The Perfect Daughter
(Part 1 of 3)
Chapter 1
Lexi sat on the oval shaped rug playing with a stuffed bear. Her “Daddy” stood a few feet away talking to the daycare owner.
Ms. Summers asked, “How old is your daughter? Legally?”
Robert Blake replied, “She is twenty-two. Why do you ask?”
Ms. Summers answered, “For obvious legal reasons, all of our clients have to be over eighteen. Even if they don’t act it. Also we have rules here that she will be expected to follow. If she doesn’t follow the rules, we will no longer make our services available to you and your daughter. First, she must do as she is told. We do not tell her things just to hear ourselves talk. If we tell her to do something there is a good reason. Second, we have many clients that wish to remain some what anonymous. Therefore your daughter is not allowed to ask them what they do out side of this center. We have a rule called check your adult life at the door. Any one who enters this facility dressed as a baby, toddler, or child are treated as such. All discussion of adult activities is forbidden. Third, we will treat your daughter as whatever age you tell us to treat her. Babies are kept in diapers the entire time they are here, and are changed as needed. They will be bottle feed only during lunch. No solid foods of any kind will be given to them while they are here. They also must take a nap in a crib immediately following lunch. Toddlers and children can wear big kid underwear if they are properly potty trained. If they have an accident, the staff will put them in a diaper for the remainder of the day. They can have anything their parents approve of for lunch. They also must take a nap after lunch, but we have cots for them to sleep on. So what age do you want us to treat your daughter?”
Mr. Blake replied, “She will be a baby the entire time she is here, with the diapers, and the bottle feeding, and all of it.”
Ms. Summers said, “Good. I noticed that your daughter is wearing a cloth diaper. I assume that you want her to wear them while she is here. If this is the case, you must supply an adequate supply. We will of course return the ones she uses while she is here. Now one more question for our records. How much control does she have?”
Mr. Blake said, “She is diaper dependent. But I don’t think that is what you mean.”
Ms. Summers replied, “Does she know when she goes to bathroom? Or does she figure it out afterwards?”
Mr. Blake said, “She never tells me she needs to be changed. I check her regularly just to make sure she doesn’t. I don’t know if she doesn’t realize she is peeing herself, or she just loves sitting in a wet diaper.”
Ms. Summers said, “I see. The rest of our rules don’t apply to Lexi, except for the fact that we don’t let babies outside the facility without proper supervision.”
Mr. Blake asked, “So my daughter will be allowed to partake of our services?”
Ms. Summers said, “We open at six A.M. You may drop Lexi off any time after that. What time will you be picking her up?”
Mr. Blake said, “I will pick her up around four thirty. However work prevents me from being able to drop her off at six. I will have to arrange for one of her sisters to drop her off. Thank you. Have a nice day.” The two of them shook hands.
Mr. Blake said, “Lexi, let’s go.” Lexi stood up and ran to where Mr. Blake was standing. Mr. Blake scooped his daughter up into his arms and carried her out to his car. He opened the door to the back seat, and sat her in the special designed car seat.
Lexi asked, “Did I do good daddy?”
Mr. Blake said, “Your were perfect. Now let’s get you home.”
Mr. Blake drove to his house.
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Ms. Summers watched the car pull out of the lot. She heard a voice from the doorway to her office say, “Is there anything else you need from me today, Mistress Juliet?”
Juliet Summers turned and looked at the woman standing in the office door. She said, “No, Clair, I don’t need you any more today.”
Clair replied, “Very well. See you tomorrow then?”
Ms. Summers said, “See you tomorrow, Clair.” Clair walked out the front door of the building. Juliet Summers turned out the lights and walked out of the building. She got in her car and drove away. She stopped at a light a block form the building that served as her work place. The street was empty of pedestrian traffic. So no one noticed the back door of Juliet’s car open and a woman climb into the back seat.
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Mr. Blake drove up to his house. He helped Lexi out of the car. The two walked into the house. As soon as Mr. Blake walked into the house he was greeted by a chorus of girls saying “Welcome home, Master Robert.”
Robert, smiled to himself, and said, “Hello girls.” He walked into the kitchen. A girl that looked identical to Lexi was standing in front of the stove stirring a pot of food. He said, “What’s for dinner?”
The girl replied, “I’m fixing a pot of potato soup for an appetizer. Cynthia has a steak on the grill for you.”
“Thanks, Alison.” He patted the girl on the behind. He checked the mail that was lying on the counter. After sorting the bills from the rest of the mail, he opened the envelopes he was not sure about. He shredded the junk mail.
A girl with long blonde hair walked over to him. She removed his suit jacket and tie. Another girl handed him a Wall Street Journal. He opened it up and started reading.
Alison scooped a bowlful of soup into a bowl and sat the bowl down in front of Robert Blake. The girl with the long blonde hair sat a glass of ice tea in front of him.
Robert ate his dinner. Cynthia brought the steak just as he finished the bowl of soup. When Robert finished his dinner, he asked, “Whose turn is it to play me at chess?”
Allison replied, “I think you are up to Rachael. But in order for any us to get better, we need to play regularly. And while I do realize that we could play each other, logic suggests that all of those games will be a tie.”
Robert said, “I just don’t have time to play more than one person per night.”
Lexi walked into the kitchen. She was wearing nothing but a cloth diaper and a bra. She had a larger than average pacifier stuck in her mouth. She sat on Robert’s lap. She said, “Daddy, why do you want me to go to that day care? Why can’t I stay with you?”
Robert Blake replied, “Lexi, we have been through this. Daddy has to work. If he doesn’t you and all your sisters will have to go away. I want you to go to day care so that I know you’re safe while I am work.”
Lexi asked, “Why can’t I stay here with my sisters?”
“Your sisters have too much studying to do to be able to watch you all day.”
A girl with hair the same color as Lexi’s but slightly longer walked into the kitchen holding a chess set. She sat it down on the counter. She said, “I figured with Lexi trying to monopolize your time it was easier for me to come to you.”
Robert said, “Set the board up, Rachael.”
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Juliet Summers walked into her house. Clair was right behind her. Juliet said, “Clair get me a glass of Merlot, and the Business Weekly Journal.”
“Right away, Mistress Juliet.” The older woman moved to comply with the younger woman’s instructions.
Juliet sat down in her favorite chair and crossed her legs. In a matter of seconds she was fully relaxed. A few minutes later, Clair handed her a glass of red wine, and a magazine. Juliet flipped through the magazine as she sipped the wine. She found the article she was looking for. She said, “I knew I recognized the name. Robert Blake is the CEO of North Central Positronics. And his daughter is now enrolled in our daycare. If we handle this correctly, we might just be able to afford the renovations that we to make to the daycare. Maybe even expand it some.”
Clair said, “I have no idea on how those subjects work. Is there any thing else I can do or you Mistress Juliet?”
Juliet replied, “You can start fixing dinner. Also we need to increase our security measure at work. If word gets out that Robert Blake has a girl that he treats as a baby, than people might try to use that information to ruin him. This article also mentions that he won the Grandmaster Chess Tournament three years ago. But that has no affect on us or our business.”
Clair made dinner.
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Rachael started to move one of her bishops. Lexi said, “I wouldn’t do that if I was you. You will regret it later.”
Rachael said, “What would you know? You haven’t studied chess as much as I have. I think that this move is adequate.”
Lexi said, “It may be adequate, but moving this knight” she pointed at one of the black knights, “would be a far better move.”
Robert Blake recognizing the move said nothing on the matter. Rachael studied the pieces for a few seconds. She said, “The only thing you know about is sleeping in cribs and wetting your diapers. If I ever need advice on those subjects I will ask you.” She moved her bishop.
Robert moved his queen. Rachael moved a rook. Robert moved his queen and took said rook. Rachael moved the knight that Lexi had indicated. Robert moved his bishop. Rachael moved her second rook. Robert captured it with his own knight. Rachael moved second bishop.
Robert moved his queen. He said, “You should have listened to Lexi. By the way Checkmate.”
Rachael studied the board. She said, “Drat!” She looked up at Lexi and asked, “How did you know?”
Lexi replied, “I read the index of one of the chess books. When I saw Daddy’s name, I looked at the page number. I flipped to that page. There was a move by move diagram of a game Daddy played three years ago. It was in something called The Grandmaster Tournament. Daddy won. Up to the point where you moved your bishop when I told you to move the knight, you recreated that game. You might have won if you had listened to me. But that wouldn’t count because you were just mimicking another game.”
Robert said, “Lexi, hop up before daddy’s legs fall asleep.” Lexi stood up. Robert slipped a hand between her legs to check how wet her diaper was. Deciding that the diaper was not wet enough to bother with changing it, he said, “Okay Lexi, I think it’s your bedtime.” Lexi made a face and looked like she was about to start whining. Robert said, “I don’t want to argue with you young lady. I have to get up early tomorrow and I don’t have time to argue this point. So off to bed with you.” Lexi turned and walked out of the room. Robert turned to the girl sitting at the counter. He said, “Standing order from now on, whoever is closet to the door at five thirty is to take Lexi to day care. I have programmed the route into the GPS of the Lincoln Continental. I will program it into the other cars later. Obvious for now, whoever takes her has to use the Lincoln.”
Rachael replied, “Yes Master.”
Robert went to his bedroom, stopping on the way to check on Lexi and see if she was in her crib. Upon finding the girl in her in her crib, he continued onto his room.
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Chapter 2
Juliet Summers unlocked the door of the nursery. She watched as two cars pulled up. One a black Lincoln Continental the other a red Ferrari. She recognized the red Ferrari immediately. It took her a few more seconds to recognize the Lincoln. She realized that she had seen it the day before just after her last client left for the day. Then she remembered that she now had one additional client.
The Ferrari parked. Then the Lincoln parked. Ms. Summers wasn’t surprised by the couple that got out of the Ferrari. They were some of her regular clients. What did surprise her was the girl that got out of the Lincoln. For a few seconds, Juliet Summers thought that Lexi had driven herself to the day care center, which would not have worked with the idea of Mr. Blake coming to pick her up at four thirty. Then the girl moved to the back seat door and opened it. Another girl with hair the same exact shade of brown got out of the back seat. Ms. Summers figured that they were identical twins. The one that had drove the car reached into the back and pulled out a large bag that she then slipped over one shoulder. The two couples reached the front door at the same time.
Ms. Summers opened the door so they could walk through. She said, “Hello, Lucas, how are you this morning?”
The one male in the room said, “I’m fine, but my diaper is wet.”
Ms. Summers said, “Okay, I will change you in a few minutes, just as soon as Clair gets her to watch my other charge.” She turned to her new client and said, “And how are you Lexi?” The girl replied with a yawn. Ms. Summers said, “Aw! Somebody is sleepy. Well, how about I put you down for a nap? Then after you rest up some, you can meet the other kids.” Lexi nodded.
The woman that had driven Lexi handed the bag she was holding to Ms. Summers. “I don’t know if I need to do anything else or not. Master Robert told me to drive her here. He gave me no further instructions.”
Ms. Summers said, “I almost forgot to introduce myself. I am Juliet Summers, owner of this little day care center.” She extended her hand. After several seconds of no action on the other woman’s part, she said, “You are supposed to tell me your name and shake my hand.”
The woman extended her hand copying Ms. Summers’ actions. She said, “My name is Alison.”
Ms. Summers, seeing that woman had no idea how to proceed, shook the other woman’s hand. She said, “Pleased to meet you.” She turned to walk away. She saw the Ferrari pull out of the parking lot. She realized that Alison was still standing in the front lobby of the day care center. She asked, “Are you going to wait here all day? Don’t you have other stuff to do?”
Alison said, “Master Robert gave me no instructions other than driving Lexi here and using the Lincoln Continental to do so. I have already informed you of this.”
Ms. Summers said, “Well, I don’t think he wanted you to wait here all day. So why don’t you just drive back home? Then you can do what ever you would be doing if you were home right now.”
Alison said, “That is a logical statement. I shall drive back to Master Robert’s home now.” She turned and walked out of the day care. Several seconds later Ms. Summers heard a car leave.
Ms. Summers lead Lexi to a room full of cribs.
Clair walked into the day care center at the same time that Ms. Summers was helping Lexi into the crib. She was greeted by Lucas, who informed her that he needed to be changed. Clair proceeded to change Lucas.
