Chapter 68 - Joining the Mom's Club
I walked out of Lisa’s office my head swirling with thoughts. “A million dollars.” I whispered into the air as I entered my micro-office.
Alex popped her head in moments later. “Where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere.”
“Meeting with the boss.” I answered.
Alex cocked her head. “For two hours? You were in there with Stan?”
I should have known Alex would pay attention. One thing I learned about keeping secrets, you never lied unless you absolutely had to, you just never tell the whole truth. "Yes, I was there for two hours. Lisa wanted me to hear her conversation with Stan so I hid in the bathroom."
Alex scrunched up her face. "Why?"
"She's trying to show me how much I've improved over the last few days." I answered.
Alex snorted. "She needed to prove that? Jeez, it's pretty damn obvious."
I sighed. "Fine, everyone knows but me. I guess I don't like to admit I need therapy."
Alex nodded. "I understand, it's silly, but I understand."
I narrowed my eyes.
"I've been to therapy," Alex said noticing my look. "And nothing bad happened to me like it happened to you."
I desperately wanted to change the subject. "You needed something?"
"Oh right, it's about the deployment of your accounting application." The conversation devolved from that point into less dangerous topics than my time spent with Lisa.
* * *
The next day at the same time after lunch Lisa called me into her office again. I tried to ignore the sudden fear that I would again spend a day beneath her desk but she was the boss and I had no choice but to respond. The blinds on her office window were open which offered some hope. She waved me in as I entered her field of view.
"What's up?" I asked.
"I called a meeting next week with the folks upstairs to discuss your contributions to this company. I'm trying to decide if you should be in that meeting or not. What do you think?"
My initial reaction was discomfort, sitting in a room where my superiors discussed my successes and failures would feel odd. "I don't know, not sure I should be there."
"I thought so at first but wondered if you should speak on your own behalf. Finally I decided to ask you."
"When is the meeting?" I asked.
"Monday afternoon."
"I'll let you know by Friday, would that suffice?"
"Sure. See you later."
* * *
I sank into the too-soft couch at Dr. Lodgkins office for our weekly session later that day. It felt odd to be there without Polly and I found myself looking to my left expecting her to smile back with encouragement. Dr. Lodgkins sat in her usual chair with legal pad in hand wearing slacks and a white shirt with a colorful scarf swathed about her neck. "I've spoken with your family and friends and it seems there is indeed some improvement." Dr. Lodgkins said to start the conversation.
"That does seem to be the consensus, though with Polly it's hard to disentangle her enjoyment of the treatment from the actual necessity."
Dr. Lodgkins cracked a smile. "Yes, well I seriously doubt you were too distraught by the side effects."
I shook my head at the linguistic sparring. "Yes, well I won't stand in defiance of the evidence but even the best medicine must be stopped eventually."
"Yes, of course, dialing back the frequency would seem appropriate once Polly returns." Dr. Lodgkins agreed.
My body released some of its tension. "Good, it's quite time consuming."
"Just not as time consuming as the state you were in before." Dr. Lodgkins responded.
I acknowledged the point with a polite shrug of my shoulders.
"Now we need to discuss the next phase." Dr. Lodgkins said as she flipped a page of her notebook.
"Next phase?" I perked up at the words much of the tension returning. "Why, if it's working..."
"It's important to be thorough." Dr. Lodgkins interrupted. "From your recounting of past events it seems there was an emphasis on feminine clothing."
The words shocked me like a sudden slap to the face. "Now hold one, what possible need is there..."
Dr. Lodgkins held up a hand. "It was part of your life with Polly before the trauma."
"There was a good decade and a half without Polly at all, why does this treatment always revolve around her and the things we did together?" I asked unable to keep the heat from my voice, a heat born of embarrassment over the topic.
"Mostly because of you." Dr. Lodgkins answered. "The trauma you suffered in that prison was born out of fear, a fear that Polly wasn't real." Dr. Lodgkins paused and set her notebook aside and leaned forward intently. "Am I correct?"
I could not hold the gaze and fell back into the couch thankful for its embrace as I stared at the ceiling. "Yes, that's true. Though who knows what would have happened if Polly had not been in the picture."
"I'm not trying to deal with what might have been, only what is." Dr. Lodgkins answered. "I am sympathetic to the embarrassment this causes, and rest assured I do not judge. In fact I don't really find your enjoyment of feminine clothing all that odd."
