5 comments/ 25275 views/ 2 favorites Don Venuto's Sissies By: marybethsanford Players: Capo De Matzo, counsel to Don Venuto. Don Venuto also known as the Godfather; Mario Venuto, son of Don Venuto; Ms. Rosa Cappella, professional dominatrix; Carol Evans, mother of Mark Evans; Mark Evans aka Martha Evans; Helen Andrews owner of the Little Miss Muffin Boutique; Ralph Summers, a friend of Mark, aka Robin; Steve Franks, friend of Mark, aka Susan; Sandy Summers, Ralph's mother; Tracy McCall, Mark's girlfriend. Jack Summers, friend of Mark, aka Janet. Synopsis: "If you can't change your boy to be like other boys, then simply change the other boys to be more like your boy!" Capo De Matzo said to his Don in that low soft spoken gravely voice of his. His Don, Don Venuto, nodded and laughed. Don Venuto laughed, because he was about to make those boys teasing his son an offer that they couldn't refuse. * "I don't know how I'm going to handle this?" Don Venuto said to his Capo and best friend. "If you can't change your boy to be like other boys, then simply change the other boys to be more like your boy!" Capo De Matzo said in that low soft spoken gravely voice of his. His Don, Don Venuto, had asked what to do about his son and, more importantly, the rumors about his son from those other boys. And there was that teasing as well. You might not want to say it out loud but Don Venuto's son Mario was a sissy. A effeminato giovinetto or effeminate boy with little if any masculine qualities. A piccolo ragazza, or little girl, according to one of the Don's soldiers who whispered that only once. A comment to someone else along with a snicker. A comment made a day before that soldier was found floating face down near pier seven by the edge of the bridge. At least that was the rumor that started spreading around among the locals and a few of those boys who teased Mario. So the Don, as much as he loved his son and tried understanding him, simply couldn't at first. What made it worse were the growing rumors and the embarrassment those rumors were causing him. That was his frustration and that was what drove the question he posed to his Capo as they shared a glass of wine late into the night. For Capo De Matzo there was an easy solution, as he answered: "Semplice". "Not so simple!" The Don answered. "It is! You are Don Venuto! For the Don, many things are simple!" Capo De Matzo said laughing as he lifted his glass and added, "Salutare!" "Salute my friend. Now tell me how I can make this simple?" Don Venuto asked. "Compleanno partito!" Capo De Matzo said with a smile. "A birthday party? You are not making any sense my friend!" Don Venuto said smiling at the man smiling back. His friend was a wise man so the Don knew he'd get an explanation. "A little girl's birthday party but no girls! Just for the boys! For all of the boys!" Capo De Matzo said laughing as he added, "Capire?" "Caprie? No, I don't understand. A little girl's birthday party without little girls doesn't make any sense?" Don Venuto said and then paused.... it was clear by the change in his face that he suddenly understood as he added: "Si! Giovinetto come piccolo ragazza! Buono! Genio mio camerata! Salutare! "Yes! Boys as little girls? Good! You truly are a genius my friend... Salute!" "Salutare!" Capo De Matzo said as he lifted his glass with the Don's. The five lieutenants stood quietly in front of the Don's desk. Their Capo, De Matzo, had called them earlier that day simply saying to each: "Casa! Venni! Volare! House! Come! Hurry!" It meant come to Don Venuto's and don't stop on the way. None of those standing there knew the woman sitting by the fireplace. "This is Ms. Rosa Cappella, she specializes in little girl birthday parties. She is helping me with a party and I want you and your men to hand out the invitations when she gets them ready. I want those invitation handed, in person, to every mother of every boy, that lives in this neighborhood and goes to school with my son," Don Venuto said. The men nodded. It didn't matter that some of them didn't understand or that a few wondered over why, just that they did what they were told to do. Their orders, like most orders from the Don, were to be carried out and carry them out they would, and they were ordered to make those boys an offer! An offer that none of them could refuse. The five men smiled. That was the story that would eventually spread around the school. No one knew where that story came from but then again, it didn't matter. There was a Godfather and he was not happy. That was the part everyone understood. That was the part the boys understood that day they walked home. Carol Evans wiped her hands on the dish cloth before turning towards the door. Her son Mark already coming down the hall was interrupted as she said: "You go finish that math mister! I'll get the door." "Mom!" Mark said freezing in his tracks but couldn't do so without making his frustration known. Mark was in his room again, but against the door trying desperately to hear what was said by whoever was at the door. Mark was hoping for any reason to not finish his math. "Mark!" Mark's mother Carol yelled. "What?" Mark said happily given it was her now interrupting his math. "Come in here!" Carol said sounding serious. "What's up?" Mark asked then grew quiet at the look on his mother's face. It was nearly white! Pale! It made Mark pause and add: "Mom? What's the matter?" "It's an invitation to a birthday party?" Mark's mother said. "From whom?" Mark asked now seeing the pink envelop in her hand. Why an invitation to a birthday party made her look like that seemed odd. "It doesn't say from whom but clearly it's from Don Venuto! Those were his men that delivered it." Carol said quietly as she sat hard on the ottoman in front of his father's old chair. Everyone in that neighborhood knew who the Don was now and most of his men, or at least the types of men that might work for the Don. "For who then? Me?" Mark asked. "It's for you! That much those men delivering it made clear as well." Carol said. "But you don't know who's party it is then? Is it for his son?" Mark asked growing curious over his mother's concern and that connection to the Don. "Honey, I'm not sure! Come here and sit!" Mark's mother said. Mark didn't hesitate. He knew his mother's moods and this one she was suddenly in scared him. Mark knew of the Don, the Don's son and the rumors about that man the police fished out of the river a few days ago. "Mom, what's the matter?" Mark asked with real concern. "Honey! This invitation is for you to go to a birthday party!" Carol said. "OK, so?" Mark added. "So, it's a girl's birthday party but there won't be any girls there!" Carol said. "I don't get it?" Mark asked. "Honey, those men said that it's a little girl's birthday party but not, because it's a costume party and only for boys. All of the boys in the neighborhood as a matter of fact and you'll all be going dressed as girls. Little girls!" Carol said. "What are you saying?" Mark asked suddenly very confused. "Honey, have you been teasing this man Don Venuto's son?" Carol asked. "Me? No! Honestly mom, I know better! I guess some of the boys do, but not to his face since that man was found. Some of the guys, in fact, said that's the reason that man ended up in the river," Mark said in a panic. He hadn't teased Mario but he knew that some