"Come on guys, we can do this. Don't be chicken. There'd be nothing she
can do about it."
"I don't know Tommy, it seems like a big risk."
"We're going to be seniors next year, so we'll have to step up, take
chances, make decisions and lead the charge then anyway. Let's get a jump
on having a big year. We'd be legendary."
The other seven boys looked at each other and then back at their
ringleader, Tommy. He had gathered them together in his dorm room, intent
on finalizing their plans. As they tried to decide, the small window fan
hummed away, making little appreciable difference to the sweltering heat.
That damn heat, unseasonable, record-setting heat. Why did it have to get
so hot right before summer break? The forecasts weren't any help either,
they all projected the heat wave to last through the middle of June, and
about the time they were through finals.
It was bad enough in the dorm rooms, but classrooms were horrid. The old
buildings looked special, historic even, and had been a part of Jennings
since the beginning. But because they were old, they lacked a lot of
modern conveniences, like air conditioning. Most years, it didn't matter
because the climate was generally temperate until the end of school. But
not this year. All they had were the ceiling fans.
The ceiling fans were so high, and turned so slow that you couldn't even
feel a breeze. As soon as you sat down, you'd start to sweat until your
shirt and pants were plastered against your skin. If you were a guy that
is. The girls didn't have it as bad. They were much cooler in their
uniform. Of course, the short skirts and sleeveless blouse meant they
were less covered than the guys. That is why it was so unfair. Even they
agreed.
Tommy and a few of the seniors had gone to Mrs. Wilson to plead their
case. Couldn't she suspend the dress code and allow the boys to wear
shorts? Just for the end of the school year? The students knew all the
rules could be adjust if she approved it, so why not shorts? Really they
were longer than the girls' skirts, so it couldn't be that outrageous?
But she had been firm in her opposition. She argued that if she allowed
this now, what could she say in the fall, if the weather was hot then
too? Mrs. Wilson finished the discussion, by telling the boys that if
they came to class in shorts, even as a protest, then she would suspend
them for the rest of the semester. That meant they would be stuck here in
summer school or for the seniors, they would be prevented from graduating
this term.
Mrs. Wilson's position was strong enough that the seniors said they would
just sweat it out and be done with this place. That left on the juniors,
like Tommy, to lead any resistance. He had talked with his friends, the
de-facto leaders of their class, and most weren't ready to stage a
protest in shorts with those consequences. So Tommy went to the student
handbook to look for answers. That's why he had them here today. He
thought he found a way to pressure Mrs. Wilson into allowing them to wear
shorts. To be sure he talked with Tiffany and Bethany, the two leaders of
the junior girls. They supported his idea and in fact, loved it. So now
it was time to convince his pals.
"Tommy, what makes you think this would work? Why wouldn't that old hag
just suspend us like she threatened?"
"Because there is nothing in the handbook against it, that's why. I
looked it up. It's clear about what must be worn, color, style, and all
that stuff. Let me read it and you'll see. Boys' trousers must be dark
blue, cuffed so as to hit the top of the shoe, worn with a belt and be
made of either cotton, wool, or linen. Boys' shirts can be ......, blah,
blah, blah. The language is real straight forward. Nowhere does it say
shorts are allowed. For girls, the same thing. Girls' pants must be dark
blue, no cuffs and fall around the ankle. Again, there is no section that
says they may wear shorts."
"So where is this wiggle room you're talking about then?"
James was the most resistant to Tommy's idea and was leading the counter
questioning. Tommy knew he was just trying to be sure they'd not get in
trouble, and in fact liked how James was making Tommy explain his
solution. It would be good practice for the showdown with Mrs. Wilson.
"Well if look further in the clothing description you see where it talks
about skirts and dresses. Skirts can be worn to everyday class, dresses
are more for formal events, like award ceremonies, outside excursions,
and such. The descriptions are real specific about what kind of skirts or
dresses are acceptable, like dresses are navy blue, either sheath or fit
and flare, and fall between mid-thigh and bottom of the knee. But listen
to the working exactly: Skirts must be blue plaid, in the Jennings's
school tartan pattern. They must be pleated, and be no higher than mid-
thigh. Do you see what's missing?"
The other boys didn't see what Tommy had found. They looked to each other
in a puzzled way and then back at him. Bret shook his head no, as did a
couple others. Tommy smiled as he knew he had found the weak link to beat
Mrs. Wilson.
"The handbook doesn't specify that the skirts, or dresses, for that
matter are only for girls. For the other items, pants, shirts, even
shoes, the handbook labels them as boys' or girls'. But in the
description of skirts it doesn't have those modifiers. So, in theory, we
could wear skirts as long as we follow the guidelines. There would be
nothing old wart Wilson could do. She couldn't find a specific rule we'd
be breaking. Once she saw how we had her buffaloed, she'd have to give in
to modify the rules to let us wear shorts. I've even worked up some
suitable language for her to add to the handbook, that shorts could be
worn if daily temperatures exceed the average by 10 degrees or maximum
temperatures by 15 degrees."
"Well that's all fine and good, but the last time I checked I didn't have
any skirts in my closet. So how do we make this protest?"
"I thought of that too. I talked with Tiffany and Bethany. They loved the
idea, turns out they hate the old bag as much as we do. Something about
old fashioned rules against makeup, jewelry, and stuff like that. But
they promised they could get us each a skirt to wear. Sleeveless blouses
too. That's another item, not gender specified in the rules. They were
sure we were close enough in size that someone in their group would have
a skirt to fit each of us. I mean, the only guy that they couldn't handle
would be Donald, no girl is that tall or big. Now all we have to do is
man up and do it."
The guys had been pretty resistant, but now they understood the loophole.
All of them crowded around Tommy's copy of the handbook. He took them
line by line to show where the descriptions were and how skirts were not
gender identified. The boys flipped back and forth through the pages, to
be sure Tommy hadn't missed a heading, or sub-category. Finally, smiling
at each other, as they began to agree with him, all seven boys committed
to the plan. As a precaution, Tommy asked James to take the handbook back
to his room, and go over it all again. If he found no flaws in the logic,
then the Tommy would see Tiffany to get the skirts and sleeveless tops.
He went around the room, and wrote down the boy's shirt and waist sizes
so Tiffany would have what she needed. As they left his room, the boys
were in high spirits. Rebellion was an exciting thing.
Later that night, after getting the okay from James, the two of them met
the girls in the visitors lobby of their dorm area. The school was set up
with a wing for boys and a wing for girls. They branched off of a huge
lobby at the entrance to the living quarters, but each wing had a small
lobby where visitors could see the residents. Tiffany and Bethany were
excited that the guys had decided to go through with the plan. Within 30
minutes, they had the skirts and tops the boys needed. They promised that
those girls who provided clothes were sworn to secrecy, so the plan would
be surprise to most of the school.
