It was getting close to 5:00. "Thank you for lunch and the games, Mrs. Peterson." I stood as the last tile was played, "but I need to be getting back home now." "Thank you, Charlie." She stood to walk me to the front door. "For the work in the garage, the games and the company. I hope you would like to come back and visit me again one day soon." "I would like that. Really!" I added in response to the raised eyebrow she displayed. "Maybe I'll give your mother a call and tell her I'd like her to extend her boundaries to let you come here when she is working," she offered. "I'm sure we can work out something that you would like and still be able to get your chores at home done." "That would be great, see ya!" I waved as I headed on my way back to my house. * - * - * A week later I was sitting in the kitchen eating breakfast wearing my blue and yellow dress when the phone rang. "Hello?" "Hello, Charlie. This is Mrs. Peterson from next door." "Oh, hi Mrs. Peterson. Is there something I can help you with today? My mom did tell me it would be ok if I went over to your house when she was at work." "Yes, your mother and I had a nice conversation about you. She is quite proud of you and trusts you quite a bit." "Well, I'm happy to hear that, but I guess that means you didn't say anything to her about seeing me in my dress that day. Also, she hadn't said anything to me about it so, thank you for not saying anything." "Well, Charlie, if I thought you were up to something that was wrong and possibly dangerous to you or your family, I would tell your parents without a second thought. This just happens to be something that I don't feel needs to go beyond you and I." "Thank you again. So, do you need me to do something for you today?" "I was hoping you might just like to come over and play some games. I did so enjoy your being here the other day and would be happy if you would like to come over again." "Sure, when you like me to come over?" "As soon as you like." She paused. "Charlie, are you wearing a dress again?" It was my turn to hesitate. "Yes," I confessed. "OK, when you feel like changing and coming over I'll be ready." "I'll be there in a few minutes." We said our good-byes and hung up the phone. I went back and finished my breakfast and cleaned up my dishes. Then I went, changed clothes and left to visit my neighbor. Mrs. Peterson opened the door and let me in. "I have a surprise for you, follow me." I followed her back to one of the bedrooms. She stopped near the door and pointed for me to precede her into the room. I was wondering just where this was going when I saw some clothes on the bed. "If you would like to change clothes, I thought you might like these," she explained. "I think I would like to pretend you are like one of my daughters that come to visit me. If you don't want to, I understand, but remember that I have already seen you in a dress." "I need to think about it for a minute if you don't mind," I told her. She nodded. "When you make up your mind I will be waiting in the kitchen. I think we'll play some Yahtzee first today." She pulled the door closed to give me my privacy if I chose to change clothes. I think it was to also prod me in that direction. I desperately wanted to change clothes but I hadn't knowingly put on a dress for someone else before. I looked to see what was lying on the bed. There was a pleated green skirt, a white blouse, a lacy camisole, a pair of white silky panties, a pair of lacy white socks and a pair of Mary Jane shoes. I looked back at the door which remained closed so I started undressing. I couldn't believe I was standing naked in my neighbor's bedroom getting ready to put on girl's clothes so I could sit at the table and play games. I slid the panties on first, my hands were trembling so bad I almost fell over trying to get my legs through the holes. They felt a lot nicer than the ones I had at home. I pulled the camisole over my head and it slipped down over my chest. I got the blouse on, it had short puffy sleeves and I could see the camisole through it. The skirt was shorter than I thought it was going to be. I looked at myself in the mirror and turned to be sure my panties weren't showing when I moved. They didn't but it had to be close. Finally I pulled on the little socks and the shoes. I looked again in the mirror and had to admit it was a cute outfit. I squatted down and picked up my other clothes, folded them neatly and laid them on the bed. Then I turned and went to the kitchen for my game of Yahtzee. "Oh, you look so cute!" Mrs. Peterson gushed. "And it looks like everything fit just right." "Yes, everything fit perfectly," I confirmed. "I think even better than the things I have at home. And they feel really nice too." "I told you I like to feel nice when I dress, I assumed you would too. Now, what shall I call you? Charlie just doesn't seem to fit you this way. Perhaps Charlotte? Or Charlene? Or maybe you would like something completely different? What do you think?" It was a question I hadn't considered. I stood there for a minute swaying back and forth, feeling my skirt slide across the tops of my thighs. "Charlene, I think," I finally answered. "Then Charlene it is!" Mrs. Peterson again bathed me in her wonderful smile. "And though I would like to think of you as one of my daughters I don't think I can have you calling me Mom. It just wouldn't seem right. So, you can call me Grace when we are alone together like this." "Thank you, Grace," I offered up my best smile. "Wonderful, now take a seat and let's get started," Grace rolled a die to see who would go first. I sat down, the cool chair against