Presto Chango, Part Three

Chapter 10

As flight 595 (Dead Springs to Denver with stops in Las Vegas and
Salt Lake City) lifted off, Ray finally began breathing again.  He had gotten
no sleep last night.  Every time he closed his eyes he had terrifying visions of
what going out as Rhea alone for the first time would be like:  everyone seeing  
right through his disguise, crowds of commuters laughing and pointing,
being refused admittance to the plane, being arrested for impersonating
someone else.  Each fantasy was worse than the previous.  He would have
cancelled the whole thing then and there had Brian not be depending on him.  
He rehearsed over and over in his mind what he was going to say, how he
was going to act, what he would do if he was discovered.  Once he got there
the whole routine was an anticlimax.  He checked in his many suitcases of
feminine clothes without incident and the boarding agent took his ticket
without comment.  

Ray sat back in the seat and relaxed.  To his surprise, Brian had
booked him in first class.  Every so often a cute little stewardess would ask
him if he would like something to drink or anything else to make him more
comfortable.  While Ray enjoyed the attention, he felt a wisp of sadness.  He
could never ask out that girl, or any girl, for a whole year.  Even though he
had never been popular with women, it hurt him to give up all hope of female
companionship while in Vegas.  

The flight landed in Las Vegas.  Ray picked up his purse and small
Carry-on bag, straightened his skirt, and disembarked.  After a quick detour
into the women's room to check his makeup, he went to claim his baggage.  After
waiting nearly forty-five minutes at the luggage carousel, Ray realized his bags
were not coming.  Fighting back panic, Ray went to the lost luggage counter.

A surly fat man waited on him.  Ray gave his name and presented his
claim check.  After a brief look at a log book, the man said "Sorry, it's not
here."

Ray was shocked "But it went with my flight!  Please check again."

"Sorry lady, it ain't here."

Ray's nightmares were coming true.  "All of my clothes were in
there...practically everything I own!  Please, if I don't get my bags I don't
know what I'll do!"  He didn't either.  He was unprepared to shop for an
entire new wardrobe the day he began his new job; not to mention the fact he
had little money.

"Look lady, it's not here. Come back tomorrow, see if it showed up. Next!"

Tears welled up in Ray's eyes.  He wanted to hit the man, to scream
at him, but he just didn't have the nerve.  Why couldn't he be confident like
other men he knew?  His abusive father probably would have punched the
clerk in the face (and spent the night in jail).  David would have stood his
ground and not left until he got his luggage and an apology.  Brian...well, he
probably would have made such a screaming spectacle of himself that the
clerk would have found his luggage just to get rid of him.  But Ray...all he
could think to do was to cry, which would not have been manly.

A brilliant thought hit Ray.  Why in the heck should he be manly?  
For all the world knew he was a woman, and hey, women cry!  Ray let loose
a few excremental tears.  The clerk's stern look soften just a bit.  Ray turned
on the waterworks.  "All my things," he sobbed "please, you have to help
me!"  He was really bawling now.  

"Hey pal," a guy behind Ray shouted at the clerk "can't you see
you're upsetting her?  Would it kill you to check?"

"Okay, okay, just let me look."  He disappeared into a back room.  
Ray sad down on a bench and wept.  His tears were no longer real, but he
was good enough at acting to make them seem authentic.  The man behind
Ray sat down next to him and placed a comforting arm around his shoulder.  
Ray remembered what Tracy had said about guys using any excuse to touch a
pretty girl.  Ray wanted to shrug his arm off, but decided to keep up his
facade (as long as the guy didn't get any friendlier!).

Soon the clerk returned.  He apologized for the mistake; Rhea's
luggage had been accidentally delivered to the wrong gate.  Ray thanked the
man beside him and disentangled himself from his arm.  With a sneer
towards the rude clerk he walked off to claim what was his.  With the help of
an airport porter he brought his cases to the front of the airport and waited
for Brian to show up.  Brian was late, of course, so Ray had some time to reflect (and to fix his makeup).

Ray had been working in the magic business for quite some time.  He
had become cynical about so-called miracles and mystic happenings.  Yet
despite his skepticism, Ray felt like something amazing had just happened.  
Until that day, Ray had never had the courage to stand up to anyone.  He always,
always ended up doing whatever anyone wanted him to do.  He never could stand up to bullies,
his father, rude people, or bosses.  He couldn't even stand up to Tracy and Brian when they
asked him to dress as a woman.  And yet standing up to the rude baggage guy came easily.  
He wondered why.  Maybe because he no longer had to be worried about appearing wimpy compared
to who he was standing up to.  Maybe because people went out of their way to help pretty women.  
Maybe he was just using his new identity as a chance to develop a new, confident personality.  
Whatever the reason, he enjoyed this new found confidence.

Brian eventually pulled up in a cloud of smoke.

"You're late," said Ray, mimicking a board female.

"Yeah sorry, my radiator went out..."

"Well, why don't you load up my stuff. We're late as it is."  Ray  
sauntered over to the passenger door and stood there.  Brian suddenly
realized Ray expected him to open the door for him.  Brian complied, slightly
confused.  Ray slipped in.  Only when Brian was busy loading up Ray's
bags did Ray allow himself a grin.  If Brian wanted him to be a woman for a
year then Brian had better be prepared to make some sacrifices as well.

Brian finished cramming everything into the trailer and the trunk.  
What was with Ray?  He was acting so different, so unusual, so...well,
confident.  Hmmm, maybe this job would be good for him.  Still, it made
Brian a little nervous how quick he had jumped to obey.  He never would
have done that for any other man.