After returning to their dorm, Tommy and James went to each boy's room
and gave them their skirt and blouse. The plan was for all eight of them
to meet in Tommy's room, get changed into the protest outfits, and
entered the main hall just a minute or so prior to roll call. Mrs. Wilson
had all students report to the main lobby prior to classes, just to be
sure there were no unplanned absences. So the boys would make a grand
entrance to maximize the effect of their protest.
"How does everything fit? Everyone okay? I got to tell you, I can already
feel better without those long pants and long-sleeve shirt. It does feel
awkward to be so open between my legs, but I tell you this is really
worth it. Old Mrs. Wilson is going to crap herself when she sees us. I'm
sure she'll get mad and make us go right to her office. But once we show
her what the handbook really says, then we'll have her. At that point we
can negotiate a settlement so that we can wear cooler clothes if the
weather is too warm. If everyone is good, we leave in a couple of
minutes."
Tommy looked at his crew. They did look silly. The skirts seemed so short
and the shirts were much thinner than he had anticipated. But he knew it
was worth it. With this action, he'd be fully established as the leader
for senior year and since he's actions would benefit all the boys, he'd
have their support. Plus, most of the girls would like how he stood up to
the administration too. There might be something they wanted, so he'd
likely be involved in that too. That would be good thing, too, in many
ways. So, he could handle a little embarrassment if it all went according
to plan.
With the clock at two minutes to eight, they boys left his room. As they
walked down the hall, he could feel the heat already ramping up. But in
the loose, open skirt he felt cooler. The absence of sleeves and the
wispy material of the shirt also felt better. This made him envy the
girls. Probably the first time ever, he thought they had a better deal
than boys. The crew made their way down the hall, two by two, and
approached the steps to the main lobby. Tommy glanced at all the guys. He
could see a couple were nervous, but no one was backing out. So with a
big grin, he gave the signal to follow him and they went down the stairs.
As he stepped into the room, the usual preliminary chatter of the
students had already died down in preparation for roll call. Mrs. Wilson,
flanked by the girls and boys dorm supervisors stood in the front, facing
him. The students faced toward her, split evenly with girls on his left
and boys on the right, with a wide corridor in the middle. They could not
see the approach of the rebellious group down this corridor. But as the
column of boys, led by Tommy and James in front, passed each row, the
students could see them and their attire. Each row immediately responded
to their presence. So a wave of chatter and giggles, only slightly
suppressed, broke out among the students. The noise swept forward with
each step the group made, gradually building in intensity.
Their approach caught Mrs. Wilson's attention immediately, as they were
already on the borderline of being tardy for roll call. But as she saw
how they were dressed, she focused in on them. Ms. Kelly, the girls' dorm
supervisor, let out a gasp as she saw them. Mr. Dunn, the boys'
supervisor, grimaced and shook his head. He knew Tommy and his crew were
high-spirited but he realized this stunt was crossing the line. As
director of the summer school schedule, he mentally ran through how much
disruption he'd face with the addition of eight more students. However,
Mrs. Wilson remained calm and said nothing. She watched as Tommy and his
crew made the way to the front and then slid down the row to their
assigned spots. Mrs. Wilson insisted each student line up in the same row
and spot every day for roll call. That way, with a quick glance, she and
the supervisors could see if anyone was absent. Once they were in place,
Mrs. Wilson looked back over the gathering of students who were still
lightly murmuring, being constrained only by their fear of breaking her
ban on talking during roll call.
"It looks like we are all here, finally. Mr. Dunn and Ms. Kelly, unless
you see any gaps, we can go on to the announcements."
She stepped back to let the supervisors give out the usual updates
regarding the school schedule, daily reminders, and the lunch menu. You
could see they were confused at the lack of response by Mrs. Wilson to
the cross-dressed crew, but they carried out their assignments. The
students too seemed, stunned. They had expected an outburst from her, so
they didn't know how to act either. Most surprised however, were Tommy
and his friends. Hadn't she seen how they were dressed? Why isn't she
ranting at them? When Ms. Kelly finished her announcements, she turned to
look at Mrs. Wilson. She merely smiled and nodded, the normal signal for
Ms. Kelly to send the students on to their classrooms. As they were
dismissed, the students resumed to gossiping and seemed reluctant to
leave given the boys obvious violation of rules. All of them wanted to
talk with the conspirators, but no one was brave enough to speak up, even
those boys standing next to them in the row.
But without a scene to delay them, the students slowly began to file out
of the lobby. Not knowing what else to do, Tommy and his friends did
likewise. They had moved down their row, out to the wide center hallway.
They were completely puzzled by the turn of events. They had never
considered that Mrs. Wilson would fail to act at their appearance. So
they had no plan of action for this. They had never imagined having to go
through the whole day, dressed in skirts. Hell, they didn't even have any
place for their school ID card, required to be on them at all times,
their phones, or money they used to buy snacks at lunch from the vending
machines. The damn skirts had no pockets. Their hands were already full
of books, and so this other gear really complicated things. But as they
gathered in the center aisle, looking at each other as if to see what the
others would do, Mrs. Wilson approached them. Tommy had to suppress a
smile, as he just knew the confrontation he had expected was about to
occur. He mentally ran over his arguments, preparing to parry her attack.
"Thomas, James...."
The two boys turned to face her, their insides starting to tighten in
anticipation of the battle.
"Next time, don't cut it so close for morning roll call. I would hate to
have to mark you tardy for being a few minutes late. Have a good day in
class."
With that innocuous remark, she passed them on the way to her office.
The rebels were left standing there. Without a clue as to what had
happened. A couple of the boys cursed Tommy under their breaths, and then
they all slowly began to make their way to the school buildings where
classes were held. They moved slowly, in a tight cluster, like a timid
school of herring who were trying to disappear. James looked lost and
leaned into Tommy to whisper. The others turned toward them.
"What happened to our plan? Did the old hag not see how we were dressed?
I don't want to go through all my classes like this. What can we do?"
"Hell if I know what happened. She had to have seen us. I could see Kelly
and Dunn both cringe when they spotted us. But I can't figure out what
she's doing. You know the doors to the dorms will be locked shortly, so
we can't go back and change now. We just have to gut it out and regroup
at the end of the day."
"Shit - you know we're going to get hammerd all day. The seniors will be
merciless in teasing us and the last thing I want to do is have to
explain what we're doing to everyone. One. At. A. Time."
Tommy shook his head, and muttered something about trying times make you
tougher. All the guys were scared, angry, and confused. But they realized
time was short and picked up their pace, so they could get to class on
time. They slowly split apart as they went separate ways. They each had
different class schedule and wouldn't all be together again until last
period, Junior-level English.
