Joe_bates_saga

12 Joe_Bates_Saga________________________________________________________

1. Chapter : Shopping Again

"Come on in," Joe called out. "I've been waiting for you."

Karen Simpson entered the house. She was taller than Joe by about two inches. Joe was shorter since the change, but still felt a little strange having to look up to a woman. At about five foot eight or nine, he was still taller than most of them.

"I want you to meet Linda," Joe said, and walked down the hall toward Linda's bedroom. Linda heard someone at the door too, and met Joe as she left the bedroom. She now wore shorts, and a light cotton top somewhat like Joe's.

"Linda," Joe said, "I'd like you to meet Karen Simpson. Karen is a nurse, and she works for Dr. Hopkins, at Hillcrest. Karen, this is my girl... my friend, Linda Mitchell."

Karen held her hand out, Linda took it, and shook hands with Karen. "Pleased to meet you, Karen," Linda said, smiling.

"Joe has told me about you," Karen said. "We hope to help him with this problem if we can."

"I've never heard of anything like this, have you?" Linda asked.

"Well, no, I haven't," Karen said. "I don't think Dr. Hopkins or Dr. Krell have either, but if anything can be done to make him normal again, they'll find it."

"Linda, Karen and I are going over to the mall to get some stuff I'll be needing if I've got to spend a couple of days away from home," Joe said. "Are you sure you can't come along?" He really did not mind that he and Karen would go alone. He felt that Karen understood his feelings better than Linda ever could.

"No, you two just go ahead," Linda said. "I'm sure Karen can help you find the things you need. I have to get this proposal ready for the morning."

Joe checked his pockets. He had his driver's license, Master Card, and American Express. That, with about twenty-five dollars cash, would be enough. He was feeling better about shopping, knowing that he could spend some money and not have to worry if he was still employed or not.

"You better drive, if you will," he told Karen. "I'm worried about getting stopped, with my license out of synch, such as it is."

"No problem," Karen said. "It'll take a few days, maybe, but I think Dr. Krell can get the paper work you need to change your license, and other records, even your birth certificate."

Joe did not know about that. Did he want his birth certificate to show him as female? The thought of it, the first record of his very existence, saying that he was a girl. Did he really want that? Did he need that? He was not sure. He would have to talk to Dr. Krell about it. If they did find a way to get him back, to make him a man again, then he'd have to change all that stuff back again. Of course, if that happened, it would be worth it. As they drove out of Linda's drive, and down the street, Joe tried to imagine the scenario.

He wakes up one morning, just like last Friday, but this time, he looks down at his chest, his hairy chest, his broad, muscular, flat chest. He reaches between his legs, and touches his penis and scrotum. He's a man again. Instinctively, Joe reached up to touch his chest, but instead of hard muscles, and hair, he still felt the soft roundness of his breasts under the lightweight top.

Joe realized he actually felt relieved. Relieved? What did that mean? What sort of game was his mind playing on him? He was really a man, at least mentally, was not he? And yet, he could hardly deny the feelings of satisfaction he experienced as he touched his feminine softness. Was his head beginning to accept the fact that his body was now female? Or had his brain also become feminized, and he was to be left with only memories of his former masculinity? Whatever was happening, Joe realized that the change was starting to affect how he thought about himself. He was beginning to feel more at ease with his changed body, but it seemed he might be losing control of what HE wanted. It almost seemed that he was developing another, a second almost FEMININE personality. Was it inevitable?

"Where do you want to stop first?" Karen asked. The sound of her voice returned Joe from his thoughts.

"Gee, I don't know, exactly," Joe said. "I guess I need a bit of almost everything. I probably have enough underwear, but that's about it. What should I wear to Dr. Krell's office?"

"If you have the time, I have something at my apartment that I'd like to show you," Karen suggested.

"Sure I think we have three hours till the stores close. Unless you shop like Linda, that should be enough time," Joe said, grinning at Karen.

"The stop at my place should only take a minute or two," Karen said.

They drove quickly down the street toward the mall, but turned down a side street a few miles before it. Karen then turned into the parking area of a very nice complex. The apartments were more like condos, with large attached garages. The area reeked of money.

"This is where you live?" Joe asked.

"Yeah," Karen said. "I bought one of these, since I like to keep my car in a garage I can lock. Enclosed garages are uncommon around here, and I don't want to buy a house here in the Phoenix area."

The garage door opened as Karen pressed a button on the automatic transmitter. She drove in, and Joe followed Karen inside.

Karen's apartment was a combination of fine, heavy furniture, and filled bookshelves. Joe looked at the titles and saw that they were mostly medical books, with a few biographies, and technical paperbacks on computer related subjects.

"Nice place," Joe said.

"Thanks. I like it," Karen replied. "It reminds me of home. Come into my bedroom. I have something I'd like to show you."

She went into her bedroom. Joe followed, and Karen went into her large, walk-in closet. She came out almost immediately with a wig on a Styrofoam stand. It was the same color as her own hair, blonde, with a slightly brown cast. It was medium length, and a slightly different style than Karen now wore.

