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two before attempting a reply, during which time she vainly tried to guess just what to make of Jan's most unusual and certainly unanticipated request, also how best to handle

it.

"Tell me please," inquired Jan's mother quietly, "why on earth would you possibly want this pile of old, discarded, women's clothes of mine? And above all, what would you do with them in any case should I turn them over to you, which is quite unlikely in any event? Honestly, Jan, you really do puzzle me at times. Or possibly you are just having a joke at my expense. I certainly do hope so, as this would make the only sensible explanation for your request."

"No, mother." replied Jan, now defensively, but in the same unnaturally high pitch of voice, denoting his continued nervousness, It was quite evident from his stance, that he was now determined to go through with his request, although fully recognizing the difficulty he faced in providing his mother with any kind of logical explanation as to why she should possibly do as she had been asked, but he still persevered.

"The reason I would like to have you give me those clothes of yours, mother, is so that I could wear them about the house, as I honestly would like to do. You and I

are about the same weight and size, and I am

sure your things would reasonably fit me. I know that your shoes actually do, as I have already tried them on, just once in fun, but I have never tried on any of your other clothes, either those before you, or any others. Anyway, I must confess that I have always had a very strong desire to wear your clothes.

Also, as you have already said, that you do not intend to wear any of these particular clothes ever again, I hoped that you would not really mind my wearing them from now on, and just around the house. It was for that reason I decided to take the chance of letting you know about this longing of mine to wear women's clothes."

And now, in a stronger and more assertive voice, Jan continued, almost desperately,

"I still don't see anything very wrong in wanting to do so, and I do hope that you can see it my way."

Again, for several minutes, Susan did not immediately reply to her son's bewildering outburst, for truth to be told, she was not only shocked by his disclosure, but also began to feel that she no longer knew her son at all. For how could he have entertained such strange ideas, and yet never to have previously given any hint of them at all.