PICTURE PERFECT                    By: Jacki Pett

 

"Don't be stupid," Kim said, looking over her little sister's shoulder, out the bedroom window, "That's a guy."

"Look at his face, look at his hair." Tina insisted.

"What about his hairy legs? How many girls do you know with hairy legs?"

Tina could be so ignorant at times. Little sisters could be so dumb.

Tina hated it when Kim was right and she hated having to admit it when she was. "Well, he could be a girl."

Kim looked again and laughed. "He's certainly pretty enough. Wash his hair and put on a little makeup, no one would know the difference." The boy was slender enough. His dirty, uncut, mop of hair was easily long enough to be styled like a girl's.

"Can you just picture it?" Tina said laughing.

Rob was really pissed at his parents for shipping him off to his Uncle for the summer. They told him, when they made the decision to send him to Florida, that they were fed up with his attitude. "We don't know what to do with you any more."

Rob was eighteen and just graduated from high school. He had no plans. His parents wanted him to go to college but he said no. He was done with school. He'd been nothing but trouble, they said. Just because he wanted to live his own life. He was old enough, he told them, to live life under his terms, not there's.

His parents hoped that some time away, with his Uncle, working hard and supporting himself, would change his attitude. Uncle Chris had told his father that he'd be happy to put Rob to work with one of his crews. Uncle Chris was a pool contractor and he had lots of work for Rob.

Rob hated the thought of hard work in the awful heat of Florida's summer. He hated the idea of being put out on jobs, working for the slave drivers his Uncle hired for foremen.

Rob was expected to work his ass off and from the money he made he had to pay his Uncle room and board. He put him up in the little apartment over his garage. He had to keep it clean, cook his own food, do his own laundry. This was the agreement his Uncle made with his Father.

His Uncle told him that if he didn't pull his own weight he would send him home and his parents would throw him out. He'd be on his own.

Uncle Chris thought that scared Rob. Rob wanted nothing more than to get out. He had his own ideas of how he wanted to live. Fortunately for Rob, his Uncle was paying him pretty well for slave labor. He had everything figured out. He was going to do as little as he could get away with and still appease his Uncle, stash as much money as he could over the summer and then take off. He had no intention of going home to Ohio. To him, the plan was a simple one.

This was Rob's third pool. He came on the jobs after the rough excavating was done and stayed till the end. Today he had to do the cleanup work in and around the hole that the dozers and backhoes left. They'd left him stranded without a way of getting off the job. His only tool was a shovel and he had to bust his ass before the others came back to pick him up at the end of the day. Rob hated his Uncle and Ben, the foreman. He'd never done manual labor in his life. He was a musician and that's all he ever wanted to be.

"Go ahead if you want." Kim told her.

"I just want to get a better look at him." Tina was so curious.

She watched from the sliding glass door as Tina took out the glass of lemonade to the boy. Tina had been right about the boy. He certainly looked like a girl. His facial features were remarkably feminine. He had a little nose and full lips. His eyes weren't to wide apart or deep set like most guy's. He actually had pronounced cheekbones. Tina was definitely right. It wouldn't take much to transform him into a girl. Wouldn't it be fun to dress him up and fool her friends, she thought to herself?

Kim had come over that morning to help her mother. She didn't want Tina home alone with men working at the house. She had also left them a list of chores she wanted done while she was at work. Kim was too intrigued by the boy to give the chores a thought.

"You looked a little hot." Tina said, walking up to the edge of the big hole in her back yard.

Rob, startled, looked up to see the girl standing there. He was taken back a little, she was cute. Blond hair, blue eyes and one hell of a figure. He realized he was staring. "I am."

"Would you like some lemonade?" She asked, holding out the glass.

"That'd be great, thanks."

Even his voice could be a girl's, it was sort of high pitched. She had doubts that this guy had even reached puberty. She handed him down the glass of lemonade. "They left you here to do all this work yourself?"

"Yea." Rob grumbled.

"I'm Tina."

"I'm Rob. You live here?" It was a stupid question and he only realized it after he said it.

Tina didn't give it a thought. "Yes, we just bought it."

"Nice house." Rob hated making small talk with girls. He wasn't good at it. He always felt so awkward. He didn't hit it off real well with girls. That's probably why he was a loner. He was content to be off by himself. It's also probably why he got into music.

"Thanks. We like it." Tina wanted to know more about him. "You live here?"

"Here?"

"In town?" She clarified the question.

"Sort of. I live in Ohio."

Tina didn't follow.

He saw the question on her face. "I'm staying with my Uncle for the summer. My parents wanted to get rid of me."

He was about to explain when they heard, "Hi."

Kim decided she wanted a better look at him too.

He saw the other girl come into view over the edge of the hole. "Hi." She was even more beautiful than Tina. She was older too. Twenty, twenty two, he wondered?

"This is my sister, Kim." Tina said. She was glad Kim came out. She was going to tell her she had to go out and get a better look later.

"Hi." Rob said for the second time.

"Kim, this is Rob." Tina returned to the question she had been about to ask. "Why do your parents want to 'get rid of you'?"

Rob, his eyes going from one girl to the other, gave his side of the story. He told the girls his parents were unreasonably strict and that they didn't understand him. He told them they were completely unreasonable, not wanting to let him pursue the career he wanted to.

"What do you want to do?" Tina asked.

Kim had been staring at him in disbelief and was barely paying attention to what he was saying. From the house, she had a fairly good look at him but up close she was even more amazed with his face, his build. Her mind was racing with ideas.

"I'm a musician. I play guitar. I'm going to start a band."

"Are you good?" Tina asked, seeing the sparkle in his eye when he spoke.

"Yeah, real good." Rob bragged.

Kim was listening now. Normally, guys that bragged the way this one did annoyed her but he gave her the germ of an idea.

They listened while he went on to tell them about his music, how he'd written a number of songs that would all be hits one day.

Tina was enthralled just watching him. She wasn't really paying attention to him ramble on. Her mind was working almost as fast as Kim's. How could a guy grow up to look so much like a girl, she wondered with amazement? He was like no guy she'd ever seen. She tried to envision him with makeup on, in a dress, with clean, styled hair. How adorable he'd look.

The plan was firming in Kim's mind. They could do it. She needed to work out a lot of details but if Tina was willing ... Judging by the way she was looking at him, Kim was sure she would be. It'd be a blast.

Rob was thrilled with their interest. He couldn't remember when any girl was so interested in him, and there were two of them, both knockouts.

"Rob would it bother you if Tina and I were to try to get some sun. It wouldn't annoy you would it?" Kim asked sweetly.

Get some sun? In bathing suits? Right there in the back yard? "No, it wouldn't bother me at all." He assured them.

What was Kim doing, Tina wondered. They hadn't planned on doing that. Soon they'd have to get started on the chores that Mom left them to do. Tina knew her sister well enough to know she was planning something. She found out what when they went inside.

This job he was going to enjoy, he told himself smiling, after the girls went inside to change. The great thing was they were interested in him. He fanticized about having the two sisters at once. Two beautiful girls, competing for him. It was the first time he forgot how much he hated the job as he picked up his shovel.

"What was that all about?" Tina asked Kim as soon as they were in the house.

"I've got an idea. You're gonna love this." She didn't have it all figured out yet. There were some details to work out and their timing would be critical.

"What?" Tina asked again, dying of curiosity.

"I think we can do it." Kim said with a twisted smile and raised eyebrow.

"Do you mean...?" Tina started to ask, excited.

"I think we can get him to do it." Kim told her sister.

"Wonderful!" Tina couldn't wait to hear her sister's plan. "Tell me! Tell me!"

Kim laid it out for her as they changed into their bathing suits.

The heat was brutal. The backhoe driver was incompetent as far as Rob was concerned. He could have done a better job of cleaning out the hole with the bucket instead of making Rob's job harder. Sweat was just pouring off Rob and he took frequent breaks.

"You want some more lemonade Rob?" Kim asked.

Rob looked up to see her standing there in the little bikini. He couldn't help but stare. "Sure, thanks Kim."

"You ought to take a break. That looks like hard work and you've been at it a while." Kim knew he was goofing off most of the time. She'd watched him. She just wanted him to think she was impressed by how hard he worked. It was good for his ego.

"You're right." He was glad that she was impressed by him. Rob climbed out of the shallow end of the hole. That's when he spotted Tina, stretched out on the patio in her little two piece. She wasn't as busty as her sister but that blond hair and her blue eyes did something for him.

Kim was beautiful though too, in a more sophisticated way than her sister. She had short brown hair. He liked blonds better but her build kept drawing his attention, those big tits, trying to burst out of her top. Kim was not to be ignored.

The three settled down into the lawn chairs the girls had set up. They intentionally arranged them so the boy would sit between them.

They knew by now that he was a little self centered and, given a little encouragement, he would gladly tell them all about himself. He didn't disappoint them.

He rarely found someone genuinely interested in him. Now he had two knockouts hanging on his every word. Rob was in his glory.

Kim had calculated how much time they'd have to kill, listening to his boring dissertation about his life and how misunderstood, how unappreciated he was. They'd been outside for almost an hour when she suggested they go inside where it was cooler. "I'd love to hear you play." Tina told him. "I have a guitar."

Rob thought that was a great idea. He hadn't given a thought to the work he hadn't done or the consequences of Ben showing up and being mad that he hadn't finished. He wanted to show off for them.

They took him to Tina's room and she pulled out the guitar that she had gotten out of the garage before going outside. It had been her Dad's before the divorce and he gave it to her. She didn't play but she didn't have the heart to toss it out. Now she was glad she didn't.

Not bad, Kim thought to herself. He was better than she expected. Listening to him play gave her another idea. Her first thought was just to trick him into putting on her wig and a skirt and blouse. Now she could envision something even better. She hoped she could pull it off. "I've got to go make a call. I'll be right back." She told Tina and the boy.

He hoped she wouldn't be gone too long. He was really enjoying himself.

"Till ten? That's perfect." Kim told her friend.

"I'll tell you later." Her friend wanted to know what the surprise was she was bringing over. Kim wasn't about to spoil it. So far so good. She checked the clock. It was almost time.

Tina couldn't tell him enough, how great his playing was. "You wrote that one too?" She asked in apparent amazement.

"Your wonderful." Kim added. "I can't believe you don't have your own band." She pumped him up. "Your parents were crazy for not supporting your music."

"I know. They think they know it all." Rob was on top of the world. He knew he was good but to hear such praise from these two was a real ego booster.

Tina sneaked a look at her watch when he wasn't looking. He was late. "Play another one Rob, please." She begged him. He had to be playing when her father got there.

"Yes, please!" Tina echoed.

Rob didn't need any more encouragement than that. He had barely started when they all heard, "Girls? Kim? Tina? It's Dad." Rob stopped playing when the girls jumped up.

"OH SHIT! OH SHIT!" Kim said in panic.

"What's wrong?" Rob didn't understand what was wrong.

"OH GOD!" Tina looked hysterical. "I forgot he was coming!"

"What is it?" He was up on his feet now too.

Kim, still panicked, said, "It's our father."

"So?" What was the big deal?

"He can't find you here!" Tina said with dread in her voice.

"Why?" Rob asked, confused by their reaction to their father showing up.

They ignored his question. "He's got to get out!" Tina said excitedly to Kim.

She looked like she was on the verge of tears, Rob thought.

"How?" Kim asked her sister impatiently. "He's in the living room." There was no way to get past him without being seen.

"What's going on." He asked again.

"Keep him quiet. I'll go out and stall." Kim told her sister. She wrapped a towel around herself, covering her bathing suit. Kim made a point of leaving the door ajar, so the boy could hear what she said to her father.

Both Rob and Tina listened at the door.

"Hi Daddy."

"Hi Sweetheart. You're not ready yet?" Rob heard the father say.

"We were just about to jump in the shower. We're running a little late."

"That's ok. Just try to hurry or we'll be late for the movie. I'll watch the news." Then he added, "Who's in there with your sister?

Rob saw Tina tense up.

"Just a friend." Kim told him.

"He'll kill us if he finds out you're in here." Tina whispered to Rob.

Rob didn't say anything. He questioned her with a look.

"A few weeks ago I had a friend over and Daddy came in unexpectedly. We were only kissing but he went ballistic.

"She plays well." Randy commented.

He heard me playing when he came in, Rob realized. He started to ask Tina what happened when she put a finger to her lips to tell him to be quiet.

Tina wasn't the actress her sister was. Kim had agreed she should be the one to tell him the story they had concocted.

"We'll try to hurry." Kim told her father. Tina and Rob could hear her coming back down the hall. They stepped back from the door, out of sight.

Kim closed the door behind her. "We've got to do something."

Rob could see she was worried.

"What's the big deal?" He whispered.

Kim took a calming breath. "Three weeks ago our father caught Tina in bed with her boyfriend. He went nuts. He beat up the kid and then came back and did the same to Tina."

Tina showed him the black and blue on her hip. He didn't have to know how she really got it.

The story was essentially true. A little exaggerated, but true, Tina recalled. Her father screamed at Doug, he threw him out but he never touched her. The exaggeration was necessary to their plan.

Now Rob was a little scared. "I'll just climb out the window and take off." He started toward the window.

"They've got locks." Tina said.

Rob checked. They did. "I'll wait till you're gone and slip out."

"Our Mom's going to be home any minute. That won't work. She'll tell our Dad." Kim told him. She better be home on time, she told herself. The whole plan would be a bust if she wasn't.

"We have to do something." Tina said, trying to bring tears to her eyes.

Rob didn't have any idea what to do. He certainly didn't want to be beat on by their father.

Kim stood there looking at him, thoughtfully, for a moment. "There's only one answer." She turned to Tina. "We're going to have to trick Dad."

"What do you mean?" She asked innocently. She wanted to laugh.

Kim looked back to Rob. "Rob, were going to have to make him think you're one of Tina's girlfriends." She told him very seriously.

He was taken back. "You're kidding!?"

"I don't know what else to do." Kim answered, looking forlorn.

"Do you think we could." Tina asked hopefully.

"I can't do that." Rob insisted, backing away from them a step.

"Do you have a better idea?" She asked him. She had thought her plan out pretty well. He didn't have any other options she could think of. It had to work.

Rob stood there dumfounded. He couldn't sneak out of the house with the father in the living room. He couldn't wait till they were gone because the mother would catch him and the result would be the same. He knew he'd be on this job for days. He was trapped.

Kim didn't want to give him too much time to think. "If we're going to get away with this we'll have to get busy, now." She told them both. "It won't be easy to fool him Rob." She knew it would be a snap.

"Tina, you better start the shower running or Dad's going to wonder what we're doing in here." Kim moved ahead with her plan.

Tina went in her bathroom and turned it on. She was so anxious to see how he'd look.

Kim asked her when she came back into the bedroom, "Do you still have that wig I left when I moved out?" They had gotten it from the box in the garage, where it had been stored with her other things she left. Tina had already brushed it out and put it on her closet shelf.

"Yeah, I think it's in my closet. On the top shelf."

Rob couldn't believe this was happening to him. "I don't think..."

"Rob, Come over here to the dressing table." Kim told him. She had him sit down. "I need to fix your hair so the wig will fit." It would have been better if he didn't have to wear the wig but it would have taken too long to wash, cut and style his hair. It was easily long enough.

He sat there nervously while she pulled his hair back into a tight bun, held with a rubber band, at the back of his head.

"There, that should do it." She took the wig from Tina who was standing behind him, watching.

Rob watched in the mirror as Kim tried the wig on him. He felt so ridiculous as she pulled and tugged it into place.

"Not bad." Tina remarked. "This might just work."

"See if you can find him something to wear." Kim said to her sister.

They had thought this out too. Tina had raced around, cleaning her room, picking up her clothes and putting them away, before they went outside to sunbathe. She didn't want him to see any of her jeans or anything else he might suggest he could wear. She had an outfit in mind that would look cute on him. She continued to play the game.

The wig was almost the same color as his hair. It covered his head well enough that he had trouble telling which was his real hair and what was the wig. Kim was kneeling in front of him, combing out his bangs. "Not a bad match, we're lucky."

"I look ridiculous. We won't get away with this." He was sure he looked too masculine.

Kim and Tina thought just the opposite. He was starting to look pretty convincing. Still, Kim had to play along. "You're right. Those eyebrows of yours are a dead give away."

"What are you going to do?" Rob worriedly asked when she picked up the scissors.

"I have to try to make you look more convincing. I have to do something with your bushy eyebrows." Kim told him. "I have to trim them a little, they make you look so masculine." They really weren't that bad. The boy really just needed them shaped a little and she was working up to that. One step at a time.

The navy print romper was Kim's idea. Tina thought her white jeans skirt and red top would look great on him but kim talked her into the other. She was worried what his reaction would be to the short outfit. How strongly would he object? "This is the only thing I can find." She said, trying to appear less thrilled than she really was.

"I can't wear that." Rob said, shocked at Tina's suggestion.

"I don't think I have anything else that will fit you Rob." In fact, he was probably slender enough to wear quite a few of her clothes.

Kim added, "Rob, we have to make you look as convincing as we can. At least that will distract Dad's attention from your face." Not that it would be necessary, she told herself.

She had trimmed his eyebrows short and now she just needed to tweeze them a little. "This isn't going to do." She said, stepping back and looking at him critically.

Rob was mortified enough that he'd have to wear the 'pretty' print romper. He was almost shaking. He turned to Kim. "What's wrong?"

"They're all wrong. You still look to mannish. I've got to shape them a little."

"There's got to be another way. I can't do this." He continued to insist.

Tina had an idea. "Rob," She paused, "We didn't tell you before because we didn't want to scare you but Daddy called Doug's parents that night he beat him up and told them that he was going to have him charged with rape. Mom talked him out of it that time. I don't think she could do it again."

Kim was impressed that her sister came up with that story. She wasn't sure what she was going to tell the boy at this point, to convince him to let them go ahead with their little scheme.

 

Rape! He might charge him with rape!? "I haven't done anything!" He exhorted.

"It won't matter." Kim explained. "Daddy won't believe anything we say, not after what happened before."

Rob wasn't worried what his Uncle would say. He wasn't even worried about his parents. He knew what happened to people accused of rape and if, by some fluke, he was found guilty he'd go to jail. He was trapped. Resigned, he told Kim, "Please don't do too much."

It worked. They were thrilled. Now he would go along more easily. "I won't do any more than I have to but we've got to try to make you look more natural." She went to work.

