RANSVESTIA

"H-Helen s-said she'd figure out a w-way to g-get G-Greg off her b- back," there was fright in Cathy's face and in her voice. She'd never seen her father in such a fury before.

Kate was staring open-mouthed at her daughter. "Greg was chasing Helen?" There was disbelief in her voice. Jim Porter stopped at the liquor cabinet and, stunned, turned to his wife.

"Th-that's what I said, d-didn't I?" pouted Cathy. "You always say that he chases anything in a skirt. Well," she said defiantly, "he does."

Kate found Helen sitting on the sill of the broad window in the upstairs library. She was wearing a dark brown silk dress with dark stockings. High heels lay on the floor beneath her. She was eating a bright-red apple, nearly the color of her lipstick. She jumped as Kate closed the door and made as if to leave but Kate's upraised hand stopped her.

"I've been finding out about you and Greg," said Kate quietly. The "girl's" body stiffened. Her black eyes were opened wide and she looked like a startled deer, about to run.

Kate sat at the other end of the padded sill and patted the shapely, silk-sheathed leg. "It's O.K.," she said wearily. "Well, kind of all right. Cathy put us straight and Jim's having a talk with Greg." She sighed. "But it won't do any good, I fancy. I don't suppose you could have been a less attractive girl, could you?"

The black eyes had closed a little, but Helen was still tense. She shook her head, watching Kate closely. "So," said Kate, becoming business-like, "we know now that we have to do something about you, don't we? And about your... er... your condition."

"Couldn't I just go back to the island?" Kate found it very hard to believe that those soft, murmured words came from a boy's mouth.

Kate smiled crookedly. "Why?" she asked. "Oh, don't tell me you were happy there. I think I know that. But tell me, what would you like now? Like most in the whole world?"

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