Stephen: A Maid's Tale

"Stephen: A Maid's Tale" was a long running TV series that ran between 2040-2046 and was popular both with the by now well establised dominant female sex and the feminised male underclass.

It was a part comic and part dramatic production set in the Edwardian era and featuring all of the wonderful settings and costumes that were hallmarks of the period. Of course, it was not historically accurate as the male actors had to wear the dresses and corsetry of the period and assume traditionally feminine behaviours whilst the female actors wore trousers, bow ties and top hats and played the masculine roles. For this reason, the series was described by a new term, a "Fantasy Drama".

The central character was, unusually for a society where women had been the dominant sex for some years, a male maid called Stephen Hall. Stephen Hall, ably played by actor Nigel Rex, was a young teenage maid entering service for the first time and getting rather more than he bargained for!

Young Stephen, aged only sixteen and fresh out of school, had harboured ambitions of one day becoming a journalist, but his family's poverty had cruelly dashed his hopes and he had had to put aside his ambitions and instead put on his frilled cap and apron in order to support his family.

Stephen became the personal maid to the Hon. Trevor Tibbs-Buckley, a tiny boy of his own age who was obsessed with clothes and jewellery. He was very popular with the young ladies due to his tiny waist, his gorgeous gowns, delicate features and his innate femininity. It was Stephen's job to arrange liaisons between his master and his many suitors.

But Trevor's mother, the Countess Alexandra, who ruled her family with a rod of iron, wanted her son to remain a virgin until his wedding day, as befitted a young gentleman.

Trevor was equally determined to couple with a strong woman. But, in spite of his and Stephen's best efforts, the results of their scheming and plotting were invariably a hideous disaster and Trevor and his beau of the moment were discovered by the Countess, with unpleasant consequences for Trevor.

In one controversial episode, Stephen suggested that one of Trevor's suitors, a certain Lady Tabitha Foxworthy-Smythe, should disguise herself as a gentleman and pretend to be a chum of her amore'. Needless to say, Tabitha was most reluctant to put on the frivilous fripperies that attended the male sex and it took all of Stephen's powers of persuasion to persuade her to go along with his plan.

The escapade ended in the same way as all of Trevor and Stephen's other attempts to hoodwink the Countess, for the Countess saw through the deception immediately, and had Tabitha restored to her usual attire before having her ejected from the house.

The outrage generated by the plot of having a female adopt male clothing was considerable and was generally considered to be in very poor taste. Henceforth, no further stories featuring cross-dressing females was featured.

Although Trevor failed in his quest, Stephen had distractions of his own. For Lady Amanda, Trevor's younger sister and heiress to the earldom, had the hots for him! Amanda, a solidly built girl who could spend a day in the saddle, still had plenty of energy left to chase Stephen around, pin him to her bed and kiss him roughly before having her way with the pretty maid.

The Dowager Countess, an old woman in her eighties, was also enamoured of her grandson's pretty maid. The fact that she was confined to a wheelchair did not stop her from pinching Stephen's bottom or making him sit on her knee whilst she kissed and fondled him.

Stephen was also constantly caught in compromising and embaressing positions, such as ending up naked or only in his frilly underwear, or at the mercy of a domineering woman.

The other male characters were portrayed as submissive, docile creatures, paraded about by their dominant female partners in corsets, pretty frocks, big hats and dainty parasols. They were well schooled in traditionally feminine values, holding no opinions of their own, talking only of the latest fashions or of society gossip and not daring to contradict their wives.

The female characters were invariably played by the actresses as domineering, sexually aggressive and with a low opinion of the male of the species. They talked of business, politics and sports and they did not appreciate a mere male commenting on such weighty matters, which were the province of women.

The audience loved the gorgeous costumes and frothy, lacy underthings worn by the actors and most especially the complete role reversal of an era where the males had once been the dominant gender.

But, all good things had to come to an end. The lead actor, Rex, felt that it was time to move on to another role (ironically, he ended up in uniform again as a lowly constable whose main role to be the eye candy for the women officers in a police drama series). Another actor was briefly cast in the role, but the show was not the same without Rex, and the female studio executives decided it was time to pull the plug on the series.

The show is still fondly remembered by its loyal fans, as attested by the many conventions across the world that have been organised. The male fans typically wear a facsimilie of Stephen's maid's outfit, to the delight of their female partners, who are well used to wearing the trousers.

Men: Does losing the battle of the sexes really mean losing?

There are a few more battles that need to be fought over equal pay and breaking through the "glass ceiling" but it is more or less an accepted fact that the battle of the sexes is all but over - and that women are the undisputed winners.

I won't reiterate the massive strides that women have made in the workplace and, most especially, academically, over the last forty years or so. Suffice to say that old stereotypes about girls not being as bright as boys, or that a woman is not as competent as a man, have been well and truly consigned to being a historical curiousity.

But what, one may ask, is it that women have won, and is what they have won worth having? The same question may also be asked about what men have lost and whether what they have lost is such a great loss.

What should not be disputed is that women have asserted and won their right to have exactly the same opportunities as men, educationally, professionally and socially, and that women, men and society as a whole will benefit from this development.

But women's progress and promotion has not come without cost, most of all to women themselves. As increasing numbers of women occupy the highest positions in society, they will find, as men have found before them, that time and not money will become their most precious - and most scarce - commodity. They may earn a lot of money and own many possessions, but will have little time to enjoy them. Nor will they be able to spend as much time with their partners and children as they would like.

For I predict that by the end of the century, the old nuclear style family will still be there, in one form or another, but that in most cases it will be the woman, rather than the man, who will be going out to work or will, at least, be the primary breadwinner.

Spending long hours each day doing highly stressful jobs (whether at the highest or middling levels), will shorten the average lifespan of females in general, and bring on increased sickness and depression that will lead to forms of escape equally favoured by males when they were in the same position, such as drug or alcohol dependancy, sex or gambling.

This "escapism" could then lead to other health problems or to law breaking if the woman loses control and commits an offence, or resorts to crime to fuel her drug, alcohol or gambling addictions.

Men and women are far more similar than they are different and there is no reason to believe that when ground down by a stressful job, a woman will seek relief through one of the methods listed above.

Women, having become more masculine to compete, thrive and ultimately beat men at their own game in what was once a man's world, will become more aggressive and therefore more inclined towards violence and crime to solve their problems.

Women may have gained equal opportunities, and even, it has been argued, superiority over men, but at a potential cost to their physical, mental and emotional health. And, it is asked, is the advancement of women for the good of women, or merely a predetermined outcome dictated by capitalism? Women may have become the new breadwinners but have also become the new workers, taking on the back-breaking task of making profit and keeping the economy going.

And what of the poor, emasculated male? No longer able to compete with women in the classroom or the workplace, most men of the late twenty-first century will be in the home, doing the tasks that were once deemed to be the province of "the little woman".

Sure, at first, such an existence will be humiliating, especially for the first generation who had once been the breadwinners and decision makers but had through circumstances ended up trading places with their partners, but successive generations would adapt to it.

For the first time ever, all of the pressures of having to earn a living to support his family and make major decisions will be lifted from the man's shoulders. He should consume his tremendous energies with maintaining the family home, both structurally and cosmetically, supporting his breadwinning partner and nurturing his children. A more rewarding existence cannot be imagined.

And it will bring reward. A happier, less stressful existence will lead, perhaps, to men's lifespan and health improving, to a life of duty and care rather than escapism and diversion, the respect of women (rather than the scorn currently in vogue) and to a softening in the male psyche to become a little more feminine and at home in a more feminine role.

Perhaps losing is not always such a bad thing after all.

From Subaltern to Schoolgirl - 1916

With one exception, the boys of the Upper Fifth Form of the Darrow Hill Preparatory School for Boys were excited, for it was the end of their schooling. And, for many of them, commissions in the army to fight in the war were waiting. The chance to become men. Heroes. Many of the boys spoke excitedly of their futures. The exception sat miserable and alone in his dormitory. Tom Winthrop was not looking forward to his future at all. He had read the papers and had seen the enormous casualty lists from the battles that had already been fought. The casualty rate amongst junior officers was especially high in proportion to other ranks. And Tom was to become a subaltern in an infantry regiment, due to his family connections. If it hadn't been for those connections, Tom knew he would be going to war as a private soldier, as his performance as an officer cadet had been less than impressive. He was a poor marksman and backwoodsman and had displayed weak and indecisive leadership, in the opinion of his superiors. He was not really officer material, but the casualty rates were so high that the army could not afford to be too picky. His academic performance had also been poor. His parents despaired of him ever making anything of himself. It didn't help that his younger sister, Lucy, was doing very well at school by comparison. Top of her year. Tipped to be the youngest girl ever to be appointed as a prefect at her school. Tom genuinely loved his sister, but at times he resented her as she always outdid him and was a star in their parents eyes whilst Tom was a disappointment. Tom packed away his possessions, said his goodbyes to his friends, and waited for his parents to pick him up. Tom's parents arrived in a motorised car, driven by a chaffeur. Tom was pleased to see that Lucy was with them. Despite a two year age gap, Lucy was actually as tall as Tom. She was a solidly built girl and stronger than either of her brothers. But she did not have the delicate, feminine features of her brother. She was plain and dumpy. If she liked wearing gorgeous dresses and petticoats, she did a good job of hiding it. Lucy, dressed in a fussy brown dress, the skirts of which were pushed out by voluminous layers of petticoats, spoke to him, asking him how he was and fussing over him. Tom felt inadequate in comparison to his sister. It was humiliating to be the boy and yet to have a sister that was better than him at just about everything. Lucy eventually clammed up for the rest of the long journey, her mind absorbed in a novel. Eventually, the car pulled up outside the Winthrop residence, a small manor house surrounded by acres of well tended land. The Winthrops were rich. Seriously rich. Liveried footservants scurried around the car, fetching out trunks and trying to anticipate their master's needs. Within an hour, Tom was back in his old room. His clothes and other possessions had been unpacked and put away and his officer's uniform was adorning a dummy. Tom had just a fortnight's grace before he would be required to report for duty. Into a war zone where junior officers were cannon fodder. His life expectancy was reduced to a matter of weeks. Tom was scared. Really scared. There was a tap at the door and Lucy entered, all smug and superior in spite of the fact that she was wearing a pink dress and full petticoats. She was the only female sibling, yet at times she seemed more masculine than feminine.

