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This is a work of fiction. Any people, places or locations within are purely fiction and the product of the author's imagination, or their names are used to add realism and/or for satirical purposes. Their use does not constitute any type of endorsement or agreement, in part or in whole, with any belief or message, expressed, implied or otherwise inferred by the author and the story/story line, nor do they imply any endorsement of the story or author.

This story contains scenes of EXTREME VIOLENCE, mature subject matter and deals with alternative lifestyles. If you are not comfortable with these concepts and materials, STOP reading NOW. If you are under the age of seniority and consent where you live, or if these types of materials are illegal for you to read, possess or download, you must STOP reading NOW and you may NOT download this story. If you are very religious, this work will probably anger you. Do not read it. Do not download it. Hello, nice to see you, GO AWAY. You'll be more comfortable at http://www.disney.com please go there instead of here.

 

Midnight Downloads
by Wendy-J
Wendy-J@KimEM.net
© 1999-2004 Wendy-J All Rights Reserved.
Unauthorized distribution or archival prohibited.

 

Part-7
Saturday Afternoon September 5^th

As Dr. Bennett closed the door, a female voice spoke from the office corridor. "Are they gone?"

"Yes, Tigger, they're gone," he replied flatly, the smile gone from his face.

He turned to face the source of the voice. "This is the first time I've felt good about 'helping' one of your 'friends,' too." His body slumped visibly. "I honestly don't think I could have forced it on that girl, not this time."

"You disappoint me, Doctor," said the small blonde, her blazing blue eyes flashing. "I thought we had an agreement. What do you mean by forced, anyway? All my 'friends' want your help," she said with a cold smile. You could almost imagine her teeth were fangs with the way she smiled.

"After you're through with them, yes, they want it. Hell... They need it," he said bitterly. "This is the first time I actually believe in what I'm doing. That child is absolutely amazing. Her IQ is off the charts, the way she breezed through the MMPI in only 30 minutes, extraordinary! It points unequivocally to the female, by the way. That child, is a young girl, she just doesn't know it. I can honestly say I'm happy to monitor this case."

"Don't tell me you're suddenly developing a conscience," Tigger said with a sneer.

The doctor blanched. "I've always had a conscience," he said resignedly, "it just never bothered me before. Don't worry, Linda, I can still do the job."

"I'm glad to hear that, Eugene," she laughed.

The sound of it chilled his blood.

*************************

As Jan pulled into the parking lot of Claire's Clip Joint, Tina began to have second thoughts. "Mom, I know I said we should go for it, but…isn't this a bit f-f-f-fast?"

"What?" asked Janice. "Having your hair done and a manicure is too much? I don't think so. If you're going to be my daughter, you are going to look presentable. You aren't a scruffy teenaged boy anymore; you're a young lady now. It's high time you had your first visit to a beauty salon. I told Claire that you're taking my place today."

"But Mo-om! She'll know! I mean, what'll she say? Wu-wu-wu…"

"Relax, Honey," she said. "Claire already knows. She's sworn that she'll never tell a soul. If she wants to stay in business as a beautician, she has to keep all sorts of secrets for her clients. Now, let's get going, we have an appointment to keep!"

Tina got out of the car but froze in her tracks as soon as she turned to face the salon. Her mother had to nudge her to get her moving in the direction of the door again.

"Mom! I don't want to do this!" she hissed.

"Oh relax, Sweetheart, it'll be fine. You'll see. Now move it, we're already five minutes late as it is!"

A small bell rang as Janice opened the door. She ushered Tina in before her. Trembling, Tina looked about the salon. The place was immaculate…for a Saturday. There were several women, their heads under dryers, reading magazines. One of them was getting a manicure while she sat there. They never even looked up. The atmosphere was friendly and light. Tina wrinkled her nose at the smell, a troubled look on her face.

Claire, an older, matronly woman in a pink smock, greeted her long-time customer and friend before she was even through the door.

"Jan! There you are! I was beginning to worry that you weren't going to make it! And this must be Tina!" she said, looking at the nervous girl. "Come in and get comfortable, Girl!" she said, motioning Tina into one of the comfortable chairs in the waiting area.

"Jan, Sandy had a cancellation this morning. If you'd like, she can take Tina for you."

Tina's eyes became big as saucers as the colour drained from her face. She started shaking her head no.

"Thanks, Claire," Jan said with a giggle, "but I promised Tina you'd do her yourself," Jan smiled as she sat next to her 'daughter.'

"I'll tell you what; I'll take Sandy's opening and you can tell her what to do. Okay? That way, if she botches the job, you can blame her for the freebee that you're going to have to give me to make it right!"

The relief on Tina's face was almost comic. Claire almost laughed out loud at the sight.

