46 TV FICTION CLASSICS

busied herself with the rolling on of a most sheer pair of pink stockings up her son's smooth legs.

The dainty hosiery had seams running up the back as well as delicate clockwork designs along the sides. Once they were up to his thighs he was instructed to stand once again so that his mother could attach the garter tabs to the stocking tops.

"The downward tension on your stockings will help keep some of the corset's pressure off of your hips," she said. Alan did in fact feel the subtle pull of the stockings on his upper body.

"Now sit at the vanity while I take your hair down," Mrs. Taylor said.

Gingerly, Alan sat himself down in front of the vanity. The reflection of his roller-covered head and pushed-up "breasts" was quite emasculating to say the least. And yet he found himself sitting more upright and pushing his chest out with a little unexpected vanity.

He looked pretty "cute". His mother removed the pins and rollers from his hair and began to combout his hairdo for the day. "Now lets see if I can do this style on your hair," she said mostly to herself as she rummaged around the drawer for a box of bobby pins.

Alan watched fascinated as his mother worked with brush and comb. His curls were formed in front and at the sides of his head into precise patterns. Mrs. Taylor continued her efforts at the back his head where she was alternating between combing out a curl then inserting bobby pins. After twenty minutes of meticulous combing and pinning Alan's mother stepped back and smiled with satisfaction.

"Oh, that is beautiful! I'm so pleased I could do it in this style. Why I even think Ann would be proud of me," she said as she handed her son a hand mirror to look at the back. Alan turned around so that his back was reflected in the vanity mirror. He saw for the first time the criss-cross pattern of the corset's lacing from his derriere to shoulder level. Above that he saw the beautifully arranged, intricate hairdo that his mother had accomplished.

His long hair was neatly pulled up off his neck into an artfully sculpted pile of curls. Here and there random ringlet curls dripped down from the mound of hair. Against his boyish instincts Alan couldn't help but say what he thought, "Oh, Mom! That looks so feminine!"

His mother thrilled to hear those words come from her son. "It is, isn't it? I can't wait to see you fully dressed. I'm sure Mrs. Richardson will be very pleased!"

Karen Taylor took the mirror from her son's hand and gently turned him around again. She added a spraying of extra firm hairspray to lock her son's dainty hairdo in place for the day. Then bidding him to stand she picked up an antique lace blouse that was styled in true Victorian fashion.

HAIR TODAY, GOWN TOMORROW -47

It buttoned up the back so the front of the blouse was elaborately festooned with lace. The high, standup collar and the long, tight cuffs were equally covered with the decorative lace material. The cut of the blouse was designed to show off the nipped-in waistline of its corseted wearer.

Alan felt a strange chill run through him as the ultra feminine blouse was slipped over his arms. He stood silently as his mother proceeded to close the long row of buttons up the back. The lace tickled him under the chin and at the wrists, something that would continue to remind him of the femininity of the garment he was wearing all day long.

The lacy bodice of the blouse also provided a subtle peekthrough of the pink lingerie that Alan was wearing underneath. When the blouse was fully closed, Mrs. Taylor brought forth a slim skirt of a whitish pink color. It had a tight waistband that snugly closed around the corseted waistline.

Mrs. Taylor knew that she had to lace the corset to be completely closed at the waistline for the waistband on this skirt to be buttoned closed. The button closed easily. Below the waistband the skirt flared out a little before dropping straight down to just below the knees. The ten small buttons which ran up from the hemline at the back could be opened to allow a little more freedom in walking. Alan's mother left them closed.

As Alan tried to walk a few steps he found that he almost had to walk heel-toe, heel-toe because his skirt would not allow more.

"I won't be able to work very well in such a tight skirt mother." "Yes, it is a little harder, but Mrs. Richardson specifically requested this uniform today. It's one of her favorites. Wait, let me get the shoes," she said as she once again entered her closet. Alan saw her come out carrying a pink leather pair of high-heeled boots. These were again of a Victorian style. The four-inch heel had a slightly flared out bottom.

The boot itself would come up a little higher than ankle high and it closed with a line of small buttons. Intrigued by the strangely dated costume he would be wearing Alan sat so that his mother could put his boots on and button them. When she was done she asked him to stand and try walking around.

If walking in just the stockings was difficult, then walking in these high-heeled boots was an Olympic event! Not only did he have to manage small steps, but the angle that his heels put him on made his walk appear very mincing and effeminate. He commented to his mother on this.

"So? I'd say that walking femininely is quite appropriate given your clothes and hair," his amused mother replied. He thought about that then realized that she was quite right.

"Sit down again, I need to do your make-up and nails," she said as she pointed back to the vanity.

"Watch very carefully, because you are going to have to learn to do this completely by yourself.’