Reluctant Coed
By Annie James
As the coach sped through the black of the night Robert thought about
his childhood friend Donna. What a saviour she had proved to be for a
destitute and despairing orphan! It was her suggestion which had led to
this all-night bus trip, and to the confidence with which he was
beginning to face his prospects for the future. It was strange how an
almost forgotten friendship from such a long time ago had proved to be
the bridge to renewed opportunity and restored hope.
How his life had changed in that short interval since High School
graduation! He had received notice of his acceptance in the University
on the very day that his parents were killed. Three days later their
bodies were laid to rest and their grieving son had learned the
discouraging news that after settlement of the estate there would be no
money left to permit him to continue his education.
Donna's letter of condolence came as a complete surprise. He had not
seen or heard of her since her family had moved away about the time she
finished grade school. His letter of appreciation thanking her for her
concern had somehow grown into a four page epistle into which he had
poured his grief at the loss of his parents as well as his despair at
having to abandon his projected college career. She was so touched by
his letter that she responded with a long telephone call, during which
she suggested that he contact the University about the possibility of
receiving a bursary. It was she who advised him that the Psychology
Department of the State University in Centreville was seeking volunteers
for a year-long experiment, volunteers who would receive free tuition
and living expenses.
Sleep continued to elude him as the bus droned on through the night. Too
bad he had used up all the sleeping tablets which the Doctor had
prescribed when he was first told of his parents' death. As his
restlessness continued he remembered the strange relationship he had had
with the tomboyish Donna. She was a year older than him, but they had
been companions on the walk to and from school for the entire period
during which they were neighbours. She had protected him from older
bullies and he had reciprocated by standing up for her right to join in
the boys' sporting activities. On occasion, when his protests resulted
in them both being excluded, he had joined her in a game of jacks, or in
skipping, or acted as her partner for hopscotch with the other girls.
Her suggestion during their telephone conversation had led him to seek
an interview when a representative of the University visited his
community. Somewhat to his own surprise, that interview had led to an
invitation to participate in the planned experiment. Hence this long bus
trip to report for instructions a week before the start of the first
semester. He wondered just exactly what would be expected of him. So far
he had only been told that he would be required to submit to the gender-
related restrictions faced by all female students, so that his reactions
as a male could be evaluated. Oh well, he would understand more about
that after he reported to his faculty adviser in the morning! Sleep
overcame him at last and he awakened only as the bus pulled into the
terminal at his destination.
It was a surprise for Bob to be paged in the bus terminal. A lady
professor from the Psychology Department had come to meet him and drive
him to his new home.
"And where is my new home to be?" he asked Professor Jamieson after they
were seated in her car and under way.
"A private room has been reserved for you inside the women's residence,"
she answered. "You being segregated away from male company forms an
important part of our experiment. I am also the Dean of the residence so
I will be close at hand at all times to help if you have problems."
The drive was a short one and they were soon unloading Bob's two
suitcases and carrying them into the residence. Professor Jamieson
insisted on carrying one of the cases in spite of Bob's protest and she
led the way into her own quarters.
"We'll stop here first," she announced. "I am sure you would appreciate
some breakfast before doing anything further." When his bags had been
set down inside the front door she added an invitation for him to
accompany her to the kitchen to help prepare the light meal. He
participated readily in setting the table, pouring the orange juice,
making the coffee, and buttering the toast before they sat down to eat.
While they sat at the table she asked about how he had come to volunteer
for this experiment and almost before he realized it, the story of his
recent misfortune and grief was being poured out into a sympathetic ear.
"So that's my story," he finished, "and I certainly do appreciate the
opportunity to have my costs paid during the school year. Otherwise I
would have no choice but to find some unskilled job. By the way, can you
explain to me exactly what this experiment is all about and what I am
going to have to do?"
"It will all become clear later in the day, but right now let's get the
dishes done before we talk about it further." Bob yawned several times
while they dried the dishes and stacked them in the cupboard, leading
Professor Jamieson to suggest that they go immediately to see his room.
"Just leave your bags where they are," he was told. "They can be
collected later."
The entrance to his room was just across the hall. The room contained
the standard undergraduate furniture, twin size bed, chest of drawers,
bookshelves, desk, and lamp. Professor Jamieson walked over to the
smaller of two doors on one side of the room and opened it to reveal a
small clothes closet with a supply of wire coat hangers. She closed the
door again and opened the second door into a full bathroom, saying as
she did, "All the other residents will be jealous that you have your own
bathroom and don't have to line up at the end of the hall to use the
common facilities."
She looked back to find Bob still standing in the middle of the room
trying to suppress another yawn. "I'm sorry, what were you saying," he
queried.
"I think you are pretty worn out from your long bus ride. Why don't you
just crawl into bed for the rest of the morning? We can finish our
discussion after you wake up." She opened a bureau drawer and took out a
small bundle. "Here's a pair of polojamas." She handed them to him,
walked back across the room and paused at the door. "I'll see that no
one disturbs you until you wake up fully rested. Have a good sleep now."
She stepped out into the hall and closed the door behind her.
Left to his own devices Bob yawned once more, sat on the edge of the
bed, slowly undressed, and pulled on the top and bottom of the
polojamas. He laid his discarded clothes across the chair and slid under
the bed covers. Almost immediately he fell into the deepest and most
dreamless sleep that he had experienced since the death of his parents.
CHAPTER 2
Bob was awakened from his deep sleep by a hand insistently grasping his
shoulder. He came slowly to his senses and sat up, rubbing his eyes at
the same time. "Where am I?" he asked of no one in particular as he
stared around the unfamiliar room. "Oh, Professor Jamieson," he grunted
as he regained his sense of reality.
"It's time to get up," the professor said. "It's three in the afternoon.
If you don't you won't be able to sleep tonight."
"I guess you're right," acknowledged Bob. "Where are my clothes? I
thought I left them on the chair." He swung his legs over the side of
the bed but remained seated.
Professor Jamieson sat in the chair opposite and began to talk. "Now
that you're rested it's time for us to have our talk about your part in
the experiment. You understand that the purpose is to determine how a
male would react to the restrictions that society places on members of
the female gender. So far you have reacted admirably. Perhaps you did
not even realize you were being tested when I required you to help with
the breakfast preparations and with clearing up. Many males are
accustomed to being waited upon at mealtime by whatever female is
present."
"I only thought I was doing the polite thing," commented Bob.
"However there is more to it than being expected to make meals and do
dishes. You realize I am sure that people will only treat you as they
would a female if they genuinely think that is what you are. So we have
to disguise you as a girl!"
"Disguise me as a girl? How can you do that?"
