Ballerina Boy Billy - Part 3 (Patreon)

OTHER PARTS - ALL STORY LIST

Settling down

Following Monday's catfight at school that well used saying that 'lightning doesn't strike the same place twice' was surely put to the test in my ballet class with the girls, as we were all measured and then fitted with our ballet costumes for the Paris trip.

There was a real undercurrent of pettiness and disquiet in the girl's locker room as they sat waiting for their turn to be fitted. It wasn't just a case of who wore what but who would be what. This was the day when the roles for the trip were announced and some of the girls couldn't handle the disappointment of not getting a plum position. Some were in tears and some were beaming fit to burst.

Then of course although my presence meant that would all be going to France, it was obvious my presence as the newcomer was ample cause for complaint with some of the younger girls.

By the time it was my turn, my new soul sisters, Jane and Pauline had already left with Carlotta. So as I went forward before some of the other girls I tried to ignore the murmuring. However, the comments became louder and more offensive.

"How come Wendy's next to go forward?" suggested Rachel petulantly. "We've been in this class a lot longer than him."

"Quite right," agreed Joan, "he comes in here and now looks at him."

"Exactly it looks like Wendy will be pinching our parts next," said Rachel loudly so I could hear.

"Then of course we have to sweet to little Wendy because without her we wouldn't be going to Paris would we?" said Joan.

"Yes when it comes down to it, he's a pansy boy who fancies himself too much."

Jenny was ahead of me in the queue and whispered, "You really don't have to put up with that. Those two don't know how much they owe you."

"Well I'm doing this for me," I replied.

"Well if they give you more trouble let me know and I'll help you thump them," she said giving me a peck on the cheek. "I for one am happy you're here."

"Well boys shouldn't hit girls," I replied.

Then her demeanor changed suddenly, "You'll have to alter your ideas, Wendy."

"Why?"

"It might look like girls are soft if you are a boy but amongst other girls, there is a rule of the Jungle too, so get the real girl!"-

"I'm beginning to realize that Jenny," I replied but not taking any stern action against the two protagonists brought forth an unladylike response.

"You are just a wimp," she said, "we girls know how to fight dirty and now you're a girl you'll have to learn that or you'll be a pushover with us too."

"I'm not a pushover," I cried.

"Well then no more sissy excuses and go pull her hair," Jenny replied.

"I can't not here," I hissed just wanting to go home.

After I received my outfit, I just shrugged my shoulders and turned away to sit down where I could examine it in detail. White tights, two pairs, a white frilly tutu, and dancing top, hair bands in white, and then a headdress made out of feathers all in a large box. It looked like we were going to dance to Swan Lake in Paris.

We all hurried to try on our costumes and mine fitted well. The tights were a little baggy and I exchanged them for a smaller pair.

"Oh Wendy," said Diane. "You look adorable."

"Thanks, Diane, I think," I replied.

"Yes Billy you look quite cute as a girl," shouted Rachel as she tried on her own elaborate satin and lace tutu. She was standing beside Diana and Lisa taunting me so I decided to change back into my blouse and skirt to scuttle off home.

"That's right run away little girl," they shouted with accusing fingers pointing at me.

"Don't worry about them," said Diane but I was worried about not standing up for myself and getting a friend to fight my battles. In the final analysis, they were quite right but I wanted to steer clear of trouble from now on.

Under the patient supervision of the wardrobe lady, she steered them back to dressing up while giving me a sympathetic smile of support.

As I put my foot onto a bench as I buckled my shoes, Rachel came over and then gave me a huge shove from behind which had I not been expecting something could have sent me sprawling.

I turned and lunged at Rachel and the next moment the two of us were on the floor rolling about. Rachel was still wearing her lovely ballet tutu started laughing as she pulled my wig and lifted it right off my head.

Everyone in the changing room turned to stare at me as I retrieved it from her stunned hand. All her frenzied burst of uncontrollable anger turned into an uncontained laugh. All this unseemly behavior was enthusiastically cheered on by an audience of squealing girls. She grabbed the wig from me and I pinned her against a wall just as Madame Olga entered the room.

"Girls! What disgraceful behavior to show," she shouted. The others retreated and I regained my wig. "Come with me both of you!"

When we entered the office area, Madame Olga was furious, as she had explained what happened in the changing room to Miss Jones.

"I don't want a repeat of this behavior between my girls," she shouted.

"Yes Madame," I started to say, "she started...."

Only Madame Olga stopped me dead, "I don't care whose fault it was, you will both apologize to each other and not do this again."

"Yes Madame," Rachel replied and I nodded agreement. There didn't seem to be much point arguing.

"Off you go Rachel," said Madame and she trooped out her new outfit covered in rosin dust and looking very second hand. The net tutu was torn I could see as she skipped out relieved that she had been sent out while I remained.

"Wendy we can't have you losing your wig," she said handing it back to me, "So we'll have to arrange something to stop that happening again."

"How can you do that Madame?"

"I know a hairdresser near here and she'll do them for me if I ask," she replied and she promptly picked up the phone and switched on the speaker so I could hear. "You can! Great when are you free next?"

"Oh how about in 45 minutes?" the reply came through on the speaker.

"Yes that will do nicely," said Madame Olga hanging up the phone. "Let me just call your mother."

Within minutes my mother had agreed to the visit to the salon because as Madame Olga had said if I didn't it could lead to embarrassment in France.

I have driven home afterward with the wig in a plastic bag and sporting my own hair extensions that gave me shoulder-length hair that had been styled in a pageboy cut. I even had a fringe that covered my forehead.

I was feeling quite elated by the time I reached the front door. My own hair down to my shoulders and have stood up for me against Rachel at ballet class.

"Wow don't you look cute," cried Mum as I walked in dumping my bags in the hall. "Don't you leave that stuff their young lady, get it put away in your bedroom?"

"Yes Mum," I said reluctantly.

Melissa greeted me on the landing, "My what a difference."

"Do you like it?"

"Yes it suits you," she said as I put my costume into my room. "You look like a real girl."

"I feel like a real girl after the time in that salon," I replied showing her my new nail pink polished nails.

"Oh my you do look cute now," she said giving me a hug. "I prefer you this way. I've always wanted a little sister."

"Thanks just what I need," I replied sullenly.

Dad was away on business fortunately so it wasn't a strain to sit at supper with Mum and Melissa. After supper and my homework, I confided my worries to Melissa over the events of the day.

"Oh I don't think you've anything to worry about," she replied. "Besides now Rachel's had her ears boxed she won't try that again."

"I used to really like her before but now she was really nasty," I said.

"Oh well maybe she'll be all right now you've shown her who is boss," laughed Melissa.

"I didn't want to show her who was boss though, she pushed me into it."

"Yes, it's a pity you couldn't fight your battles using your tongue as any normal girl does."

"How do you mean?"

"Instead of fighting use the intelligence God gave you to fight without necessarily getting physical."

"I know what you mean but I am not much good with words," I replied.

"You're going to have to learn," she said sitting up on her bed.

"Yes I never know quite what to say when I am with girls though," I said.

"Well, you be able to pick it up soon enough if you're always in the company of girls. Just go with the flow."

"Yes but sometimes I plan what I'm going to say and then I suddenly get so embarrassed at the way I am dressed and just dry up!"

I expected a mock reply but she was quite sweet when she spoke. "Now listen here, you mustn't feel that way."

"Why?"

"Well sweetie, you've acquired some real courage spending all day dressed top to toe in a girl's school uniform. It might have been a punishment but I can see you are rising to the challenge."

"Do you think so?"

