We stopped at a McDonalds restaurant, and it was packed.  The others scooted off looking for an empty booth when mother said. "There is no sense in all of us standing in line and getting tired.  Then she turned to Mary Margaret and me and said, "Would the two of you mind ordering the food?"  I tried to protest about it not being fair but Mary Margaret quickly jumped in taking the money as she said. "Certainly, we'll be glad to. We'll bring it over to the table as soon as it's ready." Then Mom went over to the booth and sat down leaving Mary Margaret and me in line.

With the exception of the mirror incident at the dancewear store the ordering line was probably the hardest thing for me so far.  I knew I was being watched and talked about by people all around me. As always I had picked the line that wasn't moving at all. There was one couple standing in the line next to ours. He saw me and whispered in his girl friends ear.  She turned around and started snickering, then laughing, till she was laughing so hard she had to bury her face in his shoulder to keep from getting too loud.

Slowly the line shortened until we were finally standing at the cashier. I could seen the end of the line a few feet away and was ready to grab the order and run for the table when the girl told me that it would be a short wait for Mother's fish sandwich.  They lied to me, it wasn't a short wait, and it took forever.  Forever, and ever and ever.

Mary Margaret and myself had to stand there listening to people snicker and point me out as the freak of the day.  Then just as I got the order and I looked up to see two teenage girls standing in the doorway. Just as our eyes met the one said. "Oh My Gosh!" and stuffed her hand in her mouth as she stared at me. Her eyes were wide open and they both turned and looked at each other in surprise.  It didn't take a genius to figure out what they thought was funny.  I felt myself turning red as listened to their every word and giggle as they discussed my tights.  They could all hear them and Sally just stood there smiling at me, enjoying my humiliation.

I had to walk past the two of them to get to our booth.  It was all I could do to keep walking toward them with the tray in my hand; Mary Margaret whispered "Just ignore them," to me as I walked past. Then after I sat down and they came back to their booth, which was right next to ours. They were both terribly embarrassed about what they had done.  The one girl, who had yelled, apologized profusely for embarrassing me in the restaurant. It didn't help when Robert said; "Hey I think you've found a great way to meet girls."  I wanted to punch him in the arm, but Mary Margaret and Mother glared at me, so I settled for poking him in the ribs when he took a drink of soda and he sprayed his drink across the table onto Sally.

On our way back to the car I tried to convince Mother to let me stay in the car when we got to the mall. She said no, and I asked a couple more time until I realized that Mother was not going to change her mind. The closer we got to the mall the deeper my feeling of desperation became. I was completely panicked now. This was not at all what I had imagined when I had fanaticized about going out in public dressed in tights. It was close, but horribly different. I had completely lost control of the situation; whatever happened to me now was the result of what Mother and the others wanted to do. There was nothing I could do to stop this. But it was also strangely stimulating and a part of my mind was telling me to relax and enjoy myself this is what I really wanted to do.

The Oak Park Mall started off poorly as mother couldn't find a parking place anywhere close to a door.  We had to park at a far corner of the mall and we would have to walk forever until we reached a door.

I again asked Mother not to make me do this.  But, she just smiled as she pulled me out of the car.  While we were walking in the bright sunlight, Mary Margaret made me stand still and straighten the seams on my tights.  Still not satisfied she finally finished it herself, smoothing the nylon with her hand, giving my legs a light rub with the tips of her fingers as she finished. "This is a first for me, I never thought I would get to feel smooth skin tight nylon on a boys leg. I could get addicted to this."

I quickly hated the Christmas shopping season. My stomach dropped to my ankles when I entered the mall behind Mary Margaret.  She also commented on it by saying, "Oh My, I've not seen it this busy before!"  They were having some kind of Christmas crafts and collectibles show.  I had thought the airport terminals had been crowded but I was wrong.  In the airports I hadn't had to turn sideways to get past people.

Mom was happy; she had wanted to go to some crafts shops and how here was a mall full of them.  Mom was in her element, sadly so was Mary Margaret.  We didn't even make it past the first table before Mom had started examining stuff.  The two of them quickly discovered a common interest in craft collectibles.

Sally, Erin, Robert, Danny, and I however were bored silly and wanted to go elsewhere.  I really didn't care where; the car would do fine.  Mother however established the rules, and my options were limited. I could either go with Sally, Erin, Robert and Danny, I could go and watch Danny and Robert, or I could stay with Mom and Mary Margaret.

