RANSVESTIA

see a clock behind the doctor and told him it was long after midnight and that Sunday was gone. He turned to the nurse and said to my relief, "She's all right, she can go home."

I had come from the ambulance to the operating room in a wheel chair and certainly expected to go out by wheelchair. Never in the many times I have been dismissed from hospitals have I been allowed to go any other way but in a wheelchair. But now as the nurse helped me on with my coat she said, "There you are, dear. Your friends are in the waiting room across the lobby." And she ushered me out the door and pointed me down the corridor. I couldn't believe it! Just off the table and no wheelchair? And in such high heels?

So in short steps I clacked down the corridor past the receptionist who watched my progress the moment she heard my heels which seemed to me to be making an awful racket. But she smiled pleasant- ly as I went by and the girls who also heard me coming and met me and we drove back to the apartment house. I poured out my gratitude to the two girls who stayed with me as I prepared for bed. They would not let me do a thorough job of removing my make-up for fear of disturbing my wound. Finally they kissed me good night and said if I needed anything to bang on the floor and they would be right up. I shall never forget the loving kindness of those lovely young women.

In bed, I couldn't get to sleep. I wasn't hurt so badly that I didn't get a thrill out of the whole experience. I was glad I had resigned myself to accept whatever might happen and keep my cool. Outside of the receptionist, if those doctors, nurses and x-ray operators thought I was anything but a well dressed sporty old gal they never let on. My lady friends insisted that only the receptionist knew I wasn't female and that the others took me for what I appeared to be. So I really enjoyed myself and came out smelling like a rose.

After a few hours sleep I put on my make-up with extra care and dressed in the elegant outfit I had worn the night before. My male clothes were still in my car and I didn't want to go out and get them as a lady and go back to the car as a man. The bandage over my eye might give me away and I didn't want to change anyway. So I called my sister who retired recently and now lives alone near me in Maine. She has known about Frances for years but has never seen her. I explained my predicament and she was very cordial and said of course I could change at her house and would look forward to

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