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read discretion and, as Virginia says: wisdom..moderation.. and per- spective. Alyce completes the foursome.. This is her first time out in social life. Marie did the purchasing for her weekend wardrobe.. from head to toe.. Alyce is bubbling with happiness.. obviously an ex- trovert. we feel the tension snapping within like a broken chain, van- ishing in a cascade of laughter and acceptance.. She is thinking of the careful job of makeup we did some hours ago. it is dark in the porch but she feels the new face.. the new expression of pencilled lips and eyes.. there's no need of a mirror..our silhouettes and the invisible bond that weaves a pattern of dreams come true are enough.. Our joy is contagious..i 's a warm net that keeps away the chill of the night from bare arms and shoulders.. Three other girls have already retired for the night: Siobhan.. who had everybody a bit envious because she travelled by bus from New York..dressed! A childhood of fantasies and daydreams like so many of us..final acceptance and the deter- mination to live her own life..convincing and bold within her many pounds.. sternly determined to keep on losing weight.. the "girl-within" is fully awake now and has a lot to say for the present and the future.. and Ella, from upstate, her first visit..her first experience face to face with the inner reality of others like herself. Two lives.. two per- sonalities.. What a wonderful feeling it is, Ella, to be able to talk and talk to others, isn't it? To pour out your very heart after years and years of silence, of hiding, of incomplete transformations, of frustrating suppression.. And there was Kathy.. silent, reserved--for a while, just to open up a smile bit by bit.. as if the unbelievable real- ity of acceptance could be too much to bear.. Kathy, also full of dreams and the hidden knowledge that there's a cross-roads somewhere ahead..when the paths go in opposite directions and only one can be followed..I wish you all the happiness in the world, Kathy, no matter what road you decide to take..the seeds of friendship are all around you just waiting to be watered..

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Suddenly the lights of a car, two giant eyes, turn into our drive- way a traveler and his wife in distress..4 o'clock in the morning.. can't find a place to sleep..everything closed in the area at this time of night..Susanna goes inside to get the keys to a bungalow.. The traveler walks to the porch.. waiting.. the three girls have mysteriously become silent..not a peep..they just sit there quietly..he is friendly tries to make small talk.. "Beautiful night isn't it? A few seconds of silence, and then, a timid whisper desperately trying to sound fem- inine: "Yes". Then silence.. The arrival of the keys and Susanna break the stillness--the bungalow is rented for the night.. The porch is once more ours..and we giggle..and laugh..just a weekend at the resort..hours in which we know ourselves a little better by seeing our image reflected in new colors and a new perspective through the lives

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