RANSVESTIA

She helped me considerably in getting ready for our Friday date. I doubt I'd have managed it at all but for her. She arranged and combed out my newly streaked hair and did my make-up with green and white eyeshadow in a way that made me appear positively attractive. My purple and white gown with the white peasant sleeves was set off by the purple shoes and evening bag she lent me. Roy was stunned by my appearance, but I'm afraid I was still too uptight at the thought of what might happen between Valerie and Earl to really appreciate Roy's admiration.

Earl had instantly moved in on Valerie when I'd introduced them. She wore a black, silk evening dress, with thin, silver straps over her bare shoulders to hold up the backless dress. Her hair was parted in the center and she'd put an artificial braid on the back. The large, silver earrings she wore and her black-painted eyes, making them seem huge, accentuated her youth. Earl was almost fawning over her, and she was lapping it up, a permanent smile on her pink lips. She had a sable wrap that she insisted on wearing, although I thought it wouldn't be warm enough. Earl was there instantly to help her drape it about her shoulders and to slip his arm about her slim waist.

As the evening wore on, I could see why Roy felt as he did about Earl. I found it sickening the way he cossetted Valerie, holding her hand and putting his arm around her, just as if he owned her. He was flamboyant in almost everything he did, but Valerie didn't appear to unwilling to follow his lead. She looked like she was actually enjoying being the center of so much attention. He had a hug for her the end of every dance and even Roy, on the occasional dance, treated her the same way. She seemed to enjoy the slow dances, also snuggling her head into Earl's shoulder and neck just as if she was a real girl. I was relieved at last to get her away from our table to 'powder our noses' to talk to her. She was more interested in fixing my make-up, however, than in talking about Earl.

"I've met worse," was her cryptic comment then I acidly said I didn't know how he could stand such a show-off.

When we got back to our table, Earl bounced up and started to hug me. "Hey," he said. "Roy just told me about you two. I hope you'll both be very happy." Roy looked embarassed as well he might. Earl's words were as much news to me as they were to Valerie. I could feel her go rigid as Earl went on and on and gave me a quick kiss on the

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