My father had retired the previous year and had left me to run the specialist technical and antiquarian book shop that he had spent most of his working life building up. We were still a family-owned firm in the small historic Midlands city of Shrewsbury, but had quite a reputation and traded nationally and internationally thanks to the website and internet sales that I had introduced when I took over as manager. Although my father left the day-to-day running of the shop to me, he still liked to keep an eye on what was going on, often coming in and chatting to the five girls and women that worked with me. After one of his visits he invited me to go for lunch with him as there was something he wanted to talk with me about. After a pleasant lunch discussing family affairs and the world in general, his look turned a bit more serious.

“Nicholas, I am very concerned about the atmosphere in the shop, the girls did not say anything specific or directly, but I got the distinct impression that they are not a happy team. I took Lauren aside and asked her to be honest and open with me about what the problem is in the shop as I want to knock it on the head. She told me that in all the years she has worked for me, there was always a friendly air about the place and that they felt that they could always talk to me about any problems. To put it bluntly, she told me that they don’t have the same relationship with you, and that you always have a barrier of formality separating you from them. They tell me that you insist on them calling you Mr Edwards or even Mr Nicholas rather than Nicholas in front of the customers. For heaven’s sake this is the 21st century, the days of that level of formality are long gone, you know that the staff always just called me John ”

“Father, the days of patrician benevolence are over, modern business practices require more efficient and structured operation and that necessitates rigid demarcation of responsibilities and boundaries. You have been blunt with me and I shall be equally frank with you, when you retired there was an extremely casual air about the way the staff operated which I have been trying to bring under control.”

“Poppycock Nicholas, that is a load of management gobbledegook you are not running a multi-national conglomerate, you are running a small business with five staff and that needs a more personal and friendly approach. If you are not careful, Lauren and all the others will get discontented and move on elsewhere, all their years of experience will be lost and you will have to start again with new untrained staff, Get your act together and try to get on good terms with them all, relate to them, otherwise you will regret it, and you and I will have our investment in terms of money and years of hard work go down the pan, Think about what I have said, I don’t care how you achieve it but you need to go back to the shop and sort it out before it’s too late. If you can’t maybe I’ll have to come back to running the place and you can go off to ‘find yourself’ trekking in Peru like you have often said,”

For the rest of the day I sat in my office at the back of the shop, initially furious at what my father had said and even angrier that the staff were telling tales to him and criticising me behind my back. However the more I thought about it the more I realised that he might have a point and decided to mend a few bridges.

The following morning I called Lauren in for a chat, as she was the most senior and long-serving staff member, having worked for my father for 15 years since leaving school.

“Lauren, after speaking with you all yesterday my father tore me off a strip, telling me some home truth about the fact that you and the girls are not happy and comfortable with the way the shop is being run by me. You were open with him, please be equally open with me, what can I do to turn things around, not in a business sense but in terms of how we all relate to each other?”

“Nicholas, I’ve known you since I started working for your father and you were just into your teens, I’ve almost been like a big sister to you. Since you came back from university full of all your bright new-fangled business ideas, you are now a different person, you have become arrogant and high-handed, and have no interest in or respect for any of the staff, we all deserve better from you, me especially.”

“I’m not really sure what you mean Lauren, all I want is for you all to respect that I am now running the shop, not my father.”

“You have to earn respect Nicholas, if you want to lead a happy team you need to get to know us and relate to us. What do you know about any of us personally, what problems or interests we have outside of work? All you ever talk to us about is how the shop is operating and even then it is you telling us your thoughts, you never ask if we have any opinions that might be useful. The rest of us sometimes go for a drink and chat after work, you never even think about joining us. We are supposed to be a team, but sometimes it seems like we are on different sides, It would be nice if you made the effort to socialise with us once in a while and get to know us as people rather than just work colleagues. I know it may be awkward for you socialising with five women, and it may restrict our chat having a man amongst us, but we all have to make an effort.”

“Fine, I’ll try to be a bit more pleasant and open with you all. please tell the others to feel free for to call me Nicholas, I asked you to be open and you’ve certainly fired from the hip, but I can see your point of view. Without making it too obvious as to what you are doing and why, next time you are all going for a drink after work please get me invited too, I’d appreciate it.”

After closing the shop the following Friday I went with them to the wine bar just a few doors away. It was a bit awkward at first, but soon they were talking about their plans for the weekend and drew me into the conversations. Although I was not particularly interested in their family matters and they soon passed over my plans for a sporting weekend, we all soon relaxed and had a pleasant hour or so before it was time to leave for home.

The atmosphere in the shop the following week was a lot more relaxed and on Friday we all went out together again.

“Mr Edwards, sorry Nicholas it’s just a force of habit, we have been talking about doing a fund raising event for ‘Children in Need’[1] and wearing fancy dress on the day, are you OK with that?’ asked Kylie, the youngest and newest member of the team.”

“That’s fine, it’s a worthy cause and I suppose you will want me to join in Kylie.”

“It’s not for a few weeks yet but next week it’s Halloween, and I thought that we could get our money’s worth out of the cost of the costumes by doing a another event then, not in the shop, but going around the pubs and coffee bars in costume rattling collecting cans, are you happy to do that too?”