Robert immediately stated he would rather stay with his sister then be watched by  "Pantyhose Boy." I figured the safest place for me, even though I would be bored, was to stay with Mom and Mary Margaret.  Mom set a time for them to meet up again and then the four of them took off.  I was happy to get rid of Danny and Robert.

"Let's explore this logically," Mom said.  "Lets take a quick look at all the tables in the mall to see what they have.  Then come back to check those that looked interesting the first time through."

They slowly wandered past the rows of tables, commenting on those things they really liked.   Their quick examination resembled a turtle race in its speed.  I was feeling easier about my tights, but the closeness in the crowd was still making me very nervous.  I could still hear an undercurrent of conversations about me, going on around me.  The longer I stood in one place the more I was noticed by people in the crowd.  The slow movement by Mary Margaret and Mother was not helping.  It seemed like they would only move to another table after my tights and been noticed.

We had just turned the corner when I spotted the bookstore.  Bookstores have always been a place of refuge for me.   I quickly lost myself in the Science Fiction section so I failed to notice the group of girls who were watching me.  That ended when one came up and asked.

"Are you in one of the dance recital groups performing today?

With admirable sophistication and aplomb I quickly and easily slipped into full panic mode.  "Uh, yea, what dance, where, you…here? Ulp, Gulp, choke, No, I'm not."

My denial immediately triggered the deadly question. "Then why are you wearing red tights if you aren't in a recital?"

I didn't have an answer. I couldn't think of an answer. No, worse I couldn't think at all, I couldn't talk, my heart was pounding and all I could think of was running out of the store.  And that's what I did.  Dropping the book I ran out of the store as quickly as I could, but not quickly enough to keep from hearing the series of whistles, and giggles that followed me.  Outside I was still in a panic, that only got worse when I couldn't find Mother or Mary Margaret.

I started walking as rapidly as I could in the direction they had been going, but I couldn't find them.  I speeded up and tried to blend in with the crowd as I worked my way down to the end of the mall without finding them. It's not easy to blend in when you are wearing bright red tights.  I was running out of options and my panic was getting worse as I turned back around and headed back to the area by the bookstore.  I was only partway there when I spotted the group of girls, larger now, who had trapped me in the bookstore.  It was obvious they were looking for me to show heir new friends the boy they had found who was wearing red tights.  My mind quickly fantasized what was going to happen when they spotted me, and I wanted nothing to do with that. I ducked across the mall and disappeared into a store as I watched the group work their way down the hallway.

When they had passed, I continued my frantic search for Mom and Mary Margaret.  I was starting to feel really worried as I worked my way through the crowded mall, up and down past the rows of crafts tables looking for them.   I finally found them a couple of tables back from where I had left them.  Even though the time slowly dragged by, I stayed with the two of them as they explored the exhibition tables. As my panic slowly subsided and my heart stopped racing, I looked at my watch to discover how little time had passed.  It was now official; today would last forever, and seem even longer.

Mary Margaret and I discovered an Ice Cream shop and convinced Mother to buy us cones.  We had just placed our order when a bunch of girls came into the shop.  There were about ten of them and they were all wearing dancing costumes.  An assortment of bright, red and green elf costumes made out of tights and leotards, but a few were wearing white tights and other brightly colored leotards.  All of them were about the same age as Mary Margaret and I.

The two of us were standing at the counter so it didn't take long before several of them saw my red tights.  I admit it wasn't difficult, I stuck out like a badly bruised thumb, but they whispered and giggled about it for several minutes before one of them finally came over to where Mary Margaret and I were standing.

The girls were from a dance school that had just performed on a stage set up in the mall down by the food court, and they were curious why Mary Margaret and I were both wearing red tights.The bookstore panic started again and I was trying to come up with a decent answer for the question when Mary Margaret said. "He lost a bet to me. Worse, he made some really nasty remarks about the Chiefs. I told him to put his money where his mouth is, and he said" 'OK, You pick the terms, It doesn't matter to me.' "Then the poor looser, lost his temper and called me some really nasty names so I picked this for him. In a few days when he gets out of his bright red tights I'm sure he won't ever say a bad thing about me or the Chiefs again."

That set them off, especially when the found out I was wearing a leotard too.  A couple of girls thought Mary Margaret was kidding about that, until she pulled back my collar and showed them the back zipper on my turtleneck.  They had been noisy before, but now they were nothing but a bunch of cackling hens as they talked and commented on my bet payoff.  Some liked it, some thought it was too much, and several of them said they knew some boys they would love to do it too. With the idea in place, it was only a few minutes later that Mary Margaret saw the tee-shirt store. It cost some of my money, but courtesy of Mary Margaret's idea She and I were wearing tee shirts that explained my predicament. Hers said, "I Won" and mine said, "I lost, and I'll never bet against the Chiefs Again."  It drastically changed the reaction that I received throughout the mall as people saw my outfit. I just wished I had had it in the bookstore.