Fortunately their father knew it took Kim and Tina forever to get ready so they knew he'd be patient. He always was. Still, they had to hurry.

It took Kim almost ten minutes to shape Rob's eyebrows just so. He looked adorable with the thin, arched brows. "That should do it." She said standing back, pleased with her efforts.

Rob wasn't so pleased. "I look ridiculous." He cringed at his reflection. How long would it take for them to fill in, was the question he asked himself? What would the guys on the crew say when they saw him?

"You look much better Rob." Tina was thrilled with how he looked. Kim and Tina fought over who would do his makeup. Tina won. "Now we better get some color on your face."

"Makeup!?" He turned to her, looking despondent. He was afraid of that.

Tina smiled, reassuringly. "Just a little. You still look too much like a guy. Don't worry, I'll fix you up." And would she, she thought with delight.

She didn't waist any time. He had to get cleaned up first. They told him to go in the bathroom and wash up quickly. There wasn't enough time for him, or either of them, to shower. "Make sure you wash all over."

He did what they said. He was washing his legs when he, unconsciously, thought out loud. "My legs are too hairy."

They were going to deal with that soon enough. Better he brought it up. "Oh, your right. I'm glad you thought of it Rob." Kim said. "We'll have to do something about that."

They had considered using Tina's dilatory but that would take too long. They were going to have to shave them for him. He would take too long, never having shaved his legs before.

"Take off your pants and sit on the toilet. Tina and I will take care of that."

Take off his pants in front of them? Under different circumstances... "Couldn't I wear jeans or something?"

They reminded him again that they didn't have any that would fit him. Tina knew her's would probably fit him just fine.

"We don't have any time to waste. Please Rob, just sit down so we can get you done." Kim urged him.

Tina and Kim, each with a new razor, sat down on the bathroom floor. Each took a leg. They didn't have to shave him all the way up to his crotch, but they did and Rob didn't say a word.

He was mortified at having them shave him. "What's that?" He asked, as they put lotion on when they were done.

"Just some lotion so your legs aren't so irritated. It will make them a little smoother.

Great. Smooth legs. They felt so weird when he touched them. It wasn't as if they had been very hairy. He didn't have much to begin with. Maybe it was a Godsend that he never grew hair on his chest. They would probably have him shave that too.

Tina stroked his cheek. "Nice and smooth. You don't need to shave."

He wasn't about to tell them he rarely did. He took almost a week to show even a faint shadow. "I shaved this morning." He lied to protect his manhood. Most of the guys he knew had to shave every day. It was embarrassing.

Kim would have liked him to shave his armpits but there was no good reason to tell him he had to. The jumper had short sleeves so no one would know he had the hair under it.

Tina took his hand to lead him back into the bedroom.

"I'll just put my pants on." He reached down next to the toilet to get them.

"Just leave them. You're fine." Kim told him. "You might as well let me have your tee shirt too."

He felt naked in just his jockey's as he sat down and let Tina start to put makeup on him.

Tina went to work, with him turned away from the mirror, looking at her. Powder first, then eyeliner, eyeshadow and mascara. He had beautiful long lashes already. The mascara made them thick and luxurious. She defined his brows. More powder on his cheeks and blush to define his high cheekbones.

Kim was preparing to cross the next hurdle. One of Tina's bras would fit his narrow chest. She wasn't concerned about that. What she was concerned with was how to fill it? She and Tina had come up with a couple different ways to give him 'breasts'. None of their ideas was particularly good.

Kim was taking one of Tina's bras from her drawer when she noticed the shoulder pads squashed in the corner of the drawer. The shape would work and if they put, say, one sock behind it, it should look natural enough. Kim wished they had a pair of those fake breast forms but these would have to do.

All that was left was lipstick. Nothing flashy, just some pale gloss would do it. That would wait till he was dressed.

Rob looked in the mirror. Having never worn makeup before, he thought he looked terrible. "This isn't going to work. I look terrible."

"No you don't." Kim, standing behind him, looking in the mirror, told him. "You look great. We're going to pull this off."

He saw what she had in her hand. "I'm supposed to wear that?" A bra?

"You have to." Tina said, insistently. "We all do."

"Don't make a big deal of it Rob." Kim put it around his waist and hooked it. "Put your arms through." She held the straps for him.

He didn't want to, but he did. He thought it would be tight, it wasn't. He felt so foolish.

"Now, we just tuck these in here." Kim put in the shoulder pads, then the cotton sock in each cup. "There, that's better." She said with a smile.

"Perfect." Tina agreed. They had a nice shape, not too big, and they looked almost natural.

"Ok, lets see how the jumper looks on you." Kim suggested.

Tina was one step ahead of her. She scooped it up from the bed and unbuttoned the front so he could step into it. She held it for him.

This was the worst of all, Rob decided. He held Kim's shoulder as he put in first one leg then the other. Tina pulled it up and buttoned the top button only. They stepped back from him for a better look.

He looked fantastic. No one would ever guess he was a boy. The hair, his face, his figure, everything. He was adorable and 100% convincing.

"You're going to get away with it." Tina told him.

"You'll be fine." Kim agreed. He was as pretty as a picture.

"You sure?" He felt so ridiculous, standing there in the little feminine outfit.

"Absolutely." The girls echoed each other, smiling.

"Shoes?" Kim said. "He's got to have shoes. What size do you wear Rob?" They had already decided what he'd wear with the outfit but they didn't want him to know that.

He had little feet, another embarrassment for a guy. "I wear an eight and a half." He told them. He really wore an eight but adding the half always sounded bigger.

They knew his feet were smaller than that. They had been prepared to borrow shoes from their Mother's closet but after getting a look at him barefoot, they knew Tina's would fit him fine.

Tina grabbed her white flats from the closet. "These should fit you alright Rob."

"He doesn't look right. It's no good." Kim said with reservation.

"What?" Rob asked nervously.

"No self respecting girl would wear that outfit without pantyhose." Kim told him.

Getting him to agree to wear pantyhose was going to be almost as difficult an idea as trying to get him to give up his jockey's for panties. They decided they shouldn't even try for the panties. That would be going too far and they had no justification. Pantyhose were another story.

 

Pantyhose!? He looked down at his legs. He looked up at the girls. He hoped they couldn't see he was so scared and embarrassed that he was almost ready to cry. Guys don't cry, no matter what. "I can't." He said in a small voice.

Tina stepped close and put her arm around him. "Sure you can. They're not so terrible. We wear them all the time. It's no big deal."

She had a pair ready, on top of her things in her underwear drawer. She handed them to him. "Just go in the bathroom and slip out of the jumper. Be careful not to put a run in them but I have more if you do." She urged him toward the bathroom.

Tina wanted him to know there were more he could wear if he had the thought of ruining them on purpose, to get out of wearing them.

He felt so strange, pulling the sheer material up over his hairless legs. It was a totally alien sensation, wearing something so snug against his skin. Especially something so silky. He stepped back into the jumper and pulled it up, buttoning it all the way up this time.

He was looking at himself in the mirror when he heard them outside the door, telling him to hurry. He delayed long enough to ask himself, could he get a way with this?. His reflection looked so alien to him. Did he really look enough like a girl to pass?

He'd overheard people making comments as he was growing up. Family, friends would say things behind his back but he never believed for a second that they were right. They were stupid people and they were jealous of him. No, he never believed their cruel remarks. As he looked at the face in the mirror, the girl staring back at him, he had to wonder just a little.

They waited anxiously for him to come out and when he did Kim handed him the white flats. "Try them on."

He slipped his feet into them easily. They fit perfectly.

"That will do it. Very good Robin." Kim told him, delighted with him.

"Robin?" He asked.

"We can't very well introduce you to Dad as Rob." She explained. Tina and I thought Robin would be more appropriate."

"It's a nice name." Tina agreed. It was a pretty name but she didn't tell him that. He looked so natural as a girl. She was thrilled.

"Alright. I'm going to get done first." Kim said to her sister. "I'll go out and keep Daddy busy while you get ready."

This would allow her the time to convince her father to have their new shy friend, Robin, come along with them tonight. She knew she could convince him, he was a big softie when it came to his daughters.

"Where the hell is that fucking kid!?" Ben moaned as he looked around the yard.

"Look at that hole. He hasn't done shit." Jim remarked. He didn't like having the boss's nephew on the crew. He was worthless. He'd done hardly any work since he'd been on the job with them. That left Jim more work to do.

"Chris is going to get an earful." Ben decided, as he picked up the shovel and walked back to the truck with it.

"You just going to leave?" Jim asked hopefully. The boy would have to find his own way home and St. Petersburg was a long way from Dunedin.

"Yeah, the little bastard's on his own." Ben didn't like the kid any better than Jim. Chris would probably give him some shit about leaving him there, but he didn't care.

Rob waited in the bathroom while Tina got dressed. He avoided looking in the mirror, sitting on the toilet, waiting. He didn't like what he saw.

Tina's smiling face was at the door. "Ok Rob, let's go."

This was the moment he dreaded. His palms sweated, his knees were weak.

They gave him a little coaching while they got ready. They showed him how to walk how to sit, how to stand. Poor posture would give him away, they assured him. Having to smile was going to be the hardest for him.

All this for only a few minutes in front of their father. It almost didn't seem worth it. He should have broken a window and ran. It was too late for that now. Besides, he knew he'd be back at the house tomorrow.

Tina had a cheap gold necklace in her hand. "You need something." She said, lifting the wig and clasping it behind his neck. She wished she had clip on earrings but there wasn't a pair in the house.

He didn't see Kim with the perfume till it was too late. She dabbed it on his neck before he realized what she was doing.

"Just a touch," She said smiling.

The fragrance was strong and he wished she hadn't put it on him.

Tina was ready with the pale lip gloss. They didn't want him looking garish in dark lipstick.

He felt so stupid, standing there while she put it on. He licked his lips when Tina finished and she scolded him, explaining that he couldn't be doing that. She put on more.

Kim had his clothes in a bag. She was to put it outside. Pretending it was garbage, she would put the bag over by the trash cans where he would change as soon as they were gone. No one would be able to see him there, from the street or the house. His wallet and things were in the purse that hung from his shoulder. Tina insisted he had to carry one.

He would only have to endure a few minutes of pretending to be the girl they would introduce to their father. Just a few minutes, he reminded himself.

He wanted to be last but they insisted he walk between them. The hall to the living room seemed so long to him. When he reached the living room he tried to stay back, melt into the woodwork. They didn't let him.

"Dad, this is Robin." Tina introduced her new friend.

He waited for the look of surprise on the man's face. Instead, there was only a warm, friendly smile.

Randy turned to the girl. "It's nice to meet you Robin. I heard you playing when I came in. You're very good."

Although his knees were shaking and he thought he was going to pass out any second from fear, he managed a small, "Thank you."

Rob had worried that his voice would give him away but the girls assured him he'd be fine.

"Lots of girls have deep voices but your's isn't so bad. Don't worry." Kim assured him. Like his facial features and build, Rob wasn't endowed with particularly masculine assets, including his voice. They weren't the least worried about that giving him away.

"Kim and Tina tell me you're new to Florida. How do you like it so far?" Randy just wanted to make her more at ease. He could see she was nervous about meeting new people. She was a jittery as a caged squirrel.

Rob wished he would just leave him alone and leave. He had to force the words from his throat. "It's very nice." He had to think before speaking. If he talked the way he normally did, the father would know in a second that he was a guy. He had to try to think like a girl to sound like one.

The girls were right about her, Randy agreed. She was so shy and introverted she was almost pathetic. He was proud of his daughters for what they tried to do to help her. She was certainly a pretty little thing. She had no reason to be so shy. "The girls and I are going to grab a bite to eat and catch a movie, why don't you come with us?"

Kim had told her father it would probably be better if it didn't sound like her's or Tina's idea. Robin needed reassuring and it would be better if it sounded like his idea. He bought it.

"I don't think..." He hesitated. Rob was caught off guard. He didn't know what to say. He couldn't...

"I can call your parents and make sure it's alright." Randy offered.

Neither Kim or Tina thought of that. They didn't know what to do or say.

Rob knew that couldn't happen. Who would he tell him to call? "No, it's not that." He struggled to keep his voice steady. "I should just go home now."

"I know the girls would love for you to come."

He wasn't going to let him off easily. Rob looked to Tina and Kim for help. He saw their looks of confusion. They didn't know what to do either.

"Hi girls. Hello Dan."

Kim and Tina were getting worried that she wasn't going to get home on time. "Hi Mom." They both gave their mother a kiss.

"Mom, this is Robin." Tina introduced him to her mother. "She's just moved into the neighborhood."

"Hello Robin." She said to the pretty girl.

Tina knew her mother would recognize the jumper. She had bought it for her. "I loaned Robin my jumper to wear home. We got some sun this afternoon and she didn't bring a change with her." That should cover any questions her mother might have.

Margaret hadn't given it a thought, seeing Tina's friend in one of her outfits. The girls swapped clothes all the time. "Where do you and your parents live?" She asked.

He pulled a blank for a second. Rob didn't know the names of any of the streets in the neighborhood. He didn't know the name of their street. He did know the name of a nearby subdivision and he took a gamble. "Breamore."

"That's a nice area." Margaret said smiling at the girl. She doesn't say much, she thought to herself.

Margaret would have gone on, making small talk forever, if Randy hadn't interrupted. "We really have to get going or we'll be late for the movie." He told his ex-wife. He turned to Robin. "Shall I call your parents and ask them if you can go?

"No, that's alright." How was he going to get out of this?

"Great. That's settled. Let's go."

That was the end of it as far as their father was concerned, He was going with them. Rob would have rather had to suffer a beating from the man at this point but the embarrassment, to be discovered to be a boy, dressed as a girl, would be too much.

They were on their way out the door. Kim was thrilled that it went so well. She had even forgotten the plastic bag she still carried with his clothes in it

"What's that Sweetheart?." Margaret asked, seeing the plastic bag in Kim's hand, all tied up tight.

Kim remembered she had to put the bag out. She had almost forgotten it. "Oh, just some garbage. I'll go run it out." Kim started for the kitchen and the back door.

"Here, give it to me. I'll put it with the other trash to go out later." Her mother took the bag from her hand.

This was not part of the plan. Sure, they wanted him to go out with them but he'd need his clothes later. He couldn't very well go home dressed the way he was. What made matters worse was they had a trash compactor. Her mother put everything in it and the bag was sure to land there two.

Rob didn't think things could get and worse but it wouldn't be the end of the world if he had to dig through the garbage later to find his clothes. His immediate concern was how to get away with the act he had to put on for their father.

He couldn't tell Kim or Tina how scared he was, although he was sure they knew. They exchanged knowing glances and he took their smiles to be reassuring. It wasn't their fault he was in this predicament, he told himself.

He rode in the back seat of their father's car, with Tina. He sat in silence next to her on the short ride to McDonalds.

Walking into the place was terrifying as he watched the faces of people at the tables who looked up as they walked in. He waited for the looks of recognition, the looks that would tell him that they recognized him as a guy. The looks didn't materialize but that didn't calm his fears.

He couldn't even think of eating. He ordered only a drink from the young boy behind the counter. The boy gave Rob only the same polite look and smile he gave Kim and Tina. Rob wondered if the boy was blind or stupid. Didn't any of these people see what he really was? He was relieved, sure, but it was a little unsettling.

For his sake, Tina and Kim guided their father to a table in the back. Tina nudged his shoe when he sat down. He looked over and realized why. He was sitting with his legs spread and his elbows on the table. Tina showed him, not with words, but by example, how to sit like a lady. Rob didn't hesitate for a second to emulate her and Kim from that point on. He didn't want to draw any attention to himself by behaving strangely.

He felt better, back in the car but he would have liked to be able to talk to Kim and Tina without their father overhearing. There was no opportunity.

It was a short walk from the car to the theatre entrance but it might as well have been a mile. They had to stand in line to get tickets and Rob felt so exposed. The girls stayed close to him and that helped only a little.

No one in line seemed to notice anything odd, even when some of the people on line looked right at him. The girl behind the glass didn't give him a second glance. When the man took his ticket he just smiled at him. Rob began to feel a little more secure in his disguise.

Inside the theatre they had to squeeze by a couple to get to their seats and the man stood for them. Rob couldn't resisting glancing at him and he smiled at him. "Excuse me." Rob said and the young man replied, "That's alright" It was exciting in a way. No one knew.

When the theatre went dark he was fine, seated between the girls.

"I'm so sorry you got trapped like this." Kim whispered in his ear. "But you're doing beautifully."

"I can't believe no one can tell." He whispered back.

Tina could hear them but she couldn't say anything for fear her father, on the other side of her, would hear her. He was amazing. The way he mimicked them had been perfect. He play a very convincing roll.

Kim was equally pleased. He was wonderful and she had been watching him closely and could see that he was acclimating to the role. She saw the exchange with the man at the end of the row. She saw how he played it up more than he had too. It was fun to watch the boy try so hard to look and act like the girl they wanted him to portray.

He went to the kitchen window for the fifth or sixth time since getting home. Chris looked for any sign that they boy had come home to the garage apartment. He still wasn't home. Chris was getting really pissed.

He relaxed enough to enjoy the movie but became apprehensive again as it neared the end. Rob found he had little to fear as everyone poured out of the theatre. He was just one of the crowd.

It was dark outside. Rob's apprehension had all but disappeared. He was actually able to walk with his head up and look around without being afraid.

"It was very nice of you to ask me to go with you. I had a nice time." Rob said to their father when they all got in the car. He smiled at the man in the rearview mirror.

Kim and Tina were surprised that he spoke up with out being prompted. It was obvious he was feeling more confident. He was so convincing this way now.

The ride back to their house was uneventful. Rob had to wait until the man said good night to the girls. He had offered to give Rob a ride home. "That's ok Dad. I'll take Robin home." Kim told him.

"Thanks again." Rob told him with a smile. He was enjoying the game now.

"You were fantastic." Tina told him, excited. "I can't believe you were so casual about it all. I was so scared for you."

"Very convincing." Kim agreed. "No one had a clue."

Rob was rather proud of himself for carrying it off. "It wasn't so bad." He said, back to his cocky old self.

"I've got an idea." Kim offered. It was part of her plan all along.

"What?" Rob asked, feeling very self assured.

Tina knew what was coming.

"I've got these friends of mine who have a band. They practice on Tuesday nights and I wondered if you'd like to go by there for a few minutes on the way home." She hoped he was confident enough to agree.