“I’ll leave you to sort out the details between you, and decide on costumes, just let me know what you decide for us to wear. If it will not be too silly a cost I will even pay for everything, but don’t go mad.”

Two days before Halloween Lauren told me that she had my costume, and invited me round to her house to check that it would fit properly. ‘We decided it would help our team bonding if we all wore the same costume, Yours is in that bedroom, go and see what you think and try it on.”

“You must be joking, you can’t expect me to wear this.” I shouted at her as I came out holding up a flimsy and revealing what I can only describe as a short sexy witch dress,

“Why not the rest of us will all be wearing the same, you did say that you wanted to do a bit of team bonding, what could show that you are serious better than wearing the same outfit as the rest of us?”

“It may have escaped your attention Lauren but you are all female, the outfit is designed for you, I am not and I will look ridiculous. Besides it is nor exactly designed for wearing on a cold winters night walking the streets.”

“That’s why I asked you round here tonight, I knew you would react like this and I wanted a chance to prove to you that this will work. Please at least try it on to see if it fits, if it doesn’t we’ll forget it.”

Hesitantly I went back into the bedroom, stripped off, reluctantly put on the dress and went back to show Lauren.

“This is silly, I’m totally the wrong shape for this, it’s too tight at the waist and the top doesn’t sit right without breasts to fill it out.”

“Don’t worry about the details we can take care of that. Actually with a bit of makeup and a wig you could turn out looking not too bad, you are not much bigger or heavier than the rest of us. Trust me, even your mother wouldn’t recognise you by the time I’m finished with you. Are you prepared to give it a go?”

“I’m not convinced but have a go and we’ll see how I turn out.”

“OK let’s’ get started, go into the bathroom and have a close shave everywhere including legs arms, armpits and chest, I don’t want to see a hair anywhere then we’ll sort out making the costume fit better.”

After I finished I put on a towelling bathrobe and returned.

“That’s a lot better , even though you’ll be wearing dark tights and a skin-tone camisole it’s better to start with a clean sheet. You said about needing breasts to fill out the bodice of the dress, let me help you put on a bra and I have some breast forms to fill out the cups which is the easy bit. You will probably not like the next bit which is a tight waist cincher to squeeze you in a few inches to give you a decent waistline, pull in your stomach while I tighten to the cords. That’s a lot better, try on the costume again, that’s a much more acceptable fit Nicholas, or would you prefer Nicola or Nikki? I have a long black wig and some heels for you to compete the outfit, but I won’t bother with them and makeup tonight. That’s actually pretty good Nikki, you won’t look out of place with the rest of us girls, go and get your clothes back on but I suggest that you just leave the cincher on overnight and tomorrow, it will help your body to adjust.”

I had a fitful and disturbed sleep, seeing myself in the costume cavorting and partying with the girls. Nevertheless, I had agreed to take part in their charade and was getting dressed for work when I received a text from Lauren asking me to leave early and go round to her house on the way to work.

“Hi Nicholas, after you left last night I had a thought, and seeing you this morning makes it seem even more sensible. Did you get dressed in a hurry and not even look at yourself. The cincher is doing its job and pulling in your waist but your trousers are all baggy and bunched at the waist and you look a bit thrown together. I think you need to borrow a pair of my trousers which should be a snugger fit on you. Tomorrow is supposed to be a fun day, but you will probably feel awkward and stressed and not enjoy yourself. Why not do a trial run today to get used to being dressed as a female, obviously not the costume, but you can borrow a skirt and blouse as workwear, with a more daytime style wig I have, and makeup of course, spend the day as Nikki. Are you willing to give it a go?”

“I think that I will regret this, but that does make sense, do you think the other girls will be happy about it?”

“You’ll probably get a bit of ribbing at first, but if you look passable and try to act like a woman they’ll soon get used to you. They will be seeing you in the costume tomorrow, maybe this more gentle and gradual approach will be easier for them and for you. If you are sure that you are willing to give it a try, I’ll dig out some things for you. I'll ring the shop to let them know that we will be in late.”

‘Some things’ included being dressed from the skin out including the bra with breast forms, panties and tights, as well as a cerise blouse, cream skirt, and 3” heels. Once I was dressed she went to work on my face and nails before pulling on the collar-length wig and brushing it out.

“Ok Nikki, that’s you all done, you are actually quite believable and should have no bother with the girls or the customers. There’s a bag for you, put in anything you will need today, I’ve already put in some makeup for touch-ups and other bits and pieces. Let’s go and face the world, be careful walking until you get used to the heels we don’t want to have to take you to A&E with a broken ankle dressed like that.”

We arrived at the shop, Lauren went in first to tell the others what she had done before calling me to follow her. I nervously went in shaking with doubt about what I was doing, expecting to be hit with a chorus of laughter and rude comments, but was pleasantly surprised when they all looked me over and went back to work as if there was nothing out of the ordinary.

I went into my office hung up my coat and bag and went to get a coffee where I was soon joined by Kylie.

“You’re looking really nice today Nikki, I thought that you might have been a bit upset when you saw the costume, I didn’t mean for it to embarrass you, but you seem to have taken it in good spirit. You are really looking the part today and the other girls and I have decided not to embarrass you by making constant comments, we will just be treating you as another one of us. That reminds me, when we go to make a coffee, we usually get one for the other girls too, I think that they will appreciate it if you made one for everybody and really became one of the team, let me give you a hand.”

