Note - I'm grateful to have Brandi Reed here today to share this interesting short story with us.
It was a Monday, I had just showered after PE and was alone in the middle school locker room. I usually was since I almost always helped the coach tidy up after class. The coach had reminded me many times that “sucking up” wouldn’t get me any better grades. That didn’t matter, I LIKED helping people. Why shouldn’t I? It wasn’t like I lost anything by doing that. Coming into the locker room late meant that I didn’t have to deal with the crowd in the rather small locker room. Much less stressful. After PE I had a lunch break and coming late meant that I didn’t have to hustle in the queue in the canteen.
Anyway, I was sitting there alone in the locker room scratching my chest which had been bothering me for some time. Maybe I had some kind of inflammation since I had developed mounds there. I didn’t like to see doctors but if this continued I just might have to. That was when the coach happened to come into the locker room.
He just took one look at me scratching and the mounds. He told me to put on a shirt and follow him into his office. He told me in a serious voice NOT to close the door. I didn’t understand why he had to say that, we never closed the door when he called us into his office. He asked me for the number to Mom. He told her what he had seen and that he recommended that a doctor had a look at it. Well, since Mom is head of HR at the Hospital that wouldn’t be a problem. Coach told me to go to the other classes and NOT come back to PE before I had an ok from the doctor and to be sure to have a supporting garment for the mounds when I did.
Well, things moved quickly. Mom had used her influence and called in favors so starting at 7 am I was prodded and poked and bled and imaged in all imaginable ways. By Thursday lunch I got the verdict. I had gynecomastia. Duh, what a surprise! Why? The short answer when penetrating all the technical terms: They had absolutely no idea. Hormones were within normal parameters. They had not been able to find anything wrong with me. Miriam, the doctor in charge told my mother
- Laura, you have a perfectly healthy son with a pair of extremely well-shaped firm breasts that any little girl would die for.
I was a bit irritated that she talked to my mother and not me. Apparently having firm and well-shaped breasts was unusual for a boy. Only goes to show that I’m special.
Mom took me shopping after that. She was worried that I was so silent.
- John, I’m sorry this has happened to you. Don’t worry we will support you.
- Oh Mom. Why should I worry? Miriam told you that I’m perfectly healthy with perfectly formed breasts. No, it’s just that I hadn’t expected to be the first in my class to get boobs.
- John, breasts, not boobs. Boobs isn’t a polite word.
- Sorry Mom. I hadn’t expected to be the first in my class to get breasts. I kind of like them though.
Mom hugged me hard and I thought I heard her mumble something about a wonderful weird boy. I wished she hadn’t hugged so hard though. My breasts were rather sore.
We went to the mall and entered a J.C. Penney. It was quiet, partly because all kids were in school. Mom asked a lady who worked there to help us.
- So your name is John and you want a bra? I have a boy cousin that also wanted a bra when his girlfriends all got theirs. It was all a phase though and he soon grew out of those ideas.
I liked that she talked to me and not to Mom, even if she clearly wanted Mom to hear what she said.
- I don’t want a bra. I NEED a bra!
- (Smiling) So you NEED a bra. Then we’d better get started. Take off your shirt and let’s see. Do you want your mother to leave or stay?
- She can stay. Why shouldn’t she?
- Some girls are shy.
- Girls! (with contempt in the voice)
By then I had bared my breast(s).
- Oh my! You really do NEED a bra. If I may say so I’ve never seen a more perfect pair of breasts at a first fitting. Let’s measure.
Yes, you need an A cup perhaps even a small B cup to grow into.
At that Mom intervened.
- No, let’s get bras that really fit. We can buy more later.
- So, John. What kind of bras do like? Fancy, frilly ones or plain functional. Colors? Girls can spend hours to find just the right bra. We can have such fun.
- Why? I just want something that keeps my breasts in place. They hurt when they jiggle. I want something functional.
I wound up with four plain functional white bras. Two sports bras that were a bit more dashing and for some reason Mom insisted on a black frilly one as well. The nice lady made sure that they all fitted me perfectly. Leaving the shop I appreciated the support. No jiggling anymore. Nice!
Friday morning I came to school in my usual jeans and white t-shirt. Harold, the biggest and strongest kid in our middle school looked strangely at me. I usually avoided Harold since he was rather unpredictable. He wasn’t really mean and not a bully but at times he could react badly for no apparent reason and you didn’t want to get on the wrong side of him.
