Something Pretty

How exactly do I do this? Tim thought to himself as he stood in the hallway outside of Tabby’s door, Do I just let myself in or…

Wear something pretty! Nancy had probably texted it to be flirty, playful, but all she had done was stress Tim out. It wasn’t her fault. She didn’t know that reality had only recently been completely rewritten to have a caveat that he couldn’t own clothing, that he was doomed to wear his sister’s clothes. To Nancy the whole setup was normal, just as it had been for Tabby.

I’m just going to go for it, Tim thought as he reached for the door handle and turned. At least he tried to turn it. It was locked.

“Shit,” he said. Now his humiliation wouldn’t be contained. He’d have to share it with his sister.

“Tabby!” He said quietly through the door, “can I get into your room for a minute?”

“Why?” Her voice travelled through the wood.

“I need to get changed,” He answered, leaning his head against the door, “I’ve got a date.”

There was furious sound of socked feet running on carpet as Tabby scrambled to open up.

“A DATE?!” She squealed, “who do you have a date with?! Spill!!”

“Nancy Beardy,” Tim said, feeling his ears burn in embarrassment, “and she’s picking me up in an hour.”

“Oh God,” Tabby said, pulling him inside, “you can’t wear that! Get in here.”

She dragged him toward her closet, kicking the door closed behind her. Tim realized in that moment that he hadn’t been in Tabby’s room with the door closed since they were little. While they were close in age, they had never been close emotionally. It wasn’t as if the two of them didn’t get along, but just that they each had their own things going on, their own friends, their own interests.

Now, though, they had one very profound thing in common.

“I know just the thing,” Nancy said, throwing open the door to the closet.

“Could it be a bit looser than this?” Tim said, adjusting the crotch in her jeans.

“It’s not my fault you’re the wrong size,” Tabby said dismissively, “but yes, I can help with that.”

Flipping through her hangers, Tabby made some quiet grunting noises as she considered her options, then triumphantly pulled one hanger off of the rod and swung it out of the closet. Holding it up to Tim’s chest, she announced, “This is the one !”

Tim looked down and his heart sank. She was holding a white dress covered in blue flowers. His shoulders would be exposed as it would be held up by two straps about an inch wide each. The hem would be about three inches above his knees.

“It’s a bit short,” he complained, “and does it have to be a dress?”

“You wanted looser, and this is looser,” Tabby said with finality in her voice, “and how many times to I have to tell you: there is nothing I can do about the sizes. You are just a bit too tall for a perfect fit. I have nothing to do with how your body turned out, so you’ll have to wear what I have.”

“But couldn’t I just…”

“I’m making an exception for you today and letting you use an extra outfit just because of your big date,” she said in a mock stern voice, then much more playfully, “but I’m going to expect details when you get back. When did Nancy and Gary break up, by the way?”

“I’m not sure they did,” Tim said, taking the hanger from Tabby and examining the dress, “she just asked me out. I’m not sure what to make of it.”

“You make whatever you can with it!” Tabby giggled, “I don’t see what she sees in that Gary, anyway. He’s got no curb appeal. If you ask me,” she paused and looked her brother up and down, “she’ll be trading up for a better model.”

“I kind of hope so,” Tim said, “anyway, thanks for the dress, I guess.”

“No! We’re not done!” Tabby grabbed Tim’s hand again, “you can’t wear sneakers with that dress. Here,” she grabbed a pair of wedge sandals and shoved them into his hands, “and this,” she tossed him a leather purse, “and of course this,” and finally a pair of lacy white panties, “now you’re set.”

Tim backed his way to the door. He wanted desperately to go out with Nancy, but his new reality was hitting him hard. He was almost certain that Nancy wouldn’t bat an eye if he wore what his sister had given him, but it was so counter to his sense of self to dress that way that he dreaded leaving thee house.

“I appreciate it,” Tim said as he opened the door and walked into the hallway.

“No problem,” Tabby answered with a grin, “remember, details!”

Tim closed the door to her room and slumped his shoulders. Then, after a minute of standing around feeling despondent, he turned and went back to his own room. He might as well get it over with. Besides, he had to figure out how to put a dress on.