"It won't be too difficult, provided you cooperate. I will show you what
you are to do. If you follow instructions exactly, no one will know,
outside of ourselves and one other student whom you will meet later
today. It is very important that no one suspect. If anyone finds out,
the experiment will be cancelled and you will be back on your own to pay
for your tuition and living expenses. Do you understand that part
clearly?"
"Yes, I think so. If anyone finds out I am not a girl, I'll have to quit
school. I guess I'll have to do my best."
"If that is quite understood then, we can get started. Beside the
bathroom sink you will find a bottle of specially formulated depilatory
cream. You will have to use it about once a week to keep all traces of
your beard from showing. You can put it on your face right now and then
take a shower as soon as it dries. I'll leave some clothes on the chair
for you to put on when you finish and I'll be back in about twenty
minutes. Do you think that's enough time?"
"It should be."
"Well hurry along then. I'll see you shortly."
Bob went immediately to the bathroom where he followed the directions in
spreading the gooey cream over his face. As he sat on the toilet waiting
for it to dry, he wondered about the instructions he had just received,
giving serious consideration to the idea of backing out of the whole
thing. Somehow he had failed to realize all the implications of
volunteering to participate. Finally however, he removed the polojamas,
turned on the shower and stepped into the tub. After wetting his head
and his body he soaped himself well and shampooed his hair before moving
so that his head and face were again under the rushing water. He enjoyed
the sensation as shampoo, soap, and the thick cream were rinsed off and
washed down the drain.
After he had shut off the water and towelled himself vigorously, one
hand reached up to feel his cheeks. The skin felt smooth and bristle
free. For a moment he stared at his face in the mirror, fascinated that
all traces of moustache and sideburns had disappeared. He slipped his
pyjama bottoms back on, becoming aware for the first time that they
contained no fly. He smiled to himself as he glanced back in the mirror
at his bare chest. "I wonder what they intend to do about that?" he
pondered before returning to the bedroom.
On the chair he found his intended clothes, cotton briefs, T-shirt,
jeans, and anklets, the latter in a bright red colour. On the floor was
a pair of penny loafers. What he had at first glance identified as
briefs had no fly front and had some lace trim around the leg holes.
They fitted him snugly and he was forced to adjust them around his
privates as he might have had to do with jockey shorts. The T-shirt was
grey and decorated with the university logo. It was the jeans which he
found the most radical. They had a side zipper along with a tight
waistband which he could only fasten by sucking in his breath. The shoes
were a comfortable fit.
Bob had just completed dressing and was remaking the bed and placing his
polojamas under the pillow when a short knock and a turning door handle
announced the return of Professor Jamieson. She commented favourably
about his tidiness in making the bed but made no remark about his form
of dress. Instead she led him into the bathroom where she seated him on
the toilet seat so that she could work with his still damp hair. He said
little as she combed it and rolled curlers into place. Her only comment
was to compliment him on the smoothness of his face. In reply he said
that the curlers made him feel like a porcupine.
When she had finished he stood looking at himself in the mirror for a
moment while she went back to the bedroom to get a flowered silk
kerchief which he was required to place over the curlers and tie under
his chin.
"There, I think you will do for the moment," she told him. "Now let's go
back to my apartment and get you a glass of milk before we start
preparing supper."
Bob's fear of meeting someone in the corridor as they crossed the hall
proved groundless and he was soon seated in the Professor's kitchen
drinking his milk and nibbling on a cheese cracker. When his immediate
hunger had been relieved he followed directions for beginning the
preparation for the supper meal. This involved him in learning to make a
filling for a pie shell, in peeling potatoes and carrots, in grating and
mixing the ingredients of a salad, and in slicing the cold meat. His
comment that these were all unfamiliar activities which he had never
done before brought forth the Professor's comment that, "Any young girl
would have learned these skills from her mother by the age of ten." Bob
could think of no reply.
While he continued his work in the kitchen Professor Jamieson answered
the door to admit a visitor whom she invited to sit in the living room
before calling Bob from the kitchen to be introduced. As he diffidently
entered the room, shy about being seen with the silk scarf covering his
head of curlers, the visitor rose from his chair. He was introduced as
Don Stevenson, a senior year student. After the short introduction Bob
returned to the kitchen to continue with his meal preparation and to set
the dining room table for three. The visitor remained seated in the
living room reading the afternoon papers while the Professor alternated
between the newest guest and supervising Bob's work.
During the meal which followed Bob concentrated hard on remembering to
see that each food was passed first to the visitor and that he was
offered seconds when appropriate. Bob's responsibility to remove the
empty dishes, to pour the coffee and to slice and serve the pie kept him
from fully enjoying his own meal and limited the amount he had time to
eat. He blushed when Don complimented him on his alleged skill as a
cook. Afterwards Bob cleared the table and did the dishes by himself
while the others returned to the living room.
Later when he had joined the others, he learned why Don had been invited
and what his role was to be in the experiment. "I'm here to help
whenever you need a male companion or escort and no other volunteer is
available," stated the latter.
Bob's interest was peaked by this remark and he took careful stock of
the tall dark haired and neatly dressed young man, while Professor
Jamieson explained that Don was the only other student in the University
who knew Bob's real identity and that he could be counted on to keep the
secret. "He'll try to be around on campus whenever you need help in
coping with aggressive males."
"Aggressive males? Why should I need protection from aggressive males?"
"Perhaps you won't," she replied, "but we can't afford to take chances.
You may very well find that some lothario will refuse to take no for an
answer."
The concept that the Professor thought he might attract male admirers
shocked Bob. He could think of no response to make but was spared the
necessity of replying as she continued. "Don will help out by showing
you around the campus tomorrow. You have an appointment with the staff
doctor in the morning for a checkup so he will start by going with you
to the medical building."
"By the way," contributed Don, "what will you want me to call you
tomorrow? You can't be known as Bob! Do you prefer Roberta or Bobbie?"
"I hadn't thought about it. Anything else will seem strange. You can
decide what to call me. I'll tell you later if I don't like it."
At Professor Jamieson's suggestion the three spent some time playing
Chinese Checkers while their conversation continued and the two young
people became a little better acquainted with each other. Bob learned
that Don had lived in the same town as his old friend Donna Stewart and
had attended high school with her. According to Don they were cousins.
He did not know for sure but thought she was attending College in
another state. He expressed surprise when told that she was responsible
for Bob's enrolment in this experiment.
