A Time to Every Season Part I
By Tigger
Copyright 2002, All Rights Reserved
Introduction I: Jane's Family at Home
Jane took a deep breath of the soft, morning air. The
uniquely New England autumn scents that always made her
think 'home'. A rogue breeze rustled her shirt and made
Jane smile at the image she displayed. Few if any of her
students would have recognized this Jane Thompson-Philips
unless they were close enough to see the startlingly vivid
eyes and even then, her attire would have elicited at least
one double take.
Jane's height-of-fashion ensemble was designed around the
sheer inelegance of a Winnie the Pooh and Piglet t-shirt
beneath an unbuttoned plaid woolen work-shirt. Jeans, heavy
work boots, a Boston Red Sox ball cap and a pair of heavy
work gloves completed her regalia. Of course, Jane had a
purpose (she refused to call it an excuse) for this stark
departure from her normal strictly proper, but thoroughly
feminine uniforms. The man who normally ran her stables and
cared for her mounts was away on vacation. Jane had been
mucking out the stalls of her horses and seeing to their
other needs this morning, and the outfit suited the needs.
She smiled mischievously at the thought of what one of her
boys would think of her in this outfit. 'Maybe I will have
Art take a picture of me and include copies in our holiday
cards this year. Well, at least the jeans are new,' she
thought, 'As is the hat.'
The cap was a gift from her adopted son, Darryl. In fact,
the jeans were also a gift, but FOR her husband. Art
Philips had shown a rather marked and lascivious interest
in Jane's bottom and long legs encased in tight (VERY
tight) denim. 'Any damned tighter and I am going to have to
hang from the corseting trapeze just to get them zipped,'
she thought before sighing dreamily. 'Which won't bother
you a bit, Jane Thompson, so long as Art has no trouble
getting you out of them quickly when the occasion calls for
it.'
Her happily aimless wanderings soon found Jane in her
morning garden, enjoying summer's last blooms. The trees
would be putting on their fall colors soon. Autumn had
always been one of her favorite seasons, as much for the
weather and color as anything. New England really was at
her best in the fall. It was also the one time of year when
history indicated that Jane was most likely to have a few
weeks to herself.
One of Jane's goals for her students that she usually
managed to achieve was getting the little darlings through
her program in time to start school on time in September.
And she usually didn't pick up anyone new until sometime in
October. It usually took that long for teachers to throw up
their hands at the antics of the type of wayward boy who
would benefit from Jane's petticoated prison.
Ah, but this September was different. This September she
would have more than Marie and the horses to occupy her.
This year she had a husband, and soon, she would also have
her son home as well. Art had finished his contractual
obligation to teach summer school at the university and had
arrived home a few days ago. Originally, Darryl was to have
accompanied Art home from the university, but there had
been a last minute glitch with his registration for the
fall semester.
Darryl's agile and voracious young mind had become
thoroughly spoiled by the challenge and excitement of
Jane's home schooling program, and thus had found his
undergraduate studies a grave disappointment by comparison.
He wanted out of that stifling and dogmatic Ivy League
School program as quickly as was humanly possible. With his
typical determination, Darryl had set out to complete his
degree early so that he could follow Michael to medical
school in the spring term.
His solution had been to take nearly twice as many credits
as the school recommended and to use the university's new
'distance learning' program to get them. The university was
giving him some grief about residency requirements and
course overloads, clearly trying to get him to return in
the spring for another semester. He had stayed behind in
Providence to resolve the problems with his advisor and the
university registrar. Jane hoped that all went well on that
front. She was looking forward to having her son AND her
husband both home for the next few months.
The question was what was she going to do with this
embarrassment of familial riches?
From her perch, she saw a tall slim figure jogging around
the stables and turning toward the house. Silver tresses
escaping from a ponytail flashed in the cool morning
sunlight as the man began a kicking sprint. 'Art,' Jane
thought her heart swelling, 'back from his morning run.'
Darryl and Art both loved badgering her into joining them
when they ran, which was one reason Jane had not minded
when her horse groom had left on his holiday. Given the
choice between running and even the most unpleasant of
horse chores, running lost hands down every time in Jane's
book.
She watched as her husband slowed to a walk after his end
of run sprint, and recognized the behavior from watching
Art run with Darryl. Every one of their jogs turned into
some silly proof of manhood race when they should have been
tired and cooling out. Those races matched Darryl's youth
versus Art's much longer stride. Darryl usually won, but
never by much and never by enough to feel that confident of
winning the next race when Art's stride might easily prove
decisive.
Sadly, her adopted son's physical size had never grown to
match his heart. By whatever metric human intangibles might
be measured, Darryl's heart and spirit set new standards in
Jane's view. Whether gently tending to a tearful little
sister after one of Jane's exercises or courageously facing
down a past fraught with torments and monsters few could
survive, Darryl was matchless. He was, in all the best
senses of the term, a man - a very gentle man to be sure,
but a man through and through.
Jane simply wished he could have been a 'larger' gentleman
- for all his diminutive size had allowed him to help her
time and again with her program. 'If only he had been a
late bloomer like Kenneth,' she thought. Life in America
was so much easier for young men who attained what society
viewed as manly height and weight, but the devoutly wished-
for growth spurt had never come. Darryl had topped out at a
bare five feet five inches tall (slightly on tip-toe, but
Jane would never call him on that) and a scant one hundred
twenty pounds.
Oddly enough, Darla, the femme alter ego Darryl had assumed
as both her student and as resident 'big sister' with
several of Jane's most difficult students, was as imposing
as she was lovely. Michael/Michelle might have been the
most adept student Jane had ever taught and Tyrone/Tyra
might have had the cutest face, but Darla was the most
striking and the most powerful personality of any of her
students.
'Art says that is because Darryl has, over time, modeled
Darla after me. 'Like Mother, like daughter' I suppose,'
Jane mused, finding herself rather pleased with that
observation.
Jane stood and headed for the house. She needed a shower, a
clean change of clothes and then she'd check with Marie to
see if any help was needed with breakfast preparations.
Maybe that tight tube shirt she'd purchased in Boston - the
one that showed her bosom to such advantage, and of course,
another pair of the painted-on jeans. One very pleasant
aspect of having only family in residence at Seasons House
was that maintaining her "Jane Thompson-the-Model-of-
Unachievable-Feminine-Perfection" was not required every
minute of every day. She could even go down to breakfast
without makeup and wearing blue jeans. A sensual glint lit
Jane's dark eyes. She'd dispense with the boots, though.
Legman that he was, Art would appreciate the sight of her
strutting to the breakfast table wearing these tight jeans
and a pair of spike heeled sling backs. Her grin took a
decidedly wicked turn. Just because Jane Thompson was the
epitome of all things ladylike did not mean she did not
know how to be a proper tease when the occasion or her mood
called for it. Some of the best teases in history were
grand ladies and Jane always subscribed to being the best
she could be at anything she decided was worth doing.