"My enjoyment?" I sat forward as best I could. "I don't enjoy the clothing, it's forced upon me. For some reason Polly and her Mom, and..." I stopped shaking my head at the number of women. "...others seem to find some strange delight in dressing me up in feminine garments and then tying me up, though Polly started it."
Dr. Lodgkins furrowed her brow and picked up her pen and notebook. "Oh, I see. For some reason I got the impression you enjoyed the process of looking more feminine. In fact I have a picture of you looking quite lovely. I just assumed..."
"Yeah, Polly has a way of making it sound that way. I cannot think of a single instance where coercion was not used." I answered with a roll of my eyes.
"Ok then, in that case, I will have to discuss this in greater detail with Polly."
"Wait, what?" I said suddenly suspicious.
"Well, like you said, you were coerced, so I have to make sure Polly includes this in your future treatment." Dr. Lodgkins answered. "Most likely overriding any of your determined objections."
"Oh dear God in heaven." I answered. "Please don't do that. You'll only encourage her already strong desire to do just that."
"I'm sorry Jack, I feel it's best for your continued treatment." Dr. Lodgkins answered.
"Can't we wait awhile to see if I'm already cured. It may not be necessary." I said.
"Sorry, if you are cured you will have recovered several months faster than my most successful of patients. Given the shape you were in upon arrival, I find this highly unlikely. I'm afraid you'll have to trust my judgment."
"Polly will have me tied to a kitchen stool in a French Maid's uniform, you know that right. My complete humiliation is the only possible outcome."
Dr. Lodgkins grabbed her phone and held it up before my eyes. "You mean like this."
She displayed a picture of a young woman smiling while dressed as a French Maid. I recognized the picture from when I had stayed with Lisa while Polly vacationed with my parents. "Jeez, what are you doing with that?"
See Chapter 27
"Don't worry, if Polly hadn't told me it was you I'd never have guessed." Dr. Lodgkins smiled looking at the picture with no small amount of mirth.
"Great, I feel so much better."
"I'd kill for your legs." Dr. Lodgkins laughed.
I shook my head throwing myself back on the couch. "I'm going to need anxiety medication."
"Doubtful, at least not anymore." Dr. Lodgkins smiled. "I'll see you next week with Polly, unless there’s anything else you need to discuss."
"There is one thing..." I took a breath trying to banish the fear of the treatment she had just threatened. I detailed the events of the last day at work and Lisa's suggestion I attend the meeting to discuss my own contributions to the company. "What do you think I should do?"
"Hmm." Dr. Lodgkins placed a finger to her lips. "That is an odd situation and I agree it would feel strange to be in the room where they discuss your fate. I suggest you send an advocate, someone you trust, someone who knows the situation, someone..."
"Polly." I said.
Dr. Lodgkins smiled. "That seems perfect."
* * *
I drove home with a mountain of worry on my shoulders mostly over how the doctor would tell Polly to include more embarrassment into my already strict binding. I was completely trapped, anything short of dumping Polly would never work, and life without Polly would not be life.
I walked into the kitchen after depositing my laptop on the couch. Mom's head was looking into the oven and several bottles of wine along with a half dozen wine glasses were set out on the counter. "Hey Mom, what's up?"
"Oh good you're home. Let's get you sorted since I'm running out of time." Mom answered. She wore a pair of leggings with a flowing flower blouse all hidden beneath her favorite kitchen apron. "Come along."
I followed her from the kitchen toward the stairs until we were standing at the door to my room. "Take a shower and dress in the garments on the bed."
"Garments? What's going on?" I answered.
Mom sighed. "I'm responsible for your treatment tonight and I'm running low on time. I borrowed something from April you should be familiar with. It promises to be much quicker than tying you with rope or tape."
I stepped closer to a bundle of black material lying on my bed and picked it up. As I did so, some hosiery fell on to the floor which I ignored. The garment was an ankle length dress with long sleeves which completely enclosed the hands ending in straps which could be used to trap the wearer’s arms. Walking in the dress would be nearly impossible and only managed with the smallest steps since one’s legs would be pressed together by the double layer of tight spandex.
Straight Jacket Dress
"You should wear these too." Mom knelt down and retrieved the black hosiery that fell to the floor. "According to April it will make the dress much easier to slide into."
"According to April?" I said without trying to disguise my sarcasm.
"Yes, so get to it. Give a yell when you're ready. I’ll help you with the zipper." Mom turned to leave.
