Calum, meet Cassie:
It was a rainy Saturday afternoon, and Calum was daydreaming on the bus. Gazing absentmindedly out the window at the passing scenery, taking in it all and none of it.
He stirred to life as the bus drove into the outskirts of the town he was vacationing in with his Aunt, Anne 'auntie Anne' and his cousin Sarah. 'My stop soon' he reminded himself, cautious of the stop he was to get off at.
On arrival he alighted from the bus with a bounce, he was looking forward to seeing his Aunt again, and Sarah.
The driver alighted to retrieve the boy's rucksack from the luggage compartment, without a bounce in his step.
"Which is your's, son?"
"Erm... what? It's..." He couldn't see his rucksack anywhere. Startled out of his happy mood, he started to panic. "but it must be there, I left it right... there. It's gone, someone must have taken it?"
"I'm afraid I can't help you son, but I can give you the number of the depot, maybe somebody will return it in"
Calum folded the bus ticket with the number on the back, and slid it into his jeans pocket. Now his absent-mindedness was from struggling to think what to do, rather than pleasantly whiling away time.
He took out his phone and called his Aunt, to let her know he'd arrived, and to pick him up from the stop.
"She'll know what to do" he told himself under his breath.
Fifteen minutes passed and Anne pulled up to the kerb, waving and gesturing him into the car.
She noticed his lack of luggage as he deposited nothing in the rear seat, and himself in the front.
"Where's your things?"
Calum relayed to her what had happened. She tried to re-assure the boy that it'll be ok, but Calum wasn't as upbeat.
"We can call the depot on Monday, not much we can do until then I don't think"
"My damn ipod was in that bag too"
***
They pulled up outside Anne's house. It was a nice house, and Calum had lots of nice memories of holidays and visits there in the past.
As they entered, Anne Said "I'll make us some supper if you..." "Oh dear, I was going to say if you want a bath"
"Hmm" She thought.
"All my clothes were in my rucksack, I only have what I'm standing in" responded Calum, pretty glumly.
"Tell you what dear, after your bath you can find something of Sarah's to wear, she'll be bound to have something to fit, you's two are about the same size"
"How can I?"
"It's only us, and she won't mind. Tell you what I'll go find something and you go run a bath, then we'll have some supper and catch up on things"
"Well I guess, I dunno, I suppose"
As he bathed he noticed the lotions and potions in the bathroom.
"Damn, my good soap too"
Calum sufficed with what was available to bathe with. Distinctly floral scented soap, and scented shampoo.
He dried himself off after a brief soak, and wrapped a fluffy white towel around his middle and went through to 'his' room.
"What the... hmm... I suppose" He looked at the clothes on the bed laid out for him. 'Nothing that bad I guess', he thought. Jeans are jeans, but the butterfly sequins on the pocket? And a fairly shapeless t-shirt, but with a little heart emblem on the chest? Then he noticed the panties.
"Hmm..." At least they were plain white he thought to himself, though the little satin bow on the front didn't help. It did however cause an uneasy and odd feeling in his stomach which he couldn't explain. Uneasy but not disagreeable... odd.
"Oh well"
He got dressed hesitantly, but hesitancy or otherwise there was little choice in the matter. Good thing he and his cousin were similar in size.
He made his way downstairs, and walked awkwardly into the kitchen.
"Oh there you are Calum", "I made us some macaroni and cheese, you like that"
"Yes, thank you"
Nothing was said about the attire.
The two ate, and talked about what each had been up to. That took the boy's mind off the situation almost completely, and they enjoyed each others conversation.
They played scrabble together, no cheating, besides allowing capitals and acronyms, 'it's our own special rules'.
What with the fun of the flow of conversation and then the game, Calum had stopped thinking about what he was wearing, and was perfectly at ease, as if the clothes were his own.
Come 11pm they were both yawning, and it was obviously time for bed.
Anne read the boy's mind. "I'll get you something of Sarah's to wear, she has plenty of PJ sets" "You have to wear something"
While Calum brushed his teeth, his Aunt left a pyjama set on his bed. It was blue with a floral print on the bottoms, and a plain top.
"Blue for the boys" Calum thought to himself sardonically as he put them on.
He slept well that night... after he managed to get to sleep that is, what with thinking about his predicament and his missing things.
***
"Good morning, sleepyhead" Anne said cheerily.
"Morning"
"How did you sleep?, Okay?"
"Yeah"
"Well you can help me make breakfast, I like a cooked breakfast on Sunday mornings."
Breakfast was made. Breakfast was eaten hungrily.
'She's being nice not mentioning I'm wearing freakin' girls clothes' Calum thought to himself. But then that's auntie Anne, she's always nice.
"You're clothes are in the wash, should be done and dried this afternoon"
"Thank you" "What about these?" he gestured to his pyjamas.
"You can wear Sarah's jeans again if you like, and I'll find another shirt"
"Okay, I guess"
"Unless you want to go pick out something yourself?"
"I guess I could see if there is anything..."