"Well, okay, hold on a second and I'll tell Sandy what to do."

Chuckling, Claire went over to Sandy's chair and, in her effervescent, animated way, told her how to do Janice's hair.

When she returned, she looked at Tina and spoke as she sat beside the girl.

"I'll tell you what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna give you a book with some styles in it. And you're going to tell me which style you'd like to have once your hair grows out. Okay? After that, we're going to trim your hair and give it a body perm. Then, after I finish your hair, I'll do your nails and pierce your ears. And it's all - on - the house!"

"Claire!" Jan protested, looking past Tina at her friend. "That costs a fortune. I can't let you do that!"

"Jan, if it weren't for you sending me all those new clients every time you sold a house, I would've been out of business a year ago," Claire said. "Besides, I've been dying to get my hands on Tina for the longest time. She's just going to love what I have in store for her."

Tina visibly sank down into the chair as if to try and hide in plain sight. Claire leaned toward Tina while opening a book of hairstyles. She put it into the girl's hands and looked in the direction of the page it was opened to. It looked like Claire was looking at the stylebook with Tina. In actuality, she was whispering in Tina's ear.

"Honey, relax. I have no intention of exposing you. Your Mom was instrumental in helping me save this business of mine. Now I finally have a chance to pay her back for everything she's done for me. I always thought you were too pretty to be a boy! And now, I get a chance to do to you what I always thought should have been done with you. You are going to be the prettiest girl in the county when I get through with you!"

A slow smile was starting to form at the corners of Tina's mouth.

"Now then, have you decided on a style?"

"No," Tina squeaked. "I just can't seem to decide. What do you think would be best?"

Jan just stared at Tina, realizing the loaded gun she had just placed in Claire's mischievous hands. She needn't have worried, she realised, as she listened to Claire's reply.

"I'll tell you what," Claire said, "If you're going to let me decide what it's going to be, I'll just trim your hair every few weeks and we'll see what develops together. Okay?" Tina bobbed her head up and down, a broad smile now on her face.

"Okay, Claire, I'll leave it up to you. Surprise me," She giggled.

"That's the spirit! Now, into the chair with you!"

For the next three hours, Claire fussed. First, she washed out Tina's hair in the shampoo sink. Her fingers were like magic. All the stress from the last couple of days seemed to vanish with the gentle but firm shampoo Claire performed.

After shampooing her hair for the second time, and conditioning it twice, Claire trimmed the ends of Tina's hair and expertly rolled it into the perm bones. Then came the source of the smell Tina noticed when she first entered the shoppe. It was the permanent solution. Once the smelly stuff was finally rinsed from her hair and neutralized, Claire used a big blow drier and a wide toothed brush with holes in its face to add volume and lift to what was once considered long hair for Ernie, but was now considered relatively short hair for Tina.

When her hair was done, Claire started on Tina's nails. She clucked over how terrible they looked. When Claire had finished the third coat of polish, Tina was sporting the longest, most elegant, tapered, rose coloured, acrylic nails she'd ever seen. Tina sat with her hands held in front of her with her fingers spread wide and admired Claire's handiwork, a shocked look on her face. They seemed to be impossible to do anything with.

"Relax, Tina, they're only a half-inch longer than your finger tips," Claire laughed.

Janice looked on in amusement. "Claire, you know that's longer than I've ever worn them. That's almost cruel."

"Jan, if I leave her nails too short, she's going to think they're nothing more than screwdrivers. She'll have them ruined in a week. This way, she'll be forced to take things a bit more carefully; besides, aren't they just gorgeous?"

Turning to Tina, she added, "You don't want to break any of these off, Honey. They're liable to peel your whole fingernail off with them, right down to the nail bed. And believe me when I tell you, that hurts."

"I believe you! I'll be careful," promised Tina.

"Okay, now, sit still," Claire said from the side. Claire wiped a cool liquid on Tina's earlobe. There was a popping sound and Tina felt a pinch on her right ear lobe. As Claire passed around her back Tina saw a gun-like object in her hands.

"What's that?" Tina asked.

"This," Claire said, holding up the contraption, "is a piercing gun. Now hold still, I don't want this thing in your nose!" she said with a laugh.

Tina giggled as the gun popped again. Claire gave Tina a small bottle of solution while telling her how to care for her newly pierced ears.

"Janice, I want to see her back here in a week. I want to highlight her hair. I can't do that for about a week after a perm. The ammonia in the colour solution might damage that gorgeous hair of hers." Then she turned to Tina. "And you, young lady, I'm making an appointment for you for two weeks from today. You're going to need a re-base on those new talons of yours. You want to keep them looking nice, don't you?" Tina bobbed her head in agreement.

