60-MAID UP

blushingly, though secretly very pleased with himself.

He was just putting his 3" heels on when the doorbell rang. "My goodness! 7:00 o'clock already," said Miss Mary hurrying to the kitchen. With a final check of his stocking seems, John walked to the front door, where Mrs. Howard impatiently rang the bell for the second time. His knees felt weak and only with the strongest determination did he make himself go to the front door, which he then slowly opened.

The confrontation was a mutual surprise.

As John curtseyed courteously, he noticed that Mary had let herself go completely. His former wife had gained at least 25 lbs. and her grooming left much to be desired. She was wearing a dowdy looking outfit that had become too tight, making her looking even fatter than she was. Her hair was styled in a hairdo completely at odds with her thick face. Inwardly John was greatly relieved. There was no spark, not a hint of the attraction which he used to feel towards Mary.

Mary was even more surprised. "Are you Jill, Miss?"

"Yes, Madam." Mary's face was almost green with envy at the attractive and efficient look of her former husband. John felt his efforts paid off handsomely when he saw the look of disbelief and admiration in Mary's eyes.

"Well, they've certainly done a lot for you."

John barely managed a polite smile. "Yes, Madam. This way please." Taking Mary's coat John led the way to the living room and announced the arrival of Mrs. Howard.

As John then left the room he could feel Mary's eyes following him constantly making him feel just a little awkward. But he was by now so well trained that his feminine elegance showed through just the same in his easy movement as he turned lightly on his heels to close the door.

"My Goodness," he heard Mary say through the closed door. "You perform miracles, Dr. Hepstein."

With a funny smile Miss Mary left for the kitchen and told the cook that the guest had arrived.

Soon John was dispatched with the cocktails, which he served to perfection. He could see that the Hepstein ladies were very pleased with his correct behavior and gracefulness.

He noticed when serving the hor d'oeuvres that Mary could

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TV FICTION CLASSICS -61 barely keep her mouth shut in amazement at his appearance. The neat figure, shown off to perfection in the black, attractively tight fitting uniform. The shoulder straps on the pristine white apron showed the substantial bulge of his bosom and the string around his waist proved that his waist was as small as any young girl's. But John was not forgetting his place and showed no sign of familiarity or even recognition.

Later, when serving dinner and being constantly close to Mary, he realized that everything in his past relation with Mary was dead and gone. John felt like a stranger towards this guest. Thinking about it later in his room, John realized that now he was even a stranger to his former self. "Gilles Howard, Gilles Howard, Gilles Howard. Who was that strange man? What happened to him?”

It would be obvious to anyone that John was the sole subject of discussion that evening in the Hepstein living room. But John was never told what went on in that room that evening.

When the bell rang for him to let the guest out, Mary's attitude had changed from admiration to envy and haughtiness. A certain change had occurred which John could not immediately identify. However, he did not let that faze him at all. When his former lover left the door with a cool, "Goodnight Miss," John closed the door almost with a feeling of satisfaction. He had done it.

He had passed all the tests. The first, having completed his transformation to a "girl" who no longer had any affection whatsoever for "her" former lover. And secondly, he had been able to give that perfect impersonal but polite and complete service demanded from a good servant.

When he reported later to his mistresses for the routine end-ofday conference, John blushed when he heard the high praise they bestowed upon him. A strong bond had formed between him and his teachers. They felt that John had become a prize pupil, one of their "best creations," while John felt grateful for the assistance and direction they had given his new life.

If you had asked John whether he wanted to change back to his old job and masculinity he would have flatly refused. He could not anyway. His manners, walk, gestures and carriage had become so completely girlish that he would look funny dressed as a man.

It was a happy person who retired that night in his filmy nightgown with feelings of accomplishment and fulfillment of a job well done. He had found his purpose in life.

THE END of a new beginning.