TV FICTION CLASSICS

Chapter five-

"Bobbi! not Bob!"

I walked home with Bob and tried to cheer him up. "It's only until we put on the play," I said. "Everyone wants you to do it. You already wear aprons and do sewing at home. Things won't change too much for you.'

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"Yes, they will," he argued hotly. "Now I have to work with the girls in a tailored uniform and heels, and, I'll have to work in skirts at the bar, too! Everyone will laugh."

"You know, I did defend you at rehearsal...but what could I do?" I said, "If you want to be successful in the role, you'd better get used to wearing skirts. It's too darn bad that Susan Hart had to leave so suddenly."

"I still think they could have taken another girl to replace her," Bob argued.

"Well, it's too late now. We all agreed. You'll come through it all right. I'll help you as much as I can. Dot will too," I added, thinking that this would be a salve for his wound. It seemed to work, because Bob fell silent.

Not wanting to leave him alone in his misery, I entered his house with him. Mary was already there. "It's nice of John to walk you home Bobbi, dear. Now come upstairs and we'll get you properly dressed. You might as well begin at once."

Bob started to protest, but she took him by his ear as if he were a little kid and pulled him to his room. The only thing I could do was to say: "I'll wait for you here, Bob.

"Not Bob!! BOBBI," Mary admonished me. "We'll be back in a few minutes."

I sat down to watch television. Bob's wife was nowhere to be seen. As Mary promised I didn't have to wait long. Bob was practically pushed into the living room. He wore the same pink dress as before, with pantihose and the matching pink pumps. Of course, he wore one of his pretty pinafores and Mary and put a little bow in his hair. She had also given him a necklace and earrings. He really did look like an attractive

young woman.

SUBSTITUTE DAUGHTER -29

"Now you go and set the table like a good girl," she ordered, "and when you've finished that, come to the kitchen to help me.'

"I'm sorry John, but Bobbi is going to be a busy girl from now on. . .she does not have much time for you right now because we have to finish dinner in time for her practice her comportment. Maybe she can go out with you when she's free one evening."

Bob blushed with that remark and obediently turned on his heels to begin setting the table. I could do nothing else but leave the room. "I'll see you tomorrow night at Doc's, Bob."

As I left the house I heard Mary shout, "Bobbi! Bobbi!! Not Bob!"

The next day, when I got home from work, I called Bob. I knew he had that appointment at Susan Harts' beauty salon. He begged me to go along. What could I say? I went over to his house.

Mary made Bob wear a shift dress, nylons and short heels. We went downtown in Mary's car. Diane, a stunning girl about 35, owned the parlor and had stayed late at Sue's request. When Diane saw Bob she said to Mary, "Wow, this is your son-in-law? He's so pretty. At first, I thought it was a weird request. .turning your son-in law into a girl for a play, but he will be a perfect girl when I'm done. Give him the works. Right?"

Mary laughed, "Make him forget he was ever a man!" Bob blushed and looked at me for help.

I started to ask that she not do too much but kept my mouth shut. I thought I better go take a walk. As I left, I glanced back at Bob in the chair, only his nylon covered legs and heels showing under a pink smock. Diane was beginning to curl his hair and Sue was filing his nails.

Two hours later I returned and had a seat. Bob got the "works". Diane had cut then bleached his hair a light blonde and then curled it so it appeared much longer.

How humiliating. Sue had even plucked his eye-