of the boys did. "Why?" Mark said. "Because that was the reason those men hinted at. Evidently the Don has decided that all of the boys are going to be sissies for at least one day and that's the reason for this little girl's birthday party. You've got to go dressed as a little girl." Carol said. "Not me!" Mark said flatly but knowing full well he didn't dare not go. Not if he knew what was good for him and he had an image of that man floating face down near the rocks by pier seven. "You've got no choice. I don't have a choice!" Mark's mother said and added almost in tears: "You must go and you're going dressed as a little girl." "Mom, what if this is a joke or something?" Mark said. "And what if it isn't?" His mother noted. "I'm going to call a couple of the guys!" Mark said. "Use your cell phone to call your friends and see if they've got invitations, and I'll call a couple of the moms." Mark's mother said. It only took about twenty minutes to call most of the guys Mark knew and what Mark discovered was they too had invitations. Mark's mother also confirmed that, so far, every mother of every son had been given their invitations personally and told the same thing. Everyone was in a mild state of shock. Everyone had an invitation and it was clear that everyone was going. Everyone was going because it was also clear that anyone not going would, according to those men who delivered those invitations would BE MISSED! "What do we do now?" Mark asked looking at his mother when she hung up the phone. "Are you kidding? Honey, you're going to that party!" Carol asked. Mark already knew that. Mark knew that when he'd hung up on Chuck which was after he'd talked with Ralph, Stan and Jack. They too were going and going as girls. They all were. There was no doubt about that. What Mark was really asking was what he'd have to wear. The phone rang again making Mark jump this time. He dreaded picking it up but did. "Mom! It's a Ms. Rosa Cappella? She says she needs to talk with you." Mark said after picking up the phone just a short time later. "She'll be here in a second." Mark said to the woman on the other end of the line. "Hello?" Mark's mother said taking up the phone Mark was still holding. Mark stood nearby. "Yes? Yes, I know, we got the invitation this afternoon. Yes, he's going! Yes, he will be dressed. You're coordinating the party? I see. Yes, I was going to shop for something. Well, I don't know what yet. I suppose a dress obviously. No, I hadn't thought about it much. OK, hold on and I'll get a pencil!" Mark's mother said motioning for Mark to get her a pencil and paper. "What's the name of it? OK, Little Miss Muffin Boutique. Muffin as in the spider...? OK, I've got that. What? Why? No, I don't understand that part at all. OK, this is now getting a bit ridiculous! Does he have a choice? No, I didn't say no, of course he'll do it. "Yes, I know who that man is but that doesn't give him the right to push us around like that. I know you're not the one doing this, but obviously you're taking orders from him. And the other boys! Are the other boys going to be wearing the same things? "So he's paying for it? No, I didn't know that. And I can get everything there then? I suppose I have to right? I mean my son doesn't have much choice in this obviously! Well, you can tell him for me that I think he's being a bully! Good day to you to!" Mark's mother said slamming the phone down. "What?" Mark asked. He'd gotten some of the conversation but there were a lot of gaps. "That woman is coordinating the party. Evidently the Don is paying for the things you and the other boys will be wearing! He's set up an account at this place called the Little Miss Muffin Boutique. They are supposed to have shoes, dresses and accessories." Mark's mother said as she looked at the paper with the name and address on it. "So we don't have to pay for any of it at least?" Mark said not sure if that made a difference or not, but growing suspicious that it wasn't all of it as his mother looked up. The look on her face suggested it and made him add: "What?" "Honey, according to that woman, the Don wants all of the boys to be wearing panties as well as their little dresses." Carol said deciding not to try and find a better way to say it. "Panties? As in girl's panties? You've got to be kidding?" Mark said. "I wish I was. I wish I could give that man a piece of my mind." Carol said. Mark fell back on the couch heavily. This was going from bad to worse. "Panties?" Mark said. "We'll have to go tomorrow. The party is Saturday." Carol said as she patted Mark on his knee. "Panties?" Mark repeated. "I'm afraid so." Carol said in a sympathetic voice. Mark groaned. They found the place but neither were prepared for what greeted them. Little Miss Muffin boutique wasn't exactly a boutique. Not a quaint little shop for girls as Carol had suspected but a full blown store that made her wish, for a moment at least, that she had a girl. She hid that part as she urged Mark past the door he'd opened for her. "MOM!" Mark whispered as they slowed and stopped just inside the store. A hint of what waited inside was in the windows and what was in the windows were mannequins in dresses clearly meant for pageants. Clearly for little girl pageants since those mannequins were little. Pinks, lavenders, lace, bows and ruffles everywhere and everywhere something girlish and feminine. There was nothing in that store for boys. Dresses upon dresses in racks that looked like they covered every pastel color imagined and to the left, past the jewelry, and makeup counters, lingerie that Mark only glanced at. To his right shoes and in front of him, going all the way to the back, more dresses. Rows of them as he stood frozen in place. This was not a clothing store for girls, this was Mark's worst nightmare. "Can I help you?" The woman asked. "I'm Mrs. Evans, Carol Evens. I'm here with my son Mark. I understand we should have an account set up for us for a costume party?" Carol said looking around the woman at the racks of dresses that were giving her goose bumps. She could only imagine what it was doing to Mark. "Of course! You'll be one of Ms. Rosa Cappella's boys then? Please, follow me and I'll do a quick verification on the list I was given and then guide you through our selections. I'm Helen. Helen Andrews, but please call me Helen." Helen said. "Thank you!" Carol said as she fell in behind the woman now walking towards the back of the store. Mark didn't want to follow and the only reason he did was to stay within the protection of his mother as those girls already in the store began taking notice. "Has there been any other boys in yet?" Carol asked. "Actually we have one boy trying on dresses at this very moment and two others were in earlier. This is going to be quite a costume party I'm told. Imagine how wonderful it's going to be for these boys to get to go through this sort of experience." Helen said. "Imagine." Carol said as she added, "Can you tell me the name of the boy already here?" "Ralph Summers I believe. He's in changing room three. That's the middle ones over there next to the mirrors." Helen said as she moved behind the counter. She picked up a metal box, thumbed through the cards, alphabetized, and found Mark under "M". Helen pulled the card as she said: "Ah, here we are. Mark! Just let me initial this and then we