Me, a happy, smiling girl. They could put all the lipstick in the world on me and I'd never make a girl! I didn't say anything, though, and the doctor said that he had to go and make the arrangements. Jean was to stay, and discuss the events of the next few days with me.

“Well, what now Jean, am I supposed to slip a pink nightgown over my bandages and practice swishing around the room?"

"No, silly, the next few days will be mostly admin, the taking of drugs and sedatives, recovering from the shock of your wound and talking. Tomorrow you're going to be transferred to a small modern clinic on the outskirts of the city, and I'll be going with you to stay during your confinement period. There won't be any great change in you so that you'll notice for the first few weeks, so don't worry about suddenly sitting up in bed and talking in a voice two octaves higher."

I asked her when the first signs of the change were and when I would have to start wearing a dress and all the other crap.

"Just wait, the signs will change you subtly, and don't start worry- ing about "dresses and all that crap now." You'll be in them when the time is right and not before, and I hope you change your attitude about that "crap" stuff, before you have to wear them. Now be good and I'll give you a back massage."

We made light conversation about other subjects while she was rub- bing my back and soon I dozed off in a much needed healing nap. She woke me up for lunch, and afterwards we played Monopoly, until even- ing and supper. I noticed that my medication had been changed, but I wasn't sure which pill was for my injuries and which would turn me into an "Instant Woman" so I took them all. I watched T.V. with Jean, getting much more used to her presence, and finding it very difficult not to like the lovely blonde, only towards evening, watching one of the T.V. news reels showing war action, did I remember that she had once been one of those fighting men, that thought was even more difficult to believe and I didn't want to question her about it. I stuffed the fact back into my memory bag, and went back to the show. Afterwards I said that I was feeling drowzy again, and she got up to leave.

"You know I'm beginning to like you very much mean," not forgetting my permanent incapacity.

as a person I