What a fun story!  Nice job, Valentina.  Oh, and in answer to you, Briar, there were 14 jurors because it is standard practice to have 12 jurors and 2 alternates in case one of the jurors cannot complete the case.

Pina Coladas and Palm Trees {Destination Wedding Photographer   Well Misty, your day has come and gone. We had been talking about it and your list of 'likes' and 'dislikes' (lol) for what seems like feovrer, but your day came so.

Valentina this is a fiction story, but if you have a heart like Paul, you are a lovely human being! Lovely and sweet story.
A lot of kisses.
Silvia.

I'd go farther than Jill MI and say that the plausibility of the story was rough and shaky at first -- that, or the main character is a total bonehead! When I read the synopsis, I thought, "Let me guess; the boyfriend thinks he will hang out in the juror's lounge for a few days and then just go home, but finds himself selected for a difficult case that drags on for weeks. I wasn't too far off.

First off, he decides to impersonate his girlfriend on a whim, without any urging from anyone, instead of calling the court clerk back to tell her that his girlfriend is out of the country? And it's clear from the story that it's not because he wants to do something public en femme. Already, my suspension of disbelief is out the window, and I'm ready to stop; it's only because I have already read some of the author's other stories that I do not.

Then, of course comes the obligatory shopping trip and makeover. (Thank goodness the author spares us the long parade of designer labels and brand names; I do so hate product placement in my fiction.) This run-of-the-mill stuff is disappointing only because the author has spoiled me with her other stories, and I know she is capable of so much more.

Just when I think the story couldn't get worse, it does: on his second day at the courthouse en femme, he bumps into an attorney who knows him well as a fellow member of the local TG support group. Our "hero" tells the attorney he is there on jury duty impersonating his girlfriend, then asks him not to tell!

>>"Cindy, do you have any idea just how much trouble you could be in?"

>>"Well, I guess I might be thrown off the jury."

>>"That would be the least of your problems. Forgery, deception, perjury...Cindy, this could be serious! If you get caught you could do time!"

And if his friend the attorney fails to report it, and evidence of this conversation can be produced, he could be convicted as an accessory, loose his license, etc. What a position to put someone in! Could our "hero" be so ignorant? Could the attorney be such a good friend that he agrees to keep silent?

Finally, after raising no objections that would persuade the attorneys on a case to dismiss him, he is surprised when he is selected for and empaneled to the jury. Again, my suspension of disbelief is seriously challenged.

After that, though, things do get better. I definitely enjoyed how all the girl talk opened our hero's eyes good and wide <giggle!>. I was also very much in tune with the portrayal of courtroom proceedings from the perspective of an average "(wo)man in the street" juror, because I have little faith in an adversarial system that is much more about winning than about finding the "truth" -- the idea of a person's life hanging in the balance in a serious criminal trial is far too frightening to contemplate.

Valentina is too extraordinary an author to write ho-hum stuff. She is bound to insert gems like this one:

>>"Let me explain. I have some really strong opinions about the DeBeers Company. That's the world cartel that controls the diamond trade. They buy diamonds from known terrorist regimes just to maintain the world price. So all of those pretty engagement rings are financing death and destruction."

That's not half the story behind this amazingly powerful and yet secretive cartel. They do whatever it takes to gain control over every single diamond deposit found anywhere on this planet, and always succeed. They invented product placement in the heyday of the big studio motion pictures, and hung diamonds from the necks and ears of every major starlet. "A diamond is forever" and "diamonds are a girl's best friend" are DeBeers' marketing slogans. It does not surprise me one bit that Valentina would know about this.

Then, there's this bit of fun:

>>"Paul Francis Weston, this is the most idiotic stunt you have ever pulled!"

>>Now I knew I was in for it. Whenever a woman is particularly mad at you, she uses your middle name. I was now officially up a well-known creek without a paddle.

And now you know the secret to longevity, and how to keep the advantage in your relationships: never, EVER tell your girlfriend your entire name!! Protect it the way aborigines keep secret their true or spirit names, lest some evil shaman should discover it!

>>Me, I wore a nice Armani tux for the wedding. Nothing too ostentatious, just a basic black tuxedo. After all, this was Allie's special day, and the groom is only the bride's ultimate accessory.

Has anyone ever expressed the pain of gender dysphoria more succinctly? Pity the poor prideful deluded man who thinks his wife is an ornament dangling from HIS wrist!

