RELUCTANT PRESS

press my obvious pleasure at being dressed up as a girl; the home atmosphere was one of complete approval and acceptance.

"Of course you may, my darling. I think it's too lovely for words that you enjoy being a girl occasionally," and she gave me a happy peck on the side of the cheek.

"This evening, for dinner, I'm going to put one of my evening frocks on you with a pair of my dangly earrings. I want to see how you will look when I take you to the theatre one night."

"That'll be fun."

"Let's go and sit down as I want to tell you an idea I have. You can go and pour me a Cinzano and one for yourself then sit down opposite me. I love seeing those marvelous legs of yours. I want you to learn to sit in a ladylike way." "Well, what's the big idea," I said at last as I crossed my legs opposite her, drink in hand.

"Well," said Mom, taking a deep breath, "When you and I go down to Cape Town it will be as Mother and Daughter. We'll get you a complete wardrobe together, frocks, skirts, blouses, undies, shoes, EVERYTHING! There mustn't be a single boy's item in your luggage and for ten whole days you can be a girl ALL THE TIME."

She looked at me for approval.

"Why, darling, I do believe you are trembling," she said. She got up and came and sat next to me. "That means you adore the idea, doesn't it?" she said, taking my hand into hers.

"Well, yes," I said slowly.

"Apart from all the reservations, how does the idea grab you?"

"Apart from the reservations, I think it's a gorgeous idea. Sheers and high heels every single day for ten days."

I think I looked at Mom almost pleadingly, hoping she would come up with some kind of irrefutable 'logic' that would brook no gainsaying.

JOYCE'S GIRLS BY JOYCE

"And you'll learn to rinse them out each night and hang them over the bath rail. What we are going to do probably IS a bit bizarre. Not to you and me, only to the rest of the world, and THEY don't need to hear a word about it not Doreen, not Sue, not Joan, not anybody just you and me will be in on this one."

"That's logic, said Tweedledum to Tweedledee," I replied grinning. "Let's start getting it together now then, shall we?” "Come on, let's go to the bedroom. I'm so excited. We will start by hanging some of my stuff in your wardrobe right away. There is lots to be bought still, but we have about four months for all that. Come on, darling," she said taking me by the hand. "Let's go."

September was a long way off and that is the subject of another story.

And as for Friday Night, well never you mind. In any case, Sue Stuart is not her real name; do you think I'm a total cad, dammit?

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