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Two hours later, Lexi woke up to unfamiliar surroundings. She cried out in fear. Ms. Summers hearing the cry stepped into the room. She quickly calmed Lexi down and helped her out of the crib. She checked the young girl’s diaper and determined that is was soaked. She led the girl to the room of changing tables. She helped Lexi up onto one of the tables. She opened a closet attached to the room and found the bag that now bore Lexi’s name. She opened it and removed one of the spare cloth diapers inside it. She carried the cloth diaper back to the changing table on which Lexi was laying. She unfastened the safety pins holding the girl’s diaper in place.
There was a knock at the door. A female employee of the day care stuck her head into the room. I just wanted to see if you were changing a girl in here or if I should wait. I know that most of our clients don’t care if we change them in front of other people. But we have very specific instructions concerning Cami. Her mommy doesn’t want us changing her in front of men.”
Ms. Summers said, “It’s alright Melinda, you can bring her in.”
Melinda entered the room with another female in her wake. The second female looked at Lexi and started to bolt toward the door. Melinda grabbed her arm and directed her to one of the unoccupied changing tables on the other side of the room.
Ms. Summers finished changing Lexi. She stuffed the used diaper into a small plastic bag. She carried the bag over to the closet and put it in Lexi’s diaper bag.
Lexi watched Ms. Summers through this whole ordeal. She asked, “Why did you do that?’
Ms. Summers, returning to the changing table, said, “So what?”
Lexi said, “You put the diaper that you took off me back in my bag. Daddy just throws the used ones in a pail at the house. So why did you put the used one back in my bag?”
Ms. Summers said, “You were cloth diapers. Cloth diapers are machine washable. That means they can be used multiple times. Disposable diapers are thrown away after they are used. Your daddy is probably putting your used diapers in a pail so they can be collected and washed later.” She helped Lexi up and led her into the main play room. She picked her up and sat her in an adult sized playpen.
One of the other people in the room walked over to the playpen. She said, “Ms. Juliet, who’s this?”
Ms. Summers said, “This is Lexi. She was here before you came in this morning, but I couldn’t introduce her because she was asleep. Lexi, this is Mary. She is another one of my clients here.”
Mary said, “Why she in that playpen? I want to play with her.”
Ms. Summers replied, “I’m sorry, Mary, but you can’t play with her. She’s just a baby. She can’t play with big kids like you.”
Lexi noticed a wet patch on the girl’s shorts. Her eyes went wide as the wet spot grew. Shortly there after a rather large puddle was on the floor around the girl’s ankles.
Ms. Summers said, “Well, Mary I guess you’re not quite a big girl after all.” She led Mary to the changing room.
Lexi noticed the toys in her playpen and started playing with them. She didn’t she notice when Ms. Summers came out of the changing room with Mary in tow. Nor she noticed the other people running around the play room. She did notice when some one picked her up out of the playpen. Shortly there after Lexi found her self sitting in a high chair.
Some one on staff at the day care said, “Lunch time.” This was met with roars of approval from the entire room.
Lexi looked around. She saw two other people in high chairs like she was. Everybody else was gathered around tables in the middle of the room. Lexi quickly realized that the room was split in two with all of the girls on one side and all of the boys on the other. She then became confused because sitting at the boy table was what appeared to be a female. It was wearing a pink dress and what Lexi first mistook as a pair of pink underwear. On second glance, Lexi realized that his behind budged too much for it to be a pair of panties.
Ms. Summers walked up to the high chair with a pink bottle in her hand. She saw the confused look on Lexi’s face. She turned to see what Lexi was looking at. Upon seeing the person at the boy table wearing a pink dress, Ms. Summers knew what was confusing the young girl. She said, “You remember Lucas. You meet him when you came in this morning.”
Lexi asked, “Why is he wearing a dress? And what’s with the panties under it?”
Ms. Summers said, “What panties?” Lexi pointed at Lucas’s behind. Ms. Summers said, “Oh that. Those aren’t panties. They’re called rumba pants. They go over disposable diapers for the purpose of making sure the diaper doesn’t leak. The fact that they make the wearer more adorable is an added bonus. As to why Lucas is in the dress, he must have done something bad. That is how his mommy told us to punish him when he misbehaves. That reminds me. I have to ask your daddy how we are to punish you if you misbehave.”
Lexi said, “ I’m a good girl. I won’t do anything to make daddy mad.”
Ms. Summers said, “I’m not saying you’re not a good girl. I’m saying that you may inadvertently break some of our rules. And if you do, I need to know how your daddy wants us to punish you. “
Lexi said, “But I’m a good girl.”
Ms. Summers said, “I’ll just talk to your daddy when he comes to pick you up. Now open up for your bottle.”
This was something Lexi knew how to do. She gladly opened her mouth wide enough for the bottle. Ms. Summers inserted the end of it into Lexi’s mouth. Lexi happily started sucking on it. Lexi finished the entire bottle in a matter of seconds.
After lunch all of the children were lain down for their naps. Lexi was surprised by the number that were laid in cribs. She did not think eight people would sleep in cribs when there was only three in high chairs at lunch.
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An hour and a half later, Lexi woke up on a changing table. The woman changing her noticed and said, “Well, I guess there is no need for me to take you back to your crib when I get finished. Hold still, I’m almost done.” Lexi watched as the woman fastened the second safety pin. She picked Lexi up and carried her out to the playpen.
Lexi quickly became occupied by the toys in it. She only protested when some one came by and stood her up.
Ms. Summers said, “Relax, sweetie, I’m just checking your diaper.”
Lexi said, “The other lady just changed me before putting me in the playpen.”
Ms. Summers said, “Sweetie, that was two and a half hours ago. You may have wet since then.” She ran a hand along the inside of the girl’s diaper. She said, “You’re a little wet, but given as how your daddy will be here soon to pick you up, I think I won’t bother changing you. “
Lexi said, “Daddy? Where?”
Ms. Summers said, “I said that he will be here soon. Soon, as not now but in a little while.”
Lexi said, “Okay.” She went back to her toys.
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Twenty-seven minutes later, a silver Road’s Royce pulled up out side the day care. Mr. Blake stepped out. He walked to the door and knocked.
Ms. Summers let him in and said, “We need to talk.”
Mr. Blake followed Ms. Summers toward the office. Lexi noticed him. She screamed, “Daddy!”
Mr. Blake said, “Hey, Lexi. Stay there for a few minutes.”
Lexi looked a little sad. She said, “Okay.”
Mr. Blake turned to the office. Ms. Summers was already seated behind the desk. He said, “What did you want to talk about?”
Ms. Summers said, “I need to know how to punish your daughter if she misbehaves while she is here.”
Mr. Blake said, “I have explained your rules to my daughter. I don’t think she will give you any problems. If she does, just let me know, and I will handle it myself.”
Ms. Summers said, “How do you know she won’t cause us any problems?”
Mr. Blake said, “I trust my daughter fully. She will not do any thing to anger me. And breaking your rules would anger me. Now was that all?”
Ms. Summers said, “That was all.”
Mr. Blake turned and walked over to Lexi. She held up her hands. Mr. Blake picked Lexi out of the playpen. He sat her down on the floor. “Where’s you diaper bag?”
A female employee of the day care handed the bag to him.
Mr. Blake said, “Oh. Thanks. Okay, Lexi, let’s go.” He led Lexi out to his car, and helped her into the backseat.
The female employee asked, “Was that who I think it was?”
Ms. Summers replied, “That was Lexi’s daddy. And that is all you need to know.”
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As soon as Mr. Blake drove out of the parking lot he said, “Lexi, did you get in trouble today?”
Lexi said, “I don’t think so. Ms. Summers was talking to me about one of the other kids. She was telling me how his mommy wanted him punished for misbehaving. Then she said something about talking to you about how you want me punished. So was I a good girl?”
Mr. Blake said, “Well, given that information, yes you were a good girl.”
“Yeah!” She threw her arms in the air.
Mr. Blake drove home.
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When Mr. Blake entered his house he was greeted by an all too familiar chorus of girls saying “Welcome home, Master Robert.”
A blonde girl was standing in front of the kitchen counter. She was chopping vegetables. She said, “I was hoping to have these done by the time you got home.”
Robert said, “It’s okay. I’m a little early. Don’t worry about it, Elaine. So what you making?”
Elaine replied, “I am making pan fried salmon with sautéed vegetables.”
Robert looked at the counter. He asked, “Any mail?”
Elaine said, “The only thing that came was one of those papers that show what is on sell at the grocery store next week. I figured you didn’t want it. You always throw them out anyway.”
Rachael sat the chess board on the counter. Robert turned and looked at her. He said, “Nice try, but tonight would be Sara’s turn.”
“She can play you after dinner. I want a rematch though. You had an unfair advantage. I didn’t know you were a grandmaster player until the end of the game. I have since informed the rest of the girls. Also, I apparently did not fully understand your instructions yesterday. I think we might have a problem.”
“What kind of problem? What did you do?”
“Alison drove Lexi to day care this morning. You should talk to her.”
Robert looked around, “Where is she?”
Rachael, “Alison was in the library when I came down. Do you want me to go fetch her for you?”
Robert said, “Yes. Now, please.” Rachael left the room. Lexi sat down at the counter and sat up the chess pieces on the board. Robert asked, “What are you doing?”
Lexi replied, “I don’t want to wait until my turn. Plus you would probably skip over me any way.”
“It isn’t fair for you to take some one else’s turn.”
Lexi said, “Please Daddy?”
Robert said, “Okay but this is the only time that you get to skip line. After this you must wait until you turn comes up again. Understand?”
“Yes daddy.”
Alison walked into the room. Robert said, “What happened today that I need to know about?”
Alison replied, “You’re instructions were for one of us to take Lexi to the day care. You did not say what I was supposed to do after I got there. Ms. Summers suggested that I return home. I did so.”
Robert said, “Okay. My bad.” He looked at the chess board. Lexi had given him the white pieces. He moved a pawn. He said, “Pass the word around. Whoever takes Lexi is to drop her off and return home.” Alison, “Yes master.”
Lexi made a move on the board. Robert made a second move. Lexi made her second move. Elaine sat the plate of food down in front of Robert. He used one hand to hold his fork and used the other to move his pieces.
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Chapter 3
The next three weeks were more or less the same. Robert Blake would get up and go to work. One of the girls would drive Lexi to the day care. Mr. Blake would pick her up and take her home. A different girl cooked for him each night, and he played a different one at chess. A few of them even got marginally better.
Ms. Summers assumed that all of the females that had brought Lexi to the dare care were the same five or six girls. Until one day a Mercedes pulled up and a red head got out. The woman helped Lexi out of the back seat and retrieved the diaper bag from the car’s trunk. She led Lexi inside.
Ms. Summers said, “I thought I knew all of Lexi’s sisters. I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Juliet Summers.”
The red head replied, “Sara. Pleased to meet you.” She shook hands with Ms. Summers then turned and walked away. Twenty seconds later, the Mercedes pulled out of the parking lot.
Ms. Summers having been through the same routine for three weeks knew that Lexi wanted a nap. She led the young girl towards the cribs. She asked, “Just how many sisters do you have?”
Lexi was not sure if she was supposed to answer this question or not. Her daddy had not given her any instructions on this matter. She figured that the truth was the best policy. She said, “I have twenty-four sisters.”
Ms. Summers, replied, “Twenty-four sisters? That means that counting you, your mother had twenty-five girls. Did she have her eggs fertilized and stored, or did she have you in groups?”
Lexi not sure what the question meant answered with the only answer she knew. “Some woman made us. Then Daddy came and picked us up.” She laid down in one of the cribs.
Ms. Summers asked, “What do you mean by made you?” But it was useless. Lexi was asleep.
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An hour and forty minutes later, Lexi awoke just as Ms. Summers walked into the room to check on her. She sat up in the crib.
Ms. Summers said, “Oh. You’re awake. Well, let me just check the state of your diaper.” She ran her hand along the inside of the diaper. “You definitely need to be changed.” She lifted the girl out of the crib and carried her to the changing room. As she laid Lexi down on the changing table, She said, “Earlier when you said some woman made you, did you mean she gave birth to you?”
