Summer Dare

I looked down at my feet again, struggling with what I was seeing.

Not only were my toenails painted a radioactive shade of pink that would be visible from space, they were exposed to the world in a pair of my sister’s sandals.

It wasnt just the sandals I had borrowed, though - I was also wearing a pair of her running shorts, and a top with a picture of a flower on it.

Nothing unusual about borrowing one’s sister’s clothes - except that I am a boy.

My name is Andrew Williams (yeah, like the singer, don’t remind me - some smart person happened to come across the singer’s bio, and now a number of kids at school greet me with the song “Moon River.”)

Which indirectly is part of why I am walking across the park to the convenience store in my sister’s clothes.

The bigger part, however, is because of my sister herself. Her name is Samantha, and she is ... like a force of nature when she gets an idea.

And her current idea is that I am secretly a girl.

And I am not totally sure she’s wrong.

I have always been ... a step behind when it comes to other boys. I just don’t seem to ... fit, somehow.

Then she got a hold of some material on transgender, and now she’s fired up to have me find my inner girl.

If I can.

So when she challenged me to dress like this and go outside, I found myself unable to refuse her.

So here I am, with my bright toes and girl clothes, wondering if anybody will say anything ...

****

Half-way across the park, I see some teens playing, and I try not to hurry past them. Unfortunately, I had forgotten to watch where I was going, and I bump into this guy.

He’s ... huge, if he decides to take offence to me, I’m in trouble ...

But no, all he does is help me up and ask if I’m okay.

I say I’m fine, and he says “Good. I’d hate to have hurt a girl.”

Then he goes off to be with his friends.

He ... called me a girl. Did he really see me as one?

****

Made it all the way to the store, and bought some candy.

The guy at the till called me “missy”

****

Made it all the way home, and went to see my sister.

“So?” she asks me.

“So ... I got a lot to think about, sis. “

“That’s cool. You know I’m here for you no matter which way you go, right?”

“Yeah. And ... thanks.”

“For?”

“For daring me. For pushing me a bit. Maybe that’s what I needed.”

“I’m glad it worked out.”

We hug, and then I go back to my room.

Like I told my sister, I got a lot to think about ...

Might as well get started ...

End