Lucy was very interested in Tom's military uniform "I like this" she said. She gave Tom a long look "Can I try it on? I've always fancied being in the army".

"Don't be silly! Tom retorted "You're a girl! Girls don't get to join the army!"

"Oh, go on! Just for a bit of fun". Lucy gave him a pleading look.

Reluctantly, Tom agreed."You'll have to help me out of this lot" said Lucy. She turned around, indicating the back of her dress. Tom deftly undid the many buttons and helped his sister out of her gown. He lay the shimmering dress on his bed for now.

Lucy pulled down her many layers of silken petticoats and stepped out of them. The petticoats joined the dress on Tom's bed. Lucy stepped out of her pink satin slippers and kicked them unceremoniously under her brother's bed

Tom blushed, for his sister, shorn of her glittering gown and mass of petticoats, was dressed only in her underwear of white satin corset, frilly white drawers and white silk stockings. He had to look away, for it was most ungentlemanly for him to glance at a female in her underthings.

Lucy though seemed to be relieved to be released from all of that soft, yet heavy material, and revelled in her new freedom. She laughed as she saw that her brother was embaressed.

"Honestly, Tom, sometimes you are more demure and ladylike than I am! Come on, look at me!"

Stung by his sister's comments, Tom looked at her. His sister was a solid, strapping girl. Strong as well as highly intelligent. Even though he was fully clothed and she was more scantily clad than he, he still felt inadequate.

Lucy took the officer's uniform and put it on. "How do I look?" she asked Tom "Like a leader of men?"

Tom had to admit that she looked quite good in the uniform. In spite of the fact that Lucy was still wearing a corset, the uniform fitted her well. In fact, Tom had to admit that if she cut her hair short and got rid of the frilly things she still wore, she would look better in it than he did.

"Yes, you look good in it" Tom admitted, which made Lucy smile "Perhaps you're the one who should be going off to war wearing it instead of me!"

Lucy gave him a little kiss in gratitude "Thank you, but, as you said, they don't let girls become soldiers, let alone officers". Lucy took the uniform off and Tom helped her back into her gown and petticoats.

Lucy glanced at Tom's hands "Your hands are all soft and white, just like those of a lady. And you make a good little maid, helping her mistress in and out of her clothes!"

Tom flushed again "They won't be soft and white once the war's over. I'll have become a man".

Lucy gave him a weak smile, but was thinking "You'll get your head blown off more like!" Their parents were fretting over how Tom would cope with the horrors that they had heard about on the Western Front. For all of his bluster and confidence, he was a sensitive and delicate boy, and none too bright either!

Some weeks passed. As the dreaded day when Tom would have to put on his uniform and report to his barracks for duty grew closer, the more scared Tom became. He would lie awake at nights in a cold sweat. He could be killed, or horribly maimed! At times he would have given anything not to have to go to war, just to be a normal boy.

His parents were desperate to avoid their eldest son ending up as just another name on a tombstone. They tried to pull strings to get Tom out of military service, or to a posting away from the fighting, but it was to no avail.

Before Tom knew where he was, it was the evening before he was due to report for duty. Tom was a bag of nerves and retired to his room. He wasn't alone for long when there came a gentle tap on the door.

He was pleased when it was Lucy's face he saw when he opened the door. To his surprise, she wore some sort of trouser-suit ensemble that was gaining popularity amongst young females. With the wartime need for women to replace men on the farms and in the factories and offices, a relaxation in dress for women had come about and they were allowed to put off their skirts and wear trousers.

"How are you feeling?" Lucy asked, in genuine concern.

Lucy, in spite of the fact that she made him look a dunce by comparison, was his best friend, so he decided to bare his soul "To be honest, terrified. I haven't slept properly for days!"

Lucy nodded, as if to say that she had known this all along "Don't worry, Tom. Everything will be fine and you'll be safe".

As Tom was wondering what she had meant by that, Lucy landed a punch on his jaw that laid him out cold.

Tom came around lying on his bed. His parents, with concerned looks on their faces, were standing over him.

"What happened?" Tom asked "Lucy came to see me and the next thing I know, she's knocked me out and I'm here!"

"Lucy's gone" Mother said flatly "And so has your uniform. And she's cut her hair!"

Tom looked past his parents to see the dummy sans uniform. On the floor beside were the clothes that Lucy had been wearing, along with a pile of blonde hair. What was Lucy playing at?

"She left a letter. For you" said Father, handing him an envelope.

Tom tore it open and read it eagerly.

"Dear beloved brother. By the time you read this, my plan will have succeeded and I will be long gone. Let's be honest, you aren't cut out to be a soldier, but I've always dreamed of being one, so I've taken your place! I'm sure I can pull this off and come home safely and what will keep me going is the knowledge that you will be safe. Give my love to our parents and stay safe! Love always, your sister, Lucy".

Tom read it several times in disbelief before showing it to his parents.

His parents were as stunned and appalled as he was. They told Tom to stay in his room for the time being. They needed to go away and discuss what to do next.

Tom sat alone in his room. He was relieved that it did not seem like he would be going to war but he was worried about his sister. What if she got killed or injured? More likely, he thought, her deception would be uncovered and she would be sent back.

That was what his parents had hoped too, the thought expressed when they next spoke to him. Over the next few days, they expected a knock on the door and to find Lucy had been brought home.

But days, and then weeks passed, and there was still no sign of Lucy, or that her disguise had been unsuccessful.

Three weeks after Lucy's disappearance, Tom's mother came to see him in his room. She held out a hand.

"Come with me, please, Tom".

Tom took her hand unwillingly, for he was not a child. He wondered where they were going.

Mother led him to her own room, a proper lady's bedchamber. Tom was embarassed to be in such a feminine environment. There was also, Tilly, his mother's ladies' maid, in attendance, dressed in her full uniform.

Mother smirked at his discomfort "There's no need to be so embarassed!". Then her expression became more serious.

"Look at me please, Tom".

Tom raised his head to look at his mother. She still retained traces of the beauty that she had been renowned for when she had been Lucy's age, but now looked more distinguished. Grey hairs had begin to appear in her blonde hair.

"Lucy's little escapade, as madcap and harebrained as it was, has, despite our hopes, succeeded. There's nothing we can do about it. We could expose her and have her brought back, but that would bring dishonour on our family, so we can't do that. In any case, we 've learnt that she's been posted to a desk job, so she's perfectly safe. That leaves one problem. What to do with you! Clearly, if Lucy is meant to be you, and officially you are where you're supposed to be, your presence here creates problems and will raise awkward questions".

Tom wondered where this was going as he tried to keep up with his mother's commentary.

"Then, there will be questions raised about what has become of Lucy". Mother looked at Tom directly.

"The solution is obvious. As Lucy has taken your place, you will have to take hers!"

Tom was stunned by the suggestion "You mean.....that I become Lucy? Wear dresses and petticoats? No chance!"

Mother sighed, as if expecting this response "You talk as if you have a choice in the matter. But you don't. Your father and I are united in this. You will do as you are told".

Tom was so appalled by the notion of having to dress as a girl that he had to restrain himself from stamping his foot and confined himself to saying "I won't! You can't make me!"

"Oh, really? We'll see about that, young man!"

Mother advanced towards him. She was dressed in a white blouse and tweed skirt from which the frilled edging of her petticoats could be seen as she moved. Mother was dressed in a very feminine way, but the look on her face was one of fury and determination. Frightened by the expression on his mother's face, Tom involuntarily moved back.

Mother grabbed his wrist and gave it a hard twist. Tom cried out in pain. His mother was stronger than she looked, he realised. He doubted that he could defeat her. And even if he could, his upbringing had made him naturally chivalrous, especially towards females. He could'nt hit a woman, let alone his own mother.

Before Tom realised what was happened, his mother had dragged him over to a chair, sat herself down on it and put Tom over her knee. She proceeded to spank him, giving him a dozen hard slaps on his rump. The pain and humiliation was extreme, but Tom was determined to hold out. The alternative, giving in, would be even worse in his view.

"Tilly, bring me a hairbrush please!" The maid obediently handed her mistress a broad hairbrush and Mother gave Tom another dozen spanks with it. This time, the pain was almost unbearable and Tom was weeping at the end of it.

"Have you had enough? Or would you like me to gave you another dozen? You're going to have to give in, so why suffer more than is necessary?"

Tom's bottom was on fire and he was gasping with the pain. He knew he could not withstand another twelve strokes from that brush. But.....to have to wear girls' things! It would be so humiliating!

