Mum's Encouragement Chapter 31

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Chapter 31

Leaving Auntie Heather in the kitchen, I followed mum to her bedroom where she started going through her large wardrobe

"I know they are in here somewhere," she mumbled to herself.

After about 3 minutes of searching whilst I looked on bored, mum excitedly proclaimed, "Here they are. These will look great on you babe" as she held up a pair of black boots

The boots mum held in the air were what I now know to be ankle boots. They were black leather with a heel that looked about 3 inches high

"I bought these a while ago but couldn't get on with them as the heels are a little high for me" she said as she handed me the boots

"Mummmmmm if they were to high for you, how am I supposed to get on with them" I protested as I took the little boots from her "Anyway I thought I was wearing these shoes" I said pointing to the purple shoes currently on my feet

"Just try them on to see how they fit honey," Mum told me whilst putting a comforting hand on my cheekbone "I do hope they fit. They will look really cute with your little skirt"

I let out a large sigh of exasperation and again defeated, sat on mum's bed and in doing so noticed I had automatically smoothed my skirt under me as I sat down.

I undid the straps of my shoes and slipped them off before pulling the left boot over my hosed foot. After a bit of a struggle I did up the little zip that ran down the side of the boot. I noticed that the top of the boot only reached my ankle, hence why they call them ankle boots I guess!

I soon had the other boot on and Mum pulled me up from her bed and onto my feet. I quickly found my balance as mum helped steady me

"Oh they are not that high Jo" Mum exclaimed, "girls your age wear boots a lot higher than these. Try walking around in them"

I did as I was told and tentatively walked around her bedroom. I actually found the boots quite easy to walk in. I thought they were a lot easier than the boots I wore when I went to the football with Martin. They actually felt quite comfortable and I liked the style with their pointed toes.

As I stared down at the boots, I thought of Martin and wondered what he might be up to now. I guess he was at work. Was he upset with me? Why was I thinking of him? He meant nothing to me

Mum disrupted my thoughts "The boots look great Joanne. They really set off your little outfit. You look really trendy honey. Your legs are to die for. You look so sweet in your skirt and pretty blouse. Can you see how much better your skirt looks now that you have swapped the slip for the chemise"?

"No I can' t see it Mother" I responded confused

"Exactly sweetie. You can't see the hem of the chemise. That's the whole point" I blushed as Mother played with the hem of my short skirt. After fussing with the skirt she reached in my blouse and positioned the shoulder pads so they sat properly upon my shoulders. When she had finished messing with my blouse, she again went to her wardrobe and returned a few seconds later with a pale pink garment

"Here put this on over your blouse," she ordered as she handed me a little cardigan. I held up the soft garment in front of me and noticed that it had a little collar. I found out later that the collar was called a Peter Pan style. What a stupid name I thought. The cardigan also had shoulder pads and four tiny white pearl buttons down the front

I pulled the soft baby pink cardigan over my bare arms and settled it on my shoulders before positioning the Peter Pan collar around my neck

"Here, let me help you" mum offered as she sorted out the little shoulder pads sewn into the cardigan. She then buttoned the two lowest shiny pearl buttons before standing back and admiring me

"Pink is a great colour on you Jo. You should wear it a lot more Hon.

I blushed at the thought of wearing more pink and questioned why I had to wear the cardigan

"Isn't the cardigan a little too much Mum? My shoulders look enormous now with the two sets of pads"

"No they don't. You look very Dynasty baby. Like a mini Joan Collins" Mum gushed

"Oh thanks a lot mother. She's ancient," I groaned, hating how she had just compared me to the elderly Dynasty actress.

"Ancient?" Mum laughed, "Give it a few years and I bet you wish you could look as good as she does now when you are her age"

"REALLLLLLY? I don't think so Mother " I moaned whilst pushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear

Mum watched my feminine action and smiled at me " Will see my girl. I know it's hard to imagine yourself getting old. Listen to your old mum when I tell you that before you know it, you too will be middle aged. It soon creeps up on you love and you wonder where the last 20 years went"

"I remember your Nan having a very similar conversation with me when I was about your age" Mum remininiced

"Mother you are getting boring" I sulked as I crossed my arms over my false breasts

"Boring? you cheeky so and so. The cardigan looks lovely on you. You will thank me later for making you wear it Jo. It's cold out and you will get goosebumps if you go out just wearing your sleeveless blouse"

"It's not my blouse," I protested as I fidgeted with the scalloped edge at the bottom of the cardigan

"Oh stop being awkward Joanne. What does it matter whose blouse it is? It looks really nice on you it and finishes off your outfit"

"My outfit?" I again moaned feeling really sorry for myself

Mum raised her voice "Oh will you stop answering me back. Start acting your age. You are not 12 you know," she bellowed at me" It won't hurt for you to look nice for a change, whoever's clothes they are"

Knowing I was testing her patience I didn't respond to her stupid rant. I knew I couldn't win when she was in her stupid "Grown ups are always right" mood

Over the next 5 minutes or so Mum finished getting me ready as she put a couple of gold bangles on my left wrist and a tiny pearl bracelet on my other wrist. The bangles and bracelet were quite loose and I found it irritating how that they kept slipping up and down my wrists as I moved my hands and arms. I tried to tuck them under the tight sleeves of my cardigan, however they still kept breaking free and moving on my wrists

"Stop fiddling with your bracelets" mum told me as she gently slapped my hand. She then had me lift my hair from the nape of my neck to enable her to clip a delicate pink and silver necklace around my neck. The chain of the necklace rested between my false breasts and hung from it was a small silver heart.