As I was passing round the drinks, the girls were all very pleasant, asking me if I had a good weekend, telling me what they had been up too, I couldn’t remember the last time I had spoken to any of them about anything other than work

At lunchtime Lauren told me that we needed to go shopping and soon had me sitting in a jewellers getting my ears pierced and fitted with small pearl studs, along with a pendant, some bracelets and a dress ring.

The rest of the day seemed to go just the same as normal, and as we were getting ready to leave, Lauren had to remind me to pick up my bag, I wasn’t even thinking about how I was dressed.

“Well that seemed to go without a hitch, you fitted in with us really well, it was good practice for tomorrow, you should be able to enjoy yourself without any worries about how you look and you soon seemed to get used to wearing heels, they actually changed the way you walk and you even started to sway your hips. Come back with me to collect your costume and the few bits and pieces you will need.”

“ OK take of your blouse I need to sort out your breasts, the forms in the bra worked out fine today, but in the costume you need to look a bit more natural.” She took out the forms disappearing into the kitchen coming back a few minutes later telling me to lie back in the reclining chair. I soon felt the cold forms being pressed onto my chest by her. “Just put your hands on the breasts for a couple of minutes until the glue has fully set. You’ll be pleased to know that you now permanently have breasts and they will stay firmly in place until after the partying tomorrow, there’s no backing out now. You’re fine now, stand up and let me see how you look. Seems believable, put on your bra, you will now find that you will be a lot more comfortable wearing one like the rest of us, and your blouse. In the morning put on a light makeup to get yourself presentable. I’ll top it up with something a bit more dramatic to go with the costume when you get here in the morning. Be careful walking home, don’t forget that to the world you are now a girl and there are some nasty men out there.”

I arrived home safely, as I was going up to my room when my mother came out from the kitchen and saw me. “Nicholas is that you, what on earth are you doing dressed like that? Your father will be out until late so come in as you are and tell me why I have seemed to suddenly gain a daughter, and I might add an attractive one at that”

I told her the full story about how Father had told me that I needed to relate better with the girls in the shop and it snowballed from there when they talked me into a Halloween fancy-dress day in the shop tomorrow, and today was just about getting used to things.”

“I’ll believe you, it sounds so silly it must be true. However you better not let your father see you like that, go up and get changed.”

I realised that was a problem with the breasts now being a part of me and my waist being a lot narrower, nothing seemed to fit, so I just dressed in jogging pants and a loose t-shirt.

“What on earth Nicholas, you still look so feminine.”

There’s not a lot of choice Mum, the breasts are fixed with glue and will be there until after tomorrow, this is the best I can do to disguise them.

“This is totally messing with my mind, At least go and put your wig back on and I‘ll get you a more suitable top from my drawers, then we can at least have our meal with you looking like my daughter without me choking on my food.”

I went to change, touched up my makeup, put on the wig and the v-neck short-sleeved top she had found for me that emphasised my breasts without showing too much and found Mum in the kitchen preparing the evening meal.

“Can I help with anything?’

“That is a bigger shock than seeing you wearing a skirt and having breasts, you have never offered to help me before, you should dress as a girl more often. The casserole is bubbling away in the oven, but it would help if you peeled some carrots and potatoes and put them on to boil. While you are doing that we can chat a bit more about how things went today and how the girls in the shop reacted to you. Before that let me get you an elastic hair band to keep your hair out of the food.”

“Actually they were very friendly, especially after I made coffee for them all. They started to call me Nikki and just treated me as another one of the girls, chatting away about things going on in their lives. I probably learned more about them today that I have over the last year or so, it was a lot more pleasant than it has been for a while.”

“Nikki, hmm I like that, let’s get a glass of wine and while the vegetables are simmering away
you can tell me all about what they told you.”

After dinner I helped Mum clear up, washing the dishes and tidying up before watching TV for a couple of hours.

“You had better get yourself up to your room, your Dad is due back soon. You should be OK in the morning, after a late night at Rotary he usually has a lie in. Have you got stuff to clean off your makeup, if not there’s plenty in my bathroom? Are you ok to sort yourself out in the morning, if not I should be up and about like normal?”

I slept a lot better than I had expected, it had been a really nice evening with my Mum, she actually seemed to have enjoyed temporarily having a daughter to talk to.

After a shower and a close shave I sat down to do my makeup trying to remember what Lauren had done the previous day, and made a reasonable job of it before getting dressed, putting on the wig and tying it back like Mum had done, before quietly going downstairs so as not to disturb my father.

“Good morning Nikki, you’ve made a good job yourself, you don’t need any help from me. There’s toast and marmalade and coffee if you want it, I know it’s going to be a busy day for you. Let me take a photo of you looking smart and sophisticated as a really professional businesswoman. I’m sure that I don’t have to tell you but I want to see some photos of you all dressed up in your costumes.”
“Bye Mum, I’ll let you know how I got on.” I said giving her a goodbye kiss for the first time in ages, and was soon back at Lauren’s.

