■jransvestia

My brother tried feebly to intrude with the usual logical common sense reasons for not doing what I wanted, yet half feared, to do. But of course I soon silenced him, as I was already on the way towards the "high" of the familiar jag, and quivering with sup- pressed excitement.

I changed my shoes to a pair of beige courts, also with two and a half-inch heels, donned my mustard wool coat with a small fur collar, touched up my makeup and perfume, added a chiffon scarf, new white handbag and gauntletts also white, and with my new blue umbrella, and not forgetting the doorkey, I was out! I stood on the front step and breathed in the moist, earthy odour of the air, then with a happy quiver, I set off, in the rain.

It was about 9 in the evening, and I tripped along the half mile or so to the Square through alternately lit and dark patches, past car sales yards, closed premises, homes, etc. A few pedestrians were about and lots of cars passing. A police car cruised past on the other side of the road but didn't alter speed. Two youths came closer on a motor cycle, shouted something unintelligible and roared away. I passed a small, middle-aged lady waiting at a bus stop, but she only glanced once at me. I smiled inwardly as I thought I could have given her 10 years.

I strolled along, not too fast, not too slow then the rain stopped. Half fearfully, I felt more naked as I folded my umbrella and con- tinued. A car slowed alongside me, then sped away. Then, happily, the rain resumed just before I reached the Square.

The brilliance of the shop lights over-awed me so I ran the gaunt- let of the traffic to cross and walk along the park edge by the trees, winter bare so the umbrella was still needed, and there it was less brightly lit. I completed the circuit, a little sadly and crossed the street to head for "home." Three youths trotting past gave me a glance of interest, but no more than might be usual, for which all my senses were alert. I started down the highway, then decided on a little detour. As a result I arrived at the house from the opposite direction, and as I approached, I heard hammering and banging in the house vicinity. On reaching the step I discovered that M had returned earlier than expected, and had been given a ride home. She was not perturbed, but thought that I had possibly fallen asleep before the fire. Asleep! When I explained what I had been doing, she

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