"I watched you this week, having to put up with the taunts and dog's abuse from your former classmates and I was sure you would break down and cry like a little sissy but you didn't," she said.

"I'm not a sissy," I replied

"What are you then? You have the nerve to pitter-patter prettily round a dance studio, unlike any boy I have ever seen." She said hitting home hard.

"Maybe I'm not a boy?" I felt like saying however it came out tamely "I'm sorry Melissa, but that's the way I'm made."

"Yes, Billy or Wendy that at the end of the day sums you up!"

I didn't know what to say in reply but I realized that she was thinking the same things as me. Maybe I was a girl after all?

When half term started, on a Saturday morning I was up bright and early in order to prepare myself for our final dress rehearsal with Madame Olga.

"I'd been practicing some warm-up exercises before Mum and Melissa came downstairs. I wore a pair of Melissa's dancing tights and leotard to breakfast with a headband around my head.

Melissa smirked as I sat down and Mum asked what we should do after dance practice.

"We'll need some new clothes for Paris," she announced. "I also thought that we might go out for a meal tonight."

"I'd like a new pair of flared jeans," said Melissa. "Wendy here wants a new sundress."

"Stop that Mel, don't be rude to Wendy."

"Sorry Mum," she smirked.

"Okay then it's settled a new dress for Wendy and jeans for you," said Mum.

For once I said nothing as the thought of my own sundress filled my head instead of wearing one of Melissa's hand me downs.

"Oh I forgot," said Melissa, "Can I have my friends round for tea tonight and then a sleepover?"

"Oh no!" I cried. "They'll pick fun at me."

"Maybe they will," said Melissa, "but remember it's no one's fault but your own. Besides after what we talked about last night you really like being the sissy girl."

"Melissa!" said Mum sternly.

"It's true Mum, ask Wendy if you don't believe me."

"Wendy is that true?"

"No Mum," I said but the look of confusion on my face told a different story.

"Wonderful," she said. "Here we are trying to punish you and all the time you like it."

"It's hardly been fun," I insisted.

"Well it's about time it was," replied Mum spreading margarine on her toast. "So we'll go shopping when breakfast is finished."

"Mum I'd rather just have a quiet day at home if you don't mind."

"Well, you have ballet practice at 11:00 that should give us plenty of time to get you something nice for the trip to Paris."

It was obvious that despite my pleadings ringing in her ears, she was now on another planet. Melissa didn't help by agreeing to the trip to the mall. They were intent on changing the frog prince into a beautiful princess it seemed.

Going to ballet after I had helped to buy a new sundress seemed like a relief. Mum had bought me a training bra, some pantyhose, some fashionable shoes, and the dress itself. When I quizzed about the bra she said it was to give everyone the impression I was a girl underneath. She insisted I wear it to ballet practice and we arrived on time. They both left me to my fate as they returned home.

Madame Olga was including excerpts from 'The Nutcracker' in the Paris repertoire, so Carlotta's outstanding dancing ensured she was the Sugar Plum Fairy. She certainly wasn't the most beautiful girl but her exquisite and graceful dancing amply compensated for that.

Her Cockney accent also seemed a hindrance coupled to her usual rudeness however once on stage she was truly a 'Princess of the dance'.

As I watched her dance I thought that perhaps she was once a boy too, just like myself, Jane and Pauline. So I decided to pay a little more attention to the changing room next time. Practice went well and we all seemed to have forgotten the tiff between me and Rachel. In fact, a few of the girls loved my new hairstyle. I was even able to demonstrate that it was all my own hair much to their astonishment.

Practice over without mishap I went home and tried to watch TV. Around 5pm there was the sound of car doors being slammed to announce the arrival of my aunt and her tribe.

I was upstairs at the time reading my dancing magazine but when I walked to the upstairs landing I could see them running around. There were greetings were exchanged by Mum and my aunt while my cousins, Amanda ten, twin 8-year-old boys David and Brad, and the youngest Megan rushed into the house.

There was shouting as they reached the living room closely followed by Melissa and Mum, while my Aunt didn't seem keen to beat a speedy retreat outside as I hoped. She was supposed to join my uncle on their way to the station for a late-night show and overnight stay in London but she stayed and shouted up the stairs.

"Where's my favorite nephew?" she shouted.

"Oh leave him be," said Mum he probably doing homework.

"Oh I would just like to see my favorite nephew," she said starting up the stairs.

"No Rita he's busy studying."

"On a night like this? I'll just be a minute. Our train leaves in 20 minutes."

She started up the stairs and it looked like I was due for an embarrassing confrontation like it or not.

I stood transfixed on the first-floor landing dressed in my girly clothes, hoping and praying that Mum would persuade me to come back down the stairs.

Mum knew of course that I was dressed in my lovely flowery dress and tried to call her back but to no avail.

"Come on Darling, you'll miss your train," said Mum but Aunt Rita kept climbing till her eyes caught me cowering in the corner.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"I'm Wendy," I said still looking scared.

"Wendy huh? Where are you from?" asked my Aunt.

"I'm from this town," I replied as Mum reached the landing behind my aunt.

"This is Wendy, a friend of Mel's," said Mum.

"No she's not this is Billy looking like a girl," said my aunt astonished to look on at me.

"Hi Aunt Rita," I said lamely.

There was a deathly silence as my aunt recoiled with shock and horror at my reply.

"Did I hear you right Billy?"

"It's Wendy now," said Mum suddenly coming to my aid. "It was found that Billy had some hormonal problem when he was, I mean when she was younger and so Billy is really Wendy now."

"What a pretty dress," said my Aunt Rita stunning me.

"Yes Melissa and Wendy went shopping today for new dresses," replied Mum for me.

"Maybe so but Billy is a boy! I used to change his nappies remember?"

"Well for the next few weeks Billy is going to be a girl," said Mum and stunning me. "So now what's wrong with that?"

"Umm. Am I hearing you right, Laura?" she asked her voice shrill. "You're going to bring up your son as a girl?"

"Well not quite," said Mum, "You see Billy has become more than a handful recently and as part of his punishment, we agreed that he should learn some manners."

"So I see," she said opened mouthed.

"Billy is no longer with us for the foreseeable future, but Wendy is here instead."

Aunt Rita's voice moderated, "Oh I see, so now you have a well-behaved girl taking his place? How marvelous!"

Melissa and my cousins had also reached the landing and there were giggles and sniggers behind my Mum's back.

"You think it suits him?" asked Mum.

"Yes I do," replied my Aunt. "I have to go but I'll look forward to seeing Wendy tomorrow."

With that, she reached down and kissed me on the head and they walked down the stairs. At the bottom, I could hear my Aunt say, "how adorable and he is so cute now. You must let me pierce his ears and gave him a makeover."

However, I now had my sister and my cousins to contend with so I walked back into my room to the taunts of being a sissy and wimp. I was in tears when I closed the door but they still shouted out my name. "Billy is a sissy."

"Go away!" I shouted as they eventually were pulled away by Melissa.

I heard the front door close and then my Uncle start up the car. As I looked out of the window I could see my aunt talking excitedly to my Uncle Ben. I could just imagine what she was saying about me. I sat down on the bed and brushed my hair.

There was a knock at the door and Mum entered and she said it was time for supper.

"I'm not feeling so good, can I have it up here?"

"No darling you had better get out of this depressed mood, your cousins think that it is good that you're now a girl and want you to play with them," she said taking my hand.

"Oh Mum," I said.

"No oh Mums," she replied, "Come on you can help me set the table."

"Okay," I said grudgingly fearing the worst.

