RANSVESTIA

He released the can-handles and grew six-one erect, palms prayerlike together rubbing the coldness from each other, and turning toward me as I soared along the sidewalk ribbon, he paused to let me pass:

"Well... hullo there. . . " flirting voice a lovely compliment, deep- toned... sincere.

I smiled upward: "Hullo" the streetlight calculated sufficient to il- luminate my silent satisfaction. Poor dear . . . poor Mr. Parks. I felt like a heel in a way - deceiving him... cheating — making him cheat on his wife too, but ever so slightly it not really mattering.

Walking on, feeling the brown warmth of his eyes seeing my long flipped hair floating on the wind. Twelve or more steps I trod before I heard his feet carry him back toward his door. Oh well. . . sweet . . .

The short block, deserted through my window, now fairly teemed with people - - strange, bundle-laden from evening stores or drawing wheeled cages full of A & P shopping bags. Some less strange faces farther neighbors with no names passed by smiling at my presence smiling at my presence my being . . . my actual being . . . I was real silent sounds - told me so told me:

...

their soft streetlight faces

"Hullo, Person!"

"Oh... bless you," I thought, "and thank you for my birth — you've proved I'm real tonight

stop a teardrop.

and for eternity!" I bit my lip, somehow to

The car was still warmish inside from driving home from the office; more hospitable by far than the winter nightness blustering about out- side. I drove off toward the freeway thinking how strange yet real it was my elbows staying as they did so close to my body when maneuvering from the tight parking slot. Windows locked, contained the heater's blast and the dear music chosen by button gloved-finger touched. I opened my furry coat and pushed the shoulders outward so snug.. sweetness and warmth.

―

The freeway stretched on, a headlight dotted string to the left, and red ahead. I stayed to the right at fifty-five - no tickets (or worse) for me. The motor purred beneath my real foot and Simon sang “Juniper and Lamplight” — completeness. veins contentment rich pulsating as thoughts of unknown faces passed in silent recognition.