Brian and Ray arrived at the hotel just in time for their appointment
with Mr. Penny, the talent coordinator who had hired Brian.  Ray had never
met this man and was a little nervous about passing his inspection.  

A hotel clerk directed Ray and Brian to Mr. Penny's hole-in-the-wall
office.  Mr. Penny turned out to be a gruff looking bald man in his sixties
who smoked a constant stream of smelly cigars.  He and Brian shook hands
and exchanged pleasantries.  Brian then introduced Rhea, his new assistant.  

"Pleased to meet you little lady.  You're even prettier than Brian made
you out to be!"  he squeezed Ray's hand.  "Well, I've scheduled your first
show for a week from yesterday.  That should give you enough time to settle
in.  I hope you have something spectacular planned for us, I've really been
hyping you two!"

"You bet," replied Brian.  "In fact we..."

Mr. Penny interrupted, as if he had not heard him "So have you guys
lined up a place to stay yet?"

"Well, no actually.  We figured we'd check in here for a couple of
days until we could..."

Mr. Penny interrupted again.  "Listen, we're remodeling the west
wing.  They're going at it one floor at a time, but what with
construction traffic and debris we've had to shut down the whole wing.  That
means we've got about a hundred perfectly good rooms sitting empty.  How'd you
guys like to move into one of 'em for a much reduced rate?  If you don't mind a
little sawdust in the halls I think you'll find you'll be quite comfortable.  
If you don't care for it, you can try to find your own place."

Brian and Ray agreed.  Brian was the kind of guy who could sleep in
a luxury hotel suite or the back of a van and never notice the difference.  Ray
was just glad that he would be able to live where he worked.  This would cut
down on unnecessary trips dressed as Rhea.  

"So," asked Mr. Penny with a lecherous grin. "Will you be requiring
two rooms or one?"  Ray blushed at Mr. Penny's insinuation that he and
Brian were romantically involved.  Brian asked for two rooms and arranged
for a porter to take their stuff up.

After everything had been moved in the rooms Brian drove off to
return the trailer to the rental company.   Ray went and took a shower.  The
room was beautiful.  A soft queen-sized bed, color TV, full shower bath,
clean towels; a far cry from the "No-Tell Motel" type in Dead springs.  There
was also a door adjoining his room with Brian's. This way they could
communicate in private.  Ray scrubbed his slim, freckled body clean, and
slipped into a robe.  He blow dried his hair and slipped it into a ponytail.  
He then put on just a bit of lipstick and eyeliner.  Then his put on a tight
pair of jeans over the rubber device used to hide his penis.  Finally he slipped
on the falsies and threw on a cropped T-shirt that showed off his midriff.  By now,
Ray had grown quite used to making himself pretty; even in those old clothes
he looked good.

After Brian returned Mr. Penny introduced them to other members of
the hotel staff.  Brian arranged for rehearsal and went over what he would
need for the upcoming act.  They would be performing three or four times a
week.  Brian did arrange to have the next day off to take care of some
business, after that they would fall into the regular work routine.

After the meeting ended, Brian asked Ray if he wanted to go down to
the casino and shoot some dice.  Ray declined, saying that he just wanted to
rest.  Brian retired to the casino to lose whatever cash he had on hand.  Ray
went back up to his room and began putting his clothes away.  While his was
doing this he came across the phone number Tracy had given him at the
wedding; the number of her friend who apparently could help Ray with his
femininity.  Ray decided he shouldn't put it off.  He wanted to get to know
her as soon as possible, so that if there was an emergency he could call her
right away.

Chapter 11

Early the next day, Ray slipped on a simple white blouse and black skirt,
walked out of the hotel and hailed a cab.  By now he had grown used to the weird
and absurd in his life.  Though his plans for the day would be considered bizarre
by society's standards, Ray now just looked at them as something to be tolerated.

The previous night he had called Tracy's friend, a Dr. Amy Hathaway.  
He tried to explain his situation as best he could over the phone.  Dr. Hathaway
had arranged an appointment for the next day.

Dr. Hathaway's office turned out to be in a small clinic in a suburb of
Las Vegas.  The building was very nondescript; the cab driver had to circle
the block a couple of times before he found the right address.  Ray paid the
driver and walked in.

Ray was quite nervous.  Tracy had told him that this doctor specialized in helping men become women.  Just what did that mean?  Did she advise cross dressers on how to look feminine?  Did she give them psychotherapy to help them act more feminine?  Did she perform sex change operations?  If the last were the case, then Ray wanted nothing to do with her!  Still, as long as he was here he decided to have a look.  With Tracy on the other side of the world it would be a relief to speak to someone about his 'condition.'

Ray walked into the waiting room.  He was half expecting it to be
filled with drag queens; men poorly disguised as women.  Ray nearly lost his
composure when he saw what was waiting for him.  There was only one
male in the waiting room, a good looking young man dressed normally.  Ray
couldn't imagine that he'd ever pass as a girl.  Everyone else in the waiting
room was a woman.  They were of various ages, ranging from plain to
beautiful, but they were all unmistakably women!  Ray signed in with the
receptionist and buried his face in an old copy of "Time."  He hoped that he
could just pass in and out of here silently.  Surely the doctor wouldn't
mention his need to look female in front of any of these real women!

After 15 minutes Ray was called into the office.  A nurse lead him
into a small examination room.  Soon, Dr. Hathaway came in.  She was a
friendly, attractive woman who looked to be in her late thirties.  She smiled at
Ray reassuringly and asked him a few generic questions about his health.  
She then sat down in front of him and asked him why he was here.