About nine-thirty the game ended and they shared another pot of tea
which Bob prepared. After Don had departed Bob was given the key to his
room and offered a chance to retrieve any particular wants from his
suitcases. Clothing and toilet articles however were specifically
prohibited and he finally took only his writing paper, alarm clock, and
the pocket book he had been reading. The bags and their contents would
remain in the professor's apartment for safe keeping.
As she handed him the key to his room she added a final instruction, "Be
up and showered by seven but don't get your hair wet." As she said this
his hand raised instinctively to feel the curlers which he had forgotten
were still in place. "I'll remove them," she continued, "when I come
over to help you dress and prepare for the day. Oh, and one more thing.
Wash out your underpants and socks before you go to bed and hang them on
the towel bar overnight to dry. Properly brought up girls always put on
clean underwear each day."
Back in his room Bob changed again to his polojamas and obeyed the
instruction to wash out his underpants. Then he examined all the
cupboards and drawers but found most of them empty. The medicine cabinet
in the bathroom however was fully stocked with a variety of bottles and
tubes, all of which appeared to be unopened and most of which appeared
to be related to feminine grooming.
Sleep came to him slowly as he turned in bed trying to find a
comfortable position which would minimize the discomfort from the
curlers. He seriously thought of backing out of the experiment on the
morrow even if it meant losing his opportunity for higher education. His
mind was still not made up on this point but he finally resolved to try
one more day before making an irrevocable decision. He spent a restless
night with his sleep disturbed often by the curlers whenever he turned
over.
CHAPTER 3
It was a struggle to respond to the alarm at six-thirty but once awake
Bob went immediately to the bathroom. He almost forgot to wear the
plastic shower cap, but remembered in time to cover his bulging hair. He
found it strange that his face still felt smooth so there was no
necessity to shave. When Professor Jamieson tapped on the door at seven
and let herself into the room with her own key, she found him again
wearing his jeans and T-shirt as he sat reading his pocket book.
"Good Morning, Roberta," she greeted him, "I'm pleased to find you up
and ready. Let's get started at once."
He acknowledged her greeting and waited for her instructions. From her
carry bag she handed him a small package, saying, "Take off your jeans
and pull this pantie-girdle on over your panties. Don't bother going
into the bathroom. Do it right here so I can see how well it fits."
Somewhat sheepishly Bob complied. He found some difficulty pulling the
white lycra garment up beyond his knees. "Are you sure this is my size?"
he asked.
"The size label says it is. It will be easier though if you undo the
zipper first."
When he had done this the garment came more readily up around his lower
body. "Now fit your privates comfortably into the crotch and I will help
you fasten the hooks and close the zipper. Pull in your stomach so I can
fasten the waist." The top of the garment came as high as his ribs and
when it was fastened he could feel a continuing pressure around his
midriff.
"That does improve your shape considerably," she commented. "Don't put
your jeans back on yet. Come look in the bathroom mirror to see how it
narrows your waist. There's light padding to fill out your hips a little
too."
As Bob stood looking at himself in the mirror he ran his hands down his
hips, feeling the taut smooth material that rounded and smoothed his
buttocks.
"Off with your T-shirt now, and lift an arm while I get the hair in your
armpit with this electric shaver." He continued watching his reflection
while raising each arm in turn. "Roll this deodorant on while I get your
bra."
The padded brassiere fitted snugly around him. She adjusted the shoulder
straps to her satisfaction before making him reach up behind his back to
unhook and rehook it several times. He did so with difficulty. "You'll
have to do this for yourself in the Doctor's office," she warned. He was
startled by the realistic way in which the shape of his body had
apparently been changed.
He obeyed her order to don his jeans and a fresh T-shirt before sitting
obediently on the toilet seat while she applied red polish to his
fingernails, and he continued holding the hands outstretched for the
polish to dry. "We won't bother with a lot of makeup. You'd probably
smear it anyway when you undress for the Doctor. I'll do your eyebrows
though." Bob flinched when she began to pull hairs with a small pair of
tweezers but he gritted his teeth and said nothing even though tears
formed in his eyes. The process seemed to him to go on for a very long
time. When she paused at last he found some relief by rubbing his
fingers over the smarting brows and wiping his eyes with the tissue she
handed him.
She now turned her attention to removing the curlers from his hair.
"It's a relief to get rid of those," commented Bob. "They wakened me
every time I turned over in bed last night."
"You'll think it was all worth while when you see how it looks after I
finish combing it out," she answered.
Indeed, when he did finally stand and turn to face the mirror again, he
was astounded at the change in his appearance. The smooth face with
newly narrowed eyebrows framed by softly curling hair looked to him like
that of a stranger. As his eyes moved down to take in his body, reshaped
by brassiere and girdle, he knew that persons meeting him for the first
time would have no hesitation in assigning him a female gender. It
seemed very appropriate to the face in the mirror as he applied the
lipstick which she handed him and blotted his lips with tissue.
"Come back to the other room and we'll try the shoes I brought for you,"
she said after she felt he had stared at his image for long enough. The
rather dainty pumps which she held out to him had heels only about an
inch in height. They fitted his feet snugly but at first he had some
difficulty in learning to place his weight directly over the narrow heel
support. "Keep your head up and shoulders straight," he was reminded as
he practised walking about on the rug. He stopped his pacing and stood
in one place while she used a tape to make a record of his measurements.
"Bust 34, waist 28, and hips 34," were among the figures she recorded on
a piece of paper.
About five minutes to eight, Professor Jamieson left her prot?g? alone
to await the arrival of Don. Before stepping out the door however she
gave him a small hand bag with a long strap. "You can hang it over one
shoulder when you go out," she told him. "It's got your lipstick and
some tissues in it along with money to pay for your meals in the
cafeteria today. There is also a wallet with your new identification.
Everything is made out for 'Roberta Harriet Henderson' with sex
indicated as female, even on your driving licence."
Alone in the room, Bob continued to walk around anxiously as he thought
about the coming ordeal of appearing in public for the first time in his
new guise. He was still pacing, if his timid steps could be called that,
when a rap on the door announced the arrival of his assigned escort and
guide. Nervously he unlatched the door and stepped back to admit Don.
Neither said anything as they stood staring at each other for the first
few seconds. Bob was wondering what the other thought of him, while Don
was dumbfounded by the transformation which had occurred in the young
person to whom he had been introduced the evening before. Don broke the
silence first. "Bobbie, I'm amazed," were his first words. "You look
really classy, even if you're still dressed in jeans. I can see already
that I'm going to have competition for your company. I hadn't expected
you to look this good."
"Do you really think so?" was Bob's involuntary question prompted by his
need for reassurance.
"No doubt about it, you can give most of the girls here a run for their
money. Are you ready to go?"
