A while ago we lived in a house with a garden. It was a lovely garden, a secluded garden. There were no neighbours, it wasn't overlooked and it could not be seen from the road. It was a perfect hideaway and for many years I was perfectly happy to be in dressed in the garden.
But then, one day, after 15 years the, I suppose it always was, inevitable happened.
Mrs Charlotte and I were sitting out one Sunday afternoon enjoying the weather when there was a call from the top end of the garden.
I didn't know who it was, we weren't expecting anyone to call, but someone was there.
Due to the layout of the garden whoever it was could not see me, there were some bushes in the way but I couldn't make a dash for the house and I would have been in full view. Mrs Charlotte set off to see who they were and what they wanted. I made a dash for the only bit of cover which was available to me, a large bush.
I hoped that it was someone we didn't know looking for directions or such like and they would soon be sent on their way.
Imagine my horror when I heard Mrs Charlotte say "Would you like a cup of tea?" as she led them back into the garden to the table where we had been sitting. As they moved down the garden I was able to see that there were good friends of ours. Needless to say, they didn't know anything about my dressing.
As I watched from my secluded place, deep in the bush, I realised I only had one alternative, well, two, but at this point, the prospect of spending an unknown amount of time scrabbling about in a bush actually seemed less attractive than the path of action that I took. I merely emerged from behind the bush, walked up to them, I think I would be fair to say that they looked a little stunned, and, whilst plucking bits of leaf and twig from my hair, said, "Good afternoon, nice to see you" and threw myself on their mercy.
Once the initial shock was over, and I think that it's fair to say that suddenly discovering someone that you've known for many years is a secret cross dresser, they were absolutely fine about it. In fact, after a short initial chat about me, we spent the rest of a couple of happy hours just talking about general things as we ever did, the only difference being I was wearing a skirt and a top.
And when they left I asked that they didn't tell anyone about what had happened and about me, but I was aware that that was up to them and I no longer had any control of that. But, this was a few years ago now, they've remained good friends and there have been a couple of times when it's been really useful to have someone outside of the immediate circle to talk some things through.
Yes, I know that this could have worked out a lot worse for me, but it didn't stop Charlotte having many more happy hours in that garden. Since then we've moved house, to somewhere completely new, but we've stayed in touch and still meet up when we can. The slightly sad thing is that Charlotte no longer has a garden to play in.
Finally, just to say, Mrs Charlotte thought that I had made a run for the house which is the reason she invited them to stay. She didn't know I was trapped, crouching in the shrubbery.
