RANSVESTIA

clothing, combined with the attitude of my charming, considerate companion to render a mood of such euphoria that many would consider it bordering on dangerous. This, I reflected, was surely a zenith of victory for Christine and her self-expression campaign.

Eventually leaving, I asked if we might walk about a little, as I was sure I had overeaten, and my escort charmingly consented, despite the cold and the intermittent rain. We walked the length of the main street, pausing occasionally to look briefly in some shop window, then on again, arm in arm. When almost back at the car, my companion suddenly turned into the ornate foyer of the city's swankest hotel. I meekly followed, slightly shrinking into my fur coat as we passed into the large, warm lounge, and chose a table far from the majority of groups present. I sat and slipped the coat off and on to the back of my chair, settling down as naturally and poisedly as I could manage in view of the many stares directed at us from various directions. I felt sure that I must have been read, but could not permit myself to show it. We had a couple of drinks taken slowly to the background music of a modern combo and sub- dued chatter all round. Once, the bar manager, who like most of the clientele, knew and was known to G, came past with a scrutiny and a polite greeting, which I returned with as much aplomb as I could muster. In due course, we left, running the gauntlet of stares and (I imagined) snide remarks muttered. We drove home and relaxed after what had been, for me, one most unforgettable day.

The morning was dry and a wan sun worked to shine through, though it was still cold. I decided after the briefest moment of in- decision, to continue as myself, and with the vague intention of changing en route somewhere. That moment I hated, and wanted to postpone for as long as possible, the return of my brother from limbo. My destination this time was a city to which my GG was fly- ing to meet me on the day following. It was our intention there to talk with some real estate agents, probably look at some houses for sale, and feel out the prospects of employment. Obviously there- fore it would have to be (regrettably) as my brother, but for the time being I wanted to prolong the ecstasy I'd been revelling in, so I left G's in the mid-morning, after expressing my deep and sincere thanks, and blithely drove north.

When travelling any distance from home it is the habit of GG and self to take a prepared picnic basket, and in these circumstances

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