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Tina           by: Jacki Pett

 

Part Two

It was late, about ten forty five, and it was time they got going. "What about it girls? Ready to get going?" Patty and Bob got up. Brad got up and offered Tina his hand. Tim looked at it than at Brad. Tim took his hand. Brad lifted him from the floor easily. "Thanks." Brad didn’t release his hand immediately, he hung on and their eyes met for only a second. Tim turned away first, he could feel his cheeks getting warm, he knew he was blushing. Nancy and Jeff were up now too and they all headed for the front door. Carol had been dozing on the couch. She woke up when the kids came in the room. The clock said she had slept for almost two hours. It was time for the girls to go home. Nancy and her friends were pretty good about not staying out too late. She got up and hugged each of them as she said, "Good night."

The guys followed them outside. Nancy and Patty got their good night kisses as they got into Patty’s car. Tim was afraid Brad would try it too.

As much courage as it took him to put his arm on her shoulder, it would probably take him a month to get up the nerve to steal a kiss. "I really enjoyed meeting you Tina. Maybe we could get together and do something sometime." That didn’t come out the way he wanted it to. He sounded like a wimp.

Tim realized that Brad was even more afraid than he was. That was neat. Tim got in the back seat. Brad had opened the door for him and that was neat too. "Maybe Brad. I had fun tonight. Good night." ‘Maybe Brad’ really meant no way to Tim.

Patty backed out the driveway and drove off.

Brad stood watching the car go down the street.

"You look like you’re in love Cousin." Jeff watched him moon after her.

"Are you kidding? She probably doesn’t even like me." Brad hoped he was wrong. "You two talk for hours, she plays pool with you, she lets you put your arm around her and when you suggest a date, she doesn’t say no, she says, ‘Maybe Brad, I had fun’." "And did you see her big brown eyes staring up at you?" Even Bob had seen that.

Brad thought about it and his disposition brightened. "Maybe you’re right."

As they walked to Patty’s front door, Nancy said to Tim. "We have to have a little talk."

In the bedroom, Tim asked innocently, "What’s wrong?"

"I don’t know if it’s a good idea for you to see Brad again." Patty was a little worried. Tim smiled, "Do you mean that thing about my saying ‘maybe’ to his suggestion that we do ‘something, sometime’?"

He really didn’t understand. "Tina, Brad took that to be a ‘yes’. You got his hopes up. A girl doesn’t say maybe if she means no."

"It’s just that he was a really nice guy and I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. Do you really think that he took that to mean yes?" That was not what he meant to do. Nancy responded with a big, "Absolutely."

Patty suddenly looked very serious. "Tina, did you enjoy all the attention he paid to you?"

Tim wasn’t sure how to answer, he hesitated.

"Be honest." Nancy looked as serious as Patty.

He answered slowly and truthfully. He really did trust these two. "In a way, yes. But I was scared to death most of the time."

Patty and Nancy looked at each other. Patty, very concerned, said, "Don’t you think most girls are when they first meet a good-looking guy? Tina, we could have sworn you were a real girl on a first date, the way you acted with Brad."

Nancy asked him, "Remember Sunday afternoon in the Mall, when Pam asked you, not too nicely, if you liked boys?"

He didn’t like the way the discussion was going. "Yes."

"You told her emphatically, ‘NO!’. Did you mean that?" Nancy was a little worried too. It didn’t take him a second to answer. "I meant it, and I still do. It’s just that tonight, I did enjoy his company. It was nice to be treated special by someone and I tried to act as natural as I could. I thought I did and said all the right things."

They felt only a little relieved. Patty sat next to him on the bed. "You did. The problem is that you did it too well."

"If you want to continue to enjoy Brad’s attention that’s fine, but you’ll have to expect his feelings for you to intensify. He won’t be satisfied with just putting his arm around your shoulders. He’ll expect more from you, a kiss, a hug and so on. If you allow him to go on, eventually he’ll want things you can’t give him." Patty didn’t know any other way to say it. Tim slowly absorbed everything they said. "As scared as I was tonight, I did enjoy how it felt. It isn’t that I’ve suddenly turned gay, I haven’t, it’s just that I wanted to feel everything that you take for granted. I found tonight that I really enjoyed feeling like and being treated like a girl. Helping with diner and the fun we had with Mrs. Brown around the table after. I felt like I belonged."

"We noticed, it was nice to see you so relaxed and happy." "I don’t want to lead Brad or anyone on. I just want to learn all I can, to experience as much as I can. I know I have limitations."

"Ok," Nancy felt relieved. "I think we understand now." She looked at Patty. "We have a lot to teach her."

Patty agreed. "Tina, we’ll do the best we can but you have to listen when we say to stop. Watch us for the signals when we’re around the guys. We won’t be able to say anything but you’ll be able to tell by the looks we give you."

They got ready for bed. As they lay in the dark talking, they heard Pam and Sue come in and go to their room. Nancy wondered if they should warn Tim about them, if they should tell Tim the terrible secret they were keeping from him. The thought nagged her as she fell asleep. Patty had similar thoughts she couldn’t share with Nancy. The risk was too great if they told him everything now. Being blackballed from the group would change their lives completely. They weren’t ready to give up all that they had achieved, to become nobodies. Wednesday was another perfect day. Temperatures were in the low eighties and the morning sky was deep blue and cloudless.

They got up and out early.

Pam and Nancy picked out suits and brought them to the dressing room. He figured he had tried on at least fifteen, all two piece, before they helped him settle on two. When Tim had suggested a one piece, Pam said, "Absolutely not."

Pam picked out some of the skimpiest suits in the store but unfortunately, they didn’t look right on him. His chest needed to fill out more, to become more fleshy. The ones Nancy picked almost all had slightly padded tops and they looked fine on him. Pam was disappointed. Nancy wasn’t. ‘Tina’ looked great in the white suit with its little scooped bikini bottom and strapless top. The other suit wouldn’t have been her choice for him but Pam had insisted. The top of the turquoise suit barely covered him and the bottom, a string bikini, was too skimpy for her taste. Pam convinced him to buy it, telling him how terrific it looked on him. Sue found him sandals and a brightly colored sarong like wrap. He couldn’t wear sneakers to the beach.

Patty was a few stores away, picking out jewelry for him. She did quite well, they had a sale going on and she was able to find several rings, four pairs of earrings, two necklaces and two bracelets for only two hundred and twenty dollars. Patty used her Dad’s charge card that he left her while they were away. It was meant to be used only for emergencies but she knew she would get the money from ‘Tina’ and give it to him when he got back Sunday. He wouldn’t mind, as long as he was paid back right away.

When Tim saw the sandals and sarong, and saw that the prices were reasonable, he didn’t argue. He was worried that he’d have enough left to buy the jewelry that he knew Patty was picking out for him.

Patty didn’t concern herself over petty details like money when she joined the others. "I’ll show you when we get to the beach." Tim was anxious to see what she had bought. He was surprised that she had charged it.

He wore the turquoise suit and sarong out of the store and they walked to the beach. It was only across the street, behind the Holiday Inn.

Tim felt very self-conscious, walking out on the beach among all these people. Men and boys stared at them as they passed the guys, spread out on their towels, girl watching. Tim was beginning to believe what Sue had told him about girls dressing for other girls. They looked too, as the group walked between towels on the sand. The sarong made him stand out, none of the others had one. Tim was actually thankful for it, the bikini bottom of his suit was a little too reveling and it rode up in his crack as he walked.

The beach was already pretty crowded but they found a large enough spot to spread their towels. They always went to the same spot, right in front of the motel. All their friends went there.

Patty had loaned Tim a beach bag and he took his towel out and laid it next to Patty’s. He laid down quickly after he took off the sarong.

Patty Pulled out the jewelry she had bought for him. All three of the delicate gold rings fit and he really liked them. He especially liked the earrings. Two of the necklaces and one of the bracelets, he put on. Beach or no beach, he wanted to wear them. Pam and Sue were enjoying watching him. He was obviously nervous and self-conscious. They watched him constantly tug at the back of his suit. It rode up no matter how he moved and his little ass hung out nicely.

"He seems to be getting used to playing the role. He actually seems to enjoy it." Sue observed.

"I know." Said Pam. "From what the others said about last night, he’s learning fast." She looked pleased. "Do you know what’s really neat?"

Sue didn’t know what she was getting at. "No, what?"

"He’s beginning to really fit in. I almost don’t think of him as a boy. Patty and Nancy have really gotten into it with him. Have you watched the way he acts? If he keeps this up for two weeks he’s going to be a much better girl than he ever was a boy." Sue had been thinking, "I’ve been trying to think of new ways to feminize him. Other than having him hang around girls all the time and include him in our intimate conversations, what can we do?"

"There’s a couple of things I’ve been thinking about. One is I want to get him involved with guys." Pam was serious. "Short of having sex, he can do anything we can." "Do you think he’d go along?"

"From what Nancy said about the way he was with that kid last night, I think he just might.

The problem is we have to find him someone more forward than Jeff’s shy little cousin."

Sue smiled, she liked Pam’s idea. "That shouldn’t be so hard."

"The other thing I was thinking of was modeling."

"Modeling!? Tina!? He doesn’t have the poise or the grace for that." "I know he doesn’t have it yet but," Here’s where she reveled her plan. "Remember the modeling promotion in the paper last week?"

Sue’s eyebrow went up. "Sure, I remember."

"Well, didn’t it say that they’d take girls and give them a crash course in charm and poise? In return, some of the girls would model fashions for them at that big fashion show at the convention center in Tampa next week." Pam liked it even more as she thought about it. The things they would teach him would certainly help to feminize him and there would be a hundred girls there, all trying to outdo each other. It would kill two birds with one stone. "I like it. I think Tina will go for it."

"We’ll see to it that she does." Pam got up. "Want to take a walk Sue." The others could hear her now.

"Sure." Sue had no idea where they were going. She got up and the two of them walked in the direction of the motel.

When they were out of earshot, Pam told Sue, "We need to make a few arrangements. I thought of someone to call. He’ll be perfect for ‘Tina’."

"You ought to untie your top as long as you’re going to lie on your stomach Tina. You don’t want to get tan lines."

He’d rather have tan lines than run the risk of exposing himself in public. "That’s ok." "Come on Tina," Patty said with her big smile. "There’s nothing to be afraid of. Nobody will be able to see anything." She undid his straps and let them fall at his side. "Just don’t try to jump up and go running off."

They had been having a good time talking. The girls had continued his crash course and were discussing teenage girls’ outlook on lots of different things. They had just about exhausted the topic. "From now on, we’ll have to help you learn as circumstances arise." They were reading magazines when Janet, Arlene and two girls he didn’t know, arrived. They moved around a little and made room for them. Things were a little cramped but they managed. Tina was introduced to the two new girls, Sandy and Kim. Apparently Janet or Arlene had told them about Tina and her experience in Atlanta. They wanted to hear all about it. When they were satisfied they knew everything there was to know and had seen Tina become so emotional over it, Sandy decided she should share her most intimate moment with a boy. The baton was passed from one girl to the other, including Nancy and Patty. They shared both experience and emotion, they laughed and cried.

Tim enjoyed it. Guys were never this open about their feelings with one another. Pam and Sue had been gone for a long time. When they got back, they were asked to share an experience of theirs, Sue did but Pam declined. "I don’t think I’ve ever had an embarrassing moment with a guy." She wasn’t about to share something like that in front of just anyone, least of all a boy. She had a reputation to uphold.

Sandy jumped up and said, "Come on let’s go for a walk."

Janet was ready, she got up.

Tim would just as soon stay where he was.

"Come on Tina." Sandy had taken an instant liking to her. She was a refreshing change from the stuck up types, like Pam and Sue.

Patty and Nancy were ready. They’d been lying in the sun long enough. Tim decided he’d go when he saw them get up. He hurried to tie his top on. He looked at Patty, with his hand on his wrap. She shook her head, no. He didn’t like the idea of walking down the beach the way he was dressed but it looked like he had to. "We’re going to just lay here and get some sun." Arlene answered for both her and Kim. "We just got back from a walk. We’ll wait here too." Pam and Sue wanted to lay out and look sexy for the older guys that were around them.

They walked to the surf but only went in to their knees. None of them wanted to get their suits or hair wet. Even Tim had spent too much time on his hair to ruin it. The big banana clip held most of his hair back, away from his face. The five of them headed down the beach. Tim felt very conspicuous, walking along with them. He wasn’t used to the idea, even after all he’d been through, that people didn’t instantly recognize him for what he was. "Ignore the guys that yell out comments at us and don’t stare back at any of the guys you see. If one looks at you and catches you looking at him, look away. Guys think that if a girl looks back, than it’s an invitation to them to walk up and start talking." Tim remembered Nancy’s advice as they walked along. Sandy walked next to Tim. She was asking him about what it was like to live in Atlanta. It was a pleasant, friendly conversation.

Sandy wanted to get to know Tina better. She thought she might be someone who could be a good friend.

Janet was telling the others about her date with her boyfriend last night. Tim noticed that Sandy didn’t miss many of the cute guys they saw as they walked. She had some comment to make about most of them.

A guy in a ‘t’ back suit passed, walking in the opposite direction and they all turned to look, laughing when they figured he was out of earshot.

Tim enjoyed talking to Sandy. She was a vibrant girl, with a great sense of humor. When they got back to the others, almost a half hour later, Sandy asked him to play paddle ball with her. After considerable hesitation, he did. He never realized before how much their boobs bounced. It was an odd feeling.

The rain was early today and they were back at Patty’s by three thirty. Tim had Sandy’s number and promised to call her in the morning. Sandy wanted to get together and do something. Pam told the others the idea she had come up with for Tina. "Do you think it’s wise to send Tina off alone?" Patty worried that he wasn’t ready to play the role without one of them with him.

"He’ll be fine. Didn’t you see how well he did today?" Pam was not going to have her plans thwarted.

Tim was only a little hesitant. "I’ll be ok Patty. It sounds like fun. What can happen?" He could see the benefit of the classes.

Nancy put in her two cents. "Tina, are you sure? What if you run into a situation we haven’t covered?"

"I can’t imagine what they could ask me to do that I haven’t already done. It’s just a charm school."

"It’s settled then. Tina and I will go to the mall in the morning and sign her up." Pam was satisfied that the issue was put to bed. "Now let’s get showered and dressed. Sue and I are going to take Tina out tonight."

This was the first that either Patty, Nancy or Tim had heard of her plans. Tim was a little uneasy about going out with just them.

"What’s going on tonight?" Nancy asked. She didn’t trust them. "You three had fun last night. It’s our turn to treat Tina to some fun. We’re going to eat at the Frat House and then go play miniature golf."

That sounded innocent enough to Nancy and Patty.

While Tim showered, Pam laid out his white leggings with the lace trim and the white and blue rugby big shirt.

Tim liked the way he looked in the outfit. The shirt was long enough to just cover his ass. He was getting better at fixing his hair and was ready to go by a little after five. Patty loaned him her White Shoulders again and he wore his new jewelry. He liked the way his hands looked, with his new rings on.

He would have to go to the bank in the morning and get out some money to finish paying her back. That was going to be a problem but he put the thought away for the moment. "Pam, I don’t have any money left to pay for dinner."

"Don’t worry about that Tina, we’ll take care of it tonight." Sue didn’t mean her or Pam, specifically.

Pam brought out a camera when he was ready and took a couple of pictures of Tina. "We ‘re going to have to get you an ID. They’ll expect it when we sign you up for modeling tomorrow." "Where are you going to get her a fake ID by tomorrow?" Nancy asked. "Jim’s friend, Jack. He makes them. I talked to Jim today and he said no problem. We drop these off on our way out and he’ll have a driver’s license for Tina in the morning." "A driver’s license? You have to be sixteen for that." Tim said surprised by the idea.

Pam smiled. "Well tomorrow, you’ll be sixteen then Tina. What last name would you like?" The idea of being sixteen was all right. It would be neat. He thought about it for a moment and he settled on a name. "How about Tina Brooks." He had used the name ‘Brooks’ before and liked it.

"Sounds fine. Tina Brooks it is." Pam didn’t care one way or the other. It only took her a minute at Jack’s house on their way out. Sue and Tim waited in the car for her. She only told the guy that she needed a new ID for a girlfriend. He didn’t care as long as she had money.

They got to the Frat House at about five forty five and there was a line.

It had turned cooler and it felt good. Tim was glad he hadn’t worn shorts.

Jim, Randy and Kevin had gotten there earlier and were watching for them. They were late. Jim reminded them, "Remember, it’s supposed to be a coincidence that we’re here. Pam said Tina doesn’t like blind dates."

Neither did Kevin, normally. Actually, he shouldn’t be here at all and if it weren’t for Jim’s description of Tina, he wouldn’t be. If Sue, his girlfriend, found out, there’d be hell to pay. Randy spotted them first and waved. "There they are. Check out Tina, Kevin."

"I think I like blind dates." Kevin liked what he saw. "She’s a doll." Pam was looking and spotted Randy waving. She now had to try to convince ‘Tina’ that it wasn’t planned. "Damn Sue. I thought you said they were going to Tampa, to a game." Sue showed the proper amount of surprise. "That’s what Randy said they were going to do.

We’ll, let’s just go say hi."

Tim didn’t like being around Jim. Going out with just the girls was all right, but this wasn’t.

He reluctantly followed them over to the table.

They introduced ‘Tina’ to Kevin. Tim had seen him before, at school. He was a Senior. He had never bothered Tim.

"There’s plenty of room. Just join us." Jim suggested. "If you wait for your own table, it could be a half hour."

Pam played the hesitant act well but finally gave in to good sense. She looked at Sue and Tina, "We might as well girls."

They managed to squeeze six chairs around the little table. Tina was sandwiched between Pam and Kevin. Everyone ordered. Tim was almost too nervous to eat but he managed to get part of his chicken sandwich down.

Kevin liked the close quarters. He made sure to get right up against her. She smelled as good as she looked.

Pam and Sue didn’t have any trouble getting Kevin to talk about himself. He did that at the drop of a hat. They also made sure that Tina joined in the conversation. He was nice looking but he talked too much. It wasn’t long before Tim believed he could have a love affair with himself.

"Where are you girls going after this?" Randy already knew, of course.

"We were just going to play some miniature golf. Nothing too exciting." Pam answered.

"That sounds like a great idea. We’ll join you."

They were their boyfriends. As much as he wished they wouldn’t, Tim knew they wouldn’t say no.