And if her darling hubby played his cards right, she'd let
him express his approval in the time honored way of
appreciative lovers - after breakfast, of course. Working
in the stables always left Jane famished and she planned on
needing the energy a good meal provided.
Introduction II: Art and Jane Together
Without alerting Jane to his presence, Art watched his wife
of less than a year smile softly as she scanned the large
scrapbook on her desk. He immediately recognized the tome
as her 'rogues gallery' of boys who had passed through her
program. Every one of them had been on their way to trouble
when someone had cared enough to send them to Jane Thompson
and her not-so-gentle brand of tough love. Art had seen,
first hand, the love those young men still held for their
'Aunt Jane' last Christmas when the cards had arrived -
most of them accompanied by recent family photos and little
notes about how this god child was doing or what mischief
that honorary niece had gotten herself into. All but two of
the young men who had been sent to her had graduated from
Jane's program, and all those who had graduated had gone on
to become very good men. So what if they'd needed to be
turned into very proper, very demure little girls first?
Jane sighed and began to close the book. Art moved into the
room and said "If this was a western, I might say 'It's
awful quiet around these-here parts, pilgrim. Almost TOO
quiet.'" The drawling attempt at a John Wayne impersonation
was terrible and earned the desired smile.
"Our son once informed me that the Duke, assuming that is
who you were trying so unsuccessfully to imitate, never
used the term 'pilgrim' in any of his movies," she
retorted, "But, letting that little error in trivia slide,
I will reluctantly agree. It is indeed very quiet."
"Much as I love and respect our son, in this case he's
wrong. I know for a fact that he used it because I saw the
movie on the late show the other night," Art replied
smugly, and then became more serious. "You miss having the
students, don't you?" He asked as he slipped behind her and
began massaging her shoulders. "As much as you enjoy having
some quiet time, that restless energy of yours needs an
outlet."
Jane nearly purred and hugged her chin against his hand
with a smile. "I suppose I do, but I don't have any boys
here right now nor any possibilities looming on the
horizon." She sighed somewhat sadly. "Perhaps that is just
as well."
"What do you mean, love?" Art asked as he found and began
working on one of the 'muck-shoveling' muscle knots that
Jane's walk had not eased.
"Just that I need time to think about the whole program.
I've been working with boys, using my method for a very
long time. Maybe it is time to do something else. The last
few have been so unusual, Art," she said, spinning her desk
chair about so she could look up at him.
"So?" Art asked, trying to draw her out.
"You're playing Socratic psychologist with me, dear," Jane
cautioned, but then smiled to ease the rebuke. "And you
KNOW how little I like dealing with your so-very-gently-
pointed questions- with-no-right-answers. To answer that
LAST question, however, I don't really know. Perhaps
something fundamental has changed - with the boys or with
me... maybe both - and the things that I do are no longer
as effective. More importantly, my lessons and activities
no longer seem to be as SAFE as they once were. I mean,
look at..."
"I 'know' what you mean, but Mina was a unique episode
which will NOT be repeated."
"I know," Jane sighed. "But there is also the issue that I
am not as young as I once was," she offered.
"Not even fifty yet, and how was it your doctor put it? In
better shape than most of her thirty-five year old
patients? No, Jane, I am not letting you use that tired and
worn-out excuse. If you decide to close the Seasons House
School, then let it be for real and meaningful reasons.
You've had a rough patch the past five years or so.
Kenneth's Mother, Darryl's brother, Caitlyn, but in each of
those cases, good has come of their experiences with you.
You STILL helped those boys, and in Kenneth, Darryl's and
Caitlyn's cases, I truly believe that your intervention
saved their lives. Consider your alternatives and while you
are at it, consider their alternatives, but when you make
your decision, make it for the right reasons." Jane gazed
up into her lover's face, an enigmatic half smile forming
on her lips. "How do I know what the right reasons are?"
Art crouched down to eye level and planted a little kiss on
Jane's nose. "You will know, my dear, you'll know," then he
stood and offered her his hand. "C'mon now. You look
'really' uncomfortable in those jeans. Let's go up to our
room and see if we can find you something more...
comfortable to slip into and I will finish this massage
without such... lovely impediments."
A mischievous grin lit Jane's face as she let her husband
pull her to her feet. Once there, she leaned over and
returned the nose kiss. "What the heck took you so long to
ask, Philips?"
~-~
Much later, Art cuddled his drowsing wife close. "Any word
from Darryl?"
"He's taking the afternoon train here on the day after
tomorrow. I offered to go pick him up in the Lincoln, but
he seems to think I should have... other things to occupy
my time now that you're home."
Art grinned as he shifted Jane in his arms and rolled her
on top of him. "I 'do' like the way that boy thinks." he
said planting a teasing kiss on Jane's pursed lips.
"I suppose, but I wish he had more in his life than studies
just now. It really is too bad he broke up with his young
lady before he came home."
"No it isn't," Art said firmly. "She was good for his ego
but she wasn't the type for long term commitment. She made
him feel like a real stud in the physical sense, but she
always bored him silly outside of the bedroom. That one
went back for seconds in the boob 'n' butt line when she
should have been in the queue where they handed out brains.
Your Darryl is going to need a woman whose mind challenges
him at least as much as her body turns him on."
"ART!" Jane spluttered, trying to stifle a giggle. "A man
does not discuss a lady's son with her in those terms! It
simply isn't done!"
"Oh really?"
"Really," Jane said, this time with the giggle getting out.
"It is too bad. I keep hoping he'll find someone like
Michael's Janice or Eric's Sylvia."
"Someone he can share both sides of his personality with,
like I share Diana with you?"
Jane nodded. "But girls like that aren't just lying about
to be scooped up, are they?" At Art's negative shake, Jane
sighed. "By the way," she added suddenly, "Speaking of
Diana? She has been missing from my bed too long, buster. I
want silk and perfume, romance and glamour tonight!" she
growled, beginning to playfully tussle with her mate. "And
seduction."
"Fair's fair, woman," Art growled right back. "Silk for
silk, glamour for glamour, and I will take care of the
romance and seduction. Deal?"
"Deal!" Jane almost squealed as she leaned over top of Art
and began to kiss him senseless.
Introduction III: Judge Ruth Calls
The sun was moving lower in the western skies when the pair
had finally risen from Jane's bed. Seated at her vanity,
Jane gazed dreamily into her mirror, raptly watching as her
spouse went about his... her transformation into the very
attractive Diana. Then she sighed - half in appreciation,
half in resignation as Diana began doing up the front
fastenings of the black satin corset she used on special
occasions.