"I just have to pick up my purse." How strange it seemed to Bob to give
such a typically feminine answer! Don found it a perfectly natural
response from this apparent coed.
CHAPTER 4
That first step out into the corridor took all the courage Bob could
muster. It seemed to him that Don should go first and it was not until
he was prompted by the words, "Ladies first," that he realized that the
door was being held open for his exit. He felt particularly conspicuous
while he waited outside for Don to set the latch and check that the door
had closed securely. "Yes, I have the key in my purse," he answered to
Don's question.
As they walked along the corridor, one hand held tight to the purse
which hung from his shoulder, while the other tried instinctively to
reach into a side pocket. He struggled for a moment before realizing
that the close-fitting jeans were constructed with only decorative
patches instead of the roomy pockets to which he was accustomed. It took
effort to keep his unoccupied hand hanging loose as they walked. It was
an equal struggle to keep from pulling his arm away when Don grasped his
elbow to guide him down the steps outside the residence entrance. It was
Don's grip which saved him from a nasty fall when his unfamiliar heels
caught on the stair tread.
As they started along the sidewalk Don stepped around behind him to
reach the curb side, a manoeuvre which Bob had often carried out himself
when walking with a girl. "I guess I'll have to get used to having the
gentleman walk on the outside," he thought to himself and then repeated
the thought aloud by way of making conversation.
"I bet you'll also have fellows offering to carry your books for you,"
laughed Don.
"That'll be a funny day. I won't know what to say if someone does
offer."
"You'd probably be wise to 'Go with the flow' as they say. Anyway you'll
have to make up your own mind about that."
On the short walk to the refectory they met several pedestrians, none of
whom paid any special attention to the disguised Bob, which fact,
combined with Don's pleasant banter helped him to be more relaxed as
they entered the cafeteria line and picked up their trays.
Bob fumbled a bit as he looked through his purse to find money to pay
the cashier. He felt conspicuous again while he delayed the line to put
his change away and zip up the bag once more. Then he stood with his
tray in his hands facing the dining area while he waited for Don to
finish paying, rather than himself leading the way yo select a table. As
they walked across the room however it was Bob who suggested they sit at
a table for two on the outside wall where they would have a view of the
whole room.
Even in eating Bob found himself affected by his transformation. Several
times the flash of his coloured fingernails reminded him of his changed
appearance, and the jutting mounds on his chest intruded on his
peripheral vision each time he looked down. He kept remembering his
mother's teachings from when he was a small boy, hold your cutlery
properly, use your knife to cut your bacon, take small bites, chew your
food well. He knew it was silly to think that Don, and the others in the
room, would judge him by the fine details of his table manners but his
mind continued to dwell on such matters.
Don's efforts at conversation during the meal and his remarks about
other diners in the room helped to relax him again so that it seemed no
time at all until he was gently dabbing at his lips with a serviette
while a waitress poured them refills for their coffee. They lingered
over their cups until it was almost time for Bob's appointment with the
doctor.
They were carrying their trays of dirty dishes to set on the rack for
the kitchen staff when he felt a sudden need to empty his bladder. "Don,
where's the washroom?" he hissed in a low voice.
The reply was given in a normal tone of voice, "Over there on the right.
I'll wait for you outside."
Don reached the rack first, set his tray down, and turned to take his
companion's tray and slide it into place. Bob realized just on time that
he was expected to accept this courtesy and released the tray. He turned
and headed for the sign marked Washrooms. The click of his heels as he
crossed the room raised his level of apprehension once more and made him
feel that everyone must be looking at him. Indeed several seated male
diners were doing just that, evaluating him as a prospective date during
the coming semester.
Remembering to choose the door marked Ladies; he entered quickly and
found himself a stall. The awkwardness of having to hang up his purse,
unzip and lower both jeans and girdle, lower his panties, and sit, just
to empty his bladder, was a strong reminder of the adjustments he would
have to make if his masquerade were to continue for the full school
year. He sighed with relief as the pressure in his abdomen eased, wiped
himself with a tissue, (what boy standing at a urinal would do that?),
and struggled back into his clothes.
Emerging from the stall he walked over to a sink to rinse his hands,
again a ritual which he might have omitted if he had stood at a urinal.
A glance in the mirror and at a girl standing several places away
prompted another typically feminine action. He reached in his purse,
took out his lipstick, carefully recoated his lips, and blotted them
with a tissue. A few minutes later when he rejoined Don the latter
remarked, "I see you remembered to freshen your lipstick." Bob's face
flushed red with embarrassment.
Again Don walked on the outer portion of the sidewalk as they strolled
the several blocks to the Medical Centre. Outside the entrance he paused
and said, "Your Doctor's office is on the second floor. You won't need
me to go up with you so I'll leave you now. You can find your own way
back to the residence. I'll meet you there again at noon to go for
lunch. So long for now, Bobbie."
Bob walked up the entranceway steps, crossed the lobby, pushed the
button for the elevator, and waited impatiently for its arrival. A man
in a business suit stood aside to allow him to be first to enter the car
when it arrived. Bob hesitated, then stepped forward. As he turned to
face the door he smiled at the man and murmured, "Thank you."
"No trouble at all, Miss. Which floor did you want?" was the prompt
reply.
Once in the office of the medical suite Bob walked rather diffidently up
to the receptionist's desk to say that he had an appointment with Dr.
Andrews. The receptionist looked down at the appointment list on her
desk. "You must be Miss Henderson, then. Roberta Henderson?" she asked.
"That's right," he responded simply.
"You are to go right in. It's the second door on the left."
As he opened the indicated door and stepped into the office an older
woman dressed in a white lab coat stood up and came around the desk to
greet him. "Good Morning," she said, holding out her hand. "You must be
Roberta Henderson. Welcome to the clinic, Roberta. I'm Dr. Andrews. You
can sit there beside the desk for the moment."
An involuntary, "Oh!" escaped from Bob's lips as he shook the Doctor's
hand.
"Is something wrong?" she asked.
"No, it's just that I was expecting a male Doctor. I didn't mean to be
rude. I hope I didn't offend you."
"I'm not offended, but you will have to get used to me. I am the doctor
assigned to your case. By the way I think you look quite attractive this
morning."
Once more he blushed beet red, but did manage to respond with a, "Thank
you, Doctor."
She smiled across the desk at him. "You're still shy, I can see. Don't
worry. You'll learn to accept a compliment. Lots of girls would envy
your looks." He blushed more as she continued. "Now let me see your
student card and your medical insurance card. We'll have to get the
preliminaries out of the way."
Bob dug into his purse for the necessary documents and handed them over.
