When I was a child, my mother managed the business alone, and natur- ally I had a good opportunity to get an insight into the world of silk and laces which my mother was creating together with two skillful dress- makers. For me it was very interesting to see how a piece of fabric in the hands of the women was changed into a wonderful dress with ruffles and bows. My daydreams dwelled on these feminine things and in my thoughts I could dress myself in those smart dresses. These dreams were wonderful. I was full of joy and put into a strange extraordinarily happy mood.

I enjoyed having the power to put myself into this state of ecstacy. However, I understood that it was something you did not talk about to others if you did not want to become ridiculous or what was worse, looked upon as an odd fellow.

Therefore my astonishment was great, when suddenly one day my aunt said to me, that I perhaps might solve a problem for them. My aunt told me, that they had inquired how much it would cost to hire a profes- sional model for photography, but they had found that the price would be too high. My aunt had joined the firm and they had just started by making exclusive dresses and accessories in a new smart style. There- fore, they both had to consider expenses very carefully. It had then struck them that I might act as a fashion model wearing some of their clothes. This remark of my aunt struck me like a bolt from the blue and I quivered from excitement when my mother appeared and confirmed that she too considered it a way to solve the problem. They both asked me to help them. The model should be a young slender person of them could fill the bill. But I could, they declared.

neither

"But how?" I exclaimed, "everyone will see from the pictures that the model is just a big boy dressed up as a girl and this will only hurt the business." Saying this I wished they would protest. It would be wonder- ful to wear dresses. I knew it from my dreams. But in my brain there were two opposing opinions.

"Leave it to us!" my aunt answered, “naturally you will have makeup and a fine wig on your head. I promise you that nobody will be able to recognize you, not even your own mother. You know I was once a ladies' hairdresser and beautician in a very exclusive beauty parlor. What faces I have altered! People left the parlor quite different from when they came in. You must rely on me. With modern cosmetics and some small tricks I can make your appearance so feminine that everyone who sees your photos will think that you are a lovely girl.

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