Becoming A High School Girl - Chapter 27

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The next day we went around to some more meetings. It was raining, although it wasn't that cool. It truly felt like winter was gone. As I had done on Tuesday, I correctly sorted the papers and order forms. I was looking forward to that evening and the show.

The day went by pretty quickly. I was amazed by Mrs. Lincoln's energy. She never seemed to get tired. She told me that there was something about the city that energized her.

On the way back to the hotel, Mrs. Lincoln directed Tony to stop in front of an inconspicuous store entranceway. The name on the door said 'Undercover Elegance.' It was in a delicate gold script on black glass. You might miss it if you weren't looking for it.

"Tony, please standby; we'll be here for an hour, maybe longer," ordered Mrs. Lincoln.

As we stepped out of the limo, Mrs. Lincoln told me to leave my folio. She told me that I wouldn't need it.

We entered the shop and were immediately greeted by a woman, and it was obvious that she was an old friend of Mrs. Lincoln. She had a very upscale, cultured British accent.

The shop was very upscale and extremely stylish. It sold the finest imported European lingerie and foundations. Everything looked gorgeous and very expensive!

I figured that Mrs. Lincoln was just making another social call, as her story didn't carry lingerie.

"Bridget, this is the young woman I told you about. Erika, this is a dear friend of mine, Bridget Wellington," stated Mrs. Lincoln as she introduced us.

"We have some lovely new items in that I think will fit you quite nicely," stated Bridget.

I was slightly confused and embarrassed and glanced over at Mrs. Lincoln.

"Don't worry, my dear. Think of this as another part of your education of becoming a young woman. One of the best ways that a woman can feel good about herself is to wear something very luxurious and elegant under her clothing. No one else has to know what you're wearing, but they can boost your self-confidence," explained Mrs. Lincoln.

"Additionally, they just make you feel good," added Bridget. "I took the liberty of setting out some items based on your description of Erika."

Bridget pointed to some lingerie laid out on a display case. I was almost afraid to even touch the items, as they were so beautiful. Mrs. Lincoln looked them over and made some suggestions. She ended up picking out three matching sets of lingerie. All three included a bra, panties, garter belt, and a half-slip. The first set was a dazzling white shimmering nylon with lots of lace. The second set was hand-embroidered blue satin, and the last set was lavender with a tiny floral print.

Additionally, Bridget brought out a chiffon nightgown and peignoir. They were both pale pink in color, trimmed with delicate white lace ruffles. Bridget described them both as waltz length.

"Please put these on my account, Bridget," remarked Mrs. Lincoln.

Bridget nodded and then turned to me with a smile on her face. "We just got in some exquisite silk stockings. I'm giving you a few pairs, Erika. Save them for special occasions."

I thanked her and followed Mrs. Lincoln out of the shop.

On the way back to the hotel, Mrs. Lincoln turned to me. "You have a long road ahead of you. The transition will be difficult at times, and there will be good days and bad days. When you're feeling low, treat yourself and wear these. It will cheer you up knowing that you're wearing the most luxurious undies that money can buy."

"I don't know what to say, except thank you very much," I replied, holding back my emotions.

Mrs. Lincoln smiled. "You're welcome, my dear."

We got back to the hotel by four, and I decided to go for another run. Due to the rain, the machines were a bit more crowded. While I waited, I talked to a businesswoman who was in town from San Diego. It was fun to reminisce with her. If she guessed my real gender, she never let on. I was getting more comfortable being outside of the safety net of Golden Hill.

My dress for the evening was like the others, very beautiful. It was long, elegant, and dark blue and had a matching bolero jacket. I was tempted to wear some of my new lingerie but decided to save it for another day. We had tickets to the hottest musical on Broadway. I was stunned when we sat in the producer's box. I wondered what his history with Mrs. Lincoln was!

The show was fantastic. I immediately acquired a taste for Broadway shows. I was overwhelmed by the costumes and the music. I smiled, thinking that Mrs. Lincoln had performed on this very stage. Now that would have been something to see!

Afterward, we went to dinner. The restaurant was packed when we arrived. They were telling most people that there would be a minimum one-hour wait. However, the maitre d' immediately seated us. We got more than a few dirty looks as we were whisked into the restaurant.

During dinner, we talked about the show. Mrs. Lincoln thought it was good, but not as good as some shows in the past. I also got used to people walking up and saying hello to her. She was like visiting royalty.

