Meeting An Old Friend

 When Barbara, my dear friend who helped me 'become' Nikki, had her health seriously compromised, a national charity, Age UK, helped her find a flat in sheltered housing where she spent her last few years. She had given up providing a dressing service and I never dressed there, but she did let one old client of hers from Folkestone ('Jim')  keep a suitcase there and dress from time to time.

Barbara had a great pal, Doris, who I have probably mentioned before. Doris lived in a flat opposite and their doors were always open to each other. Once when 'Jim' was there Doris called in. Barbara later recounted how Doris didn't turn a hair at the appearance of 'Jim' in female clothing and wig.

When Barbara died, I took 'Jim''s suitcase for safekeeping and let him know that he could call at my place whenever he wanted to dress. I had inherited Barbara's watercolours and 'Jim', being an accomplished and published artist, also showed me the rudiments of watercolour painting.

Time passed, I retired and took up painting classes, 'Jim' called around from time to time, always interested in what I had been painting. I used to visit Doris a couple of times a year until Covid and Pauline's cancer intervened. It must have been three or four years since I last saw her.  Then this last Christmas, 2025, Doris left a message on my phone and once I was past the worst of my annual SAD I went over and spent a couple of hours with her while she reminisced about her youth and the stables she used to run. I found it astonishing how she flicked through photographs she had of her horses and recounted each one's character. I hope my brain's that good at 95, if I ever get there!

Then, surprise ... she mentioned 'Jim'! It was quite clear that when he first appeared she was a bit taken aback. Apparently, he was in some filmy seethrough dress with a slip underneath but then he went and changed into a more formal dress and rejoined Barbara and Doris for some tea! Doris was clearly not disturbed by the idea of men dressing as women and mentioned things like 'Cabaret'. I was in a bit of a quandary ... should I tell her about Nikki, or not? I decided not to as she has only known me as Nick. Of course, had she asked a direct question, I would have willingly admitted it. I'll be seeing her again in a few weeks. Perhaps I'll put one or two pictures of Nikki on my phone, just in case.

I forgot, when first writing this, who 'Jim' was to Doris. She thought 'Jim' was the priest who officiated at Barbara's cremation! They did look alike and I know the Rev. used to call on Barbara in the years before she died. Doris thought there might be some tie-up with wearing priest's robes ... hmm!