26 MY SON, THE BRIDESMAID

and I really missed my dear twin." With that they hugged each other for a full ten seconds in silence.

From that point on, introductions were made, and no additional references of any kind were made to the fact that Robin was dressed as a female. With his unisex first name, an innocent bystander would just believe that they were watching three women chatting. Stacy was Trish's college roommate and best friend. She lived on the other side of town and after having some tea and hors d'oeuvres bid a goodnight in order to leave and join her own family. She kissed each of them goodbye on the cheek.

Robin almost thought that her kiss on his cheek lingered a little longer than for the others. One thing he did notice as she left... Stacy sure had a 'very interesting' body and an extremely cute face!

Chapter 5

Christmas Eve day was a busy time for the dress shop as many customers came in to either pick up their holiday dresses, or, last-minute panic shop for that all-important New Year's Eve outfit. Trish helped out front while Robin rushed around in the backroom doing last minute hems and ironing. Mrs. Wilkes and Trish took turns handling the store, while the other popped out to do a "little last minute shopping." Robin didn't see the knowing winks they gave each other.

He was back in his usual jeans and a T-shirt, his hair brushed out from the backcombing and pulled into a high and still curly pony-tail. By the time that the Wilke's family closed up for the day, they were all exhausted and at the same time looking forward to the Christmas festivities of the next day.

Maybe it was Robin's exhaustion, or maybe the fact that he had started to crave the feminine side of himself more and more, but it didn't take much convincing from his mother and sister to get him to allow them to set his hair in curlers for the night. So that evening, all three of them sat around the lit Christmas tree with their hair up in rollers, wearing nightgowns and matching robes, sipping hot chocolate and enjoying the closeness of a family reunited. The naturalness of it was reassuring for Robin.

TV FICTION CLASSICS -27

His mother and sister were treating him just like another female. No teasing, no mention that he was dressed in any way out of the ordinary.

Joy to the world! Robin sat up in bed the next morning a little groggy from the light and wakeful sleep he had had. Sleeping in curlers was a new experience for him and he could appreciate the efforts women expended to look beautiful. But he figured if his mother and sister could do this for years, surely he wouldn't complain.

Soon he heard a knock on his bedroom door and his mother's voice, "C'mon Robin, let's see what Santa's brought." Slipping on his floor length robe and slippers, he walked quickly out the door. With the floppy houseslippers (another loaner from his mother) he had to walk with short sliding steps which made his walk look especially girlish.

Downstairs he found his sister and mother already sitting around the tree waiting for his arrival. He couldn't help laughing to himself at how silly they all looked, each with curlers in their hair.

Each of them took one of the presents marked with their name and began to open it. Mrs. Wilkes unwrapped a pair of expensive suede gloves... a present from Robin. Trish's package contained an ultrasheer pair of seamed, black nylon stockings with delicate clockwork patterns running up each leg. Mother and daughter watched with interest as Robin unwrapped his first package. The rectangular box was labelled "Victoria's Secret". Robin recognized the name from their beautiful lingerie advertisements in the fashion magazines that he frequently read! With growing apprehension he opened the box and unfolded the sheer tissue paper. There, neatly folded were several matching sets of ultra-feminine, silk and lace lingerie. Delicate lace panties, bras, camisoles and slips in pale blue, pink, black and traditional white.

"Ohhh, I must have opened Trish's present," he said, then seeing their big grins, asked in a near whisper, "Are these are for me?"

"They're all yours, my darling," replied his mother, "I thought you would like to start collecting some of your own, rather than have to borrow mine. Do you like them?"