EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
By: Jacki Pett
Part 2
The new taupe pantyhose were first. I was very careful not to poke a
fingernail through them. That brought another dilemma to mind.
"Let me help you fit your bra." I was reluctant to let her see my chest
but there was no way to hide it and put on the bra. "Jeffrey," She said with
concern, "your swelling hasn't gone down yet." She touched my chest
tenderly. "It almost looks worse. Does it hurt?"
It wasn't painful but it was embarrassing. "No, as long as I don't
bang myself or brush against it."
"We should get you back to the doctor."
"He said it could get worse before it got better." If it did get better. I
didn't really want to go back to him if I didn't have to. The swelling wasn't
confined to my enlarged nipples any more. My chest seemed to be swelling
now too.
"Well you shouldn't let it go on too long. We should get you a second
opinion if it doesn't get better soon."
Connie adjusted the straps so the bra fit, taking care not to bump me.
She stood back and contemplated a moment. "What are we going to use to
stuff those cups?"
"Cotton?" I suggested. It seemed logical.
"No, it won't hold a shape." Connie continued to ponder a moment
while I waited patiently. "I know. I'll be right back." She went to her
bedroom and came back with a pair of shoulder pads. "These may do it."
She adjusted them in the bra. I'm glad we only got you one with A cups.
"Let's try that. Go ahead and get dressed."
I unwrapped the outfit from the plastic. "You need to put on your
camisole first."
"I know that." I said, feeling foolish.
"Well excuuuse me." Connie had a way of making me more at ease.
"Sorry Mom."
"Just put your clothes on young lady." She said grinning.
"Yes ma'am." I took the delicate looking piece from the bed and let it
drop over my head. I was careful not to let it touch my face so I didn't get
any makeup on it.
I pulled the skirt up and zipped it up the back. The button was a little
difficult to do with my longer nails.
"Don't forget your slip."
I scowled at her, still joking around. I had forgotten and started to
unbutton the skirt.
"No honey, just pull it up under your skirt, to your waist."
I was her honey now. She was acting like a Mom. I didn't think she
realized she was doing it. It didn't bother me.
I took the jacket and slipped it on. I had been worried it would be too
small.
"She had enough measurements from you to have it custom made."
Connie reminded me.
I buttoned it up. Connie looked pleased. "It fits you perfectly." She
said, admiring the way I looked. I was definitely a tailored fit, narrowing at
my waist. "I think were going to have to do something different with your
'breasts'. They just don't look right. Let me see what else I can come up
with."
"I want a look." I said, turning to walk to the mirror.
"No, let's finish you first. Come on over here and we'll put on your
lipstick." Connie scooped the pencil and lipstick from the vanity table.
I stood very still while she carefully outlined my lips then put on the
lipstick. "You have the cutest pout."
"I have a 'pout'?"
"Yes, you have a 'pout' and it's adorable." She said as she finished.
"Now stand back and let me have a good look at you."
I took a few steps back.
"It needs something." It dawned on her. "Your new earrings! Go
ahead and put them on. I've got a necklace that would look perfect with them.
I'll be right back."
I took the opportunity with her out of the room and went to the
mirror. My reflection was unsettling. I made a very convincing woman. The
thousands of times I had looked at myself in the mirror, I had never seen the
young woman I saw now.
"Here Jennifer. Connie said, coming back into the bedroom. She saw
me at the mirror. "Oh, you peeked. Turn around and let me put this on." She
draped the pearl necklace around in front of me, lifted my hair in back and
hooked the clasp. "You didn't put on your earrings?"
"I just was distracted for a minute."
"I know. Let's finish you off and you can take a good look."
It wasn't easy replacing the hoops with the new pearl earrings. I felt
so clumsy. I finally managed.
"That's much better. Now your new shoes."
I stepped into the heels sitting at the foot of the bed.
"Ok. You look fantastic." Connie grinned from ear to ear.
"You sure?" I felt so weird.
"Yes. I'm very sure. I would be nice if you smiled a little though."
I gave her the smile I showed the girls at the registers in the
department stores earlier.
"Lovely Jeffrey but it's all right to show off your nice white teeth.
Just relax a little." Connie beamed. "And when your hair is done properly
you'll look even prettier."
I looked back to the mirror. "I'm not too fat?" I ran my hands down
my waist to my hips. They seemed wide to me, or my waist was too thick.
Connie walked over behind me. "You have a lovely figure. Most girls
would kill to have your hips."
That brought an involuntary smile to my face. "Thank you." I only
wanted to look as convincing as possible.
"You're welcome Jennifer. That's a much prettier smile. If your done
admiring yourself, it's eleven thirty and we haven't done your nails yet."
I looked back at her in the mirror with surprise. "Tonight? What about
work in the morning?" That would mean I'd have to go to work with nail
polish on.
"I've been thinking about that."
I knew that tone. I turned to look at her. It seemed strange, I was two
inches taller in the heels and I was almost as tall as her now. I still had to look
up a little. She still had a couple inches on me. "What?"
"This isn't going to work. It will take at least and hour to do your
nails properly. Your hair will have to be washed again if you don't do it in
the morning. It will take you at least two to two and a half hours to get
ready. It would be much easier if you just did your nails tonight, fixed your
hair in the morning and we go to work."
"You mean go to work like 'this'?" I was all but terrified at the mere
suggestion.
"Sure. Bennett and Hamilton are out of town. That only leaves Terry
in the mailroom and Peter in Mrs. Coleman's office. You're friends with
them and they've seen you when you've been joking around with the girls.
That just leaves the girls and they all think you're adorable any way. We'll
just tell everyone that we're playing a prank on Ms Castle. They'll
understand."
What she said made sense, sort of. Of the people I saw on a daily
basis, there was hardly anyone in the office I didn't call my friend. They had
all seen me having fun or joked with me at one time or another. Mr. Bennett
and Mr. Hamilton were the only two that didn't appreciate the humor of my
lighthearted antics from time to time. "They'll tease me."
Connie laughed, "Yes, I imagine they will. But so what. It'll all be in
fun."
I could imagine a few of their faces. Turning back to the mirror, I
wondered what Trish and the others would say. I might be worth it just to see
the look on their faces. Again, my hands caressed my slender waist. "I'd
would love to see the look on some of their faces."
Connie laughed again. "That's my girl."
"Your girl needs your to help her make her finger nails look pretty." I
said sarcastically.
"Well if my girl will go take off her makeup now and get all ready for
bed I will be happy to help her with her nails"
"I'll be right back, Mommy." I said over my shoulder as I swished
back into the bedroom.
"Don't forget to use that baby oil I gave you to take off your makeup
and be gentle on you skin. Don't stretch it." Connie called after me.
I stuck my head out around the bedroom door. "Yes Mommy."