She filled out a number of forms and handed one to him for signature. He
was told that it was a routine authorization for billing to the medical
insurance plan. When the documentation was completed she handed back his
cards and said, "Now, Roberta, go into the examination room through that
door and take off every stitch of clothing, even your shoes and socks.
As soon as you finish, lie face down on the examining table. I'll be in
shortly to examine you."
As he stripped off in the examination room Bob was at a loss to know
what to think. Given his situation, would it be more embarrassing to be
examined by a female doctor or a male doctor? He lost no time in
removing his clothes and climbed up hastily on the table just before Dr.
Andrews entered.
She began by checking his pulse and then measuring his blood pressure.
She listened with the stethoscope on the back of his ribcage before
giving an order which he obeyed reluctantly. "Now turn over and sit up
on the edge of the bed." As he complied he brought his knees together to
keep his privates hidden between his legs. She placed the stethoscope on
his chest and continued to listen. "Now cough." She finished with the
stethoscope and picked up a small light. "Let's see into your left ear."
"Now the right."
"Now stand on the floor." She placed two fingers just above his crotch
on the right side. "Cough." The fingers shifted to his other side.
"Cough again."
"Climb up on the table again and lie on your back." He did as directed
silently, reaching down with his hand to push his privates down between
his thighs just before he lay back. She moved toward his feet and began
to examine his toes. With her hands she felt his arches and ankle
joints. The hands moved up and felt each knee joint in turn. She turned
away for a moment to don surgical gloves. The moment he had been
dreading arrived.
"Spread your legs." She peered at his genitals for a moment then reached
forward and began feeling around the base of his scrotum. "Not
circumcised I see." He said nothing as the inevitable began to happen.
He felt the beginning of an involuntary erection. "Turn over on your
stomach again." His penis started to relax again. "Spread your legs."
Petroleum jelly was smeared between his ass cheeks. "Just relax now." He
felt the discomfort as a finger was inserted into his anus to check his
prostate. Dr. Andrews turned away to remove her surgical gloves and drop
them in the waste container.
"You can get dressed now. Here's a box of tissues so you can wipe
yourself. I'll be waiting for you at my desk as soon as you're ready."
The door closed behind her.
Bob scrambled to dress quickly, relieved to have this ordeal behind him.
With the practice he had had, his pantie-girdle was slid into place and
fastened more easily than before, and he succeeded quickly in reaching
to hook the bra behind his back. When the rest of his clothes were in
place he picked up his purse and returned to the other room.
Dr. Andrews was seated at her desk filling in some papers. She gestured
to him to sit and continued with her task for another moment. Finally
she looked up and smiled at him.
"Well, Roberta, I find you perfectly healthy. You are in excellent
physical condition. I have no hesitation in approving your participation
in Dr. Jamieson's experiment. Do you have any questions about your
health?"
"I can't think of any." His voice dropped and became almost inaudible.
"There is one. Will it do me any harm to wear a tight pantie-girdle?"
"Not as long as you take it off every night before you go to bed. I
wouldn't worry about it."
"I'm still trying to decide if I will continue in the experiment or if I
will drop out and find a job instead."
"It would be a shame for you not to get your education, and there is no
medical reason for you to quit."
"Thank you for the reassurance, Doctor."
"There is one thing I might do for you. Only if the idea appeals to you
though!"
"What's that?"
"I could give you shots to help you grow your own breasts. That way you
wouldn't have to pad your brassieres."
"No thank you."
"I didn't think the idea would appeal to you. You can always come back
to me though if you change your mind later. One thing I will do for you
though. I'll give you a prescription for birth control pills to keep in
your purse."
"What possible use could I have for birth control pills?"
"Actually the reason is to give you an excuse to see me each month to
renew your prescription. It will keep the receptionist and the office
staff from wondering why you come in so often to see your doctor. You
don't have to take them. You can flush one down the toilet each morning.
In any case they wouldn't do you any harm if you did take them."
On his way out Bob stopped at the receptionist's desk to arrange his
next appointment. Her cheerful words as he left, "Goodbye, Miss
Henderson, we'll see you next month," reminded him once more of his
changed appearance.
Back on the street he enjoyed strolling in the fresh sunny weather. He
enjoyed the click of his heels on the sidewalk and he walked with an
erect posture that emphasized the new contour of his chest. No longer
did he avert his eyes from the persons he met on the street and he had
ceased being oversensitive to appraising glances from passing males. To
himself he thought, "Boy, would you be surprised if you knew what's
under my girdle."
At the drugstore while waiting for his prescription, he bought a
newspaper and later spent a half hour sitting on a park bench in the
sunshine while he read it. He left the park bench to return to the
residence when a young man asked if he could use the other end of the
bench. Bob had no desire to start a conversation with a stranger,
particularly one of the male sex. Idly he wondered to himself if he
would have been so quick to depart if the newcomer had been female. He
could not answer his own question.
There was only a short time to wait in his room before Don arrived to
escort him to lunch. This time he did not blush as he said, "I'll be
ready in just a moment, as soon as I freshen my lipstick." He stepped
through the door in front of Don as if this were the most natural thing
in the world to do, and he moved naturally to the inside as they made
their way along the sidewalk. Even in the midst of a conversation with
his companion he paused long enough at the entrance of the refectory to
have the door held open for him again.
Lunch proceeded so smoothly that he almost forgot that he was playing a
different and strange role. Reality came back to him when they were
joined at the table by two student friends of Don, one male and one
female.
"Jim and Bea, I'd like you to meet my friend Bobbie. She's a freshie."
Bob stretched out his hand to be shaken and the newcomers sat down. Jim
politely asked a few questions about Bob's background but quickly turned
his attention to Don with questions and discussion of their shared
classes. Bea and Bob found themselves more or less excluded and turned
toward each other.
Bea spoke first. "I like your nails. Is that the colour they call pink
ice?" She held her hand out beside Bob's to compare.
"I'm not sure. I've forgotten what it says on the bottle."
"Mine's called hot fuchsia."
Bob desperately looked for a way to change the topic of discussion. "Are
you in third year too, like Don and Jim?"
"No, just second." Bea leaned over conspiratorially to whisper in Bob's
ear. "But I'm more interested in boys. Don't you think Jim is a dream?"
Bob looked at their male companions. The idea of evaluating them from a
woman student's point of view was novel to him.
Bea straightened up and did not seem to expect an answer to her
question. She began to speak about the classes she expected to take in
the coming term, and she suggested several first year classes that she
thought 'Bobbie' should consider, stressing particularly the ones she
thought would have a lot of boys enrolled.
