EPISODE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY
When Anthony spoke,
his voice dropped to a whisper, as if he was a sultry femme fatale in a Hollywood movie.
‘Just thought I’d slip into something a little more comfortable.’
Nicky racked her brains, trying to think of a reply, but there was a curious
buzzing in her head.
‘On the other hand,’ Anthony continued, ‘I suppose a shirt and a pair of jeans
is far more comfortable than what I’m wearing. But, the thing is, I feel more
comfortable in your dress.’
It crossed Nicky’s mind that her lover’s looks had improved. As a man he wasn’t
particularly good looking. There was that weak chin for a start. But somehow
the weakness of the chin had vanished and her eyes were drawn to the emphasis
of Anthony’s high cheekbones and wide blue eyes, enhanced by a superb make-up
job.
‘Well, aren’t you going to say something?’ Anthony said, eyebrows rising in
anticipation.
‘W-why are you wearing my dress?’ Nicky stammered.
‘It’s almost Christmas.’
‘What’s that got to do with it?’
Anthony smiled and shrugged. ‘It’s the pantomime season. I might be getting
ready to play the part of Dame at the Victoria Hall, Southborough.’
Nicky looked relieved for a moment, but as an afterthought screwed her face into
a puzzled frown. ‘It’s been years since I went to a pantomime. But aren’t Dames
supposed to be…’ She struggled to continue.
‘Masculine?’ Anthony offered. ‘Yes, and they also wear dresses that are a lot
sillier than the one I’m wearing.’
Nicky shook her head. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘Sorry. I’m only teasing you. I’m not really doing the pantomime at
Southborough.’
‘Then why…’
Anthony glanced at his reflection in the full-length mirror and smoothed the
dress down. ‘It was an impulse. I fancied dressing up in your clothes. And, you
must admit, I make a far nicer woman than a bloke.’
Tears began to bubble in Nicky’s eyes. ‘But I like you as a man. I had no idea
you were…’ Again Nicky stopped, unable to find the right words.
Anthony smiled as he prompted her. ‘Gay? I’m not gay. I should think I’ve proved
that.’ He nodded pointedly towards the bed. ‘And I’m not bi-sexual, before you
ask.’
Nicky brushed a tear away with the back of her hand, determined to control
herself. ‘I still don’t understand.’
Anthony sat down on the edge of the bed and crossed his legs elegantly; giving
the impression he was playing the part of a seductress. ‘I’ve always suppressed
my feelings. I’ve gone out with other girlfriends in the past, and I’ve always
admired the way they dress – some of them. Some of them had ghastly taste. But
I always wanted to be one of them. Like someone’s close friend or sister. Go
out shopping for pretty things. I suppose the motor bike thing was me trying to
suppress it; going all macho and black leather. But if I’m honest, I’d sooner
wear a black leather dress. So how do I look?’
There was a long silence. They heard the mechanical humming of the fridge in
the kitchen, and a car tooted streets away. Nicky took a deep breath before
speaking, and she inhaled a heady, sweet perfume, which she didn’t recognise as
hers.
‘You look beautiful. But it’s not natural.’
Anthony snorted. ‘What is natural? Is it natural for people to strap
bombs to their wastes, blow themselves up, and take the lives of dozens of
innocent people? Is it natural to attack and rape total strangers? Or force
feed animals simply to turn their livers into meat paste? At least this is
harmless pleasure. Wouldn’t you agree?’
Nicky nodded thoughtfully. ‘Yes, but you can’t want to be like this
permanently.’
Anthony grinned. ‘I’d just like to let my hair down now and again. Be myself at
last.’
‘Be yourself?’
‘Yes, of course. I told you: my whole life I’ve suppressed my true feelings.
But now I feel wonderfully free for the first time.’
In spite of her apprehension, Nicky sat next to Anthony. She frowned
thoughtfully before she asked him, ‘So where do we go from here?’
‘Can we not just carry on as – er – normal?’
‘Won’t that be a bit tricky? I mean, are you planning on dressing up like this
just when we’re at home?’
Anthony shook his head. ‘I thought it would be fun to go out shopping
together.’
Nicky looked alarmed and she sucked in her breath. ‘You mean for us to go out
together with you looking like…’
‘No one could ever tell that we aren’t two lovely young ladies out shopping together.
I mean, how would they ever know?’
‘So it would just mean now and again? This dressing up?’
‘Of course. You don’t think I could go back to work like this, do you?’
‘Well, that’s a relief. But our relationship…I mean…you must admit it’s bizarre,
to say the least. It’s like I’d be living with a woman.’
‘You can pretend you’re lesbian, without actually being lesbian.’
Nicky frowned as she stared at Anthony’s elegantly crossed legs. She found it
difficult to admit that his legs were far shapelier than her own. Then a sudden
thought struck her and her frown deepened. ‘I know you’re wearing my dress…’
He interrupted her with a chuckle. ‘Is it that obvious?’
‘But are you also,’ she continued hesitantly, ‘wearing my underwear?’
‘You’re knickers are so much prettier than my own. Sorry about that.’
With a static rustle of nylon, Anthony uncrossed his legs and stood up. ’I
promise I won’t ever wear your clothes again.’
She looked up at him, smiling with relief. ‘You’ve changed your mind about
dressing up like a woman again.’
‘Oh no!’ he said. ‘I mean we’re going to go out shopping together, and we’re
going to buy me a whole new wardrobe. Come on, Nicky. This’ll be fun.’
IN EPISODE 161
Donald becomes a surrogate parent.