can look over your selections." "Ralph! Here?" Mark asked. "Seems so!" Mark's mother noted nodding over at the changing room. Mark almost fainted dead away as his school mate appeared. There was no mistaken Ralph as a boy but he was wearing a gathered ruffled lemon yellow dress. What made it funny in a way was his regular boy style black shoes and socks and the tee-shirt he still wore. What didn't make it funny was that Mark saw himself doing that very same thing. "Dresses first I suspect since everything will coordinate around the dress." Helen said as she pulled a sewing tape measure from around her neck as she added, "Let me get his shoulder, chest and waist measurements for his size." Mark held his arms at his side for the shoulder measurements then held his arms out for his chest and waist. "Size seven, remarkable." Helen said as she wrote that down on the card with Mark's name on it. "Remarkable?" Carol asked. "Size seven is a delightful size. We have a fairly substantial selection of dresses in size seven." Helen said. "Oh joy!" Mark said sarcastically. "Why don't we start with our pageant styles first then you can, if you don't find something there, move to our bridal or formal sections." Helen noted with a gesture of her hand. "That would be great!" Carol said. "MOM!" Mark said wishing she didn't sound so enthusiastic. "Honey, relax! It's just being conversational." Carol said and added, "Look you're not the first and definitely not the last and Ralph there is also here so try and relax." "Relax? Mom, we are buying a dress for me to wear to a birthday party! Hello?" Mark said. "I know! Can't be helped honey." Carol said fighting the smile she felt creeping up on her. In spite of Mark's dilemma she was beginning to sense this as more fun than not. "NO!" Mark whispered as they came up to a rack of dresses Mark didn't even want to look at. "Honey, there are no simple dresses in here! Look, we can spend time looking here and finding something quickly or we can spend time LOOKING AROUND." Carol said. "NO! Let's just get something and go!" Mark said not wanting to stay any longer than necessary. He saw Ralph and Ralph saw him. Both boys dropped their eyes as Mark added, "Grab one quick and let's go!" "These are our size sevens. We've got several styles with the ones on the left our fullest. If it were me, I'd go with those only because he can wear the bouffant slips and not the petticoats. The petticoats tend to slip down when they play. I suspect they will be playing?" Helen asked. "To be honest, I'm not sure but the full slips do make sense." Carol noted. "Slips?" Mark said. "All of our dresses are going to require a slip of one sort or another and the color is going to dictate the panties." Helen said and added, "Same with shoes if you don't go with the basic Mary Jane. We've got those in a patent white and in black." "Panties?" Mark whispered. "All of our dresses come with costume designed panties." Helen said. "MOM, I'm going to run away if you don't hurry!" Mark said in anguish. "You'll do nothing of the sort. Now stop. You think this is easy for me?" Carol said fighting back the smile that she was fighting desperately to hide. "You're not going to be wearing this stuff." Mark said. "It could be worse!" Mark's mother said. "How?" Mark asked. "It's for a party. What if Don Venuto had decided you guys wear these things to school or something?" Carol noted. "That would be worse." Mark said. "You even care which color?" Carol asked. "Are you kidding?" Mark said. "Didn't think so. OK, so let's go with pink, white and maybe yellow." Carol said. "Three? Why three?" Mark asked in a panic as he watched Ralph being turned by his mother in front of the mirror. "OK, just the pink one then. This one!" Mark's mother said lifting a pink confection from the rack. "Excellent choice. That's one of our best." Helen said delighted. "So what does this one need in the way of slips?" Mark's mother asked. "Come one and I'll show you your choices." Helen said as she turned towards the lingerie and added, "Our panties are near there as well." Mark followed closely trying not to look at the girls now watching this unfold. Some were watching in amazement at Ralph already. Mark also tried not listening to the dress his mother carried as it rustled loudly. "All of these slips are styled for that particular dress!" Helen said as they reached the lingerie. A girl and her mother looking through panties in a large pastel lemon bin paused to wonder over the boy following the woman holding a dress. The girl smiled oddly, the mother simply watched as Helen added, "Ah, here we go, size seven!" Mark's mom lifted the slip and it too joined the dress and the rustling grew louder in Mark's ears. Ears that felt like they were on fire around the edges as he flushed more. Why did the store have so many girls in it he mused in anguish. Ralph was gone when Mark looked and Mark looked because it was his turn to face that next humiliating step. Don Venuto's Sissies "Ready?" Mark's mother asked. "No!" Mark said. "Would you rather wait a bit? Perhaps look around some?" Mark's mother asked softly. Another girl over in a sea of white dresses under a large gold cross was also looking at him. "Can we do this some other time?" Mark asked. "Sure? I mean we've got one more day to shop before the party. Honey, you realize that another day isn't going to make this any easier or change things." Mark's mother said. "I know." Mark said softly with resignation in his voice. "So?" Mark's mother asked. "Fine!" Mark said and added, "You go first, I'll follow." Mark was definitely the center of attention at far as the girls shopping were concerned. At least till Ralph stepped out of the changing room again, this time without his tee-shirt at least and this time in a soft pastel green dress. Mark and Ralph looked at each other like men condemned which only changed a little when Steve walked into the store with his mother. "Steve!" Ralph said to Mark nodding towards the direction of the front of the store. Mark's back was to the doors but he used the mirror and nodded. Safety in numbers Mark thought. Steve's face mirrored the other two boys. Mark was suddenly glad he was at least this far and clearly Ralph was just as glad. "Hi Carol!" Ralph's mother said coming out of the changing room holding the lemon yellow dress as she added, "Isn't this wild?" "That's a word! This has got to be the most unusual day I've had in recent memory." Carol said taking Sandy's hand. "Ralph is a size eight!" Sandy said proudly. "Seven for Mark." Carol said sounding as if she too was bragging. "Really. How sweet this is." Sandy said before turning back to her son Ralph as she added, "Mirror honey." "Mom, this one fits!" Ralph said. "Mirror!" Sandy said again pointing to the large mirror set against the wall. "Mom why do I need to try it on! Can't we just take this stuff home?" Mark said impatiently. He wanted to get out of there. He didn't want to wear the dress, not there, not in front of a growing audience of girls and their mothers who were no longer looking on covertly. "It's got to fit! Look honey, we've got to do this so just try hanging on OK?" Mark's mother said as she transferred the slip to the arm holding the dress so she could pat Mark's shoulder as she added, "Besides, we've still got to get your shoes." "Oh this is so wrong!" Mark