However, it turned out that as Wendy I was a roaring success with my cousins. Although there were some lingering doubts with Amanda, Mum and Melissa managed to get her to accept me after a couple of hours. I knew it was going to be okay when she sidled up to me and said, "I never liked you as Billy but like Wendy, you are much, much better."

While the two boys went outside to play, I played my part to perfection and stayed in with the other girls. We played with Melissa's doll collection and she had many different kinds. Now that she was a bit older she didn't play with them like she did but Megan dragged me into Melissa's bedroom to get them out of her toybox.

I could hear the shouts of the boys and longed to join them but instead, I occupied Megan and myself changing the doll's clothes and making up situations with them. Melissa and Amanda played CDs on her new player and looked at girl's magazines.

At supper, we sat together and Megan had installed me as her  best friend when she said, "I really like you, Wendy, will  you sleep at our house next time?"

Mum just smiled but I saw her nod at me, and reluctantly I  replied, "Yes Megan I would like that."

Megan put her arms around me and we hugged by the table  much to Mum's amusement.

The next day, it was a big relief to find that I was saved from a confrontation with my Uncle and Aunt when Mum asked me to nip down to the shop for some items. While I was away, my Uncle and Aunt had picked them up though Melissa had lots to tell me about what Aunt Rita had offered.

"You've been invited to stay the night at Megan's when you get back from Paris," she said. "Megan was telling her how  much fun she had playing with you and she couldn't tell you  had once been a boy."

I groaned inwardly hopefully I would be back to being a boy after Paris and she would just freak out at that when I  pulled her pigtails.

So that afternoon, Dad returned home, saw my new look, and walked away into his study shaking his head. That gave Mum a free hand to help me pack for the trip to Paris. It felt odd to see my entire wardrobe of girl's clothes going into the bag and nothing from my past life. Not even a pair of jeans.

Mum showed me how to brush and style my hair after I had washed it and also showed me how to put on some make-up and how to paint my nails. My efforts were clumsy but she put me at ease and showed me how to do it correctly.

She also made me try on all my clothes from Melissa including an unused pale blue gingham ballet school dress, which I would be wearing on the journey, complete with hat,  gloves, and T bar shoes.

Mum gave me her mobile phone just in case of emergencies and with all my feminine clothes packed, she drove me to the ballet school where the coach was waiting to take us to Waterloo Railway Station and the Eurostar to Paris.

As I joined in the screaming and shouting girls on the bus, I suddenly felt at ease and just sank into the soft seat. Everyone was seeking out their best friends, and excitedly squealing and chattering. I was beginning to think that no one was going to sit with me when Diana unexpectedly sat down beside me with a "Hi Wendy good to see you could make it and you looking so feminine."

We set off after Miss Jones had done a headcount and a wave goodbye from our parents and family. I waved at the window to Melissa and Mum and as I sat back in my seat I realized my predicament, here I was in a busload full of young girls going to a foreign country to dance steps I had never tried before. I wondered if I could pull this whole crazy idea off?

I looked out as Melissa waved goodbye and joked with Mum. I wondered what the two of them were talking about. I was surrounded by girls and I was dressed as one so that Mum had used my own stupid actions to get what she wanted. I had unwittingly relieved Melissa of going on the trip, to keep alive Mum's dearest wish to have an accomplished ballerina in the family, even if it turned out to be me.

Mum had obtained a visitor's passport in my new name and I handed it to Miss Jones for safekeeping, along with my 100 Euros in spending money. She returned to her seat to sift through the travel papers before we got through to Waterloo and the trip by Eurostar to Paris.

Thankfully the old days of immigration hold-ups to France are a thing of the past and we were soon moving through the Kent countryside towards the Channel Tunnel. Miss Jones kept us amused and we looked very pretty in our dresses. We were a bunch of rosy-faced girls all dressed in pale blue gingham ankle-length summer dresses, our faces framed in straw flowered bonnets, and all carrying parasols in our lace encased hands.

As we sped through the Tunnel at high speed, the immigration officer took one look at us and our papers briefly and just moved on. He smiled at us as we sat reading magazines or playing games provided to us by the ballet school.

Diana chatted with me as we sped onwards, "So Wendy how do you feel?"

"A little apprehensive Diana, I just hope I don't let anyone down," I replied.

"Well, so far you've been very well behaved maybe you need to be a girl for keeps?"

"You mean like those two?" I whispered meaning Pauline and Jane our friends in front of us sharing the table.

"Yes, and Carlotta," she replied smiling.

"You're kidding right?" I asked out of shock.

"No she's just like you," she replied. "Just a little further advanced."

"You make it sound as though I am staying like this," I said.

"Well isn't that a good idea? From where I'm sitting you look more like a girl than a boy," she said. "You'll be like those two before you know it!"

We had lunch and then the train sped on into the French countryside at an even faster pace. I'd always liked trains but this one was so smooth and fast.

After the smooth trip, the rest of the trip was bound to be a disaster and that's how it turned out helped by the unexpected indisposition of Madame Druon who was due to meet us.

We found that the former ballerina was attending a funeral in Nice, so her deputy, a Madame Giraud met our party at the Gare du Nord.

She is turned out was less than helpful in making us feel at home and she gave us a feeling of animosity that she tried to pass onto our host families who would be giving us a roof over our heads.

We found that she didn't speak a word of English and thanks to her, Anglo-French relations suffered a further knock!

Fortunately, Diana and I were housed with the Lanaux family, who had two small boys and three older girls. They all obviously inherited their father's passion for the dance and they were all actively involved in dancing. Mr. Lanaux was a dancer of some repute but I was naturally introduced to the family as 'Wendy Fielding'.

"Ah! A perfect English rose," he said in perfect English as he kissed my offered hand. I had watched Diana do the same thing so I just played along even down to giving him a little curtsey. My scarlet face revealing what I was really embarrassed by all this gallantry.

"I hope you both enjoy your stay in the belle France," he said. "My daughters will show you both around my house and feel free to look around."

"Merci Monsieur," we both said almost in unison, which caused some laughter.

Their house was a typical Paris apartment of faded grandeur, located in one of the market areas close to the ballet school, with a resident concierge who really scared the life out of me!

Our guests led us up to the very top floor to a converted attic that served as a guest bedroom. There were two single beds against the wall with white cotton sheets and floral duvet covers.

The room was clean and tidy and it was with great relief we lowered our luggage onto the room floor happy to be able to relax at last. The room might have been high up but the apartment opposite was even higher and the room was lacking in natural lighting since it backed onto a brick wall. To compensate the entire room was painted in a generous coating of brilliant white paint.

While Diana and I began to unpack our cases, Georges, who at eleven was the eldest of the two boys, was peering furtively through the door at what we were doing.

Diana giggled and beckoned to him, "Please come in." While I groaned inwardly hoping I could have some time alone with Diana.

He gingerly sidled into the room and seated himself on a rocking chair by the window.

We carried on unpacking and chatting amongst ourselves as he maintained a measured silence as he watched me intently.

"So what is there to do around here for young people?" asked Diana in perfect French.

He stared at her as if she horns on her head and then sullenly left unhappy about something.

"What did I say wrong?" she asked me.

"I don't think it was what you said," I replied remembering his burning stares.

"You don't?"

"No, I think he's put two and two together," I replied.

"Yes, and the answer's three," laughed Diana and I joined in too.

However, our laughter stopped as he returned and pointed at me, "Garcon oui?"

"Non Je suis une fille," I said in my best French.

"Non-Garcon!"

At that Diana pulled him into the room and explained to him the whole situation in her fluent French. She told him I was not like other boys and that I really wanted to be a girl and that was why I was in the dancing team.