I scanned the room and saw more celebrities. I was excited when one actor came over and talked to Mrs. Lincoln. He was a famous movie star, and I'd seen many of his movies. It was very exciting when Mrs. Lincoln introduced me to him. All right, I was totally star-struck! He took out a pen and signed the menu for me. I thanked him for the autograph.

He took my hand and gave it a gentle kiss. "Enchanted, m'dear." It was the exact same line from his last romantic movie!

I collected a few more autographs that evening from visiting celebrities. I later framed the menu, and it hangs today in my office, along with a photo taken of Mrs. Lincoln and me on that trip.

I really didn't want to leave, and I think that Mrs. Lincoln felt the same way. But all good times come to an end. I was so excited that I had a very hard time falling asleep that night.

Thursday, we only had one stop to make. We went to a warehouse where Mrs. Lincoln inspected several batches of merchandise. I wrote down her comments on each rack of clothes. I was wearing a tan skirt, brown boots, a light green silk blouse, and a forest green blazer. She seemed pleased with the shipment and the quality of the outfits.

We finished around 11:00, and she told me that she had some personal business to attend to and that a friend would be driving her. I could use the limo to tour the city and to do some shopping. I was to be back at the hotel no later than six.

"We've been invited to dinner with some friends at 8:00. I expect you to be ready at 7:45. Now have a good time this afternoon," she said.

She also made me promise not to leave Tony.

If you ever have a chance to have your own limo for the afternoon, I highly recommend you do it at least once. I initially felt funny sitting alone in the back, and I asked Tony if I could sit up front with him.

"Stay in the back, kid. It'll make everyone think you're a celebrity. Now, where do ya want to go?" he asked.

I told him that I wanted to see some of the city and do a little shopping. Tony had been born and raised in New York, so he knew all the shortcuts and bargain spots. I also didn't mind him calling me 'kid.'

He took me to a hole-in-the-wall pizzeria in Little Italy for lunch. He claimed it was the best in the city. It was hard not to agree. We split a pizza and talked.

"So, how long have you known Mrs. Lincoln?" I asked, taking a bite of pizza.

"My Uncle Vinny was her driver a long time ago, and I first met her when I was five. I would sometimes ride around with him. He was a driver for one of the big companies, and she took a liking to him and used him exclusively. She helped Uncle Vinny get the loans he needed to open his own limo service." He took another slice of pizza. "Anyway, I took over the family business, and even though I have nearly twenty drivers working for me, I always take her contract personally. I wouldn't miss one of her visits for the world!"

"I think she is special too," I concurred.

"So, what's your story, kid? I know she thinks pretty highly of you," he asked.

I told him an edited version of my work for her. I didn't tell him I was TS. It wasn't necessary, even though it wouldn't have made a difference.

"If you don't mind my asking, who beat you up?" he asked. "I noticed that your nose was broken."

I told him about Jason.

"Do ya know where they locked up the guy?" he asked bluntly.

"No, I'm just glad he's in prison," I replied. I wondered why he cared where Jason was locked up.

"I could place a few calls, and it could be arranged to make his life - much more difficult," added Tony with a sly smile on his face.

I didn't know if he was kidding or not, and I politely refused his offer.

True to his word, Tony gave me a great tour of the city. There was no way that I could see everything, but we saw a lot. He told me that the next time I was in town, I should call his service, and he would ensure that I was taken care of. I also saved a lot of money when I went shopping. I bought some t-shirts for my friends and a sweater for Mom. The shirts were the standard tourist type, but I knew my friends would love them. However, I bought Mom a really nice Icelandic sweater. I also picked up a few things for myself. Tony made sure that I got the best prices; he was an expert at the local art of haggling.

He was right about sitting in the back. Whenever we stopped, I turned more than a few heads when I got out. We both got a laugh out of people staring and pointing. I made sure that I had a photo taken with him.

We arrived back at the hotel at 5:30. I beat Mrs. Lincoln back by fifteen minutes. I didn't ask what she did. I figured she'd tell me if she wanted to. She did ask me about my afternoon. I told her about my adventures and how wonderfully Tony had treated me. I skipped the part when Tony offered to put a hit on Jason.

I wore yet another black dress for dinner. This one had long, flowing, see-through sleeves with a little ruffle at the cuffs and hem. Mrs. Lincoln seemed to approve of my appearance. Working for her had really taught me how to dress properly.