"I want you to try this on," Karen said. "I know it's not your color, but I'd like to see how you look without that GI haircut."

Karen walked over to the dresser, and Joe obediently followed. She stood behind Joe, and placed the hairpiece on his head. She made sure that none of his own short hair was hanging out. As she smoothed the hair in place, Joe watched his reflection in the mirror. With longer hair, he could hardly recognize himself. The new, smooth contours of his face, and the emphasis of his cheekbones by the hardly noticeable makeup, gave him a totally different look.

As he stared at himself, trying to be detached, he could not believe the change in his appearance. Without the short, male hair style, practically nothing remained to remind him of his former appearance. He raised a hand and touched his face, and then ran a finger along his cheek. He could feel it all right, it WAS him in the mirror. Karen's hairpiece had transformed his face, almost like the other changes had transformed his body. "Unbelievable," was all he could say.

"I thought you might feel that way," Karen said. "You can wear it if you like. I don't use it anymore."

"I would like to try it, if you don't mind," Joe said, as he felt the hairpiece, and arranged the hair which completely covered his ears.

"It isn't the right color, but it still looks good on you," Karen said. "I think that style would even look good with your own hair, when it grows out."

Joe continued to gaze transfixed in the mirror, as Karen poked through a little chest on her dresser.

"Try these," she said, and clipped some small gold disks on Joe's ear lobes.

Joe felt Karen snap something on his ears. He looked in the mirror, and saw small earrings protruding from under his new longer locks. He did not like the way they felt, but had to admit they did look appropriate.

"Unbelievable," he said again.

The image in the mirror was completely that of an attractive young woman. Joe felt as if he was looking at somebody else. His body image, already stretched to the limit, was now completely overcome.

"I think you'll pass," Karen teased. "I've got something else I think you might want to see." She walked out of the bedroom.

Joe followed Karen into the large living area. One wall was completely covered with bookshelves. Karen went to the shelf, and took a book down. She handed it to Joe. He looked at the cover. "GENETICS AND SEX DETERMINATION" it said.

"You might scan this," Karen said. "It may give you some insight on what might have happened to you, and maybe, what you can expect. With the unique experiences you're having, you could even be able to add to it."

She was right. It was possible that no one else on record made such a complete transition. Whether he liked it or not, Joe and his friends' situation would probably be one for the medical books.

"Okay, I'll read up on it," Joe promised. He did want to learn more about genetics and chromosomes. Biology was always mildly interesting for him, but now the interest was much more personal.

"I guess we better get going," Karen said. She took a small purse, and began walking toward the door to the garage.

Joe went out with Karen, and they get into her car. The garage door opened, and Karen backed her white sports car out. They quickly drove the short distance to the mall, and parked. They walked into the mall, and Karen went to a back-lighted diagram showing the various stores.

"Where to?" she asked.

"I wish I knew," Joe said. He was not used to shopping for women's clothes, and really did not like to do it.

"How about a skirt?" Karen suggested. "I saw that you hardly have anything but dresses that look like they belong to an old lady."

"What do you mean?" Joe objected. "My new stuff doesn't look THAT bad."

"We can do better," Karen insisted. "Let's find something to show your legs a little. You have a really nice figure too."

"I don't know. I really don't think I should get anything too wild. Give me some time to get used to this," Joe begged.

"You're doing fine, and you look great. I think we'll find some things that look good, and maybe you'll even like to wear them," Karen repeated.

Together, they walked into Goldwater's. Joe could smell the cosmetics that were displayed on the counters near the entrance. They walked passed the glass and shining plastic, and then through the hosiery section. Joe looked at the bottom half of mannequins showing the different styles and colors of pantyhose. He thought about his own limited experience wearing them, and realized that from now until a way was found to return his masculinity, they would probably be part of his wardrobe whenever he needed to dress more than casually.

He considered how Linda had dressed that morning. That suit was probably the feminine equivalent of what he normally wore to work, except when flying, or working in the lab. He wondered what the other engineers would think when, or if, he came to work wearing stuff like that. They had a few secretaries, and administrative women in his section. Since he had worked there, there had been no female engineers.

Joe and Karen walked into the clothing section. Down the aisle, Joe spotted a light gray suit, with a gray silk blouse. His first thought was how Linda would look in it, and then realized that he should be thinking about what HE would look like wearing it.

"I want to look at this," Joe told Karen, as they walked past the outfit. They went into the racks of skirts, and jackets. Immediately, a saleslady came to their assistance.

"Can I be of help?" she asked.

"Yes, I'd like to try on an outfit just like that one," Joe said, pointing to the mannequin.

"What are your sizes?" the woman asked.

Joe told her, and she went to the racks, quickly selecting the style and size Joe suggested.

"What type of blouse did you have in mind?" the lady questioned.

"Just like the dummy," Joe answered. He thought he told her he wanted an outfit JUST like the one on display. He felt no desire to experiment.

The woman looked at Joe. It appeared that she was not used to a woman who knew exactly what she wanted, without wanting to search the racks herself. Most unusual.

