50 -MY SON, THE BRIDESMAID

green for more than just a kiss." It was said in good humor, but Robin felt embarrassed nonetheless.

"I was just imagining that I was kissing this beautiful girl... not Steve... That's what you said to do," Robin groaned. "Isn't it. How should I know 'how long' the kiss is supposed to be? I've never been on a date before, even as a guy!"

"I'm just joking," Trish said, "You did just fine."

That night, as Robin lay in bed in a soft nightie, his thoughts were more confused than ever. At first, the idea of dressing as a girl seemed fun, a lark. But this was farther than he had imagined it could ever go. Unless he cut his nails, let his eyebrows grow back in, do something with his long hair... he probably couldn't pass as a man! His troubled sleep that night included a bizarre dream/nightmare .. him and Steve rolling in bed together, with Steve kissing Robin's full breasts... and what scared Robin the next morning was that in the dream he was enjoying it!

Chapter 9

Trish had gone back to college and Robin and his mother resumed the daily routines of work. Robin, in t-shirt and jeans, was back to work in the stock room.

The very first week, Mrs. Sloan came into the shop and had to see Robin, the boy. Mrs. Wilkes called her son out from the back room. Robin was shocked and embarrassed to see Mrs. Sloan in the shop. He thought she was obviously there to scold him for deceiving her nephew. He blushed when he saw her standing with his mother.

"Could Robin look like a boy again?

"So, this is Robin," Mrs. Sloan stated. "He looks rather plain. He's much better looking as a girl.

Robin started to apologize for the 'Steve' thing saying,

"It was all Trish's idea to go out..."

TV FICTION CLASSICS -51

"Oh, honey," she said, "Steve's a big boy. If he can't tell the boys from the girls, that's his problem. I must say, I chuckled for an hour when he bragged about kissing you."

Mrs. Wilkes looked at Robin. She had no idea. She had to know more. She said, "Robin, tell Mrs. Sloan how it felt to kiss her nephew."

Robin was humiliated but stuttered, "I didn't want to be kissed by him but Trish said I shouldn't resist. It was the price I had to pay for being taken out."

"Don't apologize, dear," Mrs. Sloan said. "You make an attractive girl and you are bound to be kissed now and then if you keep running around in dresses. Mrs. Wilkes, do you mind if he's kissed?"

Mrs. Wilkes was caught off guard but recovered to say, "He is very pretty. I guess it's a natural reaction."

"I agree," Mrs. Sloan said adding, "I'd love to see him in some ball gowns. Do you think he would model a few for me?"

The Society Page exposure had worked miracles for their business. All sorts of new customers were coming in and asking to see the 'Miss Robin Wilkes' in the newspaper.

At first they stalled but soon found out that only 'Miss Robin' would do. A few of the old-timers knew Robin and unexpectedly weren't too surprised when Mrs. Wilkes told them about Robin and what had happened at the Ball. Business was business. Promotion was promotion. They soon had more orders for wedding gowns, bridesmaid's dresses, Mother of the Bride/Groom dresses than they could handle.

Robin resisted, but before long was going to work again in dresses, skirts and blouses. It seemed silly wearing little bikini panties and hose under his boy's jeans and denim shirts only to change at work to try on a new gown design. His long flowing hair was also a problem. It had a mind of its own and puffed out 'wanting to be pretty', hardly appropriate for a boy.

Most of his days were spent modeling his designs for clients. It was still embarrassing when old clients who knew him as a boy made a scene about his girlish ap-