"Okay, Claire," Jan said, "but I wish you'd let me give you something for everything you've done today," she almost pleaded with the woman to take her money.

"No, Jan, this one's on me; it's the least I could do. Thanks again for all you've done for me and my shoppe."

With that, the new mother-daughter pair left the shoppe and stepped into the afternoon sunshine. Tina nervously played with the gold studs in her ears.

"Where to next, Mom?"

"Now I think we need to get you home so you can make dinner for Linda," Janice laughed.

"What's so funny, Mom?" Tina asked.

"I was just thinking, how do you feel about making some of your sauce for ravioli tonight?" she asked.

"Well, wouldn't that be cheating?" Tina asked. "I mean… all I'd have to do is thaw it out."

"But you made it, Sweetie," laughed Janice. "That's what counts, you made it! Come on, we're going shopping."

"For more clothes?" Tina asked incredulously.

"No, Honey, we'll go clothes shopping with Linda," she giggled. "We're getting some food and something for dessert."

"Okay," Tina said happily.

*************************

Meanwhile, back at 'The Under-World', an interesting telephone conversation was just getting underway.

"Mrs. Winchester, there's a call for you on line three," Marjorie said.

"Thank you, Marjorie, I'll take it in my office," she replied. There was only the barest hint of an accent. Jenny turned and walked to her office. On her way through the salon, she poured herself a cup of coffee from the ever present, always fresh, pot on the counter top coffee service.

Setting the coffee down on a single cup warming plate, Jenny sat at her desk, lifted the receiver and punched the button for line three.

"This is Jennifer Winchester, how may I be of service?" she spoke into the phone.

The disembodied, female voice on the other end spoke in clipped business like tones. "Secure three, Delta Zero Eight Niner."

Jenny removed her charm bracelet and grasped a key that looked much like a smaller version of a soda machine key. She fitted it into the lock in the top right desk drawer and turned it. She pulled out a small box that was covered with lighted buttons and a booklet. She consulted the booklet and pressed a series of buttons.

All business now, Jenny spoke into the phone. "Secure three, Delta Zero Eight Niner, engaged, proceed."

The voice spoke again. It sounded less machine like and quite friendly this time. "Jenny, you old Battleaxe, how the hell are you?"

"Chilli! Is it really you? You brazen hussy! I'd scalp you for that stunt you pulled last time, but there's nothing left on that pate of yours to take away! How are you?!?"

"Absolutely mahvellous, Dahlink," she laughed. "I really am sorry about that incident, dear. I had no idea they were going to pull something like that. As penance, I won't touch my scalp with a razor for a month. It'll play hell with my tan, but it'll be worth it when I have you make me all 'clean and shiny'-again."

The smile in Chilli's voice was audible, causing Jenny to smile a wicked, mischievous smile. "Ooh! How positively kink! You're on," she chuckled.

"Uh oh," Chilli said in mock trepidation.

"Back to business, before I get myself in trouble again. How's our little project coming?"

"I think we've found our expert," Jenny said.

"You're not kidding me, I hope," Chilli replied.

"Honey, would I kid about something like this?" came the wounded reply.

"No, I guess you wouldn't at that. So tell me about her already."

"There are a few problems, though," Jenny continued in a quieter voice.

"I don't like what I'm hearing, Jenny," Chilli said, becoming cold and distant again. "What kind of problems? What are you setting me up for?"

"Remember that gem in the rough I was developing at Spectra?"

"Yes," came the cautious response.

"She has a son..."

"Hold it right there!" Chilli said, cutting her off. "You know the rules, women only!"

"That's the beauty of it, Chilli. Unless I miss my guess, Tigger's had his mother take him to see Bennett by now, and…"

She of course was referring to Janice's long time friend Linda -- AKA Tigger -- in the Organization.

"That head shrink quack of hers?!?" Chilli exclaimed. "What the hell are you two up to now?"

"Well, Dear," Jenny continued giggling, "It seems our 'expert' is suffering from a latent case of Gender Dysphoria."

"Have you lost your mind?!?" Chilli screamed into the phone.

"No, Dear, but I have gained an expert," she said. "Not only that, but I think the 'impersonator' I've been grooming is ready to bring into the fold as well..."

The conversation continued on. Somehow, it looked like Jenny was going to get her way...again.

*************************

Meanwhile, in the car on the way to the 'Super Mart.'

Tina was chattering away animatedly when Janice's cell phone rang. Jan and Tina looked at each other with surprise. It's not that the phone rang that surprised them, but the fact that they were in an area that was not covered by cellular repeaters. It was the only 'dark' area for miles! They were in a narrow valley with TV, AM and FM radio station transmitting towers on the tops of the hills on either side. There was no cellular reception here! The cost of the high power cell towers needed to cut through the radio noise was prohibitive for such a small 'dark' spot in the coverage map.

