RANSVESTIA

"Well, he is my nephew," said Kate obstinately. "And he is a boy. He has to start appearing as one sooner or later."

"Why?" asked Jim Porter, frowning, "can you imagine what it'll be like when we tie up and go ashore. There'll be lots of people we know right there who'll want to talk to us. They'll only have to take one look at that, that, thing, to know what it is." He was becoming more savage as he went on. "Leave him as he is. At least he looks like something in his dresses. We can get him out of Nassau without anyone being aware of what he really is."

Kate was shocked. "How could you suggest such a thing?" she demanded. "He's our nephew and he'll live with us, and for a long time likely. We just can't let him go on the way he is. It's just not right."

The argument went on well into the night with Cathy chiming in on her father's side, and Greg remaining silent and enigmatic. As before, however Kate finally overcame all arguments and Greg agreed to get out some of his smallest and tighest things for the shorter and more slender Kenneth.

Kenny accepted the family decision without comment when it was given to him at breakfast. Kate quickly shooed the children out as Jim approached Eleanor's son, scissors and comb in hand. Kenny undid his ribbon so that all of his sun-bleached hair could cascade across his shoulders. A flustered Jim Porter had to ask the calm blonde to re- move his earrings before the shearing could begin. After 15 minutes of cutting and clipping, most of the hair, a golden color now, lay on the floor of the cabin. But Kenny's femininity was hardly diminished. His hair was parted and very short at the back and on the sides, very masculine indeed.

"It's the makeup," said Kate doubtfully. "You'll have to remove all of that, dear," she said to Kenny and was instantly distressed by the cool smile he gave her. He stood up and clicked over to the bathroom, his long skirt swishing with its usual sound. A good scrubbing soon removed the eye shadow, eye liner, face powder and lipstick from his face. His face was quite pale without makeup, his eyebrows thin, the curved and obviously shaped. His eyelashes were naturally long and thick, the envy of any pretty girl. To Kate, he resembled a young thirteen or fourteen year old girl.

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