The presence of feminine hosiery and the moderate similarity this garment had to a dress made me suspicious. "Has my therapist contacted you recently?"
Mom shook her head. "Not recently, why?"
"Oh nothing," I answered.
"Did something happen today?" Mom asked with obvious suspicious.
"She mentioned that she may reduce how often I have to do this." Once again a situation where lying by omission is the best way forward.
"Sorry, she didn't say anything. Now get to it, I have something in the oven. Be quick, I'll go easier on you if you are quick."
"Right easier." I rolled my eyes after I thought her back was turned but she spun quickly enough to catch it. "For that, you'll have a collar." She turned again and left.
I tugged at the necklace around my neck and figured it could not be worse than the one I already had. Polly had taken to calling it my choker necklace, which was only marginally better than referring to it as a collar. I went to the bathroom and showered and though I did not rush, I felt it unwise to antagonize Mom by taking extra time.
I entered my room with a towel wrapped around my waist and sat down on the bed with a deep sigh. "You'd think I'd be used to this by now." I whispered into the room whose silence was only broken by the quiet droning of a fan next to my bed. The hosiery was opaque, black, and smooth, I carefully slid them up my legs. The tight nylon squeezed my toes and legs and I privately wondered why the things were only reserved for women. Next I plunged my legs into the pseudo-dress and stood forcing my feet through the too-narrow opening at the bottom before pulling the garment higher squeezing my legs into a tight column of black spandex. I pushed my arms into the tight sleeves and called for Mom. "Ok, I'm ready." I then added in a whisper. “I suppose.”
Mom appeared moments later and pulled the zip up my back enclosing my entire body save for feet and head. "That is easy." Mom pulled the straps attached to the sleeves under a strap sewn into the front of the dress across my stomach and then connected them together behind my back so I was forcibly hugging myself. "Ingenious, I've seen a hobble dress before but not a hobble dress with a straight jacket included."
"You’ve worn one?" I said.
“I didn’t say that, and no, I’ve never worn an outfit like this, though I’ve worn a hobble skirt.” Mom answered.
I held up my hands. “I don’t want to know.”
“You asked, and now you go all cagey when I tell you the truth. Sometimes I'm glad your therapist suggested we gag you." Mom said while producing a large spongy ball from somewhere on the bed.
"Ugh, can you at least moisten it first." I asked.
"I suppose, what gave you that idea?" Mom asked.
"Lisa dampened a cloth she used recently and it was a lot more comfortable." I answered as Mom disappeared into the bathroom returning with the blue foam glistening with moisture. "Open up."
I obliged and Mom compressed the ball into my mouth. Once done it expanded to fill every nook and cranny completely silencing me. She then picked up a familiar roll of blue self-adhesive wrap and used it to ensure I would never expel the ball until she wished. "I'll be right back, don't go anywhere."
I shook my head, that joke, so old.
"She returned holding an oval-shaped piece of spandex matching the dress. She stretched this down over my head. The hood left my eyes and nose exposed but covered every other part of my head. She tucked the bottom of the hood into the collar and smoothed out the wrinkles. "There we go, all finished. Come along downstairs, I'm supposed to keep an eye on you. Take care at the stairs, I suggest you slide down on your butt."
I micro-stepped out of my room and down the hall. The stairs proved easier than walking as the slippery spandex allowed me to slide down to the main floor of the house quickly. Mom heard my arrival and pointed to an armless, high-backed chair in the living room. "Sit in that chair."
A couple of bunny hops later and I was sitting stiffly in the chair. Mom approached with a handful of zip ties which she used behind my back binding the straps holding my arms across my body to the chair. I would not be freeing myself. "And now the collar I promised for your sarcastic tone." She held a long length of bright pink ribbon in her hand which she wrapped around my neck and tied into a large bow just beneath my right ear. The ribbon had also been somehow attached to the back of the chair preventing me from slouching or even effectively looking down at my own trapped body. "Lovely."
Mom returned moments later having discarded her apron and deposited several bottles of wine on the coffee table along with half a dozen wine glasses. I looked sharply at Mom realizing what the proximity of those bottles to my chair meant but could not catch her eye. She was not only expecting company but I would be joining her guests. Mom returned moments later bearing several plates of hors d'oeuvres. I grunted in irritation and kicked my legs just brushing the coffee table with my toes making the wine glasses clink together.
"What's got you so agitated?" Mom said. "Looks like I'll need to take care of those legs." She found another length of pink ribbon and soon a large bow matching the one on my neck held my legs against the underside of the chair. "I know you're worried about my guests but everyone is well aware of your situation and have participated in one form or another."