Anne went upstairs to Sarah's bedroom with Calum in tow. She directed him to the girl's wardrobe and said "I'm sure you'll find something dear" She did however, give him a fresh pair of plain white panties before she left the room, her own choosing.
"She obviously doesn't want me looking in Sarah's drawers, understandable".
Calum looked at the array of girls clothing confronting him. That odd feeling growing in him again. 'What is that?' he thought to himself.
He already had the jeans of Sarah's, they were okay enough, and the panties.
After a brief look through the girl's t-shirts, he found about the only one that was plain. It was however, in pink. The boy debated with himself, but decided against it. 'Need something blue godammit', but everything else had designs on.
He settled on a blue t-shirt with a flower pattern on the front.
Once dressed and downstairs, his aunt saw him from the kitchen doorway.
"You found something then?"
"Yes"
"There's a dear" "Mind, Sarah's coming home this afternoon, you'll thank her for letting you borrow some of her clothes"
"I will"
Calum was looking forward to seeing his cousin again. They had a great friendship, and she was almost like a sister to him.
"In the meantime dear, you can help me with this cake" "can you get the bag of dried fruit out of the cupboard?"
The morning was spent baking, followed by dishwashing, too much dishwashing, and pleasant conversation.
***
The front door slammed shut, signalling Sarah's arrival home.
"That'll be her back then" Anne said to Calum.
"Love, must you always slam the door?"
"Yes, mom... hey shorty... I mean cus'"
The pair greeted each other with a hug, quickly followed by Sarah stepping back with a "whoa" "Aren't those mine!?" She looked mystified as to why her cousin should be in her clothes.
"Long story, dear" Her mom told her.
The story was shared between them, and Sarah came to understand the gravity of the situation... with a laugh.
"It's not funny" complained Calum in only half-mock offence.
"It's too funny cus, looks like I got myself a new sis!"
"Very funny, not. Look at me laughing, not"
"Are you weari... you're not weari... I'm not having my undies back after, that's for sure"
Calum shrugged, embarrassed.
"But hey, the shirt looks cute on you, sis" She teased him, ruffling his short hair.
"Maybe we can do something with this hair of yours, not too short for a little styling"
"Stop teasing the poor boy, Sarah"
"When we going shopping then, tomorrow?" asked Sarah.
"Yes, though we won't be able to get much, I'm a little short this month, and you've not got much money on you either have you dear?" Anne enquired of Calum.
"No, not really"
"We'll get at least another change of clothes for you dear, and we can work something out"
The two cousins spent the afternoon talking and mucking about, while Anne was visiting a friend across the way.
Sarah talked Calum into letting her 'style' his short hair, he agreed reluctantly to the pressure from his friend.
"Just long enough for a pixie look... I think I can pull it off..." She fussed somewhat with his hair with her tongue out, and he felt her attach a hair clip or three, he was sure.
The teasing was fun, and Calum was happy to play along with her for the fun she was having with him, and he was enjoying the attention somewhat.
That's when Sarah pulled out her iphone "Gotta get me some pics of you, sis! That's for sure!"
She chased Calum around the house, upstairs and downstairs again. That's when, without thinking, the comical chase led the pair straight out the front door, and onto the front lawn...
"Hey there, Sarah. Who's the new face?" It was Melanie, the next door neighbor.
"Oops, err, hi Melanie, how's you?" "Err, this is Cassie, my friend"
"Nice to meet you, Cassie" Melanie smiled at the young boy, who was caught like the proverbial rabbit.
"Err, hi" He said meekly, and waved a shy wave.
The pair watched Melanie disappear into her house, then they both piled into their own.
"Woah, nearly got busted there!" Exclaimed Sarah.
"What the heck? Cassie?"
"I dunno si...err, cus, it just came out" She pulled a puzzled face.
"Well I had to think of something, you know I'm not good at thinking on my feet"... "And, well, take a look at yourself, you look like a girl"
"But..."
"Take a look for yourself" Sarah led him by the shoulders to the mirror in the lobby.
Calum took a gasp as he saw in the mirror what looked like a cute girl, and was shocked.
"This... this is your fault, cus!" He complained to Sarah.
"Hey, I just did your hair, the rest is you", "heck, you look cuter in my clothes than I do, and that's sayin' somethin'"
"Yeah well, not for long... soon be out these stoopid clothes" was a pretty unconvincing reply, as he couldn't hide much the fact he quite liked what he saw in the mirror.
Not much was else was done the rest of the afternoon. Conversations were on 'other' topics, as if to avoid what had happened.
Anne came home, and when she saw the terrible two-some she asked "So what have you two been up too... Calum, what have you done to your hair?"
"It was Sarah's idea"
"You two... I don't know" she made her way through to the kitchen, calling back "Calum, you're clothes will be dry by now, want to go get changed?"
"Erm... but if I change now, what will I do tomorrow?" He shouted back.
She returned to the living room doorway "Good point, you'll need to be in your own clothes to go shopping, are you okay in what you've got for now?"
