The Queen and Her Court
By Shawna Stimple

Billy Summers entered his high school, still very nervous that any day now, the world would come crashing down around him. It was only a week prior, that his sister had her friends, played Barbie with him and his friends. The boys were all grounded for skipping school the day they walked into the commons to find pictures of their feminine alter egos, with the entries for homecoming court. The took off on the spot, and ran to the barber shop, shearing off their pretty hairdos.

Today they were taking the vote, and announcing the winners at the morning assembly. Billy had hoped to get to school, and keep his head down until the assembly was over, and prayed that he would get home with is dignity intact. He walked through the halls an hour early to rendezvous with his buddies, and then go find a place to hide. As he walked past the girls bathroom, a pair of slender arms reached out and pulled him in.

His sister Tiffany, and a group of her friends, stood over Billy while he lay on the bathroom floor. Tiffany put her fingers on her brothers chin, and lifted his face to her‘s. “Oh my Billie. Have you forgotten today is the day of the election? You should have come looking your best. Why did you cut off your beautiful hair. The girls, and I have you covered though. We’ll make sure you look good enough to be on stage.”

Billy knew that his sister meant business. He had proven to her the previous week, that she was not to be screwed with. He tried to run out, but the larger group of girls quickly overpowered him, and stripped him down to his underwear. He was still as hairless as he was when they shaved him at the slumber party. Once he was down to his boxers, the fight left him. He figured he might as well do what they say, and maybe he wouldn’t have to run away and live the life of a hermit in a cave.

The girls handed him a blue bra and panty set, a matching blue slip, and brown pantyhose, and then pointed toward the stall. He emerged several minutes later, clad in the feminine undergarments. They then filled out the cups of his bra with a little padding, and slid a wig cap over his military haircut. A few girls went to work on his makeup, while the others removed a long brunette wig, and brushed out the tangles. When they finished his face, they had him step into a knee length blue lace shift, and they slid his arms through a matching lace sweater with a rounded collar, long sleeves, and a row of small buttons running up the front. Once he was all buttoned in, they placed the brunette wig over his wig cap, and using a teasing comb and some hairspray, shaped the wig into it’s intended style. It was a shoulder length bouffant flip with eyebrow level bangs. They finished him off with a pair of white pumps with pointed toes, and a double strand pearl necklace.

He gazed at his reflection in the mirror. If the blush hadn’t been there, his cheeks would still be equally as pink. The girl from the night of the slumber party was back. She was dressed a little less dressy, and her hair was longer, but it was the same girl. The girl he’d wished he’d never see again.

Tiffany tapped him on the shoulder, interrupting his inner turmoil. “That’s enough vanity Billie dear. Your friends are waiting for us in the auditorium. The nominees have to meet back stage before the assembly. We’re all supposed to walk out while we wait for the winners to be announced.

“My friends?” Billy asked dumbly.

“They got here a little earlier, but Peggy, and Beth have taken care of them. They’re just as ready as you, for the announcement of the winners.”

The group of girls led Billy to the backstage area of the auditorium When he first stepped behind the curtain he saw Marc. He was wearing a green flower print long pleated skirt, with a matching green flower print vest top, with a pink rose in the middle of the neckline. He stood in a pair of cork wedge sandals with white straps, and his hair was covered by a brunette bob wig, with bangs peaking out beneath a flower print head band.

“They got you too, huh?” Marc whispered.

“Yeah. Have you seen Conner?” Billy whispered back.

“Not yet. They said he was on his way down now.”

“What do we do?”

“Wait for Conner, and then we’ll try to make a break for it.”

Just then another reluctant contestant stepped through the curtain. Conner was wearing a simple yellow a-line dress with short sleeves, an orange stripe running across the waist, and for orange pocket flaps just beneath. He stood in an orange pair of heels, and his black wig was styled straight all the way down to his shoulders, with square cut bangs running along his forehead. They had even clipped yellow ball earrings onto his ears.

Conner approached his friends, and joined their huddle. “Hey guys. I guess our plan didn’t quite work.”

Marc added, “That’s an understatement.”

Billie took in both sides of the stage. On one side was his sister and the group that had trapped him earlier, and on the other was the principal, Mr. Sherwood. He’d had a few encounters with him earlier in the year. Nothing major, just the usual pranks boys his age pulled. Billy knew he didn’t want to get close enough for Mr. Sherwood to recognize him. While he sat there racking his brain, the curtain opened, revealing the principal, and all the nominees.

Mr. Sherwood made all the usual announcements, and performed the standard pep talk for the home team. Billie, Marc, and Conner stood as still as they could, hoping no one would recognize them, and that they wouldn’t get elected. Once the pageantry was over, the teachers had finished counting the votes and handed the results to principal. He opened the envelope, and read it aloud to the school. “The Homecoming queen for the class of 1967 is Ms. Peggy Baker.