"Like this?" He asked. He wasn't as confident as he had tried to appear.

"Sure, it'd be such a great trick to play on Carol and the others." Kim insisted.

"It's a girl's band?" Rob asked, surprised.

"Yeah, Carol's an old friend of mine. It would be a blast to trick her."

"I hear they need someone on the guitar. You could even play some of your music for them. They'd be really impressed." Tina fed his already inflated ego.

Rob was intrigued. The thought of playing for her friends was exciting. The thought of fooling them with his disguise was equally as exciting. "What about after?" He would have to change after, before going home.

"We'll get your clothes later and you can change in the car. It'll be easier later, when Mom's asleep. She goes to bed pretty early." It sounded plausible and their mother did go to bed early.

That made sense to him. He was still a little scared but he didn't want the girls to know that. "Sure, why not!" It wasn't like he'd ever see Kim's girlfriends again.

Fantastic, Kim thought to herself. She grinned at Tina when he was looking the other way. Tina looked just as thrilled.

Carol lived in Clearwater. It was only a fifteen minute drive.

Rob felt he had the act down pretty good. He was still a little nervous though when the woman opened the door.

"Hi Mrs. DeBeck." Kim said to her friend's mother.

"Hi Kim." The woman replied with a smile.

Rob returned that smile when it fell on him. He didn't say anything though. He had fooled another one. Stupid woman, he thought to himself.

"Are they rehearsing?" It wasn't a very bright question. Kim could hear the music from the back of the house. I wasn't so loud that you could hear it outside. Carol's father had built her an almost soundproof room to practice in.

"They're in back. Go on through girls." The woman said, closing the door behind them.

Kim's friend Carol and the girls had experienced some success with their band. They didn't work every weekend but they had gotten busier in the last several months.

Tina thought the noise would knock her over when Kim opened the door.

Rob thought it was great.

Carol and the others looked up when the three walked in but they didn't stop playing. Carol and Marsha smiled at their friend.

Kim, Tina and Rob walked over and sat on the couch against the wall. They waited for them to finish the number.

Mike was there. Kim didn't care for Carol's boyfriend/manager. Mike was a sleaze. He didn't look like it, but he was. Mike was thirty five. Carol was only twenty three. He manipulated her in both their relationship and her career. Kim knew Carol didn't see it and they had their share of arguments about him. Kim knew he hit her when he got angry or drunk and he drank often.

Mike knew she didn't like him. That wasn't too tough to figure out. "Kim, how're you doin?" He didn't give a rats ass what she thought of him, as long as she didn't try to come between him and Carol. Carol was going to make him a lot of money and he didn't need this bitch messing around with Carol's head.

Kim was cool toward him. "Fine Mike."

He didn't take the hint. He got pleasure in annoying the little bitch. "Who're your friends?"

Tina didn't know the guy, but judging by Kim's reaction toward him, she could guess that he was a jerk.

Rob was used to his type. He was his type.

"My sister and her friend." Was all Kim said. She ignored him from that point on. She came here to have a little fun and she was determined not to let the cretin ruin it.

Carol knew how they got along. She usually tied to avoid having the two of them in the same room together.

Carol recognized Tina but the other girl she'd never seen before. She looked young, around Tina's age. She was pretty though.

They were done with the set and ready for a break.

"Not bad. You need to watch the tempo though." Mike told Carol.

"I know, I know." Carol wished he'd just let up a little. She was thrilled to see her friend and was curious what the surprise was she'd mentioned when she called earlier.

They hugged and then Kim introduced Robin. "I wanted to bring Robin over to hear you play. She's quite good on the guitar and I thought she'd get a kick out of listening to a real band."

Carol thought it was a nice gesture. She introduced Tina and Robin to Marsha and Ginny, the other members of her band.

"So you play?" Marsha asked the girl.

"Yes, a little." Rob said with feigned modesty.

"Let's hear some." Ginny suggested.

Rob didn't mind at all. "Sure."

"Robin, play that new one you just finished." Tina like that one best of the songs he played for them earlier. She watch the girls and he went to the guitar and picked it up. None of them guessed, she could tell. It was great.

Kim watched them as she introduced 'Robin'. They had no clue and he wasn't about to give his secret away. Even the way he sat down to play, putting his feet together under the chair. It was perfect.

When Rob was nervous he really had to concentrate. He didn't want to make any mistakes in front of these girls. The man was waiting to hear him play too. The girls didn't bother him but playing for the man did, a little.

They could see he was nervous. He had been much more relaxed in Tina's room that afternoon.

Rob took a deep breath to calm himself and started to play.

Carol listened intently. He had an ear, a good ear, for music. He played well. "So this is your surprise?" She figured Kim had been helping her look for a guitarist for her band. The girl did seem a little young but she was good.

Kim looked at Rob. He was lost in his music. She turned to Carol, "Come over here." Kim led her away from the other girls and away from Mike. He was listening to Robin play and hardly paid them any attention.

Carol wondered what was going on. "What's up?"

Kim checked Rob. He was oblivious of anything but his playing. She leaned close to Carol's ear so as not to be overheard. "What do you think of her?"

"She's good. But don't you think she's a little young?" Carol asked as she watched him play.

Kim was just dying. She saw Tina, over Carol's shoulder, watching them, smiling, waiting.

Kim couldn't wait any longer. "But she's cute enough?"

"Sure, she's darling, so?" What was Kim getting at?

"She's a he." Kim said was a big smile.

Carol turned first to Kim, then back to Robin, then back to her friend. "You're kidding!?"

Kim just shook her head, no.

"No! Impossible!" Again, she did a double take.

"It's true." Kim assured her.

While he played, Kim told her an abbreviated version of the day's events and how they tricked him into the transformation.

Carol still couldn't believe it. "Amazing, just amazing." She could hardly take her eyes off of him.

"Don't let on you know. It would completely ruin everything." Kim told her.

"Oh God." Carol just stared.

"Promise?" Kim asked, touching Carol's arm.

She continued to stare at him, "Oh, ok. Sure." Then she asked. "Ok if I tell the others later?"

That couldn't do any harm. "Sure. Just wait till we're gone. I've got to take him down to St Pete in a little while but I just had to bring him by to show you."

Carol finally tore her disbelieving eyes from him. "It's amazing. He's so pretty. Is that his hair?"

"No, it's an old wig of mine but he's got beautiful long brown hair." Kim had another thought. "Carol, do you think you could play along and try to convince him, I mean her, that she ought to join your band?"

Carol's face lit up. "You mean so you could dress him up again?"

Kim saw Carol liked the idea. "Yeah, but next time I want to get him to go all the way."

"All the way?" Carol didn't follow.

"You know, style his real hair, the right clothes, everything. Right down to his underwear." Kim found the idea exciting. She knew Tina would too.

"I wish I could help." Carol told her.

"No! If he knew you knew, it would ruin it. He'd never agree." Kim insisted.

"You're right but we could still have some great fun with him." All sorts of ideas were going through her head.

"Sure, why not. It'd be a blast."

"Ok, I'll do it."

Mike was impressed by her. She played well.

Tina wanted to tell Marsha and Ginny so badly. Kim said Carol could keep a secret but she wasn't so sure about the others. Tina had to just take satisfaction in knowing what the others didn't. Their 'Robin' fooled them completely.

When he finished the song Carol was the first to tell him how terrific she thought he was. She coaxed the others into playing something with him and they played a couple songs before they had to go.

"Did you have a good time?" Kim asked as they drove back to the house.

"It was great!" He had become totally engrossed in the music and, for a time, completely forgot where he was and that he was pretending to be a girl. It was great playing with them and their reaction to his music had been fantastic. They appreciated his talent, especially Carol, and he ate it up. "I can't believe they asked me to come back. Carol even suggested that maybe I could join their group."

Kim told Tina what had transpired between her and Carol and about Kim's suggestion that Carol encourage him to come back. Tina loved the idea, particularly when they talked about the other things they could do to feminize him. He did seem to get into the role and enjoy it so it wouldn't exactly be as if they would be doing anything against his will.

They parked down the block and walked casually up the street to the house. There were no lights on. It was after ten and it appeared that their mother had gone to bed.

With the pool being built, the fence was down so it was easy to get into the back yard quietly. The three of them snuck around the house to where the garbage cans were kept.

Kim hadn't told him her fears about his clothes being compacted. If they didn't find the bag, loose in the garbage can, she would have to.

Rob lifted the lid of the first while Kim checked the other. Tina kept watch. Kim had no luck. Neither did Rob.

Kim explained what must have happened to his things as they walked back to the car.

"I can't go home like this." He insisted.

"You have to. I'm so sorry Rob. Can't you sneak into the apartment?" Tina asked, feeling terrible about he predicament they put him in.

He could probably get away with it but he couldn't imagine his Uncle's reaction if he caught him.

"What if you get undressed in the car and you sneak in wearing just your underwear? At least that would be easier to explain than you wearing the romper."

Tina had a point. Better to be embarrassed that way, then in girl's clothes. Still, he had to have a story ready. "What do I tell him if he catches me?"

"Tell him you were at a party, you were skinny dipping and someone ripped off your clothes." Tina suggested.

"This is dumb. Rob, you're not going to get caught. Just strip down to your skivvies and sneak in. That's all, no big deal."

Kim was right. It wouldn't be that hard.

"What you will need to be ready to explain is, what happened to you when they came to pick you up at our house?" Kim said seriously. She didn't want him in so much trouble that he'd get kicked off the job and not come back.

Rob hadn't thought about that. "What and I going to tell my Uncle?" Now we was really worried.

They worked out the story on the way down to St Pete. He would explain that he had heard someone call for help in the house. He went in to discover Tina's friend had fallen and broken her leg. Tina was too shook up to drive so Rob had to take the friend and Tina to the hospital. They waited forever to get taken care of and when they got back it was late.

He would explain that the family invited him to stay for dinner, he did and they brought him home.

Tina would back up his story the next day and everything would be fine. The only thing that would make him guilty of, was not calling his Uncle and letting him know what happen. How much trouble could he get in for that?

Rob liked it. It made him sound like some kind of hero. He thought his Uncle would easily fall for it and he had help if he didn't. He couldn't lose.

It was a shame that he had to take it all off. He turned back into just a funny looking boy when Tina got all his makeup off and he shed the clothes. He looked so much better as a girl.

"If you're too worried about them just shave them off and tell your Uncle that our barbecue flared up an fried them clean off." Kim told him when he asked how he'd explain his narrow arched eyebrows.

"That works." He agreed.

They would have rathered he leave them for the next time but they could pencil them on just as easily.

Kim wondered how long it was going to take to convince him to let them do it again so he could go to Carol's again? Not too long they hoped.

"This is it." He said as they pulled down his Uncle's street. "That one, with the post light on." The living room light was on but at least the back lights were out. He could run up the dark driveway and sneak up the outside stairs. It was the only way into the little apartment. He had his keys ready.

Before opening the door he turned to them. "I had a great time tonight. Thanks." Rob seemed to forget about being terrified earlier. He only remembered the fun he'd had later on.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Tina kissed him on the cheek before he knew what was happening. "You were terrific tonight."

He was a little surprised by her show of affection. He looked from Tina to Kim and her smile told him she liked him too. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight Rob. See you soon." Kim said sweetly.

He ran like a jackrabbit and disappeared into the shadows.

"What was that all about" Kim asked her sister.

"He was adorable tonight. I just wanted to be sure he had enough reasons to come back for more." Tina said with a devilish smile.

Kim didn't give her enough credit. Little sister was no dummy. "Smart, very smart."

They waited till they saw him wave from the top of the stairs, then disappear. When he was safely inside, they left. It was nearly twelve and they were exhausted. Kim took Tina home and headed for her apartment and her bed.

"No, you're bullshiting me." Mike didn't believe her.

"I'm not bullshiting you. That was a guy." Carol argued with him. He was so damn stubborn sometimes.

"I've seen guys in drag before and they don't look anything like that girl." Mike said.

Carol repeated the whole story Kim told her earlier.

"You're shiting me! Really?" Mike was amazed. "He fooled me."

"Marsha and Ginny didn't know either." She told him.

"Jesus H Christ!" The guy was too much. Mike had a thought. He had a friend who would be thrilled to meet little Robin. He had to find out more about the boy. Mike made sure Carol told him everything she knew.

Uncle Chris seemed a little skeptical when Rob told him the story the next morning. He told him he had gotten in around eight but was bushed and hadn't stopped in to tell him he was home. That's why he never saw any lights on in the apartment.

Rob decided, looking in the mirror that morning, that his eyebrows weren't that bad and no one would notice. No longer defined by Tina's eyebrow pencil, he decided he could get away with leaving them. He did have the thought in the back of his mind that he might just go back to Carol's on Thursday night.

They didn't leave him alone on the job that day. Jim stayed and worked beside him, pushing him to finish the work he'd left undone.

He hadn't been there an hour when he spotted Tina in the kitchen, staring at him out the window. They exchanged smiles and that made Rob feel good.

It had occurred to him, as he lay in his bed the night before, that Kim and Tina might have thought he was strange, the way he appeared to adapt so easily to the role he played. Tina's look that morning told him differently.

Tina waited till it looked like they were taking a break and brought out juice and rolls to both of them. She couldn't talk about last night in front of the other man but she could thank Rob again for helping her friend with the broken leg.

Jim hadn't believed the kid's story up till that point. It was hard to dispute now. Still, he had all day there. Why had he accomplished so little?

Tina made Rob lunch and brought it out to him. Jim look envious but that didn't bother Rob one bit. Jim made no bones about his not liking him and that was fine with Rob. He did push him pretty hard.

Kim was supposed to get to the house in the morning. She didn't arrive until almost two. She had some shopping to do. She didn't go to the stores expecting to spend as much as she did but she decided it was worth it.

"How's he doing?" Kim asked her sister.

"Fine. He acts as if last night was nothing." Tina was glad. "I haven't really been able to talk to him much with that guy working with him."

"We should invite him to have dinner with us. Then we can try to find out how he really feels."

"Mom said she'd be late getting home. That should work."

"I'll drive him home later." Kim agreed.

He spotted Kim in the kitchen and waved. She smiled and waved back. Later, she took them out cold drinks.

Jim was surprised when he told him he'd be staying there for dinner as they packed up for the day. He was a little envious that the boy would be staying there with the two hot looking girls. He wondered how a jerk like him got so lucky? He told Rob that he'd tell his Uncle where he was and that he'd get a ride home later.

Kim hated to cook, Tina enjoyed doing it.

"Your father isn't going to show up, is he?" Rob was a little worried about that.

"No, not tonight." They promised.

"I'm glad you didn't shave them off." Kim indicated his eyebrows.

"Oh that. No one seemed to notice." He was glad he hadn't. That would have made him look too weird.

"I talked to Carol this afternoon and she really hopes you'll go over tomorrow night and practice with them." She just wanted to encourage him and it was one way of finding out which way he was leaning.

He had been thinking about it, a lot. Funny how, in the light of day, dressed normally, he didn't remember how scared he had been at first. All that seemed important now, was that they wanted him to play in their band. It was the opportunity he'd dreamed of for so long.

It wasn't that he hadn't tried to join a group before. Each time he approached any of them they turned him away. 'You don't fit our image' was what it always seemed to boil down to. That didn't happen this time. He fit right in. So what if he had to pretend to be something he wasn't? It wouldn't last forever. Once they accepted his music, he'd drop the disguise. They'd have to accept him, as talented as he was.

Until that point in time he would have to continue to play the game. "I want to go." He said meekly, a little embarrassed. "I need your help though."

That's what they hoped to hear. "Of course we'll help you." Tina said happily.

"Whatever we can do." Kim added. She couldn't wait. "We ought to do something with your hair though and lose the wig. It's too risky wearing that. What if it came off by accident, in front of someone?"

She was right but... "What about during the day, when I have to be me again?"

"No big deal." Tina assured him. "You just wear it the way you always do. No one will know." The bangs could be a problem but he'd just have to wear them to the side, with some hair spray to hold them. The kind of cut they were going to give him would certainly add fullness but he could plaster it down with some of that greasy stuff.

"You'll just look like you've styled it a little different. You can always wear it in a pony tail. Lots of guys wear their hair that way."

That was a viable option. That wouldn't be bad at all. "Alright, when can we do it?" He was ready.

Kim wasn't quite prepared for him to react so positively, so quickly. She thought they'd do it tomorrow night before she took him back to Carol's but why not. "I suppose we could get an appointment tonight."

"An appointment?" At a hairdresser?

"I'll give my girl a call and see if she can get you in." She didn't give him time to think about it. She got up from the table and dialed the number.

"You sure this is a good id...?" He had reservations but he was a little slow in expressing them.

"Hi, is Betsy there?" Kim waited while the girl went to get her.

"Couldn't one of you do it for me?" He asked, almost pleading.

Kim covered the mouthpiece. "I wouldn't even try to cut your hair myself. I'd just make a mess of it."

"Not me." Tina told him. She was no better.

"Betsy, this is Carol. You think you could squeeze in a friend of mine tonight? Great. Yeah, that'll be fine. See you then. Bye." Kim hung up the phone. "We're all set. She'll take you at eight."

"Mom will be home in about forty five minutes. We better take Rob over to your place and get him ready." Tina suggested to Kim.

She agreed. No need to complicate things when they were going so well. "Grab the outfit Robin had on last night and the shoes. Don't forget the purse and the other things."

Rob knew what she meant by 'other things'. The pantyhose and bra. "Can't I wear something else?" Like pants, he thought to himself.

Tina put her hand on his shoulder. "You looked great last night, don't worry. Besides, I hadn't planned on you doing this again tonight or I would have tried to find you something else to wear."

Rob believed her. They didn't know. "I suppose."

"We'll find you something for tomorrow night." Kim assured him.

"You are going to go with me, aren't you?" He hadn't even thought to ask till now. He just assumed.

"Of course we are." Tina assured him.

"We feel responsible. We got you into this." Kim smiled reassuringly. "We girls have to stick together." She said with a grin.

Rob didn't think it was all that funny but she was only kidding and she didn't mean anything by it. He knew that. He smiled back, "Cute, real cute."

Kim lived in a small, not too well kept, apartment complex. She had explained how she moved out on her own only six months ago. She wanted her independence and couldn't have that under her mother's roof.

Rob thought she had a great place. Any place was better than living at home under his parents thumb.

