Bra Day Blues

Elaine Peacock

Timid shy, frightened scared and small are all words that you might use when you think of a mouse, well I was a mouse but I was also the size of a small house, especially at the front. It was official. I needed a bra badly.

'Please!' I pleaded with my Mum' Even just a training bra to give me some kind of support. It's important. I look ridiculous.' It was okay for her, she didn't jiggle up and down all the time because she didn't have all that much anyway but I did and having to wear a vest in the last year of Primary school was a crime. I think she forgot I had to run around a playground, not forgetting when I had PE. Boy was it embarrassing! Her face went scarlet and her eyes widened as she said, 'Don't be silly. You're still just a girl, you shouldn't be thinking about things like that, so I don't want to hear any more about it.' I could tell by her face that she didn't think I thought about 'things like that' and I should never, I mean never talk to her about things to do with the body. It's only human nature after all, so I wonder what planet she came from I thought to myself I would ask my friend Elisabeth with an 'S', or Elis as I called her, at school. She'd got one last year so she'd be in the know about these types of things, whereas I'm clueless about them, thanks to Mum. So the next day at school I told my friend my weary tale with a serious look on my face and she tried not to giggle as she nodded and said that she would take me for my first bra.

I went home feeling pleased with myself because at last someone was taking me seriously-well, sort of. At home I explained to my mum and her face went red again as she nodded and quickly walked away. Yippee! My Bra Day was a Saturday. I couldn't get out of bed quickly enough and down the stairs to see Mum. 'Please change your mind and come with us,' I pleaded with her. She said firmly. 'No' as her eyes got larger and she started to blush.' Here you'll need this,' she said and she pushed money into my hand. I was a little disappointed that she wasn't coming too and the way that she had given me the money made me feel like a common thief or some kind of outcast. It sort of took the sparkle out of the day.

I walked slowly down to my friend's house and soon we were on the bus with the next stop the Bra Shop. When we walked in I retreated back into my shell, as I looked at all the glamorous looking women around me. I was a mouse again. After a couple of minutes a woman came over to where we were standing and asked if she could help us. I looked at the floor while Elis pointed at me and said smiling, 'She needs a bra, it's her first one!' The assistant said smugly, 'Come with me Miss' and I followed her into a fitting room where she told me to take my top off. I gulped and did as I was told. Then she said, 'You'll have to take your vest off too.' I looked at her in horror and gulped again as I did what she asked. She took her measuring tape and wrapped it around my chest. My face went red and I stared at the ground.

'Okay just wait here.' She went out pulling the curtain shut behind her and after a few moments came back with a bra for me to try on.

'It's digging into my shoulders' I complained to her but she gave me a cold hard stare and adjusted the straps, saying,' There! It looks lovely doesn't it? Why don't you try your top on with it?' 'No, its fine' I mumbled, 'I'll take it thank you' I wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible. I paid for it and grabbed hold of my friend, practically pulling her out of the shop.

'Hey, what's the hurry?' Elis asked with her eyebrows raised.

'I just want get out of her and forget today ever happened,' I said feeling foolish and disappointed.

'Oh, get over it' she said, 'you'll think differently on Monday when you've got your new bra on'!' On Monday morning I called in for her on the way to school.

'Got your bra on?' she asked eagerly.

I nodded and smiled, and then I remembered we had PE later that day. In the changing rooms Elis looked at me then she came over and stood beside me with her arms folded. She didn't look amused. She tilted her head and snapped, 'I thought you said you were wearing your bra!' 'I am!' I said sheepishly, 'But when I put my blouse on, I felt naked, so I put my vest on over it' She closed her eyes and shook her head, 'All that fuss about a bra. I'll never understand you.'