RELUCTANT PRESS

must run in your family. It will be my pleasure to be your escort, Miss Shelley."

Shelley was totally flustered by Francis' words and actions. While she had been prepared to put up with the sissy, she had not realized that there could be different types of sissies!

Like most boys and many men, she assumed that a sissy was a swishy faggot. Now, she was discovering that some could be gentlemen who simply disliked the normal masculine life. Fortunately, her feminine training came through.

"Thank you, Francis," she blushed in reply. "I'm sure I'll enjoy being escorted by you." Silently, Sheldon reared his dormant thoughts within the confines of his Shelley-dominated brain. "Why did I say that," he berated himself. "Because he's a nice boy, not a brat like you," replied the Shelley portion, effectively silencing Sheldon.

Meanwhile, Francis turned to Cindy after making sure there were no adults nearby.

"Tell me the truth, Cindy, I promise not to tell anyone, but I simply must know. Did Sheldon do this to you? I bet he did, and your parents sent him away to camp as punishment!"

Cindy blushed deeply, revealing without speaking that Francis' guess was correct.

"I knew it," Francis hissed. "I'm glad he's not MY brother! I think I'd have killed him by now! How much longer are your parents going to let him get away with things? Sending him away to camp--why that's probably something he enjoys! He should be punished! Even at school, he's an obnoxious brat, all the girls think so. I think we'd all be a lot better off if he never came back!"

Once again, Shelley was struck by the intense dislike so many people had of Sheldon. Never before had he considered himself to be a pain. But now that he was able to see things from a different perspective, he sadly realized that the assessments were all too true. Silently, he vowed to turn over a new leaf. The resurrected Sheldon would incorporate some of the

TWO LITTLE GIRLS

By JENNIFER SUE

gentler, caring habits and mannerisms he was learning as Shelley into his personality.

"Don't be too harsh on him," Cindy stated softly. "I'm sure that he's learned his lesson. I think we should all give him another chance when he comes back."

Francis smiled.

"Yes, I guess you're right. We should give him a chance. Boy, I was starting to sound like him. Thanks for straightening me out."

"You're welcome, Francis," Cindy replied as she smiled at the deeply blushing Shelley.

Shelley couldn't believe that Cindy had stuck up for him. If what he'd done to her had been done to him, he'd have wanted to ship the perpetrator off to China! Yet, even sissy Francis was ready to give his former bullying self a second chance. Once more, the error of his past ways was clearly shown.

It was at that point the rehearsal began. When the music began, the bridesmaids began the walk down the center aisle.

Ginny, the maid of honor smiled at Shelley. "Relax, Shelley, you'll do just fine. Just watch me, when I reach the front, you start up the aisle. Try to walk at the same pace I did, and make sure you drop a handful of flower petals with each step. Ready? Here I go!" With that, she began her march.

While Shelley studied Ginny's majestic pace, Cindy stepped beside her. "You'll do fine, Shelley. Just relax and be natural. I know you can do it... and smile!"

By then, it was her turn. Licking her lips nervously, Shelley began her march down the aisle. With each step, she reached into the basket and gently sprinkled imaginary flower petals upon the aisle. A forced smile was upon her face. Glancing into the pews, she saw the members of the families smiling broadly as they watched her intently. Their obvious approval made her relax, and her smile loosened so much she beamed. At the front of the church, she turned to

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