QUIETING DOWN AT LAST, GERALD LET HIS HANDS EXAMINE THE DAMAGE THAT HAD BEEN WROUGHT UPON HIS PERSON. WHEN HE DISCOVERED THAT HIS GENITALS WERE MERELY MASKED BY THE PLASTIC AND FOAM DEVICE, HE SIGHED WITH RELIEF.

BUT THE BREASTS WERE ANOTHER MATTER ENTIRELY. THEY WERE REAL, AT LEAST TO ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES. THEY WERE NOT FALSIES BUT A PART OF HIMSELF! HE SOBBED IN PURE MISERY.

A VOICE CAME FROM THE CORNER OF THE ROOM. "AND HOW IS OUR PRETTY NEW BOY-GIRL THIS EVENING?" MISS INGRID INQUIRED. "YOU HAVE BEEN ASLEEP FOR A FULL DAY SINCE YOUR OPERATION."

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?" DEMANDED GERALD. "I'M RUINED! I CAN NEVER BE A BOY AGAIN! I'M RUINED I'M RUINED!"

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HE SOBBED CONVULSIVELY, TEARS ROLLING DOWN HIS CHEEKS TO DAMPEN HIS PILLOWCASE.

"DR. BUELL HAS MERELY CARRIED OUT THE INSTRUCTIONS OF YOUR AUNT," SHE RETORTED. "NOW, LAY BACK, MISS GERALDINE, SO THAT I MAY MASSAGE YOUR NEW BREASTS. YOU WILL NEED NO PHONY PADDING WITH THESE BEAUTIES, MY DEAR." THE NURSE APPROACHED GERALD'S BED WITH A DETERMINED GLEAM IN HER EYE.

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"NO! No! GO AWAY! ALONE, YOU, WICKED WOMAN!

TOUCH ME!"

YOU LEAVE ME DON'T YOU DARE

"WOULD YOU PREFER THAT I TIE YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR BACK?" SHE INQUIRED. GERALD ABANDONED HIS PROTESTS AND LAY BACK ON THE SHEET LIMPLY.

MISS INGRID REMOVED THE CAP FROM

A JAR AND EXTRACTED A DAB OF FLESH-PINK CREAM ON A FINGER. MUCH TO GERALD'S DISCOMFORT AND ANGUISH, SHE CAREFULLY MASSAGED IT INTO EACH BREAST, COMMENTING ON HOW NICELY THEY WERE SHAPED.

LAYING ASIDE THE JAR OF OINTMENT, SHE NOW TOOK HOLD OF ONE OF THE NIPPLES. GERALD SCREAMED IN PAIN AS HIS BODY HEAVED OFF THE SHEET.

"THEY MAY BE A BIT TENDER NOW, BUT THAT WILL SOON PASS," SHE EXPLAINED.

OH, WHY? WHY? WHY HAD HIS AUNT ALLOWED THIS TERRIBLE THING TO BE DONE TO HIM? NOW HE WAS MARKED FOR LIFE. HE COULD NEVER BE A BOY AGAIN.

"YOU HAD BEST RELIEVE YOURSELF, MISS GERALDINE, BEFORE I TUCK YOU IN FOR THE NIGHT," SHE SUGGESTED.

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