ransvestia

ed me, feeling lightly over my padded hips and corseted waist. Then he said, "O.K. You can turn around."

I still had my unlighted cigarette in my hand and started for my handbag in the car to get my lighter, when he ordered me to stand away from the car. By now at least six police cars, lights flashing, had converged around, and there I was standing in my thin high heels, all dressed up, and of all things, my thought was that I was glad I had my wig reset in Rochester. I was confident it looked professionally perfect and I thought if I was going down to ruin, I would go like a lady.

"'"'I just want to get my lighter out of my pocketbook. I'm nervous," I said.

"Just stand away from the car. An officer will give you a light. What do you like to be called, Ms, Miss or Mrs.?"

I said, "I would like to be called Miss but unfortunately I am a male.

"O.K. Miss," he said and asked another officer to give me a light. "Just stand easy, Detective Gervasi is on the way. He has a few questions."

"Can't I have my handbag? I'm lost without it,” I pleaded.

"You'll have it after the lieutenant examines it. Just stand easy,

Miss."

With all those cops and onlookers the police cars had attracted, it wasn't easy to "just stand easy." I started to lean against the car but was told to stand away from it. I was thankful for my lighted cigarette and shifted from one foot to the other, acting as feminine as I could while the officers conferred and stared at me. One looked dismal and just stood looking me over from head to heels without movement or ex- pression. I thought to myself, "I wonder if he despises or envies me.'

The lieutenant arrived, looked over my papers and started to ques- tion me Yes, I was married and had four grandchildren. No they didn't call me grandmother. Yes, my wife knew of my urge to dress up, etc. He looked through my pocketbook thoroughly, had the first officer search the car and asked me to open the trunk.