"I reckon I'll live, if I have to"
Sarah nudged him with a smirk and said quietly to him "You just like being my sis, admit it"
Calum said nothing.
"Go wash your feet, they're dirty from being out" Sarah said in a faux commanding tone
"I guess"
*****
Monday came around.
After another night in the blue floral PJ's, and Calum's pixie hair-do gone, with the aide of a scented shampoo and brush out the night before.
He had to admit, the odd feelings he had had before, he thought to himself were feelings of pleasantness, if not dare say it, excitement at his clothing options. Almost as if he was happy about his otherwise unfortunate predicament. Strange new feelings these were indeed.
"There you are sleepyhead, give sarah a shout to get up too, she's soo lazy" said Anne, as Calum appeared in the kitchen doorway, still in his pyjamas.
"Sarah! Get your backside out of your bed!"
Once breakfast was out of the way, Calum took his washed and dryed 'normal' clothes to his room to get dressed. It felt unusual to be getting back into his boys things, after this short while, as if it were right... but not right, he wasn't sure.
"You ready gang?" Anne asked.
The trio got in the car and Anne drove them to the mall, and parked far away from the entrance 'to get out quicker'. As they walked to the entrance they chattered about things and nothing.
"Got to get jeans or pants, a shirt, socks, and erm, underwear" he said to the other two, confirming his shopping goal.
"Us two will go get a coffee, if you want to go in and get what you need yourself, okay?" asked Anne, pointing to a cafe across the way.
"Okay"
"Got enough money?"
"I think so, yeah"
"See you in a little bit then"
Calum headed into the department store, and looked for the sign for menswear, located it, and headed in that direction. He found himself being distracted however by the womanswear and girlswear departments he had to traverse. "Focus" he said to himself.
The sight of the clothing though, set off that odd feeling in him, and pangs of something. He thought how different his cousin's clothes had felt, though essentially the same, just fabric, right. How odd, but the difference felt quite nice to him.
Menswear. Go in, get what you need, come out, job's a gud un'. That's the plan, and he performed it well, getting what he needed. 'At least I've got another change of clothes, won't have to borrow Sarah's things anymore'. However he felt a little sad as he said that to himself.
He re-joined Anne and Sarah at the cafe.
"Get everything?" Anne asked
"Yeah"
"Are we for the off then?" He enquired.
Sarah chirped up "You probably won't want to cus, but y'know us girls, we want to have a look around the shops ourselves first, hate to drag you along, but..." She had a little twinkle in her eye.
Calum sighed, and hoped it sounded convincing enough.
So, 'poor' Calum was dragged around umpteen shops. Sarah quipped a "that would look cute on a certain someone" at a few things, only to be sternly looked at by her mom in response.
After they returned to the car, Calum put his bags in the trunk, and the trio departed the parking lot.
"What shall we do next?" Asked Anne. "I thought we'd go for a walk by the lake, it's nice out" she said answering her own question by taking the appropriate turn in the car before a firm reply was procured.
The day passed pleasantly, they enjoyed the lakeside, and had a meal at a nearby restaurant. The trio were pleased though to get back home, tired out by the walk.
"I'm soo outta shape" said Anne with a smile
"Me too, my feet" complained Sarah
That evening when it was getting late, bed conversation came up.
"Hmm, are you wanting to borrow something of Sarah's again tonight dear? It's just a pity we couldn't afford to get you nightwear too, times are tough just now"
"I guess so" Calum responded.
"Sarah'll go and give you something to wear"
"Sarah, go take Calum and give him something to sleep in tonight, there's a dear"
The two trotted upstairs, Sarah in the lead.
Once in her bedroom, they sat on her bed and chatted a little.
"So tell me cou... sis, do you mind me calling you 'sis'?" She teased.
"Call me what you like, just call me"
"You can tell me to shut up if you like, but I must say you're different when you're 'Cassie'"
"I am, how?
"I dunno, maybe it's your feminine side?" she smiled
"It's weird, it does feel different... I mean I can't explain it, but I felt different when I was wearing your clothes"
"Oh yeah, tell me you didn't like it" she nudged him "And you must admit you looked damn cute"
"Don't tell anyone, but I think I did quite like it, it was different, kinda nice in a way" Calum was limiting the strength of his feelings for his own protection, and for his own uncertainty.
"You know you can tell me anything right, I wouldn't judge you"
"I know"
"So what are we wearing tonight, what cute little number have we got our eyes on, eh?" She resumed teasing.
"You pick something then, you're the expert"
And so she promptly picked out a pink nightie, and stuck her tongue out at him. "I think this would look adorable on you, don't you think?"
"No comment"
But he took it, and wore it to bed that night. And he slept well.
**********
To be continued...
I wish to mention. I know there are matters that would arise in real life that I'm not dealing with. It's by design, I'm calling it artistic licence. It is fiction after all, and I want to keep it 'sweet and sentimental'.
Ages... undetermined, I don't know myself, early teens maybe. Calum/Cassie 12 to 14, Sarah 14 to 16. Perhaps. I've left that up to the reader to call, if you choose.
