FICTION

“GOOD-BYE TO JIM”

Marylynne 50-M-1 FPE

The phone was ringing as I entered my apartment. I closed the door, dashed over and picked it up, "Hello?" I queried.

"Hello, Jim, this is Neil," came a man's voice through the ear piece.

"Good to hear from you, Neil, what's up?" I asked.

"If you still have Sundays and Mondays off, how about coming over Sunday evening? I'm giving a cocktail party to unveil a couple of new paintings. Besides, I've invited a girl I want you to meet.”

"Of course, I'll come, Neil; but how many girls will this one make that you've introduced me to? Aren't you ever going to give up on finding me the 'right girl"? Does she know what I do for a living?" I fired back at him.

He just laughed. "I'll see you about seven Sunday, O.K.? Bye" he said. "Good-bye, Neil, and thanks for the invite."

Neil Barton was an art dealer, and had been a true, close friend of mine since we were in college together. He had never questioned my behavior, and had even helped me get started in my chosen profession. We were roommates and I had confessed to him one night that I was a Transvestite. When I had explained what that was, he simply said he didn't understand what made a person want to do that, but that it was my life and I should live it as I chose. He kept my secret down through the years, and when he saw me dressed one evening, suggested that I should seriously consider becoming a professional female impersonator. We had some long talks

2