Kevin had his parent’s car, a big Buick, and they all fit easily. Tim, between Kevin and Randy, in the front. Jim was comfortable in the back seat, squeezed between Sue and Pam. Tim did not feel good about this. He knew he was all right around Randy, because of Sue, but he didn’t know Kevin. He hadn’t done anything to make Tim uncomfortable, in fact, he had been especially nice to him. It wasn’t his fault he had to sit so close in the restaurant. He had been generous and paid for Tim’s sandwich and soda. It was just the idea that the night out they had planned, without guys, had changed so easily and quickly. Kevin paid for her round of golf and played side by side with her. She began to loosen up as they played.

He wasn’t so bad after all. Golf was fun, as long as Kevin was winning. Once or twice, Tim beat him on a hole and he got quiet and sullen but when he beat Tina, his mood improved. Tim decided not to challenge him after the first few holes and he was much more pleasant after that. Everything was going well. Kevin decided to see how friendly she was. He wouldn’t push it just yet, just an arm around her waist and a little hug. His opportunity came when she made a long put.

Tim wasn’t trying to show off. As a matter of fact he was hardly trying at all. He was really shocked when Kevin came up from behind him and, congratulating him, put his arm around him and squeezed.

"Great shot Tina. You do really well for a girl."

There was nothing he could do about him hugging him from behind and when Kevin released him there was no point in saying anything. It seemed an innocent gesture, besides, it would just turn his mood sour again. He had seen guys do it all the time. "Thanks Kevin." Tim didn’t overdo the smile.

She had been receptive enough up until now and with her reaction to his hug, he knew his path was clear. With her next reasonably good shot he took her hand and squeezed it. "Don’t get too good Tina, you’ll be beating me next."

It made Tim uncomfortable having a guy hold his hand like that but Tim realized he had a sort of power over him. He could make him happy or sullen depending on how ‘Tina’ played or reacted to his playing. Tim was still uncomfortable around him but this might be his only chance to try a little experiment. He was going to have some fun with him. Kevin didn’t do particularly well on the next hole but on the thirteenth he made one under par. He was surprised when Tina slipped her hand in his and squeezed. "You’re really wonderful at this Kevin." Tim almost laughed at the guy’s reaction. His eyes lit up and this big grin came across his face. On the next hole, as they waited to play, Tim put his hand on his arm, above his elbow. The guy reacted immediately by covering Tim’s small hand with his much larger paw. Tim didn’t say anything, he just looked straight ahead with a little smile on his face.

Pam and Sue couldn’t believe what they were seeing. Tim was standing next to Kevin with his arm on his. "What is he trying to do?" Sue whispered in Pam’s ear. "I’m not sure but leave him alone and let’s see what happens. This is great!"

By the sixteenth, they were holding hands as they walked away from the hole. Kevin hadn’t tried anything funny. Tim was in charge. There was nothing for him to be afraid of.

Pam suggested they use the lady’s room when they finished. Once inside they broached the subject gently. Sue casually commented, "You look like you are having a good time." He was, "I can’t believe how easy it is to manipulate him. I was just experimenting. Did you see how his mood changed when I stopped trying to beat him? And when I was nice to him, just holding his hand, he got all flustered and blew most of his puts." "We can have that affect on guys Tina. You’re just beginning to learn." Pam had wondered what made him do that out there with Kevin. "It can be a lot of fun." No way was she going to warn him.

They had bought the girls sodas and were waiting at one of the picnic tables for them. Kevin was smoking a cigarette when Tim sat next to him. "That smells terrible." Was all Tim had to say and he put it out.

He didn’t have to smoke and things were going so well he didn’t want to spoil his chances, he got rid of it.

Jim looked at his watch, it was only seven thirty. "What do you girls want to do now?" They had already decided and Randy said his line. "Dances With Wolves is playing at the dollar theater. Wanna go see that? It starts in fifteen minutes and we can make it if we hurry." Tim or the other girls didn’t even get to voice an opinion. The guys had already decided that’s what they were going to do. They piled back into Kevin’s car. Kevin had his arm around Tina’s waist as he paid for their tickets and took her inside. He offered to buy her popcorn but she said she was still full from dinner. That was fine with him, he couldn’t blow too much tonight. He was taking Sue, his steady girlfriend, out tomorrow night. The arm around his waist was sort of presumptuous of Kevin and Tim didn’t like the way he pulled him so close. Their hips rubbed as they walked. Tim was thankful as they sat in the theater. At least there was an armrest to keep them apart. The arm on his shoulder didn’t make him too uncomfortable as long as it stayed on his shoulder.

Kevin had no reservations about putting his arm on her shoulder. He wondered how far she would let him go later. Kevin was anxious to find out. He draped his hand only inches from her tit.

The movie was just about over when he decided it was now or never. He shifted in his seat so that he could reach further. Pam was on the other side of Tina and she was intently watching the movie, like Tina. He let his hand rest on Tina’s tit.

Tim had been watching. He had felt Kevin move around in his seat but thought nothing of it. He had squirmed in his seat several times during the movie and nothing had happened. Tim had been nervous the first couple of times but had grown relaxed since nothing happened. Now he jumped slightly and inhaled deeply at the feel of Kevin’s hand on his breast. He couldn’t let him leave it there and making a big fuss was not the way girls handled this. Tim slipped his hand between Kevin’s and his breast. He would hold it for the rest of the movie if he had to, and act as if nothing had happened.

Nice firm little tit, he thought to himself. She got really excited when I touched her. She must have been afraid someone would see us fooling around, that’s why she took my hand away after a few seconds. Kevin felt elated, he had gotten to first base. He knew she would have said something if she didn’t like his attention.

Tim wasn’t anxious to hold his hand as they left the movie, walking to the car. If he only had worn something with pockets. Since he had let him hold it before, could he pull it back now? No, anyway, they were on their way back to Pam’s car and he wouldn’t have a chance to try anything else. It was almost eleven.

Tim had his answer all ready for when Kevin would ask, ‘Want to get together and do something sometime?’ Tim would tell him a flat ‘NO!’

He was surprised when they drove right past the Frat House and Pam’s car. "Where are we going?" Tim was really getting worried now.

Pam explained to the others. "Tina’s new here. She doesn’t know we always go out to the causeway after the movies." Pam felt very smug.

Sue thought it was great fun.

"I’m kind of tired. Would you drop me at Patty’s on the way?" Tim wanted out. "Don’t be silly Tina, it’s just for a little while. You’ll have fun, really." She was going whether she wanted to or not. Pam realized what just went through her mind. She had stopped thinking of Tina as ‘he’ again, ‘she’ was one of her girls for just a second then. Kevin feigned concern. "You don’t want me to be lonely out there all by myself do you Tina?" He thought they were doing great so far.

Tim thought about it for a second. He had handled Kevin all right so far. "It’s still early I guess." Tim turned to Kevin and with a little smile said, "No, I wouldn’t want you to feel lonely." He didn’t have an option anyway.

There were two cars parked on the causeway where they pulled off the road. Karen was there with her boyfriend. There was another couple he didn’t recognize. The guys pulled blankets out of the trunk and spread them out on the grass. It took the others no time at all to get into heavy necking.

Tim sat up on Kevin’s blanket, holding his knees to his chest. He wanted no part of what the others thought was fun. Kevin was lying on his side next to Tim, trying to make idle conversation. Kevin realized he’d have to get Tina more relaxed before she’d be willing to get friendly. The cure for that came his way as Jim passed Kevin the bottle of whiskey the others had been passing around. He handed it to Tina.

Tim had his own reasons for taking a drink. He was scared and nervous and he knew that it would help him to relax. He tipped the bottle several times, enjoying the feeling the warm liquid running down his throat gave him, before he passed it to Kevin. It did help him to feel better. When it came around again, a minute or two later, he was ready for more. He felt the warm rush from the alcohol now, that was enough. Now he wanted to lie down. He was uncomfortable sitting on the hard ground.

Kevin was a little surprised at how much she drank. It was all right with him as long as she didn’t get sick. He hated it when girls got sick. She was more talkative now and he moved closer to her.

He shouldn’t have drunk so much so fast. He felt a little lightheaded. He was laughing at Kevin’s jokes. His head was spinning just a little.

Kevin put an arm across her waist. She didn’t ask him to remove it. He rolled her on her side, facing him, and she didn’t seem to mind that either.

Tim knew that he was closer to him now but he wasn’t doing anything. Tim felt a little limp as Kevin rolled him over to look at him. He was drunk. It had snuck up on him. Kevin gave her a little peck on the lips and she put her head back and smiled. He knew she was drunk but so what.

It struck Tim as funny. He couldn’t hold his head up any more so he laid back. The idea of this guy kissing him was hilarious.

Kevin tried a little longer kiss. She more or less just laid there and let him. His hand wandered up her side and stopped, resting on her tit. He molded her firm breast in his fingers seeking out her nipple. It was very small and the material of her shirt was thick, making it hard to feel it. He snaked his hand up under her top and began rubbing her firm nipple through the thin silky material of her bra.

Kevin’s back was to everyone so they couldn’t see what the two were doing. Tim thought the second kiss was funny too. He was aware of what Kevin was doing under his shirt but didn’t have the strength or the desire to stop him. His nipple was very sensitive for some reason and it felt stimulating to have Kevin rub and caress his breasts the way he was. Tim was beginning to feel a strange excitement building inside him. Kevin had stopped kissing her and was concentrating on her breast. It was easy to see he was getting her hot and when something works, don’t stop. He rolled over, partially on top of her. He liked the way her leg felt under his and the pressure on his dick as he moved up and down slightly. It was getting him hard.

Tim’s eyes were closed as Kevin put his open mouth over his and began to flick his tongue around inside his mouth. Tim thought it was disgusting but didn’t have the strength to get Kevin off him. Enough, Tim thought.

Kevin was really getting heated up now and he wanted more. He couldn’t find the snap in front so he pulled her bra up, off her tit. He squeezed her nipple between his fingers. Sue loved it when he did that to her so he assumed that Tina would too. Tim had kissed girls before but not like he was being kissed now. There was something nauseating about it. He made another futile attempt to stop it. He just didn’t have the strength or presence of mind. The way Kevin was teasing his nipple, Tim was moaning with the wave of pleasure he was experiencing.

Kevin was glad that she was getting so hot. He was as hard as a rock and it was time to feel the warm moistness of her. He broke off the kiss for a moment and pulled his hand out from under her shirt. There were two buttons that could still be opened at her collar and he undid them quickly with a finesse that came from experience. He put his mouth over her warm tit and sucked hard as flicked her swollen nipple with his tongue. He felt her back arch as he put his hand back under her shirt and caressed her side and stomach.

Tim couldn’t believe how it made him feel. His back arched to force Kevin to take more of his breast in his warm wet mouth. He felt Kevin’s hands on him but it didn’t matter. It only added to his excitement. Tim was sure that the hard-on inside him would cause him to explode. He felt an ache in his groin.

Kevin brought his hand further down, over her tight smooth leggings. He rubbed the inside of her leg, coming close to, but not quite touching, her pussy. He would always do this to Sue to bring her toward her peak.

Tim was ready to explode. Kevin was flicking his tongue faster and faster and it was driving him crazy. His hand on his leg was a light touch that gave him goose bumps. They were careful not to draw attention to it, to what was happening. They didn’t want the guys to know they were watching Tina and Kevin. They could see his back arched and Kevin’s mouth over his breast. Pam didn’t want it to end like this. She had new designs for Tina. It would end, if they didn’t stop it. Pam had seen how much Tim had drank and knew he had to be drunk to just lay there and let Kevin do what he was doing to him. She was on the verge of saying something when she realized it wouldn’t be necessary. Kevin had moved away from him. Kevin moved his hand to her crotch and with a gentle touch, began to rub. He didn’t know how long he could hold back his explosion.

That was all he needed. Tim let go. Groaning, as his excitement peaked, then ebbed. Tim clamped his hand over his crotch as he pushed Kevin’s away. What had happened? He had never had a girl climax before him. Kevin lay there with his dick throbbing and she was done. He took Tina’s free hand and placed it on his hard-on, still in his pants and said quietly but forcibly, "Rub."

Tim was still coming down and was almost oblivious of anything around him. Kevin wanted him to rub, he’d rub.

Kevin didn’t give a thought to the fact that he was coming in his pants. What was driving him now wasn’t in his head. In a moment, he lay back, spent.

Tim regained his senses, his hand still in his crotch. He thought for sure that the glue had broken loosed and his penis had dropped to where it belonged but he felt nothing. He was sure he had just come but he didn’t even feel as damp as he thought he should. He was confused and relieved at the same time. What would he have been able to say if it had dropped? In his tight spandex leggings it probably wouldn’t have even been evident. "I want to go home now Kevin." Tim reached under his shirt and fixed his bra. His nipples were unbelievably sensitive and barely brushing against them sent shivers through his spine. He buttoned the front of his shirt and stood up, straightening himself. He was back to his senses. The effects of the alcohol had worn off. Kevin was just as anxious to leave. The wet spot on his pants was very obvious. "All right Tina, we’ll go." He turned to the others, "I’m going to take Tina home. I’ll come back for you in a few minutes." He got up, careful not to face them. He would change before he came back for them.

"We’re coming with you." Pam called after them.

It came as a surprise to the others. They all took Pam’s lead as she got up and headed for the car. The guys quickly gathered up the blankets.

Kevin and Tim got in the car quickly and waited.

Kevin was angry that the guys were going to see what he did in his pants. It was no big deal for Tina. Girls don’t have to worry about that happening to them. Back at Pam’s car, the others climbed out of the car. Kevin held onto Tina’s arm, asking her to wait a second. The others were saying goodnight over by Pam’s car. "I’m sorry Tina. I acted like a jerk. I shouldn’t have let you drink so much than taken advantage of it." He was looking for forgiveness. What he really wanted was to insure that Tina wouldn’t tell his girlfriend when they met.

Tim thought about what he said. His head was much clearer now. "It won’t happen again Kevin, goodnight." Tim hurried over to the girls.

Kevin felt like such a jerk. What if Sue finds out about this? What if Tina tells her friends.

He’ll be a laughing stock.

Tim didn’t want to talk about what happened with Pam and Sue. He didn’t know what to tell them. "I don’t know. The whisky was soothing then the next thing I knew he had his mouth over my breast and it felt so wonderful I just lost control. It won’t happen again." On the contrary, Pam and Sue had every intention of seeing that it did, but not until they were ready.

Patty and Nancy were asleep and he didn’t want to wake them. Tim was still very sensitive when he took his bra off in the dark bedroom. He found out why he didn’t show a wet spot on his leggings. There was only the minutest damp spot in his panties. Not enough to leak through the material. He thought there should have been more.

Tim fell asleep in the quiet darkness, thinking about what tonight had been like. He had been with a guy and liked it. But he had been lucky, he got away with it. He couldn’t take that risk again.

He would thank the girls in the morning but it was over. It was time to go back to being Tim again. Permanently In the morning, Tim told them everything that had happened. "Tina, we warned you what would happen if you weren’t careful. You have to be careful how you behave around guys." Nancy blamed herself. "One of us should have gone with you." "I got away with it, luckily. But this is too new and different for me. I don’t think I can do this any more." He wasn’t as set in his decision as he had been last night. In the daylight, back with Nancy and Patty he felt safer, but he was still upset about what had happened. "It’s only been two days Tina and things were bound to be a little difficult at first. You’re past the worst of it now. You learned an important lesson last night. And besides, we don’t want you to go." Patty knew Nancy felt the same way. "We really like you this way. You’ve become like a little sister to us."

Tim knew they were sincere. "I’ll try it for a little longer." They stood there in their nighties and hugged him.

"Now that that’s settled, You have to go and get ready to go to the mall. You didn’t change your mind about the charm school and the modeling did you?" Patty hoped not. She had decided that there was no need to worry about him going. He was ready and there would be no boys there. He could learn a lot.

Tim got ready. He put on his white shorts and his red crop top. He called Sandy and she suggested that they go over to Tampa and wander around one of the big malls over there. She wanted to know what he was wearing so that she could dress the same. Sandy didn’t want to be wearing a skirt if Tina was wearing jeans. Shorts were fine with her. It was Pam, Nancy and Tim that stopped at Jack’s house to pick up Tina’s new ID. Nancy was not going to make the same mistake again and let Tim go off without either her or Patty when he was with Pam.

Tim knew just how far to trust Pam now. He no longer believed that last nights meeting the guys, was just a coincidence.

The license was ready and Tina was officially sixteen. Actually he was almost seventeen, according to his new date of birth.

There was quite a crowd at the mall but they had no trouble signing Tim up. The woman who took the form was delighted to have her.

Tim needed to be at the mall Friday morning at nine. He wouldn’t be done until five. They had a lot to teach the girls and only a short time to accomplish it. The classes would run from Friday through the following Thursday, with only Sunday off. Next Thursday, they would select the 10 best, the girls for the show in Tampa. It would be a hectic day of wardrobe selection and fittings. The show was a two-day affair to introduce the spring fashions to all the buyers in the southeast. On Saturday, it would be open to the public and the finale was a beauty contest where all the girls who had been brought in from all over the southeast would compete. "We don’t wear slacks or shorts. Only a skirt and blouse or dress with heals is acceptable. And no denim." The woman laid out the dress code. "Good luck Tina." Said the woman as they left.

They were home by eleven. Tim had several hours before Sandy was supposed to show up and there was something he needed to do. Pam had gone out somewhere as soon as they got home and it was only Nancy and Patty there. "I need to call my Mom." Nancy and Patty just looked at him.

"I need to get some money out of my bank account and I haven’t talked to her in a week. I was calling her every couple of days." He wasn’t asking permission, although that’s what it sounded like to the girls.

"Go ahead Tina. It’s ok to call your Mom." Patty wondered what he was waiting for. "I have a problem." He wasn’t sure how to handle it. "My Mom has my account book. How do I get it from her without her seeing me like this?" Tim was distraught. "I can’t just walk into the bank as Tina and withdraw money from Tim’s account either." He did have a problem. They all put their heads together.

The answer was obvious, "I’ll have to be Tim again for a few minutes."

"I need to call my Mom now." He hesitated picking up the phone, looking at them.

They understood. He wanted to be alone.

"We’re sorry, we weren’t thinking." Nancy and Patty left him alone in the bedroom. They didn’t want to eavesdrop but they did want to know how his mother reacted to what he was doing. Patty’s Dad had a speaker phone in his den.

