"Would you like something to drink" I ask kneeling down in front of the little girl in seat 5D. I have to struggle to keep my balance on the heels I have to wear.

I smile with my ruby red painted lips, in the middle of a face with an ungodly amount of make up caked on it. With my hair pinned tightly up under a tiny hat. I feel all the eyes of the passengers on me, and I can't help but blush from head to toe.

I never thought I would be like this, in a dress. It's not that I'm embarrassed about it. It just feels so foreign to me. And I don't even know how long I will be able to do this for. My voice shakes when I speak because I am nervous. But I want to give good service, and so far no one has complained.

It all started 2 weeks ago when I was still Andrew......

***

I was awoken by blinding light pouring into my room.

"WAKE UP!" came the sound of my sister's voice as she flung open the blinds letting in the sun.

"Shit! Why are you doing this now?!" I groaned, rolling over and burying my head in the pillow.

The suddenness of it all made me cry out in pain. I had been sleeping in late, having stayed up till 4am on my computer.

"Get your ass up!" she yelled at me. "You're going to be late."

"What?' I asked groggily "late for what?"

"I got you an interview" She said " You've been crashing here for 6 months, you either get a job or I'm throwing you out! You're 27 for fuck's sake"

"Just let me sleep" I muttered, pulling my sheets over my head.

"Goddamnit," She screamed, hitting the bed frame next to me.

"Fine!" I shouted back, jumping up and putting my clothes on quickly.

"Good luck!" She called after me as I left the apartment slamming the door behind me.

I walked to my car slowly, it was an old beat-up piece of shit that my sister had given me. I looked at the address, Federal Airlines? What was I supposed to be a pilot? I laughed to myself. I was small for a guy 5'4" and only about 130 pounds. I looked at the form sis had given me, Baggage handler.....great. I walked in only to be greeted by probably the cheeriest woman I've ever met. "Hi I'm Morgn, you must be Andrew! Welcome to Federal!"

"Yeah" I replied "I uhm... I'm sorry if this is weird"

She smiled widely "No, no, not at all. we hire all types. Are you interested in this type of work?"

"Um yeah, I guess" I stammered.

"Great, then come on in, there's someone waiting to talk to you."

I followed her into the back office where another woman sat. "So, Andrew, tell us a bit about yourself?"

"Umm, well, uhm....well, I'm kind of shy..."

"Oh! That's not a problem at all. We have plenty of positions that don't require interacting with people. Tell me, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?"

"Well, I used to play video games sometimes, and I went hiking once"

"Hiking? Well that's great, we have plenty of room for that around here, maybe you'll find some friends who'd like to go with you."

"That sounds good" I said "Uhm, I also like to read a lot."

"Oooh! Books are wonderful, Som would you be interested in working with us?"

"Um, yeah, I guess so" I said hesitantly.

"Excellent!" The other woman said "sign here" she said placing a job offer in front of me.

I signed, "So how much does a luggage handler make?"

She looked confused, "luggage handler? Andrew we just hired you as a flight attendant."

"What?" I yelled, "you want me to walk down the aisle in a nerdy suit and tie, as a glorified server?"

"Well not a suit..." She said "Our flight attendants are all women..."

"Wait, what?" I asked "Why the hell would you want to hire me if all the jobs are for girls?"

"You are the perfect body type, and I'm sure you will fit in just fine. Please go in the next room to be fitted for a uniform" She said, pointing to a door on the right of the desk. "unless you want to decline our $3000 sign on bonus..."

I sighed, sitting down in front of the mirror and taking off my shirt and pants. I was wearing boxers under them. I felt someone take my hand and lead me into the fitting room. The uniform was simple, a pill box hat, a blouse, a blazer and a short skirt.

I looked in the mirror, I didn't look horrible. But I felt ridiculous.

"Here we are dear, please try these on." She said, handing me a pair of white stockings and a black garter belt.

I put them on and stood in front of the mirror. They were a bit tight, but they covered everything.

"Perfect!" She exclaimed "Now the shoes" she handed me a pair of high heels.

I hesitated, but I knew I couldn't say no. I put them on and stumbled a bit unused to a heeled shoe.

"How are they?" She asked, looking at my feet "Not too bad huh"

"Yea, ok I guess" I said, walking out of the fitting room.

She handed me a card, and told me to take it down to the human resources department.

"And thank you" I said, trying to hide my embarrassment.

"Don't mention it." She smiled.

Dressed as a woman, and unsteadily I made my way to HR. I knocked on the door.

"Come in!" A man's voice called out.

I opened the door and stepped inside, surprised that he wasn't dressed like the rest of his staff. He wore a suit and tie, but his hair was combed back and short.

"Hello, ummmm, I'm sorry to bother you but I received a job offer from you and I was wondering what this card is about" I asked him.

"Oh! Yes, welcome to Federal. We pay our employees $30 a hour plus $100 for every hour they work over 40 hours a week, and we pay for all your clothing. "

"wow" I said, that was more than I had ever made. There was a flash as he took my picture.

"Here is your work badge, " he handed me a badge with my photo on it. It was the first I had seen what I look like in a dress and the illusion worked.

"There must be a mistake I'm Andrew this badge is for a Gracie" I said. trying to hand it back.

"Do you look like an Andrew? "

"Ummm, I mean, no, not really" I admitted

"Then you are Gracie, and you are on the Federal payroll. Now please go to the break room and wait for Miss Morgan to give you your training. "

"Miss Morgan?" I asked

"Yes, miss Morgan" The man answered

"Ok, thank you" I said smiling

I left, confused and unsure of what I was getting myself into.

***

I spent the next few days in training. The first thing I learned was how to put on makeup, it seemed trivial, but I didn't know what to do. Then came posture and walking in heels. Then I was trained in all the details of my position. Every day I came home, my sister was nowhere to be found. I felt set-up. Finally one night, she appeared at my door.

"Hey" She said, she looked tired. She made no reaction to her little brother dressed in a stewardess outfit, with long red hair.

"Hi" I replied "Where have you been?"

"I've been busy" She said "cute by the way"

"You knew they would do this!?" I cried, upset "You could have warned me!"

She shrugged, "you needed a job and I knew you could do this" She looked at my badge " Gracie....such cute name, plus I always wanted a little sister. So you're my little sister"

"No!" I shouted, I felt my face flush with anger "This is stupid! I don't belong here!"

My sister walked closer to me and put her hands on my shoulders. " Sorry little sis, it is this or the streets"

***

Here I am on the 4pm flight from Boston to Tampa, all dolled up. I've got my uniform on, a blue dress, white blouse and black hose. My hair is pulled up in a bun and my make-up is flawless.

I'm standing in the aisle of the plane talking to Mr. Johnson, a 75 year old gentleman who is sitting in 5C.

"So Gracie, how long have you been working for Federal Airline's?" He asks, drinking a beer.

"About 3 weeks sir" I say nervously "And this is my first flight"

He laughs, patting his lap "Why don't you sit down here?"

I gasp playfully "perv" I say with a giggle and walk away. Inside I die just a little more.