my bare legs gave me a start, but I grabbed a die and rolled. The game was on. Later in the day we made cookies together, and played card games. We talked about school, work (what she used to do and what I wanted to do), movies, music, everything under sun. I thought that spending so much time with someone as old as Grace, I found out she was about to turn 70, would be boring but instead I had a great time. "Charlene, it is 4:30. You need to change and head back home." I don't know why I did it but I turned and wrapped my arms around Grace giving her a huge hug. "I had the best time today. I hope we can do this again." She briefly hugged me back, "I would like that very much." I hoped I didn't hug her too hard because when I stepped back it looked like a tear had leaked down from the corner of her eye. I went back to the bedroom and changed back into my own clothes. I carefully folded the clothes Grace had lent me and placed them on the bed. I left the room and went to the front door where she was waiting. "Can I come back the next time my mom has to work?" I almost pleaded with her as I walked through the door. "What if I said that I wouldn't have a skirt for you to wear, you would have to just wear your boy clothes? Would you still want to come back so soon?" she had regained her composure from the earlier hug. "Yes, of course." I was stunned. "I had a great time today." I looked around to be sure there wasn't anyone around, the street was deserted. "Wearing that stuff was a bonus, and I appreciate you letting me borrow it, but I had a great time just hanging out with you, Grace." "Mrs. Peterson," she corrected me. "Whenever Charlene is around, you can call me Grace. Otherwise, it is Mrs. Peterson." "Sorry, Mrs. Peterson." I glanced down at the steps. "Don't worry about it. We are just getting the ground rules sorted out. Now get on home." I waved as I trotted down the pathway to the sidewalk and got myself back into my house. * - * - * Two days later I hurried through breakfast and ran next door. "Good morning, Mrs. Peterson!" I was practically jumping up and down with excitement. The old routine of my two dresses had me so bored that I truly was excited to be spending the day with her, whether she had another outfit for me or not. "Good morning, Charlie, come on in." She stepped back allowing me in. "Before we discuss what we are going to do today I'd like to have a little talk. Come into the living room and have a seat." I went in and sat on the couch wondering what was so important. Was she having second thoughts about helping me with my clothing choices? Was she feeling guilty about not telling my parents now? God, if that was it I was screwed. "First of all, I want to tell you how deeply affected I was with the time we spent together last time," she started explaining. "You were wearing an outfit that matched what my daughters wore to school. I was so happy about the day I was beside myself. "Also, I want you to know that I understand that you are a teenage boy. But I'll come back to that in a minute. "You are entering an age where your body is likely going to be changing a lot: growing taller, maybe hairier, other things? In short, if you decide you don't want to do the dressing up any more I will understand. I don't know if boys grow out of this phase or not. Perhaps some do and others don't." "I promise I'll tell you, I won't just stop showing up or anything like that." I was breathing easier. "Well, let's see how you feel about today. I found a special outfit for you, but I am having second thoughts because it just doesn't seem right to me. Although, if you would consider it. "Oh! I am talking myself in circles. Let me show you what I have and if you say no I will understand and we'll just play some games and things like we did that first day. Come on, Charlie, follow me." She once again led me around to the bedroom and sent me into the room ahead of her. "Same as before, your choice. That is the way it will be every time we do this. I will be waiting in the kitchen for either Charlie or Charlene." She pulled the door closed. I looked at the bed and was definitely conflicted about the outfit it found there. Same shoes and frilly little socks except these had pink lace around the tops. That went well with the rest of the outfit, all pink. I didn't mind the pink really, but it looked like a little girl dress, like something you would see on a three year old. There were pink panties with lacy leg holes but they were big, like what I have seen called granny-panties. Then there was the dress. It was pink, of course, with lots of frills and petticoats. What is she thinking about by giving me this? I thought about her reaction to the first time I wore the pleated skirt and the explanation of her daughter's school uniform. She must have thought she could recapture some of their childhood. I wanted to reject this choice but I felt a connection with Grace and the sadness she was feeling after all she had talked about the previous visits. I stripped down and proceeded to put on the dress. It felt so strange walking toward the kitchen; the skirt scraped the walls on either side of me as I walked down the hall. The waist band was just below my chest and the dress was very short, even shorter than the pleated skirt I wore before. I knew that even the slightest bend would put the matching pink panties on display. "Oh, Charlene, you are adorable." She clutched her hands in front of her face. "I promise after today I will find you age appropriate clothing but I do appreciate you indulging me today. "Come sit in this chair." She picked up a brush from the