However he then spoke perfect English, "I would love to dress like you!"

"You would?" I asked.

"Oui, Wendy you have such beautiful clothes," he said looking flustered. "They are so 'chic' and feminine."

"Yes, they are," I replied as I carried on putting my clothes into the large wardrobe and my panties into my drawer.

"Perhaps we could dress you up too?" asked Diana. "Would you like that?"

Georges wriggled uncomfortably, "But I have three older sisters and I can dress up any time."

"Yes so do you wear your sister's clothes?" Diana asked him.

"Non, I must set an example to Jean, my younger brother," he said sincerely. "I am how you say, frightened of being caught in my sister's clothes."

"So how do you manage?" I asked and Diana translated.

"I take ballet lessons and then at least I can pretend I'm all dressed up."

"But Georges, why pretend?" Diana asked. "There are three other girls like Wendy in our group, you could be like that too."

"No my father wouldn't like it for me to do that," he said slowly.

"Perhaps you will do that when you're older?"

"Perhaps," he said.

After dinner, Georges gallantly walked us round to the ballet studio. Since it was a bitterly cold evening, I was grateful to wear the navy blue coat with the white fur-lined hood that Diana had loaned me for this trip. Despite my pink ballet tights, my exposed legs were quite cold, so woolly leg warmers were now top of my wish list!

After we changed we were expertly coached by a smartly dressed gentleman called Monsieur Reynard. He was quite insistent that we wore our detachable pink net tutus over our colored leotards. That we discovered was so we would get used to the feel and sway of stiffened net petticoats around our waists and thighs. He didn't want us tripping up in our forthcoming performance of Nutcracker.

Any way we practiced hard for over an hour as he put us through our paces. He was very strict and tough and I really put my heart and soul into my performance. I would snatch occasional glances in the direction of Georges who was seated patiently on a chair in the corner of the dance studio. The funny thing was that he always seemed to be looking at me!

So I smiled at him and he smiled back. I tried my best with all my parts of the dance and it actually became good fun. Especially when Monsieur Reynard congratulated us on some of our moves.

All too soon we were back in the changing rooms getting out of our shoes and tutus again. Beads of sweat trickled down our backs until someone opened the outside door and let a blast of icy wind into our feminine world.

Several girls were almost naked and there were screams as the wind howled into the room. Hanging up on hooks were tap dance dresses that we would wear for Monsieur Reynard's house party two nights hence. My dress seemed to be too large for me, but I decided to try out some steps anyway, so I quickly trotted from the changing room and into the studio again.

As I tried out some steps, I found that my flimsy clothing was difficult to control as I tried to practice my steps much to the amusement of Georges who was still seated in the same spot. With some of the other girls similarly dressed and looking on, they were stifling giggles at my inexpert attempts to dance with the dress in place. When I looked in his direction, I could see Georges was gallantly trying not to look and save me from further embarrassment!

After the practice had finished, Pauline caught me in the changing rooms while I was about to collect my coat from my locker. "Who's the cute boy who kept eyeing you up?"

When I looked around I was quite surprised to find she was changing into a brown woolen plaid skirt and pale cream, embroidered cotton long-sleeved blouse, having apparently abandoned her jeans and tank tops for the holiday.

"Pauline that's Georges the oldest boy at the house we're staying at," I said honestly.

"Well he is really cute, I think he fancies you," she replied as I turned to face her. Then she grinned wickedly, knowing I was on the defensive.

"How do you know?" I asked.

"Oh I know," she said sounding like she could read his mind.

"Well tell me," I demanded.

"It's obvious," she continued, "just look at the way he looks at you and he really is taken with you. No wonder you want to keep him for yourself!"

My hands-on-hips response was to splutter with false indignation, "Do you really think so?"

"I know so," admitted Pauline.

"This shouldn't be possible, I'm a boy for Pete's sake."

"You don't look like a boy and I can see a big difference in you," Pauline continued.

"What should I do?"

"That depends on you," she advised. "But I would say looking at your face, you really like him too."

"Oh you do Miss know-it-all," I said but then stopped to consider her comment.

Was she right? I had to admit it to myself at least if not to her and I smiled inwardly so I thought.

"You see I'm right."

"Yes you could be but I'm not supposed to like boys I like girls," I appealed.

Pauline comforted me and held me close, "There, there, you are just going through what I went through when I was your age."

I swallowed at what she was now, a fully rounded girl with her own breasts and wide hips after years of hormone therapy. Was that going to be me too?

Diana popped her head inside, "Come on Wendy, time to go back to Georges' house."

"Okay just coming," I said loosening my grip on Pauline reluctantly.

"What's going on?" asked Diana. "Are you two in love?"

"No we're not," said Pauline who lost her temper. "If you must know it's Wendy and Georges."

"Georgy huh?" asked Diana putting on her coat. "You'll have to watch the boys now."

I saw red and became angry, "Diana you know I'm not interested in boys."

"Deny it all you want Wendy dear," she sneered, "Pauline and I know differently."

"Diana's right why don't you just accept the inevitable like Jane and I," said Pauline backing her up.

"Yes just imagine all those lovey-dovey nights with Georgy," said Diana. "You two have got it bad!"

I let my feelings get the better of me and rushed angrily at Diana but I restrained myself at the last moment. For one thing, she was bigger than me and another was that several other girls walked in.

"Hey girls, Wendy's got an admirer," said Diana.

"Wooooo," they all said in unison.

"Yes Georgy who lives in our apartment and he's so cute," she continued unabated.

"Didn't take you long Wendy," said Marie.

I grabbed my coat and headed for the door, my reputation of me being here as a dancer was in tatters. Georges was waiting outside and he walked me home.

My mind was racing as we walked along the narrow lanes. 'Was I really one of the girls? Was I just like Pauline and Jane? Was Diana right? I liked girls or so I thought but this was shocking to me!'

We didn't talk. My French was hopeless and he didn't talk in English so I just thought about my predicament.

'I had been tried, tested, and found wanting! What's more, I now knew exactly what it was I wanted!'

The following day we had some free time for sightseeing, so by popular request, we chose the Eiffel Tower and then the Louvre. Diana had been nice to me all morning and we had patched up our differences before we left.

After the views of the Tower, we were soon on our way to the Louvre under the supervision of Miss Jones and our hosts. There were smiles from the other visitors as they watched us traipsing around the galleries. We had just feasted our eyes on the 'Venus de Milo' when a portrait in a side gallery suddenly caught Pauline's attention.

We followed her into the Winterhalter Gallery where she made straight for the large picture at the end of the room. It was the portrait of Empress Eugenie and her female retinue. It was a stunning display of high Victorian fashion with tight dresses we could really drool over.

"There is a little known story about two of the ladies in this portrait," said Pauline about to give us the benefit of her knowledge whether we wanted it or not.

With so much to see, we all turned to wander off in different directions and left her with Jane still standing in front of the picture.

I was almost out of earshot when I heard Pauline mention the name, Jenny Savalette de Lange. So I turned back to learn more.

It was interesting listening to Pauline's story and she brought the portrait to life with enthusiasm. The tale she related had all the right ingredients with political intrigue, murder, betrayal, espionage, assassination attempts, daring escapes, and even some passionate or illicit love affair.

As far as Jane and I were concerned, Pauline was a darned good storyteller, and it had all the elements of a Hollywood blockbuster movie. With all that drama, I even used the story in a school essay a few months later. Entitled 'The Enigmatic Empress' it won the annual school prize for the best short story!

