36-CONTEMPORARY TV FICTION

"They were never a secret, Ron. It was hard adjusting.. .mentally. The tapes boosted to my femininity. But now, Rita says I don't need them anymore..

"You're finished training?"

""

"There's always something new to learn. Ron, the weirdest thing is that in spite of where I came from, I don't feel out of place any more.

I admitted to myself that he did not look out of place, either. He had changed so much in even the last few weeks. His hair was styled and softened his face. He carried himself more like a woman. There was a confidence that women had that always intimidated me. . .he had that too.

I took a long look. His look wasn't comical. From the top of his teased hair to the bottom of his heels, it was sexy. Just the way he saw was sexy, his painted lips full rounding over now even teeth.

"Pretty high heels?" I sputtered at a lack of words.

"High heels," he said obviously reciting what he'd been told, "One can't feel very masculine wearing high heels. After months now, I've mastered them. You can't lose track and start acting like a guy if you're wearing high heels!"

He stood up and pirouetted with elegance.

I was silent as he went on, "High heels. . .higher the better. They give me confidence because they're so pompous; they make a statements; I am a woman, I enjoy being a womantreat me like one."

"I've lost you, Wayne. My best friend's gone and..." "Don't be deceived by appearances," he softly, yet adamantly insisted. "Just because I've given in doesn't mean I've totally given up!"

"Oh, sure!" I sourly smirked. "Then tell me why you're wearing those stupid pads to make you look voluptuous!"

"HUH?" he quizzed, bewildered. But when I pointed at his chest, Wayne anxiously crossed arms, shamefully shielding his pointed mounds. "Oh, it's a padded bra.'

"You're wearing a bra?"

"All the time now. Remember, I'm learning girl modeling, Ron. Watch!"

Wayne wiggled toward his dresser with a natural feline grace. "Careful, Ron," he warned, handing me a large scrapbook. "My portfolio's priceless!"

BOSOM BUDDY -37

"Holy SHOOT!" I wailed. My friend pictured, with his face made up, wearing dresses, skirts and blouses confused me terribly!

Page after page, the camera captured his provocative poses, yet not a single photo showed him smiling. Initially, I thought it was because his teeth had yet to be capped.

But upon closer inspection, I just knew that Wayne wasn't at all happy. As his life long friend, I knew his sadness had to run deep.

Yet, the more I examined the pictures the more ill at ease I became. All at once it dawned on me that his full, pouting lips and sullenly focused, doe-like eyes unwittingly conveyed a haunting aura of genuine feminine sensuality!

"DARN IT, Wayne!" I bitterly spat, slamming the portfolio shut. "This girlish crap's BOGUS! ...Why, of all things, did you have to get your nose CUT OFF?"

"It was Rita's idea," he begged forgiveness. She thinks I'm more marketable this way. Besides, this could open up a twins thing with my sister...more money!"

"And MONEY'S the name of the game, " I seethed. "That's what got you into the modeling business, RIGHT?"

99

"True," he apologetically confessed. "But I've already earned enough for my first semester at Wettington and...' "Admit it. You've sold your manhood out for the almighty DOLLAR!

"You're SO cruel, Ron. Like you don't put your health down on the line with every hike of the football? All for a scholarship?"

Wayne never finished. . .not that it mattered.

"I'm sorry, pal," I sighed, feeling like a heel. "It's just.. DAMN IT! How can you go to Wettington next year with a face prettier than half the chicks on campus?"

"I don't know," he sniffled, curling up beside me. To say I was uncomfortable would be a GROSS understatement. Yet, I was too terrified to move away!

Placing my arm around his back, I tried cheering him up. "Things can't be THAT bad. Leave it to me, once you have enough money, I'll get you back into shape in no time flat. But when my hand touched his frail bicep, I yelped, "Where's your muscles? And you skin's SO..."

"I know, Soft?" he sadly pouted. Pulling my free hand toward his face, Wayne gently stroked my palm against his hairless cheek.