"Now just tuck your skirt under you as you sit. That's it. Sit up
straight, hands in your lap."
We had been up since six. After not getting to bed till one, we were
both reluctant to get up. Connie had me do my hair and makeup myself while
she supervised. Now she was giving me a crash course in acting like a lady,
there at the kitchen table.
"No Jeffrey, shift your weight forward as you get up. Don't push
yourself up." Connie was very patient with me.
"Not as easy as it looks, is it?"
"No," I admitted. I felt anything but graceful in my heels. It would
have been worse if I had never had a pair on. I had the walk down, but
Connie still insisted that I needed practice.
"I just wish we had more time. There's so much you need to learn."
"I'm really worried." I confided to her.
"You'll be fine. It's just a luncheon. You have all morning to practice
and we're going to see that you do."
I still worried about the people at work.
Connie made me eat something. She insisted just my vitamins weren't
enough. My stomach was doing flip flops, much worse than it had Saturday.
"Cut your food up into small bites and put it in your mouth past your
lips, pulling it off with your teeth. Otherwise you'll end up eating off your
lipstick."
I was so used to gobbling my food down. It was a lot to remember.
The doorman, Lester, and Carl, the valet, both took a double take
when Connie and I came downstairs to go. It wasn't as if they hadn't both
seen me in a skirt before. They'd just never seen me dressed the way I was
that morning. Of course, they were too professional to say anything and I just
acted as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
Given their reaction to me, or the lack of it, I actually wondered if
they had always taken me to be a woman. I had never spoken to them. All the
times they had seen me I was dressed up in the clothes Connie had picked
out for me. I decided they didn't know. It was just as well.
Connie decided we should take her car. "It's a lot different, driving in
heels. It takes getting used to."
I didn't argue with her. I was too nervous to drive anyway.
Connie encouraged me all the way to work. The lighthearted bravado
I displayed the night before was all but gone.
We were later getting to work than usual. That was my fault. I could
see Bobbie at the reception desk as we walked up to the front door.
"Jeffrey, watch your walk. One foot in front of the other. Head up,
shoulders back. And for God's sake, smile."
I was so nervous.
Bobbie didn't look up until Connie opened the front door. She smiled
at Connie and started to say, "Good morn . . . " Her greeting was cut off at
seeing me, a step behind Connie. "Jeffrey!?"
I gave her my usual smile, "Good morning Bobbie."
I watched her wide eyes as they looked me over from my high heels
to my perfectly styled hair. She said my name again, "Jeffrey?"
Connie's words finally brought her out of shock. "Relax Bobbie.
Jeffrey's going to help me play a little prank on Ms Castle today. How does
he look?"
Bobbie came out from behind the counter. She came up to me, the
look of amazement still on her face. "He looks beautiful." She walked around
me, looking me over in amazement.
She stood looking me in the eye. "Jeffrey, you're marvelous. No one
would ever know." She sniffed my perfume. "And you even smell
wonderful."
"Thank you." That helped. That plus the fact that she didn't look at
me like I was some kind of freak.
Connie looked pleased too, pleased with me and pleased with
Bobbie's reaction. She told Bobbie, "It's business as usual Bobbie. We don't
need the whole world knowing about this."
That was a waste of words. Bobbie was the biggest gossip in the
place.
"No, of course not." She couldn't take her eyes off me. While I was
glad she approved, her staring made me a little uncomfortable. "Ms Castle is
certainly going to be surprised."
"We're meeting her for lunch at the downtown Hayatt." I told
Bobbie.
"I wish I could be there to see her face." Bobbie only went back to
her desk when we disappeared down the hall, into our office.
I said to Connie, "She's going to tell everyone."
"I know but there's really nothing we can do about it. At least we
won't have to explain why you're dressed this way to them all. Bobbie will
take care of that."
Since we had eaten breakfast at home, it was time to get busy. My
workload was enormous for today and taking a long lunch wasn't going to
help. I settled down at my desk to get to work but it wasn't easy to
concentrate.
We could see each other through the glass wall that separated the
inner and outer offices. From time to time, when I looked up from my work,
I caught Connie smiling at me. She seemed to be really enjoying seeing me
this way. Once, she motioned to me to close my legs. I didn't realize I was
sitting with them apart.
I fidgeted a lot. The red skirt was definitely shorter than anything I
had worn and when I sat, it rode uncomfortably high on my leg. It was one
of the times I was tugging it down that I couldn't help but notice the
increased amount of traffic in the hallway outside the office. It was inevitable.
I thought that at least some of them would come in and have a smart
comment to make, but no one did. The women smiled when I caught them
looking and I just smiled back, like everything was normal.
I knew it that wouldn't last long. Trish, Joyce and a few of the other
girls were due in around ten. I knew they wouldn't miss an opportunity to
tease me. I sort of looked forward to it.
Connie came out of her office around nine. "Come on with me."
"Where are we going?" I asked as I carefully got up from my chair.
Connie grinned, "You did that beautifully." Commenting about how
gracefully I rose.
"Thank you."
"We're going up to see Stephanie. I think she has something better
than those shoulder pads that you can wear."
I came around my desk to go with her. "Here, maybe you better put
this away for today." She handed me the placard from my desk that identified
me as 'Jeffrey Mitchell'. "We wouldn't want a stranger coming in and being
confused."
I couldn't help but laugh. "No, we wouldn't want that." I put it in a
drawer. I hadn't considered for a moment that I might have to meet a
customer, looking the way I did.
Some heads rose as we walked past accounting on our way to the
stairs. The girls smiled and I smiled back. "Good morning Cathy." I said as
we passed by Mr. Bennett's secretary.
"Good morning Jeffrey." She said with a smile and playful,
melodious lilt to her voice. All eyes seemed to follow me as we went up the
stairs.
Navigating up the stairs was much easier than going down. My steps
were placed very deliberately. I had a little trouble coming down the steps at
Connie's but I was fine as long as I didn't try to hurry. Connie said I
actually looked graceful, taking my time.
Stephanie and Pam apparently knew we were coming. They were
waiting for us.
"Did you find them?" Connie asked Stephanie.
Stephanie tore her eyes from me and addressed Connie. "It took some
searching but I found them." She looked back to me, beaming. "Jeffrey, you
look lovely."
Pam came closer to inspect my makeup. "You did a marvelous job. I
taught you well. Ms Castle is really going to be surprised."
Word did travel fast in our little group. It was actually a relief.
"How about you help him put them in?" Connie said to Stephanie. "I
have to get back to work."
"Come on in back Jeffrey." They followed me into the back and
Connie headed back to her office. She had told me that she thought we had
something in wardrobe that would be better than the shoulder pads so I
wasn't completely in the dark about what was happening. I was a little
surprised when Stephanie brought out the silicone breast forms.
"These are the closest things to real there is." Stephanie explained.
