A Man's Place

“Michael, I’m not going to beat around the bush. There’s something you should know. When you signed the contract for the pay rise, you also accepted that you may have to wear a uniform while you, erm, are at work. Do you remember?”

“Yes, but surely you don’t actually want me to wear one?”

She smiled and shuck her head. “No, no. But I’m just informing you that the clause is there. Now, as you know this is a women’s fashion agency.”

I laughed at little at this. “I should do, I’ve worked here for three years.”

She took the opportunity to laugh, also. “Yes, well, this is why I fired the a lot of the male employees. I want my employees to wear the clothes we design to work.” Er…what was going on here. “Now, you and the other employees are well suited to the clothes as you are, how can I say this without offending you? Feminine, you know, in your body shape. And I would like you to start wearing our clothes to work. They will, of course, be given to you free of charge.”

I thought about this. It couldn’t be happening. “Let me get this straight. Erm, you, want me, to wear women’s clothes, to work?”

“Yes and no. I want you to wear the clothes we design, to work. Unfortunately, this is a a women’s fashion designer.” She saw the look on my face. “Listen dear, you do have the other option.”

“The uniform.”

“No dear, the door!”

Ah, well that was the catch, wasn’t it? “I’ll need to think about it. Will you give me till tomorrow?”

“Well, okay, but only you. But I expect to see you here tomorrow in one of our designs or don’t come at all.”

I went home with my head hung low. I sat down to talk about the problem with my wife Marion.

“Oh god, honey, that’s awful. What are we going to do?” She said giving me a hug.