Florence skipped into the lounge looking forward to a shopping trip for clothes with her new mother figure.
The game of being hypnotised as a young carefree air-head, had spiralled out of control, leaving her helpless in its powerful grip. She gave up struggling with her alter ego, named Candy, to simply accept her. Being taken shopping for clothes excited Candy, and so she too became enthusiastic.
She was painfully aware of how wrong this was, and why it was happening. For over a week she had been subjected to Candy's silliness, until it began to influence her thinking to. It was so comforting to have a caring mother again after so long, Mable filled a deep longing and a heartfelt loss. Those feelings combined with the Candy alter-ego to overwhelm her feelings.
Mabel had lost her daughter in childbirth, and her emotional needs also swamped Florence's resistance. She couldn't help feeling and behaving like Mabel's lost daughter. She was a mature married woman acting out the role of a young air-head girl. At first it had been embarrassing, then it became humiliating, turning to downright dangerous. Even worse, was knowing she was taking on Candy's behaviour and way of thinking.
In the mall Mable led her by the hand, while they aimlessly chatted about clothes, shoes, and handbags. Candy responded equally inanely with girly talk, about make-up and fashions. She just loved the idea of a make-over. Mable was delighted having Candy to replace the daughter she lost. Florence was happy to have a mother figure, after losing hers at an early age. They were a comfort to each other.
If Mable hadn't needed Candy to be a young girl so badly, she might have noticed Candy was older than she acted. Her young complexion allowed her to pass for eighteen, but Mable wanted her to be younger, and so that is how she viewed the twenty-eight year old woman.
It would be devastating if she found out Florence was a married woman, and Florence's husband worked for Bernard, her husband. Mable continued with the farce, encouraging her new daughter to try on girly dresses. Mable's fascination with Barbie dolls was reignited as they found a new range of pink party dresses.
"Oh Fab! I just love pink!" Candy gushed. "The panties are so gorgeous, mummy," Candy chirruped, while lifting the flouncy hem to show them off. Written across the front of the pink panties was, 'I'm a Barbie Girly'.
Mable was about to tell her to pull the dress down as they were outside the changing room. Being called mummy hit her hard. She looked at Candy with pride, glowing warm and emotional. Tears formed in the corners of her eyes, which she dabbed with the corner of a hanky.
"You look wonderful, Candy. We'll take all the clothes. You'll need shoes next," Mable enthused.
Candy wrapped her arms around Mable, for a tight hug. Looking up into her face she smiled warmly. "Thank you mummy, you're wonderful too," Candy said, with a look of adoration.
They walked hand in hand through the mall, window shopping as they went. Mable readily agreed to let her wear the short dress, which bounced up over the petticoats, showing off the little panties. It was meant for dressing up at home, rather than to be worn outside, but how could she refuse the pretty little girl anything her heart desired.
In the store front windows the image reflected back at Florence, reinforced her role as Mabel's little girl. Her blonde hair had been fashioned in pigtails with pink ribbons, and the pretty pink dress floated high around her thighs revealing bottom hugging matching panties. Even her shoes were pink flats.
It was enough to make even the least fashion conscious young girl sick, and die of shame. Candy swung her hips for the hem to float up, delighting in the swish of petticoats and silk. She wanted to swirl around the mall like a ballerina on tiptoe.
"Hi Mable, how you doing?" Denise asked. She knew Mable wouldn't ask why she was out of the office while the boss was away
"Hello, I'm great thank you, and you?" Mable greeted the woman. "This is Candy, my, err, my little girl," Mabel stuttered.
Denise screwed up her face, looking curiously at Candy. She quickly recovered to greet her, "Hi Candy. You look, mmm, lovely," she said, with a strained voice.
Candy beamed a bright smile at the woman, then ignored her to study a range of shoes on display.
"Would you do me a favour. I need to freshen up. Could you look after Candy for a moment?" she asked. She was worried about her make-up after the tears.
"Sure. Let's go for a soda, Candy," Denise smiled. She studied Candy for a moment, with a curious look. When Candy reached for her hand, she automatically held it as they walked away.
After a sip of coffee Denise sat back in the seat to take a good look at the girl. She had seen her somewhere before, and it was annoying not to place her. She was good with faces, and as Bernard's secretary she knew they only had a son. Closely studying the girl it was obvious she was older than the clothes portrayed.
Her boss and his wife were dark haired, not blonde like Candy. While Candy made slurping noises Denise went through a mental list of blondes she knew. Dismissing the bleached ones left a very short list.
"Are you related to Matthew and Florence?" Denise asked.
"Sure. My aunt and uncle," Candy said, and continued to suck noisily at the strawberry shake.
Florence cringed over the question, as the woman was close to recognising who she was. There was nothing she could do or say to divert discovery, even if she could have prompted Candy.
Denise was probing Candy, who thankfully gave short meaningless answers, while concentrating on her favourite pink milk shake. It was a relief when Mabel returned. Candy brightened up and wanted to know if they were shopping, or going home.
"I just can't wait to try on those fab outfits you bought me mom," Candy gushed.
"Sorry Denise, we've got to get home. Any news from Bernard, about the meeting?" she thought to ask.
"Nothing yet. I'm sure he'll swing it with Matthew along," Denise smiled. She watched the two of them hurrying away. There was something odd about that girl, even though she was dressed in cos-play. She had to get back to the office, so paid the bill and forgot about it.
In the kitchen Mable was starting the evening meal while Candy unpacked a few bags.
"No you don't young lady. Wait till after dinner," Mable playfully scolded Candy.
"Oh! OK!" she reluctantly agreed, and put away the lolly pops.
"You had better change out of that dress in case you spoil it," Mable added.
"While in your room you can hang up the outfits we bought. Go on, run along," Mable told her.
Candy skipped to her room singing a pop song, badly out of tune in her usual high pitched, squeaky voice.
"Honey, I'm home," Bernard shouted.
