24 -MY SON, THE BRIDESMAID

before? Why was he feeling so self-conscious now? Maybe it was because now he was dressed-up as a girl without her help. Now, it would be obvious that he liked to dress as a girl. Why else would he be looking like he did at this moment?

As he took another look in the bathroom mirror, he heard the front door opening downstairs! His mother calling out as she rushed past the upstair's bathroom door. "Come on, Robin! Trish is home!" His feet felt leaden as he walked out into the hallway-headed for the stairs. "Miss Robin," he thought, imagining a sitcom soundtrack playing in the background.

The L-shaped stairway obstructed his view of the main floor foyer where even now he heard the excited squeals of mother and daughter reuniting.

Finally, he stepped around the corner. Face to face with his twin sister! Shock! There stood Trish, wearing a pair of black leather pants, a green and red scoop-necked sweater! Evelyn Wilkes had a look of triumph on her face. "My twin 'girls'!" she exclaimed looking from Robin to Trish, "You're more gorgeous than I had even imagined!"

"Robin! You minx! Is that really your own hair?! It's beautiful!" Trish shouted as she leapt into the startled Robin's arms. Robin stood in shock as his twin sister kissed his powdered cheeks. Even as the shock was sinking in, Robin heard the front door opening once more.

"Trish, is it okay if I park in front of the neighbor's driveway for a few minutes?" asked the pert blonde girl who came in the door. Robin, Trish, and Mrs. Wilkes stood silent as the new arrival absorbed the scene. There, in front of the newcomer's eyes stood nearly duplicate images. Both dressed alike, but one without the earrings nor snow on her shoes that was there moments ago. One with a very femininely-styled sideswept coiffure, the other with a simple pony-tail.

"Uh, am I on Candid Camera or something?" asked the new arrival.

Trish was very quick on her feet. "Stacy, I'd like to introduce you to my mother, and my twin brother, Robin." Mrs. Wilkes was also quick. "Girls, I've talked Robin into surprising Trish. In fact, I sent the outfit that Trish has on

TV FICTION CLASSICS -25

just so that this little joke would work. I've always wanted to see what my children would look like had they been born of the same sex. It was easier to consolidate on the female rather than the male. I hope you aren't angry."

The newcomer, Stacy, lost no time on dispelling concerns. "Oh, Mrs. Wilkes, they're so cute!" She wrapped her arms around Trish and her near identical sibling. "I'm not sure who's cuter?" This last remark was punctuated with a deep look at Robin. He blushed!

"Cool it, Stacy!" Trish good-naturedly retorted. "Robin is my alter-ego! I just wish he didn't try to outshine me!"

"C'mon girls, I've embarrassed Robin. He agreed to dress as he is now... but we didn't know that Stacy would see him. I'm sure that he's embarrassed," Mrs. Wilkes replied. Robin was completely frozen to the spot. Embarrassed?!? Robin wasn't able to speak... literally.

He tried, "Itt...Ittt'ss grr..rrr ate to sssee you back hhh..home," he mumbled nearly incoherently. He was so embarrassed. His mother, his sister but a stranger!!! A stranger, a pretty girlfriend of his sister's had seen him totally and completely dressed, made up, and done up as a girl! He was desperately wishing that he would wake up any second, find that this whole thing was just a terrible nightmare!!

"Why should he be embarrassed? I think he looks beautiful, doesn't he?" Trish questioned as she put her own face next to his, forcing the obvious conclusion that therefore she too 'looked beautiful'. Stacy laughed and replied,

"Oh, aren't we the modest one. Yes, he looks beautiful, and I suggest that you start picking up on some of his beauty secrets."

Obviously, Stacy and Trish were very close friends. The humor was starting to have a relaxing effect on poor Robin. They weren't teasing him, but teasing each other. Finally, Trish returned to seriousness a little,

"Stacy's right. I think Robin looks wonderful. Even though it may have been a little sneaky, Mom... I'm glad did it." Then turning to Robin, and with a completely sincere and knowing look, Trish said, "You do look great

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