said. "I know honey! I just wish you boys hadn't teased that poor boy. Perhaps this wouldn't have been necessary." Mark's mother said. "I didn't, never did." Mark said sounding frustrated. "Did you ever try and stop any of the other boys from teasing?" Mark's mother asked. "No?" Mark said. "That might have made the difference. Oh well, that's water under the bridge now. Come on and let's get this over with." Mark's mother said nodding to Sandy who nodded back. "I asked Ralph the same question. Seems to me that if only a couple of them had stepped in just once this wouldn't be necessary now." Sandy said. "Brother's keeper!" Mark's mother said with resignation in her voice. "Mom?" Mark said at the threshold of the changing room. "Exactly!" Sandy said as she moved off with her son for those mirrors while adding: "Do you like this one honey? I think I'd rather see you in the puffy sleeves rather than straps." Mark entered the soft bubble gum pink room and found himself surrounded by more mirrors less the area on the door to hang the dresses. "Clothes!" Mark's mother said. Mark started to undress... Slowly, painfully if you read his face as his mother eased the slip from its hanger. It was strapped to the satiny bodice that flowed easily to a grouping of petticoats as full as the dress. The rustling never stopped Mark noted. "Why can't they make this more quiet?" Mark asked as he stepped out of his jeans. "Well, for one thing this is taffeta honey and most taffetas rustle. For another thing this is something we sort of enjoy. A kind of spotlight if you will. Feeds a little into our senses when we're feeling pretty." Mark's mother said smiling apologetically as she added, "It's a girl thing." Mark was silent as he lifted his tee shirt off laying it now with his jeans. "Life your arms honey." Mark's mother said as she gathered the slip. It was the same sound as the trees in fall next to his window or when he gathered them for the bag after raking the yard. Mark saw the tiny bow in pink attached to the slips front just below the delicate lace added to the edges. The fabric of the top shimmered in the light. "Why so many layers?" Mark asked for want of something to keep his mind off what was happening. "One layer, the softest, rest against your legs so the tulle doesn't tickle them. The middle layer is netting to give the slip body and make the dress flair out and the top layer is silky smooth like it is so the dress slids over it." Mark's mother said fighting that smile again. Her hands were shaking slightly as she eased the slip over her son's head. Carol fought all sorts of urges, some of which to hug her son for the sake of his anguish, some of it to hug her pretend daughter just for the joy of it. That urge came on her as a thought as the slip fell around him. This had to be the most delightful day she'd had in a long time. Imagining what it would be like having a girl was being answered in these seconds. "How's if feel?" Mark's mother asked. "Feel! It feels gross! How is it supposed to feel?" Mark said in anger as the slip settled around him. That wasn't exactly true but he wasn't going to admit to any of that. "No honey, I mean fit? Is it tight or too loose?" Mark's mother asked. "Fine.... It fits me just fine!" Mark said in frustration as he pulled his hands up. He'd lowered them and instantly they fell into the folds of the slip. He didn't want to touch it. Yet, for a second, a very brief moment he did. He had. He couldn't help himself but he wasn't going there he decided. "Dress!" Mark's mother said as she began setting the dress up for Mark to wear. It buttoned down the back from the neck and like the slip, there was more than one layer under the skirts. At least two at the top. Mark wasn't sure. "Is that the same stuff as the slip?" Mark asked simply because the dress was also rustling. It was almost but the taffeta in a pink was almost the same color as the room but covered in a blush organdy that softened the sparkle of the dress. Under the skirt another layer of taffeta his mother said so it would be just as slippery as the skirts of his slip. "I love these gathers!" Mark's mother said forgetting that Mark might not. The dress was gathered in what was clearly more panels or gores than necessary which was reason enough for the slip. The organza skirt sitting on top of the taffeta skirt gathered a little bit more. The satiny top ended in puffy sleeves that were edge in the same satiny material but see though from the pit of the arm to that edging. Extremely puffed his mother noted happily. "Arms again!" Mark's mother said. Mark had ignored her remark about those gathers. She could love every bit of that dress but not Mark, Mark decided as he lifted his arms. The puffed sleeves tugged at his elbows as they began clinging to his upper arms. The dress itself fell past his face and onto the slip as his mother fluffed it free to set on top. The weight of the dress pressed Mark's slips against his legs as the nylon lining of the top slid over the nylon of the slip. It suddenly dawned on Mark why they were called slips and the dress moved easily over it. "Do you guys really like this stuff?" Mark asked as the dress and slip rustled loudly. Carol began fussing with his puffed sleeves so they sat even. It was nearly a perfect fit and Carol swooned over the look of it on her son. If he had long hair at the moment it would have been nearly perfect. "Of course! This is what being a girl is all about honey." Mark's mother said ignoring how the words might sound to Mark. "Do you... I mean do you get different when you wear the fancy stuff?" Mark asked for no other reason than to ease his discomfort and another urge flowing under that. Mark couldn't help but acknowledge the feel of it at some level and that came again when he moved a leg. The taffeta resting against the skin above his knee registered the sensation and his knees, front and back, did the same. There was also that movement over his chest and back. "Feminine! That's the word you're looking for honey and yes, we get very girlish when we get to wear stuff like this. The prettier the better for most of us. I don't suppose that's going to make any sense for you though is it?" Mark's mother said. "Do you think Don Venuto's son feels this the same way a girl does?" Mark asked. "Do you think he dresses like this?" Mark's mother asked. "I don't know? I mean he kind of moves like a girl does. You know sort of sissy or something." Mark said. "He was born that way but it doesn't necessarily mean he is that way?" Mark's mother said. "Sissy?" Mark said. "Being effeminate doesn't mean he wants to be a girl. It just means he's effeminate. Not a fair word to use for a boy even if it seems true. He might be more macho than you even." Mark's mother said. "Not likely! Mom, he throws a ball like a girl does!" Mark said remember gym class. "That's just physical. Imagine you now, dressed like this. I mean technically.... You being a boy wearing a dress makes you a sissy then right?" Mark's mother said. "But I'm not doing this because I like it?" Mark said. "And what if he's not doing it because he likes it? What if he can't help it?" Mark's mother asked. "Not the same!" Mark said. "Well, not exactly the same but then again, it is only in the senses. I mean you now can't help the way you look either, right?" Mark's mother