38--CONTEMPORARY TV FICTION

"OH GAWD!" I panted as my fingertips traced his baby smooth chin in search of stubble. "There's NOTHING there!"

"I'll NEVER grow a beard, Ron. Rita had what little facial hair I had removed by...ELECTROLYSIS!"

Shocked, I then gingerly brushing his thinly arched eyebrows. "These TOO?" But he didn't reply. His burning cheeks said it all!

"SHOOT!" I loudly spat, leaping to my feet.

"Don't be angry," Wayne pitifully begged. Overcome with fear, his lithe body shook like a fragile leaf.

"Sorry, man. I'm just a jerk. It's not you who I'm mad at, it's just this modeling thing's gone overboard."

But all at once, Wayne threw his slender arms around my broad shoulders, burying his pretty head against my brawny chest!

"Hold me, Ron. . .HOLD ME!" he tearfully pleaded, urgently digging his long nails into my back. Balking at first, I didn't know how to respond. Guys just DON"T hug other guys. ..Right?

Yet, our closeness seemed to have a calming effect over Wayne. I sensed his pent up tension fade and his svelte figure go limp.

My reaction, however, was completely OPPOSITE! Panting, my muscles tensed as his amazingly girlish bosom pressed against my rib cage. Desperate, I wished for our lingering embrace to end!

After what felt like an eternity, his Mom softly rapped on the door. "Come, on you two! Dinner time!"

"Thanks, Ron," Wayne sweetly sighed, blotting mascara soaked tears. "Now I know I can always count on you.'

"No problem. What friends are for, right?"

A big, white, toothy grin spread between his full lips. "Coming, Mother, he called, winking at me. Deftly repairing his makeup, Wayne hummed a merry tune.

I couldn't watch Wayne pretty himself up. Gazing out the window, I worried if this was the end. Was my buddy gone FOREVER?"

Caught up in thought, I lost tract of time. Feeling a tug at my sleeve, I glanced to find Wayne's arm intertwined with mine!

"What the heck!" I barked as he guided me toward the bedroom door. "Wayne. . .are you MAD?"

BOSOM BUDDY -39

"On the contrary," he hurtfully pouted. "I'm just showing my appreciation. You've been so sweet to me and..."

"SWEET? Guys don't call each other SWEET!"

"Sorry, Ron," he peeped, biting his pink glossed lip. "But understand, I've changed-a lot! I can't explain it, it's just sometimes I feel I'm on an emotional roller coaster."

It was all beyond me. Yet, what could I say? With sufficient space between us, we left his room and headed down stairs.

I convinced Mrs. Carr that I was expected home for dinner. But she insisted and I agreed to stop by later for dessert.

When I returned, about eight thirty, it peeved me to find Rita Delatore at the door. "Good evening, Ron. Long time, no see!"

"Yeah, time flies..." Sneering, I showed only contempt for her and her evil web which ensnared my best friend. "Where's Wayne?"

In the den, Rachel and Mrs. Carr sat on the couch, while Wayne stood in the corner, facing the wall. The moment he turned and our eyes met, his feminized body seized, becoming rigidly stiff.

"PLEASE, Mother may I stop now," he anxiously cringed. "Ron's back...It's embarrassing enough!"

"Continue, dear," Rita Delatore insisted. "I'm sure Ron would LOVE to see how far you've come as a model."

"That's okay. Leave him alone!" I shouted, trying to rescue him from further shame. "Come on, Wayne, lets get out of here."

"Not so fast," Rita Delatore barked. "You may be friends, but SHE'S under contract with ME. What I say GOES!" "SHE?" I sneered. "Wait just a damn second! Wayne's not a girl, he's a GUY and..."

""

"Relax, Ron," Mrs. Carr calmly interjected. "He'll be a professional model, soon. It's essential that Wayne get used to feminine pronouns. Most people will think he's a girl."

His mother's slip of the tongue didn't go unnoticed. Yet, I could only nervously wonder what the heck she REALLY meant!

As Wayne shivered in fear, Rachel tersely remarked, "Get on with it, BROTHER dear. We don't have all night!"

At Rita Delatore's glowering nod, my best friend moved out from the corner. But what he did next, bowled me over!