RELUCTANT PRESS

All in all, the evening went well. We saw several friends in the lobby and Susie introduced me as her cousin. I tried not to talk much and was greatly relieved to get to my seat. I did finally relax about ten minutes after the lights went out, helped a lot by Susie discretely holding my hand between us. I even let Susie talk me into going out for pizza afterward and actually had a good time. And with two glasses of soda, I finally had to go to the bathroom. I felt like a pervert, entering this feminine domain, and quickly went about my business. I was grateful for booths especially since it was such a struggle to get enough things off to be able to relieve myself.

Susie asked me to sit close to her on the way home since the streets were quiet and nobody would notice that it was two girls. She put her hand on my knee and talked about what a wonderful time she had. I could feel, and hear, the involuntary movement under my petticoats. Susie drove to my house and I decided that this was safe as Mom would have gone to bed early, exhausted from her long day. We parked in my driveway for a long time.

"Danny, tonight was really terrific for me. I know that it might have been a drag for you, but thanks for being such a great sport. I knew when I first got to know you in class that you were different from all the other guys. You were kind and gentle, and you didn't try to rub up against me and feel my breasts or rub your hand across my bottom. And when I got to know you more, you were even nicer. You don't have hangups about being 'macho' and constantly proving how superior you are. All the guys I have gone out with are like that, and so was my Dad. He didn't know how to treat women properly, not my mother, and not me. Over the last few weeks I have come to think of you as my best friend and now tonight, I...oh, never mind."

"What? Tell me," I pleaded, knowing that there was something important that Susie wanted to tell me.

"This may sound terrible, and I'm afraid that you won't want anything more to do with me if I tell you."

"Susie, there is nothing that you could ever do or say that would make me mad at you."

"Well, I have to confess that when I saw that picture in your mother's bedroom, that I began to wonder how you would look in a dress, seeing how pretty your cousin was

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RUFFLES & CURLES

By Kammi Morton

and how much you looked like her. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted it to happen and so I plotted out this night, with my mother's help. Do you forgive me?"

"Of course, Susie," I answered softly. She was holding both my hands in hers and I knew that there was nothing that I would not do for Susie, even wearing a dress!

"And actually seeing you in pretty underwear and in a skirt and blouse, I realize that I have fallen in love with you but it feels so wrong and..."

Susie started to sob and she threw herself around me and held on tight for a long time.

Finally, I broke the silence.

"Why does it feel wrong?" I dared to ask, fearing that I was not good enough for Susie and did not belong with such a wonderful person.

"Well...I...I love you as Danielle. I'm sorry, Danny, I don't know how to explain all this. Seeing you tonight looking so pretty I wanted to hug and kiss you and had all these strange, exciting feelings that I have never felt for anybody before. Oh dear, I know that this does not make any sense and I would not blame you if you never want to see me again."

I was as confused as she was. But I too had emotions tonight that were all new to me, partly from being out with Susie but also partly from the excitement of being dressed the way I was. I knew that the former feelings were normal and natural but the latter emotions worried me. I knew that I was not queer because I liked girls, but why did I also seem to like dressing like a girl?

"Susie, I have a confession too. First of all, it was me in that photo and second, I have to admit that I had fun tonight too, even wearing your clothes."

Susie pulled me to her and kissed me long and hard on the lips and we just held each other in silence for what seemed like forever, knowing that something strange and special had happened between us tonight.

It was after two when I slipped quietly into my house. I took off my pumps at the door so as not to make noise and walked on tip-toe in my nylons to my bedroom.

"Is that you Danny?" Mom asked from her room.

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