Sighing, mother raised the brush high, ready to deliver another flurry of blows.

"NO!" Tom cried out "Please! Don't hit me anymore!"

"You'll do as I say?" Mother lowered the brush.

With the greatest reluctance, Tom nodded.

Mother smiled "Good! Now, from now on, you'll do whatever I tell you to and do it without hesitation otherwise you will be punished. Severely. Understood?"

Tom nodded again.

"Now, Tom. I want you to go behind that screen and remove all of your clothes".

Miserably, Tom obeyed. Within a few minutes, his reassuringly male clothing and shoes were in a pile and he stood stark naked. He was grateful for the screen otherwise all his wares would be on display to two women!

"Tom, come out from behind the screen please!"

Tom gulped and, blushing, slowly moved out from the refuge offered by the screen to show himself. Tilly giggled, but Mother gave her a sharp look. The girl became more subdued, as befitted a lowly maidservant, and kept her head down.

Mother inspected him, taking in his small, slender frame, his almost complete lack of musculature, his small hands and feet and his rather feminine features.

"This is going to work very well" she announced "You should have been a girl, Tom. I had hoped that my first child would be a female, but I got you! Now, thanks to circumstance, my first born child will be a girl!"

Tom cringed with shame.

The two women, mistress and maid, got to work on him. Tilly produced a atomiser filled with a sweet smelling lilac perfume and sprayed it all over Tom's puny body. Tom had to put on a frilled chemise and matching pair of knickers. A corset was then clapped around his small torso and tightened until Tom could hardly breathe and he felt like he was about to break in two. Thick woollen stockings were put on his slender legs and attached to his corset. Tom then had to step into silk, lacy petticoats and these were pulled up around his now tiny waist. Tom could no longer see his feet and he felt overly warm.

Tom's dress, a rose coloured frock with lots of fussy frills and lace, was put on him and over his petticoats. It had a pink silk sash around the middle that ended in a large bow at the small of Tom's back. Tom's feelings of shame were increased as he remembered his sister having to wear this dress, and hating it. Now he knew exactly how she had felt!

Tom's small stockinged feet were inserted into a pair of pink satin slippers, designed for indoor wear only and a wig, similar in length, colour and style to that of Lucy before she had hacked hers off, was plopped on Tom's head and worked until it was deemed to be satisfactory.

Tom was given a pair of white silk gloves to put on his hands. Tom shuddered again as he recalled that girls had to wear gloves like this - and keep them spotless - to force good ladylike behavior from girls.

And now it was happening to Tom, a boy! Tilly helped him put the gloves over his petite hands.

Mother came over to inspect her work "Very nice!" she said jubilantly "You make a very lovely girl, Tom. Prettier than your sister, in fact!"

Tom groaned because he knew that his mother was right. With his small, slender body and delicate features, he would look prettier than his sister, with her big boned body and plain face.

"Now, then, Tom. From now on, you will answer to the name of Lucy and you will be a well behaved young lady at all times. You will be dressed and treated exactly like the fourteen year old girl that you have been transformed into and you will be punished if you are naughty or disobedient. Clear?"

Tom nodded miserably. He was still trying to come to terms with his new gender and status. His senses were filled with his perfumed body, the itchy wool of his stockings, the feel of a skirt and petticoats on his legs, the frills and lace and rose coloured gown that were constantly in his vision, the heat of his wig and the silk gloves that covered his hands.

"Come along with me, Lucy" his mother commanded. Getting up with difficulty in his corsets and petticoats, Tom followed her. He felt incredibly nervous and self-conscious anyway, but he also felt ridiculous dressed as he was and having to answer to a female name. His cheeks burned with shame.

Mother led him past his own bedroom. How Tom longed to get in there, discard the feminine trappings he wore and get back into trousers! They stopped outside Lucy's bedroom. Mother opened the door.

Tom had never been inside his sister's bedroom. Boys did not enter a girl's bedroom. It was not done. The room was all a dazzling white. The walls were painted white, the carpet was white, all of the furnishings were white. The room was dominated by large bed with white sheets. A doll dressed in a not disimilar way to the way Tom was now dressed lay on the bed.

"This is your bedroom from now on" his mother stated "Your wardrobe is where you will find your dresses, and the dresser is where you will find your underwear".

Tom was subdued. He was expected to sleep in this very girly room? He knew he would have to, but cringed at the idea.

The dinner gong rang.

"Ah, time for dinner!" said mother "And time for the rest of the family to see you!"

Tom almost burst into tears at the idea. Mother took his hand. "Don't worry, you look very nice. Much nicer than as a boy!" She led him by the hand to the dining room.

Tom was absolutely dreading having his father and his younger brother, Simon, seeing him like this! He entered the room in a swish of skirts, his head bowed down low, his cheeks burning with the humiliation.

Tom had to sit with his mother on the side of the table traditionally reserved for the females, whilst his father sat at its head and Simon sat at the other end, in the place where Tom normally sat.

It suddenly struck Tom how patriarchal his family was. The males were dominant and he was now merely a female within it.

"Is that really Tom?" Father asked his wife, who nodded. "My goodness, what a pretty girl he makes!"

Simon, aged only ten, sniggered "What its like, having to wear a dress?"

"Shut up, you little weasel!" Tom hissed at him. Simon responded by sticking his tongue out at him.

"Children, behave! Especially you, Lucy!"

The family ate their meal. Father turned to his wife "What's.....Lucy going to be doing all day, by the way?"

Mother smiled "She'll be doing ladylike things. Sewing, Embroidery, practising her deportment".

Simon snickered "Tom's gonna be a pretty lady!"

Tom's cheeks reddened.

"Good!" said Father "Because my boss's wife will be coming to visit you as the lady of the house and as she's heard me talking about my clever daughter, she wants to meet her!"

Mother patted Tom's hand "Don't worry, dear, Lucy will be ready".

The evening went quickly. Tom had sat in a chair, not moving and not speaking, still trying to get a handle on what was happening to him. Then he was sent to bed to get some beauty sleep.

Mother, he discovered, had given him Tilly as his maid, as she was in on the secret. Tom realised that he could not have got undressed without her. His dress was buttoned up at the back and he could not reach the stays of his corset. Without the assistance of a maid, he was helpless! He had never felt so vulnerable.

Tilly gave him a long white nightdress to wear, along with a silk robe and a pair of satin slippers. Although he felt silly, he was glad to be liberated from his corsetry and petticoats. The free flowing nightdress was heavenly by comparison. He climbed into his sister's bed, marvelling at the softness of the sheets and fell into a deep sleep. He hadn't realised being a girl was so exhausting!

Three weeks later, Tom was a bag of nerves, for Mrs Biggins, the wife of his father's boss, was coming for tea with the ladies of the house,of which he was now one.

The three weeks since he had been forced into a dress had been a nightmare. Where once, he had admired a well dressed girl and had been intrigued by the brief show of lace underneath under skirts as she walked or sat down, he was experiencing for himself what it was like to have to live in frilly knickers, lacy petticoats, tight corsetry and all of the accroutrements of femininity and the pain involved in looking pretty.

He was in corsets all day long and had by now got used to the feel of silken skirts against his legs. After some tantrums, which had earned him a spanking over his mother's knee, he had become subdued, knowing it was hopeless to resist the regime of feminisation that he was now living under. He hated wearing dresses and frilly underwear, but was having to accept these indignities.

He was aware that he was becoming more docile and submissive, just like a real girl. Underneath his wig, his normal hair was being allowed to grow. Soon it would be long enough for Tom to stop having to wear a wig. But that meant that his hair could have things put in it. Like ribbons.

Feminine dress meant feminine pursuits. Tom had gained some new skills but none that he could boast about. He could now sew and darn, do some elementary tapestry and embroidery, curtsey and walk and talk like a lady.

He spent most of his time with his mother, being constantly supervised by her. His father was busy with work. Simon was loving Tom's humiliation and constantly jibed him about it.

Tom was constantly aware of his predicament, and lay awake most nights crying softly about his fate. But he knew that he could do nothing about it.

Tom stared down at the embroidered material in a frame on his skirted lap. He had been made to dress in that awful rose coloured gown that he loathed as much as his sister and had been told to behave and say as little as possible.

Mrs Biggins was a massive woman in a blue dress. Trailing behind her was a boy, looking sullen and resentful.

"This is my son, Oliver" Mrs Biggins said. "He can be sweet at times, but most of the time.....well, you know how boys are!"

"I do indeed!" Mother confirmed, looking back at her son with a smile "Hello, Oliver".

"How many sons do you have?" Mrs Biggins asked.

"Two. My eldest, Tom, is currently serving on the western front. My other boy is Simon. He's ten. He's a tearaway!"

"And this must be your daughter, Lucy. My husband has told me all about what a clever girl she is".

Tom rose and gave Mrs Biggins a curtsey, as he had been instructed, and submitted to being kissed on the cheek by her.

"What a charming girl you have!"

The ladies, and Oliver, took tea. The older women talked amongst themselves. Tom kept his head down but he was aware that Oliver was looking at him with interest. Oh, no! thought Tom, don't tell me he likes me!

Oliver leant over towards his mother and whispered something in her ear. Mrs Biggins interupted the conversation to say "Poor Ollie's getting restless. And your girl seems to be nodding off. Why don't we let the children play in the garden?"

Tom tried to show his reluctance by giving little shakes of his head but if his mother saw them, she ignored them and agreed to Mrs Biggins' suggestion. Ollie and Tom were turned out into the garden.