As expected, it was a long, tortuous day. Each one was teased and
questioned in between classes, even by students they didn't know very
well. In class, they could hear the snickers and whispers beneath the
drone of the teachers up front. None of the teachers said anything, but
most shook their heads and had to suppress a smile when they saw any of
the eight boys. By the time last period came around, all of them were
broken down and humbled by their failed rebellion. They still didn't know
how it failed or what to do next. As usual, they headed toward the seats
in the last two rows, where they normally held court. But as they did so,
the teacher, Ms. Erin called out.
"Thomas, boys, I got a call from Mrs. Wilson. She wants to meet with you
after my class. All of you go there as soon as the bell rings."
The gloom of the day suddenly disappeared. Their plan might still work.
It made sense now. Old wacky Wilson needed to time to try to figure out
what they were doing. She had been caught so off-guard by their
appearance, she couldn't react this morning. With the sudden turn of
events, the boys looked at each other, nodded and smiled. When the bell
rang, the gathered outside the class room and began to go to the
administration building where Mrs. Wilson's office was. Tommy encouraged
everyone to stand strong. He'd do the talking, and promised he'd
negotiate a good resolution for all their effort. When they got to her
office, they knocked. Her response to enter, was at the same tone and
volume she normally spoke at. They opened the door, and moved in front
of her desk. She sat in her chair, flanked by Kelly and Dunn. But
unexpectedly, standing next to Ms. Kelly were Tiffany and Bethany.
"Boys, I know you were disappointed that I wouldn't agree to let you wear
shorts because of the heat, but that is no excuse for not wearing the
required uniform. We expect you to follow the rules here at the
Jennings's Academy, no exceptions. Now, Thomas,,,"
Tommy was ready now, and interrupted her to show her how we had followed
the rules. That would begin the negotiations.
"Excuse me, Mrs. Wilson, we did follow the rules as outlined in the
Student Handbook. If you look there is no restrictions on wearing skirts
or even the sleeveless tops. They are not identified as for girls only,
so we did nothing wrong. But if you want to talk about a solution, I have
a proposal."
It felt great to put the old bag in her place. Especially with others,
like Tiffany and Bethany, present. He actually wanted to continue, but
hesitated briefly. Tommy thought she might pull out the handbook to check
for herself.
"Oh you're quite right. When we wrote the handbook, we assumed boys
wouldn't want to wear a girl's skirt. But that's not your problem. You
obviously checked to see if there was a loophole about shorts and found
the skirts as an answer. But your violations in attire, are related to
what the handbook says about wearing skirts. You must not have checked
all the entries in later sections. So all day, you and your partners have
been committing dress code violations. That severe a transgression
normally results in a lengthy suspension. Coming now, it would prevent
you from completing your spring class assignments and require your
attendance at the summer sessions of the academy. Do you understand?"
"I.., didn't see what you mean. How did we violate the dress code if it
doesn't exclude boys from wearing skirts or sleeveless tops? What did we
fail to do?"
Tommy was panicked now. He didn't want to believe that they had somehow
missed a requirement. I mean, he had poured over and over the handbook
section on skirts. What didn't he see? The idea of spending the whole
summer at this god-forbidden place was horrible.
"Well dear, you needed to look at other sections. You see, the dress code
for girls is much more specific and detailed than for boys. It doesn't
just deal with outerwear for example. If you had looked at the section
describing shoes you'd understand that boy's shoes weren't appropriate.
Look at what Ms. Bethany and Tiffany are wearing. Do you see what I
mean?"
Tommy was confused. He looked at the girl's feet. All he saw was two
pairs of shoes, girls' shoes, one black and one brown. Looking down at
his, they seemed close enough. He looked over at Tiffany and then back at
Mrs. Wilson, a bewildered expression on his face, slowly shaking his head
no. Tiffany spoke up, answering Mrs. Wilson question as it was clear that
Tommy didn't know.
"These are called ballet, or dress flats. They usually have a slightly
pointed or rounded toe, a low heel, a ? inch or so, and can have a band
across the arch of the foot. Yours are oxfords and James has loafers.
Neither are acceptable footwear with a skirt."
At this point, Mrs. Wilson chimed in.
"Add to that, all you boys are wearing crew-style socks. That meets your
guidelines, but to wear a skirt, allowable styles are only knee-socks or
tights, although they may be worn bare. Listen to the rule."
With a skirt, the student may wear only full tights, knee high socks or
stockings, or bare legs, if presentable.
"You see, this is not a specification just for females, but applies to
any student in a skirt. Wording for shoes is the same. So, all of you
committed two dress code violations, one for shoes and another for socks.
As for your top, you are again correct that the sleeveless blouse is not
gender specific. But look at the girls and how they wear it. Maybe you
can see the difference."
Tommy was starting to sweat now, even in the skirt and top. He looked at
Bethany and then Tiffany. Their blouses looked like his, but they had
necklaces. Was that it? His lost look, prompted Bethany to speak up.
"It's the underwear, silly. You have to wear something under a blouse.
Didn't you see how sheer they are? I mean I can see everything, even your
navel. We have to wear a camisole or bra, or both under these garments.
We thought you'd know that. Tiffany told me you'd probably wear a tank
top or something. God, you guys can be so dense sometimes."
"Well we didn't expect you to rat us out. Why did you tell on us?"
Tommy's outburst at the girls came from frustration. He could see his
well-thought out plan collapsing in front of him, which made him mad.
Mrs. Wilson just chuckled.
"Oh she didn't turn you in, Thomas. I just figured you had to have had
help with this idea. I knew none of the seniors would help an underclass
student and you'd be to prideful to go to the sophomores or freshmen.
That left only the junior girls. It was pretty easy to figure out, that
you'd go to the two leaders of that group. Tiffany and Bethany told us
what happened once I called them into my office at lunch. They had no
choice but to cooperate, unless they wanted summer school too. So with
your failure to wear an undergarment suitable for your blouse, you now
have three code violations.
But that's not all. If you look further, in the back of the book, under
personal guidelines you'll see you missed another requirement. Here, let
me read the section."
When wearing a skirt or dress, the student must be well groomed.
Acceptable practice is to remove noticeable hair and keep skin well
moisturized.
"A similar note is present for the use of short- or sleeveless tops. No
one wants to see hairy armpits, or even forearms. That's one reason, it's
specified that boys wear long-sleeve shirts."
"But that's archaic. Girls should be allowed to not shave if they want."
"Oh but Thomas, they can. The specifications regarding pants for girls,
don't require shaving. However, they must wear what is called a 'shaper'.
It's a restrictive garment designed to keep a girl's natural curves from
being too loose or wiggly. I know it seems old-fashioned, but it was put
in during a time when fashions for women were much more modest."
"Why do you think, Tiff and I never wear jeans? I don't care how
comfortable pants are, if you wearing Spanx or some other tight thing,
it's more trouble than a skirt."
