iness of the lodge in jeans and flats this does not make me less a woman. You are still a man despite your apparent liking for things feminine and frankly this gives us another common interest to share." She continued, "I do like you tremendously, and after the resort season is over, if you feel as I do, we can dis- cuss this situation. But for now, all things considered, I think it best that we remain as we have been these past weeks, just two good girl friends."

We agreed to this "status quo" and the final weeks passed all too quickly. For the past three months I had been a woman in almost every way and was even thinking as a woman and with constant practice my voice even sounded femine.

The transformation to Fran had been so success- ful that we had dared a shopping expedition into town and I spent a portion of my vacation money on more feminine frills even though I knew that I could not take them with me when I left.

At last the day came, the first guests were to arrive the next morning and all during the day, I had procrastinated in getting ready for my departure. Fin- ally I told Vickie, "I will be sorry to leave tomorrow, but I don't want to be a source of possible embarrass- ment to you, nor cause your business to suffer because of a man wearing female clothing and acting feminine on the lodge grounds."

Vickie hesitated a minute, then said, "Fran, I know you have accepted yourself as a woman these past weeks, but do me a favor and look in the mirror once more, then come back and tell me what you see.

11

This request was unusual after these many fem- inine months but I did as she asked. The mirror gave me my answer. As I approached the mirror, it inform- ed me that my posture, motions and smoothly gliding steps were as feminine as could be. As I continued to gaze into the mirror, I realized that no one could possibly know that I was not truly a woman. I asked myself, as I gazed at my reflection, which of my two selves I truly preferred, Frank or Fran, and my answer

62.