The woman retrieved a gray silk blouse, and took the hangers of clothing back into the fitting area. She hung the items on a hook in a small closet-sized room with a small couch. There really was not enough room in the cubicle for Karen to stay with Joe, so she stayed out, and sat on one of the chairs outside.

Joe looked at the clothes hanging on the wall. The silk blouse was at the front, and he touched it, enjoying the soft, smooth feel of the fabric. Of course, he had never worn anything like this before.

Joe pulled the top he was wearing over his head. It was made more difficult by the extra hair he now had when wearing Karen's wig. He felt it snag on the earrings he wore. He laid the little top on the couch, and took the blouse from the hanger. He carefully placed his arms into the sleeves of the blouse, and buttoned it. He only fumbled a little with the backward placement of the buttons, and then did his best to tie the bow that was at the neck. He had not expected the bow. The blouse fit well, and the soft fabric followed his shape perfectly. He looked down, and saw how the fabric almost flowed over the mounds of his new breasts, and the way the glistening silk attractively emphasized his form. Joe could not resist touching his chest, feeling his own softness through the silk. He loved the sensation of feeling the fluid silk from both sides.

Joe quickly removed his shorts, and tossed them next to the top. He took the skirt, looked at it, and tried to decide how to put it on. He decided to unzip the back, and step into it. That seemed to work ok, and he tried to zip it up by reaching behind his back. That was difficult, but the skirt was a little loose around his waist, so Joe spun the skirt around so that the zipper was almost at the front. He finished zipping it up, and then buttoned the little tab. When it looked right, he spun the skirt back around so that the zipper was aligned with his backbone.

The skirt felt a bit loose, but looked good. Joe removed the jacket from the hanger, and easily slipped it over his silk-covered arms. He wanted to look in the mirror. He pulled the hair out from under the collar of the jacket, opened the door, and stepped out. Karen was waiting for him and smiled widely when she saw him.

"You look great," she said.

Joe stepped to the three sided mirror, and looked at himself. Again, he was amazed how different he looked with the hairpiece. The suit looked good on his new shape, too. He was impressed with his appearance. "I didn't ask to be like this," he thought, "but I might as well look the best I can."

Joe looked at his legs in the mirror. He had left his shoes in the cubicle, and his white Reebok athletic socks really did not go with his outfit. He looked like one of those secretaries in the city, who wore jogging shoes for the walk from the car or train station, to their office. He walked over to the mannequin, to see what else it was wearing. He saw that it wore sheer white hose. He did not like that color much when Linda wore it.

"I don't like those white stockings," Joe said to Karen.

"That color is very popular," the saleswoman said, "but a darker color would also look good."

"Get some sheer blue, or I've found dark sand to match my hair color," Karen said.

"I'll take this stuff," Joe decided, "and I'm going to look around some more." He was starting to get into this shopping thing.

Joe looked at the other mannequins for ideas. The others were either not suitable to his taste, or were too 'evening dress' styled. He could not think of any place he would be going where he would wear things like that. His taste leaned toward the tasteful, conservative, business suit styles. Most of the dresses were far too feminine for him. It was early spring, and most of the things were summer styles.

"How about something like this?" Karen asked. "You can't wear suits when you aren't at work. What if you want to dress up to go out in your off time."

Karen pulled a sundress from the rack. It was sort of faded red-orange, and had straps over the shoulders which crossed in back. It had a slightly low top. It was tasteful, and sophisticated. Joe liked it, but was not sure about the low cut top.

"Gee, Karen, I don't know. Isn't that a little breezy?" he asked.

"No, it isn't. It's summer. You can't wear long sleeves all summer," Karen insisted. "If you don't buy this, I might."

"Okay, okay, I'll try it on," Joe said.

He tried to sound like he did not like this task, but deep inside, he was beginning to enjoy trying on these new things. As a man, he usually shopped just to replace worn clothes, with little thought to fashion, or style. Now, trying on new clothes was an experience in textures, and feel. Women had such variety to select from in color, style, and fabric. He was beginning to understand why Linda loved to shop for clothes. Compared to buying men's clothes, it was a most sensual occasion.

Joe took the red sundress from Karen, and walked back to the fitting area. He entered the cubical, and hung it in the hook. He removed his top again, and slipped out of his shorts. He took the dress from the hanger, and pulled it over his head. Closing the buttons at the back of the dress was a difficult process, but he did it. He looked down at himself. The straps of the little dress did not cover the shoulder straps of his bra. He tried to tuck them under the dress straps the best he could, and went out to look in the mirror.

He was inspecting himself in the mirror, as Karen came up behind him. She touched his back, and snapped the strap of his bra.

"You're going to have to do something about this," she said. "You can either forget the bra entirely, or look for one of those strapless, or crossover types."

Joe thought about it. Without a bra, he felt insecure, and even more self conscious. When he thought about it, maybe he was foolish to feel that way, but he realized, the new shape of his body was more noticeable, to him, and probably everybody else too, when he did not have one on.

"I'll look for one that works with this," Joe insisted.

