Transvestia

at the hands of old Mr. Chamberlain! An anvil chorus preyed upon his nerves, threatening to rend them asunder. A throbbing head advised "Run!' 'Run! With each thump. His stomach writhed and burned ceaselessly. The hellish agony of the hangover had him in it's grasp. How he longed to feel the soothing hand of Gracie on his fevered brow! She at least understood him--but where was she? Great merciful heaven! How he ached for relief from the earthquake within his skull and balm for his frayed ner- ves! In due time, he fell into a restless sleep.

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During his fitful sleep he heard a new hammering. Opening gummy eyelids, he could see the midday light filtering through the drawn shades. If only the hammering would cease! Gradually it dawned on Henry that the kettle-drum sounds emanated from outside his head. Sitting up, with deliberate care so as not to start his head awhirl, he heard a voice saying. "Packages for Mr. Detweiler- sir". Henry heard himself give a croaking answer.. "Just a minute please. I'll be right there". Suppressing the quaking in his limbs, he rose, donned his trousers; and weaved to the door, and opened it. 'What in the world! " Were all those packages for him? The delivery man assured him that they were for Mr. Detweiler and were paid for. So, numbly, he allowed the deliveryman to bring them in by the armload. He breathed a great sigh of relief when the man left. Though he remembered distinctly that he had bought all of these things the day before, for the life of him, he couldn't reason why!

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Shocked into consciousness, he did not relish the prospect of the day before him, but resolutely decided upon a quick shower. The icy needles of the shower flayed his over-sensitive body into submission, pelting him back to life--not in the 'pink', but a tolerable grey. As he stepped out of the bathroom, his eyes fell upon the mound of packages heaped upon the floor, raising the question "WHY?" "Why did I buy all of... this?" He shut his eyes tightly, half expecting that when they were opened again, the packages would have vanished. But no, they remained where they lay.

In the following hours, a chastened Henry Detweiler to reason out his actions of the previous day. It was all so confusing! He did recollect a very charming

strove

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