RANSVESTIA

I know I'm 30 and been working for ten years, but even I couldn't afford a two-bedroom apartment like ours all by myself. And I didn't want to move. I'd lived in that high-rise for nearly eight years.

I approached almost every grad from the nursing school, and probably every one of their friends, too, trying to find someone to share with me—but no luck. So, desperate, I did the only thing I could think of, I advertised in the local rag. I specifically said, "Phone after 6:30," in the ad and, whether or not there were calls before that, well, I'll never know. As far as I know, I got just that one call after a week of running the ad. The voice was kind, gentle and full of humor- captivating, I guess you'd call it. She said her name was Valerie MacMillan and she'd be over as soon as she could.

When she came inside the door, she introduced herself again as 'Valerie,' her silver nails pressing into the back on my hand. But I knew she wasn't Valerie MacMillan. She was Terry Evans. Or, I guess I should say, he was Terry Evans. I let him walk about the place, not letting on I knew him, and he was going on in rapture about how beautiful the place was and how thrilled he'd be if I'd let him share with me. He wore more makeup this time, blue eyeshadow and black eyeliner. His dress was white, pleated and fashionably knee-length. He wore the most gorgeous white and silver shoes with Louis heels. He obviously didn't recognize me at all.

As he undid his coat and his breasts thrust forward in that low-cut dress, I must have turned back in revulsion.

He stopped in the middle of praise of the beautiful commode in what would have been 'her' room. "What's the matter?" he asked abruptly.

"You're Terry Evans," I blurted out.

For a long time, he stood there, looking at me. I must admit that I've rarely before even been in the company of such a beautiful woman. 'You're Dr. Lewis' nurse," he said shortly.

I nodded dumbly. There wasn't much else I could do. He looked regretfully around the room, at the white and pink counterpane on the bed. "I could have been happy here," he said wistfully. Then he shrugged, straightened his navy-blue coat, fastening the huge buttons

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