awkwardly at Mary, trying not to show his true feelings. 'Good grief,' he thought again. 'More women's stuff?!

Mary seemed pleased. to keep your hair nice, them in your pockets or you could use the bag. medication more easily too. she said hopefully.

"You need those things and you can hardly carry your hands, so I thought And you can carry your I hope you like it," Thanks for the

"It's very nice, Mary. thought," he forced.

Then, after an awkward silence, "Uh.. Mary? Have you noticed that ever since I arrived here you and everyone else has been doing everything possible to make me progressively more girlish? First the uniforms, then the rest of my clothes. Then the girdles and blouses and underwear and that one-piece bathing suit. And now I wake up in this ridiculous nightgown and, finally, you give me a purse."

"But it helps you fit in, Chrissy," she insisted, "and it is much easier for us to accept you that way".

Chris shrugged. He really did want to stay and keep the friends he had made and if he had to change his mode of attire somewhat then, well, so be it. Besides, except for the girdles, his new wardrobe was generally much more comfortable than the rough textured shirts and pants he had packed into storage. He even had to admit that the sheer panties were much nicer than coarse cotton briefs. The nightgown, too, felt cool, almost sensuous, against his skin. 'Well, he decided, 'I can stand it.'

As promised, Chris was released late Sunday afternoon, but he was required to have some one escort him to his apartment and also check on him periodically for a few days. He still could not return to work until at least Wednesday. Naturally, the group', as he had come to call

them, volunteered to be his shepherds and watchdogs.

Mary walked him home, Caroline took him to dinner. Mary checked in on him later and took him to breakfast in the morning. Tracy's turn came at lunch. Afterward, Chris wanted to exercise his legs a bit so Tracy reluctantly joined him in a leisurely stroll through the gardens, but Chris tired quickly so they stretched out on the thick carpet of grass and enjoyed the warm sunshine for a couple of hours. Dinner was Caroline's again, and they watched the flamboyant sunset from the terrace. Then Chris went to bed.

Tuesday was more of the same, with the girls Keeping a close watch on him. But, when all three women showed up for dinner, Chris felt like his old self again, and was getting frustrated.

He wanted to exercise, and not just walk. "How about a foursome after we eat?" he announced. "I feel great and I'm anxious to make up for my last attempt."

"I don't think that's such a good idea, Chrissy," objected Mary.

Tracy and Caroline agreed, but Chris insisted and, eventually, seeing his enthusiasm and persistance, they relented. As for Chris, he felt The infection, as great, and he even played well.

well as the other problems, appeared cured.

Everything settled back into a steady routine. Work, tennis, swimming, often just TV alone, or reading in the library or at home, filled Chris's waking hours, and almost always he was in the He was company of one or more of the group'. readily accepted as one of them, his gender never ever entering any conversation or seeming to matter at all. The relationship was more of girlfriends than of boyfriend/girlfriends. Occasionally Chris considered his almost asexual situation with some curiosity, but the simple fact