On the way home on the Paris Metro, a gang of young boys attempted to snatch Jane's pink shoulder bag at L'Opera station. Quick-witted Jane anticipated what was happening in all the jostling, and had her young robber stretched out on the station platform.

We all crowded round the boy and he was promptly arrested by two gendarmes who quickly marched him off into custody. Everyone congratulated Jane on her courage and quick thinking.

The rest of the day was peaceful by comparison, and once again the gallant Georges was on hand to escort me and Diana to Madame Druon's for another dress rehearsal. He generously carried my ballet costume bag while Diana carried her own. His mother had also generously undertaken some minor alterations to my tutu so the nets could hang properly.

So as I relieved him of the bag before going into the changing room, I impulsively rewarded him with a light peck on the cheek.

That brought a laugh from Diana, "See what did I tell you?"

It was then I realized what was wrong! Diana was as jealous as hell! -

"Georges did me a favor! What else was I supposed to do shake his hand?" I asked her.

"Yes, but did you have to kiss him?"

I couldn't answer that and she knew it. So she went over to the others and started to spread it around that just like  Jane and Pauline after all. However, the practice went well and I have praised Madame Olga who had arrived that day.

On the way back to our lodgings, I asked Diana, "every since you caught me in the hall dancing en pointe, you've had some grudge against me. So what is it?"

"You wouldn't believe me if you knew," she said.

"Try me," I replied as we neared Georges's house.

"Okay," she started to speak. "I can't!"

"Go on, you may as well tell me," I asked.

"Well ever since I was old enough to remember I've wanted to be a boy," she said stunning me.

"You want to be a boy?" I asked still not believing her comment because she had a face and body to die for.

"Yes but don't tell a word of this to anyone," she said and then added the word, "Please."

"Okay yes so long as you agree to treat me with more respect," I agreed.

That evening we attended an open house at Monsieur Reynard's residence, and we were told there would be a fashion theme to the event, so Pauline, Jane, and I were wearing 'fifties' style dresses. I was wearing my bright red embroidered 'poodle' skirt over white cotton Anglaise lace petticoats, together with a white Anglaise lace, long-sleeved pinch pleated blouse. That was a style I'd been assured was enjoying a periodic fashion revival amongst the girls.

Unlike Jane and Pauline, on my feet were red flat-heeled sandals suitable for dancing in. They were dressed in flowered cotton dresses with masses of lace and net petticoats, nylon stockings and white high heels that showed off their long slim legs.

While I looked plain on top, I certainly didn't underneath as I wore some borrowed items from Jane.

"You'll really enjoy the feeling," she said and she was right.

I'd replaced my tights with a bright red lacy suspender belt and matching panties and 'nude' lacy topped stockings. Of course, I felt really sexy since I'd been escorted every step of the way by Georges as my date for the evening!

During the evening, we put on a small display of our talents to amuse our hosts. I was really surprised when I was chosen to perform a solo tap dance routine. I was really excited and also very nervous because of this when Madame handed me my costume and told me I would go first.

"Me Madame Olga?"

"Yes you Wendy, now go and get changed quickly," she enthused.

I took the costume and rushed into a room set aside for changing and there were this satin and lace, red and white polka dot dress with matching dolly shoes and frilly white socks to wear. Not only was my heart pumping with the idea of dancing in front of all these people I was going to do it dressed in all this finery. I tried to put the audience out of my mind but the mounting excitement of it all meant I was like a stage-struck little girl when I emerged.

"Oh you look divine," said Madame Olga. "Just remember all your steps and you'll be just fine."

As she ushered me into the room again and with my first live audience on hand, I began to have my doubts!

There was a large mirror next to the door and I caught sight of myself briefly and I looked like a Wendy and certainly not the old Billy I once knew. Wearing such a cute outfit gave me such a thrill that I put my heart and soul into my performance. Although I made some small mistakes because of a lack of practice, I was duly rewarded with generous applause.

I took my curtsey and left the performing area with a huge smile on my face only to meet Diana outside the door.

"Well done Wendy," she said clapping her hands, "You should have seen Georgy's tongue hanging out of his mouth."

"Why?"

"Well did you mean to show your lace step-ins so much?"

I looked down and sure enough, I could see the hem beneath my thigh-length dress it would seem positively indecent on a girl but it was on me!

"Oh God did I show all that?" I asked.

"You sure did," said Diana, "It slipped during the second part of your performance."

I did feel rather overexposed and embarrassed about what had happened. Then I realized that it wasn't my fault that it had happened and there wasn't much I could do about it now. My only worry was what Georges felt about me now.

Then I half suspected that he would have loved to have been with me on stage in a showgirl dress, given half the chance!

Our hosts were keen on jazz, although it wasn't exactly the scene of the younger members of the party. We had to endure a lot of jazz before we had a chance to dance to some modern dance music. Georges asked me to dance and had me into the party spirit as we exhausted our surplus energy. It was fun to have a few dances with him and we sweated buckets before finding the refreshment table. Although there was plenty of fruit punch and juice for us kids, Georges managed to take some alcopop bottles instead.

I began to feel tipsy as the drink entered my system and eventually I staggered to the toilet as nature had her way. However, I was beaten to the door by Diana leaving me crossing my legs as she gave me a sickly smile of triumph as she closed the door.

Thankfully she was surprisingly quick and I didn't even hear the toilet flush before she came out again. I was quite desperate and dived past her, closing and locking the door behind me.

However, finding the toilet wasn't easy as I looked for it in the largest bathroom I have ever seen. I desperately raised my skirt and petticoats before lowering my knickers to my ankles and shuffled towards the unit in the far corner of the room where it was half concealed in a tiled enclosure.

There was no time for the ceremony and I promptly stood and let go. I felt strangely guilty once I had finished but assuming the sitting position would have taken up valuable time. The time I felt I just couldn't take. I spent some time making myself presentable, freshening up with some warm water on my face and hands before I was ready to go back into the open again.

However, there were several disgruntled faces to greet me as I reappeared out of the door. A queue of cross-legged girls had now formed, but I was anxious to get back to Georges to worry about them. Diana's face should have alerted me to something odd but I dismissed it all.

We back to our place in the room and chatted for a few minutes. Then 20 minutes later the party came to an abrupt halt. There was the sound of heavy feet on the stairs with the arrival of an ambulance crew and the fire brigade. Although I didn't know it at the time, one of the French girls was stuck inside the toilet.

However, my dance with Georges came to an abrupt halt when the music was switched off. It was then I saw the fireman break down the door. A little later the girl who had entered after me was carried away on a stretcher with what appeared to be the toilet seat discreetly hidden beneath a blanket.

"Oh my God," I said to Georges, "That was meant for me. That bitch Diana."

"How do you mean?"

"She's put some glue on the seat and I didn't sit but that girl did."

However, the finger of blame spread not to Diana but to me and Monsieur Reynard approached and angrily asked me to go with him to his study.

"Where is your handbag Mademoiselle?" he asked when we were inside.

"Where I was sitting," I said wondering what was wrong.

"Show me," he said and we went to retrieve it. I pointed over to the chair where I had been sitting with Georges just a few minutes earlier.

"May I?" he asked taking it from me.

I nodded as we went back to his study where he emptied the contents across his study desk.

There in amongst all the odds and ends of my bag was a tiny tube of superglue that he promptly held up for me to see.

"Can you explain this in your bag?" he asked opening the tube slightly to see some of the liquid oozes out.

"No I can't," I said. "You can see there is nothing of value inside my bag so I left it unattended. Anyone could have put that there."

"However it came to be there, you were the last one inside the toilet and that girl has had the evilest prank played on her." He said with an angry look.

"It wasn't me," I said but I could see he wasn't convinced.

