"CAN IT BE, SHE INQUIRED, "THAT AT LAST I HAVE THE LITTLE DAUGHTER I'VE WANTED FOR SO LONG?"

"YES, AUNTY, 00 GERALD SAID, JUST A LITTLE AWARE OF THE COMMITMENT HE WAS MAKING TO HER, "IF THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT ME TO BE. 00

"OH, GERALDINE!" HIS AUNT GUSHED IN PURE DELIGHT, PRESSING HIM AGAINST HER BOSOM "YOU DON'T KNOW HOW LONG I'VE WAITED TO HEAR YOU SAY THAT. AND I KNOW THAT YOU MEAN IT SINCERELY."

"I DO, AUNTY," GERALD REPLIED. I WANT TO DO IN LIFE IS TO PLEASE YOU."

"ALL

HIS AUNT HUGGED HIM CLOSER, PLUCKING AT HIS FLARING SKIRT AND THE PRETTY PETTICOATS UNDERNEATH.

"YOU SHALL NEVER REGRET IT, MY DEAREST ONE," HIS AUNT SAID, AT LAST. "I WILL DO ALL CAN TO MAKE UP TO YOU THE LOSS OF YOUR BOYISH WAY OF LIFE."

IN SPITE OF HER PLEASURE AND HER SHOW OF LOVE FOR HIM, GERALD FELT A TINY SPARK OF RELUCTANCE DEEP WITHIN HIM. BUT HE PUT SUCH THOUGHTS FAR BACK IN HIS MIND. OBVIOUSLY, HIS BEST INTERESTS LAY IN GOING ALONG WITH WHATEVER HIS AUNT HAD PLANNED FOR HIM.

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"AND NOW, MY DEAR, IT'S TIME FOR YOUR LINGERIE INSPECTION," HIS AUNT SAID AT LAST. "YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IT PLEASURES ME TO SEE THAT YOU ARE ALL DAINTY AND SWEET UNDERNEATH YOUR SKIRTS."

DUTIFULLY, GERALD STEPPED BACK AND RAISED HIS SKIRTS TO REVEAL HIS PETTICOATS. "HOW LOVELY!" HIS AUNT GUSHED. NOW THE PETTICOATS MAY BE RAISED."

"AND

GERALD DID AS HE WAS TOLD, AND HIS AUNT CLAPPED HER HANDS TOGETHER IN DELIGHT AT SEEING HIS PRETTY PANTIES ON DISPLAY TO HER EAGER EYES.

"WE MUST SEE IF YOU ARE PROPERLY FLAT-FRONTED LIKE A GIRL SHOULD BE, HIS AUNT SAID, REACHING OUT HER HAND AND PRESSING HER FINGERS AGAINST HIS PANTYFRONT TO EXAMINE THE PIQUANT "VEE" IT PROCLAIMED.

"VERY NICE!" HIS AUNT COMMENTED AT LAST. "I CAN SEE WE WERE WISE TO INVEST IN THAT LITTLE MODESTY DEVICE WHICH DEAR DR. BUELL RECOMMENDED. OTHERWISE, IT MIGHT BE NECESSARY TO HAVE FURTHER SURGERY DONE TO GIVE YOU A PROPERLY GIRLISH APPEARANCE."

GERALD SHUDDERED SLIGHTLY AT THE POSSIBILITY OF FURTHER SURGICAL INTERVEN-