RANSVESTIA

I considered the most attractive in my closet. Perhaps she was feeling that since I had commented on these clothes, that they would be the ones I would most likely choose, if I were in the position to do so.

Anyway, it seemed quite natural to me at the time, although it is quite amazing that I had gotten dressed as if I had been doing it my whole life. Perhaps if there is anything like reincarnation, the last time I was around, I was a girl, because I had no trouble assuming that I

was one now.

I put on a high collared white blouse, with puffy full sleeves, a blue plaid skirt, black pumps with one inch heels, a pair of small earrings, and a bracelet. Just before going out to show Marie, I put some perfume behind my ears, wrists and into my curly, greek-girl hairdo.

III

An evening of charm lessons, window shopping, stopping for a soda, so that I could get used to people looking at me, changing the names on the mail box, and a night in curlers and nightie gave way to the dawn of P-Day.

Her parents were to arrive at eleven so we were up preparing by eight. I put on my underthings, and took the rollers out of my hair. Then Marie brushed it into style and added a white satin ribbon to the brown curls, as accent. I put on a blue tailored dress with white collar and cuffs and a pair of red pumps. Part of the training the night before had been in makeup, so I performed my own painting, sparingly, but with a cute pink to my cheeks and mouth. Then with the nervousness of two schoolgirls we waited.

They appeared right on time like the plague. Actually, they were nice people as I was to find out later. But instead of looking all com- fortable, and homey looking, they resembled the judges of the Star Chamber to me at that moment.

Marie answered the door, greeted them and led them into the living room where I was standing, trying to shrink, disappear, and cursing the whole idea. To make matters worse, they both seemed to stare at me.

It must have been just a few seconds at the most, but my whole life passed in front of me, all I could think of was that I looked like a joke,