As they walked to Aunty Susan's, Anthony found himself being held by the hand by both his mum and Angela. The late afternoon rain had left puddles of water on the pavement, as they walked, Anthony felt rather foolish. Not just because he was wearing his special visiting outfit, which was bad enough, but because each time they came to a puddle his mum and Angela insisted on hoisting him in the air by his hand and shouting, "wheeeee….", as they lifted him across the puddles.
Anthony was fifteen years old, and being lifted like a toddler was not something he enjoyed. The rain came again, this time more persistent and his mum decided they should hop onto a bus to take them the rest of their journey. Thanks to the rain, the bus was quite full and there were only two vacant seats downstairs. His mum insisted Angela take one of those.
"Anthony can sit on my lap, he doesn't mind, do you bunny, upsa-daisy."
To his utter dismay Anthony was positioned onto his mother's lap as she sat down. He felt that everyone else on the bus was looking and sniggering at him. His mother's hand rested on the inside of his bare thigh as his "visiting trousers", rode high up his legs.
Angela was definitely looking at Anthony. She watched as the boy sat docilely upon Mrs Green's lap and noticed that her hand rested on Anthony's smooth, inner thigh. She pondered on why a fifteen year old would allow himself to be dressed, and treated as a much younger boy. It was then she noticed that Anthony's hands were clenched in frustration and that he was acutely embarrassed and frustrated by the situation he was in. It was just that he didn't, or couldn't rebel against Mrs Green's authority.
Angela realised that she rather enjoyed witnessing his discomfort and that being "Aunty Angela", was a desirable prospect and she promised herself that, if possible she would add to Anthony's woes.
In fact, nobody apart from Angela had been looking at Anthony. Why would they? A small boy sitting on his mother's lap on a crowded bus was not unusual, Anthony was a convincing little boy.
The bus dropped them yards from Aunty Susan's house. Anthony's hands were firmly grasped by his two female companions as he door opened. Aunty Susan was his mother's younger sister, her husband had worked on the oil rigs in the North sea for many years and Anthony had rarely seen him. She was taller than his mother, but her auburn hair was dyed blonde, and she dressed much more fashionably than his mother.
Likewise, his cousin Kevin, who was two years younger than Anthony was allowed to wear the latest fashions. As they entered the house Anthony noticed Kevin's expensive trainers and his jeans. How he longed to wear clothes such as those.
"Well hello Anthony," she said as they entered, "what a lovely outfit you are wearing, aren't your legs a bit chilly in those short trousers though?"
"Short trousers are just fine, whatever the weather, " said his mother forcefully as she looked distastefully at Kevin's jeans.
Angela and Aunty Susan knew each other and the three women sat on the sofa and the chair whilst Anthony had to make do with the carpet. He sat on the carpet surrounded by the females whilst Kevin sniggered and made faces at him behind the grown ups back.
"Well why are we here," his mother demanded, it' s getting very close to Anthony's pyjama time and bedtime." Kevin sniggered loudly this time and was admonished by his mother.
"Now Kevin, just because I don't insist that you wear pyjamas to bed, doesn't mean that Anthony's mummy can't put him into his jimmy-jams before his early beddy-bye time. Even if he is fifteen."
Angela noted how Aunty Susan had managed to babify Anthony, by attributing nursery type words such as jimmy-jams and beddy-byes to him and mentioning his age.
Of course his mother didn't help when she replied. "I can't envisage any time in the future when Anthony will not have a pyjama time and a bedtime, it seems perfectly sensible to me."
Angela was once again bemused by Mrs Green's apparent total lack of awareness as to how much she embarrassed Anthony in front of others.
The conversation returned to the purpose of their visit.
"Tell them why they are here mum, tell them." Kevin urged his mother.
"You know Mrs Jackson's, daughter is getting married tomorrow," She began. "Well unfortunately the little boy who was due to be her page boy has come down with chicken pox. I immediately thought of Anthony as short notice replacement. All he has to do is carry her wedding train up and down the aisle, it is so simple."
Anthony looked at his mother, he didn't like the sound of this one little bit.
"And he has to wear the outfit, don't forget mum," added Kevin mischievously as he handed his mother a box.
"Oh yes. This is the best bit, " Aunty Susan said excitedly. "Anthony gets to wear this gorgeous page boy costume too."
The box was opened and out came the most ridiculous outfit Angela had ever seen. It consisted of a long sleeved, frilly silk blouse with an enormous frilly collar, white knee length socks and black, patent Mary Jane shoes. A suit of black crushed velvet with a pale blue, silken sash that tied around the middle completed the ghastly outfit.
Angela fully expected Mrs Green to dismiss the idea immediately, but no, not a bit of it. Mrs Green was clapping her hands in excitement, proclaiming how wonderful it was that her little Anthony was going to be a page boy at Kathleen Jackson's wedding.
Anthony despaired. "Mum it’s not fair. I don't want to be a page boy and wear this horrible outfit. Let Kevin do it, he is younger than me." Angela noted there was real desperation in his voice, but now, after her initial shock, she so wanted to Anthony to wear the page boy outfit.
The smirk disappeared from Kevin's face as his name was mentioned.
"Now Anthony," Aunty Susan began. "Kevin is younger that you but he is so much bigger. You are the same size as the little boy who has taken ill, that is why I volunteered you. Of course, your mum will be attending as your guardian too. Just think, Anthony a member of the Green family at the Jackson's wedding, and as the page boy too!"
Her sister's speech had made up his mother's mind. "Anthony, you are going to be the page boy and that is that. My little boy is not going to miss the opportunity to be page boy at Mrs Jackson's daughter's wedding. Why, it is the wedding of the year in this town."
Mrs Green had spoken. Anthony knew that once his mother had decided to accept the invitation his fate was sealed. Angela looked at the triumphant faces of Kevin, Moira and their mother whilst Mrs Green was genuinely delighted. Only Anthony, who was still sitting on the carpet like a pet dog, was unhappy as tomorrows itinerary was discussed.
The journey home was filled with the excited chatter of Mrs Green. Angela played her part and agreed enthusiastically with her plans. Anthony was to be put straight into his pyjamas once they were home and put to bed early as he had such an important day tomorrow. Anthony trudged silently alongside side them, imprisoned by their clasping hands and dreading what tomorrow would bring.
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