Ray took a deep breath and began to explain everything: how he used
to be a stage hand, how his boss need him as an assistant for his magic act,
how he had to dress as a woman against his will, how he had agreed to do
this for a year, how Tracy had trained him, and about how he didn't think he
could handle this on his own.  Except for asked a couple of brief clarifying
questions, Dr. Hathaway was silent.  Ray finished by asking her if she could
help Ray keep up the subterfuge.

Dr. Hathaway sat and thought for a bit.  Finally she looked at Ray.  
"Rhea," she began "I would be glad to give you any sort of advice on how to
be feminine.  We can schedule a weekly session were you can talk about
what is going on and ask me any questions you have.  If something comes up
during the week I'll give you my cell number so that you can contact me.  
But Rhea, I think there are some things you have overlooked.  First of all, do
you know what I do here?"

Ray shook his head.

"Rhea, I'm a psychologist and a plastic surgeon.  My main specialty
is helping men, who for one reason or another, want to become women.  
Some of my clients have desired to be female all their lives.  With some it
was a sudden decision.  Some come to me because of outside factors: job,
society, significant others.  Some just want a slight alteration in their features,
some want a total sex change.  Whatever reason they come, I try to help them."

Ray was stunned.  Why would anyone willingly go through all this?  
Ray figured that Dr. Hathaway was exaggerating the amount of men she
helped so that she could put Ray's mind at ease.  

"C'mon, Dr. Hathaway," said Ray "you must be exaggerating.  I
only saw one guy in the waiting room and he didn't look a thing like a
woman."  Ray noticed the doctor's smile.  "What's so funny?"

"I'm sorry Rhea.  It's just that you paid me a great compliment.  
Actually, every woman in the waiting room is, or once was, a man.  The guy
you noticed is actually the fiancé of one of my 'faux females.'"

"But, there's no way...they all look so girlish!  They look so delicate!  
They have breasts!"

"Rhea, surgeons can do amazing things.  C'mon, let me show you
something."  Dr. Hathaway pulled a photo album out of her desk.  "I'd like
to show you some photos of some of my past clients.  Don't worry, they
gave their permission.  Take a look."

Ray began to look at the photos.  One page there was a photograph
labeled 'before.'  It appeared to be a photograph of a high school swimmer
before a meet.  He looked to be about seventeen years old, handsome, and thin.  Ray
turned the page and looked at the photograph labeled 'after.'  To Ray's
surprise it was a wedding photo.  He scrutinized the groom.  He sure didn't
look anything like the original guy.  Dr. Hathaway tapped the picture of the
bride.  To Ray's shock he realized that he had been looking at the wrong
person.  The high school swimmer wasn't the groom, he was the bride!  
Only now he was wearing a wedding gown!  His nose was smaller, his lips
were fuller, and he had definite cleavage.  He was looking rapturously at the
groom.

"Amazing, huh?" asked Dr. Hathaway.  "This is a picture of Cindy.  
Until she was twenty she was known as Carl.  Carl was a macho guy when
he was in high school, but after he graduated he began to feel like he was
living a life that didn't suit him.  One day when he was in college his room
mate came home to find him decked out in a dress and heels.  Instead of
being condemning, the roommate suggested that Carl see a psychologist.  
Carl finally realized that being macho and tough wasn't what he wanted.  
What he really wanted was to be submissive and feminine.  He was referred
to me, and well, you can see the results!"

Ray couldn't contain his amazement.  "And he got married to a man?"

"She sure did."

"But...how did she tell her new husband about her past?"

"She didn't have to.  That's her old roommate.  Apparently the idea
of his friend's mind the body of a woman appealed to him."

Ray slammed the album shut.  "I'm sorry.  This is just too bizarre.  
Men becoming women?  It sounds like a bad science fiction movie!  I'm
really not sure that I want a part of this."

Dr. Hathaway didn't look at all surprised.  "Rhea, you'd be crazy if
you didn't have some doubts.  I'd be unprofessional and irresponsible if I
tried to convince you to do something you didn't feel comfortable with.  All I
want to do is show you that womanhood is not a terrible thing.  You might
find that it is not as inaccessible as you might think."

"I could never do what Carl, er, Cindy did!"

"Don't be so sure.  If I saw you on the street I would never, ever
have taken you for a man."  Ray groaned.  "Listen," continued Dr. Hathaway
"would it help if you talked to someone who was undergoing the transformation?  
There is a patient in the other examination room who could answer all your questions
from a firsthand experience."

"Okay," said Ray.  

Dr. Hathaway left.  Ray sat in befuddlement.  He could not get the
wedding photo out of his mind.  A guy just to decide he wanted to be a
woman and then to become one so flawlessly!  It just didn't make any sense.

Dr. Hathaway returned in few minutes, followed by two women.  
One was a tall, willowy woman with straight black hair.  The other was
shorter.  She had poofy blonde hair, full lips, and a slightly nervous look
about her.  She was wearing a hospital gown.  Both of the women were very
pretty.  Dr. Hathaway introduced them.  "This is Mary," she motioned to the
brunette, "and this is her husband, Lee."  Ray numbly shook hands with
them both.  Except for his well manicured nails, feminine hair, and gold stud
earrings, Lee was wearing nothing feminine.  The androgynous hospital
gown covered most of his body and certainly gave no clue to his gender.  
And yet he looked unmistakably feminine.  How could this have happened?

Lee smiled understandingly at Ray.  "I bet you are pretty confused,
Rhea.  I think it would help if we explained how I came to be like this."