Hi Nikki, lets’s get you into your costume, get stripped off and don’t worry about me seeing you, you will need my help. It’s a bit chilly this morning as I’m sure you noticed when you walked here, the décolletage on the costume is a bit low cut, so I’m wearing a neutral camisole underneath to give a bit of cover on my chest. I have one for for you too, it will also help to conceal where the forms meet your chest and will all look much more natural, keep on the tights you are wearing, the stockings of the outfit won’t cover the top of your legs. That costume now sits a lot better on you, the cincher has really pulled in your waist and your boobs look so realistic and move about naturally, if you don’t mind me saying, you look a really sexy young witch, you’ll have to be fighting the boys off when we go around the bars later. We can’t walk to work looking like this so I’ve got coats for us to keep us decent and warm until we get to the shop, grab your bag and let’s go.”

Walking in the 4” heels was difficult at first but I soon got the hang of walking on my tiptoes and by the time we arrived I was reasonably comfortable in them, managing to match Lauren stride for stride. The others were already there looking amazing in their costumes, but when I took off my coat, there were gasps of disbelief from them all.

“Wow Nikki !’ spluttered Kylie,” Lauren what have you done with Nicholas?” I was wondering how you would turn out Nikki, but nobody will be able to guess which of us is not the real thing, you should have been a girl, you are wasted as a boy.”

“Thanks, I think, Kylie, for the compliment, but make the most of it, you won’t be seeing me like this again.”

“I wouldn’t like to bet on it.” muttered one of the others.

“OK girls lets all get on with our work and hope that we don’t frighten off the customers. I’ll go over to the bakers and see if they have special cakes or biscuits for Halloween for us to offer anyone brave enough to enter these spooky rooms.” picking up my bag and strutting across the road stopping the traffic with my appearance.

“Did anyone say anything Nikki?” asked Lauren.

“Not at all the girls behind the counter loved the outfit saying they hoped we would all have fun, expect some of them to pop over later to get a look at the rest of you.”

Word must have got around as we were quite busy for the rest of the day, lots of sales but many of the browsers had only come into have a look at us.Towards the end of the afternoon I was aghast to see my father come in and have a good luck around for me before approaching Lauren.

“Where’s that son of mine, he’d better not be hiding in the back office instead of joining in the fun with the rest of you?”

“Actually John, Nikki is joining in the fun, you passed her on the way in, that’s her over there talking to a customer. Please do not make a scene, she is trying her best to join in with us as another one of the girls, please don’t spoil things.”

The references to ‘she and her’ just went in one ear and out the other without registering, he looked around but still didn’t recognise me.. When my customer left Lauren waved me to join her and my father, I walked over expecting a tirade of abuse from him, but was pleasantly surprised to be greeted with a hug.

“That’s amazing, er, Nikki, the girls all look happy, the customers all look happy, the costumes are fantastic and you look gorgeous, although I don’t see much of my son before me. Have you got a few minutes to grab a coffee and have a chat in your office?”

“I know that I told you to get to know the girls better and relate to them more, but didn’t expect you to go this far, tell me more about it. “I went through the story as I had done with my Mum the night before, finally telling him that Mum had seen me coming home from work in a skirt apparently with breasts, and wearing makeup, and had spent the evening with her chatting away and helping her in the kitchen enjoying her company as I hadn’t done for a long long time.

“What are you and the girls doing later, are you going out looking like that?”

“We’re all going round the bars in town wearing these costumes collecting for ‘Children in Need’ so I won’t be home until late.”

“How do you all fancy coming up with me to the golf club for a short while, I think I can squeeze a bit more out of the members than you will get around town. I’ll get you taxis there and back so you can go and have some fun.”

“Sounds like a good idea, I’ll ask the other girls if it’s OK with them. But will you not be embarrassed among your friends with me turning up dressed like this?”

“Not at all, as far as anyone is concerned you are my niece Nikki, who is helping out in the shop, they wouldn’t believe me anyway if I told them who you really are.”

When we arrived at the clubhouse, the Annie Lennox version of ‘I put a spell on you’ was already playing over the PA system and we entered to a big round of applause with a few hoots and wolf-whistles. The girls sashayed provocatively in time to the music along the line at the bar and amongst the tables in the bar and lounge, rattling their collecting cans, but very few coins went in it was virtually all notes. Not being able to replicate the girls’ hip sways, I casually chatted to my father and the bar steward who thanked us for brightening a dull evening and even raided the till to make a significant donation. On our way out to our taxis afterwards, Dad thanked each of the girls in turn along with a big hug and a cheek kiss, even treating me the same, telling me to go and enjoy myself with the other girls, but to be careful on the way home as young women out late at night were very vulnerable.

Although getting money in the bars in town was a lot more fun we had to work for the donations, getting hugs and kisses, and even bottom pats and squeezes in exchange for any money dropped into the cans.

After a couple of hours we all went back to Lauren’s for drinks and a celebration party, the girls dragging me up to dance alongside them, copying their movements swaying my hips and shaking my boobs. Rather than change, I kept on the costume so that Mum could see it when I got home, collected my office clothes into a bag, borrowed a coat from Lauren and walked the short distance home. Normally I thought nothing of walking home late at night, but dressed as I was and worried by what Dad had said I was very careful when anyone, especially young men, passed by. For the first time I really felt vulnerable and began to understand how lone women must feel late at night.