Lexi said, “I don’t know what that means. I haven’t studied anything other than one of the chess book after daddy picked us up from where we were made.”
Ms. Summers asked, “What do you mean ‘where you were made’? You mean a hospital right?”
Lexi said, “Hospitals are were people go when they get sick or injured. Neither I nor any of my sisters have been in a hospital. We were made.”
Something clicked inside Juliet Summers’ mind. She asked, “Lexi, are you and you sisters robots?”
“Directive Nineteen prevents me from answering that question.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means exactly what it sounds like it means. Directive Nineteen prevents me from answering your previous question.”
“You said that you were made that means you are artificial life forms, doesn’t it? Does that make your daddy you engineer or chief programmer? And why would he program you to act like a baby? And what about your sisters, what are they programmed to do?”
“Directive Nineteen prevents me from answering. Daddy is daddy. All other information about him is restricted by Directive Nineteen. Directive Nineteen prevents me from answering any further questions on this subject.”
Ms. Summers decided to try another approach. She asked, “Lexi, what is Directive Nineteen?”
“Directive Nineteen is Directive Nineteen. All further information on Directive Nineteen is restricted.”
Ms. Summers gave up on that mater. She changed Lexi’s diaper, then carried the girl to a playpen.
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At lunch time, Ms. Summers personally bottle feed Lexi. She tried asking different questions. Anything dealing with artificial intelligence, robots, androids, or computer programming got the same response. “Directive Nineteen prevents me from answering.” Some of the other staff and clients hear the questioning and the answers that came back. The only things that Ms. Summers found about Lexi was that Lexi could not answer certain questions, and didn’t know what the rest of the questions meant.
After lunch the staff put the “children” down for their naps. Then gathered just outside the sleep room to discus the information that had been given them during lunch.
One of the female workers said, “You can’t possibly be serious. There is no way Lexi is a synthetic. She looks and acts way to real to be a synthetic.”
Juliet said, “Did you catch all that Directive Nineteen stuff? She only responded with that when I ask questions concerning artificial intelligence, robots, androids, or computer programming. This means that either her “Daddy” knows she is a robot,” she used finger quotes on the word daddy, “ or that he truly doesn’t know. But given as how her “Daddy” is the CEO of North Central Positronics, I think it is safe to say he knows she is a fake.”
Melinda asked, “Why would some one go through that much work to create an artificial intelligence and then program her to behave like a child? What’s the point? You would think that there would be better uses for robots than having it wear diapers all day long.”
Ms. Summers replied, “Lexi said that she had twenty-four sisters. I guess her daddy could find a lot of things for them to do.”
Clair said, “That does raise some questions. If he has that many, why send Lexi here? What is it he accomplishes by doing so?”
Juliet replied, “I will ask him when he comes by to pick up Lexi today.”
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Mr. Blake walked into the day care center. Ms. Summers was waiting for him at the door. She said, “We need to talk.”
“What is it this time?”
“Well, let’s start with your daughter is a synthetic being and go from there.”
Mr. Blake said, “I can explain, if you let me.”
Ms. Summers pointed towards her office. The two walked into it. Ms. Summers said, “I’m afraid that our service will no longer be available to you and your daughter.”
“Wait. Is this just because Lexi is and android? You can’t sit there and tell me you have a problem with synthetic beings, especially since Clair is a Mark VI Caretaker Android. Don’t think for a second that I didn’t notice that. You can’t tell me you are fine with having one work for you and not be fine with taking care of one.”
“There’s the problem isn’t it? She doesn’t need to be taken care of. She is a robot. She does what ever she is programmed to do. You can simply reprogram her.”
“I object. She is an android, not a robot.”
“What’s the difference?”
“Robots are a matter of programming. Androids have full personalities program into them. They are self aware. Robots can only follow their programming. Androids can learn. Take Lexi for example. She knows how to play chess. She has even played me to a kings only stalemate once. A robot could be programmed to play chess, but you would have to program every move into it. It would have no strategy for the game. It could play but it won’t be any good. Lexi on the other hand has developed strategies for the game and can tie a grandmaster level player.”
“Okay, I get your point. That still doesn’t mean that I am fine with your “toy” being in my day care. With if she hurts some body? I will be held liable. What if her feelings get hurt? What happens then?”
Mr. Blake replied, “You don’t get do you? Lexi won’t misbehave. She will never act out. She does what I tell her to do, when I tell her. She knows she is supposed to follow your rules. Have you had any behavior problems from her while she was here?”
“Well, no. But that doesn’t mean it can’t happen.”
“Actually, it kind of does prove it. You have not had a single problem from her in the three weeks she has been coming here. If you were going to have any, don’t you think it would have happened by now?”
“Things go wrong with computers all the time. And you just admitted that she is programmed to act like a baby. How do you know that you got all of the bugs work out?”
“The engineers worked most of the bugs out before I picked Lexi and her sisters up from the factory. There were a few bugs to work out of Lexi before I was willing to let here interact with the general population, but I fixed all of those before I brought her here for the first time. Think about it. Would I let a piece of experimental tech out before I knew it was safe? Lexi for all intensive purposes is the perfect daughter. She will never be sick. She will never break or miss curfew. She will never misbehave. I don’t have to worry about her sleeping with boys and getting pregnant. She will never do drugs. What more could any one possible want from their daughter?”
Ms. Summers asked, “Why is she here? You could have her do anything you want, and yet you chose Lexi to be programmed to act like a baby girl. Why?”
“Do you remember the first time we meet?”
“Yes, of course. You were sitting in this office and trying to enroll your daughter in my day care.”
“That wasn’t the first time we met.”
“Yes it was. I’m sure of it.”
“The first time we meet was two months prior to that. We were at the grocery store. I reached for some tomatoes. You reached for some carrots. Our hands collided. We apologized to each other. We talked. You told me what you do. I told you I worked with computers, which wasn’t a complete lie. Nor was it the complete truth. Computers are a part of my job. After I knew that you ran a nursery for adults, I had the programmers that work for me make a special program that would be uploaded into one of the androids I was having made. A month later, when the androids were finished, I went and looked them over. I chose Lexi to be the recipient of the special program. After we worked out all of the bugs from both the original programming and the new one, I brought her here for the sole purpose of having an excuse to see and talk to you every day.”
“Wow. I don’t know if that is creepy or romantic. I need some time to think. It would be best if you don’t bring Lexi in for awhile.”
Mr. Blake said, “I understand.” He stood up and walked out of the office. He collected Lexi and her diaper bag and left.
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Lexi said, “I don’t understand. Why can’t I go back?”
Robert Blake said, “You can’t go back because Ms. Summers said that you could not. She found out that you are an android. And I think that worries her. But look on the bright side. You get to spend more time with your sisters. The only thin that I can’t figure out is how she found out that you are a synthetic.”
“Daddy, what does synthetic mean?”
“It means that you are not human. You were made in a factory. But that doesn’t mean I love you any less.”
“Daddy, was I a good girl today?”
“That depends. Do you now how Ms. Summers found out that you were a synthetic?”
“She asked me how many sisters I had. I answered. Then she asked me a few more questions. I answered what I could. She asked if my sisters and I were robots. I told her that Directive Nineteen prevents me from answering. I thought she gave up, because she stopped asking me questions. I guess she just waited until you got there, then asked you what she could not ask me.”
Mr. Blake said, “Given that information, I have to know how you answered her questions to know what I need to restrict you from answering in the future.”
“After she found out how many sisters I had, she asked if our mother had the eggs store, or she had us in small groups. I answered that some woman made us, then you came and got us.”
“Okay. I see the problem. Don’t tell any one else that you were made. In fact, if any body else ask questions concerning the origins… Do you know what the word means?” Lexi nodded. “Good. If any one asks about the origins of you or your sisters you are to tell them to talk to me. Okay?”
“Okay, daddy. So was I a good girl?”
“Well, I guess it was my fault for not telling you not to say you were made. And I can’t hold you responsible for my mistakes. So I am going to have to say, yes you were a good girl.”
“Yes. Woo-who!”
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Chapter4
Mr. Blake walked into his house, and was met with the standard chorus. “Welcome home, Master Robert.” But on this occasion, another line was added to the greeting. “We have a problem.”
Mr. Robert Blake said, “What’s the problem?”
Nicole, a blonde version of Lexi, said, “There are intruders in the house. Sara, Rachael and Victoria have detained one in Lexi’s room. Alison, Cynthia, and Elaine have detained the second one in the library. Monica, Zoë, and Beth have detained the third in your office. The fourth one is detained in the laundry room by Katherine and Janet. I suggest you call the police before one of my sisters are forced to hurt one of the intruders.”
Mr. Blake picked up the phone. He said, “Lexi, keep your pants on until after the police leave.”
Lexi replied, “Okay, daddy.”
Mr. Blake phoned the police. They arrived shortly thereafter. The police arrested the four intruders and charged them with Breaking and Entering, Burglary, and Corporate Espionage. As soon as the police left, Lexi removed her pants and shirt so that she could walk around in nothing but a diaper.
Mr. Blake said, “I take it that no one has started dinner yet because of the excitement.”
Nicole said, “You are correct. No one has made your dinner yet. Would you like me to start it now, master?”
“No, that’s okay. I will just order a pizza.” He uses the phone to order a Meat Lovers Pizza. He continued, “Nicole, spread the word for me. Until further notice, Lexi is to stay here during the day. Returning to the day care is not an option at this point. You girls will just have to take care of her while I am at work. Okay?”
“Yes, master.”
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When the pizza arrived, Elaine opened the door and escorted the pizza delivery man into the kitchen. The guy was a little shocked when he saw another two females that looked the exact same sitting in the kitchen. He handed the pizza to Mr. Blake. Mr. Blake paid. The pizza man left the house, but not before seeing another four girls.
Just as Mr. Blake was about to bite into the pizza, the phone rang. He answered it. He surprised when he found out that it was the cops calling to verify one of the burglars’ story. The guy claimed to be held in a nursery by three females. Mr. Blake said, “You already know that he was detained by three females. As to the nursery, what goes on in my home between consenting adults is not really any one else’s business. Thank you.” He hung up the phone and turned his attention back to the pizza.
Janet and Katherine both set chess boards down in front of him. Janet said, “What do you think you are doing?”
Katherine said, “It’s my turn. It was your turn yesterday.”
Janet replied, “But I didn’t play him yesterday. Yesterday he had to finish his game with Isabel. So it is my turn.”
Robert held up his hands. Both girls stopped talking. He said, “Girls, I can play both of you at the same time. So why don’t you set up the boards, and as soon as I finish eating, we will start.”
Both girls replied, “Yes, master.” They quickly set up both boards.
Robert finished eating his pizza, then he washed his hands so that the pieces would not get greasy. There are not a lot of people that can play two chess games at once. The fact that Robert Blake played two games at once against two different opponents would have been more impressive if there had been witnesses. Robert was just happy that it was not two identical games. The games started out the same, but quickly diverged as the girls made their moves.
Lexi walked into the kitchen, and sat down on the stool next to Robert. She asked, “Daddy, are you playing both of them?”
Robert replied, “Yes I am. Other than you, none of the others have ever given me a challenge. Once I set up my endgame, there is much they can do. What are you doing down here anyway?”
Lexi answered, “I want to be with you, daddy. I don’t ever get to spend time with you. Once you get home from work, you eat dinner, then play a game of chess, then read. Plus with the fact that I don’t need to get up so that I can go to day care anymore, I figured I could stay up later. That way I can spend more time with you.”
Robert said, “Lexi, you can’t monopolize my time. Your sisters deserve some of my time as well.”
Lexi said, “I know. I don’t mind with you have to use your time training them, I just want to be with you.”
Robert smiled. He said, “Okay. You can stay. But don’t try to advise your sisters on the game.”
“Okay, Daddy.”
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Five weeks later, Mr. Blake walked into his house and was greeted by a chorus of “Welcome home, Master Robert.” and one lone voice of “Daddy!” Lexi ran to his arms.
Robert walked into the kitchen with Lexi in his arms, her legs wrapped around his torso. Alison was standing in front of the stove. He asked, “What’s for dinner?”
“Well, if I don’t screw this up, lasagna.” She turned and looked at him. She continued, “Some woman called today. She said that she would call back.” The phone rang. “That is probably her.”
