RELUCTANT PRESS

from that side of the family will be attending the wedding, no one will know the truth.

"Next, since you're here visiting Cindy, you'll share her bedroom. Getting you out of your boyish room and putting you in a girlish room will help eliminate temptations and regrets. Your bedroom will be locked for the duration to make sure all your boy things are out of sight and out of mind.

"You'll play house with Cindy, you'll play at being a Mommy with Cindy's dolls. Since Cindy can't read with her swollen eyes, you'll read aloud to her from her books and magazines. You'll read all of her AMERICAN GIRL books. They'll help you understand how girls think and feel. I'll teach you to sew. All in all, you're going to be one very busy girl between now and the wedding. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Mo... Aunt Helen," Shelley replied softly. Deep inside, his rash boyishness wanted to scream out refusal to submit to the humiliations of enforced complete girlishness. Yet, now Shelley understood that what Sheldon had been, and those thoughts of rebellion, were the work of the devil!

Biting her lips, Shelley repressed the unvoiced boyish arrogance with a firm stamp of her pretty little foot.

The day Cindy came home from the hospital and Shelley's first appearance was a Friday. The next days were very hectic for Shelley. From the time she woke up until the time she went to bed, she was immersed in total, prissy girlishness. Life became all sugar and spice. Even in bed, she couldn't escape the lingering effects of her re-education as she wore soft, diaphanous nightgowns and cuddled a cute teddy bear.

Sunday afternoon, the bride-to-be Linda Green, her mother Mary, and best friend Ginny Grim stopped by to work out last minute arrangements. Their apprehensions about having the unknown cousin Shelley substitute for the injured Cindy were washed away by Shelley's demure manners and eagerness to take Cindy's place.

Shelley felt very sad when Linda admitted that she was glad Sheldon would not be at the wedding to disrupt it. The new girl was learning a harsh lesson in just how obnoxious

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TWO LITTLE GIRLS

By JENNIFER SUE

her male self had been. Yet, she beamed with pride and delight when Cindy winked at Shelley to tell her she was passing the grade as the new flower girl.

Her euphoria was replaced by fear when Mary spoke.

"Since the men are going to have a bachelor party after the wedding rehearsal Friday night, I've decided to host a slumber party for Linda and her half of the wedding party. That way, we can all be together Saturday morning to prepare for the wedding.

"I've made 9 AM reservations for everyone at ALTERNATIVE IMAGES BEAUTY SALON. Barry Bangs and his staff will give each of the girls the works! Since Shelley is the flower girl, she'll have to attend the party and can enjoy a full make-over. Of course, Cindy is invited to join us, although I doubt if she'll be in any shape to enjoy a make-over. But at least she can be with Shelley."

Helen could see the fear in Shelley's eyes.

"Do you really think it's a good idea for Shelley and Cindy to be at the slumber party? After all, they're just seven. They could put a damper on the festivities."

For Shelley, the idea of attending a slumber party seemed exciting, yet very terrifying. What if someone discovered she was really Sheldon? Then, her fears were aggravated as she realized her step-mother had classified her as a seven-year-old girl rather than the nine-year-old boy she really was. Not only had Sheldon been forced to become a girl, he'd lost two years!

"That won't be a problem," replied Linda. "We won't be doing anything not suitable for seven-year-olds. We all want to turn in early so we're well-rested. Having the girls with us will serve as a reminder. Besides, I want ALL the girls with me on my last night as a single woman!"

No matter how Helen tried to talk them out of having Shelley and Cindy join the slumber party, Linda and Mary refused to hear of not having Shelley and Cindy attend. Finally, Helen had to concede or reveal the fact that Shelley was really Sheldon.

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