When I got home, Dad had already gone up to bed, but Mum was waiting up for me to get back.
“Come on then Nikki, you’ve been parading around town, according to your Dad half-naked, and I was a bit worried about you walking home alone, a girl has to be extra careful, Take off your coat and let me see what I have missed. Wow you’re a lot better than I expected you even have quite a nice figure, I wish I could still squeeze into an outfit like that. Let’s get a drink and sit down for a chat. Did you enjoy yourself with the other girls and were they happy with you being with them. They were brilliant Mum, they were a bit shocked when the first saw me dressed and made up like this, but it did not take long before they stopped noticing and have just treated me all day as just another one of them, in fact when I went in the loo with Marie at one of the pubs, she was in the next cubicle and without thinking called over asking me if I had a spare pad she could have as she was starting to come on. Luckily Lauren had left some in a small cosmetic bag she had loaned me to keep my bits and pieces in which I had tucked down in my knickers like the other girls had suggested. When she came out I was at the mirror touching up my lipstick and as the did her lips she thanked me as if it was nothing unusual about me having them.”

“You’ve probably learned a lot over the past few days about women and their problems and most of us try to help each other when we can whereas men tend not to be sensitive to others’ problems. I suppose that is the end of your dressing up now, I was looking forward to some more mother/daughter nights like we had yesterday, I enjoyed that time with you.”

‘We all agreed yesterday.that it would be more fun talking about how we felt about wearing the costumes and our memories of the night out together if I was still dressed as another one of the girls, The blouse I had on yesterday was stained with makeup, have you got something I could borrow.”

“That s not a conversation I ever thought I would have with you, borrowing each other’s clothes, but of course Nikki I will dig something out for you. If you’re going to work early you had better get to your bed, don’t forget to hang up your clothes for tomorrow so they don’t get creased in that bag. clean off your makeup and use some of the night cream afterwards, us women don’t just throw our clothes on the floor and jump into bed after a night out like the men do.”

A Strange Feeling

“You’re looking nice and fresh this morning Nikki, what would you like for breakfast.” Mum greeted me.

“I look a lot better than I feel, but it’s amazing what you can do with makeup to make yourself look presentable. I had a bit too much to drink last night so I’ll stick to toast and coffee thank you Mum.”

“I see that you are not bothering with the stilettos. today, you’ll be more comfortable at work in those sensible shoes.”

To be honest I didn’t really notice the stilettos when I was dressed up, but when I took them off I gave a big sigh of relief, realising that they are not the most comfortable things to wear.”

“Women and comfortable shoes do not belong in the same sentence Nikki, they are crosses we have to bear. Now get yourself off dear, have you got everything you need in your bag, including that makeup pouch with your pads?” she said with a giggle “You never know when you might need them,”

When I arrived at the shop I was just greeted by Lauren “Good morning Nikki, how are you feeling this morning we are all a bit delicate and hungover after partying last night?”

“I took a couple of ibuprofen but still feel a bit queasy and my stomach is a bit tensed up, its a bit like muscle cramps, but I’ll have to work through it.”By the end of the morning after a few coffees I felt a bit brighter, my head had cleared but I still felt a bit nauseous and the stomach cramps had not gone away.

Marie took me aside later in the morning. My memory is a bit fuzzy but did I ask you last night for a period pad when we were in the loo.”

“You did, I was a bit surprised, but the way I was dressed all day, the things that were going on, you were all treating me as one of the girls and you probably just forgot who I was.’

“I’m sorry if I embarrassed you, I know men can be a bit funny about periods. Anyway why did you have the pads with you, you don’t need them?”

“Hey, don’t worry, it’s understandable, Lauren had left them in the makeup bag she lent me, in fact I still have a couple if you need one, don’t be embarrassed to ask, just keep thinking of me as another one of the girls.”

When Kylie came back from her lunch break she was so excited. “Hey girls, have you seen the local news-sheet, pictures of us last night are on the front page along with a short report of what we were doing to raise money for charity. It’s actually a good photo of us all lined up, I think it’s at the golf club.It says here that the shop is being managed for a few months by Nikki, in the centre of the photo, a niece of the owner John, while her cousin Nicholas is backpacking in South America”

“Go down to their office and get a printed copy of the photo, one for each of us and an extra one for the shop which we’ll get framed and put up on the wall near the door. I’ll give you some money from petty cash.” I offered which pleased everyone. We shut up shop a bit early and sat around looking at the photos on everyone’s phones giggling at the various poses and bluetooth sharing them., It was like being out with them the day before, and I thought to myself, that I had enjoyed being one of the girls and as much one of the team as the rest of them.

As we left Lauren asked me whether I would like to go for a drink as there was something she wanted to talk about.

“The girls were all wondering whether you will be coming in tomorrow as Nikki or Nicholas, they don’t mind which, although generally they would prefer it to be Nikki, you are more part of the team.”

I was planning on going back to Nicholas, but the newspaper reporter somehow got the impression that Nikki will be standing in for a few months. I don’t know where they got that idea. I must admit that I am finding it a lot easier to relate to you all as Nikki. I’ve been thinking that it is only three weeks to ‘Children in Need ‘ day and I’ll be dressing up again in the witch costume with you all, it might be better just to stay as Nikki until then, and really get used to being a girl and look and feel a bit more natural, what do you think?”