Ray nodded.  Mary began to explain.  "Just a few years ago, Lee and
I were a regular married couple.  I was a lawyer and Lee was a mechanic.  I
was perfectly happy with Lee as a man, and he loved being a guy.  Things
were perfectly normal.  Then one day we got invited to a costume party at my
office.  Lee and I decided to send him in drag.  I got him all dolled up in my
old prom dress.  I did his hair, his makeup, and bought him some heels in his
size.  We were both surprised at how feminine he looked.  Well, we went to
the party, and to our surprise, not one person recognized him.  We were both
shocked, but decided to go along with the joke.  I introduced Lee as a friend
of mine.  He was a hit!  No one ever suspected his gender at all.  I even
convinced him to dance with a couple of the guys.  Well, after we went home
that night, I had Lee put on one of my nighties and we made love.  We both
had a wonderful night, but we assumed that was it.  Neither of us knew the
other was thinking about what it would be like to do it again.

"After a few months, a coworker gave me some copies of pictures he
had taken at the party.  There were a couple of really good ones of Lee.  I
took them home and showed them to him.  I commented on how flawlessly
feminine he looked.  Lee disagreed.  He said his hair still looked masculine,
his makeup looked sloppy, and he looked very uncomfortable in his dress.  I
half jokingly asked him if he would like to dress up again and get it right.  He
agreed, making it clear it was just for a joke.  When I first dressed him up I
had done a poor job; I had only expected it to be for a party.  This time I went
all out.  I ordered him a nice little pink blouse with a matching skirt.  I got
him panties, nylons, and some heels in his size.  I padded one of my own
bras.  We spent an entire Saturday getting him dolled up.  I think we were
both surprised at how good he looked.  I had been married to him for years
and still barely recognized this sexy lady in front of me.  It seemed a shame
for us to go to all that trouble just to take all his finery off again, so I
suggested we go to a quiet nightclub in another town.  We sat in a corner
booth and spent the whole evening fending off would-be suitors.  We had the
time of our lives.

"After that night I dressed him up more and more.  I got him his own
clothes and taught him how to do his own makeup and hair.  We never really
discussed why we were doing it; I just loved dressing him up all soft and
pretty and he was beginning to like it too.  About that time I got a better
paying job in another state.  Lee was able to quit work and we could
seriously feminize him now that no one in the town would know him.

"I insisted that he dress whenever we were home alone.  Soon that
wasn't enough for us, so about three nights a week I would take him out
dressed as a girl in public.  No one recognized him.  He began to worry that
someone might notice his beard, so I had him start on electrolysis treatments.  
We had a wonderful woman to do the electrolysis.  She gave us the number
of a doctor who prescribed Lee some estrogen injections.  That really helped
Lee cope with his new found identity.  He started to truly be a woman, not
just act like one.  I even noticed him sizing up a couple of guys (Lee blushed
when Mary said that).  When I got transferred to Nevada I gave all his male
clothes to goodwill.  He now lives as a full time woman.  He's since had a
nose job, a lip enhancement, and of course, a boob job.  Right now we are
trying to decide whether or not Lee should have a sex change operation."

Lee had been pretty quiet through the whole narrative.  He seemed
slightly embarrassed, though to Ray it seemed he was most embarrassed
when Mary would talk about the times when he was a guy.  It was almost as
if Lee was trying to forget his male roots.  Ray was a bit confused.  "How
exactly did they did this to you?  I'm a little confused."

Dr. Hathaway answered.  "Well, as you probably know, electrolysis
can take away facial and body hair permanently.  The thicker the beard, the
longer it takes."  Ray unconsciously thought of his sad crop of facial hair.  
Dr. Hathaway continued.  "Now giving a man injections of estrogen can have
varied results.  The most common effects are the softening of the skin, the
lessening of facial and body hair, a reduction in the coarseness of regular
hair, lessening of muscle tone, a diminishing of the male sex drive, a
redistribution of fat in the chest and hips, and increased nipple size and
sensitivity.  I can do other things as well:  breast enhancement, facial plastic
surgery, tummy tucks, anything that can make a man look more feminine.  
After a man lives as a woman for a while I can refer him to a colleague
of mine for a full sex change.  Then the man becomes a woman forever."

Ray's head was swimming.  A woman forever?  He was certainly glad he was
just there for a little advice on how to act.  He was shocked when Dr. Hathaway asked
him what he would like to have done.

"Well, nothing of course.  I'm just here for a little advice.  That's all."

Lee spoke up.  "Rhea, I think you don't understand some things.  
Being a woman isn't all in the act.  You have to think of every contingency.  
One slip up and everyone will know your secret.  Once a man accidentally
walked in on me in a public dressing room.  He was someone I knew and
from what he saw he could easily tell I wasn't really a woman.  I figured my
cover was blown but for some reason he never told anyone.  That was when
I decided to have my breasts done.  Rhea, if you want this to work you'll
have to do more than dress up."

Ray was afraid to ask.  "Well Dr. Hathaway, what did you have in
mind?  Keep in mind I won't do anything that will still effect me when the
show is over."

"I understand.  First of all I want to start you on electrolysis.  
Nothing gives away a guy faster than 5 o'clock shadow, though it looks like
you don't have much to worry about."

"Now wait a minute!  That's permanent!  I'll never be able to grow a
beard if you do that!"

Dr. Hathaway looked stern.  "Can you grow one now?"

"Well, no."

"Odds are you will never have a heavy beard.  If you can't grow one
by now I doubt you ever will.  You'll only loose a few hairs and you won't
have to worry about that giving yourself away.  Would you rather loose your
beard or be exposed as a man?"

Ray sadly nodded in submission.  Dr. Hathaway continued.

"Now I want to get you started on feminine hormones.  This will give
you a lot of subtle feminine traits.  When the show is almost over I'll cut you
off and start you back on male hormones.  By the time the show is over most
of the traces of femininity will be gone and within half a year you'll be as
manly as you ever were.  If any signs of femininity are left over I'll correct
them with surgery.  That is, if you want to go back to being a man."