Simon was already outside, playing on a swing. He and Ollie introduced themselves, but as Ollie was in his teens and Simon was only aged ten, they were unlikely playmates. Simon took no further interest in Ollie and continued swinging.

Tom's heart sank as Ollie made his way towards him. He kept his head down. His heart skipped a beat as Ollie took hold of one of his gloved hands and began kissing it.

"Please! Stop" Tom begged him in a reasonable facsimilie of a female voice. Those hours of speech coaching with his mother were paying dividends.

"Don't worry, you ravishing creature, I won't hurt you". Tom panicked as Ollie's tongue ventured from his gloved hand to his bare arm. Tom wondered what he should do. He had never felt so helpless or vulnerable. But then, he had never been in this position before.

Ollie took him into his arms and began kissing him on the lips. One of his hands was trying to find its way underneath Tom's skirts, but thankfully they were too long and cumbersome. Tom tried to break away, but Ollie was far stronger than him. Tom realised that he was as helpless as a real girl in this situation.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Simon still playing on the swing. As his back was turned towards them, he could not see what was going on. Tom had to get his attention.

"What would a lady do in this situation?" flashed through his mind. Although he had only been a girl for a few weeks, he knew the answer. He managed to part his mouth from Ollie's and gave a loud, piercing scream.

"Hey, what's going on?" came Simon's high, piping voice.

"Hey kid, mind you own business and keep on playing with your dolls!" Ollie snapped at him.

Simon was indignant "I don't play with dolls! I'm not a girl! And what are you doing to my...sister".

Tom broke away from Ollie and, lifting his skirts high, tottered back into the house. He went to his room and threw himself on his bed, a sobbing mess. I hate being a girl!

Mother came to see him. If Tom was expecting sympathy, he guessed from the look on his mother's face that he would get none.

"I'm not very happy with you" she said "The son of your father's boss makes a pass at you and make a commotion!"

"Mother, he was kissing me and trying to put his hand under...under my skirt! He would have found out if I had let him go any further..."

"Screaming and running away was not the way to deal with the situation! You should have preserved your dignity...and his...by saying you had a headache and must withdraw to your bedchamber to take some repose. Your behaviour today was NOT ladylike!"

Tom seriously doubted if such a tactic would have worked, but could say nothing. Girls were to be seen and not heard!

Tom trembled. Over the last three weeks, the accusation of unladylike behaviour was accompanied by punishment. Spanking was normally the most common punishment but for the most unacceptable outbursts, a tightening of his corset was applied. Tom blushed as he remembered that his waist was no wider than sixteen inches, smaller than that of most women.

"Because you are new to all this, I won't insist on your corset being reduced another notch! Anyway, all is not lost. Mrs Biggins has invited us to stay with her next weekend!"

Tom almost fainted with the horror that passed through his mind.

"Lucy, listen to me. This visit is extremely important. To your father. Mr Biggins is retiring soon and it's up to him to decide who will take his place. Your father wants to be Mr Biggins's choice. So, you'll have to be nice to Ollie!"

"But...."

"There are no buts, young lady. It's time for you to learn what all us women must know. That men rule the world and it is our task to please them. We need to do all we can to please the Biggins's, so your task is to be pleasing to Ollie"

"Yes, mother" Tom said in a subdued tone.

Over the next week, as well as being pre-occupied by the visit to the Biggins's, Tom had another problem. Simon was constantly teasing him and making remarks. He spoke to his mother about it.

Mother shrugged "Boys will be boys".

But over the last few weeks, Tom had learnt a few new skills, including, he suddenly realised, some feminine cunning.

"But if he keeps making remarks like that, I'll be exposed".

Mother looked up at him with a frown "That's true. And we cannot afford for anyone else to know that you are not really a girl. So, what do you suggest?"

Tom smiled for the first time in weeks "The threat of some petticoat punishment to shut him up?"

Mother smiled too. It was a moment of female solidarity. "I see we think alike. You are more like a female than you think!"

Simon was taken aside and shown the overly feminine dress and underwear of a very small girl that he would be made to wear if he made any more remarks about his "sister". Horrified, Simon ceased to make any more remarks.

Tom felt sick, for he and his mother were travelling to the Biggins's residence. This was the first time Tom had been outside as a girl since his feminisation began. He was wearing his new saffron coloured dress with silk stockings, which were at least more comfortable than the woollen ones he had worn previously, along with a bonnet and handbag. It felt very strange to wear and use such things. Being a girl was much more complicated than being a boy!

They arrived at the Biggins's mansion and got settled in. Tom wore his new gown to dinner and sensed Ollie's eyes on him. He flushed. Once dinner was over, Tom retired to his room, saying he was fatigued after his long journey.

Tom lay on his bed, still in his saffron gown, when he detected a presence beside him. He was shocked to find Ollie lying next to him!

"How..did you get in here?" Tom asked.

"I grew up in this house. I know every secret passageway". Ollie dispensed with pleasantries and kissed Tom full on his lips.

Tom froze in terror, unsure what to do.

Ollie kissed him deeply on the lips and then began to explore his body with his hands. Tom's mind was reeling as he discovered the experience of being the "girl" on a date. Ollie took his silence for assent kissed and cuddled him. He broke off suddenly and looked at Tom. He suddenly looked very vulnerable.

"You do like me.....don't you?"

Tom was taken by surprise at this sudden turn. Ollie fancied him. Or, at least, he fancied the girl Tom purported to be. And he was desperate for Tom's approval. He could see it in his eyes.

Tom was beginning to understand that, mere girl he might be, he had the awesome power to please this boy or dash his hopes.

Tom smiled "Yes, I do like you".

Ollie's face light up "Thank goodness. Is it alright if I kiss you again?"

Tom wasn't keen on the idea of being kissed but he had his orders, so he nodded and submitted to Ollie's kisses.

"You're such a lovely girl" Ollie told him "the prettiest girl in the world in my opinion".

The weekend was a nightmare for Tom. Ollie took every opportunity to kiss and cuddle him. He had to change clothes frequently and be paraded about to show off the new dresses that his mother had bought for him specially for this weekend. Tom knew he looked very pretty in them, and the shame was almost unbearable.

On the last evening, Tom had to doll himself up in his new pink ballgown that left his shoulders and back bare and dance with Ollie. Ollie's eyes greedily took in the bare flesh that was on display. Tom's cheeks coloured up. It was very strange for a boy to be in this situation.

Tom was thankful when it was time to leave and he could escape the caresses and embraces of his would be suitor. Mother was pleased. The weekend had been a success. The Biggins's had been impressed with both Mother and her ladylike daughter.

But Mother dropped a bombshell on the ride home "Lucy, have you given any thought about school?"

Tom was taken off guard by the question. As far as he was concerned, he was sixteen and his schooldays were over. He realised with horror that now he was masquerading as a fourteen year old girl, he would have to attend school. And as a girl too!

"Do I have to go to school?" he whispered "I can't go to a school dressed like this!"

"You're a fourteen year old girl, so yes, you must attend school. It's the law. And you will go!"

"But....I can't go to the same school as Lucy did! Everyone knows her there!"

"Don't take me for such a fool. Of course I've considered that. So, instead of going to Lucy's school, we'll send you off to St Aubrey's Academy for Young Ladies. They have an excellent cirriculum and a very smart uniform".

Tom was horrified at the notion of attending a girls' school. A boy amongst girls, but having to dress and behave as a girl. It would be so humiliating!

He tried begging his mother to let him stay home. She could hire him tutors. But Mother was unmoved and Tom had to wipe away his tears. He would be going back to school and that was an end to it, his mother insisted.

Tom was measured for his school uniform and it arrived a few days later. It consisted of a plain white blouse, blue dress that fit snugly around Tom's body, blue woollen stockings, big black clumpy shoes, a straw boater and worst of all from Tom's point of view, a white lace pinafore to go over the dress. Tom had to continue to wear a corset and frilly knickers under the dress. The rest of the uniform was bad enough, but the pinafore made him look younger and more girlish.

Tom burst into tears as he saw himself in the mirror, dressed up in the uniform.

But Mother had no sympathy. She slapped him. "What are you bawling like a baby for? We're sending you to a fine school and we've spent a lot of money on your uniform".

"But....it's a girls' school! And I look about Simon's age in this silly pinafore!" Tom griped.

"Oh stop whining! Do you think I enjoyed having to dress that way when I was a girl? You'll just have to endure it, as all girls do. You can wear the uniform around the house until you leave for school, so you can get used to wearing it".

Tom was sullen and tearful for the next few days. Simon teased him mercilessly. However, Simon was caught doing this by Mother.

"Simon, I warned you what would happen if you teased your sister!"

Simon tried to resist, but he was no match for his Mother and Tilly and he ended up dressed in a cute pink frock, lacy white petticoats, and frilly white knickers which peeped out from the short dress. Simon's legs were bare and he wore frilled ankle socks and satin slippers. He was made to play with one of Lucy's old dolls, like a good little girl. Simon was sobbing with the humiliation.

Tom had quite enjoyed seeing his brother getting his just desserts. Lucy would have been amused too, had she known that currently both her brothers were in frocks whilst she wore the trousers.

The dreaded day when Tom would have to leave for school dawned. Tom put on his uniform and his pinafore, hating what he looked like. Tilly started doing something with his hair and Tom realised that she intended to put his by now long hair (he had ceased using the wig a fortnight earlier) into pigtails. He had no choice but to submit to this further indignity. Tilly finished her work by tying pink bows onto the pigtails.