The appreciation was easily understood. The corset made
Diana's figure mouth watering. Jane's resignation was
equally heartfelt... or was that 'waist-felt'? She knew
that Diana only wore that corset because Jane found it sexy
and Jane had agreed to 'silk for silk, glamour for
glamour'. That meant that JANE also had to wear one of
those sexy Iron Matrons tonight, too. Jane was not the only
member of this marriage-partnership who liked seeing his or
her partner tightly laced into gleaming feminine
perfection. 'Of course, she will lace me as tightly as I
lace her and since I don't want to faint from lack of
oxygen in the middle of our lovemaking, I will have to be
sadly restrained in my... assistance.'
Art, almost Diana, grinned mischievously as he sat down on
an overstuffed ottoman and began to carefully and slowly
slide full-fashion stockings up over each fully extended
leg. Standing, he slipped his feet into a pair of dark blue
heels and began fastening the garters. 'She's still
watching,' he thought. "Umm, Jane, darling," he called out,
his voice now Diana's soft, husky alto rather than Art's
light baritone, "I'm almost ready for the vanity and you
haven't even begun putting on your makeup. Not that I mind
putting on a reverse strip tease for your entertainment,
but unlike that pushover Art, 'I' am not going to give you
any relief until after you have treated me to a night of
dancing, wining and dining on the town. So get dressed,
wench!" as she disappeared into the walk-in closet.
Jane jumped as if she'd been shocked and hurriedly reached
for her foundation. She'd just gotten the top off the pot
when the phone's rude electronic signal whined loudly.
Grumbling, Jane reached over to pick up the modern
appliance, regretting yet again the relegation of her
beloved antique continental-style phone to the downstairs
foyer. "Hello?" she asked and then brightened. "Ruth! How
are you? What is up?"
Diana reemerged from the closet, gave up on waiting for
Jane to finish and began gathering tubes and pots to one
side of the vanity. Jane's breath caught at the sight of
her lover's chosen outfit - the jewel-bright blue satin,
knee-length evening dress that matched the silver haired
vision's eyes. "Oh yes, Art's here, only," and here Jane
glanced up at her lover's eyes in the mirrors and made an
air kiss, "Only it's more Diana than Art right now." Jane
listened some more. "All right... let me see, how do I turn
on this bloody speaker phone Darryl and Kenneth insisted I
should have..." She was about to guess when Diana's slender
finger reached down and pressed a button. She suppressed a
sigh when it worked because it wasn't the one she would
have pressed.
With a mock snarl, Jane turned to face Diana who was calmly
smoothing on her foundation. "I would have gotten it
right," she mouthed not quite honestly before turning back
to the phone. "Can you hear me, Ruth?"
"Sure can." came the somewhat tinny voice from the small
speaker. "How are you, Art/Diana?"
"Just fine, Ruth," Diana replied. "What can we do for you
since I suspect that unless you are calling to tell us our
marriage license is invalid, you have other reasons for
wanting us both in on this conversation."
"Oh, there's no problem with your somewhat hasty civil
wedding ceremony except that 'he's' still upset that you
forgot to invite him and his friends. I suspect you are
going to have to do something special there, but that is
not why I am calling. Jane? Art? I need some help. Janie?
Do you remember Pru Taylor? From our sorority?"
Jane thought for a minute and then nodded. "She was an
athlete, wasn't she? Ran track and field, if I recall
correctly? Attended school on an athletic scholarship? Is
that who you mean?"
"Yes, that is her, only her name is Rockwell now. She's a
widow now - lost her husband in one of those screw-ups in
Somalia - he was a military advisor there and got caught in
an ambush."
"So, what is it, Ruth?" Jane asked, wondering why Ruth
wasn't getting to the point.
"She's got a child... well, a teenager actually, who is
headed for trouble. Temper bordering on terminal rage, very
anti-social - the whole works. Pru's really worried, Jane."
"Are you referring the case to me formally, Your Honor?"
Jane asked.
"No, not quite, but only because it hasn't gotten that far
yet. So far, things have been kept out of the courts that
is part of the problem, Jane. At age seventeen, there is
every possibility when things do finally go that far, she
will be tried as an adult instead of coming to me in juvie.
I told her Mother about you and what you do, and she asked
me to talk to you about taking on the child."
"I don't have a big sister in residence right now, Ruth,"
Jane temporized, "Not only that, but I have been sort of
reevaluating of late. The last few have been, well, almost
all exceptions to the old rules. I am not sure my methods
have the same applicability as they once had."
"Now don't go losing confidence on me now, Jane Thompson,"
Ruth snapped across the miles. "You are the best chance
those kids had and the best thing that happened to all of
them."
"And seventeen is a little old for what I do," Jane
temporized further, the memories of Shelley/Trip and
Carl/Carol, each of whom had only just barely made the 'big
step' before reaching their legal majorities - which would
have taken them out of her control -flashing across her
mind. "Are you sure my program is the way to go? Why not
one of those 'Outward Bound' programs with lots of
exercise, fresh air and positive male role models?"
"Bear with me here, Jane, and let me explain this special
situation."
Introduction IV: Darryl's Train Trip Home
Darryl boarded the train with a considerable sense of d?ja
vu. How many years had it been? Almost five since a
frightened and abused, fourteen year old boy had boarded
this very train?
So much had changed for the better in those intervening
years. Back then; his name had been Darryl Smith. Now it
was Darryl Thompson-Philips... usually... well, at least
lately it had been... except when it was Darla Thompson-
Philips.
Memories of that second christening elicited a smile across
his smooth young features. He'd been given the name 'Darla'
by his own big sister, Stephanie, towards the end of those
first hellish two days under Jane Thompson's regimen.
Initially, Darryl had reacted as he'd later learned that
most boys reacted - complete confusion, then anger, then
terror and embarrassment - before ultimately falling in
line with Jane's plans with only the most minor of
complaints. He'd gone through the make-up sessions, the
multiple dressings and modeling exercises, the shopping and
beauty parlor trips, the soirees - had been the target of
every arrow in Jane's male-ego-killing quiver - and had
reacted predictably to them all.
Until, that is, the afternoon after his first trip to the
Marisha Chalet when he'd taken a really close look at
'Darla' in the mirror and realized that she might be the
means for his escape from hell. While many of Jane's other
students would have defined that as an escape from Jane
Thompson's feminine prison, not so young Darryl Smith. No,
Darryl's own private and fiery hell had worn the face of
his own brother - a brutal, sadistic bastard who had
considered Darryl to be his personal slave and who had
abused and raped the young boy repeatedly.
And who would never have stopped searching for Darryl so
that he could do all those vile things over and over again.
At least, not until Darryl had either died or killed
himself.
Darryl had, in that moment of mirrored epiphany developed a
plan to become Darla and to use that new identity to escape
his brother once and for all. Even if that meant living the
rest of his life as a woman. However, he realized that if
his plan was to have any hope of success, his disguise had
to be flawless. He began studying Jane's lessons 'how to be
a girl' with a will and a commitment to perfection that
Jane had never seen before. Only his brother's very timely
death had prevented Darryl from following through on that
plan.
