A Town Called Hope                 by: Anne O’Nonymous

 

Part Three: Where does time go at night?

Terri stood in front of the mirror trying desperately to catch a glimpse of what was once Tom. Tom, a nice guy, disappeared from her life. The reflection showed a woman of about twenty, fairly attractive. This was only an outward appearance. What was inside her? Was it Tom struggling to get out, or was it Terri that was finally free of the confines of Tom, and wherever he kept her prisoner? Held down, confined, ashamed to let her out in fear of ridicule and humiliation. Was she always there sabotaging his efforts to appear to be a man? Was she the one that kept whispering "fail, fail," or was she just a bystander in his efforts to be what his father wanted?

"Terri, you look very nice! Don’t worry, everything will be OK," Andrea said reassuringly.

"May I ask where we are going?" Terri said.

"You’ll see. I want to surprise you," Andrea said, "Now let’s get on our way."

After a few minutes of driving, they arrived at Le Maison Femme and went shopping for lingerie. Terri was in a woman’s paradise! Half-slips, full slips, panties of every color and style, chemises, half a dozen types of bras with front and back closures, foundations and nighties galore!

Terri spent the next three hours modeling everything imaginable for Andrea, and Nancy who had just come over to see how things were going.

As Terri came out in yet another lacey satin creation, she heard, "Oh that’s nice! I think Terri should come here and work as a model," from Nancy.

"Maybe a weekend job? We could ask, no harm in trying."

Terri stood there, fear in her eyes. Modeling ladies underwear? What are they thinking? Could this be some gag, or are they serious!

"Nancy, Andrea, I can’t model underwear. If you remember, I’m a male, I think." The last part was unintentional.

"Remember the agreement. I don’t see this as being life-threatening," said Andrea.

"Terri, I think you would benefit from it. To me, you seem to be very shy. This could bring you out of the shell you put around yourself."

"Nancy, I’m sorry. It just feels wrong to me, to appear before a group of women as a man wearing female undergarments."

"And what are you doing now?"

She had him!

"Tom, it is your right to say yes or no. I will not push you into anything," stated Andrea, "but I do wish you would try if only to convince yourself that you can do it. Just think back to when you stayed in a job you didn’t like. You remember the coward; you’re quitting before you try. I know modeling female undergarments isn’t for men, but don’t you think a brave man would try?"

Great! Now what to do?

"Andrea, Nancy, I have to admit something: I’m afraid of the humiliation! One day, when I was attending grade school, I was grabbed on my way home by some boys and dragged into a vacant building. I was stripped and dressed in girl’s things, then they took turns sodomizing me! I had to walk home wearing those clothes. Luckily, my parents weren’t home when I got there or they would have given me hell! This happened twice, before the kids were caught with another boy. I could never bring myself to admit this to anyone!"

Terri was suddenly grabbed and hugged by two very tearful women.

"Oh my God, Tom," said Andrea, lapsing, calling him Tom. "Why didn’t you tell me! I am so very sorry for you, sweetheart."

Nancy was just holding him, her tears flowing gently down her cheek. He held on, trying to comfort her as best he could.

"OK, Terri. I won’t say any more. I do feel bad that you carried this for so long. Let’s wait for a time, and maybe in the future, you’ll give it a shot," Nancy said through sniffles.

Later in Gypsy’s, as he and Andrea were ordering the Chicken Salad and Lemonade for lunch, he realized the secret that was let out!

It was while they were enjoying the meal that Terri saw Gypsy heading over to their table. She stopped, gave Terri a smile, and said, "you made a big step towards your future," before she went to greet other customers.

Terri started to think about what Gypsy had said, and then she spotted the two women entering Gypsy’s. They were about the same height, close in weight; one was a blonde, the other raven-haired. And they were headed towards their table.

"Hey, Joan, Sam, how are you doing?" Andrea asked as they sat down.

"Hi, Andrea. Fine. The bookstore is doing great. So, a new one," the black-haired beauty said in a somewhat deep voice.

"Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t introduce you. Terri Taylor, I’d like you to meet Sam and Joan Carpenter. Sam, Joan--Terri Taylor. Sam owns a bookstore in town, and Joan works in a beauty salon. "

"So, Terri, are you a new girl?" Joan (A very attractive blonde, Terri noticed.) asked politely.

"I suppose you could say that," Terri replied, "what kind of books do you have?"

"All kinds, new and old," Sam answered. "Come on, I want to fix my lipstick."

Terri followed Sam to the restaurant’s ladies’ room. Once inside, Sam went to a mirror and Terri followed, where each put on a fresh coat of lipstick.

"So, how does it feel?" Sam asked.

"How does what feel," Terri replied, confused.

"To wear nice things, smell nice, have a life," said Sam. "I know what you think, but I’m as much a man as you are. Under all this, I could pee standing up too if I want!"

"You mean . . . . But why?"

Sam gave him a strange look, and said simply, "Why not?"

Terri had no answer.

Sam started, "I was a construction worker who loved reading, poetry, and knitting. Because of that, I was always getting a razzing from the rest of the guys. Then the accident happened. I helped pull three guys out of mangled rebar and wet concrete, was helping with another when a load shifted and I was left with what was left of a good friend: his right arm. Because I managed to save three guys, they called me a hero! I went home, sat down and cried all night. Ever hear of a hero crying? The next day, I quit the job. Took everything out of the bank, started wandering, and wound up here about four years ago. I lived with a memory that I will never forget, but here I can finally accept it. I realize I did everything possible, and that’s important. You know, it does feel strange to dress in nice soft things, but the look and feel keeps my mind off the accident, and I am grateful for that. Met Joan! Now who would have thought dressing like this would attract a nice girl like her! Terri, a little bit of advice for what it’s worth. Take whatever joy you can, whenever you can and wherever you can. It’s not worth worrying about how you are dressed but what you are. So, are we pretty enough to go face our friends?"

Terri replied, "If you’re ready, so am I."

The two strolled back to the table, arm in arm, as two girlfriends.

Joan looked up and said, "I’d kiss you, but then you’d have to put on another coat."

Sam smiled, and said, "So would you, dear."

The rest of the lunch was mostly small talk about hairstyles, fashions and the latest novels available in the bookshop. It seemed funny that one very attractive woman was the husband of another very attractive woman. And it didn’t seem to be out-of-place. Was he so very wrong?

It was much later, at home, that Terri asked Andrea, "Sam and Joan, are they really married? I mean, is it legal? Seems so strange."

"Tell me, Terri, if you found the girl of your dreams, and she wore a man’s three-piece business suit, and she professed her unconditional love for you, would you marry her?"

"Of course!"

"What about if she wasn’t a female, how about now?"

"I don’t know if I could love someone like that!"

"Then, you dress as a female but still want a real female, is that it?"

"Yeah, but this really wasn’t my idea," Terri said, trying to understand where the conversation was going.

"Terri, there is nothing wrong with wanting a female to love you. Love comes in many forms. You just happen to like the man, in whatever guise he has, and woman, likewise, kind. Others are just different kinds of attraction. Tom, there is no right or wrong in love, there is just the refusal to accept what you are. Don’t confuse force with love. Rape, whether it happens to a woman OR a man, is not love! I’m thinking that the rape you suffered changed something in you. A confusion of the rape with a sexual attraction to males, maybe."

"I can’t say for sure," Terri said, "but I’m beginning to understand a few things."

"Such as," Andrea asked.

"There’s a side to me that I was missing from a fear of not looking like a man in the eyes of my father. I couldn’t be myself; I was trying to live up to what my father wanted me to be. And I couldn’t be that, it was an internal struggle. The job I took, the school I selected for my higher education, all to please my father. I wanted to be strong, but I gave in. Mom, why do I feel better as a man, while I’m running around in female clothes."

"It’s not the clothes, sweetheart. You are learning that whatever you wear, it’s still you under all those things. You let people define you by what you wore. Male clothes, male job! A job you hated, and was below you," Andrea started, not certain how to explain the situation.

