Rent or Forfeit 04

Chapter 4: Russell

Tommy gritted his teeth, staring in horror at his reflection. His brows, once thick and bushy, had been plucked into almost non-existence. He had agonized over his decision, flip-flopping between daunting forfeits, before finally settling on this one. Monica, visibly surprised by her brother’s choice, had eagerly set to work, while Sarah captured the entire process on camera, her giggles filling the room. Running his fingers over his now nearly pencil-thin arches, Tommy was overwhelmed by regret.

Most men, faced with the same options, might have opted for piercings. But Tommy couldn't bear the thought. His fear of needles was so intense that even a glimpse could make him faint. Worse still, Sarah had bluntly told him that getting pierced meant going out. The idea of venturing to a piercing parlor, especially on a bus where he’d have to show his girly legs, filled him with dread.

Turning away from his reflection in disgust, Tommy examined his outfit with growing frustration. The silvery white shorts he had grabbed that morning—a snakeskin pattern glinting off the fabric because all his regular denim was dirty—felt slippery to the touch. The oversized grey sweater, a hand-me-down from Sarah, seemed to strip away another piece of his identity. And the thick, vertically striped white tights made him feel utterly ridiculous.

Trying to muster some positivity, Tommy reminded himself, "Eyebrows grow back, whereas piercings are much more permanent." This thought offered a flicker of comfort until he caught his reflection again. His new, overly thin eyebrows altered his face so dramatically, pushing his appearance towards the androgynous, if not outright feminine. The mirror didn't lie, and the truth was hard to face.

(See image 04)

Tommy scrutinized his bedroom's reflection behind him, his frown deepening. It was another sobering reminder of his sisters' resolve—they had threatened to overwhelm him with femininity until he secured a job, and they were sticking to their word. Over the last week, the washing machine had become a black hole, devouring all male clothing that entered. In their place, more feminine outfits began to appear, like the grey hoodie he now reluctantly wore. But the new, effeminate clothing wasn't the only thing changing.

Every other day, something would appear or change in his room. First, it was a plant on his dresser. Next, the framed poster on the wall changed to one with a girly motivational message. Then there were the candles that were now always lit when he entered the room, filling the space with a sickly, sweet, floral scent. The latest intrusion was a little brown teddy bear, its cuteness almost mocking.

The bear, tagged with the name Russell, almost met a swift exit through the window when Tommy, frustrated after another fruitless day of job hunting, found him ensconced on the bed. But as he unlatched the window, Russell's sad, almost pleading eyes halted him. The thought of throwing the bear out into the cold seemed too cruel a fate, one that Tommy feared for himself should his sisters make good on their threat to evict him. Reluctantly, he returned Russell to the pillow next to his, and before he knew it, found himself talking to the bear, half-convinced he was losing his grip on reality as he did so.

Tommy's week ended as fruitlessly as it began. Despite dedicating countless hours to scouring the internet for any possible source of income and even launching an online T-shirt venture, he hadn’t made a single sale.

On Friday evening, Tommy sat on his bed, clinging to the faint hope that his sisters might forget about him. That hope shattered when Sarah and Monica burst through the door without knocking. "Time to choose again, Tommy boy," Sarah announced with a mischievous grin. "I wonder what you'll pick this week. If it's makeup again, I've got the perfect red lipstick that'll look fabulous on you."

"Please, Sarah. Can I get a pass? Just for this week!" Tommy begged, his voice trembling. "I've been working so hard to find a job and making real progress with my new business. I'm sure I'll have some cash for you soon."

"What? That online T-shirt business?" Sarah scoffed, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Don't make me laugh. Have you sold anything yet?"

"Err... well, no. Not yet," Tommy admitted sheepishly as Monica rolled her eyes. "But I uploaded some cool new designs earlier. Someone's bound to place an order soon."

"Tommy, I appreciate the effort, but you need a real paying job," Monica said, stepping closer. "I have a friend at a temp agency. I could set up a meeting if you want."

"No!" Tommy blurted out, panic rising at the thought of venturing outside in his sister’s clothes, subjected to stares and ridicule. "The business will take off soon, you'll see," he insisted, trying to sound confident.

"Okay, suit yourself," Monica replied, shaking her head in disappointment. "I really hope you're right, Tom. But since it hasn't yet, you know what that means, right?" She extended the hat towards him.

With a heavy sigh, Tommy reached into the hat and pulled out the week's forfeits. ‘You are banned from wearing any item of men's clothing,’ the first slip read, making his stomach churn. ‘Start carrying a purse at all times and leave the house at least once a week to buy something with your new purse,’ read the second. Glancing down at his nylon-covered legs and then over to Russell, his trusty teddy bear, hoping to find some semblance of comfort in its shiny, inanimate eyes, Tommy let out a loud sigh of frustration.