"Tonight you shower," Kim said handing him a clean towel. "and wash your hair. There's shampoo and conditioner in the shower, use them."

He had just started to wash his hair when the bathroom door opened. He could see Tina through the frosted glass.

"I left a new razor and some shave gel on the sink." She told him.

He still wasn't about to tell her his face was still baby smooth from his shave on Monday, but it turned out that wasn't why she left it for him.

"Make sure you shave your armpits but be careful you don't cut yourself."

"Why my armpits?" He asked over the sound of the running water.

Tina stopped at the door and answered him. "What are you going to say when you raise your arms for some reason and someone sees that awful dark patch under your arm? Shave them." She said laughing as she closed the door.

It could happen. It could happen when he was playing the guitar. It could happen anytime. How embarrassing, and how hard it would be to explain.

He reached from the shower and retrieved the razor and tube of gel. Who would know, he told himself.

How exciting to have these two beautiful girls becoming so intimate with him. Tina just walks into the bathroom with him in the shower. The pair of them so close last night when he paraded around in just his underwear. The erection he had in the shower was just starting to ebb. It came back again as he thought about them. He had been too scared to get stimulated this way last night. He was enjoying himself.

"What's that for?" He asked when he opened the bathroom door to find Kim waiting for him, holding the plastic bottle.

"It's just lotion. Put it on now, while you're still damp." She handed him the bottle. It was moisturizer, to soften his skin.

It didn't smell that bad. It was the same faint sent he smelled on Kim. She always smelled great. It would help his disguise.

He looked around for his clothes. They were in a neat pile on the chair next to Kim's dresser. He wore only the towel around his waist. Rob didn't want a repeat of last night where his clothes disappeared. He was relieved knowing that it wouldn't happen again.

"Come, sit down and I'll see what I can do with your hair for the moment." Tina drew his hair back so hard with her brush that it actually hurt. Not that he'd admit it. She kept collecting it in a bunch in back. Finally she wrapped the rubber band around it that she was holding in her lips. "There, that's better."

Rob turned his head to check out the ponytail. It was a little low on the back of his head, the way girls wore them, but there wasn't anything to stop him from doing it higher, when he needed to. It was fine.

Kim wanted to do his makeup tonight. Tina got to do it last time and she wanted the pleasure.

Rob sat there without a complaint as Kim made him up. When she was so close he could smell her sweet breath. He hoped that neither girl noticed the hardon that pressed against his towel.

"Nice and smooth." Tina commented when she asked him to raise his arm. "That's much better."

It felt a little strange but he could live with it.

It was time to get him dressed. Tina had laid the clothes out on the bed.

Rob looked for his underpants. Then he spotted the new article of clothes they had added. "What are these for." He didn't even want to pick up the silky panties."

Tina was ready. "You're not putting these back on till they're washed." She picked his dripping wet Jockey's up from the sink and held them at arm's length. She had turned them inside out so he could see the 'tracks'. What he didn't know was that Tina herself had put them there while he was in the shower. "We'll wash them and they'll be dry when we get back." She didn't wait for a reply she dropped them back into the sink.

"It's just underwear. Don't make something out of nothing Rob. Just put them on so we can get out of here." She handed him the white panties and the pantyhose. "Now hurry up. We don't want to be late."

Rob took them in the bathroom and closed the door behind him.

He looked better last night, in the wig. The rest was fine. He was still selfconscious about what he wore under the jumper.

He had his purse and they had stuffed some of the cosmetics they'd used on him inside, along with his wallet and keys. A thought dawned on him, "How much is this going to cost?" He only had about twenty dollars on him.

"Don't worry about it. You can pay me back later." Kim told him.

Rob wasn't exactly thrilled to learn that they were going to the mall but that was where the hair dressers was.

Betsy was waiting for them when they walked in. The clock said just five after eight. They weren't that late. They had talked on the way over and he had insisted that he wanted his hair long. His reason was that was how all the really famous guitar players wore it and that was the mold he would fill one day. Kim and Tina didn't argue with him a bit.

"Robin, this is Betsy. Betsy, Robin." Kim introduced them. "Do you think you can help her?" She asked the girl who'd been doing her hair for years.

Betsy had a sense of humor but sometimes she let it get out of hand. "I don't know." She took out the rubber band as he stood there and ran her fingers through his hair. "Maybe we should just chop it all off and start over again."

"I haven't taken very good care of it." Rob said.

"Good God girl. That's an understatement." Betsy said laughing. "Come on in back and we'll see what we can do.

"I just washed it." He explained when she told him to sit down in front of the sink.

"Well were just going to wash it again, the right way." Betsy was used to taking charge. She had a good reputation in the business and her clients trusted her. That was the way she worked and most clients respected that.

Kim and Tina stayed close, in case Rob needed them, but he did fine.

Betsy washed and conditioned his hair first. "This will add a little shine to that mop." She said, massaging in the rinse."

Rob sat there quietly, somewhat intimidated by the woman. He was afraid to sound stupid by asking questions.

He did speak up when she put him in her styling chair and got out her scissors. "I want it long. Don't cut off any length."

"I wouldn't have to if you'd taken care of it but the split ends have to go." Betsy insisted.

"She ran her fingers through his wet hair, getting a feel for it. "What did you have in mind?"

He had no clue.

Tina jumped in, "What about that long shag that you thought looked so great in that picture before." She winged it. She and Kim had talked about what cut would look good on him and they had settled on the shag. That meant bangs and shaping his hair to frame his face. He might have a little trouble looking convincing as Rob after the cut but they were more concerned with how Robin would look.

Betsy gave it some thought for a minute. "I think we can manage that, Alright!" She went to work on Robin.

Rob looked in the mirror at his friends. They both nodded to his questioning look. If they thought it would work than he wasn't going to argue. He sat very quiet while the woman sculpted his hair.

It was a challenge. She snipped the split ends, gave her layering for fullness and sculpted the hair that would frame her face.

Kim stepped up behind him as she put the finishing touches on his cut. "Did you ask Betsy what you could do to make your hair less mousy?" She asked him loud enough for Betsy to hear but directing the question at him.

Kim had told him at her place that he had mousy looking hair but he didn't know she would ask the hairdresser to do something about it. He wasn't concerned. It couldn't hurt if his hair had a little more shine to it. That would be fine.

Betsy didn't need it repeated. "I have just the thing, you'll love this." She took him back down to the sink again. This time she worked a gentle lightener through his hair to gave Robin soft highlights that would make his hair shine and any style he chose, more flattering.

He had to sit and wait for it to take, his hair all wrapped in the towel. She sat him down with a magazine while she passed the time talking with Kim. Tina stayed close to Rob. "You're going to look fantastic." She was all excited. She couldn't wait to see how he came out. She only hoped he wouldn't be upset.

Rob was kind of anxious to see too. He couldn't picture what he would look like with his hair all wet the way it was.

After the prescribed amount of time Betsy rinsed his hair thoroughly and set about styling it. "You're going to like this cut. It's really easy to style and you won't have to waist hours on your hair in the morning. Then when you want to get all dolled up for nighttime, just throw in a couple of hot rollers and Shazam, you're ready for a hot date.

She was such a character he couldn't help but laugh. He had never met anyone quite like her.

He watched closely as she worked. He wanted to know how to style his hair himself. He might need to sometime and he couldn't always count on Kim or Tina being around. Granted, this sham wouldn't go on forever, but their might be times he'd need to know what to do.

He was a little surprised as his hair took shape. He didn't know it would look so full or that it would look so pretty. It was unnerving and exciting at the same time. He thought the wig looked convincing but this was much better.

He also noticed, as she dried his hair, that it looked a little lighter than was. He assumed that it was just that stuff she put on it and it would wash out.

Betsy stood back to admire her work. She was quite satisfied with the little miracle she had worked. The girl look fantastic.

Rob was in awe. He couldn't believe that it was his reflection. "Beautiful." He said with out realizing it. It dawned on him that he was admiring himself when he saw the smiles on the other reflections in the mirror. "What do you think?" He asked Kim and Tina.

Tina was more thrilled than he knew. He looked so pretty and so natural. There was no doubt in her mind that God had made a mistake when he created this person.

Kim couldn't get over him. She assumed that Betsy would make him look convincing, but not this convincing. "Robin, you look beautiful." She didn't even think what she was saying but he didn't seem to mind.

"I do, don't I?" He looked back to the mirror, admiring himself.

Betsy owed Kim a favor for the outfits she got her at cost, from where she worked. The wash, cut and style were on her. The rinse was fifteen. Kim didn't mind at all. It was well worth it.

The next time she came in she would tell Betsy who it really was she gave a makeover to. Now wasn't the time. While they were at the mall there was one other little thing.

Tina and Rob waited outside the salon for Kim.

"Don't you just love it." Tina was still fussing over his hair.

"Ok you two." Kim came out smiling. "Let's get going." She didn't lead them toward the door where they came in.

"Where're we going?" Rob asked, walking confidently beside her. His new hair did a lot to boost his confidence. The three weaved between the crowds and he was hardly nervous at all.

They were almost there. Kim led them out of the flow of traffic, off to the side where they could talk. "Robin, did you ever consider getting your ears pierced?"

The question caught him a little off guard. Sure he thought about it. If it wasn't for him stubborn parents, he would have done it long ago. But only one ear. He knew Kim meant both. "I've thought about it." He replied cautiously.

"Well, how bout it?" She asked.

"I don't know." He was a little scared. What would him parents say?. Rob didn't much care what Uncle Chris of the others might think.

Tina thought the plan was to get him clipons for tomorrow night. This was a surprise to her too. She was shocked that he was even considering the idea.

"Come on. Lots of guys wear those little hoops in their ears. You ever notice how many musicians have both ears pierced?"

He'd noticed.

Kim was pretty shrewd. Tina knew she was playing on his desire to be a musician.

"There's nothing to it. It doesn't even hurt." Kim insisted. "You're not afraid are you?"

Tina worried her sister might be going too far.

Afraid! No way. "Alright, let's go."

It didn't take long. The hardest part was picking out the right earrings. Piercing was free when you bought a pair. The girls helped him find just the right ones.

Kim was right about it not hurting. It was over before he knew it. He left the store wearing little gold studs. They bought a pair of pretty gold drop earrings they picked out together. Tina bought those for him and he promised, as he had Kim, to pay them back. In the little bag, he also carried a pair of tiny gold hoops that cost him everything he had on him. They would be for daytime. He'd seen plenty of guys wearing the tiny hoops and he was told the new holes would close up if he didn't wear something in them, at least for the first few weeks.

That was enough for tonight. It was almost ten and the mall was closing. They had to go back to Kim's so he could change and do something with his hair, so he could go home and to work tomorrow.

Rob showered again and washed his hair for the third time that evening. He actually regretted having to wash out the style that Betsy had given him. It seemed like such a waste.

Rob did his own ponytail while Kim and Tina watched. When he discovered that the hair around his face and his bangs were too short now to comb to the back, he panicked at first. The styling gel they gave him took care of the problem. It plastered the short hairs to his head with little effort.

What bothered him though was the lighteners hadn't washed out. He still had the highlights. Those same highlights had looked so great earlier. Rob decided no one would notice and if they did, so what. He didn't have to explain himself to anyone.

There was one other problem. His underwear still lay soaking in the sink. He had no choice but to wear the panties he'd had on that night. Who would know, he told himself. He'd return them tomorrow.

It was definitely a let down to have him back as Rob, the boy. The attributes that made him so pretty did so little for the boy. When they looked at him now, he looked so strange. Kim and Tina were glad he didn't make a fuss about wearing the panties home. The more he wore them, the quicker he'd get used to them. It was really kind of cute, knowing he had them on under his jeans.

Like the night before, it was a long ride to St Pete. At least he didn't have to sneak up the driveway in just his underwear.

After tonight, just taking him to Carol's tomorrow would seem anticlimactic. Kim and Tina decided Kim should give Carol a call in the morning and see what they could come up with.

Of course his Uncle said something about the earrings. He wore one stud and one hoop. Rob just ignored his comment.

He didn't say anything about his hair though. It took Rob forever to try to get it plastered down but it still didn't look right. He finally gave up and put on his baseball cap. That was a better idea anyway. It made it harder to see the highlights.

It was a tough day at work. They started to plaster the pool walls and they were all there working, Uncle Chris and the whole crew. He was the grunt, running here and there to do their bidding.

One of the guys asked him why he didn't wear shorts, everyone else did? He couldn't tell him the real reason he hadn't worn them for the past two days. Rob just gave him a smart answer so he'd leave him alone. He couldn't show them his smooth, soft, hairless legs.

Rob made sure no noticed that he'd shaved his armpits. He kept his shirt on all day.

The morning dragged by. True, he was busy, but the real reason time went so slowly was he was really excited about tonight.

Rob had lunch inside, in the air conditioning, with the girls. His Uncle and the other guys sat outside in the dirt, in the sweltering heat. Rob saw their glaring looks and laughed to himself. Let them harass him all they wanted. If things went the way he hoped, he wouldn't be digging holes in the ground much longer.

"Your hair looks awful." Tina said when he sat down at the table.

He agreed. Later, it would look better. He was a little anxious about getting it to look as good as it had the night before, when Betsy did it for him.

"We'll take off for my apartment as soon as you're done out there." Kim wanted plenty of time to get him ready.

He had one question he wanted to ask, "What am I going to wear tonight?"

Tina saw the outfit Kim had bought him to wear. She showed it to her the day before. "I borrowed you an outfit from one of my friends. You're going to look great."

He was almost afraid to ask, "What is it?"

"Tina found you a really nice skirt and blouse. I think you'll like it." Kim told him, excited.

Seeing how excited they were about what they'd come up with it was hard to tell them how he felt about their choice of outfits. The romper, with its shorts bottom was bad enough but a skirt? "Great." He said without enthusiasm.

"Don't worry Rob. You're going to look fantastic tonight. Kim and I are both wearing skirts too." Tina tried to reassure him.

That was supposed to help?

"Remember what we talked about?" Kim reminded him. "We've got to distract everyone so they don't think twice that you might be anything but a young woman."

Rob hadn't forgotten.

"I talked to Carol this morning. I told her we'd be over tonight. She said she and the others were going to go out before practice and get something to eat. She asked us to join them. That alright with you?" Tina asked.

She had, in fact, suggested it herself. Carol thought it was a great idea. Marsha and Ginny knew about Rob now. They didn't believe her at first, Ginny still had trouble believing it.

Carol had some other suggestions but they were a little extreme and Kim didn't want to totally embarrass Rob. Eating out with the five girls was enough.

They had a long talk about Rob and his aspirations. "He's good, there's no doubt about that but I can't use a guy."

Kim told her what he said about performing as Robin if he had to, for a while, to gain a reputation.

"He's got to be kidding. They'd laugh him out of the business and us along with him." Carol was sure of that.

"He just wants it so badly that he can't see that and I'm not about to tell him." Kim felt more than a little compassion for him.

"Well I can't. I'm not even supposed to know Robin's a guy."

"I know, I know. Just let him practice with you once in a while. That'll help."

Carol didn't have a problem with that. She thought he was so great. She didn't tell Kim about Mike's interest in the boy. He told her not to tell anyone that he knew 'Robin's' secret. Carol knew better than to disobey him.

Rob looked up and saw that his Uncle and the others were getting up to go back to work. It had only been about twenty minutes and lunch was over. He thanked the girls for lunch and went back outside.

A few of the guys gave him a hard time that afternoon. They had a few smart remarks for him. If his Uncle hadn't been with them it would have been worse. He knew that.

The afternoon went even slower that the morning had. Five o'clock came and went and they kept on working. Rob noticed their mother in the kitchen about that time. That complicated things a little.

The girls worried that if she got too close a look at Rob that she'd see Robin. It wasn't very hard to see the resemblance.

Uncle Chris didn't call it quits till six.

Rob could see the girls inside. He knew they were waiting for him to be done. Tina ducked out the back door when her mother went to her bedroom for a minute. "Meet us down the street when they're gone. We'll pick you up."

Chris was beginning to wonder what was going on with the boy and these girls. He couldn't figure their attraction toward Rob. What he did on his own time was none of his business, as long as the kid was doing his work. "Just don't stay out all night." He warned him.

What if he did, Rob thought to himself. He didn't like his parents telling him what to do. Having his Uncle try to run his life he liked even less.

He watched the trucks pull away then walked around the corner and down the street, to wait for his friends.

They weren't meeting Carol and the others till eight. Kim would have liked a little more time. She told Rob to hurry in the shower.

"You going to put rollers in it?" Rob asked Kim as she brushed out his knots. He was really curious what it would look like.

"Not tonight. We don't have enough time." She told him with a smile. He was really getting into the role. They really didn't have the time tonight. Anyway, that would be a little much for dinner out with the girls. "We can do that another time if you want." She offered. Kim smiled.

Kim showed him how and he blow dried and styled his hair himself.

Rob wanted to. He wanted to see if he could make it look like Betsy did.

Kim gave him a little help and it looked wonderful when they were done.

Rob was ready for Tina to do his makeup. He turned to her when she picked up the powder.

"Not tonight Robin." She said with an impish grin. "You're going to learn how to do it yourself." She handed him the compact.

Trial and error. Rob took three tries to get his eyeliner on right. The eyeshadow was worse. He messed that up badly but Tina wouldn't let him quit until he got it right. The rest wasn't so bad. She helped him when it came to the mascara. There was just something about putting that on his lashes, so close to his eyes.

"Very nice." Tina complemented him when he finished.

"You look very pretty." Kim, standing behind him, said with a big grin.

"Jealous?" Rob got into the spirit and they all laughed.

He was showered, he put on the moisturizer again, his hair was sent and his makeup was almost done. He had only his lips left to do. Now it was time to get him dressed.

Rob checked the bed as soon as he came out of the bathroom after his shower. No clothes lay on the bed. He was nervous, but he was curious too, about the outfit he would wear tonight. He still wore only his towel.

"Well" He said, standing in the middle of the room, waiting.

The stood side by side, in front of the dresser, looking at him and smiling.

"Are you going to show me or not?" He playfully stomped his foot, the way an impatient girl might. Then he couldn't help himself, seeing them trying not to laugh, he broke out laughing again.

Rob knew they were teasing him and he knew them well enough by now that he thought it was cute. Not only did he like them, but he trusted them. Rob hadn't had a lot of friends in his life that he could say that about.