"We used to have a girl modeling for us that was almost flat chested. She was
a great model, a beautiful girl but had almost no breasts. These have been
buried away for years. I wasn't even sure we still had them."
I picked up one. Its outside texture and color was almost like skin. It
was filled with a jell like mass. I expressed my concern. "Won't they move
around too much?"
"Oh no." Stephanie assured me. "See this ring? It's adhesive. It
attaches to your chest. They'll look and feel, almost like the real thing. Now
let's get your top off and fit them to you."
I would have preferred to just leave the shoulder pads but it was too
late for that now. Neither of the girls said anything about my chest. They had
to notice but I supposed they were simply being tactful.
I didn't know what real breasts felt like but they had to feel a lot like
what I had attached to my chest now. Even in my bra, they moved with me.
"Are they comfortable enough?" Pam asked.
"They don't pull or pinch." It was just the odd sensation of having
something hanging from my chest that was so strange.
"Later, just take some rubbing alcohol on a Q-Tip and soak the
adhesive loose. It's going to take a while to get them off but at least they
won't come loose on you today." Stephanie assured me.
That was a comfort.
"They look really nice." Pam told me smiling. I had put my bra and
camisole back on and the shapes underneath looked real. Right down to the
slight impression of the fake nipples.
I was almost dressed again when I heard the studio door open out
front and voices. I quickly put my jacket back on.
They all came up from the offices. The first floor must have been
almost empty. The teasing I had anticipated wasn't lacking but neither were
the compliments about how pretty and natural I looked. They all knew about
the supposed 'prank' on Ms Castle so it wasn't too hard for me to endure.
I still wasted no time in getting away from them. They followed me
downstairs and it was only their fear of Connie that kept them out of my
office.
Now all I had to do was wait for Trish and the others to come in. I
was looking forward to hearing their opinion.
"That looks much better." Connie came out to tell me when she got
off the phone. "Are they comfortable enough?"
"Apart from the way they move when I walk." I told her with a meek
grin.
Connie smiled with delight. "Welcome to womanhood Jennifer."
"Oh, thank you so much Ms Sackett." Some of the lighthearted
feeling of last night was returning.
I had a dozen calls to make and I wondered what the people, who
were only familiar voices on the phone, would think if they were to see me
sitting there in my lovely dress, all made up and looking so pert and pretty?
When I worked on my computer, I made so many mistakes because I kept
being distracted, looking down at my red nails. I was able to work for
almost and hour before I was interrupted again.
I saw motion out of the corner of my eye. I turned to see Trish
peeking her head around the corner, looking in through the glass wall. She
had this adoring look on her face. I almost laughed out loud. I waved to her
to come in. She wasn't alone, Judy, Kim and Patty were with her.
"Jeffrey, you look beautiful." Trish cooed.
I sat up straight, brushed my hair from my cheek and crossed my
stockinged legs at the knees. "It's Jennifer today." I said with a silly grin.
They thought I was precious and laughed.
Connie came to her office door. I was afraid she would be annoyed at
the fact I wasn't working but her smile said it was all right.
"Jennifer, it doesn't look like you're going to get anything done this
morning."
The girls all thought it was cute that she called me Jennifer.
"Why don't you take Jennifer upstairs where she won't be such a
distraction to everyone and give her a crash course on being a lady. We only
have an hour and a half before we have to leave to meet Ms Castle and
Jennifer needs all the help she can get."
"We'd be delighted to." Kim said beaming.
"But Ms Sackett, I have so much work to do."
"That's all right. We'll just work a little later tonight to catch up. Now
you girls run along."
I turned off my computer and put away the things on my desk. I
almost forgot as I 'arose', I reached down and picked up my purse, slinging
the chain over my shoulder.
Patty seemed absolutely taken by me. "Oh Jennifer."
Oh, did they tease me. They were serious at times too. A crash course
is what they gave me. I walked, sat, talked, stood still, smiled and swished
my way back and forth across the room till they were satisfied that I moved
like the lady I portrayed. I had to talk with expression, using my hands and
body. That was difficult for me but they didn't let up. The hour and a half
went by like a shot.
"Fix your lipstick and check your makeup. We have to get on our
way." Connie said when she joined us. They all wished me luck. Trish and
Kim gave me a hug.
"Did they help?" She asked as we went to get into the car.
"There's so much to learn, to remember." I settled into the front seat,
swung my legs in after me and straighten my skirt. I put my hands in my lap
and turned to her smiling.
"Very nice Jennifer. The time was well spent."
"I hope so. I'm so scared." I admitted. Fooling around with my
friends was one thing but going out in public was another.
"Remember what we talked about. They don't know you and they'll
never guess you're a young man by just looking at you. Just remember what
you've been shown and relax."
That was easier said then done.
It was a beautiful day. About normal for Atlanta in July, according to
the weatherman. The sun was warm but it wasn't too humid. White clouds
spotted the sky. It was a sort of picture perfect day.
It was only a twenty minute ride to the Hayatt but it seemed quicker to
me. The valet opened my door for me, smiling pleasantly. The doorman
opened the lobby doors for the two ladies on their way to a luncheon
engagement. Heads rose as we walked through the lobby. A few men did
more that glance our way. I was so self conscious but I just put one foot in
front of the other and didn't look anywhere but straight ahead.
Connie tried to ease my tension by taking to me as we walked across
the spacious lobby. "They really have a lovely dining room and the food here
is exquisite."
"I wish I could say I have an appetite."
"Once we're seated with Virginia, you'll be more comfortable."
We were joined in the elevator by two men who were also on their
way up to the sky high restaurant. I was content to be silent as we rode up
with them. The younger of the two smiled pleasantly at me as he got on. I
felt silly returning his smile.
"Are you ladies going all the way to the restaurant?" He asked,
looking at me.
What was he, stupid? That was the only button that was lit up. If we
were going anywhere else, wouldn't we have pushed a different button?
"Yes, we are." I answered, practicing the inflection in my voice that the girls
tried to teach me. Connie could have answered, I wished she had. She was
behind me and I couldn't see her face.
"Have you eaten here before?" He asked, trying to make
conversation.
It was nerve wracking. "No, this is the first time." I answered. He
was standing not more than three feet from me, looking directly at me.
"You should order the Grouper. It's excellent here, they cook it in a
sauce that's gives it a faint lemon taste without losing its original flavor."
He expected a response. It would have been rude of me to ignore
him, as much as I would have preferred to. "Thank you for suggesting it. I
may give it a try." The smile was the hardest part.
The elevator doors finally opened. There was a small crowd waiting
to be seated. I was afraid we wouldn't be able to get away from the two men
but Connie led me through the crowd to the maitre d'.
"You're reservations ladies?"
"We're dining with Ms Castle today." Connie told him. I was
impressed with how elegantly Connie carried herself, her self confidence.