"Hi Mom." Tim said in his normal voice. It sounded strange to him, he hadn’t used it in days and had to think about it to keep from slipping back into Tina’s. "Hello Tim."

"How are you and Bridget?" She sounded so cold toward him.

"We’re fine Tim. She’s angry and hurt at what you did."

She didn’t sound fine to him.

It occurred to Patty that his mother didn’t make it very easy on him.

"Has Dad calmed down any?"

"No Timmy, you know he won’t."

He knew what kind of man his stepfather was and his mother was right, he would never forgive Tim.

"Mom, I need to get some money out of my account. Will you sign a withdrawal slip for me?"

It was his money. "Yes Tim."

"Would you give my bankbook to Bridget and ask her to meet me with it?" He certainly didn’t want his mother to see him.

"All right Tim."

"I need my birth certificate too, Mom."

She understood that living on his own that he would need it from time to time. "I’ll send it with your sister."

They arranged for Bridget to meet him at the drug store by his stepfather’s house. With that out of the way, Tim asked the question he dreaded. "Mom, when can I come home?" Tim was pleading.

The girls could tell he was on the verge of crying.

"Tim, I told you before. You don’t live here anymore. God took away my son and left someone else in his place. I think you better stop calling here." It was just too painful for her. She was trying very hard to forget she ever had a son.

There was a short pause. Both Tim and his Mother were silent. The girls heard the click on the line. She had hung up. Patty hung up the extension. "What the hell is the matter with that woman. She’s as cold as ice."

"She doesn’t deserve to have a son like Tim." Nancy realized what she said. "Or a daughter like Tina."

They decided they better get out in the kitchen before Tim came looking for them. It was almost a half hour before he came out of the bedroom.

Sue had left that morning, right after Pam and the others. She went to the high school. Sue helped out in the office during school and there were some things she wanted to do while the school office was deserted.

The only one around was one of the guidance counselors and she was busy in her office. "I left a few things unfinished last Friday and I didn’t have anything to do this morning so I thought I’d come in and finish up." Sue explained to the woman. "That’s very conscientious of you Sue. Go ahead." She was impressed. The first thing to do was to get to the school transfer files. Sue flipped through the files until she found a boy that had transferred from Atlanta a year ago. His file would be a guide to set up a file for Tina. Some of the forms from Atlanta were on colored paper but that wasn’t going to stop a resourceful girl like Sue.

She copied each document, then, after putting the originals away, she blanked the pertinent information on the forms and filled in the information she wanted there. Then she recopied everything onto the proper color paper.

It took Sue most of the morning to set up the file for Tina Brooks, a Junior. Sue signed over signatures wherever necessary. She signed, in her own handwriting, for Mrs. Brooks, Tina’s, imaginary mother. Tina’s address was Tim’s apartment and Sue made up a phone number. The only thing missing was the medical file that Tina would need and Sue knew that Pam was supposed to be taking care of it at this very moment. She was supposed to drop it off at school before one.

The only thing left was to make up a class schedule for the boy. He had to take the basics.

English, History and Math. Knowing they were skipping him a grade, she kept his math easy.

Phys Ed, of course. That would be interesting for him.

Now for the classes Pam had said to enroll him in. Home Economics I and II. And lastly, French. Having checked Tim’s file, Sue made sure that he had none of the same teachers he’d had before.

Sue punched it all into the computer and it accepted it, spitting out a printout for them to take home. When the teachers came in Monday morning, they would find they had a new girl in their classes.

They had decided to leave Tim on the files and let the school figure out what happened to him.

Pam was on time and, with the medical history complete, Sue slipped the new file away where it belonged. As long as no one checked with Atlanta, Tina was ready to start school. His files were complete with pictures.

It took a little imagination on their part but ‘Tim’ was waiting for his sister in the parking lot at the drug store, with Patty. His hair was tucked under the baseball cap they bought him. Tim was wearing a pair of Tina’s jeans with the baggy rugby shirt tucked into them. Wide tape flattened his chest. It made him extremely uncomfortable. Without makeup and with his eyebrows penciled in, to look fuller, he looked something like Tim. He wore a pair of Patty’s brother’s sneakers. They were too big but, stuffed with paper, he was able to walk in them without too much trouble.

They were waiting about five minutes when Bridget arrived. She pulled in next to Patty’s car. Bridget just looked at him. She felt contempt for her brother. When her stepfather had told her mother and her what had happened, why he threw Tim out of the house, Bridget felt nothing but disgust. She immediately threw out all her makeup and washed every piece of her clothes. They seemed soiled to her.

She didn’t want to do this but her Mother insisted. She looked at her brother as he looked back, he looked strange to her. It wasn’t just the eyebrows, she had spotted that the second she looked at him. He was obviously still playing at his sick fantasy. This was the first time she had seen him since their step-dad threw him out and she looked at him differently now. In the past, she had teased him but she had also taken his looks for granted, she didn’t see him as feminine. Now, that’s the only way she saw him and, remembering what he had done to her, using her things, she wanted nothing to do with him, he was sick.

Tim didn’t have to wonder how she felt toward him. He could see it in her eyes. It hurt deeply that even his sister didn’t want anything to do with him. He had no family anymore. He was on his own.

"Here’s what you asked Mom for." Bridget threw the heavy envelope out her window at the other car. It landed on the ground.

Tim got out of the car and picked it up. "Thanks for bringing it sis." Hearing that made her angry. "I’m not your sister anymore and don’t bother us again." Her tires spun as she pulled out of the parking lot.

Patty thought she could imagine how Tim felt but when he got back in the car and looked at her she wasn’t so sure. The tears he had been holding back gushed forth. She held him for a long time and let him cry. She wondered if it wasn’t the hormones that made his emotions run deeper. She certainly would have felt the same way if it were her family doing what his did to him. If he’d been wearing makeup, he would have been a mess. As it was, it took a while to get the redness to leave his eyes. Tim still had one more thing to do and it, no doubt, was going to be awkward for him.

The teller looked at him strangely. She knew Tim from seeing him in the bank. They all did.

He was a strange looking boy and whispers brought stares each time he came in. She thought he looked even more odd today and she wasn’t afraid to say so. "What happened to your eyebrows?"

They had talked about what he could say if anyone was bold enough to ask. "A gas grill flared up and burned them off."

That sounded reasonable. She noticed that his hair was different from usual too. A few wisps were sticking out from under the hat that was pulled tightly over his head and his hair was curly. It had always been dead straight. She didn’t say anything. "So, your closing out your account. Going to take your money and get the car you’ve been saving for?" She was counting out the money and laid it on the counter.

Tim picked it up as he answered, "Yes, finally." He would count it for himself outside in the car.

Tim didn’t even realize that the whole time he’d been speaking with Tina’s voice. The girl just looked at him, dumbfounded, as he walked out of the bank. If she hadn’t been sure he was who he said he was, she would have called security. As it was, she had some neat gossip to tell the other girls about the pretty boy.

It was all there but what was he going to do with the fifteen thousand dollars. He couldn’t keep it on him and he didn’t want to hide it in his apartment. Patty was shocked at how much money he had.

"When my real Dad died, he left me ten thousand dollars. The rest I saved." "You’ve got to put that back in the bank." Patty was worried about it too. She could just imagine what Pam might do if she knew he had it.

"How? I’m too young to have my own account."

A thought occurred to her. "Mrs. Brown."

"What do you mean?"

"Jeff’s Mom will help you. She’ll open and account for you."

"But she thinks I’m Tina."

"So what. You can’t leave that much money laying around." Patty was right. He thought about it for a moment. If Mrs. Brown was willing to open the type of account where he could take out his money without her having to cosign then he could just close the account next week and open another as Tim. At least his money would be safe. "You’re right."

"Let’s get back to my house so you can get back to being yourself and we’ll tell Nancy what we want to do." Patty realized what she just said and laughed out loud. Tim heard it too. "You know, your right. It really feels uncomfortable trying to look and act like Tim after all I’ve been through." They both laughed.

When Nancy saw all the money and heard the problem, she agreed immediately. "She really likes you Tina. I know she’ll help."

"You better hold back some of that for shopping. You’re going to need a few more dresses, skirts and blouses for the school."

Carol was more that willing to help out until his parents arrived. Knowing how girls were about shopping when they had money to burn, she insisted that he had to have a cosigner on the account. Fourteen thousand, five hundred dollars was a lot of money. Tim didn’t even try to argue. There was no way to win an argument without telling her more than he could at this point.

Mrs. Brown knew that Tina was going to close the account as soon as her parents arrived so he would have the money back next week. At least it was safe for now. "The other condition is that you and Nancy come to church with us on Sunday and you spend the day with our family. I’m sure your Mom and Dad would like that." She wanted to spend some time with her and make sure she was all right. She was sure the girls weren’t eating right and it still bothered her that she was alone in Florida.

Tim knew there was no way to get out of it. He did like her and Mr. Brown. In the back of his mind was maybe Brad would be there. They could finish that game of pool. Tim was relieved to give Patty the rest of the money he owed her for the jewelry. Sandy was right on time and the two headed for Tampa. Nancy and Patty knew Sandy well enough that they didn’t worry. Tina would be fine with her. They told Sandy that Tina would need to get some new outfits for the school starting tomorrow. Sandy was delighted, she thought they were only going to be able to window shop. Sandy had even suggested that, if she wanted to, Tina could have dinner with her and her folks. That was fine, it gave Nancy and Patty a chance to have a peaceful night on their own, with Jeff and Randy.

Tim got home around Ten that night. His arms were loaded with packages. They had never gotten to Sandy’s house for dinner. Tim treated Sandy to dinner in the mall and they continued to shop till the mall closed. He had spent all but about seventy-five dollars of the three hundred and seventy-five he had with him.

With everything that had happened that morning his mood had not been the best when he left with Sandy. Shopping with her had changed that quickly.

The boys were still there but they decided to leave when the girls wanted to look at everything Tina had bought. They knew what girls were like when it came to clothes. They would be at it for hours.

Tim laid everything out on Patty’s bed. Sandy had been a big help, digging through sales racks for bargains. She taught Tina how to really shop.

Tim had seven new dresses and a half dozen new skirts and blouses. He had two blazers, one white and one black. There was jewelry to go with everything. Costume jewelry, not gold like Patty had gotten him. He got a new handbag and a few pairs of shoes. He had several pair of stockings. A new slip and two new bras.

Tim was back on a high. Pam and Sue came in around midnight. They were actually a little jealous of everything he bought. Pam pried, "Tina, I thought you were broke." "I closed out my bank account today." He didn’t volunteer any more than that, on Patty’s and Nancy’s advice.

Pam was impressed with the boy’s wardrobe now. She knew Sandy had helped, but still. He really had good taste in clothes.

Tim had trouble going to sleep. He had so much on his mind. His primary thought was of tomorrow and how exciting and scary it was going to be, going to ‘charm school’. Pam and Sue’s tasks didn’t end with enrolling Tina in school. There next stop that afternoon was Tim’s apartment. They went through it and cleaned out everything that was left of his. There wasn’t that much. It fit neatly into four garbage bags. They dropped then in a dumpster on the way out. When they were done, they went back to Pam’s house and called the landlord. The number was with the papers they had found at the apartment. "Mr. Stevens, this is Mrs. Hynes, Tim’s mother. I’ve just learned that you’ve contributed to my son’s running away from home." Pam laid it on thick.

He was shocked, "Mrs. Hynes, your son told me your husband threw him out of your house and he had nowhere to go. I normally wouldn’t rent an apartment to a minor, but under the circumstance, I didn’t want to see the boy living on the street." "My son was angry with his father and made up that story. I would appreciate your cooperation at this time. We found him and he is home with us again. He tells me you insisted on a first, last and security lease agreement with him."

It was true. That was the agreement he made with the boy. "We assume you will refund the last month’s rent and the security deposit once you have checked over the apartment."

"Mrs. Hynes, your son signed a lease agreement and I’m afraid he forfeits those funds." "Your lease was signed by a minor, with your knowledge and consent. I have a copy in my hand. I’m afraid that if you don’t return his money I will have to go to the police." Pam paused to let him think. She knew she had him and she wanted the six hundred dollars he had. She had plans for it.

It didn’t take him long to decide. He had strong reservations when he rented the place to the boy. If it hadn’t been for the story he told him, he never would have done it. He would never do it again. "There’s no need for that Mrs. Hynes. If you will meet me at the apartment this afternoon, I will refund the money after I have a look around." He didn’t want trouble with the police. "I won’t be able to come myself, I’ll send Tim’s older sister, Pam, to pick it up." Pam, with the mouthpiece covered, looked at Sue. They had a good laugh. "I will meet her at four. Please ask her to be prompt." He hung up, angry with himself and annoyed at the woman.

They had an hour before it was time and there was one more thing they wanted to do.

"May I speak with the manager please?"

"This is the manager, how may I help you?"

"This is Tim Hynes’ Mother. Tim has been visiting with his grandmother for a few days and has decided to move to Atlanta to live with her. He won’t be back to work any more." He was not surprised but he hated losing the boy. He was one of the few kids he had found who really worked and could be relied on. He was, however, aware of what it was like for Tim at home. There were a few occasions when the boy had opened up to him about his problems at home, about his stepfather. He didn’t blame him for moving away. "Thank you for calling me Mrs. Hynes. When you speak to him, tell Tim he’ll be missed."

"Tim didn’t mention anything about past wages due." Pam was just making sure. "No, Mrs. Hynes. Tim is paid up to date. He called Monday and had a friend of his pick up his pay." He assumed that Tim didn’t trust his mother to send it to him so his friend was probably forwarding it to the boy.

Pam thought it was worth a try. "Thank you Mr. . . . ?"

"Mr. Twiggs, Mrs. Hynes. You’re welcome." He didn’t like her and he didn’t even know her. Sue and Pam cracked up when Pam hung up the phone. "That takes care of that." Pam was happy.

"What’s next?" Asked Sue. They were erasing as much of Tina’s connection to Tim’s past as they could.

Pam had decided that they weren’t going to expose him when the two weeks were up. He was adapting so beautifully that they were going to force him to continue living as Tina for as long as they could get away with it. He had already been accepted by a lot of their friends. When he was finally exposed, and he surely would be, they would just say they were taken in by him too.

Pam was at the apartment at four and she was given the six hundred in cash. The man didn’t look very happy about giving it to her. She took out the fifty she had paid out for the fake license and put the rest away.

"I don’t think we need to tell Patty and Nancy just yet, what we’ve done for Tina. Let’s just keep it our little secret."

Sue agreed. "They seem to be getting a little too friendly with him." Even Sue was beginning to feel an affection for the boy. She thought better of saying anything to Pam. "My thought exactly."

Tim had gotten up while everyone was still sleeping. He showered and had his hair done before either Patty or Nancy woke up. He wore the white pointelle cotton sweater and the black skirt that he bought yesterday. In his black heals and stockings he felt very convincing. He also enjoyed how feminine he felt.

The gold necklace didn’t look as good as the small pearls and the matching pearl earrings. He put everything he thought he’d need in his new handbag. Tim was ready a half hour before it was time to leave.

"You look much older than sixteen in that outfit." Pam commented. "You look like you’re about twenty. It looks really good on you."

Patty felt funny when she dropped Tim off outside the mall. She watched as Tina walked up to the door and the woman, inside Mass, unlocked it to let the young girl in. Tim looked back and smiled at Patty as the woman closed the door.

Tim’s smile made her laugh. He was like a kid going away to camp for the first time.

Nancy and Patty settled down to figure out how to doctor up Tim’s birth certificate. Changing Tim to Tina wasn’t too difficult. "I wish Tina hadn’t picked the name ‘Brooks’." They didn’t know how they were going to accomplish changing Hynes to that. Pam and Sue finally got up. "What are you two trying to do?"

"We’re trying to alter his birth certificate." Patty explained.

"How did you get your hands on that?" Sue was surprised.

"Tim got it from his Mother, yesterday."

"He went and saw his Mother? Dressed as Tina?" Pam hoped not. "No, he only talked to her on the phone. We met his sister and she gave it to him. He was wearing jeans and that rugby shirt of his. We shoved his hair into a baseball cap. He almost looked like he used to. It was good enough." Patty had felt awkward sitting next to him in the car when his sister showed up.

"That would have been something to see." Sue was sorry she missed it. "How can we help?" Pam asked. She had already given some thought to getting Tina a birth certificate. But with this certified copy, it would be easier to just alter it. "We don’t know how to change Hynes to Brooks." Nancy and Patty were lost when it came to this stuff.

"Let me take care of it. With my Dad’s color copier I can make some copies then do some cut and paste." She had an idea of what she was doing and she could always get Jim’s friend, Jack, to help her out again.

"Ok Pam, we’ll leave it up to you." They knew she was sneaky and conniving enough to do it.

"We’re going over to Nancy’s. Do you two want to came along?"

Sue begged off. "I’m meeting Randy and we’re going to the beach." "I want to take care of this first. Then I’m actually supposed to help my Dad in the office. I had promised I’d put in a few hours each day and I haven’t even put in an hour yet this week. He’s a little pissed at me." He really was.

There were almost fifty girls there. The first thing they did was to separate them into three age groups. Twelve to fourteen years old, fifteen and sixteen years old and finally, seventeen and eighteen years old.

Tim was surprised when the put him with the older girls. There were only fifteen in the group, including him.

"You’re almost 17 anyway and you look like that’s the age group where you belong. Don’t be nervous Tina." The instructor told him.

Nervous? Who, him?

They had to show the instructors how they walked, talked, sat, stood, smiled and even laughed. Then the instructors went to work, trying to train the girls to do those things the way they wanted them to, the way models do to sell products.

Tim had an unusual edge over the others. He hadn’t had the opportunity to become set in his ways and he had more motivation to learn than any of them. He paid careful attention to everything they were willing to teach him and it didn’t go unnoticed. "You’re something of a tomboy Tina." One of the instructors noted. Julie paid the girl a little more attention than some of the others.

He was exhausted by the end of the day. Tim had worn heals before but not for eight hours straight and on his feet almost the whole time.

They had told the girls they would need to bring workout clothes the next day and Tim didn’t have any. They had finished a few minutes before five, when Patty was going to pick him up, so he rushed out into the mall to the little store nearby that sold exercise clothes. The girl helped him pick out an outfit in a hurry. Tim already had picked up on how the girls tried to outdo each other and he told the sales girl, "It has to be something really striking." She said she had just what he was looking for and showed him an outfit they hadn’t even had a chance to put out on display yet. "It just came in today." The capri length pants were bright pink and the leotard was a multi colored floral print. Tim hardly looked at it before he bought it. He liked the colors and he was quickly on his way to meet Patty.

