Life In The Pink Lane Part Two free porn video

Life in the Pink Zone Part 2 As I drove to the office the following Monday, I couldn't help but wonder what Julia's reaction was going to be to the wonderful last few days we'd shared together over the weekend. I wasn't sure how or on what basis we'd manage to resume our normal work relationship. I needn't have worried. My boss was always a little late on Monday mornings which normally gave me time to flick through the post and remind myself of the programme for the week. This morning though it wasn't long before I heard the unmistakeable sound of Julia's heels in the corridor. Her eyes were shining when she came in and I think mine must have been too. She was wearing a black boucl? tailored wool suit with a straight skirt with a white high necked blouse with a lacy stand-up collar around the throat. This was my favourite of all her outfits. She closed the door behind her and said, ''I'll be quick - 'himself' is due in any time now. How are you feeling? We had fun didn't we..?'' she added with a smile. My smile gave her the answer. ''I must admit I thought I might be a bit embarrassed but now I see you again - I feel great. By the way - I can say it now - you really look good in that suit - it's my favourite. What're you doing at lunchtime - do you have anything planned?'' Julia replied that she hadn't. I asked her if she'd like to meet up at lunchtime and we could grab a bite to eat somewhere. She said, ''I was hoping you'd say that - how about 12.30 at the coffee shop?'' I heard the measured tread of my boss coming so I said quickly, ''OK fine. I'll see you later then.'' At lunchtime we met at the same coffee shop and after we'd ordered coffee and a toasted sandwich each we started talking. She said that she'd been thinking about my figure and what options we had to make my clothes hang better on me. She said she couldn't do much about my lack of hips but, if I had a waist, then skirts, especially straight skirts, would sit better on me. The only solution she could think of that would emphasise my waist was a firm control foundation and that the shop we'd started at in Chester might hold the answer. She asked me if I fancied a trip there the next week-end? What a question! Through the week there was the same sense of mounting excitement as before - which she kept nicely stoked up! Julia was a devil with me - she knew I was watching her and she played up to it. She'd often come by the office when she knew my boss was out and she'd sit on the edge of my desk, on my side. I'm sure she was very aware of the effect she had on me. I wanted to bury my face in her lap, in her bosom, everywhere. And she knew it. Her perfume lingered long in my nostrils after she'd left. I wondered how she was planning to embarrass me this time. The week dragged by interminably but eventually Friday came. We agreed that I'd come to her house that evening so we could be away bright and early on the Saturday morning. She said she'd given the shop a call to make an appointment for 9.30am - so they were expecting me. I'd left all the clothes I'd bought the week before at Julia's house - she said she'd put a few of my things through the wash for me. At last, it was Friday evening and I left my flat with an overnight bag containing a change of male clothing but, after last weekend, I wasn't expecting to wear too much of it. I parked my car a few doors away from her house to avoid any possibility of neighbours making any connection between me and her and I went up and rang her bell. She opened the door with a big smile and invited me in. She was wearing a lovely silky emerald green blouse with a long black taffeta skirt that rustled as she moved. She took my bag off me, put it down and then pulled me to her for a tender kiss. I put my nose in her hair as I loved breathing in her perfume. She felt good in my arms and I couldn't believe my luck. I found it hard to breathe and I'd only been there a minute or two! We went through to the kitchen - there was something sizzling in the oven - and she made us a couple of drinks while she got things ready. I sat down at her breakfast table and she came over to me again and pulled my head into her. I wish I could remember what her perfume was - if I ever came across it again it would whisk me straight back there. She served us a very tasty roast chicken supper and we talked about the following day - what time we'd have to leave to be at Pamela's shop for 9.30am. It wasn't long before we were doing the washing up together and then she poured us another couple of drinks to take through next door. We sat in front of the fire and she said, ''You know, I've been thinking and you know where this is going don't you..?'' ''I'm not sure I follow you..'' She said, ''Well, I think that, sooner or later, you'll want to go out dressed. It's all part of it - no, don't interrupt. If this isn't to remain a fantasy in your head, you'll want to try going out into the real world to present yourself as a valid woman. I think that's what you really want deep down isn't it..? Or haven't you thought it through that far