Tommy didn't even respond. He felt horrible. All he could think about was
his lost summer. His family had planned trips to Cancun and a sweep
through some National Parks out west. Not to mention, just hanging out
with his friends with nothing to do. He felt like he might throw up.
"With your grooming violations, you now have five total demerits for your
stunt today. We generally forgive one demerit, but after that you get a
week's suspension for each one. That would easily take you past the end
of spring term and require you to attend summer sessions to pass the
junior grade and be seniors next year."
At that point, one of the other guys groaned. Tommy looked over. They
were all steaming mad. At him. That made summer school not seem like the
worst part of the deal. He was sure no one would talk to him again for a
long time. Any plans he had for a leadership role as a senior were shot.
He felt lost. The blood had drained from his face and he felt like he
might faint. He cast his eyes downward unable to look at Mrs. Wilson any
more, but that was worse, because all he saw was that damn skirt. How
could he have been so reckless?
"Even though you've broken the rules and deserve a severe punishment, it
would seem cruel to give you an incomplete and force the eight of you to
attend a whole summer session. Luckily for you, Tiffany and Bethany have
proposed a solution. Mr. Dunn who runs the summer sessions agrees with
the proposal, as you don't really fit the profile of his summer students.
All of you have good grades, have done sufficient community service work,
and are generally good boys. Everyone makes mistakes and at Jennings
Academy, we are not here to ruin students' experiences. So, if you
agree, then the next two weeks you will adhere to the dress code
guidelines appropriate for wearing skirts and sleeveless blouses. That
will allow you to finish junior year on schedule and have a summer break
as you had planned. I have a feeling an extended time in these clothes
will impress on you the value of following the rules. Does that seem like
a suitable solution?"
Tommy couldn't believe the reprieve. All he could see was being an
outcast and having to go to school virtually continuously for two years.
He never imagined Mrs. Wilson being so considerate and forgiving. True,
it sounded like they would have to dress like the female students. He
could only imagine the teasing and taunting that he'd have to endure.
Also, even if they weren't suspended, he'd expect some retribution from
the other guys. But it was only for two weeks. Given the alternative, he
would do it. He only had to glance quickly at the other boys, to see the
relief on their faces. But before he could respond, James spoke up.
"I think that will work, Mrs. Wilson. Thank you for being lenient with
us. We will do whatever it takes to make up for this mistake."
Tommy realized he would be paying more than the others, as he had lost
any leadership role he had. It also dawned on him, that more than likely
so had James, even though he was now taking the spokesman role for the
eight boys. Likely, the other prominent junior students, Tiffany and
Bethany would ascend to the senior president and VP roles next year.
"That's good James. Now for the details of your punishment. You will have
to meet all the requirements listed in the handbook for students who want
to wear skirts and sleeveless blouses. The girls will help you borrow
some items to meet those requirements. Tiffany and Bethany will canvas
the other girls to find shoes to fit. Because most girls only have one or
two pairs of dress flats, you'll have to use the shoes normally
associated with more formal dress. These are high heel pumps. The
handbook specifies a 'high-heel' but the exact height is left to the
preference of the student. Thus, the heels include 2-, 3-, and 4-inch
styles, and even 5-inch platforms, preferred by Ms. Tanner. Because the
requirements for pumps include hose, you must meet that as well. Beyond
shoes, the girls will help you with smaller details. Look to them for
guidance and I expect you to do as they ask.
Because some items are more personal, Ms. Kelly went out and purchased
what you will need. Luckily, the school has emergency funds for each
student to cover unexpected items. These items include the afore-
mentioned hose and proper underwear. We had a pretty good idea of your
sizes, based on the sizes of clothes you borrowed from the other girls.
Of course, you'll have to do the proper hygiene and grooming requirements
as outlined in the handbook. Ms. Kelly has what you need for this as
well. Each of you get one bag with the items. Miranda will pass them out.
Finally, prior to roll call each day, you will meet with Ms. Kelly for an
inspection.
I know this might seem unusual, but to be honest, I think it is a very
appropriate solution to your episode. Jennings Academy and the staff have
prided itself on teaching students valuable lessons both in class and
out. This is that sort of lesson. Unless you have any questions, I'll let
you get your accessory bags from Ms. Kelly and then you can be dismissed
to the care of Tiffany and Bethany to be sure you're ready for roll call
and classes tomorrow. I want to stress that you must follow what your
female advisors say, as I can always institute a suspension."
The boys formed a line to take a paper bag from Miranda Kelly. She had a
sly smile and her eyes twinkled as each of them took one. You could tell
the teachers would enjoy seeing their humiliation the next day at roll
call. The boys' rebellion may have been aimed at Mrs. Wilson, but it also
threatened the power of every teacher as well. So having the boys suffer
a bit, would be a valuable lesson to all the Jennings Academy students.
Everyone left the office, quietly and subdued, the boys following their
new instructors, Tiffany and Bethany. The next 24 hours were going to be
hell.
Once the boys were safely out of ear shot of the teachers, Tommy wanted
to cross examine the two girls. It seemed too convenient that Mrs. Wilson
located them so easily. But he was cut off, as Tiffany turned to face
them. He could see a determined look on her face, tempered by a know-it-
all smirk. It was clear she was going to be demanding in her new role as
an advisor.
"Now pay attention, I want to be clear about this. Because of Tommy's
arrogance and obvious ignorance, you boys are going to have to pay a
price the next two weeks. But if you do exactly as we tell you and trust
us to help you get through this, you will be okay. This stupid stunt put
Bethy and me at risk too. If we hadn't been quick to think of this
option, all of you would be spending the whole, long, hot summer in this
place. So remember that, when we ask you to do something. If we feel you
aren't being cooperative, then we'll just hand you back to Mrs. Wilson
and she can implement her original punishment.
First, things first. To meet the guidelines in the handbook, there are
certain areas that must be kept free of hair. We don't want to take any
chances on Ms. Kelly not being satisfied with your appearance. So, your
entire body, with the exception of your private area or bikini area as we
call it, will need to be shaved. That means underarms, chest, legs, and
arms, everywhere. I assume most of you have a razor, even if you don't
have to shave your face every day, but shaving your body is completely
different animal. So we'll help you the first time, but after that you'll
need to do it on your own. Once you are smooth then, we will help with
your outfits. Since this is likely a new experience for you, I'll clue
you in that it is easier to shave yourself, after soaking in a tub.
That's one reason, our bathrooms include claw-foot soaking tubs. We'll
arrange the area for your use in about 30 minutes, after we make sure no
girls need it. Although she didn't say, I suspect Mrs. Wilson wants you
in skirts for all remaining school activities, so I plan on having you
dressed properly for dinner tonight."