- Hey, John! What’s that on your shoulder under your shirt?
- Oh, that? It’s just a bra strap.
- A bra strap? You’re wearing a bra?
- Yes, it helps keep my breast in place. It’s rather uncomfortable when they jiggle.
- BREASTS?! Do you have boobs?
Yes, I know, a really brilliant conversationalist wasn’t he? Not that I’d tell him that.
- Of course, I have. And Mom says it’s impolite to call breasts boobs. You know, a majority of American kids develop breasts sooner or later.
I wasn’t sure this was true but it sounded good and it couldn’t be that far from the truth anyway.
- But you’re a boy and boys don’t have breasts
- Sorry to contradict you but I do have breasts and I’m a boy. I have had that verified within the last 48 hours. I have it on paper. Do you have a recent verification on paper that YOU are a boy?
Perhaps not the brightest thing to say. Harold just looked blank for a few moments and then he punched me on the shoulder. Even though it was a rather forceful punch I gathered it was playful since he guffawed and said in a loud voice
- You’re a funny kid. I like you. Hey you guys. John here is ok. He’s a buddy of mine don’t forget that.
At that, he walked away still laughing. My classmates gathered around me and bombarded me with questions. I didn’t blame them. Actually, I was kind of huffed. My having breasts WAS rather interesting, wasn’t it?
Yes, I did have breasts (boy asking). “A” cup (girl asking). No, they couldn’t touch (both girls and boys asking). Yes, they itched but not as bad now as a couple of days ago since I used a cream now and the bra kept my breasts from chafing (several girls asking). Yes, they were all homegrown (girl asking), Yes, I had on good authority that they were very well-formed breasts (girl asking). NO, they couldn’t see (boy asking). No, I wouldn’t use the girls’ bathroom (girl, very relieved at my answer). No additives were used, and no extra growth was due to added hormones. It was not like I was a piece of meat (Laura, the local nerd, asked).
The boys were confused and a bit weirded out. The girls were confused, curious, and envious. I WAS the first in class with breasts. A boy! One girl was angry at me. Well to be honest stuck-up Elizabeth wasn’t really angry at me, she was absolutely furious at me. You see, she had expected to be the first. As a matter of fact, I was only the second in my grade to wear a bra. Elizabeth had started a couple of weeks earlier. According to the girls in the same PE group (showering after class was obligatory), she had absolutely no reason to wear it.
I got the impression that some of them thought that I should have been ashamed of my breasts. Why should I? I was quite attached to them. They were a natural part of me.
Fortunately, most kids just accepted that this was how it was. Most of them liked me. Even the girls. I told you earlier, that I LIKE to help people. As a result, I had a nice little pool of goodwill. That first day the teachers were a bit careful. They mostly avoided asking me questions in class and so on. In the locker room before PE, the guys tried to sneak a peek at my breasts. I suppose some managed. I wasn’t flashing them, standing with my back towards the room, but on the other hand, l wasn’t exactly trying to hide them either. I exchanged the functional white bra for a rather nice sports bra. Good thing I did since Coach asked me (very carefully phrased)
- John, do you wear appropriate support garments?
- Yes, Sir! I both have my jock strap AND my pretty new sports bra.
Why did he look so surprised? Wasn’t this what he wanted to know? Or was it that I mentioned the word “bra” in the shrine of boyhood that the boys’ gym was? In that case: grow up!
I was glad I had my sports bra. I think it reduced the pain when my mates threw the ball at my chest.
After about a week most of the attention ebbed away. Too bad! I liked it. Then Susan, who lived next door and was in my grade, asked me for a date Friday evening. I was rather surprised. Dating had not really started in our grade yet. I liked Susan so I told her that I’d ask Mom. I hadn’t expected Mom to allow it, especially since Susan asked me out as a girl, but she did. Mom told me it would be a “learning experience”. When I thought more about it I shouldn’t have been surprised. Mom is all for “learning experiences”.
However, I was really surprised that my sister Em took charge of getting me ready, after checking with Susan. Em was rather skinny and had this dress that was indecently short on her that was the right length for me. It quite nicely accentuated my breasts without showing cleavage. Em even gave me a pair of her old shoes, with a bit of a heel, she no longer used. She taught me how to apply very subtle make-up. That REALLY surprised Mom in a positive way. Subtle is not exactly what Em is known for. I don’t think Mom was really consistent. It was she who told me to wear the black frilly bra SHE had got me.
