On Sunday afternoon, my aunt, the one who always had sent us the "hand-me-downs" came for a brief visit, and I fled to the privacy of my bedroom. After she had gone, Mother came in search

of me.

"Why did you run and hide?" she asked, "If you want to wear girl's clothes you must not be ashamed to be seen in them. Real- ly, I didn't buy them for you to hide in!"

I continued to wear my two outfits alternately, at least part of every day as soon as I returned from school, and at all times on weekends, but I never went out of the house, and never permitted anyone who came to the house to see me. Several times boys came to the house asking for me, and on each occasion, I re- treated to my bedroom until they were gone.

One day, a few weeks before the summer vacation began, Moth- er called me out on the porch for a talk.

"I don't mind you wearing your pretty girl's clothes", she began, "but I did not buy them for you to hide in either. I would even buy you some more if you wanted me to, but I see no point in it if you are going to run and hide everytime anyone comes to the house, and you cannot expect to stay in the house all summer, now can you?"

I agreed that I could not do that.

"

"I'll tell you what I will do,' she continued, "you can wear your girl's clothes whenever you want to, and I will even buy you some more to wear this summer if you want me to, but only if you quit running into your bedroom everytime anyone comes. The next time anyone comes, I shall expect you to go to the door and greet them, no matter who it may be, and if you choose not to do so, I will assume that you are ready to give up your girl's clothes. Is that clear?" she concluded.

"Yes," I replied, "I understand."

A few days later, while I was dressed in my girl's clothes, as I usually was whenever I could, the front door bell rang. Mother looked at me inquiringly.

"Do I have to go to the door now?" I asked.

30.