He led me outside after I was given some time to collect my belongings back into my bag. My face must have been white but I could see on the far side of the dance floor the real culprit grinning like an ape.

"In the circumstances Miss I must ask you to leave my home immediately," he said sternly.

There seemed little point in putting up any sort of defense in the face of his anger, such overwhelming evidence and upsetting him even more.

So quietly I meekly allowed myself to be led to the front door, followed anxiously by the faithful Georges to await a taxi to run us back to Madame Lanaux as I thought about what might have happened if I had been Diana's intended target.

In the taxi, the thought of having to go home the next day crossed my mind. When I got back I went straight to bed but I couldn't sleep. A disgraceful return would be a devastating blow to the school and to my own public appearance on stage the next day.

I was still sobbing when Diana came to bed but she said nothing and slipped into her bed. I wanted to thump her but I knew that would solve nothing. Her cruel trick had deprived me of my hopes as a dancer and eventually, I drifted off to sleep.

The next morning my fate was sealed after I received a telephone call.

The call was from Madame Olga who said that I would be taken back to the railway station and home. "You are lucky Wendy that she is not seriously hurt or disfigured," she scolded. "In the circumstances, you will be sent home in disgrace."

"Madame I didn't do this," I protested my innocence.

"The evidence is overwhelming and I'm sorry you must add the crime of lying to your total," she said growing angrier.

"Yes Madame," I said reluctantly.

"Pack your bags, I will arrange for a taxi to take you to the station and your parents to meet you at Waterloo."

The phone line went dead and I cried tears again. Diana had left to avoid any retribution from me I suspect and if I had managed to put my hands on her then I would have strangled her.

Georges was sympathetic but there was nothing he could do. I got the feeling that he thought I was guilty too.

My pleas of innocence had been ignored, so it was a tearful Georges who waved me goodbye from his bedroom window as we left in a taxi for the station. The return journey was a sad affair wondering how I was going to explain this to my parents. I also decided that I was going to get sweet revenge on Diana. She was the girl who had been responsible for getting me into this sissy state in the first place!

I was met at Waterloo station by Mum and Dad. Mum gave me a hug and a kiss as we walked back to the car. As Dad drove us home they discussed my behavior and my future.

"What are we going to do with you?" he asked. "First you get into trouble here and now you end up getting deported from France! Where's it all going to end?"

"Dad you have to believe me, I didn't do what they said," I pleaded it seemed in vain. "Besides I wasn't deported!"

"That's not what Madame Olga told us," he continued. "If it wasn't you who was it?"

"It was Diana who did it," I replied.

"It figures," he said, "You have got it in for her after she found you out."

"Please let me explain and why won't you believe me?"

"The only thing that you need to explain is why you did it?" he said still convinced of my guilt.

You seem to be just as unruly now as you were as a boy, and you have told so many lies in the past why should we believe you now?"

Thankfully the cross-examination ceased when we arrived home where we were met by a somewhat mystified Melissa who wanted to know all the details. I told her that it was Diana and for once someone believed me.

"Yes I can believe she did that," she said sympathetically "Why though?"

"I think because of my friendship with Georges," I replied without thinking.

"Who's Georges?" she asked.

"Oh the son of the family we were staying with, he became very friendly while I stayed there."

"Ah I see now," said Melissa. "Do you think she fancied him?"

"Maybe I don't know, all I know is that he was in tears when I left."

"Poor you," she said. "You seem to have made an enemy of that girl. Did you kiss and cuddle in front of her?"

"Yes, a few times why?"

"Well that would be enough, she lost her boyfriend a few weeks ago and she has been a right bitch ever since. Maybe that's the reason."

"Whatever the reason I'm still in a mess."

"Yes that's true," she admitted. "Diana's not the kind to worry about the mess you're in."

"Maybe she's got a guilty conscience?"

"I doubt it!" said Melissa just as we were called for dinner by Mum.

"Anyway fancy you, getting off with a French boy," smirked Melissa as we went downstairs again.

"Melissa you know I'm not that sort of girl!" I replied without really thinking and I stamped my foot in exasperation.

"Go on then Wendy tell me what sort of girl are you then?" she laughed.

"I don't know is the honest truth," I replied wishing this charade would end.

"Maybe a cute one who makes the boys fall head over heels in love?"

Before I could reply the phone rang and Mum answered it. Just as well because I had felt some strange feelings in my mind about all this girl stuff.

"Good news Wendy! That was from Madame Olga in Paris," beamed Mum.

"Well let's hear it," said Dad.

"It seems that Wendy has been accused of something she does. The real culprit is Diana after all."

"Really? That's fantastic," said Melissa giving me a hug and I hugged back hard.

"Yes it seems that Georges found a receipt for a tube of superglue in a shop that had fallen out of her purse. He told his mother and then to Madame Olga who managed to get the truth out of the minx," said Mum.

"I, don't know what to say," I said obviously happier than ever. The fact that Georges had come to my rescue also wasn't lost on me. "Can I phone Georges to thank him?"

"Yes you can," she said.

"What's happened to Diana?" asked Melissa as I dialed.

"Diana's been sent home in disgrace too and will not be dancing for some time," said Mum. "She's been grounded for six months!"

Meanwhile, I had thanked Georges who told me that I was welcome to return to Paris any time to visit him. I thanked him warmly and he went to say that he never doubted me either. With Diana and me went he had offered to help and his offer had been accepted so he was going to be in the dance but at the back, so his efforts wouldn't be so noticeable.

I later learned that he did a good job, the French girl made a good recovery, and relations between Madame Olga and Madame Druon were icy cold after it was discovered that it was her daughter Diana that had caused the problems.

After that, I expected to return to being Billy again but maybe Mum just plain forgot or something because she made no attempt to change me back. So after the Easter Holidays, I found myself going back to school in a girl's uniform again only this time a summer one.

The uniform was a red and white pinafore dress with a large, floppy blue necktie set off against a wide white collar. Of course, I still wore shiny black regulation shoes and the short white frilly topped ankle socks.

"Mum how much longer will I have to dress like a girl?" I asked her as she ran me to school.

"Hopefully that'll all be coming to an end soon," she admitted. I wasn't sure whether she wanted me back as a boy or not.

Back in class, we caught up on all our news and the girls were really interested in what had happened in France. I found I was now in great demand to tell all the intimate details of my time in Paris and my love interest with Georges!

During the morning break, I was summoned to see Mr. Somers in his study who had obviously been told to apologize by Madame Olga for Diana's behavior.

I accepted it and told him that I had been unhappy at the time but now I was okay. I asked him, "What is going to happen to Diana?"

"She's being sent away to boarding school for a term so she'll learn her lesson," he said. Before I could ask where he told me it was a special school for wayward girls and boys. "We did think of sending you there too but I think you've learned your lesson now."

"So what happens now?" I asked.

"Well I think you can go back to being Billy again, you've been punished enough I think," he said and then pressed the intercom. "Send her in please Miss White."

Diana entered the room looking very uncomfortable. She stood sullenly waiting on her father to speak.

"You have something to say, Diana, so please don't keep us waiting."

"Yes I do," she started looking at the floor. "I'm very sorry about what happened in France and I hope you'll forgive me." There were tears in her eyes as she looked at me hoping I would do just that.

I nodded feeling my long hair move against my shoulders as usual and thinking that soon it would be history. "I forgive you, Diana, I hope that maybe we can be friends now?"

"You want to be friends with me?" she asked becoming happier but not much.

"Yes when you get back maybe we can dance together or something," I said and she seemed happy at the idea.