So much had changed, Darryl thought again as he took his
seat. Now he had a family and a future.
The shoving and bustling of other passengers boarding the
car distracted his reminiscences. Across the way, a guy in
a loose jacket and bulky bib-style overalls was struggling
to get an evidently very heavy bag into the overhead. It
was unwieldy enough to be awkward, even aside from weight,
so Darryl figured he'd lend a hand. "Hey, man, let me help
you with that," he offered, smiling.
The other passenger spun on his heel and faced him,
furious. "Get away from me," the passenger snarled before
adding, "I can handle this just fine on my own," and then
proved that by slamming the obviously heavy bag up into the
rack.
'Adrenaline,' Darryl mused. "Okay, fine. Just trying to
help."
"Next time," the fellow hissed, "Don't bother!"
Shrugging philosophically, Darryl slipped back into his own
seat. 'Well, I tried. Wonder what put the burr under his
saddle?'
Strangely, he then elected to take the backward facing
seat, a decision that allowed Darryl to continue to observe
him. On closer inspection, the guy was not really out of
the ordinary. His nearly black hair was closely cropped,
but not into some sort of punk cut. It was more like an
old-fashioned crew cut, Darryl mused to himself. The
unstylish haircut and sloppy clothes defined a persona,
almost a stereotype, and Darryl was almost ready to
categorize this guy in his mind.
And yet, there was something wrong - something about him
that just didn't fit. Darryl was still pondering that when
the guy looked up, feeling Darryl's eyes on him perhaps,
and frowned.
'Damn, what I wouldn't give for eyes that blue,' Darryl
sighed. 'Too bad about the broken nose,' he thought,
continuing his inventory of his unwitting subject's
features. 'Nice eyebrows, too. Darla still gets hers uneven
every now and then. Man-oh-man, except for that nose,
imagine what Jane and Marie could do with that face. The
'she' those two would make of that fellow would be a
heartbreaker and based on his response to a friendly offer
of help, he could definitely benefit from a little
Thompsonly tutelage in polite manners.'
Darryl sat there, thinking back to the days of those first
makeup lessons, and catalogued the features of the rude
young man against what techniques would be necessary to
change this rude 'him' into one of Aunt Jane's sweetly
submissive 'hers. 'Let's see, the nose is hopeless, that
would need surgery. Those eyebrows need to be plucked, of
course, but the brow ridge is not prominent at all - quite
delicate in fact, and it leaves his eyes looking nicely
large. And the line of the jaw seems almost fragile, as
though... oh, my God! All those things I have to compensate
for with Marie's cosmetic tricks are already... right. Good
grief, he's a... I mean... that's a girl! I... think.'
Trying for subtlety, Darryl gave the suddenly female-
appearing creature a more thorough examination. Fine boned
fingers fidgeted nervously with a thin golden chain or fob
that had come from one of the bib-overalls' many pockets.
She (he?) was long- legged, and appeared quite fit although
that was difficult to tell, dressed as he or she was in
those baggy, unflattering garments.
Then, the girl became aware of Darryl's intense interest.
Her skin flushed again and her hands went very still.
Fixing her eyes on his, she raised her chin in a movement
that while challenging was also undeniably female.
She really was a girl, albeit not a very feminine one.
'Small wonder I did not realize she was a girl. Between
that haircut and those clothes. Big girl, too,' he thought.
'Taller than me by a few inches for sure, and bloody
strong, too, based on how she slung that case into the
overhead rack. Wonder how she broke her nose? Except for
that, she's got really nice bones, which makes her attitude
and taste in clothes even sadder. Wonder how Momma-Jane
would react to her?' A mischievous grin lit Darryl's face.
'Oh lord; I have GOT to see Jane's face when she sees this
one. Now, how do I arrange to get her off the train in
Kingston?'
Chapter 1: Another Train, Another Student
As she watched the train roll to a stop, Jane squeezed
Diana's gloved hand for what must have been the tenth time
since they had arrived at the train station. Timing was
always critical on these first contacts, but this one
exceeded all bounds. When Ruth had called with the new
student's travel arrangements, Jane had immediately tried
to reach Darryl and ask him to take a different train.
She'd missed him by mere minutes.
Now, they were stuck with a less than desirable 'Plan B'.
Diana had to intercept Darryl before he greeted Jane in
boy-garb while Jane corralled the new student. If all went
well, there would be time for a family conference after the
new student was sleeping off Jane's sleeping potion-laced
after dinner wine. Otherwise, having Darla play the big
sister, at least for the first few critical days, might
well cease to be an option.
Jane started when Diana suddenly released her grip on her
spouse's hand and strode off toward one of the train cars.
There, at the door, was a widely smiling Darryl, waving
happily to his family. Jane winced as her son jumped to the
platform before the train had completely stopped. He would
have made a beeline towards his beloved "Momma-Jane" had
not Diana caught him by the arm and all but frog-marched
him into the terminal.
'Phase One complete,' Jane thought relieved. She still did
not know precisely how she was going to handle this one,
but at least all her conceivable options remained viable.
'How in heavens name did I get myself INTO this mess?'
~-~
As she hustled their son away from Jane, Diana looked back
over her shoulder at her beloved wife. Though it would have
been invisible to anyone else, Diana could see signs of the
anxiety she remembered in Jane the night before, right
after Ruth's call.
It had been nearly forty minutes after a still-disbelieving
Jane had told Ruth that she needed more time to consider
her long-time friend's request. Comfortably situated in one
of the plush overstuffed chairs Jane kept only in her
private suite, Diana had watched as her wife furiously
paced the room. She'd already tried to calm the Mistress of
Seasons House down twice and had failed miserably both
times. This was apparently one of those times when all a
caring husband could do was let her wife work through
things herself.
'Well, almost on her own,' the cross-dressed psychologist
had laughed quietly to himself. Diana had pretty much
already decided what Jane would do - would NEED to do.
After that had been decided in Diana's mind, it had simply
been a matter of carefully (VERY carefully) letting her
agitated spouse reach that very same conclusion with as
little prodding as possible. After all, Jane had not gotten
very far with her dressing and that peignoir she was almost
not wearing was calling to her. 'Best laid plans of mice
and men and whatevers, Philips,' she'd told herself. 'You
have to get her to take you out on your date before you can
have any of that, and by your own words, too, DUMMY!'
"How can you just SIT there," Jane had suddenly spun about,
raging at her spouse.
"If I stood you'd run me over," Diana had replied equably,
which only served to further fuel the emotions that were
driving Jane Thompson.
Diana had only barely caught the pillow Jane had then
hurled at her before it connected with her face. "You know
what I mean," the teacher had growled as she looked about
for more ammunition. At that point, Diana had decided to
come out of the chair, catching her hand as she reached for
a piece of sculpture.