Mum fussed a little more with my make up and hair and then told me I was almost ready. She then sprayed a sweet smelling perfume on my wrists. I looked at the fancy bottle as she put it back on her dressing table and saw that it was called some pretenscious fancy French name

"Take these and go down and see if your Auntie is ok. She must be wondering what we are up to," Mum told me as she handed me a black coat and a multi coloured floral scarf

I took the silky scarf and woolen coat, left her room and carefully descended the stairs as fast as my little ankle boots would allow me. I was again surprised at how comfortable the boots were despite the heel height

I walked into the kitchen and found Auntie Heather had finished her coffee and was sitting at the kitchen table reading one of mum's women's magazines

When hearing my heels click clacking across the kitchen floor, she looked up from her magazine and smiled "Oh hi Jo. I thought you had both gone shopping without me"

She looked me and up and down and then told me "I love your boots. They really make your outfit honey.

Are you wearing L'Amour Jo? She asked as she sniffed the air

"What" I questioned not having a clue what she was on about

" Your perfume Jo. Is it L'Amour?"

I shrugged my shoulders not knowing the answer " I don't know Auntie. It smells horrible doesn't it"?

"No it smells lovely babe. I tried some on in a shop the other day. Shame, the price put me off buying it. It's a lovely smell"

Heather rose from her chair" Give us a twirl Jo so I can get a good look at your outfit"

" A what?" I asked wondering what she was on about

Heather laughed " A twirl love. Turn around so I can see your whole outfit"

I begrudgingly did so for a quiet life

Heather frowned "I think the cardigan's a little too precious Joanne. It doesn't go with the rest of your look. Was it your idea to wear it or your mums? She asked

"What do you think Auntie?" I protested in a squeaky high-pitched voice " I would hardly volunteer to wear all of this, would I?" I sulked throwing my hands down to my sides in exasperation. "What do think? What is it with you stupid adults? It's not my look"

Mum heard my rant and rushed down the stairs and into the kitchen. She had obviously overhead my outburst to Heather and grabbed my elbow nearly yanking me off my feet and screamed " You apologise to your Auntie right this minute you rude girl. I won't have you talking to Heather like that. Who the hell do you think you are?"

Heather looked embarrassed at Mum's outburst and tried to diffuse the situation " She didn't mean anything by it Claire. We were just discussing whether the cardigan goes with the rest of her outfit"

I felt tears welling up in my eyes as Mum responded to Heather "She has far too much lip Heather. I won't have her growing up into a disrespectful little madam. I won't have her going off the tracks like a lot of young girls, being stupid and getting into trouble"

I just about found my voice as I could feel myself about to cry" How am I going to get into trouble exactly Mother? We were just discussing this stupid pullover. It's no big deal"

As I spoke, Mum released my elbow and stood before me in a rage. I actually thought she was going to slap me. She didn't, however with anger in her voice she screamed at me

"No big deal? What do you know? Girls your age are getting into trouble in lots of ways. Are you really that stupid not to understand that? It starts with silly love bites and then before you know it, it ends up with you throwing your life away for a bit of slap and tickle"

"I won't have you end up like those stupid young girls I see at the mall pushing prams. I want you to have respect for yourself and others. You will make the most of what you have without stooping so low as to throw yourself at the likes of Martin"

I found my voice, stomped one foot and cried out "Martin? What the bloody hell does he have to do with anything? Shit, I didn't ask for the love bite"

Mum was ready to burst and I seriously thought she was going to hit me, however my outburst seemed to bring her to her senses somewhat

"Didn't ask for it? How about lead him on? You think you are so grown up swearing don't you Joanne. You are so immature. I won't have your outbursts. Whilst under my roof you will follow my rules. Is that understood? Is it?" she demanded as she stuffed a handbag into my chest.

Without waiting for me to respond she turned her back on me and walked away

"Put your coat and scarf on and lets get going. We have wasted enough time already with your childish tantrums" she cried as she sat at the kitchen table and started pulling on her flat shoes.