"I have no idea," said Janice, shrugging her shoulders.

"Maybe they managed to put in some new repeaters," Tina replied looking intently at the hillside as Jan answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hi! Jan?" said the voice on the line.

"Linda?! "How did you… Oh, never mind. What's up?" Jan asked. "You aren't going to cancel out on me, are you?"

"What? And lose out on that original? Not on your life! I need a small favour from you, that's all," Linda replied. "I got called in to the office today and I can't get away for a bit. Since I knew you'd be out and about, I was hoping you could pick up a book for me. It's out of print and they won't hold it for more than a few days. The problem is, it came in on Monday."

"Sure, Linda, not a problem," laughed Jan. "What book store did you use?"

"Well, actually, it's not really a book store, per se," Linda replied. "It's a little specialty shoppe over on Zink Avenue. It's called 'Stephanie's Melting Pot.' They sell all sorts of stuff there. Costumes, esoteric books, specialty books, they even have one of the largest collections of used comic books I've ever seen. It's a strange little place, but they'll guarantee that, if it exists, they can get it."

"Sounds like the kind of place you'd go," Jan laughed. "What's the name of the book?"

"Actually, there are several," Linda replied. "All by Jack Chalker."

"Okay, Linda," Jan replied, the smile still in her voice, "I'll pick them up on the way home. Dinner's at eight, don't forget!"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Linda said merrily. "Thanks again, Jan, see you at eight."

Jan disconnected the line with another puzzled shrug, and put the phone back in her purse. She told Tina about the conversation. They resumed their idle chatter on their way to the store.

*************************

Back at "The Under-World," Samantha, clad in her usual jeans 'uniform,' walked into the store looking a bit perplexed.

"Oh, Sam! There you are! Thank goodness you could come in today," exclaimed Jennifer Winchester. "Marjorie had to leave early and I am absolutely inundated with consultations this afternoon."

"I was happy to come in today, Mrs. Winchester," Samantha replied, "but I've never worked the front before. Besides, I'm not exactly dressed to work the sales floor. Why didn't you say something before I came in?"

"Sam, I know how you dislike wearing a dress," replied her employer. "If I asked you to come in to help me out by working the sales floor, you would have worn a dress, wouldn't you?"

"Yes'm, I wouldn't let you down, you know that."

"Dear, I couldn't ask you to do me a favour and come in on your day off and expect you to wear something you abhor at the same time, now could I?" Jenny asked.

"Ma'am," Samantha began carefully, "I appreciate what you're saying, but, with all due respect, I smell a rat. What are you getting at?"

Laughing out loud, Jenny said, "My dear, there is just no getting something past you, is there? Did you think I didn't notice how you behaved toward Tina?" The look on Samantha's face was priceless. She looked both frightened and excited at the same time. "I took the liberty of picking up a few things for you over lunch. They're in a bag in the stock room. I believe they should fit you just fine. Why don't you go on back and change? I'll handle the store until you return."

Samantha, more puzzled than ever, walked slowly to the storeroom, her thoughts obviously on what her employer was hinting at.

"What in the name of all the gods have I gotten myself into?" she thought. "She hired me knowing I don't like to get dressed up. In fact, she just said she knows I don't like getting dressed up. What is that conniving old biddy up to?"

The bag Jennifer was hinting at was in front of Sam's locker. It was from 'J-Crew,' and it was huge! "Well, whatever she bought me, it's top quality," she said aloud.

Opening the bag, Sam peered inside. What she saw surprised her. Without removing anything she could see a shoebox, a pair of chinos, a pale blue oxford shirt still in the cellophane, a pullover, v-necked sweater, and a belt.

Samantha, bag in hand, purposefully strode to the front of the shoppe. As soon as the customer Jennifer was waiting on paid for her purchases, she confronted her employer in a hoarse whisper.

"Mrs. Winchester, I hope this isn't some sort of a joke. These are men's clothes!"

"No, Dear, it is definitely not a joke," said Jenny.

"But... why? I mean… I couldn't wear these things! I..."

Before she could finish the thought Jennifer cut her off. "Samantha, I think you'll find that not only are they your size, but that you could, and definitely should, wear them. I was watching you with Tina yesterday. The way you stared at her; let's just say, there were no questions as to what you were thinking. I thought you would, err, appreciate the gift. Those things are in keeping with the thoughts you were having…aren't they?" she pressed.

"Well, I..." Samantha began, a blush starting to colour her cheeks. The poor girl was at a loss for words.