ahead?'' She was right, she was right. I had often fantasised about what it would be like to be 'out and about' as a woman, especially during the last few days. I didn't want to live as a woman hidden behind drawn curtains and if I wanted to find my true self, it had to be in the context of the real world. Swishing about behind closed doors was not the answer. I told her that she knew me better than I knew myself. The trouble with her relentless logic was that knowing it was one thing - putting it into practice was something else entirely. She said that if I agreed with her that going out dressed was the goal, then I should bear that in mind when shopping for clothes. In other words, I should look for the type of clothes that women wore while they were out and about during the day. I wasn't sure I was ready for this - after all, it was only the week before that I'd 'come out' to her. She said she was sure that between us we could develop my presentation such that I could pass un-noticed. She said that it was all in the detail - a waist, the suggestion of hips, a bust, a co-ordinated outfit, a few pieces of costume jewellery, perhaps a silk scarf, a bag that matched my shoes, shaped and polished nails, plucked and shaped eyebrows, the removal of hair from the back of my hands, a ladies wrist watch. And more! She added that I needed to make sure that all the signals I'd be sending would say the same thing - this is a woman. She said that it all started with a feminine figure. We had to find something to cinch my waist in a few inches to give my figure some shape, a few curves. I said, ''Sounds to me like we're going to be very busy!'' I said I wasn't too sure about plucking my eyebrows. She said that all she'd do would be to shape them and to thin them out a little. She asked me how I felt about making a start right then and there? Five minutes later, I was lying on the rug in front of the fire with my head in her lap, eyes closed, while she plucked away at my eyebrows. I told myself that they'd grow back if I decided that the effect didn't look right. It did make my eyes water though but I loved the feel of her cool hands on my forehead. She talked to me non-stop all the time in what felt like a woman-to-woman conversation. I felt so at home like this and I realised that this was how I was meant to be. After quite a while she told me that I could open my eyes and take a look at what she'd done. She'd done a wonderful job with them - she'd thinned them out a little and now they arched slightly and were definitely more defined than they had been before - without them looking too outrageous! She said, ''Now that must be worth a kiss!'' Which it was. Ten minutes later, she said, ''Bed time! We have to be up early in the morning again. You go up now and I'll be up shortly''. I went upstairs to my room at the back and after a few minutes in the bathroom I was ready for bed. She'd laid out my freshly laundered nightie on my pillow. I slipped it over my head and got into bed and turned out the light. A few minutes later I heard Julia coming up the stairs and after she'd finished in the bathroom, she came in to see me. She sat on the edge of my bed and asked me if I was all set for tomorrow. I replied, ''That all depends on what you have in mind for me!'' She laughed and said, ''We'll have to see about that!'' She bent down and gave me a gentle goodnight kiss and with that she was gone. I woke up around 6am the next morning. Julia was already up and about and she said she'd be downstairs making the breakfast if I wanted to use the bathroom. I had a close wet shave followed by a shower. Minutes later I was downstairs and having scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast. I said I'd wash the dishes so Julia disappeared upstairs to get ready. Before leaving she said it would be a good idea if I took a few things with me if I was going to be trying on jackets - such as my bra and boobs and my blouse. She said we might find a nice jacket and I'd need my boobs for the fit. I should also wear my pantie girdle and my stockings. I thought about that for a minute or two and yes, she was right again. I went back upstairs and changed. By 8am we were both ready to leave and we set off for Chester again. Once we were out of the suburban traffic and on the open roads, I saw her looking down at my trouser legs. She reached out and with a beautifully manicured scarlet nail she pressed the little lump made by one of the suspenders under my trousers! She grinned, ''Cheeky!'' She always knew how to get to me. We made good time on the roads with it being early and before long we'd arrived in Chester and were making our way through the early Saturday morning shoppers on our way to Pamela's shop. I felt a lot more comfortable this time around about going into the shop as all of us were now singing from the same hymn sheet. They knew about me. I knew that they knew about me. And they knew that I knew etc etc. I like to have things out in the open as it were. Pamela looked pleased to see us and her friend went around to the door and locked it and turned the sign around to 