He looked at himself in the three-sided mirror. He could not deny that he really was attractive. He guessed that maybe, because the change was so new, it did not seem that he was looking at himself, but that he was seeing somebody else in the mirror. Almost like he was INSIDE another person. The illusion was made even more interesting by the fact that this other person was a very attractive member of the opposite sex. The fact that he could feel everything the other person felt made the experience almost overwhelming. Maybe that was how he was able to cope, he considered. The only problem with the whole thing was, there was no way to stop the illusion. He had to live it full time. That made it difficult. If only he had the ability to change from his normal, old appearance, to the illusion, at will. Then, this might be the ultimate experience.

"I think you better get it," he heard Karen say. "You sure seem to like it."

"Yeah, I guess I better," he answered, jolted back to reality by her words.

Joe went back to the fitting room, and removed the sundress. He slowly put his shorts and top back on. He took the clothes out and gave them to the saleswoman.

"Will there be anything else?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'll need some kind of slip or something, for the suit, and I guess I should get another bra. One that doesn't stick out of the sundress," he said, speaking more to himself than to her. "I better get a purse, or handbag, or whatever you call it, too, and I just have to buy a watch. My old one just falls off my wrist now, and I can't get used to not wearing one."

The woman looked at him strangely. She began ringing up the things, but kept her eye on Joe. She sensed that there was something very unusual about this woman, but she could not place it.

"The lingerie section is down this aisle, and to the left," she said carefully. "The better handbags are upstairs. Ladies' watches can be found in the jewelry section, over there." She pointed at another counter, two aisles away.

Joe noticed his words were unnerving the saleswoman. He was becoming more confident now, and decided to play with her head a little. He looked around. There was no one in the area but him, Karen, and the saleslady. When she presented him with the bill, he gave her his American Express card, and when he was finished paying, he thanked the woman, then went over to the nearby mirror, looked at himself critically, and took off the wig. The saleswoman, who never took her eyes off him, let out a noticeable gasp. Joe smoothed his short hair, pretended to adjust his bra, and then, carefully replaced the wig. He walked out of the saleswoman's section without looking at the woman. Karen, who had been silently watching what was happening, followed, trying her best not to laugh. When they turned the corner, walking toward lingerie, she spoke.

"Joe, I can't believe you did that," she said, laughing. "You are simply unbelievable."

"You said it, didn't you?" Joe said. "If you got it, flaunt it."

They went into the lingerie section, and Joe again began to feel like out of place among the silky, feminine things hanging on the racks, and hooks. But, he had always liked the look and feel of these things on a woman, and now, it seemed, he was starting to enjoy the feel of wearing them, too.

Joe tried to remember what he needed to buy, as he looked at all the sexy things. He remembered that he needed something to wear under the suit, as well as the skirts he already had. The only other time he had worn a dress, he had borrowed a slip from Linda. She called it a half-slip. Whatever it was, he needed one. He went over to the rack where they were hanging, and took one. He held it up to his waist, to see how long it was. He looked up, to get Linda's opinion, when he saw a guy, who was probably self-consciously waiting for his wife to try something on, watching him. He began to blush.

Since he had begun to wear Karen's hairpiece, he had become much more confident, probably because he looked so female, but his confidence went out the window when he saw this stranger, who surely suspected nothing, innocently watching him pick out a slip. His heart began to pound, and he could feel sweat beginning to form on his forehead. He took the slip, and went over to Karen, who was looking at teddies.

"Did you find something already?" she asked.

"Yeah, I... I think I need this," Joe stuttered.

Karen could tell that something was wrong. She looked at him.

"What's the matter, Joe?" she asked. "Do you feel sick?"

"No... No, nothing like that," Joe whispered nervously. "I just suddenly realized, again, that I'm really still a guy inside. I don't know what I'm doing here. A guy over there is watching me. I can't buy stuff like this with a guy watching."

"Joe, think about it," Karen said. "Look at yourself. Put yourself in his place. He's just watching a good looking woman. It's probably a little turn on for him, or something, just to watch you, but there's no crime with that. You probably did it too. There, look." Karen motioned at the man.

The man's wife came out of the fitting room, with a couple of slips she had been trying on. The man began talking to her. He was not even looking at Joe, or Karen.

"There, see? He didn't think you were a guy in drag, or anything," Karen teased. "My God, Joe, you look more like a woman than I do."

"Okay, I guess you're right. I'll try to hang in there," Joe said.

A saleswoman, maybe twenty years old, came over to them. "Can I be of assistance?" she asked. She saw the half slip Joe was holding. "Did you want to buy that?"

"Well, I need a slip to wear under a suit," Joe said, hoping he used the right terminology.

"Did you want a half, or a full slip?" the girl asked.

"I don't know," Joe answered honestly.

"Well, if you want a half-slip, you might also consider a matching teddy," the young woman said. She was trained to suggest items.

"I'd like to see the choices," Joe said. His confidence was returning.

They walked back to the area where Joe had found the slip, and the salesgirl pulled a white teddy, which matched the slip he still held. The white nylon fabric had no lace, or decoration, but looked silky, and sexy, just like Joe liked it. The crotch, which closed with three little snaps, hung open. Joe just had to try it on.

