that I am a queer. She destroyed a part of me when she destroyed my clothes--and I was never able to completely forgive her for that. Inci- dentally, that was the only purge I've ever had--and I had nothing to do with it. True, I've gotten rid of clothes down through the years—but that was due to a normal transition of fashions-cast off the old and acquire

new.

That house contained so many unhappy memories we sold it and moved to another town to try to erase some of the hurts we had inflicted on each other.

In 1960, I was transferred back to Wyoming to help build a new mine and beneficiating plant. After construction, I stayed on in the operating department as a supervisor. Our private lives, though, didn't improve, and we started discussing divorce. Before we could firm up divorce plans, though, N- suffered a mental breakdown and spent several months in the State Hospital. When she came home, she seemed more like her old self than she had for a long time, and for over two years, everything was sweet and lovely with us. I must say this so it will fit in with the rest of my story-during the course of our marriage she had gone from a size 12 to 20 and back again. Also, since she didn't like the shorter hemlines, she continued to buy 16's and 18's for the added length -even if the rest of the dress did fit her like a tent. On with my story. (I wear a 16T―get it?).

As it does every year, the Halloween masquerade dance came along. I asked N- if she would like to go. She said yes and then asked me what I was going to wear. I told her I was undecided and she replied. "I'm sure that one of my dresses will fit you if you can come up with every- thing else. I asked her if she was sure that she didn't mind if I dressed. She said, "No, maybe it will help get it out of your system." I never bothered to tell her that it would never be out of my system. I borrowed a blonde wig and made preparations for the dance. I borrowed every- thing else except the shoes from N—. I had managed to buy a pair that would fit.

I don't believe N— enjoyed the dance too much, but I had a marvelous time. I don't believe anybody at the dance knew what a glorious time I was having. When I returned the wig to its proper owner the next day, she told me that I was actually glowing with happiness (and a little booze).

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