RANSVESTIA

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By about 7 we were ready dressed to go. I wore a dark blue skirt instead of the pale one, as the weather was still wet and miserable, and black nylons on top. So all dolled-up we went out to the car. Yes it wouldn't start. No alternative but to phone for a taxi. To To save time we arranged to walk to the main road at the end of the street. Even so, we had to stand around the brightly lit intersection for five or ten minutes before it showed. I felt very happy and less vulnerable, being with my GG friend there, and actually revelled in being seen with a handsome, impressive woman, also very well dressed.

Soon we were deposited at the address across town where we were met by the host and ushered into a large room with diffused lighting, and eight or ten people present. We shed our outerwear and were given a glass of wine and sat down in comfortable chairs. The room quickly filled up, a few greetings and introductions were made, and in general I found myself quickly accepted, though some polite curiosity was of course in evidence. I felt most happy and relaxed in this place.

I had gone there with the intention of remaining an observer, and keeping my big mouth shut, but when, in the course of the not too formal meeting, some statements were made and pursued that I knew from experience of the business world to be totally untrue and un- realistic, I felt constrained to put in my two cents' worth. I spoke quietly, and noticed the sudden hush of attention that met my words. I was duly thanked and the matter was steered into sensible chan- nels. At the informal period later, I made a point of speaking indi- vidually to quite a number of the members present, of either sex, explaining about myself, frankly and without embarrassment. The president of the group extracted a promise from me to return at some date and speak to the members, to which I happily agreed. Two of the GG's there very kindly drove M and I home despite the inconvenience and the pouring rain, and I felt pleased, that it was largely due to my having made the effort I had to communicate openly. On the whole, a very satisfying and enjoyable evening.

I was amused and pleased when subsequently my friend M told me of meeting one of the members in the street, some two weeks after- wards. She had known him personally for some time. He had been at the opposite end of the room from M and I and had left early so that I didn't have an opportunity to converse with him. The conversation in the street went as follows:

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