RELUCTANT PRESS

Fred laughed sadly, but confessed. "We ALL want Shelley."

Helen smiled. "I'll get her." With that, she headed up-

stairs.

"Shelley, it'll be all right," Helen said softly as she sat on the bed besides the softly sobbing child. Shelley wasted no time in twisting about and burying her face in the comforting bosom of her step-mother.

"I'm sorry, so sorry," she cried. "I tried my best... but I feel awful... I can't believe I tried to curtsy! I just don't feel like a boy anymore! What are we going to do?"

"That's easy," replied Helen. "We'll get you out of these horrid clothes and into a nice dress. Then we'll go down and enjoy our brunch. After that, we'll need to talk about our future."

Shelley was shocked. "Do you mean I can still be Shelley," she asked incredulously.

"At least for now," replied Helen as she hugged the child. "We'll have the entire summer to decide if we want to keep you or bring back Sheldon. Of course, we'll let you make the final decision, but I'm giving you fair warning. Cindy and I would much rather have Shelley, and I really don't think your father will object too much."

"But I'm really not a girl," Shelley protested, even though it was clear that she wished she was.

"Well, I don't know how it's done, but it is possible for boys to become girls," Helen said as she kissed Shelley tenderly upon her cheek. "I'll call Dr. Cassandra Trate; she's my gynecologist. I'm sure she'll be able to get the information to tell us what needs to be done to accomplish a sex-change. In the meantime, you dress and behave as you feel. Right now, it's obvious that you want to be a girl. Without the pressure to be a perfect girl that we've put on you, maybe you'll want to go back to being Sheldon. We'll wait and see. Once Dr. Trate gets the information, we'll all go hear what she has to say. Does that sound all right?"

TWO LITTLE GIRLS

By JENNIFER SUE

"Oh yes," gushed Shelley. "It sounds great! Is it all right if I change into something more comfortable?"

"Of course, darling," Helen said with a smile. "That's why I came upstairs!"

It took less than a minute for Shelley to shed the uncomfortable boy's clothes. Eagerly, she opened the lingerie drawer and selected a simple pair of pink cotton panties printed with images of the Little Mermaid. Giggling with delight over her silly, childish selection, she sheepishly glanced towards Helen.

Helen smiled happily. "Go ahead, Shelley, you can wear what you like now. If you want, you can wear shorts or pants. If you feel devilish, you could even mix girl clothes with boy. Since your punishment is over, you can wear anything your heart desires."

Shelley didn't reply, but simply stepped into the little girl panties and snuggled them about her slim hips. Next, she donned the matching camisole. Then, she dug into the socks and selected a pair of pink anklets trimmed with lace which she slipped onto her feet. Happily, she skipped to the closet and surveyed the selections, looking for one particular outfit.

Helen watched as Shelley's face lit up. She shook her head in amazement that Sheldon could have been so utterly altered by eight days of total immersion in the life of a prissy girl. Reaching into the closet, Shelley bit her lips in anticipation as she removed her selection. Helen was anxious to see what had so piqued the faux-girl's desire. When she saw it, she understood. Bouquets of summer roses filled the black and white gingham background of the cotton sundress. Fuchsia piping outlined the princess seams and basque waist. The darling dress even had a prissy overskirt that was gathered up with fabric flowers.

Eagerly, Shelly removed it from the hanger and slipped it over her head. A plaintive look brought Helen to button the pretty keyhole back and tie the sash into a perky bow. Reaching back into the closet, Shelley selected a pair of summery pink leather T-straps with a cut-out detail at the toe. Kneel-

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