“That’s the answer I was looking for. In that case we need to go shopping, you can’t wear the same clothes everyday, let’s head off down to the mall, it’s a late opening night.”

Lauren was in her element, she was a natural shopper and soon had me trying on various outfits and stocking up with undies and makeup.

I arrived hope laden with bags and was glad to sit down and kick off my shoes.

“You’ve obviously been shopping dear, did you get anything nice” Mum asked when she heard me come in. “Do you want a glass of wine while you tell me how your day has gone.”

“I’d prefer a tea, I’ve been feeling a bit queasy all day and I have stomach cramps which aren’t going away.”

“Whatever you prefer, why not go up and get changed then we can sit down and you can show me what you have bought.”

I took off my skirt and tights put on a pair of leggings that I had bought and we were soon chatting away.

“I was talking to Lauren earlier and decided that it might go down better with the girls at work if I stayed as Nikki for a while, at least until the next time in the witches costume at the end of the month, are you OK with that? That’s why I have been shopping with Lauren, she told me that I would need more clothes and things. I got four skirts, half a dozen tops, same bras panties and tights, more makeup and creams that I don’t know why I needed, and a couple of costume rings and a pack of these leggings for wearing around the house. I think I have spent more on clothes today than I have done for Nicholas in the last six months.”

“It sounds like you have made your mind up, so it doesn’t really matter what I think, but for what it’s worth I think that Nikki is a lot better, more sociable, and likeable person than Nicholas, and I can understand why the girls at work prefer you to stay as her.”

“What about dad, how do you think he will take it?”

“To be honest he came home from the golf club last night full of how attractive and feminine you looked and how well you were getting on with the other girls, telling his friends that the was proud of all the girls working in his shop. Right, are you going to help me get dinner ready, it’s only going to be a cottage pie and vegetables, it’s nice and simple and you never know when you may have to cook for yourself, too many people nowadays rely on expensive and unhealthy ready-meals or takeaways.”

We chatted away in the kitchen with Mum talking me through what she was doing and getting me to peel and boil the vegetables and mash the potato for the topping. While it was all baking in the oven, I showed mum the skirt and tops that I had bought and took everything up to my room to put away later, collecting together the things I had borrowed from Lauren to put them in the wash before taking them back to her.

I can’t remember you using the washing machine before, you usually just throw everything in the basket for me to deal with, I could get used to this. Your Dad should be home soon, please set the table put out a bottle of wine and a jug of water and that is us all done, it’s just a matter of dishing out the pie.”

Dad was soon home, although obviously surprised to see me as Nikki, but he said nothing.”

“Did you see the article and photo in the newsletter with us all up at golf club last night Dad, do you know anything about that?”

“Nothing to do with me, but after you all left, Darren, the bar steward, was on the phone for a while. It was probably him as he was the only one that I referred to you as my niece Nikki who would probably be managing the shop for a while.”

“Where did the newspaper get the idea that I would be away for some time backpacking in South America, was that you as well?

Darren asked where you were as he hadn’t seen you around and that was the first thing I thought of, sorry.”

“In a way that’s good because Nikki will be running the shop for a while, Nicholas is taking a break, but I hadn’t planned on it being for months.”

“As long as Nikki runs a happy ship I don’t really care. Anyway, the girls in the shop seem a lot happier working with you, your Mum says she and you are getting on much better and you seem to be enjoying yourself more than for ages, everyone’s a winner.”

‘“Let’s sit down for dinner, it should all be ready now, Nikki helped me with it, and will be doing that a bit more often.” Mum broke into the conversation to try to put it to bed.

“That was delicious , but you only picked at it Nikki, didn’t you like it?”dad asked as he cleared his plate.

“No it was fine, I just didn’t feel like it, I’m just feeling a bit off. I’ll do the dishes then have an early night, you and Mum can sit and relax and finish off the wine.”

I did not sleep well, tossing and turning, in the morning my stomach still felt bloated and the cramps hadn’t gone away but decided that I was still well enough to get ready for work choosing a black knee-length A-line skirt and white boatneck cotton top from the things I had bought the day before.

“Are you alright Nikki, you look a bit pale and heavy-eyed, have you caught a chill from wandering around town in that skimpy costume.” Mum had a worried look.

“It will be OK, a couple of ibuprofen a cup of coffee and a slice of toast should be enough for breakfast, I still feel a bit bloated and nauseous, the cramps have not gone away and I didn’t sleep very well.”

“At least you now know how we women feel when we have our periods, those are exactly the same symptoms that we suffer every month, you might be a bit more sympathetic with the girls now. When a woman is a bit tetchy the standard response from men is to ask if it is the time of the month, or more crudely are we on our rags. If it doesn’t all go away in a few days we’ll get you in to see the doctor.”