'Closed'. Pamela said, ''We won't be disturbed now.'' She said that Julia had told her that I needed something that would give my waist some definition so that I could wear a straight skirt. I said I was now venturing into unknown territory. Julia told her that my waist was 32'' (she was always measuring me!). I asked Pamela if she had something in stock that might be useful. Pamela said that she didn't get much call for heavy corsetry these days but she'd found some lace up waist cinchers and also some boned corsets if I'd like to try them on. She led me through to the fitting room and asked me to take off my sweater and shirt while she fetched the corsets. Julia couldn't resist pulling a funny face - imitating being laced up tightly and crossing her eyes! She said, ''Now you're for it!'' Pamela returned holding several corsets and she suggested that we start off with the waist cincher. She loosened off the lacing before wrapping it around me and clipping the front sections together. She then turned me around and suggested that I held on to the door frame while she tightened the laces. She slowly and methodically pulled the laces tighter and tighter. It was a strange sensation, not unpleasant, and not at all what I would have imagined. She finished off the laces with a bow and asked me how I felt. To be honest, I could have had it tighter but she said it was best to progressively tighten it over a few weeks and months to let my body became accustomed to it. She ran a tape measure around it and it came out at just a smidgen over 29''. She said that in a few weeks it would go down to 28'' - which was a size 14. Looking in the mirror, it certainly gave me a waist and made it appear as though I had hips. Pamela asked me if I wanted to try the heavy girdle on. She told me that I wasn't the first gentleman she'd helped and she thought that if I wanted to wear a straight skirt, then an open girdle was definitely the way to go. As she said, it would flatten out all my ''lumps and bumps''. I'd have to take my trousers off though. I caught a wink and a stifled snort from Julia - who else! This was not easy for me and it struck me that I'd just have to grin and bear any embarrassment I might have felt. There was no other way around it. I stepped out of my trousers and I stood there in all my glory in my pantie girdle and stockings. Julia said to Pamela that she'd told me to wear my girdle as she thought I might get this far. Pamela undid the side fastening of the girdle and held it out for me. She positioned it correctly before doing up the myriad number of hook and eye fastenings before finally zipping it up. Looking in the mirror, the waist cincher gave me a defined waist and the girdle did a wonderful job of smoothing me down at the front. I was very pleased with the outcome. I told Pamela that I'd take them both and she started to disentangle me from both garments. Before she'd got too far, Julia stepped forward and said to me, ''Why don't you keep everything on? If we see a nice skirt in a 14, you'd be able to try it on?'' That made sense so Pamela fastened me all up again and then said she'd leave me while I got dressed again. I found it hard bending down but if I kept a straight back, it wasn't so bad. I must admit that putting my shoes back on made my eyes water a little though. I found I could pull in my belt a few more notches! I put my windproof jacket back on which covered up my new curves from prying eyes. I went back into the shop and I said to Pamela that I'd take them both. Pamela said that as both the waist cincher and the girdle were old stock she'd give me a small discount. After paying, I thanked Pamela for being so helpful and we said our goodbyes. She even wished me luck with my search for a skirt - and I'd never had a woman say that to me before. It made me feel warm inside. Was it acceptance? She didn't have to say it. I felt like a member of the club. We set off back towards the town centre and all the shops. Julia asked me how I felt trussed up like a Christmas turkey as she put it. To be honest, it felt great. I enjoyed the feeling that I was getting somewhere - I felt encouraged that a woman like Pamela who was what I'd call 'old school' and very correct should have said what she said to me - another step forward. Julia said that I'd have no difficulty at all finding a straight skirt I liked in a size 14. She slowed as we came upon a fashion shop - she said, ''Come on, this looks as though they have some nice things - let's go in.'' We went in and headed over to the skirt rails where Julia started riffling through them. I could have bought every last one of them if I'm honest - but, as Julia reminded me, I was looking for a skirt I could wear every day. She pulled out a classy looking black pencil skirt that had an elasticated back waistband. She said the elastic waistband would make it fit better and it would be comfortable and easy to wear. It had a concealed side zip and button fastening. She lifted up the hem to show me it was lined and she pointed out the gorgeous pleats to the back. She told me I'd look great in it. I was convinced