RELUCTANT PRESS

"Almost finished," she said as she tied a white silk scarf around my neck, then put a red haired wig on my head and combed it out to her liking. "There, all finished!" she declared. "Now, I think it's time to give you a girl's name to go along with the way you look, so you will be 'Debbie' for the rest of today. Do you understand, Debbie?"

"Yes, Joyce."

"Fine. Here's your purse," she said, handing me a green purse that hung from a green leather strap. "Let's go." She took me by the hand and began to lead me towards the front door.

"Wait a minute! I can't go outside looking like this!"

"Of course you can go outside, Sweetie," she reassured me. "No one could possibly guess that you're not a pretty young girl. Your body is nice and slender and even with no make up, you have pretty features. Now, let's have no more of this nonsense, Debbie, Dear, you come with me at once!" Joyce opened her front door and led me outside just as the postman was coming up her front walk.

"Morning, Joyce," he said when he saw us. "Morning, Miss," he said, looking straight at me.

"Good morning, Sam," said Joyce, hurrying me past him. "Where're you girls off to this fine morning?" asked Sam the postman.

"Just some shopping, Sam," said Joyce as she bundled me into the front seat of a white two door Ford that was parked at the curb.

"Well, you girls have fun now, ya hear?" called Sam as Joyce got behind the wheel and drove us away.

"See there, Silly?" said Joyce. "Old Sam thought you were a pretty girl and he saw you up close too. I told you that no one would guess!"

I had to admit that not having my disguise discovered did make me feel more confident in being seen like this. Perhaps today wouldn't be so bad after all.

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