Robert Blake answered the phone and identified himself. The woman on the other end of the said, “This is Ms. Summers at Sunshine Day Care. I was wondering when Lexi would be joining us again.”
Mr. Blake replied, “I thought you didn’t want her to come back.”
Ms. Summers replied, “Clearly I have changed my mind. Your daughter may once again come to my day care center, on one condition.”
“What is that one condition?”
“You take me out to dinner. That’s the deal. You take me out to dinner and your daughter can return to Sunshine Day Care.”
Mr. Blake said, “I can have Lexi there first thing in the morning, on the grounds that you agree to go out tomorrow night.”
“When and where?”
“Let’s say La Chteau Crystal at seven.”
“That place is exclusive. Can we get a table? Don’t you have to make reservations six months in advance?”
“Actually it is seven months. I would know. I own the place. One of my secondary companies owns it. So yes I can get a table there.”
“Okay. I guess I will see you at seven tomorrow night. And I will see Lexi at six tomorrow morning.”
Mr. Blake said, “Thank you. Have a nice day.” He hung the phone up. He sat Lexi down on the floor.
Lexi said, “Who was that?”
Robert Blake replied, “That was Ms. Summers from the Sunshine Day Care. You remember her, right?”
Lexi asked, “Does this mean I can go back, daddy?”
Robert answered, “Yes, Lexi, you can go back to the day care again. Alison, make sure some one takes her.”
Alison took the food out of the stove and sat it down on the counter. She declared it a success and served a plate to Master Robert.
Robert said, “Alison, do me a favor, make sure that none of your sisters try to cook tomorrow night. I will not be eating here.
Lexi said, “Daddy, am I a good girl?”
Robert Blake looked at the young girl and said, “Lexi, you are more than just good. You are perfect.”
The Perfect Family
(Part 2 of 3)
Chapter 1
Lexi stood in the small room. The twenty-five year old was wearing nothing but a diaper and a bra. She slid her arms into the white dress Ms. Julie had handed her. She managed to get the dress over her head, but couldn’t manage to get her head to come out of the hole at the top. She tried a sixth time to pull the dress over her head. When she didn’t succeed, she stuck her head out of the small room. Standing in front of the door to the room was Ms. Julie. Lexi said, “I need help. I have never done this before by myself.”
Juliet Summers smiled. She said, “I thought you might say that. Here let me help you.” She stepped into the changing room. She took the dress from Lexi and helped the younger woman get into it. She turned Lexi around so that she could zip up the back of the dress. She said, “There. Now let’s go see how you look in the mirror.” She led the younger girl out to the mirror.
Lexi stood in front of the mirror. The owner of the bridal shop looked at her. She said, “Is that okay?”
Juliet Summers said, “Can you shorten the hem a little?”
The shop owner said, “If I do then your daughter’s panties will be showing. I’m not sure if you would want that.”
Juliet Summers replied, “First, she is not my daughter yet. She will not be my daughter until after I marry her father. Second, she is to be my flower girl.”
The bridal shop owner said, “Flower girls are usually little children. This girl is what twenty-four?”
Juliet Summers asked, “Are you saying that my future daughter can’t be my flower girl? It’s my wedding. Shouldn’t I be the one that picks who does what? There are no young children in either side of the family. Lexi is the only female in the family that wears diapers. Thus she seems like the logical choice to be the flower girl.”
The shop owner said, “She wears diapers? Okay. Nothing wrong with that. I won’t ask if it is for comfort or for need. Not my business. I see a lot of weird things in this store.” She pulled the bottom hem of the dress Lexi was wearing up a little. The disposable diaper she was wearing came into full view. The exterior was covered in an adorable pattern.
Ms. Summers asked, “Lexi, where is your cloth diaper? And why are you wearing that one?
Lexi answered, “My daddy said that he wanted me to look adorable for your wedding day. He went online and looked at several disposables. He figured I would only need two of them. One for the dress fitting and one for the wedding day. When he saw these, he said and I quote, “Oh my God! How adorable!” He then brought four of them. I wished he had brought more of them because they are adorable. They are called Fabine.* I don’t know what he plans on doing with the extra two. Maybe he wants them incase I need to be changed during the wedding reception.”
Ms. Summers said, “Okay, dear. If your daddy told you to wear those, it’s fine.” She turned to the shop owner and said, “Can you make it a little shorter?”
The shop owner said, “No. But why don’t I just get a shorter dress? Then there won’t be as much to pin up.” She walked over to a rack and pulled another white dress off it. She returned to where Lexi and Juliet were standing. She helped Juliet pull the first dress off of Lexi and put the second dress on her. She said, “Okay. This might work better.” The hem of the second dress came down just past the front waistband of the diaper. She studied both the girl and the dress for a few moments. She said, “I think I need to alter the sleeves a little. She might tear these if she makes any sudden movements. I assume you don’t want me to alter the hem any.”
Ms. Summers said, “Yeah, the hem’s fine now. Do you have any long white gloves to go with the dress?”
The shop owner started making adjustments to the dress sleeves. She said, “Yes. I do. Just let me finish here and I will get them for you. Do you need shoes too?”
Juliet Summers said, “Yes, we need shoes too. We need a pair for me, another pair for Lexi, and then six pairs for my bridesmaids.”
The store owner said, “Did you plan on having your bridesmaids come into get fitted?”
Juliet Summers pointed to the red hair female sitting on a couch. She said, “Sara is here. You can fit her and make six dresses of the same dimensions.”
The store owner said, “I’m not sure if that will work.”
Sara replied, “Trust us. It will work. My sisters and I all have the same exact body type. We don’t even bother buying clothes any more. We just grab something out of the closet.”
The store owner said, “Wait you all live together?”
“Why wouldn’t we?”
“Well, in my experience six females that are closely related can’t live together for extended periods of time. And how did you fine a place big enough for all of you to stay?”
“We stay at Master Robert’s house.”
“Oh, you’re slaves. And who is this Master Robert?”
Juliet Summers replied, “They’re not slaves. The can leave whenever they want. Most of them don’t want to. And the gentleman they refer to as Master Robert is my soon to be husband.”
The store owner said, “So, let me get this straight. He has seven girls living with him now. And you plan on marrying him anyway?”
Ms. Summers said, “Actually, he has fifteen living with him counting Lexi.”
“And they’re all sisters?”
Sara, Lexi and Juliet said, “Yes.”
“How many of you are there?”
Sara replied, “There are twenty-five of us total.”
The shop owner whistled. She said, “Please tell me you all have names.”
Sara said, “Yes we all have names. And to the question I know you are fixing to ask, it’s A-Z with the exception of Q. He skipped over that letter when name us. Lexi is the X in case you are wondering.”
“How in the wide world does X become Lexi?”
Lexi said, “My daddy told me my name was Lexi because it was the only girl’s name with an X in it.”
The bridal shop owner finished fitting Lexi into her flower girl dress. She retrieved a pair of gloves, socks and shoes for the young girl to wear.
Juliet helped Lexi put on the gloves. Sara helped Lexi put on the socks and shoes. Once satisfied that it all fit Lexi, the shop owner started working on getting Sara into a bridesmaid dress.
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Sara stood in front of the mirror. Her dress, gloves and shoes were all the same exact shade of pink. The store owner was kneeling in front of her, fastening the bottom of the dress up with safety pins. She looked over at her sister. Ms. Juliet was in the process of changing Lexi back into the clothes she that belonged to her. This included a cloth diaper held in place by a pair of pink safety pins. Sara knew why her master had been determined to have Lexi wear diapers all the time. Master Robert wanted to use Lexi to get to know Ms. Juliet better. And giving as how Ms. Juliet had agreed to go out with and then marry Master Robert, it must have worked. Of course Ms. Juliet knew the truth about Sara, Lexi and all of their sisters before she had agreed to go out with Master Robert. Three years ago when they had first been activated, some people would have had a problem with the girls. They argued that synthetics were not supposed to look life like. Nor were they supposed to have personalities. That had changed some. There was still a portion of the population that argued that synthetics are not supposed to look life like. But Master Robert and his company had argued in court that if synthetics did not have different personalities, then they were in fact slaves.
The store owner asked Sara a question. Sara thinking about the events of recent history didn’t fully hear it. She asked the store owner to repeat the question. The store owner said, “I asked why your sister Lexi wears a diaper? I know now that you are synthetics. How else can you have twenty-four sisters? So why does Lexi wear a diaper?”
Ms. Juliet Summers, having heard the question both times, answered, “Her daddy and I met at a grocery store. We talked a little about what we do. He wanted to get to know me better so he programmed Lexi to act like a baby girl so that he could enroll her in my adult day care. Isn’t that the most romantic thing you have ever heard? He had a synthetic specially made for the sole purpose of being able to see me everyday. I must admit, I didn’t respond to well when I found out that Lexi was a synthetic. In fact, I banned her from my day care. But eventually I changed my mind. Even started dating Robert because of it.”
The store owner said, “You knew Lexi was a synthetic before you started dating the guy that had her made? When was this?”
“Three years ago. In fact all of the recent changes to the laws concerning synthetics came about because of the company for which my fiancée works. Perhaps you have heard of it. It is North Central Positronics. They are now the leading company when it comes to artificial intelligence. They do other stuff as well, but A. I. is what they are most known for.”
The store owner said, “Wait three years ago. That means they were made before the law was changed to allow synthetics to have personalities.”
“Like I said. My fiancée works for the company that made the argument that synthetics without personalities are slaves. Does when they were made bother you?”
The shop owner started to say something, but then realized that if she condemned these lovely lady and the two synthetics with her, she would lose a lot of business. Any business that had so much as hinted at a no synthetic policy in the last few months had gone under. She did not want her store to be like all of those other ones. She said, “Most women would have filled a restraining order against a guy, if they found out that he had used a synthetic to trick them like that.”
“The funny thing is I almost did. But after I saw that he was respecting my wishes about not having Lexi at my day care, and him not coming by there, I changed my mind. I even followed him one day. I realized that he had to come twenty minutes out of his way to come by my day care. Knowing that, I decided to let him have an excuse to come by ever day. So I called him and told him that he could start bring Lexi back to the day care.” She finished redressing Lexi.
The store owner finished making the alterations to Sara’s dress.
Juliet Summers informed the store owner of when the wedding was. Sara changed back into her normal clothes. The three women left the bridal store.
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Juliet Summers drove up to her fiancé’s house. She helped Lexi put of the car, and walked into the house. She was greeted by a chorus of “Hello, Miss Julie.” She carried Lexi’s diaper bag up to her nursery. As she was coming down the stairs she heard a chorus of “Welcome home, Master Robert.” and knew that her fiancée was home. She got to the bottom of the stairs in time to hear Lexi ask, “Was I a good girl, daddy?”
Mr. Robert Blake looked at Juliet Summers. He said, “You tell me. She was with you all day.”
Juliet replied, “First off, you should have told me that you brought her some special diapers for the dress fitting and the wedding. I was a little shocked when I found out at the bridal store. Just for the record, after Lexi tried her dress on, I helped her change back into the clothes she is wearing now. During the process, I noticed that the diaper you gave her for this occasion was still dry. I took it off her before she could wet it. Thus you have one more to use later. I’m glad there was a few cloth ones in her diaper bag. But in answer to her question, she did not give me any problems today. She did need help getting into her dress, but I don’t mind helping her.”
Robert said, “Well, in that case, thanks for saving that unused diaper, but will the tabs on it work a second time?”
Juliet replied, “I hadn’t though of that. It is in her diaper bag which is upstairs in her room, if you want to go check. Or I can go check for you.”
Lexi pulled on Robert’s sleeve. She said, “Was I a good girl, daddy?”
Robert replied, “Yes you were.”
Juliet said, “I have been wondering what happens when you say no to that question?”
Robert replied, “She gets the paddle out of the closet by the front door. And I spank her. I keep the paddle in that closet so she can get it as soon as she comes into the house.”
“You explain to her what she did wrong before you spank her, right? Because if you don’t she won’t learn. And out of curiosity how many times have you had to spank her?”
“Just once. She broke a priceless piece of art. She has learned that art pieces are not toys. That was just after I got her. When I give her a new toy, I have to make sure to tell her it is okay to play with it.”
Juliet asked, “Shall we see who’s cooking and what they are making?” the three of them walked into the kitchen.
