CHAPTER 5 - A PRETTY APRON
The next day was Saturday, and Jim and Robin had to clean the entire house. Harry sat on a chair on the porch reading the paper and smoking while Linda gave them directions because it was their first day.
"Now, Jim," she said, while Jim was sweeping, "You'll dirty your clothes. I want you to wear this apron."
"No, Mom," said Jim to his mother-in-law when he saw the frilly thing, "It's so girlish."
"You listen to Mommy, Jim," chimed in Robin. "Daddy's not going to keep buying you clothes that you get dirty."
"Yes, you naughty boy," smiled Linda. "Don't make me bring Harry in to put it on you!"
Reluctantly, Jim put on the full-length frilly apron and looked in a mirror. He looked like a girl!
"Oh, Mommy!" cried Robin. "He looks so sweet!"
"Oh, yes," said Linda. "He looks very good in girlish things!"
Just then his father-in-law came in, dragging his newspaper behind him. He looked Jim up and down, took the cigar from his mouth, and said with a vicious smile:
"Oh, look at the sissy in his cute little apron!"
Embarrassed, Jim immediately began to undo the apron.
"Oh, no!" cried Linda. "You must keep it on!"
"That's right," snarled Harry, "Keep it on. And while you girls are at it, find some other girlie things to put on him while he sweeps up!"
Harry left. Robin clapped her hands with delight.
"Oh, Mommy, yes!" she cried. "Let's dress Jim in other girlie things!"
"Well, all right," said Linda. "That way we'll keep his regular clothes clean."
"I'm not doing this!" asserted Jim, again starting to undo the apron.
"You'd better," said Robin, "Or you'll have to face Daddy!"
Jim didn't want to have a confrontation with Harry. Besides, what if Harry found out that Jim had been peeking with his mother-in-law last night and that Linda had kissed him! Jim shivered at the prospect..
In short order, Robin and Linda had tied a pretty kerchief around Jim's head, and Jim proceeded to help clean the whole house with Robin. In the middle of the day, Harry brought in two friends, rough fellows, one a plumber and the other an electrician. They stared at Jim as he stood embarrassed with his broom and dressed in his frilly full-length apron and pretty kerchief.
"What the fuck is this?" murmured Moe, the plumber.
"THAT," snarled Harry, "Is my son-in-law."
"Looks like a fuckin' faggot to me," said Tom the electrician.
"Yeah, " said Harry. "He looks pretty. Come on, let's get some beer."
Jim blushed, tears of humiliation coming to his eyes. Then he became angry. Macho guys! Probably as dumb as rocks. And Jim had certainly read more books than they had - if they even knew how to read!
Later, he was washing the hallway floor and came close to the living room where Harry and his guests were drinking beer. He overheard them talking about him!
"Hey, Harry," asked Moe. "What's with your cutie-pie son-in-law?"
"Yeah," said Tom. "The kid's really pretty. He a faggot or what?"
"He's a sissy," snarled Harry. "He ain't got an ounce of real manhood in him. Just look at that big butt of his."
"Yeah," said Moe. "Like a girl's butt."
"And soft all over like a girl," observed Tom.
"But he looks cute in his girlie apron," said Moe.
"Yeah," said Tom. "Bet he'd look cute in a little dress."
"You know," said Harry thoughtfully, "That could be fun. You know, dress him up like a girl. He's probably like it!"
Jim was horrified and wanted to steal away, but Harry called him in.
"We're running outa beer, sweetie," he snarled. "Go down to the corner and pick up two six-packs of Bud. And do it fast!"
As Jim left, he heard the men laughing behind him and tears came to his eyes. The dirty rats! And what had come over Robin that she seemed to look down on him suddenly?