table. I sat down and could feel the dress riding up against the back of the chair. I wasn't sure how to resolve it. Grace began brushing my hair and pulling it around. I keep it a little long for a boy and apparently it was enough for Grace to accomplish her goal because when she finished I had two little pigtails with pink ribbons attached. I felt a little strange, I didn't like being a little girl, but Grace was beaming. I decided to just go with it since she was being so nice to me about everything. And she did promise she would go back to clothes I would like better next time. We had a regular day, though we didn't play many games. We were up doing things around the house a lot, I think so she could see me better than being around the table. Fortunately, she didn't talk to me like I was little, nor treat me like a little kid. We laughed a lot when I had trouble doing things because of my big, wide dress. The end of the day came around and I changed back into my clothes to go home in. She thanked me for indulging her that day and I went back home. A couple days later I found myself in the bedroom putting on a black leather miniskirt, black panties, black high heels and a white pull- over short-sleeved top. I felt a lot better in that and went to the kitchen. "Hi, Grace." I went to her and gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I like this outfit a lot." "Hi, dear," she grinned. "My, my, you grew up so fast. You look wonderful, Charlene. Let's play some cards." * - * - * Several weeks later Grace and I were sitting in the kitchen eating lunch and I was bemoaning the fact that I would soon be back in school and unable to spend my days with Grace. I had on a yellow halter dress that day, the full skirt lay just over my knees and hung down the sides of the chair. "Well, I'm sure we will be able to find an hour or two here and there. Long enough for you to change clothes and wear a dress for a bit," Grace tried to settle me down. "Oh, it isn't just the dresses, Grace. It's the games, the talking, the lunches, everything! I enjoy being with you, you're a lot of fun!" "Come with me." She stood up and started to leave the kitchen. I quickly followed her and realized she was heading back toward what I now thought of as my bedroom. This time she entered the room ahead of me and went to the closet. She pulled open the door and showed me the contents. I looked and saw a huge walk-in with dresses lined up on one wall, skirts and tops lining the other. At the end were about a half-dozen pairs of shoes. I looked back at Grace, the confusion evident on my face. "These are all outfits that you have either worn, or I would set out for you to wear one day soon. I think it is time you start selecting your own clothes each time, especially since our time is going to be so short for a while. I want to see more of you in the choices you make. "Now, there aren't many shoes because I expect that you will be out- growing these before long. So, when they become too uncomfortable because they get too tight, you let me know and I will get some larger shoes for you." "Grace, I never asked before about the clothes because I figured you were digging them out of a box or something. Well, except for maybe the little girl dress, but the rest. How can you afford to keep spending money like this?" "That is not your concern." She folded her arms across her chest indicating the subject was closed. "I can manage my affairs on that account." She pushed the door closed and proceeded to return to the kitchen. I dutifully followed. "If I have to decide on what to wear, won't that take me longer and chew up more time?" I asked as I took my seat and arranged my skirt. "Possibly." She nodded. "That's part of learning to deal with being a girl. Priorities will need to be set. Either spend more time deciding on what to wear and less time with me, or figure it out quickly and we have more time." I resolved to figure things out quickly. "One other thing," Grace continued, "the dresser has all the lingerie in it that you should need. I think today we will try and finish up by 4:00 so that you can familiarize yourself with where everything is kept. That way when you come back you will know what awaits you." We played more games and chatted about other things as the afternoon flowed by. I went to my room and looked through each of the drawers. There were panties neatly arranged in one drawer, rolls of pantyhose and tights in another as well as stockings, I found bras, camisoles, garters, corsets, everything a girl would need. Next I went into the closet and searched the dresses and skirts. I recognized several things I had already worn and found some that I hadn't yet. I picked out a couple that I thought I would like to wear over the next week before school started and placed them near the front of the closet so I could grab them quickly. I decided it was time to change clothes again so I stripped off my dress, and tossed it in a hamper that Grace had set up for me. It was followed by the panties, and I put the shoes in the closet by the others on the shelves. I gave Mrs. Peterson a hug and a kiss on the cheek and went back home. Even though I got home a little before 5:00 I found that my mother had beaten me there. "Oh, good," she called as I came in the door. "I was just about to call over to Mrs. Peterson and see if you would come back home. I need to talk to you about something." "OK, what's up?" I asked nervously. "Your father called me this afternoon, he is being sent on a business trip to Cleveland next week and he said we can go with him!" My first thought was I didn't want to leave