Arriving at the drugstore, Martina found it wasn't one of the modern chain drugstores you see on every other corner in most cities and towns in America. Instead, it looked like an old family-owned store that had probably been here as long as the town, like something out of a 1950's movie.

She crossed the street and went inside.

Martina stopped just inside the entrance to look around and get her bearings. An older woman at the register turned her attention to Martina when the little bell on the door tinkled as she entered.

The interior of this drugstore wasn't bright and sterile white like the chain stores either, it was much darker with aged brown paneling on the walls and old yellowed fluorescent light covers on the ceiling. Some of the brick-colored tiles on the floor were worn down to the concrete underneath.

Martina told herself it really did feel like something out of the 1950's. The place even smelled musty and old.

"Can I help you find something, miss," the woman behind the cash register called out.

Martina couldn't believe she was actually in public, in a store, looking to buy something as feminine and intimate as pantyhose.

She just wanted to be left to herself, but that wasn't to be, so instead of being rude and ignoring the woman she quickly asked in her best feminine voice.

"Pantyhose?"

"Aisle seven," the woman replied, pointing.

Martina headed in that direction. Looking at the little signs hanging from the ceiling. She found aisle seven and the hose pretty quickly. A nervous shiver ran up her spine when she stopped in front of them.

She looked to the other end of the aisle.

Seeing no one else around, she relaxed and began to check out the entire selection of hose. She was suprised to learn there were so many different types and styles. She wasn't exactly sure what kind she actually needed.

Curiosity got the best of her and she spent a significant amount of time examining many different ones. She nonchalantly eyed the portraits of women printed on tiny boxes and plastic packages. Hundreds of silky legs sexily crossed, nyloned butts aimed at the camera, control tops with flattened tummies, and built-in panties followed the curves of rounded derrières.

There were several styles that intrigued her.

Finally she settled on a sheer, shimmery barely black pair with a fancy black seam running up the back of each leg, calling out to her and piquing her curiosity.

The package described this pair as super sheer, and 'energizing'. Martina didn't know what it meant to call pantyhose energizing, but she was sold, suddenly desiring to find out.

Heading back towards the register Martina spotted the makeup section. She had stepped into a world of forbidden femininity today and the subtle thrill she had felt browsing through the panty hose had her unable to resist a burgeoning new desire to wade deeper into these uncharted waters.

She was beginning to feel confident and safe in her disguise as a girl. Letting down her guard, she began to browse through the makeup display's dizzying collection of tubes, bottles, and palettes of color. That's when something caught her eye and she got an idea.

The lipstick Martina had on was a deep red. It was the only shade her mom owned and it was decidedly more adult than she wanted. She desired something more subtle, less attention grabbing, softer, cuter and more her own, so she began to look at all the different colors available. After picked out four different colors, she finally narrowed it down, settling on a soft pink "wet-look" tube.

Martina again headed towards the register and before she got there she was once more pulled in by something she, as a guy, would never have looked at, probably never even noticed, but now found herself curiously drawn to.

This time she had discovered a display of inexpensive earrings. She looked at the different styles for a moment before picking up a pair and holding the package against her ear.

She looked at her reflection in the little mirror on a nearby display of sunglasses. They were a cute pair and for a brief moment she wished her ears were pierced so she could wear them.

Don't be silly, she told herself as she put the earrings back. What would mom say if she saw holes in my ears?

Just then she spotted several sets of magnetic earrings. They looked just like pierced earrings but could be worn without her ears needing holes. She picked out a small silver pair that sparkled.

After contemplating it for several moments, she put the earrings back on the display, but as she turned towards the register she changed her mind and grabbed them again.

Her heart was now racing as she proceeded toward the register.

She noticed a teenage boy stocking a suntan lotion display near the register. He was obviously checking her out as she approached.

Feeling self conscious, Martina took a deep breath and told herself, I can do this, as she quickly walked past him and placed the hose, earrings, and lipstick on the counter.

"You aren't from around here," the old woman behind the register, stated matter-of-factly.

It was a statement, not a question.

"I may be old, but I don't forget a face," the woman continued. "Everybody who's lived her for any significant amount of time knows everybody else in town, but I've never seen you before. You look familiar, though, like you belong to someone else who comes in here. You new to Martinsville, sweetheart?"

Martina almost replied with a no before remembering what she had just told Amy. Figuring that was the better story, she decided she would stick with it.

As she pulled money out of her purse, she replied, "I'm here visiting my aunt."

"Who's that," the woman inquired while getting Martina her change.

Martina didn't immediately answer, she hesitated.

Does she have to be so inquisitive, so nosey, Martina thought before replying, "Amanda Houston."

"Oh yeah, I know her. Nice lady. Relatively new to town. Been in here a few times. Loves to talk about her son, a shy, quiet boy, I think. I've ever only seen him with her once. Don't think he's ever come in the store. I can definitely see the family resemblance. You look like both of them . . . Well, it was good to meet you, hun. Enjoy the festival. Tell your aunt an' them I said hello."

"Thanks," Martina replied as she picked up her bag and quickly headed for the exit.

Just as Martina reached the door, it opened and an older gentleman started to enter, but upon seeing her he stopped, holding the door open as he waited for Martina to exit first.

Exactly what a gentleman is expected to do for a lady.

Martina avoided eye contact as she walked out.

Back on the sidewalk, Martina began to look around for a place to change her hose.

Spotting a diner next door, she went in and headed straight for the restrooms.

Oh, gad, how can I do this, she asked herself, pausing outside the bathroom doors. Only one way, stay calm and walk in like a normal girl.

Once inside the restroom she first stopped in front of the mirror and affixed the little magnetic, sparking, silver, heart-shaped earrings to her lobes.

Turning her head left and right, she admired how pretty they looked, before wiping the red off her lips and applying her new pink lipstick.

Martina then entered a stall and began to change her hose.

As she pulled the hose up her legs she found that this pair was snugger and felt even more exciting than the last. She also noticed how this pair reflected light causing a silky shimmer up the side of her leg.

It took her a few tries to get the thick black seams straight on the back of her legs, but once she was satisfied, she took a few high steps in place, experiencing a new sensation caused by the different material of these hose and the way they tightly hugged her legs.

She suddenly realized what it was about these hose that caused them to be described as energizing and the sensation was arousing.

She was really starting to enjoy this girl thing, even telling herself, I could get used to this.

Once Martina had her dress adjusted and her shoes back on, she unlocked the stall door and walked out, immediately bumping into a muscular young man washing his hands at the sink.

Startled at having run into someone, she mumbled, "Sorry," and maneuvered around him, heading for the door.

"Don't worry about it, sweet cheeks," he replied, giving her a quizzical look as she exited the bathroom.

Martina was confused as to why there had been a guy in the women's bathroom with her and it terrified her.

She stopped outside the bathroom and looked at the sign on the door across from her.

It said Ladies. That's when she realized she had, out of habit, mistakenly walked into the men's room.

Her cheeks were flushed red with embarrassment and her heart pounding as she hurried out of the diner and back in the street, hoping she wouldn't ever have to see that guy again.