He was so cute. So anxious, so excited. With each new day he became more relaxed and had more fun with the charade. Neither of them was sorry for tricking him into dressing up. Not when he was enjoying himself so much.

Kim had his new bra behind her back. She brought it out and handed it to him. "You need me to help you?" she asked, kidding.

He took it from her and put it around his waist and hooked it in front, spinning the clasp to the back. He slung the straps up, over his shoulder. He made it look like he'd been putting on one all his adult life instead of two days. He did notice that it wasn't the same one he'd been wearing. It was just as lacy. The word pretty was difficult for him to say out loud.

"Where's my falsies?" Rob asked Kim. He was enjoying the kidding.

"I got you some new ones." Kim turned and picked up the box on the dresser. She took it over to the bed and asked him to sit down next to her.

He wondered what she had in the box? What kind of falsies came in a box? He had no clue.

Kim took out one and unwrapped it. She had spent much more than she planned. The woman in the store talked her into them. "They're the closest thing to natural. Your mother will love them." She told Kim. Kim had to lie. She couldn't tell the woman who she was really shopping for.

Rob had never seen anything like it. He squeezed it while Kim held it in her hand and it was soft. It gave the way he thought a woman's breast would. He really didn't know what a real breast felt like.

"I'm going to wear that?"

Kim couldn't resist. "You're going to wear two. You'd look pretty funny otherwise." Given the mood they were all in, it was alright to kid him.

"Seriously. It's a breast form. Women who've had mastectomies wear them."

Rob didn't know what a 'mastectomy' was.

The dumb look on his face, as he looked at the thing, told Tina he didn't know. "When women have to have a breast removed, usually because of cancer, this is what they often wear." She was serious now. "They're almost like real, the way they look and feel."

"I see what you mean." Kim put it in his hand.

"That's a mastectomy bra. It's made to hold the breast forms so they don't shift. You'll look much better with them than the shoulder pads and socks."

He squeezed it gently in his hand.

"Now you'll have a better idea how it feels to have breasts." Kim wasn't teasing him now.

Intriguing, he thought to himself, "How do they fit in the bra?"

So this is what it feels like, Rob thought to himself as he stood up and walked across the room.

They both watched his look of fascination with delight. They wiped away their smiles when he turned around.

"Ok, enough of this. You need to get dressed." Kim said with a serious tone in her voice. "We're running out of time."

Kim handed Rob the new panties she bought him. They weren't what she would have preferred to see him in but he needed something with enough body to it to hide to hide his manhood. The stretch lace would do it.

Somehow, Rob wasn't surprised. They did fit him better than the flimsy ones he wore last night. He went in the bathroom to put them on. He wasn't brave enough yet to do that in front of the girls.

Rob tucked his dick down between his legs when he pulled the panties up. With the added stretch of the pantyhose it was hard to tell what he was hiding. He wasn't nearly as self conscious as he was that first time when he came out of the bathroom in just his underwear. It wasn't as if they could see anything.

This time when he looked around, he saw what they expected him to wear tonight. The skirt was the same kind Tina wore, a short jeans skirt. The blouse was a simple yellow cotton top. He had expected something much worse, something more feminine.

"It's a ribbed knit." Kim told him as he pulled it over his head. It was more snug than it looked. When he pulled it down to his waist it showed off his new chest a little more than he would have liked.

"It fits you well." Tina commented. He had a nice looking bust now.

The skirt was a little tight going up over his hips but once up to his waist, he could button it easily. Rob slipped his feet into the same white flats he had worn the past two nights. He was anxious to see how he looked in the mirror.

"Wait till your finished." Kim suggested. She had his new earrings in her hand and she replaced the studs with them.

"Now?" He asked, impatiently.

"Not yet." Tina draped a necklace around his neck. Not the one he'd worn the night before. This one was a little wider.

They had decided, with the blouses scooped neckline he had to wear something a little heavier that would draw attention to his chest. It worked.

"Can I look now?"

"Just relax Robin. You'll get to see yourself soon." Tina loved calling him that. The name fit him now. "Follow me into the kitchen. There's one more thing we need to do."

"You're going to do my nails?" He saw the polish on the table. He wondered, wasn't this taking things a little too far?

"You're nails look like shit." Kim said bluntly. "You chew them. No self respecting girl would go around with nails like yours."

"So, sit down and let us fix them up for you." Tina encouraged him.

He sat there while they each took a hand to save time. Rob saw the bag on the table but he didn't know, until they finished his cuticles, what it held.

"Now don't get all excited. You have the hands of a boy. We need to make them look more feminine."

He recognized the nail extensions. He'd seen them advertised on TV. "Do you have to?" Rob pulled his hands back to his lap.

"You're beginning to sound like a broken record. Will you just stop wining and let us help you?" Kim said impatiently.

She hadn't taken that tone with him before and he felt guilty for questioning each little thing they did for him. "I'm sorry." He said earnestly. He put his hands back on the table.

His nails took a long time to get right but it had been worth it. This was the girl Kim and Tina had envisioned the first time they laid eyes on him. He was adorable.

He could hardly see himself in his reflection anymore, only the girl stared back at him. He did look pretty convincing. The hair is what did it for him. Like when he saw it last night for the first time, it was hard to imagine that they could make it look this way.

His red fingernails looked so strange but at least they weren't as long as theirs.

Rob and Tina stood by the door waiting for Kim. She had to call Carol and tell her we'd meet her and the others at the restaurant. They were running late and he knew it was his fault. They took so much time worrying about how he looked, instead of being able to get ready themselves.

He tried to act confident as they walked out the door. He had been 'acting' since Tuesday night. It was still unnerving, going out and being seen by strangers. The only time he forgot and just relaxed was when he played his music.

The ride in the car wasn't bad, it was when he got out, at the restaurant. Of all the places to pick, Hooters. Hot wings, beer and rednecks. "I didn't pick it. Carol and Marsha did." Kim insisted. It really was Marsha's idea.

"Just take it easy Robin. Kim and I are right here." He was actually blushing. It was so cute.

So many heads turned when they came through the door. The place was packed. Rob felt like every eye in the place was on him. Had he stopped to think, he would have realized he wasn't there alone. Tina and Kim drew the attention of men and boys whereever they went. Rob was too preoccupied with himself to realize.

"Three?" The blond with the big chest asked, startling Rob.

"No, there'll be six of us." Kim told her.

She looked right at him and, aside from her mandatory smile, she didn't bat an eye. That helped Rob a little.

Eyes followed them as they made their way between the tables. Strange sensation, Rob thought to himself as his chest bounced when he walked. He had all he could do to keep from looking down at himself, at his chest.

"What can I get you ladies?" The waitress asked.

"Coke Robin?" Tina asked.

He nodded. "Sure." This one didn't give him a second glance either. He sat with his knees together, his legs under the chair and his hand in his lap. Just like a lady should. He didn't need to be reminded again, what to do.

"Make that three." Kim added. She wondered where Carol and the others were? It wasn't long before she spotted the car pull into the parking lot. Shit, she said to herself. She saw Mike get out of the car with the others. She didn't know they planned on bringing him.

Marsha was the one that spotted them as she came through the door. She waved. She was dying to get another look at the boy. When Carol told her about him she was floored. She wished she had paid closer attention to him when she could. Now she had her chance.

Ginny, the doubter, wanted a better look. The other night, when Robin was playing she watched him and didn't see anything that might lead her to believe Carol. She was sure that if Robin was a guy, pretending to be a girl, she would have known. She'd look at Robin with a much more critical eye this time. Just imagine, she thought to herself, what a kick.

Mike had his reasons for wanting another look at him. He maneuvered into position as they approached the table. He took the seat next to the boy, with Carol on his right.

"Hey Kim." Carol said to her friend. "Hi." She said casually to Tina and Robin. He might realize she knew if she made to much of a fuss about seeing him again.

The others were careful not to let on either as they said hello.

Ginny, still not so sure of Robin, asked, "You do something different with your hair Robin?"

"Do you like it? I had it done yesterday." He expected someone to notice it was different. He had practiced his response.

Kim and Tina were impressed.

"I love it. It's a much better look for you." Marsha commented. She had all she could do to not keep from laughing.

Carol thought he was so adorable but she didn't say anything. She and Mike had a fight that afternoon and she wasn't in such a terrific mood.

Ginny still had trouble accepting that Robin was a boy. An awkward girl, perhaps, but a boy!?

Conversation turned away from Rob and he was grateful. They turned to his favorite subject, music and he wasn't afraid to speak up.

Kim knew Carol well enough to tell that something was wrong. It didn't take much to figure out that she and Mike had fought. These days they did little else. Kim still couldn't figure out why Carol couldn't recognize him for the creep that he was? Kim realized that, as their manager, she couldn't severe their relationship but she didn't have to sleep with him.

Mike was in the middle of it. His attitude, generally, was that his was the only opinion that mattered. Tonight, he listened more. He asked questions, dragging Robin into the conversation.

Mike had a plan and step one was get Robin to open up to him. He would accomplish that first with talk of the business. Later, he would get to know more of his personal life.

They watched him with delight, all through dinner. They took care not to let him catch them staring. That wasn't difficult since most of the time he was engrossed in conversation with Mike.

Rob found him fascinating. He had never met a promoter before. He knew so much about the business and Rob wanted to learn all he could. He was so easy to talk to that Rob quickly got over being nervous, around him.

Kim wasn't thrilled that Rob and Mike got along so well but the conversation was innocent enough. She knew Rob was starved for information about the music business so it was natural that they'd talk. She watched Mike closely and nothing he did or said led her to believe that Mike knew Rob's secret.

The girls would have preferred that he ride with them, back to Carol's house, but he went with Kim and Tina. They wanted to ask him to go with them but that might have given him cause to wonder.

Mike was quite satisfied with his progress with Robin. While the girls got set up, Mike continued his conversation from dinner with the boy. He maneuvered him away from his friends and they stood in the corner talking.

Mike started injecting personal questions into their conversations. He started with innocent little things like, where he came from? What his parents did for a living? He kept coming back to music, to keep him off guard.

Rob liked him a lot. He seemed really interested in him as a musician. He began to wonder what Mike might be able to do for him in terms of his career? There was no harm in letting him think he was a girl, for now. He would tell him the truth later, at some point, but for now he would just let it go.

Rob didn't mind answering his few personal questions. He just adjusted his answers slightly. It wasn't hard at all.

They played for over an hour and he had loved it. It would have been fun to have them play some of his songs but he never thought to write his music down. It wasn't that he didn't know how, Rob had been reading sheet music since he was little. It was simpler to just play their songs.

Rob was anxious to get back to his discussion with Mike when they took a break and he wasn't nervous at all about being away from Kim and Tina.

Mike was pleased with his progress with the boy. He was on the outs with his parents. They'd shipped him off to Florida to stay with his Uncle, who he disliked intensely. He didn't stop there. Mike wanted to know more about him. By the time they were ready to quit for the night he felt he knew all he needed to.

"You need to go to the bathroom before we go?" Tina asked.

"No, I'm fine." No way would he go there. He could wait till they got back to Kim's.

"We'll be back in a minute." Tina and Kim left him there with Mike. The others were loading up the equipment for the gig they were playing on Friday night."

"We ought to get together and talk about your career." Mike told him when they were alone.

"I'd like that. When's good?" Rob was excited about his offer. Mike recognized he had talent.

"I'd prefer to talk with you alone. Why don't you give me a call tomorrow? We'll set up a time." He handed Robin one of his cards. "It would be better if you didn't mention this to Carol or the others."

Rob didn't understand?

"They're small time and I wouldn't want to hurt them for anything. Let's just keep this between us."

Rob's ego was big enough to believe him. "Alright." He said with a smile. "Thanks."

"You know, a friend of mine is coming into town Saturday night to hear a group play in Tampa. He should meet you."

Rob was thrilled with the idea.

"He does a lot of booking for me across the country. Right now he's working with me to set up one of my clients with a month's gig in Vegas." Mike really laid it on. "I think he'd be really interested if he could meet you."

"An audition?" Rob asked, enthusiasticly.

"Not right off. He'd just want to meet you first. You know, talk a little, get to know you. I know you two would hit it off."

Rob couldn't wait. "Ok, I'm ready."

"Call me tomorrow and we'll set it up." Mike shook the boy's small hand.

As they drove back to Kim's apartment, she was curious. "What were you and Mike talking about?"

"Just about the music business." He had to curtail his excitement. Rob thought that if he told Kim and Tina his plans that it would get back to Carol and Mike told him not to let that happen.

"He's quite a character, isn't he?" Tina remarked.

"He's alright. He knows a lot of people." Rob said in Mike's defense. He was impressed by him.

Kim would have told Rob what he was really like if it would have mattered but she didn't see any reason to.

Rob had other things on his mind at the moment without worrying what his friends thought of Mike. He had a problem.

How was he going to go with him Saturday night to meet the man he spoke of? He could ask Kim and Tina to help him dress up but Mike didn't want them to know he was meeting him and Rob could understand why.

That left him with having to do it on his own and he had a real problem there. He not only didn't know what he should wear but that would mean he'd have to go shopping to buy himself clothes. He didn't know anything about buying girl's clothes. His 'size' was only his first problem. He'd need an outfit, shoes, underwear, a purse, makeup and everything else. What would all of that cost? Rob had a lot to think about.

When he was changed back to his own clothes he got up his nerve and asked, "Do you think I could borrow the makeup?" He felt foolish. "You know, to practice."

That was fine with them, they were just a little surprised. "Sure." Kim said with a smile.

"Maybe you could just put it all in here." He got brave and handed her the purse he'd used.

Kim wondered if he was planing on venturing out on his own but she dismissed the thought as foolish. That wasn't likely. He just wanted to practice with the makeup.

Tina didn't mind loaning him her purse. It was one she rarely used anyway. "You've got everything you need." She handed him back the purse with the makeup. "Don't let your Uncle catch you." She said, joking.

"Trust me, I won't." That wouldn't happen.

Kim had put the previous thought out of her mind. She was in a kidding mood too. "Anything else you need?" She said smiling. She picked up first the panties and then the mastectomy bra with its fillers.

"Could I?" He asked, sheepishly. It was a little embarrassing.

Kim had only been fooling around. "I guess so. Why not." He was going to dress up at home. "Don't you be going out without us." She cautioned him.

"I wouldn't do that. I just want to practice and get used to the way it feels." It was a plausible lie.

"Here," Tina got a duffel bag from Kim's closet. "Take the whole outfit." She put the skirt, blouse and shoes in with the underwear she took from Kim. She didn't forget the pantyhose." He might as well have it all so he wouldn't be half dressed. It couldn't do any harm.

"Thanks." He took the bag, gladly. If he did go meet Mike on Saturday and least he some of what he'd need. Maybe he could wear the outfit again?

Rob hung up the skirt and blouse in the back of his small closet the rest he hid behind some boxes on the closet floor.

It was late but he couldn't fall asleep. His dreams were about to come true in a few days. He was finally going to be able to do what he'd always dreamed of.

Rob thought Thursday was a slow day. Friday was worse.

Kim had only one day left of her vacation and she had so much to do. She had planned on accomplishing all these things and here it was, Friday. She never made it over to the house at all that day. With Gary picking her up for dinner she wouldn't get over at all Friday.

Carol had invited him over next week, on Tuesday night, to play with them. That was only because Kim asked her to. I had been fun but there was no point in continuing to toy with him. It was time for it to be over. Rob needed to get on with his life, as Rob.

Tina was still enjoying him though. She got such a thrill out of seeing him transformed to Robin. If Kim wanted to call it quits, that was her business. Tina had lots of ideas for things they could do together. She wanted to introduce Robin to her friends. She'd have a ball fooling them. She had plans for him.

"Would you like to spend the weekend with me Robin?" Tina asked when he came inside to have lunch with her. It would be great to have Robin for the whole weekend.

He was getting used to them calling him that. It didn't bother him.

"I don't think I can. I have a lot to do this weekend." He had made up his mind to go shopping.

Tina was disappointed. She thought sure that he'd say yes. "How about tonight then?" She suggested. Even just one night would be fun. She could invite some of her girlfriends over and they could have sort of a pajama party. That was just one of her ideas.

Staying with Tina might just work into his plans. He had figured on going to the mall tonight to find an outfit. If he could talk her into going with him, on some pretense, then he could make a game of looking at clothes. Tomorrow, he could go back and pick them up. "Alright," he said, "But can we go to the mall tonight?"

She was thrilled with that idea. She'd call Gina and Pam to go with them. "Great." Later, they'd all come back to her place. Rob would be just like one of the girls, as far as Gina and Pam would be concerned. She was glad now that she hadn't told them what she'd been up to for the past few days.

Rob had the rest of the afternoon to figure out the rest of the details on his plan. He wasn't worried about Uncle Chris. He'd just tell him what he had last night, that he was going out with the girls again tonight. He'd never even know if he came home, not that he cared.

Rob originally planned on going shopping as himself tonight, not Robin. This way going to be a little harder but he had to handle it, if he hoped to have a chance with the promoter.

When the others were gone, Rob went inside. "You'll have to hurry up and change before Mom gets home."

The word 'change' was ironic, he thought. Rob wished now that he hadn't taken everything home with his the night before. He would have to make do with whatever Tina could come up with.

Showered, dressed in only the padded bra and a pair of Tina's panties, they went through her closet to find him something to wear. "This would look cute on you." Tina pulled out a sleeveless sundress.

"I don't think that will work." It wasn't just that he didn't want to wear a dress, which he wasn't anxious to do. It was too low cut and he would run the risk of someone noticing that he wore a bra stuffed with socks and shoulder pads.

"You're right." Tina put it back, disappointed. Then she remembered, "I have one in here somewhere that would be perfect." It had short sleeves and a different neckline. She found it all the way in the back. "Here Robin, try this on."

It was better than the other but it was still a dress. He slipped it over his head and Tina buttoned it up the back for him. It was short, as short as the romper was. The difference was, this one didn't have shorts at the bottom.

"That looks cute on you." Tina loved the way it fit him, tapered at the waist. It gave the impression that he had more hip than he did. The little skirt flared a good four inches above his knees.

Rob looked in the mirror. The blue and white polkadotted sundress did seem to fit him well. He hated to admit that he looked nice in it. "It is pretty." He turned to see how it looked in back.