He was only a few minutes late. Patty and Nancy were outside waiting. "I’m sorry if I kept you waiting. I just had to pick up this." Tim held up the outfit to show them. "I needed it for tomorrow."

"We were only waiting a couple of minutes, it’s ok. Great looking leotards." They were anxious to hear about everything he did.

The first thing Tim did when he slipped into the back seat was to slip his shoes off and rub his feet. "You wouldn’t believe how my feet hurt."

Nancy looked back over the seat and smiled. "Wanna bet?"

They all laughed.

"I know you must be beat Tina, but my Mom made me promise we’d come and have dinner with her. I grabbed a change of clothes for you, it’s in the bag next to you." Nancy wasn’t given an option and when she tried to use Tina as an excuse all her mother said was, "Bring your friend along."

Tim just wanted to get out of his heals and as long as he had a change of clothes he didn’t care. "There’s no way that your Mom would remember me, is there?" "I can’t see how. It’s been years and you were only at my house that one time." Nancy wasn’t worried.

The rest of the ride was occupied by talking about everything he had done that day at the school.

Patty and Nancy were delighted at how excited he was.

"It was like we all started off from scratch. They didn’t seem to know any more than I did. There were a couple girls that had experience modeling before and they thought they knew it all and had their noses in the air. But they got taken down a peg when the instructors told them that they didn’t do things that way. It was kind of fun, watching all the backstabbing. I stayed out of it and even helped a few of the girls who had trouble getting the hang of it. I can’t wait until tomorrow when we start doing makeup and hair."

Tim just went on and on until they got to Nancy’s.

Nancy’s Mom didn’t recognize him. "Hello Mrs. Watkins."

"Hello Tina. It’s very nice to meet you. Nancy told me all about what you were doing today.

It’s sounds very exciting." Lovely girl thought Jennette.

"It was."

"You’ll have to tell me all about it later. Dinner’s ready, why don’t you go and change while Nancy helps me dish up?"

"I’ll be quick, Mrs. Watkins."

"Follow me Tina. I’ll show you where Nancy’s room is." Patty led him down the hall and stayed with him while he changed. "So there were no problems?" Tim was very relaxed. "None at all."

Patty watched as he unbuttoned his skirt and pulled off his sweater. He looked so like he had been doing it all his life. She looked at him standing there in just his underwear and pantyhose and he looked so natural it was spooky.

Tim slid down his pantyhose and pulled on the pink shorts and white pullover they had brought. As he tucked in the blouse, he rubbed his feet on the carpet. "It feels so good to walk around in bare feet."

"Well, put on those flats and let’s go eat. They’re probably waiting for us." Tina repeated his account of the day as they ate. He had enjoyed it so much that his enthusiasm was easily apparent to everyone. Nancy’s little sister was particularly interested. "I’m going to be a model when I grow up." Kim announced. She was only ten years old. Nancy told her Mom to relax when they were finished, "We’ll clean up." While everyone else relaxed in the living room, Nancy, Patty and Tim made quick work of the kitchen.

They didn’t stay late. They watched tv with the family and talked until about nine. "Tina’s got another busy day tomorrow and she needs to get some rest." That got them out of the house and back to Patty’s. Pam was there but Sue was still out with Randy. She showed them the result of her handiwork. She didn’t mention that she had gone to Jack for help after struggling for hours.

On the table were two, fully certified birth certificates. One for Tim Hynes, 15 and another for Tina Brooks, 16.

"It looks terrific." Nancy was really impressed.

"Why do I need a birth certificate for Tina?" Tim didn’t understand. "You may not," Said Patty, "But you never know. If you get into the beauty contest, you may need more proof of age than just that license."

"There’s no chance of that happening." Tim took it as a joke.

"Just the same, next week we’re going to get Tina a social security card too." Nancy told him.

There was no point in arguing with them. They were just kidding.

Tim wasn’t ready quite as early on Saturday morning. He decided to wear one of his dresses.

It was kind of exciting, he had never worn a dress out of the house before. Nancy and Patty helped him to select the right one. "It can’t be too dressy or they’ll think you’re a snob but if it’s too casual they’ll think you’re taking the competition too lightly." They went back and forth trying to decide as he went, dress by dress, through the closet. They finally settled on the royal blue shirtdress, with his wide black belt and black heals. Tina looked very businesslike. His new gold jewelry went perfectly with it. Patty managed to get him to the mall on time. They spent several hours reviewing what they were taught the previous day.

The individual hair and makeup consultations took hours. The woman who did Tim liked his hair the way it was, only recommending different ways to shape it depending on the look he was trying to achieve or his clothes. Tim paid close attention.

Most of the time was spent on makeup. He was shown how to prepare for different situations, day and night, casual and formal and on and off camera. They needed the workout clothes for runway evaluation, not exercise. Tim was in the small, cramped, makeshift dressing room, changing. He felt more than a little self-conscious. It was one thing to be in this situation around the girls he had come to know, it was another among strangers.

Tim had pulled on the tights and was stepping into the leotard when he realized the mistake he had made. He should have taken a better look at the outfit when he bought it. He shouldn’t have been in such a rush. Well it’s too late now, he thought to himself. The leotard was a ‘t’ back style and it really accented his rear end. It was with some reservation that he joined the other girls on the runway.

Tina’s outfit did not go unnoticed. The instructors really liked it, it told them things about the girl who wore it, positive things.

The other girls were not as thrilled. Tina had shown them all up, but it was difficult to be angry with Tina. She was already known by most of them as a pleasant, helpful person. In their heals, they were taught to walk, pose and, in general, move. No part of the female anatomy was taken for granted and through it all, they had to practice their smiles. Tim had wished they would have covered more that day but he was ready to leave when five o’clock came. Patty pulled up as he walked out of the mall. Tim, enthusiastically, told Patty about his day. He didn’t leave out the part about the leotard and how it felt to wear it in front of everyone.

Nancy had a surprise for him when they arrived at Patty’s. "Jeff called and he and Brad want to take us out for dinner and a movie."

After his experience with Kevin the other night, Tim was a little nervous about that. That reminded him and he asked them, "What would make my new breasts so sensitive." He felt the odd sensation almost all the time now, whenever anything brushed against them. Even the material of his bra brought a reaction.

They weren’t sure what to tell him. Nancy suggested, "It must be that the nerves around your muscles were affected by the chemical stimulation too." Neither of them were ready to be completely honest.

"I have to admit that it’s stimulating." Tim liked the feeling and was almost sorry that it would pass.

Back to the subject at hand. "Where are they taking us?"

"Jeff didn’t say. He just said we should get dressed up a little. You could probably wear what your wearing now." Tina looked nice in the shirtdress.

He would have rather not have had to wear heals but he supposed he could manage a few more hours.

Tim had promised to call Sandy so he went in Patty’s room and called. He was on the phone for nearly forty-five minutes, telling her all about the past two days. They made tentative plans for Monday night. Sandy wanted to know how he felt about Janet joining them. Tim said that’s fine, he thought she was really nice and they had gotten along well. That taken care of, Tim started getting ready to go out.

They had spent most of the day cleaning the house. Patty’s Mom and Dad would be back from their trip on Sunday and she wanted to have the house in the same condition her Mother left it, spotless. Patty’s mother was a neat freak.

Patty and Nancy got started as soon as she got back from taking Tina to the mall. The noise of the vacuum cleaner finally woke up Pam and Sue around eleven. They helped for a while then Pam said they had something she and Sue just had to do. They were gone by noon and they had really done very little to help.

It really pissed Patty off that they were such lazy freeloaders. There wasn’t much she could say. It took her and Nancy most of the day to do it all because it included cutting and edging the yard.

What Pam and Sue had to do was shop. "There’s a few more things I want to get our boy."

"What else does he need?" Sue wondered. "He has almost a complete wardrobe." "Remember what I told him about sexy underwear? Well since we have some money now, I thought we should go and get him a few things. Besides, I want a new outfit and I think it’s only fair that he buys us each one, considering everything we’ve done for him." The girls took care of themselves first. Sue wasn’t as comfortable spending Tim’s money on themselves as Pam was. Between them they had spent almost one hundred and fifty dollars. "Don’t you think that’s enough Pam?"

Pam had a new dress and Sue had a stylish two-piece shorts outfit. "I suppose so. Let’s go see what we can find for Tina."

They found everything they wanted, and more, at Fredrick’s. The guys picked them up at seven. Brad was really nervous. He was glad he was double dating with Jeff and Nancy. "I told you Brad, there’s nothing to be afraid of. She likes you, Nancy told me."

That didn’t make it any easier. Brad had always had trouble with girls. With his lack of confidence, he never knew what to say to them.

"You did fine talking to her the other day. Just do what you did then. You’ll be ok." Jeff wondered how a relative of his could be so shy.

"Hi Tina, ready?" He stood at the door, pushing a pebble around with his foot. She looked great. At the pool she looked cute and sexy in the little suit. Now she looked different, older, more sophisticated. He was wearing dress pants, one of his best shirts and a tie. He wondered now if he shouldn’t have worn a jacket.

It was funny seeing him so nervous. How would he feel if he knew who was really standing in front of him? Tim had told himself that he wasn’t going to think about that tonight. Tonight he was just Tina and nothing else. The new underwear he was wearing helped him to forget Tim. Pam and Sue had brought him some new things. They really surprised him. He had trouble reading those two. One minute they try to embarrass him and the next they couldn’t be sweeter to him. They had to have spent a lot of money on him today. Pam had convinced him to wear some of the new things tonight but he didn’t agree until he saw Patty and Nancy’s nod of approval. The delicate black lace bra looked and felt sexy but the black garter belt, string nylon bikinis and lace topped black stockings really did it for him. There were a dozen other pieces, all as sexy. Tim was delighted. His conscience bothered him though. All the money he and the girls had spent was wasted if they couldn’t wear the clothes after he left in a week. It was an awful waste of money.

Tim stood with Nancy as the guys opened the car doors for them and they slipped in, Tina in back with Brad and Nancy in front, with Jeff. The scene was repeated at Steak and Ale where Jeff had made reservations.

Tim was acutely aware of what he wore under the dress. Pam had been right about the way the garter belt made him feel.

Brad held Tina’s chair as she sat at the table. Jeff and Nancy got a kick out of Brad. Nancy, of course, expected the same treatment and it only took one look at Jeff for him to realize it. Tim ordered a light meal. He was becoming conscious of his weight. It was one of the things that was constantly stressed in the class. There was another reason too. Most everything on the menu was expensive and he was worried about what it would cost Brad. Brad carried Tina’s salad plate back from the salad bar for her and held her chair for her again.

Tim enjoyed being pampered this way. "Nothing makes a girl feel more feminine than to be treated like a lady." Nancy explained to him later that evening. Jeff and Nancy kept the conversation alive as they ate. Tim contributed but Brad added little. He could see that Brad was nervous. Tim was anxious to tell about the modeling school but that wasn’t likely to interest the two guys.

It seemed funny to have someone else take care of the check while you just sit back and pretend it doesn’t exist. At the movies, Tim and Nancy talked while the guys bought the tickets. It was nothing to Nancy, "Get used to it Tina, enjoy it."

Tim paid particular attention to the way he sat in the movie. As he crossed his legs, the garters reminded him of what he was supposed to be. They made him feel sensual. Brad didn’t immediately get up the nerve to put his arm around her. He knew he had done it at his house but this was different. He didn’t know how she’d take it. Tim waited, knowing it was coming. It was a quarter of the way into the movie before Brad got up the courage and Tim didn’t try to remove it as long as his hand stayed on his shoulder. Just the same, he would have rathered Brad didn’t try to be so familiar with him. It was his turn to be nervous.

There were no side trips on the way home. Jeff and Nancy said their goodnights in the car. Brad walked Tina to Patty’s front door. He knew what he wanted to do but he wasn’t sure how to go about it with the girl.

"I had a really nice time Brad, thanks." Tim knew what would normally happen at this point on a date. He waited for a response from Brad. He knew he didn’t want the response Brad probably had in mind.

"I did too, Tina. You’re kind of special, did you know that?" "What do you mean Brad?" Tim was afraid he meant he was too different from other girls he had been with.

"You’re very pretty but you’re still easy to talk to. Most girls with your looks are usually so stuck up." He didn’t know where the courage came from to say it. He almost regretted what he said, she was probably thinking he was a jerk.

Tim found the right words. "That’s very sweet of you Brad." Tim wanted to go inside. He didn’t want things to go any further than they had. Brad had made him feel good about Tina and he appreciated it, but that was enough.

Brad was just reaching out for her hand when she spoke.

Tim knew what was coming. "Good night Brad." Tim knew what he had to do. He gave Brad a peck on his cheek before Brad knew what was happening. If he hadn’t done that when he did then Tim would have been very embarrassed.

Patty had left the door open for them and Tim hurried inside, closing the door slowly as he watched Brad walk back to the car. Nancy joined Tim in a moment. She didn’t pry. Tim looked bewildered. "What am I doing? I’m not gay! I’m not supposed to be kissing a guy!"

Nancy didn’t know what to say. Seeing him like this, confused, she knew she should have told Jeff no. Brad should have made his own date with Tina, giving Tim a chance to say no. "In a week I’m going to be Tim again. This is not good." Tim was having a real problem seeing himself as a boy at the moment.

"Don’t think about it any more tonight Tina. Let’s just go to bed and get some sleep." Nancy had a sick feeling in her stomach. Keeping the secret from Tim was eating her up inside. The effects of the complications caused by Brad’s affections didn’t help any. It seemed to be really messing up his thinking.

As he undressed, getting ready for bed, he had a lot to think about. He carefully put away his sexy feeling underwear. He was bothered by how much he enjoyed wearing it that night. Tim didn’t sleep very well. He enjoyed everything the girls had done for him, but he didn’t like the part that included guys. He wanted no part of that, he told himself. If things got any more complicated, he was going to have to quit and go home. This time he’d do it. Tim felt better after a little sleep. He was looking forward to getting dressed up for church. What to wear? Over a dozen new dresses and at least that many skirt and blouse outfits and they couldn’t decide what Tina should wear.

"That one’s too plain, that’s too dressy, that’s a party dress." They finally agreed on the floral print full skirt and matching, cream colored long sleeved broadcloth blouse with the lace trim around the high collar. The shoes that Sandy had picked out when they bought the outfit matched the blouse perfectly.

Tim was ready, waiting for Nancy to come by with her family to pick him up. He was very nervous. His mother, stepfather and sister would be going to church today but he didn’t know what service they would attend. Regardless, there would be plenty of people who knew Tim. Tim knew, in his head, that he wouldn’t be recognized. That wasn’t what his heart told him. Patty had taken Nancy home earlier so she could get ready. Nancy hadn’t brought anything to wear to church when she came for the week. Pam and Sue had gathered up all their things and gone to stay at Pam’s last night.

Tim and Patty were still talking about last night when Nancy’s father’s car pulled up out front. Patty wasn’t going to church today. She didn’t know what time her parents would be home and she wanted to be there when they got home.

Tim slipped into the back seat with Nancy and her sister.

"You look lovely Tina." Mrs. Watkins told Tina as they drove off. Tim felt pretty. "Thank you." This was just one of the many things Tim liked about pretending to be a girl.

The Browns pulled up about the same time as they did and they all walked to the church from the parking lot together.

Mrs. Brown was anxious to talk to Tina and see how she was. "Hi Tina" She walked up along side her. Her husband was busy talking to Bob, Nancy’s father. Jeff and Nancy walked hand in hand, apart from the rest of the group. Mrs. Watkins, Jenette, with Kim, joined Tina and Carol. Jenette was a little concerned about Tina. "Are you going back to your little apartment now that Patty’s folks are coming home today?"

"I guess so." Where else would he go?

Carol didn’t realize that she was leaving Patty’s house today. "I don’t like the idea of you staying in some strange apartment by yourself Tina."

"Neither do I Carol." Jenette agreed.

Little Kim made the suggestion first. "Why don’t you stay with us until your family arrives?" Jenette liked the idea but they just didn’t have the room. Kim and Nancy already shared a bedroom and they didn’t have a spare bedroom. "I wish she could Kim but there just isn’t enough room."

Tim was relieved to hear that and he was about to tell Mrs. Watkins that he would be fine when Mrs. Brown voiced her idea.

"Tina, you’ll stay with us until your parents arrive next week." Carol had the room.

Tim started to object, "That’s very nice of you Mrs. Brown but . . . " "There’s no objecting young lady. I insist and I know that your parents would approve. We’ll call them this afternoon and tell them." Carol’s mind was made up. Tim didn’t know what to say. How could he get out of it? More importantly, how were they going to talk to ‘her parents’?

Carol didn’t expect a response. It was settled as far as she was concerned. They went into church.

Nancy had overheard the conversation and made sure that Tim sat next to her in church.

"What else can you do?" She whispered to him.

"I don’t know." Tim was very worried. "What am I going to do about the phone call they want to make to Atlanta?"

"We’ll figure out some way to handle that later. Jeff’s Mom is very stubborn and there’s no way you’re going to get out of it." Nancy spoke from experience. Services started and it was too quiet now for them to discuss it any further. Tim looked around, praying he wouldn’t see his family. He was almost convinced that they weren’t there when he spotted them, almost all the way down in front. He was relieved that his new friends and their families hadn’t decided to sit up there. He would be gone before they even got out the door. At least they would be in the car.

He had been in this church hundreds of times. His mother used to make him and Bridget go every week. Now, this time, felt like the first time. He sat properly, with his legs crossed, his hands folded properly in his lap over his skirt that he had pulled down over his stockinged knees. He didn’t even feel uncomfortable in his heals, sitting there. It felt nice, strange, but nice.

Tim noticed a number of people that would know Tim on sight but no one recognized Tina. The way he looked today was such a departure from Tim. Even the minister, greeting his congregation on the way out after the service, didn’t recognize the boy he had given communion to.

Tim had pointed out his Mother, Sister and Stepfather as he and Nancy were leaving and they both hurried to the car. Nancy’s family wasn’t in as much of a rush. They had stopped to talk to friends.

"Tina, they probably wouldn’t know you if they saw you. Don’t worry." Nancy assured him as they stood next to the car. They couldn’t get in, her Dad had the keys. "My Mom would know." He was sure. Tim looked back to the gathering in front of the church. "Oh God, here they come." Tim wanted to run and hide. Nancy turned and spotted them too. They were heading for the parking lot and that would mean they would have to walk right past them. If only her parents hadn’t stopped to gossip. "Just turn and face me Tina. We’ll keep your back to them, they won’t even see you. I’ll guide you so you know where there are. Just pretend we’re talking."

