Looking at my hands, then in the mirror at myself I don’t know what overcame me, I just started crying.

“Good grief, what brought this on? I’ve never seen a man actually cry,” Erma declared, which Marsha made worse by caustically remarking, “I don’t think I ever have either, but apparently Paulie does. Stop crying this instant Paulie, you’re embarrassing me, and yourself”

“B-But I-I look g-girlish,” I sniffled.

“Nonsense, you don’t look girlish. A little sissy-ish I’d say,” she said, which, somehow made it worse. I wasn’t a man anymore? I was a sissy!