already! She stopped dead in her tracks.. ''I forgot - wrong colour,'' she said, 'We're supposed to be looking for light coloured skirts - to make your hips look bigger - but try it on anyway - every woman's wardrobe should have at least one straight black skirt in it.'' With that, she pointed me in the direction of the changing rooms. ''I'll continue looking.'' Swallowing a large lump in my throat, I went over to the lady who was hovering about near the changing room and asked if I could try the skirt on. I said I was with the lady across at the skirt rail. Julia was looking over and she smiled and mouthed ''It's OK!'' to the lady. She turned back to me and said, ''Well, I don't know I'm sure but if you're with that lady I suppose it's OK.'' I closed the door of the changing room, kicked off my shoes and took my trousers off. It occurred to me that I was in a woman's space - how many men had stood where I now stood? I felt good about being there. Taking the skirt off its hanger I stepped into it, pulled it up around my hips, turned the closure around to the front and pulled it together - and yes, it just met - buttoned it up and then zipped it up snugly. I turned the skirt back around so that the zip was at the side. Wow! Looking at myself in mirror I was astonished at the difference now that I had some curves. My new girdle worked wonders and there was no sign at all of anything untoward - I just had a completely flat front. I stood there lost in contemplation of myself. There was a tap on the door. Julia said, ''It's me..!'' I opened the door and she came in with three skirts for me to try but her eyes widened when she saw me. ''Ooh, now that does look good on you!'' she said. ''I think so too - and I really like what all that corsetry has done for me.'' ''It's really given you a woman's figure - especially there..'' pointing at my flat front. I said, ''I think that's what I'm pleased with the most.'' She told me she'd found another identical skirt to the one I was trying on but in a black and white dogtooth check. She added, ''This would be a very easy skirt to co-ordinate with - you could wear most things with it. You're enjoying this aren't you..?'' It was true that standing there in a changing cubicle in a dress shop - that most female of spaces - and trying on a skirt, felt really very good to me. I was completely at home in a skirt - it didn't feel alien to me at all. I've always thought a skirt was the most feminine article of clothing - it reveals yet conceals and it swings differently with every stride. By contrast, putting on a pair of trousers was more prosaic - it was just putting on an outer layer of clothing - whereas putting a skirt on was liberating - there being virtually no sensation of wearing anything apart from the waistband. I could have spent my life in a skirt. I asked Julia what she thought about the skirt I was wearing. She took a small step back and looked at me through half-closed eyes. She said, ''It fits you beautifully - in my opinion you won't find a better one and if I were you, I'd take the black one and the dogtooth check as well.'' After we'd finished in the shop, we were walking along and Julia said to me that I needed to start thinking about what outfit I was going to put together. She said, ''C'mon, let's stop for a coffee then we can talk about where we go from here..'' We found a small caf? and got ourselves established in a corner. She said that I now had three skirts - the two straight skirts we'd just bought - one black, one dogtooth - and I had the pleated skirt in the grey Prince of Wales check that we'd bought the week before. I had a pale grey blouse, black shoes and a few bits of underwear. If I was going to want to go out, I'd need a jacket, perhaps some light sweaters and maybe even a coat. Julia gave me a wink and said, ''This is fun though isn't it? Come on, let's see if we can find you a jacket.'' We then set off and we must have looked in half a dozen shops before we found something suitable. We'd gone into an independent fashion shop that looked promising and once Julia had explained my situation to the elegantly dressed manageress, I was surprised at how she seemed to accept me as a woman - even though I was dressed as a man. She asked us what I was looking for and I said that I'd like a smart black jacket that I could wear with the skirts I'd just bought. She asked to see them and thought for a second or two before leading us to a rail with a selection of jackets. Julia said that a size 16 should fit. She pulled out a few and asked me what I thought of them in turn. She had two that I liked. One was a collarless edge to edge jacket with 3 buttons that looked very feminine and the other was a more tailored style with lapels and a nipped in waist. She asked me if I'd like to try them on and she showed me through to the fitting room towards the back of the shop. She hung the jackets on the coat hook and said that she'd look to see what else might work. Julia and I went into the room and I started taking my sweater and shirt off. She held out my bra for me and helped me with the back fastening