Tabitha's Ballet Wish P2

“Please don’t frown so much Aaron,” Samantha, Arron’s wife scolds him.

“Why do I have to go to Tabi’s school!?” Aaron exclaims, “I’m a grown man.”

“I know sweety,” Samantha says, looking down at her husband. “But until you can go to Tabi’s next ballet class,” Samantha held up a finger to prevent him from interrupting her, “and complete it, you’re stuck in a little girl’s body.”

“I don’t want to,” Aaron whines, looking down at himself. “This is humiliating.”

Samantha gets down on one knee, “You can’t stay here Aaron,” Samantha explains slowly, while giving Aaron a stern look. “I can’t leave a little girl here alone all day. What if someone sees you?”

“I’m not a little girl,” Aaron exclaims.

“You’re certainly acting like one,” Samantha remarks.

“No, I’m not,” Aaron shouts, stamping a single foot.

Both look at each other and take several long breaths. “Look, Tabi’s going to look after you at school, OK.” Samantha picked up a brush and started to brush Aaron’s hair, “It’s just a few more days now.”

He closed his eyes and relaxed as his wife brushes his hair several times. Before he knows it, she’s finished and reaching for his new rucksack. Tabi’s hand-me-down one from last year.

Aaron walks out the front door. “Good morning, Mrs. Kravitz,” he says and waves to their inquisitive neighbor. Forgetting he’s now a child, she gives him an awkward wave and a strange look

“Go to school. Go to ballet,” Aaron then mumbles to himself. “When am I supposed to get my work done? That’s what I’d like to know.”

Tabi is standing by the family SUV and heard everything he said. Aaron looks up to see his daughter giving him the same stern look that his wife had just been giving him moments prior. Aaron knows he needs to act more like a child in public.

“I can’t believe you’re coming to school with me!” Tabi smiles wide. “Mom told me she’s worried the Kravitz family might see you.” Tabi continues, looking towards the Kravitz house.

“I really don’t wanna be going to school again,” Aaron sighs, stomping his little foot hard onto the solid driveway. “This is so unfair on me.”

Tabi has to stop herself from laughing at her father’s attitude “Don’t worry Dad,” she says, opening the door to the back seat and tossing in her backpack, “I’ll look after you today. I’m looking forward to actually being your big sister.”

Aaron wobbles a little in his new red Mary Janes. Tabitha catches and steadies him. Pleased she was able to help, Tabi grins at her father as he turns bright red.

“Thanks, Tabi,” Aaron says reluctantly, as he gets into the car and sits in his pink booster seat. “You’re such a lovely daughter,” he compliments, buckling himself in. “I promise I won’t mess up ballet this week. I’ve learned my lesson.”

With that, Aaron sinches the strap between his legs and makes sure his chest clip was in the right place. Tabi almost laughs at him as she watches on. “Glad my old shoes fit you so well,” She comments. “Maybe walk a little slower until your used to them.”

“I’m really looking forward to this today!” Tabitha continues speaking joyfully, reaching out to grab a set of headphones to give her dad for the ride. “Oh, but Dad,” Tabi goes on, “Don’t forget today that your name is now Aimee.” Tabitha couldn’t help but reveal in her father’s frustrated expression, “Remember…. I’m AM your elder sister too…”

“I won’t forget Tabi,” Aaron replies through his teeth, barely able to contain his discontent.

Aaron spent the morning sulking. Not only did he have to endure learning subjects that he already knew, but then there was the awkwardness that came with being the new student. The teachers kept going out of their way to be nice to him which only made him more of a pariah to his fellow students. Tabi had promised to look after him, but she’s in another grade and so he never saw him.

Lucky for Aaron, he wasn’t the only new kid in the class. A small rather nervous boy called Jaime was also new, having just moved here from Kent two weeks ago.

Jamie is painfully shy. He likes cars and drawing. Aaron hadn’t been interested in cars since he was a teenager, but as an architect, loved drawing. Jamie shows Aaron a few of his drawings during discovery time and Aaron had to admit the boy had talent.

Eventually, playtime came around and Aaron didn’t know what to do with himself. Tabi was chatting with her friends, so he didn’t feel he could go over, being her dad and all.