I knew instantly what this was, the Mom's Club, the frequent meeting of my Mom and Polly's Mom with other women who became friends due to our exploits. At that moment the bell rang and sure enough there was April Dawson. I realized at once I had not seen her since my abduction. "Oh it smell wonderful Nancy." She said placing her coat in the closet. Seconds later her eyes met mine and she froze turning pale. Her reaction made it obvious why we had not met before this night, she was avoiding me. "Jack," she said in surprise and turned toward Nancy.
"Yes, my son will be joining us tonight, well sort of, he won't be saying much, mostly an observer actually." Mom smiled enjoying the joke.
"Maybe I should go, I'll come to the next one." April said while reaching toward the closet for her coat.
Nancy grabbed her hand and held it. "Why ever for? Did Jack do something?"
April shook her head. "No, it's just that…” April stopped and fell towards my Mom who quickly embraced her in a hug.
“What’s wrong April?” Mom asked quietly.
“If Polly and Jack hadn't been at my house just before...maybe..." April’s voice broke into a breathy sob. "Maybe he wouldn’t have been abducted."
My Mom screwed up her face in confusion. "You weren’t even remotely at fault even by association. He was kidnapped from the front of my own house. If anything you delayed the event by a few days."
I was flummoxed too. Of all the people who could possibly feel guilt, April was the last person on my list. People were funny that way though, sometimes they just needed assurance and comfort when something awful happened. Mom was up to the task. "No more of this silliness April, no one could possibly blame you."
"Ok, I suppose it’s silly. It was all so shocking." April said falling into the couch across from me. She wore a red romper-type dress which buttoned down the front and revealed as much leg as any mini skirt. Her eyes were glued to mine. "It's been a while. I guess I shouldn't have been avoiding you."
I grunted and shook my head as much as the the pink collar would allow.
"I'm glad your Mom didn't tell me you'd be in the same room as us, I probably would never have come." April said.
Mom walked back into the kitchen. "Pour yourself some wine, April."
The doorbell rang again and this time Selena Bates, my old math teacher walked in. Her eyes found mine in seconds and a smile bloomed on her face. "Oh this is going to be a fun night." She wore a pair of black leggings with a red sweater over a white shirt that peaked out at the waist, cuffs, and collar. A pair of matching red heels finished her outfit.
"Be nice Selena," Mom chided. "He's not here because he wants to be."
"Oh, that's even better." Selena laughed.
Selena walked into the living room and her hands immediately began sliding across the spandex hobble dress. "Oh this is amazing, where'd you get it?"
"It's mine." April said.
"Ah yes, from your first marriage." Selena said.
April nodded. They'd obvious swapped a lot of stories in previous meetings.
"Well Jack, you look amazing. I've missed seeing you in my class." Selena turned and poured herself a generous serving of wine.
Lisa came next wearing the tan pencil skirt and black blazer over ivory blouse she had worn to work. My appearance brought only the slightest of smiles to her lips. She expected to see me. Lisa pulled Selena into a lingering hug as she found a place to sit before taking a glass of wine offered by Mom. "Is Mary coming?"
"I think so." Mom answered. "She didn’t say otherwise."
Mary would be Ollie's Mom, and as if summoned by the utterance of her name, there was a quick knock on the door followed by a short-statured woman possessed of the most generous bosom of any of the other ladies. Her dirty blond hair was pulled into a ponytail and she wore a workout jacket zipped down to reveal a black sports bra highlighted with bright purple stitching. This matched her black leggings and finished off with a pair of running shoes in a shocking shade of bright pink. "Hello ladies. Don't get up."
"Just come from a workout."
"Yeah, but don't worry I showered, just didn't have the right clothes at the gym." She seemed to notice me for the first time. "Oh my, is that Jack tucked away in the corner."
"Yes, Polly's away, so I'm responsible for his treatment." Mom answered. "I was pressed for time so April provided the convenient dress."
"Lucky us. Love the dress, Jack. It's definitely you." Maria smiled
I rolled my eyes, it's not like I could explain my situation.
"I'm surprised you don't have him stuffed in a closet. It's not like we can talk about him while he's sitting right there."
"It's against the rules." Lisa answered. "He can never be alone while tied up."
"Makes sense, I guess." Ollie's Mom said while running her hands across my thigh. "Nice pink bows, really brings back memories of when I found you in my basement." The woman laughed but was soon distracted by the wine and food.