Ray ignored the doctor's implications.  "But will hormones really
change me that much?  I mean, I won't grow boobs, will I?"

The Dr. thought a moment.  "Like I said, hormones are tricky things.  
Dressing and acting like a woman takes care of the major changes.  The
hormones will take care of the subtle things.  Now you won't be able to
function as a man, I won't lie to you.  Once you are off them you'll be fine.  
About breasts, that's hard to say.  They will definitely increase, probably to
the size that you would look like a flat-chested woman.  A good rule of
thumb is that you'll probably grow to one bra size less than what was average
for other women in your family.  If you decide you want a larger chest I can
give you some lovely implants."

Though Ray had never known his mother, but he had seen pictures.  
She was a very buxom woman.  If the doctor was right, these hormones
could give him a good-sized chest.  Ray thought for a minute.  The whole
process seemed terrible, but there was one thing that convinced him to go
along with it:  His white-hot fear of being caught.

Ray agreed to the electrolysis and hormones.  Mary and Lee told him
he was doing the right thing and then went back to their examination room.  
Dr. Hathaway gave Ray a reassuring smile and an injection in the arm.  Ray
scheduled a weekly electrolysis appointment and a monthly shot and went
back to the waiting room to take care of the bill.

As Ray filled out some forms, he took a couple of nervous glances at
the "women" in the waiting room.  He tried to picture them as men.  Most
were taller than typical women, a few had large hands, and their jaws were a
little more prominent than what was standard female size.  Of course, no one
would notice these things under casual inspection; Ray only noticed because
he knew their secret.  Ray made a vow to himself to never let him get that far
into femininity!

Ray left the office.  He looked at his new, female-style watch.  It was
still early.  Brian was out getting his car worked on so there would be
nothing to do back at the hotel.  He decided to get a bite to eat.  Remembering
Tracy's warning about fatty foods he decided to try out a nearby vegetarian
restaurant.

He was about to sit down at a table when he recognized the man from
the clinic sitting at a nearby table.  He was the guy Dr. Hathaway said was
the fiancé of a feminized man.  The guy was sitting next to a very petite,
olive-skinned woman with curly black hair.  Ray shook his head.  They
looked like any happy young couple.  To Ray's horror, they waved at him
and motioned him over.  Ray couldn't think of a way to refuse so he joined
them.

The man introduced himself as Aaron, his fiancé's name was Tanya.  
Ray nervously introduced himself as Rhea.  Tanya shocked Ray by complimenting
him on how feminine he looked (the restaurant was nearly deserted so they didn't
worry about being overheard).  Ray smiled and told Tanya that "she" also looked like
a real woman.  Ray was actually glad to be complimented like this; if Tanya thought
he looked feminine then maybe he didn't have anything to worry about.  

As they talked, Ray felt surprisingly comfortable.  It was nice to talk
to someone who was in the same boat as he was.  Ray found himself opening
up about why he was doing this and about his fears.  

"I was nervous at first, too," said Tanya.  "I thought the whole world
was looking at me.  But once I started telling myself that I really was a
woman, then things were a lot less stressful.  If you let it, womanhood can
be the best thing in your life."

Ray thought about it.  "So," he asked "if you don't mind me asking,
how did you become Tanya?"

Aaron and Tanya giggled.  "Well," Tanya began "It started in high
school, back when I was known as Tommy.  I was always different, if you
know what I mean.  I had such a crush on Aaron I could hardly stand it, but
Don was the captain of the football team and I didn't think he'd be interested
in a little sissy-boy.  I felt like I was alone in the world.  Finally I broke
down and told my sister about how I felt.  She was very understanding.  She
was also very frank with me.  She told me that since Aaron was only interested
in woman then he'd never be attracted to me unless I was a woman.  I was
about to despair when she asked me if I'd like to be a woman.  The thought
had never occurred to me, but if it meant Don might find me exciting I would
do anything.  

"Prom was coming up next month.  For four weeks my sister gave
me a crash course in womanhood.  Out of those instructions came Tanya.  
Before I knew it was at the senior prom in a gown and heels."

Aaron began to speak.  "The first time I laid eyes on her I was
enchanted.  My girlfriend had dumped me the week before and I was
dateless.  I asked Tanya to dance and then stayed close to her all night.  God,
talk about your love at first sight!  When I kissed her I knew that she was the
one for me!"

"Of course," continued Tanya "there was a little something he didn't
know!  I led a double life that year; Tommy during the week, Tanya on the
weekends.  I was never comfortable with being a woman, but if it meant
belonging to Aaron I was prepared to do it forever.  It broke my heart every
time he would get fresh and I would have to fend him off.  I really wanted to
give myself to him, but I couldn't risk him finding out."

Aaron started narrating again.  "When I proposed, she had to tell me.  I
was pretty mad, I stormed out and swore I'd never talk to her again.  That
resolution lasted five miserable days.  I couldn't get her out of my head!  
Finally I drove to her house at five am and told her I still loved her.  She's
been on estrogen for two years now, in a month she'll have a full sex change
operation."

Ray left the restaurant in awe and took a cab back to the hotel.  It was
all too much for him.  All those men becoming women!  The worst of it was,
he had practically agreed to join them!  Taking female hormones?  That
wasn't part of his original deal!

By the time he can back, Brian had been home for a few hours.  He
idly asked where Ray had been, and didn't press the issue when Ray said
he'd just been 'out.'  Ray turned down Brian's invitation to hit some bars,
saying he wanted to go to bed early.