At this point, Bethany spoke up. She was smiling much more broadly,
probably because she relished the opportunity to put a few boys in their
place. Tommy had noticed when the boys went to her and Tiffany for help
acquiring the skirts that she seemed to think they were making a mistake.
It was like she saw how they might fail to comply with the associated
requirements. But Tommy couldn't dismiss her off-hand, as he was intent
on doing this right to avoid summer school.
"Ms. Kelly told us she had purchased disposal razors for you, as well as
two pairs of panties, hose, a camisole, and a bra. Because you are
limited in what you have to wear, we will also show you how to hand wash
them. That way, you can have a clean pair for the next day of classes.
While you're shaving, Tiffany and I will make the rounds to find you
shoes that fit. I also will try to find a second blouse for each of you.
That can be hand washed as well. I want to reiterate what Tiff said, we
expect you to follow our suggestions, whether you think it needs to be
done or not. We feel like we went out on a limb with our proposal to Mrs.
Wilson. We don't want to have it come up short and reflect badly on us.
So expect us to go beyond the minimum standards listed in the handbook.
We've both been at Jennings since middle school, and know Ms. Kelly quite
well. She has a way of reading between the lines when it comes to
standards for the girls. Now that you've joined us, so to speak, we will
insist you exceed any and all requirements. Are we clear? "
Now that their punishment was laid out, Tommy briefly considered whether
summer school would be a better option. But he shook off that idea and
reluctantly opened the bag Ms. Kelly had given him. The other guys were
doing the same. Inside, the reality of what he would have to do hit him.
He gingerly looked at the items in the bag. At the bottom was a package
of disposal razors, in pink. There were two packages of tights, or more
specifically, pantyhose. One was a nude shade and the other a darker
style, both with a built-in control panty. The girl on the package looked
like she was thrilled to be wearing them, but Tommy could only imagine
how horrid they would be once he had them on. There were two pairs of
panties. They looked incredibly small, in what he'd guess is a bikini
style. One was white lace, in what felt like a stretchy material. The
other was silky and covered in small pink and blue flowers. He could see
the camisole was also white, in a stretch lace that matched one panty.
The last item of clothing was the bra. It had solid white cups but the
straps and band were a mix of blue and pink flowers, like the other
panty. Tommy reached in to pick it up. Feeling the cups he could tell
they were padded, as a sizeable amount of foam was hidden under the soft
fabric. Realizing how they would look on him, he blushed. A quick glance
around, showed he wasn't the only one embarrassed by their new attire. As
if to break a spell, Tiffany spoke up again.
"We'll meet you in the lobby of our dorm. I'd suggest you remain in your
skirts and bring your bag along, so you can get dressed for dinner there.
And boys, just relax. I see the shock on your faces and really, it won't
be that bad. We wear these clothes all the time and once you get over the
newness of it, these last two weeks will go by almost like normal. See
you in a few minutes."
With that, she and Bethany started out toward their dorm. Tommy stood
there a moment, before stuffing his new underwear back in the bag. The
guys reluctantly headed out to their dorm to drop off their books. Along
the way, they talked, quietly. Thomas, knowing he had screwed up,
apologized. The other guys, now that the shock had worn off and they
realized they weren't going to lose their summer break, grudgingly
accepted it. Although James, maned up and chimed in that no one had seen
the possible problems, so they were all somewhat responsible for the
failure. They quickly put the books in their rooms before gathering in
the lobby of their wing. They slowly began to trudge toward the girls'
wing, walking as if they were headed to an execution. Waiting for them,
was Jennifer, a sophomore, who was notable as perhaps the giggliest girl
at Jennings.
As they approached her, Thomas looked at her a little differently.
Before, he had seen her as cute, with a fun although sometimes annoying
personality. Now he saw how her hair was styled, with loose curls flowing
down either side of her face. She wore pale lipstick, a sort of pink
shade that he now noticed matched her manicured nails. Her eyelashes were
dark, in stark contrast to her very blonde hair. Her cheeks were also
quite pink, which had to be some kind of makeup too, as her skin was
generally pale. When she saw him, she giggled, of course, and then smiled
broadly.
"Hello Tommy, boys. I thought what you guys did today was great. I mean,
too bad it failed and all, but I like how you made a statement. But don't
worry, Tiffany explained it all to the rest of us and we'll be glad to
step up and help you out. When we heard you were called to the
principal's office, we thought you'd be gone for sure. The way you got
out of summer school was really neat. I mean it may seem like punishment
to you, but all the girls thought you'd pulled one over on old Mrs.
Wilson. Who wouldn't trade getting to wear some cute clothes over a long,
hot summer here? Anyway, Bethany assigned two girls to each of you. We
are supposed to help you get ready now and then each day be sure you are
prepared for class and everything. Tiffany told us, we couldn't really
expect you boys to know how to do your hair or makeup, or even how to
adjust your bra. It's just too bad that the rules are so restrictive on
makeup. It be so much better for you if we could use foundation, eye
shadow, liner and all that. But we'll make do with what we are allowed.
We've set up the second floor bath, as your prep area, so follow me."
Thomas and the others fell in behind her, quiet and subdued. He was
disturbed by having 'personal' assistants assigned to him. It was going
to be bad enough as it was, but having a couple of girls who thought it
was going to be fun was almost too much. I guess that's one reason it
took him so long to process what Jennifer said. Why were the boys of need
of help with makeup and hair? Was that in the guidelines?
"Jennifer, just a moment. You mentioned earlier about you helping us with
makeup. Why would we need that, it's not in the handbook is it?"
She turned to glance at him, giggling of course, as they finished the
climb to the second floor and were right outside the bathroom. Her
tendency to giggle at every moment, was already getting annoying. In his
situation, it was like she was laughing at him.
"Oh no, makeup is optional. The only thing mentioned is that certain
items are not allowed. But don't worry girls at Jennings have long ago
figured out what we can use. So you will be well within the
restrictions."
"It's not that so much, as to I would rather not use them at all. I mean
if Mrs. Wilson doesn't expect them, then why do it?"
"The way Bethany explained it, the final decisions are up to her and
Tiffany. They want to be sure our dorm super, Ms. Kelly, doesn't see any
issues with your appearance. I know from personal experience that if your
appearance is not presentable, then she'll go critical. I actually had to
go back to my room once before breakfast to fix up my look. But don't
worry, Bethany assigned girls that had similar hair and skin colors to
each of you. That's one reason Chauncey, you know her right, and I are
your helpers. Bethany thought our blonde hair was close to yours, and we
both have fair skin too. Since all the sophomore girls are on the second
floor, each pair of roommates were assigned a boy to take care of. We
were lucky to get you. It's going to be so much fun, I swear."
