Free Two Strangers by Beryl Matthews Page A

heart to leave the Howards. But that nightmare hadn’t happened. In fact, the Howards seemed pleased she was really a girl, and her deception didn’t bother them at all. Vicki had never known such kindness and understanding existed, and she was having a job taking it all in. There had been no doubt in her mind that she would lose all this for lying to them. It was unbelievable, and she loved them for that. And that was another emotion she had never experienced before.
    ‘Here we are.’ Flo returned with an armful of clothes. ‘Let’s see if we can make some of these fit you. They’re on the tight side for me, so we might be able to do something with them. I’ve found you some proper undergarments as well. It wouldn’t do to have you wearing a boy’s vest and pants.’
    Half an hour later, with the aid of some hasty stitching, Vicki looked respectable. She stared in the mirror in disbelief. She had been thinking of herself as a boy for months now, and it was disconcerting to see a young girl looking back at her.
    ‘That will have to do until we can get you better clothes.’ Flo nodded, holding a brush in her hands. ‘I’ll have a quick go at your hair, but it will have to grow before we can style it properly.’
    When they were ready to leave, Vicki said, ‘I have a bit saved up, so I can pay towards the clothes.’
    ‘No need for that.’ Flo chuckled. ‘Bob’s given me instructions to see you are dressed fashionably – and he’s given me the money – enough for both of us. So, let’s go shopping!’

    The proprietor of Weston’s greeted them warmly, and Vicki recognized her as one of Flo’s regular customers. This made her even more nervous in case she remembered her as the boy who had shampooed her hair on many occasions.
    ‘And what can I do for you today, Mrs Howard? New stock arrived yesterday, so I’m sure we can find something stylish for you.’
    ‘I want a complete set of clothes for my niece, Victoria, and perhaps a frock for myself.’
    If the shop owner wondered why Mrs Howard had a niece no one had ever heard of, she was too professional to let her curiosity show. Vicki quickly realized that Flo had introduced her like this to avoid questions. After all, it wouldn’t seem strange that she was buying clothes for a relative, would it? Whatever the reason, Vicki was relieved the woman had not shown any sign of recognizing her as Jim. She gazed longingly at the racks of lovely clothes and stifled a sigh of pure pleasure. How she was looking forward to being herself again!
    After nearly two hours, Vicki felt as if she had tried on nearly everything in the shop, and there were a lot of items piled on the counter waiting to be parcelled up.
    ‘Try on this amber frock,’ Flo told her, holding out the most exquisite and fashionable garment Vicki had ever seen.
    She stepped close and whispered, ‘You mustn’t buy me any more. I only needed one frock and a coat. Anything else I need I can get at the market. They do sell new clothes as well.’
    ‘Just try this on, and that will be the last, I promise – apart from a pair of shoes, of course. You must have those.’
    From the look of pleasure on Flo’s face, Vicki knew it would be hopeless to argue, and she couldn’t do that in the shop. There were other customers as well, and they all seemed to know Flo.
    The frock fitted perfectly, and when she stepped out of the fitting room there was complete silence in the shop. Everyone was staring at her, and she fidgeted nervously. ‘It’s all wrong for me, isn’t it?’
    ‘It’s lovely.’ Flo made Vicki turn round and round. ‘Oh, my dear, you are such a beautiful girl. You must have that frock. It brings out the colour of your eyes.’
    ‘You’ll have to watch her, Mrs Howard,’ one customer said, laughing. ‘You’ll have all the young men in the district after her.’

    Vicki glared at the woman who had spoken, making her fall silent, and then looked away. ‘Oh, no, they won’t,’