by Indiana Jones
October 30
"No Way! Uh-Uh!" I shouted as vehemently as I could. "There is no WAY, I am dressing up in drag. Halloween or not. Just because I like transformations doesn't mean I want to live one!"
"Oh come on Jones, You'll learn to enjoy it. Besides I'm paying you a fortune to advertise this costume shop." My friend Terry said trying to soothe me.
"I only agreed to wear a costume, I didn't know you wanted to make me into, into... this!" I shouted and pointed to the costume.
"I wanted to do you up in a very difficult costume. The more convincing you look the more I make!" he tried to tell me while I just shook my head and nodded.
"Ok, look, I'll pay you a percentage of every person who comes in and shows me the business cards."
"Yeah, but that's not until next Halloween! I need the money pronto." I told him hoping this would change his mind. "Couldn't you just dress me up as my namesake?"
"You wear the cowboy hat and leather jacket all the time. You wouldn't look different enough. Not that I couldn't make you look more like Harrison Ford. You are just way too... ahh... Built for the part!" he said trying to be nice.
"Just say what you mean, I'm too fat to play Indy. I can take it, I've lived with fat jokes all my life," I said just staring at the Gold and blue costume he had laying there. "Which is just my point, I couldn't make a convincing woman to save my life. I don't need to add to my fans' repertoire of insults."
Terry was a nice guy and with the few friends I had, I couldn't afford to lose him. I also desperately needed money. Between College and Comic Books, I was in deep. Sometimes foregoing food for a few issues.
Terry shook his head. He knew he made a mistake in calling attention to my problem. I was six foot two and I wore my weight well, just not perfect. All my life I had to live with the fat jokes and ugly comments. Especially from Mitch. I really didn't need any crap from him.
Terry had asked me to wear a costume for his budding costumers shop and Tailor outfit. Terry had been a theater major and seamster. He liked making costumes and he did them very well. His tailoring skills were unmatched but a side to his true love. If your costume was the best, it must have been made by Terry.
Terry quickly changed subjects and practically threw himself on my mercy. "Look, The Governors costume ball is only two months away on new years eve. Every one will see your costume and want to come in for theirs. A lot of people will be at the Raucous Chicken party and that will bring in a lot of customers, just hand out these cards liberally."
I thought about it and he was right, with a lot of influential people, including the governor's son, would be there to judge the contest. That being the case, there would be people trying to jockey for his favor who would definitely be going to the Costume ball. So this didn't sound so bad after all.
"I need you. If I can turn you into a comic book heroine, you would be my masterpiece and that would be the best advertisement. Ok--stand out in front of the store for a few hours today and tomorrow and hand out the cards and I'll give you a percentage of that. PLUS, I'll do a costume for Kathleen as well!" he told me enthusiastically.
I had to admit that was so tempting I couldn't turn it down if I wanted to. Kathleen wouldn't be to thrilled with my costume, but she would happy with a free professional costume. She would probably figure this would be cool. "All right," I said trying to act leery, "I'll do it! You are a tough negotiator."
"Well I don't think you had to pinch me so hard!" he said with a smile.
Considering what he wanted me to do I didn't think so. Besides if we pulled this off it would be more than worth it.
"You know I like comics too and I would think that you would enjoy being turned into your favorite character. It wouldn't be much of a stretch actually. Let's get started." I groaned and he pulled me into his parlor. Why did I feel like a fly?
First thing Terry did was size me up. Then he ordered me to strip. I felt a little self-conscious but I did as he asked.
"Don't worry, I was a pre-med. student. That helps when I create special makeup effects." He stated. I wasn't worried. I knew his background and I knew he really should have been doing movies. "Where did you get these scars?" he asked looking at my arms.
"I was in a car accident and my arms went through a windshield. I have never been able to get rid of them." I answered a bit sheepishly. They weren't pretty, and I never liked talking about them.
"Well, that means that just getting rid of your hair and smoothing the skin is out of the question. You got off lucky. But first things first." he said and he pulled out some accessories.
First he fitted me with a corset that he use to shape my body. It looks like it was made to shape a body. He pulled it so tight I thought I was going to pass out. "You really should stop eating all those Whoppers!" he grunted struggling with the corset.
"I've been trying but all those weight lifting sessions get you hungry!" I said in barely a whisper.
He finished with the corset and I found it very difficult to breathe but I could tolerate it.