**********
Tuesday came around.
Calum woke after a sound sleep, and as he was getting out of bed he became conscious of his pink nightie. 'I know Aunt's seen me in girl's clothes enough so far, but this might be a bit much'.
So, he got dressed in the new clothes he bought yesterday, and made his way downstairs.
"Good morning, sunshine" smiled Anne.
"Morning"
"Give Sarah a shout will you, she's still not up"
"Sarah! Get your backside out of your bed!" Calum shouted from the hallway.
"Your new shirt looks nice dear, suits you, blue" said Anne.
Calum smiled 'blue for the boys'.
Sarah emerged from upstairs, and gave Calum's hair a ruffle, with a stifled yawn "Mornin'"
The trio had breakfast, and chatted a bit about the day ahead.
"Anything exciting planned you two?" enquired Anne
"I dunno" said Sarah, "just hang about the house I guess, play on the computer"
Playing on the computer didn't appeal too much though, computer games are "boooring".
"Well I've got to get to work, see you too later, don't get up to too much trouble" Anne warned, as she left for work.
The terrible twosome finished their cereal, then washed the dishes without talking much.
"Y'know" said Sarah afterwards "I was thinking, if you liked to, we could play dress-up, that would be fun, wouldn't you agree?"
"I could do your hair again"
"Y'know, Melanie really thought you were a girl yesterday, I'm sure of it"
Calum didn't say anything.
"We don't have to, just I thought you might like it, you did say..."
"I know I did, but it's awkward, I'm awkward" Calum said, thinking out loud.
"Well you know I said I wouldn't judge you, you know I meant it, right?"
"Yeah, I know"
That conversation was left at that, as the two left to go play scrabble for a bit, 'special rules' version.
Between the scrabble and watching nothing on the TV, the pair whiled away the morning together quite successfully.
"What's for lunch, you're the maestro?" asked Sarah
"Soup, from a tin?" was the reply
"Is that the best you got, sheesh, I thought you were good in the kitchen" Sarah joked.
That afternoon, Calum angled the conversation to what was said earlier, about dress-up.
"I suppose we could if you liked"
"Yes!" said Sarah happily.
The pair made their way to Sarah's room.
"I was thinking, leggings, you'll love leggings... soo comfy", "That's why girls wear them" "And I have a tunic top that goes really nice with them"
Sarah seemed into it more than Calum, though he was inwardly excited, outwardly apprehensive.
She handed him a pair of lilac patterned leggings, and a blue tunic top with embroidery on the neckline.
"Go to your room and get changed, you'll look great", "and don't forget these" she said, and threw a pair of blue panties at Calum, playfully.
Calum took the things and went to his room, the nerves were there, and that same odd but pleasant feeling in him.
After a few minutes Calum appeared in Sarah's doorway, "Here I am"
"You look lovely Cal... Cassie"
Calum smiled.
"Go take a seat at my mirror, I'll do your hair"
Calum obliged.
Sarah worked her magic, and soon the boy in the mirror was now that cute girl, with a cute outfit, and a cute pixie hairstyle.
"Too cute" remarked Sarah.
"Mind if I put a little make-up on you, just a little?"
"I guess not, since we're here"
"Great!"
Sarah deftly applied a tiny amount of make-up, just enough to notice, 'less is more' she told him.
"Give us a twirl" she said.
Calum shyly obliged.
"Why so shy?" she enquired
"I dunno, it still feels strange, I'm not used to this yet, but it does feel nice" "It feels right somehow, I feel like a different version of me" "A better version"
He smiled, and Sarah acknowledged the change she could see in his personality.
"Y'know I still love you as Calum, but I like the new Cassie too"
"It's like we're discovering the inner you isn't it?" observed Sarah.
"I guess"
"Y'know Sarah, I've always liked girls, but... I guess I never noticed much before, but I also kinda also liked what they were wearing too, I dunno" "Now I know how it feels to be dressed like one, like you, I like it"
"I'm so happy for you... sis" she smiled
"That was deep!" Calum/Cassie said
"Yeah, huh!" "Come on, let's try something else on... can I interest you in a skirt?"
"Okay" smiles all-round.
Sarah got out her wardrobe a knee-length denim skirt, and a button-through shirt "This ensemble might look nice"
Cassie took the clothes through to his/her room to get changed.
When she returned Sarah looked at her, and observed "Now that's not right... I see someones got hair on their legs, that'll not do"
"Hmm..." was Cassie's reply.
"Go get undressed, and get yourself into the bath, I'll give you something to deal with that"
Cassie did as was advised, and dealt with the little hair problem. After drying off, and getting changed back into the skirt and shirt outfit, she returned to sarah's room.
Sarah looked at her watch "Jeez, you took long enough!"
"Yeah, yeah" retorted Cassie
"Now that's so much nicer isn't it?"
"I reckon so Sarah, it feels all smooth and funny, I think I like it"
The two smiled at each other. Then a thought of recognition came across Cassie's mind.
"What are we going to do, Sarah?" Asked Cassie
"What about?"