"Ah, ah, ah," she'd said as she had disengaged her lover's
fingers and then carried Jane bodily to the couch. "Sit!"
Jane had sat, just barely catching herself crossing her
arms over her breasts in a pout. Diana had merely grinned
and then tipped the angry redhead's chin up so the two
lovers could lock eyes. "You know what you are going to
have to do, love. You would not be you if you did not at
least try."
"But this is all wrong!" Jane had nearly wailed.
"No, it is not wrong, but it is very different than your
usual situation. Are you afraid?"
THAT had done it! Fury had sparkled in her dark eyes, but
only for a moment, and then her shoulders had again
slumped. "Of course I am afraid," she sighed, the emotion
bleeding out of her. "As we discussed just this morning, I
have begun to doubt certain parts of my program. Still, as
soon as I heard Ruth's voice, I was like a fire horse
hearing the bell ring, but DiANNNAA, what she wants me to
do is... is..."
"Very different," Diana had agreed. "But I think you can
still help. You care, and you have the time, the resources
and the will to do what needs be done." Jane only grimaced
and Diana chuckled. 'What a WOMAN,' Diana's mind had
crowed, 'and she's MINE!' "Not only that," she'd continued,
"but you have me. And/or Art, that is."
Jane had simply sat there silently for a several moments.
"You think I should do this." It had not been a question.
Diana had shaken her head at that, sending silver wisps of
hair dancing about her face. "Jane, my life's true love, it
doesn't matter what I think. YOU'VE already decided to do
it, dear, in your heart, at least. You are just trying to
convince that more rational part of you to quit bitching
about the decision."
"I know," Jane said in a very small voice. "I know."
"So, when Marie and Darryl get back we have a council of
war?"
Sighing, Jane had then risen and walked into Diana's open
arms. "I think we're going to need one, don't you? After
all, wasn't it you who told me that the reason I wasn't
reaching Caitlyn was it is damned difficult to convey a
credible threat of terrifying humiliation to a girl, if all
you can do is expose her publicly as a girl? Oh lord, Art,
whatever am I going to do with a REAL girl?!"
"I don't know, love," Diana had replied with a chuckle,
"Not YET, but I think the first thing you need to do?"
"What?" Jane had asked, almost meekly, her face still
buried in Diana's Obsession-scented shoulder.
"Get dressed. That peignoir is gorgeous but you promised to
take me out to kick up our heels on the town tonight. We
aren't likely to get another chance for a while - not with
a student in the house - so go get dressed." With that, the
smiling psychologist had planted a sharp swat to Jane's
shapely backside. At her outraged glare, Diana had smiled.
"And don't forget to call me to do up your lacings."
~-~
The train was nearly empty and passengers were beginning to
board and still Jane had not seen her new student. Fear
clutched at her as she contemplated the possibility of a
runner with icy dread. Then, a tall figure, garbed in
thoroughly disreputable clothing, pushed through the
boarding crowd lugging an obviously heavy duffel bag. Jane
felt the beginnings of a migraine burn behind her eyelids.
With a deep breath to calm her nerves, Jane stepped
forward. "Miss Chastity Rockwell?" Jane saw the girl start
at hearing her name and knew that this... this... child had
to be her new student. She held out an elegantly gloved
hand in greeting. "I am Jane Thompson, Chastity, your
Mother's friend." Jane winced as the girl wiped her hand on
jeans before taking Jane's and vigorously shaking it.
"Rocky, I only answer to Rocky," the girl replied with
unexpected heat in her voice, "If you're my mother's
friend, Jane Thompson, we need to get that understood right
now. I make it a point of personal pride NEVER to answer to
Chastity."
"But... but that is your name," Jane replied, too surprised
by a student taking HER to task to scold the girl for her
lack of manners.
"Only on my birth certificate and it is only there until I
am eighteen. It is a traditional family name, but I hate
it. I already have the necessary paperwork filled out to
change it when I turn eighteen. Kind of a birthday present,
you know?"
"And what will you change your name to?" Jane asked, trying
to regain her equilibrium.
"I just told you," the girl scoffed. "The name I answer to
is Rocky. That is the name that will be on the papers,
too."
Chapter 2: Darryl Joins the Plan
Darryl kept his questions to himself until they were in
Marie's estate wagon and on the road to Seasons House.
"Okay, Daddy- Diana, what's up? Why are we here and Momma-
Jane still at the train station?" Then a thought occurred
to him. "Oh, I get it. There was a new student on the
train." he said with certainty.
"You got it. Ruth called day before yesterday. Jane and the
Mom are sorority sisters..."
"Not like Ken's mother?" Darryl demanded, suddenly worried.
"Not hardly," Diana chuckled. "Janey remembers this one as
being as sweet as Sheila turned out to be poisonous."
"So, I am being kept out of sight so that I can jump into
the nearest phone booth, don my costume and become Super-
Sister?"
"Well, that is one option, son," Diana said with Art's
voice. "This one is going to be different, particularly for
your Mother who is not real comfortable with the scenario.
I think you, that is, Darla, could be a real asset at some
point in this student's program."
"At some point? Jane's changed the plan? She's not going to
put the screws to this guy in the first two days and have
big sister around to feel him out and help set him up? What
is this guy? A really bad troublemaker? If Jane's that
worried about him, why did YOU let her take him on?!?"
"Well, it isn't so much that the new student is a bad actor
or that the program being different as the fact that this
student is very different from any Jane has ever taken on."
"THAT different?" Darryl asked, his tone dubious.
Diana turned amused, twinkling eyes on her adopted son.
"Yup. Janey has never taken on a real girl before."
It was very satisfying, Diana thought, to see the boy's jaw
drop that far. She didn't often get the better of her all-
too-bright adopted son. Then her own chin dropped in a
graceless expression Jane would never tolerate when that
son said, "Oh, no, it can't be. Not HER!!"
~-~
Almost disgusted with himself, Darryl fell to wandering
aimlessly about his temporary hideaway. Diana had dropped
him off at Jane's horse barn where Marie had prepared the
old stable manager's apartment for him. Long vacant - but
well maintained, as was everything that belonged to Jane
Thompson - the rooms were located in the back of the barn,
on the side away from the main house on the second floor.
Part of the apartment had been, in recent times, converted
into a small private gym/workout space for Art who needed
regular rigorous exercise to maintain Diana's fine womanly
figure - particularly now that Marie was feeding him on a
daily basis.
The plan Diana had laid out for him during the drive home
from the train station was that Darryl would stay out of
sight while she and Jane dined with the girl. Darryl had
told Diana that Jane might need another way of putting her
new student to sleep because he wasn't at all sure this one
would drink Jane's gently doctored wine. He thought he'd
finally figured out what was in that heavy duffel and what
that said about the girl with the broken nose. She was an
athlete, and from what little he'd observed, she was
probably a good one. She might refuse the wine because it
broke her training. Well, Jane's experience with Ken, when
he had refused the wine should have forced her to come up
with a contingency plan or two.