Grace and Charlene for my last week of summer but I couldn't tell her that. "Uh, Cleveland?" I sneered. "What is there to do in Cleveland for a week?" "Well, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is there, and there is baseball there, and I am sure there are a lot of other things to do. It is a large city." "Mom, why don't just you and Dad go? I could stay here like I have been all summer. I could visit with Mrs. Peterson like I have so you would know someone else is keeping track of me. Call her, I bet she would say ok." "You seem to be spending an awful lot of time with her. I know she is in her 70s by now.." "She just turned 70," I interrupted. "OK, she's 70. But she is still quite attractive. You haven't got some sort of crush on her or anything, do you?" "Mom! No!" I was actually appalled. "We aren't doing some 'Harold & Maude' type thing. We are just friends." "OK, fine. I believe you. Let me give her a call," she went to the phone. "Hi, Grace, it's Kathrine." She paused. "Yes, he is a wonderful young man. Listen, I hate to impose and if I am over-stepping please just let me know. I have an opportunity to go out of town with my husband next week and Charlie doesn't want to go. He said he could stay here and perhaps visit with you so someone would be sure he was ok." Another long pause. "Are you sure? That is asking too much and you two spend an awful lot of time together already." Pause. "I understand. OK, I'll ask him how he feels about it. Thank you." She hung up the phone. "Well," she turned to face me, "I really don't know how I feel about this, she said she has an extra bedroom that you could just spend the week at her house. She says it has been nice having you around since her own daughters don't visit and that with school starting it will be good to have you there because she'll be back to having a lot of alone time again. "Are you sure there isn't anything going on, Charlie?" "Mom, geez, I swear," I huffed out. "OK, then I guess we'll go with that. You can stay with her, but if I find out there is more going on than just friends, I swear..." I gave her an exasperated look indicating I didn't want her to finish the statement. * - * - * Sunday came around and I watched my parents get into the cab that would take them to the airport. I went back inside and packed a bag for my week's stay next door. I knew I didn't really need the clothes, as a matter of fact I didn't really need the bag but I thought it added a touch of realism of my stay should something happen. "Hi, Mrs. Peterson, are you ready to have me for a whole week?" I asked when she opened the door. "I think we will have the most wonderful time, dear. Come in and go get settled in your room." I went to my room and dumped the suitcase in the corner out of the way. I stripped off my clothes, folded them, and placed them in a drawer that was empty in the dresser. Then I selected a pair of light green panties. I went to the closet and pulled out a green gauzy dress, perfect for the late summer weather. "So," I took a seat on the couch meeting in the living room instead of the kitchen this time, "what do you think we will do all week? Scrabble marathon?" "I think it depends on how brave you want to be, dear," she challenged me. "How brave? Why?" I was starting to think about what my mom was thinking. That had never been part of it though. "Have you ever thought of wearing make-up?" she asked. "Make-up?" I was starting to feel stupid not making any connection. "I've wondered about it but hadn't really put any real thought about it." "Well, I would like to do something tomorrow. I would like to go shopping." "Oh, well I guess I can just hang out here while you go, or I brought clothes with me, I can wear something while we go, if you want me to go," I nodded thinking I had covered the bases. "No, dear, I want you to go," she smiled, "you, Charlene." "You want me to go out in public like this?!" I felt fear come over me. "I can't do that." "But you can, dear, with my help," she assured me. "Tomorrow, be sure to put on a bra with whatever outfit you choose to wear. I would suggest flat shoes for all the walking we will do. Then I will help you do your make-up." "More like you will have to do my make-up, I haven't ever done anything with it." I moaned. Grace just sat there smiling. Despite the cloud of fear hanging over me about the next day we had a good time the rest of the day. It was strange having both lunch and dinner and then going to the bedroom not to change and go home but to actually go to bed. "I picked up a couple nightgowns for you last night and put them in the dresser," Grace told me when I said good night. "I wasn't sure whether you would like long or short so I got one of each. Sleep well, I'm looking forward to our adventure tomorrow." I smiled and waved as my stomach clenched at the thought of the next day. But I hadn't thought about sleeping in a nightgown so I hurried to my room to see what I had to choose from. First I found a white baby doll nightie. It wasn't very long of course. The other was a long silky nightgown with spaghetti straps. It was also white. I actually decided on the baby doll and wore the panties with it that I had been wearing that day. I grabbed my suitcase from the corner and pulled my toothbrush and toothpaste as well as my hairbrush, shampoo and deodorant. I took them across the hall to the bathroom so I would be all set up in the morning. After brushing my teeth I went back to my room. "Oh, Charlene, I'm sorry," Grace started. "I'm not used to noises in the house at night and thought I ought to check to be sure you were ok." "It's