Mom did have some conditions though. Em should be around all the time. Unfortunately Em, temporarily, wasn’t allowed to drive us (when stopped by the police be polite, it helps). Mom drove us there and when called would pick us up. At the mall, outside the multiplex, Em decided to give us some space (I did have my phone if she was needed).
- Hey kids, have fun. Oh, there was something Mom wanted me to tell you. Yes, that’s it. Don’t do anything I would do!
Good advice! My sister was in trouble most of the time. Not because she was evil but because of her “joie de vivre” as Mom used to say.
The movie wasn’t bad. Too bad it was spoiled by a lady that was offended that we caressed each other. We didn’t even kiss (I had decided that that was something Em would do). She got upset that two young girls caressed each other. That was unnatural she said. She got even more upset when I told her that it was ok since I was a boy. Not logical at all! We left the cinema and went to get something to eat. I saw the lady talk to a mall security guard and then the guard followed us around. After eating Susan needed to go to the bathroom. That’s when all the trouble started. As soon as Susan had gone into the ladies’ the MALE guard rushed in there and dragged her out. Em had been watching us from a distance (I had no idea she took her chaperoning duties that seriously) and came running. I’m not sure that she was any help. Apparently, the security guard and Em had met before and not in a way that had endeared her to the guard. We were dragged to an office and they called the police. No one bothered to listen to us until the police arrived. There was a very nice lady police officer that asked us what had happened. When we had explained, she asked once again Susan if she was a girl, and me if I was a boy. I had a copy of the paper from the hospital to show her. The security guard got very upset.
- But THAT THING has boobs! It’s the other one that’s flat.
I was sort of offended to be called a thing and Mom says it’s impolite to call breasts boobs. I could see that the chief of security wasn’t amused either. She told us that they were very sorry for all this. Later Susan and I got very nice presents from the mall and a formal apology. That was also the last time we saw the security guard. We weren’t sorry. He sort of was a spoilsport and didn’t like kids at all, and especially not Em. After that Susan finally was allowed to go to the bathroom the nice police lady offered us a ride home. That was very nice since that way we didn’t have to bother Mom. We knew that she was busy at the hospital. Besides, it was quite exciting to ride in a police car. Well, at least for Susan and me anyway. Em had done it several times before.
Since we had let Mom stay at the hospital we wound up at Susan’s home next door. We played some games, they have an awesome system in the basement when Susan’s brother Gary came down there. He looked at me. Actually, I think he mostly looked at my breasts which were accentuated by my pretty dress. Usually, we were beneath his notice. Gary was a HIGH school student.
- Hi, Susan! Who’s your cute friend?
- Hi, Gary! It’s me, John. From next door.
- No way! I heard that you had got breasts but I hadn’t expected them to be that awesome. So, did you have a nice date girls?
- Not bad at all. We even got a ride back with the police.
- The police?
- Long story Gary. I’m sure Susan will tell you later.
Then Susan and I went back to playing. I could sense Gary standing there and heard him muttering something about me being pretty and something about walking like a duck and quacking like a duck. I certainly didn’t walk like a duck!
- Eh, John. Would you like to go on a date with me tomorrow?
- I don’t know. What do you plan do to? Is it ok with you Susan? And I have to ask Mom.
It turned out to be a high school baseball game followed by a pizza. Gary’s mother would be driving and be around. Susan thought it would be hilarious. Mom? You guessed it: another “learning experience”. Gary’s and Susan’s mother was a tougher nut to crack but Mom talked to her about “learning experiences”. Em brought out a dress that showed a bit of cleavage. She told me I should show off my breasts a bit since it really was them that Gary had asked out. I couldn’t argue with that.
I had fun that Saturday. Gary’s friends were as impressed with my breasts as he had been. Gary was nice and he was kind of cute. Em had given me the usual reminder not to do anything she would do so kissing was not an option though. On Monday Susan told me that Gary had really asked me out as a joke to see if his friends could spot the “Booby trap”. They couldn’t. However, I think Susan wasn’t completely right since Gary asked me out the next Saturday for another game.