He dreamed of running and playing outdoors.
His step mother's voice came in through the hall,
"We have to get ready to go to the ball."
She appeared in the door with her daughters in tow,
"Hurry up Bobby, we soon have to go.
You must shine my shoes and you must sew my slip,
You'll find at the hem there's the tiniest rip.
And help your step sisters to do up their hair,
And you needn't start crying, you know I don't care."
So, Bobby as usual at their beck and call,
Helped them all to get dressed for the ball.
Their carriage arrived at the front of the house,
But back in the kitchen as quiet as a mouse,
Bobby was listening to hear them depart,
Trying to control his own racing heart.
For lying around all over the place,
Were colourful dresses of satin and lace.
His sisters as usual, as at him they frowned,
Had left all their clothing lying around.
They thought that by leaving their things they were mean,
Leaving their dresses for Bobby to clean.
But he had a secret that no one else knew,
Our Bobby was one of the transgendered few.
As soon as his mother and sisters were gone,
Their dresses and panties and slips he would don,
He picked up a dress of a beautiful blue,
Some long frilly panties a lace corset too.
A long lacy petticoat, stockings of silk,
With blue ribbons on top and the rest white as milk.
And standing in front of the glass in the hall,
It wasn't too long 'till he had donned them all.
And as he admired the girl in the glass,
A wonderful happening then came to pass,
With a shimmering of stardust all through the air,
A little old lady was suddenly there.
"My Dear, you look awful, my words I won't mince,
I really don't think you are fit for the prince.
You know that he's looking to find a knew wife,
Someone to cherish the rest of his life.
And if you hope to capture his heart,
We must get a move on, we must make a start."
So, waving her wand and chanting a spell,
She sprinkled some stardust on Bobby as well.
The little old lady started to dash.
And waving her wand all over the place,
She started to transform young Bobby's face.
And there in the glass in front of his eyes,
A beautiful girl did materialise,
And his dress became a beautiful gown,
And on his head was a beautiful crown.
"I've just been promoted-god mother first class,
And you are the first test that I have to pass."
It now dawned on Bobby that she didn't know,
She thought him a girl getting ready to go.
To go to the palace to dance at the ball,
And Bobby now wondered if he had the gall,
To not say a word and to carry it through,
My transgendered friend, what would you do?
"This fairy won't know that I am a fella,
And so I will tell her that my name is Ella,
And, so, if I'm careful I'm sure she won't guess,
And I can continue to wear this nice dress."
The fairy it seemed was a real country bumpkin,
And now she was playing around with a pumpkin.
A wave of her wand and a tap of her heels,
And the pumpkin turned into a coach with four wheels.
And what do you think of that fairy rapscallion,
A little white mouse was turned into a stallion.
And there on the floor was a little cockroach,
And he was turned into a man for the coach.
"Now, off to the ball, but midnight, my Dear,
Is the absolute limit for you I fear,
Believe me, my Dear, as night follows day,
Midnight's the time that the spell fades away.
So, Bobby (now Ella) dashed into the carriage,
Thinking now only of princes and marriage,
Arrived at the dance with a gleam in her eye,
And feeling so happy, she wanted to cry.
And the prince, when he saw her, was filled with desire,
The sweet little thing had set his heart afire,
He danced every dance with the sweet little girl,
They polk'd and waltzed and her mind was a-whirl
When, suddenly 12 was struck on the clock.
"Oh my, I must leave." our Ella did cry,
And over the steps she started to fly.
Her slipper came off and lay on the stair,
But she couldn't go back, she knew she'd not dare,
Into the coach and away pell-mell,
Going before the end of the spell.
Into the house as the last stroke was struck,
Heaving a sigh, not believing her luck.
Suddenly everything was as before,
The spell it was broken, the magic no more.
Again he was wearing his step sister's dress,
And the clothes scattered round, the place in a mess.
"I wonder if God Mother passed her first test?"
He suddenly felt that he needed a rest.
He collapsed in a chair and fell fast asleep,
Thinking that all the cleaning would keep.
But he slept far too long and his mother arrived.
And it seemed to poor Bobby that fate had contrived,
Contrived to get him in more of a mess,
For here he was wearing his step sisters dress.
And his mother and sisters were looking at him,
And his mother's expression was awfully grim.
"So, that's what you do when we are away,
Well, from now on, that's how you'll stay."
When he woke the next morning it was with dismay,
He found that his clothes had been taken away.
And what do you think was left in their place?
His sisters'' old dresses of satin and lace.
It seemed he must wear them all of the time,
For someone transgendered this wasn't a crime.
So, he knew at once just what to do,
And he put on the dress and the underwear too.
As he went down the stairs to start on a chore,
There came a great thunderous knock at the door
And suddenly Bobby was filled up with dread.
His mother had already opened the door,
And there stood the prince with soldiers galore.
"Madam I'm searching each house in the town,
To find the sweet girl with the fabulous gown.
I have here her slipper found on the stair,
And when I have found the young lady fair,
Whose sweet little foot will fit well inside,
She is the one who will be my new bride.
The step sisters tried, but it was in vain,
No matter how much they would struggle and strain.
The prince then saw Bobby, wearing his dress,
And of course what happened next you can guess.
"Come here, my lady, and try on the shoe."
And there was nothing that Bobby could do.
They pulled up a chair and they made Bobby sit,
And soon they discovered the slipper did fit,
The prince was ecstatic, "My Dear we must wed."
And again poor Bobby was filled up with dread.
"A moment alone, Sir, I do beg of you,
I have something to tell you that may make you blue."
When they were alone, young Bobby confessed,
And explained he was TV and why he was dressed.
To his utter amazement the prince filled with joy,
"My Dear, I'm so happy that you are a boy.
This will be our secret, no more will be said,
You'll come to the palace and we will be wed."
"We'll have a big wedding and church bells will chime,
You'll be Princess Ella and dress all the time."
So they went to the palace and gave a great ball,
And gave out invitations to all.
So, check in your mail box, you just never know,
You may be one who's invited to go.
And if your transgendered, just as I am,
Then you'll be obliged to go there en femme.
Janey Lang
25th November 1996. .