before popping my breast forms into the cups. ''There..'', she said, ''that looks better already! Here's your blouse as well..'' She gave me a hand buttoning it up as my hands were shaking with nerves. ''Now let's try this jacket on..,'' she said, holding out the edge to edge jacket. I slipped it on and Julia said, ''Look, it doesn't look anything with your trousers underneath - why not take them off and slip one of your new skirts on?'' She was right of course - I was thinking of having a sign of this made by this stage! I took them off and stepped into the black skirt that Julia was holding out for me. I turned around and she tucked my blouse in before doing the honours with the zip and button closure. ''Turn around and let's have a look at you..'' she said, ''Ooh, that's looks lovely on you especially now you have some curves. That jacket looks so much better doesn't it?'' ''Can I come in?'' asked the manageress from the other side of the curtain. Julia stepped back to make some room and pulled the curtain aside as the lady came in. She looked me up and down before saying, ''Well, if you don't mind me saying, you look every inch the lady in that outfit. You've obviously had some help with the curves as your skirt hangs well on you and the jacket drapes well over your bust.'' Music to my ears! At last - acceptance from the other side - which was now my side. How I'd longed for this moment. She said, ''There's no-one in the shop right now - why don't you come outside and look at yourself in the big mirrors out there..?'' I stepped out and I wished I'd had my shoes with me and my wig and - well, all the rest of it! She showed me to the mirror and even without my shoes and my wig, I thought that, from the neck down, I looked like many well-dressed women we'd seen out shopping. I turned around to see how the back looked and I was pleased with the fit of the jacket. She said, ''Why don't you try the other jacket for size?'' I went back in the changing room and put the first jacket back on its hanger before putting on the other one. It was in a deep plum and was slighter shorter than the first one. It had a more tailored fit with its nipped in waist and when I fastened the two buttons up, it fitted more closely around the bust too. I felt good wearing that too. The manageress stood by the curtain with a raised eyebrow, ''Well, what do you think? From where I'm standing you look very nice..'' I asked Julia what she thought. She said, ''I don't think you'll do better than these two jackets. The black one will go with anything and the plum one looks wonderful on you.'' The manageress added, ''These are wardrobe essentials if you're trying to put together clothes that will co-ordinate. You won't go wrong with either of these jackets.'' That was decided then. I said that I'd take them both and got changed back into my own clothes again. Stepping out of the changing room, I walked over to the cash desk and while the manageress was folding up my latest purchases she said I'd be welcome in her shop at any time. If I wanted to come in again, I should just give her a ring and she'd make sure that we wouldn't be disturbed. This was really a blessing as I wasn't sure that I'd be able to cope with a shop full of women customers. And with that, she shook my hand and wished me luck. Julia said all I needed now before going back home were some tops - she said she thought a light sweater or two would be useful. We looked at each other and, as one, said, ''Marks!'' Marks & Spencer had always had a great knitwear department and so minutes later we were browsing the shelves. Julia thought a black polo would be useful and she found one in my size. She said that it would go with either of the jackets. By this stage we were both getting a little weary and so, after paying for it, we headed for the car. We'd had a very good day and Julia said that I now had the basis of a wardrobe. If I kept in mind what I had when I went out clothes shopping, I could build up a well-co-ordinated set of mix and match outfits. Before too long we were pulling up outside Julia's house and fortunately it was dark so nobody would see us. Closing the door behind me, Julia said, ''Why don't you freshen up - have a shower and a shave if you need like one and then I'll take the hair off your chest. You'll feel much better about yourself then.'' I no longer questioned any advice she gave me so I went up with all my carrier bags and was soon standing under her shower. She'd given me a perfumed shower gel which I loved the smell of. I was drying myself off when the door opened a tad and she passed me a lace trimmed wrap saying, ''Pop this on when you're finished and come on through to my room.'' After shaving quickly I went through to her bedroom and she said for me to lie on her bed so she could depilate my chest. She held up a few wax strips which she said might make my eyes water! I felt her sticking one to my chest then there was a ripping sound and ouch! Yikes, that stung! She said it wouldn't take long and then she repeated the process over and over again till it was completely smooth. I could feel my eyes