Simon arrived home and was immediately required to show his purchases to Emma. She examined each item carefully while Simon waited, dreading the thought that he would be sent back to exchange something. "Good," she announced. "These are just right so let's hope they fit!"
"But before you try them on, there's a few things I need to say. I think you might need all the help you can in the next four weeks," explained Emma. "If you disobey my instructions you know what will happen, don't you? I will kick you out, darling - that very day! Don't think I don't mean it because you have seriously upset me."
He nodded, no doubting what she was saying.
She continued, "So to help you, I'm going to set some rules to remove any temptations that you may feel to disobey me. Firstly, we are going to throw out all your male underwear, your socks and your work shirts. I've already put them all in this bag." She pointed to a black bin bag on the floor. "That way you won't be able to substitute your female clothes for male ones. That will keep you on the road to success, won't it, darling?"
He swallowed deeply. "But I thought I only had to wear the female clothes at work? What will I wear at home?"
"You must have misunderstood, darling. You need to wear the lingerie 24 hours a day if the aversion therapy is to work. And, as I've just explained, we don't want male clothing lying around that might tempt you to break your side of the bargain. You understand my reasoning, I hope?
Her logic was sound but that didn't make the idea any more comforting. All the same, he just nodded.
"Secondly, I want you to cut up all your bank cards and blank cheques, and to give me any cash that you have in your wallet." She passed him a pair of scissors but she could see consternation on his face. "Don't worry, darling, I won't rob you but I don't want you feeling tempted to go out and buy male clothes. Who knows, you might leave here to go to work in the morning, and on the way buy a man's shirt, socks and underpants and then change on the way to work. I don't want that to happen because then you will fail your test and we won't be able to wipe the slate clean in four weeks' time. You must try to understand, darling, because it's for your own good. Every morning, I will give you 10 pounds in cash. Every evening, you will give me back what's left along with receipts for any money you have spent. Understood?"
"Yes, Emma," he replied, conscious of how the net was closing in on him. He did as instructed, took out his wallet, and then cut each of his bank cards and cheques in two. Emma picked up the wallet, removed his cash for safekeeping and checked the compartments of the wallet thoroughly for any hidden cards or cash. Satisfied, she handed it back with a nod.
"And finally, Sarah will keep an eye on you while you're at work. That..."
Emma's flow was abruptly interrupted by Simon. "Sarah," he shouted, "You don't mean Sarah Jones?"
"Yes, darling - Sarah Jones. Your old girl friend. The one whose underwear you used to wear until she found out."
"But she hates me!" retorted Simon. "She detests me!"
"Well, are you surprised after what you did? ... I'm not. Anyway, it's useful that Sarah works for the same company as you - that was how you met, wasn't it - so she will do spot checks on you."