To Jeff’s surprise and relief, Suzy and their mother went straight to the dollhouse. Suzy unlocked and opened it. Jeff looked up at the two females towering him. His mother was frowning. She kneeled and picked up Jeff. “Is it this one?” she asked Suzy who nodded. “This Barbie is Jeff ? Is that really true?” she said, looking at Jeff. He nodded, hoping it would be the end of his troubles. But something was wrong : she was supposed to be upset, but didn’t seem to. Worse : Suzy had a little smile that was clearly a sign that things wouldn’t get better.
Jeff looked up at his mother, hoping she would see his distress… but he knew all she could see was his still and smiling doll face. He reached his plastic arms to his mother, hoping she would get the gesture as a “save me” one. Ignoring it, the mother looked her daughter, and again the doll she was holding. Obviously she was thinking.
Finally, she asked :”Jeff, Suzy told me your turned yourself into a Barbie girl and sneaked into her room. Is that true ?” He nodded. She thought a little more then said: “You know, you’ve been quite bad with her lately, and I was looking for a way to punish you usefully, and it seems you called it upon you yourself. She convinced me that being her doll would help you two create some kind of connection, that you would maybe learn to respect her a little more.” Horrified by what he was hearing, Jeff was shacking no as fast as possible. Again, his mother ignored it. “Since you picked yourself this form, you’ll just keep it until the end of the summer. Don’t worry, we’ll build up a story about some travel to explain your absence. I’ll tell your father when he gets back, I’m sure he’ll approve... If he doesn’t, we may try your strange device on him as well” She laughed.
The mother turned to Suzy. “It might be a punishment for your brother, but it has conditions : every week, I want to be able to check on him and find him in a good state, the same as he is right now. Is that clear ? No abuse on him. He’ll be your doll, not something you can alter, destroy, dismember or else.” “Yes mom, I promise to be good to her” “Her ? It’s your brother in here… But you’re maybe right” she said, looking as Jeff, “Since he picked up the girl doll himself, I guess we can’t really refer to him as Jeff for the coming months… How could we call him ?” “I’ve already picked Angelica” answered Suzy, giggling “she’s a model and got an handsome boyfriend named Kyle !” “Oh, I see she’s already accustomed well ! Well I’m OK with it.”
The mother handed Jeff to his sister :”I trust you on this. Keep a good and caring eye on your new doll.” She looked at Jeff, still shacking his arms like he was trying to fly away. “Be a good doll, Angelica, and we might shorten your punishment. I’m sure you’ll enjoy your new life !” She grinned then left the room, leaving Jeff to his sister.