"I should have realized that we shouldn't have made you into a girl so quickly," Mary Elizabeth told Angelo the next morning at breakfast.

"Oh mommy, it was me. I wanted it. I really did. I was so excited that first day when I saw the bedroom. I really hoped you wouldn't change it."

"I know darling, but we have to do something about it."

She then told the child her plans to move him into the back bedroom, and bring the office material into the bedroom he had been using.

"That way, darling, we'll still have that room kept the way it was. I won't change anything about the room other than to push the bed to one side and move my things in."

Angelo smiled. He knew that meant he might be able to still spend some time in it, even if he had to sleep in the other room.

"Now, we have to dress you in some boy clothes today, and go shopping. It's time to make you a boy again."

Angelo made a pouting face: "Do I have to?"

"Yes, honey, I'm sorry, but yes you do." Mary Elizabeth told him as she put her arms around him.

She gave him a warm, comforting hug that lasted several seconds. When she finally pulled away she added, Now go get dressed."

Angelo reluctantly, yet obediently headed to the bedroom and found a pair of boyfriend cut blue jeans, of course they were girl's jeans, but at a glance he thought they could be worn by a boy. He also found a short sleeved light grey shirt, neither came from his boy clothes drawer.

He put them on over a pair of cotton panties and a crème-colored camisole, both well-covered by the outer clothes. He slipped short white socks and white canvas sneakers on his feet and headed back to where Mary Elizabeth was.

"You still look like Angela," his foster mother said, as he walked out into her bedroom. "Those aren't your boy clothes."

"I know, but they are the most boyish girl's clothes I could find."

"And I suppose you're wearing panties underneath?"

Angelo blushed and slowly nodded, "And a camisole, too." "Oh darling, I don't know how we can do this. You look so much a girl. You walk like a girl now. Look at how you swing your arms."

"I know mommy, but I'll try to be a boy. You know I will."

"We'll have to cut your hair, too."

Once they got to the mall, it was not a surprise as they entered the Boys Department at Macy's and began to look at jeans, that the clerk asked, "You're wanting some pants for you're daughter, ma'am?"

"Sir, he's a boy. My foster son. We need to outfit him for school." Mary Elizabeth corrected him.

"I-I'm sorry, ma'am, but... er... well... I'm sorry. Let me show you what we gave on sale."

"That's fine, young man," she replied easily. "Angelo is a very pretty child, but we need to outfit him so he'll fit in better in school."

"Ok, ma'am. I think I can help."

The clerk, a slender young man with light brown hair that hung full and thick to his neck, identified himself as Mario. As he spoke, he flicked the hair from his face, showing full lips on a clean- shaven face.

Mary Elizabeth could not help thinking this young man, too, must have been a pretty child, as Angelo was.

As if to comfort Angelo, the clerk said, "Come, Angelo, let's see what we can do. I'm sure we'll make you look very nice. You're quite a handsome young lad."

Angelo was blushing now. He felt so out of place and uncomfortable in the boy's department.

They ended up selecting three sets of jeans, two other pairs of pants, a half dozen boy's briefs, socks and several boy's tee shirts.

"I think he's a handsome young man, now," the clerk said after Angelo walked out of the fitting room, dressed in a pair of black slacks and a white boy's dress shirt.

He helped Angelo put on add a sports jacket to the outfit.

Mary Elizabeth noticed the clerk had exquisite hands, slender, long fingers, smoothness to the back of the hand and thin wrists, as well as a light, dainty manner as he adjusted the clothes on Angelo.

She was so pleased they had found a clerk who obviously had similar traits to Angelo.

The clerk showed great gentleness in assisting Angelo's return to boy's clothing.

"Where you going to school?" the clerk asked. "I'm trying to go to the Arts High School. If I pass the audition on Monday," Angelo said. "I hope you do. It's a great school, if you have an artistic talent, which I'm sure you have."

"I'm trying out for theater, although I love to draw, too."

The clerk smiled, as he took Mary Elizabeth's credit card. "I graduated from there two years ago. In theater. I'm going to the University now in theater, but not as an actor."

Angelo liked this young sale clerk. "I'm studying production. You know, back stage, costumes, scenery and stuff."

"Oh that's cool. Didn't you like acting?" Angelo asked.

"Yes, but I'm not exactly the John Wayne type. And that's what they want in boy actors."

Angelo blushed, realizing that would be his problem as well, if he wanted to act. He was just not manly enough.

The clerk completed the sale, and said, "Very nice meeting both of you. Best of luck in the audition, Angelo, and if you get in and want any help at the school, my name is Mario Castagne. I'm here most weekends."

"Angelo Davies. That's my name."

As they walked out of the department, Angelo glanced back, and saw Mario still watching them walk out. Angelo gave Mario a tiny, girly wave, which the clerk returned similarly.

"He was nice, mommy," Angelo said. Mary Elizabeth merely nodded, deep in thought.

Angelo, however, felt tears coming into his eyes. The clothes felt stiff and confining, not silky and free as a skirt or blouse did. He walked awkwardly, particularly since the new shoes were tight, restricting, and he knew he couldn't walk on the feminine manner he was becoming accustomed to.

"Oh mommy, thank you for doing this," he said as they left the mall. "But I wish I could have my girl's clothes on."

"I know, but these are necessary for school next month. You'll get used to them."