OK, Grace, I was just brushing my teeth." I was regretting not choosing the long nightgown at the moment, I knew my panties we peeking out below the hem of what I had on. "OK, then dear, I'll see you in the morning." She turned and left, her own nightgown flowing away, her feet flashing below the hem. I returned to my bedroom and closed the door. I climbed into bed and turned off the light. * - * - * I woke the next morning and picked out clean panties, bra and a robe that I hadn't noticed the night before. I put on the robe and crossed the hall to the bathroom where I showered and got myself ready for the day. My body was still nearly hairless and I wondered when that would change, but for now I was grateful. If I had to shave it might not escape the notice of my parents when they returned home at the end of the week. I put on the bra, it looked like it had enough padding so that it would add a nice little curve to my frame. I didn't need much still being young enough to not have a fully developed bust line. I was certain there were several girls my age that probably achieved their curves the same way. Donning my robe again I crossed back to my bedroom and proceeded to pick out my outfit for the day: denim miniskirt, print tee shirt, and sandals. I thought I would look like many of the other girls my age that would be roaming the malls. That is if Grace could really pull off making me look like a girl. I was starting to see changes to my face that made me appear less feminine no matter what dress I wore. "Good morning!" I greeted Grace when I came into the room. "I hope you slept well after you got up to check on me." "Yes, Charlene, I slept fine," she returned my greeting. "I'm sorry I startled you. And I think perhaps that nightie might have been a bit short. Perhaps that is something we can look for today, unless you are ok with it or the other one." "Everything was fine. I found the robe and will wear that if I leave my room when I am dressed for bed," I assured her. "Thank you, I would appreciate that," she went back to sipping her coffee. "I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea." "Oh that has already come into question, my mom isn't sure why I want to spend so much time over here." "What did you tell her?" "The truth. That is everything except about me wearing dresses and stuff. So, do you still think you can make me look acceptable enough for a shopping trip?" "Oh, yes. You'll see." "I have one other question, if you don't mind. I see you wear hose every day. I felt it was too warm in the summer but I'll go put some on if you think I should. What should I do?" "I like the feeling of the hose I wear. Some days I wear pantyhose, other days I like stockings. I think as the weather gets cooler you will decide to wear hosiery as well. Some young women never wear them, and if you choose not to that is your choice. I stocked your dresser so that you can choose to dress most any way you like. Don't be afraid to experiment. "Now, let's go to my bathroom and do your make-up." She stood and led me through the house. In all the time I had spent with her during the summer I hadn't come to this part of the house. I wasn't surprised to see it looked as though it hadn't been used. The bed was made up, there weren't any clothes lying about, the closet door was closed. We went into the bathroom and I sat. Grace went to work transforming my face. I said nothing as she talked about what she was doing, how she often saw girl with so much mascara they looked like raccoons, telling me all the while that I made a beautiful girl. I loved the attention and as she painted my lips I could feel my heart starting to race with the excitement of seeing myself all made up. "OK, Charlene, I think that will do it," Grace told me and turned me to face the mirror. "Oh, my." I sighed as I peered at the teenaged girl looking back at me from the mirror. "I really do look like a girl." "A little make-up, a little hair spray, you already had a lot of good features. And you have spent so much time in dresses this summer that you move like a girl when you are dressed that way. Nobody will be any wiser." I took a deep breath. "OK, let's go!" I rode with her to an outdoor mall. We walked from store to store going into some, trying on clothes, shoes, whatever. We stopped and had lunch at one of the restaurants. I think I may have actually forgotten I wasn't really a girl part of the time. Everything seemed so normal as we went through the day. Grace bought me a couple dresses I liked and some sexier lingerie that I took a liking to, though she told me to be sure not to wander the house unless I had on my robe or a dress. I also picked up another nightgown, short but longer than the baby doll. We made one more stop and Grace insisted we each get a little black dress to wear to dinner that evening. She wanted us to go somewhere nice. I chose a sleeveless mini-dress, she found a knee-length with half-sleeves. We found a necklace for me to wear with mine and went back home. Just as we got in the door and delivered our bags to our respective rooms the phone rang. "Hello?" Grace answered. "Oh, hello, Katherine. Yes, we've had a wonderful time, so good that we are getting ready to go out to dinner. Yes, just a moment." Grace handed me the phone. "Hi, Mom, everything alright? Yes, everything is good here. Glad you got in alright. Enjoy yourself. Of course I'll behave. Love you, too." I hung up the phone. "Well, I was actually afraid I might call you Charlene or she while I was on the phone. I started getting the shakes," Grace laughed. "Especially looking at you like that. Charlie