RANSVESTIA

Barb, who had been quiet on the stroll, turned to me and asked me if I would let her cut my hair. Knowing that she could probably do a better job than the local barber if she put her mind to it, agreed. Be- sides, I could save that much out of my allowance.

Though Mother and Dad wanted me to work at our Interior Decor- ating Studio as a stock boy again, Barb's dad offered me a job as a stock boy at the city's largest Ladies' apparel shop where he was a buyer. The chance to take my first "outside" job appealed to my parents and myself. I accepted the offer gladly.

Barbara did live up to her promise to cut my hair, but somehow she never seemed to cut as much off as the barber did. As the summer went by, I found that I had to brush my hair more often to keep it in place. However, I received many compliments at work on my beautiful blonde hair, so I didn't want to go back to the barber either. Once again it seemed that Barb knew best.

The world of women's fashions was new to me and it appealed to me from the start. I was accepted by the sales staff because I worked hard to please. I was soon assigned to the wardrobe mistress for the weekly Fashion Show. This was a spectacle and drew women from the surrounding states every week. I had to pick up the featured gowns and dresses, the hose and shoes, and the lovely lingerie from the various departments in the store and make sure that they were coded by en- semble for our models. I also ran errands for our models and became their confidant when these high strung and nervous girls were talkative. I loved my new job and made up my mind to be a buyer when I finished school.

Barb and I dated all summer, of course, and we continued to go to dances at the park every weekend. However, even in ballroom dancing, we felt that we should change places. Our stage experiences of the past year at school had taught us that our desire for perfection could only be when Barb led. I could not seem to improvise when I led, whereas Barb encouraged it when she led. I noticed too, that Barb seemed to be stronger and harder to lead but I put it down to deter- mination. We danced at public dances less and less and more and more at home where Barb would lead and I would follow with my suggestions for changes being accepted more and more.

One evening I came home early from work and went over to see Barb. I found her in the garage in a gym sweat suit working out with