This was what thrilled Tina. He was enjoying seeing himself as a girl. Rob, the boy, was cocky and selfcentered, but when he was transformed to Robin he became sweet and demure. If it was his fear and uncertainty that made him so adorably shy, she hoped he wouldn't get over it too soon.

"Let's do something a little different with your hair tonight." Tina suggested.

He liked the way his hair was styled. "What do you want to do?"

"I want to see how it looks, pulled back. I can put it back if you don't like it."

"Alright." What could it hurt?

Tina often wore her hair with a bow in back. Robin's hair was long enough to style that way. "There, that's perfect." She was thrilled with how sweet he looked.

It wasn't bad. He had been afraid that he might look funny with it pulled back, off his shoulders, but it didn't. He'd always liked the way girls looked with bows in their hair. Who would have ever thought that he'd ever wear one. "It looks nice."

"I'm glad you like it." She wanted to tell him it made him look softer, more feminine, but she decided that probably wasn't wise.

Rob waited for his chance. It came when Tina went into the bathroom to change. "Hello, is Mike Santos there?" He spoke barely above a whisper.

"This is Mike."

"This is Robin."

"Robin, hi!" Mike had been waiting anxious to hear from him. He was beginning to wonder if he was ever going to call.

"I was just calling to see if..." Rob was really nervous, "if you and I... If I could still go with you tomorrow." He was so afraid that Mike hadn't really meant what he'd said. He was almost as afraid that he did. That would mean he have to go out with him, alone. The thought was terrifying but he had to do it.

Mike could hear the strain in his voice. He had been worried that the boy was going to back out. His being nervous didn't bother Mike at all. "Of course we're going. I called my associate this morning and we're all set for tomorrow night." His plans were made and John was anxious to meet Robin, very anxious after hearing Mike's description of the boy. "I'll pick you up at eight."

No, he couldn't do that. He couldn't pick him up at Uncle Chris'. "No, It'd be better if I meet you somewhere."

Mike thought he understood. The Uncle didn't know the boy was a closet Queen. That was fine, all the better actually. "Your Uncle giving you trouble?

Rob had told Mike about not getting along with the man but that was all he said about Uncle Chris. "Yes, a little."

"It probably wouldn't be a good idea for you to wait for me to pick you up on a street corner. It's not safe. Why don't I just wait for you near your house?"

He was concerned about him, about Robin. Rob liked the idea that he was so considerate. "Alright, thanks." He gave Mike the address.

"We're going to a meet my friend at Stingers so wear something appropriate. I want you to make a good first impression." Mike didn't know that Rob had no idea what kind of place Stingers was or what would be 'appropriate'. "I'm really excited for you. You're going to be a big hit. I'll see you at eight Robin." The boy had no idea how big a hit he'd be.

That settled it, he thought as he hung up the phone. He wouldn't miss this chance for anything. Now he had to find out about Stingers. Surely Tina would know.

They heard Tina's mother come in. He checked himself in the mirror, one last time. He was ready. Tina had loaned him some of her jewelry, the earrings looked so big in his ears but she assured him he looked great. He trusted her. It didn't take them as long to do his nails this time and he painted them himself. Tina said he did a good job.

The low navy pumps she gave him to wear were another story. They would take some getting used to. He took careful steps, getting used to them.

"Hi Mom."

"Hello Mrs Strand." Rob said softly.

"Oh, hi girls. What are you two up to, all dressed up?"

"Robin and I are going out. Gina and Pam are going to meet us at the mall then we'll go out from there."

Tina had mentioned earlier that they might see her friends later. He didn't know it was a definite thing. He couldn't let that stop him. It would have been easier for him if they went alone but he'd manage, he had to.

"What about some dinner?" Mrs. Strand asked.

"We'll get something out."

"Alright, but don't be too late."

"Is it alright if the girls stay over tonight?" Tina asked.

Tina hadn't said anything about that. He didn't like that idea at all.

"Sure Honey, that's fine."

He waited till they were outside. "I can't stay with those other girls here."

"Sure you can."

"I don't know how to act." He insisted.

"You do fine. Besides, it's just what you need."

He didn't understand. "What do you mean?"

"Kim and I can only teach you so much. You need to hang around with girls that don't know you. If they think you're just another girl, you'll learn more from them just by watching than we could ever think to teach you."

He decided she had a point. "You won't tell them?" He did worry about that.

"Not on your life." It would be more fun with them not knowing. Later, after Rob was gone, then she would tell, but not until. She'd have a ball, teasing them about being so easily fooled. No, she wouldn't embarrass him in front of her friends.

Rob still couldn't help but look into faces for that telltale hint of recognition as they walked into the mall. Most only glanced casually. Some guys did a little more than that but none saw the boy in the dress, only Robin. He didn't really care to be looked at that way but it was sort of amusing that he was able to fool them.

There were other things on his mind then being discovered. He was a little preoccupied with watching how he walked in the heals. He was getting used to them.

Tina hadn't even thought to ask him earlier, "What did you need to get tonight?"

Rob answered, "I just wanted to see if I could find a new pair of jeans for work but I don't think I better now."

She knew what he meant. "That's no problem. We'll find you some. Lot's of girls buy guy's jeans. Some of us find they fit better than girl's."

That was fine but that didn't help him with his immediate problem.

They met Gina and Pam at the food court. Gina was a tall, dark haired girl. She wasn't all that pretty but she seemed nice enough. Pam, a cute redhead, was quite a character. She was very outgoing and he liked her instantly.

They seemed to accept him too. Tina introduced him as a new neighbor, having just moved down from Ohio.

Rob thought it would be harder than it was but they weren't so intimidating. Tina was right about one thing. He learned a lot as they ate dinner. He watched their every move. He wanted to learn all he could, he would need to know how to function if he was going to pull off his masquerade tomorrow night.

Most of their conversation was about guys. Pam was dating two at the same time while Gina had been seeing the same guy for a year. Rob shouldn't have been surprise that Tina had a steady boyfriend. He pick up, through their conversation, that he'd been away for a while but he'd be back next Wednesday.

"Have you met any guys yet?" Gina asked Robin.

"No."

"We'll have to take care of Robin." Pam suggested. "We know a lot of guys that would be perfect for her."

He saw Tina's little grin. "Thanks, but I'm not looking for a relationship right now." He made up a story about having just broken up with someone after going out with them for a long time. He thought that would get them to back off about fixing Robin up.

"All the more reason to find someone new Robin. You can't just mope around forever."

"Gina's right Robin. We'll steer you in the right direction. Robert would be perfect for you. He's handsome, considerate and he loves girls that are shy. He's a real sweetie."

He gave up. "He sounds nice." Let them think they had a chance of fixing him up. He wouldn't be around long, once he got a started with his music.

Rob decided to use the topic to his advantage. "Someone told me that Stingers was a good place to pick up guys?"

Tina wondered where that came from? What a strange thing for him to ask.

Pam had been there. "Not really, unless you want to find an older guy. The crowd there is usually around thirty and up. It's kind of a sophisticated crowd."

"Guys in suits and all that?" Rob asked like it wasn't important.

"Pretty much." Pam agreed. "The women get really dressed up. It's a pretty fancy place."

That's what he needed to know.

"Robin needs to find some jeans." Tina announced as they dumped their trash.

"Dillards is having a sale." Gina suggested. We could start there. She led the way.

"What was that business about Stingers?" Tina whispered as they walked a few steps back from Gina and Pam.

"It's nothing, really. I just had and idea. Go along with me, ok."

"Sure, why not." Kim agreed. She wondered what he was up to?

Gina and Pam led Rob straight to the Junior's department.

"Relaxed or regular?" Pam asked as they wove through the racks.

He didn't know the difference. "Regular."

"I bought a pair of these last week." Gina took him straight to the display of Bongo Jeans. "What size."

Tina anticipated the question. She knew he had no idea. "You're a five aren't you Robin.

"Yes." He was grateful for her rescue. Now he had one more tidbit of information to tuck away.

Rob joined them, searching through the stacks of jeans.

"Here's one." Pam handed them to him.

"Come on." Tina took his arm. "I want to see how they look."

Rob was just going to take them to the cashier. Tina guided him into the dressing room.

In the little room he whispered, "Do I have to?" Meaning, try them on.

"Sure, don't you want to know if they fit?"

"I was going to buy guys' jeans." He reminded her.

"Just try them on." She urged. "There, now no one can come in." She locked the door.

Rob felt so vulnerable when she helped him out of the dress. If anyone saw him now, he'd be exposed. He tried to hurry so he could get dressed again but the jeans didn't cooperate. He had to squeeze into them, they were so snug.

"They fit you well." Tina commented.

"They're too tight."

"That's how they're supposed to fit silly."

"Not on a guy."

"You're going to need a pair of jeans Robin." Tina insisted.

If the alternative was to have to wear clothes like the sundress all the time, she was right. He just wasn't thrilled about the idea of walking around in skin tight jeans. "I suppose you're right."

Tina felt she could talk him into almost anything now. She was quite pleased. "Of course I'm right. You'll be glad you did, you'll see."

It was a relief, if you could call it that, to be dressed again. Before they left the dressing room he said, "You'll probably think I'm crazy but I saw this girl, in a magazine, in this really pretty dress and I was wondering...?"

She didn't let him finish. "You want to try some on? See how you'd look in one?" She loved the idea.

"Would that be too crazy?" He asked sheepishly.

"No. I'd be fun."

"I thought, for Gina's and Pam's sake, I would make up something about meeting a guy at Stingers. Would that work?"

"That's fine Robin. You worry too much about what people think. All you have to say is that you want to look for a new dress and we'll just go try on a bunch. It's not like we have to buy anything."

"Do they let you, like, put a whole look together." That would make things simpler for him tomorrow, when he came back.

"Sure. Why not. This'll be fun. I'm glad you're enjoying yourself Robin."

Tina's attitude, her bubbly personality, was almost infectious.

The girl at the register took his jeans to hold while they looked around.

Now, at least, Tina knew what kind of dress he was looking for and it wouldn't be such a chore to lead her in the right direction. She'd help him put it all together and all he had to do was suffer one night's embarrassment.

He could have sworn they had him try on at least ten dresses. The one he liked the best, the one that came down to his calves, the others all hated. Tina picked out 'the perfect dress' and they all agreed he looked the best in the figure hugging black one. It was a polyester knit with black lace trim on the high hem and low neckline. Rob thought the neckline was too low but Tina and the others assured him it was fine.

"Don't be a prude Robin." Pam said, kidding.

"It'd look better with a slip but you look beautiful in that." Gina told him sincerely.

He'd need a black slip too?

He felt very conspicuous as he modeled it for them. Tina had gotten him black heals from the shoe department across from dresses. They were higher than the ones he was wearing and they had a gold button on the toe.

Gina and Pam went and found him gold and pearl earrings, with a necklace and bracelet to match, that finished off his look.

"I wish I had a camera. Robin, you look gorgeous." Tina was really impressed.

"Hot." Gina agreed.

They went to return it all while he changed back into the sundress.

When he took the dress off he checked the size. He was definitely a five. As he changed back into the sundress he went through the list of the other things he'd need do get besides the dress, slip and shoes.

Most would be no problem for him to pick up except the black panties, like the stretch lace ones Kim bought him. Stockings shouldn't be any big deal and the jewelry wasn't a problem. Tina showed him a black purse that went perfectly. What else would he need? Nothing he could think of. Rob was satisfied.

They had been at it for almost two hours. Rob didn't realize it had taken that long. He paid for his new jeans, somehow, he felt better about buying them now, he wanted them. He had little to go with them of course.

The dress and everything else was going to cost him a whole week's pay but it would be worth it. he still had a little left. There hadn't been much to spend his money on since he started working for his Uncle. "Would you mind if I looked for a top to go with my jeans, and a pair of sneakers?"

Trying the dress on him had been fun but this was much more practical. "Lets go." Tina agreed.

Gina and Pam didn't have any money to spend but they loved to shop. Helping Robin find a few things was no problem.

In Penny's they found white Keds on sale. The body shop had 'just the perfect blouse', according to Pam. Rob kind of liked it too. It was better than most of the things they saw. It was a short sleeved, white cotton, henley top. Rob liked it because it was much like a t-shirt except it buttoned up part way. It was the least intimidating thing he tried on all night. It would look good with his new jeans.

He was set. That was it. Rob would have been content to go home now. Then he remembered about going back to Tina's with Gina and Pam. He didn't look forward to that.

"Let's go see who's down at Dennys." Pam suggested.

A restaurant?

"Tina explained to Rob. "A lot of our friends hang out there."

These two girls were enough to contend with. "I'm kind of tired."

"It's early yet Robin. Come on."

Tina didn't mind going, they were her friends too. She could just imagine, later, when she told them all how they'd been duped. "Just for a little while Robin."

"Yes, you have to go." Pam and Gina agreed.

He was stuck. Even if he had his own car, he couldn't have left them to go home. He had to go back to Tina's to change.

He wished now that his father had let him drive his car down from Ohio. At least he'd have transportation. It was a bummer, not being able to get around on his own.

He had passed the place a dozen times. He never realized it was a local hangout. There were a half dozen of their friends there. Robin was introduced to the guys as well as the girls. Pam made a comment in front of everyone that Robin was 'unattached and available'. She probably thought she was helping.

Rob was embarrassed by the attention. He had to go through his story all over again, about coming from Ohio for the summer and staying with his Uncle. He was getting better at telling it as he refined it a little each time.

It was a relief when conversation turned to other things and they paid less attention to him.

They were was hardly enough room for all of them to fit in the big round booth. He was sandwiched in between Tina and Pam. The three guys sat across the table. Pam, the most talkative of them all, drew a lot of attention from the others and Rob felt as if the guys glanced his way all too often. He didn't say much at first, trying to be less visible. Having guys watching him made him very uncomfortable.

As time passed, he began to feel more at ease and joined in some of their discussions, when he felt comfortable with the subject. Most of the time it was about guys stuff. He had to be careful not to sound as if he knew too much.

He began to really fit in after a while. Tina loved the way they treated him as just one of the girls. He played the part pretty well, considering he didn't have much practice. She saw the way Jack and Dave looked at him when he wasn't looking. She wondered what he'd say if he knew they were interested in Robin. She fanticized what it would be like to take him on a double date with her and Craig, her boyfriend. Maybe fix him up with Robert, as Gina suggested. That would be so cool.

Buying only soda after soda, to satisfy the waitress, they talked for hours. Finally, around midnight, they decided it was time to go.

They didn't discuss it. It was just something they always did. Tina steered Robin toward the ladies room as she followed the others.

"We'll wait here." Jack said. The three guys stopped in the middle of the lobby.

Rob hesitated when he figured out what was happening. He couldn't go into the ladies room with them.

Tina whispered, "Come on." She took his hand.

If he resisted they'd all wonder what was going on. They'd ask questions and he didn't want that. Rob followed Gina through the door with the figure of a woman on it.

Three of the girls took the stalls, the others used the mirror, while they waited their turn, to fix their make up.

Tina, still holding his hand, led him to the mirrors.

Rob, extremely nervous, took his ques from Tina. He put on fresh lipstick. She brushed her hair, he brushed his. She couldn't go in the stall with him so he had to figure that part out on his own.

Standing, facing the toilet would not be appropriate. He pulled his pantyhose and panties down to his knees, lifted his dress and sat.

He couldn't wait to get out of there but he didn't want to go out alone. He waited for the others.

Gina confided in Robin. "I think Jack likes you."

He managed to hide his initial surprise. Think like a girl, he told himself, "You think so." He asked, forcing a smile.

"He couldn't take his eyes off you."

Jack was the guy with the flat top, with the square chin. "He's cute." At least that what he thought he should say.

"You want me to let him know your interested?" She offered.

That was the last thing he wanted but didn't he just tell her differently? "I don't think I'm ready yet."

"Don't be silly. You can't go on sulking over what's his name forever. You've got to get over him. Jack's a nice guy. You need to give yourself a chance."

She wasn't taking no for an answer. "I'll think about it."

"Great!" Gina was excited about fixing them up.

Rob couldn't help but take a good look at the guy when they joined the others and walked out to the cars. He tried to imagine what it was that attracted a girl to a guy. He looked at Jack and only felt revulsion at the thought of having to kiss him, to have him kiss him back.

Gina, still in the role of matchmaker, watched Robin as she gazed at Jack. Robin said she wasn't interested but she could see she really was. Gina knew she'd have to be shrewd in her plans to bring the two together but she'd manage. She always had in the past.

Rob was relieved to get back to Tina's. It was easier to be close to girls, with him this way, than to be around guys. Even if it meant spending the night with them as Robin.

Tina picked him a nightgown that would hide the fact that he wore a bra.

He changed in the bathroom, with the door locked. The others would only assume that Robin was as modest as she was shy.

Rob just wanted to go to sleep, it was almost one and he was emotionally exhausted. Gina wanted to talk about Jack and when she told Pam and Tina about the earlier discussion, they were just as anxious to pursue the subject.

Tina wondered if there wasn't a way to maneuver Jack and Robin into that double date she had only fanticized about earlier.

Rob had to stay up and hear all about Jack and all his fine qualities. Pam, inadvertently, saved him when she felt she had to talk about her two boyfriends. Rob had to hear a lot of things he really didn't want to. He was amazed at the way girls talk about guys. He never knew they talked about them the way they did. Guys didn't share the sort of things that they did. He knew he turned red a few times. They just thought he was adorable.

Rob woke in the morning in Tina's bed with her. Gina and Pam were in the other bed. He'd felt very odd climbing into bed with his beautiful blond friend. More than once he had to press his hardon down. What a weird predicament to be in.

Tina didn't think anything of it. Having Rob sleep with her was like having any of her girlfriends spend the night. She didn't even think of him as a guy with urges and desires. It never occurred to her that he might have feelings for her.

When the others, in their nighties, went to the kitchen to get some breakfast, Rob got dressed. He knew he shouldn't wear the same thing he'd worn the night before and the jumper he'd worn before was at Kim's, so he did the only other thing he could. He cut off the tags and put on his new tight jeans and blouse.

He decided not to do anything more than put on the clothes. They might already wonder why he felt like he needed to get dressed before them. He'd wait to do the rest.

"I just couldn't wait to see how I looked." He explained when he joined them for breakfast.

As the four of them sat at the kitchen table eating cereal. Gina brought up Jack again. She wanted to make plans to throw Robin and him together. Tina could see how nervous he looked when Gina and Pam suggested a few ideas to get them together. She didn't want to panic him. It would take a little time to get him ready for that. They had time. She didn't help her friends with their plans.

