Transvestia

some satisfaction at least. Several months had passed since I had ceased having it cut, and at this stage it was what I would call "convertable". At the back it grew over my collar, and the hair on the sides of my head had grown to about four inches, long enough to cover my ears when combed down. However when com- bed back and looking somewhat unkept and shaggy it did not look feminine, or at least no more feminine than any of the other "beat" students, many of whom had hair longer than mine. The difference, though was that many had beards, while I had hardly any trace of beard at this time. I was then aged nineteen and did not really have a problem with my beard until I was nearly twenty-three.

Betty and I got on famously, but I was now experien- cing a terrific inner tension, becoming very worried and anxious. Part of the cause was that examinations were only a few months away, but a great part of the stress I felt was in having feminine clothing all around me and not being able to mention my inner desires. Frequently when Betty was out I would brush my shaggy mop until it was sleek, combing it down to acheive a feminine style. Looking at myself in the mirror I knew I could pass as a girl. While not beautiful, I was of at least reasonably good features and would have been more than passably attractive. I would have loved to be able to have my hair fluffed out in curls, but this of course was impossi- ble in the circumstances. Before Betty's return I would

rumple my hair up to it's usual messy state.

Then I suppose I could contain myself no longer, and in a conversation with Betty about our families and our childhood experiences, I told her of my three years as a girl with Aunt Joyce. I had never before told this to anyone, so that except for my parents, and of course Aunt Joyce and her daughters, no one knew of my exper- ience. I did not know how Betty would react to this, or even if she would be interested, but I brought it up see- ing where the conversation might lead. I had half ex- pected her to tease me, or to treat the matter as a rather funny joke on me, but to my relief she displayed great sympathy and interest.

The subject came up quite frequently in conversation from then on, for I believe Betty sensed that I wanted to

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