"Right Diana back to your classes," he said standing up and taking command again. Then he cleared his throat and looked at me.

"Now I think that you've been punished long enough and you're welcome to go back to school as a boy from now on," he said looking at me. I blushed. "Of course that includes ballet lessons with my wife if you so wish."

He coughed awkwardly, averting his eyes with embarrassment, awaiting my response but none came. I just couldn't reply to his suggestion, as I stood there trembling slightly with frustration. My hands behind my back gripped the rear of my skirt tightly. I wanted to shout out that I should stay as Wendy but I was unable to do so. I was quite dreading what he would say next!

"I just hope your recent improvement in your academic record of the last few weeks can be maintained," he said. "Your teachers see a marked improvement."

"Thank you, sir," I said smiling. "I have found it easier in the girl's classes. Maybe I should stay as I am?"

"No I think you have been punished quite enough," he said generously but he seemed reluctant. "However I also think that you'll find it difficult to stay as a girl."

I tried to think of something to say and Pauline and Jane came to mind.

"What about Pauline and Jane?" I asked. "They were boys once and soon they'll be girls."

"Yes but they have a disorder and they want to be girls," he said. "They're not like you who has been punished." As the poor man stood there, I could read uncertainty etched in his face as I replied, barely above a whisper, "I would rather stay as I am Sir!"

He seemed genuinely surprised by my answer, "Are you sure?"

"Yes quite sure," I replied. "I think I'm like Pauline and Jane."

"I see," he said. "Before we can allow that, we'll need to let you see someone about this."

"Who sir?"

"Well I will give someone I know a ring and she can see you this afternoon," he advised. "Then we'll know whether you can stay as Wendy. You may go back to classes."

"Yes Sir," I replied suddenly bursting into tears.

"There, there, please take all the time that you wish my dear, there's no hurry." He said seemingly concerned but it was mixed feeling about what this woman might find.

Instead, I walked out of his study, onwards down the corridor passing a startled Lisa on the way. I ended up in the girl's toilets to have a good cry where Lisa discovered me.

"What's wrong?" she asked. "Did Somer upset you?"

"I have to see someone this afternoon," I replied, "about whether I can stay in the girl's class."

"You want to stay with us?" she asked in a bemused state. "Why?"

"Because I want to be a girl I guess," I admitted gulping back the tears to reply. "So depending on what she says, I can remain in the girls class!"

Lisa smiled, "Well then why all the tears?"

"She might say no," I said.

"She might say yes," Lisa replied smiling again. I gulped as I started weeping again and Lisa stepped forward to embrace me while I rested my head on her shoulder and let my true feelings flow.

"Come on let's go back and tell the others," she said and we walked back to the classroom.

That afternoon, a councilor did arrive and she asked me some strange questions about what kinds of toys I liked to play with and what my hobbies were. Did I like boys or girls more? It was well after normal school finishing time when I made my way home along the safer back lane that I'd been shown.

However, it was a big mistake when I was confronted by a group of boys from my class who started to taunt me. They pushed and shoved me over before leaving me bruised and battered. I had mud on my uniform and I was a mess.

The last thing I heard as they ran off was they were going to fix me up properly. I was in tears when I got home and Mum comforted me.

"Mum they were horrid," I said trying to stop crying.

"I know," she said. "We'll get you back as Billy again and you'll be able to defend yourself."

"I'm not sure that'll help," I said. "The boys already think I am a pansy with my ballet classes and dressing as a girl."

"Well you took your punishment well young man," she said and I had to smile of the irony of that statement. I looked more like a young girl. "I'll phone the school so you can have a few days off because of the need to change back. I'm sure they'll agree. In the meantime do you feel going into Ballet class this evening?"

"Yes it would be good to see the others again," I agreed.

"Well then go get cleaned up and I'll get your Dad to run you home," she said returning to serve up my dinner.

Dad seemed strangely happy when he dropped me off at Ballet class. "You can get your own way home cant you Billy?" he said.

"Yes Dad I can," I agreed.

I made my way to Madame's office for what I assumed would be another one of her pep talks. However, she was in a good mood for a change.

"Ah Wendy do come in my dear," she said startling me with some kindness. "I must apologize to you for the way you were treated in Paris."

"Yes thank you," I replied. "I was very unhappy about what happened."

"Yes I am sure you must feel very put out by what my daughter did," she said. "She's being punished for that. There is some good news though that Georges will be coming over to stay with me over the summer holidays."

"Really?" I asked instantly broadening into a smile.

"Yes really and I expect he'll make a good addition to our classes and performances," she enthused. "You might find his twin sister will be here too."

"Thank you for telling me Madame, but Georges hasn't got a twin sister."

Madame smiled, "We found out that Georges is a bit like you in that he likes to dress in girl's clothes and after you'd gone home he did just that on stage."

I couldn't help but feel happy that he was the same as me and his company would be more than welcome over the long summer.

"Of course Georges will be taking lessons here too perhaps that will be Georgina instead," she said smiling.

"But I will be going back to being a boy again," I said pouting.

"Well between us you can stay a girl here," she said cheering me up. "For the next three months, you'll be hard in training for a show at the local theatre."

"I will?" I asked incredulously.

"Yes the other girls felt sorry for you that you were sent home in disgrace after my daughter's foolish behavior, so they suggested that we give you a starring role in the new production," she said. "I agreed and you can take Diana's place, so don't let me down."

"I won't," I replied in a determined mood.

After I left the office, I hopped, skipped, and jumped towards the changing room and there were some genuine smiles and hugs waiting for me as I got changed. It felt so good as I rejoined my classmates at the barre again to begin the lesson.

Everyone seemed pleased to see me back and I'll admit I was even happier. Jenny and I stayed behind afterward for extra coaching from Madame Olga so it was late when we finished. I was happy when we headed back into changing.

As we got changed Jenny pointed out late it was, "Can I walk home with you Wendy?"

"Yes I would like that," I replied, "I know a quick way."

"Is that along the towpath?" she asked.

"Yes, do you know it?" I replied.

"Yes Mum said I shouldn't go that way," she said.

Remembering my time as a boy, I had never had any problems along the canal and just said that it would save us 10 minutes' walking time if we went that way.

"I might be scared though," she said.

"It's all right I'll be with you," I replied sounding all macho. In truth, I would never have thought of going that way alone myself.

I changed the subject, "I am going back to being a boy in a few days."

"Really does that include here too?"

"No Madame said I could still be able to do that, but I'm not sure that will work," I said being honest with myself. "However I am so happy when I am dancing with Pauline, Jane, and all you girls, it is one of the joys of being a boy ballerina!"

It seemed odd then to pull my sundress over my head and tie up the belt.

Jenny then gave me a warm friendly hug. "Don't say that Wendy, you're too pretty to be a boy, especially when you  wear such a lovely sundress."

Despite my usual embarrassment at her warm friendly remark, I quickly glanced across at the young long-legged girl with plaited long hair reflected back in the mirror! Yes, she was right, I was gorgeous!

As we walked out the door, it was just starting to get dark and we would need to rush to avoid getting home. Our homeward trip began well enough but as the light started to fail I began to regret the decision to use the shortcut. Like Jenny, I was still experiencing a feeling of defencelessness and vulnerability as the gloom descended. Dressed in such flimsy attire we walked faster along the path and we imagined men jumping out of the darkness.

"Wendy we shouldn't have come this way," complained Jenny.

"I'm beginning to realize it," I admitted.

"How much further?"

"Oh about another half mile and then we reach the housing estate," I said hoping she would believe my lie that it was nearer three-quarters of a mile.

