‘Have you had dinner yet, Leez?’ ‘No. I thought I would pick up some chinese food on my way home.’ ‘Care to go over to The Beach House? My t...eat.’ She quickly agreed. Dinner was delicious and we found ourselves chatting in a more relaxed, intimate way. I learned that she was single and had broken up with a long-time on-and-off boyfriend several months earlier. ‘When I learned he was cheating on me with one of my friends, I ended my relationship with both of them. I’ve been alone ever since. And. She didn’t think I was the type to go to a stylist, however, and asked why I was doing such of thing. Checkmate. I told her my story, leaving out my true intentions, and she was very encouraging, of course. She asked why I chose cosmetology. I had to think quick. I told her of the Myers-Briggs test I took. I had found my out. She still seemed a little suspicious of my reason but gratefully didn’t pursue the matter further. She did an amazing job. I looked in the mirror and thought I needed to. "Tights next, sissy faggot. Now you'll know. I'll bet you're all excitedabout answering a question that must have been bothering you for years.Do tights itch or are they comfortable and will they keep my legs warmenough, even if I'm wearing a cute little short mini-skirt? Is that whatyou were thinking when you were staring at Tammy's tights, sissy faggot?Answer my question, you fucking faggot!" She slapped me again.If I said no, she'd slap me and if I said yes, she'd slap me. I just hungmy head. That part of the conversation had ended with Jill wistfully saying that when she was young and idealistic, she’d promised herself that one day she’d find the time and the space to write what all literature students throughout the States aspire to write – The Great American Novel.After Jill’s wistful declaration, the conversation had moved on from Luther’s experiences of combat to the years of building his business. But as he finished telling us about his business, I saw a spark of light in his.