John was not a girl. He didn’t even think he was in any way girly. What he did like, was to wear skirts. There is really nothing inherently girly in wearing skirts. Just look around the world, present and past, and you find many cultures where men and boys wear skirts (if often by another name).

In the middle of his freshman year John had to change high schools since his mother had got a great new job in another town. His father worked from home so that was no problem. The new school had a good reputation academically but it was more famous for its football team. Before starting his new school his parents had taken him to one of their games. The Bulldogs annihilated the opposing team. The atmosphere on the stands was amazing. So were the cheerleaders in their short skirts. From the other people on the stands John learned that the school and town did everything to support the football team.

When John started school he was surprised to see that many boys wore skirts. So on the third day he came to school in his favorite skirt. To be honest he looked very good in it. Still, his new friend Stan told him he had made a big mistake. Boys weren’t allowed to wear skirts in school. It was strictly forbidden.

“But look at that guy over there. He’s wearing a skirt, a very short one.”
“He’s on the varsity football team. Football players can do whatever they like in this school.”
“But the boy over there can’t be a football player. He hasn’t got the build for it and he’s wearing a skirt.”
“He’s a cheerleader. All cheerleaders are obligated to wear skirts to school.”
“But I was at the last game and I didn’t see any boy cheerleaders.”
“You did. You just didn’t see past the uniform they all wear at games. In this school no talent is wasted when it comes to supporting the football team. By the way, you have nice legs. Perhaps you should try out for the squad. They have an extra tryout today.”
“No way! I’m a boy! So what if I like to wear skirts. And that short skinny kid over there, he can’t be a cheerleader. No way!”
“Oh, Pete. He’s the girlyfriend to the varsity QB. I told you, when it comes to the football team the usual rules don’t apply. But if you aren’t in any way supporting the football team the vice principal will come down as ton of bricks on you for breaking the dress code.”

At that moment John noticed the said vice principal bearing down on them with a grim face. Then he noticed Miss Jones, the cheerleading coach, coming from another direction with a predatory smile. However, the most scaring was perhaps the one coming from a third direction. The massive varsity nose tackle had an infatuated look on his face.