Connie looked particularly attractive in her jade jacket dress. The
white surplice top was really pretty with a draped couture neckline. She
showed just a hint of cleavage. Despite her height, or because of it, she
definitely turned men's heads.
"If you'll follow me ladies?" He led us to our table.
Ms Castle was there waiting for us. As the maitre d' led us across the
dining room toward the window tables, I spotted her. She looked up when
we were about ten feet away and when she saw me walking toward her, her
hand went to her mouth in surprise. I wasn't sure if it was delight or shock
that caused her reaction. I didn't have long to find out.
Connie didn't give her a chance to speak. "Virginia, I was such a treat
for you to invite Jennifer and I to lunch."
Understanding showed in her response as we stood there in front of
her. "I'm so delighted that you and Jennifer could come. Please, sit."
She didn't take her eyes off me as the Maitre d' pulled out our chairs
and seated us. I remembered my lessons.
"Jennifer, you look lovely." She was still in a sort of shock.
"Thank you so much Ms Castle." I couldn't wait for the man to leave
us.
"May I order you ladies something?" He asked Connie and I.
Ms Castle had a glass of white wine. I would have loved a double
anything. Connie ordered wine for both of us. "We'd like a glass of Chablis
please."
I simply sat there, looking demure with my hands folded in my lap.
The look on Ms Castle's face was absolute delight. The Maitre d' left
us.
"I can't believe how stunning you look 'Jennifer'. It appears my little
gift fit you perfectly."
I spoke quietly, even though our table was somewhat secluded,
surrounded by several large potted plants. "I really love it." She was, after
all, a client and, an important one.
"I'm so pleased. I worried so."
"Jennifer just beamed when she first saw it." Connie joined the
conversation.
She turned back to me. "Would you mind terribly standing for a
second so I can see how it looks? You caught me a little off guard a moment
ago."
I didn't particularly want to but . . . "I'd be happy to Ms Castle."
"Virginia." She corrected me.
I pushed my chair back and rose carefully. I was getting better at it.
Standing next to her, behind the partial screening of the plants, I made a slow
turn like I had seen my friends do so often while modeling.
"Just exquisite." Virginia said gasping.
"Do you really think so?" I asked.
"Oh yes Jennifer."
I sat again.
"And I don't mean just the dress. You are a really lovely girl."
That was a compliment? "You're too kind Virginia."
She was still in shock. She turned to Connie and whispered. "He's a
delight."
"Jennifer's very special." Connie said with pride.
The complements were getting to be too much. I was relieved when
the waiter arrived with the wine and to take our orders.
I sipped the wine. Virginia hardly took her eyes off me throughout the
meal.
The grouper was delicious. I ate with delicate care.
Connie tried to distract her with talk of business but she would have
none of it. She kept bringing the conversation back to me. She had a hundred
questions. She wanted to know all about me, where I came from, how
Connie and I got together. She asked about my upbringing and my family
and about Christy and our relationship.
Most of the questions I could answer in complete honesty. She was
surprised and delighted that I was living with Connie.
"You take good care of our Jennifer." Virginia told Connie. "If she
doesn't, you can come to me." She told me. It sounded like she meant it. It
was almost comical.
"I love her like a daughter." Connie said kidding. At least I thought
she was kidding. She was becoming more and more of a Mother to me. That
was the truth.
It turned out to be a pleasant lunch. I was full. It was more than I'd
eaten at one meal in a long time.
When the bill was settled, Virginia and Connie said they had to use
the ladies' room. They looked at me with concern. "You probably need to go
too. You haven't been since this morning." Connie said, concerned for me.
There were too many people gathered in the restaurant lobby for me to
object too strongly. I did have to go but I was going to try to hold it until we
got back to the office. "I think I can wait." I told Connie.
"Nonsense Jennifer. Come with us." Virginia took my arm and led
me to the ladies' room.
After the initial awkwardness of the situation, and a stall became
available, I did relieve myself. I know I took a long time doing it but it was
all so strange to me.
Virginia and Connie were putting on fresh lipstick when I finally
came out of the stall. "You need to freshen up too Jennifer." Connie said.
I looked in the mirror. My lipstick was all but gone. I dug through my
purse for my lipstick and, feeling silly, put on fresh. I watched them freshen
their perfume and mimicked that too. It was a relief to get out of there.
We dallied downstairs in the lobby. "Jennifer and Connie, this was
delightful. Connie, would you mind if I stole Jennifer away from you
occasionally? I'd love to take her shopping and spend a little time with her."
That came as a surprise to me.
"No, not at all Virginia but I think you should ask Jennifer." Connie
didn't want to commit me and I appreciated that. The problem is now I didn't
know how to tell her no. As much as I liked the woman, I wasn't interested
in 'shopping' with her.
Virginia turned to me. "What do you think Jennifer? Nothing would
please me more."
She made it almost impossible to say no. "That would be nice."
Virginia was thrilled. "Wonderful." She kissed me on the cheek. "I'll
call you dear. We'll get together very soon."
It had gotten warmer and Connie had to put on the air in the car.
"Now what am I going to do?"
"I wouldn't worry too much. Virginia's just a little eccentric. She
probably won't even call."
I didn't believe that. Connie was just trying to ease my apprehension.
Bobbie was anxiously waiting for us when we got back. "The Jansen
Sportswear people are here. They're waiting in your office."
"They weren't scheduled till Monday." Connie was disturbed and I
knew why. Their's was a big account and we'd been after their business for
months. Connie had gone through hell just getting them to talk to us.
"They called right after you left for lunch and said it had to be this
afternoon because they had to go back to California tomorrow,
unexpectedly." Bobbie didn't know what else to do. "I told them to come
ahead, that you'd be back from your 'meeting' around two."
Connie thought fast. "You did the right thing Bobbie. Call Rudolph's
and change our reservations to tonight. How many of them are there?"
"Three men." Bobbie said, jotting it down.
"They'll be four for dinner. Call the limo people and tell them they
have to be here at five. See if you can get tickets for the Met and I need the
best seating possible."
"Come on Jeffrey. I need your help."
"Connie!?" I said in panic.
She turned to me. "What? Oh!"
"I can't."
Connie looked at me, I could tell she was weighing her options, then
she made a decision. "You'll just have to pretend to be Jennifer a little longer.
I need you." That was all there was to it. "Come on."
I was introduced as Connie's assistant, 'Jennifer', to the three men
who rose to greet us. The oldest of the three, Mr. Sanders, was about fifty.
Mr. Niles, Robert, looked to be only twenty five and, I supposed women
might find him good looking. The last was Mr. Park. Mike Park looked to be
at least thirty. He had a beard and reminded me of the kind of guy you'd see
in a western wear ad, a very outdoors type with rugged good looks.