In any case, Diana had left a cellular phone with him and
promised to call him when the girl was asleep and the coast
was clear.
It couldn't be too soon for him because he really missed
that wonderful old Victorian monstrosity of a house,
especially the views from the windows of his room. Heavens
above, he even missed all the pastel frou-frou that was
part and parcel of his Darla persona, hard-put-upon senior
student in Jane Thompson's Girl's School for Wayward Boys.
When he was away from home, he was even haunted by the
remembered scents of the perfumes, powders and other
cosmetics that flavored every facet of Seasons House. Heck,
truth to tell, it would be nice to be able to get back into
silks and satins again for a while. The soft, smooth
fabrics really were more comfortable, at least when Momma-
Jane wasn't forcing corsets and stiff petticoats on him.
And heels made him taller, which was always desirable.
Other young males would likely cringe at that bit of self
recognition, but those young men had not had the good
fortune to be raised to manhood by Momma-Jane. Darryl no
longer concerned himself about how his time as Darla might
have affected his masculinity because nothing of what he
did or wore in Seasons House changed anything that really
counted in his life. Darla was simply an integral part of
who he was, just as his diminutive size and height were
integral parts of Darryl Thompson-Philips. There was no
doubt in his mind that he was a man in every sense of the
word. He was ALSO a man who could and regularly did
flawlessly impersonate a beautiful girl. Moreover, he was a
man who thoroughly enjoyed his ability to carry off that
impersonation and who enjoyed the society of other women
during those impersonations.
'And even when I am Darryl,' he caught himself with a half
snort, half laugh, 'I think of 'society of other women'
when I think about Darla, as if she truly is a woman.'
Well, Darryl-the-man liked the 'society of women' as well,
although he had other reasons to enjoy their company that
was beyond Darla's own. In point of actual fact, Darla had
been a great help in that regard. To a woman, each of his
lovers had remarked upon Darryl's attentiveness and unusual
sensitivity and insight about women. He'd even managed to
remain friends with each of them after their time as lovers
had run its course.
Now, Jane had taken on a real girl as a student. That had
to be a first - at least since she'd left her position as
Headmistress of Eastmore Girl's School. Where would he fit
into that situation? 'Heavens,' he thought, 'Where would
Darla fit into that situation?' Darryl wasn't sure.
In the past, the big sister's job was part spirit-guide,
part role model and instigator/snitch. His own observations
close up and personal proved that girl needed the role-
model most of all, but that role was also the one fraught
with the most danger. Oh, Darla would still be able to keep
an eye on her little sister, help her over the rough spots,
and perhaps even tease away some of the tears and the
tensions. Unlike Michael/Michelle, Darryl had no
compunction about helping Jane set up the new student for
the traps that were critical to the program, or keeping the
teacher abreast of where the student's head really was, but
what would happen if - when the girl found out that her
feminine role model was male?
And what would Jane's controlling threat be with this one?
Expose her to the world as a girl dressed in girl's
clothes? That did not sound like much of a threat to
Darryl. So what would be the tool or tools that gave the
girl pause when she started to react in a negative or
unacceptable manner? Somehow,
Darryl did not think calling her a 'sissy' would do much
more than really piss her off, and after seeing her display
of strength and temper on the train today, that did not
seem like such a good idea.
He thought a while longer about the situation and what his
role in the coming drama might be, and then laughed. "Might
as well admit that you are intrigued by this, Darryl," he
finally said to himself. "A real girl in Jane's boy's
school. Won't it be interesting to see what she looks like
in some nice clothes?"
Just then, the electronic signal of the cell phone sounded.
Darryl picked it up, opened the connection and listened.
"Okay, Daddy-Di... I will be there in a few minutes."
Chapter 3: First Council Strategies
"Wait, dear," said Jane quietly when Darryl made noises
about going up to his room to clean up, "We need to talk
with you and Marie now. Since you missed our luncheon, I
asked Marie to put together a light tea for you. You can
eat while we all meet in my office."
Darryl looked at the Mother of his heart and saw emotion
Jane Thompson rarely permitted to show. There was
uncertainty in those dark green eyes, and something else -
perhaps even fear. 'I guess that isn't too surprising. This
is not just another student for her to tear down and
rebuild the same old way, now is it? After all the last few
students have put her through, now she is stepping into
completely new territory where the experiences of a
lifetime have little application.' "Okay, Momma- Jane," he
said softly and then moved gracefully down the hall toward
the downstairs office.
"Was it my imagination?" Diana asked after Darryl had
disappeared from view, "Or was that Darla who just answered
you?"
~-~
There was something innately, intrinsically feminine about
the young person who skillfully poured the tea and served
the light snacks to the other three women, Diana reflected
as she fell into the familiar dual roles of both
participant and observer. It certainly wasn't their child's
state of dress that accounted for that perception of
femininity, for the combination of running shoes, jeans and
pullover was at best androgynous. And yet, a casual or
inexperienced observer would never have thought this young
person was a male.
'It isn't just the small stature and size, either,' Diana
thought as she concentrated on watching her son as she...
he proffered the plate of dainty pastries to Jane and
Marie. 'It is also manners and mannerisms, presentation and
presence. Every non- verbal cue just screams 'female', and
yet, when Darryl is Darryl, he is just the opposite - all
man in spite of the supposed limitations of his physical
size. When I think of how hard I have to work and what I
have to do to carry off the masquerade he seems to pull off
without apparent effort? I just want to scream.'
"Very nicely done, dear," Jane complimented as she settled
her teacup in the delicately painted saucer. "You have
surmised, Darryl, that I would like you to help me with
this new student? At least for the first crucial couple of
weeks?"
"Darla, Momma-Jane," she was instantly corrected by the
familiar and soft tones of her 'daughter', "although what
good I can be to you when you are dealing with a real girl,
I don't know," Darla shrugged that off and continued, "But
you know I am willing to try. And for longer than just a
couple of weeks if that will help you. I was able to
resolve most of the university's concerns about my distance
learning classes. I will be able to do most of the work
here at home and only go into the city perhaps one day a
week, at most three days every two weeks."
"Excellent, dear. As to what you will do, well, Diana and I
have been discussing that ever since we first agreed to try
to help this child."
"Somehow, Momma-Jane, I don't think your usual threat of
telling the student to play by your rules or leave as they
are dressed is going to work with this one. Being a real
girl, she might decide to take you up on the offer." Darla
said pertly, trying to relieve the somber tone of the
discussions. "I believe, my dear, as old and set-in-my-ways
as you no doubt think I am, that I have reached the
conclusion all by myself."