Tommy still didn't understand why we were doing more than necessary, but
Jennifer had moved on. As each boy came up the stairs, she directed them
to a waiting pair of girls. He could see quickly how her description of
matching similar looks came into play. When everyone was matched up, she
told them that the schedule for bathroom time was posted. Finished with
her official duties, she turned toward Tommy to whisper in a giggly tone,
that James and him would be first to get ready. By then Chauncey, a tall
willowy girl had moved next to him. Both girls had goofy grins on their
faces. Tommy guessed this was quite a silly turn of events. Jennifer told
him to follow them back to their room. He could get ready for my bath
there.
Entering their room, he felt a mix of emotions. All of the guys at
Jennings had dreamed of entering one of the girls' private rooms. Of
course, their intentions were entirely different in their imagination.
They'd be there to explore the sexual pleasures that teenagers thought of
all the time. But now, entering Jennifer's room meant crossing over to
the other side so to speak. Tommy looked around nervously, as his heart
raced. It was decorated in way that reflected both girls. Around
Jennifer's bed were posters, decorative items, and personal notes that
emphasized her attraction to boy singing groups and the latest fashions.
Chauncey's bed was obvious too, as she played soccer and was in the drama
troupe. Both interests, as well as a few photos of attractive pop stars
surrounded it. The overall feel of the room was definitely feminine, as
it had far more decorative touches than his room did. Minor things like
coordinated bedding, window shades and a throw rug, were a far cry from
his standard issue items. He had to admit, their room looked far homier
and inviting than did the room he shared with James. The inviting nature
of the room did nothing however, to quell his anxiety at what was about
to happen. The click of the door being shut behind them, snapped him back
to reality. Starting with a soft giggle, Jennifer began to explain the
plan.
"Since we have limited time to get all you guys ready before dinner,
Bethany decided it would be quicker to have us shave you to save time.
With two of us for each one of you, we can get you smooth and neat much
faster. However, that meant we'd have to be in the bathroom with you. To
avoid any privacy issues, she suggested that we put you in one of our
swimsuit bottoms. That way you can soak in the tub, and we can shave you
without anyone being embarrassed. The good thing is, you're about my size
in the hips, so I've picked out a cute bottom for you to try on. It's
small, but it should cover everything, I think."
Tommy blushed at her suggestion, as she held up what he assumed to be the
bottom half of her bathing suit. But it looked so small, it was hard to
believe it would cover him. He reluctantly took it and held it in both
hands to get a better look. It looked like two small triangles of fabric
connected by strings on each side. How would that be big enough to keep
him from being exposed? Chauncey must have read Tommy's mind.
"I know it looks small, but that will make it real easy for us to shave
you. I suggest you do an old acting trick male actors use when they play
a woman. It's call tucking. You just manipulate your boy parts, so some
go up inside you and you pull the rest back between your legs. Then you
slide the bikini up your legs and the cloth holds everything tight
against your crotch. That way, there won't be any unsightly bulges or you
won't be tempted to get erect or anything. When you have it on, you can
put on this robe to wear to the bathroom."
Jennifer giggled at the last part making him feel really uncomfortable.
It sounded painful, but Tommy didn't see any other options. The girls
stepped out of the room, telling him to let them back in when he was
decent. After they left, Tommy took off the blouse and skirt, laying them
on Chauncey's bed. He then removed his underwear. Normally he would have
expected to be hard at this point, being naked in a girl's dorm room, but
the circumstances were so odd, that Tommy stayed soft. He stepped into
the bikini and pulled it up to his knees. He more or less understood what
Chauncey meant in her description, as he knew enough about his anatomy to
realize that the testicles could withdraw into his body, usually under
extreme situations like severe cold. Tommy gingerly began to push them
around until he found where they slipped inside. He was a bit amazed at
how easily they went in, so he quickly positioned his cock back between
his legs and pulled up the suit. Once it was up around his hips, the
thicker fabric of her suit, held it tight against his body.
A quick glance at the suit made Tommy blush again. There was no bulge or
protrusion, just a small mound between his legs. It was as if he really
had a girl's pussy and not a cock and balls. How could he show this to
the girls? He was about to move his junk around, when Tommy heard a soft
knock on the door. Jennifer's giggly voice asked if he was decent and she
slowly opened the door. As they walked in, she giggled harder and
Chauncey softly gasped.
"That looks amazing, so flat and smooth down there. I had heard about it,
but never seen a boy do it before. This will be perfect. Here slip on the
robe, we need to get started. We have a lot to do to get you ready for
dinner, and we aren't allowed a lot of time in the tub."
While she slipped the robe on Tommy, Jennifer grabbed the bag of razors
from the paper bag and in one smooth motion, picked up his briefs and
dropped them in her trash can. It was like she was making a statement
about his manhood being tossed aside for the next two weeks. They quickly
lead him down the hall. He could see another pair of girls escorting
James ahead of him. Inside the bathroom, they took Tommy to one of the
tubs. It was already full of warm water, so they slid the robe off, as he
stepped in. The warm water felt good, but Tommy was nervous as he knew it
was just the precursor to being shaved smooth. He could see James was
nervous too, but it was too late to say anything.
Within minutes, Jennifer told Tommy it should be ready to start. They had
him stand up with Chauncey behind and her in front and they smoothed on
some sweet-smelling gel foam. With his upper body covered, they both
began to shave. Once Chauncey finished Tommy's back, which had little
hair, she had him lift up his arms. By the time Jennifer had shaved his
chest and stomach, his underarms were also smooth. They then each took
one of his arms to remove the fuzz from them. By now, Tommy could see how
removing even the small amount of hair on his body, changed his
appearance. His chest didn't have muscular pecs or other big muscles, but
now the slight mounds on Tommy's chest looked more like breasts than a
boy's body. But again, he had little time to think about it, as they had
him sit back down in the water to soak his legs. Tommy glanced toward the
other tub and could see James was being done the same way.
After a few minutes of soaking, Tommy had to lift both feet out of the
water. Each girl took one, shaving his ankles and part way up the calves.
When they were done, he was told to stand up again. They each took the
same leg, Chauncey shaving the back and Jennifer the front. Once that one
was done, they switched to the other. It was like clockwork, and didn't
take long at all, other than having to rinse the hair off the razors, to
complete the job. But before Tommy could ask if they were done, Chauncey
grasped the sides of the swimsuit to pull it up higher on his torso. That
revealed both more of his ass cheeks, and the pubic hair on either side
of where his cock normally was. With a subtle giggle, Jennifer began to
trim that area. Chauncey also started to shave the curve of his cheeks.
He wanted to protest that they had done enough, but his embarrassment had
gotten the best of him and by now all his resistance was gone. When they
felt he was smooth enough, they had him dunk down in the tub to rinse off
any remaining hair before stepping out. They took large, fluffy bath
towels to dry him off, while the tub drained. Once Tommy was dry, they
gave him the robe to put back on. Turning him around to face the tub,
Jennifer handed Tommy a large sponge.