We found Mom, Erin, Sally, Danny and Robert waiting for us by the Christmas display area. They had Santa Claus set up in the middle of an elf village where he was listening to all the girls and boys who wanted to see him.  There were about six ladies costumed as elves working with him. All of them were dressed in Bright green tops and red tights, except for one lady dressed up as Mrs. Clause. It seemed like I had stumbled into a world of red tights.  Then Robert and Danny ran over and told Mom they wanted their picture taken with Santa Claus.  Mom thought that was a great idea, she had been wanting some pictures, but Danny said was scared and wanted somebody to stand in line with her.  I quickly looked around to discover that Sally and Erin had conveniently disappeared.    

A few minutes later Danny, Robert, Mary Margaret and I were standing in line together.  Waiting to see Santa, I was quickly learning the small children are very uninhibited when it comes to pointing out things they think are funny and silly.  By the time I reached Santa I felt like my face matched my tights.  Santa sat Danny and Robert on his lap and Mary Margaret and I stood on either side of him as the picture was taken.  Santa saw the tee shirts and thought it was funny.  "Ho, Ho, Ho, I don't think someone is going to bet against the Chiefs any time soon."  The shirts were perfect; Danny didn't have a chance to pop off with her own explanation of why I was wearing tights.

We separated after that, with Mary Margaret and I going off by ourselves to a bookstore.  Erin and Robert going with Mom, Danny and Sally to several of the department stores.  I wanted to hurry and get to the store and out of the crowd but Mary Margaret wanted to stop and every interesting craft table that she passed.   She would pass this one then stop and explore another one, holding up all sorts of weird craft things for me to look at. I stupidly told her I had seen molasses moving faster and that made her mad.  "Well if you think that, maybe you should trot yourself off to the book store without me." After the first store I didn't want to do that. I tried, but quickly came back to where she was examining some blown glass ornaments.

Thankfully she didn't say anything, and a few minutes later we both were in the bookstore.  We spent almost the remainder of the time exploring the books in the bookstore.  Mary Margaret is as big a book reader as I am, only our tastes differ in what we like to read. Mother finally sent Danny to find us, saying it was time to start back to our Aunt's house.

As Mary Margaret and I paid for our books the lady behind our counter kept looking at me curiously.  Then when the two of turned to leave the store she let out a whistle, and said. "Honey, that's priceless, I like your style."

I had to stop at the bathrooms before we got back to the car and I again got all the way into the restroom before I remember I would need help with the back zipper.  I had to go back out, without my shirt on so Mary Margaret could pull down the back zipper on the leotard.  It caused quite a deal of smirking and curious stares as I went back into a stall.  I hated back zippered leotards; they are a horribly ingenious torture.

The remainder of the shopping trip was uneventful.   We stopped and got groceries, to take back to Aunt Jane's and while I had to slowly push the cart up and down the isle. Nothing really embarrassing happened.  Except that Robert had secretly gotten several pairs of pantyhose from somewhere in the store and had hidden them in the cart.  Then when Mom asked whom they were for he piped up "Fresh supplies for Pantyhose Boy."

Later that evening when Mary Margaret had gone home Mom had a talk with me.  She wanted to know if it had been fun so far wearing tights.  I tried to keep my emotions under control but I finally, almost in tears, told her how difficult it had been for me, especially after what Sally and the salesgirl had done.  I could tell Mom was upset with Sally and knew I had just gotten her into trouble.  So, I went further, and told her exactly what Sally had said to me before she had sent me across the room to run into the girl in the blue costume.

Mom sat there for the longest time before she continued. I could tell she was really mad at Sally now and that made me glad. It also meant that Sally would be trying harder to make the trip miserable for me. Then mom dropped the bombshell.  Since I had such a difficult time last night and today I no longer had to wear tights during the trip.  Then she opened her suitcase and took out several pairs of long pants she had brought for me to wear.  She said. "Here sweet, if you don't want to wear those tights any more you can have these to wear." I eagerly grabbed the pants hugging them tightly to my chest as I thanked her. I was so relieved my ordeal was over. "Just bring me the tights from your suitcase," she said as I started to leave the room.

"Why," I asked.

"If you don't want to wear them any more, what do you need them for?"  

"But, I still want to wear them."

