As I grew older and taller my mothers' clothes began to fit me. At this same time I started going to the YMCA where I became quite athletic. I joined in many of the activities, winning honors in track. and field events. I later became president of the club at the "Y" holding this position for two years running. At about 13 I joined the Boy Scouts and reached the rank of First Class Scout before leaving.

During this time whenever I was left at home alone for any length of time I would dress. though I was living at home with two sisters and my mother I don't feel that this was the influencing factor in my life.

When I was about 15 my aunt (my mother's sister) came to live with us. She had been ill and was now recuperating at our house before returning to work. She stayed with us for about a year taking care of us while mother worked to support our small family.

In all of these years of dressing I never told anyone of my desires, wishes and dreams. I would lie awake at night dreaming of being a girl or being forced to wear girls clothes. I would pray to God to let me wake up in the morning and find that he had granted my prayer.

My older sister and I graduated from grammar school the same year. I had lost a year of school when I was nine, when I spent some time in the hosp- ital because of an accident which left me with a slight handicap. She went to a co-ed high school and I went on to a boy's technical high school. I worked my way through high school holding various types of jobs. I worked as an apprentice dental technician, assistant cashier in a department store, a carpenter in a furniture factory, clerk in an in- surance office and a draftsman in an engineering plant. While in high school I was able to maintain a B average in my school work. I was no different than other boys in that I dated whenever I could. I

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