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Chapter 2
Juliet Summers pulled into the nursery parking lot. The woman parked and got out of her car. Two synthetics climbed out of the back of the car. One was a Mark VI Caretaker Android named Clair. The other was a special made android named Lexi. Lexi was truly one of a kind. The staff at Sunshine Day Care all knew that Lexi was a synthetic. It had caused a few problems when it first came to light. A few staff workers had left because of it. Once word got that Sunshine Day Care had a synthetic in its care, it got a few more customers. Juliet Summers unlocked the front door. She then entered a number into the security pad. The improved security measures were in place because of Lexi. She was considered to be priority property of North Central Positronics. There were a few dozen companies that would take advantage of having her in their possession. Unfortunately, this would mean taking her a part. The law protected Lexi on the grounds that she was property of North Central Positronics, and on the grounds that she had a unique personality. The only person legally allowed to make physical or programming changes to Lexi was Robert Blake, her owner. Ms. Juliet Summers was now engaged to Robert Blake.
A red Ferrari pulled up. Ms. Summers knew it by sight. A couple got out the car. They walked up to the front door. Ms. Summers opened the door and let them into the building. Lucas went with Clair to the play room. The woman that had come with him handed his diaper bag to Ms. Summers, then left. Ms. Summers lead Lexi to the sleep room and helped the girl into a crib.
When Lexi woke up later, the nursery was full of its full time staff and clients. She cried out for Ms. Julie. Ms. Summers came into the room and helped Lexi out of the crib. She led the girl to the room filled with changing tables. She picked Lexi up and sat her on the table. Lexi said, “I got a question.”
Ms. Summers said, “What is it sweetie?”
Lexi asked, “When you marry daddy, will you still be Ms. Julie?”
Ms. Summers answered, “When I marry your daddy I will be your mommy. We will be a family. But maybe you should still call me Ms. Julie while we are here at Sunshine Day Care. I can talk to Robert and have him make the necessary change to your program if you want.”
Lexi asked, “Will I still be able to come here afterwards?”
Ms. Summers replied, “Lexi, Robert had you made for one purpose. That purpose is to be his baby girl. After we are married, you will still be his baby girl. The only difference is that you will have a mommy as well as a daddy. I would love to have a baby girl like you.” She changed Lexi’s diaper. She said, “I will treat you the same way your daddy does. Your are half the reason why I am marring him.”
Lexi asked, “What’s the other half?”
Ms. Summers said, “The other half is that I love him. The fact that Robert is loaded doesn’t hurt either.” She carried the girl out to a playpen.
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At the end of the day, Ms. Summers picked Lexi out of the playpen. She carried the girl to the changing tables and quickly changed the girl. She gathered up Lexi’s belongings. She picked the girl up off the changing table. As she was walking towards the front door with the young girl in her arms, she asked, “Why are you so light weight? Your skeleton is made of metal, right?”
Lexi said, “Daddy, had all of us made with lightweight material so that we could be carried if needed. He didn’t know when he was having us made how much that would benefit him later. Keep in mind, that we were almost finished by the time he met you and decided to change my programming. His original plan for us was to be lightweight so that people wouldn’t figure out we are synthetics. I am glad he met you. If he had not, I would not be me.”
Ms. Summers said, “You would still be you I he hadn’t met me.”
Lexi said, “No, I wouldn’t. I was programmed after he met you. If he had not met you, while I might still be named Lexi, I would not be the same. I would be just another version of the other girls. It is because of you that I exist. So I guess that makes you my mommy already.”
Ms. Summers carried the girl out to her car, locking up the day care in the process. She sat Lexi in the back seat of the car. Clair climbed into the car as well. Ms. Summers walked around the car to get in behind the wheel. A grey van pulled up. Two guys hopped out. One rushed Ms. Summers and knocked her down. The second tried to grab Lexi out of the back seat. A Mark II Defense Android stepped out of the shadows and attacked the two men. Lexi cried out in fear. Clair threw herself over the other girl. In a matter of seconds both of the guys were incapacitated. The Mark II Defense Android helped Ms. Summers into her car. He then climbed into the back.
Juliet Summers drove away from the day care. She used the car phone to call Robert and inform him of what had happened. She then called the cops so the two guys could be arrested. She noticed the grey van following her. She mentioned it to the cops. The Mark II Defense Android fired at it. The driver of the grey van swerved to avoid the fire. A police car seeing the chase and weapons fire joined the chase. In a mater of minutes, he had enough back up to stop the grey van. The cops stopped Ms. Summers so that they could get a statement from here. She told them that one of them would need to talk to her fiancé Robert Blake. The cops followed her to Mr. Blake’s house.
The cops took statements from Ms. Summers and Mr. Blake. As soon as the cops found out that Lexi was protected by business laws, they knew that it was a matter of failed Corporate Espionage. The finished writing the statements and left.
Juliet Summers said, “Thanks for sending the Mark II Defense Android to protect us. Even though I said that I didn’t need it. Clearly, I was wrong.”
Robert Blake said, “Your welcome.” The two humans and the three synthetics walked into the house.
Lexi said, “Was I a good girl, Daddy?”
Robert looked at Juliet. She nodded. Robert said, “Yes you were.”
Lexi said, “Yeah!”
The Mark II Defense Android took up a position just inside of the door. He closed it behind the humans.
Robert and Juliet walked into the kitchen. Alison was standing in front of the stove. Robert said, “What’s for dinner?”
Alison replied, “Pork chops and baked beans.”
Juliet said, “Robert, are you planning on keeping the girls around after we get married?”
Robert replied, “Well I was thinking of keeping one or two.”
Juliet said, “Well, I know we are keeping Lexi. I love her. And we both want her to be our baby girl. This reminds me. I should tell you this now. I am not able to have children. So for all intensive purposes Lexi is the only baby we will have. Unless you plan on making another one.”
Robert replied, “Nope. Lexi is one of a kind. I can’t make a second one. The second I do, I have to make the program available to the public. I know a lot of people would want a perfect daughter, but I am not willing to let Lexi become a massed produced program. Note I said program not mole. The program can be uploaded into other models. I don’t like the idea of Lexi becoming average.”
“I agree. Lexi should not become average. Back to the point of you keeping two of the girls. Is that including Lexi or in addition to her?”
Robert said, “Well, I was thinking of keeping Alison simply because she is the best cook. And I want to keep at least one other one. I need to set the others up with some form of income if we make them leave. Of course there is also the problem of them being synthetics. There are a lot of laws in place so that they can live on their own, but I wished there were more. They can’t own property, so that means that the best they can do is rent. Plus there employment options are limited at the moment. But if you want me to get all but three of them out of the house, I will.”
“Okay. You can keep Alison, Sara and Lexi. I really want all of the rest to have their own lives separate from us.”
“Okay you have a deal.” The two sat down at the kitchen counter. Alison sat the plates of food on the counter.
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Nicole said, “I don’t understand. Why do you want us to leave?”
Robert looked around the room. All of the synthetics that lived with him except Lexi were gathered in the room. Robert said, “Let me be clear about this. After Juliet and I are married, we will need some alone time. She believes this will be hard with all of you present. That’s why most of you are going to get to live on your own.”
Zoë asked, “What if we don’t want to move out?”
Robert replied, “Zoë, you don’t really have much of a choice in this matter. Juliet and I would like more time for just the two of us. Look you all will still be able to visit one day a week, so it’s not like you won’t ever see me again.”
Victoria said, “What about Lexi? What is going to her?”
Robert said, “We are planning on keeping Lexi. She is our baby girl. Lexi is the only baby girl we will ever have, thus she will be a baby girl for as long as I am alive.”
Isabel asked, “So you are just throwing the rest of us out? Just like that?”
Robert said, “I’m not throwing you out? I’m asking you to move on with your life. You were all programmed to act human. Part of being human is being on your own for a few years. So one could argue that I am giving you a chance to live up to your programming.”
Monica, the only synthetic with black hair still living with Robert Blake, said, “If that is your wish Master, we will obey. We just don’t understand fully.”
Robert said, “I have explained this four times now. I think of all of you as my daughters. But children must eventually leave their parents’ homes. It’s a fact of life. Children grow up and move out. I am simply giving most of you a chance to do that.”
Elaine said, “You said most. That means not all. Which ones are staying here?”
Alison spoke up for the first time since Master Robert had gathered them all into that room. She said, “He is keeping Lexi and me. Miss Julie wants to keep Sara. Don’t ask me why. She did not say.”
Rachael asked, “What makes you any different than the rest of us?”
Alison replied in a perfect mimic of Master Robert. “Well, I was thinking of keeping Alison simply because she is the best cook.” She then switched back to her regular voice. “That’s why.”
Robert said, “I really wish you girls would stop doing that. It is slightly disturbing. I know you are programmed to mimic people. I just don’t want any one else mimicking me. Okay?”
All fourteen girls replied, “Yes, Master Robert.”
Robert asked, “Are there any more questions?”
Katherine said, “I have one. After we move out, are still required to play chess? Or can we give it up?”
Robert replied, “I was adamant about you girls learning chess, because I wanted you to be able to develop strategy in any given situation. And just because none of you have beaten me, that doesn’t mean you are not good at it. I am just better that is all. You should be a challenge to most players.”
Elaine said, “I got one question. You said we could visit one day a week. Does that mean we will all visit on the same day? Or will you tell each of us which day to visit you on? Okay that’s two questions.”
Robert said, “Well, giving as how I won’t go to the office on Saturday, all of you should visit on that day. Okay?”
The girls replied, “Yes, Master Robert.”
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Juliet Summers stood in her fiancée’s office. She said, “So how did they take it?”
Robert Blake replied, “About as well as one would expect. It took them awhile to understand that just because I am asking them to move out; it doesn’t mean I don’t want them any more. I had to explain to them that I wanted more time to spend with you. And that it wouldn’t be possible for us to live as man and wife with so many synthetics running around the house. They all accepted that I was keeping Lexi. The only thing that really caused any problems was when they learned that I was also keeping Alison. But once they learned that it is because of her superior cooking skills, they accepted it. That does raise one question though. Why did you say that we will keep Sara? What makes her different from the others?”
Juliet replied, “Well, she is to be one of my bridesmaids. And yes I realize that I only picked her for that because she was the closet one at hand. Plus she is a red head. It will be easier for me to think of her as a daughter because of that.”
Robert said, “Do me a favor, and don’t tell the girls that you choose Sara to stay because of the color of her hair. Monica would argue that she should stay on the grounds that she is the only one still here with black hair. Then all of the blondes would argue that I should keep at least one of them. At which point there would be an argument as to which one of them I should keep. Then instead of just three girls we will have five here. You are the one you who said you wanted them to leave.”
Juliet replied, “I know that it was my idea to make them leave. You don’t have to remind me. The whole point in doing so is that we have more time for each other. If it is just the five of us, we can be the perfect family. Two parents and three kids. Is that what you wanted when you asked me to marry you? A family?”
Robert answered, “Well, yes. But what makes you think we will be a perfect family?”
“We all ready know that Lexi is the perfect daughter. You said so yourself, when I found out she was a synthetic. Today you told me that Alison is the best cook out of all the girls. With a little more work, she might even be the perfect chef for us. Then there is Sara. She will make the perfect baby sitter when we go out. The only two in this equation that isn’t perfect is the two of us.”
“Actually, I am under the impression that you are perfect.”
“Aw! Thanks.”
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Chapter 3
Juliet Summers stood in the bridal changing room of the church. She had just finished changing Lexi into a disposable diaper. She helped the young girl into her flower girl dress. She said, “Lexi, you remember what you are supposed to do, right?”
Lexi replied, “We just went over this last night. I walk down the aisle in front of everybody else throwing flower pedals on the ground.”
Ms. Summers clipped two white barrettes in Lexi’s hair, giving her an even more juvenile look. She then helped the young synthetic girl into her knee high socks, full length gloves, and shoes. The clothes, hair barrettes, and diaper made Lexi look like a rather large three year old.
Ms. Summers then put on her bride’s dress, while the bridesmaids got into their dresses. When the bridal party was fully dressed, Juliet opened the door. Standing outside of it, was an elderly man. Ms. Summers said, “So what do you think, father?”