"Now then," continued Jenny, "why don't you go try those things on, and report back to me." It wasn't a question.

Returning to the stockroom, a smile began to form at the corners of Samantha's mouth.

"This is better than I could have ever hoped for!" she thought.

Back at her locker, she started taking things out of the bag. It seemed 'J-Crew' wasn't the only stop her cagey employer had made. There were several skin out changes of clothes in the bag. Shoes, socks, T-shits, jockey shorts; Samantha broke into hysterics when she saw the athletic supporter and cup. She continued to laugh as she dressed. This was just too much.

When she finally stopped laughing, Samantha went to the front of the store. There were several women wandering about the sales floor, looking at the sexy merchandise. One of them looked up at Samantha in surprise. The shocked look faded as soon as she noticed Sam's bust line. She smiled at Sam and continued shop.

Samantha walked up to her employer and asked, "Do I look all right?"

"Ah, that is such an improvement over your regular attire," Jenny said with a smile. " I trust everything fit."

Sam nodded as Jennifer continued.

"Here, let's loosen that tie a bit," she said, reaching to loosen Sam's tie, "and undo the top button of the shirt... There!"

"As if you didn't know it would fit," Samantha replied. "Tell me, how did you know what sizes to get me?"

"Well, your mother has shopped here for you before, you know," Jenny said. "I just took the sizes she bought for you then and converted them. Do you like it?"

"I'm almost embarrassed to say it, but… yes, I do like it." Sam said with a chuckle. "Tell me, why a cup and supporter? It's not like I have anything to support."

"Well, my dear, I thought it would help you get into the, um... swing of things, as it were. A little something to complete the… err… package." With that, the two broke out in peals of laughter.

"Did you put them on?" Jenny asked when she finally stopped laughing enough to speak.

"Well... Not the cup," giggled Sam. "I didn't want to worry the clientele." With that, the two of them started laughing anew.

"Tell me, did you really send Marjorie home?"

"No, Dear, she'll be back in a few minutes. She'll show you how to run the store. I just sent her out for a long lunch. Now, Samantha, why don't you go into the salon and fix your face, you look a bit erm… butch for my shoppe. For making you change and wear makeup, I'll give you a trim after closing and you can have tomorrow off -- with pay, of course."

Laughing, Samantha replied, "Only if you call me Sam."

"Very well…Sam, go fix your face," Jenny giggled. "Marjorie should be back in a few minutes to show you what to do."

After doing an absolutely marvellous job of high fashion makeup, Sam returned to the front of the store. Her attire and face were a study in dichotomy. They were so opposite, it was erotic.

Seeing Marjorie at the register, Sam's spirits spiked to fever pitch. With a mischievous smile on her face, she turned and walked along the side of the store in an attempt to approach the register unobserved. It worked. Sam managed to get to the display of sale panties, at one side of the register without Marjorie noticing her. She studied the young woman closely.

"She's always getting dates, why is that? Never hurting for dates... She's about the same height as me I guess," she thought. "She seems to be a couple of inches taller because of her heels. Nice legs, shapely. A bit heavier and not as long as Tina's... nicely shaped over all, but not the super model shape by any stretch of the imagination. What did Miss Klein say that was? Oh, yeah! I remember now, voluptuous, or something like that. Not the super model shape of… Yeah I guess she is my girlfriend," Sam thought ruefully. "Still, Marjorie could almost pose for Playboy."

Turning so that her back was to Marjorie, and in as deep a voice as she could manage and not sound fake, Samantha asked, "If these don't fit her, can I bring them back?"

Turning to look in the direction of the voice, Marjorie popped into her usual sales spiel.

"Well, Sir, here at 'The Under-World,' no sale is final until..."

Sam turned around.

"Samantha?!?" Marjorie squealed in amazement.

Giggling uncontrollably, Sam could only nod in the affirmative.

"Ohmigods!" Marjorie continued. "You look... Samantha?!? What happened? Why? When? Ohmigods! You look so cool!"

Sam motioned with her thumb in the direction of Jennifer.

"Mrs. Winchester did it?"

"Well, she bought the clothes," Sam continued to giggle, "I did the rest." She did a perfect pirouette. "Like it?"

"You look so, Ohmigods! Honey, if you're gonna look like that, we're gonna have to teach you how to move, guys just don't pirouette. That look is sooo hot!"

"I take it you like?"

"Like? What are you doing later on? Gods, that is so butch and so... Do you know Chil... er, Joanne Ayers yet?" Sam shook her head no. "You will," Marjorie continued. "Just wait till you meet her. You two are like two peas in a pod. That looks sooo sexy on you. You know…if we did your hair like Julie Andrews in the movie Victor-Victoria and dropped the makeup... You are perfect. Absolutely flawless." She was having problems completing her line of thought. It only made Sam laugh harder.

