I am Baaack! Part 5

Before she could push the button though, there was a light tapping on her door. She pulled her feet off the desk and felt around with them for her heels. She found them and, with some toe gymnastics, managed to get them on; then she sat up straight, folded her hands on her desk, pulled on her professional look, and called, "Come in."

When the door opened, Joan got her second surprise of the day. "R-o-o-bbie?"

Robbie was NOT wearing her usual androgynous outfit, nor was her hair in the usual androgynous hairstyle. There were no androgynous shoes or accessories, and the little feminine touches were gone. They'd been replaced by BIG feminine touches. SHE - and, Joan realized, it was definitely she - from the top down, had her hair in a short but definitely feminine style; its natural blonde coloring was enhanced by darker highlights. Her face was immaculately made up, but she had done it in a normal daytime office look such as any working woman would do. She wore a lovely lilac colored shirtwaist dress that reached slightly below her knees. Her nails matched her lipcolor, and extended the exact length to be both fashionable and serviceable in an office. Her shoes were a lilac match for her dress, and had sensible two-inch heels. A simple gold chain necklace, small gold hoop earrings, a few conservative bracelets, and a Betty Boop watch, a concession to individuality, completed the ensemble. It was very definitely a woman who stood before Joan, and the thoughts 'BIG girl' or 'Drag Queen' never entered Joan's mind.

Looking serious and businesslike, the new girl spoke. "Good morning, Dr. Adkins." And then she couldn't contain herself anymore; a big smile broke out on her face, and she twirled. "You like?"

Joan did like; she liked very much. The dollar signs climbing she liked, and she experienced a moment of dejavu. Her mind flashed to the scene from a Friday night almost two years ago, when she had first seen Ross fresh from the salon.