Dinner was with some of her friends from her second marriage. We ate in their penthouse apartment. It was better than I expected. There were three couples. Two were husbands and wives, and the third couple was two women. Mrs. Lincoln later told me that the two women had been lovers for nearly forty years. They spent most of the night telling one outrageous story after another. I sat there soaking it all in, and I hoped that my life would be half as exciting as theirs.

After dinner, we sat in the living room and talked. One of the two lesbians asked me if I wanted to see the view from the balcony. We went outside, and I had to admit that it was breathtaking.

"May I ask you something personal?" she asked.

"Sure," I replied.

"When did you start your transition? Don't get me wrong, dear, you're very passable," she remarked with a smile.

I went on to tell her about the scholarship contest and my self-discovery. She was very pleased that I was able to transition. She told me about the hassles she and her lover had had through the years. I told her about Laura and our relationship. It was a very pleasant conversation. It was getting a bit chilly, so we went back in.

On the way back to the hotel, we talked about the evening. Mrs. Lincoln wasn't surprised that the one woman had made me.

"She was always my most observant friend. She notices everything."

"She sounds like my friend Cat," I stated. "By the way, I just want to thank you again for this wonderful trip."

Mrs. Lincoln nodded and smiled. "You're welcome. I've enjoyed your company. It was fun to see the city with a young girl on her first time here."

I gently squeezed her hand and smiled at her with my eyes on the verge of tears.

When we got back to the hotel, I packed up my things. We were hitting the road early, as she wanted to get back to see how the store was doing.

After I finished packing, I sat by the window and drank a cup of tea. I wanted to soak in every remaining second of the trip. The trip was one of those defining moments in one's life. I now was clear about my path in life.

We left the city before dawn. Tony got us out of the city with little difficulty. Most of the bad traffic was inbound. Mrs. Lincoln reviewed the orders and invoices. There was nothing for me to do but doze off. I guess the week caught up with me.

I woke up somewhere in Pennsylvania. I checked my watch, and I saw that I had been asleep for three hours. Mrs. Lincoln smiled as I looked around.

"Good morning," she greeted.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know I was that tired." I wiped the sleep out of my eyes and took a drink of water.

"No reason to apologize. Do you feel like working this afternoon when we get home?"

"Absolutely, Mrs. Lincoln," I replied eagerly.

"We should be done by 7:00 PM tonight. Cindy does an excellent job in setting up for the sale. Oh, I almost forgot, here is your pay for this week."

She handed me an envelope. It had $500.00 in cash inside. I was stunned, as I hadn't expected to get paid.

"Now, before you say anything, I just want you to know that I want you to have this. Think of it as a bonus. Now, don't just spend it all foolishly; you can put some away for school."

I was really moved, and I gave her a hug. I felt very close to her, and I guess in some ways, I saw her as my grandmother - or was that my fairy godmother?

The rest of the trip was uneventful. When we got to my house, I went in and dropped off my bags and changed. Because the store wouldn't actually be open, Mrs. Lincoln told me I could dress casually. I slipped on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. I left a note for Mom that I was back safely, going to the store, and would be home around 7:00. I put on my school jacket and rejoined Mrs. Lincoln.

Tony dropped us off at the store. I gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. He gave me his card and told me to call the next time I went to the city.

As expected, I got a dose of sarcasm from Mel when I entered the store.

"Well, well, look who's here! Figures you show up when most of the hard work is done," she cracked. She then walked up and gave me a big hug. "Did you have a wonderful time?"

"It was unbelievable. I am still on a high from everything we did!" I exclaimed.

"That's great. You can tell me all about it while you help me upfront," remarked Mel.

Cindy came up and gave me a big hug. "I want to hear everything."

Cindy was in charge of getting the store ready, and she ensured that we were all working. As I worked, I told them about the trip. They had both gone on similar trips at least once, so we could talk about similar experiences. As I said earlier, I really didn't know the day shift that well. I knew them by name, but that was about it. But they were all nice people. Mrs. Lincoln wouldn't allow any unpleasant people to work for her.

Cindy put me on decorating the store. We hung up balloons and streamers from the ceiling, and there were also school pennants to put up. I made sure that Central's was the most prominent one displayed.

We finished around 6:30. Cindy gave me a ride home. She told me that I needed to be at work by 8:30. She asked me if I wanted a ride, and I told her yes.

"I'm so happy that Mrs. Lincoln took you on this trip. It shows that you have entered the inner circle."