Aaron saw the boys playing football and he lined up with everyone else. Two captains chose their teams one by one. No one picks him, even though both teams were a few players short. Aaron ran right up to the two team captains

“Hey. You need a forward and I’m your man… um, girl,” he says confidently.

“Get lost shrimp,” the captain of the first team replies.

“No girls allowed,” the other captain says rudely, turning away with the ball in hand.

Aaron’s anger grew exponentially as he stood there stomping his feet. Jamie tries to comfort him. “I should have told you, it’s a boys-only game.” Jamie mumbles, “I mean you’d have to be a boy to play with them.”

Aaron’s about to scream at Jamie, ‘I am a boy,’ when a better idea hit him. “Hey, Jamie,” Aaron says sweetly, “We look about the same height. You wanna do something fun?”

Sensing the trap Jamie asks cautiously, “……Fun?”

“Yeah,” Aaron says, batting his eyelashes like he had seen Tabitha and Samantha do a thousand times. “Let’s trade uniforms. Won’t that be so much fun?”

“What, me wear your dress?” Jamie asks, not sure he’s heard Aaron correctly. “I don’t know,” Jamie stutters. “Won’t we get in trouble?”

“We won’t get in trouble,” Aaron grins at Jamie like butter wouldn’t melt. As he begins to stroke Jamie’s tie, Aaron continues his charm offensive “I promise!”

Jamie swallows hard. “It will be fun,” Aaron said sweetly. “You can pretend to be a girl.”

Thirty Minutes Later in the Head Mistress’s office

“Mrs. Kean?” half asked half said Mrs. Jackson. “Yes, Hello,” added Mrs. Jackson growing flustered as she looked at the two children sitting in her office. “I’m calling from the school,” Mrs. Jackson says, then pauses. “Your daughter, Aimee,” Mrs. Jackson pauses again. “Has…caused trouble and I’d like for you to come in and talk to us,” finishes Mrs. Jackson quickly.

“I’ve done nothing wrong,” Aaron groans through clenched teeth.

Mrs. Jackson covers the phone receiver and shushes Aaron with a wave of her hand.

“She’s stolen another student’s uniform—that’s what she’s done,” explains Mrs. Jackson. “Not a good first day,” Mrs. Jackson points out and then paused to listen to Samantha’s response. “So, we’d really like to have you come in and discuss.”

Aaron resigns to his fate. Feeling more than a little guilty for dragging Jamie into this mess, he exhales rather loudly.

Mrs. Jackson hangs up the phone. Jamie then raises his hand. “Miss, are you going to tell my mommy about this?” Jaime asks, his lip starting to quiver.

“Can I have my clothes back now?” Jaime whimpers, causing Aaron to look down with guilt at the kid’s pants adorning his body.

Later that day, after school

“Mommy,” Tabitha asks as she walks through the front door. “Why is Daddy on the naughty step?”

Aaron wants to explain, but his wife had already reminded him that if someone speaks while on the naughty step, that person’s time would restart. He had been sitting on the step for almost half an hour already. His bum was getting sore.

“She’s been naughty,” Samantha replies to Tabitha, giving her husband a short look. “That’s why.”

Tabitha loiters around the stairs, unsure if she should give her dad eye contact or not. “What did he do?” Tabitha questions, looking at her mom.

Aaron seethes as both his daughter and wife talk about him. Having been almost forced into one of his daughter’s dresses, he wasn’t happy at all for being treated like a naughty child by his wife.

“He forced a very nice little boy to trade uniforms with him at school,” Samantha answers. “The boy’s mother is absolutely livid.”

“That was Dad!?” Tabitha asks, gasping in shock.

Samantha just nods her head yes.

“Are we still going to ballet tonight then?” Tabitha queries, having taken note of the smart-looking dress her father is now wearing.

“No,” said Samantha loudly.

“Awww,” Tabitha groans, cringing.

“Sorry sweety,” Samantha continues, comforting her as they both stare daggers in Aaron’s direction. “We’ve got to go say sorry to the family Aimee upset today. Maybe next week.”

Tabitha’s grinned wide and clap her hands with delight. “Is that why daddies wearing my cute little dress?”

“That’s right,” Samantha replies. “Do you think you can get changed too, Tabi? We are leaving as soon as Aimee’s done her ten minutes.”