To explain it to Bruce, Catherine had to repeat herself.
"Oh my God, oh my God!"
Even though Bruce was an uncommon atheist, he still kept invoking God.
It was probably a common expression among Westerners.
"Oh, shouldn't we celebrate, my sweet little one? Maybe we should buy a color TV?"
A TV?
A thought crossed Catherine's mind. There was an unfinished built-in TV panel in her bedroom. Maybe…
Before Catherine could even think it through—let alone ask a question—she felt a sharp pain in her abdomen.
Her face turned pale.
"Oh, Kate, what's wrong?"
Bruce didn't ask further questions; he quickly figured it out.
Blood was flowing down Catherine's thigh from beneath her nightgown.
October 10, 1960, was a memorable day. Catherine had taken another step toward becoming a real woman…
—
"Kate, long time no see. How have you been?"
"How are you?" This was the most common way to greet someone in the United States. After Catherine stayed home for a week and returned to school, Lily greeted her with the same question. Normally, the answer would be, "I'm fine, thanks. And you?" But Catherine replied:
"It's awful. I've never felt this bad before."
Catherine touched the straps of her tank top. She could definitely feel some weight on her chest. The swelling had gone down in just one week, but afterward, she could clearly feel that her nipples were much more sensitive than before. Honestly… it was terrible.
"Oh, by the way, we've already decided on a name for the clothing company."
Lily took out a sketch of a logo featuring a pair of angel wings.
"Angel Costume Design Company?"
Why did that name send a chill down her spine?
"It's not bad,"
Catherine could only say that much.
"Oh right, Kate, this is for you. Congratulations on starting your transformation into a real woman…" Lily handed Catherine a small box with a half-smile.
"What is this?"
"You can open it and see~"
Catherine unwrapped the gift cautiously, her face turning bright red.
It was a thong—one that barely used any fabric. More importantly, it completely ignored the basic purpose of underwear: it was totally see-through.
Thongs had originated in 1955, but even so, this was way too… excessive!
"Lily!"
"What cute panties! Don't you like them?" Lily looked completely indifferent.
"Yes, but it's impossible to wear this…"
"You can wear it at school, and it's even better in the bedroom. Who cares? There are no men here except the teachers."
I felt even more embarrassed in front of women!
"Kate!"
Lisa, Jenny, and Ida also walked into Catherine's dorm room.
"Are you feeling okay, Kate?"
"Terrible."
"This underwear is really pretty. Is it Lily's gift? Kate, congratulations—you've taken another step toward becoming a real woman."
I'd rather be a real man, but I don't like high-quality knockoffs or imitations…
"Oh, by the way, Catherine, I made this overnight. It might suit you." Lisa handed Catherine a fitted T-shirt.
With the nationwide release of A Streetcar Named No. 1 in 1951, Marlon Brando's white T-shirt image became famous across the country. The soft, comfortable T-shirt freed masculine beauty from stiff, monotonous, and traditional upper-class clothing, showing off the male physique with striking visual impact. It instantly became a model for all of America—and even the world.
Although T-shirts had previously been considered underwear, they were now becoming everyday wear, even though it would still take a few more years to fully catch on.
"I designed this top as a two-in-one. It also works as a bra, so you don't need to wear one, and the straps won't show. Don't worry, the size is exactly right for you, Kate."
It looked like it would go well with tight jeans.
"Thanks."
Catherine loved the outfit. Even though she had been wearing a bra for a week, it felt more uncomfortable than pointed shoes. She constantly wanted to take it off, but for the sake of her figure, she had to endure it.
Since this was a two-in-one and fit her perfectly, Catherine adored it.
"Here you go, Kate." Jenny handed Catherine two books.
The first was 100 Questions About Puberty.
The second was… information about contraception?
Catherine was speechless.
Honestly, she wasn't interested in men. Even though she was already a woman, she still felt that only pretty girls could catch her interest.
"Alright, now it's my turn, Kate. Mr. Horn will definitely make you fall in love—trust me."
"Mr. Horn?"
Catherine asked, looking at Ida's mysterious smile in confusion.
"Once you're in bed, turn it on under the covers. Even if it stays there, it vibrates, you know?" Ida whispered in her ear.
"Mmm…"
Ida's breath brushed against her ear, and Catherine immediately blushed. Ever since her first period a week ago, maybe it was psychological, but Catherine felt as if her entire body had turned into an erogenous zone. A light touch could heat her up—sometimes to an unbearable level. She could tolerate it for a short time, but the problem was that her body had been like this for the entire week.
"Alright, Kate, we won't disturb your rest."
Seeing that Catherine still looked a bit pale, everyone assumed her body hadn't fully recovered yet.
In any case, for Catherine, this somewhat embarrassing situation had finally come to an end.
But what exactly had Ada given her?
Listening to Ida's instructions, Catherine wasn't sure. Was it a joke?
No—but then why could it only be used when she was alone in bed?
Night fell, and Lily had already gone to sleep.
Filled with curiosity, Catherine slipped a flashlight under the covers and turned on the strange device.
Instantly, a wave of heat rushed through Catherine's mind.
This was something even more shocking than the underwear Lily had given her.
Although the Japanese don't seem to have invented vibrating eggs yet, the history of this horn-shaped device is quite long and rich.
But… why would Ida give her this?
Her heart started racing, and her face turned red as a tomato.
…
Author's Note:
It is said that the history of phallic-shaped devices can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty, and it appears that horn-shaped vibrating devices already existed in the 1950s. The exact details can't be verified, but it's likely true.