The next best thing

I looked everywhere I could think of, but they were not to be found.  Not in the box in the basement.  Not in the storage bins of old clothes.  The navy blue tights were gone.  I wonder if mommy threw them out.  But why would she do that?  They were perfectly good.  I didn't want to ask her, because she'd probably get mad at me for wanting them.

* * * * * * * *

I'm sorry.  It is almost two months later now.  I forgot to keep writing.  Maybe you can think of this as all one day.  I could not find the navy blue tights.  My sister Nina wears tights, but she is younger than me and her tights are going to be too small.  I thought maybe I could stretch on a pair, but then they would be stretched out and she would notice.  Nina is at a friend's house today.  Mommy is downstairs.  Daddy is out playing golf.  I know what to do.  I will go in her room, and keep listening.  If mommy starts coming upstairs I can sneak out of her room before she notices. I will go to the bathroom and if she does not leave I will put the tights in the hamper.  That is, if I find any that I can take.


Nina's room is a little bigger than mine but it faces the back of the house.  I have the two big windows that she does not have.  Nina complained to mommy a few times, wanting to switch rooms.  But I will not hear of it and will make a scene if mommy thinks I will give it up.  I am the big brother!  OK, so Nina has 3 big drawers in her dresser.  The bottom one has some pants, socks, and a bunch of tights.  I start looking through the tights, seeing if I could find any that she does not wear much.

Finally!  I found this pair of tights that look like a very dark red.  I think they call this maroon.  Nina has not worn these for a while.  The little tag on it says "Danskin Tights" and there's a little lady doing some ballet.  Why do they need to say "tights"?  Who is going to not know this?  None of my socks say "socks" on them.  I like the Danskin name.  It is slanted and looks like the words are moving.  "Skin" makes me think of what the tights are like.  Who is Dan, though?  Did he invent tights? [actually I think it's a shortening of "dance", as in dancing skin]

I moved the other tights around so it did not look like someone was searching.  The drawer makes a lot of noise when you close it, because it is heavy and scrapes the sides.  I found if I moved it slow, it would not make much noise.  I took the tights to my room and put them on my bed.  I went back to my door and listened.  I could hear mommy in the kitchen.  I looked back to the tights waiting for me, then quickly took off my pants and socks.  These tights were a little bigger than the navy blue ones, so I did not have to stretch them as much.  But, they were still a little small on me.  I worried that they may look stretched when I put them back, then soon forgot about it.  I put my right foot in, pulled them up to my knee, then did the same for the left side.  Next, I stand up and pull up the waist all the way.  I am getting good at putting on tights!

I walked over to the mirror to see myself standing there in a t-shirt and tights.  The light made the tights look like dark red or a little brownish when the light changed.  I like these but if only they were longer.  Sitting on the bed, I looked down at my feet.  They look different than when I have socks on.  There is a line [seam] over my toes, just like on my socks, and there is a three quarter circle shape on the heel.  I had to pull hard to get the heel part on all the way.  My toes feel a little tight, but then I kind of like it.  Rubbing my hands over my thighs and calves while looking at my feet, I am really liking this!  It is a nice feeling.

I do not know what I can do next.  I thought maybe I can put my pants back on with the tights on, but if my sister comes home I will have a hard time putting the tights back without being seen.  I have to put them back, so they are not missed.

Uh oh, Mom just called up to me.  "OK mommy, I'm coming down."  I took the tights off quickly, folded them up, put my pants and socks on, then ran over to Nina's room.  There was no time to spare; I'd have to pull the drawer open quickly and make noise.  I did, then put the tights back, closed the drawer, and went downstairs.  Mommy asked me to go get washed up for dinner.  She didn't ask me anything else so I don't think she heard anything.

I'm happy I found some other tights.  Maybe if I am lucky my sister won't wear them and I will not be caught.  But it is hard to keep waiting for the times to be alone upstairs, so I can wear the tights.