RELUCTANT PRESS

"De nada, Hon," said Dr. Hollis. "This one's on the house. Someone as pretty as Debbie should have a pretty voice to match."

I was taken back to the car by Joyce and as we drove away, I tried to evaluate how my throat felt. It wasn't as cold now but it did feel so very much tighter somehow. I didn't think I was capable of saying anything even if I had wanted to. I wondered what I would sound like when my throat thawed out.

Joyce had obviously planned my transformation in great detail and I wondered what else she had in store for me.

We arrived in front of a small window-front store and my heart sank in despair as I read the sign in the window: "Suzette's Boutique." Joyce helped me out of the car again and steered me inside where we were met by a short and very petite woman in her middle thirties. She wore her auburn hair in a page boy cut and she was dressed in a beauticians smock. "Hello, Joyce, is this the friend you told me about?"

"That's right, Suzette," said Joyce. "I want you to meet Debbie."

"A pleasure," said Suzette, shaking my hand. "When Joyce called to make the appointment, she said that you were going to have some sort of operation today that would keep you from speaking," said Suzette.

I nodded.

"Well, don't you worry about a thing, Honey. Joyce gave me detailed instructions and we're gonna make you as pretty as pretty can be! Come along, Dear," said Suzette.

With a shock, I realized that she thought I was a girl! I followed her, feeling somewhat less embarrassed as she led the way into a small stall that was equipped with a sink, beauty chair and several small chests with drawers.

Joyce followed us in, took a seat on a chair in the corner and watched as Suzette went to work on my make-over.

My wig was removed and my hair was unpinned from the top of my head and let down.

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