34 -ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID

enough to show the straps of his slip. The dress was so well-fitted that it accentuated his tiny waist and his false bosom noticeably.

He came up to me, forced to take feminine steps because the dress's skirt was so tight and because of the 3 inch high heels he was wearing. His hair had been attractively set with curls covering his ears, but pulled back enough to show the earrings he was wearing.

Of course, all the staff stared at him but they quickly went back to work.

He looked to me colorless when he was forced to join he other bridesmaids for a walk through. How terrible that must have been for him. . .and how strange he must have felt.

That evening, I felt like I was with a girl instead of my buddy, Baily. Everyone on the staff did their jobs and quickly became used to the new girl. I did see the photographer wink at Baily once as he took pictures.

I watched Baily become more girlish as the evening progressed. His walk, his behavior and mannerisms; everything. He touched up his light make up when the other girls did. He giggled at the guy's clumsiness just like the other girls and even smelled like them. The brides mother gave all the bridesmaids gifts at the dinner. Baily got an expensive perfume, a little ring and some earrings.

PREPARING FOR THE WEDDING:

One of the most thrilling moments a bride looks forward to on her wedding day is slipping into her wedding dress, and walking down the isle giving herself to the person that she loves.

I found out that no one knew that better than Baily. In order for that moment to happen, an unfathomed amount of work went into making it

SANDY THOMAS PUBLICATIONS -35

At the rehearsal, Baily arrived wearing a simple but girlish dress.

easy.

With measurements in hand, every dress was checked and re-checked by Baily's mother. I found out that by the time of the wedding, Baily would have been the fitting dummy for every bridesmaid dress at least two times and the Bride's gown, as many as a dozen!

That wasn't all! Every smooth piece of lingerie, foundation, and undergarment with their many layers of soft and silky materials had to be checked...ON Baily!

Baily's mother had asked for me to help around the store during that last fitting of what had become the town's most elaborate wedding. To my surprise, the town's hairdresser and photographer were there to check the dress colors.

The dress had a tinge of pink in it and the make-up artist had to check shades of pink lipstick to enhance the bride's appearance. Everything was done matter-offactly, with meticulous notes being taken.

All the opened make-up was left with Baily. Since they would be charging the wedding party for new cosmetics, the make-up artist laughed,