50--MAID UP

admiring look on his face. It made John feel good.

By now he was beginning to get tired. It had been a long, exciting day, and he could not remember when he worked harder or longer in his whole life. Finally everything was done. Miss Mary inspected the kitchen and made John mop the floor because some food had been spilled during the preparation of the meal. "I want you to leave this place looking like an operating room every night,"

she admonished.

"Yes, Mistress," John replied and went to work. He thought how lucky he was to have had training in this kind of work at home as a boy. At least he now knew how to go about it quickly and efficiently.

Finally Miss Mary dismissed him. She also seemed pleased with his work. In parting she said, "You still have an hour left to wash your lingerie and iron your uniforms and aprons for tomorrow. Remember to wear your very best uniform and apron for the teacher's conference at 9:30 this evening. You will be closely inspected for daintiness, from top to bottom and inside out. Make sure you look your best, neat and well groomed."

John went to his room and fell flat on the bed, kicking off his shoes. "I'm really bushed," he thought. "But then the first day is always the hardest."

John almost fell asleep, but he remembered just in time that he had things to do.

He remembered what Miss Mary had told him about the inspection at the teacher's conference and decided that he'd better take a shower. He undressed and washed his lingerie and took all the uniforms he had worn that day to the washing machine. Then he took a shower. The bathroom was well equipped with nice smelling soap, bath salt and other feminine accoutrements. He really felt refreshed and after drying and dusting himself he put on fresh lingerie, his best panties, matching bra and slip. He put on his nicest black evening uniform with the attractive lacy bib apron, black stockings and this time he decided to wear the black 3" heels he found standing in the middle of the room. Just his size too.

After getting his laundry back to his room to be ironed, he looked at the clock and found that he was already 5 minutes late. Hurriedly he ran to the living room, bells a'tingling.

There he found her mistresses including Miss Mary waiting for him all dressed up in beautiful gowns. Apparently this was a real ceremony, like the changing of the guard or something.

John curtseyed for each of the ladies. Miss Clara spoke severely, "You are extremely late. Punctuality is a must for our pupils, you will be severely punished for this mistake."

The ladies looked at each other like John had just murdered somebody. Then Dr. Hepstein started talking, "This is your first

TV FICTION CLASSICS -51

review and it will be held every evening so that you may discuss and apologize for your errors and avoid them in future. As today was your first day, we will not be too severe with you." John was left standing like a criminal facing a sentencing judge. His feet were neatly together and his hands were folded lightly in front of him. Miss Betty spoke next, "You have forgotten to put the white bow in your hair, as I told you. It must be worn by all pupils at all times. If you forget it again, I will think of something that will remind you of your omission for a long time."

Miss Clara then discussed his training hour. "You are a long way off from femininity. You will have to work very hard to become a soft, graceful and attractive female. First of all, your figure requires a much smaller waist. You will have to wear a very tight training corset at all times. I will personally lace you into one tomorrow morning, first thing. Your present size uniform is 16 and within a month we want you to wear a size 12 without your waistband being tight. Accordingly you will maintain a strict diet under the supervision from Miss Mary. Do you understand?"

John just nodded.

Miss Mary fortunately had no complaints. She even smiled at John and said that she hoped to make John into a very good cook and kitchen worker.

Miss Clara then asked whether he understood the daily schedule and what was expected of him. John nodded again. "Remember that you have to curtsy to everyone in the house whenever you see or pass them. This sign of obedience and respect is very important during your training."

Miss Betty then told John that his work week was 6 days and that all classes were cancelled on Sundays. Sunday morning he was to attend church. And of course you will have to serve all the meals on Sundays and do the cleaning.

"During your basic training, you are under no condition to leave the grounds. On Sunday you may, of course, walk in the garden, if you like."

This sounded like it was a very great concession, and John almost smiled.

Miss Mary then said kindly, "We realize that during these coming months, you will be very busy as you will have no help. However, we deliberately postponed the arrival of other pupils because you are a little older. We wanted to save you from the embarrassment of seeing other, younger pupils smile when you may have to undergo some indignity or other form of punishment. Therefore it is in your own best interests to try and carry on alone. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Ma'am," replied John.

All this time John was standing sort of "at attention," while the