watering despite myself. Then, as she slowly stroked some soothing skin lotion on to my chest the soreness lessened. She said, ''Once the redness has faded, your bra will look so much better on you without that hairy chest! Now open your eyes and here's a little something I've treated you to..'' She gave me a very light little gift wrapped package - which, when I unwrapped it, contained a lovely black camisole top and a matching pair of black lace-fronted panties. She was looking at my face for my reaction and she said, ''I'm glad you like them.. Pop the panties on now and the camisole will go on afterwards..'' I stood up and slid into them. They were lovely. I asked her, ''Where do you find panties as nice as these?'' She laughed and said, ''How do they feel on? You suit them. Come on, let's get you made up..'' She sat me in front of her dressing table again and started with some skin cleanser before doing my make up. I loved the feeling of her gentle hands working on my face, putting my eye make up on before the final touch - asking me to pout a little as she applied my lipstick. She said that she'd also bought me some false nails to try. She reminded me that it was all about the little details - getting those right and suddenly it would be like a set of scales - just a fraction of a bit more weight on one side would tip the balance in its favour. She said all she was trying to do was to tip the scales. One by one she stuck the shaped nails onto mine and once the glue had set, she started to shape them in turn using a nail file. Then she opened her dressing table drawer and selected a plum-coloured nail polish. She explained that it would match with my new jacket. I found this all to be one of those deeply feminine experiences and I loved it. She was rapt in concentration as she applied the lustrous colour to my nails one by one and when she'd finished one hand I had to wave it in the air to speed up the drying process in that time honoured female gesture. I loved it! Soon, she'd finished the other hand and she said that while that was drying she'd help me dress. She said a black bra would be best under the polo sweater. She slipped the wrap off my shoulders and helped me into my bra before slipping a breast form into each of my bra cups. She adjusted the straps until she was happy with the result. She then held out my pantie girdle for me to step into before asking me to sit down again so she could put my stockings on - rolling them on from the toe. She said, ''You must be enjoying this..!'' I was! Once I had my stockings on, she said that my new waist cincher was next so I stood up to hold on to the door while she tightened it up more and more. She finished it up by wrapping the laces around my waist once and then tying them off in a bow. She stepped back and said, ''You've got your waist back! Now to smooth you down at the front.'' She wrapped my girdle around me and did up the innumerable hook and eye fastenings before zipping it up with a satisfying zzzzzzziipppp! ''Now for your new camisole top..'' she said as she slipped it over my head. She said, ''One thing we forgot today was a nice waist slip.. Even though your skirts are lined, I always like a waist slip with an edge of lace to show when I walk.'' She opened one of her drawers and passed me a black waist slip trimmed with lace at the hem. ''Slip that on while I take all the tags off these clothes. And then try your black polo first - but careful not to smudge your make up.'' I held out the neck of my polo as I pulled it down over my head and over my bust. Looking down I had a lovely shape to my bust under the sweater. ''Which skirt first, do you think? As I'd like to see you in the plum jacket, let's try you in the black one first..'' She held it out for me to step into and then she stepped around behind me and zipped me up. She smoothed my sweater down over my hips and then held my new plum jacket out for me to put on. ''Now, where are those shoes of yours..?'' She passed me my shoes and I stepped into them. ''We'll just do your wig and then you're done..'' I sat down again in front of her mirror with a lovely swishing sound from my skirt. She asked me to hold the front of my wig close to my hair line at the front while she pulled it back and down over my head. There was a small tab over each ear that she jiggled and pulled down so that the wig was properly seated. Then, reaching for her styling brush, she gave it a few expert flicks and then, shielding my eyes, gave it a quick spray to fix it in place. ''Now we're getting there,'' she smiled, ''All we need now are the finishing touches..'' She rummaged through her jewellery box until she found some dangly pearl earrings with a central plum-coloured stone.. She clipped these on to me and then got up to go to her wardrobe. She came back with a silk scarf with plum and black accents that she said would finish my outfit off nicely. She tied it loosely around my neck, arranging it this way and that before declaring herself satisfied. ''Ooh! I forgot rings.. You'll need a ring or two.'' She was back in her jewellery box and she came up with a