I sat, uncomfortably, through the long session with them. I took
notes and helped Connie give our presentation. I had spent a lot of hours with
Connie preparing for it. Despite the short notice, things went surprisingly
well.
Business went well but I was a wreck. The two younger men
definitely considered themselves ladies men. I was at the center of their
attention.
I knew Connie didn't like doing it but I also knew she didn't have a
choice. I served the men refreshments when we took a break. Serving
refreshments wasn't so bad but being the object of their attention was
mortifying. I had to smile and be pleasant through it all.
As everyone got to know each other better, one of the men started
telling some rather off color jokes and I wasn't sure how to react so I laughed
at them. That only served to endear me all the more to them. It backfired on
me.
As it neared five and things began to wrap up I was relieved.
"I've made reservations for us and a very fine restaurant and I have
tickets for the Met." Connie announced when we were finished. She had set
the groundwork for a contract and they seemed very pleased with it.
The older man, Mr. Sanders, spoke for the three of them. "That's
very kind of you Connie."
"Jennifer, I look forward to having dinner with you." The youngest
of them, Robert, turned to be and said smiling.
Connie jumped in, "I don't know if Jennifer can join us."
"Oh of course she can." Piped in the other man, Mike. He was the
one that made me most uncomfortable. "Please join us. It wouldn't be the
same without someone to laugh at my jokes."
"She'll come, won't you Jennifer?" Robert insisted.
I looked to Connie, she couldn't help me anymore. If I didn't agree it
would leave a bad taste in their mouths and it could hurt prospective
business. Connie would have to go with the three men alone. She had been
prepared to do just that, but now . . .
"Of course." I felt sick. "If you'll excuse me gentlemen. I need to use
the bathroom." I got up to go.
Mr. Sanders also rose. "Perhaps you can show me the way to the
men's room?"
"Of course. Just follow me." This presented a problem. I really did
have to go again and I couldn't just follow this man into the mens' room. I
showed him the door. When he went inside, I looked over to the other door.
I had no choice, I couldn't be just standing there when he came out and what
if one of the others decided they had to go?
I surprised Mrs. Hubbard and Carol who were already in the ladies'
room.
"Jeffrey!?"
"I'm so sorry. I didn't know what else to do. One of the Jansen men
is in the men's room." I apologized for intruding.
The both laughed at my predicament. "Oh what the hell. It's just us
girls. Go ahead."
Connie came in a moment later. "Is Jeffrey in here?" She asked Carol.
Apparently Carol pointed to my stall. "Jeffrey?"
"I'm here." I said meekly.
"Jeffrey, I'm so sorry. Everything just went wrong."
"It's not your fault, you tried to get me out of it." I pulled up my
panties and pantyhose, straightening my skirt, I was finished. Connie was
waiting.
"You did fine this afternoon, just be brave, we'll get through it."
"Sure." I answered, feeling very sacred.
The other ladies dallied, listening to us.
"The limo's here. Fix yourself up. Here, I brought you your purse.
Don't take too long."
I brushed my hair and put on fresh lipstick. I felt uneasy with the two
women watching me. I put on perfume before zipping up my purse. I turned
at looked at the ladies.
They smiled, encouraging me, "You look darling." Carol said
warmly.
"Lovely, just lovely." Mrs. Hubbard agreed. "Try to have a good
time tonight dear."
"Just relax," Carol tried to reassure me too. "You'll be fine."
"Thanks, but I don't know." With one more look in the mirror and a
deep, calming breath, I left them.
I had to sit between Robert and Mike in the limo. At the restaurant, it
was the same. They held my chair for me when I sat. Back and forth they
went, vieing for my attention. It was so hard to smile and pretend that I
enjoyed their interest in me.
Connie took me to the ladies room, hoping to find some privacy
there, to boost my spirts. All we found was a room full of women. We didn't
have a chance to talk.
The limo took us to the Met. I was escorted in by the two men who
insisted that I walk between them, my arms in theirs. It was so embarrassing
being escorted between the two men, each standing about a head taller than
me.
The only peace I could hope for was during the performance and that
was disturbed by Robert who started putting his hand on my knee. The only
way to get it off was to take his hand away but he just put it back a few
minutes later. I ended up holding his hand in mine, disgusting.
Mike, who saw it all, acted jealous. He stood with his arm around my
waist through the entire intermission. All I could do was sip my wine and
endure it. The second half of the performance was just as bad.
The limo returned us to the office at midnight. They wanted to take
Connie and I out for drinks, but Connie put the kibosh on that, saying we
had a shoot early Friday, which we did.
My final, and most embarrassing moment came as we all said
goodnight. Robert was telling me how much he enjoyed my company and
how lovely I was when all of a sudden he kissed me. Right on the mouth. I
had all I could do to keep from wiping my mouth off on my sleeve.
Mike expected no less and I had to endure his affection too. He took
the liberty of pulling me close, pressing me against him when he said his
good night. It was a case of one trying to outdo the other.
Neither of us said much on the short ride home. Connie was
embarrassed for me. She saw it all and could nothing to stop it.
"Now you know what we girls have to endure." She said as we
walked in and both kicked our shoes off.
"It's horrible, I didn't encourage them a bit but they just went ahead
and did whatever they pleased. Does this happen a lot?" I took off my jacket
and dropped on the couch.
"All the time." Connie admitted.
"Can't you stop them?"
"Could you?"
"No." I couldn't "I need a shower." Then I remembered. "Do we
have any mineral spirits?"
"I'll get you the bottle from my bathroom." Connie came over and put
her arms around me and just held me for a minute. When we let go of each
other she said. "Go ahead honey, you'll feel better after a shower."
"Good night." I gave her a little smile.
"Good night." She kissed my cheek.
It took me forever to get ready for bed. It took a half hour so loosen
the breast forms from my chest. It was after one when I finally climbed in
bed and turned the light out.
I lay there in the dark for a little while. The luncheon hadn't been so
bad but getting caught up with those men was horrible. Through it all though,
I played my part rather well. I definitely fooled them. Curious, that I could
pull it off so easily. The last thing my mind's eye saw as sleep overcame me
was the reflection of the pretty girl in my mirror earlier.
I knew I set the alarm for five thirty, why was it waking me at eight? I
spotted the note Connie left, behind the clock. 'You needed some sleep
Honey.' That was all it said. Connie had reset my alarm. I truly loved that
woman like a mother.
I raced like crazy to get ready for work. Knowing I was meeting
Christy after work, I dressed simply in my khaki slacks and my turquoise
rayon camp shirt. I put in my small hoop earrings and wore only my
herringbone necklace and matching bracelet that she liked so much.
I felt nothing like the girl I pretended to be the day before. I made it to
work by nine fifteen. It wasn't till Bobbie, greeting me in the lobby, pointed
out my hands, that I realized I was still wearing the red nail polish I had on
the day before. Her comment surprised me.
