RELUCTANT PRESS

Cindy squealed with delight and ran to embrace Shelley when she skipped gaily into the room. Fred could hardly believe his eyes as he watched the two little girls giggle and hug. It seemed impossible that pretty Shelley had ever been his rude, inconsiderate son. He was even more stunned to learn that Shelley had selected the delightfully juvenile outfit herself.

Not to be outdone, Cindy rushed upstairs to change into something just as girlish. As if they were sisters, Shelley went with her to help as sisters are wont to do. While the girls were gone, Fred listened in rapt concern as Helen related all that had transpired.

"I guess maybe we overdid it with the petticoating," he said softly when she finished recounting the events. "I feel guilty for doing this to Sheldon, yet I can't honestly say I miss him. Shelley is just so vivacious and happy, it seems as if she were always a part of our family."

"I think you may have hit on the truth," Helen stated softly. "I've been doing a lot of thinking. Perhaps Sheldon behaved the way he did because he wasn't really content and happy as a boy. None of us, including him, realized this. If he hadn't hurt Cindy we might never have discovered that he really should have been a girl.'

Fred was silent for a long time as he thought about what Helen had said. "I feel terrible for admitting this, but I think you may be right. It's totally unnatural for a boy to be so totally overwhelmed as happened with Sheldon. There has to be an underlying cause of which we were unaware."

"I told Shelley we would contact Dr. Trate, my OB-GYN, to see if she can get us any information about changing boys into girls," Helen confided. "Shelley was delighted."

Both realized they had probably seen the last of Sheldon. Fred sighed. "As long as it's Her decision. I don't want to force anything like this on her. All we can do is support her fully in whatever she decides."

"Agreed," responded Helen as she warmly hugged Fred. "If Shelley decides to become a permanent part of our family, I suggest we transfer the girls to parochial school, with

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TWO LITTLE GIRLS

By JENNIFER SUE

Shelly in the same grade as Cindy. It wouldn't hurt Shelly to repeat the last two years since Sheldon barely passed. Besides, I don't think either girl would really mind!"

"What wouldn't we mind?" Cindy chirped as she and Shelley skipped into the room hand in hand. Both clutched a doll in their free arms.

"We were talking about what to do if Shelley decides to stay," Fred responded seriously. "If she does, we think it would be best, considering Sheldon's poor grades and all, that we enroll you in parochial school for the coming year, in the same class."

"That'll be great," exclaimed Cindy as she looked towards Shelley for confirmation. "We could be like twins then!"

"I guess it would be fun," replied Shelley sheepishly. "After all, I didn't really do all that well. I guess it would be for the best if I repeated the last two years."

"Come on Shelley, let's do it!" Cindy pleaded. "Just think how much fun we'll have! We can help each other with our homework, work on projects together, we'd practically be twins! Please say you'll do it!"

"Slow down, Cindy," cautioned Helen. "Shelley doesn't know whether she's even going to stay. Sheldon might return. The decision is all up to Shelley. None of us will force her to do anything she doesn't want to do."

"Oh Mother," Cindy responded petulantly. "Get real! Sheldon tried to come back this morning and you saw what happened! Now you tell me if Sheldon would ever have run off crying and returned dressed like Shelley! You know as well as I do that Sheldon won't be coming back! My twin sister Shelley is here to stay! And I'm delighted!"

Fred had to chuckle at Cindy's unaccustomed, but quite serious outburst. Helen had to smile, too. Shelley merely lowered her head and blushed, unable to argue that Cindy was dead on center with her assessment of the situation.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing and enjoying the new relationships in the family. Helen placed a call to Diagnostic Possibilities Clinic, to ask Dr. Trate to contact her as

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