Now I look even younger and even more girlish! Tom groaned.

Mother was satisfied with his appearance and kissed her daughter goodbye. Simon sat sullenly in a corner of the room, still dressed as a little girl. Mother had decided to extend his punishment a little.

Tom was driven to the train station and left there with his luggage. The train would be along in a few minutes. For the first time since this ghastly nightmare had begun he was alone. Perhaps he could run away and resume male garb and a masculine existence.

"Excuse me" came a piping voice behind him. Tom turned around to see a girl, dressed in exactly the same way as he was.

The girl spoke again "I couldn't help noticing that you're wearing the same uniform as me. Are you going to St Aubrey's too?"

Tom cursed his luck. He had hoped to avoid attention and perhaps slip away but there was no chance of that now!

Tom confirmed in the soft voice he had had to adopt to talk like a girl that he was bound for the school.

"Oh, what luck! We can be travelling companions. I'm Annabel Crower, by the way!"

"T... I mean Lucy Winthrop" Tom stuttered.

"Gosh, you are nervous! You must be if you can't even remember your own name! Don't worry, I've been to St Aubrey's for two years and its a wonderful place".

You'd be nervous too, if you were me! Tom thought.

Annabel gushed on with girlish enthusiasm, even after the train arrived and they boarded it. There were, of course, more girls from St Aubrey's on the train and more got on at each stop. As well as Annabel, Tom was surrounded by excited, giggly girls, asking him about himself, or rather his girl self. Tom did his best to answer them and had to invent some stuff out of his head.

Thankfully, the train journey was short. Tom began to lug his two suitcases along the platform when an older girl, already carrying a suitcase of her own, offered to help him "A dainty little thing like you shouldn't be humping suitcases around! Let me help!"

Tom was embaressed to note that the girl, who must have only fifteen, was taller and stronger than him, but he knew he could use the help, so he let the girl take a suitcase. Talk about role reversal! he thought.

The girls - and Tom - boarded a bus that ferried them to the school. St Aubreys was in the middle on nowhere, surrounded by miles and miles of fields, and Tom had no idea of the geography of this region, so whilst escape from the school would probably be easy, getting beyond it would be impossible, especially as Tom had absolutely no male clothing.

Annabel was studying him "You look awfully serious Lucy. Is anything the matter?"

"No, I'm fine. Just nervous!"

Annabel patted his hand. "It'll be fine, you'll see".

The girls were taken to the main hall for induction and assignment to dormitories. Their luggage would be taken to their dorms by the male servants, the only men allowed in the place. Tom was assigned to the same dorm as Annabel and she stuck to him like glue, much to his dismay.

However, at least Annabel and all of the other girls he had encountered so far, seemed friendly. They also seemed to accept him as Lucy. Tom knew he would need friends here. He would not be able to get undressed or remove his corset without a helping hand. And he would have to do the same for Annabel. Help her out of her dress and loosen her stays. Tom knew that he would have no problem with the practical side of this arrangement. After all, after almost two months in a girlish existence, he knew his way around feminine clothing and corsetry as well as any fourteen year old girl. It would be seeing Annabel, or any girl, in just her underwear would be embaressing.

It was just so humiliating to have to go to a girls' school, as a girl!

Tom was unpacking his possessions from his suitcases when a shadow loomed over him. He glanced up to see an older girl who wore a gold badge on her uniform. The girl stuck out a hand.

"Hi there! I'm Marjorie Thompson. Head Girl. And you are?"

Tom confirmed his name and shook the girl's hand. She had a strong grip and looked quite strong.

"Welcome to St Aubrey's, Lucy. If you need someone to turn to or talk to, I'm in that bunk over there. Bye for now". Marjorie smiled and gave him a little wave. Feeling foolish, Tom gave a little wave back. Everyone seemed so nice here!

The following day, school began in earnest. Tom's timetable was crammed with lessons he had to attend. There were no free periods. He spent the whole day in classrooms with girls. To his consternation, all of them were brighter than he was, a sixteen year old boy! He was bottom of the class in every subject, except one. Drama.

Drama was about the only lesson that Tom enjoyed. The teacher, a Miss Kershaw, seemed to like him better than the other teachers. Tom had tried to avoid attention, but Miss Kershaw had singled him out to play the bigger roles. Invariably, female roles. Annabel always seemed to be cast in the male lead. At least, Tom thought, I'll have a chance to shine here because I'm a dunce in everything else!

After one lesson, Miss Kershaw asked Annabel and Tom to stay behind. Miss Kershaw explained that Tom and Annabel were, in her opinion, the best actresses in the class. Miss Kershaw planned to stage Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" and she thought that Annabel would make a fine Romeo and that Tom would be a good choice for Juliet.

Tom was embaressed that he was to play the female role whilst Annabel, a real girl, would be cast in the male role. Tom suggested that they switch roles.

Miss Kershaw laughed "Don't be silly! You're much too petite and feminine to play Romeo! But you will make a perfect Juliet!"

Annabel was puzzled "Why wouldn't a girl want to play Juliet? I'm slightly envious of you, but Miss Kershaw is right. You'll make a lovely Juliet!"

Tom blushed. Annabel noticed this "My, you're such a blusher! I've never seen a girl blush as much as you do! It's almost like you're constantly embaressed!"

I am! Tom thought. A sixteen year old subaltern having to dress up as and be a fourteen year old schoolgirl and being cast as Juliet in the school play opposite a girl who will be playing the male role! Who wouldn't be constantly embaressed in that position?

Tom tried to laugh it off "Yes, I'm easily embaressed. Have been all the time!"

Tom's schooldays as a schoolgirl continued. To his surprise, whilst in schoolgirl mode, he was actually doing better in all of his lessons. He would never be top of the class, but was getting higher marks and more praise. He was picked out for a special commendation for some excellent work he had done in embroidery. Annabel remarked that he was much better at needlework than she was.

He also had more friends. His dorm mates all liked him and were kind to him, unlike the rough lot he had had to board with at his last school. He was even included in the girlie chats that took place after lights out.

The girls produced candles and lit these and then lay on their bunks. They talked about everything. Their past. Their hopes for the future. Their boyfriends and past boyfriends. When pressed on the point of boyfriends, Tom had to talk about Ollie and being kissed by him. He even had to say how much he had enjoyed it.

The topic one night was brothers.

"I've got three" said Annabel "All younger than me, thank goodness, otherwise they would have to go and fight in that dreadful war. They're all so sweet. I used to dress them up in my clothes. They looked so cute!"

The other girls fell about laughing.

Marjorie spoke next "I've got the one brother. He's younger than me. He dresses up in my things all the time! He especially likes my school uniform! Sometimes, he's more girly than me!"

"Aren't boys weird?" All of the girls cooed in agreement.

"How about you, Lucy? You've got two brothers haven't you?" prompted Annabel.

For once, Tom was not struggling to find words. He briefly talked about his "older brother" now an army officer and was more expansive about Simon, describing his petticoat punishment, which the girls found very amusing.

Marjorie spoke again "Of course, boys like my brother are unusual. Most boys hate being made to dress as a girl. Absolutely hate it. I can't imagine what it must be like for some boys, who are made to dress as girls against their will, like Lucy's brother. It must be so humiliating for them!"

It is! Tom thought. But he was enjoying these girlie chats. He knew more about each of these girls than he had ever known about any of his school chums from his old school. It was intimate and lovely.

He did so much better as a schoolgirl than he had ever done as a schoolboy!

Tom was getting ready for the school play. He was dressed up as Juliet in a long, flowing silver gown and had been fully made up. He knew that the make up would make him even prettier. He also had to wear an elaborate wig, which was most uncomfortable. He envied Annabel, who could legitimately wear male clothing as Romeo.

The rehearsals had gone well and Tom felt a confidence in himself that he had never had in his male persona, but he was nervous because his parents and brother would be in the audience.

Miss Kershaw suddenly rushed in and announced "I'm sorry everyone, owing to unforeseen circumstances, the play is postponed. Lucy, please will you come with me. The headmistress wants to see you".

Tom indicated his flowing dress "Shouldn't I change first?"

"No, you're to come along at once!"

The other girls looked at each other as Tom gingerly walked after Miss Kershaw in his finery.

Tom entered the headmistress's study to find not only the headmistress there, as one would expect, but Tom's parents. There was no sign of Simon.

The headmistress and Miss Kershaw excused themselves and left Tom alone with his parents. They seemed subdued and downcast.

Mother? Father? What's wrong?"

"You'd better sit down, dear".

Tom obeyed, sitting with difficulty in his dress.

"We've had news of Lucy from the War Office. It couldn't be worse, unfortunately. She's been listed as killed in action. She was killed by a stray shell whilst visiting the frontline as an aide to the commanding officer. I can't believe I'll never see her again". Mother began sobbing.

Tom was crying too. He had sometimes resented his sister because she made him look like a dunce, but he had always loved her. Now she was gone. Forever.

"This is my fault" Tom began "If I'd been more of a man, I would have gone to war, as I should of..."

Mother sighed "No, it isn't your fault at all. It's Lucy's for running off in your uniform and ours for not alerting the authorities and getting her brought home. We thought she would be perfectly safe in a desk job and now she's dead!" Mother began to weep again.