Rob was glad that Tina didn't betray him by trying to get him to go out with Jack. She was a good friend. He almost felt guilty, not telling her his plans for tonight and the opportunity Mike was offering him.

It wasn't till the girls were getting dressed and they were all putting on their makeup that he gave thought to what the had to do today. That's when it dawned on him that he really hadn't thought through how to proceed.

First, he had to leave Tina's as Robin. Mrs. Strand was up and even if Gina and Pam left first, there was no way for him to change and sneak out.

Next, the money he would need to take to the mall to buy everything he was going to need was at home, in a dresser drawer. He'd have to go home to get it, all the way to St. Pete, then come back up to the mall again.

Should he go to the mall as Rob or as Robin? Going there, alone, as Robin was a little scary but it might be easier to buy what he needed to as Robin.

Uncle Chris was not one to sleep in on Saturdays. He usually got up and went to check on the jobs he had in progress. The past three weeks he had followed the same routine. Rob hoped he was a creature of habit.

He could take the bus back up to the mall. One had to come close to there but that would mean walking the streets and having to expose himself to so many people. A cab would cost him but it would take him right to the door and the driver would be all he had to contend with. That was a much better idea.

So, he'd get them to take him home, he'd call a cab, get what he needed to and take another home. It was that second trip home that he'd have to be careful. If he got home too late there'd be Uncle Chris to worry about. He'd have to be quick in the mall.

It was almost noon before they were all finished getting ready.

"Do you really have to go?" Tina didn't want him to.

"I have to clean my place or my Uncle will have a fit." He had to get home soon. There was so much to do.

"Can I pick you up later? We could do something?" She asked hopefully.

"Uncle Chris said I have to go out with him and his girlfriend tonight." There was actually some truth to the excuse. His Uncle had asked him if he wanted to go out with him and the woman he was dating.

He told the man 'No'. Rob had no interest in meeting the woman or spending a boring evening with the pair. He hadn't even known about his meeting with the promoter when he refused his Uncle. It was as plausible an excuse as any.

"How about tomorrow?" Rob suggested. "I'll call you in the morning and we can do something."

Tina was disappointed but having him on Sunday was better than nothing. She and the other girls had made plans to set up Robin and Jack that night. Nothing too much, they were all going to play some miniature golf and them go down to the beach and hang out. Tina was going to ask Craig to go with her so that they'd all be paired up. She would have been able to convince Robin that it wasn't a set up, she was sure of that. Now they'd have to come up with something else.

Gina and Pam left about twelve thirty. Tina and Rob got out about twenty of one. He was running later than he wanted to be.

"Drive by and tell me if you see the blue truck in the drive way." Rob asked Tina. He started to duck down in the seat.

"What? You think he's going to recognize you, looking the way you do, driving by in a car? Sit up silly." Tina laughed.

"You're right." He was being silly. No one would recognize him the way he looked.

The truck wasn't there. Tina, let him out a few houses down the block. "You be careful."

"I will." He assured him as he reached for the door handle.

Tina leaned over an kissed him on the cheek. "You better."

She got a thrill out of giving her 'girlfriend' a friendly kiss.

Rob saw the show of affection as something else. It excited him. He smiled warmly at his friend.

"You have everything?" She asked as he started to get out.

He had his bag with his work clothes. He had the sundress, neatly folded, that she gave him as a gift and he had the purse over his shoulder, that he promised to return. Tina insisted that he had to carry it, even thought he was only going home. It was a girl's accessory and he had to look convincing at all times. He had everything. "Yes." He told her. "I'll call you tomorrow."

"In the morning." She called after him as he started up the street.

He looked back, smiling again, he called back, "OK!"

Rob didn't hear the car pull away until he turned up the driveway. He wasn't worried about any of his Uncle's neighbors seeing him. He hadn't met a one so they didn't know him from Adam. From what he'd seen, they kept pretty much to themselves. They'd have no idea who the girl was with the white bow in her hair.

He called the cab then collected his money from the dresser. After figuring out what he needed he took extra, just in case. He tucked it in his purse with the makeup Tina had given him the night before. Now he had more than he'd need, with what was in the closet.

Rob thought the cab would never get there. He called it to the house where Tina had dropped him off before and he wasn't at all comfortable, standing there on the street waiting. He underestimated how long it would take for them to get there.

The ride to the mall was uneventful. The cab driver was this big fat lady and they didn't talk.

His nerves tensed as he stepped from the cab and stood there while the cab pulled away from the curb. It took him a moment to summon up the courage to venture into the mall alone.

He was determined as he walked into Dillards. His walk was steady and he kept his head up. He knew he'd appear more convincing if he didn't act as scared as he felt.

There was a different salesgirl in the dress department than had been there the night before. She didn't bat an eye when he brought the dress up to the register. "Would you help me find a few things. My mother's waiting for me in the car so I'm in kind of a hurry." He told the middle aged woman. Better she take him directly to what he'd need than having to search for the right slip and black pantyhose. He bought two pair of the hose, just in case.

Rob was feeling more confident as he left the register with the dress over his arm and his other things in the bag. He still couldn't believe that he'd spent over a hundred dollars on a dress.

He brought the purse Tina had picked out, over to the shoe department along with a little wallet that matched. He didn't want to have to pull out his old wallet if he had to pay for anything tonight.

Rob didn't have to try on the black heals, he knew they fit.

He almost panicked when he couldn't find the jewelry he had worn with the dress. He finally had to ask the young girl behind the counter to help him. Thank God she found the set.

Rob hadn't seen the prices last night. He was appalled when she told him the total. The earrings, necklace and bracelet were more than the dress. He left a hundred and forty dollars at the jewelry department. His only other option, picking out something else that would go with the outfit, would have been too unnerving. He just wanted to get out of there.

He was almost out of the store when he remembered something. He should have asked the woman in the dress department to help him when he was there but he forgot. He couldn't go back to her for help, he was supposed to be in a rush and he should have been gone by now, according to the story he told her.

He took a deep breath as he prepared to walk into the lingerie department and find panties like Kim had bought him. He prayed that Dillards carried them.

Rob was trying not to look nervous as he searched the racks of panties and bras for the right ones. The voice behind him made him jump.

"May I help you?"

He turned to see the pretty young girl standing next to him. "I"m sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

She made him very uncomfortable. Worse than he'd felt all day. If only she wasn't so pretty and he wasn't trying to buy himself women's underwear. He almost told her no but that might have left him wandering around in the lingerie department forever, feeling nervous and lost.

He tried not to let his voice quiver, "I'm looking for stretch lace underwear." He knew as soon as he said it that he should have said 'panties.' It was too late.

It didn't seem to phase the girl. "Follow me. We have some over here."

Rob, laden down with his packages, nervously followed her to the other side of the department.

"What size do you need." She asked.

That he knew, thank God, "Five."

The girl started pulling panties off racks. She handed each to Rob as she found them. He felt so weird standing there holding them. Finally, she handed him what he was looking for. "These are what I want."

The girl put the others back. "Do you want to see the matching bra?" She asked.

Rob hadn't given that a thought. He had just assumed he'd wear the one Kim bought him. The one that held the breastforms. Now he wondered how he could have been so stupid. He couldn't wear a white bra under a black dress. Problem was, he wanted one just like the white one. He didn't want to have to wear the socks and shoulder pads under his new dress. "No, thanks." The girl took the panties and rang up the sale.

Now he had another problem. Where to find a mastectomy bra. As much as he hated the idea, he had to try. Rob stood in front of the marque, looking for any store that might possibly sell that sort of thing. He spotted one that said Foundations. He'd try that.

"No dear, but you might try Dillards or Burdines." The older woman in the store suggested.

That hadn't been to0 bad. He told the woman it was for his mother, a gift. She accepted that without question.

He couldn't go back to Dillards. Burdines was his only hope. He went straight to lingerie to ask. He was in luck. The woman there directed him to the back of the store, near customer service. Rob didn't know what made him think things like that would be right out in the open.

He had to wait to be helped, sitting there among several older women. They glanced at him and smiled at what they thought was a young woman. He smiled back, just to be friendly.

Finally, it was his turn. He described the white bra his 'mother' had and asked for the same thing in black, in his size. What the woman produced was nothing like what Kim had gotten him. It was much more feminine, more delicate. He wondered if the woman misunderstood what he wanted but she showed him how the breastforms fit the bra. She showed him how they attached to the cups.

The woman wasn't at all surprised by the young girl's ignorance. "Your mother will love this." She said. "Mastectomy bras used to be such awful, heavy things to wear. It's so nice what they've done with them lately. From the way you described her new breastforms, this is what you want. Trust me."

It was more expensive than he thought it would be but he didn't have much choice. She wrapped the lacy black bra in tissue paper and took his money. It was nearly four and he had to get going.

Rob walked by the perfume department on his way out and he couldn't resist the urge to just 'check out' the fragrances that teased his senses.

He tested a few different ones on the little cards, they were nice but too heavy, like old ladies perfume.

"Was there something in particular I could help you with?" The woman behind the counter asked.

He really didn't want help but, "I was looking for something lighter." He didn't know how else to describe it.

She let him sample a few different perfumes. He was about to tell her to forget it when he sniffed one that was really nice. He was almost afraid to ask, "How much is this?"

"Let me put some on your wrist."

He just wanted to know the price. He didn't want to wear it. Not now. How to tell her that was the problem. It smelled as wonderful on him as it did on the card.

When she saw the girl was delighted with it she told her, "It's just thirty dollars and ounce."

He couldn't imagine paying that much. "I don't know." He put the bottle back on the counter.

"We have a sampler that's only thirty five dollars." She didn't want to loose the sale.

Thirty five dollars was still a lot of money to smell pretty. He'd never spent more than ten for cologne. Still...it did smell so nice. He bought the sampler.

Outside the store, he sat down on a bench to take stock. He was beginning to feel the strain shopping had on him but he was far from done. He wanted to find a hairstyling magazine and he needed curlers to set his hair for tonight. Mike said make a good impression so that meant look his best.

The magazine was first but when he got to the bookstore he found there were dozens to choose from. He could either buy a half dozen of them and take his chances that he'd find what he was looking for or go through them there in the store. He didn't want to take a chance.

It was as he stood there, flipping pages, that disaster struck. He was picking up another magazine from the rack when one of his fake nails fell off, leaving an ugly stubble of a nail, chewed and ragedy. He couldn't go out tonight with it like that and he knew he couldn't put it back on himself. He had no glue if he did know how to do it. It would look terrible. He didn't know what to do. Rob decided he'd have to try to put on a new nail himself.

After going through a few more magazines he found what he was looking for. The spread even told him what kind of curlers to use. Next stop was to find them.

He found curlers in the third store he checked and he also found the brands of shampoo, conditioner and moisturizer he'd used at Kim's. He also bought a package of fake nails that looked like the package he'd seen on Kim's kitchen table.

Rob was sick about breaking the nail, as he looked at it for the umpteenth time. He was heading back through the mall to find a phone to call a cab when he passed the salon where Betsy had transformed him the other night. He saw the sign in the window, 'Acrylic Nails - Thirty Dollars For A Full Set." He looked at his hand again. He wondered how many more of the cheap fake nails he might loose before tonight. Worse than that, what if he lost one while he was out. Thirty dollars wasn't so much to spend for the peace of mind, he rationalized.

He was lucky to find that the girl had time to take him. He explained to her that he hand to hurry to get home to get ready for a date. Telling her that he had a date sounded so odd.

The cheap nails just popped off. He would have surely lost one or more before the evening was over. As the girl who applied the milky white paste explained, the nails that she put on would wear off before they popped of. Rob was sure all he'd have to do is file them down to a normal length in the morning. That's why he told her to make these longer than the fake nails had been. "I want them to look really pretty tonight."

He looked up at the clock on the wall. It was almost five. He had planned on being out of the mall by five and on his way home. He didn't know how long it would take him to do his hair and he wanted to leave himself enough time. It was going to be difficult.

"Hot date tonight Robin?"

Rob recognized Betsy's voice. He turned to see her walking up. "Hi." He replied, a little surprised to see her. "Kind of." Rob said with a smile. "I just hope I have enough time to set my hair."

"I could do it for you. I don't have another appointment for a half hour. It'd be no problem." She offered.

The girl was still shaping his long nails. He looked to his hands and then to Betsy. He shrugged his shoulders in frustration.

Betsy understood. "Lou Ann, would you mind finishing Robin while I do her hair?"

Rob didn't know there was that option. "Could you, please?" That would make things so much easier. He was thrilled.

Lou Ann didn't mind. "Sure, just give me five minutes to finish shaping her nails then we'll come back to your station."

"I'll get things heated up." Betsy turned and left.

This was a God send. Not only didn't he have to fix the nail but he'd go home with his hair already done. All Rob had to worry about now was getting past Uncle Chris and being ready on time.

He called the cab from the salon. Lou Ann wouldn't let him dial the phone. His nails were still a little wet. She had done a beautiful job. His fingers looked so long and slender with the longer nails. He picked a coral polish and they looked great.

He was no less thrilled with his hair. Betsy told him his hair really took a set well. "It should hold up all evening, easily." That was good news but it was how pretty and full it looked that thrilled him. He looked, at that moment, as pretty as any girl in the salon and that feeling did a lot for his confidence.

This time the cab driver was a middle aged man and Rob didn't miss the double take he got as he climbed in the cab. The man stole glances the whole way to St Pete.

Rob got out down the street. He had his new dress over his arm and the half dozen packages in his hands as he walked up the street. He didn't think to ask the cab driver to drive by the house first. He didn't think of that till after he was out of the cab. He had to take his chances. Rob thought that, even if Uncle Chris was home, he surly wouldn't be watching out the window for him. There were the usual three trucks in the driveway. Rob's Uncle was home. He hesitated for only a second at the end of the drive. He walked on the far side of the trucks, between them and the overgrown hedges that bordered the drive. Rob had to be careful not to let the hedges muss up his hair.

There was no sign of the man as Rob made his way around the last truck and crossed in front of the garage to get to the steps.

Rob thought he was home free when he reached the steps. That's when he spotted his Uncle through the window as he walked into the kitchen. Rob jumped back, dragging himself and the noisy packages in front of the truck.

The large kitchen window overlooked the back yard and Rob knew that if he had been on the stairs his Uncle couldn't have missed him. He crouched, nervously waiting for his Uncle to leave the kitchen.

It became obvious that Uncle Chris was starting his dinner. Rob new he always ate early on weekends and tonight he had that date. Rob felt that he had little enough time to get ready, he hated wasting it, hiding from his Uncle. "Please, please." He whispered to himself in desperation.

He crouched there for what seemed an eternity. Finally, he saw his Uncle head for the door to the living room. He couldn't wait any more. The second Uncle Chris walked through the door Rob bolted from his hiding place and ran for the steps. He could have kicked himself when he reached the top of the stairs. He could have gotten his keys out of the purse when he was downstairs. Instead, he waited for the last second. How stupid.

Cass didn't know the name of the boy that was staying with her neighbor. She had seen him a few times, only briefly. He was a strange looking kid. Maybe that's why she was a little surprised to see this attractive girl going into the garage apartment. She couldn't imagine any girl would want to date him, much less, go to his place. Then too, why was she letting herself in with a key when he was obviously not home? Well, she did have a key so it must be alright. Cass went back to reading her book as the door closed behind the girl. It wasn't any of her business.

Rob breathed a major sigh of relief. He was home and safe. The clock in the little kitchen said six thirty. Did he have enough time?

Rob laid out his new things on the bed. He didn't want to admit to himself that he was excited about seeing how he'd look. He showered, taking care not to get his hair wet. It would have been a sin to ruin the set Betsy had given him, his hair looked so good.

His cheek had just the faintest growth of beard. He gave himself a close shave in the shower.

After moisturizing he tried on his new underwear and black pantyhose. He had to be really careful not to put a snag in them with his long nails.

He had a little bit of trouble getting the breastforms into the new bra but he finally managed. It was definitely different from the white bra and looked nice when he put it on.

The slip the woman sold Rob went over his head and he wiggled into it. it was very snug but it had to be in order not to bunch up under his dress.

Now Rob was really anxious to try on the dress. First he had to do his makeup. He took great care to do it right, remembering how Kim and Tina showed him to do it. He was just about done, except for his lipliner and lipstick when he heard the door open in the kitchen.

"Rob? You here?" He heard his Uncle's voice. Rob almost panicked. Thank God he'd closed the bedroom door. He scooped everything of the bed. The bags, his purse and his dress went into the closet.

"I'm on the john." He called out from the bathroom. Why did his Uncle pick tonight to walk in on him? He never came up to the apartment. Why now?

"I just wanted to check again to see if you wanted to go out with Cathy and I." He said through the boy's bedroom door.

He had already told him no. "I've got plans tonight." He reminded him, annoyed that he intruded on him.

"With that girl?" Chris asked. He just didn't understand what was going on there.

"No, I'm meeting some friends." His Uncle was nosy.

"Where're you going?" Chris wanted the boy know he was interested.

"Just out." Rob told him abruptly. He didn't have to tell him where he was going. He wasn't his father.

The kid was belligerent. That annoyed the shit out of Chris. He had tried to reach him but the boy just shut him out. "Alright, forget it."

Rob heard the door close hard. He came out of the bathroom and listened at the door to be sure he was gone. He opened the door a crack and peaked out. His Uncle was gone. He went to the widow that overlooked the driveway. Rob's Uncle was just going in the back door. Rob breathed a sigh of relief.

Rob would never have been able to explain to his Uncle what was going on. He wouldn't have understood why Rob had to dress up the way he was to get to talk to the men tonight. He didn't understand why it was so difficult to get a chance in the music business. There was so little his Uncle understood about Rob.

Rob hurried to the closet. He prayed that he hadn't gotten the dress all wrinkled, tossing it into the closet the way he had. It was fine.

Tina had zipped him up in the store, it wasn't so easy to do himself, with his nails so long. It took him a minute but he got it. Rob stood in front of the mirror and smoothed the material of the dress. He had to pull it up to straighten his slip. It looked really nice on him.

He had almost as much trouble getting his earrings in. The clasps on the necklace and bracelet weren't so easy either.

Rob stepped into the black heals. Admiring himself in the mirror again, he was pleased that he looked so convincing. His first thought was to take off the heals till he was ready to go but he decided he better wear them to get used to walking in them. How embarrassing if he were to trip in them later that evening, in the club.