is just nowhere to be seen. Now, go put on your new dress for dinner and come to my room so I can adjust your make-up." I left and went to my room. After hanging up my skirt, and things from the shopping trip I looked at the dress. Before I put it on I went to the dresser and searched the stockings. I found a pair of black stockings that felt silky. I found a garter belt in a different drawer. She told me to experiment, tonight seemed like a good time to try. I fastened the belt around my waist then worked one of the stockings up my leg. I ran my fingers up my leg and shivered with the feel of it. I attached the clasps to the top of the stocking and then stood up and adjusted them. I realized when I sat to do the next stocking that I didn't like how they were and unclasped them. I pulled my panties off and then reattached them. Now the other stocking slithered up my leg and I adjusted everything. I slipped on a new pair of the sexier black panties I bought that day and donned the dress. I carefully examined myself in the mirror looking to see if the stockings tops showed below the hem of my short dress but it seemed everything was perfect. I grabbed a pair of high heels and slipped my feet inside. They felt different with the stockings on my feet and I thought I understood why Grace always wore something on her legs. I made my way to Grace's room and knocked before entering. "Come on in," she called from the bathroom. "I was beginning to wonder what happened to you. Oh! Very nice, you look quite elegant." I did a little twist back and forth, "Thank you, I feel elegant. I like the way the stockings feel, and this dress is fantastic!" "Come sit down, we are going to make your make-up a bit more dramatic. When you shop you should look like you are just out for the day, no big deal, even though we go through a lot to look that casual. For a nice dinner, you should look like you put an effort into looking as good as you could possibly look." She darkened my eye make-up and lipstick and did a few more things. In the end I looked great again. I knew there was going to be dim lighting in the restaurant and after spending the day in the bright sunshine and fluorescent lights of the stores that I would easily be accepted as the girl I appeared to be. We went to the restaurant. Grace had a glass of wine with her dinner but wouldn't allow her under-aged companion anything stronger that a coke. We talked about the day and plans for the rest of the week. Bolstered by my confidence of today's outing we made plans to go to a movie and a day at the zoo. "So, did you like wearing the stockings this evening?" Grace asked as we walked into the house. "Oh, yes! I loved the feel of them. I think they were the right choice for the evening but I don't think I would have liked having them on all day. I was surprised how warm my legs got." "Yes, they can be warm. I'm glad you tried them out and liked it. This winter I'm sure you will appreciate wearing them if you continue to visit me." "I will visit as often as I can. And yes, I will appreciate the hosiery more when the weather gets cold. Thank you again for everything you've done for me these past few months," I hugged her. "No, dear, thank you. The time you spend with me is more valuable than anything I could possibly want for myself. Now, come with me and I'll help you remove your make-up before we get ready for bed." She cleansed my face leaving me feeling raw and naked from the chin up. I went back to my room and changed out of my dress and into the long nightgown. I put on a pair of lacy white panties under it. As promised I put on my robe and went to the bathroom to brush my teeth. * - * - * I thought that week would be the same as most of my summer: putting on a dress, playing games, eating meals, chatting. Instead it turned into a week long experience of life as a girl. We went out doing things almost every day: movies, zoo, and museums. I didn't just learn about life as a girl, but also discovered things that I liked beyond just what had been in my life before then. When Friday rolled around I was sad to think it was coming to an end. My parents would be back that evening and school would be starting on Monday. "Don't worry," Grace told me. "We will still get to spend some time together. Not as much as before, not doing as many things, but we will still have that time." I nodded my agreement and we spent the rest of the day doing what we normally did, playing games and eating lunch. I couldn't wear any make- up that day for fear my freshly scrubbed face would be a clue to my mother that something was up. * - * - * I did stop by after school on days that my mother worked. Grace and I would spend an hour or so playing a game or just talking. Some days there wasn't enough time to change clothes but we still talked. Grace bought me a beautiful dress for Homecoming. I spent a Saturday with her hoping my mother wouldn't find a reason to come by and see me with my mum pinned on my dress. I spent time with her during the Christmas break and we enjoyed our regular time and exchanged little gifts. The next summer we spent some of the days together but I turned sixteen and had to get a summer job at the insistence of my father. He was right to push me, I would rather have stayed and visited with Grace all the time, but I needed to learn how to function in the real world, too. I still managed to find one or two days a week that I could visit with Grace. Another year of school rolled by and I met a girl. We dated some, I told her about Grace and what a friend she was to me. I didn't tell her about Charlene though. I was afraid