I HOPE YOU HAVE A LIFE MATE LIKE THE CROSS  DRESSER DOES

Just a note to blend my agreement with all those more eloquent than I. Seems a shame that comments are sparse for so nice a view of life,
please carry on. thanks, john

I really enjoyed reading this story.  It was well written, with nice people in it, good characterisation, particularly of the three lawyers!  Refreshingly free of pseudo-erotica too.  The acceptance of Cindy by Allison (the real one) was very warming.  The way the girls reacted with each other, and the way the men behaved towards the girls, and vis versa, was just how they are in real life.  Nice twist at the end too.  You stopped at the right point.  

I think you are very good at writing stories.

Just one question - should there not be only 12 members of a jury, not 14?

Love,

Briar

I thought the Charicter was great, but I thought the Story was waaaaat tooo long.  And I thought Cindy and Jack could have gotten together for a Romantic Evening.

As a resident of Southeastern Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and a frequent visitor to Doylestown I felt that I was not only reading the story but witnessing the events as they took place. The story was very well written, and they all lived happily ever after.

Would that my wife of many years would be the slightest bit acccepting of my interest in cross-dressing.

At last, a CD story that reflects the way it really is for many of us who do this! As someone who has lived and worked as a woman at various times, I can attest that this comes closer to that experience than any other story I have yet come across. Sure, the fantasies are fun and I wouldn't want to be without them. But it's nice to see a fictional tale a bit more grounded in reality (my reality, anyway), especially when it is so believably and engagingly written.

I look forward to the next one!

It is refreshing to find a very well written story here during the recent drought. Very well done and a fine story on top of that.
You did a fine job of bringing in realism and making it all so believable.
Beyond the few punctuation errors, all that mars an otherwise fine tale, is your mispreceived need to repetively preach the strong anti-smoking campaign. It detracts rather than adds to the story.

Ta-ra, fer a bits,
Karen Anne

What a treat.  A CD story about real people doing real things in a beleivable setting.

Your story carries the message that cross dressers are just like you and me.

That is a wonderful message.

Your mechanics in the beginning were rough, but after you got into the story, they were much improved.

Email me.  I'd love to correspond.

Jill M I

WHAT A GREAT STORY!  Major congratulations!  The courtroom jury experience and the CD experience blended so very well as to make this more than just a TG fiction story.  It also is one of the most realistic stories I've read.  Most CD's don't take hormones; they are not size 8's; they don't have breast implants; and they don't pass the first time they dress.  Neither did your hero(ine).  Maybe most of us will never have this experience, but this story let us know it is possible for a lot more of us than we maybe thought.  I think a point was made also about what a large part attitude plays in passing.  Paul surfaced from time to time in those panic attacks, but for the most part it WAS Cindy living those four 9-5 days, and Paul was tucked in the back of her mind enjoying the ride.  I haven't spent multiple days out enfemme, but I have occasionally shopped the whole day on State St. and Michigan Ave.  Bob, 5'11 225lbs size 12 feet with Richard Nixon perpetual 5:00 shadow, knew that he in a dress could never do that, but he knew Jezzi could, and I did, and I passed ... when I wanted to; but that's a story for me to write.  Thanks for a great and hope generating read Val!
P.S.  I'd like to be a fly on the wall at that ending lunch!  I also like to think that someday there will be a second wedding ceremony with Cindy as the beautiful bride.

First of all let me say this was a good story.  I am not overly fond of lawyers to be certain.  In fact I think all the trial lawyers should be put into a leaky submarine and. . . well you ge tthe picture.  Having said that I liked this sotry because the dialogue was well written and thought out.  The court room venue was different and interesting as a scenario.

Well worth the read..

a truely great story. I always loved stories dealing with Jury Duty and I loved how the main character was able to pass and the job that was got at the end.  Just truely wonderful job done here.

 A truly well written story,  I started it and like a good novel could not put it down til I finished the whole.  I found this story like your previous ones to be well-crafted, thoroughly researched and well-proofed.
 Congratulations to you & your proofer/editor.

Valentina,
         really great story, I especially enjoyed the pleasure she had passing. It is not that common to read a story about everyday events for gg from the tg perspective without it being mixed with erotica.
Thanks Chrisl.

I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed this story.  There was one thing I noticed that was a little off, though.  Cindy/Allie will never be able to buy shoes at Target.  For reasons unknown, they don't carry women's shoes in sizes over 10.  I speak from experience.