"Your mom, me, what'll she say?"
"Well yeah, there's a point. It was ok when you had no choice, and we were goofing about..."
"Now it's by choice though" Cassie observed
"We'll think of something" reassured Sarah "you could always change back, she need never know"
"I think that might be best, we don't need to tell her anything just now"
"Well she won't be long now I suppose, wanna get changed back now?" "Let me clean your face and undo your hair first"
Sarah undid her magic, and soon Calum re-emerged with the messy boy's hair and clean face.
Cassie/Calum, went through to his/her bedroom again to get changed back into 'boy' clothes.
Calum re-emerged shortly after in Sarah's doorway, carrying the feminine clothing to hand back to Sarah.
"Y'know" he said "I feel kinda sad now" "How's that work?"
"I don't know cus, maybe you've learnt it's nicer being Cassie?"
"I think you're right" said Calum, rather glumly
"Cheer up though, we'll work something out"
"You're still you, whatever you're wearing or look like" Sarah said cheerfully "And that's just lovely by me"
"You getting soppy on my now?"
"As if" Sarah stuck her tongue out at him, and they smiled.
"Good timing" said Sarah, as the front door slammed shut.
"Jeez, and she talks about me slamming the door!" Sarah rolled her eyes
Calum laughed, "Moms for ya"
*****
That evening there was a muted feel about the place. Sarah and Calum had something on their minds that Anne didn't know about, though she could tell something was up.
"What's with you two tonight?" She asked.
"Nothing" said Sarah
Calum gave Sarah a nod.
"Welll... there is something, we weren't sure whether to tell you or not" she added "But I just know you'll be okay with it"
"What is it dear?"
"Well you know how Calum lost his luggage and all, and had to make-do with my clothes for a while..."
"Which was really nice of you both" Calum added in
"Yes"
"Well... Calum is a bit shy to tell you, but I told him you'd be cool with it..."
"What dear? "Is everything ok?"
"Yeah... well, Calum and I have found... welll... it sounds funny, but... he might kinda like wearing my clothes... girl's clothes I mean... it's like he's a different person when he's wearing them, and I think it's really lovely"
Calum said nothing, and was looking away from the other two, but nodded.
"And on Sunday, Melanie saw us, she thought Calum was a girl, what with how he was dressed, and I kinda did his hair for fun"
"Is this true Calum?" Anne asked.
"Well... kinda... yeah" he said, not sure what to say.
"Well Calum, I'm not sure how to take that, I mean, what about your parents, do they know?"
"No, I never really knew anything until this weekend" he said truthfully
"I'll have to think about what we can do then, I'm not sure how to take it myself... I mean I still love you, that doesn't change, just that this is a pretty big thing"
"Don't you think?"
"I guess so" he replied
"Is it something you want to even tell anyone else?"
"I've not thought about it... I think my parents would freak"
"I'm sure your mom wouldn't, your father though... hmm" "Of course, everything stays between these four walls if that's how you want it dear, you know you've always been able to tell me anything?"
"I know, thank you"
"Think on it tonight, well work something out, you'll see" Anne, ever the optimistic!
The three watched TV the rest of the evening, channel-hopping mostly as there was little on anybody wanted to watch. That and their minds were elsewhere.
"It's time for bed my dears"
"Awww..." Calum and Sarah said in unison
"Well you can stay up a bit longer, but not much longer, y'hear"
"Yes mom" "yes auntie"
The pair didn't stay up much longer anyway, as they were tired and wanted to call it a night.
They hugged at the top of the stairs and said their goodnights, and went to their seperate rooms.
Calum/Cassie wore his/her nightie again, and didn't sleep well, as he had too much on his/her mind.
*****
Wednesday morning.
Calum came downstairs bleary eyed and yawning. He was dressed in his male clothes again, like yesterday morning. He thought it would be least awkward, and most appropriate.
"Morning auntie"
"Morning Calum... how did we sleep?"
"Fine thanks" he smiled
"Go and give your cousin a shout... honestly"
"Sarah! Get your backside out of your bed!" Calum shouted from the hallway.
Ten minutes later she emerged in the kitchen, her hair looking like she'd been dragged through a hedge backward, Calum and Anne laughed.
"Ha... ha" was their reply.
After breakfast, thoughts turned to what they were going to do that day.
"As I have the day off, I was thinking we'll go to the lake, we can go boating, does that sound okay?"
"Sounds good to me mom" replied Sarah
"Me too" said Calum
They made a packed lunch for the trip, and an enjoyable time was had boating on the lake, taking turns to row.
That evening after they got back, they made tea, which was especially good after the fresh air had worked them up an appetite.
Conversation that evening turned back to what was discussed last night.
"Would you like me to talk to your parents for you, dear?" Anne asked Calum
"I don't think so, no, I'd rather they never knew about 'this'"
"I can understand that, well it'll just be our secret then, is that okay?
"I guess, thanks"
Calum/Cassie was relieved. Relieved that his Aunt was so understanding, and that Sarah was too. It meant a lot, as he was still unclear about who or what he was. Things seemed so much simpler last week, and last week seemed ever so far away.
