RANSVESTIA

"Mother," I asked her as I hooked her up, "Why do women wear corsets?"

"Women have always worn corsets, dear. They need the support and a good pair of corsets are necessary to make their figures look better."

"Aren't they awfully uncomfortable?”

"Of course not, silly. A woman isn't comfortable without them," she said matter-of-factly.

"Well, on the street car I heard a lady say her corsets were killing her, and I heard a girl at school say the same thing. And when you are in your corsets you can't bend. I have to pick things up for you, and you can't tie your shoe lace if it comes undone. Isn't that because of your cor- sets?"

I had finished hooking her up and she turned to me and said emphat- ically, "Now, let's put an end to all these silly questions. The woman on the street car probably had a bone sticking into her leg because her cor- sets didn't fit or weren't laced properly, and the girl at school was prob- ably showing off before the girls who haven't started wearing them yet. She probably loves wearing them and no doubt laces herself as tightly as her mother will let her. Now let's go to breakfast.”

"But, mother," I countered, “do you love to wear your corsets?"

"Of course I do, silly. I've become so used to them I can't go without them. I need them for support. I've worn them so long I couldn't hold myself up without them. And they are very comfortable. And I can't bend over because the bones in my corsets are put there so I can't, and they are supposed to hold me up straight. And I don't want to bend over anyway because I don't want to wrinkle or strain my dress. And I love being laced tight in strong, well-made corsets so I can't bend over. And I love the feeling they give me. And I am proud of my small waist and a lot of my friends envy me. Now, are you over being sorry for me? I hope I have convinced you that I simply adore wearing high heels and corsets. Actually I feel sorry for you men. You will never know the pleas- ure we women get from our clothes.'

••

Actually I had not mentioned high heels, nor did I say I was sorry for her. I determined to find out how it felt to be dressed in her clothes at the first opportunity. And I soon did!

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