"So what do we do?"
Jane sighed, wishing she felt more confident. "Diana and I
have come up with a strategy we think will work. The girl
has a main goal in her life. I can, given that she must
live under my authority until she graduates or reaches her
eighteenth birthday, be of significant assistance to her
towards achieving that goal. On the other hand, I can also
do a great deal to make it impossible for her to pursue
that goal while she is living here, and while that time
frame is limited by her majority to a maximum of eight
months, the end result will set her back by more than a
year."
"So, she plays by your rules and is a good little girl, or
you will take away her dream? You sure you want to take the
chance that she won't force you to follow through on that
threat?" Darla asked, concerned. While Aunt Jane often
enjoyed her little games and tricks, Darla knew that
imposing real penalties that had far-reaching potential
deeply distressed the truly caring inner-woman.
"Diana and I believe we have worked out a scheme that will
preclude me having to impose that forfeit on her. We will
know better tomorrow morning when I give her what Kenneth
called the Scylla or Charybdis choice. Diana believes she
will take the path of least resistance to her own over-
arching goal, which will be to follow my orders and hope to
curry the favor of my assistance.
"So, assuming it goes as you and Diana have planned, Momma-
Jane, what happens next?"
"The usual first day exercises except at a slightly slower
pace. I think we will have to take things slowly with this
one, carefully considering each step as we go along. It may
take longer for her to see the benefits, but I would rather
do that than make an irreparable error early in the
program. For right now, I think we will still try the
makeup lessons and fashion shows. Marie has already
acquired and inventoried her personal belongings," Jane
shook her head sadly. "I was hoping there was something in
there we could use."
Marie snorted. "You would not believe this, Darla, but
those abominable things she was wearing are the most
presentable clothes she brought with her. And she does not
own so much as a tube of lipstick or pot of moisturizer.
The closest thing she has to cosmetics is Mennen after-
shower powder, deodorant and athlete's foot spray. We will
not even discuss what she brought in lieu of lingerie, for
it does not even deserve to be called underwear."
'I should have expected that,' Darla thought. 'Jane as much
as confirmed my theory that she is a jock. Wonder how Aunt
Jane is going to deal with that?'
"Just so, Marie," Jane interjected, reasserting her control
of the small meeting. "In any event, those deficiencies
ensure that she will benefit by the same lessons we always
set for the boys that first day. Cosmetology, hair care,
dictionary walking and fashion changes - the whole make
over routine. Whatever she is anticipating on her arrival
here, I don't think she expects to be turned into a
Victorian dress-up doll, so that will have the desired
effect of putting her off balance."
Darla began nodding and then suddenly remembered her role
in those activities. "But, Momma-Jane, won't that put me
into situations where... well, I mean, the big sister helps
the little sister dress..." a bright red blush colored
Darla's cheeks. "And she's a minor, assuming Aunt Ruth is
the referring court official. I... that is, we could get
into real trouble with this."
"Well, that is one of the key problems Diana and I still
must resolve, dear. We're not precisely sure that a long
term 'big sister' is what this one needs. Certainly, a
good, solid feminine role model should be a help, but that
is one of the areas where we will be playing this by ear.
And just so you know, Ruth did not officially refer the
girl here, Darla. Miss Rockwell is here at her Mother's
instigation based on Ruth's recommendation. Both the Mother
and Ruth have said that they trust me not to put the girl
in danger of her virtue, but..." Jane turned suddenly
pleading eyes to Diana.
With a laugh, Diana moved over to put a comforting hand on
Jane's shoulder. "They both understand that you might be
involved and what the ramifications of your participation
are. What Jane is trying to say, Darla, is seeing your new
little sister en dishabille from time to time, is not
really going to be all that big an issue unless you are
going to lose your manly control and try to have your
wicked way with her." Diana's tone was suddenly lightly
playful and teasing.
"Not bloody likely with that one," their child replied in
tones that were clearly more Darryl than Darla. "She might
hurt me."
"Just so," Diana continued, hiding a half smile behind her
hand. "What Jane is really concerned about is how that...
hmmmmm... shared sisterly intimacy might affect Rocky's
willingness to continue learning if she ever finds out you
are not also a GG."
"A what? And who is Rocky?" Darla asked, suddenly confused.
"In the common parlance among some transgendered folks,"
the onetime practicing psychologist/counselor explained,
"GG is a generally understood term for a person who is
physically, that is genetically, female. Stands for
'Genetic Girl' and Rocky is how our new student prefers to
be addressed. It is short for her last name of Rockwell."
"Jane?" Marie asked. "Just what has she done and why is she
being sent to us?"
"That s at least business as usual for us, Marie," Jane
said after taking a sip of her tea. "She has a history of
stubborn intractability, and temper losses to the point of
rage and violence. So far, she has only attacked males, and
from what Ruth tells me, only males who were bigger than
her."
"So that is the reason that I am still Diana," Diana
interjected. "We think that based on everything we've been
able to find out about her incidents, that she has no
history of behaving violently towards other females."
"Based on her initial reactions to me," Jane added, "I
think she is somewhat intimidated by strong female
authority figures."
"Don't count on that too much," and this time it was
definitely husband-Art speaking to wife-Jane, "Because we
don't have any evidence and she might decide that authority
is authority and react unpredictably. Be very careful when
and precisely how hard you press her. And make damn certain
that either Darla or I are there when you do decide to play
'mean old Aunt Jane' with her."
"Very well. As I was saying, Point 1 is to keep the
household as feminine as ever. Hopefully, once we have a
handle on her, we can carefully introduce males to her in
controlled situations to get her past that violent
reaction."
"Point 2 goes hand in hand with that. I do not want her
coming into contact with anyone who might push her buttons
in an uncontrolled manner until we have her more in hand."
"That means no Sandy," Darla commented. "No matter how you
ask her to behave, she just cannot help herself. She is
your biggest gun with the boys, but that is because the
boys don't dare retaliate against her trash-talk for fear
she will keep her promise to expose them." "Excellent
observation," Jane agreed. "I wasn't planning on her
leaving the estate for at least a week, and certainly not
before we have her agreement to the program and have
something to hang over her head, but I agree with you,
Dear. When we go to the salon the first time, Caro does the
full treatment on this one."
"Point 3, Darla-dear, is that you must find ways to
convince this student that being a girl is not only
rewarding, but fun. Think teenaged girl, and when you come
up with any ideas, run them past me. As I said, we are
playing this one more reactively than I would with a boy,
but that is as it must be. We need to find things she likes
as well as things she does not. We cannot rely only upon
negative reinforcement. We need both the carrot AND the
stick."
"Teenage girl? That means boys, doesn't it?"
Jane's eyes went closed, her normally smooth brow
wrinkling. "Oh god. Boys. I had not thought of that, but
you are right. Oh well, at least with her I don't have to
worry about those outsiders finding there's another boy
beneath the petticoats."