"Well, at least you have well proportioned arms and legs. So that part won't be so bad," he said as he picked up the next item on his torture block. He called it a gaff and he had a thong bikini to match. He tucked my penis and scrotum sack into it and held it in place while he instructed me to pull the panties up to hold it into place. I had to admit I felt very embarrassed to have a man handling my privates. I didn't like nurses doing it, much less a good friend of mine. "It's made for ballet dancers to hide bulges but still be comfortable for the dancers," he explained.
Next, he handed me a padded bra and he helped me to slip it on. It made me look like one of those beer commercials, except this one would have been triple-X. Then he wrapped my legs and arms in some kind of neoprene material and stretched them so tight I felt like something would break.
"Perfect!" he stated.
"Yeah perfect." I said feeling like I had just been put through the wringer.
Next, he handed me a body suit. It was shiny and felt like silk and was just about the color of well tanned flesh. He helped me slip it on over all the 'perks' that he had given me so far.
"These are like the stockings and body suits skaters wear out on the ice. You know, the ones where sometimes you can't tell whether it's skin or not. Only if someone actually touches it will they be able to tell!" he said gleefully.
I was seriously starting to have my doubts about this. It couldn't be healthy.
"Take a look!" he said showing me over to a mirror. My face looked the same but from the neck down it looked like I was wearing someone else's body.
And Terry wasn't through yet. He tucked my hair under a raven black wig and with the stretch bands under neath it held itself to my head and looked like a part of it. Then he glued polished white fingernails to my hands and gave me a pair of gloves with the fingers cut off that were made of the same material as the suit.
Then he started applying makeup to my face. He smoothed the skin and completely got rid of the stubble by rubbing nair on my face. It stung, but gave me the closest shave ever. He plucked my eyebrows and thickened my lashes. He used very balanced makeup to give me the look of someone who didn't wear makeup. But it gave the illusion of femininity.
There was no way to tell where the skin ended and the suit began. I looked like a model. A kind of big model, but still a model. The suit looked like real skin and looked smooth and shiny. I looked like I had more curves than eight miles of bad road and some impressive breasts. My arms looked built but thin and my legs looked like they had a bit of thunder thighs syndrome but still looked very feminine. I looked like Adam Hughes had drawn me as a Frederick's of Hollywood model. I had to admit I was impressed. Somehow though, it still looked fake. Probably because I looked like I was naked, but there were no details.
Then I donned the costume. First I slipped on the golden armor and shoulder pads. Then I slipped on the knee high boots. Then the long slender gloves that went up to my biceps. Finally the white mask went into place over the beautiful makeup job that Terry did. Then came the hooded cape.
Terry
looked me over and up and down beaming like a proud father. Then he turned me
around to look at the mirror. I just gasped in shock at the image there in front
of me. It was like staring at my sister dressed in a Mantra outfit. I had to
admit I was not gorgeous, but I would be believable as a woman and as Mantra
if I tried at it.
Then came the coup de grace. Terry fitted the hood of the cape with a microphone and small speakers. When he turned it on, he asked me to say something. I spoke and it came out a high pitched voice that was my own. I couldn't believe it. Terry had completely outdone himself.
I smiled and looked at him. "What, no way to make me fly?" I said as I swirled the cape about myself.
He smiled a coy grin, "Not unless you can find some real magic. There are limits to illusion!"
"Now go out there and hand out these cards!" he ordered. "Only a few hours of daylight left." I looked at my watch. He was right. We had started at eleven o'clock this morning and it was now almost two in the afternoon.
I grabbed the cards and rushed out to the street. It surprised even me how comfortable I was with the situation. Maybe it was just the money.
I had been handing out business cards to people on the street for an hour. People took one look at me and immediately grabbed for cards. Terry's plan was working. Four people had already gone inside for a fitting. I could hear the cash register ringing. I was a happy camper until Mitch showed up. What I wouldn't give to really have Mantra's power right now. I would have fried his ass.
Mitch was a pretty boy from somewhere in California. His dad was rich and Mitch didn't mind throwing his money in your face. One could only hope that he would be as dumb as he looked, but no such luck. He had a 3.5, a Porsche, every woman on campus would have given their souls to sleep with him and he was captain of the football team. He was built and he had everything else. I had tangled with him twice. The first time I kicked the snot out of him. The second time he nailed me, with the help of his starting front line. He knew to keep his distance but not when to keep his mouth shut.
