The Orphan Part 2

Henry sat at the table and quietly ate his eggs. Aunt Rebecca continued to sip her coffee and read the newspaper, her legs crossed.   

"Oh Henry!" she said suddenly.   

"Yes?" he looked up from his eggs.

"You haven't seen it yet have you?" she said, getting up from the table.

"Seen what?"

Aunt Rebecca opened the curtains to the kitchen, letting in the light.

"This!"

There was snow everywhere. It covered the deck, the tree branches. The entire backyard was white.

"Whoah" said Henry quietly.

"It's so pretty. Don't you think?" Aunt Rebecca was back at the table, sipping her coffee and looking at Henry.

"Ya. Can we go shopping today and get me some clothes?"

She frowned. "Sorry Henry. The roads are closed. The snows at least a foot deep, and it froze overnight. I'm afraid we're stuck in the house for a while."

"But...."

"I'm sorry Henry. I know you don't really like wearing the girl clothes, but we can't go shopping. We're just gonna have to stick it out."

Henry let out a deep sigh. He looked back down at the ground. At his slippers. His fluffy pink girly slippers. And he was wearing a matching bathrobe to go with it. Still, it was soft. And it was really comfortable. Maybe it wasn't so bad. No one could see him, and Aunt Rebecca was trying to make him happy. The situation was hard on her too.          

"I have an idea Henry. How would you like to be the first person to see my spring lineup?" she got up from the table and took Henry's hand again. Although it wasn't as firm as it was earlier that morning. It was softer, more gentle. Her polished fingernails wrapped loosely around his hand made him feel safe. Secure.

Aunt Rebecca led him upstairs into her workroom. There was cloth of every color strewn across the floor. Dressers littered with outdated clothes lined the walls of the room. In the center, there was a large step stool. Manaquins were placed around the room, showing off some inspirational pieces.   

"I expect this one here will be the best seller come springtime," she said, showing him a yellow sundress with flowered decorations on the sides. "It's simple, yet attractive. Easy to put on, but conservative. Everything springtime is about. What do you think?"  

"It's pretty," he said, not sure what else to say.

"Yes. It's almost done. I just have to adjust the hem a little and....."

"What?" Henry asked.

"You know. You're about just the right size," she said, looking him up and down.

"Wait I don't know if-"

"Oh please Henry. Please? For me? I rarely get a live model. You're the perfect size and height."

"I.... oh all right." Henry said.

"Oh thank you Henry! Thank you so much! You have no idea how much this helps me." she kissed Henry on the cheek and hugged him.

"Take off your slippers and robe and stand on the stool please."

Henry removed his soft attire, and felt a breeze as he did so. Suddenly he was cold. He got up on the stool, and Aunt Rebecca walked towards him with the yellow sundress. She got up on the step ladder, and stood on the top step. She towered over Henry.

"Arms up please." she said, dangling the dress over him.

He lifted both arms straight up in the air, and she directed them through the spaghetti straps. The dress flowed down to his thigh, just slightly longer than the nightie.

"It looks good," said Aunt Rebecca, who was off the ladder and standing in front of Henry. "But I need to fix the hem."

She got to work, making Henry turn as she fixed the hem of the dress, making sure each thread was perfectly constructed. It took ages, it felt like hours to Henry.   

"Phew!" said Aunt Rebecca, standing up. "45 minutes. Longer than I thought it would take. Well, you've been a big help Henry."

She helped him take off the dress and place it back on the mannequin.

"Although, since we're already here, do you mind if you help me with a few other outfits?" she stared at Henry with pleading eyes, her soft lips in a pout.

"Um.... sure, whatever." said Henry, getting a little tired of dressing like a girl. "What do I have to wear next?"

"This!" she exclaimed, holding up an elegant golden cocktail dress.

"Ughh," Henry sighed.

"But I need to get a better idea of the length of the dress. I expect most young women wearing this will also be wearing high heels, so…" she held up a matching pair of scrappy high heels.

"But, I don't know how to walk in heels!" Henry protested.

"You don't need to walk babe, you just need to stand. You can keep your balance right?" she raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," Henry said.

Aunt Rebecca helped him to put on the heels, but she left him to stand on his own. He hobbled over to the stool, and climbed up. His aunt came over with the dress, and lifted it down over him again. She worked on it for about ten minutes and then stopped.

"I need more fabric," she said. "Henry, could you grab more pins please?" pointing to the other side of the room.

Henry nodded and, forgetting he was in heels, fell straight to the ground. He had tried to prevent the fall with his hands, but found himself lying on the floor, Aunt Rebecca standing over him, shaking her head.

"Honestly Henry, it isn't that hard to walk in heels. Look."

She helped him up to his feet and gave him a small push.

"It's just like walking on your tip toes," she explained.

Henry almost fell again, but Aunt Rebecca caught him and straightened him back up.

"The problem is you're slouched," she critiqued. "Stand up straight." she put one hand on his chest and another in the small of his back and thrusted him into place. "Much better. Try again."

Henry continued to walk short distances in the heels. Every time his aunt adjusted his walk, it became a little better.

"Good!" said Aunt Rebecca. "That was much better. Let's continue with the dress though. Hop back on the stool."   

They continued to model all day. Henry tried on dresses, shoes, evening wear, skirts, tops, even some lingerie. They only took a break for lunch, and continued until it was dark.

"Henry you are amazing. I have almost my entire spring lineup completed. Thank you!"

"You're welcome Aunt Rebecca. Can I take off these stockings now?"

"Yes you may dear. Here you go." she handed him his robe and slippers. He tied the robe around his waist and stepped into the slippers. They felt good. Familiar, soft, warm. They were definitely growing on him.

"My, look at the time Henry. It's late. Oh! I almost forgot! I promised we would watch a movie together didn't I?" she looked at him incredulously, seemingly panic stricken that she had almost forgot.

"Come on! The nights still young!" she grabbed Henry's hand again and brought him downstairs. She put in a movie, some chick flick, and sat down on the couch. "Come on." she encourged, patting the seat next to her. Henry obiediently sat down.

"Oh come on Henry. You can come closer. I won't bite."

Henry schooched closer.

"Closer babe, I don't have cooties."

Henry moved even closer to his aunt, until their thighs were pressed against each other, and their shoulders touched.

"That's better." she said satisfied.

They watched the movie for a while, until Henry started to feel really tired. He wasn't sure why, it was only 9:30. Maybe it was because he was dressing and undressing all day. Or maybe it was the warmth of the bathrobe and the lights turned off. He started to feel even more tired. He felt himself dozing off.

"Aw. Isn't that just precious." his aunt whispered as Henry's head fell asleep on her shoulder.

She turned off the movie and carefully picked him up in her arms. She caried him upstairs to his room and laid him on the bed. Aunt Rebecca took off his slippers and bathrobe, and changed his panties. Then she dressed him in his pink silky nightie and, noticing for the first time that his legs were completely shaven, smiled as she tucked him into bed. She kissed him on the forehead, and said goodnight.