Father spoke next "There's more. I'm afraid that Lucy was totally pulverised by the shell. Her body, what's left of it by all accounts, is just a bloody mess. There's nothing to bring home. Just as well nobody found out her true sex. Had it got out that she was a fourteen year old girl, we would be in serious trouble with the authorities".

Tom nodded. He was still processing the news of Lucy's death. Nothing else seemed important now. Not the school play, nor possible repurcussions with the authorities over a schoolgirl posing as an army officer and vice versa.

Mother dried her eyes "Lucy's dead and gone" she became more serious in expression and tone "But there's the question of what to do about you. You could come forward and admit your true identity..."

"He'd get shot for desertion!" his father stated flatly "Then we'd lose two of our children in as many days!"

Mother nodded "Your father is quite right. That leaves other options. You could drop the schoolgirl charade and run away. I suppose we could pay to get you new identity papers and set you up somewhere else".

Father shook his head again "No, that won't work either. We're in the middle of a war, the authorities are extremely vigilant. If he gets caught with false papers, he could end up being shot as a spy. Even if he doesn't, as a young man he'd still get called up and end up the same way as poor Lucy".

Mother looked at Tom "There don't seem to be many options and only one that makes sense. You should remain as Lucy! You make a lovely girl, you really do. Your headmistress was full of praise for you. How well you've done in your studies, the friends you've made. We never got a good word about you from your old school".

Father nodded in agreement "You made a pretty poor son, but a much better daughter".

Tom couldn't believe what he was hearing. Stay as Lucy for the rest of his life? He thought about the future as Lucy and the implications. He would have to dress and act as a female all of the time. He wasn't sure if he could do it. But what other choice did he have? Besides, as his parents had pointed out, he was doing much better in life as a female and Tom could even envisage himself being a happy schoolgirl.

Tom spoke quietly "I'd like to stay as Lucy. You're right, I make a much better girl than boy!"

Mother hugged him, which took Tom by surprise, as his mother was not given to be demonstrative "Thank you. At least I'll have a daughter again!"

Father smiled for the first time since hearing of his daughter's untimely demise "And Simon will have an older sister again. Mind you, he's spending more time in dresses these days!"

"Yes, he's a very naughty boy! Of course, he hates every moment in dresses, but he does look sweet!"

They continued talking as they left the office and headed for their car. Tom was being granted a leave of absence from school due to bereavement and so would be going home with his parents. As he climbed into the vehicle, Annabel, Marjorie and the other girls from his dorm gave him a friendly wave and looks of sympathy.

Tom smiled in the knowledge that he would be coming back to this wonderful place and now fully accepting his new status as a schoolgirl.

Man enough to be a woman?

I held up the pair of lacy red knickers. Karl's face went red as he struggled to think of a convincing answer. Karl was my husband of two years standing. He was a handsome young man. I had fallen head over heels in love with him when we had met at university. The problem was that Karl was a babe magnet. Women would turn and look at him when we were out shopping. He was a real head turner. And he knew it. And I knew that, after only two years of married life, he had taken advantage of it.

Karl worked as an insurance salesman. With his looks and his sales patter, he was a good salesman and earned a lot of bonuses on top of his basic salary. He was on the road a lot. Even so, he was in the office long enough to hook up with Stacey Cartwright. Stacey Cartwright was a pretty redhead in her early twenties who worked as an accounts assistant in my husband's office. When I had first met her, at the company Christmas party, I had envied her youth and beauty. Then she had made a move on Karl and we had taken an instant dislike to each other. Our relationship, if one could call mutual dislike such a thing, was frosty and formal when we had to meet at socials. Stacey was a manipulative little cow and she could wind my husband around her finger. She was as much to blame as Karl was for their sordid little affair.

I apportioned a small measure of blame on myself. When our relationship had begun, we had been carefree students. Carl was initially the breadwinner because I went on to do my Masters degree, but once I had obtained that I had landed a graduate level job with a fashion house and immediately out earned him.

 Karl didn't like the reversal of our roles of breadwinner and secondary earner. He was resentful and petulant at times, such as arranging our mortgage for example, when I told the adviser that I earned double what he did. To add to that, I was a chronic workaholic and spent more time in the office than I did at home. I suppose Karl felt emasculated and neglected and so in some small way I did contribute to him having an affair. But it was still no excuse to betray me!

 I had suspected that he was having an affair for the past couple of months but could not confront him about it until I had proof. Now I had proof, for I had found a pair of Stacey's knickers in his jacket pocket and I had just showed Karl that I had evidence of his infidelity. I was willing to forgive him. I still loved him dearly, although I was very hurt by the betrayal. All he had to do was admit everything, apologise and end it with Stacey. I would make his life hell for a while, but eventually our life would return to normal. I looked at my husband after he had been shown his mistress's underwear. He was embaressed and avoided eye contact.

"Karl, look at me" I ordered him, in complete mastery of the situation. Karl looked up at me with those lovely blue eyes that still made my heart melt. They were so beautiful! Then I imagined him and Stacey together and my giddy feelings of love turned to a smouldering anger. I held up the knickers again "These belong to that slut, Stacey, don't they?". I was going to wring the truth out of him, make him squirm as he recounted every detail of his infidelity, make him suffer a little. It would do him no harm and it would make him think twice about playing around again. I was expecting either the truth or him trying to come up with some load of cock and bull excuses, but I didn't expect to hear what came out of his mouth. Karl shook his head in denial, which made me even more angry. OK, I thought, he wants to play it the hard way. "If they aren't Stacey's, then whose are they then?" I demanded. I tried to think of the other women at that office. Most of them were older than Karl, or not as attractive as Stacey. For all her faults, Stacey was the prettiest woman in the office by a long way.

 Karl fidgeted and went red "They're.....mine" he blurted out. I knew he was lying. I had known him for the last ten years. There had been no evidence of him doing any kinky stuff like wearing ladies' underwear. I had once suggested playfully in our student days that he should wear one of my dresses and he had recoiled at the thought of wearing womens' clothes. Karl was a very masculine man, but right now he was being a very stupid man. Why couldn't he just admit the truth? I looked at him "Don't be silly, Karl. We both know who these belong to!" "But...it's true. They're mine. Honestly. I.....like wearing them when I have to stay over in hotels!" He didn't sound at all convincing. I was fuming. I flung the knickers at him "OK, if you really like wearing girls' knickers, go and put those on for me! Prove to me what you are saying is true!" I had hoped that the prospect of actually having to wear his girlfriend's underwear would force him to come clean.

Karl fumbled with the lacy garment, confused and bewildered by it, not knowing quite to do. "I'm waiting, Karl. Go and put your knickers on, if they are yours, as you say!" Karl stumbled out as if in a daze. "And come back wearing ONLY your knickers!" I instructed him. Karl reappeared several minutes later, clad only in the red lacy knickers. Karl was a big man, six feet tall, broad and very hairy. The knickers looked incongruous on such a muscular and hairy frame.

Karl was blushing "There" he said "Are you satisfied? Can I take these off now?" I had no doubt that he was still lying and that he thought he could wriggle out of this by just wearing a pair of knickers for a few minutes, but I thought of a delicious revenge. "Why would you want to take them off?" I asked him, sounding innocent. "I thought you loved wearing them". "I....do, but I don't want to wear them right now". "If you like wearing them so much, I think you ought to wear them all of the time! Go and put your clothes on over your pretty knickers!" That shook him. The look on his lovely face was priceless as he realised that he would have to wear such dainty underwear all of the time. He stumbled off again and returned wearing his suit. I had demanded he hand over to me the pants he had been wearing, which I tossed in the wash basket.

Karl was embarressed to be wearing womens' underwear, but his inability to admit the truth was causing him this humiliation. I was determined to break him down. He would have to wear ladies' knickers until he told the truth. In the morning, I gave him a pair of my silk french knickers and told him he was to wear them to work. Karl went red, but slipped the silky garment on.

Karl went off to work. I called into work and took the week off as holiday. I had taken none so far this year and it was already June, so my boss had no issue with this. I went shopping. I went into a new place called Mystique Lingerie. It was quite an eye opener, I can tell you! I have never been what you would call a girly girl and I wasn't into lingerie at all. Karl often moaned that I never dressed up for him or showed any interest in buying some lingerie to spice up our sex life. I often wore sports bras and matching pants.

Mystique Lingerie was an Aladdin's Cave for those who loved lingerie. There were knickers in all shapes and sizes, from thongs to pantaloons and bloomers, basques, corsetry, stockings and suspenders and lots of dress up costumes. Policewomen, Cheerleaders, Fairy Tale Princesses and Schoolgirls and loads of others. There was no way I would ever wear such stuff, even for the man I loved. But, HE would have to wear it for me! Or admit that he was having an affair. It was up to him.

I purchased a white lace bra, a basque, stockings, suspenders and a pile of knickers. The girl assistant queried the sizing of my purchases, suggesting that with my petite build I should select smaller sizes, but I simply told her that I was buying them for my husband. The girl merely smiled and shrugged. She had obviously seen it all before!

My next stop was Petal Fashions, a mainstream store, where I purchased for my husband a flowery frock, a white blouse and skirt and pair of smart, black high heels. The assistant who served me was puzzled by my choices but said nothing. I took my purchases home and laid them out on our marital bed. And waited patiently for Karl to come home.