"Could I try it?" Joe asked.

"Certainly," the young woman answered. She handed Joe the hanger containing the silky wisp of cloth.

Joe gave Karen the bags he was carrying, and took the slip and teddy into the fitting room. This one was like the first women's fitting room he had ever been in. The doors were really like shutters. They did not go all the way to the floor or top of the door opening. The middle part was just wooden slats, mounted like louvers. The person inside could see over the door if they were tall, and could even see through the slats of the door across the aisle.

Joe hung the hangers on the hook provided, and began removing his outer clothing. He started to remove his shorts, but had to sit to pull his Reeboks off first. He did that, and when he stood to pull his shorts off, he noticed a woman enter the cubicle across from him. It made him think of the first morning, only four days ago, when he came to the mall to buy some clothes, confused, and almost scared to death. That's when he got his first view of a woman, in an adjoining cubicle, also trying on undergarments. That time, the strong male urge he still possessed, almost made his heart explode. He was not yet used to seeing so much of his new peer group.

As he continued to undress, Joe watched as the young woman in the other cubicle removed her blouse. She carefully hung it on the wall hook, and then unfastened the strap of her pink bra. She removed it and tossed it on the padded seat. Through the wide gaps in the door slats, Joe could see the woman's breasts.

He waited for the familiar feeling of his penis, that was what it still felt like to him, swelling as it became aroused. That would shortly be followed, since the change, by a somewhat uncomfortable feeling of wetness, as his new vagina started to lubricate and made the crotch of his underwear wet. He watched and waited. There was nothing.

The woman scratched an itch on her left breast with her right hand. The innocent action caused the breast to jiggle like Jello. Joe tensed the muscles in his groin. Before, this scene would have caused a pants ripping erection. Now, although the sight was still interesting, he felt about the same excitement as if he was watching his friend Jay change clothes next to him at the health club. What was happening to him?

Concerned, Joe touched the crotch of his panties. They were warm, maybe a little damp, they were always a little damp, but they were not soaking wet, as they would have been on previous days. Was he losing his old desire? Maybe, as Dr. Krell suspected, his libido was enhanced by the extra testosterone, left over from when his gonads were testicles. The ovaries he had now would, of course, eventually cause his sex drive to change, and probably become somewhat cyclic. If he was really female, it was probably inevitable.

Joe gently stroked the smooth nylon that covered his soft crotch. It felt good, not in an erotic way, but rather he liked the slick feel of the fabric, which felt so different from the cotton jockey shorts he had always wore before. He looked over at the woman. As she placed her arms into the straps of the new bra, Joe could see the outline of her bosom. "Her boobs are no bigger than mine," he thought. "In fact, mine are better. No wonder she doesn't turn me on. I'm getting used to seeing female anatomy every time I look in the mirror." He went back to his task of trying on his new underwear.

Joe pulled the teddy over his head and down his body. It was silky and a bit loose around his chest, but below the light elastic waistband, it was made of a stretchy, lycra fabric. He reached between his legs, grabbed the little crotch strap, and snapped it closed. There was no mirror in the cubicle, so he could not see himself. He looked down, and was satisfied that it fit ok. He grabbed the slip, and stepped into it. He really wanted to see himself in a mirror, but that would have to wait. Satisfied, he took the silky things off again.

That was when he remembered. He still needed to get a bra without straps. He quickly put his shorts back on, and slipped the top over his head. Joe decided that he would not need to take his shoes off anymore, so he put them back on, and tied them. He grabbed the silky items, and left the cubicle. He put them on the counter by the cash register and went over to where Karen was standing, casually looking at slips.

"What kind of bra do you think I should get?" he asked.

"What kind do you like?" she asked.

"I don't like a lot of lace, and stuff like that," he said. He had always liked the simple, silky, sheer underthings better than the lacy stuff, even when he did not have to wear them himself.

They went over to the wall where all types, and colors of bras were displayed, arranged by brand name. Karen went to the Maidenform section, and selected a sheer cupped bra, with straps which were convertible from crossover in back, to looping around the neck like a swimsuit. It met Joe's requirement in that it had no lace at all. The nude colored bra had cups so sheer they were almost transparent.

"How about this?" she asked. "You wear a B cup, don't you?"

"Yeah, I guess so," Joe said. "I think I'm 34B." He took the bra from Karen. He held the flimsy thing up. He saw the sheerness of the cups, and grinned sheepishly as he looked at Karen. "Well, this is about as seethrough as it gets, isn't it," he said, grinning.

"It's underwear, Joe, you won't see it under your clothes," Karen said.

"Yeah, but I'll know it's there," Joe objected.

"That's the whole idea, isn't it?" Karen returned, and winked at him.

He thought about it. She was right. The only reason for the design of this little item was because it made a woman look good. Maybe feel good too. He might as well get it. "Okay, I'll buy it," he said simply.

"You better try it on," Karen suggested. "I don't know about you, but I hate a bra that doesn't fit right."

"Okay, I'll try it, then," Joe said. He did not mind. He was really wondering what he'd look like in it, anyway.

