RANSVESTIA

My Week As --

"A Girl"!

Sally Ann Lane

Jim Eaton had just become age 21 and as Fall approached, his dejection, personal confusion, and guilt increased, and the thought of his senior year at college was equally dim as he hated the dormitory life where the other young men spent most of their time competing for their macho image. There were a segregated few who were gay, and some of the gays paraded around campus in dresses, long hair, and pretending to be caricatures of women. Jim Eaton found them revolt- ing though he accepted their right to live their lifestyle. Jim Eaton further cloaked himself in isolation from all others, even avoiding Kathy Miller, his steady girl for the last three years, as his personal problems were so intense that he was afraid he might in dispair blurt them out and deeply offend Kathy Miller, who would not understand, anyway, he was sure. In the previous semester at college, Jim Eaton's light weight, his long hair, and his quiet manner had made him the target of cruel jokes and insult. Other boys had long hair, yet they kept theirs wild while Jim Eaton prided himself on his clean locks, brushed nicely, such that his crowning glory was truly pretty. On a Saturday night at the college favorite beer parlor, Jim Eaton had enough of the taunts and flew at the largest tormentor, knocking him down on his back on the floor, which was a surprise for the six-foot tormentor as he had never been in that position. Jim Eaton took advantage and pounded the helpless boy who had to be taken to the emergency room for treatment. Kathy Miller approved this, but the others did not, and Jim Eaton was called before the college dean and put on probation for starting a fight, personal injury, and Jim Eaton's reasons were not accepted. Jim Eaton and Kathy Miller stayed close the rest of the semester as Jim Eaton was formally ostracized by the other boys in his class.

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