48 -TV FICTION CLASSICS

SANDY THOMAS ADV. She continued to watch as her son sat at the vanity and methodically applied all his own cosmetics. He was good, damn good! "Evan, where in the world did you learn to do your own hair and makeup so well?" she finally asked.

"Oh...I read some of your fashion magazines the other day, and...well, Andrea showed me some stuff too." he replied sounding a little bit embarrassed to discuss the pretty cheerleader.

Emma now thought she understood! This Andrea girl was the catalyst that was making her son so cheerful and accepting of this strange adventure he was about to embark on. Hmmmmm.

She saw Evan differently now. He had always had a delicate soul in a boy's body-but that was about to be changed. For about a week, he could be a girl in girl's clothes, and act as girlish as he wanted.

Chapter Nine

The Miller minivan slowly pulled up to the curb in front of Central High, and the casual onlooker would have thought that the driver was a mother about to drop off her daughter and her five very pretty girlfriends at school. They were indeed pretty girls, but two of them looked more than a little

nervous.

"I can't do it," Paul whispered as the van door slid open. "Yes, you can Paul. You're a knockout!" encouraged his sister Wendy. "Honestly, no boy has ever looked as beautiful or as feminine as you."

Somehow that compliment sounded more like an eulogy. Still, it took a shove from Maureen to prod Paul out of the vehicle.

Sam took it more stoically, but wouldn't exit the van until Joanne said, "Go ahead dear. Watch your short skirt when you get out of the van.

Andrea and Evan just smiled at each other and held hands as they stepped out. An instant of shame stabbed at Evan as a few guys looked toward the "girls". Holding his small purse containing his lipstick, brush and makeup, Evan's teeth suddenly chattered. He whispered, "I'm scared of the boys."

Andrea laughed, "You'll soon discover that boys can be lots of fun for a blonde!"

BLONDE & BLONDER -49 The crowd of arriving students at first didn't notice anything unusual as the six girls walked up towards the main entrance of the school carrying their books against their bosoms. Then all of a sudden, one of the guys noticed the strange girls in the group and made some suggestive comments to his buddies.

As they wondered aloud who these new chicks were, one close observer exclaimed, "They're not girls! That's those sissies who are competing in the Freshie Queen Pageant!

Similarly several girls eyed the newcomers accompanying Andrea and company, and upon the boy's revelation, they began to squeal excitedly. In seconds, everyone was chattering to their friends who were taking second and third looks at the "new girls." In five minutes, the news of the "new girls" had spread throughout the school like a prairie fire.

The first insults were barbed and hurtful. Exactly as anticipated, teasing was intense from the boys, but to their surprise, many of the girls were friendly and supportive. The girls had talked among themselves over the weekend, and most of them were against the sexually exploitive beauty

contest.

In turn, they appreciated the boy's objective...cancellation of the Freshie Queen Pageant! As the day passed, ever increasing numbers of girls informed their boyfriends of their support and asked them to cease harassing the male

contestants.

There were notices posted everywhere suddenly. It said: "If we girls tolerate making fun of the boys in skirts we are really saying that SKIRTS (feminine items and interests) are laughable and beneath male interests. If we ever want equality, men must be able to do and wear feminine things." This lobbying effort resulted in a virtual cessation of hazing by the end of the day to the delight of Sam and Paul in particular.

The next day, was not any easier for Paul and Sam. Both had sore feet but flats were not an option for any future queen. Besides high heels illustrated the sexual domination and manipulation men had over women...exactly what this fight was all about!