TRANSVE STIA

I had a premonition of things to come when mom gave me that special smile. I had seen it before: that look of happiness, combined with amusement and embellished by a tear or two. It reminded me of the time I tried on Carmel's petticoat and stupidly said that it was beautiful. And again, when she first tied an apron on me, say- ing that there was plenty of girl's work to do in the house and that we were going to do it together.

"Come Chris... look at the things I bought for you."

With a heavy heart I followed her in my bedroom. As she piled the things on my bed, she hardly even took time to take off her coat. And like a saleslady in a store, she began to show off the items one by one.

"Here are some nice panties underpants are all getting worn."

you needed some more your

She added that last part because she saw my face drop very low.

"But Mother... I have plenty yet. You did not have to get so many of them... and those horrible colors."

"Now Chris... be reasonable. You're outgrowing your underpants. These have elastic see..." She held up a nylon bloomer-style panty in light yellow, yet with elastic at the legs and the waist.

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"Did you get me any other undershorts?"

"What for? We now have plenty of these. You can wear a clean one every day like a proper girl."

"Before I could protest further, she showed me two nice slips in pink and blue and a pantyslip combination in soft pure white. Stu- pidly I said "they're nice." Won't I ever learn to keep my mouth shut? I retreated quickly and said, "I already have several of these ... why more?"

"Not enough...," mother replied. "When I was a young girl in the old country I had drawers and chests full of nice lingerie. Much more than this."

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