She kept his back to them as they approached. They were going to walk right by, within a few feet of them.

Bridget noticed the two girls. She had seen the one facing her in church before but she couldn’t see the face of the other. The girl with her back to her had on the prettiest outfit. Bridget really liked it. She had noticed it through the crowd in church when they stood to leave. She considered asking her where she bought it. They had already passed them when she decided she’d go back and find out.

"Mom, I’ll be with you in a second." Bridget turned and started back for the girls who were still standing there.

"Damn, Tina. Your sister is coming back this way."

"Where’s she going?" Tim asked very nervously.

Nancy was afraid to tell him but it was obvious by where she was looking. "She’s coming over to us."

Tim felt faint. His knees were weak and he grabbed the doorhandle to support himself.

"Excuse me." Bridget called out. "May I ask you a question?"

"What is it?" Asked Nancy, walking past Tim, toward the older girl. "I wondered where your friend bought her outfit. I’d like to find one like it." She stopped in front of Nancy, only a few feet from Tim. It seemed odd to her that the girl didn’t turn around when she asked the question.

Bridget stepped past Nancy and there wasn’t anything Nancy could do to stop her. She put her hand gently on the girl’s arm. "I’d love to know where you bought that?" With that, she stepped around and faced Tim.

If he hadn’t been holding onto the doorhandle, he probably would have dropped to the ground.

Bridget’s hand went to her mouth. The look on her face told how she felt about seeing her brother like this. "You disgust me Timmy. You’re so sick." She took a deep breath. Tim couldn’t speak. He felt like he was going to be sick and he started to cry.

"Mother would die if she saw you like this." Bridget couldn’t get away from him fast enough. She hurried back toward her stepfather’s car. She would tell them what she had seen, but not until they were well away from here. She knew what her stepfather would do and she didn’t want her mother any more hurt than she already was. He would not be content to drive away. He would come back and publicly humiliate Tim and that would destroy her mother. No, not here. Not at church. It would wait until they got home.

Nancy had to help him stand. "You’ve got to get yourself together before my parents come back. They won’t understand why you’re crying and I just don’t know what to tell them." Tim knew she was right. He did his best and when they got to the car about five minutes later Tim’s eyes were still red but the crying had stopped.

"What’s wrong sweetheart?" Asked Jennette.

Nancy answered for him, "She just misses her folks."

Jennette could understand a young girl missing her parents but Tina had obviously been crying pretty hard for her eyes to be that red. Was there something more than that, something she wasn’t telling them? She wasn’t going to pry now but she would talk to Carol and ask her to see if she could help the poor thing. "You poor dear." Carol took Tina in her arms and held her. "It’s hard sometimes. You’ll let me help if I can?"

Tim couldn’t help himself and he started crying again. Jennette had Kim get in front with her father while she climbed in back with Tina and Nancy. She held Tina close all the way back to Patty’s.

"We’re just going to collect Tina’s things and take them over to Mrs. Brown’s." Patty’s folks weren’t home yet when they got there. "Patty will run us over then I’ll come home and change before I go back."

That sounded fine with her Mom and Dad.

Tim hadn’t said anything on the short ride to Patty’s. He stopped crying, his eyes were still very red.

"What happened?" Patty asked as she came out to see Tim’s red eyes. It was obvious that he’d been crying.

Nancy told Patty what had happened while Tim used her bathroom to get the rest of the tears out of his system.

"I couldn’t believe what his sister did."

"I told you she was a real bitch." Patty wouldn’t forget what she had said to him at the convenience store.

"I believed you but I didn’t think she could be that horrible." Nancy was aghast at how she treated her brother.

They had left Tim alone for a while and when he came out of the bedroom they were surprised to see him in Tina’s jeans and tee shirt. He wore his baseball cap with his hair barely tucked underneath. His hair was too full to fit under it anymore without slicking it down. "I’m going home." Tim wasn’t angry with them but he had had enough. He couldn’t take the strain any more.

They didn’t argue with him. They didn’t want him to go but they wouldn’t get in his way.

Patty did point out one thing. "Tina, . . ."

He said in his male voice, "Tim."

Patty let him correct her. "Tim, you need to do something about your breasts before you go.

They’re too obvious through your tee shirt."

He looked down at himself. He had thought about it but figured he could get away with the way he looked. She was right, they were too obvious, even under the loose-fitting cotton tee. They went back inside and used the wide tape again, to help him hold them down temporarily. The tape hurt but he would bare the pain until he got home. "I’ll stay inside all week until my chest returns to normal."

They had to tell him and Nancy decided it was her responsibility. "Tim, it may take more than a week for you to get back to normal."

Now Tim felt fear and it grabbed his insides and twisted them. "What do you mean?" "Pam told us that what she gave you could last a little longer than that." Nancy was afraid to tell him the truth. She was afraid of how he’d react.

Pam again. He was right, not to trust her. "How long?" He asked fearfully.

Patty couldn’t let Nancy take all the blame. "It could last six months." Tim didn’t say anything. He felt like his world had dropped out from under him. The tears returned, even more than before, and he lay on the bed and cried. Nancy and Patty felt helpless. All they could do was try to console him. "If there were a way to go back and change what we did to you we would Tina." Through his tears he sobbed, "Tim."

It was more than an hour later when they left for his apartment. They had fixed his hair so that it fit under his hat and his chest looked reasonably normal. It hurt something terrible but he endured it for the short trip.

The key didn’t work in the lock. Tim didn’t understand. "I have to call my landlord." They went to a phone booth. The delay was terrible for Tim. His chest was killing him. "Mr. Stevens. This is Tim Hynes."

"What do you want?" Stevens was annoyed by the call. He wanted nothing else to do with the boy or his family.

Tim couldn’t help but notice the man’s tone. He didn’t know why he seemed so irritated. He went on, "My apartment . . . "

Now Stevens was really mad. "Young man, you no longer have an apartment. Your mother has taken care of that. If you’re looking for your things, your Mother has them. Don’t call me again." He slammed the phone down.

Tim looked bewildered as he looked at Nancy and Patty, the phone still in his hand.

"We heard." Said Nancy, equally puzzled.

"She emptied your apartment and you’ve lost it?" Patty couldn’t believe it. If Tim felt lost before, he was shattered now. "What am I going to do?" Again, his eyes began to fill with tears. "I don’t have a place to live or even any clothes to wear." He thought about his money in the bank in Tina’s name. "I can’t even get my money out of the bank to buy anything."

Nancy was worried about even suggesting it but what else could he do? "Tim, come back with us, as Tina, until we can help you figure out what to do." What else could he do? Back at Patty’s the first thing he did was get rid of the tape on his chest. It was a relief. He changed and put on Tina’s clothes again. He felt more comfortable back in Tina’s things. Even his bra was welcome after the horrible way the tape made him feel. They couldn’t risk his looking like Tim if Patty’s folks happened to walk in so he made the change quickly.

They had sat down to talk when he had another idea. "I could go to my boss and ask him for an advance on my pay."

"As Tina?" Nancy regrettably reminded him.

That he couldn’t do and it was only then he realized it might be a long time before he could go back to work. "What am I going to do?"

Nancy and Patty could only see one way for him to hold out until he went back to normal and Tim finally agreed after he thought about it.

"What about my ‘parents’ in Atlanta? What do I tell Mrs. Brown when there’s no one to call there and no one shows up next week to claim their daughter?" They had to find a way around that.

Patty was the first to suggest. "Why don’t we tell them that they aren’t going to be coming just yet? That their plans have changed?"

Nancy put the nix on that. "They’ll still want to talk to them about Tina." "How about if we tell them that her parents have really split up and neither of them wants Tina?" Patty suggested.

"Neither one of her parents wants her? Do you think they’d believe that?" Nancy wouldn’t.

"You’re right. I wouldn’t believe that either." Patty had run out of ideas. Tim came up with the next one. In a melancholy tone he suggested. "How about if the rest of my family were killed in a car accident and they put me in a horrible foster home so I ran away. I’ll say I have no relatives. That’s the closest thing to the truth. My real father’s dead and as far as my mother is concerned, so is she. I really don’t have any relatives." They didn’t like the sound of his voice. He sounded awfully depressed. They agreed that the story would eliminate a lot of questions and problems. There were still one or two that might plague them. Patty asked one, "But won’t they try to send you back to Atlanta?"

"Mrs. Brown wouldn’t do that. I know her. It would be like world war three to get her to give up Tina after she heard her story."

Patty put her arm around him. "Tina, it won’t be forever."

Tim didn’t object when she called him ‘Tina’ this time. He had gotten pretty used to it by now and it looked like he would be hearing it a while longer.

"What about school? Won’t she try to send Tina to school? They’ll want records from Atlanta first." Patty was familiar with the process. She had gone through it when she moved here from South Carolina three years ago.

Nancy was ready for that one. "We’ll Talk to Sue. She works in the office. We’ll find out what we need to do to get away with it."

Tim had only been listening to this part of the conversation. "I can’t go to school as Tina. I’ll never get away with it." He couldn’t picture himself in the same halls and classrooms that Tim had occupied for over a year, not as Tina. "Someone will know me." "Tina, you’ve fooled everyone so far. Trust me no one will know." Nancy was sure. "Even in church this morning, the minister didn’t even know you."

Nancy was right. Every time he had been so worried, it was for nothing. But there were others to consider. "What about Sue and Pam? Will they go along with it?" Tim had a point. Would they? Patty and Nancy looked at each other. "We’ll make her go along. If she even looks as though she’s going to betray your secret we’ll tell her that we’ll expose her as the one who came up with this plot against you. She’ll be thrown out of school and probably arrested."

Nancy agreed. "I’ve had enough of the way Pam treats people and it is time to do something about it."

Tim was worried about them. "What if she says that you two were part of the plot. Won’t she get you in trouble too?"

They had thought of that. Patty said, very seriously, "Not if she believes we’ll stick together."

They made a pact. "Sisters together!" And then they all laughed for the first time that day. "We better get your things together and get over to Jeff’s." Nancy decided. Than a thought occurred to her and she turned to Tina who was getting his dresses out of Patty’s closet. "Tina, I don’t know if I like the idea of one of my girlfriends living with my boyfriend." Tim turned around laughing. "Trust me Nancy, he’s safe." It did bring another thought to mind. "It’s not going to be easy living in a house with three men and no one who knows my secret."

Patty said the words but without the conviction in her heart. "Don’t worry Tina, you’ll do fine."

Tim was really nervous when they arrived at the Brown’s front door. The girls stayed with him as they settled on the sofa in the living room. Only Mr. and Mrs. Brown heard Tina’s tragic story. Tim explained that he had to be honest with them and proceeded to tell the story of his parents tragic car accident and the horror of the foster home where the man tried to assault him. Carol needed to hear no more. Tina was staying with them and anything his wife insisted on was all right with Mr. Brown. He had grown fond of the girl anyway and needed little convincing. "You have a home with us as long as you want it Tina." He put the end to any further discussion. Tim didn’t like lying and he wasn’t really relieved that he was believed. He still had to contend with living here as a girl.

Carol had told John on the way home from church that he would have to buy new furniture for Tina’s room. The room had only an old bed. It had been a storeroom for several years since her oldest sun had moved out. She was going out to pick out the new furniture in the morning. She would go shopping after she dropped Tina at the mall. Carol was thrilled. Tina would be the daughter she had always wanted. She knew she would have to be careful not to smother her with affection, after all, she had only just lost her real mother and she didn’t want her to resent her for overdoing it. All the same, it was going to be wonderful having her living with them.

Most of the day was spent getting Tina as settled as possible. Nancy and Jeff went off and spent some time together. Jeff didn’t object although it would be odd having a girl living with them. A new little sister to look after and protect might be nice, he admitted to himself. Nancy gave him the same mock warning that she had given to Tina. The only difference was that Jeff didn’t know she was kidding.

Patty left around three. She had been away for several hours and she still wanted to be there when her Mom and Dad got home. "I’ll pick up Tina from the mall at five and bring her home Mrs. Brown."

"Thank you Patty. That would be a big help. Say hello to your Mom and Dad when they get home. Oh, and ask your Mom to call me when she gets settled later. Tim had almost forgotten about the modeling with everything else that had happened today.

He had looked forward to finishing the course, it was fun. Well, now he would finish it. Nancy left around five. "I promised Mom I’d be home for dinner today." She told Tim. "I’ll call you tomorrow night."

Tim remembered as she was leaving, "I promised Sandy and Janet that I’d do something with them tomorrow night. Are you going to join us?"

"Sure." Said Nancy as she rushed out the door. "I’ll call Patty and see what she’s up to." As always, in the ‘Brown’ household, it was the women’s job to prepare meals and Sunday’s was the biggest dinner of the week here. Carol was delighted to have Tina to help her and it was an opportunity for them to talk alone. The men knew better than to intrude on her in her kitchen. Tim found himself in a new world with which he was totally unfamiliar. Carol had him standing in front of the stove, apron and all, learning to cook. "I’m surprised that your mother never taught you any of this."

"My Mom was always working and never had time to cook and do all the normal things mothers teach their daughters." Tim told her this so that when she learned how little Tim actually knew of household chores, she would understand. It didn’t save him from learning everything Mrs. Brown wanted to teach him, as he had hoped.

"Tina, We have to find you something different to call me than ‘Mrs. Brown’. If you don’t mind, I’d really like you to call me Mom."

Tim could see how happy that made her so he conceded. "Ok Mom." It took them several hours in the hot kitchen to cook dinner, about thirty minutes to eat it and almost an hour and a half to clean up. That included the quiet time at the kitchen table with their tea while the men took their coffee in the living room.

Tim got comfortable and watched Television for about an hour before he excused himself, "I’m really tired, I think I’ll take a shower and go to bed. Good night everyone." He bent down close to Carol who was half asleep on the couch with her needle point in her hands. He kissed her on the cheek and whispered, "Good night Mom."

Carol came alive. Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at Tina, smiling. "Good night Tina." Tim went through his normal routine and it took him almost an hour to get ready for bed. He thought back and marveled at how the little bit of affection he showed to Mrs. Brown, ‘Mom’, seemed to please her so.

Tim was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

After Tina went to bed, Carol called Jennette and filled her in on Tina’s story. Jenette wasn’t surprised, "I knew there was something wrong with that poor child. I’m happy for both of you that she’s going to stay with you."

Carol invited her to go shopping with her in the morning. Carol told her the plans she had for transforming the storeroom and Jenette was delighted with the opportunity to help her redecorate. Nancy called Sue and told her what had happened over the course of the day. Sue pretended to be appalled that Tim’s mother could have cleaned out his apartment that way, leaving him homeless. She pretended she was glad that Jeff’s Mom had taken him in. Sue played along when Nancy asked her about what it would take to get him enrolled in school as Tina. She laughed to herself.

After Nancy got off the phone, Sue and Pam had a good laugh between the two of them. Nancy and Patty had finally caved in and told Tim what they thought was the extent of what they had done to the boy. As it turned out, everything was going just the way Pam wanted it to. They no longer had to worry about where Tim was going to live. Jeff’s Mom was a mother to beat all Mothers and she would do a lot toward teaching him to be a proper lady. It was perfect. By the way Nancy described his emotional state, the hormones were well on their way to changing him. A number of subtle changes were going on inside him at this point. Soon, some of the not so subtle changes would start to be evident too.

Carol woke Tim up in the morning. It was a little bit of a shock. He didn’t remember where he was at first. "Come on honey. Time to get up and get ready." Carol was as thrilled having Tina there as she had been yesterday. She delighted in making her breakfast. "You need to have a good breakfast every morning Tina. Besides, modeling is hard work."

Tim normally never ate breakfast but he wasn’t about to argue with her. She was too nice to argue with.

Carol approved of the floral skirt and green camp shirt she wore with her low navy heals. They picked up Mrs. Watkins on the way to the mall. "We’re just going to do a little shopping today." She told Tina as they dropped her off.

Today they started on the charm portion of the course. Manners and etiquette were accentuated. The second half the day was back to practicing their modeling skills. The instructor who had worked with Tim last week, Julie, seemed to spend even more time with him today. The other girls noticed and seemed to resent it but Tim didn’t mind. He continued to pay close attention and learn as she instructed him. She seemed pleased with his progress. Patty was there to pick him up as promised and he got quite a surprise when he got ‘home’. Carol stood proudly beaming, as she showed Tina her new bedroom. She had made Jeff give it a fresh coat of paint that morning. The walls looked very bright and cheerful in off-white. They were hardly dry when the furniture was delivered just after two o’clock. Jenette and Carol didn’t stop with furniture. Bright colorful new curtains hung on the windows and little nick knacks were scattered around the room. The poster bed was white with gold trim and the rest of the furniture matched. Carol had selected a long low dresser with mirror, vanity table, desk and night stands. The bedspread was pale pink with a white lace border. The sheets were a flowered print to match. Tina’s clothes were all neatly put away in her new dresser. "You did all this for me?" Tim didn’t know what to say. The room and the furniture were beautiful. "You shouldn’t have." Tim looked at Carol and his eyes started to fill with tears. Carol saw the tears forming and rushed over and hugged her. Just seeing her so happy made it all worth it for her.

Her husband, standing at the bedroom door agreed. He hadn’t seen Carol so happy in years. "Welcome home Tina." He left the women to do their thing. He went to the living room to watch tv and wait for his dinner.

Carol showed her the other things she didn’t have a chance to unpack. They were in the den. She had bought her a clock radio, a small stereo and even a small television for her room. "The new phone line will be installed Wednesday."

"But why?" Tim still had tears in his eyes.

"I want you to feel comfortable here, at home." What she had done was partly because of the loss that she was sure Tina was feeling about losing her parents. The rest was purely selfish on her part. She wanted Tina to stay with her.

Tim hugged her again. "Thank you so much. How can I ever repay you?" "Just let me enjoy having you here and let me teach you the things I would have taught the daughter I never had." Carol didn’t want much in return.

It was getting late. "We better get started with dinner."