Karl came home, looking exhausted. He had had a full day, with lots of clients to visit, he had said. I told him not to bother sitting down, as I had a surprise for him. I led him upstairs. Karl was thinking that the surprise was to be a little make up sex and he began fondling my bottom as we went up the stairs. I slapped his hands away angrily "Don't you men ever think of anything else?", I snapped at him. Karl was dumbfounded by what he found in the bedroom.

"So, you've been shopping" he said "Nice clothes, especially the underwear! Why don't you slip into some of them?". He was becoming aroused by the image of me prancing about in a skimpy pair of knickers. The dummy didn't notice that the clothes and underwear would never fit me. I took petite sizes. "They're for you!" I told him simply. "As you love wearing womens' lingerie, you can wear everything else too! Go on, get changed into that pretty frock!" "You expect ME to wear this stuff? Are you mad?"

Here it comes, I thought. He'd rather tell the truth than have to dress up fully as a lady! For such a masculine man, it would be too humiliating. I shrugged "I thought this was what you wanted. Or are you having second thoughts about this cross dressing fetish that you've very suddenly begun?" Karl looked like he was about to burst into tears. He fingered the red, black lace trimmed basque. I was amused as I could see exactly what was going on in his mind. He was imagining himself having to wear it! Surely his innate maleness would surface and he would refuse to wear it and confess all.

Stuttering, Karl held up the basque and asked me for help. I took the garment off him whilst he disrobed, shedding his male attire and leaving only the french knickers to preserve his modesty. I clapped the basque on him and tightened the laces. I had to admit, the basque looked quite good on him and instantly made him look more feminine. To his embarressment, I took the french knickers off him and he cupped his hands over his groin, as a modest maiden would do. My macho husband had some innate femininity as well it seemed, which amused me greatly.

I gave him a pair of lacy white knickers. They were far more frilly and feminine than anything I wore and this had occurred to him. It must have been killing him to have to wear more feminine underwear than his own wife! He slipped them on. The fishnet stockings followed, then the frock and then the high heels. Karl looked a sight. A six foot man in a flowery frock, stockings and high heels. He looked somewhat womanly as he had good legs but above the neck the illusion could not be maintained. Karl was clearly a man in a dress. He could not be mistaken for anything else, but then that was my intention. I had no intention (at this stage) of making him look like a woman.

Karl's head was down. He couldn't even bear to look at himself. He almost toppled over in the high heels and moaned about how uncomfortable they were. Now you know how we women feel, I told him. But I rarely wore high heels these days, except to formals. He gradually managed to move about in them, but he was on the verge of tears.

But I wasn't finished with him yet "Karl, be a dear and cook us a meal". "What? I've just done a full day at work and you've been off! You cook the meal!" "But I'm not the one wearing a dress!" I retorted. In the early days of our relationship, Karl had established that I was the one who cooked and cleaned because I wore dresses and skirts in those days. "You're the one in the dress, you cook for us!" was his maxim. Now it had been neatly reversed on him, for he was now the one in a frock and I wore jeans and a simple blouse.

"Go on Missie, in her pretty new frock! Get into the kitchen where you belong!" I said to him "And put an apron on over that dress! I spent a lot of money on it and I don't want it ruined!" Karl stomped down to the kitchen and there was sound of banging pots and pans and Karl going through cupboards to find out where everything was. He spent almost no time in the kitchen normally and expected me to cook for him even though I had been at work all day too. Now he was getting a taste of what it was to be a woman. Working all day and then having to cook and clean for a man in the evening!

Karl eventually cooked up a meal. Beans on toast. And the toast was burnt. He was a pretty hopeless cook, and I told him so, but if he thought this meant that he would be getting out of cooking he had another think coming as I told him he obviously needed more practice. That should do it, I thought. Wearing dresses and dainty lingerie was bad enough for a man, but having to cook as well? He had to break soon. But he didn't. I made him wash up and then set him a load of chores to do. I watched TV whilst my beskirted husband hoovered and dusted and put the laundry on. It was a heavenly experience to have some time to myself and not have to do the chores that normally fell to me.

Karl was shattered by the time he had finished and went to bed. He was snoring soundly as I slid into bed next to him. You stupid, stubborn fool, I thought. All you have to do is admit you've been playing around and apologise and everything can go back to the way it was!

But Karl held out. I made him dress in his women's things as soon as he got home each day and made him do all of the housework. There were some tears and pitiful looks but he did as he was told. I should have been pleased to have the burden of housework lifted from me but I was frustrated by my husband's stubborness.

I decided to take things to the next level. I told Karl one day that he was to call in sick. In fact, I did it for him. I spoke to his boss, Mr Kemp, who asked me if Karl was alright. Everyone had noticed that he seemed to come to work so exhausted these days so they were not surprised to learn that he was ill.

Karl was mystified as to why he should take the day off. "I've booked you into Eve's" I told him. "Eve's?" "It's a beauty salon". "A beauty salon. Why would I want to go there?" "Oh, Karl. I booked you in for a full body wax. You're going to come home with a lovely soft, hairless body, just as a woman's body should be!" Karl looked bereft "But I don't want a hairless body!" "Well, you're getting one" I said firmly "If you want to continue wearing lovely dresses you'll need to get rid of all of that hair". I drove him to Eve's. It positively reeked of femininity. No real man would be seen anywhere near the place, let alone become a customer.

 Karl looked panicked and as if he was about to make a run for it, but I took his hand and led him inside. The salon was filled with women getting manicures, pedicures, facials and new hairstyles. Karl was the only male present, in male attire except for his knickers. He drew many amused glances and there was some tittering. Usually, Karl was the centre of attention amongst ladies for his handsome good looks, but here he was an object of amusement.

He was trembling and all nervous. I walked up to the reception area, where a young girl who must have been in her late teens gave me a welcoming smile "May I help you, Madam?" she asked. I returned her smile "Yes, young lady, you can. My husband has an appointment for 10 am sharp. In the name of Preston". The girl raised a plucked eyebrow but said nothing and checked the appointments book "That's right, Mrs Preston. Mr Preston, booked in for a full body wax!" The girl had not troubled to keep her voice low and so the other customers and staff could overhear quite clearly. There was much laughter and cackling amongst the women. "Hey, lady boy!" called out one of the other customers, an older lady, "why don't you just go for the full works. You'd look even prettier with with manicured nails and shaped eyebrows!" The women almost wet themselves laughing, including me!

Karl seemed to be shrinking in stature, red faced, with his head down. The humiliation must have been unbearable. The girl receptionist handed Karl a robe and asked him to get changed in a cubicle. Karl, clutching the pink, fluffy robe, disappeared. There were many screams as the girl depilated my husband, causing more amusement amongst the women.

Karl emerged, fully clothed, anxious to get out of the place as quickly as possible. He moaned all the way home about the pain he was in and why it was that women had such things done to them. It was like undergoing torture! When I climbed into bed that night, it was to find a hairless soft body. It was almost like sleeping beside another woman. But still Karl refused to buckle, so I took things a little further.

I made him wear perfume, jewellery and make up. He looked quite pretty in full make up. Karl hated having to wear make up. He squirmed and whimpered as I applied the cosmetics to his face. I made him learn how to "put on his face". Karl resented having to use lipsticks, eyeliners and make up brushes, especially as I rarely wore cosmetics nowadays, and he was aware that I was making him even more feminine than I was! Finally, I purchased a wig for him. A long blonde one. In spite of his height and build, dressed up in women's clothes, his face made up and framed by a woman's glory, Karl looked like a very convincing woman indeed. He looked far more feminine than I did and he knew this and deeply resented it. He still did all of the housework, as he wore the skirts and I wore the trousers.

I went back to work with a lighter heart as I now had the chores taken care of. Karl still refused to admit his affair. It was a source of great frustration to me, in spite of the benefits and amusement in feminising him. I did not know what else I could do. I couldn't get his ears pierced or his hands maincured as he had to maintain a male persona in the wider world and those were dead giveaways. Then I hit on an idea. When Karl got home, I ordered him to change into his evening gown. My husband now owned a full length pink silk evening gown that showed off his shoulders, back and decolletage' to best advantage. He also had to wear jewellery with it, including clip on earrings, with it and a pair of matching stilettos.

Karl gave me a black look but went upstairs to change. This time, I cooked the meal and set the places on the table to have the meal. Karl appeared, a vision of pink silk and long blonde hair, blushing and moaning about having to wear the gown and heels. Then he noticed that I had set three places at the table. He blanched "Don't tell me you've invited someone else! Please tell me you haven't!" He sounded absolutely terrified. I felt a small degree of pity for him but remembered that he had brought all of this upon himself with his unbelievable stubborness.

"Yes, Karl, we have a guest, so you'll have to behave like a proper lady!" A look of sheer panic crossed his made up face "I can't be seen dressed like this!" He moved towards the door. As he opened it, the doorbell rang. "Too late! She's here" I told him "You'll just have to brazen it out". "I'll die of shame!" "Nonsense! You look very nice. Now, go and sit down whilst I answer the door".

Miserably, Karl took his place at the table. He was shaking with fright. Poor macho husband, I thought, the thought of someone seeing you dressed as a woman has you scared out of your wits. Are you not man enough to be a woman?

I answered the door and escorted our guest inside. Due to the nature of our relationship, our greetings were terse. Stacey strode confidently into the dining room. She was dressed in a blouse, jacket and skirt combination and wore stockings and high heels. She was heavily made up and perfumed. Her perfume was overpowering. Stacey looked around and took in the sight of a rather large woman dressed in an elaborate evening gown. She spun around to face me "Who's this? You said Karl would be here, not some over made up trout!". She turned to address the woman "Sorry love, nothing personal, but you look bloody awful in that dress! Your face is pretty enough, I suppose, and you have nice skin, but you're way too big boned to carry off that look!" I had to stifle giggles. The strange "woman" turned her face away. Goodness knows how he must be feeling!