Conversations over the next were many and varied and I could only keep track of a few. Lisa took some time to explain the situation at work about the meeting with the executives upstairs and though everyone agreed that the twenty-five thousand was insufficient they had little to offer as to how to solve the issue agreeing more money may not be the best.
April asked if the unorthodox treatment was working and everyone from Mom, who mentioned my improved sleep, to Selena, who talked of my improvement at school, agreed that the treatment was an amazing success. "So I guess she's some kind of genius, this Dr. Lodgkins then?"
Everyone kind of shrugged and agreed before another round of wine was poured and the topics moved on to Ollie and Kristy. There was no juicy information there except they were planning to attend the same college, which prompted Mom to ask the most interesting question of the evening. "What's Polly planning to do after graduation?"
"Marry your son, I hope." Lisa smiled.
"You have no reservations about that?" Selena asked. "I mean given your disdain for marriage."
"Jack is a special case." Lisa said offering up a small smile in my direction.
"Other than that I mean?" Mom continued.
"Not sure, I considered offering her a job at the firm, but it smacks a bit too strongly of nepotism, especially if I'm the one making the suggestion." Lisa answered.
"So you haven't talked about it?" April asked.
"Other things have intruded." Lisa said again looking in my direction. "But things should slow down so I expect to have a conversation soon."
"You seem less worried." Mom noted.
"Well, there was that whole marriage proposal that happened since the last time we talked and the fact that Jack seems to be doing well at work means my Polly should be ok, at least financially."
"Good, you seemed so nervous last time." Mom smiled.
"Jack saves the day again." Selena said sliding her hand across my lap causing me to jump a bit in my confinement.
The conversations drifted away and as the wine flowed more freely the amount of casual touches from the cadre of women became more frequent until Mom finally stood up. "Who needs a ride home?" Selena and Ollie's Mom were the most obviously drunk.
"I'll take Selena home." Lisa offered. "I only had the one glass."
Mom nodded and looked toward the other woman who was now laughing uproariously at some unknown joke. "Ok Mary, I'll give you a lift and April if you would stay with Jack, I'd appreciate it."
April nodded. "No problem, can I take his gag off, I'd like someone to talk to."
Mom glanced at her watch. "I suppose, but don't let him out of the chair."
April nodded and stood, wobbled for a bit, and sat back down. "Well I guess I drank too much."
Lisa laughed as she helped Selena with her coat. "Leaving your son in the hands of a drunk woman. Parent of the year there Nancy."
April frowned and waved her hand at Lisa. "Go on, I love him as much as any of you."
By the time Mom left, April had managed to remove my hood and was busy picking at the wrap holding the foam ball inside my mouth. She pulled the foam free but my mouth was dry despite the damp sponge and the muscles were sore enough to make speaking difficult. April held up a glass of white wine. "Don't tell your mother but have a sip."
It was not the first time I tasted wine but I did not enjoy it, but it was better than nothing. A few minutes later I was able to speak. "Thanks, that gag was the worst."
"You're welcome." April said. "Everyone seems to think you're recovering. Do you?"
"I guess so, but I'm not a fan of the medicine." I answered.
April laughed. "I suppose not. I hoped to invite you guys to my place again but..." April paused and grabbed the back of her neck. "...well you know."
"Yes, but you have nothing to blame yourself over. Nothing happened because of you."
"Thanks, I didn’t know how to handle what happened. I was super freaked."
"Me too." I smiled.
"Yeah, I suppose so." April laughed. "Have you talked to Polly much about getting married."
"No, it's all been on hold."
"Yeah that makes sense. I just want to offer my house and land as a location, it's super pretty in the spring and summer."
"Thank you, I'll definitely mention it to Polly."
"No problem, I think it would be awesome to have it there." April smiled.
April offered more wine which I accepted and we continued our conversation mostly reminiscing about past adventures until Mom came home and helped April release me from my confinement. Mom thanked April for the use of the straight-jacket dress which she returned to her care and then left to take her home since April was way too drunk to drive. Luckily Mom didn't notice my own uncertain steps as I climbed the steps to bed.
I snagged the cellphone from the nightstand and saw a text from Polly.
Polly wrote:
Sorry I won’t be home till Friday, we made the finals. Don’t tell anyone though. I want to surprise them.
I texted back my congratulations and fell onto the bed asleep before the sheets had settled.