Tim didn’t have to be asked to help. He jumped right in, enthusiastically. It was almost seven when they finished cleaning up and sat with their tea. As they made dinner and during the cleanup afterwards Tim told ‘Mom’ all about his day. Carol loved hearing about it. Tim asked, because he thought it was the right way to approach it with her, "Mom, may I ask a few of the girls to come over so I can show them everything you bought for me. I really want to show off my new room." He was sincere and it was the right way to ask. "Of course Tina, but lets not have them stay too late. You have another busy day tomorrow." Carol was pleased that she wanted to show off her room to her friends. It proved she really was happy with what she’d done.

He called Nancy and Patty first. Then he reached Sandy who called Janet. They would be there. They wanted to hear all about why she was living with the Brown’s now. It took a while to tell the whole heart wrenching story and show off everything Mrs. Brown had done for him. It was nearly ten when they left.

Tim wondered why guys couldn’t open up to each other the way these girls did. When they heard his story, the compassion and understanding they showed him was overwhelming. Tim ran into a problem as he got ready for bed. He was in the bathroom that he had to share with Jeff and his brother. He had forgotten to lock the door and Jeff walked in on him as he was going to the bathroom. Jeff realized that the bathroom wasn’t empty the second he opened the door and closed it quickly, apologizing profusely through the door. It was just one more reminder of the really awkward and embarrassing conditions that Tim would have to live with as Tina. Tuesday was another enjoyable day for Tim. Another morning of instruction on the social graces, how to act like a lady. The first half of the afternoon, Tim was given two hours of instruction on how to do makeup for camera work. Again, he found himself getting more attention than most. Runway techniques filled the rest of the day and Tim was becoming quite good at it, according to Julie.

He had gotten past his initial awkwardness and moved with all the bounce and flair that was expected of the girls.

Carol had another surprise for Tina when they finished cleaning up after dinner. "Tina, how would you like to learn to sew?"

Tim didn’t know what to say to her. He really didn’t care to learn but she was so excited about teaching him. He would have rather relaxed in the living room or called his friends to talk. He knew it would please her and he decided that was more important. With an enthusiastic expression on his face, he asked, "Would you really teach me? That would be wonderful." He prepared himself to be bored.

Carol was ecstatic and took Tina to her bedroom and dragged a large box out from under her bed. The two sat on the floor and went through the stacks of patterns. Carol was looking for a simple pattern to start Tina on.

Tim was amazed at all the different patterns for clothes she had. There were few though, that were for girls his age.

Carol soon realized it too and made a suggestion, "Let’s run over to the Mall and see if we can find something better suited to you."

It was better than just sitting around. "Sure."

Tim was amazed at all the different patterns that they made for teens. It was just something he was never aware of as a boy. They picked out several patterns, a jumper, a swing dress and baggy, pull on pants. Carol went looking for material for the dress with Tim while the sales girl pulled out the patterns. She had material at home for the other two pieces but she wanted to find something in particular for the dress.

Tim found the geometric pattern that Carol was looking for. It was similar to the one on the pattern cover. He thought it really looked pretty in the picture. They were home by eight thirty and Tim was tasked to cut out the pattern for the dress after Carol measured him to determine his size. It took him until ten thirty to finish cutting it out. The time flew by for Tim, the two talked as he cut. Topics ranged from her happy life as a girl to her sons. The woman loved to talk and her sense of humor kept Tim’s attention easily. Wednesday was again split into morning charm school and afternoon modeling classes. He looked very classy in his navy straight skirt and white camp shirt with the wide black belt. Julie took him aside for a few hours in the afternoon and taught him a few special tricks to use when modeling. Julie paid particular attention to body language. Carol and Tim cleaned up quickly after dinner. Tim’s interest had been peaked last night with the prospect of having custom fitted clothes that were inexpensive. Carol showed him how to lay out material with the pattern to make the best use of what they had. With the geometric pattern of the material, it wasn’t easy and they didn’t finish cutting it all out until almost ten. It was too late to go any further tonight, besides, "I want to give Nancy and Patty a call." "Why don’t you use your new phone? They hooked it up today." Carol had had fun with her tonight. Her desire to learn to sew was genuine and she was good company. She decided she had done the right thing with Tina, having her move in. "Just remember you have to get up early."

Tim had already learned the house rules on using the phone. Mr. Brown had explained them on Tim’s second night in the house. "No phone calls after ten thirty." Nancy had news for Tim too. She set up a three way call with Patty before she told him. "Sue called me earlier tonight. She had everything set up at school for next week. Tina, you are enrolled as Miss Tina Brooks."

Tim was really worried about this part of the plan. "What about my teachers? Won’t they recognize me?"

"Sue made sure that you didn’t have any teachers that you’ve had before. She even gave you a different curriculum, completely different from the one Tim had. Apart from the stuff you have to take, and this is the funny part, you have two classes of home economics, I and II." Nancy was right. "Home economics? You’ve got to be kidding." Tim knew that class was a joke.

"The only bad thing is she had to give you a language and the only thing open was French."

Nancy waited to hear his reaction.

Actually, that was all right. He had started the year with Spanish and hated it. French had been his second choice. "That’s not so bad."

"Maybe you’ll be in my class. I just started French this year." Patty hoped so.

There was one class that still bothered him. "I suppose she had to put me in a PE class." Nancy and Patty knew that would be the tough one for him. "Yes, she had to. Everybody has to take PE Tina, I’m sorry." Nancy tried to cheer him up. "Look at it this way, you’ll probably get an ‘A’. You’ve got an edge over all the other girls." Nancy and Patty laughed, Tim didn’t. "I suppose. At least I won’t be stuck with it for very long." It was the only thing that would make it bearable. In a few months he could quit his act and be himself again. "How are you and Mrs. Brown getting along?"

"Do you mean Mom? We’re doing great. I just finished cutting out material for a new dress I’m making." He thought they’d get a kick out of that.

"She’s teaching you to sew?" Patty was amazed.

"And cook. Actually, it’s kind of fun. She’s really neat."

"I told you you’d like her." Nancy was glad that he did.

"I really do. I wish my mother had been more like her."

They continued to talk right up until ten thirty. They made plans for Friday night. They were going to the movies. Jeff and Nancy, Patty and Bob and Tina and nobody. Which was just the way Tim wanted it.

Thursday was the big day and since Tim figured it was his last since they were selecting the girls that would go on to the fashion show in Tampa, he was going to dress up. He wore his white slim skirt, the expensive lined one. The pink, lace trimmed camisole that Pam had bought him and over it, his white jacket. The delicate gold jewelry that Patty had picked out for him went perfectly.

Carol had helped him with his hair. He didn’t want it to look teased on top today. The clothes gave him a more mature look and he wanted his hair to match. When Carol was done, he looked much softer and delicate. Tim loved his overall look.

Tim walked into the mall with a feeling of confidence that was not put on or forced. He had a smile on his face that showed how he felt.

"Wow" Wasn’t all the instructor, Julie, said as Tim walked into the room. "You look fantastic."

Tim couldn’t help himself, he knew he was blushing. "Thanks." Julie liked that about her. She wasn’t a snob. She was an attractive girl with a little something extra. She was modest but not too much so. The best thing about her was that she was anxious to learn and caught on quickly. Julie had enjoyed working with her. The morning was spent, as most mornings had that week, in teaching charm. Body language was stressed. The girls were taught what each movement conveyed and how to express what they wanted to the person or group they were ‘speaking’ to. The last hour was just plain fun. They concentrated on the body language of love.

Tim felt out of place but played along.

They all broke for lunch at noon with explicit instructions to be back at one o’clock sharp. Tim was almost disappointed that it was over. It had been fun pretending here, among all these girls, that he was what his fantasies wished he could be. It was nearly over now and he would miss it.

He was back a few minutes early and had to wait until the rest of the girls got back. Julie saw him sitting there alone and went over and sat by him. She saw that he looked a little sad. "What’s wrong Tina?"

"Oh, hi Julie." Tim put on a smile. He was still feeling a little melancholy about the class being over. He threw it off. "It’s nothing, really. I’m just going to miss this. You’ve been really sweet, it’s been fun."

Julie returned her smile. "I’ve had fun working with you. You’re a delightful young woman Tina."

It was almost one and the girls started returning. Julie had to leave Tina and resume her place. By five after one they were all back and it was time to get to get down to business. Tim was sitting in the back row and now all the girls that had shown up last Thursday filed in. All fifty seats were filled. Tim watched the woman who ran the school come in and take her place at the podium on the little stage.

"I hope you girls have all enjoyed yourselves over the last six days. I know your instructors have."

"It is time now for what you have been waiting for. The selection of the girls who will go on to the spectacular designer’s show tomorrow and Saturday in Tampa." Her tone changed from excitement to regret. "I wish you could all take part but that’s not possible. I want to thank those of you who participated and wish you well." Excited again, the woman went on. "Now for the announcement. We will be selecting three girls from the twelve to fourteen year old group, four from the fifteen and sixteen group and just three from the seventeen and eighteen year old group. Will the girls whose names I call please remain seated when I’ve finished? To the rest of you, again, I say thank you and there are gifts for each of you outside this room as you leave."

Tim thought that she was pretty callous about how she treated the girls who wouldn’t make the show. They had worked hard all week, hoping to get to do the real modeling. Tim knew he wasn’t going so it didn’t bother him so much. He just thought they could have handled it differently.

The woman started with the youngest group first. Tim could see the disappointment on the ‘losers’ faces as she finished reading the three names. The same scene was repeated as she moved up through the middle group. Tim knew, casually, most of the girls in his group and not one would be less than shattered when they missed the opportunity to, perhaps, begin a modeling career.

Tim’s mouth dropped open in shock when he heard, "Miss Tina Brooks" called out first. He only barely heard the other names and he sat there feeling numb as all but the ten ‘lucky’ girls left the room.

"Congratulations ladies." The woman was still at the podium. "If any of you think you have worked hard or been pressured so far, you’re wrong. Get ready for the most hectic two days any of you will probably will ever experience."

Tim couldn’t believe it. He looked at Julie and she had the biggest smile on her face and she was staring right at him.

She had wanted to tell Tina but she couldn’t. The look on her face as Roana read off her name had been precious.

Tim really didn’t expect in his wildest dreams that he’d be picked. Julie didn’t have to worry about showing favoritism any more, she knew she had been bad about it.

"We need all of you to come with us over to Tampa this afternoon for fittings. We will, no doubt, be late getting back so if any of you need to make a call to inform your parents or break a date, now’s the time."

Most of the girls needed to use the phones. Julie walked over to Tina who looked like she was still in a daze as she remained in her chair. "Are you all right Tina?" Tim looked at her with a quizzed look. "I don’t get it. I’m not as poised or as confident as those other girls. Why me?"

Julie grinned from ear to ear. "Tina, I told you, you had something special. We all agreed on you. Not one of the other instructors had any reservations about you. Now it’s time to show what you’ve learned here. Are you ready?"

Tim was pretty well over the shock. He was still very nervous. "Sure." "Well get out there and make a phone call if you have to and let’s get going. Wait until you see the clothes they have for you girls to wear."

Tim called Mrs. Brown. "Mom, your not going to believe what’s happened." Tim told her about his being selected.

Carol was thrilled for her. "Yes, I’ll call Nancy and tell her to call Patty and Sandy. Will we be able to come and see you model? Saturday? Of course we’ll be there." Tina sounded so excited. "Don’t worry about the time, just call and we’ll come pick you up when you get back." They took them to Tampa, to the new convention center. They were split into their age groups again and each group was ushered into a different room. There were at least fifty girls and about twenty older women, all rushing around trying on all different kinds of clothes and doing fittings. Tim and his group were sent to the rear of the room to get undressed. No sooner had he gotten his slip off than Julie brought a fitter to him and she took him away.

It was a hectic afternoon and evening. They brought in a couple of trays of sandwiches and sodas and the girls were allowed to eat between changes. Tim was kept so busy that he never got a chance to get any food. They had him try on everything from designer jeans to prom gowns. As hectic as it was, he enjoyed the excitement.

It was almost ten when they got back to Clearwater. Julie drove Tina home. "Be ready at six. I’ll be here to pick you up." Tina had done well today, she kept her cool and that’s terribly important.

"I’ll be ready." Tim promised. He was exhausted and his feet were killing him. Not every pair of shoes he had to wear today had fit and he wanted desperately to soak his feet. Carol put a wash pan on the kitchen floor and he did just that. Nancy and Patty came over as soon as Tim called. Patty even grabbed Sandy on the way. He told them everything and it was almost midnight when he finally curled up under his new sheets. He was almost asleep as his head met the big soft pillow. Carol wasn’t going to let her be late and she was up at five, much to her husband’s disappointment, only to find Tina already done in the shower and in the process of doing her hair, the way she had shown her yesterday.

Tim remarked, "They don’t care what it looks like, they’ll style it the way they want as soon as we get there." He still wasn’t going to go out of the house with it a mess. "I just couldn’t wait to finish your new dress. After you called yesterday, I thought you might like to wear it today so I got it ready for you." Carol rushed back to her room and took it off the dummy. She was so excited about showing it to Tina.

It looked just like the pattern. Carol helped him slip it on over his slip. It was long sleeved with padded shoulders. The pattern of the colors made him look even slimmer than he really was and the light flowing skirt swung with his every move. "It’s beautiful. I love it." Tim did one of the turns he had learned and tossed his hair.

Carol couldn’t have been happier, seeing her this way. Tina had fifteen minutes to spare and she wanted her to have some breakfast before she left.

"I’m too nervous to eat." Tim told her as he paced around the kitchen in his black heals. "Young lady, you will sit down and eat something! You’re going to have a very busy day and you’ll thank me for it later. Now sit yourself down at that table." She was cute about it and he knew there was no point in arguing with her. He was learning that when she said something, she meant it. She had, after all, raised three boys. Julie was right on time and Tim was ready. He rushed out the door when Julie pulled into the driveway.

"Nice dress." Julie was impressed by the way she always dressed well.

Tim appreciated the compliment. "Thanks, my Mom and I made it."

"You sew?" Another surprise.

"Well, she’s teaching me."

"Very nice Tina."

Some of the girls were late and it was almost six thirty when they pulled out and headed for Tampa. Julie drove Tina and three of the other girls in her car. They beat the van and were already upstairs getting their hair done when the others arrived.

The show started at nine o’clock with the older girls, in casual wear, serving coffee, tea and pastries to the mulling crowd of buyers. Each girl wore a tag telling the name of the designer and the outfit number. The buyers made pleasant conversation with him as he carried his tray of pastries, serving them. Each time his tray was empty he had to rush back for a new tray and change his outfit. This went on until ten thirty, when the formal show started. There were at least two dozen designers there with their spring lines being presented so it meant a lot of changes for the girls. They intermixed the age groups so there was no time for any particular group to get a break. The full range of school clothes took the first half of the day and Tim made five different trips on the runway.

He was scared to death as he waited backstage for his first turn. It wasn’t until he stepped out on the long runway that he remembered the little trick that Julie had taught him. "As you walk out on the stage just picture each person you see with no clothes on." It saved him and made it easier to smile. By his third trip he was more relaxed and started having fun. He was glad that he didn’t have to go out on stage alone. There were always one or two girls with him. Tim got to know many of the girls backstage. Almost everyone was nervous and that helped ease his tension. The girls tended to associate with their own age group and that carried through the lunch break. It was a short break between when they removed their latest outfit and had to get ready with their next.

The buyers were back at three and the second half began. Dresses and formal wear were the agenda for the afternoon. Tim modeled three dresses and went back for another change to find the woman that helped him had a prom gown ready for him. The pink, sleek fitting, handkerchief lace prom dress fit him perfectly. He wore a matching lace trimmed bolero jacket that covered the delicate spaghetti straps. It only took the hairdresser a few moments to pull his hair up on his head and affix the white accessory piece to hold it all in place. Only a few soft curls hung down on the sides and back of his head.

Tim had almost gotten comfortable doing runway but when he stepped out this time, he was alone. Smiling, with white teeth showing, he took a deep breath and proceeded out the fifty-foot walk. He remembered everything Julie had drummed into his head as he started out. As he executed a turn and removed the little jacket at the end of the runway the polite applause became more vigorous. They had applauded before when he modeled other things but he was alone this time. He assumed it was always for the clothes or the other girls. This time it was for him, in his gown, just him, and it was loud and enthusiastic.

Tim’s felt good and it showed in his smile and the bounce of his step.

Julie wasn’t the only one who noticed how well Tina was doing. She was very proud of her. The next gown was much shorter but also figure flattering down to his waist. It was a white strapless and had a double tiered lace skirt. They left his hair the same, only changing the accent piece to pink. He had to change his stockings to white and his shoes to match the gown. The applause was equally gratifying as he walked the long runway alone again. Tim was not nearly as nervous this time.

That was his last tour and, as much as he had begun to enjoy it, he was relieved. Other girls started to gather backstage as they finished. The applause Tim received didn’t go unnoticed by them either. They congratulated each other. The girls, from all over the Southeast, finally had a chance to get to know each other. They relaxed in the clothes they had last modeled as the designers and buyers conducted business.

Julie wasn’t part of that business but she was busy with other things. New faces, fresh young models, started new careers with shows like this one and there were people here for that specific purpose. This was the crowd that the different modeling agencies’ representatives were dealing with now, Julie among them.

The girls backstage were not burdened with that knowledge. The agencies knew that it would have made them that much more nervous.

It was almost eight o’clock before the girls could leave. Buyers wanted a second look at some of the fashions and the girls hurried to oblige them. Tim had made three trips back on stage before he was through.

Tim rode back with Julie and the other three girls she had come with that morning. They were all good friends by now. They had been acquaintances in the school at the mall but now that the competition was over they could relax and just be friends. Tim was the last one to be dropped off. "You did beautifully today."

"Thanks Julie. I was scared to death at first. If I hadn’t been for you, I wouldn’t have been able to do it." Tim gave her a hug in the cramped little car. "You did it Tina, not me. I told you that you were special." Julie liked her all the more because of her modesty. "Tomorrow you get to sleep late. I wouldn’t be here to pick you up until eight and we can do it all over again, for the public."

Tim actually looked forward to it. "Great, I’ll be ready." It wasn’t so scary any more now that he’d experienced what it was like.

Tim was content to stay home. Once he was home and the hectic pace was behind him, he just wanted to relax. He was more exhausted that he ever remembered being in his life. Tim remembered to tell Mrs. Brown, "Everyone loved my new dress Mom." Carol was pleased to hear it. "We’re going to have a lot of fun making you new clothes together."

Nancy was out with Jeff and his brother was over at a friend’s house for the night. Mr. Brown was watching a basket ball game with his buddies at one of their neighbors’ houses, he wouldn’t be home till late.