When we had a quiet moment in the shop I went online and searched “can men have symptoms of periods” and was surprised to read that although uncommon, it was not unknown, especially when are man was deeply immersed in a female environment, it is known as ‘sympathy periods’ or IMS., I was certain that spending all my time with the girls snd dressed in female clothes had somehow triggered some hormonal effects with me. I decided to leave it a few days to see if it was all just a reaction to something I had eaten before getting too concerned. When I went for a wee, I noticed that there were drops of urine in my knickers and had read that mild incontinence was also a symptom. To feel safe and avoid accidents I unwrapped one of the sanitary pads put it in my knickers, but when I pulled them up it didn’t sit right so I tried again after tucking myself between my legs which seemed to work better.

When I got home and was changing I noticed that the pad was moist, and needed to change my knickers and put in a new pad, before putting on my leggings

Mum noticed straight away that I had tucked myself and that I had a smooth groin with no male bulges. “What have you done to yourself you are looking more and more female every day?”

“You said this morning to make sure that I had the sanitary pads in my bag as I may need them sometime, well today I did, I was a bit incontinent so used one in my knickers to keep me dry, and I found that it sat better if I tucked myself back between my legs like the queens on Drag Race.”

“This gets weirder and weirder. I think that you need to get some more just in case and suppose I had better go to the shops with you to make sure you get the right ones, there’re so many to choose from. We have time before your father gets back from his golfing, we’ll also pick up some chicken, fusilli and sauce for a pasta bake, I have some Focaccia in the freezer that I made the other day to go with it.”

We were soon back and getting things ready in the kitchen when Mum handed me an apron.” You’d better put that on Nikki, if any splashes get on your nice new clothes they are a devil to get out, and let me tie back your hair into a bun to keep it out of the way. That’s better, now rather than me making it with you watching, we’ll do it the other way round.”

“No need Mum, at university we lived on bolognese and fusilli, pasta bake, curries and rice and things like that, all the sauces out of a jar obviously. I think I’ll manage, you go sit down relax and watch TV, just leave it all to me for a change.” An hour later it was all done looking delicious, so I turned the oven down to keep it warm, got the focaccia out of the freezer, left it to defrost naturally on the kitchen counter, and went to join Mum.

“There you are Mum, you can enjoy a meal tonight knowing that you haven’t had to work hard to make it. We’ll have the Barolo later it will really go with the pasta, but how about a glass of valpolicella as an aperitif while we are waiting for Dad to get home.

I put the oven dish on the table for them to help themselves before serving myself and nervously awaited their verdict.

“That’s really nice Angie, it’s different to what you normally do.” Dad said to Mum between mouthfuls.

“Don’t thank me, that’s all Nikki’s work, I didn’t even have to lift a finger to help her and when you’re finished she has got some Tiramisu for dessert.”

I left them at the table to finish of the Tiramisu to go to clear up in the kitchen, but Mum soon joined me. “Thank you Nikki, that was all delicious. I noticed that you are still only nibbling at your food, are you not feeling any better?”

“About the same, I still have the cramps but don’t feel as bloated and nauseous as yesterday, we’ll see how I feel tomorrow.”

After I good nights sleep was feeling a bit better when went down for breakfast.

“I feel a bit brighter this morning, the cramps have eased but I still am not 100%” I replied when Mum asked me over breakfast. I looked up my symptoms yesterday and it sounds like I am having what is known as a sympathetic period, basically everything except the bleeding.”

“It sounds strange but it’s exactly as I feel for a few days when I am on, only I have to suffer the bleeding too. I suggest that you use a pad today and maybe tomorrow and we can hope that it will then go away, and not return next month. Are you ok to work, most of us just struggle on through all this every month?”

“Are you feeling any better this morning Nikki?’Lauren asked me with concern as I arrived at the shop.”

“A bit better, I think I should be ok in a day or so, thanks. I’ve washed ironed and folded your things that you lent me.”, and gave her the large box with everything in, Check it is OK and if so I’ll carry it home for you after work.”

“Did you say that you washed and pressed it, or did your Mum do it for you.”

“No, I ran it through the washer it a couple of nights ago and ironed and folded it last night after making the dinner and tidying the kitchen.”

“Wow, wearing a skirt has really turned you into a domestic goddess, you deserve a medal.”

“Not really, maybe it is just that socialising with you all has just made me realise that Mum could do with a bit of help every now and again.”

As Mum had suggested I had brought into the office half of the box of pads and two pairs of tights to keep in my desk drawer in case of an emergency, but as I was putting them away Marie came into the office and saw the box in my hand.

“ I know you had a pad in your bag the other night but why do you need that many, it’s not as if you need them?”

“Actually I do. I don’t know if it is working and socialising with all you girls, or whether I had to help when you came on, but something triggered me to have a sympathy period and the reason I have been a bit down the last couple of days is that I have been experiencing the pains and nausea that you all go through every month. I need the pads because I have also been a bit incontinent. Please do not tell the others it's embarrassing enough, I could only tell you because I was there when you needed help.”

“Oh, you poor thing, we all get to just accept it, even if we don’t like it, but it must be very stressful and worrying for you, not being used to it all.”

“Anyway I think I an am now through it, or at least getting there, I just hope it’s a one-off and I don’t get a repeat next month. At least I should be able to read the signs better and treat you all a bit more sensitively in future.”

By the weekend I was back to normal and was a lot happier when helping Mum in the kitchen. As Lauren had told me that it was Kylie’s 21st on Monday and they were all going for a drink and meal after work if I wanted to join them, I decided to make a birthday cake to take into the office for her.