When Ray was alone in his room, he took a long hard look at his
naked body in the bathroom mirror.  He still had a guy's figure when he was
unclothed.  Ray wondered how long that would last.  What would Brian
think if he grew breasts?

Chapter 12

The lives of Brian and Ray settled down into the fairly routine lives of
entertainers.  Rehearsal in the day, performances at night.  Of course, Ray
had some things going on in his life no one ever would have suspected.

The changes in his body were one new thing.  After only a few weeks
there were some noticeable happenings.  His slight muscle tone had decreased.  
His hips were wider.  His beard was gone, thanks to the combination of electrolysis and hormones.  
His skin was slightly softer and his hair was a tad silkier.  His nipples were a little larger,
darker, and more sensitive.  He had two very small deposits of fat on his chest, these would most
likely increase in size with time.  His penis seemed to shrink.  He couldn't remember the last time
he had had an erection.

Another odd change involved his mind.  He had stopped constantly
thinking of himself as a cross dresser, though he still couldn't bring himself
to think of himself as a woman.  He lusted after women much less, though
the desire was still there.  He stopped looking at dresses and makeup as
ways to mask his appearance and began to look at them as ways to make
himself look more attractive.  It was all very strange to Ray.

Being a magician's assistant was a lot harder than Ray had expected.  
It wasn't due to the cross dressing, though.  Brian insisted on everything being
perfect.  He would practice with Ray and Don (the stage assistant) for hours
at a time.  If anything went wrong it wasn't going to be for lack of practice.

The act was a sensation.  People came from all over to watch Brian's
illusions, escapes, and tricks.  Ray would distract the audience with erotic
movements, slip Brian the tools he needed  to perform his tricks, and
generally be of service.  Ray had been transported, vanished, sawn in half
(and thirds, and fourths), and transformed into a variety of things.

Brian's odd magical quirk was that he would never undo his illusions
that involved Ray.  If he made Ray vanish, that would be the last the audience
saw of him.  If he transformed Ray into a rabbit, then a rabbit he would
stay.  If Ray were sawn in half, Brian would simply wheel the two halves
into the wings, he would make no pretense of reattaching them.  Ray had
always thought this was funny when it was Tracy who was on stage.  Now
he didn't appreciate it so much.  He had never realized it before, but Brian
was subtlety dominating his assistants.  It was all an illusion of course, but
Ray was somewhat miffed at being treated like a prop.

Ray also begin to realize how vaguely sexual his role in the act was.  
Allowing Brian to tie him up, shackle him, lock him in boxes…while Brian never
touched more than Ray’s wrists or ankles, Ray was acting very much the part of
the submissive woman.  

Once, a loud heckler disrupted Brian's act.  Instead of having security
throw him out, Brian called the man on stage to help with a trick.  He had the
man step into a 'magic closet.'  He then said some magic words.  While the
audience was distracted by Brian, Don escorted the man out of the theater, via
a secret passage.  Brian had originally planned to just make the guy
disappear.  Ray, who had not yet been introduced to the audience that night,
decided to play a practical joke.  He slipped into the box after the man had
left.  When Brian open the box, expecting to find it empty, there stood Ray
(or, from the audience's point of view, a sexy woman).  Ray began
pretending like he was the heckler.  He begged Brian to change him back into
a man.  Brian quickly caught on.  As the audience roared with laughter, Brian
refused, saying he needed a pretty female assistant.  Only Brian and Ray
knew the truth that lay behind that routine!

After Ray had gotten the hang of the routine of the job, he found that
it was not as stressful as he had expected.  Thanks to the hormones, passing
as a woman was no longer a chore.  Ray began to enjoy the city of Las
Vegas.  There was always something to do.

That was another thing.  It was rather unique to Ray that he had time
to do anything.  When he lived in Dead Springs he was working three jobs.  
As soon as one shift would end he would have to rush right off to his next
workplace.  He would be lucky to cram in five hours of sleep every day.  Now,
when he was not performing or rehearsing, his time was his own.  He also
had spending money for the first time in his life.  At first, Ray would hover
close to Brian every second they had free.  They would go out to see shows,
take in the sights, and have a good time.  Soon, Ray noticed that Brian was
getting just a bit reluctant to spend time with him.  It wasn't hard to imagine
why; a guy like Brian would like to spend his time trying to meet women and
having a cute redhead at his side wouldn't help him.  Ray began to find
things to do on his own.

Ray had become good friends with several female performers at the
hotel.  He would often hang out with them after business hours.  It made him
feel good to have friends in the city.  He didn't feel like a lonely freak
anymore.  Of course, if they girls ever found out his secret...

Ray enrolled in a night school that would get him his high school
diploma by the time he was done with the Vegas gig.  Of course, it would say
"Rhea" on it, but he figured he'd find a way to fix that when the time came.

It was quite odd.  Rhea existed in the eyes of the hotel, his friends,
the bank, the DMV, and his school.  As far as he knew, Ray no longer existed
anywhere except in his own mind and the memories of Brian and Tracy.  Could it
really be that easy to change identities?  He hoped it would be this easy to change back.

One afternoon between rehearsals, Ray joined Don, the stagehand,
for lunch.  Don was a handsome, muscular black man who had the same job
Ray had in Dead springs.  He had a good sense of humor and became friends
with Brian and Ray almost immediately.

Ray viewed Don as sort of an enigma.  Like Ray, Don was born
poor.  Like Ray, no one had ever given him anything; everything he achieved
he had achieved on his own.  But there was a difference.  Don was effortlessly
attractive to women, Ray looked like an attractive woman.  Don went to college
at night, in a few months he would start law school full time.  Ray had to dress a
woman just to escape the poverty level.  They had both started off low in life.  
So how come Don was such a successful man and Ray wasn't?