He called Patty and got her Mom. When he asked for Patty and she told him she was out with Bob, Tim told her that it was Tina calling and he couldn’t get off the phone for twenty minutes. This woman, whom he had never even met, certainly knew a lot about Tina and wanted to know every detail of her experience today.

Mrs. Brown finally rescued Tim from her and he was grateful. When she finally got off the phone, Tim changed into a pair of leggings and a big tee shirt and they both settled in front of the television to relax. It was already ten o’clock and Tim fell asleep before Mrs. Brown. Jeff woke them both when he came in and sent them off to their beds. The next morning it was a good thing that Carol woke her. Tina was still sound asleep at seven.

Tim had to rush but he was ready on time and he had even had time for the breakfast that Mrs. Brown made him.

He didn’t have enough time to fix his hair the way he wanted. He gathered it in a big white banana clip. He wore his red mini skirt and matching oversized Henley top, pulling the long sleeves up to his elbows.

Julie was on time too and she was about to beep her horn when the front door flew open and Tina came rushing out. "Don’t tell me you and your Mom made that too." Tim just smiled. "Maas Brothers, $59.99. Good morning Julie." "Well you’re full of energy this morning. Good morning to you too. No big date last night, to celebrate?"

"I had a big date with my bed. I was beat. Besides, there’s no guy in my life now." And there wasn’t going to be, he said to himself.

Julie backed out of the driveway and headed for the mall.

"I’m surprised, a pretty young girl like you should have lots of boys chasing after her." Tim told her part of the story of Tina. "I just moved here two weeks ago and I’ve already had one bad experience with a guy that someone, I thought was my friend, set me up with. I think I’ll just be happy to be alone for a while."

"Sensible girl." Julie really liked her and now she finds out she’s smart too. "Are you all ready for today?"

"I can’t wait." Tim was ready. Yesterday had been a real treat for him and today should be even better. He wondered to himself what Julie would say if she knew who was really in the car with her.

Everyone was on time today and they left immediately for Tampa. It was hectic but not as bad as yesterday. There was no coffee and pastry to be served and the whole show would take place in the morning. Tim didn’t even give a thought to the beauty contest in the afternoon. He wouldn’t be part of that for long, if at all. They would wear the same outfits today, as they wore yesterday and that was fine with him.

At least there would be no surprises.

Tim was shocked when he stepped from behind the curtain in his first outfit. He spotted Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Watkins first. As he walked out on the runway, he spotted the others. They stood in a group off to the left of the two women and started to applaud as he started down the runway with two other girls. Jeff and Nancy were there with Patty and Bob. Sandy, Janet and Arleen were clapping as hard as they could. Brad was standing behind them applauding too. Even Pam and Sue were there with Jim and Randy. They didn’t look as enthused as the others. There were others applauding too. Tim imagined it was the family and friends of the girls on the runway with him.

Tim wouldn’t have cared if Pam and Sue hadn’t bothered coming. He didn’t lose his cool and acted as professional as he could. He couldn’t resist a wink at Mrs. Brown as she took his picture. The music was lively and he moved with it.

They stayed through the whole show. Tim felt a little funny when he modeled the two gowns and heard cat calls as he gracefully glided down the runway and back. Fortunately, he wasn’t the only girl who got them.

The show was over at eleven thirty and the girls were told they could go and grab a bite to eat but they should be back at twelve thirty. "The beauty contest starts at one." Tim had his fun, it was a wonderful experience but he didn’t think he would come back. Mrs. Brown and the others changed his mind for him. Even Brad had his say, "You’re as pretty as any girl out there, prettier. You have to go back."

It was what Nancy said that made him decide to stay. She caught him off to the side. "Tina, you just have to do it. Just think, if you don’t, you’ll always wonder." She was right and now that he made up his mind, he was going to try his best. The girls would come out in casual wear, bathing suits and gowns. The casual wear and gowns were no problem but the bathing suit part bothered him.

It was time to go backstage and pick out what they would wear. The designers were part of the show too so the girls had their pick from all the fashions. Since the girls were not getting paid for modeling their fashions, it was the designers’ way of saying thanks. What Tim didn’t know is that Julie had not gone to lunch when everyone else did. She spent the time picking out the three outfits that she wanted her protege to wear. Julie felt she knew Tina’s tastes well enough to know what she’d like but she also wanted to be sure to grab the most eye catching outfits she could before everyone else got a chance to go through the racks of clothes. She was waiting for Tina backstage.

"Hi Julie, what’s up?" Tina hadn’t seen her since early in the show.

"I just thought you might like a little help." July held up the outfits. Tim looked over to see all the other girls fighting to get the outfits they wanted. It was a melee. "When did you pick out those?"

Julie smiled a clever smile. "While everyone was out to lunch?" The first outfit was casual and it did look great on him, even he had to admit it. The response for the audience was very good too. Julie had picked out a white clingy knit skimp, a mini dress that showed his curves as he strutted down the runway to the beat of a popular song. The music was right, the dress was right and he felt good wearing it.

The bathing suit competition was next and Julie rearranged the schedule so that Tina wouldn’t go out until near the end. She knew what worked in these situations. Tim and Julie spent a few private moments backstage before it was his turn then she rushed Tina out at the last second.

He was scared but she reassured him, "Just do it the way we talked about Tina." The curtain was pulled back for him and he stepped up to the stage. The music had a fast beat and he went with the rhythm. Not stopping, and strutting until he was halfway down the runway, he started into what was almost a strip tease act as he removed the print top and matching sarong to reveal the tiny little white string bikini. "Don’t think about what you’re wearing think about the moves, the smile and the flip of your hair that you’ve gotten so good at." He remembered Julie’s words and while it wasn’t easy, he followed her instructions to the letter. Tim couldn’t bring himself to look at Mrs. Brown or Mrs. Watkins, but he had to see Nancy and Patty’s reaction.

They were amazed. "Is that really Tina?" Jeff asked. Nancy didn’t answer, she was in shock. Patty had a similar reaction, but it didn’t stop any of them from applauding as loud as they could.

Brad yelled, "Go Tina!" As she strutted back to the main stage to stand with the other girls.

He was proud of her.

They all were. Pam was jealous of the attention he was getting. The loud applause didn’t come from just his friends and it didn’t stop when she joined the other girls, all lined up on stage. It took a moment or two to die down. Tim couldn’t believe the effect he’d had on the audience.

Julie was proud of herself for the idea and of Tina for having the nerve to follow it through.

Her nerve and delivery would get her far.

Julie had warned her she might get a little razing from the other girls but not to worry about it.

She was right about the razing and Tim felt a little guilty about the little piece of showmanship they threw in, but he could live with it. He had survived much worse razing in the past.

Again, with the pull she had, Julie got Tina’s spot for the finale moved to near the end too. "No tricks this time. I want you to go out there and look as sweet and demure as you can. We’ve practiced this and I know you can do it. Just walk to the beat of the music. As you get back near the main stage, stop, and just look back over your shoulder, flip your hair and give that little hometown girl smile of yours. They’ll be expecting you to do something and they’ll react. Hold it for as long as they applaud. Don’t join the other girls until it stops. Understand?" "I understand Julie. This will be easy after what I did in the bathing suit competition."

It was simple and the gown she had picked out for her didn’t hurt her performance either. Tim was smiling as the curtain was pulled back for him for the third time as his name was announced. He stepped out on stage in the bright red gown. The delicate spaghetti straps held up the shimmering satin gown that flowed smoothly down past his narrow waist, clinging lightly to his small hips and down to just past his knees. The slit in the front came up to a point just below his thigh.

The large crowd was quiet at first, as Julie told him they’d be, but when he stopped on his return up the runway, the reaction was deafening as he turned his head, flipped his hair and smiled. He thought the applause would never stop and his neck hurt. He hung there, per Julie’s instructions, until their hands hurt from clapping, then he joined the other girls to wait for the results.

Julie was thrilled as she watched from backstage. She executed it perfectly, even better that she had hoped. She hadn’t told Tina but it could have gone either way. They would either love it or hate it. She and Tina had been fortunate.

Nancy and Patty couldn’t get over the performance. "Did you see how she did that?" "Of course I saw. I was standing right next to you with my mouth open too." Patty was really impressed. "That’s some school she went to."

"She was fantastic." Sue was shaking her head in disbelief. Jim and Randy were sharing their reaction to Tina’s performance with Jeff, Bob and Brad.

"I thought she was shy."

"So did I, she doesn’t act like that at home."

"She’s so hot."

"What did you think of that routine and that bathing suit?" "She’s really beautiful." Brad had only one thought on his mind and he hoped he could beat the other guys to her once they found out about this. "She’s going to be the most popular girl in school."

Carol didn’t exactly approve of the part with the bathing suit but she loved the rest. "Wasn’t she fantastic?" She asked Jenette.

"I was really impressed. Where did she learn to do that?"

Carol raised her eyebrows as if questioning, "Charm school?" The girls just stood there, anxiously awaiting the results. Tim didn’t think for a second that he had a chance when he agreed to go ahead with this but now he wondered. Maybe he might come in third or fourth. He did get a lot of applause. He had to keep in mind that it wasn’t the audience that was doing the judging but the heads of the different modeling agencies that were here with their girls. Tim looked down at the row of them sitting in front of the stage. "Well ladies and gentlemen, our judges have made their decisions." From the side of the stage walked the organizer of the event and as he approached center stage, the audience hushed. "It was not an easy decision for them. All the girls presented themselves beautifully. I will announce the winner and three runners up. We have wonderful prizes for each of the girls." He stepped to the side of the runway. "As I announce their names, I would like the young ladies to step forward and take one last walk down our runway. I will begin with the third runner- up."

The girls waited nervously as he opened the envelope and read, "Tracy Holmes." A beautiful blond, about three girls to Tim’s left, stepped forward with tears in her eyes. Tim and the girls applauded her along with the audience. Tim wondered if he still had a chance. He thought that might have been his place. They handed her a bouquet of roses as she started down the runway.

"Tracy will receive a one thousand dollar wardrobe from the designer of her choice and a year’s free membership to Ballys Health Club." Again the crowd applauded. "Our second runner up is . . . Miss Arleen Bodet." A girl on his right stepped forward and took her walk, roses in her arms, she was also in tears.

"Arleen will receive a two thousand dollar wardrobe by the designer of her choice and she will also receive a year’s membership to Ballys Health Club." Only two spots left. It would have been nice but he did have fun. His only chance was gone. "Miss Patricia Gentil is our first runner up, Patricia." A tall girl from the second row stepped down on Tim’s right and proudly walked down the runway with the bouquet she was handed. "Patricia’s prize is a two thousand dollar wardrobe and a thousand dollar college scholarship.

She will also receive a two-year free membership to Ballys Health Club." "And now for our winner. As I said earlier, it was very difficult for our esteemed judges to decide which girl deserved the honor. Our winner will receive a two thousand dollar wardrobe from each of three designers of her choice. She will also receive a five thousand dollar college scholarship and finally a three year membership to Ballys Health Club. Without any further ado I would like to be the first to congratulate Miss Tina Br . . . " Tim didn’t hear anything after that. The applause was too loud. His knees went weak and if it wasn’t for the girls on either side of him he might have fallen. It took a few seconds for him to compose himself and be able to walk. The woman brought the large bouquet of roses to him and she set a rhinestone crown on his head. The girls around him hugged and congratulated him. The walk down the runway was not nearly as graceful as he had done earlier, he could barely see through his tears. He looked out and saw Nancy, Patty and his friends. Most of the women and girls were crying right along with him as they applauded. The guys, particularly Brad, couldn’t seem to applaud enough.

Camera flashes came from everywhere. They nearly blinded him. Tim could not believe what was happening to him.

When Tim returned to the main stage and the applause began to quiet down, Tina was asked to say a few words. Tim had no idea what to say. He winged it as best he could, "I just want to say that if it weren’t for my good friends I wouldn’t be up on this stage today." Tim looked down at Nancy and Patty and smiled through his tears. He looked back over his shoulder and saw Julie standing backstage. "I would especially like to thank Julie for all her patience and help." There were pictures to be taken for the newspapers and several short interviews. "People will want to know about the girl who won here today Tina. Just tell us a little about yourself." Tim asked that Nancy, Patty, Sandy and Mrs. Brown be allowed to join him during the interviews. It helped to bolster his courage and he knew that it would thrill them. Julie joined them too, and when the interviews were finished, she took Tina and Mrs. Brown aside. "Tina, I hope you enjoyed today."

Tim looked at her. "I certainly did."

"I have some wonderful news. The agency has received no less than a dozen requests, between yesterday and today, for you to do modeling work. You, young lady, appear to have been launched into a modeling career."

Julie had spoken, extensively, to a few of the clients and they were interested in long term contracts. She and Tina would have to sit and discuss all the offers at length. "Do you think that you could set aside some time on Monday to meet with me in my office in Clearwater?" Julie quickly added, addressed to the woman Tina had proudly introduced as his mother. "I’ll ask that you join us also, of course."

"We’ll be there." Carol was so excited for Tina.

"They want me?" Tim couldn’t believe everything that had happened to him today. "Why?"

"I keep trying to tell you Tina, you’ve got something special." Julie reminded the modest girl.

"I wouldn’t have won if it wasn’t for you Julie."

Tim was really in turmoil now. His fantasy was becoming a reality but it could fall apart at any moment. There were major problems with continuing this charade. He knew he would keep his figure for a while but there was no telling when, what was tucked up inside him would reappear. When it did, he would be in real trouble.

There were also several people who knew the truth about him. He wasn’t worried about Nancy and Patty, he knew they would keep his secret but what about Sue and Pam? There were others too.

His mother, stepfather and sister could, at any time, decide to expose him. True, they didn’t know his new name but if they started seeing his picture in ads, they might decide to expose him. He decided their own embarrassment would be too great, so it wasn’t likely. That left just Sue and Pam.

There was something else he had to consider. Sooner or later there would come a reason for him to have to see a doctor. What would he do then? He had six months at the most, probably a lot less.

Nancy and Patty, unknown to Tim, were already dealing with the problem of Sue and Pam. While Tim and Mrs. Brown were talking to the woman from the agency, they pulled Sue and Pam aside. Nancy and Patty had discussed earlier, where their priorities, their sympathies lay. "We have a question for you two." Nancy said to them confidently. Pam was a little surprised at how forward Nancy was. It wasn’t like Nancy to use this tone with her. She was put on guard. "What is it?"

Sue had an idea what it was they wanted to discuss. Seeing Tim today had caused her to see him in a different light. It was the final straw for her.

Patty wanted Pam to have no misunderstanding that she stood in complete agreement with Nancy. "We want to know exactly what your intentions are, concerning Tim." Now both of them were standing up to her? How brave of them, she chuckled to herself. They were finished as far as she was concerned. She and Sue didn’t need them. "We have everything arranged. We’re going to have a little fun with him for a while longer and then we’re going to expose him as a freak." Pam felt very smug. There was nothing they could do to stop them.

Sue wasn’t stupid. She knew what was happening. She had thought it was a great idea at the beginning but she didn’t know Tim from Adam then. She did feel as though she was getting to know Tina and she liked her. She had been having second thoughts about what they were planning to do and after seeing Tina today she didn’t want to go ahead with Pam’s plans. She knew she couldn’t stand up to Pam alone, she wasn’t strong enough for that. Nancy very calmly replied, "I don’t think so."

The short hairs on the back of Pam’s neck bristled. "What do you mean, ‘You don’t think so’?"

"We think you’re going to keep Tina’s little secret for as long as she wants it that way." Patty told her sternly.

Pam was furious. She had trouble keeping her voice down. "Who the hell do you think you are, trying to tell me what I’m going to do or not do. Remember who your talking to you little shit."

They expected her to react this way. They were ready and neither Patty nor Nancy lost their cool. "If you don’t do as we say than we’re going to make a little visit to the Police and tell them a little story about how you kidnaped a boy and mutilated him." "It’s your word against ours. Besides, you’d get in trouble too, you were part of it." "We know and we’re willing to accept our part of the responsibility but you were the one who did the mutilating without consulting us." Nancy stood firm. Pam was surprised at their conviction. "It’s still your word against ours." She wasn’t as confident as she had been. She knew she could actually go to jail, they all could. Sue couldn’t be quiet any longer. She took a step or two, away from Pam. "Actually Pam, it’s three against one."

Pam was shocked. "What the hell are you doing. You can’t side with them." Pam was getting a sick feeling in her stomach.

Nancy and Patty were almost as surprised.

Seeing Nancy and Patty stand up to her gave her the strength she needed. "I can’t sit back anymore and watch you ruin his life Pam. Tina’s a decent person who was only mixed up. We had no right to do what we did. It was cruel and inhuman. If he wants to live as Tina, as a girl, then I’m going to support her." It felt wonderful to get it off her chest. She was glad she found the courage.

Pam was dumbfounded.

Sue turned to the others, "There are some other things you should know that Pam didn’t tell you."

"You keep your mouth shut you bitch." Pam started to raise her voice. There was too much commotion in the room, no one heard.

Sue ignored her and told Nancy and Patty the other details of what they had done. The permanent chemical castration, the permanent bonding of his skin and what the result of the two treatments meant for Tina. She also told them about how the distortion to his chest muscles would be permanent. When she finished detailing everything, she made a suggestion to Nancy and Patty, "If you will put everything down on paper, describing everything that was done to Tim, I’ll sign it saying that the whole idea for mutilating him was Pam’s and that I went along with it, at the time."

It almost made them sick as they heard Sue’s account of what they really did to Tim. "The confession sounds like the right thing to do. We will detail our part in it too, and sign it." They were amazed and thrilled that Sue was willing to do that. "I’m sorry Sue, we were wrong about you."

"You weren’t wrong. I was a real jerk for going along with it in the beginning. After today, seeing Tina like this, I just couldn’t hurt her anymore." Sue really felt better. Pam was crushed. All her friends had deserted her. "What are you going to do?" Patty answered, "Nothing, as long as you keep your mouth shut. If we hear the faintest rumor that you’ve betrayed Tina or are even thinking of it, we’ll go straight to the Police. Do you understand?"

"Our little gang will remain as a group and you will continue to be a member of it so we can keep an eye on you. That’s not an option for you to accept or reject." Nancy added with authority. "I’m looking forward to helping the newest member." Sue said smiling. "Although, after today, I don’t know that she’ll need a lot of help from any of us." "She’ll still need us, a lot. We’re going to have to tell her what you’ve told us Sue. The sooner the better. It looks like Tina has some choices to make." Patty wasn’t looking forward to it. "I should be the one to tell him." Sue said, her head bent in shame.