Again, Joe went back into the cubicle. He removed his top again, and took of the white bra. The coolness of the air conditioning quickly made his full nipples stiffen to little points that reminded him of pencil erasers. He was always amused by the way his new, larger, nipples reacted to sudden changes in temperature. Maybe they did the same thing when he was male, but they were so small that he had never noticed, if they had. He was much more aware of things like that since he became female.

He picked up the new bra. He looked at the straps, tangled as they were. The convertible bra was configured to crossover in back. That's probably what he wanted, he decided, so he left it that way. It was a back close type, the first of that kind he had ever tried on. He stuck his arms in the proper places in the tangle of straps, and pulled the sheer cups to his breasts. He reached behind his back and hooked the back strap without as much difficulty as he thought he would have. The shoulder straps had little adjustment clasps, and he adjusted them slightly. He felt the cups, and decided that they fit him perfectly.

He looked down at his chest. His nipples and areolas were plainly visible through the almost transparent fabric. It looked awfully sexy, even to him. "Wearing tee-shirts was never like this," he thought. It might be fun wearing this thing. Reluctantly, he removed it, and put his other clothes back on.

Joe took the bra and put it with his other purchases on the counter. He went over to Karen.

"It fits great," he said, grinning widely. "The darn thing's almost seethrough too. I kinda like it."

"I just thought you might," Karen said knowingly.

"Can you think of anything else I need from this department?" Joe asked Karen.

"Gee, I don't know what you might need, Joe. I think you have all you were really short of, but is one slip enough?" she asked.

"Probably not. If I start back to work again, I guess I'll be wearing stuff like this almost every day," Joe said. He was beginning to look forward to wearing the things women seemed to take for granted.

"Yeah, it's hell, isn't it," Karen teased. It was almost like she understood what was going on in his head.

They went back to where the slips were displayed. Joe found a full slip with a stretchy, fitted top bodice. He liked it immediately. He located one in a silver/gray color, like the one he borrowed from Linda. The brand name was Olga.

"I think I want this," he said.

"Well, I think you should get it, then," Karen said, in a similar tone.

Joe took the slip to the counter, and took out his credit card. As the girl was ringing up his latest purchases, he asked Karen, "I still need a purse or something to carry stuff in. What do you think I should get?"

"Let's go look at what they have," Karen answered. "You'll need at least two types. One for outfits like that suit, and at least one, something simpler, to use for every day. I have a little clutch purse. It's big enough for money, and ID. It's better than lugging a purse around all the time, too."

The salesgirl, who could hear their conversation, looked at both of them curiously, but said nothing.

"I think I should get some shoes to go with the suit," Joe went on. "I'm getting to like shopping for clothes, but I think I still don't like trying on shoes. I can barely walk in even the lowest heels."

"I think a simple black pump would be right for the suit," Karen said. "Maybe you should practice wearing them around home. That's how I learned to walk in them."

The salesgirl, completely confused by the unusual conversation of these two older women, was getting her register entries messed up as she listened.

"Remind me to get a wristwatch, too," Joe continued. He was lost in his own thoughts, and did not notice the girl's increasingly obvious interest in their conversation. Karen did, though, and she decided to spice up the conversation a bit.

"Yeah, your wrist is probably a lot smaller now," she said, watching the girl's reaction.

Joe looked at Karen. He was surprised at her last statement, but understood when he saw the way the girl was looking at Karen. He might as well play along.

"The old one almost falls off my arm," he added, holding his wrist. Of course, it was true. His large aviator's Seiko looked strange, and far too large for his now feminine sized wrists and hands.

He signed the ticket, and thanked the confused girl, who looked like she would have loved to ask what they were talking about. They left the lingerie section, and went to the jewelry counter. Joe wanted a new watch. He needed one that would fit his smaller wrist. He looked at the ladies' styles, not really finding one that he liked, until he found a ladies' diver's watch, made by Citizen. It was sort of like a miniature version of his aviator's watch, with a sweep second hand, but small enough for his wrist.

He bought the watch, and then they walked to the department that had purses, wallets, and all types of handbags. Karen helped him pick out a couple of lower priced handbags, and also a better one which matched his new suit. He also selected, at her suggestion, a little clutch that he could use when he did not want to take a purse. He knew he needed these things, but to him, they were no substitute for a man's wallet, and pockets to carry it in.

They then went to the shoe department, and Joe found a type which Karen said was perfect for his new suit. Joe tried them on, and found the heels, which were lower than the other pairs he bought the first day, were much easier to walk in. He bought them from a salesman who hardly took his eyes from him, the whole time. Joe felt the blood rush to his face whenever the guy was around. He was a good looking man, but to Joe, who to this time had never had so much obvious male attention, there was not any mutual attraction. Joe tried to ignore the guy as he made small talk. He hoped the guy would not push the issue since he had no idea how he should react. They walked out of the store, and Karen could not resist rubbing it in.

"That guy wanted your bod," she teased. "How do you like being a sex object?"

"I don't know," Joe answered. "I guess I... I'm glad I don't look like Dave, or Mike, but I sure am not ready to flirt with men."

