I am Baaack! Part 12

She had not seen Stella, but what she had seen convinced her that it, unlike the street sculpture, was not something the mayor would tout as a tourist attraction - at least not publicly.

As Joan had approached the two on the sidewalk, Robbie had activated her pager to send a signal to Barbara two blocks away, and now here she was picking up the three. "Where to?"

"Do you know The Whip and Cuff Club on Fargo?" Joan had entered last, and answered the driver's question with her own. The driver nodded. 'She thinks we probably belong there,' thought Joan as she settled into her seat and looked over at LARGE little Dainie between her and Robbie. Dainie was positioning the middle seat belt around herself and Sukie.

Joan smiled. "That's a good girl, Dainie, to think of Sukie's safety; that's what a mommy does." She tried to make her voice serious but not scary. "Well, your mommy isn't here, but I'm sort of taking her place, right?"

Dainie nodded.

"I'm going to tell you some things, Sweetie, and you need to listen carefully so you can do exactly what I say. Remember when you and Mommy came to see me, and she made you do some things you didn't like? Remember how you felt good when they were over and you knew Mommy had made you do them for your own good?" Again Dainie nodded, although a bit nervously. "Well, we're going to what may be a very scary place because Dr. Joan has some business she has to take care of, and she needs you to see what she does, so you can tell Mommy. You need to be a big girl and do exactly what I tell you, even if you're scared. I'll be there, and Aunt Robbie will be there; we won't let anything bad happen to you. Can you do that, be a big girl for us?"

Dainie looked at both women apprehensively, but then sat up straight. "Yes, Dr. Joan, Aunt Robbie, I CAN be a big girl!" she stated proudly, but she gripped Joan's left and Robbie's right hands tightly. ('Bigger than you think, Joan,' thought Adain. 'Bigger than you think!')