Terri thought for a moment, then said, "When this first started, you had me wearing female clothes as a start to a new life. Shedding a masculine skin, so to speak. In learning how to dress, put on makeup, do my hair and nails, I’ve learned to appreciate females more, how much time and effort they put into their appearance. Enhancing what nature’s given them. Bringing out my feminine side, I think, has enhanced the male in me."

"Terri, look at it this way: Male and Female are just words. They cannot possibly describe any person, because all they do is specify a superficial condition. All the dressing does is make you aware of soft clothes, perfume, and the feel of nice things against your skin. You denied yourself these feelings because your father thought they weren’t manly. OK, what do you think of Chris? Of Nancy? Would you like to date either of them?"

"Why would Chris want to go out with me? I mean, she’s as pretty as . . . well, you remember Kim Basinger in Pulp Fiction," Terri said.

"Whoa, Kim Basinger was in L.A. Confidential! And, yes she was very pretty in that picture, but the question remains, would you date them?" Andrea said emphatically.

"If they’d ask, sure I’d go out with either them!"

"No! I’m asking if you would date them, not the other way!" Andrea said in a slightly angry manner. "Terri, take control of your life! You left it to others far too long."

Terri sat there, a little stunned. Could he ask Chris for a date? More importantly, would she say yes?

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It took two days for Terri to work up enough courage to ask Chris for a date.

For her date with Chris, Terri wore an opaque pale blue nylon blouse with navy blue bolero jacket and skirt (she had on petticoats, preferring them to half-slips), suntan stockings, and navy blue 3" pumps. The makeup was checked three times, jewelry substituted several times before settling on an 18" pearl necklace and earrings.

When Chris picked him up, she was quite complimentary as to how nice he looked, and all he could do was stammer a "thank you, you look great," back on what was his first actual date.

After they had entered the car and prepared for the drive, Chris took Terri’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze as a sign of her affection, and then headed out for a restaurant in a city twelve miles away. Terri was scared that someone would recognize him as a man in female clothes.

Upon their arrival at the restaurant, Chris parked in a lot and both exited the car. Terri got next to Chris and said, "I don’t know if I can go through with this! Suppose someone sees I’m a male." He could hear the shouts of "pervert," "fairy," "swish fag," and being attacked by a bunch of very large men. He also pictured being attacked by women, screaming the same epithets.

"Relax. Take a deep breath, and let it out slowly. Remember, you are with me, and you are safe. Now, let’s go in."

As they entered the restaurant and were being seated, Terri noticed several appreciative glances from male patrons. Thankful for all the instructions, Terri remembered to sweep her hand under the skirt before sitting, and was surprised when the waiter pushed the chair in for her. A smile and a soft "thank you" seemed to please the young man greatly. Soon, there were three servers at the table, attending to the wants of two very attractive women.

After the excellent meal, Terri and Chris adjourned to the ladies to attend to nature and repair the damage to their lipstick. Terri also freshened up the blusher, and rechecked the petticoats in the room’s full-length mirror. "Looking to see if your pettis show," Chris said in a teasing manner.

"No, just making sure they do show," Terri replied with a smile, "There are some men out there I want to give a little show to!"

After they left the rest room and headed towards the cashier to pay the bill, Terri slowed and stopped near a table with three businessmen. Slowly she pulled up the skirt, and checked her stockings. There were at least a dozen pairs of eyes staring at the exposed, rather shapely, smooth nylon-covered legs.

Outside in the car, Terri started laughing and soon Chris joined in. "Terri, that was real naughty of you! Shame, shame," Chris said between tears of laughter.

"I did not realize how much fun that could be! Did you see all those gawking at the legs?" Terri replied.

Next, a shopping trip to a local mall and a movie, something about a big monkey or other. Then, a second movie about a man who dressed to be able to see his kids. The thing was he changed his life too.

On the drive back to Hope, Terri said, "Chris, thanks for a wonderful time! I really enjoyed it today."