"You're doing fine, Joe," Karen advised. "You're doing just fine."

They started to leave the department store, when the upside-down mannequin legs reminded Joe that he should get some pantyhose to match the clothes he just bought. He went over to that section, and Karen followed.

"I hate wearing these things," he said to her. "It makes taking a whiz an even bigger ordeal."

"It is more difficult while wearing them," Karen agreed. "Of course, you could wear individual hose, if you like that better. I have both, and they each have their own advantages. With short skirts, pantyhose is the only way to go. You don't have any really short skirts."

"Let's see what they have," Joe decided.

They looked at the various types, and colors, and Joe picked out two pairs of stockings, the type that stay up by themselves, with a light elastic around the top. He certainly did not want to wear a garter belt.

They were leaving the store when Joe saw a rack containing sunglasses. He always wore sunglasses when he flew in the daylight, but his smaller features made his old ones hang at the end of his nose. He went over to the rack, and started looking at the smaller and women's types. He found finally found some reasonably good ones that fit his size, and still did not look too feminine for his personal taste. He bought them, and they left the store.

As they were driving back to Joe's, or Linda's house, Joe decided to tell Karen about the way he felt as he watched the woman changing, back in the store.

"I don't understand it," he said. "Ever since the change, I obviously look different, but my feelings about women, about sex, have been the same as always. Sometimes, it's been uncomfortable, almost embarrassing, for me. I was just starting to get used to the way it feels like I'm peeing my pants when I get excited, and that's been pretty often, too. It seemed like my underwear was always wet. Linda could cause it to happen. Barb, my best friend Jay's girl friend, she could cause it. It was just like I was still a guy, but worse, since I now I'm allowed in women's dressing rooms, and all that. Any guy would get worked up in that position, and I did. But a while ago, while I was trying on that slip, I could see a woman changing clothes in the compartment across the aisle. I watched her try on underwear. Nothing. It didn't do a thing for me. No hardon, no wetness. Nothing. It was like I was watching Jay change clothes. What's happening to me? Did you notice the same thing after you had your operation?"

"Gee Joe, I don't think you can compare my transition to yours at all," Karen answered. "For me, it took years. I was on hormones for almost two years before I had my reassignment surgery. By then, I already had quite a bit of breast development, and I was living as a woman full time. I wasn't sexually active, and I guess I wasn't ready to accept men yet. I did like to be around women, but I didn't really want sex with them. I think the hormones caused that. After the surgery, I did wonder what sex with a guy would be like, since now I had the right plumbing, but I didn't really have a strong urge to try it. Even now, after I've done it a few times, I can take it or leave it. I don't know if that's a normal female reaction, or not, though. I do feel different, at different times during the month. I have to take hormones every month, for the rest of my life. I don't have a period, like a genetic female, like you probably will, but I do experience hormone induced mood swings, and changes in desire, very much like I would if I had all the female internal organs. I just don't think my experience is comparable to yours, though."

"I guess I don't have a lot of choice, if I'm really female now," Joe concluded, "but it sure feels strange when the old turn on's suddenly don't work anymore."

"Maybe you'll get new ones to compensate," Karen said, grinning, and winking at him.

"That's a scary thought, too," he returned.

"If you're going to live as a woman, it would probably be for the best, wouldn't it?" Karen asked logically.

"Yeah, I guess that's true, but I'm not sure what would be worse, not ever making love to a woman again, or having sex with a guy," Joe answered.

"Well, that depends on your point of view, doesn't it, and it looks to me like yours has changed," Karen added.

"Yeah, it has. It sure has, at that," Joe said.

"You're doing great, Joe Bates," Karen said. "Just keep it up. You might find you actually like your new point of view."

"Oh, I know," Joe said. "I already like some of the things about being a woman. I actually enjoyed trying on clothes today. I never thought I'd say that. I guess that's part of the change too. I don't know. Everything feels and looks so good. I can't describe it. If I could change back and forth at will, this whole experience would be fantastic."

"Well, I think most women, and probably, most men, too, if they could try it, would say that. Anyone who's been on both sides would say that neither side is definitely better. They both have some advantages," Karen agreed.

"You seem to have thought that the female side was better," Joe said.

"I always felt that I WAS female," Karen replied. "Changing my body to match my head, even if it couldn't be a perfect changeover, was worth the misery, I guess. Once you've done it, you can't get back anyway. Not that I would want to even if I could."

"I guess if I'm stuck like this, I'll manage, but if they find a way to get me back, I'd take it in a minute," Joe said.

They drove back to Linda's house. Karen parked in the drive, and helped Joe carry his bags and packages into the house. Linda was sitting at the table in the breakfast area. "Well, you two seem to have bought out the store," she said, as she saw them enter. "Joe, the hair looks great," she added when she saw the hairpiece Karen loaned him.

"I guess I have enough for the trip," he told Linda. "Karen loaned me this." He touched the long hair with his hand.

She looked at him, and grinned.

"I bought a suit sort of like the one you wore this morning," Joe said.

"You liked it so much, you went out and bought one, huh?" she said. "Starting to like this girl stuff, are you?"

