RANSVESTIA

This was my first venture away from the farm and I had a heavenly time. I secretly wished the approving glances I noticed being thrown our way were for me but I knew Helen was far prettier than I, so I just pre- tended they were for me. To be among people again was such a wonder- ful feeling. I guess we never realized that mankind was not meant to be 'loners' in this world. We need people around us. Although this was my first venture as a woman, I never had a nervous moment because my actions and mannerisms had become so automatically feminine. During dinner we settled a few details about moving; and then we all relaxed for the rest of the evening. Helen's dancing lessons came in handy as each of the gentlemen danced with us several times.

I thanked them all several times as we drove back to the farm. I had had a lovely time and when they left to return to the city, I could look at Helen with love, but without the terrible frustrations we had suffered the night before. We were too tired to start packing that night, so we went to bed.

Two days later the Majors arrived in separate cars to take us to the city. Major Jones drove me to the apartment and helped me with my luggage. It was a small, one bedroom apartment, freshly and tastefully decorated and furnished. I liked it and said so. The Major thanked me and told me he had picked it out. Before he left, he gave me some money and suggested that I change my hair color because I would be going out more and they didn't want to take a chance on my being recognized as Greta just yet.

I unpacked my things, and checked the apartment over thoroughly. The Major had thoughtfully stocked the refrigerator, so there was noth- ing more for me to do except get my hair fixed. This, too, was another milestone on my road to being the perfect Greta. I was a little nervous about this, as I was going to be awfully close to a beauty operator, and I felt she would readily discover any flaws in my role and call the cops. I checked the yellow pages and made an appointment at a nearby shop for that afternoon, using my 'other' name of Betty Daniels.

When I told the beautician that I wanted to be a red-head, she smiled and said, "Miss Daniels, I think you'll make a lovely red head. We have a new shade I'm sure you will like. In the daylight you will have lovely, deep red hair, but in artificial light — such as lamp light — your hair will have beautiful copper-tone highlites. How does that sound?"