asked. "That's for sure." Mark said. "And those girls out there looking at you. Made you uncomfortable didn't it?" Mark's mother asked. "Definitely." Mark said. "So, in a way you're kind of sharing the same feelings that boy has I'll bet. Only you don't have to do this every day and he does." Mark's mother noted. "That would be so tough!" Mark said. "I'd say that's most likely true. Now turn around so I can button this up." Mark's mother said smiling. Her son was catching on she mused. "It fits!" Mark said not seeing the point of buttoning the dress. "Not until it's closed around you honey." Mark's mother said as she began closing the buttons. Mark was silent standing there with his mother at his back. He was facing the far mirror and avoiding the look of the dress that now hid the slips under it. It flared past the distance of a doorway and Mark wondered over that imagining moving around the living room and not hitting anything sitting on tables. "How do you move in these things?" Mark asked. "Move?" Mark's mother asked as she reached the last button above Mark's bottom. "You know, how do you keep from hitting things?" Mark asked and added, "with the skirt out like it is?" "You get used to wearing these things and aware of the distance. Put your arms down over your skirts." Mark's mother said. "Why?" Mark asked standing there with his arms folded against his chest. "Going to show you a trick we girls learn." Mark's mother said. Mark lowered his hands into the folds of his dress and didn't loose the feeling that rose up in him as his fingers touched the organdy that flowed over them. "Now what?" Mark asked feeling uncomfortable over the feelings he had. "When you are wearing a dress like this you can sort of feel how far out it is with your hands. Notice how they are resting at an angle? Sort of like walking with something wide in those hands so you know pretty much where the edge is. Can you sense that?" Mark's mother asked. "Yes, sort of I guess." Mark said. "Anyway, you get a feel for it after a time in these things." Mark's mother noted with a smile. "OK, so it fits!" Mark said glad to be past this part. "Hold on, I need to tie the sash before you step out?" Mark's mother said. "Step out? Mom, I don't need to step out. I'm not trying on any more dresses and I don't care what this looks like on. Besides, we've got mirror in here." Mark said. "All part of the process!" Mark's mother said. "Process?" Mark repeated. "Honey, in a way this is sort of a lesson or at least I think it is. I think the Don is making a point having you guys all doing this and what's the point of it if you don't go though all of the steps?" Carol said. "You think this is right?" Mark asked. "I'm not sure. I didn't at first but I'm thinking, as bad as it is for you guys, it's a pretty good way of showing you what it's like to be scorned, laughed at and teased over something you have no control over. Right?" Mark's mother asked. "I guess so, but it doesn't make it right." Mark said. "Probably not but we can't change that and there are still these steps to get through. Besides, you still need shoes." Mark's mother said and added, "and the panties to match." "Mom, how are they going to know I'm not wearing panties?" Mark asked. "I think, given what I know of the Don so far, that he's going to know one way or another." Mark's mother said. "Mom, I don't understand that part at all?" Mark said. "Me neither. I suppose it's another part of this humiliation the Don wants you guys to go through and frankly I don't think that part is fair either." "That part? You think this part is fair?" Mark asked as his mother fused with the long strip of sash she was fashioning into a giant bow at the small of his back. "In some ways, yes, if you want to know the truth." Mark's mother said. "Thanks." Mark said sarcastically. "I said in some ways!" Mark's mother said before adding, "there. Now, let's go into the light and see how this looks." "Do we have to?" Mark asked thinking of Ralph and how he looked standing there in the middle of that store with those girls looking on. "Afraid so." Mark's mother said as she moved to the swinging doors. "Mom wait!" Mark said looking anguish over the prospects of going out there as Ralph had. His mother assumed he was nervous about stepping out of the changing room. "Honey, what if I told you that everyone in that store already knows why you're here?" Mark's mother said smiling at her son. "No they don't! Those girls think I'm some kind of sissy!" Mark said. "Actually, the woman that helped us said just the opposite! She said that you boys, the ones she's helped already at least, are really quite brave for doing this. She also said that the other sales ladies know, obviously, and so do most of the girls out there waiting." Mark's mother said. "No she didn't!" Mark said defiantly. "Honey, I'm just telling you what she said." "Really? She said that?" Mark asked. "That's what she told me when she was pulling that card out. That's also when she said that the girls, at least some of them, know what was going on." Mark's mother said. "So they don't think we're sissies then?" Mark asked. "Nope! And why would they? I mean, you are going to a costume party! Honey, this isn't all that much different if you were getting that dress for Halloween." Mark's mother said with a wave of her hand. "I wouldn't wear this stuff even for Halloween!" Mark said with conviction. "Not even if I'd asked you to?" Mark's mother said. "Would you?" Mark asked suddenly curious. "If I thought I could get away with it? Yes!" Mark's mother noted with a smile. "You're serious?" Mark asked. "Absolutely." Mark's mother noted. "Mom?" Mark asked but in a subdued voice. "What honey?" Mark's mother asked also changing her tone. "Do you ever wish you'd had a girl?" Mark asked. "Heavens no! Not for a minute!" Mark's mother said. "Never?" Mark asked smiling slightly. "OK, perhaps in the beginning, but only because you had gotten so many pretty things before you were born." Mark's mother noted. "Pretty things? Like what?" Mark asked curiously. "Dresses sweetheart. About half of the clothes you got were dresses of one sort or another." Mark's mother said. "You're kidding?" Mark said. "Not really. Some of the woman gave me dresses." Mark's mother said. "What did you do with them?" Mark asked looking at his mother with a curious face. "I gave them away." Mark's mother answered but smiled. "You dressed me up didn't you?" Mark said. "OK, a few times but that was simply for curiosities sake and you were a baby." Mark's mother said. "Really?" Mark asked feeling odd over that confession and not really expecting it. "Every mother does that at one time or another." Mark's mother said. "So you didn't want a girl?" Mark asked. "I did and I didn't. Was simply hoping for a baby that had all of his toes and fingers." Mark's mother said laughing and added, "besides, at the moment, I'm pretending you are your brother's twin sister." "MOM!" Mark said protesting that joke she'd just made. "Honey, will you relax a little? Goodness gracious. This can't be that bad, now can it?" Mark's mother asked. "Bad enough!" Mark said but he said it smiling. "Does that smile mean just a little then?" Mark's mother asked. "I'm not admitting to anything." Mark said. "Good enough. Now what say we do the mirror thing." Mark's mother noted. "And those