"Hey, I should thank you for the show you put on," Chris said as she started to break out in renewed laughter.

"Chris, do I really have a chance with you, I mean could you go for, oh hell, I don’t know what to say or even how to say it," Terri said. She was Tom now, lost with females, lost in the world. Back to the aluminum stacker.

"Tom," Chris said, deliberately using the old name, "Didn’t you enjoy being with me today?"

"Yes, I enjoyed it very much."

"Then take the joy you felt today. When the time comes, the words will come," Chris replied.

When they arrived at the place Terri called home, Chris surprised her by coming in and telling the day’s events to Andrea over a cup of coffee. When Chris told about the stocking adjustment, Andrea glanced at him and went "tsk, tsk, doing that to those poor men. You’ll give them wet dreams, honey." She thought about when Terri was "Tom" and what a show like that would have done to him.

What would it be? A look but don’t touch? A teasing bit? Why did he do it? It was a bit of harmless fun. Seems like there’s a bit more of that now. Why would a change of clothes do that? Was there a change of his outlook on life in general?

"Well, if you ladies will excuse me, I think I’ll go to bed. It’s been a long day! Good night, Andrea. Good night, Chris," Terri said with a barely stifled yawn.

After a quick bath and clean undies, Terri put on a lime green waltz-length nightgown and got into bed. After an hour had passed, Terri felt a cover move and a second body joined him with an "It’s too late to head home, so I’m staying over." Terri put an arm out and around Chris, pulled her closer, and said, "I’m kind of glad. It’s my turn to make breakfast, and I found a new omelet recipe I’m just dying to try out!" Chris pulled Terri even tighter, kissed her on the cheeks, then the lips and settled down, happy to have to share a bed with her.

In the morning, Terri shared the morning shower with Chris--after all, they were both girls. He found himself thinking not of Chris as a girlfriend, but as a good, close friend. As Chris set the table, Terri (at one time Tom would have been extremely embarrassed to be seen dressed in a woman’s nightgown, now it seemed so natural) busied herself cooking omelets for all, along with sausages, hashbrowns and English muffins.

As Andrea entered the kitchen, a delicious aroma came to her. Terri presented her with a plateful of food, a glass of OJ, and an English muffin along with a deep curtsey and "Good morning, Andrea. You did sleep well, I trust."

Soon, three women, dressed in nightgowns, robes and slippers, were polishing off enough food to feed a lumberjack.

After breakfast was over and the dishes and floor taken care of, the day started with some sewing lessons, then embroidery, later more lessons on a variety of things.

It was well into the afternoon when Terri was able to sit down with Chris. There was a question to be asked!

"Chris, why do I feel so much better as Terri, than I did when I was Tom?"

"As Terri, you don’t have anything to carry around. Remember what you did with that stocking? That was spontaneous. You’ll probably have those men talking about that for days! Now, think--did it do anyone harm? No, you made someone happy! Outside, Terri is a happy girl, and inside too. Tom, on the other hand, dragged around guilt feelings about what he was, what happened. ‘I’m so guilty of someone else’s mistakes.’ That internal misery was reflected on the outside. Tom, you lived to be miserable! You couldn’t take happiness, Terri can. She’s mischievous, funny, flirty, fun to be around. Terri was there all along, you just needed to bring her out, instead of keeping her bottled up deep in the recesses of your mind."

The Tom part of Terri realized the truth to what she was saying.

"Something else, Tom. You could have quitted that job anytime you wanted. You could easily find a job, if not in that city, then somewhere else. It just added to the misery factor. I’m not trying to hurt you, I said before you hurt yourself too much, as Tom. As Terri, you live. Tom, Gypsy told me something you had better know. If you continued the road you were traveling, you would end up a suicide!"

"Chris is right. Terri is fun, a side I never knew existed. She feels right, too. Like a part of what I’m really like. Funny, but she seems to be the girl of my dreams," Tom/Terri thought, then said to Chris, "Terri reminds me of the girl of my dreams. I think I’m falling in love with myself, with Terri."

"That’s the first step. You have got to love yourself, before you can truly love others," Chris said.

