ruffled it a little and was astonished and delighted to see quite an attractive young girl looking back at him. He returned to the drawers and, forgetting all thought of time, began to change from one set of garments to another. He was as in a delightful trance; it seemed as though he were making up for long years of waiting. The carpet around him was made lovely by the various dainty soft-colored garments that he had drapped, he changed costumes.

as

Suddenly he was startled to hear the front door opened. Before he could collect himself his mother entered the room.

"What are you doing?" she gasped. All of her love- ly girls clothes lay everywhere. Then she understood. She came towards J. C. and put her arms around him and kissed him. No longer the well trained sport he broke into tears and hugged his mother. "Oh, Mom, what have I missed and what have you missed?" His mother stroked his hair. "You wanted a girl, J. C. went on and now I know that at times I have wanted to be one. Dad has tried to make a 'he-boy' out of me and now I am two people--his son and your daughter." His mother drew him to her and then led him to her bed. Both sat on it.

They made up all the time that had been lost as each told the other of their longings. Finally his moth- er said "J. C.-Shelley, you know you can still be your father's son and keep him proud of you and sometimes you can be my daughter and keep me happy," and they began to plan just how this might be accomplished. Later they lovingly put away the dainty garments which had remained all the while on the carpet. When they had put the room in order again, his mother said, "Now I won't need the mannikin anymore and you can wear any of her clothes that you wish." So from that day on J. C. had a real name, at least part of the time, and it was--Shelley.

47.

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