"Where's Karl?" Stacey demanded of me. I pointed at the lady seated at the table "There he is. In all his glory!" Karl put his face in his hands and began sobbing. Stacey was completely lost for words. Her mouth kept opening and shutting for several moments, but nothing came out. Finally she composed herself sufficiently to say "What the hell have you done to him?" I shrugged "Karl told me that he likes wearing ladies'....undergarments so I got him some. And then things kind of escalated and well, you can see for yourself. He has become a complete lady and he is becoming an excellent housewife".

"You can't be serious! Karl, please tell me that this is just a bit of fun. You don't really enjoy dressing like that do you?". Stacey's voice was pleading. She couldn't accept that the macho man she had ensnared and slept with could be in any way feminine.

Karl looked up, his face smeared by cosmetics and tears "I hate dressing like this! I only did it because...because...." "You two are having an affair" I said smugly. "So what if we are!" snapped Stacey "You can't give him what he wants! You're working all day, you dress like a man and you make him feel inadequate cos you earn double what he does! Is it any wonder he looks for a real woman?" "Stacey...no! Don't say any more" Karl pleaded with her, but aware that his injunction had come too late. It was all out in the open.

"Thank you for your...frank and colourful admission, Stacey" I said to my husband's mistress "Now get out of my house before I throw you out and if I ever see you anywhere near my husband again I'll pull your hair out by the roots!"

Stacey icily collected her things and left without another word. I sensed that after seeing Karl in drag, her ardent passion had immediately evaporated. She wouldn't be a problem any more. At least, not to me. I pitied the wives of the other men who worked around Stacey, knowing that that predatory little minx would quickly make a move on another man.

"What now?" Karl asked. He was aware that I now had him over a barrel. His infidelity was totally exposed. I had every right to divorce him and take him for every penny I could get from him and he would end up in a crummy bedsit, living out of a suitcase, having to hand over most of his earnings to me.

He looked pleadingly at me "Look, darling, I'm really, really sorry. It's all Stacey's fault! I was going about my business when she comes onto me. She caught me offguard and I....couldn't resist". I could believe that, but he wasn't entirely innocent and he knew it. And he knew that I knew it too. "Can't we put this behind us and start over?" he pleaded. "Karl, I'm very angry with you" I said "You not only played around with another woman, which is bad enough, but you've lied about it for ages. I've known for months about your pathetic little affair! I should throw you out of this house right now, just like I've just done to your mistress! But...."

Karl looked at me hopefully. He looked ever so pretty in his dress, I thought. "But.....I've decided to give our marriage another go. But there will have to be changes..." Karl was pathetically grateful for this reprieve "Oh, thank you, darling! I'll do anything, anything you say!" "Good" I said "First of all, you're to give up your job. I earn more than enough for both of us".

"But...what am I going to do?" "You're becoming a full time housewife. I like you better in dresses, so you're going to wear them all of the time, along with everything else. You going to be a proper wife to me! And if you don't like that you know where the door is".

"Become a wife? Me?" Karl was aghast at the thought. "You've been as good as one for the last month, so it's not that big a leap for you to make. It's up to you. Do you want to be my wife or my ex-husband?" Karl thought for a long moment. A life in dresses and aprons against divorce and impoverishment. What a choice!

Karl let out a deep sigh "Alright. For the sake of our marriage, I'll be the wife. God! I'll be a laughing stock! A male wife complete with skirts and make up!" I smiled smugly. He would get used to it. Used to the femininity that was imposed on all women from birth. He might even come to love it. I read that most men who wear dresses by chance or design become hopelessly addicted to femininity and Karl was no different from other men. He no doubt viewed his future with horror, but one day, I knew in my heart, he would be man enough to be a woman!

"Womansworld" - 2012

A young, blonde woman dressed in a brown business suit and shirt is standing in the middle of a studio. A head mike is fixed to her cropped hair. The presenter's smile is flawless and dazzling as she begins speaking in a very clear and articulate voice. "Good morning! I'm Kimberley Mason of ZX News and I'd like to tell you about a groundbreaking new movie called Womansworld". The camera pans to the image of a movie poster advertising the film. The word "Womansworld" in pink lettering and with strategically placed shining jewels dominates the advertisement. Underneath, in smaller lettering is the sentence "What would happen if women ruled the world?" There is the image of a man, dressed in a flowery frock, stockings and high heels, with his face made up, looking thoroughly miserable. The prettifed male is lying on the ground. Behind him, a smiling woman clad in a tuxedo has one of her feet placed on the man's body and she has raised a clenched fist in the air in a victory pose. The image is iconic and quite startling. Kimberley Mason pauses for a moment to let her audience, both in the studio and all over the country, take in the image, before resuming her commentary. "Womansworld is the latest offering from the exciting, if a little zany, director, Carla Boom, who, as you may remember, brought us such films as "Role Reversal", "Little Sissy" and of course, her most successful picture to date, "The Quarterback" where a high school girl replaced her boyfriend as the quarterback on the hitherto all-male football team". "Gender role reversal seems to be Boom's genre' and Womansworld takes her take on role reversal to a whole new level. Imagine, if you will, a future world where women have won the battle of the sexes. The government is made up of female politicians, women control all of the big corporations, they hold all of the most important jobs. Lawyers, Doctors, Engineers, Scientists. They're all women. They, and not men, own all of the wealth". "The men, having been roundly defeated in the battle of the sexes, have been relegated to being housewives, secretaries and doing the low paid jobs women used to do in the past. Women, now dominant, have even forced men to wear dresses and high heels!" There was a titter from the studio audience as the image of a man wearing a blouse, skirt, stockings and high heels appeared on a screen. He wore the same disgruntled look as the feminised male in the previous image. "Yes ladies! In Womansworld, this is how the typical man will be dressed! He will be forced to keep house for his female partner and mind her children while she goes out to work and earns the money". The image of a confident looking woman with short hair, dressed in a business suit and driving a top of the range car replaced the image of the feminine male. "Meet one of the new rulers of the world: A woman. This woman is no delicate flower needing a man to protect her and keep her. She is university educated, holds down an important job, earns all of the money for her family. She is assertive, confident and dominant. Her partner knows that SHE wears the pants!" Another titter from the largely female studio audience. "I'd like to introduce you to Amanda Fewkes, the lead actress in Womansworld, her co-star, Matthew Young, and Audrey Manning, Professor of Gender Studies at an eminent university". There was polite applause as the studio lights were raised to reveal a young woman in jeans and a print blouse, a young man dressed in jeans and a shirt, and a silver haired woman dressed in a smart business suit. They were seated together on a long couch. Kimberley Mason slid in between the young actor and actress and sat between them. "Miss Fewkes. Tell me about your character in Womansworld" Kimberley urged the young girl. Miss Fewkes was only too pleased to oblige "OK, I play Helen Windsor, this high powered executive who has been successful at university and in business and who ALWAYS gets what she wants. She's the wife to Matthew's character, though, she's the breadwinner and he has to keep house for her and look after our babies! It's such a great, empowering role!" she enthused. Kimberley turned to the actor "Matthew Young, up and coming actor, what was it like for you having to play a housewife and having to wear dresses?" The young actor looked slightly embarressed "After my previous roles as a soldier and a fireman, it was kind of weirdest role ever! I had to get my legs and arms waxed, wear make up and wear ladies' clothes. Then I had to play this submissive little househusband, running around in skirts after his wife and feeding his babies. It was a complete reversal of the man-woman roles. It was VERY strange to be a man in that position". "He even had wear a basque and seamed stockings!" said Amanda Fewkes, suppressing her giggles. "He makes a very sexy girl!" There was laughter from the audience as the image of Matthew Young, noted for playing ultra-macho roles, was seen in his basque, stockings and high heels. Matthew Young's cheeks coloured slightly. Kimberley Mason turned to the academic "Professor Manning, you've been on the set of the movie and have shown a great interest in its production. You are a close personal friend of Carla Boom. What's your take on Womansworld?" The silver haired academician smiled "Quite simply, Kimberley, Womansworld is prophecy. The world it shows is more reality than fantasy and the vision it portrays is inevitable" Manning stated in a tone of absolute certainty. "Inevitable?" "Yes, inevitable. I've seen all of the statistics and the future is definitely female. The gap between educational attainment between girls and boys is growing wider each year. Boys are falling further and further behind. Women are now the dominant majority in universities and fewer males than ever are going on to higher education, a trend which will increase in the years ahead. The law, medicine, advertising, marketing and even areas like information technology and computing are becoming increasingly female-dominated and will become ever more so as successive cohorts of university educated women take their places in the workforce. Opportunities for males are becoming limited to low paid, low status jobs that don't require much in the way of qualifications. The complete switch of traditional gender roles is already underway and will be an accomplished fact within, oh, two, maybe three generations time". Kimberley Mason turned back towards her audience and gave them another of her trademark beaming smiles "Thanks to my guests for their input on this fascinating insight into a gender role reversal world. Womansworld is due to premiere in a forthnight's time. Thank you and goodbye". The camera panned to the image of the befrocked male under the foot of a dominant woman before it faded out completely.