"Amen to that," came from Andrea as she entered the room. She came and sat beside Terri, and said, "Remember that vision you told me about. The female face? Now what is marriage but a joining of two people? In your case, Terri and you are joining in a sort of marriage, too, bringing out the best in both. Haven’t you ever heard a man introduce his wife as ‘his better half?’ A rather ironic saying, don’t you think."

"Tom, you couldn’t love yourself when you felt guilty over something happening that you had no control over," Chris said, "and you couldn’t even try because of that. I’m sure that you can see Terri as a more freer side of you because she is a ‘new’ girl--no guilt, no need to be ‘manly,’ she just lives."

"Let me see if I understand all this," Tom said in confusion, " ‘Terri’ is a part I’ve kept hidden because she interfered with my trying to be masculine. I tried to be a male for my father’s sake, but failed to live up to his expectations. So I’ve carried guilt at failing as a man, guilt over my parent’s accident, and this lead me to a job I didn’t like. My failure with females is because I never tried. I lived the life I expected to lead."

"True! You went nowhere because you expected to go nowhere. You didn’t live the life you wanted, you lived the one you expected. You didn’t want rejection, you expected it. You tried to live up to your father’s expectations, not to your own abilities," Andrea said.

"And as Terri, I had no expectations. In a manner of speaking, she is a newborn in this world, and everything is new to her," Tom said, now understanding a little more.

"Terri has no guilt from her past, Tom. As Terri, you have a fresh start!" Chris said.

Over the next couple of days, Terri was developing more and more. Andrea was pleased when she saw Terri doing embroidery, needlepoint, and sewing. "Soon, Terri, soon. You will see that this is all worth it," Andrea thought.

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It was a Friday, just before 11 am, when Andrea caught up to Terri vacuuming rugs in her French maid’s uniform. She couldn’t help but notice how cute Terri looked: black uniform with a fancy white lace trim, black seamed stockings (a very nice and straight seam, too), 4" black high heels, and scads of white petticoats.

"Terri, honey, stop whatever you’re doing. We’ve an appointment for this afternoon. Go make yourself pretty," Andrea said.

"OK, Andrea, can you tell me where we are going?" Terri asked.

"To a job for you dear," replied Andrea, "it’s about time you started to earn a living!"

Terri put away the vacuum, and headed for her room where she stripped off the uniform, along with the underwear, and placed all in a hamper. A bubble bath was next, a pat dry, then the powder. For underwear, Terri selected a black lace push-up bra (her breast forms looked so real, they could withstand inspection from two feet away), black garter belt, and black lacy briefs. Stockings were also black. A white full slip with lace bodice and hem was next. Then a decision was necessary: a shift dress, blouse and skirt or a sundress. Terri decided on a cream opaque blouse and royal blue skirt and sleeveless jacket. Black 3" pumps completed the outfit.

Hair was done up in a simple ponytail secured by a large matching blue ribbon tied in a bow, and the lightest amount of cosmetics and perfume necessary were used. After a check in the mirror, Terri thought, "I guess I’m as ready as I can be!"

"I can’t believe the change in you," Andrea said as she caught sight of Terri descending the stairs.

"Thank you, Andrea," Terri said with a big smile, "oddly, I’m really beginning to feel good about myself!"

They walked arm in arm out to the car parked at the curb, entered, and after fastening seatbelts were off. The drive took them down two streets, a turn to the main highway and a short distance to an office park "Tom" had seen oh so long ago! They turned in, threaded their way around to a parking area, where they parked, got out and headed to a large building.

The outside had a large sign proclaiming "Little Hopefuls," Lillian Markham, CEO.

Entering the building, they stopped at a receptionist’s desk where they were asked, "How may I be of service to you?"

"Lillian Markham’s office, please. Tell her it’s Andrea Martin!"

Terri watched as the receptionist made a call, and were soon told, "Go all the way to the right, turn left, follow hall to third office. Good luck!"

Andrea took off with Terri trying hard to keep up.