He walked right up to me and looked me up and down like some kind of meat. The upside is that the costume completely fooled him. The bad news: He thought I looked good. The even worse news: he was going to get near me and try to hit on me. I did the best I could to keep from puking and I went along.
"Hello, nurse!" he said showing his immaturity. "Hello yourself. Terry's costume shop is open for business and the owner is running a special!" I said trying to sound as sweet as possible and handed him a card. He was completely fooled.
"No thanks--I already have a costume for tonight. The best my father's money could buy," he said, leering.
What a jerk! He was trying to impress me with his money.
"In fact I'm going as another super hero! I'm going to the Raucous Chicken party tonight. Perhaps the Lady Mantra would like an escort? Hmmm?" he said as he tried to touch my thigh. I eluded him but my estimation of intelligence went up a notch. How stupid could he be if he reads comic books. "You look familiar do I know you?" he asked eyeing me more in detail now.
"I don't think so... Uhhh... maybe you know my brother?"
"Sure, what's his name?" "His name is j... I mean Indy. Indy Jones." I shouldn't have said anything. Now he might recognize me.
A sour expression over came his face. Then a broad smile.
"Yeah me and your brother are good friends. If he ever says anything about me he's just jealous." He said very sweetly.
I don't know what was going through his mind but it couldn't be good. I couldn't believe this jerk. I really wanted to fry him now.
"Look," I told him, "I've already got a...companion." Sheesh, Just because I couldn't bring myself to say "boyfriend" he probably thinks I'm a lesbian. "Well, maybe I'll see you there!" I told him trying to flirt a little. Boy, won't he be red in the face when I reveal I'm a guy at the party tomorrow.
He walked away with a smile and a whistle thinking he had charmed me. Wait until his current 'girlfriend' hears he's been hitting on other people. Especially guys.
I went back into the store after a while and collected my pay. "Wow," I shouted, "Two hundred dollars?"
Terry beamed and patted me on the back. "Yeah. Two of the clients you brought in liked your costume. When I told them you were a guy, they had to take a second look. Then they asked for the works, very expensive works. This is the best idea I have ever had!" he was giddy. "Why don't you call Kathleen and have her come over for a fitting."
I actually wanted Kathleen to see me like this. I wondered if it would fool her. I called her and asked her if she would come to Terry's. She came over reluctantly.
The shop bell rang twenty minutes later. Kathleen walked right up to me sitting behind the counter. "Excuse me Is Terry or Indy here?"
I lifted my head and spoke to her softly. "Why yes, they're in back!" I said.
"Do I know you?" she asked.
"No, I don't think so."
"Yes, I do!" she saidm struggling with me to get the hood off. "Indy! I knew it was you. What are you doing in that ridiculous costume?" she asked sternly. My fiancée was really beautiful when she was mad.
"I'm sorry, I really wanted to see if you would recognize me. Terry's in back. By the way what tipped you off?" I asked. "Since when does Terry have the money to hire a new clerk? Besides I would know you anywhere." She reached over the counter to kiss me but then thought better of it when she caught a glimpse of the makeup.
"What would you like in the way of a costume?" Terry said as I looked on.
"How about an angel?" I said trying to put my two cents in.
"You stay out of this, gorgeous!"
"I know you are but what am I?"
"Children," Terry broke in. "Could we get on with this, I would like to go home some time tonight."
"Sorry Terry! How about a fifties sock hopper? Do have any poodle skirts?" she asked him and he just smiled at her.
"Why by coincidence I do! Thanks to lover boy over there! He knew you would probably want something like that," he said as I waved and blew a kiss from across the room.
Considering how I was dressed, she looked like she was going to puke.
We stayed for only a few minutes. The poodle skirt fit pretty well as did the puffy white blouse. The accessories he used to put up her beautiful brown hair were simple. All that was left was the French sunglasses and I could swear I heard Elvis singing in the background.
The hard part was the shoes. They just seemed out of place. They were black and white patent leather but they still seemed modern. "Ahhh, Who'll notice the shoes anyway!" I said.
Terry grudgingly gave in. But only because he was excited and tired. He helped me get out of the costume then and said, "Remember be here at eight or nine to hand out cards tomorrow!"
"I'll be here!" I said as I walked with Kathleen out of the store.
The next morning Kathleen awoke terrified about something. She said she had a dream about the Raucous Chicken and that we shouldn't go. I know I should have listened to her, but Terry was counting on us. Kathleen was usually right about these things, but what could I do.
