RANSVESTIA

furtive glance over my shoulder and entered the darkened street. During Mardi-Gras, it is too crowded to drive a car because of the several million people who visit the city for the camival-like festivities.

I felt the soft swish of my silken treasures against my skin as I moved and threaded my way slowly down the sidewalk. Finally, I boarded a bus for the final distance to the heart of the city. What a total thrill it was to be free and uninhibited as I shopped in many of the stores downtown. It was a fascinating experience to try on some dresses and purchase a pair of beige sandals in one of the stores, later on again mixing with the crowd.

Since it was a hot night and I was feeling rather thirsty, I entered a cocktail lounge for a tall one and to people-watch. After enjoying several drinks and dinner, I returned to the hotel where I met some of the other TV's and we decided to go to the lounge. It was most in- teresting to listen to their conversation and to get acquainted. It seemed that time simply flew by as I suddenly became aware that dawn was approaching. We hastily said goodnight and I went back to my room, slipped out of my clothes and into a sexy pink lace-trimmed nightie, pulled back the silken sheets and cuddled up with my mind whirling in anticipation of the coming afternoon and evening.

Early in the mid-day, I met several of my newly found friends and we brunched in the hotel dining room, discussing plans finally deciding to go our separate ways during the day and get together later in the evening at one of the suites where a cocktail party had been arranged. Two of the other "girls", Michelle and Carol and I made appointments at the Salon de Belle Dame in the French Quarters to get our hair done. It was great fun as we watched our wigs transformed into silken tresses while we chatted. Later as I watched festivities, I suddenly became aware of my aching feet and, being unaccustomed to high heels. I wended my way back to the hotel to rest them. Later, as I sat eating lunch, another TV joined me. "Wanda" turned out to be in her 60's, dresses full time. She shared many of her numerous experiences with me. We later went for a tour of the docks along the banks of the famous Mississippi River. Two passenger paddle wheel steamboats and a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier were tied up at the docks. What a thrilling sight! A calliope could be heard in the distance playing the "show-boat" tunes as crowds of tourists paused to listen as they boarded the steamboats. How

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