"Here you need to wipe off the inside of the tub. Rules require each girl
to leave it clean for the next one. Since you're now one of us, at least
for two weeks, you need to follow our dorm rules too When it's done, go
ahead and slip off your swimsuit. It needs to be rinsed in the sink and
hung up to dry."
The whole process was just another humiliating step. Heading back to
their room, naked beneath his robe made the once brash boy feel really
vulnerable. It was embarrassing to admit, but Tommy was glad when
Chauncey reached into the bag and took out the flowered panty. She held
it up, in both hands, spread open so you could see the design. He heard
Jennifer, of course, giggle. Looking him in the eye, with a smirk on her
face Chauncey gave them to Tommy.
"Here slip these on. Just be sure to tuck like you did your suit. Once
you're in your panties, we can fit your bra. It may take a little
adjustment, but seeing how your chest looked in the tub, I imagine you
can fill out your cups okay. If not, I'll show you a trick younger girls
use to get enough shape to their bust. It was painfully obvious today
that your blouse was ill-fitting without the right stuff up top. We don't
want to have any of that going forward."
"Tommy, those are so cute. I love the pretty flowers and that design will
fit you perfectly. I have a pair like that, with the narrow sides. That
hug you tightly and ride low on your hips. Also because they're what's
known as a tanga style, they have minimal fabric in back, which keeps
them from riding up on you. Best of all, you won't have to worry about
visible panty lines, because you'll be in a skirt."
He looked over at her, trying to decide if she was teasing or what. She
giggled at everything, so it was hard sometimes to tell if she was being
truthful or not. Tommy finally decided she was just being honest.
Chauncey's actions however really surprised him, because he didn't know
her much at all. He really hadn't interacted with her in class. Tommy
wasn't normally attracted to taller, slimmer girls, so he hadn't even
talked to her outside the classroom either. But the way she mocked him
about his chest, caught him off-guard. He decided for some of these
girls, getting to torture us guys was fun. But he kept his mouth shut,
and just stepped into the underwear.
Tommy slowly pulled them up his legs, trying not to let the robe fly
open. Seeing as neither girl was going to look away, he turned so he
could adjust himself, trying to be as subtle as possible. This time his
balls went inside his body even easier than before. He held the cock back
as he finished by pulling the panty all the way up. Even with them pulled
tight to his crotch, Tommy felt partially naked. The cutoff the panty
left both sides wide open, and the rear material only went part way over
each butt cheek. The front was also so narrow that it was right at the
edge of the small amount of pubic hair the girls had not shaved. He felt
like if he hadn't tucked, that there wasn't enough fabric in front to
cover it all. That made him wonder why Ms. Kelly had bought such skimpy
panties. Once they saw Tommy had the panty on, Jennifer reached to
remove his robe. Chauncey handed him the bra, still with that smirk on
her face.
"Although it may seem hard to put on and take off, it really is easy to
do. First wrap it around your body, with the clasp in front. That way you
can hook it together. Then, slide it around until your cups are in front.
At that point, most girls kind of lean forward so their boobies fall into
the cups as they pull up the straps. For you, we just need to pull up the
straps. I can then adjust them if needed. Go on try it."
Tommy did as she described, only it took a bit more to figure out how to
position the bra. It had to be set up so when you moved it around to pull
up the cups the band wasn't twisted, or backwards. But once he got it
lined up right, it went on easy. He always knew there had to be some sort
of trick girls used to put them on. The one time Tommy had made out with
a girl and tried to unhook her bra it seemed like a Chinese puzzle. But
she took one hand, made a simple move, and pop it was off. With the
straps on across his shoulders, Chauncey studied him a second, before
adjusting the little metal thingy that let out more fabric to make the
strap longer. That allowed the cups to be aligned better over his
nipples.
When she was done, she stepped back. Her smirk was really irritating him
now. Tommy felt his face blush. This was even worse than the panties.
Mostly because the small mounds on his chest actually filled a good
portion of each cup. He would have really preferred to be flatter, so it
wouldn't look like he might actually need a bra. But Chauncey seemed
pleased, as her smirk broadened into a smile. She then reached over to
her desk and lifted up two oval, rubbery looking pads.
"I thought you might need a little help, although you do fill out most of
your cups. These are little silicone helper pads. I borrowed them from
one of the freshmen, who had a couple pairs. I think most every girl,
except those that developed really quickly have used these at some point
when they're younger. We sometimes call them chicken cutlets, as they
look like boneless chicken a little."
Chauncey actually giggled at that point, the first time she'd done that
all day. But what she did next really surprised him. She reached into the
bra cup, sliding her hand around the nipple toward his arm pit so she
cupped his small mound. She then pulled the handful of flesh toward the
center of his chest. With her other hand she placed the silicone pad into
the cup, so it rested on the side closest to his arm. She released the
breast, removing her hand, so the little mound settled on top of the pad.
It felt cold at first, noticeable to the touch. With no hesitation,
Chauncey repeated the move on his other breast. When she removed her hand
from the bra cup, she giggled again, joined this time by Jennifer. Tommy
glanced down at his chest. What he saw horrified him. With the pads in
place to augment the small mounds on his chest, Tommy now had noticeable
cleavage. Plus, the combination of the padded bra, silicone inserts and
his own flesh had filled out the cups completely, producing two definite
mounds that for all purposes looked just like a girl's breasts.
"Oh Chauncey, you done a wonderful job. You've given Tommy her own little
boobies. That will look so much better in her blouse. Don't you think
they look great Tommy? I was pretty sure we could make you look better,
but this is even better than I hoped. But we need to move on, we still
have your hair and makeup to do. But first, we've got to do something
about your nails. I can see from here, they are too rough as they are."
He was still reeling from how much his chest looked like a girl's now,
but her mention of my nails, ratcheted up his concern. Certainly, he
didn't need anything done to them did he?
"Nails? Why do I need to do anything to my nails?"
Both girls looked at each other, but refrained from giggling, at least.
Jennifer looked back to him, and reached out to take his hand. Holding
it, she held it up between our faces, so Tommy could look closely at it.
"See how rough your nails are? I can see it from here. They're in
desperate need of trimming and filing to give them a smooth finish. I
could tell when I shaved your legs, that your feet have callous and lots
of dead skin. Not to mention how horrible your cuticles look. I know it
may not seem necessary as a boy, but for a girl you have to have smooth,
soft feet and nick-free nails. Both finger and toe. The main reason is
not appearance, although you will look nicer. It is a necessity if you
plan on wearing hosiery. The slightest little edge, rough patch, or even
a hang-nail can snag your pantyhose and create a run. That would ruin
them. You only have two pairs to last the next two weeks. That may seem
like plenty, but believe you me, it only takes a second to ruin a pair.
