34--CONTEMPORARY TV FICTION

ground noise. "Put your manliness behind you. . .Femininity is VIRTUOUS!"

"SUBLIMINAL messages!" I choked. "They're BRAINWASHING him!"

But before hearing anymore, the batteries finally died. In a rage, I slammed the recorder, shattering into a million pieces!

The need to warn Wayne overwhelmed me, fearing the effects a moment's delay could cause. But it was all futile. He was still out of town and I had more cross county runs. It all drove me MAD!

At the end of August, I returned from my last cross country haul. While school was a month away, was due back on Wettington campus for pre-season football drills in less than a week!

Even before my truck reached the terminal, my driver drop me off along the interstate, a few blocks outside our neighborhood. It had been weeks and seeing Wayne was my only thought!

I ran at full speed all the way to the Carr's house. With each jolting stride against the hard asphalt, the pit in my stomach grew and grew as I fretted over the shape I'd find him in!

"Good evening, Ron," Mrs. Carr smiled as I caught my breath. "Won't you come in?"

"Is Wayne around?" I panted, following her. "Of course! Oh sweetheart! Ron's here!"

Too tense to stand still, I paced the foyer. Coming to a wall, I abruptly turned and stopped dead in my tracks.

The svelte, pixie nosed beauty stood atop three inch pink pumps, as sheer, nude colored nylons encased smooth, sleek legs. A pink miniskirt fit snugly over narrow yet shapely hips, while a billowy white silk blouse sheathed a petite bosom of small, pointed mounds.

Patting a stray tendril of richly dark brown, chest length hair, the cutie's full, pink glossed lips parted, flashing a wide, perfectly straight, toothy smile. Yet, not a word was uttered.

"Rachel?" I unsurely asked. I thought, "Gee, she's lost A LOT of weight. Must have been sick, on a STARVATION diet or something?" But not getting any reply, I tested, "Rachel?"

"No, RON!" the sweet voice answered.bellowed from behind me. "It's me!"

Suddenly another girl appeared. I gasp again, "RACHEL?" The new curvaceous girl smirked.

BOSOM BUDDY -35

.NO!"

I stammered, "If. . .if you are.. "You don't recognize your old buddy?" a soft, airy voice whimpered. "We've been friends for YEARS!"

"WAYNE? GAWD! What've they done to you?”

"Smile darling," Rachel baited. Nervously obeying, Wayne grinned broadly. "Rita had his teeth capped. Isn't his smile the prettiest ever?"

"Yeah, but," I sputtered. "But I don't understand...You're now the SPITTING IMAGE of your sister!"

His full lips pursed into a frown as he pointed two elegantly long, French manicured fingernails at his face. "Rhinoplasty, Ron," he winced. "They gave me a NOSE JOB!"

"There you are, darling!" Mrs. Carr cheered, eying her feminized son. "Isn't he just LOVELY?"

"Oh, Mother," Wayne whined. "Don't say that!" Realizing my visit was a tragic error, I looked for an out. "Gosh, it's late," I faltered, pretending to check my watch. "Mom's got dinner waiting and..."

"Nonsense, you'll eat with us," Mrs Carr insisted. "You and Wayne chit chat. I call you when supper's ready."

But before I could say no, Rachel clasped Wayne's hand in mine. Pushing us up the stairs, she jeered, "I'm sure you two

have MUCH to discuss!"

Besides more jars and tubes on his vanity, the room looked just as feminine as the last time I was there. Reluctantly entering, I closed and locked the door.

Wayne, seated daintily at the edge of his bed, sexily crossed his long, shapely legs. Delicately folding his manicured hands atop his nylon clad thighs, he hung his head in shame.

"You're WORSE off than ever!" I bellowed, flailing my arms in frustration.

"It seemed inevitable," he pouted, staring into space. "The pressure's TOO much! Rita, Mom and Rachel were constantly on my case. . .Act more girlish. . .Speak sweetly...Think like a girl..."

Pulling the cassette from my pocket. "You're BRAINWASHED!"

"I know," Dipping his head to the side, he moved his hair to expose doubled gold pendent earrings. "I know ALL about that!

"You went along?"