“Oh yes!” Alice recalls as she looks down at the dress. “I felt so sorry for you that day… sitting in the bath whilst Mrs P put your pants and socks on the fire and cut up your shirts and vests.”
“That was the last time I felt like a normal boy.” Billy commented.
“It was also the last day before we were put in our corsets.” Alice added. “I can’t imagine not wearing it now.” she said as she rested her hands on her shapely waist and hips.
Billy agreed. “We’d be clumsy and frumpy like Betty Fletcher.” he said, Betty being a big girl from school who’s forever bumping into things and dropping things. She can’t skip, can’t hop or clap or catch and she certainly can’t dance. Miss Wainwright used to say ‘if there’s ever a girl who needs a corset it’s Betty Fletcher’. “You won’t have to wear yours any more.” Billy said.