"But why?" Marjorie pressed.

When Sam finally got herself under control, she replied, "I guess it's because of the way I reacted to Tina."

"Well, you have to admit," Marjorie interjected, "if you two go out for a burger, no-one will stare at you now. Do you think she'll like it?"

"I sure hope so. I know I do. Do you really think that kind of hair cut will look okay? I mean… I don't want to look like a dyke or something."

"Sam, cut the hair and lose the makeup and I'll go out with you. Besides, when you meet Joanne, you'll see that short hair does not make you any less feminine."

"You!?! Little Miss Priss? You'd go out with me? What makes you think I'd want to date you?" Sam asked laughingly.

"Yup! Me. You look that good. Oh, relax; I know you have the hots for Tina. I just wanted you to know how good you look."

"Speaking of dates," Samantha said, "how is it you always have some gorgeous hunk on your arm, yet you never seem to date them more than twice?"

"Love em, and leave em," she laughed. "Seriously? I never get asked out more than twice. I still haven't figured it out, but… Well… let's just say I haven't found one I think I'd want to date more than twice anyway. So what are you doing in here today?"

"The old Battleaxe called me in to work. I got here, and she said it was time I learned to work the front, and then made me change into these. You're supposed to teach me."

"Okay! Well, le'me see, first..."

Marjorie started to teach Samantha the ropes of the shoppe front. It looked like Sam was in for a big change.

Surreptitiously looking on from a discrete distance, Jennifer smiled smugly.

"This was almost too easy," she thought. "All right, Sam, a Victor-Victoria pixie cut it is." Grinning like the cat that swallowed the canary, she went back to her customer.

*************************

As they were heading up Washington Boulevard, Janice and Tina noticed the store Linda had mentioned. 'Stephanie's Melting Pot' was on their side of the street; there was plenty of on street parking right in front of the store on the corner of Zink Avenue and Washington Street. The business was housed in a converted supermarket. There were several teenaged boys staring at the window display of comic books.

"Now, that's convenient, isn't it?" Janice asked her daughter.

"It's almost like she expected us to be going this way," remarked Tina ruefully.

This comment caught Janice's attention. She stopped the car in front of the store and looked thoughtfully at Tina.

"You know, Tina," Jan said, "I almost have to agree with you there. Why don't you come in with me and we'll see what that devious little witch is up to, together."

Tina smiled, "Okay, Ma, I'm game if you are."

As Tina stepped from the car, the attention of the boys shifted from the window display to Tina. One of the youths elbowed another to get his attention and motioned with his thumb in Tina's direction.

As mother and daughter walked past, a low whistle could be heard. Janice smiled a knowing smile, but Tina thought she was going to die of embarrassment. She turned beet red and seemed to shrink visibly. Jan, seeing this out of the corner of her eye, got a determined look on her face.

Once they were in the mantrap of the store, Janice turned to Tina and said, "Honey, when they whistle at you like that, don't shrink away from them. Stand tall; be proud of who you are! You're gorgeous and they know it. They only wish they could be with you, that's why they were being vulgar; they knew they didn't have a chance with you. If they look sleazy, or they're gross, there are other ways to handle it, but don't you ever slink away in shame!"

Tina just nodded her head, afraid of making a sound.

The inside of the store was much larger than it appeared from the outside. Down the wall of the Washington Street side of the store were racks and racks of high quality costumes. There were dozens of every type of costume imaginable in what appeared to be every size under the sun. The rest of the store was devoted to magazine racks and shelves holding all types of mementos, comic, manga and anime character paraphernalia. Role-playing games and supplies… It looked like an anime, cartoon and comic book, manga and RPG supermarket.

Beside a row of waist high glass cases was a character with long, flowing, golden brown hair. She stood at least five feet ten inches tall and wore black patent leather boots that came to the middle of her curvaceous thighs. The boots had what seemed to be the highest heels Tina had ever seen in her life. They looked delicate, almost as if the heels wouldn't support the woman's weight. As Tina's gaze travelled up the woman's body, her eyes grew wide as pie plates as they took in the painted on fit of the black patent leather Catwoman costume the woman was wearing. If she had an ounce of fat on her body, Tina couldn't see where it was being hidden. There was nowhere she could hide it! Her body was perfect. Statuesque was the only way to describe her.

"Gods above!" Tina thought, "It's the Catwoman come to life!"

"Mrrrowwl... Welcome to my den," purred Catwoman. "Mmmhow can I help you today?"

Tina just stared, goggle-eyed.

Janice looked at her daughter and started to laugh.