"Dear, either you want to wear them or you don't. Which is it?"

I tried to explain that I wanted to continue to wear them but I didn't want to be forced to wear them out in public, and placed on public display for ridicule and teasing.  

"Well dear, as of right now I am not going to force you to wear those tights out in public.  Any time you want to stop wearing them all you have to do is bring me your tights and I will give you these pants to wear.  The choice is yours; I'm not going to make you do anything.  But it's one or the other. It's too cold out to wear shorts without tights. If you insist on wearing them I expect you to act like you want to wear them.  No more whining, crying and pleading when we go out somewhere and you are embarrassed about wearing your tights. They are your tights, it's your decision to wear them and I expect you to act like an adult about your decision.  Let me know what you decide.  

We're not going anywhere tomorrow so you can think about it as long as you like.  However Monday we will be going to the Crown Center, Nelson art gallery, then going down to the Country Club Plaza in the evening to see the Christmas Lights.  Aunt Jane will be with us, and we will be going out to lunch and dinner so I expect you to be well dressed.

The next day when Mary Margaret came over after Church and I told her what Mother had offered. I thought she would be happy but it appeared she wasn't. Somehow I had put my foot in it. She was not happy about the idea of me not wearing tights.

"What, you're going to give up just like that?  She uses a little reverse psychology on you and you pack it in?  I thought you were stronger then that.  You told me this is something you have enjoyed for at least three years, now after 24 hours you are ready to give it up.  I thought you had more strength then that, she changes the rules so she is no longer the bad guy and you want to quit.  If it was me, I would go ahead and finish out the trip just to show her who is the most determined. If you do that you win, not her."

"Then there is the trouble I have gone through to help you.  First, there are the friends I know who have seen me with someone who looks like he is leading competitor in the freak of the year contest.  I'm sure I will hear about that after the holiday, Hey Mary Margaret, who was your cute date in the pretty tights?  Second, there is the trouble I have gone to make this easier for you. It hasn't been easy coming up with matching outfits.  I've called many friends to borrow some of things.  Oh yes, don't forget the tee shirt, which cost a lot.

"Now mommy tells you she will trade your tights for pants, and you are ready to quit. What happened to that determination and strength you talked about yesterday?  It must have been all talk no action.  All you have to do is finish out seven more days and you win. This is the perfect time and the perfect place to do it.  You're hundreds of miles from home, and there is almost no chance that anyone from home will ever see you."

Suddenly she stopped, snapped her fingers and continued with. "You know what I think.  I think she offered you this deal because your wearing them is embarrassing her.  She wants you to stop wearing them, but on her terms.  If you wore them publicly for a couple more days I bet she will totally cave in.  She will let you continue to wear them but beg you to hide them under you regular pants.

But the most difficult time was trying to explain this to my mother. At first she couldn't believe it. She is convinced I am pulling her leg. I finally convinced her that some of the weirder crowd at school are starting to wear them, and I finally told her how important it was for me to try and help you, so she finally accepted it.  She still can't quite believe it, but is willing to not pass judgement. Then I asked her if she would take us to the show this evening and she said she would.  She said, "This will let me see for myself if you are pulling my leg."

After I went to all that trouble, guess what I want you to wear to the movies?

Seeker

• Re: 9 Days in KC Pt. 3 - WB at - 08.05. 13:44:42
  • Re: 9 Days in KC Pt. 3 - WB at - 09.05. 04:45:50
  • Re:Buying Crap - Seeker at - 08.05. 19:26:02
    • Re:Buying Crap - danskin42 at - 13.05. 15:10:49
      • Re:Buying Crap - WB at - 13.05. 15:22:47
        • Re:Buying Crap - danskin42 at - 18.05. 02:08:45
    • hee hee.. - The Queen Metroid - 08.05. 19:55:28
      • Re: hee hee.. - WB at - 09.05. 04:48:15
  • Re: 9 Days in KC Pt. 3 - The Riddler - 08.05. 15:59:03
    • Re: 9 Days in KC Pt. 3 - Dep - 09.05. 06:42:22
  • Re: 9 Days in KC Pt. 3 - Seamless at - 08.05. 15:47:52
  • Re: 9 Days in KC Pt. 3 - Jay Mayfield at - 08.05. 15:04:40
• Re: 9 Days in KC Pt. 3 - The Queen Metroid - 07.05. 21:53:18
• Re: 9 Days in KC Pt. 3 - Seamless at - 04.05. 23:39:19
• Re: 9 Days in KC Pt. 3 - Dep - 04.05. 04:01:57