The clerks become very sympathetic and helpful - in many cases, they get a big kick out of fitting a "lady" who is 6-3 and 195 lbs. Finding a suitable "costume" seems to be quite a challenge.

Paula's wardrobe includes four or five pairs of shoes that I bought after trying on in the store. I have been told by several clerks that it is not unusual for a man to come in the ladies' department shopping for size 111⁄2C's. One woman customer watched the whole procedure, then asked me: "Is THAT the new style for men – what are we coming to now?"

In spite of my height, a Tall-Girl's size 18 dress will fit reasonably well. Pauls's 39-29-41 dimensions (when proberly padded) are not in bad proportion, though the waist generally has to be taken in about two inches. There are many styles in which the sleeves are hopelessly tight, so sleeveless dresses are the best bet; even those will give trouble unless the arm-holes are a bit larger than usual.

I wouldn't want to give the impression that just any TV can walk in just any store and get this kind of treatment. First, I take care to patronize the city shops where the clerks are apt to be somewhat sophisticated, and try to size up the person in which I'm confiding. Second, my appearance is so overwhelmingly different from the public image of "effeminate" that it seems to wipe out any qualms the clerks may feel about dealing with an off-beat customer.

After all these preparations, Paula's opportunity to "come out" in TV society had to wait until my wife went to spend a month with her family. The first visit was just with Sheila and Avia. They were constructively critical, but encouraging, so next week-end I went to a full scale TV party at another girl's home. Next week-end at Sheila's, and the following one at the other home and by the time my wife got home, Paula was all used up for the time being, and ready to go back into hiding. Since then she has made many parties, gaining from interaction with the other ladies, and her confidence has risen so that she really IS "up to standard". Confidence, of course, leads to adventures.

Once I took her wig to be cleaned and set, giving the clerk the usual pitch and showing her Paula's lovely mug-shots. She was enchanted, and we were both looking forward to the return visit