RELUCTANT PRESS

Blinnman's every Saturday morning, sitting there in their stupid hats and gloves. Dugsie, love, you are an absolute gem of gems."

She proceeded to give me a kiss of unexpected warmth. "I do so love it when I can FEEL you," she whispered. "You ARE going to go ahead with it, aren't you?"

"I'll be a bit upset if the WHOLE school gets to hear about it," I said dismally.

"Well I promise you I won't say a thing to a soul if it's going to spoil it. Mommy and I are also going to go with you three and Mommy said I could also wear stockings and makeup and look thoroughly grown-up for the occasion. Dear, I feel all twittery and excited about it and if you try to get out of it now, I'll... I'll... I don't know what I'll do!"

I was a bit taken aback at her intensity. If anything, it matched my own!

"Well, I'd hate there to be a jeering, leering reception committee at the door," I said apprehensively.

"There won't be, you idiot. And what would the tripey opinions of a bunch of non-entities matter? George and Fred AND Frik wouldn't have half the go in them to do a thing like that and I think you are super," she said, laying it on thick. Her keenness may have had something to do with the fact her own mother had promised her that she could go to Blinnman's dolled up to the nines as well, the coming Saturday.

"Well, all right then, but don't you dare tell anyone, not even Phyllis." Phyllis was Sue's best friend.

"On my Guide's Honour," said Sue earnestly.

We parted after one more fumbling kiss.

I hurried off to my Friday piano lesson. At this point, it would hardly have surprised me had Miss Trematon, my music teacher, said to me, "And what is all this I hear about your going to town tomorrow disguised as a woman?"

She didn't, of course, which did at least prove that the WHOLE of Jo'burg didn't know about the coming caper, lark, Page 40

JOYCE'S GIRLS

BY JOYCE

jape... what words to use when the very thought of the morrow was churning my guts to a pulp!

When I arrived home, Doreen and Mom were already having seconds.

"Joyce, dear, we were talking about you," said Doreen brightly. "Mavis, darling, let him have a sherry tonight. Go on, go and pour yourself one and come and sit here by us; you must learn to drink like a lady and not a beery oaf.

"Can I have a Cinzano instead," I said, turning to Mom. "Of course, dear."

I poured myself a fairly hefty one and disguised it's volume with a block of ice. I sat down opposite them, my heart beating much too fast; what if I died before morning. Crazy thought.

"Those goodies on my bed are for you for tomorrow," said Mom with a broad smile. "Go and bring them in here as I want Doreen to see them too."

The 'goodies' in question turned out to be a proper pair of falsies in foam rubber with even a slight nipple to them, two pairs of exceptionally sheer stockings, ("I always buy two pairs," explained Mom, the practical) and a bright pillarbox red liquid lipstick for painting on the lips. This last was a new product on the market and sold in a box complete with a matching nail varnish.

The two women examined the things with interest and absorption, forgetting me for a Moment or two.

I took two gulps of my Cinzano and could feel it's relaxing warmth trickling through to my finger tips and lower regions. Turning to me at last, Doreen exclaimed brightly,

"Doug, honey... no, damn it, I mean Joyce, because you must get used to that name for a bit for our little outing tomorrow, raise your trouser legs I want to see if your legs need doing again."

I raised my trouser legs obligingly and Mom walked across and ran her hand up and down my shins and calves.

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