"Hello," Jan began. Noticing her daughter still staring, she hissed, "Tina! Stop staring!" She turned back to Catwoman and continued.

"My god! That has to be the absolute best Catwoman costume I have ever seen! Not to mention that you also have the body to go with it."

"Mmmwhy thank you!" purred Catwoman. "NnnI'll bet Linda sent you in for her books."

Both Tina and Janice stared open mouthed.

Finally breaking character, Catwoman started to laugh. "She called me and told me to expect you, Jan. This must be Tina; my gods, Girl, have I got a costume for you! Of course, your hair is a bit short, but... Oh, I am sorry, I really do love my super-hero costumes and Tina has the perfect body for Super Girl... I recognized you from the description Linda gave me. She said you might have your daughter with you. I just assumed... Well, any way, come on over here. I have her books all wrapped up and ready to go. Linda already gave me her credit card information; I'll just ring them up. It's a good thing you agreed to come in to pick them up. I have three buyers lined up waiting for these particular books."

Jan, finally snapping out of her shock, started to laugh. "I'm sorry, but you seem to have me at a disadvantage."

Catwoman replied with a giggle, "Please excuse my bad manners. I'm Stephanie."

"Of Stephanie's Melting..." Jan began.

"One and the same! Pleased to meet you!"

"The pleasure is all mine, Stephanie. As you suspected, the one with the wide eyes and open mouth here is Tina."

"Are you sure I can't get that costume for you..."

Laughing, Jan cut her off and said, "Thank you, no. We'll just take Linda's books today, but I think we will stop in another time."

"Well, Jan, it has been a pleasure meeting you," Stephanie said as she handed the bag to Janice. "I look forward to your next visit. Bring Tina with you! I'd love to see her in that costume. It would be perfect on her!"

Still laughing, Jan said, "I think I'll do just that. Have a great day! Come on, Gertrude, close your mouth and get the lead out. We still have grocery shopping to do."

"Bye," squeaked Tina, looking back over her shoulder. "What a fantastic body that woman has!" she thought as she followed her mother out the door.

As they emerged from the store, the young boys that formed the gauntlet the pair walked earlier were gone. Tina was visibly relieved.

"I see your fan club has decided to call it a day," Jan joked as they got into the car.

"I couldn't be happier," Tina replied.

"You know," her mother said, "you're going to have to get used to that. You really are very attractive. The next time that happens, don't slouch, stand tall; be proud of who you are. Act like you're above them. You aren't the one being vulgar.

"What did you think of Stephanie?" Jan asked.

"Wow!" Tina said. "Do you think that she really had all of what we saw under that costume?"

"I don't see how it could have been otherwise," Jan replied with a smile, as she pulled away from the kerb. "You could see every line, crease, and wrinkle under that costume. I thought your nails were long; I don't see how she can get anything done with those claws."

"Her? What about me? Look at these things!" Tina complained, holding her hands up to her mother. "I can't even brush the hair out of my face without poking myself in the eye!"

"Oh ye of little faith," giggled Jan. "Give them time. I'll bet that by the time Linda comes over you'll have gotten used to them."

"Yeah, right, and the Pope is Italian, too!" Tina countered sarcastically.

Jan steered the car into the parking lot of the 'Super Mart' shopping centre.

"Ready to walk the gauntlet again?" Jan asked with a smile, indicating another crowd of young boys outside the Blockbuster video store.

"Can't I just stay here?" Tina asked balefully.

"Not unless you want them coming over and trying to pick you up," laughed Jan, as she pulled into a space directly in front of the video store.

Tina whined quietly as she got ready to step into the pool of circling sharks.

"Just remember what I said, Honey," Jan said. "Head up, shoulders back, stand tall and proud."

Tina got out of the car, and in one motion, slung her purse over her shoulder and closed the car door. These boys were considerably more vociferous than the last. There were shouts of "Hey, Momma! Over here, Baby, I'll take care of you!" and worse. Tina stood tall and walked alongside her mother, unconsciously adding a bit more wiggle to her walk. Without looking at them as she passed, she flipped them the bird over her shoulder.

Trying desperately to sound stern, and failing miserably, Jan chastised her child, the giggle in her voice obvious. "Tina, that wasn't very ladylike!"

"I know, Ma, but it sure felt good!" came the laughing response.

"I think it's time you stopped calling me Ma. Don't you?" Jan countered. "Most young girls call their mothers 'Mom,' 'Mommy,' or 'Mother'."

The valley girl made another appearance. "Yes, Mo-therrr."

Spirits soaring, the two giggling women entered the store. Mother and daughter shopped carefully and selectively, conversing quietly as they made their way through the store.

"Oh, look!" Tina exclaimed, making a beeline to a display of strawberries. "What do you think of strawberry shortcake for dessert?"

