I am Baaack! Part 12

Stan/Stella was a different case. The price of absolution in regard to Stan required that Good Joan actually come face to face with one of the creatures Evil Joan had created. The afternoon stop on her, Dainie, and Robbie's trip today was to be the Whip and Cuff Club.

Dainie was practically bouncing off the walls by the time Robbie arrived. Both Robbie and Joan were wearing fairly conservative "Ladies who Lunch" dresses, and Dainie had changed to a plaid jumper and white blouse, keeping the Mary Jane shoes. Her hair, of course, was still in her favorite twin pony tails. Grabbing Joan's right hand and Robbie's left, she practically pulled them out the door. "C'mon, Dr. Joan, Miss Robbie, we've got SHOPPING to do!"

Both women laughed, but were reminded as they were almost yanked off their feet that they were dealing with an adult male, six-year-old girl. "Dainie!" Joan said sharply. The change in Dainie was dramatic and instantaneous. She seemed to shrink in on herself as if she expected some awful punishment. Evil Joan was all for that, but there was less and less of Evil Joan. Good Joan immediately smiled and changed her tone and, although she physically stayed standing, actually looking up, mentally she knelt down to the level of a real six-year-old. "Honey, honey, I'm not mad at you, but you have to remember that we are three ladies out for the day. Ladies do not drag other ladies around, now do they?"

Dainie, looking down at the ground, shook her head no.

"And you want to learn how to be a grown up lady, don't you?" Dainie nodded yes. "Well, Sukie does, too, and you have to teach Sukie, don't you?"

Dainie smiled, and this time spoke. "Yes, Dr. Joan." She paused a moment. "Dr. Joan?"

"Yes, dear?"

"Do you really think I can grow up to be a nice lady like you and Miss Robbie? I want to, but sometimes it's so hard. Sometimes I look in the mirror and it seems like there's a big dark shadow man behind me. Sometimes he tries to tell me things, but I turn and run to Mommy and she makes it all right. Will you help me to become a lady, Dr. Joan and Miss Robbie, so the shadow man won't visit me in the mirror any more?"