Peggy took the stage in her pink sheath dress, and her blonde hair, perfectly styled, with a pageant smile on her face. She knew she was going to win, but she thanked her competition gracefully, and waved to her friends.

Mr. Sherwood continued, “Thank you Ms. Baker. Her princesses will be Billie Summers, Connie Vincent, Marcie Goodman, and Julia Stevens.” With each name he read, he struggled to hide his anger. The boys stepped forward, and waved to the crowd as they had seen Peggy do, each wondering if Alaska was nice this time of year. Julia Stevens on the other hand, beamed with pride. She was truly happy. She may not have been voted the most beautiful girl in school, but she was close. Mr. Sherwood dismissed the students, but asked the new court to meet him in his office.

When the door slammed behind him, he unleashed his anger on the feminized boys. “What the hell do you three think you’re doing?! Is this some kind of joke?” He knew Billie and his friends. He’d seen their type many times. Only friends with each other, barely making a blip on the social radar, not even important enough to bully. No one knew who they were.

Quick to defend himself, Billy said, “Peggy and her friends did this to us. They probably rigged the election somehow too.”

“Are you expecting me to believe that this beautiful creature forced you to do this? A little girl made you wear a dress? Rubbish!”

“It’s true. Why else would we do this.”

“I’m sure it’s part of one of your elaborate pranks. This time mister, the joke’s on you. And what’s your excuse Mr. Stevens.”

He turned to Julia, and was genuinely amazed by what he saw. Julian Stevens was a trouble maker. He had no friends at school, and the other boys were scared of him. There were whispers about how he was born in an insane asylum, and how he would kill anyone who messed with him. Mr. Sherwood knew that the reality was much simpler. Julian Stevens was a boy that liked to abuse narcotics. He’d been busted smoking behind the gym twice before, and was on his way to expulsion if it happened again. But here he was, dressed in a dark green, button down, knee length dress. It was double breasted, and had a white belted waist, a white collar, and two rows of white buttons running down the front. His hair had been cut with soft wispy bangs, and was actually clean, as it fell to the small of his back. He stood expertly on a pair of green three inch heels, and his ears had been pierced, where he now sported little green studs. He looked every bit a feminine beauty, and absolutely adored it.

Julia said calmly, “I had an interesting experience at the salon with my mother this weekend, and I decided later on that I wanted to be on homecoming court.” She grinned ear to ear, with the familiar glazed over look in her eyes. She had obviously been smoking something recently.

Shaking his head Mr. Parker asked, “And if I call your mother?”

“She’ll give you the exact same story.”

He sat at his desk, head in his hands, trying to solve the predicament before him. After a few minutes of awkward silence, he looked to Peggy. “What do you think we should do Ms. Baker?”

Peggy sat down in the empty chair, and folding her hands in her lap, said, “I don’t know why they’d make up such an awful story. It really hurts me that they would tell such lies.” Her performance could have won an Oscar. “I think you should let them sit in their own mess. Make them fulfill their duties as homecoming princesses. If you let me take today to train them, I’ll have them ready to present tonight. You’ll have four well behaved young ladies, ready to appease the crowd at the game.”

“Yes, that seems like a fine idea. You can use the multipurpose room. Just make sure they’re ready by six, and when this is over we can put this whole mess behind us.”

In the multi purpose room, Peggy drilled the new females in the ways of feminine grace. She taught them how to dance in heels, and how walk waving to an admiring crowd. After several hours she felt that the boys were finally ready, and helped them get dressed in their gowns.

The game reached halftime, and the home team was up two touchdowns. The homecoming court walked out onto the field escorted by members of the football team. They were presented accordingly, as they waved to the hometown fans. They were all wearing matching white princess seam gowns, over a plethora of petticoats. The game resumed, and the home team won by a landslide. The cheering crowd of students, all then made their way to the school gymnasium, for the dance. The court traded their slippers for heels, before entering the gymnasium. They looked gorgeous, each with a large white bow at the back of their hair.

The band leader announced the queen and her court, as they were led by their escorts for the first dance. They danced as well as any young girl at cotillion, with their skirts belling outward, as they were twirled around the dance floor. After the song ended, Billy, Marc, and Conner fled as quickly as possible. They quietly slipped out the door, one by one, trying to make it to the multipurpose room for their previous outfits. They may have been dresses, but they would get them less attention, than roaming the streets in bouffant virginal white.

Marc started into the hallway last, but was stopped by Mr. Sherwood. “I’m impressed you girls did so well. I must say Ms. Goodman, you do look quite beautiful in that dress. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you were the vision of grace I see before me.” He firmly placed his hands on Marc’s shoulders, and tried to pull him closer to his face.

“Let me go. I don’t want this Mr. Sherwood!” Marc yelled, looking around for anyone to help him.

“Of course you want it. Why else would you tart yourself up, and run for homecoming court?”