"I was hoping Jennifer would be here today." Bobbie was joking, of
course.
"She had a late night and decided to stay home today." I kidded.
"But she's all right?" Bobbie asked with genuine concern.
I wondered how much she'd heard. I thanked her for worrying.
"Thanks for asking but she'll be alright."
"Good, I'm relieved. You tell Jennifer I think she should come back
to work really soon." Bobbie's smile warmed me.
"I'll tell her." There was some polish remover in the kitchen and, after
cleaning away the last of the evidence of last night, I headed for the stairs and
the studio.
It took me a while as I was stopped repeatedly to hear everyone's
praise and concern. Praise for the way I looked yesterday and concern
because they all knew what I had to do the night before. I was amazed at
how many people wanted to see more of Jennifer.
I received the same reception in the studio. I didn't want to disrupt the
shoot so with the promise to tell the girls, later, everything that happened,
everyone got back to work.
"Did you have a good rest?" Connie asked.
"You shouldn't have let me sleep." I scolded her.
"You needed it." She knew I was exhausted and upset. "Are you ok?"
I had already resolved to put the experience out of my mind. "I'm
ok."
When we finished around one, I filled in Judy, Patty and Kim with
what had happened.
"Oh my God. What did you do when he kissed you?" Kim was so
concerned about me.
"There wasn't anything I could do. They took me by surprise. I
couldn't say anything and give myself away."
"I hadn't thought of that." Patty reflected.
"What was it like, you know, to kiss another guy?" Judy asked,
curious.
"I was so embarrassed and ashamed that I just wanted to run." I
implored them. "Please don't tell anyone what happened. It was bad enough
that everyone knows I went out with them."
They swore to secrecy.
A surprise awaited Connie and I when we returned to our office later.
Both my desk and Connie's were adorned with bouquets of brightly colored
flowers.
"Want a guess where these came from?" Connie asked as she
retrieved the card from hers.
I didn't need to guess, I knew. My card read. 'Jennifer, we had a
wonderful time and wanted to thank you for a lovely evening. We look
forward to working closely with you in the future.' Both cards read the same
to that point. It was signed, Robert Niles, Mike Park and Jim Sanders. Mine
had a PS. 'I really look forward to seeing you again.' It was signed M.P.
I didn't know what to say.
"It was sweet of them." Connie said grinning.
"I could have done without the thought." I didn't think it was as cute
as Connie did.
Apparently Bobbie had spread the word of the delivery. More than a
few people came to see my flowers and read the card. I was teased
mercilessly.
I didn't stop for lunch. I was so behind that I worked right through. I
was so engrossed that I didn't even notice the time.
Connie had to come out and tell me it was five o'clock. "Don't you
have a date with Christy?" Startled at the sound of her voice, I looked up
to see Connie standing over me. "I've got so much to do." I felt guilty for
being so behind.
"Don't worry about it tonight. It'll still be there Monday morning.
Now pack up and get out of here." She insisted. As I was getting ready to
leave, she asked, "How much money do you have?"
I didn't have much. I had given Connie some money to begin to pay
her back for what she'd spent on me last Sunday. I gave her money for food
and rent and I sent most of what I had left to my parents. "I have about
twenty dollars." I said after checking my wallet.
"That's not enough to take Christy out with." She went into her office
and got her wallet. "Here's another forty. We'll just add it to your bill. Now
go have a good time and don't forget to call me if you're going to be really
late. I'll worry about you."
She was so cute. "I promise to call, Mom."
That made her smile. "Go on, get out of here."
Christy was waiting for me. I was a little timid and only kissed her on
the cheek.
"Is that the best you can do?" She asked and immediately wrapped her
arms around me and kissed me hard. It certainly dispelled any concern I had
about her wanting to see me again.
"Mmmmmm, I missed you." She said grinning like a cat. She stepped
back to look at me. "I thought I told you to dress casual?" She asked.
I looked down at myself. I thought I had. "I did."
"Don't you have any jeans?"
I did, but not with me. "I didn't know you meant that casual."
"Come on." She said, dragging me to her bedroom. "I have some that
should fit you."
I imagined the worst but she brought out a normal looking pair of
jeans. Not even the label gave away the fact that they were really girls' jeans.
"Put those on and I'll find you a top." She went to her closet and came back
with an ordinary looking green tee shirt.
She stood looking at me holding the clothes. "What are we going to
do about something on your feet?"
I had the answer to that one. "I have my gym bag in the car. I have a
pair of sneakers."
"So what are you waiting for? Get changed."
I would have felt better if she didn't see my underwear but she
wouldn't leave. When I was stepping into the jeans she came up behind me
and squeezed my ass through my pale blue panties.
"That's such a turn on." She reached around me and rubbed my
chest. "If Debbie and Brook weren't waiting for us, I'd rape you right here."
I was glad I could turn her on that way.
"These are a little tight." I commented as I tugged them up to my
waist. There was no question they were girls' jeans now.
Christy checked them out from behind. "I don't know." She said
grinning. "They don't look too tight to me." Again she playfully grabbed my
ass.
Christy's friends were girls she worked with. Debbie worked for the
agency as a secretary. She was cute enough but Brook, with her long blond
hair, pixie like features and fantastic figure, was really beautiful, a model just
like Christy.
We met them at a place called Crabby Bill's. At a picnic table on the
outside deck, we ate raw oysters and lobster, washing it down with beer. A
redneck band played country music while we got to know each other.
Debbie and Brook knew all about the party last Sunday. They were
anything but judgmental about me. Christy obviously told them the views I
had expressed and they wanted to hear more. We stayed there, after we
finished stuffing ourselves, and talked for an hour.
I really liked her friends but parts of our conversation included such
off the wall subjects. We talked about fashions, of course, but we also talked
about the differences between mens' and womens' views on topical subjects.
The conversation got pretty deep at times.
To sustain the position I had taken on Sunday, I supported the
women's view in most cases. I had always been sympathetic toward the
womens' movement and equality. With my experience the night before, I
was more inclined than I had ever been to support the womens' viewpoint.
Christy insisted on picking up the bill for the two of us. "I asked you
out, remember?" I knew better than to argue with her. I was beginning to
learn how stubborn she could be.
By the time we left the restaurant I felt like I had known these people
for years and I really enjoyed them. We went from there to a movie. It had
been months since I had been to a movie and I really had a good time.
Being with Christy made it all the more enjoyable. She was the most
uninhibited girl I had ever met. She thought nothing of putting her arm
around my waist and putting her hand on my ass as we walked up to the
window at the movies and bought our tickets. Again, she insisted on paying.
I thought it was late when we got out of the movies around midnight
but the others were still raring to go. Christy and her friends wanted to go to
Debbie and Brook's place and have a few more drinks and talk. I was
enjoying myself too much to object.