He had only twenty minutes before Mike was to pick him up. Rob took great care in putting on his lipliner and lipstick. He had bought the new lipstick from Lou Ann at the salon, to match his nails. The pale coral was a nice color.

Rob had seen women on TV, in movies and on commercials, putting on perfume. He put some behind his ears and on his wrists. He's seen them but it between their breasts, he put some on his chest. He really liked the perfume, he smelled great. Too bad, he thought to himself, that he wasn't smelling it on a girlfriend. He wondered if Mike would notice it?

All that was left was to put everything he'd need into his new purse. He put his money into the new wallet. He debated whether to carry his brush, he already had so much stuffed in there. What if his hair got messed up somehow. He managed to make it fit.

He was ready. He took one last look in the mirror. He looked better then most girls he'd seen all decked out. He was going to be a professional performer. He could do this, he told himself as he had so many times today.

It was five minutes to eight. Uncle Chris' was gone. He'd left to pick up his date. The coast was clear but Rob didn't want to go down too early. He didn't want to be standing out at the street any longer then he had to be.

That's when it dawned on him. He was pretending to be a girl. Girls were always late. He didn't have to be there when Mike arrived. He could wait until he saw his car pull up and then go out.

Rob was so nervous. He'd been to the bathroom four times since he got home and he felt like he had to go again. He couldn't take the chance now. What if Mike pulled up when he was in there? What if he missed him and Mike decided he wasn't going to show up? He couldn't risk it.

Eight o'clock came. Five after and still no Mike. Rob was beginning to worry. Finally, at almost ten after, he saw the car.

Rob didn't know how awkward stairs could be in heals. He had to go down slowly, carefully. He reached the driveway safely. He composed himself for a second then started down the driveway, taking small steps that he thought looked more appropriate for a girl.

Mike spotted him from down the street. He was amazed at how he looked. Who would ever know that the pretty little thing was really a guy? Mike had trouble believing it when he first was told. Had he seem him like this he wouldn't have believed it at all. He looked beautiful.

Rob saw him wave and waved back. He turned to walk down the street.

Mike put the car in gear and pulled toward him. He got out of the car when he stopped, went around and opened the door for his 'date'.

"Robin, you look absolutely beautiful." He laid it on.

"Thank you." He had worked at it hard enough. It was so strange to have a guy go to the trouble to open his door for him. Rob got into the car, finding it a little difficult to look graceful in the dress. He straightened it out as Mike came around to get in.

"I think you're going to make a very good impression tonight. You look stunning." Unbelievable, Mike said to himself. He even smelled of perfume. Big John was going to absolutely love him.

Rob didn't realize they were going to Tampa till they started out across the causeway. "Where are we going?" Rob had been pretty quiet, letting Mike do most of the talking. He was really nervous.

"You've never been to Stingers?" Mike asked. Obviously not, since it was in Tampa.

"I've heard about it." He admitted.

"You'll like it. That's were all the really classy people meet." Mike told him. Actually, Mike thought of it as more of a meat market for the older set but so what.

Rob was impressed by the way Mike looked in his double breasted suit and silk tie. His shoes were polished to a high luster. Mike looked really sharp. Rob told himself that he'd be able to dress that well someday.

He'd also buy himself a Mercedes like Mike's too. He'd have all the things he'd ever dreamed of.

The valet opened Rob's door for him and offered him his hand to help him out of the car. Rob took the young man's hand, saying thank you when he was on his feet, next to the car. He would have laughed if he wasn't so scared.

Mike was enjoying the game. He offered Robin his arm.

Rob knew what he was supposed to do, he just felt so funny putting his arm in the man's and letting him escort him up the stairs and through the door. His heart was beating like a trip hammer. His knees felt weak. Rob just prayed that Mike didn't notice it.

There was a big guy at the door checking ID's. Rob hadn't given that a thought when he agreed to go to a club with Mike. What would he do if the guy wanted to see his id? He couldn't show it to him. Rob was surprised when the man knew Mike by name and let them pass with out checking. That was a relief. He would have been mortified to be turned away when he was so close.

Rob told himself that he could do this. When he was with Kim or Tina he was scared, of course, but here he was alone, with no moral support.

Mike led him right into the crowd of men and women and he was petrified. He was sure his legs would collapse under him as people turned to look at him in the close quarters. It wasn't just the men but the women too. They looked first at Mike then looked him over. Had he been there for other reasons, with Kim or Tina, he would have turned and left. Now he couldn't.

Mike could tell the boy was uncomfortable by the way he looked around at everyone and stayed so close. It was funny.

Rob was escorted around the empty dance floor to the rear of the large place where the tables and booths were.

He had to be strong, he told himself. He'd blow this if he couldn't get over his fear.

"There's Mr. Strand." Mike said, gesturing toward the tables.

Rob tried to spot him in the crowd. His eyes came to rest on a woman instead. She was an absolute knock out. She was one of the prettiest girls he had ever seen. She had big blue eyes and a sensuous mouth that begged to be kissed. Long luxurious golden blond hair fell in waves over her smooth tan shoulders. His eyes moved down to the full breasts that peaked from her strapless top. He'd never seen so beautiful a woman. Rob was still staring as the walked directly to the table where she sat with a middle aged man.

"Hey Mike" John said. He'd spotted them across the room. He been watching as they came toward them. Mike hadn't lied about this one. If he hadn't been warned he would never have known. The only thing that might have betrayed the boy's secret was his obvious fear. He'd get over that.

"Hi John." Mike shook his friend's hand then turned to Robin. "This is the young lady I told you about."

"Hello Robin. I've heard a lot of nice things about you." And they all appeared true, even close up, he thought to himself. John extended his hand to the boy. "It's very nice to meet you."

Robin took the big man's hand. He wasn't fat exactly but he had a pouch. He was balding, losing the hair on top of his head. Not a particularly good looking man, not at all what Rob was expecting. He dressed well but that didn't disguise the fact that he was a repulsive looking man with big lips and a face full of pock marks. Rob had pictured someone younger, better looking, like the promoters you saw in the movies. Rob didn't let on that he was unimpressed by the man. He wanted him to like him. "It's nice to meet you too Mr. Strand."

"Please, sit down Robin." John told him.

Mike waited for the boy to slide into the booth then slid in next to him. Rob was so close to the blond, there in the small booth, that their hips touched. It was very difficult for him not to stare at her.

"Robin, this is Crystal."

"Hi." Rob said nervously.

She turned to him and without so much as even a smile replied, "Hello."

She was very cold and he didn't know why.

Mike ordered drinks for him and Robin. A scotch for him and wine for Robin. John and Crystal already had theirs.

Rob would have preferred a beer but he wasn't given a choice. Considering he wasn't old enough to order his own, he just took what was offered.

"So tell me about yourself Robin." John wanted to know all he could about the boy. Mike had told him what he knew but John wanted to hear this unusual boy tell him himself.

Rob knew that this was his chance. He had to sell himself and he knew that he probably wouldn't get another chance. The problem was that each time he started to tell Mr Strand about his music the man turned the conversation back to Rob's personal life.

Crystal observed the boy. He was very pretty. Surprisingly so. She had know boys like him in the past. Several made it in the business but she couldn't remember any that were as striking as this one.

Mike could see that John was delighted with his find. He seldom talked as much as he did with Robin. John was hooked.

Conversation dragged on for almost an hour and Rob hadn't really had a chance to tell him a fraction of what he'd planned. Mr Strand was attentive enough but Rob wondered if he really heard what he'd been telling him. He had this funny look on his face, like what Rob said went in one ear and out the other. Rob was beginning to wonder how a man like this made it so big in the music business?

John had heard and seen all he needed to. "Would you ladies mind excusing us for a moment. Mike and I have some business to discuss."

Rob didn't want to go. He wanted to stay and hear what was said. He turned to Mike. "I'd like to stay."

John, who had gotten up to let Crystal out, turned to the boy. "Be a good girl Robin and give us men a chance to talk business."

It was insulting. He could speak for himself.

Mike was standing, waiting for the boy to get up. "Robin, trust me. I'll take care of you." He told the boy.

"Come on Robin. We'll go to the powder room." Crystal said to the boy. She smiled at him for the first time. Crystal knew better than to go against John's wishes. The boy would soon learn also.

That was the first time she spoke to him in an hour, Rob noted. It was three against one and the two men had the upper hand with him. He didn't want to piss off Mr Strand. Rob would have to trust Mike to look out for his interests. He had so far.

John pulled Crystal close and whispered something in her ear. Rob wondered what he said to her?

"Let's go Sweetie." Crystal said, coaxing him along. Rob went but looked back as they walked. Mike slid back into the booth. He saw Mr Strand smiling as Mike spoke to him. That was a good sign, wasn't it, Rob thought.

Rob didn't relish the idea of a trip to the ladies room but necessity had it's demands. He'd had one uncomfortable experience in a women's lounge and he would have rather not repeated it.

Since he and Mike got there, the club had really filled up. The ladies room was standing room only. Women were waiting in line to go to the bathroom.

He and Crystal made an unlikely pair. She was so beautiful and he was so plain in comparison. He saw the men's heads turn as they walked by. He wondered if any man could resist her.

Rob felt like a school girl next to the sexy blond with her tiny spandex dress. She had a body any girl would die for. Her waist was so slender and her bust so full. She had soft curves that any man would kill to get his arms around.

Rob's nerves were still frayed. He'd had two glasses of wine and that was more than his nervous bladder could handle. He needed to go to the bathroom when he arrived at the club. Now he was desperate.

As they waited on line, Rob tried to start up a conversation. "Have you been with Mr Strand very long." He assumed she was his girlfriend.

"About twelve years." Crystal told him. She wasn't about to get friendly with him.

That's impossible, Rob thought to himself. She couldn't be over twenty six, twenty seven at the most. That would mean she stared with him when she was fifteen or sixteen? He didn't argue the point.

"Do you perform?" It sounded better than 'what instrument do you play' or 'do you sing'? That was the first time he heard her laugh. He was sorry he asked and didn't try to be friendly any more.

He felt much better when he finished relieving himself. He had to almost fight for a place in front of the mirror. He primped, as Kim and Tina called it. He put on fresh lipstick.

Crystal was waiting for him. He assumed they'd go back to the table.

"We'll go wait at the bar. They'll let us know when they want us to come back." She instructed the boy.

He didn't want to wait but, again, he didn't want to piss any of them off. He'd wait if he had to.

Crystal ordered them each another glass of wine from the bar. She was very careful that the boy didn't see her deftly sneak the little capsule into his glass. She waited a second or two for it to dissolve before handing it to him.

Rob stayed close to Crystal. It was better to be with someone you knew, even if they didn't like you, than alone. He found a spot where he could see the table and he watched the two men talking.

He felt the tap on his shoulder.

"Here Robin." Crystal handed him the glass of wine.

Rob looked into her eyes for a second as he took the glass. Again he tried, with his best smile, "Thanks." Again, she turned coldly away.

She wasn't that way with the men that tried to pick her up. Each of them, and there were a number that tried, were shown a warm smile and a friendly voice. None of them got any where with Crystal but at least they didn't get the cold shoulder. Why me, Rob wondered?

One of the guys turned to Rob after getting nowhere with Crystal. The guy asked Rob what his name was. Before the nervous boy could think of what to say to the man Crystal brushed him off. That had been a little unnerving for him, but flattering. When Rob thought about it, after the man was gone, he was able to laugh to himself about it.

Mr Strand was actually laughing. Rob couldn't tell if it was something Mike said, he could only see the back of Mike's head. He was dying to know what was being said at that table.

Crystal was watching the table now two. She knew they should get back there and sit down soon. The next time John made eye contact with her she gave him the prearranged nod.

The boy had been taken care of. John called them back to the table. "They're coming now." He told Mike.

Rob assumed he'd sit next to Mike again. He was wrong. He and Crystal were to swap places.

"Slide in here Honey." John told him.

Rob didn't like being called Honey. He wasn't thrilled about sitting so close to Mr Strand. He was starting to get a creepy feeling about the man.

"You're on your way Robin." Mike knew he was dying to hear Mr Strand's decision. Mike had already known what it would be.

"That's great!" Now Rob was feeling better. "How soon can I get started?" He asked his new promoter, anxiously.

"Immediately Robin." He said with a smile.

Rob couldn't believe it. All kinds of things went through his head that instant. All the harassment from his parents and relatives. All the kids at school that laughed at him when they heard his aspirations. All the girls at school that were too good for him. He'd have the last laugh now.

Rob had barely emptied his glass of wine when the champagne arrived. "I thought this might deserve a toast." John suggested as the waiter filled the glasses. "To Robin, our new star. May her career be long and make us all a lot of money."

Rob thought it was a funny toast but he raised his glass just the same.

Did the champagne taste funny? Rob wondered if he might have had a little too much to drink. His head was spinning a little.

"Well, if you'll excuse me?" Mike had things to do. He had accomplished what the set out to here.

"Thanks Mike." John told his friend.

"My pleasure." Mike replied.

Rob assumed Mike was just going to the bathroom or something and would be back. He wasn't concerned, besides, he had other things on his mind at the moment. The room wouldn't stop spinning and he felt funny besides. His arms seemed to weigh a ton and his head was getting heavy. No more champagne, he told himself.

He leaned back against the cushions, trying to appear cool and collected, while his head cleared. He didn't want the others to know he was getting drunk.

Everything was getting a little blurry. Mr Strand was saying something to Crystal. Rob should have been able to make out what they said across the table in front of him but it only sounded like gibberish. He tried to sit up and act normal.

It was difficult to sit up straight at all now. Rob looked out over the room. That's when he noticed Mike in the crowd along the side of the bar. He was walking away from them, toward the door. Rob was surprised that he forgot where their table was. Then he realized that he hadn't forgotten, he walked out the door.

"Miikkke sss..." His words slurred.

"Just take it easy Sweetie. Everything's alright." Crystal told him.

"We're going to take care of you." John said, smiling at the boy. "Go tell Billie to bring the car around." John told Crystal. "I'll bring him out."

Crystal went to find Billie.

His legs felt like rubber when Mr Strand got him to his feet. "Just lean on me." He told Robin.

Rob didn't understand what was going on. Why had he gotten so drunk on so few drinks, he wondered. It was embarrassing. Mr Strand had to hold him up as he walked Rob out.

"She's just had a little too much to drink." Rob heard him say to the guy at the door. "I'mmm sorrrry." Rob tried to tell Mr Stand but it came out almost unintelligible. He felt like such a jerk.

John put the boy in the back of the limo with him and Crystal. Bobbie helped him get him in. "Let's go." John told his driver.

Rob lay as limp as a dish rag, propped up in the seat next to the blond. He felt like he was going to pass out but he could hear them talking.

"So, what do you think?" John asked.

"I think he's perfect." Crystal had known a lot of transvestites over the years, in the business she was in, but she'd never seen one that was so naturally pretty as this one. "He's going to be quite a hit."

John agreed, smiling at the boy. "It's going to take a lot to get him ready." John turned his attention to Crystal. "You've got your work cut out for you. I want him ready by the end of the month." Three weeks should be plenty of time.

Crystal knew what John expected. She wasn't going to enjoy spending so much time with the boy but it wasn't smart to disobey John. She had learned her lesson when she first started with him, years ago. She had learned it well enough that he trusted her now. "I know what to do."

"Good. I don't care how you do it but I don't want him damaged." John reminded her. He was going to make an investment in this boy and he didn't want him I ruined by her being too heavy handed.

Tomorrow was Sunday, let the boy get acclimated to his new surroundings, he decided. "We'll start Monday. Get hold of Dr. Moss and tell him we'll be in his office around ten."

Crystal made the mental note to call.

Rob could hear them but in his condition he didn't put together what they were talking about. Even hearing them refer to him as 'he' didn't sink in. As far as he knew, he was on his way home, to St. Pete. He didn't know the car was heading in the opposite direction, toward Orlando.

"Let's get a better look at him." John told Crystal.

She didn't have to be told any more than that. She reached over and, with a little effort, pulled his dress and slip up to his waist. Getting his pantyhose and his panties down took a little more work.

Rob was too weak to resist. What was going on, he felt panicked. Crystal easily brushed his limp arms away.

"He is a little thing." John commented. He leaned over an lifted the boy's little dick and balls with his big fingers. "Well, there's nothing we can do about that. They should be big enough. Too bad they'll shrink." John was aware that female hormones would do that to a guy.

What did he mean, Rob wondered. He was out of it. He didn't even flinch when the man touched him. What did all this have to do with his music.

"Cover him up." He told Crystal. "Let him sleep."

She didn't bother to pull down everything. She just pulled his dress down to cover him.

"He needs some baby fat. He's not shapely enough. Tell the doctor to do something about that to." John instructed Crystal. He leaned back and poured himself a drink from the bar. When he was comfortable he looked at Crystal. "Come over here and give me a blow job."

John just sat there while Crystal, on her knees on the floor, unzipped his fly and pulled it out. He just laid his head back and enjoyed the ride.

Too bad the boy was drugged. He would have really enjoyed making him do what Crystal did for him. That was something he'd do soon enough. That was just one of the things he'd learn.

Pretty little Robin was going to be his next porno star and he was going to make John a great deal of money. As distracted as he was at the moment, John got even more excited when he thought about that.

Mike went straight to the apartment. He had removed the keys from the boy's purse when he started feeling the effects of the mickey Crystal slipped him.

Mike found the girl's clothes in his closet as he gathered up the boy's belongings. He also gathered up everything that might give away that Robin was a crossdresser. No one would know that he had that inclination. Nothing could be left that might give the Uncle any idea that anything strange was going on.

Mike knew from questioning the boy that he hadn't told anyone about their meeting tonight. The typewritten note that Mike left on the kitchen counter would lead them to believe he'd simply run away. It said he was sick of being told what to do and he was going to pursue his dream of becoming a musician. It said not to bother trying to find him.

Let them try, Mike laughed to himself. Soon, the boy would be well hidden in the underground world of pornography. Soon, even his own mother wouldn't know him.

 

 

 

When I wrote this little tale I fully intended to continue it. Time does play tricks on a person. It has a way of getting away from you. I have started the second phase of this story but it will most likely be months before I’m able to complete it.

This author welcomes all comments / criticisms.     JackiPett@netscape.net

Copyright © SWEET DREAMS 1994

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