Bump into something poking out from a desk, or door frame and you have a
snag. A little snag can turn into a long run that ruins the look of any
hose. Ms. Kelly would never let you go to class like that. So the first
thing we have to do, is make sure your nails aren't going to be a
problem. Luckily since you've just soaked in the tub, they should be easy
to do. While we're at it, we'll remove your callous too. That way you can
safely put them on and wear them with confidence."
With her decision justified, Jennifer took Tommy by the hand and pulled
him to it on her bed. She and Chauncey both grabbed a chair and sat in
front of him. Much like they had shaved him, each took a hand and did a
quick manicure. Tommy's nails were not really long, coming just to the
ends of his fingertips, but after they gave them an oval shape and pushed
back the cuticles they looked more feminine. When she finished, Chauncey
switched to his foot, lifting it up on her lap while she used a pumice
stone to remove calluses and repeated the nail treatments she had used
for the fingernails. He was so occupied by what she was doing, that Tommy
didn't notice Jennifer. She was still holding his hand and it was a few
seconds before he noticed her making slight movements. He looked at what
she was doing in horror - she had painted the nails of his little and
ring fingers and was starting to do the middle finger. Tommy jerked in
surprise, but she had grasped him firmly.
"What are you doing? You didn't mention polish."
"Oh just relax. What's the point of doing a manicure without finishing it
with polish? It will you're your nails stronger, helping prevent any
splitting. Besides, this is just a soft nude color. It should go well
with any outfit. I mean you're already sitting there in pretty lingerie,
and you're going to be wearing makeup, skirts, hose and heels. You can't
really be upset if we want to complete your look, can you?"
Jennifer resumed her work, without even waiting for a reply. Still
surprised, Tommy couldn't come up with a real reason not to do them. She
was right, he had enough feminine trappings that a little polish wouldn't
be much more. He could tell this was right up her alley, as she smoothly
applied a full coat to each nail, quickly finishing both hands. By then,
Chauncey had finished one foot, wedging the toes apart with a foam
divider, and Jennifer moved to do his toenails as well. Within 10
minutes, she had two coats of color and a clear overcoat on all 20 nails.
By then, Tommy had become self-conscious of how his body looked in the
underwear. Sitting on the bed, with his arms close to his sides, added
even more push to his boobs and created more realistic cleavage. The flat
front of his panties was just like any girls'. He was so ready to get his
blouse and skirt on, that he no longer thought of protesting whatever the
girls wanted to do next. When she finished, Tommy looked over at the
clothes next to him on the bed.
"Can I get dressed now? It's a little awkward sitting here in underwear."
"Not yet, I want to get your makeup done, while Chauncey looks to see if
she can do anything with your hair. Besides, you have to put your
pantyhose on before your blouse and skirt and I want to give your nails
more time to harden. Just change places with me, and sit in this chair.
That way I can sit on the bed to do your face, while Chauncey works on
your hair."
He made move she requested. Jennifer stood up, and went to get her
makeup. Chauncey already had a brush in her hand and was toying with his
hair. Tommy had adopted a style current for teenage boys. It was not
particularly long, at least on the sides and back. But it had long hair
in front, swept across the forehead from a side part. It gave him a
shaggy, sort of surfer dude look, or at least he thought so. Chauncey was
brushing it different ways, as if she was seeing what might work. When
Jennifer returned with her makeup bag and sat down on the bed, she looked
at her.
"Got any ideas? At least he doesn't have a buzz cut, huh."
"I think I see something that might work."
With that, Chauncey combed all of Tommy's hair forward. It fell across
his face, easily going past his nose, from one ear to the other. He
couldn't see what she was doing, but felt her part his hair across his
head, just a little bit off the forehead. She brushed it back and used a
couple of clips to keep it from falling forward. The way she had it
combed, he could feel it just reach the nape of his neck. But what she
did next really surprised him. Tommy saw scissors cut his hair, directly
in front of his eyes. The resulting couple of snips cause a big swatch of
hair to fall down in his lap, opening up his view. A couple more snips,
on the side and back, and with the use of a small hair trimmer to tidy up
the hairs on the back of his neck, Chauncey finished her work. She seemed
satisfied. Tommy could tell from Jennifer's' expression that she liked it
too.
"That looks cool Chauncey. How did you think of that?"
"I just have a knack for styling short hair. In soccer, you either wear
your hair long enough to put in braids during a game, or short to keep it
out of your eyes. Tommy's hair wasn't long anywhere but in front,
although from the way he had it combed it didn't seem that long. But a
simple part and cut to give him bangs, while shaping his sides and back
in a staggered bob is a perfect choice. In fact, I wore my hair that way
in middle school because it was so easy to do. Take a look Tommy. What do
you think?"
Chauncey held up a mirror so Tommy could see her handiwork. He was
stunned. By simply parting his hair side to side rather than front to
back, she could comb most of it back toward his neck and over his ears.
The hair that had been combed forward and cut, now stopped right at his
brows from the outer corner of one eye to the next. But longer hair
remained on each side to frame the face. These side pieces were the
longest part of his hair, as the length quickly shortened as it went to
the back of the head. Tommy had seen this kind of hairdo on girls before,
and he always thought they looked cute. Sexy in fact. But having my face
surrounded by it, was disturbing. Both girls seemed really please by it
and Chauncey used some light hair spray to keep it in place. In a matter-
of-fact manner, she told him that once he shampooed it and let her set it
so it could dry properly, the style would be easy to maintain. Seeing how
radically the new hairdo changed my appearance, made him realize how far
into a girl's look he had gone. Tommy feared how much further they would
push him by applying makeup.
"Chauncey, Jennifer, this is much more of a change than I expected when I
agreed to follow the handbook regulations for wearing a skirt. No one
mentioned get a girl's haircut, polishing my nails, or even going so far
with shaving my body. The way you've taken everything to the limit is far
more than I expected. Is this really necessary? Can't we please come to a
more moderate look? I'm worried about what everyone will say when they
see me like this. How can I go back to the boys' dorm looking this way?
I'm begging you please."
They could both see how traumatic the process was for him, but they
looked at each other, not sure what they could do to stop it. Chauncey
continued to toy with his hair, and Jennifer took a Kleenex she had for
her makeup application, and dabbed at the corners of his eyes to get the
tears welling up there. Tommy was now so embarrassed by showing them how
scared he was by all this. Jennifer leaned in closer to him, as if her
presence would soothe his concerns.
"Tommy, I know this seems radical to you. But really everything we've
done for you, is to make it easier. Rather than be some half-way, sort-
of-insulting interpretation of a girl, you'll look authentic. You won't
just be a dumb boy in a skirt. You won't be just fodder for others to
tease