I was outside the house dressed as a girl, top to tail and without the means to go back in (Beth had the keys)
Come on, she said, we're going out to have some fun.
I was terrified. The free air around my bum felt unnatural and I could taste lipstick. But the image staring back at me in the window was a girl. I'd done some limited playing by myself outside, but that was hidden, naughty, furtive. This was what I really wanted - the freedom. All the running around hiding whilst dressed up. This is the opposite. this was out, bold, living. Still terrifying.
It was dark, but not too late, so Beth drove us to the shopping centre, which was open late night shopping. She parked the car at the far end of the carpark
I think you need a little catwalk time on your debut to world.
Come on, get out, you can do it! You look great!
She looked over at me with a very different expression. A genuine look, recognising the boundary between the game and real life.
You look genuinely great, no-one is going to notice, and even if they do, they'll go on their way without a word, we're in the 90's after all, plus I'm with you all the way.
I looked at her, then dropped my eyes, feeling small and vulnerable
Thank you. This is so different to running around in the dark, playing jeopardy games in fancy dress. It's what I always imagined, but the reality of it feels very daunting.
We got out of the car into the cool air. I smoothed out my dress and got ready for my first genuine moment outside as a girl.
People were everywhere, driving, walking to their cars, going about their business. I felt like everyone was staring at me, about to come over and laugh, humiliate me, but nobody did, No-one payed me much or any attention at all. Just a couple of girls in their late teens going shopping. One confident, one quiet.
Beth told me to slow down, swing my hips a bit, put my feet more one in front of the other. Stand tall, chest out.
You're walking like a boy and hiding like this is something wrong. It's not wrong, you're perfectly allowed to be doing this, dressed up as you please. Head up! Watch closely how women walk, how they move. Watch me, see how you go.
I relaxed a little, slowing down was hard, but made a big difference to how I felt. We got to the entrance of the shopping centre and the doors slid open, and I paused for a second, wondering if I crossed this line and into full public view, if my life would chance forever. Beth noticed this and placed her hand on my back.
Come on, this is going to be fine.
We walked inside, it was busy, people everywhere. I was wearing a dress. More than that. I was a girl. Or some representation of a a girl. People just carried on. Nothing exploded, my world didn't end. Maybe this wasn't going to be too bad!
We're going to just wander the full length of the centre first - you can get comfortable before we do anything. She looked at me and winked.
What do you mean 'do anything'?!
Relax, sweet girl, we're just going shopping!
I was worried. Why did she have in mind?
We walked slowly through the crowds, what was noticeable was how some of the men glanced at us. Checking us out. Not 'checking out the bloke in a dress' but looking at us like the young women we presented to be.
See, Beth gently chided me, you're a girl and people are seeing that. You'd better be careful or you'll find yourself on a date at the back of the cinema fending off the attentions of a nice young man who won't be expecting what's inside that cute pink knickers.
Now, lets do we came for. And she guided me into a clothing shop.
It's time you went shopping for real clothes not school uniforms and bridesmaid dresses to feed your predicament humiliation kink. You need to feed your inner female for real.
We browsed the racks. Beth choosing some cute dresses to hold up against me to assess. She picked a few for herself, she had a very much more dark and gothy look, denim and band tee-shirts than the more cute spring dresses she kept on holding up for me.
We can be opposites, she said.
I like the dark stuff too Beth! I think that would work quite well on me!
She stopped and put her hands on her hips.
You're not simply trading a pair of jeans for a black skirt in some kind of minimalist interpretation of a girl! Ive seen your box of tricks, remember? It's all femme and froth, so I think we should explore that first. Later, when you've locked in your femme side, you can do as you please.
That was it. It was clear there wasnt going to be any discussion about it, especially stood as I was, in a pale pink teeshirt, flared min demin pinafore dress and floral boots.
Let's take these and try them on!. And she led me by my hand across the stop to the changing room.
Shed picked out a yellow knee length 50s style spring dress, with a kind of shallow scooped neckline and short slightly puffed cuffed sleeves, and a layer of netting underneath to give it shape, and a more floral longer length dress with a lace collar.
We got to the change area, I was pretty nervous - this was peak femme zone right here, I had no place here as a guy. But I wasn't a guy, and we were shown to a cubicle together. As soon as the door was closed, Beth started trying on her clothes, stripping off, unashamed.
Well come on girl, lets see how how you look!
I undressed sheepishly down to my underwear and pulled the dress over my head. Beth zipped up the back - it fit pretty well, I dont have much shape to fill out female clothes, but this was kind of sleek with flared skirt, which worked pretty well.
Oh yes, you look amazing! Such a pretty little thing. A white cardigan would seal the deal perfectly!
I looked I the mirror and could hardly believe what I saw.
Beth tried on the black lace mini dress she'd picked out, I helped her zip into that too. She looked amazing. Confident, black, rock-chick look, heeled boots sealing the deal.
Come on, let's look at the other one. She unzipped the yellow dress and replaced it with the floral one. That looked pretty good, sweet, not over the top and it worked well with the floral Docs - the perfect 90's grunge girly.
I think we'l get all these! Beth was admiring herself and how her hips moved. I simply stared at this strange girl in the mirror. Feminine and floral, Doc Martens adding toughness. What was my style? Who did I want other be?
We got changed back again and as we exited out of the change room she hung the clothes over my arm.
There you go, get these, be a good girl. I will see you outside. And with that she walked off outside the shop and sat down on a bench just a little way down the mall. I was left holding the clothes on my own.
I walked to the cashier and put the clothes on the bench. The young woman smiled at me. Just these three? she asked. I nodded and reached into my bag for the money. She rang the items through and put them in a bag. She gave me a quizzical look as she handed it to me. Out of nowhere, I held her gaze, winked at her, and walked out to meet Beth.