girls.... Those girls out there know I'm doing this for a party and not because I'm some sort of sissy boy?" Mark asked as his mother pushed the door open. "That's what I've been told." Mark's mother said as she stood by the door waiting for Mark to walk out. "Mom wait!" Mark said. "What now honey?" Mark's mother asked. "I'm wearing guys shoes and socks." Mark said suddenly feeling odd in his own shoes. Ralph looked silly in his tee-shirt, shoes and socks. Actually, Mark thought it looked worse or even more sissy for some reason. "Would you like to wear the shoes first?" Mark's mother asked. "Yes." Mark said. "OK, wait here and let me so see what they've got." Mark's mother said as she stepped out of the room. Mark took that moment to turn towards the mirror at his left which reflected the back of his dress from the other mirror. His mom was gone for some number of minutes and Mark took that time to admire or at least look at his outfit in more detail. He almost wished he was wearing the panties. "OK, I've got three pair based on your sizes. Helen recommended these socks." Mark's mother said interrupting Mark's gaze. He blushed a little getting caught like that and hoped his mother hadn't noticed him being so prissy just then. "Had to be lace!" Mark said taking the lace socks from his mom. "Of course! Now be careful when you sit. Gather your dress under you so it doesn't get wrinkled." Mark's mother said. "Gather how?" Mark asked. "Honey, have you ever watched girls sit?" Mark's mother asked. "Yes? I mean I guess so?" Mark said. "Then just do the same thing when you sit." Mark's mother said holding back any details on how Mark was supposed to do that. She was a little curious over him knowing or not. "Like this?" Mark said as he ran both hands down his skirt as he sat. "Exactly like that." Mark's mother said confirming something but not sure what it was yet. She too was wishing she had him put panties on first. She decided she'd push a little as she added, "try those shoes on and see how they fit, and I'll be right back." Mark bent and picked up the first box opening to a pair of white patent leather Mary Jane shoes. They were clearly meant for a little girl as Mark slipped the left shoe over his left foot. They were a bit big which made him put the sock on. Almost just right Mark noted with the lace sock on. He did the other foot as the door opened again. Don Venuto's Sissies "Mom, what are those for?" Mark asked already knowing since he was the only one in the room. His mother was holding a pair of light pink ruffled panties. "Silly question! Now go on and finish that shoe then put these on." Mark's mother said. "Panties? You want me to wear girl's panties now?" Mark said shocked that his mother would consider such a thing. "Going to sooner or later so doing this now is going to make it a lot better later." Mark's mother said. "How is me wearing panties now going to make it better later?" Mark asked. "Honey, some of this anguish your feeling is because it's so odd. It's odd because you've never worn this kind of stuff before. I'm just thinking that if you do wear everything, including the panties, then it won't be as bad on Saturday? Worth a shot, right?" Mark's mother said hoping her explanation sounded plausible. "Hadn't thought about that." Mark said blushing at his decision to put those panties on as he added, "Can you step out for a second." "Tell you what, when you are dressed just come out so we can see you in the light. How's that?" Mark's mother asked. "OK." Mark said taking the panties from his mother. His hand shook slightly. They felt like silk and he blushed again thankful this time his mother wasn't watching. It took a bit to get under all of his slips and dress but he got his underpants off before stepping into that pink nylon. He suddenly worried over the risk of ruining that delicate fabric but he realized it too late to do anything about it now. "OK." Mark said from the other side of the doorway. He stepped out as he said it and flushed anew when he spotted a couple of girls between their mothers watching. The girls and their mothers were smiling. Mark, as best he could, smiled back. Maybe his mother was right Mark mused as he moved to the mirrors. Mark saw Steve in the mirrors reflection and that face on Steve reminded Mark of himself when he had seen Ralph wearing his dress. Steve looked like he was agony and Mark wanted to shout, wave and say, "it's not that bad". Only Mark didn't dare such a thing, but suddenly did think that. "So, what do you think?" Mark's mother asked. "Mom, I'm in a dress!" Mark answered. "Hello! I know that, but what about the style, the look of it?" Mark's mother asked. "I'm not supposed to care about that!" Mark said fighting the slight grin Carol couldn't help but notice. "OK, try this then... Do you think your sister would like it?" Mark's mother asked looking at Mark in the mirror. "My sister? Oh, right.... Well, I suppose my SISTER would love this sort of dress." Mark said overemphasizing the word sister. She would also love the panties Mark mused as he stood moving slightly for that reason. "Well, I guess we've got your... I mean your sister's outfit then." Mark's mother said. It was pretty, if felt pretty on and suddenly, with Mark knowing that those in the store more or less approved of it or at least didn't think him a sissy for wearing those things, made it somehow better. Mark knew it was coming to an end or at least this part anyway but wondered what he'd look like with long hair. "Mom?" Mark asked. "What honey!" Mark's mother said fusing with the collar for a second. She too grew slightly sad that the moment was passing. "Are we... I mean did that woman say we had to wear long hair or anything?" Mark asked. "You know, I was thinking that very thing. I mean it would make perfectly good sense now wouldn't it?" Mark's mother said picking up on Mark's question as she added, "so would makeup, as I think about it! I mean when the time comes. I'm guessing the better the look, the better Don Venuto is going to feel about it." "I would think that as well?" Mark said feeling slightly giddy over the prospects of makeup and hair and perhaps even a bow. He was angry still but with the Don to blame he could let up a little. "If you want my opinion I'd say yes on the wig and definitely yes on at least a little makeup." Mark's mother noted. "Think so?" Mark asked hoping to make it sound like his mother's idea. "Definitely!" Mark's mother noted. "So now what?" Mark asked as that last question was asked. "Well, we should think about getting you a wig so I suppose that should be our next stop then. Perhaps that woman Helen can help." Mark's mother said. Carol took that as a cue to go talk with Helen leaving Mark there by the mirrors alone. He twisted quickly and made a few quick steps to catch up gasping a little, more to himself, as the dress moved and rustled about him. His shoes clacking like a tap dancers on the tile walkways between the islands of carpet as he caught up. "Don't do that!" Mark said clutching his mother's hand. "Oh, I'm sorry honey. Thought you could stand there for a moment or two." Mark's mother said as they walked up to Helen. "Lovely! Absolutely adorable!" Helen said ignoring what Mark might say about that. Mark blushed and didn't say anything over the complements. "Helen, we're thinking about