20-MAID UP

He also began to feel less awkward in his undies and dresses. The softness seemed to fit his nature and he almost looked forward to the next day to see what he was to wear. He was really beginning to enjoy his new feminine identity.

On Sunday they again went to the yacht club. John wore a blue and white striped soft neck line sweater with a very short white pleated skirt; the shirt was very taut in front. Mary was dressed in a blue denim shirt and white bell-bottom pants. Mary remarked that even John's knees looked as attractive as any girl's. "If you were younger, you could easily get away with wearing mini skirts," Mary said.

John, however, was not used to showing so much leg and modestly tried to pull down his skirt. When this did not help, he tried to spend as much time below deck as he could. Mary began to notice this and ordered him to hold the wheel from then on.

Again Mary insisted that they dress up and have dinner at the yacht club. The bouffant slip made his skirt flare out wide and called attention of many males to his graceful shapely legs. Again none of his friends recognized him. This time John felt much more at ease because of the week's experience he had in women's clothes. He felt less self-conscious, making his movements less jerky and nervous, thereby becoming even more attractive and graceful.

When they finally left for home, John felt many eyes following his and Mary's departure. Secretly, he was pleased about the many admiring glances.

During the second week of his masquerade, Mary made John do most of the housework, dressed in his white blouse, black waitress skirt and white bib apron.

He noticed that Mary seemed to roam around the house in slacks, ordering him to do this and to that. In the afternoon she read a book, while she made him do the ironing, peel the potatoes, and follow her directions about preparing the dinner.

John wanted to complain and quit this business of being the workhorse, but he noticed that with each passing day Mary became more and more depressed.

Her friendly happy attitude, so obvious and pleasant during the first week of John's cross dressing, was rapidly fading, suggesting her disappointment of seeing John go back to his normal male pursuits. As the week progressed, Mary had more and more crying spells and otherwise seemed emotionally upset. John became really worried. Despite the difficult times the last few years had been with Mary, he still loved her deeply and wanted to help her in this time of obvious distress. Finally he came to a conclusion. Mary should see a psychiatrist. It was not normal, the way she had pressed him into this cross-dressing, and her mood was changing so quickly and without explanation. Carefully he broached this subject to Mary.

TV FICTION CLASSICS -21

"Darling, I think you should consult a doctor."

To his surprise Mary replied: "You know, I have been thinking about that for some time. We both should go see the psychiatrist. I have heard of a very good woman doctor who has been for many years a marriage consultant. She has an excellent reputation as a psychiatrist and a great many year's experience. She lives with her 2 sisters on a very large estate near Brewster, not too far from here. They are very wealthy and she is retired now. I wonder whether she would be interested in helping us.

"Why don't you try," said John, "if you have confidence in her." "All right, I will call her right now." Mary looked up the number in the directory and called the doctor. Fortunately the doctor was in. After Mary explained the reason for her call, and after it appeared that Mary and Dr. Hepstein had a close mutual friend, an appointment was made at the doctor's house for that Saturday morning.

Dr. Hepstein suggested that Mary come alone. When Mary hung up the phone she seemed a little bit relieved.

That first visit to Dr. Hepstein and her discussion with Mary proved later to be of momentous importance to John.

CHAPTER FOUR

When Mary arrived at the large estate where Dr. Hepstein and her 2 sisters lived, she rang the bell, which sounded like a large gong vibrating throughout the huge house. A kindly looking lady opened the door and explained that she was a sister of Dr. Hepstein and that presently they did not have any domestics and therefore had to answer the door herself. They were running ads looking for a domestic staff.

She showed Mary the way to Dr. Hepstein's office. After knocking and a brusque "Come in," Mary found herself shaking the hand of a determined, intelligent, attractive woman in her fifties. She wore a white doctor's coat and welcomed Mary in a friendly, though businesslike manner, asking her to sit down.

Dr. Hepstein had penetrating eyes and a look about her that clearly showed that she was used to getting her way. Obviously she was used in taking the lead in conversation and telling other people what to do.

When Mary began her story, she explained her symptoms and the unexplainable changes in mood. When Mary mentioned how happy she had felt the last week with John, after her marriage was almost on the rocks, Dr. Hepstein showed suddenly more interest. She asked Mary if she could explain why she was so much happier that last week. When Mary told her about John having dressed as a woman during that time she started to ask numerous questions, especially about John. Dr. Hepstein became very sympathetic to