Kathleen got ready and put on her costume. She planned on going everywhere in her costume. I kissed her good-bye for an hour and then went to Terry's.
He put me through hell again and squeezed me into the Mantra costume. Then it was back outside to pass out business cards again. After a successful day of pulling in customers and impressing people with Terry's skills, I pulled in a three hundred dollar check. It was now late afternoon and anybody who didn't already have a costume was probably not going to get one.
It was time to get ready for the Raucous Chicken. Terry made sure everything was on right and he touched up my makeup. Kathleen Dropped by Terry's shop and we made our way to the Raucous Chicken. All the way, you could have sliced through the foreboding with a knife.
We got to the club and entered. We found an empty table, as we had gotten there quite early. Kathleen went off to the bathroom and I sat at our table just hoping I didn't see anyone who recognized me. I saw Ed come in and a few others I knew. I recognized the governor's son. The stuffed shirt wasn't even wearing a costume. That reduced my chances of winning the costume contest by a ton. He was a democrat but everyone knew he just affiliated himself with the Democrats to get elected in this state. He was really a closet conservative. Terry's hard work would count for nothing because this guy probably took a dim view at guys who dress in drag whether they were gay or not.
I was waiting for Kathleen to come back from the bathroom. What do they do in there anyway? I looked around and noticed that Ed was looking at me and the woman who was with him pointed me out. I recognize him even under that costume and makeup. I wonder if he recognizes me. What are the odds that we both dressed as super-heroines?
Then I notice a guy dressed all in silver. He looks me over and starts towards me. He seems to be wearing a tight silver sheath and silver makeup all over his face and he's carrying a silver surfboard. "The silver surfer I presume?" I tell him knowing exactly why he was coming over to me.
"Hey, Mantra! Would you like to ride the waves of love with me?" he said, then he grabbed my breast. Thanks to Terry's expert workmanship, he obviously couldn't tell it wasn't real. He must have felt the material and wondered about it. He must have thought it was to keep me warm on a night like this.
"Mitch? Is that you?" I asked but he didn't answer. He just grabbed at me again. I avoided the grab and brought my knee up into his groin. He didn't even cry out but I could have knocked him over with a feather. He slunk off quietly somewhere to lick his wounds.
Then Kathleen came back and she had friends with her. "Indy, you remember Anita and Donna?" she asked. Donna was wearing a snake outfit. It wasn't very good but it got the point across. Anita was wearing the bottom half of a horse.
"Yeah, your two best friends. How are you doing?" I asked.
"Wow! You were right Kathleen, If I didn't know it was him, I would never have guessed she was a he!" Donna said excitedly.
"Nice to see you too, Donna." I said flippantly. They were eating this up and I was dying of embarrassment.
"Nice to see you, Indy. I have to find my husband before the contest. He's the other half of my horse. Ciao!" Anita said and walked off. Donna stayed with us and chatted the night away.
After a while she started fidgeting and she said she had an itch and began taking off her costume. She was wearing a T-shirt underneath at least. I got up and stretched. The contest was about to begin and I couldn't miss it.
From out of nowhere someone shouted, "I'm tired of all you fakes!"
I felt this wave of nausea overtake me and I hit the floor. I could feel a tingle rush through my body and somehow I felt different. I had been burning up in that getup all night now I felt cold and I could feel a draft. I stood up and looked down. Kathleen was by me in a second asking me if I was okay. I felt a tightness in my chest and put my hand to it and stopped cold. I could no longer feel the body suit material. I felt real skin and my hand made it's way to my breast and it felt real.
"Would you stop feeling yourself up and tell me what's wrong," Kathleen said, truly worried.
"You aren't going to believe this but..." I started but didn't get to finish.
Donna started screaming and from every corner of the room people were screaming and inhuman noises were raising the hairs on the back of my neck.
Donna was trying to peel her costume of her body but she couldn't find the seam. In fact the lower part of her body looked like a snake. Like a real snake. "I can't get it off, I can't get it off!" she cried. She looked like a gorgon. Half snake half woman. I could see Anita across the room standing with a huge guy with a horses head. She was also trying to get her costume off but with no luck. She looked like a Demi-Horse. What the hell was going on here I thought to myself.
Kathleen looked back towards me and I felt between my legs. I screamed out loud, "OH MY GOD!"