good friend of Susanna's, but many years ago, when the kids were little, she asked me to keep my TVism away from them. I respected her wishes and still do. This, of course has been the source of many a hasty retreat...of many an evening in which Susanna has had to remain in the closet..etc...you know the scene, I'm sure. As you are well acquainted with my feel- ings (or lack of feelings) towards kids in general, you can appreciate that this situation (although sporadic) has not helped to soften my attitude to- wards small fry. They continue to be the greatest enemies of TV's.....And I try to avoid them whenever possible. The situation became extremely tense and intolerable during two week-ends at the resort in which the little 9-year old spent both days around the place and therefore prevented Susanna and a TV friend from dressing, with the exception of a couple of hours Saturday night after the kid went to bed. A storm was brewing and the adults could see it in my face...so...no more week-ends for the kid at the resort...take him some place else...or else...I go some place else. Selfish? Right! But necessary for MY peace of mind.

A couple of peaceful week-ends passed...and then the 18 year old was brought from the nearby camp where he is working...he had developed a fever... a mild cold...he was put in bed and the 3 TV's at the resort could relax...but, there's always the chance that the kid may come downstairs...or run into one of us going to the bathroom...so...with my hands in my pants pockets (my fingernails are painted this morning, bright pink) I enter the kid's bedroom, close the door...and proceed to ask him one question: "have you ever heard of transvestism?" He looks at me and says: Yes. I ask what is it? He says: "the desire to wear the clothes of the opposite sex". So I say: do you know why people have this desire? And he proceeds to give me exactly three possible

reasons:

one biological (with chromosomes and all)... another environmental (mother treating boy as girl).. and finally the escape-from-the-masculine-role theory.

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