When I got home, I found that Terri, Cat, Laura, and Sam were already there. Mom had invited them all over to welcome me back.

It was great seeing them all. Laura and I hugged and kissed for a long time. I really missed her.

I brought down the gifts, and thankfully I hadn't forgotten anyone. As we ate, I told them about my trip. I again left out the offer of the hit on Jason. I didn't want to get Tony in trouble with Sam. I also couldn't wait to get my photos developed.

I caught up on what everyone else was doing. Matt had left to return to school yesterday. Apparently, he had won over Terri. Laura told us that she'd made a short trip to Penn State. I could tell that she was torn between being excited about college and leaving me. I felt the same way.

I noticed that Mom and Sam were sitting really close. That made me very happy.

I told Mom that Cindy was giving me a lift to work. I asked Laura and Cat what time they were showing up. They said that they would be in line starting at 7:00 since the mall no longer allowed people to camp out. I wasn't sure if they were telling the truth. But Terri confirmed that girls used to camp out the night before to get in the store early.

After everyone left, I sat at the kitchen table with Mom. It was good to just talk with her. She told me that she and Sam had been getting very close and she thought he might propose to her soon. That was wonderful news, and I gave her a big hug. I hoped that it was true. I then went to bed. Saturday would be a very busy day.

Saturday morning, I arrived at the store with Cindy. I was stunned by the sight of the long line of girls waiting to get into the store. We went in through the back entrance. Mrs. Lincoln had us all wearing the same style outfit, the standard basic black sleeveless dress. I was assigned to one of the cash registers, along with a woman named Sally. She was one of the dayshift workers. Cindy and Mel would be working for the crowd with the rest of the staff.

Mrs. Lincoln had hired additional security to limit the number of girls in the store at one time. One of those velvet bank ropes was set up to control the crowd. Some of the other mall stores tried to get in on the action. The shoe stores were giving an additional twenty percent off to anyone showing a receipt from our store on any item purchased that day. The coffee stand also had an employee taking orders from those in line. They appeared to be doing some good business.

Cindy knew I had reserved dresses for Cat and Laura. She didn't mind since I'd asked ahead of time. She told me just to send them to see her when they came in.

There was a weird sense of calm as we got closer to 9:00 AM. We could hear the crowd behind the closed door and the drawn curtains. Mrs. Lincoln gave a signal at 8:45, and the curtains were drawn back. I looked out at the line of girls as they peered in the glass doors trying to get a look at the dresses. I saw Cat, Laura, Kristen, and Tracey all together; there were around fifteen girls ahead of them. I recognized most of the girls in line ahead of them. I was pleased to see Caroline, in third place, behind a couple of other girls from school.

Mrs. Lincoln walked up to the front of the store and gave us all a quick look. She seemed pleased with how the store looked. She then signaled Cindy to open the doors. Mrs. Lincoln greeted each girl as they entered. It was busy but orderly. I kind of expected it to be more hectic. Sally told me that the word was put out to the girls that any disorderly conduct would result in them being asked to leave the store. Apparently, in the past, there had been some fights over dresses.

I saw Cat and Laura enter, and I waved them over, "You see that woman over there?" I said, pointing at Cindy. "She has some dresses for you to look at."

"What time are you off?" asked Laura.

"Three."

"I'll be here to pick you up!" Laura then winked at me.

I watched them walk over to Cindy. I then had my first customer to check out. The customers came in at a steady pace. Every now and then, Mrs. Lincoln would come over and tell us to give a girl a discount. I don't know her reasoning for the discounts, but knowing Mrs. Lincoln, they were probably justified. I was blown away by the amount of money some of the girls were spending. I'd gone to my junior prom back in San Diego and had spent a few bucks on a rental tux. Even with flowers, dinner, and the tickets, I still spent less than what I had paid just for my dress for this year's prom. I really never knew what a big deal prom was until now.

Caroline came up, and she was very happy with the dress she'd picked out. Like many of the girls in line, she only had her receipt. The actual dress was in the back with Rita. Mrs. Lincoln included free alterations with all prom dresses.

"Did you get a nice one?" I asked as I checked her out.

"Oh yes! I never thought I'd be so happy over buying a dress," she stated with a laugh. She had a huge smile on her face. "By the way, how was New York?"

"Wonderful! I'll call you later and tell you all about it."

Sally smiled at me. "I remember my trip. I went with Mrs. Lincoln three years ago. I had one of the best times in my life."