"Andrea, a bit slower, please. It’s very unladylike to run," Terri complained.

Andrea laughed, then said, "OK, slower."

At the third office, there was another keeper of the gate, a secretary.

"Are you Andrea Martin?"

When Andrea nodded, the girl smiled then said, "Go on in, you’re expected!"

As they entered the sanctum, Terri got a glimpse of its sole inhabitant. Lillian Markham had platinum blonde hair done up in a French twist. She was about 5’10" tall, appeared to be about 40ish, and had a regalness about her that was hard to describe--kind of like a queen ruling over all, but one that was approachable. She wore a grey skirt suit with a dignity impossible for a man to achieve. Her face was that of a mature woman that took good care of herself. It was her smile though that made Terri feel welcome.

"Andrea! How are you doing? I haven’t seen you for so long--you must come and visit sometimes! And who is this charming creature? She’s cute enough to make me want to be a lesbian!"

"Lillian, this is Terri Taylor. Curtsey to the lady, Terri!"

Terri got up and did the deepest curtsey she could manage. Lillian smiled her gratitude. It was all she needed in way of thanks.

"Lillian, did you get the sheet on Terri?"

Whoa! What’s this about: what sheet?

"Yes. Now that I see her, I am thinking of trying to get her for myself," Lillian said with a large smile.

Now if Lillian were a man, that type of smile would be called a fecal-devouring grin.

There was a tap at the door, and a "You wanted to see me Ms. Markham?"

Out of curiosity, Terri turned around to face the intrusion. "OK, Terri, take back everything you thought about being for a man," Terri thought. Chris was beautiful, Lillian was beautiful, and Nancy was the same. Oh hell, all the women were beautiful, except this one! How do you describe an angel? Describe thunder to a deaf man? A rainbow to the blind? She had hair of a yellow gold, a face with delicate features like a porcelain doll, and a build, on what appeared to be a 5’6" frame, that was perfection itself. 38-24-36 came to mind! Eyes that were as blue as a summer sky, luscious ruby-red lips perfectly formed, the small pert nose. She was wearing a pink-colored two-pocketed smock with the name "Angel" embroidered on it! The name fit to a "T."

"Angela, come in please," Lillian replied, "She’s here!"

The girl entered, closed the door, walked over and took a seat right next to her. As their eyes met, Terri sensed a warm feeling. Maybe it was her smile, maybe the AC was off, but Terri smiled back!

"Angela Phelps, this is Terri Taylor, Terri meet Angela!" Lillian said.

Terri felt like jumping up and giving her the biggest hug and kiss possible. But she settled for a polite "I’m very pleased to meet you!"

It was Angela that surprised her: getting up, pulling Terri to her feet, giving her a big kiss on the lips, and one tight hug! Terri looked around and almost started crying "Help, I’m being mugged!"

"I’ve been waiting for you," said this angel with a bear hug, as if not wanting to allow a prize catch to escape.

"Terri, Angela, I’ll pick both of you up at four, at the door. Lillian, it was nice seeing you again. I’ll stop in for a long chat some day soon," said Andrea as she left the room.

That was it? He was hired to work with an angel? No questions, no "Think you can handle this?" Amazing!

"Angela, why don’t you take Terri back to your workstation and start training," Lillian said with a very obvious wink.

"OK. Come on, Terri! I’ll take, and introduce, you to the rest of the girls!" Angela replied, as she hooked arms and headed off to the factory part of the building.

Angela took her down a hall, through two sets of doors, down a covered walkway, between two beds with flowers of all colors, and into another air-conditioned building. There seemed to be at least sixty cubicles or more, each with two occupants busily working, and a soft hum of sewing machines busily at work, the clicking sound of scissors as they were cutting cloth and ribbons, girl talk of all kinds. They went around two corners, down a short distance and into a cubicle.

"Well, here we are, my home away from home," Angela said.

Terri saw a tear drop forming on Angela’s cheek. She saw a pack of tissues, got one and dried the tear, then, on an impulse, kissed her cheek where she saw the tear. "My mother always kissed away my tears," Terri said, "Care to talk about it?"

