mirrors and looked at himself. Not bad at all. He held the short black dress out in front of him and stepped into it, being careful not to hang his heels and tear the hem. He managed to zip it up the back and buckled the thin belt. He twirled on his toes and saw himself in the mirror from every angle. With make-up and a wig, he could easily pass for a young lady.

As he was standing there admiring himself, he heard the front door shut. Billy's heart jumped into his throat. If anyone saw him like this, it would be terrible. He hurried to the top of the stairs to see who it was. As he got to the stairs, he turned his ankle in the high heels and fell flat on his face at the head of the stairs.

"Who is that up there? Billy, is that you? What are you doing in those clothes?" his mother asked in surprise.

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He scrambled to his feet. "Mom, I was .. well, I just wanted to see how I would look in them. I was very careful not to tear anything", he stammered.

"You are a fine sight in those clothes. Come down here and let me see you". He walked slowly down the stairs. His face was a firey red. “Do you like the clothes you're wearing?" she asked. "Yes, I do".

"Well, I must say you look quite like a girl with them on. You know I wanted another girl when you were born, but your father was very happy with a son. Remember how I let your hair stay long until you were five? I don't mind you wearing your sister's clothes, but I'm sure that she will. You go upstairs now and change. Be sure you put her things back neatly and exactly where you found them."

"Mom, can't I have some things of my own to wear?" he asked hopefully. "We will talk about that later. You just go do as I told you. I am going to lie down for a while. My headache wouldn't go away, so I had to come home from the store early".

Billy's mother said nothing further to him about what she had seen until the following Saturday. Sis and Dad were taking care of the store. Billy was eating breakfast and Mom was

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