Debbie and Brook shared a two-bedroom apartment. It was a small
apartment that they had decorated in such a way that I felt comfortable there
as soon as we walked in.
I really liked Debbie's sharp wit. She was very quick to throw barbs
and Brook was, more often than not, the recipient of her jokes. She didn't
seem to get upset at her though.
Very little seemed to bother Brook. She was one of the most easy
going people I had ever met. I could see why these two were roommates and
why Christy liked them so much.
I helped Debbie in the kitchen. We popped pop corn while Christy
and Brook got us all something to drink. I had enough beer at the restaurant
but they had several bottles of wine in the fridge.
There were times I laughed so hard at Debbie's jokes that my sides
hurt. I guessed Debbie liked me well enough because a number of her jokes
started being at my expense. It was inevitable that they would tease me about
my taste in clothes. I really didn't mind.
Other times, the conversation turned serious and we got on the topic
of sexuality. I learned that Christy and her friends disagreed strongly on
some subjects. Debbie surprised me with one of her questions. "So Jeffrey,
what are your views on homosexuality?"
I had known a few gays in New York. One was a guy I grew up and
went to school with. We were 16 before I learned he was gay. We had shared
too much for me to turn my back on him at that point. Our relationship did
suffer but that wasn't because I was prejudiced. The peer pressure was so
intense.
There had also been a few in prison. Those had been the ones I stayed
clear of. "They're people just like anyone else. I've had gay friends."
Her next question hit a little close to home. "Have you ever thought
what it would be like to be with a man?" Flashes of the night before came to
me. It didn't take any time at all to answer that one. "No! God no!"
I wondered what the exchange of glances between them meant but I
was content to be able to dispel any thought that I might be gay. After all,
considering what Christy must have told them about me and the way I
looked with my long hair and plucked eyebrows, it wouldn't be
inconceivable that I might be gay. They seemed satisfied and the
conversation turned to lighter subjects.
Before I knew it, it was two in the morning and I was feeling a little
drunk. I wasn't the only one, Christy was slurring her words and had trouble
sitting up straight.
"Stay the night. We've got room." Brook insisted. Neither of us
could drive. I wasn't so drunk that I had forgotten my promise. I should have
called Connie but it was so late I didn't want to wake her.
Christy and I took one bedroom while Debbie and Brook had the
other. We didn't make love that night, we could barely stay awake after
hitting the pillows. We did curl up together in only our underwear and held
each other all night.
I awoke to the sweet smell of her hair in my face. She looked so
beautiful there, sleeping beside me, with the morning sunlight hitting her
face. I just laid there looking at her. Christy was the most beautiful girl I had
ever met and she liked me, a lot. With my problem, I was certain I would
lose her if I wasn't able to perform for her soon. As I lay there, I made up
my mind to do anything and everything I could to please her while I waited
for my hormone imbalance to correct itself.
She must have sensed me staring or perhaps it was the warmth of the
sun on her face that brought her out of her dreams.
I at least new why I was unable to perform now. Under the
circumstances I was quite content to give her the pleasure that she desired.
When she was exhausted, as before, she sought to please me. As I had
caressed her breasts, she did the same to mine and it felt so wonderful.
"I love the way they feel Jeffrey." She whispered as she molded the
skin around my swollen nipples. "You have the chest of a young girl. So soft
and pliable."
It was a left-handed compliment. What so pleased her, scared the hell
out of me. The pills the doctor prescribed for me didn't seem to have helped
me at all. Each day I checked myself and each day my chest seemed to be
swelling more. It was hardly noticeable but I was sure I felt a difference. The
enlargement of my breasts had begun to expand out beyond my nipples and I
feared that what the doctor warned me could happen, was. I was developing
breasts. Small mounds, poorly defined, but breasts.
"I've never known anyone like you Jeffrey." Christy whispered
softly and she caressed me. Her finger gently traced the bridge of my nose,
the contours of my eyes and stroked my cheeks. "You have such a pretty
face."
That was the way Virginia had described it. The way Christy said it
when she looked at me was not the same. I felt like a freak at times but there,
next to her, I felt wonderful. Not manly, certainly, but . . . It was too alien
to put into words.
We laid there for a long time before we heard noises out in the living
room that told us Debbie and Brook were up. "I need a shower." Christy said
rolling out of bed.
"I'll wash your back." I offered, excited about the prospect of
soaping her wet body under the hot cascading water.
"No," She put a hand out to stop me from getting out of bed. "I'm
funny about that. I like to shower alone."
I was disappointed a little but I conceded and lay there while she went
into the bathroom and showered.
It didn't take her very long. She came out wrapped in a towel with
another on her head. "I saved you plenty of hot water."
It felt good to stand there and let it beat on me. I probably used more
hot water than I should have but it felt so good.
I heard the bathroom door open. "I brought you something to put on.
Debbie loaned us some clean underwear."
I peaked around the curtain. Christy was carefully laying a robe on
the toilet seat. On top of the robe she laid a pair of little, lace trimmed, pink
panties. "Are those for me?"
"Yea, wasn't that sweet of her? They're pretty. Hurry up now,
they've started breakfast. Don't bother to dry your hair. You can do that after
we eat. Just wrap a towel on your head and come out." Christy leaned over
and kissed me, smiling. "Hurry now."
I bothered me that Christy had told her friends my preference in
underwear. The ones they loaned me were nothing like the plain cotton ones I
was used to.
I dried off and wrapped up my hair in a towel. I picked up the pink
panties with their pretty lace trim. My option was to go out there in just the
short robe without anything on underneath. I couldn't do that. So they
knew, I thought to myself, so what. They must have known last night and it
didn't seem to bother them. I didn't want to make a fuss in front of
everyone. I had to keep in mind that I did turn Christy on and I wanted to
keep her happy.
I used the phone in the bedroom to call Connie.
"I was worried sick about you."
"I'm sorry. It was so late, I didn't want to call and wake you."
"I was up till three, waiting for you."
I felt terrible. "I'm really sorry."
"Where are you?"
"I'm with Christy. We stayed with some friends of hers. We drank a
little too much and decided it was safer not to try to drive."
"Well, I'm glad you used good judgment about that at least Honey."
There was her endearing 'honey' again. She was acting like a mother
again and I liked the feeling that she cared so much. "I'm so sorry I made you
worry. I promise I won't do that again."
"I hope not. Oh, by the way. Virginia called last night. She wanted
you to come for dinner tonight but I covered for you and told her you already
had plans."
"Thanks Connie." I was relieved she had made excuses for me.
Going to her house for dinner would have certainly meant dressing up as
Jennifer again.
"She wants you to call her sometime today. You really should."
I didn't want to but she was right. "I will."
"When will you be home?"
"I'm not sure yet."
"I have to go out for a while and I don't expect to be back until some
time late this afternoon. You have your key?"