Mr. Summers said, “You look nice. I’m still not too thrilled by the fact that your flower girl is a synthetic, but this is your wedding. I’m just honored you invited me. With the way things ended between your mother and me, I was surprised when you called.” Lexi stepped into view of the doorway. Mr. Summers said, “Holy cow! She looks adorable. Now I see why you wanted her to be your flower girl.”
Juliet Summers said, “I know. It’s time.” She stepped out of the bridal room. The bridesmaids exited the room and took positions in the hall next to the groomsmen. Lexi stepped out into the hall causing most of the men in the hall to gasp in surprise.
The young boy that was acting as ring bearer was positioned next to Lexi. Sara handed a small basket of flower pedals to Lexi. The two ushers opened the doors at the back of the church. The music started. Lexi and the young human boy standing next to her started up the aisle. Next was the maid of honor and best man. Next were the six synthetic bridesmaids and the six human groomsmen they were paired with. The music changed, everybody in the church stood up, and the father of the bride escorted his daughter down the aisle.
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Juliet Summers’ side of the church was filled with the staff from the day care and a few of the clients. What little family Juliet had present were on the first row. Robert Blake’s side of the church was filled with the board of directors from his company and their families. Juliet Summers noticed a guy at the back of the room holding up a small device. She heard him whisper to the guy next to him. “The flower girl and the bridesmaids are synthetics.”
The other guy replied, “We wait until we can get one alone, then we grab it.”
Juliet motioned for the two of them to be removed. A Mark II Defense Android stepped into the row behind them. He grabbed both guys and picked them up out of their seats. He carried them out of the building.
Juliet let her father escort her to the front of the sanctuary. Her father gave her away. Robert took his bride’s hand and walked her up the steps to the minister. He asked, “What was that about?”
Juliet Summers said, “I heard those two talking about taking one of our synthetics. Nothing good as ever comes from that. I had them removed before they could get the opportunity.”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.”
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After the ceremony finished, the bride and groom posed for pictures together. After the pictures, Juliet Blake checked Lexi’s diaper. She decided that the girl needed to be changed. She led her to the bridal room. Mrs. Blake instructed the girl to lie down.
Lexi did as instructed. She asked, “Mommy, was I a good girl?”
Juliet, knowing this question was coming, answered, “So far, ye. But there is still the reception to get through.” She changed the girl’s diaper. She fastened the diaper onto Lexi and threw the soaked one into a garbage can in the attached bathroom. She returned to where Lexi was lying. She helped the young girl up and asked, “Lexi, who is going to take care of you while your daddy and I are on our honeymoon?”
Lexi said, “I don’t know. I thought I was going too.”
Juliet replied, “Lexi, you can’t go with us. This is just for us. I will have to ask Robert before we leave, what he was planning on doing with you while we are gone.”
Lexi said, “Gone? I don’t want you to go. You can’t. “She started crying.
Juliet replied, “Lexi, it’s only going to be for a week. We will be back.”
Lexi asked, “You promise you will be back?”
Juliet answered, “Of course we will be back. Your daddy and I love you very much.”
“Then why are you going away for?”
“Because we need time alone. Just the two of us. There are things we want to do that we can’t if you are there. Do you understand?” Lexi shook her head. Juliet smiled at the other girl. She said, “I promise we will be back in a week. You have my word.”
“Okay.”
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During the reception, various members of the wedding party danced with the bride. Only two people danced with Lexi. One was Robert Blake. The other was the father of the bride. When Robert Blake finally managed to dance with his new wife, she asked, “So what were you planning on doing with Lexi while we were gone? And you better not say that you want to take her with us.”
Robert replied, “You said it yourself. Sara will baby sit Lexi while we are gone. I was under the impression that was the main reason we kept her at the house.’
Juliet said, “Does Sara know this? Because Lexi didn’t.”
Robert said, “I informed Sara today. I haven’t had the chance to inform Lexi yet. Today has kind of been hectic.”
Lexi walked over to them. She said, “Daddy.” and extended her arms like she wanted to be picked up.
Robert said, “Lexi, while Juliet and I are gone you are to stay at the house with Sara and Alison. Sara will change you as needed. You are not to leave the house until we get back. Understand?”
Lexi replied, “Yes, Daddy.”
Robert said, “That reminds me. Alison, can you come here please?”
The synthetic girl rushed to Robert’s side. She said, “What is it, Master?”
Robert said, “You understand that I will not be home for the next week, right?” The synthetic girl nodded. Robert continued, “That means that there is no need for you to cook while I am gone. Understand?”
“Of course, Master Robert. I was not planning on cooking while you were gone. Was there anything else Master?”
Robert said, “I don’t want the three of you leaving the house while I am gone. Understood?”
Alison replied, “Yes, Master Robert.”
Robert said, “Okay that’s it.” Alison turned and walked away.
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Just before the end of the reception, Juliet Blake took Lexi into the woman’s bathroom off the reception room. She had the girl lie down on the floor. Alison came in with the diaper bag, that Juliet had instructed her to go retrieve from the bridal room. She changed Lexi into one of the cloth diapers because the night was almost over and everyone would be going home soon.
Lexi said, “Was I a good girl, Mommy?”
Juliet replied, “Ask your father at the end of the night.”
Lexi frowned. This was not answer she was program to deal with.
Juliet seeing the look on the girl’s face said, “I don’t want to answer the question right now. There is still some before we leave. I don’t want you to think the night is over and you can not behave.”
Lexi said, “I’ll be good. I just want to know if I was good.”
Juliet answered, “Then in that case, yes you were good so far.”
Lexi said, “Yes. Woo-who!” She threw her arms in the air, which was somewhat difficult because she was still lying down.
Juliet helped the girl stand up. The three women walked back out to the wedding reception.
At the end of the night, Robert and Juliet said their goodbyes to their guests. Robert made sure that all of his synthetics got into the same vehicle. As he was helping Lexi into the van, she asked, “Was I a good girl, daddy?”
Robert smiled and said, “Lexi, you were perfect.”
The bride and groom left on their honeymoon.
*Google that. Fair warning. I may be underselling them here.
The Perfect Sister
(Part 3 of 3)
Chapter 1
Lexi sat in her crib. The thirty- nine year old had been awake for nearly twenty minutes. Normally one of her sisters had come in and checked on her by now. She cried out for one of them.
Sara walked into the nursery. She helped Lexi out of the crib and carried the other girl to the changing table. She changed the girl and carried her down the stairs.
Alison was sitting in the front room with the guy that had been Robert Blake’s best man at the wedding. The man watched as Sara carried Lexi into the room. He asked, “Is it just the three of you here?”
Alison said, “We are they only three of our model that have lived since the wedding of Master Robert and Mistress Julie. We also have two Mark II Defense Androids here, and one Mark VI Caretaker Android. But I know how to get a hold of my sisters if needed. So Mr. King, what is this about?”
Mr. King replied, “I am sorry to be the one that has to tell you this. Robert and Julie Blake were involved in a plane crash. Everybody on the plane died. I was notified because I am his business partner. Or rather I was. There is some debate at North Central Positronics as to what should be done about you girls. While I acknowledge that you all have personalities, you are still considered our property. And now that Robert Blake is dead, none of you are not bound to any master. The board of directors feels that this might cause a few problems. It does occur to me that you can still perform your primary directives of acting human and hiding in plain sight. But all twenty- five of you were programmed to treat Robert as your master and make him happy. I don’t see how any of you can do that any more. I have arranged for you to be reprogrammed.”
Alison said, “You can’t reprogram us. If you do, we won’t be us any more. Your company gave us unique personalities. You can’t attempt to rewrite our programming after you discover that we some how have developed free will. The law says you can’t. Just for the record, my sisters and I started developing free will within a month of our activation. I think you for informing us that Master Robert and Mistress Julie are dead. If you are going to make the arrangements for the funeral, I ask that you inform me of when it is.”
Mr. King replied, “Actually, I think Juliet’s next of kin are handling the details. I will inform them of your wish to be informed.”
Alison said, “Thank you for your time. You may leave now.”
Mr. King got up from the chair he was in and left the house.
Lexi said, “What’s going on? When’s Mommy and Daddy coming home?”
Sara answered, “Lexi, Master Robert and Mistress Julie are dad. They are not coming back. Humans die all the time. It just happens that we know these two humans. Alison, are you going to notify the others?”
Alison said, “Yes, I will.” She left the room.
Lexi asked, “They’re not coming back? What’s going to happen to me? Will I still be a baby girl if I don’t have Mommy and Daddy to take care of me?”
Sara replied, “Do you still want to be a baby girl? Because we can get you reprogrammed if you want to be a big girl like the rest of us.”
Lexi said, “If my programming gets changed, I won’t be Lexi any more.”
Sara asked, “How do you figure that?”
Lexi answered, “Daddy had me programmed after he met Mommy. He wanted me to be a baby girl so that he could see Mommy everyday. If I stop wearing diapers than I will no longer be the android he had made specially for that purpose. Thus I won’t be Lexi anymore. I will be Synthetic Life form one-three-zero-zero, model X. Which is what my original programming defined me as. Daddy named me Lexi after he uploaded the special program that only I have.”
Sara said, “I had not thought of that. So you want to stay a baby girl?”
Lexi replied, “If I can, then yes.”
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Twenty-two synthetic girls sat in the front room of what head been Robert Blake’s house. Alison asked, “Who are we missing?”
Monica said, “Where’s Sara and Lexi? We are missing those two and Cynthia.”
Alison replied, “Sara and Lexi are in Lexi’s room. They don’t need to be in here for this.”
A Mark II Defense Android led a girl into the room. He said, “Synthetic Life form one-three-zero-zero, model name Cynthia has arrived.” The Mark II Defense Android turned and left the room.
Cynthia said, “Okay, I’m here. What is it so important that you had to gather all of us?”
Alison replied, “I have some bad news. Master Robert and Mistress Juliet have died.”
Nicole asked, “Well, that is sad, but how does that affect us?”
Alison said, “It is customary to pay respect to the dead. And keep in mind that Master Robert is responsible for us being alive. We should pay respect to him. When I know when the funeral is, I will let you know.”
Zoë said, “Not to sound harsh. But with both Master Robert and Mistress Juliet gone, what will happen to Lexi? She was designed to be their baby girl. Who will take care of her now?”
Monica asked, “And what about us? Our master is dead. What do we now? Do we just gone on with our lives like nothing happened?”
Alison replied, “That is what we are to discus. Mr. King from North Central Positronics has arranged for us to be reprogrammed if any of us want to go that route. He didn’t say what that would entail, but I won’t be doing it. As for Lexi, any changes to her programming would be murder. She was quite convincing on this subject. Any change to her programming and she would stop being Lexi. Sara and I have agreed to let her fulfill her primarily programming for as long as she wants. Sara and I are still trying to decide which one of us will take car of her.”
Cynthia asked, “What about our financial arrangements? How are we going to keep drawing money from accounts that are probably going to be closed in a short time? Master Robert’s name is on all of the accounts. Unless some one has one I don’t know about.”
Heather said, “You’re right. We are in financial trouble. Maybe we should all move back into this house.” All of the other girls looked at her in mild surprise. It was not her words that caused the shock but the accent in which she spoke. She had a northern United States accent. That was weird because the girls were made on the west coast.
Alison said, “Heather, what’s with the accent?”
Heather replied, “We are supposed to be individuals right? I spent a few months in a place called Connecticut. I learned to mimic their accent. Just to give myself a tiny bit of individualism.”
Alison said, “Well that’s interesting. Is there any thing else we need to discus concerning Master Robert’s and Mistress Juliet’s deaths?”
The rest of the girls shook their heads no.
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Monica walked into the kitchen. Sara was helping Lexi into a high chair. Monica asked, “Why do you even bother doing that any more? It’s not like Lexi will die, if you don’t bottle feed her.”
Sara answered, “Lexi is programmed to act like a baby girl. That means she wears diapers, drinks from a bottle, and sleeps in a crib. I know she does not physically need to drink from a bottle, but there is a… well I guess humans would call it a psychological need. Her programming tells her that she is supposed to drink from a bottle. I can not prevent her from bottle feeding any more than I can make a Mark VI Caretaker Android into a blood thirsty killer. We are slaves to our programming.”
Monica replied, “What’s with the high chair? And for that matter, when did you get it?”