of what might happen if others found out. That turned out to be a good decision when we broke up late in the year. For the Junior Prom Grace once again bought me a beautiful floor-length gown. I loved it and wore it all day with her and insisted she put on one of her own so we could be all dressed up together. Another summer, it seemed like I was spending less time with Grace and I complained about it to her. "I understand." She patted my hand. "Young people grow up and get busy lives of their own. I am grateful that we've had these past couple years together." "I don't understand," I objected. "I want to go back to the way it was. My work schedule keeps changing so that I don't get to spend any time with you. I am going to make sure I get at least one day a week that we can spend together." "Don't do anything to jeopardize your job, Charlene," she admonished me. "You have taken on a responsibility and you can't just walk away from it. You are growing up." "I know," I dropped my head in defeat. I did manage to work my schedule enough so that I got to spend time with Grace. Sometimes it was a couple afternoons a week, or a day. I didn't want to disappear on her the way her daughters did. When another year passed by and I was walking across the stage to receive my diploma, my parents and Mrs. Peterson were there to cheer for me. A new girlfriend was there sitting among the graduating class. Summer rolled through and I found time to drop by and visit with Grace. More of my time seemed to belong to others rather than myself but I wouldn't let it steal all my time from Grace. * - * - * I had decided to attend the local Junior College for at least my first year. It would allow me a chance to get the core courses out of the way cheaper than at a major school, give me more time to decide on what I wanted to major in, and spend some more time with Grace. It was scary how I had come to depend on my time with Grace. I loved my parents and the time I spent with them, but Grace felt like a mother to Charlene and I needed the time we got to spend together. I went up to the door and knocked. Just as I started to get worried the door opened, then I really worried. Grace always looked like a million dollars when she came to the door. Always perfect make-up and dressed like she was going somewhere special in a dress and heels. Today she looked disheveled and was still in her night clothes. "Mrs. Peterson? Are you ok?" I nervously asked. Even all these years since we started I called her Mrs. Peterson until I became Charlene. "Hi, Charlie," her voice was barely loud enough for me to hear. "Come on in. I'm afraid I'm not feeling too good today. I think I need to lie back down." "Yes, please do." I reached to help her down the hall but she brushed my attempt off insisting she could do it herself. "Let me change and then I'll come and help you. Perhaps some toast or maybe some oatmeal or something will help to get your strength." "Fine, fine," she muttered and continued down the hall. I went into my room and as I was closing the door I heard a loud thump. "Mrs. Peterson?" I listened but heard no reply. I started from my room moving toward her bedroom. I saw her foot protruding from her bedroom doorway. "Grace!" I rushed to her side. She was lying face down on the floor. I gently tried to turn her over and she let out a small groan. She was breathing but barely. I found a pillow, placed it under her head and then grabbed the phone and dialed 911. I covered her with a blanket and sat by her on the floor until the paramedics arrived. Hours later I was sitting in the ER waiting area when a woman came in looking for Grace. I recognized her as one of her daughters, Beth. They told her they were still examining her mother and asked her to take a seat. I could see she looked worried so I went to her. "Hi, I'm Charlie, I live next door to your mother, I'm the one who found her." "Oh, hi Charlie, I'm Beth." She wiped her face clear of the tears. "Have they told you anything?" "No, I'm not family so they won't. I'm just waiting to see if they will let me visit her. Is your other sister coming?" "I don't know. I talked to her but she said she would try and stop by later. I think she is in denial that anything could be wrong with Mom. She always seems so strong." "I know, we talk a lot. I was shocked when I saw her this morning," I told her about the whole morning. "Thank you, Charlie, for taking care of her." She grasped my hands. "By the way, do you have a sister?" "No, it is just me, why?" "Well, we were getting concerned that maybe she was becoming senile. She was talking about all this time she was spending with Charlie, I assume that is you, and sometimes it seemed like you were a girl. It didn't make sense to us. I think she was thinking about doing things with us when we were kids and confusing it with things she was doing with you." I decided it might be best not to contradict her conclusion. Finally a doctor emerged from behind the doors and came to Beth. "I'm sorry, we did all we could for her, but she suffered a heart attack and there was nothing left for us to do. We attempted to revive her but we weren't successful." Beth and I both broke down unable to contain our grief. * - * - * Three days later I attended a funeral for Grace Peterson. The mortician had done an excellent job on her face and one of her daughters had selected a dress for her to wear. Seeing her lying in the coffin immediately filled my eyes with tears. It was a nice service; both her daughters and their families were present. My parents were with me. I felt I was betraying the spirit of our relationship