
Girls Day Out
By Jayne
Edited by Cynthia Smith
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One of the things I have always wanted to do was to go out shopping with my wife as Jayne. It's something that every CD probably has dreamed of. I finally got my wish!
The week before Christmas my wife and I went on a long overdue shopping excursion, out together to the mall. This was Jayne's first outing with her wife during the day and the first in a very public place. Even though I have been dressing most of my life, I've been out in public less than a year. We do attend the support group meetings together and have had dinner at friendly places. Jayne has been shopping with friends and alone, but never with her wife. We selected a large suburban mall that we were both familiar with. I also had to give assurances that if she was feeling uncomfortable we would cut the trip short and go back home. She was quite nervous and concerned about going out, mostly worrying about the "what if's". Some other "restrictions" were no fitting rooms and no restrooms. She would also "monitor" other peoples' reactions to me at times by being a couple racks away. Oh yes, we agreed it was the rule that whoever got to the door first opened it for the other *grin* (honey, we have to be just like all the other female shoppers).
The plans were laid, the kids off to school, and I took a day off from work.
I started by dressing accordingly, that is to blend in with the other women that would be there. I wore a pair of baggy legged blue jeans, tennies, a pretty lavender flower print long sleeved stretch top, and a blue jean vest. Also I wore a jean brocade winter jacket and had a matching purse. I put a modest amount of makeup on, downtoned for the day, and wore my hair (read wig *grin*) in a softer, less demanding style as a woman would when out shopping. My nails were their everyday usual, polished with a glossy clear coat.
The trip to the mall was uneventful, but the weather was a windy below zero! I was quite glad to get into the mall from the parking lot, it being the holiday season and having to park at the back of the lot. We proceeded to go to the one place I needed to stop, Lord and Taylor, to pick up a shade of Dermablend that everyone else was out of. I made the purchase, was "read", and went off to the mall proper. You just can't fool those girls at the cosmetics counter when up close and buying that type of foundation, it was expected, but not the "sir" from the clerk. (I did go back a week later, in drab, and talked to the assistant store manager, enlightening her, when she asked, about how to address transgendered customers properly. She assured me that she would see that the policy was implemented! *yeah* score one for Jayne!!)
We arrived at one of my favorite clothing stores and hit the sale rack. Blouses were marked down from $30 to $6 in my color and size! I selected several and also picked out a few sweaters when my wife, who was feeling bolder, said "Jayne, why don't you go try them on?". I went over to the fitting room, smiled at the salesgirl, was handed the plastic garment counter, and lead to a stall in the middle of the room! Now, realize that I've shopped here before as my drab twin, not allowed to try on anything, and being told that I wouldn't be allowed in the fitting even if I came in dressed, so I must be doing pretty good! I proceeded to try on the blouses when I made a discovery -- never wear anything that you have to pull off or put on over your head if you plan to try on clothes when wearing a wig! I made a note to wear something that buttons up in the future. The wig pulled right off! Not to worry as there was enough privacy to cover and mirrors to put it back on with, but still the best laid plans went a little astray. I collected my composure and fixed myself back up.
I tried on the blouses and sweaters, modeling them for my wife who was waiting outside. They all fit just fine, except the one I wanted the most *sniff*. Oh well, you can win them all. I changed back again, finished shopping, and went to the cashier to pay for them. I had to wait in line for several minutes while others were being helped. My spouse took the opportunity to stand back and watch the people I was in line with for anything out of the ordinary - NOTHING! Nobody was paying me any more attention than anyone else. I paid for my purchases with Jayne's charge card (I have an account there in my femme name), asked for the complimentary holiday gift boxes, and left with my purchases. My wife was actually amazed that I was able to do what I did without anyone questioning my gender.
Feeling bolder now we shopped several other places until that fateful moment -- we both had to use the restroom. We were close to a Sears and got in line -- remember it was just a couple days before Christmas -- for the ladies' room. I went in, heels to the wall, sat, did my "business", and left, again with no recognition. Now I had done, with my wife's approval, everything that she was worried about!
One interesting thing did happen while I was there. We were looking at dresses in Penney's when I noticed a gentleman going thru the racks of evening gowns. Keeping him in the corner of my eye I saw that he was looking in HIS size! What a delight to watch, from a ladies view this time, another CD in a business suit trying to look inconspicuous looking at ladies clothing. He appeared a little nervous, backing away whenever anyone came near him. Haven't we all been there before! He looked right at me too, and obviously didn't see anything other than another woman out shopping. *smile*
We finished up at Penney's by taking a rest talking with a salesgirl about clothing, kids, and etc. My wife introduced me as her sister in law.(her "on the fly" idea, not too bad either!) I never was too sure of my voice, having sung bass in high school and college glee clubs, and never getting mammed on the phone, but she never let on that I was anything other than what I presented to be.
Eating lunch was something else. We went to a fast food place in the mall. It was crowded and we sat at the only open table which was in the middle of the room. My wife noticed an older woman staring at me from just behind me out of my line of sight -- I was read!
Maybe it was her maternal instincts, but she proceeded to stare right back! The woman, who was only partly done with lunch, got uncomfortable after a few minutes, picked up her lunch, and left.
While all this was happening, I was just eating my lunch and discussing the shopping so far. I learned later what had transpired.
After eating we left the mall and went to several local strip shopping centers, stopping at stores that looked interesting. We did stop at a gas station and a gentleman was kind enough to remove a damaged fog light for us. It had broken off the mount from a snowdrift and was hanging by the wires. He didn't want us to lose it before my husband could reattach it to his truck! I guess I passed, with flying colors, and in front of my wife! From there we drove home. I changed back into my drab twin at a rest stop on the way, as our teenagers are unaware of Jayne's existence and would be home from school when we arrived.
All in all, she had a great day shopping with her "sister in law," and I did too. We plan on going shopping again (her idea) when the kids are gone to visit my parents for a week during Easter. A perfect time to hit the after Easter sales! We found it exciting and, at the same time, a rewarding experience to share the shopping experience together as we never could before.
Jayne Nicole
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