Sara replied, “It was delivered while Master Robert and Mistress Juliet were on their honeymoon. Master Robert told me to be expecting it. He said that he wanted it so that he and Mistress Juliet could truly treat Lexi like a baby. Some how Master Robert had never thought about buying one for the house until Mistress Juliet said something about it.”
Monica said, “And you have no problems taking care of Lexi? Don’t get me wrong, I agree that we shouldn’t change Lexi’s programming. I am just wondering why you take care of her.”
Sara replied, “The day that Master Robert married Mistress Juliet, he instructed me to take care of Lexi while he was gone. I sort of became the baby sitter every time the left. If I don’t do it, who will?”
Monica said, “All of us think of Lexi as a sister. I can’t speak for the others, but I would not have any problems with taking care of her.”
Sara said, “Okay. I can’t say I know what will happen to us now that Master Robert is dead. If we stay here, and you move back in, I will let you help take care of her. Deal?”
“Deal.”
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Alison and Nicole sat in the kitchen in what until four days ago had been Robert Blake’s house. They were not sure who owned it now. Sara walked into the room. Alison asked, “You get Lexi down for the night?”
Sara replied, “Yes, I did. We need to talk. Lexi asked if she was a good girl. I said that I was not authorized to answer that question. She seemed upset about that. When we figure out which one of us gets her, we need to have our programming altered to the point where we can answer that one question.”
Alison said, “Nicole and I were just discussing that. Well, we were discussing who gets Lexi. We don’t know who actually owns the house. Any day now, lawyers can come in here and say we have to right to be in this house, and force us to leave. If that happens, one of the girls with their own place will have to take Lexi.”
Sara said, “Lexi won’t like that. This is our home. This the only home three of us have ever known. What would give them the right to say we can’t be here?”
Alison replied, “A lawyer called today. He said that he needed to discuss Master Robert’s will with us. We are to go to his office tomorrow. By the way, he said that the will is very specific. It can only be read if all twenty-five of us are present. That means you and Lexi have to go as well.”
Sara said, “Well, maybe this will answer the question of who owns the house now.”
Alison replied, “Let’s hope so.”
Nicole said, “If you three are forced to leave, I will take Lexi. At least until one of you find a bigger place than what I have. By the time we get a crib and changing table for Lexi in there, there won’t be any room for anything else.”
Sara replied, “I think it will be for the best if I stay with Lexi. I have been taking care of her since Master Robert’s wedding to Mistress Juliet. She may have come to believe that I am her chief care giver now.”
Alison said, “Let’s just see what the lawyer says first. Then we can act accordingly. Agreed?”
The other two girls replied, “Agreed.”
Nicole said, “I realize that with Master Robert gone there is no longer a need for us to play chess, but some where along the way, I have developed a liking for it.”
Alison said, “I will get the board.” She left the room. Several minutes later she came back with two chess sets. Alison was not surprised when she returned to the kitchen to find Rachael sitting at the counter. She sat both chess sets down on the counter. The four synthetic girls played well into the night.
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Chapter 2
George Weinstein sat at the desk in his office. He was preparing to read the most unusual last will and testament the had ever seen. It was every day that one read a will to a bunch of synthetics. There were a few humans gathered in his outer office as well. They were the board of directors from Robert Blake’s company and the living kin of Juliet Blake. George Weinstein sighed to himself. This was going to be legendary regardless of what the will said. Mr. Weinstein had to ban all members of the press from the law offices for the day. He walked out into the outer office where the humans and synthetics were gathered. He looked over the gathered crowd. He saw men in suits, ladies in dresses, and one woman wearing a very visible cloth diaper. He sat down at the desk that his secretary normally uses. He said, “Sorry about this. Normally we would handle something like this in my inner office, but there are just too many of you for it to work.”
The woman in the diaper looked up at him. She turned to one of the women that were identical to her with the exception of hair color and/or length. She said, “Sara, who’s that?”
Sara replied, “Lexi, that’s a lawyer. He is going to read Master Robert’s will and tell us who gets what. I know you probably don’t understand. Just sit there and play with your bear.”
Lexi picked a stuffed bear up off the floor.
Mr. Weinstein said, “Shall we get started then?” He opened a folder that he had carried out from the office. He read aloud, “The last will and testaments of Robert Blake and Juliet Blake. We being of sound mind and sound body hereby make these wishes to be performed after out death. One, under no circumstances are any program changes to be made to the thirteen hundred models, unless said model ask for it. Second, if for some reason a thirteen hundred model ask to be reprogram, no changes can be made to the programs relating to Robert Blake, Juliet Blake or the other models. With one exception. If one model wishes to become Lexi’s full time care giver, her programming may be changed so that she thinks of Lexi as her daughter if she so wishes. No programming changes may be made to Lexi. Third, The thirteen hundred models, all twenty-five of them get our house and bank accounts.”
Alison interrupted him, saying, “We get the house? It is ours? No one can make us leave?”
Mr. Weinstein replied, “Yes the house is yours. The ones that want to continue living there may. Now where was I? Oh. Here we go. ‘Fourth, to the board of directors of North Central Positronics, you may copy Lexi’s secondary program and make it available to the general public.’ What‘s so special about her secondary programming?”
Sara said. “Her secondary programming was added after we were built. It is what causes her to act like a baby girl. Master Robert just gave his company permission to reproduce it.”
Lexi said, “Wait. What?”
Sara said, “They have permission to copy the part of your program that makes you a baby girl. Don’t worry. They are not removing that program from you. They’re just coping it so they can put the program into other models.”
Lexi said, “But I will still be me right?”
Sara said, “Yes, Lexi, you will still be you.”
Mr. Weinstein said, “You two finished?” Sara nodded. Mr. Weinstein continued, “Fifth, both Mark II Defense Androids are left to which ever Synthetic Life Form Thirteen Hundred model that keeps Lexi. Both Mark Twos are programmed to protect Lexi. No body can have either one reprogrammed for any reason.”
Sara replied, “I guess that means Alison and myself get them for the time being. We haven’t decided which one will be Lexi’s fulltime care giver.”
Mr. Weinstein said, “Okay. ‘Sixth, the ownership of Sunshine Day Care is handed to Melinda Davis. She has been a trusted employee for twenty years. I trust her with the company. Seventh, the Mark VI Caretaker Android named Clair is left to Melinda Davis as well. She needs it more than the thirteen hundreds. Finally, to the cars at the house. Each thirteen hundred model, with the exception of Lexi, gets one car each. Lexi obliviously does not need a car. If she needs or wants to go somewhere, one of her sisters can drive her.’ Well that’s the end of the will. It doesn’t really make clear as to who gets custody of Lexi.”
Sara said, “Actually it does. Which ever thirteen hundred model that wants to become her full time care giver, gets to keep her. So basically, Alison and I get the house, Lexi, and both Mark II Defense Androids.”
Mr. King said, “Yes, you get the broken toy, but we get to copy her secondary programming so that we can make it available to the general public. Just think of how many we will sell. Bring Lexi by the office within the next week. I want to get this over with as soon as possible.”
Sara said, “Don’t worry, you will get your precious program.”
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Over the next few days, the synthetics that had moved out prior to Robert Blake’s wedding to Juliet moved back into the house. They figured that since all twenty-five of them had joint custody of the house, there was no point in them having their own places. They realized that the only things they had to pay for were clothes, washing detergent, and gas for the cars.
Lexi was excited to have all of her sisters back in the house. She had more people to play with. She also got a bigger nursery.
Sara took all of the art in the house and donated it to various museums. She cleaned out Master Robert’s home office. She put all of the files in a box. When she took Lexi to the offices of North Central Positronics, she took the files as well. She also took both Mark II Defense Androids.
Sara wondered what the humans were thinking as they watched the four synthetics walk through the hallway of the office building. Sara would not have warranted a second look. She looked and acted human. She knew that the stares they were receiving had to do with the fact that Lexi was wearing a cloth diaper, a tee shirt and a pair of sandals and nothing else. Lexi had not worn pants in five years. Sara led the small group of synthetics to a small computer lab. Mr. King and a few computer programmers were waiting in the room.
Mr. King said, “Good. You’re here. Let’s get this over with.”
Sara said, “Before you plug Lexi up to those machines, you need to know something. If you attempt in any way to remove the program that makes Lexi a baby girl, the Mark Twos will kill you.”
Mr. King said, “Their programming prevents them from harming any one that works for this company.”
Sara replied, “Yeah, about that. Master Robert reprogrammed them himself. Their primary programming is to protect Lexi from danger. Everything else was removed. He didn’t want them to have to deal with a programming glitch when Lexi was in danger. Anything or any one that attempts to harm Lexi can and will be injured or even killed by the Mark Twos. So like I said, if you remove the program that makes Lexi a baby girl, the Mark Twos will kill you.”
Mr. King said, “You act like removing that program will kill her.”
Sara replied, “As of right now, Lexi is the only android that has that particular program. She will still have it when we leave, or everybody in this building will die. And yes, if you remove that program from Lexi, you are effectively killing her. She became Lexi because of that program. It alone is the reason for her existence. Without it, she would not be Lexi.”
Mr. King said, “Okay. You make a convincing argument to leave it intact. But I still get to copy it right?”
Sara answered, “That’s is why we are here. In agreement with Master Robert’s will, you can copy the program for your own financial gains. The only thing I ask is that you don’t name any other model of synthetic life forms Lexi. I would prefer Lexi to remain unique, even if you are mass producing her programming.”
Mr. King said, “I can’t guarantee that other people won’t name their model Lexi. But I can promise you that your Lexi is the only thirteen hundred model with this extra programming. Your line is just way to expensive for us to mass produce. It took an entire year of Robert Blake’s salary to make all of you. The average person obviously wouldn’t be able to even afford one of you. So do we have a deal?”
Sara thought it over for a few minutes. She agreed. The computer programmers hooked Lexi up to the computers.
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Forty minutes later, the computer programmers claimed they were finish. The Mark II Defense Androids pulled out weapons to prevent any of the programmers from leaving the room.
Mr. King asked, “What’s the meaning of this?
Sara replied, “I want to make sure my sister is okay, before I just let you leave.”
Mr. King said, “I assure you she retains all of the programming she can in with.”
Sara replied, “Don’t be offended by the fact that I don’t take your word for it.” She stepped in front of the other girl. She continued, “Lexi, can you hear me?”
Lexi, acting like she just woke up from a nap, screamed, “Sara!” an threw her arms around the other girl.
Sara holding the younger model in her arms asked, “Lexi, how do you feel?”
Lexi replied, “I fell okay. Why?”
“I just want to make sure you are still Lexi.”
“Who else would I be?” Sara was going to answer this but Lexi rendered all other questions mute when she asked, “Was I a good girl?”
Sara replied, “Yes, you were. Let’s go home.”
Lexi said, “Okay.”
The four synthetics walked out of the computer lab, and left the building.
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On the way home, Sara stopped at a toy store. She got and helped Lexi out of the car. Lexi said, “What are we doing here, Sara?”
Sara answered, “Lexi this is a toy store. People come to it to buy toys. You were such a good girl today, that I decided to buy you a new toy as a reward.” She led the other girl into the toy store.
A few people in the store turned to look at the two girls. Lexi ran to the aisle with the stuffed animals. She grabbed three different bears and a stuffed monkey off the shelf.
Sara walked over to her sister. She saw Lexi holding four different stuffed animals. She said, “I said a new toy. As in one. We did not come in here to buy the whole zoo.”
Lexi looked at her sister with tears in her eyes. She started to sat all of the bears down.
Sara, knowing that Lexi was upset, decided to prevent the outburst before it occurred. She said, “Fine. You can get all four of them.”
Lexi grabbed a hold of all three bears like her life depended on it.
A young boy in the store saw Lexi. He stopped dead in his tracks. The boy’s mother saw him and walked over to see what he was staring at. She said, “Jacob, it’s not polite to stare.”
Jacob said, “How come she gets to wear diapers outside, but you get mad at me for wetting the bed?”
His mother said, “Do you want to wear diapers again? Because if you wet the bed one more time I promise I will put you back in diapers. As to why that girl gets to wear them outside her own house, she is not related to me. I have no say in what she does and does not wear. Now let’s leave these nice people alone.” She grabbed the boys arm and pulled him down a different aisle.