After a few seconds where no one spoke, Mother looked up and in a calmer voice apologised to Heather " I am so sorry you had to witness that Hettie. She can be a right little bitch at times and I won't have it. I won't have her talking to you like she knows it all. For Christ's sake she is only seventeen"

My Aunt looked embarrassed and a little shocked by what she had just witnessed and told Mum that it wasn't an issue

There was a long silence as Heather and I looked at each other expecting another outburst, however without warning Mum got up and walked out of the kitchen and started locking the house up.

To stop another scene I slipped the wool coat on as Heather came over to me and gave me a cuddle. She took a handkerchief from her handbag and gently dapped my lower eyelids and cheeks as I tried to gather my composure whilst gently sobbing

"My make up must be ruined," I said trying to make a joke of the situation

"There, there Jo. Don't worry" Heather smiled as she gave my hand a reassuring squeeze "We can repair your face"

"Let me help you with your the scarf" she said in a soothing voice as she pulled the silk scarf around my neck and loosely tied it so it draped over my false boobs. She did up the large black buttons of the coat, which I found out later was called a cape style, tied off the large belt at my waist and out of earshot of her sister, smiled and whispered to me

"Take no notice of your Mother. She is a fine one to speak. She was a right cow when she was your age. We used to have massive catfights. She was never wrong though Jo. She was always speaking back to your Nan and Grandad. She is lucky she didn't end up like one of those young mothers she talks about. You will be fine honey. You have your head screwed on" she said as she gave me another big hug

She kissed my forehead and whispered, "I love you so much Jo. If you ever need me I will always will be there for you sweetheart. You know that don't you? You will turn out just fine love. Take no notice of your Mum"

I struggled not to break down as Auntie Heather's hugged me and didn't only because Mum came back into the kitchen, having seemingly calmed down

"Come on girls. Grab your bags. Let's get to the shops," She told us both as if nothing had happened

We both looked at her bemused

As I lifted the leather handbag from the kitchen table I noticed how heavy it was and wondered what mum had packed within it. Just as I was about to hang the bag from my shoulder Mother grabbed it and started routing inside

" You have so much in here love. Where's your make up case?" she asked

Without wanting an answer she pulled out a bejeweled little bag and from that pulled out a few items.

Telling me to sit down at the table she then started repairing my make up with foundation, blusher, eyeliner and mascara. Auntie Heather looked on as mother repaired my make up and then pulled a little vanity mirror from my new bag and told me to look in the mirror.

"That looks so much better doesn't it honey" She exclaimed as I looked my pretty face in the small mirror " Put your make up back in your bag and lets going"

Totally lost for words I placed the cosmetics back in the make up bag and did up the gold clasp. As I went to put the case and mirror in the bag I looked at the contents inside. I saw a number of things including a few hair slides and hairclips, a hair brush, a spare pair of tights, a packet of Midol, a little umbrella, a couple of tampons, a sanitary towel, a hankie, a little purse, a small tin of hairspray and some wet wipes. I also saw a bottle of perfume, which had J'Adour on it.

Without thinking I handed Auntie the perfume

She smiled as she took the bottle from me and sprayed some on her wrists before rubbing them both together " I knew it was J'Adore Jo. It's a lovely smell isn't it" She smiled as she gave me the bottle back to put in my bag

On putting everything back in the bag, I hung it over my shoulder and followed Auntie Heather out of the front door as Mum locked up behind us

Walking down the path to mum's car I wondered how the day would pan out. Was Mum right about me being a little bitch? Was I being selfish and had I ruined hers and Auntie Heather day?

They both had a lot to contend with at the moment what with Nanna being in hospital. Mum's outburst was probably because she was stressed out over the situation and I probably wasn't helping much arguing with her at every opportunity

As the bitter cold wind swirled around my hosed legs and my bra straps dug in to my shoulders, I decided I would try my best not to antagonise Mother. She had enough on her plate without as she put it, me being a little madam

End of Chapter 31

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Comments

Encouragement

It's been a while since I started reading this series but as I recall there wasn't much chance of winding up pushing a pram anytime soon but it's interesting they all seem to forget that.

Thanks for the New Chapter

I look forward to more of our reluctant heroine's adventures.

No More "Boy"

joannebarbarella's picture

Joanne seems to have totally forgotten that she started out as Joe. So do her mother and her aunt.

I Don't Think Jo Has Totally Forgotten

She's probably shocked and cowed by her Mom's furious ranting. The mom sounds delusional; she gets a little upset and her rational thinking goes out the window. Sane parents realize their T daughter can't get pregnant, but can get beaten to death.

Hugs and Bright Blessings,
Renee

Thank You!!

Lucy,

Thanks for continuing your story. Two updates in the last two months!?!? What a treat! I love the very detailed discussions and what they reveal about your Mum. She already knows that she has a daughter but you don't seem to have caught on just yet. I can't wait to see that internal dialogue and how you adjust to all the threads you have in play going forward. Please continue and thank-you for everything you have posted thus far.

Love,

Jenny