RANSVESTIA

He offered me a job with him, and began to teach me the repair busi- ness. Also, after high school I became interested in roller skating. I joined the club and was a very active member. One night we decided to throw a party at the rink. The idea was greeted with enthusiasm and a rule was passed that girls would come as boys and boys would come as girls. So I got another chance for the girl within to appear in public. This time I got brave and shaved my legs. I wore a blackturtleneck sweater and matching skirt that I slipped out of Mother's closet. I received a lew cat calls but it was mostly in fun. The following year the club decided to do the same. This time two of the girls with whom I was very friendly took me under their wing on the night of the party. Before we went to the party I stopped by the home of one of the girls. They made me get dressed then went to work on my face and hair. For the first time in my life I felt the wonderful touch of makeup on my face although I had tried lipstick before. First they put down a base, next came the eyebrows and lashes, then powder and finally lipstick. Then they began to work on my hair. They began to roll my hair and to make little spit curls. After they had finished there I was, maybe not the best looking girl in the world, but certainly the best looking one that night.

Not long after this I decided to join the Army as I was getting close to draft age. Like millions of others before me I took basic and then was assigned to a Division preparing to go to Germany. During this time my favorite pasttime was put in a closet altogether but not forgotten. On the two occasions that I had to go home I dressed whenever I got the chance.

In the spring of '58 I was shipped to Germany. About a month after I arrived in Germany I met my future wife. We did quite a bit of dating from the first. One night she said that she would like to dress me up as a girl and pull a trick on someone. She dressed me up and then had this lady come over and see me. She told the lady that I was trying to break up her brother (my girl friend's brother) and his girl friend. Well, let me tell you that the chewing out I got that night by this lady was worse than any one I ever got in the Army. The lady then started to hit me, but before she could do this my girl friend stopped her and told her that it was a joke and then revealed who I was. The lady then began laughing and complimented me on my looks. I must say that even though I was chewed out real good I enjoyed every minute of it.

Another time that girl friend suggested I dress was during the Fasching Season. Fasching corresponds to the Mardi Gras in New Orleans. This time however, she brought in outside help. Her sister and a neighbor

58