RELUCTANT PRESS

Cindy was covered with bandages and her jaw was wired shut. Both eyes were nearly swollen shut and quite black and blue. Her movements and soft moans indicated she was in a great deal of pain. A very tight-lipped Barry drove home, being careful to avoid any bumps. Fred sat slumped in the front seat, exhausted by the ordeal. Cindy cuddled next to Helen in the second seat while Sheldon tried to hide in the rear seat.

Once they were underway, Helen turned to Sheldon.

"We were quite tempted to do to you what you did to Cindy," she stated in a tired voice. "We still might if you don't do what we tell you to do! You better thank Cindy since she asked that we be gentle with you because she cares enough not to want anyone to suffer like she is."

Sheldon submissively nodded his head. "Thank you, Cindy," he stated softly. "I... I'm sorry for what I did... I... I really don't know why I even did it."

Cindy cuddled against her mother and nodded a painful acknowledgment.

"It will be three weeks before her jaw can be unwired, at least two weeks till the bruises fade, and probably two months until the scars fade," Helen stated coldly. "That means she will not be able to be the flower girl for Barry's wedding. Your vile act almost ruined the wedding! Fortunately, Cindy had an idea for a substitute, someone who is the same size and so should fit her dress perfectly. She also came up with what we all feel is a very suitable punishment for you."

Sheldon swallowed nervously. His fears that they would plot against him if he was not present had come true. Quite distressed, he looked into Cindy's clouded eyes. He swore he could detect laughter in the pain-filled bloodshot orbs.

"Fortunately, saving the wedding and your punishment are one and the same," Helen said maliciously.

Sheldon was flustered. How could his punishment involve saving the wedding? They needed a girl to replace Cindy as the flower girl. A girl who was the same size as

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TWO LITTLE GIRLS

By JENNIFER SUE

Cindy. Suddenly, his stomach lurched as he recalled the planning session he'd overheard.

"Cindy will be a perfect flower girl," Helen had gushed. "Sheldon would be the ideal ring bearer since he and Cindy are the same size despite the two year age difference! They'd make a cute pair!"

Then with chilling terror, he recalled his thoughts after he'd been dropped from contention and Frank Grim been selected to be the ring bearer. "Of course Ginny would be able to talk him into being the ring bearer. She could talk him into being the flower girl... and he'd probably be as cute as Cindy," had been his derisive thoughts.

Suddenly, he understood the mirth in Cindy's raw eyes. A suitable punishment that would simultaneously salvage the wedding could only mean one thing!

"No... no... you've got to be joking." Sheldon stuttered fearfully. "You can't be seriously thinking about punishing me by making me take Cindy's place as the flower girl! I'll be the ring bearer! I promise to do it perfectly! I'll bet Frannie Grim would jump at the chance to be the flower girl!"

"No chance, Squirt," growled Barry. "You intentionally hurt Cindy. She has every right to choose her replacement and your punishment. I for one think her idea is fantastic. Sort of like killing two birds with one stone!"

Sheldon winced at the metaphor. At the moment, he wished he could be killed with a stone!

"Perhaps spending some time as a girl will make you appreciate girls more and make you see the errors of your ways," stated Fred with a cold, no-nonsense voice. "You will do exactly as your mother tells you. I want no arguments and no complaints! You will be a perfect flower girl... or you'll regret being born!"

At that moment, Sheldon already regretted being born. The mere thought of having to wear the pretty flower girl dress sent shivers up and down his spine.

"As soon as we get home," Helen picked up the thread. "You will strip and take a nice bubble bath. After that, I'll

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