We walked on and I remembered Pauline's funny comment about keeping some pepper spray to ward off would-be attackers. I realized that I couldn't expect much protection from the cheap perfume I'd been using since my trip to France.

As the lights got closer I began to relax a little but it didn't last long because just within reach of the housing estate three large youths appeared out of nowhere into our path.

"Oh what do we have here?" said the leader who barred our path.

"Just two girls," I said on our way home.

"Oh right, you were on your way home girls, you're going to help us," he said.

"Look our parents are expecting us home any minute," I said as he grabbed me. "Run Jenny!"

She did just that, fortunately, she was a fast runner and was wearing her trainers. She ducked and dived between the two big boys and headed for the housing estate.

"Let her go, one will be enough," said the leader grabbing me by the head.

His substantial hand then grasped me by the arm grabbing my ballet bag as he snarled, "Not so fast there! We want a quiet word with you, Missy."

They dragged me back along the footpath and into some deep bushes where they opened a shed and threw me inside. It was damp and I landed in a heap. They dragged me over to a bench and opened my legs.

"Let's see whether she's got any pubic hair yet," said the leader.

I was in shock with tears streaming down my face. "Let me go, please. I won't tell!"

"What have we hear then guys?" said the leader as he ripped my pantyhose and pulled down my panties. "This is no girl."

"Jeez look at that," they said in unison.

"If he wants to be a girl maybe we should make him one," said the leader.

"How?" asked the youngest guy. I didn't recognize any of them and they probably had just moved into the area or they were from a neighboring town.

"Maybe our little friend will be happy if we cut everything off?"

"You can't be serious Jack?"

"Guys, we were serious enough to abduct this thing in the first place what difference will it make if we give her what she wants?"

I screamed and had my mouth filled with a pair of handkerchiefs.

"Hold her arms and legs and we'll do it right here and now."

"I'm not sure about this," said the third lad who turned and fled leaving my legs free again but they tied my legs to the table while the youngest held my arms.

"Let him go, we're better off without him anyway," said the leader taking out a thin cut-throat razor. He looked through my purse and found my name and address. "So it was Billy Fielding but you're definitely too pretty to be Billy any longer."

I swallowed but my mouth was dry. "Ah young master Billy shall we make you into Miss Billi?" he asked levering out the razor.

I shook my head violently but it was no use.

"You know Billi it's so hard to tell now who's a girl and who's a boy these days. We've both decided that you should be a pretty girl."

I shook my head again but it was no use.

Suddenly I could feel the wet warmth of my blood between my legs as he slashed the razor across my genitals before running out of the door as his friend bolted out too. I caught sight of the red mess in my crotch and pulled off my sundress and bunched it up to stop the flow of blood.

I shouted and screamed, "Help Me!" Again and again, I shouted. I don't know how long it was that I stayed like that, but I must have shivered either with the cold or with the loss of blood. My sundress was getting soaked with blood and I pushed it harder into me despite the pain that caused. I screamed again and someone heard me.

A policeman arrived and shown his torch into my face, "You okay Miss?" Then he saw the blood and shook his head before letting out a curse. "She's in the old potting shed beside the path. Call out the ambulance, she's been wounded."

I don't remember what happened next because I must have passed out. I do remember coming too in the ambulance and some nice woman looking down at me. "You okay honey?

I nodded feeling at peace unaware of the speed at which I was traveling to the hospital or the noise of the sirens ahead of me. I heard a shout, "We should be at Emergency in two minutes those cops can sure drive."

Fortunately, I passed out again and it was sometime later before I came too in a hospital bed with my Mum looking into my face. "Are you alright dear?"

"Yes Mum, I think so," I replied.

"Before you go on I have to tell you something dear," she said seriously. "Those men did a terrible thing to you."

"What's happened?" I asked wondering why she was crying.

"Tell me, darling, what is the one thing you've always wanted?"

I had only one answer to that and I whispered, "To be a ballerina Mum!"

"The wound damage was quite extensive, particularly round your privates and they've not been able to save your penis and testes," she said stunning me. "The doctors decided to give you what you wanted and they've surgically removed them."

"Did they ever catch those boys?" I asked.

"No dear they will get them through, those three are known trouble makers in a nearby town and the police will be here soon to make a statement. In the meantime get some rest and sleep."

"Mum, is it really true I have a vagina now?" I asked.

"Yes dear you're going to be Wendy from now on," she smiled. "I'm afraid there's no choice in the matter."

She looked genuinely pleased and smiled serenely. However, I could see the look of horror on Dad's face. I could see that he had real concerns about what had happened to me.

"Are you in any pain dear?" he asked me.

"No dad I'm fine for now," I replied sinking into a deep sleep.

I heard him talk, "What about his grandparents? -I suppose I better call my Mum and Dad and let them know what's happened to Billy!"

It turned out that Granddad was quite shocked at first but after talking with Mum he understood that there was nothing else that could be done.

The next few days were quite tough to get through as the pain rose and subsided. I was given the usual talk about looking after my new vagina. I was given a small dose of female hormones that would soon build up over the years. So that I can't do without them.

The police eventually caught the three young men who stole my manhood and were each given a long prison term. The leader on my evidence received a term of 15 years in jail by the old male judge who watched me relive that painful night.

The newspapers had to preserve my identity but they reported widely on what happened to the three young men who did me wrong. In truth, I was quite happy with the outcome because now I really could be a ballerina.

When the bandages came off I was really pleased with the results. And the pain was bearable. Of course, my voice hadn't broken and I was told it never would. From now on, I would be a soprano, so when I answered the phone for the first time after I came home from the hospital I was asked if I was Melissa.

That made me happy when I replied, "No Auntie Rita, it's me, Wendy!"

There was a deathly silence for a few seconds. Then she boomed into my ears, "Oh it's you, dear, I hope you are feeling better now! Is your mother there?"

"Yes Auntie, I'll just call her, she's outside in the garden."

I could tell she wouldn't bring my cousins around for a while but that didn't matter, I was sure in my own mind that I was better than them and that was all that mattered to me!

Of course, it took several months to heal up properly, and missed a lot of ballet practice. So Pauline stood in for me at the charity concert. However, a few weeks after leaving the hospital, I was well enough to attend Miss Jones's white wedding. As a special surprise for the bride, we were all fitted out in our ballet costumes by Madame Olga to form special bridesmaids for the service.

So Miss Jones made the local paper surrounded by all her girls in their ballet outfits. Of course, that included me who presented her with a pose of flowers.

"Oh Wendy I'm so glad you're feeling better," she said giving me a kiss.

"Thank you, Miss Jones," I replied.

"Oh it's Mrs. Smith now," she laughed. "You look really lovely"

"So do you," I said.

So after the pictures were finished, we moved out into the churchyard hand in hand in twos. Then we held aloft cane arches decorated with multi-colored satin ribbons. Then it was the most emotional feeling as the bride and groom passed underneath and towards their waiting white Rolls Royce.

At the hotel, we changed into party dresses and had a great time dancing and even sampling some of the alcoholic drinks when the adults weren't looking.

Madame Olga came up to me and smiled, "When you are better Wendy I want to train you to become a prima ballerina. You'll be the first woman who was born a boy to achieve that accolade. It'll be tough and hard work. There will be times when you will hate me with all you're being but I can see greatness in you, do you want that?"

"Oh yes Madame Olga I do," I said happily.

"In that case, we'll start you slowly when you are healed up," she said. "I think you'll become a real star and you'll dance in front of royalty and heads of state at Covent Garden."

"Really?"

"Yes only it'll be Wendy the ballerina," she said with a wink.

The End.