RANSVESTIA

in a small bowl. "This is pancake," said Hughie. "It's often said that I put it on with a trowel, but it ain't so."

While Eddie watched, Hugh Graham's face changed into an off- white shade as the nimble fingers covered every wrinkle and mark with the paste. Then with speed and ability, a face was painted over the white clown mask -- black-lined eyes and brows, red lips and redden- ed cheeks. Eddie was surprised, when Hugh stripped off his robe and undershirt, to see him apply make-up to his shoulders, chest and arms.

From under the mirror, Hugh took out a flesh-colored girdle which Eddie realized was a waist-cincher. With it on, curves began to appear for the first time on the stocky male body. The tiny jock, or "cache-sex" as Hughie called it, the sequinned g-string, and the red silk panties gave Eddie a tight feeling about his chest and groin as Hugh applied them without comment The special jelly-filled bra pulling tightly across his chest muscles suddenly revealing that Lola Levine was about to appear in full in the room. Two pairs of panty hose, a short cocktail dress which Eddie nervously zipped, red, silk high heels and a long blonde fall were added within minutes with a speed born of long prac- tice. Lola sat demurely on the wooden chair and winked at Eddie. "Just my mascara and nail polish," she said in a high, kittenish, female voice. "Then I'll add my own special perfume just for you, honey," she pouted at the young reporter and put red, button earrings in her ears.

Eddie squirmed with discomfort. In what had appeared an in- credibly short time, but was actually well over an hour, a voluptuous, sexy woman had appeared in the room, so different from the run-down middle-aged man at the start of the interview.

"I have to do a show now, darling," Lola's voice contained a sultry caress. "Why don't you ask Jimmy to give you a front row seat?"

Eddie stumbled out, trying to keep his mind on his task. The doorkeeper was coming to find him. He jerked his thumb down the hallway. "There's a table for you there. The barman will show you where

The audience was not quite the SRO Lola had advocated. In fact the club was a little over half full, about equally male and female when Lola began her act. Much to Eddie's astonishment, she was fantastic. Within minutes he was swept along with the vivacity of her act. She was having so much fun singing in a natural, high-pitched female voice,

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