"I'm lucky to have you guys" he smiled
"Aww" said Anne, and Sarah together.
"Group hug!?" came from Sarah... it was left hanging, they weren't 'that' touchy feely!
"What about tomorrow, what are we doing?" Sarah asked, remembering that Calum will be out of clean 'boy' clothes.
"Umm... I forgot about that" he looked at Anne then Sarah.
"Well we could always find you something nice to wear, we're all out in the open about the situation aren't we?" was Sarah's comment
Anne didn't look 100% with the plan, but she nodded and said "we're all friends here, aswell as family, no need for secrets or hiding anything"
"Come on shorty, we'll go find something for tomorrow... a gi... a person's gotta plan these things, y'know" she wasn't sure why she pulled herself up on the 'girl' part. Maybe as it wasn't goofing about this time, this time it was more 'real'.
The two looked in Sarah's wardrobe "Jeez I need some new clothes, never have anything to wear"
Calum smiled at the irony.
They settled on a maxi skirt, and a v-neck sweater. "Conservative look I think, supposed to be chilly tomorrow"
"I'll get you a pair of socks and clean undies again. Shame we're different shoe sizes" "Hang on, you're the same size as mom, she'll have shoes you can wear if we... well I was going to say if we go out..., but..." she left that hanging.
"Can I come to your room in the morning and you can do my hair?" asked Cassie "I don't want your mom to see me dressed like a girl for 'real' this time, and my hair like a messy boy's"
"If you want, that's okay, but you know what I'm like in the morning" she warned half in fun half in seriousness. Though she understood where Cassie was coming from too.
"G'night Sarah"
"G'night Cassie"
Cassie wore her borrowed nightie again that night, and slept a bit better this time, reassured that she was safe with her favorite Auntie and cousin.
*****
Thursday morning.
Cassie made her way through to Sarah's room and knocked on her door "Are you not up yet?" "You're soo not a morning person are you" she stated through the door.
"Yeah... okay... be out in a minute" Sarah shouted back.
Five minutes later she opened her door "Come in".
"You still in your nightie? If you go get dressed, I'll get the sleep out of my eyes and be with you"
A short time later Cassie came back into Sarah's room, dressed this time. Sarah looked at Cassie "Hmm... something's not quite right... I know what it is, take your sweater off a minute"
"Okay?" Cassie did as requested.
"You need a bra, one of my old ones will do, we're not looking for va va voom here!"
Cassie was a little more nervous again "Lord... my first bra" she said with a sheepish grin.
"Arms up, there we go, and you fasten it like this... hang on, you do it..." "you'll want to fasten it round you like this see, then swivel it around, then put your arms through" She demonstrated, mimicking putting her own on.
She inserted some light padding in each cup and adjusted them, and stood back to observe her handiwork, "You can put your sweater back on now"
"How does that feel Cassie?"
"It feels a little weird" she replied "But kinda nice, it holds you in doesn't it"
"It does indeed"
"Sit in front of the mirror again, I'll get your hair done in a jiffy"
Once her hair was styled in the pixie look Cassie was getting familiar with, she felt a little more complete, and ready to be seen.
"Are we ready to go downstairs?" enquired Sarah, she offered her hand to Cassie
"I guess so..."
*****
To be continued...
"Morning mom" Sarah announced her and Cassie's presence.
"Good morning... dears" She smiled a reassuring smile, hoping her slight hesitation wasn't noticed. She knew it would be a little awkward, a new experience for everyone, and will need getting used to.
"Morning auntie"
"You look lovely Cassie"
"Thank you" Cassie said, smiling nervously
Boy, was this new. For Anne and Cassie, and Sarah felt it too, but things became more relaxed and 'normal' after a little while chit-chatting over breakfast.
"You two girls can do the washing-up" said Anne, conscious to refer to Cassie in the correct manner to suit the situation.
"Sure, mom"
"I figured we could spend the morning in the garden, it's needing some tlc just now, but..." suggested Anne, but the plan hadn't reckoned on Cassie's emergence.
"Well, mom, Melanie already knows about Cassie, so she won't suspect anything if she sees us... but isn't she at work today anyway"
"Yes she is dear" "Yes, we'll be okay"
"I must say Cassie, nobody would take you for anything other than a rea... I mean a girl, you look lovely"
"Thank you auntie, I'm glad you think so" smiled Cassie
"Mom, Cassie will need shoes, you and she are the same size" Sarah pointed out
"We are? Okay... well I think I have a pair of ankle boots that will go nicely with that skirt, let me go get them"
"Thanks mom"
So the three spent time in the garden, pottering about and doing odds and ends. The only people that they saw were an old couple who didn't seem to notice anything out of the ordinary, and a young woman with her child, who similarly showed no sign of spotting anything unusual.
"Told you nobody would notice, mom" said Sarah
The rest of the day passed pretty quietly, doing odd jobs around the house, and making time for afternoon tea, which was nice.
