"Yeah, whatever," he said. "Hey, I can only give you a quick kiss with my parents watching."

I smiled. "I understand." I got up on tiptoe, and he gave me a peck on the lips. Resting my head on his chest, I hugged him tight. Then I noticed that my left foot had "popped," like the girl in The Princess Diaries, so I put it back on the ground and let go. "Thanks. I had a lot of fun."

Cassie looked down at my chest, and said, "You better adjust your pads before we go back out there."

Embarrassed, I looked into the mirror and quickly shifted the little bags.

"That's better," she said. "I'll try to keep an eye out for that when the dancing starts."

"There's dancing?" I asked.

"Yes, didn't you know?" She looked at my shoes. "I guess you didn't. I don't think you'll do a lot of dancing with those pointy toes."

"They're comfortable," I countered.

"Now they are," she said. "See what you say later! Anyway, don't change the subject. Are you flat? I didn't realize."

I blushed by way of response.

"Don't worry," she said. "I didn't see it until now. I have something that might help."

"Is it a tea?" I asked.

"Yeah," she said. "Have you heard of it? I hung on to it for Nina — I figured it would keep, but you can use it."

"Where did you get it?"

"A friend of mine," she said. "Don't worry, it's safe. Turns out I didn't need it, by the way." She bounced her breasts and laughed.

I didn't say more, because I wanted the tea and didn't want to give away the fact that I already had some. I liked it, and was planning on asking Mrs. Earshon how to get a fresh supply once I ran out. Now I might not have to.

We returned to the table just as dinner was being served.

"What do girls do in the bathroom?" Jerry wondered aloud. Mahon shook his head.

"Same thing you do," I said.

Nina guffawed.

"Then why does it take so long?" he asked.

"Next time, I'll bring you with me and you can find out," I retorted.

Nina gaped.

Mrs. Auburn explained to Nina that I was only kidding, and suggested we change the topic.

Nina was sitting to Jerry's left, and she kept cutting into our conversation. I didn't mind so much. I could see that it bothered Jerry, but he didn't let Nina see. In the end, we made it a three-way conversation. It was easier. At one point, Nina was telling Jerry the plot of some Disney movie, and he was patiently listening. Mahon took advantage of the distraction, and tapped me on the shoulder. Cassie was leaning on his arm, smiling at me.

"Listen," he said. "Yesterday morning after I washed my hands, I recognized the girl's voice — the one who was doused. She's my cousin. I don't want people laughing at her, so I'd appreciate it if you keep the story to yourself. Okay?"

"Sure," I said. "No problem."

"Great," he said. "You're alright." Then he turned back to Cassie, and I turned back to Jerry.

"When are we going to start dancing?" I asked him.

"I'll dance with you!" Nina shouted. Jerry grinned.

"Okay, Nina," I said as I stood. "Let's get this party started." To Jerry I said, "Don't think this gets you off the hook."

Cassie was right about the shoes. I danced a lot. Then I danced as much as I could take. Eden's lessons didn't really teach me how to dance, but they did help me to relax and not worry about how I looked. Jerry surprised me — he was quite a good dancer, and had me spinning and dipping. I had a great time until my feet started to hurt. Once they started, even after I took the shoes off and massaged them, they didn't get better. I tried dancing barefoot, but the damage was already done. In fact, it was a week before I was walking normally again.

Afterward, when the Auburns dropped me home, Jerry accompanied me to my front door. I held my shoes in my hand. I walked on the grass next to the walkway.

Jerry said, "Women and high heels! Why can't you just wear shoes that feel good?"

I looked up. Barefoot, I was a lot shorter than him.

"High heels bring me a little closer to you. Anyway, they did feel good until I started dancing. I have to get Cassie to explain why her feet are fine."

"Yeah, whatever," he said. "Hey, since my parents are watching, I can only give you a quick kiss."

I smiled. "I understand." I got up on tiptoe, and he gave me a peck on the lips. Resting my head on his chest, I hugged him tight. Then I noticed that my left foot had "popped," like the girl in The Princess Diaries, so I put it back on the ground and let go. "Thanks. I had a lot of fun."

It wasn't late, so my aunt was still up, sewing with a needle and thread. "All my pockets have holes," she explained, holding one up for me to see. "So how did your evening go?"

"Great, except that my feet are killing me!"

"I guess you need some lessons in buying shoes," she said. "Boy feet are different from girl feet. Your feet are more square, so the pointed shoes are going to hurt you, even if they feel good in the store."

"I didn't know," I said.

She shrugged and smiled, and set down her sewing. She went and got me a basin of epsom salts and warm water. I sat there in my cocktail dress, soaking my feet, while she, dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, went back to mending pants.

She had her legs bent under her, and she was looking down, wearing her reading glasses, intent on her sewing. I cleared my throat.

"Can I ask you something?" I said. "Is it true that if I take hormones, I'll grow breasts?"

"Ow!" Aunt Jane cried, and tiny dot of blood appeared on the side of her index finger. "Jeez Louise!"

"Sorry!"

"I should know by now," she said, putting down the needle and sucking her finger. "When you start talking, I have to get ready for a shock. Yes, female hormones will cause men to develop breasts. You need a prescription to get them, and a doctor has to monitor you."

"So the breasts don't get too big?"

"No, so you don't get a hormone imbalance. Hormones are very powerful — there are several different kinds, and they regulate healing, growth, metabolism — pretty much everything. They interact, and if one gets out of whack, the others won't be right, either."

"If I could take them, how soon would I have breasts?"

She looked at me, considering something for a moment. "Breast growth is very individual. It happens over months and years, not days and weeks. You don't just take a pill and have two hooters pop out the next day."

I was quiet, thinking. She had stopped sewing and was studying my face. I smiled, not knowing what she was thinking.

She took off her glasses and asked in a serious tone, "You haven't gotten your hands on some estrogen, have you? Birth-control pills?"

"I don't even know what you're talking about."

"Does that mean no?"

"Yes."

"Yes, it means no?"

"No, I don't have any kind of pills. I don't even know where to get those pills. I'm just asking questions. I'm curious."

"Okay," she said. "I'm just trying to be careful. If you want to take feminizing hormones, you have to talk to Mr. Marks, and you'll have to get your parents' permission. It's really serious, so — listen to me carefully — don't get into it on your own, okay? You can really screw yourself up."

"Okay," I agreed. "But are you saying that there's a way to get the pills without a doctor's permission?"

She looked at me in surprise. "People do break laws," she said. "But you better not, or I'll pull you out of that school and put you on the next plane to New Jersey! I won't even bother asking your parents first!"

"Hey," I protested, "I'm only asking questions!"

"Okay," she said. "But don't fool around with pills or shots or anything, okay?"

"Okay!"