'I don't know,' he stammered, 'I feel very strange.'

'In what way, sweetheart. How strange?'

Like....like this

'I don't know. is the way I should be.'

'A girl, you mean?'

'I don't know. That can't be right. Just to look this way. I....I like it.'

'Darling that's not so surprising. You look very pretty. Anyone would like to look pretty.'

'Yes....yes. Pretty. Very Pretty. Can I sit down a minute?' 'Of course.' She led him by the hand to the dresser chair where he sat gently, still in a position to see his reflection in the mirror.

'Darling,' Mrs. Watson explained, 'it's probably a bit of a shock to find that you make such a lovely looking girl but you must have had some indication. Even in your basketball gear Now you were quite pretty. that's not the end of the world. You also know that you are a handsome and popular boy. We know now without a doubt that you can go to the party tomorrow night and get away with it easily. After that you don't have to wear girl's clothes ever again if you don't want to.'

'What if I want to,' he asked, thinking he might.

'Well that's OK too. Look let's get you undressed now and you go off to bed. You've got twen- ty hours before the party. Just think on it a while. You'll realise it's not a problem really.'

'OK, sure,' Lyndon agreed, taking a long last look in the mirror.

Half an hour later he was in

bed drifting on the edge of sleep. In his mind he had con- tinuous pictures of the pretty girl in the mirror. He wanted to see her again.

The next day he rationalised his position. His mother was right. He would go to the party and collect his reward for a super season of basketball. He would play at being Lynda all night and enjoy it if he could. Then it would be back to Lyn- don.

In the early evening he bathed and shaved his legs and under his arms. Then, once again, with his mother's help he became Lynda and once again he stood before the mirror and was de- lighted and confused. He took a deep breath and committed himself to the night. He went downstairs where his mother gave him a fine white knitted wool wrap and a small evening bag.

'There's make-up and handker- chief in there. You'll probably have to use the bathroom so just be careful and you'll be fine. You look stunning, my sweet, and I'm very proud of you.'

It

The front doorbell rang. was Dianne and her mother come to pick him up. At the door Dianne formed her mouth into a huge 'O' when she saw him.

'Oh God, Lynda, you look marvellous.' She turned to her mother. 'Doesn't she mother?'

Mrs. Smith smiled broadly 'She certainly does. Come on girls, we must be off.'

Mrs. Watson walkes to the car with them and kissed her 'daughter' good luck. Lynda slid daintily into the back seat, arranged her skirt around her, and they were off.

12-

The team all rushed forward to greet Lynda when she arrived.

'Hi Lynda, congratulations. Boy, don't you look great,' captain Carol said.

'Lynda hi,' Penny said planting a kiss on her cheek, 'hey don't you look great. We've only ever seen you in your tunic.'

Marsha also kissed her on the cheek. 'Lynda how come you can play basketball so well and look so good too?'

'Hey Lynda there's some great

looking guys here. I bet you

win them too,' Sue said.

For her part Lynda was just slightly overcome. She must have said 'thank you' a dozen times but it was about all she could say.

She and Dianne and the other girls took their seats in the auditorium and Lynda waited nervously while all of the divis- ional awards were presented. The second last award went to Carol for 'best and fairest' player. At last, the Mayor who was presenting the awards made the announcement.

'And now we come to the most important award of all. Covering all divisions it goes to the girl who has been recog- nized as The Player of the Year. In her first season with Cranebrook the winner is.......... Lynda Wilson.'

Just a little unsteadily Lynda got to her feet and put her bag and wrap on her seat. To thunderous applause she walked, carefully erect, step after step, down the isle and up the few steps onto the podium. Some- where in the background she was aware of a number of wolf whistles from the boys in atten- dance. She approached the Mayor and gracefully curtsied