The answer, thought Ray, was fairly obvious.  Don was manly.  He
was tall, muscular, and had a thick beard.  He had a deep voice, and
dominantly male features.  The very thought of him dressed like Ray now did
was so ridiculous that Ray had to force back laughter.

That night, as Ray was removing his makeup, he took a long look in
the mirror.  His electrolysis treatments had stopped; the combination of the
treatments and the hormones had eradicated all traces of his light beard.  He
now had a slim, hourglass figure.  He no longer had to wear the corset.  He
male organs had shrunk.  He could no longer get an erection if he wanted to.  
The rubber restraining device kept everything hidden under his panties.  He
chest was budding.  It wasn't the chest you'd see on a man.  It was the chest
you'd see on a twelve-year-old girl who was just starting to develop in
earnest.  He had to buy a smaller pair of falsies to accommodate the extra
growth.

Ray sighed.  He had always wanted to get his hands on a pair of
woman's breasts.  Now it looked like his wish was coming true.

Chapter 13

It was a hot Nevada day.  Most of the guests of the hotel were taking
advantage of the heat to lounge around one of the hotel's pools.  People
swam, ate, and sunned themselves.  The men tried to attract the attention of
the many beautiful women around the pool.

One woman attracted particular attention.  She was a young redhead.  
She was wearing a pair of sunglasses and a modest one-piece swimsuit that
covered her chest and front, but left her freckled back, arms and legs
exposed.  She lay back on a deck chair, drinking in the sun, ignoring the
many men who tried to catch her eye.  There was just something about her:
mysterious, aloof, and erotic.  Gorgeous but apparently unobtainable.

The men at the pool were crestfallen when a handsome man came up
and started talking to her right off the bat.  They chatted so easily, he must
have been her boyfriend.  Every man at the poolside felt a twinge of envy.  A
few recognized him as the magician from the hotel lounge.

"Lucky bastard," muttered a visiting businessman.  
"Them entertainers get all the chicks they can stand." `

Ray patiently listed to what Brian was saying.  When he finished she
calmly told him that he was deranged.

"C'mon," pleaded Brian "I've done straitjacket escapes for years.  
So what's the big deal if I try it underwater?  Right here in this pool, even?"

Ray sighed.  "Have you forgotten how you nearly drowned last time
you tried that?"

"Have you forgotten how much money we made?  This is going to be
the biggest hit of the season!"

"No, Brian, it's just too dangerous."  Ray immediately regretted
saying that.  Brian never, never, turned away from danger.  Before Ray
could stop him, Brian was already on his way to Mr. Penny's office to pitch
the trick.  Ray groaned, threw on a robe, and followed.

Mr. Penny listened to Brian's spiel with interest.  Then he grinned.  
"Brian my boy, this could be the show that makes you a real star.  When
could you be ready to perform?"

Brian did some mental calculations.  "Well, with constant practice, I
think I could be ready in about two and a half months."

"Great," said Mr. Penny.  "I'll start hyping it immediately.  This'll
make us a fortune!"

Ray felt helpless.  Here was Brian, risking his life for some dumb
publicity stunt, and all Mr. Penny could think about was the financial aspect.  
Ray wanted to object, but didn't.  What good would it have done?  If
someone like Don had raised objections, Brian and Mr. Penny might have
paid attention, but not Ray.  Ray hated to admit it, but society was sexist.  
Women's opinions were not taken seriously.  

Ray needed someone to talk to who would understand.  He left the
office and went looking for Susan, a new friend of his.  Susan was an older
cocktail waitress who served drinks to the high rollers in a uniform that covered
less than most swimsuits.  Though she'd never see forty again, Susan kept herself in
incredible shape.  Ray found her sunning herself back at the pool.  Her bikini clad body
was just as taut and firm as a woman half her age.  She frowned when she saw Ray and asked what was wrong.

Ray was soon pouring out his heart to her.  How women were never
listened to or respected.  How they were always treated as second class
citizens.  Susan listened with a smile.

"Rhea, I'm surprised it took you this long to figure it out.  No matter
what the politicians say, it's a man's world.  All they want from you is to be
great in bed, take care of the kids, and cook the meals.  But we are not
powerless.  You could have had Brian begging your forgiveness for even
considering such a stunt."

"Oh, give me a break," said Rhea.  "The more I told him not to, the
more insistent he was.  It was like he had to prove he could do an underwater
straitjacket escape."

"That's my point.  The more you tell a guy he can't do something, the
more he'll want to show you he can.  Here's what you do:  after work tomorrow,
invite him to your place for a couple of drinks.  Put on some soft music.  
Start telling him what great show he put on, how he outdid himself.  Massage
his tired shoulders.  Wear something low cut and bend down in front of him
a lot.  Then, while he's enjoying this relaxing evening, burst into tears.  
When he asks you what's wrong, tell him you know that you are being a silly
female, but you just couldn't bear it if something happened to him.  Tell him
it would mean ever so much to you if he would just reconsider.  No man can
resist a crying female.  He'll be eating out of the palm of your hand."

Ray smiled to himself.  He'd seen Brian get stupid over women
before.  Of course, Ray was different story...

"Do you really think women can control guys so easily?  I mean for real?"

Susan chuckled.  "Watch this.  Hey, you!"  She snapped her fingers at a boy
lounging near the pool.  He was obviously a college student, young enough to be Susan's son,
and quite handsome.  He immediately raced over.

"Go get me that umbrella," said Susan, looking at a magazine and not saying please.  
Immediately, the young man raced to grab her the beach umbrella.  When he returned, she looked up.