"Point 4," added Diane, picking up the conversation, "is
that we will have to decide whether to keep Darla around
based on how Rocky..."
"PLEASE," Jane cut in, wincing, "Do NOT call her that."
"Very well," Diana said, her eyes twinkling, "Depending on
how GiGi reacts to Darla. As we've noted, our new student
does not have a great deal of feminine artifice and she may
react in any number of ways to our oh-so-very-sweet-and-
lovely Darla. Hopefully, she will come to see Darla as a
role model to be emulated, but she might just as easily
conclude that she is a threat or that she represents an
unattainably high standard of feminine perfection. In
either case, she may do everything she can to distance
herself from Darla."
"I suppose," Jane muttered in frustration, "that we will
have to do the naming ceremony with Old Tom, too. I had
planned on foregoing that little ritual and simply
employing the girl's real name, but she has steadfastly
refused to acknowledge that name and 'I' refuse to call her
'Miss Rockwell' or 'Gigi'. We'll pick a day when his son is
not with him. I don't think she will feel aggressive
against Old Tom."
"What is her real first name?" Darla wanted to know, and
then burst out laughing with a sour-faced Jane told her.
"Well, I can see how that name would be a trial for a girl
in today's world. Okay, let me know when you think she will
be willing to play along and I will christen her for you."
"Does that about cover it?" Jane asked, looking once more
to her mate.
"I think so. As you said, we will have to play this one
close and step softly. Make sure she doesn't feel so
threatened that she breaks pattern and lashes out at one of
us."
"That how she broke her nose? Someone gave better than he
got?" Darla asked.
"No, Darla. She is a competitive modern pentathlete - a
very good one according to her mother. In one of her early
competitions, she drew a horse who was having a bad day and
it refused a jump, unseating Miss Rockwell face first into
the jump."
"Why hasn't she had surgery?"
"Her mother told me that she refused surgery because there
was a slight chance that removing the damaged cartilage
might degrade her breathing when she exercises. However,
that nose is something else we will need to address with
this child. Marie? See what you can do with stage makeup
tomorrow during one of the dress up exercises. As to the
original question of someone getting the better of her?
That apparently has yet to happen. When this girl decides
to fight, then she fights viciously and has, to this point,
incapacitated each of her opponents before they could
retaliate effectively against her."
"Momma Jane? You know I saw her on the train as Darryl,
right? I know it is only a first impression based on very
little data, but I am not sure that the threat of
humiliation will work with this one. I can't really put in
words why I feel that way, but I do."
Jane nodded. "As Diana has told me, it is difficult to use
the potential humiliation of being exposed as a girl to
threaten a girl. Oh, I hope we can jab at her ego when she
does not perform to standard, maybe awaken and pinch her
feminine pride, but that is all. For this student, I intend
to be the stern but fair Victorian governess. Someone who
not only disciplines, but rewards as well. The goal here is
to help her get in touch with and begin to enjoy the
gentler aspects of her femininity. That being the case,
then we can't have expressing those feminine behaviors used
as or perceived as a punishment with her as it often must
be with my boys. That is how I hope to use Darla, dear, as
a tool to show her that being feminine is a pleasant
thing."
"I see. Well, when do we start the lessons?"
"Tomorrow is soon enough, dear. You can go up to your room
and reacquaint yourself with your buttons and bows, then
we'll have a nice quiet family evening." Jane started to
stand and then thought of something. "Darla, if she saw you
on the train, perhaps you should make yourself more of a
brunette for this session. The fussy little blond debutante
look is not going to have the impact on her that it does on
the boys. Besides, if your coloring seemed closer to hers,
it might make you more effective as a role model."
"Jane?" Diana interjected. "I think that is a good idea,
but it might also be smart, at least initially, to have
Darla play down her looks. That way, she might avoid
appearing 'too perfect'. Then, at an opportune moment, have
Darla shine. That might make Gigi think that there is
something to this cosmetic witchery of Marie's."
"Tante Marie? Do you still have that selection of wigs
brushed out? And appropriately tinted cosmetics? I will
need some help picking one out and setting my look." When
Marie nodded, Darla pouted extravagantly. "All this effort
to make myself beautiful and NOW she wants me to hide my
light under a silo."
"That's bushel, Darla," Diana said with a cheeky grin. "You
hide your light under a 'bushel'."
"Won't work," Darla retorted, tongue firmly in cheek. "It
would be like trying to hide Pamela Anderson in a training
bra. Hiding looks like mine would require MUCH more than a
mere bushel."
Darla was pleased to see Jane begin to really laugh for the
first time since Darryl had stepped off the train. Perhaps
things would go well after all.
Chapter 4: A New Day for a New Student
The alarm that rang in Jane and Art's bedroom was all the
more effective for its unfamiliar tones. Still, Art growled
when repeated poundings of the bedside clock did not still
the electronic bleating.
Groaning, Jane rolled out of bed and went to her vanity. "I
armed the alarmed motion-sensors in Chastity's room before
we went to bed last night," she explained as she removed
the sleeping turban she'd used to keep her hair relatively
neat through the night. She fumbled blindly about her
vanity, found her brush and then continued. "I didn't know
when she would awaken and I needed to get to her first
thing."
Art peered blearily at the clock. "Early yes, but bright? I
don't think so. Getting up before six a.m. is barbaric.
"It's the regimen her mother told us to expect, darling,"
Jane said shrugging into her robe. She came back to bed and
planted a kiss on her husband's mouth. "Don't show yourself
until after I have finished with her."
Art rolled back over and pulled the covers back up to his
chin. "Won't," he mumbled. "'Sides, unlike you, Diana needs
time to become beautiful."
"Flatterer," Jane said with a smile, and then strode from
the room. She had to catch the girl before she was involved
in her morning program.
~-~
Jane stood outside the door to her new student's room, her
hand resting on the doorknob. She took one last deep,
cleansing breath and then opened the door.
The scene that greeted her was almost familiar. Her student
was looking through the array of clothing that filled the
huge, carved antique armoire. Even the look of mixed
dismay, disgust and anger reminded Jane of the almost sixty
other students who had come to Seasons House over the past
twenty or so years. The only difference was that this
student was already a girl.
Rocky heard the door open and close, but ignored it. She
needed something to wear so she could get on with her
morning workout. From what her mother and that judge had
told her, she'd have little enough time to see to her
body's needs once the day's 'classes' began in earnest.
Unused to being so completely ignored, Jane's ire rose a
notch. "Chastity!" she said sharply. Jane could tell the
girl heard her because she momentarily went still, but with
a shrug then continued her search. Jane tried again and got
even less response. That was when she remembered their
first encounter at the train station. "MISS ROCKWELL!"
Sighing, Rocky stopped what she was doing and turned to
face her m