couple of rings that she tried on me before setting on a nice one that matched my outfit. It was a large chunky plummy stone. ''OK.. let's have a look at you..'' I stood up and walked over to her big full length mirror. I was struck dumb again.. just like the weekend before. All I could see was an elegant woman and the knowledge that that elegant woman was me was the best feeling in the world. My outfit flowed from top to bottom.. My jacket had curves, my skirt sat properly on my hips and, best of all, my skirt was absolutely flat at the front with no hint at all of anything that shouldn't be there. And all those little details that Julia had talked about - my nails, a scarf, rings, earrings - transformed my sweater, jacket and skirt into an outfit. It was magic! It all looked part of the whole. I couldn't stop looking at myself. Julia said that she thought I looked lovely but that I'd wear the mirror out if I wasn't careful. She asked, ''How do you feel? To me, I could pass you in the street and think only what a smart outfit that woman is wearing. You could be one of the girls from the office - really! Let's go down and have a drink.'' I felt so wonderful, so feminine and so elegant. I'd wanted to feel elegant all my life and now I finally was. I looked at my nails and then down at my shoes.. and at the hem of my skirt and the swell of my bosom. It all felt so right. I was born to be here. We went downstairs and I sneaked another look at myself in her hall mirror. I was so happy with what I saw that I felt myself filling up. I stood in front of the mirror with one knee cocked inwards and slightly forward in that classic female stance which accentuated my hips. I could hardly speak for the emotions I was feeling. Julia said softly, ''Come on, there'll be time enough for that later.'' She led me through to her kitchen and sat me down. I said I wasn't hungry so she said she'd just make a couple of coffees. She said that I honestly made a very convincing woman. She arranged my hands neatly in the lap of my skirt and said that these female gestures had to become second nature to me. She lifted the hem of my skirt to reveal the black lace edging of my waist slip and said ''That looks so pretty, doesn't it?''. She said she'd noticed I'd smoothed my skirt down underneath when I sat down - just as she would have done. She said well done - I liked to hear that. It made me feel as if I was getting somewhere. She asked me what I wanted to do now. I replied that I was in seventh heaven and I could hardly think straight. She asked me if I'd like one of the girls from the office to come around? We could have a girls night in as she put it. I went hot and cold when she said that. There was nothing I'd've liked better but I was terrified of where this was all going. I asked her if she had anyone in mind? She said that she thought that her best friend Angela (a divorc?e) wouldn't be fazed by it. In fact, Julia thought she'd enjoy meeting me like this. ''Should I ask her around then?'' Julia asked with a naughty smile. She said it would help me to identify as a woman and it would be good to hear someone else's reaction. I felt completely tense about it but after a while, I realised that this was all part of the process of self-discovery. I needed to know if I could socialise as a woman. I nodded. Julia said, ''I'm glad you said yes. I think it's a positive step forward and Angie's the soul of discretion - she won't breathe a word to anyone.'' She reached for the phone and dialled Angie's number. I could hear it ringing. No turning back now. ''Hi Ang - it's Jools.. How's everything? Uh huh. Yep. If you weren't doing anything special I was just wondering if you'd like to pop round for a drink. I've got someone here I'd love you to meet. Who? Wait and see! A friend! A woman.. (looking at me with a smile and a wink) Just come as you are. See you in a few minutes then. Byee.'' Julia looked at me with half closed eyes - ''What have I forgotten?'' she said to herself, ''Ah yes, a spray of perfume.'' She opened her handbag and gave me a few sprays of perfume around my ears, inside my wrists and on the back of my knees. ''I must get you a handbag as well. I've one in black patent that would look nice with your outfit. Just a minute.'' She dashed upstairs quickly and returned moments later with a stylish black handbag that I'd seen her using at the office. She said, ''Stand up and get used to carrying it - like this.'' She showed me how to hold it and then said I should try walking up and down a few times to get used to the feel of the clothes. She gave me hints on how to walk like a woman, keeping my back straight, my shoulders back, tucking my elbows in to my body and pointing my toes. She added, ''Don't worry, it'll come - there's a lot to learn.'' Just then there was a ring at the door - my heart leapt into my mouth - ''Don't worry,'' she said, ''That'll be Angie.. you'll be fine - and so will she. Stay here and I'll bring her through.'' I heard the door opening and then Angie's voice. ''What's all the mystery?'' I heard her ask. ''You'll see in a second,'' replied Julia, ''Let