"That does sound good, but are the strawberries any good?"

"With enough sugar, they're always good!" laughed Tina.

"You're going to have to start watching your figure, Sweetheart." Jan remonstrated. Remember, a minute on the lips..."

"I know, I know, a lifetime on the hips. But it does sound like the perfect dessert; besides, you know how much I can eat."

"Just because you can eat whatever you want right now is not an excuse for developing poor eating habits... but that does sound good," Jan vacillated. "Okay, today, and I mean just today, strawberry shortcake it is."

Gleefully, Tina attacked the display while her mother went to find the makings for salad.

They quickly traversed the store, getting the needed items for dinner and some miscellaneous toiletries for them both.

Jan steered the cart to the nearest checkout lane, only to change her mind at the last moment and took her place in another line. Unfazed by her mother's last second change, Tina followed blindly.

Jan gazed at the usual media tripe in the magazine stands by the checkout and said, "Why don't you get yourself a couple of magazines for later, Sweetie?"

Without thinking, Tina turned and started to head over to the bookracks by the checkout.

"Where are you going?" Jan asked. "Why don't you get me a Vogue? I see the new issue of Seventeen is out, and we can share the Cosmo," she finished brightly.

Tina stopped in her tracks, a blush slowly spreading across her delicate cheeks. "Why is she doing this to me?" she mumbled as she tried to look over the magazine racks without being noticed. Selecting the suggested magazines, Tina returned to the checkout stand. Placing the magazines on the conveyor belt, she looked up into the brightest blue eyes she'd ever seen on a boy. They contrasted beautifully with his closely cropped blonde hair. The checker, all of six feet in height and well muscled, she noticed, was scanning the items without taking his eyes off her. Her cheeks turned a bright crimson as she stared at the floor in a vain attempt not to see and be seen by him.

Seeing her avert her gaze, he spoke. "Hi! I'm Brad; beautiful out today, isn't it?"

Still looking at the floor, Tina replied, "I guess so," her voice barely above a whisper. Janice looked on in amusement.

Brad continued, "Are you doing anything later on? My shift ends at four thirty; maybe we could stop by the Pit, and maybe see a movie afterwards?"

Horrified at what was happening, Tina just shuffled her feet, still staring at the floor. Jan came to her rescue.

"I'm sorry, Brad, but we're entertaining a few guests at home tonight," she said with a giggle, "I'm afraid Tina won't be able to accompany you; besides, I don't think her boyfriend would appreciate it, do you Tina?"

Dumbstruck at the sequence of events, Tina just shook her head and mumbled a soft, "No."

Ever the optimist, Brad said, "Well, if you ever get tired of him, just let me know." His smile beamed, "I always work Saturdays."

"Thank you, Brad," Jan said with a smile. Turning to Tina, she said, "Where are your manners? Thank Brad for his invitation."

"Thank you," Tina mumbled.

"That's thirty-nine dollars and forty-two cents, Ma'am," Brad said, totalling out the order. "Will that be cash or charge?"

"Let's live dangerously," Jan countered. "Charge it." She swiped her Visa card through the reader and Brad reached to examine the card.

After bagging their order, Brad said with his best smile, "Thanks for coming in today, Mrs. Wilson. Tina, please come again soon, even if it's just to say hi, okay?"

Tina all but fled from the store, hanging on to her mother's arm for support. She was so distracted by Brad she never even noticed the young toughs outside.

Once they were safely ensconced in the car and on their way once more, Janice spoke. "You know, Honey, Brad was just being friendly. The least you could have done was give him a smile."

"But he was hitting on me! I'm a guy! What am I supposed to say; sure, Brad, I'd love to go out? I mean..."

"Are you a guy? Jan replied. "Look at you, you look like a living, breathing, Barbie Doll. This is part of the territory of being a girl, Sweetie. You're going to have to learn how to deal with boys that make passes at you.

"Next time a young man makes a pass, smile. If you want to accept the pass, and a date, avert your face and peer up at him through your eyelashes. Then you smile at him and speak softly. Blink a few times while you do; he'll be putty in your hands. If you want to turn him down, look him in the eye, smile, but not as sweetly, and say thanks, but no thanks. It's that simple.

"What ever you do, unless he's been anything less than a gentleman, don't put him down. I think you know what I mean there, don't you?"

Tina just nodded her head. It looked like she was on the verge of tears.

"Cheer up, Sweetie, treat it as a learning experience. We're going to win a bet tonight, remember?"

Tina nodded her head and looked a bit more thoughtful than she did upset.

"This just might be a bit harder than I originally thought," Jan mused as she drove the rest of the way home.

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Continued in Part-8

  

  

  

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