"No, not that one, the yellow one!"  Her voice was exasperated.  Without hesitation,
the guy ran to get the completely identical umbrella.  Ray chuckled into his hand as Susan sent
him on several more errands.  He never would have done those things for a man.  But when a pretty
woman told him to hop to it, there was no question.

Eventually, Susan grew tired of her new toy.  "Okay, bye now."  She waved her hand in dismissal.

The boy looked hurt, he hadn't even gotten a thank you.  Ray was a little annoyed as well.  
Susan, realizing she'd crossed the line, rewarded her new servant with a sincere smile.  
"On second thought, why don't you go get us a couple of mai tais?  You can rub lotion on my
back while you tell me about yourself."

To Ray's surprise, the guy didn't move.  "I'm only nineteen," he said eventually.

Susan laughed.  "Then go get us a couple of Kool Aids and I'll rub your back."  
As the guy ran to bring the drinks, Susan smiled at Ray.  She was right, it was easy to get a
guy to obey.  Ray would have to learn to harness this power.

Ray returned to his room and changed into a light summer dress.  Before he could plot how to get Brian to give up risking his life, there was a faint knock at her door.

Ray checked to make sure his fake boobs were in place, then opened the door.  It was Rosie, a young Puerto Rican showgirl. She worked in the hotel's cabaret, part of a troupe that did risqué dance numbers for the guests.  She was usually cheery, but today she wore a grim expression.

She soon confessed her problems to Ray.  Rosie was two months pregnant.  While unplanned, she was going to keep the baby.  Unfortunately, a pregnancy would not fit in with her job.

"It normally wouldn't be a big deal," said Rosie, as Ray held her hand.  "I'm going to graduate college in a semester, then I can get a real job.  But I'll have to quit work now, which means no money, no insurance."

Ray hugged the young girl.  "Maybe Mr. Penny would keep you on..."

Rosie shook her head.  "We discussed it, and he was sympathetic.  But he just can't justify paying me my salary and keeping my insurance, if I'm not working.  But I think I have a solution."

Ray listened as Rosie outlined her plan.  If five girls from other shows would agree to take over Rosie's job, one night a week, then Rosie could stay on the payroll until she graduated.  Then she could start her professional career without financial worries, about three months from now.

"So have you gotten any volunteers?" asked Ray, relieved that her friend wouldn't be broke and unemployed.

Rosie sniffled.  "Four girls said they'd do it.  But I just can't find the fifth.  I've asked everyone.  Well...almost everyone."

It suddenly hit Ray.  He was supposed to be the fifth dancing girl!

"Please," begged Rosie, almost kneeling in front of Ray.  "It won't work unless someone can cover all my shifts.  I know it's a huge favor, and I can't pay you back!  But it's really a lot of fun!  You just follow the other girls.  I know the costumes are ridiculous, but you have a great figure.  One night a week, for two and a half months.  Please, Rhea.  If not for me..."  She didn't finish, but let her hands creep down and cover her already expanding belly.

Ray's head was spinning.  Become a showgirl?  While the hormones had caused him to blossom rather amazingly, those costumes, with their feathered headdresses and tassels, left nothing to the imagination.

Ray muttered 'I'll think about it,' and hustled his friend out of the room.  He couldn't stop thinking about her big, brown eyes, so filled with desperation.  How could he let her down?

Ray studied his slender, smooth body.  Passing as a girl? No problem.  Wearing a one piece swimsuit?  Piece of cake.  But those dancing girl costumes?  From neck to naval, those girls wore sequins, some flesh-colored material, and nothing else!  Ray couldn't hide the fact he didn't have real breasts.  But how could he explain that to Rosie?

It was obvious Ray needed professional advice.  He walked over to
the phone and dialed.  "Hello, Dr. Hathaway?  This is Rhea.  Do you think I
could see you today?  It's an emergency."

Dr. Hathaway was silent as Ray poured out Rosie's tale of sadness.  She
would occasionally make notes or consult Rhea's chart.

"So Dr. Hathaway, do you think you could give me some more hormones?  I have to fit into that costume in just under a month."

Dr. Hathaway smiled.  Rhea was really starting to sound like someone who wanted to be a woman forever.  "Rhea, I'm afraid it's not all that simple.  The hormones in your body are competing with your male hormones.  Your breasts and developing nicely, but I wouldn't recommend a bikini for at least another year."

Ray began to panic again.  "Isn't there some way you can block my
male hormones?  If I can't do this for Rosie, she'll have to drop out of school."

"I'm sorry Rhea.  The only way to let the estrogen take over totally is
to remove your testicles."

"Absolutely not!"  shouted Ray.

"Calm down.  Even if you asked me to, I wouldn't.  That is not the solution to your problem."

"Is there a solution?"  asked Ray.

"Yes.  I could give you breast implants."

"You mean...a boob job?  That's kind of permanent, isn't it?"

"Yes and no.  If you had it done, you'd have to have several operations to put you back to manhood.  Until then you'd always have to wear a shirt, and you'd need to wear a bra.  This is a big step.  But it is not permanent. Implants can be removed."

"Can I have a while to think about it?"

"Well, not long.  This is major surgery.  You're going to be black and
blue for several weeks.  If you want to look nice next month, you need the
surgery very soon."

Once again, fate had conspired against Ray.  "O.K.  Just promise me  you'll only make them as big as absolutely necessary and that you'll give me
my flat chest back when I need it."

"O.K.  If you want it back.  You might find you enjoy having breasts."

A traveling musical act was scheduled to perform at the hotel in one
week, and Brian and Ray had a couple of days off.  Ray scheduled the surgery for that time slot.

(continued)