"We were wondering,” Jack said, “if you girls would like to go to a dance this evening."

I quickly replied, "Well, I don't know..."

""

"Oh, please, Marcia! You know Mother will let us."

I looked at her with all the desperation I could summon up. It was no use. She was hooked, and I looked away disgustedly.

The rest of the afternoon was spent playing shuffleboard, and believe me, Jack made more passes than any one quarterback could have made in an entire season. I couldn't believe it, but I politely, and persistently, warded him off. When dinnertime came, I gave him a reassuring smile, but nothing else.

Mom gave us permission to go, although she wasn't very excited about the whole idea. She asked to meet the boys, and told them not to keep Susie and I out late. We left for the dance.

Susie and I were both dressed stylishly. I had on my wig again, gloves, a set of costume jewelry, a tight low-cut pink dress, and a pair of high heels. Everything was in pink. I was really playing Marcia Mc- Lain tonight. With my new cleavage, and deep tan, I had really out- done myself, and I grimly realized that keeping Jack the Masher away all evening was going to be quite a chore.

When we arrived at the dance, it seemed evident that many guys were staring at Susie and I, and for once, I resented it. I acted a little snobbish at first, but I eventually got to like Jack. He was amusing, and clever. While we talked and laughed, Susie and Bill kept going for repeated walks. After one of them, Susie said my nose needed a re- pair job. We excused ourselves, and retired to the ladies' room.

"Bill wants to go for a drive,” she said.

"Are you kidding? You know what that means? Do you realize what Mom would say if she knew I went and, uh, you know, with Jack. What am I saying? What would I say? I'm a heterosexual male. I like girls, not guys!"

Susie stared at me, "Oh, come off it! You just love being Marcia. I hate to say it, but don't think JoAnne and I are ignorant of what's

39