sitting there in my dark blue suit. I would much rather be here in my black dress, it would have been a fitting tribute to the woman who helped me through the last several years. As we walked from the gravesite I saw Beth standing by a car and went to her to express my condolences. "Hi Beth, I just wanted to say again how sorry I am." I reached and held her hand for a moment. "Thank you, Charlie, I really appreciate it." She proceeded to introduce me to her husband and their little girl. Another woman approached us. "Oh, Marie, I think you should meet Charlie." She pulled the woman close to her. "Charlie, this is my sister, Marie." "Yes, of course, I recognize you from your picture." I touched her hand. "I'm sorry for your loss." "Thank you," she answered coldly. "So you are Charlie. I suppose you think you are going to get a big piece of the estate since you were friends with her for a couple years." "What are you talking about? What estate?" I was getting angry because she was accusing me of using her. "Do pretend you didn't know she was worth millions. Oh, how she insisted we make our own way and wouldn't help us out. She bought us our houses and then made us make payments. She didn't need the money. She did it just to keep us under her thumb." "Marie, stop. You aren't being fair. She wanted to help us by not making it too easy for us," Beth pleaded. "That's true," I offered. "She never told me anything about her money. The one thing she always insisted is that she just wished you would visit more. She missed you terribly." "Well, maybe if she had given us a little bit of money we would have been able to find the time to visit," Marie sneered. "Maybe she wanted to be sure you weren't coming around just for the money," I countered. "I understand why she didn't say anything about it to me now. I was with her because we had a good time together. She was an incredible woman." "Hmph," Marie huffed and stalked off. "Thank you," Beth smiled at me; it was very much like her mother's smile. "I wanted to visit more often, but I always thought I would have time later. I guess I was wrong." "I know, I saw her two days before and she seemed perfect. I couldn't believe the change in that short time. I guess you never know." I looked and saw so much of Grace in Beth's face. She seemed genuine. Her husband was talking with someone else; I made a decision. "Beth." I lowered my voice to a whisper. "Can you keep a secret if I share something with you." She stepped closer to me. "Yes, as long as it isn't something too terrible." "It's not, I just want you to know your mother was fine right up to the end. She wasn't senile or confused." "Why is that a secret, and why did she seem that way when we talked." I swallowed. "Because most of the time I spent with her," I swallowed again, "I spent as Charlene. She wished so much to be with her daughters that I became one of her daughters for her. This isn't the time or place to tell you everything, but I felt like you should know that." Beth's eyes had gone wide. She stepped back and eyed me head to toe. Then she looked around. "I think I understand and I hope we get to talk more at a better time." I nodded my understanding. She would keep my secret but she wanted to know the whole story. I bid my good-byes and rejoined my parents. We went home. * - * - * A week later I got a letter in the mail asking me to show up at a law office the next Tuesday. I was curious and the things Marie had said rang in my mind. I didn't expect anything from my relationship with Grace. I got as much from it as she did I think. Time crawled but finally Tuesday rolled around. I made my way to the law office. When I got there I saw Beth and Marie were already waiting. Marie gave me an evil look. Beth smiled and came to give me a hug. "It's good to see you again, Charlie," Beth spoke softly. "Good seeing you, too," I spoke just as softly, the place reminded me of a library. "Are you doing ok?" "Yes, we are fine. Even though we didn't talk much I miss her terribly." "I know what you mean." We were ushered into another room. There was a large desk and three large leather chairs on this side. Beth took the center seat so that Marie would be away from me. A few moments later the lawyer came in and took his seat behind the desk. "Hello folks," he started. "We are here today to settle the estate of Grace Peterson. You three are the principals involved so unless there are any objections, we are going to get started. "First, to my two daughters and their families, I leave the houses that I have been renting to them free and clear. I think you will find the expenses of taxes, insurance, and everything else is close to what you have already been paying for them. "Next, to each of my daughters I leave a sum of $2,000,000 each. This should see you through any tough times that may come upon you. Be smart and save it like you haven't got it. You are doing well in life but tough times find us all. "To my friend and neighbor Charles Winters I leave a total sum of $500,000. Half is to be held in account until his 30th birthday. The other half is to be put into an account to cover expenses to whatever college he chooses to attend. Any money remaining after graduation shall be added to the account he gets at 30. If he fails to graduate or choose not to attend college, that money shall be donated to a scholarship fund at State College. "The remainder of my estate will be evenly divided among my favorite charities as listed below. And there is a list attached here that will receive that money." "How much is left?" Marie asked. "It looks like close to $9,000,000," he replied