36--TV FICTION CLASSICS

BORN TO BE

was slipping his feet back into his skimmers in preparation to exit the store when Thomas reappeared.

"I think this is what you are looking for," Thomas bubbled, giving no sign that he recognized his former friend. "I. . .I...think. . .," Ted stammered.

"Yes, I think that is it," I chimed in. "Let's try them on." "Here, let me help," Thomas suggested while sitting in front of Ted and taking his right foot into his hands.

Ted looked at me with panic in his eyes as Thomas removed his skimmer and expertly inserted his foot into the new shoe. I watched Ted's sparkling red toes enter the shoe and barely heard the hiss of nylon as his feet slid into the leather.

Ted was mortified as Thomas held his leg and inserted his foot in the other shoe. They fit perfectly. I knew Ted was wondering what his old friend would think if he knew the lovely legs he was holding belonged to his high school buddy. At Thomas' urging, Ted walked around the chair. Knowing the shoes looked lovely on his feet, he managed to whisper, "I'll take them."

"Will that be cash or credit card?" Thomas asked as he removed the shoes from Ted's feet and placed them in the box.

"Credit card," I acknowledged.

As we walked side by side down the mall, I could see that Ted's legs were about to buckle under him, so I found a bench to rest on.

"I. . .I.. .can't do it!" he cried. "I can't go through that again!"

"But you did, Barbie!" I smiled. "If a former drinking buddy doesn't recognize you, nobody else stands a chance!" "B...but mom, that's why I don't want to be a girl," he whispered. "Thomas not recognizing me is scary. Have I really changed that much?"

"If you don't like being a girl, you can always return to the Lamb household," I suggested and immediately knew I'd said the wrong thing.

"The Lamb household? You say that as if it's no longer your home. Have you changed that much?" Ted questioned. "I meant..."

"I know what you meant, but no thank you! I tried that, you know I did! If I try again, Daddy will send me away for good. I have to be his daughter until he gets that stupid promotion, whether I like it or not! Don't you see, Mom! I have to stay here. I can't make it out there, looking like THIS! Anyway, if I try to confront Daddy, I will just end up

A DAUGHTER

SANDY THOMAS ADVERTISING -37

across his knees with my skirt at my waist." he squealed in a voice higher than his usual contralto. With that, he gently massaged his posterior through the soft material of his skirt and re-lived the pain and humiliation of a sound spanking.

How far my son has fallen from the brash young man just out of the army! Only a few months ago, he wouldn't hesitate to degrade any man who would wear women's clothes Now, he won't speak up for fear of a painful and humiliating spanking on his own silky panties!

Trying to keep his mind off my blunder, I observed, "Then, your only option is to make the best of the present situation."

"I I guess so," he sighed. Since Ted's return, he and I were accepted as the females we appeared to be wherever we went. Ted did everything required to pass, but I knew he wasn't happy.

Bob laughed when I told him of our adventure. "That confirms my suspicions. He should have been born a girl."

Ted started to protest, but he fell silent. He was completely docile with Bob as his authoritative father, while continuing to resist me. I was his real parent, but I wasn't accepted as his mother.

"The stores are waiting, honey. Are you ready?" I asked Ted the next morning.

"Da...uh...Mom, I don't feel good. I must have caught something at the mall yesterday," he groaned.

Recognizing his plea as a desperate excuse to avoid another humiliating day in public while wearing a dress, I scolded, "I'll have nothing of that, young lady! Bob...uh.. your father said you have to go shopping every day to prepare for school.'

Entering his room, I saw my son lying in bed with a pretty pink blanket pulled under his chin while his pretty colored nails grasped the blanket. "I'm sick, Mom," Ted coughed.

He was a good, but not good enough. "I want you up right now!" I demanded while yanking the blanket from his slender fingers to reveal his babydoll nightie tented by the projections on his chest. I also noticed that he was wearing the diamond studs that signified his pact to remain as our daughter even while he slept. I guess he didn't want to chance Bob coming into his room and finding him without them.

"Get to the bathroom and remember to use lots of bath