"Actually, it should be Pam." Patty injected.

Pam was shocked at the suggestion. She was already devastated at what they’d done to her. She was already effectively dispossessed from her little throne. She had planned on telling him, but not like this.

Nancy had a brilliant thought just then, "There’s something else that Pam’s going to do." She looked her straight in the eye and without hesitating she added, "She’s going to tell her father what she’s done and, when Tina’s ready, she’s going to convince her father to perform surgery on Tina to finish what his daughter started, and he’ll do it discreetly." Patty didn’t know if that was a good idea. "Won’t that expose Tina as Tim?" "I don’t think that he would want his precious little daughter to go to jail. He’ll do it and no one will ever know."

Pam couldn’t imagine what her father would say but Nancy was probably right, he wouldn’t let anything happen to her. She didn’t argue with them.

Pam’s silence was her acknowledgment.

"We’ll have to be very gentle with Tina. It will be quite a shock to learn he can never go back to being Tim again." Patty was worried about he’d handle the news. "It will take a little time and a lot of support from us but I think Tina will be all right." Sue was willing to do whatever it would take to help pull Tina through. "It will all keep until tomorrow. Tonight, we help her celebrate. All of us." Patty looked from Sue to Nancy and then to Pam. Her cold stare resting on her. Pam got her meaning, she only nodded.

It was another hour before Tim was free of all the well wishers and he was able to slip backstage and change so that they could leave.

Carol carried the wonderful news back to Jennette. She told her about the modeling offers. "The kids are all going to take Tina out to celebrate." Jennette informed her. "We might as well head home. I told them I’d call their folks to let them know where they were." Tim had told his new Mom that he wanted to tell the others the news about the modeling offers. He wasn’t exactly sure how to handle it. It was an exciting idea but there were so many complications.

Everyone was excited for her, especially his closest friends, Nancy, Patty and Sandy. When he told Nancy and Patty his concerns, Patty said, "We’ll worry about that tomorrow. Tonight we’re just going to have fun."

They all went across to Harbor Island where they had dinner. Brad bought Tina’s dinner. He couldn’t stop talking about how proud he was of her and how beautiful she was. The girls all fussed about the new wardrobes she’d be picking out, they all wanted to help her select the clothes. The guys had trouble getting a word in edgewise. Tim noticed that Pam seemed unusually quiet over dinner. He was a little surprised that she and Sue had joined them. Tim couldn’t help but notice that Sue was acting strangely toward Pam. Maybe it was just his imagination.

After dinner the girls all wanted to go dancing at Blueberry Hill. The guys were game. Tim, who was very hesitant because he didn’t dance very well, wasn’t given a choice. "Just watch us and the other girls and do what they do." Patty laughed. "You can’t go wrong." It took a few dances for him to loosen up but he got the idea and did well enough to get by. They didn’t play very many slow dances but the first brought Brad hurrying out on the dance floor.

Brad held out his arms, "May I?"

Tim couldn’t very well say no and even though he didn’t feel very enthusiastic about it at first, it wasn’t so terrible.

Dance after dance, the girls kept him out on the floor. "If you don’t know how to dance after tonight, you never will."

The few times that slow dances were played, Brad was right there for Tina. Tim stopped worrying and just enjoyed himself, it actually felt good to be held the way Brad held him.

Pam came up to Nancy as the others danced, "I want to go, I don’t feel so well." Nancy looked at her skeptically. "Ok, just don’t forget what we told you earlier. I’m going to call you around noon," Now Nancy looked her in they eye again. "Don’t even think about trying to get out of it tomorrow."

Pam was resigned, "I know." That’s what was nearly making her sick. Jim didn’t want to go but Pam insisted. Pam knew better than to ask Sue, she and Randy had come over to Tampa with her and Jim. Sue had given her the cold shoulder all night. Jim knew that something was wrong but because Pam could be such a witch when she was sick or angry, he decided not to ask what was bothering her. At midnight, they called it a night. Carol had told the kids that even though it was a special occasion, she expected Tina and the boys home by one. Given that Brad was her nephew, he was bound to listen to her.

Nancy, Jeff, Patty and Bob had come in Jeff’s car. Sandy, Janet and Arleen had room for Sue and Randy in Sandy’s. Brad had been hopeful and it had paid off. They had fun and Brad, as he had in the past, had behaved himself. Brad held the door of his little gold Impulse as Tina slid in.

Brad was thrilled that she agreed to ride with him. She was something of a celebrity now and when the newspapers came out tomorrow, her popularity would soar. He only hoped that she would still be even a little interested in him.

Tim had let his worries of earlier drift away. He felt pretty good. He laughed to himself as he straightened his short skirt and set his purse on the floor between his stockinged legs. His fantasies never went as far as to include guys and here he was in a car with a good-looking guy who wanted nothing less than a romantic involvement with him. How long would he have to live as Tina? Four months, Six? Tim even had a career as a model if he wanted it. It was what most girls dreamed of and he had it at his fingertips. He wanted to live the dream. What was he going to do when it was all over? Go back to being just Tim?

"You’re pretty quiet Tina. Tired?" They had been driving for ten minutes and she hadn’t said a word.

"I’ve just got a lot on my mind Brad. I didn’t mean to be rude."

"That’s ok Tina, I understand. You had quite a day."

Tim took a deep breath and sighed. He looked at Brad and smiled, "I sure did."

Brad thought back to the contest. "You were really something today." Tim turned and looked at him. The performance in the bathing suit still on his mind. "Too much?"

Brad took his eyes off the road for a minute to look at her. "No, you were great. You looked so hot up there. A couple of us got some really good pictures as you did that strip tease. And when you walked out in that gown, you looked so beautiful, so classy." Tim could feel his cheeks getting warm. Tim had trouble thinking of himself as beautiful and classy but to hear Brad go on about it was good for his, no, Tina’s ego. "Thanks Brad. I was really scared to death the whole time."

"You sure didn’t look it. You did great."

It was nice the way Brad went on and on about it. "You better be careful, I might get a swelled head."

"You deserve to." Brad thought she was wonderful. The blush of her cheeks only made her cuter. "Those were some great prizes you won." Six thousand dollars worth of clothes didn’t mean much to him but he was sure it did to her. Girls just go crazy over clothes. The health club membership was neat, he would have liked that and the scholarship was great too. He snuck a look at her out of the corner of his eye. She was sitting there staring straight ahead, a faraway look in her eye. Her hands were folded in her lap. She was really pretty. He hoped she thought of him as a possible boyfriend. She was soon going to have her pick of guys, a lot of them older and more experienced. Especially the guys she met when she was modeling. Tim hadn’t had much time to think about it. All those beautiful clothes Tina was going to get.

What would happen to them in six months? Would he just put them in a closet to look at?

The scholarship and health club membership would be worthless to a guy named Tim. Another depressing thought crossed his mind. Although it felt awkward living with the Browns as Tina, Tim really liked Mr. and Mrs. Brown. They seemed willing to do anything for Tina. What would he do in six months, or less, just pack up and disappear? Mrs. Brown would be devastated. He had a lot on his mind.

Brad pulled up in the driveway and shut off the car. Tim didn’t even realize they were home, he had been so lost in his own thoughts.

"I’ll get your things out of the back." Brad popped the hatch and collected her crown and flowers. He quickly got to her door and opened it for her.

"Thanks Brad." He really went out of his way to be polite. Tim wondered if he treated all the girls he dated that way?

Tim didn’t rush to the front door. They walked slowly, side by side. Tim was still wrapped up in his thoughts.

Brad wanted to take her hand but he was holding the flowers and crown. At the door he handed her the flowers.

Carol had been waiting and was relieved when the car pulled into the driveway at a quarter of one. She watched from behind the curtains, in the dark, as they came up the sidewalk. She wasn’t surprised when she saw that it was Brad who brought her home. Her nephew was a good boy and they made a cute couple. Carol debated for a second if she should put on the front light, like concerned mothers of young daughters do in the movies. She decided she didn’t want to be that way with her new daughter, besides, she was with Brad. Carol knew she shouldn’t watch them but she just couldn’t tear herself away.

Tim cradled the roses in his arms. They really smelled nice. He looked back to Brad. He was curious what it would be like to kiss him. The house was dark and it was late so there was no one around to see them. He didn’t have to tell anyone if he didn’t want to. Tim decided to wait to see what Brad would do.

Brad had wanted to kiss her at Patty’s front door, the last time they were together, but he lost his nerve. She looked like she was standing there waiting for him to do something. "I had fun tonight."

"So did I, thanks for dinner." Brad looked as scared as he felt.

"I would like to take you out again Tina."

"That would be nice." Was he going to do it?

This was getting him no where. He took a deep breath and leaned over the flowers. Tim’s heart beat fast, he was really nervous. He tilted his head and just slightly reached out with his mouth. He closed his eyes as their lips just barely touched. Tim pulled back just for a second.

Brad thought he had done something wrong. Why did she pull away?

Tim hesitated for just a split second. What can it hurt? He did want to know what it was like.

He leaned a little further forward, over the flowers.

Their lips touched again and she didn’t pull away this time. His hands were at his sides and he felt awkward but he was too afraid to take her in his arms. Besides, the flowers were between them and she might get angry if he crushed them.

It wasn’t a long kiss, their lips press together for only a few seconds. Tim liked the way he kissed and he wasn’t pushy. Their lips pressed harder against Brad’s lips. He felt a pleasant tingle all over. Tim’s memory of Kevin was vague, because of the alcohol, but it had not been like this. There were feelings here. Strange, but very pleasant feelings. Carol thought they looked sweet, like it was the first time for each of them. She decided she better run off to the den before Tina walked in and caught her watching. Tim backed off slowly. There was something warm and stirring about the way he felt. Brad didn’t want it to end. Her lips were so warm and soft. He was inhaling her perfume and the strong scent of the roses. Her closeness was intoxicating. He was nothing like Kevin. He was gentle and considerate. "Good night Brad."

"Good night Tina."

Tim took out the key that Mrs. Brown had given him and opened the door. Tim looked back at Brad as he held the door open. He didn’t say anything, he just smiled. Brad didn’t know what to say, he smiled back, then turned and walked to his car. Tim stood in the doorway until he pulled away down the street. Tim felt very mixed up as he closed and locked the door.

"Is that you Tina?"

It was Mrs. Brown, she was in the den. He could see the blue light from the television. "Yes, it’s me Mom." Tim replied with a smile. Knowing she was awake, he wondered if she’d been peeking at them outside.

"I wanted to wait up for you." Carol walked into the living room, turning off the tv on the way out of the den. "Did you all have fun?"

"We had dinner at the Columbia than we went dancing at Blue Berry Hill. I never danced so much in my life." It was true.

Carol took the flowers. "I’m glad you had fun. Come on in the kitchen and I put these in water for you and you can put them in your room. They’re so beautiful and they’re so fragrant." She inhaled deeply as she put her nose down to one of the flowers. "Why don’t we put them here in the kitchen where everyone can enjoy them?" Tim liked the smell but he thought Mrs. Brown might enjoy it too.

"That’s a nice thought Tina." Carol was going to be nosey and she changed the subject. "Who brought you home tonight?"

"Brad brought me." He thought again of the kiss.

"I know he’s my nephew, and I am partial, but he is a nice boy. Do you two like each other?

You seem to get along so well."

Tim would have rathered she hadn’t asked. "He’s very nice and he’s really polite. I’ve never had a boy open doors for me." Again, he spoke the truth.

"His mother, my sister, taught her children well. We’re very proud of him." Carol looked at Tina, smiling. She was proud of Tina too. She had been taught manners too, along with consideration and respect. Carol admired that in her.

"You must be tired after your long day."

Tim had been wondering how he was going to politely get away, he was exhausted. "I am. Good night Mom." Tim gave her a peck on the cheek. He had been doing that regularly and it delighted her.

"Good night Tina, sleep tight." Carol returned the affection. As tired as he was, he didn’t skip his usual routine. It only took him about twenty minutes to curl up under the covers. He didn’t fall asleep immediately. There was too much to think about. Tim slept late. He didn’t stir and no one bothered him until Patty came in and woke him at eleven. "Are you going to sleep all day?"

They were going to pick up Nancy and the others. Tim had no idea what they had planned and Patty wasn’t saying. It was some big secret. Patty was wearing shorts so he put on his white shorts and yellow tank top.

Nancy was waiting outside on her driveway when they pulled up to her house, they were off again in seconds. Tim had never been to Sue’s house so he was surprised when they picked her up. "Hi Tina. How are you today?"

"Fine. Where are we going?" Sue seemed different, like last night, more open and friendly.

"We’ve got to pick up Pam." Sue answered.

Pam was also waiting outside for them. What was going on, he wondered? Pam didn’t say much when she got in, just, "Hi."

Patty drove them all to the county park, Brooker Creek Park, the one by Lake Tarpon. Patty got two big blankets out of the trunk and they walked down to a deserted section of grass, by the water, and spread them out. Tim thought it odd that Nancy had a red school folder and a box of tissues with her.

"What are we doing here?" Tim asked, as they all plopped down and got comfortable.

"We need to have a talk Tina and we thought this would be a nice private place to do it.

Anyway, it’s really pretty here." Patty had thought of it.

Tim felt a knot in his stomach. "What’s going on?"

"Patty, Sue and I are a little worried about you. How are you doing?" Nancy wasn’t sure how to get to the point, delicately.

It didn’t escape Tim that they excluded Pam. She put her head down when he looked at her.

"I’m ok." He answered cautiously.

"We have to talk about Tim. I know that with everything you’ve been through you must be feeling pretty stressed out."

"I have to admit there’s been a lot to think about. I’m really worried about going to school tomorrow."

Sue thought maybe it was up to her to get to the point. If he was going to be angry with anyone, Nancy and Patty didn’t deserve to get the brunt of it. "Tina, I know that Nancy and Patty and I told you what we did to you two weeks ago in your apartment but even they didn’t know everything then."

Why was Sue being so honest all of a sudden? Tim looked from face to face. All but Pam had a look of concern, she was still looking at the ground in front of her. "What didn’t they know Sue?" He was scared.

"We’ll give you the details if you want but, . . ." She had to just say it while she had the courage, "You can never go back to being Tim again. Tim is gone." The knot in his stomach grew tighter. He didn’t understand, he had to ask, "Why not?" He looked at Pam, what was she hiding? Why wouldn’t she look at him? The girls turned and looked at Pam too. "Pam?" Was all Nancy said.

They waited.

Pam was feeling as low as she ever felt in her life. She hadn’t slept at all last night. She could probably have lived with all of it if it weren’t for having to tell her father what she did. Pam knew that things were never going to be the same between them again. She had lost her friends, her status at school and probably her father’s love. Pam knew they wouldn’t let her get away with silence. She took a deep breath.

"Tim, I’m sorry, I mean Tina. I didn’t just tuck your testicles up inside you . . . " She paused "Go on Pam." Patty was impatient.

"I injected them with a chemical first." Pam looked at the ground again. She couldn’t bring herself to look at him. "I chemically castrated you."

Tim’s chest hurt, deep inside. He didn’t know why. He should have yelled at her but his words came out in short gasps. "You did what?" He should be on top of her, beating her with his fists. Pam was crying. "I destroyed your testicles, they’re gone by now." She sobbed deeply.

Tim couldn’t speak. He looked to the others and each nodded that it was true. "The skin has knitted around your penis and testicle sack, it won’t come apart without surgery." Pam was almost whispering.

"Tell Tina the rest Pam." Sue demanded.

She spoke a word at a time, between sobs, "Your . . . breasts . . . are . . . permanent." Sue clarified it for him. "The muscles are permanently distorted, they won’t shrink back to their original shape Tina."

Tim’s eyes were filling with tears. Nancy set the box of tissues between him and Pam. Patty and Sue also needed one. Nancy was still too upset to cry. Tim spoke in a whimper. "What am I going to do? I can’t go through life like this." His chest was heaving slightly.

Nancy still held her composure. "You won’t have to Tina. There is a way, a surgery, to make you just like us." She paused to let it sink in.

No one said a word for several minutes. Pam had finally stopped her heavy sobbing and was only crying quietly now. Both Patty and Sue had tears running down their cheeks. Tim was trying to collect himself and absorb what Nancy had said.

"I can’t go back but I can be just like a normal girl?" Tim blurted it out as if he were expelling a breath.

"Just like you were born a girl." Nancy said quietly and calmly. "You’ll have to take hormones the rest of your life, like you have in you now, but that wouldn’t be so bad. It would be like taking vitamins every day."

"How? Where?" Tim had stopped whimpering and he looked up at Nancy. His face was soaked from his tears.

Nancy took another tissue and dabbed up his tears. "We’ll arrange it with Pam’s father. He’s a very capable doctor."

"Everyone would know." He couldn’t live with that.

"Not everyone Tina. Just the five of us, Pam’s father and his nurse. We’ll see to that." Nancy was confident. He had too much to lose. She had thought about it last night, when she couldn’t sleep. He’s as mixed up in what Pam did as any of them. Tim could sue him and his practice for what his daughter did. Discretion would be to his benefit.

"What about her? Can I trust her?" Tim pointed to Pam.

Nancy picked up the red folder and let Tim have a glance at the typed letter it contained. She took a pen out of her purse and signed it then passed it to each of the other girls who signed it in turn. Only Pam was reluctant but signed anyway.

Tim read the letter and understood. "Ok."

"When you decide what you want to do, we’ll be there for you." Patty assured him. "That goes for me too Tina." Sue wanted him to know how she felt too, that she was with them now.

Tim had to think. "Can I be alone for a few minutes?"

"Of course Tina, but you don’t have to decide right now." Nancy didn’t want or expect him to make a quick decision.

Tim answered quietly, "Yes I do."

The four girls walked back to the car. Pam climbed in the back seat while the others leaned against the car and watched the lone figure sitting in the shade of the old tree, with his head bent down. Tina was softly crying, Nancy left the others and walked toward her. Now that she had done what she felt she must she could let her emotions flow. She drew Tina to her as she sat beside her on the blanket. Nancy could cry now too.

 

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This author welcomes any and all comments on this story. In fact, I insist that each reader at least Email me and say ‘Hi. Fantastic job on the story Jacki’. All kidding aside, your reviews fuel the passions that keep me writing.

Sweet Dreams,

Jacki

JackiPett@Netscape.net

Copyright © SWEET DREAMS 1994

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