a wig?" Carol said. "Now that's a thought! Trouble is they are somewhat expensive unless you can find a store that sells the Halloween type of wigs. Oh, wait! You know what, I mean if you want, I could loan you one of ours. We've got a few that we use on our mannequins. If the party is Saturday, you could bring it back on Monday. How's that?" Helen said. "That would be wonderful. Thank you so much!" Carol said. "They're in the back. Wait a moment and let me get one and see if it's going to work on not." Helen said as she moved past the counter towards the door at the back. She returned a few minutes later giving Mark a chance to look for Ralph and Steve. Ralph was trying on shoes and Mark found Steve over in the bridal section. Ralph still looked sad but not as sad as Steve was. Mark, for whatever reason although he was sure about some of it, didn't feel nearly as bad as before. Those girls with their mother were no longer concentrating on him but on Ralph since they and he were near the shoes. "That's a pretty dress." A girl's voice said breaking Mark's concentration on what he was wearing and his friends. "What? Oh... Thanks I guess. It's not for me! I mean it's for a party!" Mark said laughing nervously and feeling flustered while twisting to see the source of the voice. He didn't know the girl and suddenly being her focus made him blush more. "So what's the occasion that makes a guy buy a dress? I mean why are you guys dressing up like this?" The girl asked. "Costume party on Saturday. All the guys are supposed to go as girls." Steve answered, not to easily but not nearly as hard as it might have been earlier. "How cool!" The girl said and added, "be better if you had longer hair!" "We're going to try that." Steve said and added, "Lady is going to get a wig that she uses for her mannequins." "Right now?" The girl asked. "Yes." Mark said. "Way cool. Going to be interesting to see your transformation." The girl said and then added, "I'm Tracy. Tracy McCall." "Mark! Mark Evans!" Mark said extending his hand when Tracy extended hers. "You from around here?" Mark asked forgetting suddenly that he was in a dress. "Sort of! I mean we just moved here. Looking for something to wear for a wedding." Tracy said and asked, "so what's the school like?" "What can I say, boring!" Mark said casually but catching himself trying to act suddenly macho and that made him laugh. "What's so funny?" Tracy asked. "This... I mean me and you... I mean us talking like this with me wearing these things... Just struck me as funny is all." Mark said feeling almost relaxed suddenly. "I like it!" Tracy said. "The dress?" Mark asked. "No, you in the dress." Tracy said and added, "kind of cool in a way. Not sure exactly why but I think it's kind of cool." "Kind of sissy!" Mark said suddenly blushing again. "Definitely, but in this case not a bad thing." Tracy said. "Not a bad thing?" Mark asked and added, "why?" "Don't ask me, just is. Sort of like you crossing over to the other side for a bit. Kind of nice knowing a guy that can do that. Hate it when guys get all macho and stuff. I don't really know why except it's... It's just cool is all." Tracy said. "Hello!" Carol said moving back over from the rack of hair bows she was looking at. "Hi mom, this is Tracy. Tracy, this is my mom, Carol. Tracy just moved here. She's going to my school." Mark said nervously and added, "she thinks I'm weird!" "I do not! I think you're cute in that!" Tracy said extending her hand to Mark's mother's as she added, "Hi! He's fibbing! He is cute in that and I told him so." "Nice to meet you Tracy. Yes, he is. We're hoping that a wig will make him even cuter." Carol said. "Can't miss! Oh, oh, that's my mom waving. Got to go. So, will I see you in school?" Tracy asked. "Sure!" Mark said smiling at the prospects. "Now isn't that just what I told you!" Mark's mother said slightly amazed at the interaction she'd just witnessed. How casual Mark was suddenly and, remarkable, how accepting that girl was of her son. She liked Tracy she decided. "I guess you're right mom. Weird! She told me the dress was pretty then just started talking like it was an every day kind of thing. "She said the wig would make me look less sissy if you can imagine that?" Mark said. "It will, I'm sure of it. It would be more of a costume then." Mark's mother said. "I guess you're right about that." Mark said watching Tracy walk off. "Here we go!" Helen said walking back with a blond wig that made mark's chest flutter a little. It was curled in large soft flowing curls from top to bottom and long as she added, "this one is really just too cute." "It really is!" Mark's mother said feeling slightly faint over the wig she was looking at. It was such a little girl style between the color and those curls. "Here, they go on easily enough." Helen said as she stepped in front of Mark while gathering the wig so she could slip it over his head. "Be right back!" Carol said from behind Mark at the moment. Mark couldn't turn his head to see where his mother was going as the wig came on. "How does that feel?" Helen said as she began twisting it slightly before tugging it front and back. "A little snug I suppose." Mark said trying to gauge if that was a good thing or bad thing. It didn't feel all that tight on. "Should be a little snug honey to stay in place." Helen said as she fussed with the curls and Mark's new bangs. "Here, can we try this one?" Mark's mother asked from behind. Helen had stopped fussing with the wig. "That would be the one I'd of picked for sure!" Helen said taking the bow from Carol. "A bow?" Mark asked just as he saw it. It was huge. It was satin and chiffon and looked a little like it went with his dress. His dress he mused thinking of that dress as his. He should have considered that with long hair there might be a bow. It hadn't dawned on him till that second and too late now to make an issue of it. "Definitely need a bow!" Helen said. "I agree obviously!" Mark's mother noted. If Mark was right, and he couldn't see the bow in place yet, but if he was right it would be sticking out from either side given how big it was. He felt the weight of it tug at his wig, but it was his mother's face that said it all in those few seconds. "Oh my God!" His mother said as she brought her hands to her mouth before adding: "I can't believe it!" "What?" Mark asked knowing at least that the wig had more than likely changed his appearance slightly. "Amazing isn't it?" Helen said moving to Carol's side. "What?" Mark asked impatiently. "Mirror!" His mother said pointing to the mirrors where they had first gotten his dress. Mark walked with his mother those few steps till he stood in front of the mirror. "Can't be me?" Mark said looking at the little girl looking back. "It isn't honey! It's your twin sister!" Mark's mother noted again with her hands at her mouth as she added, "and no camera! Damn!" "We've got one! A digital that takes disks instead of a memory card. We use it when we are doing our ads." Helen said. "Could you oh please, could you?" Mark's mother pleaded. "Wait right here!" Helen said as she turned and walked off in a hurry. "Too weird!" Mark said but not taking his eyes off the image he was seeing. "You are absolutely adorable honey! I mean it." His mother said fussing with a curl. "Not suppose to be!" Mark said. "Oh now stop and tell me