TRANSVESTIA

"I can't think,” I said to Roy. "I never expected this. I was happy just to be, well, just to be noticed by people," I finished lamely.

"You don't want to marry me?" There seemed to be both question and relief in his voice.

"I don't know," I said honestly. "How do you really feel? Isn't it too soon for both of us?"

"You're right," he agreed quickly. There was an awkward silence. "But I still very much want to see you and take you out."

"I'd enjoy that," I smiled. Valerie came back out at just that moment. She still wore no make-up and her hair was the same pleasant mess. She wore a dark brown mini-dress and was putting on matching heels as she came out. Her panty hose were also dark tinted.

"You look happy," she said to me cautiously.

"Yes," I said, "I think it's for the best."

"Well," said Roy, "I've got tickets to a hockey game for us. So..."

He smiled at Valerie, who gave him a nervous little smile back.

"I'm ready," I said grabbing my bag. I turned to Valerie. "I don't expect we'll be back till late tonight. Are you working late?"

She nodded woodenly and was going off to the kitchen even as we shouted a good-bye, grabbed our coats and left.

It wasn't actually our intention to go back to the apartment at all, before going on to dinner and the theatre, but the game was unusually penalty free for hockey and we found ourselves with more time than we expected. Then we ran into Dr. Lewish and his wife and she invited us to their home for dinner and bridge, which is one of Roy's weaknesses. I agreed but insisted on going back to the apart- ment to change. After a couple of drinks, it was still fairly early when we got back to the flat it must have been after eight. The Lewises had already gone on to prepare dinner, and I agreed to be quick. Roy stayed in the car while I nipped up to change.

-17-