TV FICTION CLASSICS

When she heard the suggestion, she said, "That's impossible. The girls playing the sisters have learned different songs and we'll need someone who has practiced 'Do Re Me', 'Goodbye, Goodbye,' and the others. Then...as if she just happened to think about it, she said, "That's what we have an understudy for."

We all looked at Bob. He blanched. "I can't play the role of a girl. . .it's not right! I can't! I won't!!"

One of the macho guys said, "Yes, you can. You wore a dress at your birthday party, remember?"

Many of the others chimed in. "Sure, Bob, you've practiced all the songs with us...you can't let us down." I came to Bob's defense. "You can't do that. No one will believe he's a girl. It just won't look right."

Bob looked gratefully at me.

Then, Mary lowered the boom. "It has to be done. We have no one else and I'll see that Bob will be trained thoroughly as a girl. Thoroughly!"

"No please," Bob begged. "It's not fair. . .I can't do it. I would feel terrible.'

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"It will not be terrible, it will be fun, and, it's the only thing we can do, after all, you agreed to be the understudy. You should have thought of this then. You mustn't let the other girls down. Not after we've come this far."

The others all chimed in. "Bob, Mary's right...come on...don't be a spoilsport. We'll all help you.

"That's a good idea," Mary said. "The girls will all assist Bob in behaving as a girl should."

Then my own wife, Dot, turned the knife. "I think he should dress as a girl 'all the time' so he'll be comfortable in the role.

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Susan Hart said, "Since this is all my fault, bring him to the beauty salon tomorrow and I'll give him the 'works".

All the girls giggled and agreed, the men joked around, savoring the idea: for someone else. But, Bob nearly exploded. "You can't do that to me." he said, turning to the men, "none of you would do it, why should I?"

There was silence in the group. We all knew he had

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SUBSTITUTE DAUGHTER -27

worn feminine things and that it really shouldn't be hard for him. He guessed what we were thinking and blushed fiercely. Then he turned to Mary and said, "It's all your fault. I'll be the laughing stock of the town. I won't do it!!"

"Stop your fresh remarks this instant. It's for the good of the company and none of your co-workers will think any less of you for doing this. If you don't agree, you might be dismissed from your job and then what will your poor wife think?"

Bob didn't have a ready reply for that one. I wondered how his refusal might be cause to dismiss him from his job with Swifter Air, but at this moment it sounded logical. . .even to me. Mary took prompt advantage of his one moment of weakness.

"Alright, then, it's decided. From now on Bob will be known as Bobbi Jones. He will learn to think and act like a young woman, even at work! I will clear it with Mr. Welles and Doc down at the bar."

Turning to Bob she said: "Beginning the day after tomorrow, you will spend part of the day working as a stewardess and help with costume construction for the play."

It was all Bob could do to keep from crying. Dot put her arms around his shoulders and said: "Come on Bobbi, don't feel so bad. It's fun to be a girl. . .I'll show you. Think of all the pretty dresses you can wear...and the soft under things," she added giggling. “I have plenty of adorable dresses you can borrow." She gave him a kiss on the cheek and looked him in the eyes.

That seemed to take all the starch out of Bob and helplessly he lowered his hands.

"All right, let's practice the songs again," Mary said, trying to get us back to work. Bob duly took his place at the head of the row of singers and we sang for another hour, before Mary dismissed us.

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