Caught Red Handed: a very short story

A quick short story inspired by a photo that I found online... 

...apologies to the photographer and subject, I suspect you may not approve.


I stared at my stockinged lap guiltily and cursed every strand of nylon which clad my freshly shaved legs. No more than two minutes ago I felt fantastic... like these tights and this dress were made just for me. Like they were meant just for me. But now, as I sit with shame coursing through my veins I feel like an imposter. A fake. A fraud. A freak.

Mother let out a long audible sigh. I looked up towards her as she slid her underwear drawer shut before exhaling sharply through her nostrils as she closed her wardrobe doors. As she turned to look at me I returned my guilty gaze to my lap, unable to look her in the eye. “Well... let's have a look at you.”

I gulped and for the first time in god knows how many moments, our eyes met. I gulped again.

“Stand up.” she said. “I want to have a proper look.”

I cringed. All I want is to be left alone. Just for a moment. Just long enough to peel off this hateful outfit and...

“Please.” she insisted. “If you're going to borrow my clothes I at least want to see how they look.”

I removed my palms from beneath my lap and placed them flat on the mattress. I slowly and shamefully stood. I swear I felt myself physically shrink as my mother's eyes ate into me. Mother let out another sigh. I don't blame her. Words fail me too.

“Well stand up straight.” she asked. “I can hardly see what you look like stooping like that!”

I looked up at her, gulped and croaked an apology.

“I'm not looking for an apology Peter... I want to see what you look like... come on, head up.” she insisted in an almost chirpy tone.

I raised myself to my full height but still wanted nothing more than to shrivel and die. My eyes flicked between the middle distance and my mother. Her eyes flicked from my head to my feet and back again before something else caught her attention. “And I suppose you were planning on wearing these?” she asked knowingly as she crouched and picked up a pair of her shoes. Shoes which normally lived on the rack in the bottom of her wardrobe.

I gulped and nodded.

She sighed again. “Well I don't know whether to make you change or let you stew in your own juices.” she said in a disheartened tone. I murmured my preference, which I fully believe to be the most reasonable of the two options, but this only encouraged Mother to go the other way. “Well I think you should stew for a while.” she suggested. “Do these fit?” she asked, referring to the pair of black heeled sandals I’d selected.

I nodded. “Please mum.” I pleaded when she suggested I put them on. “I don't want to.”

“Well I assume you wanted to before I came home.” she retorted. “And you know how I feel about you doing things behind my back.” she added. “Now please Peter... put them on, and then we'll talk.” she insisted.


I told you it was short!

A-Z Story index 

7 comments:

  1. You may wonder what the point of this story is.

    Having sat on the edge of my bed when I was first caught all those years ago... I wanted to try to put the sense of shame and guilt and disdain I experienced in those first moments... before being told to 'get those off' and being called a pervert. I'd have preferred this outcome.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh, the agonies of wanting to be a dress up gurl! I completely enjoyed this short story. My own mother enjoyed having a "daughter" around before I was old enough to start school. My father was always away at work, and we two "ladies" would enjoy the day whilst I learned how to keep house so that my mother could sit and supervise. I thought it was fun!! Little did I know what would happen years later...

    ReplyDelete
  3. I would like to see a story about the old gypsy with three potions.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What's up, after reading this amazing piece of writing i am too delighted to share my experience here with mates.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Any experience of dressing like a girl? Being caught is SOOOO HUMILIATING!
      Unfortunately, the feeling is addicting.

      Delete
  5. I wonder how my life had turned out, if my mother had taken the same path when I was caught years ago. ��

    ReplyDelete
  6. I haven't ever been caught, but part of me wants it to be known I love dressing up. My wife would be mortified, so my secret has to stay with me.

    ReplyDelete