“Mum I do need help in the kitchen this time, will you help me make a birthday cake to share out between the girls in the office on Monday. I’m not asking you to do it for me but I would appreciate your advice and supervision.

On Monday morning I arrived at work carrying a small case with a change of clothes and makeup for for getting ready later for the evening out with the girls, and a shopping bag with the cake tin inside. After settling in while the girls were having their morning coffee before opening up, I went over to Kylie.

“Happy birthday, I wasn’t sure what you had planned but I’ve brought in a cake for you to share out with the other girls.”

When she opened the tin, her eyes lit up she put it down on the table and came over to give me a big hug.

“That looks gorgeous, thank you so much Nikki. I was going to go to the deli to get something later, but this is so much better. Where did you get it?”

“I made it yesterday with a bit of help from Mum, I thought it would be a bit more personal than one shop bought. It’s a basic layered chocolate cake, with a chocolate cream filling, or ganache as Mum called it, topped with more ganache and decorated around the edge with chocolate truffles, which are balls of a thick ganache rolled in ground hazelnuts. I hope you like chocolate.”

“Sounds delicious, have you got a knife, I‘ll cut up some pieces for now, and we’ll leave the rest for later. My mum was always going on at me to learn to cook and bake saying that it is something all us girls should be able to do. Maybe after seeing what you have made, I should listen to her and give it a go, like your mum has taught you. She often tells me that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, if she’s right you should have no problems Nikki.”

“Don’t forget who I am Kylie, I’m not on the lookout for a man.”

“Oops, sorry Nikki we are all beginning to think of you as one of the girls, you are really a part of the team now, you are a much nicer person as Nikki than Nicholas was. I know that we shouldn’t gossip, but we all do, Marie’s told me about you having sympathy period pains and that makes you even more one of us. I for for one hope that Nikki is here to stay.”

At closing time it was a bit chaotic as the six of us were all vying for the mirrors in the staff room to do our makeup and hair, before getting changed into our glad rags for the birthday meal and drinks with Kylie. I had been to the shops on Saturday and was soon ready in my new red velvet cocktail dress and pashmina, waiting for the others.

“Wow Nikki, you really scrub up well, you look gorgeous. I love the look, it is very chic without being over the top.” Lauren said casting her eyes over me.

“It’s not too dressy is it.”

“Spoken like a true woman Nikki, worried about how you are dressed and whether it is suitable. Let’s go and enjoy ourselves.”

I needn’t have worried, the younger girls were dressed to go clubbing after we had enjoyed our meal, Lauren and I had the more sophisticated look, but we were all looking ready to face the world.. It was a very enjoyable evening, the restaurant was full of character and the meal was all delicious and well presented. I had ordered the wine on the company’s account, which got everyone in the right mood. Soon it was time to leave, Lauren and I made our way home, the younger girls went off to continue their celebrations at a local wine bar, waiting for the clubs to liven up.

“You should do this more often Nikki, the girls really appreciate the efforts you are making.” Lauren told me as we chatted while walking home.

“They will need to get used to it, my father has told everyone including the guy that gave the story to the newspaper, that Nicholas will be away for at the next six months or so, it looks like Nikki is here for a while.”

“Never mind what we think, are you comfortable being Nikki for that long, it was only supposed to be for two days, Halloween and Children in Need.”

To be honest I am enjoying my time as Nikki, I’m getting on better with everyone, and I’m getting used to the clothes and makeup and everything, I’m quite happy to let things stay as they are for the foreseeable future.

Children in Need day was soon upon us and I was again dressed in the witch’s costume, but I was feeling a lot more comfortable in it than the previous time at Halloween. Then I had felt embarrassed at how I looked and worried that I would be spotted as male. Now after weeks of living and dressing as a woman I stood out no more than any of the other girls and just got on with enjoying the day. We had a stand just outside the shop doorway with collection buckets and a table laden with Pudsey [1] shaped and decorated biscuits that I had made that we were giving away to any of the children who stopped to have a look with their parents. As it was a chilly early winter’s day we all took it in turns to staff the stand, me included.

After the shop closed I had made up a bowl of warm mulled wine to warm us up and to celebrate a successful fund-raising day and we were all gathered together chatting.

“I suppose now that is all over that you’ve no reason to stay as Nikki and that we will soon be seeing you back as Nicholas.? Kylie asked. “It’s a shame, we have all got used to you being around and to be honest we now just accept you as another one of the girls.”

“Girls gather round I have something I want you all to hear. Kylie just asked me if this is the final appearance of Nikki before I revert back to Nicholas. I had intended to make this Nikki’s final appearance. However my father and the local paper have told everyone that Nicholas is away for six months or so trekking around Peru and Brazil leaving Nikki to run the shop for him. So it looks like Nikki is here to stay for a while, and if all goes well, you never know, Nicholas might not come back.”

The end.

[1] A host of celebrities get together for the BBC's annual telethon in an effort to raise money for Children in Need. All donations go to the charity that helps improve the lives of disadvantaged children and young people around the UK. Famous faces join Pudsey the bear, the organisation's mascot, for a night of fundraising. Viewers can expect to see sketches, comedy routines, challenges and music performances. Individuals who have been supported by the charity also share their stories.