"I have it."
"All right. Have fun Honey and I'll see you later." She paused. "And
don't forget to call Virginia when you get home. I'm leaving her number by
the phone."
"I won't forget."
They acted as if nothing was out of the ordinary. Brook and Debbie
were wearing only their nighties. Christy and I apparently had their only
bathrobes. I waited for Debbie to make a crack about my wearing her
underwear that peeked out from under her short robe, but none came. I was a
little uncomfortable with them dressed in just their nighties but it didn't seem
to bother them at all.
Breakfast was wonderful. I hadn't sat down to eggs, toast and bacon
in months.
"Debbie and I are going to the arts and crafts festival at Lathen Park.
Why don't you two come with us?" Brook suggested to Christy and I.
"Jeffrey and I would love to. I go nuts over that stuff." Christy said,
excited.
She didn't even ask if I did or if there was anywhere I had to go. I
could have objected but why? It would be a nice change from my usual
routine of work and home. I hadn't spent any time outdoors in a long time.
The best reason to go was that Christy wanted me to.
Christy and I helped clean up the kitchen.
"Brook, can I borrow your rollers?" Christy asked.
"Sure." She was quick to respond.
"I've been dying to see what I can do with Jeffrey's hair."
I spun to face her. "My hair!?"
They ignored me. "He's got such pretty hair. Can I help?" Brook
asked anxiously.
I injected myself between them. "But . . . "
"It's alright Jeffrey. It'll be fun." Christy cut me off. "Just sit down
here and hush. I'm not going to hurt you."
Objecting was a waste of time. It seemed what Christy wanted,
Christy got.
"Oh, he's going to look so pretty." Debbie got excited. The way they
talked around me they could have been setting a wig.
"I've been just dying to do this." Christy grabbed another roller.
"I can see why." Debbie sat across the table from me. "Just wait till
you see yourself." Debbie told me, all excited.
"There." Christy finished. "Now it just needs to dry Jeffrey." She
kissed my cheek. "You are so sweet for letting me do your hair."
I wasn't aware I was 'letting' her do anything. She didn't ask. My
problem was that I craved her affection.
"I'll get my makeup. We just have to go the rest of the way." Brook
ran to her bedroom.
This was going too far. First there was Ms Castle, Virginia. Now
Christy wanted to make me into a girl too. On top of everything my body was
undergoing a change that the doctor couldn't even explain. "Christy, I don't
want to do this."
"It's all in fun Jeffrey and you have such a pretty face already. Can't
you do this little thing for me?"
Why did making her happy have to mean so much to me? "I just feel
so strange letting you do this."
She knelt down beside me and looked up into my face. The other girls
stood back waiting and listening. "It'll be fun. You'll be one of us for a little
while. Do this to make me happy."
She was so hard to resist. "Do I have to go outside all made up?"
"Just to the arts and crafts festival. I know you'll enjoy yourself once
you just relax and go with it. You'll fool everyone."
Debbie couldn't hold back any longer. She echoed Christy's
argument. "Jeffrey, trust me. No one will be able to tell. Come on and join
us."
"Just wait until you see how pretty I make you look." Brook added.
I looked to each of their encouraging faces. How could it be any
worse than going to the Hyatt in a dress? I got away with that. "Just this
once."
"Alright Jeffrey!" I obviously made Christy very happy.
"Jennifer." I told her. "If I've got to do this, when were out, my
name's Jennifer."
In the hour it took my hair to dry, Brook made me over. She used
different makeup than I would have used but to tell her that would not have
been wise. A few things that she did differently than Connie had, I liked
better. My eyes were more pronounced and the shade of lipstick wasn't so
striking. I checked the color, 'Pale Rose'.
Christy took out the rollers and brushed out my hair. The tight curls
looked so strange in the mirror. They were all delighted with the way it came
out.
When they finished with me and I was in the jeans Christy had loaned
me and the print top Brook supplied, I had to admit I looked very convincing.
I drew the line at the bra stuffed with socks and Christy caved in
without arguing. "So you look like a flat chested girl. That's not so unusual."
The weatherman on the car radio said it was going to rain that
afternoon. The sky was already starting to cloud over when we got to the
park where they were having the fair.
"Don't forget your purse." Debbie reminded me when I got out of the
car without the one she loaned me. I hadn't forgotten it, but I wished they
had.
I had expected them to try to embarrass me in some way but it never
happened. They treated me as if I were just another of their girlfriends and
after about an hour of walking around amid crowds, I began to feel a little
more at ease.
I remember Connie's words and held my head up and kept my
shoulders back. I tried to avoid eye contact with people but that wasn't
always possible.
There were a lot of middle aged and older people there. I was not
concerned with them. It was the people my age and younger that made me
nervous. They were more in tune, I felt. They would be quicker to recognize
a freak like me in the crowd.
While it remained overcast all day, it only drizzled off and on. It
didn't stop us from browsing.
Christy and the others stayed close to me, as we went into almost
every booth to look at all the things on sale. We spent more time in the
jewelry booths than the others and in one, Christy bought me a pair of
earrings she liked. I was wearing a pair of Brooks that she had loaned me. I
tried to tell them that my small hoops were just fine but she playfully
insisted. They were big and flashy and made me feel self conscious. She
convinced me when she explained that they'd draw attention away from my
face. Not, she insisted, that I needed to. Just the same, I took her advice and
wore them.
We ate hot dogs for lunch. We bought them from a vendor at the food
concession. The kid who served us went out of his way for the four attractive
girls who were obviously without male companionship. I didn't pay him any
attention but neither did the others. I thought that odd, considering how
young and good looking he was.
I became very nervous when it seemed that a couple of young guys
were following us. What I dreaded was being approached by a guy who
wanted to make small talk. That could easily happen, walking with Christy,
Brook and Debbie.
It never happened. I was just paranoid.
I made up a story for the girls, about Connie expecting to see me
around three, explaining that we had work to do. It wasn't till after three
when Debbie and Brook brought us back to their place to get Christy's car.
They offered to let me change but Christy insisted I would change at
her place.
"You were marvelous today Jennifer." She apparently liked calling
me that. She tenderly touched my cheek, then leaned across the front seat of
the car and kissed it.
Christy was such a sensuous person. She made me feel warm all
over.
When she pulled into her parking place in front of her apartment she
suggested, "I'll make us dinner. Then afterwards we could go for a walk in
the park, before it gets dark."
I did want to spend time with her, but not like this. "I can't Christy. I
have to go. I promised Ms Sackett that I'd get some work done today."
We stood next to my car. "Don't you even want to come in and
change?" She rubbed up against me, trying to entice me inside.
I wonder what the neighbors would think if they came out and saw
two young women standing there rubbing against each other, kissing.
"Christy, not here. Someone will see us. I really have to go."