It was a relief to Bob when the meal ended and they parted outside the
refectory. He stood watching for a moment as Jim walked away with the
mini-skirted Bea clinging tightly to his arm. Standing beside him, Don
commented, "Isn't she a possessive little thing! I hope you never get to
feel like that about me."
"Not a chance," laughed Bob.
Don stayed with him during the afternoon in case his help might become
necessary while Bob was registering for each of his classes. No problems
arose and he merely stood in the background while Bob filled out the
necessary papers at each registration desk. Bob got lots of practice in
printing out his revised name, checking 'f' for sex, and in remembering
to include an extra 'a' in his signature. He became more used as well to
being addressed as 'Miss Henderson'.
Don proved helpful too as they left the bookstore. He joked about
carrying 'Bobbie's' books for her, but actually both of them had arms
full when they reached the residence just on time to leave again for
supper. By six-thirty Bob found himself back in his room alone, sorting
his books and arranging his desk.
An hour later he was feeling bored so he decided to watch television in
the residence common room. One other student was sitting there looking
at the screen when he arrived.
"Hi!" he introduced himself, "I'm Bobbie Henderson. Is there anything
good to watch?"
"Nothing much. Just a Quiz Show. I'm Jane Howard. Are you new here too?"
She shifted on the chesterfield to make room for Bob.
After he seated himself to watch, a quiet conversation developed between
them during which he learned that she had a room several doors down from
his, and that they were enrolled in several of the same classes. She
proposed that the two might help each other by studying together as the
term progressed. "That is, if you don't spend all your time with your
boyfriend," Jane finished.
"My boyfriend! I don't have a boyfriend."
"Oh, I thought you did. I saw you with a boy at lunchtime, and he was
with you at registration, too. And didn't he help you bring your books
into the residence?"
"Oh, you mean Don. He's just an old friend who is helping me to get
started. He's not my boyfriend."
"Then you won't mind if I flirt with him."
"Go right ahead. Be my guest."
Bob looked up as someone else spoke. "Good evening, Jane. Good evening
Roberta." Professor Jamieson had entered the room. "Could you come and
see me in my quarters now, Roberta? I have something to talk over with
you."
As he was leaving to follow Professor Jamieson, Jane asked, "Could we go
together for breakfast tomorrow, Bobbie? I'd be happy to have company."
"I'll meet you at eight, here in the common room," promised Bob.
Don appeared just as they reached the professor's door and he
accompanied them inside. "Why don't you start the coffee, Roberta?"
suggested Professor Jamieson, "while Don is getting ready to tell us
what he thought of your performance today."
When Bob returned ten minutes later carrying a tray with steaming coffee
cups and a plate of cookies, Don began his report. "I thought she looked
awfully nervous in the beginning. She had trouble carrying on a
conversation and she blushed whenever she thought she had done something
wrong."
"Like what?"
"Like when she hesitated to walk through the door ahead of me, and when
I complimented her about remembering to freshen her lipstick. She was
still edgy when I left her at the Medical Centre, but when I called for
her again for lunch she seemed a different person, relaxed and self-
confident. She acted very natural all afternoon."
"Dr. Andrews said she was very nervous, too. I wonder what brought about
the change. Can you tell us yourself, Roberta?"
Bob, who had sat silently listening to this description of his
behaviour, was struck by their use of the feminine gender when talking
about him here in the privacy of the apartment. He could offer no
explanation for the change in his demeanour. "I just got used to being
called Roberta, I guess." was all he could suggest. "I sort of told
myself 'when in Rome do as the Romans do' and it seemed to work."
"Which brings us to the sixty-four dollar question," said the professor.
"What's that?"
"Are you going to continue being Roberta, or are you going to back out
as you threatened last night? And as you mentioned to Dr. Andrews, I
might add."
Bob did not reply at once. He reviewed in his mind his experiences of
the day and the prospect of studying the subjects he had enrolled in
this afternoon. When he answered it was with a serious and determined
look on his face. "Yes, I am prepared to carry on as Roberta in order to
get my education."
"I don't think you'll regret it," said the professor.
"You've got lots of guts," added Don.
CHAPTER 5
Bob was up with the alarm at seven next morning. He showered quickly,
dried himself thoroughly, and experimented with the fragrant bath powder
which he found in the bathroom cupboard. His undergarments, which had
dried overnight after being rinsed out before he retired, slid more
easily over his freshly powdered skin. He looked with satisfaction at
his reflection in the mirror after reaching behind his back to fasten
his bra. He liked the narrow waist and smoothly curving hips provided by
his snug girdle, though he remembered the feeling of release when it was
removed the night before. He lifted one knee to examine the smooth
hairless skin of his thigh and shin which he had shaved last night as
ordered by Professor Jamieson. He found his profile still pleasing after
he had donned his jeans, T-shirt, anklets, and shoes.
Having followed instructions about wearing a hairnet to bed and a shower
cap while bathing, it was not too difficult to comb his hair into a
semblance of yesterday's style. He took time to pluck several more hairs
from his eyebrow before completing his grooming by carefully colouring
his lips. It was almost eight as he picked up his purse in readiness to
leave the room.
Suddenly his nervousness of the day before struck again and instead of
exiting he set the purse down and returned to the bathroom to check his
appearance once more. He was still doing this when the knock came on his
door. Nervously he opened it to find Jane standing there, also in jeans
and T-shirt.
"I thought you were going to meet me in the common room," she began.
"I'm sorry. It must be later than I thought," replied Bob. "I'll get my
purse."
Together they walked to the refectory and filled their breakfast trays.
On the way Bob's nervous tension again made him a poor
conversationalist. He kept thinking that yesterday Don would have helped
out if he had slipped up, but today he was entirely on his own. Jane had
no idea of his true sex and would be no help at all if he blundered.
Fortunately nothing untoward happened and his irrational fears began to
ebb as they completed their meal. It helped also that Don came by with a
friend and, after a wave and a 'Hi' to Bob, sat at a nearby table. On
the walk back to the residence Jane asked how he planned to spend the
day, the last one before the beginning of classes.
"I have to go out with Professor Jamieson, today," he answered. "She's
sort of my guardian. My parents are dead and I have to answer to her for
how I spend my money. We're going shopping. I'm sorry you can't come
along with us but she specifically said I was to come alone."
In her car on the way downtown Professor Jamieson commented on how
different her passenger looked from two days earlier when she had
collected him from the bus terminal. "There'll be even more of a
contrast by the time we get back home today," she added.
