SURELY THEY WOULD QUICKLY DISCERN THAT HE WAS REALLY A MERE BOY IN PETTICOATS! HIS ONLY COMFORT WAS IN RECALLING THAT MISS LOUISE HAD REVEALED THAT THERE OTHER BOYS LIKE HIMSELF THERE.

HE WONDERED IF HE WOULD BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THEM. IF HE DID RECOGNIZE HIS FELLOW BOY-GIRLS, PERHAPS HE COULD BECOME CHUMS WITH THEM AND THEY COULD ALL SYMPATHIZE WITH ONE ANOTHER,

JOSIE NOW TOOK GERALD DOWN FOR HIS AUNT'S INSPECTION, HAVING DRESSED HIM AND MADE UP HIS FACE AND COIFFED HIS HAIR PERFECTLY.

A PLEASED SMILE LIT UP HIS AUNT'S FACE AS SHE NOTICED THE TWO PIQUANT MOUNDS PRESSING PASSIONATELY AGAINST THE BODICE OF HIS SCHOOL UNIFORM. SHE ORDERED HIM TO MINCE UP AND DOWN IN FRONT OF HER SO SHE COULD STUDY HIS MOVEMENTS AND SUGGEST THAT HE UNDULATE HIS HIPS A BIT MORE. FINALLY SHE ORDERED HIM TO RAISE HIS SKIRTS FOR LINGERIE INSPECTION.

HIS AUNT WAS DELIGHTED TO DISCOVER THAT, THANKS TO THE SPECIAL DEVICE DR. BUELL HAD PROVIDED, SHE COULD FIND NO UNWANTED MOUND OR BULGE AT THE CROTCH OF HIS DELICATE KNICKERS.

WITH A FINAL ADMONITION TO BEHAVE HIMSELF AND ACT FEMININELY, HIS AUNT GAVE HIM A KISS ON THE CHEEK AND SENT HIM ON HIS WAY WITH JOSIE.

THE CAB DRIVER GAVE HIM AN EXPRESSIONLESS GLANCE, AND GERALD WAS RELIEVED THAT HIS MASQUERADE HAD NOT YET BEEN DISCOVERED. AT LEAST HE HAD PASSED HIS FIRST TEST SUCCESSFULLY!

GERALD SANK BACK ON THE CUSHIONS AS HE TRIED TO SUMMON UP THE COURAGE FOR THE ORDEAL WHICH LAY AHEAD OF HIM. JOSIE DID NOT INTRUDE ON HIS THOUGHTS WITH HER USUAL CHATTER, FOR WHICH HE WAS GRATEFUL.

GERALD'S HEART POUNDED LIKE A KETTLEDRUM AS THEY FINALLY CLIMBED THE STEPS TO THE SCHOOL AND ENTERED ITS GENTEEL PORTALS. JOSIE LED HIM DOWN A LONG CORRIDOR PAST GROUPS OF GIRLS, ALL DRESSED IN A SIMILAR FASHION TO HIM. THEY NODDED TO HIM AS IF THEY REALLY ACCEPTED HIM AS A GIRL, WELCOMING HIM WITH A "HI!" OR A "HELLO!" BEFORE RETURNING TO THEIR VARIOUS CONVERSATIONS.

AT THE END OF THE CORRIDOR, HE WAS USHERED INTO MISS LOUISE'S PRIVATE OFFICE, WHERE JOSIE LEFT HIM AND DEPARTED.

MISS LOUISE WAS SEATED BEHIND HER