me take your coat and come through into the sitting room.'' The door opened and Angie looked at me with a puzzled look - ''It's not - it is.. is it? Is that Courtney in there?'' I said, ''I'm afraid so.'' She said, ''I don't know what you've been up to but you look fantastic! Has Julia been helping you?'' Julia said, ''Yes, it all started last weekend.'' Angie said, ''Does this mean you're gay? Or..?'' I said, ''Not at all. All it means is that this is how I've always felt on the inside.'' Angie said, ''Well, it suits you. You look great. I love your outfit - it's like something I'd wear. You look like one of the girls. You look like the lady of the house.'' I felt my heart swell to bursting when she said that. ''You don't think it's a bit funny then?'' ''Not at all,'' she said, ''It must have taken a lot of courage to go through all that. I admire you for it. Not many people could do it. How on earth did Julie get involved though?'' Julie said, ''I'll tell you over a drink. What are you having?'' And then the whole story came out and at the end of it Angie was looking at me shaking her head. She said, ''I'd never have guessed all that was going on in your head. But if that's what you want, then go for it. Are you sure about what you want because it's an enormous step - a huge decision to take?'' I told her that I'd felt like this ever since I was a child. I'd always wanted to be in with the girls when I was at school. I'd always felt as if I belonged there. I was happy talking to her about this whereas I couldn't imagine telling a man the same story. After a lot of talking she looked at me and said, ''So - where do you go from here?'' The $64,000 question. I said that I'd read about men who'd had sex changes and that perhaps that was the way ahead for me. I'd read that they were prescribed a course of female hormones and after living as a woman for a couple of years the surgery would follow. She asked me if I went that route, what about men? Would I start fancying them? I said that as I felt now, I felt attracted to women and I couldn't imagine that changing. However, after 2 years of female hormones who knows what that would do to my psyche? Maybe I'd end up fancying men. At the moment however, I felt attracted 100% to women and I was happy with that. Maybe there was a woman out there who would be content with me as a partner. But if not, I'd be happy to live out my life as a woman, as me. Angie said, ''I think before you commit yourself to such a major change in your life you should experience what life is like as a woman out there in the real world - not just here in Julia's house. I know it's only early days yet but the real world out there is what you'd have to live in. If you found it didn't work for you for whatever reason, you'd have the time and space to take a backward step before altering anything permanently.'' Julia said to me, ''Now do you see why I asked Angie round? She always talks common sense.'' I said, ''And I'm very grateful for that.'' And I was. Angie looked at me with the same look that Julie often used. She said, ''You know, now that I've got used to the idea, I think you could really make a go of it. I'm not being funny but I think you could make a better woman than you do a man. Can you just stand up for a minute.'' I stood up and shook the folds out of my skirt. ''And can you just turn around slowly - that's right. I think with the right clothes and accessories, the fact that you haven't got much in the way of hips needn't be a show stopper. Courtney, if you want any help with this just ask. You've got a lot of catching up to do and I can see that Julia's helped you a lot. The thing is - you're going to have to learn how to do all this on your own. Your own make-up, your own hair, your own shopping and your grooming. All those things it's taken Julia and I 20 years to learn, you'll have to pick up. Are you ready for that? And how about work? And telling your doctor? You've got a lot to think about.'' Julia said that this was really the early stages of discovery for me and that I should take things one step at a time. She said she was willing to teach me what she could while her husband was away but when he was home after his trip away, perhaps Angie would like to consider picking up the reins and carrying on with my journey. Angie said she'd love to. She asked me what other clothes I had and Julia said it would be best if we went upstairs and showed her. I walked up the stairs ahead of Angie and she noticed a flash of lace in the split pleat of my skirt. She said how well I walked in my heels and that the lace looked so pretty. We laughed and laughed at some of the embarrassments I'd gone through and we talked about another shopping trip the following week to look for a coat for me. If I was going to go out, I'd need one. Angie said she'd like to join us if that was OK. She said that I should go shopping dressed next week. She said I'd pass unnoticed with 2 women. And that was where we left it. I'd come a long way in a couple of weeks and yet I felt so right about everything. I finally knew that I belonged to the sisterhood.