Their first stop was at a store into which Bob would have been
embarrassed to go alone, even dressed as he was. The sign on the door
read 'Intimate Things' and its windows were filled with models dressed
in wispy peignoirs, corselettes, or simply panties and bra of satin and
lace. He found himself standing at a counter fingering delicate panties
which the professor handed to him for his comments about their
appearance and style. "Shouldn't I just have something plain?" he asked
her as a salesgirl approached.
"Nonsense," was the reply. "Remember, we're trying to turn a country
bumpkin into a young lady." In spite of his hesitation she chose eight
of what he would have said were the sexiest pairs, in various colours of
nylon or silk, and lace. After a discussion of the various makes and
styles of bra available in the store he was led to a change room where,
in company with the professor, he tried on more than a dozen. From them
she chose four of one type which she decided would be practical for
everyday wear and three others for special occasions, including a
strapless and a basque. Even matching the names of the styles to the
actual garments was a learning process for him. He was required to
remove his jeans and girdle to try on a one-piece corselette which she
added to their purchases.
They did not leave the store until she had also made a selection of
slips, camisoles, half-slips, and teddies, each of which he was required
to feel and make a comment about before she decided on the purchase. He
was amazed that their purchases all fitted into four shopping bags which
they carried back to the car.
"Now we'll choose a blouse and skirt for you. Bring along a camisole and
half-slip to change into." When next they returned to the car he had
been in four change rooms and had tried on eight skirts as well as more
than a dozen blouses. He found that he preferred the blouses without
front buttons because of the awkwardness of fastening them with his left
hand. They left with four blouses, two sweaters, one pleated skirt, and
one yoke skirt which fitted closely around the lower body but flared at
the hips.
The return of these parcels to the car was followed by a search for a
dress. After looking through innumerable racks they selected a
miniskirted yellow crepe number to be tried on. Professor Jamieson was
delighted with its fit and appearance so it was chosen without further
searching.
He would have thought that they had completed their shopping but when he
asked at the car if they would be leaving now, he was told, "Heavens no.
We haven't even begun to look for shoes." At the shoe store he was first
fitted with knee-high nylons to replace his red anklets before trying to
walk across the rug in a pair of pumps with three inch heels. It was
Professor Jamieson who insisted they be purchased even though she
admitted they seemed to be more than he could manage smoothly. "You'll
learn with a little practice." she told him. They also bought another
pair of pumps and a pair of knee-height rainboots both with a more
moderate heel along with a supply of sockettes for use when it might be
too warm for stockings.
Lunch in a department store cafeteria proved relaxing for Bob although
he thought as he ate how strange it was to have chosen a salad in
imitation of his companion's choices. At the conclusion of their meal
she led the way to the ladies' washroom where he experienced again the
nuisance of lowering his clothes to relieve his bladder. Afterwards she
stood beside him at the mirror while he renewed his lipstick.
His level of apprehension rose sharply when she led him next to the
reception desk of the store's hair salon. "Yes," the receptionist
answered, "we do have a reservation for Miss Henderson. Please follow me
to meet your operator."
Bob was shown pictures of several hairstyles that the operator said
could be adapted to his present hair length. Acting on Professor
Jamieson's advice, he chose a simple but attractive bob. He was left in
the operator's care to receive a trim and wash, followed by a full-
fledged permanent. It was an hour and a half before the professor
returned to find him almost asleep under the dryer. After the final
combing out he was led to another operator who was instructed to make up
his face as if for a party. He was told to pay careful attention so he
could understand how to make up his own face in future.
When the mirror was held up to show him the final result, complete with
eyeshadow and mascara, he had to agree with the operator that it was a
shame he was not dressed in something more formal than jeans and T-
shirt.
"What time is it, now?" asked Bob as they left the salon.
"Oh," exclaimed Professor Jamieson. "I had forgotten you don't have a
watch. We'll fix that up right now."
With her advice he chose a rather dainty watch with an expansion band
but which nevertheless had a second hand and a date feature. He was
still adjusting it when she spotted the sign advertising ear piercing,
and before he could organize a protest, he found himself with a gold
keeper ring in each earlobe. They looked at earrings but no purchase was
made because she said it would be another week before he could replace
the keepers. Instead they selected a gold locket on a chain to be worn
with his yellow dress.
Their final purchases of the afternoon included a raincoat with hood in
a yellow satin gabardine, followed by silk gloves and scarf, with a
purse for dressup occasions being the last item.
"No doubt we have forgotten something, but in any case I'll take you out
again on the weekend," she said as they ate in a fast food restaurant
before returning home in her car.
It took two trips from the car to bring all of Bob's parcels to his
room. He was left alone to sort the purchases and find places for them
in the bureau drawers and cupboard. He found it pleasurable to finger
the silky pieces as they were neatly folded and laid away. Then he
followed instructions by removing his jeans and T-shirt and replacing
them with his new dress over a full slip. How delightful it felt to have
the silky slip slide smoothly into place over his shapely body! Nylon
sockettes replaced his red anklets and he walked toward the mirror on
his new pumps with the high heels, to admire the quality of his
artificial complexion. He clipped the locket and chain around his neck,
then could not resist the impulse to add fresh powder to his nose and
refresh his lipstick. A touch of the comb put the last strand of hair
exactly into its place.
Clutching his new purse in his hand he stepped out of his room and
crossed the corridor to tap on Professor Jamieson's door. When the door
opened she took one look before taking him by the hand and leading him
to the centre of the room. "What do you think of our Roberta now?" she
exclaimed to Don who was seated on the sofa.
"She's a real doll," he responded. "Come and sit beside me," he added as
he walked over to take Bob by the hand.
Bob sat down gingerly, remembering to smooth his skirt beneath himself
and placing his purse on his lap. The blush on his face was mostly
concealed by his makeup and faded as he recovered from the shock of such
outrageous flattery.
"You don't look half bad tonight, yourself," put in Bob when he had
fully recovered, noting Don's creased trousers, tie and sports jacket.
"What's the occasion? Why are you all dressed up?"
"I'm hoping to escort you to the movies," was the surprise answer.
"Since you've just come back from the beauty parlour, I thought the
chances were better that you would accept my invitation if I put on my
tie and jacket."
"Well, I don't know. I'm pretty tired from a whole day shopping, and I
don't think there's enough left in my purse to pay for a theatre
ticket."
"Don't worry about that. Since I'm inviting you, naturally I'll pay."
"You really should go, Roberta," put in the professor. "You do need
practice in your role, and it is very generous of Don to offer, all
things considered."
Bob turned toward his fellow student, smiled and said, "I'd forgotten
that it's always the man who pays. Lead on MacDuff, I guess I can take
it if you can."