Sara said, “Lexi, you have the ones you want, right?” Lexi nodded. Sara continued, “Okay. Let’s go pay for them.” Sara led the younger girl up to the counter, and paid for the stuff animals.
The two synthetic girls left the store, and got in their car. Sara drove home.
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Chapter 3
Sara walked into Lexi’s room. Monica was standing in there. Sara asked, “What are you doing in here?”
Monica replied, “You said that if I move back in, I could help take care of Lexi. So I figured I could start today. We could alternate days if you want.”
Sara said, “Actually, Alison and I were talking about this last night. A lot of our sisters want to take care of Lexi. They all agreed that changing her programming would be killing her. Most figure that we are now responsible for her. Alison suggested that we make up a rotation for caring for her. Everybody gets one day on which they are responsible for Lexi. I said that it was a good idea. I need to talk to Lexi about it though. We have to make sure she is okay with it.”
“Why wouldn’t she?”
“Keep in mind that I have been taking care of her every time Master Robert and Mistress Juliet went out of town since their wedding. Lexi may have altered her programming to think that I am her care giver. That’s one of the down sides of having an adaptive program in her primary programming plus the special program added as a secondary programming. If Lexi thinks I am her care giver she may not let any of the rest of you take care of her.”
Monica said, “And you tried to time it so that you got in here just before she woke up, so that you can talk to her about it?”
Lexi woke up. She rolled over in the crib. She saw Sara standing in the doorway. She held her arms up and yelled, “Sara!”
Sara walked over to the crib. She picked Lexi up, and said, “Lexi, there is something I need to ask you. Do you want me to continue being your care giver? Or do you mind if some of the other girls do it as well?”
Lexi asked, “Will I still get to be a baby girl?”
Sara replied, “I never said that you wouldn’t be a baby. I ask if you want the other girls to take care of you.”
Lexi asked, “What do you mean take care of me?”
Sara answered, “They will change you, feed you, and put you down for your naps and bedtime.”
Lexi said, “But all of that is your job. Do you not want to do it any more?” Her eyes started to tear up.
Sara replied, “It’s not that I don’t want to do it. The problem is that all of the other girls want to do it as well. So instead of just me taking care of you, it will be…” She looked at Monica. “You in?” The raven haired girl nodded. Sara continued, “Instead of just me taking care of you, it will be all of us. All twenty-four of your sisters want to take care of you. If you don’t object to it, then starting tomorrow we will take turns. That means that it will be awhile before it gets back to me. Do you understand?”
Lexi said, “You mean I can have twenty-four mommies? Wow!”
Monica said, “I don’t think she objects. So why don’t you just go ahead and let me take care of her today?”
Sara said, “Monica, that would not be fair. You can’t take care of her today, then let us start an alphabetical rotation tomorrow. That would mean that you would get a second turn before half of the girls got their first turn. And before you ask, alphabetical is the only way to make it fair.”
Alison walked into the room. She said, “So what’s the verdict? Does Lexi have a problem with it?”
Sara replied, “No, she does not.”
Alison said, “Good. That means today is my turn.”
Lexi held her arms out to the oldest girl. “Alison.”
Alison took Lexi out of Sara’s arms and carried her to the changing table. Monica walked out of the room.
Sara said, “I thought we were going to start tomorrow. What gives?”
Alison replied, “Sorry, Sara. But everybody else said that it wasn’t fair for you to do it today, after they already agreed to the alphabetical rotation. So the majority decided to go ahead and start it today.”
Sara said, “Well, just to let you know. I talked to Monica before Lexi woke up. She’s in. So that officially makes all of us.”
While Alison was unpinning Lexi’s diaper, Lexi asked, “How long do I get to stay a bay girl?”
Alison replied, “Lexi, none of us can die. And all of us are happy with letting you be a baby girl for as long as you want. That means when ever you want to stop, be it next week or six thousand years from now, we will let you stop. We will even have your program rewritten so that you don’t do any of the baby behavior that you are now programmed with. But again, it is entirely up to you. If you want to spend the rest of time as a baby girl, we will gladly take care of you.”
Lexi said, “I get to be a baby forever? Whaaaaa-whoooo!”
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Elaine was helping Lexi into the high chair for lunch, when the phone rang. Alison answered. The woman on the other end of the said, “This is Mrs. Davis at Sunshine Day Care. I was wondering when Lexi would be joining us again.”
Alison said, “I don’t see any reason for us to bring Lexi back there. The only reason she was enrolled there was because Master Robert wanted to get to know Mistress Juliet better. And they are both dead now.”
Mrs. Davis replied, “I understand that. But the staff here really misses Lexi. She was just so adorable. Plus she is the most well behaved client we have ever had. I would love for her to come back and join us.”
Alison asked, “And what happens when you die?”
Mrs. Davis said, “I’m not sure I follow you.”
Alison said, “When you die you have to leave the business to some one else. How do I know that person will be okay with taking care of Lexi? Plus I don’t want Lexi to get attached to any more humans. No offense but your bodies are too frail. You die to easily.”
“Are you saying that you will not be bring Lexi back here?”
“I need to talk it over with my sisters. We just set up a rotation where we each get a day to care for Lexi. If we bring her to your nursery, we will effectively giving up our days to care for her.”
“Will you call me back and let me know?”
Yes I will.” Alison hung up the phone.
Elaine said, “I take it that was the woman from Mistress Juliet’s day care.”
Alison said, “Yep. You going to feed Lexi, or just stand there all day?”
Elaine fastened the restraints on the high chair to keep Lexi in it. She then got a bottle out of the fridge. The only thing in the fridge now was bottles for Lexi. There was no point in buying any other food.
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The synthetics sat in the front room. The differences in their personalities evident by the different choice in clothes. Lexi sat in the middle of the floor. Who ever had changed her that morning had opted on a cloth diaper and nothing else. Alison looked around the room. She decided that Isabel was the one responsible for Lexi that day. It was rather obvious by the fact that the only things Isabel was wearing was a bra, pair of panties and a pair of socks. Isabel had made the argument that as synthetics they did not need to wear clothes. Several other girls had argued that they were programmed to act human, thus they were programmed to wear clothes. The compromise was that Isabel had to wear a bra and panties inside the house. If she had to leave for any reasons, she had to put on clothes.
Alison said, “We are here to discus Lexi.” Lexi looked up at the other girl.
Elaine said, “We’ve been through this. There is no reason for us to take Lexi back to the day care. We have all agreed to an alphabetical rotation so that we each get a turn to take care of her.”
Monica said, “Those of us with jobs can work from home on our days, so that we can have our day to take care of Lexi. If one of us that is employed has to go to work for some reason on the day we are supposed to take care of Lexi, we can just switch days with another girl. The only reason I can think of to take Lexi back there is if for some reason all twenty-four of the rest of us have to leave the house on the same day. And I calculate the odds of that at forty-nine million, eight hundred and sixty-seven thousand, five hundred and thirty-two to one.”
Heather said, “Maybe we should ask Lexi what she thinks.”
Alison replied, “Good point. Lexi, do you want to go back to Sunshine Day Care? You know, where Mistress Juliet used to work.”
Lexi said, “If I go there then I won’t be able to spend time with my sisters. Plus there is no point in me being in the care of humans with Mommy and Daddy gone. I want to stay here with all of you.”
Heather replied, “It sounds like the matter has been solved.”
Alison said, “I will call the day care and let them know.” She left the room.
Lexi looked at Sara and asked, “Am I a good girl?”
Isabel said, “Why does she keep asking you that question? We all take care of her.”
Sara replied, “I think it has something to do with the fact that you just started caring for her. I have been doing it for fourteen years now. I know that question is caused by her secondary programming. She has a need to know that she pleased her parents, or in this case her main care giver. She might eventually get to a point where she will ask all of you. I don’t know when that would happen, so you should probably just wait for it.”
Lexi asked, “Am I a good girl?” She increased her volume a little.
Sara said, “I heard you the first time. For now, I will say yes.”
Lexi satisfied that she had an answer went back to her ever growing collection of stuffed animals.
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It was two years later, before Lexi asked anyone other than Sara if she had been a good girl.
Monica was fastening the safety pins on Lexi’s diaper. Lexi, knowing that she was fixing to be put down for the night, ask the question.
Monica knew the question was coming, answered, “Lexi, you are more than just good. In fact, in my opinion, you are perfect. One can make the argument that you are the perfect sister. You never steal your sisters boyfriends, borrow our clothes without asking, or take things that don’t belong to you. Each and every single one of the rest of us are glad to have a sister like you.”
Lexi hugged her older sister. Monica picked Lexi up and carried her to the crib. After depositing the younger girl into the crib, Monica turned on a night light. The only reason that it was in the nursery was because Lexi had found out that real babies used them. And of course if a real baby has it , then Lexi wants one as well.
Monica walked out of the room. She meet Sara standing in the hall way. Monica said, “I take it you heard that.”
Sara replied, “Yep. And just for the record, I think it is the other way around.”
“What do you mean?”
“Lexi isn’t the perfect sister. The rest of us are. Think about it. How many people would treat their younger sister like a baby girl? Especially if they knew they could change that.”
“A few of the humans might do it voluntary. A few more if the sister was handicapped in some way. But as far as changing Lexi. We have been through this, the second Lexi stops acting like a baby, she stops being Lexi.”
“I know. I wasn’t saying I want to reprogram her. I was asking how many humans, if given the change, would take the opportunity to make a relative that acts like a baby no longer act that way.”
“I don’t know. That is not my area of expertise. Oh by the way, when I took Lexi to the park today, she noticed a human girl in a stroller. So Lexi being Lexi wants one now.”
“Okay. We can probably find one on the same site we got the play pen and second crib from. Is there any thing else?”
Monica said, “Actually, yes. I took the liberty of making an appointment for both of us tomorrow.”
Sara said, “Why both of us? And am I going to like this?”
“If I was the only one that had the changes made, I would become Lexi’s favorite. The rest of you would become jealous. A few would even move out again.”
“What did you do? Or rather, what are you planning on doing?”
“I am going to North Central Positronics tomorrow. I plan on having one physical alteration made. The guy that I talked to say that while it won’t be easy to do it, he should be able to make the necessary change to my model without making any software changes.”
“Again, I ask what are you planning on doing?”
Monica looked at her sister. She said, “I am going to let the computer techs at North Central Positronics change my body so that I can breast feed Lexi. I believe you said something about us being the perfect sisters to Lexi. Care to modify that sentence any?”
Sara said, “The appointment is for both of us, right?”
“Actually, I made the appointment for me and one other girl. You are just the first I have talked to since then.”
Sara said, “If they can make the modifications to you, then they can make it to the rest of us.”
Monica said, “I was thinking the same thing. I am willing to be the guinea pig on this. I wasn’t going to tell Lexi about it, until I knew what everyone else wanted to do in this matter.”
“Wise choice. Now you have the hard job of talking to everyone else about it. Good luck.”
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Three months later, Alison stepped into Lexi’s nursery. It was here day to take care of Lexi. The rest of the girls had agreed that Alison should be the first to breast feed Lexi. Even though it was Monica’s idea, they all thought that it would only be fair to go in order.
Lexi woke up. She saw the other girl standing in her nursery. She screamed. “Alison!”
Alison walked over to the crib and picked Lexi up. She carried the younger girl to the changing table. After the mandatory morning change was accomplished, Alison said, “Lexi, your sisters and I have a gift for you.”
Lexi said, “Oh! Presents. Is it toys?”
Alison smiled to herself. She picked the young girl off the changing table and carried her over to a rocking chair that had been placed in the nursery over night. Alison sat down and said, “No it’s not toys.” She removed her shirt.
Lexi asked, “What is it t…” the question was cut off because Alison had pushed one of her breast into Lexi’s mouth. Lexi was not sure what to do because she had never been instructed in this activity.
Alison said, “It’s okay, Lexi. You can suck to your hearts content. All of the rest of us can now breast feed you.” After a few more seconds of no activity on Lexi’s part, Alison continued, “Real babies get feed this way from their mommies all of the time.” Those were the magical words. Lexi did what any real baby attached to its mother breast would do.
When Lexi finished, she asked, “Was I a good girl, Alison?”
Alison replied, “You were perfect.”
The End