"Please, sit. This area is now yours as much as it is mine," Angela said with a gentle smile, "My home is no more, this is it now. Oh, I don’t live in here, I have a room with another girl."

Terri sat and looked around. It was a nice sized area with four sewing machines, piles of cloth of all kinds and colors, lace of many different types, many different sized scissors and ribbons, different needles for sewing different fabrics, and then there were the dolls. There were seven of them, about 24" high, all females. One in particular caught his eye! A beautifully dressed Bridal doll, with gown, train, and the veil thrown back to receive a kiss from her new husband! Of the others, three were semi-clothed. And on a chair back, a pink-colored smock with the name "Terri."

"Do you like that bride doll?" Angela asked, "I was supposed to give it up, but I just can’t bear to part with it!"

"I find in strangely appealing. It’s so beautiful," Terri replied, "and I feel like this is what I was meant for. To bring beauty, joy, and happiness to somebody."

"That’s our job, clothing them," Angela stated, "We, that is you and I, design, pattern, cut, sew and fit clothes for the dolls. Nurses uniforms, Nuns, Civil War, Victorian, Flappers, Hoopskirts, WAC and WAVE, Modern--whatever comes to us. The shelves have books on costumes of many different eras; there is a library showing costumes from the Renaissance up, and dozens of patterns in the drawers of the desk. We get about six to seven dolls at a time, and we can work separately or together on any of them."

"You mean we can dress the dolls as we want to? Don’t you get someone to tell you how they should be dressed?" Terri said in surprise.

Angela smiled, and said, ‘No! We are on our own. The only requirement is that the costume must be authentic, down to the ‘unmentionables,’" Angela said with a giggle.

Terri looked at her, and knew that she should be told. But how?

"Oh, before you say anything, you have been assigned to me!" Angela said, "I came here about five months ago. I ran away from an abusive boyfriend. I, also, ran away from alcoholic parents at home at eighteen, lived on the streets as best as I could. I had no place to go, I couldn’t return home, so I just wandered! I hitched a ride once; the guy wanted payment of a kind I wasn’t willing to give. I managed to escape, found my way here. I took sewing in school, so here I am."

"Angela," Terri said, trying to tell her about him.

"Terri, I know all about you! About the guilt you once carried. You are my salvation, just as I’m yours," Angela said, "soon neither one of us will ever be lonely, lack for love and companionship because while we are working here, my things are being moved--we will be living together at Andrea’s!"

"Hey, who’s the new one," came from outside the booth.

Soon a swarm of females entered, with, "Break Time! Let’s go, Angel."

In a few minutes, Terri was swept into a large room with tables and chairs. There were sixty or more chattering females, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee.

Angela left him at a table, and soon returned with cups of coffee and several friends. "The company supplies the coffee and doughnuts. If we want, we can bring in croissants or Danishes. Here are some of my friends."

There were introductions to Pat, Lilly, Kim, Sandra, Susan, Julie, Nikki, April, Ginny and thirty more.

"So this is yours, Angel," Nikki said with a lovely smile, "I hope you intend to share with your friends!"

"Go get your own, Nikki," Angel said with a pout, then a bit of a laugh, "don’t we always?"

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Well, it’s time to end this little tale, because what has to be said was, and going further would serve no useful purposes.

So, in a town called Hope, in a factory, a man dressed in very frilly, lacey female clothes sews clothes for a Victorian era doll. He works next to, and soon will be living with, a woman he loves very much and considers the prettiest female on the face of the Earth. And he will never lack companionship nor been happier in his life!

Meanwhile, in a noisy factory in the eastern part of the US, there are men asking, "I wonder what did happen to Tom, oh whatsitsname," "he’s the one who stacked frames, I think," and "who are they talking about, I don’t remember him."

 

The End--Maybe just the beginning?

Annie O

Unfortunately, this is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any person, living or deceased, or any situation is purely coincidental. Permission to post on any site is granted, as long as Crystal gives approval.

 

 

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