20TV FICTION CLASSICS

what it would have been like if you had been born a girl. Is there any harm in that?"

"Gee...I guess not," He mumbled uncertainly, then decided to change the subject.

"I had the most surprising thing of my life happen yesterday!" He beamed suddenly. Mrs. Taylor sat and listened with rapt attention as her one and only went on to tell her about his chance encounter with the beautiful Cindy. She was pleased to hear that Cindy paid a special compliment to her son's new hairstyle. Karen Taylor would file that comment in her future arsenal of arguments. In fact, she hoped to meet this Cindy and explore her motivations further.

As one o'clock approached mother and son cleaned up their lunch plates and prepared to complete the housework.

"I just want to make one phone call first," Alan said and nervously went upstairs to a bedroom phone for more privacy. Mrs. Taylor understood having guessed that this was the "big call" suggested by Cindy.

"Hello Cindy?" Alan said into the phone, hoping that the nervous tremor in his voice wasn't too detectable. "This is Alan Taylor." "Alan! Hi! I'm glad you called."

"Yeah...uh...I was wondering if you still wanted to get together for lunch or something this week?"

"I'd LOVE to," Cindy purred suggestively. Alan was starting

to sweat.

"How about this Tuesday?" he suggested shyly.

"Tuesday would be great! How about noon at The Bistro on Melrose?" Cindy replied, naming a trendy little restaurant down-

town.

"Sure, sounds great. See you on Tuesday!" Alan was glad that she had picked the spot.

"Alan! Can't wait!" Cindy responded, then she made a kissing sound before hanging up. Alan felt his blood surging with new found excitement. He looked up and saw his reflection in a mirror in his mother's bedroom. Surely Cindy wouldn't be excited to have lunch with THAT image he thought as he ran his hand over the hem of his apron watching the girlish reflection copy the motion, reinforcing that image was indeed him!

Back downstairs Alan and his mother spent another hour or so finishing their chores. Finally, Mrs. Taylor said, "Alan, I think we've done a heck of a job for the day. Let's go upstairs and I'll take our hair down.

""

Alan winced at the reference to taking his hair 'down'. It brought home the point that he now had his hair up'. Boys don't have their hair up! His mother, with obvious reluctance in her voice, said, "I guess you should take your apron off now. Otherwise it might mess your hairdo later." He complied and stood before the vanity just in his blouse, pantihose and pumps.

"I'll get some pants from my room?" He asked half-heartedly.

HAIR TODAY, GOWN TOMORROW -21

His mother hearing his tone of voice thought quickly and replied, "Why you'll probably want to change later anyway, so why don't you throw on something from here for now." Swiftly, she darted into her closet and returned with a black, pleated pair of her shorts. They were very full and almost looked like a skirt. He mechanically accepted this new feminine garment and allowed his mother to help him put it on. Alan was once again wearing a complete outfit of women's outerwear. She had never dreamed that she could have gotten him so far on this first day! However, she did not slow down.

Carefully smoothing his full shorts under him as he sat down in front of the mirror, Alan watched as his mother untied his kerchief and removed it. Then moving from the nape upwards, she quickly removed the silver hairclips and released the rollers out of his hair.

Each curl sprang back tightly against his scalp thanks to the extra-firm setting gel she had used. With loving care, Karen Taylor brushed out her girlish son's tresses. With a rat-tail comb she backcombed and teased lifting his hair into a very full bouffant. Unlike Ann, Karen Taylor allowed her "amateur hairdresser" status to design Alan's final styling without any pretence to masculine connotations.

A big curve lifted from his forehead, sweeping a bang over one cheek. His side and back hair curled under in precise curls. When he stood up, it was a girl hairdo that reflected from the mirror. Alan looked at himself and didn't say anything. Why was his image so fascinating? He unconsciously swayed his hips to watch his shorts sway around his knees!

"Well, that looks better doesn't it Alan?" His mother finally asked.

"I guess so," Alan replied slowly, "but I. . .I look like a girl though.

"You look wonderful," Mrs. Taylor replied as she hugged her near skirted child. "Keep those shorts on, they go nicely with the blouse."

Alan never did change into other clothes that day. His mother even noticed him admiring himself and fluffing his hair in the mirror more than once. Her plan was working beyond her wildest expectations.

Monday morning, Karen Taylor left her son still sleeping. She peeked in at him and noted how peaceful he looked. She had shown him how a few pincurls strategically placed before putting on his hairnet for the night would help his style hold its shape for the morning. It would have been fun to watch him primp in front of the mirror this morning but it was 6:00 A.M. and time to get to the hotel.

Karen had decided that she was going to get Alan a mirrored vanity for his room and she hoped that in Mrs. Richardson might have one to sell from all the surplus hotel furniture that she had stored in one of her garages.