"Well, I decided if I have to be one, I might as well be one I'd like to look at," Joe teased back.

"You have to try it on and show us," Linda insisted.

"The suit is very nice, but you should see what Joe looks like in this," Karen said, pulling the red sundress out of its bag.

"Oooh, I like that," Linda said. "I wonder if it will fit me."

"Oh, sure. I get some new clothes, and already, my girlfriend wants to borrow them," Joe kidded.

"You've got to try them both on," Linda insisted again. "Get in there, and change."

"Okay, okay, I will, if you insist," Joe said, trying to sound like he did not want to, but he was anxious to try it all on again. "What's happening to me?" he wondered again.

He took the bag containing the suit and the silk top while Linda and Karen took the rest of the packages into his room. They laid it all on his bed. He stood there a little embarrassed while they waited for him to try it all on. "What the hell," he thought. "They both know what I look like all over." He pulled his top over his head, and tossed it on the bed. He sat on the edge of the bed, and pulled off the Reeboks and the sweat socks. He unfastened his shorts, stood and stepped out of them.

"Try the sundress first," Linda asked. "I just love it."

Joe looked at the little red dress. He remembered that the straps did not hide the straps of his bra, so he unsnapped the hook between the cups, and took it off. He dug into one of the bags until he found the one with the crisscross straps. He quickly put it on, realizing that both of the women were watching him intently. He looked at Karen, but she just looked back with her usual big grin. Linda's eyes were fixed on the almost transparent cups of the new bra. Self conscious, he pulled his panties up snug, and grabbed the little red dress from the bed. He put it over his head, and Linda helped him fasten the buttons at the back. He had done that for her a few times, but she had never done it for him, until now. Then, Karen and Linda both stood back, and critically eyed him.

"Joe, you're gorgeous," Linda said. "For somebody who still feels like a guy, you sure look fantastic as a woman."

"I'm doing my best with what I've got," Joe said. Awkwardly, he turned about, trying to act, the best he could, like a clothes model, as he remembered them. He was experiencing an unusual combination of embarrassment and pride.

"You look so different, with the different hair" Linda said. "It really looks good."

"Okay, try the suit on," Karen said. "If I'm going to San Diego with you tomorrow I've go to go home and get ready too."

Joe reluctantly unbuttoned the red dress, and pulled it over his head. He really liked the way he looked in it. He put it on a hanger and hung it on the door hook. He went to the bed and took the silk top, and pulled it over his head. As he awkwardly tied the bow, he spoke.

"It's almost worth it to go through all this just to be able to wear this," he said, and rubbed his breasts with both hands, through the silky fabric.

"Control yourself, you dirty old man," Linda teased. "We're not here to watch you feel yourself up."

Joe winked at her, and took the skirt from the bed, and stepped into it. As he did before, he spun it around, zipped it, and buttoned the tab. Then he spun it so that the zipper was in the back. Unlike the fullness of the bottom of the sundress, the suit had a straight skirt that felt much different. Although the waist band was loose, the hips were more form fitting. He turned around once, so they could see what he looked like, and then put the jacket on. He pulled his hair out of the neck of the jacket, and again turned around slowly.

"Well, what do you think?" he asked to no one in particular.

"You look great," Karen said.

"Yeah, fantastic," Linda agreed. "What else did you get?"

"Oh, just some more underwear, slips and stuff like that," Joe said.

Linda went over to the bed and started looking into the rest of the bags. She pulled out the slip and the teddy, and held them up.

"You really took me up on my suggestion, didn't you?" Linda asked.

"I had to get something, and I know what I like when I see you wear it, so why not? Yeah, I guess I did," Joe answered.

"You look just great," Linda said again. "It would almost be a shame if they can change you back." Joe wondered if she was really teasing, or if she meant it.

"Well, I've got to get going," Karen said. "I have some laundry to do before I go to bed. I'll see you at the hanger at six in the morning?"

"Yeah, that's about it," Joe answered. "I think we can make Lindberg Field in about two, two plus thirty, depending on the winds."

"Ok, see you in the morning," Karen said.

"Bye, and thanks a lot," Joe said. He hated to see her leave.

"Pleased to meet you, Karen. Come by anytime," Linda called.

"You'll be seeing more of me, I'm sure," she called back.

When Karen left, Joe went back into his room. He took off the suit, and was standing in his underwear, trying to figure out what things he should take along, when Linda came through the half open door to his room.

"Can I come in?" she asked.

"Sure, you know you're always welcome," Joe replied.

Linda came up behind him, and put her arms around him. He took one of her hands and kissed it. She put her other hand on one of his breasts, and pinched the nipple lightly, through the thin fabric of the bra. Feeling the slight pain, Joe spun around quickly. He took her in his arms, and kissed her on the lips. It was pleasant, she was so soft, and she smelled great, but it was not the old zing that he always felt before, when he had Linda in his arms. He tried to show the same enthusiasm as always but it was difficult. He was beginning to think of Linda as a friend, as a buddy, not as a lover. No matter how sexy he thought she was, she was not making his juices flow anymore. What was happening?