Come evening time, as the three were sat in front of the telly, Anne asked Cassie...
"We'll have to think about what we're going to do, dear" "You're going home on Saturday, do you want me to mention anything of this to your mom, I'm sure I could put it to her in a way she'd understand"
Cassie thought a moment "I don't know... I don't think so, I think I'd rather just keep this between us... for now" "If that's okay?"
"Sure dear, it's your decision" "Maybe for the best, we don't want to rush into anything, I mean it might just be a phase?"
"I don't think it is" replied Cassie "It feels too real to be"
The three thought about things individually as they didn't watch the telly
"The telly's rubbish" said Sarah, "Never anything decent on"
"Well, I've got an idea, tell me if you like it or not?" said Anne
"What?" replied Cassie and Sarah together
"Well... tomorrow's Friday, and it's pay day for me. So, I was thinking, if you two wanted, we could go shopping, treat ourselves to something nice... and maybe Cassie, get you some things of your own, if you liked"
"Ooohh... sounds good mom!" Sarah sounded excited
"That sounds good, if it's okay with you" said Cassie
"Sure thing then, it's a plan"
"We can keep your new clothes here, for when you visit" observed Anne
That night Cassie borrowed a different nightie from Sarah, a blue one with sweethearts on the front "You are a sweetheart" remarked Sarah.
Cassie slept well that night.
*****
Friday morning came. And Cassie came downstairs in her nightie for breakfast.
"Morning auntie"
"Morning dear... go give your cousin a shout, will you"
"Sarah! Get your backside out of your bed!" Cassie shouted from the hallway.
Sarah emerged 10 minutes later, her hair looking like it had been styled through a hedge backwards.
The threesome had porridge for breakfast, with syrup on top.
"Are you going shopping as Calum or Cassie?" Sarah enquired "People might think it looked odd if you went as Calum, looking at girls stuff"
"I can go as Cassie, I really do look like a girl don't I, nobody's going to point or anything?" Cassie seeked reassurance.
"Of course, you look great Cassie, nobody will think anything other than just us girls shopping, perfectly normal"
"Good... thank you" said Cassie, feeling better about things.
"Will you do my hair for me, Sarah?"
"Sure"
"You two girls better go get yourselves dressed and ready, we're going soon" advised Anne
"Sure mom" "Come on Cassie"
The two got dressed. Both of them picking jeans to wear, Sarah teamed them with a red stripy t-shirt, and Cassie with a white top and blue cardigan.
"Blue really suits you" Sarah admired
"Blue for the girls" joked Cassie.
*****
The threesome arrived at the mall, it wasn't too busy yet, which was good "I hate it when it's too busy" said Sarah.
They entered the mall and had a wander around at first, to see what shops had things on offer. They picked one store with a sale on, and after a rummage through a rack of tops, Sarah pulled one out...
"Here Cassie, this one'd look good on you" she held the striped top up to Cassie who'd come over. "Perfect" "Mom... can we get this for Cassie please?" Anne checked the price ticket and agreed, and made the purchase.
The three passed a lingerie shop, and Sarah commented... "We need to get you some undies, Cassie" and Cassie nodded, trying to conceal her slight embarrassment.
"Don't be embarrassed, all perfectly normal!" said Sarah
They came out of the shop with two multipacks of panties, one with whites and pinks, the other with whites and blues.
"Onwards and upwards" said Anne "Are you wanting to get something for yourself, dear?" she asked Sarah
"Nah, this is Cassie's adventure" she smiled "Oh look... we can get you jeans out of there..."
They went in the jeanswear shop, and after a look around for a while, and much chatter, they selected the first pair they'd seen. A pair of regular jeans, but with a butterfly motif on the back pocket "Cute!" as Sarah observed.
"Fancy a drink and a sit down for a little?" said Anne. The two girls agreed and they went for a soda each and Anne had a coffee.
"So what have we still to get, we've not got much yet have we?" enquired Anne
Sarah and Cassie thought "I'm not sure" said Cassie. She didn't want to ask for anything else, as she didn't want Anne to spend too much on her, 'I don't want to take advantage, certainly not'.
Sarah answered too "Well we can go back to the lingerie shop, you'll need socks" "And... oh... there's so much we could get you!"
"Easy now tiger" said Anne
"I know, mom, but it's soo much fun, and she's starting from having nothing of her own"
Anne was going to comment 'I'm not made of money!', but she thought against saying it, she didn't want to inhibit the fun. Anyway, she knew Cassie wasn't, and wouldn't, go overboard.
"You'll need you own pyjamas, or a nightie?" asked Sarah of Cassie
"Nighties are more comfy I think"
"Well we'll get you one then" confirmed Sarah
The three finished their drinks and left for more shopping.
They stopped in the lingerie shop they were in earlier, and they got several pairs of socks. From the same shop they bought a new nightie, it was lilac with a teddy bear on the front. "Cute! I have one just like it!" remarked Sarah.
Their next stop was another shop, where they looked at some skirts. Cassie had one she kept coming back to, it was a knee-length pleated skirt.