that you can't at least admire that image for just a second without your ego getting in the way of this. Honey, you are so cute!" Mark's mother noted. "I guess so." Mark said blushing. "You are!" Mark's mother said bending down and taking his cheeks in her hand. "So at least we know what I'd look like as a girl now." Mark said trying to find a way to say what he was thinking. He couldn't believe how he looked. He couldn't help it but he felt so oddly wonderful looking at himself and not seeing any of the boy at the moment. "Here we go! Mark, why don't you stand by yourself for a couple then with your mom." Helen said coming over with a large digital camera. Mark turned at Helen's voice and smiled. Carol moved off to the side as Helen brought the camera up. The flash went off and another a second later. "Now one with mom!" Helen said. Carol moved closer putting her arm around Mark as Helen brought the camera up. Another flash and then another again after that. "Mark, take hold of your skirt between your forefingers and thumbs." Helen said. "What?" Mark asked not sure what Helen meant. "Forefinger and thumb. Like this?" Helen said making an 'O' with her fingers. "Like a girl?" Mark asked sounding shocked a little. He didn't exactly want to do that. "Please?" His mother asked. Mark took up the skirt a little in that dainty sort of way and again smiled when Helen said so. Another flash and a second flash a moment later. "OK?" Mark said getting uncomfortable with standing there as a girl might. He wasn't sure where Steve and Ralph were but a boy posing like that worried him a little. "Good enough. Thank you!" Mark's mother said. "Then I guess we're done!" Helen said as she clicked the small disk out to hand it to Carol as she added, "they are JPG files. If you've got any sort of package that reads those you can see them easily enough. Good resolution and if you don't have a graphics package just use your Internet browser." "Helen, you are such a treasure. Thank you so much!" Carol noted as she took the disk from her. "Come on and I'll write up the tag and let Mark here change." Helen said. Mark wasn't sure why, but the thought of changing made him suddenly sad. So did his mother for that matter. Mark's eyes met his mothers and her eyes made him blush a little. "About that?" Mark's mother said as they made their way towards the sales desk at the back. "About what?" Mark asked. "Changing?" Mark's mother said pausing. "Changing what?" Mark asked not sure what the context was for that word. "OK, so I'm crazy for asking this and no is going to be just fine with me, but... I mean.... damn this is awkward. OK, I'm going to try this again. So what do you think about not changing till we get home?" Mark's mother asked. "What?" Mark said trying to sound shocked but not sure it came out that way. He was almost sure it made him sound too excited and a large part of him was. "You know, just for the trip home. No stopping, no side trips... just straight home. We can pull straight into the garage." His mother noted almost speaking too fast, obviously nervous. "Why?" Mark asked. "So I can enjoy this a little bit longer. Sounds nuts I know, but besides today and then Saturday it's the last time I'll see you like this. Just too short a time is all." His mother said in frustration and than added, "stupid idea isn't it?" "Ye... Yes. I mean... I... I'm not sure? I mean it's not stupid I guess but if I say yes what does that say of me?" Mark noted as he imagined the trip outside and then the drive home. He thought of them driving down Third, then on to Baker Road before the freeway and finally his neighborhood. The risk along the way, the risk near home and then at home. "It says that you understand what I just asked of you and why I hope it's a yes, but like I said, your no is going to be OK." Mark's mother noted with a soft smile. There was hope in her eyes but also in Mark's as she watched for a sign either way. "We'd pull into the garage right?" Mark asked. "You'd never have to get out of the car till then." Mark's mother promised. "Then what?" Mark asked. "Then dinner, some television and bed?" Mark's mother noted with a smile now slightly wider as a hint of a yes caught her off guard. "But still dressed?" Mark asked. "Right up to bed time if I can manage it." Mark's mother noted. "I guess so." Mark said trying to keep any hint of excitement out of his voice. It was the wig he thought. The image of the bow came back as the weight of it still tugged at his hair. His hair, he thought as the soft curls tickled his ear, his neck and occasionally his cheek. His bangs, the panties, the dress and slip. He thought of it all. "Thank you!" His mother said giving him a light hug as they reached the counter. "It's all covered and the only thing you'll have to do is return the wig on say.... say Monday or Tuesday. OK?" Helen said as she started writing down the tags on the card she now sat in front of her. "That's really very kind of you, Helen." Carol said. "Then that's it. I'll get a dress bag for the slip and dress." Helen said. "He's going to wear these things home." Carol said happily. "Well now that's wonderful. How about I get the bags and then we put your clothes in another then?" Helen said looking at Mark then at his mother. "That would be perfect." Carol noted. "And a purse?" Helen asked. "Purse. Now that might be a good idea. Is that covered?" Carol asked. "It can be... sure, why not! Yes, that's covered. Mark honey, why don't you go find something suitable for that dress while I finish this order with your mom?" Helen said. Mark wasn't expecting to leave his mother's side, but nodded as he looked in the direction for those purses. It was towards the front of the store and his panic rose a little that he'd have to cover that distance alone. He turned and walked off hoping no one would notice. A few did including those two girls and their moms who were near the jewelry and that girl Tracy, now standing in front of those mirrors in a lavender floor length dress. She waved. Mark waved back briefly and blushed. Mark looked for Ralph but didn't see him although he did see Steve. There was no recognition in Steve's face when their eyes connected. In fact, Steve broke contact almost instantly and it made Mark wonder if Steve thought he was just another girl suddenly. Why that thought pleased Mark made him giddy a little but it did. Steve's eyes were puffy and red from crying and it looked recent as his mother stood behind him. Steve was wearing a white lace little girl's dress over tights without shoes. He was standing near Tracy when she had waved. It really wasn't that bad, Mark thought to himself as he neared the purses. Not worth crying over, Mark decided as he smiled. Definitely not worth crying over as he picked up a little black patent leather purse. The clasp had Cinderella in enamel on it. "This one!" Mark mused out loud before suddenly realizing he'd just done that. "Got one, I see?" Mark's mother said looking at his choice. He'd picked black patent to match his shoes. Why that delighted her was something she'd have to think on but what a difference in him since that trip here. The thought of him as a girl was odd but less so when she imagined it in this way, this pretend sort of way. He could be his twin sister she mused as Helen took the tag from the purse to add to the list.