40-TV FICTION CLASSICS

out of the auditorium.

When I saw Mary, I told her what happened. For the first time I saw her eyes soften and she hesitated for a moment in thought. Then she said to me: "Will you help me find her? She needs your friendship now more then ever.

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"It's all your fault", I shouted at her. "If you had not made her into a girl, she would not have been so unhappy the last year. Damn you!!!"

With that, I turned around and ran away. I heard her call: "But John. . .." but I paid no attention. I first went to Bob's home. He was not there. Then I remembered our secret place behind the sawmill where we used to sit for hours talking and throwing stones in the creek, or fishing for guppies when we were little.

Sure enough, I found him, sitting on a log with the hem of his dress rolled up, high heels in hand and absolutely looking like a girl. He was morosely staring into the green dirty water.

"Bob...can I help?", I asked.

He shook his head. "No one can. . .I want to run away, but I have no money. . .and looking like this.. .where can I go?"

For the first time I saw him cry like a girl. I put my arm around him and tried to console him. But what could I say? He had become a girl now and everyone could see it only too clearly. I could do nothing about that...except maybe to let him feel that he was still my best friend. . .no matter what he wore or looked like.

I tried to make him feel better by saying that he looked real pretty as a girl. . .and that everyone liked him in skirts. But that seemed to make things worse. Finally I just sat next to him, silently holding his hand. At first he had refused but when I stroked his long hair, he shrugged and let my hand capture his. It felt so soft and the nails, neatly manicured, had light pink polish.

I don't know how long we sat there, but eventually I said: "Your wife and mother-in-law must be worried. .let's go home. We can't sit here forever.'

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"I don't want to go home", he sobbed. "Mary will keep me in dresses. . .and she...she wants me to go to

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that girl's college. If I go I don't know when I get to be a man again."

"Well come home with me then. . .you can have dinner with us."

I helped him up and with my arm around his shoulder we walked to my house. Dot was setting the table and came towards us. "Bobbi, where have you been? Your mother-in-law is looking everywhere for you." She kissed him on the cheek.

After hearing the story, Dot said: "Poor Bobbi, things have gone too far. After dinner I am going to talk to Mary. But first I'll call her to tell her that you're safe here."

During dinner not much was said. My wife tried to cheer up Bob by saying how much he had enjoyed the play and how well he had played the role of Lisa. I tried to divert Bob's mind from his troubles by telling him about Brentwood College, where I might be going to night school. But nothing helped.

After dinner, Bob helped Dot with the cleanup and dishes. It made me see how much he felt like a girl and judging from Dot's reaction, how much he was accepted

as one.

As they washed the dishes, Bob said to Dot, "Johns just so nice to me and I like talking to him. He's such a good man. I wish I was like John."

Bob continued," He's strong, handsome and smart. I'm like a sissy. I shouldn't have let Mary talk me into this dressing up. I feel like such a pansy, wearing panties and bra's. What makes me feel even worst, I am beginning to be comfortable and taking special care with my make-up and hair. Even the corset feels more comfortable. I've got to get out of these clothes!"

I came up with a brilliant idea. . .Bob could wear some of mine. Once everyone saw him as a man again, They'd forget this sissy stuff. We went to my bedroom. Dot helped him with the his dress's back zipper. I was startled to see my buddy wearing only a bra, camisole and half-slip. I gasped, "I must admit your figure looks most realistic." In reply Bob suggested I unhook his bra.