"I'm really drawn to this one you know" said Cassie "I agree, it's really nice... mom..."
Next stop saw them acquire another t-shirt, and a sweater that looked cute when Cassie held it up to herself.
A detour via a costume jewelry shop, got them a bracelet, that the three agree'd was really pretty, and it was on offer too... bargain!
"We 'have' to get your ears pierced!" said Sarah excitedly, but Cassie pulled her up short... "I have to go home remember, I think my parents would notice that..." "Oh yeah... sorry"
The spent the next while looking at a huge variety of things, oh to be able to get whatever they wanted... oh to be rich! But sadly they weren't, so they had to reign-in their ambitions. They winded up in the dress section of a department store.
"Would madam care for a dress? Go on... I bet you'd look lovely in a dress" Sarah teased Cassie
"Well, I guess, if that's okay" she looked at Anne. "Within reason" Anne said
They had a good look through the rails of dresses, holding lots of them up to each other, and adding each one to either the 'potential' the 'maybe' or the 'no way' categories. They finally settled on a summery maxi length dress in a yellow print, which all three agreed was the nicest one there.
The three grabbed a sandwich each for lunch, and another drink.
After a while more looking around the shops, the three decided they'd gotten enough, at least for the time being, and headed back to the car. All three agreed a good time was had by all.
"We did well with our little haul, eh Cassie" grinned Sarah
"Yes we did!" smiled Cassie "I'm happy with what we got, thank you so much Anne"
"You're welcome dear"
The three headed back home, the two girls chasing each other to the front door.
In they all got... "If you want to take your things to your room Cassie"
"Yes auntie" "Sarah, wanna come help me put my things away?"
"Sure"
When the twosome had gotten downstairs afterwards, mom suggested they all go out for dinner. There was a new Italian restaurant not long opened and Anne had been wanting to see what it was like.
"My treat" she said
"And boy are you treating us today, mom!"
That evening the two girls headed back upstairs, for Cassie to try on her new things for size.
"Everything looks real good on you Cass, you're so lucky!"
"Shucks"
They headed back downstairs after that fun, to see what mom was up to. "Nothing much... there's nothing on the telly... as usual... anyone for scrabble?"
Over scrabble, they chatted, and conversation came to the fact Cassie had to go home tomorrow.
"Don't be sad dear" seeing Cassie's face, Sarah didn't look much happier
"Time sure flies when you're having fun" remarked Sarah
"I know it's been a discovery for you sweetheart, but you'll have to hide it from your parents, if you don't want them to know, which you said you didn't"
"I know, but it's going to be so difficult, it's like I've found myself this last week, I don't know what I'm going to do"
Sarah offered a re-assuring shoulder "You've always got us to come to"
"I know, but I can't get through here that often"
"Are you sure you don't want me to have a word with your mom, dear?"
"I'm sure... at least not yet" "Who knows, it might have just been a little phase after all!" Cassie didn't sound convinced, or convincing.
The rest of the evening they tried to have some more fun, but none of them could help thinking about the fact that tomorrow things will be different. Things will always be different. Anne and Sarah felt for Cassie and her predicament 'it can't be easy' they thought to themselves.
Nobody slept well that night.
*****
Saturday morning.
"Good morning... Ca... Calum?" Anne greeted Cassi... Calum as he entered the kitchen, looking kinda glum, but putting a brave face on it. Anne sympathized.
"Want to give Sarah a shout dear?" "She's a lazy so and so, honestly"
"Sarah! Get your backside out of your bed!" Cassie shouted from the hallway, for the last time this visit.
Sarah emerged five minutes later "G'morning" her hair surprisingly presentable!
Anne and Calum chuckled to themselves, it was hard not to.
Breakfast was a quiet affair.
After the dishes had been washed, Anne said to Calum "Want to go and pack your other... boys clothes, I left a small suitcase at the top of the stairs"
"Yeah, I guess, thanks"
Calum packed the one spare change of male clothing he had into the suitcase, Sarah joined him at the bedroom door.
"Maybe you could sneak a couple of things... if you hid them your mom and dad need never know"
Calum agreed, and folded up his new nightie and one of the multipack packs of panties, and placed them in the suitcase.
"At least I hope they won't find them" he said
Downstairs, in the hallway, they were heading to head out, and Sarah and Anne both gave Calum a hug.
"Promise you'll call, and that you'll come visit again soon" said Anne
"I promise"
"And you know you've always got us to talk to, if and when you need it"
"I know, thank you for everything, both of you"
The threesome headed for the car, and Calum put his suitcase in the trunk, and got in alongside Sarah in the rear. It was a quiet drive to the bus stop.
"Woah... we cut it close, here's your bus coming already, hurry up"
The three jumped out, and Calum grabbed his luggage, with it's precious cargo.
The three had one last quick hug. And Calum/Cassie boarded the bus.
Bye Auntie, bye Sarah.
**********
The end? What does the future hold? Will we see Calum/Cassie, Sarah, and Anne again? Who knows?