16TV FICTION CLASSICS

SANDY THOMAS ADV. "Thank you, but it's all mother's work," he modestly replied, looking at his mother.

Sarah was visibly beaming with pride. She hadn't been sure of the reaction they would receive when the others saw her son in a dress, but the praise released her true feelings. She had just experienced the most glorious three hours getting her "daughter" ready to come here, and it had all been his idea!

Sam and Paul felt as though they were having an out-ofbody experience. Things were moving in slow motion. Seeing Evan look so good in a dress would seal their own fates, and they knew it! They could see the effect of an obviously padded bra, and they were bothered by the nagging question, "What is Evan wearing underneath that dress. ..nylon panties. . .a soft lacy slip???"

In turn, Evan just gave them that same cool smile. He looked confident and unruffled. . .like he was enjoying this as he sat with his knees together beneath his full skirt!

"Mom, I'm not dressing up like that!" Paul insisted.

"Me neither!" Sam agreed. "When all this started, you promised I wouldn't have to wear a dress! You said this was just a bluff, and Mr. Carlson would back down if we went along. What happened to that? The teasing we have to take at school is tough now, but if I show up in a dress like Evan. .!!! Mom, I can't do it!"

Evan's appearance had broken the ice, and Joanne knew what had to be done to carry her plan forward. "Don't worry sweetheart," she cooed in a sympathetic voice. "Mr. Carlson has just carried his little game a step farther than we thought. When he sees you three boys in dresses, he'll understand that SAWOFF intends to go forward despite his 'Code of Conduct'. He'll call this degrading contest off later instead of sooner. Now please, go along with me on this, and I'll make it up to you afterward. I promise."

"That's right Paul, we've gone too far and come too close in our efforts to stop this sexist event to quit now, Emma beseeched. "Please do me this huge favor, and I promise you won't regret it. Anyway, look at Evan. He's having fun.

For the next hour, everyone pleaded with Sam and Paul to go along with the plan. Finally, feeling like traitors if they

BLONDE & BLONDER-17 refused, the two reluctantly, and against their better judgement, agreed to give the plan a try.

Now, to the boy's exasperation, the discussion turned to the task at hand. Since judging would begin next Monday, there was clothing to buy, hairdo's to experiment with, manicures, leg waxing, jewelry to select, and of course shoes! By the time the group broke up for home, they had decided that the boys would abide by all the contest rules.

Evan said he would try and win, but even the mothers thought that would be too good to hope for in light of the fact that Carlson and his cadre of former Freshie Queens and last year's winners were the judges. Still, it was fun to imagine Carlson's girlie parade being won by a boy in a dress!!!

Watching Evan walk away hand in hand with his proud mother, Sam watched his blonde curls cascading over his shoulders and his skirt swaying from his hips. Seeing this feminine scene, and realizing that the same was in store for him, he shuddered. Worst of all, he had just caught himself thinking 'nice chick!" "If that wimp Evan hadn't agreed to go through with this craziness so easily, Mom would have folded her hand and given in to Mr. Carlson. Now, I'll have to do it too! I wonder if I'll look as much like a girl when I have to wear a dress?"

Since he first heard his mother's scheme to end the Freshie Queen contest, Sam had a premonition that it would become a disaster, and now, it was coming true. He had originally agreed to the scheme because he was assured that Mr. Carlson would promptly cancel the contest after boys were nominated. Instead, he, Paul, and Evan, had become pawns in the battle of wills between his mother and the school principal. How could he back out now with Evan all gung-ho to go all the way with this crazy scheme. Concentrate as he might, Sam couldn't find a way out of this mess!

As expected, the teasing at school didn't abate, and the three girl candidates gave the boys the cold shoulder whenever they met. They were angry that guys were trying to ruin something that meant a lot to them. Even worse, the girls spread word about the contest rules, and the teasing took a new twist. Now, Sam and his two colleagues were being asked by boys and girls alike, "How are you wearing