Marc shrieked, “Let go of me!” He startled Mr. Sherwood enough, that he loosened his grip. Seizing the opportunity, Marc broke free, tearing the strap of his dress in the process.

Running down the hall, he heard Mr. Sherwood yell, “Good luck making it out of high school. You can tell your little sissy friends that as well.“ He ran to the girls bathroom, and collapsed on the floor.

Beth was fixing her lipstick in the mirror, when the crying boy came tumbling in. She asked, “Are you ok?” That’s when she noticed the torn strap. “Who did this to you?”

Marc looked up, tears streaming down his cheeks. “No I’m not, and it’s all your fault. You and your stupid friends dressed me like this, and now Mr. Sherwood thinks I’m asking for sex, or something.”

Beth looked shocked. “Oh my god. I’m so sorry. We just wanted to screw with you. We never thought it would go this far. We really didn’t fix the election. The guys just thought you all were beautiful. Don’t worry. We’ll take care of it.” She walked the boy down to the multipurpose room and left him inside to change. She ran to find Peggy as fast as she could. She found her outback with Julie, smoking a joint.

“Oh my god Peggy, we screwed up.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Mr. Sherwood made a pass, at that little Marc boy, and when he turned him down, he threatened to ruin the boys school career. I think we might have overdone our revenge plan.”

For once Peggy had a genuine look of regret. “I guess you’re right. It wasn’t that long ago that I was an idiotic male. I’ve got an idea. You have your camera for yearbook right?”

Beth and Peggy ran to grab their camera, and head to Mr. Sherwood’s office. Julie took a hit, and said to herself, “She’s a boy too? Figures.”

There was a knock on the door in Mr. Stevens office. “Come in.” he shouted. Peggy Baker walked in confidently with a smile.

“Hello Mr. Sherwood. I hope the evening was to your liking.”

“Yes Ms. Baker, it was. What brings you to my office dear?”

“I was just thinking of how handsome you looked tonight. You have so much responsibility, and you shoulder it well.” She steps behind the desk, and starts to stroke his shoulder. “I’ve always felt like you were a strong man. One a girl could count on.”

He stood to face her. “Yes. It is stressful running a school.”

“I know what you mean. Being popular is no picnic. It’s a lot of work. Maybe we could help each other blow off a little steam.”

“What did you have in mind?” The outline of his little friend could clearly be seen through his pants.”

“Well I was thinking, you go first, and I’ll return the favor.” She places her hands on his shoulders, and pushes him down to his knees. She starts to pull up her skirts, and slides down her petticoat. “Close your eyes. I want you to be surprised.”

He does as he’s told, and lowers his lids. He hears the sound of her dress rustling as she slides down her panties. It was then that he heard the door fly open. He opened his eyes, only to find himself face to face with Peggy’s “little something extra”. The next sound her heard was the flashbulb going off.

He fell onto his back, trying to make sense of the situation. Meanwhile Peggy pulled up her underwear, and walked over to Beth, and kissed her firmly on the lips. Peggy sat in the principals chair, and looked sternly at Mr. Sherwood, sitting on the floor weeping into his hands. “Alright pervert. I don’t think you’re going to do anything to ruin those boys futures, are you? I also think there’s going to be a few other changes around here.” Mr. Sherwood looked truly terrified, as the tears streamed down his cheeks.

Beth and Peggy found the boys in the multipurpose room. They let the boys know that Tiffany was running home to grab some of Billy’s clothes for the boys to change into, and that she was meeting them at Beth’s house. During the walk they both apologized profusely, and let them know that they no longer had anything to worry about.

At Beth’s, they washed off all the makeup, removed the wigs, and finally got back into a pair of pants. Nervously they walked home, hoping the girls were telling the truth. Sleep did not come easy for the three. After what seemed like minutes, Billy was awoke by his alarm, and he begrudgingly got dressed, and headed to school.

When he entered the school, he was called into Mr. Sherwood’s office. Inside he met Conner, and Marc, and the boys took their seats in front of his desk. He closed the door and said, “I’m terribly sorry about the trouble I put you through last night. I wasn’t in my right mind. I’ll make sure you do well this semester, and I’ve arranged it for you to have the day off from classes.” He reached into his pocket, and pulled out a crisp fifty dollar bill, and handed it to the boys. “You gentleman, are dismissed. Don’t spend it all in one place.”

The year continued with little incident. Only a few boys wanted to know who the hell were those girls in homecoming court. They wanted to ask them for dates, but no one knew where to find them. Billy, Marc, and Conner, each passed with straight A’s even though they probably only performed B minus work. Julie continued to come to school in dresses, but everyone eventually found out she was just as weird as that kid from the insane asylum. They just let her enjoy herself, while she smoked behind the gym, and wandered the nearby woods during class hours. Peggy’s routine as teen queen stayed the same. The only addition to her schedule, being that she had to stop by the principal’s office every morning, to make sure he was wearing his bra and panty set under his clothes.

The end.