The two young people departed at once. When Bob hesitated at the top of
the entranceway stairs because of his high heels, Don turned to take his
arm and continued holding it, with Bob tapping along at his side, until
they reached his car. He held the door while Bob slid into the passenger
seat. At the theatre parking lot he came round to open the door and
offer a hand to help Bob descend.
It seemed quite natural to Bob to accept these courtesies, though it
felt a little strange to stand at the side while Don purchased the
tickets, and to lead the way past the doorman while Don handed over the
tickets and received the stubs. He refused Don's offer to buy popcorn,
fearing the possibility of getting grease on his dress.
They watched the movie mostly in silence, though Don took pains to point
out to his companion the abandoned behaviour of some young couples in
the theatre. "You'll have to be on your guard not to allow your date to
get fresh when I'm not with you," he whispered.
"What date? I have no intention of going out with boys!"
"Don't be so sure of that. They're certainly going to ask and some may
be quite persistent. Besides, the professor will insist that you accept
some invitations and I won't always be around to escort you."
"That reminds me. You've made quite an impression on Jane. I told her I
wouldn't mind if she wants to flirt with you."
"Really!" was Don's only response to this confidence.
On the way out of the theatre Bob kept his escort waiting while he
visited the ladies' washroom. Once more, in addition to relieving his
bladder, he repowdered his nose, freshened his lipstick, and patted a
stray hair into place.
Later, sitting in the car sipping a coke at a drive-in, he was
fascinated to observe the red stain on his straw where it had touched
his lips. It was one more minor but specifically female experience which
he would review in his mind before falling asleep tonight.
They parted for the night at the door of the residence after Bob had
once more been helped from the car and had his arm held as they mounted
the stairs. He turned to express his, "Thank you for a pleasant
evening."
As Don shook his outstretched hand, he replied, "It's been a real
pleasure for me. You're such a good-looker that sometimes I almost
forget that you're not a girl."
When the door to his room closed behind him, Bob began at once to
prepare for bed. Dress and slip came over his head and were hung in the
closet. The high heeled pumps were replaced with scuffs. On went the
polojamas to replace the undergarments which were carried into the
bathroom to be rinsed out and hung over the shower bar to dry. It
saddened him when he looked in the mirror and realized he would have to
remove the makeup which still highlighted his face. He really did like
the look which the operator had created for him. Strange to see the
keepers in his earlobes as he put a hairnet in place to help preserve
his curls. His final action was to renew the polish on his fingernails.
Somehow he could not resist the impulse to also colour his toenails.
As he crawled into bed he began mentally to add up the pluses and
minuses of the situation in which he found himself. On the negative side
he listed first the soreness in his calves from an evening in high
heels. There was the bother of rinsing out underclothes made from
delicate fabrics and lace, rather than simply dumping them in the
laundry. There was the necessity of watching his behaviour and his
conversation, to be sure that it conformed to feminine conventions.
Carrying a purse was a bother, and the necessity of entering a cubicle
and removing so much clothing merely to empty his bladder a downright
annoyance. He thought also that the effort needed to care for his hair
and to apply makeup might interfere with more constructive use of his
time.
Switching mental gears he began to list for himself some positive
aspects. Number one of course was that he was being provided with an
education which would otherwise be beyond his reach. "Surely," he
thought, "without that motivation I would never have let myself in for
what I am going through. Shopping today was fun though. And it's
pleasant to have a gentleman escort you to the movies, having doors held
open for you and all. I did feel kind of pampered at the salon, and I
did enjoy seeing my face and hair when it was all done up. Oh, and it's
nice to have people look at you when you know they're admiring your face
and figure. I guess I have to admit to myself that I enjoy wearing
attractive clothes. Silks and satins feel marvellous next to my skin
too."
He could not help thinking how pleasurable it might be if his pyjamas
were made of satin. Free from the control of a girdle his loins tingled
at the thought until his body relaxed in sleep.
CHAPTER 6
Bob rose quickly when the alarm roused him at seven. This would be the
first day of classes in the new term. He had been warned by Professor
Jamieson that the University's dress code forbade T-shirts and jeans for
both male and female students and that most of the professors enforced
this requirement by refusing attendance credits to those who broke the
rule. "Damn," he mused to himself. "That means I'll have to wear a
skirt. We never got around to buying the slack suit she promised me."
After a quick shower, his hair properly protected by a plastic shower
hat of course, he hastily chose panties, bra, and pantie-girdle from
those purchased the previous day. The excitement generated in his
genitals by the feel of the silky nylon panties was quickly brought
under control by his girdle and he proceeded to don his lace-trimmed
lycra bra and insert its pads. This was followed by a silky camisole and
a half slip, before his pleated skirt and a boat-necked short-sleeved
yellow silk blouse completed his ensemble. For shoes he chose black
pumps with but a medium heel.
Standing at the bathroom mirror he first attended to his hair which
magically seemed to require only minimal combing, since it retained the
curl which had been fixed by permanent wave solution at the salon. With
his scant knowledge of cosmetics and total lack of experience, he had
much difficulty in applying eye shadow which he had been told could be
done easily and without using any other cosmetics for this his first
experiment in making up his face. He was still engaged in this activity
when a knock on the door interrupted his concentration.
"Are you ready to go for breakfast?" asked Jane when he answered. "Oh, I
see you're still making up your face."
"I'll be ready shortly," he replied, "I smeared some eyeshadow and I
have to clean it up. Come in and sit down for a moment."
He returned to the bathroom mirror and quickly completed his task. As he
finished he called out, "Jane, would you mind looking in my purse and
bringing me my lipstick?"
"No trouble." As she completed the delivery, she added a comment about
the bathroom. "Gosh, you're lucky. I only have a sink in my room."
The two young people made an attractive pair as they walked toward the
refectory. Each wore a cardigan type sweater over a blouse. Jane,
wearing somewhat more makeup, had on a dressy pair of slacks. Although
he enjoyed the feel of his skirts swishing about his knees, Bob wished
he had a pair of slacks to wear instead of a skirt. Nevertheless he felt
relaxed and conversation flowed freely.
While they were dawdling over a final cup of coffee at the breakfast
table, Jane suddenly asked, "Aren't you going to take your pill?"
"What pill?"
"The pill, silly. I saw the package in your purse."
"Oh, that pill. The doctor prescribes them for my cramps."
"Of course! But don't forget."
Bob took the small package from his purse, held it under the table while
he punched free the next tiny tablet, popped the pill in his mouth, and
took a drink of water. "Thank you for reminding me." To himself he
thought, "Oh well, the doctor said it wouldn't hurt me." He was to find
himself thinking the same thing