"NONSENSE, MISS FELICE!" CHIDED MISS LOUISE. "MISS GERALDINE IS HERE TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR ORIENTATION. ALL NEW STUDENTS IN THE SEMINARY ARE GIVEN AN OLDER GIRL TO HELP THEM ALONG IN THEIR FIRST FEW DAYS OF SCHOOL. NOW, SAY HELLO TO MISS GERALDINE, MY DEAR."

"I WILL NOT! I DON'T WANT ANY OLDER GIRL TO COME NEAR ME OR SEE ME OR ANYTHING! ... AND DON'T YOU DARE TO CALL ME 'MISS FELICE. MY NAME IS FELIX, AND I'M A BOY!"

THE POOR LAD BOLTED FOR THE DOOR, IN A VAIN ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE HIS TORMENTORS, BUT THE DOOR WAS LOCKED AND MISS LOUISE HAD THE KEY. A CRESTFALLEN FELIX WAS LED BACK TO THE CHAIR BY THE DESK."

"I'M VERY SORRY YOU DISLIKE ME SO, SAID GERALD IN HIS MOST SWEETLY FEMININE VOICE. "I DON'T KNOW WHAT I MUST HAVE DONE TO ANNOY YOU SO MUCH."

"IT'S NOT YOU THAT I DISLIKE, FELIX SOBBED. "IT'S JUST THAT I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO SEE ME IN THESE HORRIBLE, SHAMEFUL CLOTHES! ESPECIALLY A GIRL!"

"I DON'T THINK YOUR CLOTHES ARE HORRIBLE OR SHAMEFUL," GERALD SAID GENTLY. "IN FACT, I THINK THEY ARE VERY PRETTY. WHY DO YOU THINK GIRL'S ATTIRE IS SO SHAMEFUL?" 46

"JUST BECAUSE IT IS, THAT'S ALL!"

THE LAD WAILED.

"NONSENSE," GERALD CHIDED. "THAT'S NO ANSWER AT ALL. NOW, WHY DO YOU THINK WEARING GIRL'S ATTIRE IS SO TERRIBLE. AFTER ALL, I WEAR GIRL'S CLOTHES, AND I DON'T THINK THEY LOOK TERRIBLE ON ME.

"THAT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE A GIRL, THE BOY POINTED OUT, HIS TEARS BEGINNING TO WANE. "I'M A BOY, AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WEAR GIRL'S CLOTHES. IT'S IT'S INDECENT!"

000

GERALD TOOK A CLOSE LOOK AT THE BOY IN SKIRTS. THE DRESS DIDN'T FIT TOO WELL, AND HE OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO SIT DOWN IN SKIRTS, AND HIS TEARS HAD RUINED THE MAKEUP JOB HIS MOTHER AND HER MAIDS HAD DONE ON HIS FACE, BUT WITH A LITTLE WORK AND AN OUTFIT THAT FIT HIM PROPERLY, THE KID WOULD LOOK PASSABLY FEMININE.

"I DON'T THINK YOUR CLOTHES LOOK INDECENT ON YOU, " GERALD SAID FINALLY. 10 WHY SHOULD YOU FEEL THAT WAY?"

"BUT DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND BOY!" FELIX REPLIED.

000

I'M A

"WELL," GERALD SAID.

"NOBODY'S PER-

FECT!"

47 -