lapsed into a chair. Susan was dumbfounded. "What is going on? Where have you been? she demanded. He just sat there hit his head on the table as he gasped for air.

Moments later a car pulled into the driveway. and they heard heavy footsteps crossing the gravel. As Terry scrambled for his room there was a knock at the door and he could hear the voice of Jed. "Howdy, Mrs. Borden. I come by to see that pretty little girlfriend of yours. I saw her on the road

but she ran like the dickens."

She's

"She must have been doing her morning jogging, Jed," Susan lied. "Well I tell ya-she was the prettiest darn thing at the dance last night! All the guys want to · take her out but I plan on being the first. such a shy devil though. "Yes, she is," Susan agreed. "Right now she's resting up after her Perhaps if you come back later she might see you. "Okay. You tell her I said hi!"

run.

"I

Terry heard his car drive down the road and came back into the kitchen. "You really were the star last night weren't you!" she opened the conversation. "If he saw me like this he'd break my neck," he whined. "He'd think I was a queer or something!" "Face it, honey. Ninety percent of the people who live around here were at that dance last night, and some of those boys can be mighty she said almost victoriously. rough," He stood there biting his lip, not knowing what to say. had decided on his walk not to dress up anymore and he had to take a stand or he would never get over these feelings of confusion. "Do you want me to choose a dress for you to wear today?" she questioned. "I'm not going to wear a dress again! Never!" he said defiantly. He walked out the door and slammed it behind him. Susan clenched her

He

teeth in anger. "I failed with one stubborn child and I'm not going to fail again! she cursed under her breath.

As Terry continued his work in the shed his nail polish began to get chipped and scratched on the boxes of junk that he was moving. Later, Tina rode over on a bicycle to visit with him. "Hi,

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you,

Terry! I really had a good time last night, she said to the stern faced boy. He didn't say a word but just kept on working. "I think you're different from all the other boys I've met." He turned and walked out with a box in his arms. "Hey, why are you mad at me? Didn't you have a good time last night?" she questioned pleadingly. When he came back in she squared off to his face. "Close your eyes a minute, I've got a little present for " she requested sweetly. Thinking that a kiss was on the way he closed his eyes and parted his lips a little. Her hand steadied his chin as she rapidly applied a coat of lipstick to his lips. Before he could pull away she plunged her tongue deep into his mouth and kissed him hard. He pushed her away and grasped her right hand which held a new tube of strawberry lip color. "What's this', he demanded. "A gift I bought for you today. Do you like it?" It's flavored like strawberries and I couldn't wait to get it on those soft lips of yours and kiss you! You look great in reds."

Terry was furious with her. "Why are you doing this to me? Why are you and your mother and Susan so determined to make a girl out of me?" he shouted. Tina kept her cool. "But Terry you make such a pretty girl! Why don't you enjoy it? I think the thought of an attractive girl with male equipment underneath is exciting. I get hot just thinking about how you looked last night!" He wiped his mouth harshly across his shirt sleeve leaving a long red smear. He glared at it a moment and then spoke again. "I'm not going to wear girl's clothes anymore! And as soon as I can afford it I'm getting out of here! She began to cry and walked out of the shed. Terry immediately felt pangs of remorse for what he had said. The bolts of confusion again wracked his guts.

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