Dani came home from the hospital the next day. The doctors instructed her parents that there was to be no corporal punishment or high stress situations for 24 hours. When Jenny told Dani this, and amazing thing happened.
Dani relaxed, perhaps for the first time since her rejuve. She actually started acting like a little girl. Jenny asked Dani if she would like to watch a Holo program with them, and she replied, "Yes, Mrs. Roberts, I think I would".
Jenny sighed. "You know, Dani, Mrs. Roberts sounds so formal. Why don't you just call me mom?" she said.
Dani looked up at her. "I'm sorry, I can't do that. I had one set of parents, who are now living off-planet, and I will not let anyone take their place." Dani saw the frown cross Jenny's face, and she continued, "But, you are right, the formal address is awkward. Maybe we can compromise. How does Aunt Jenny and Uncle Frank sound?"
Jenny was beaming as she looked over at Frank. He was smiling as well, at the concession Dani had made. It might be a start. "That will be find, Dani" he replied.
Frank had to get to work, but Dani and Jenny spent the day with each other. They watched some Holovision, and Dani actually helped Jenny do some housecleaning. They played a board game together in the afternoon (Dani killed Jenny in Monopoly), and she even helped set the table for dinner.
After dinner, things got quieter between Dani and her "Aunt and Uncle". Frank took Dani up for her bath, which had turned into a common occurrence. Dani was filthy, as she had the 6-year-old talent of acquiring dirt without actually touching dirt. In the past, Dani would have received a hand spanking before bedtime, but today Frank simply got her dressed for bed. "You understand that things will be back to normal tomorrow?" Frank asked.
Dani sighed. "Yes, I understand." As Frank led her over to the bed, Dani said "I want to meditate before going to sleep. It should only take 20 minutes or so."
Frank looked at the time, and replied, "Well, it is a little early for your bedtime. Go ahead. I will be up to check on you in a little while." Frank paused, and turned back to his "niece". "Dani. Why did you tip the stool over?"
Dani looked at Frank for moment, then shrugged. "It seemed like the thing to do at the time." She replied.
"Didn't you know that you would be hurt?"
"Yes. It was a net plus, though." was her surprising reply.
Frank shook his head, and turned to the door. "Goodnight, and pleasant dreams."
Frank and Jenny discussed the day, and how different it was from all of the other days, as they were preparing their report to the Department. "Today was wonderful!" Jenny exclaimed.
"Yes, but look at why it was wonderful. It was a day off from her sentence. She relaxed and started acting normal just as soon as she found out that she wouldn't be punished today. She as much as told me that she had hurt herself on purpose, and felt rewarded by the day off. We can't let her learn THAT lesson."
"You are right, of course. What do you think, punishment tomorrow for it?"
"No, I don't think that will be enough. I think we will need to make clear that, for every time she hurts herself to get out of punishment, she will get double or triple the punishment later. I think we need to punish her for three days for this act. We need to make the alternative so horrible that she will know that self-inflicted injury is not an escape."
"Do we need department approval for that? I think what you are considering is on the borderline of the guidelines."
"No, I think that it falls under our authority as parents, and is proportionate with the offense. We will not use any prohibited implements, or make the level rise to a special, but it will be long and painful. Also, since we will be going right to the limit, we can't give her an opportunity to defy us and incur additional punishment, which we may not be able to give her. That means that everything will have to be by force, and we will have to make sure that there is no way out of what we will do."
"You had better include that plan in the report. Oh, Dani, you are going to be so sorry you tried to "escape"!"
When Frank and Jenny walked into Dani's room, they found her already awake, sitting on the "spanking" chair, and meditating. She noticed them, and stood up.
"Dani, your Mo-, I mean your Aunt and I have to have a little talk with you. What you did two days ago was completely unacceptable. You could actually have been killed. Or, it might have taken an emergency rejuve, which would have left you at age 3. You may think that you bought yourself a day and a half of peace, but we are here to convince you that the price was too high."
"For intentionally injuring yourself, defying our instructions to stay on the stool, and causing the expense and emotional distress to us, you are going to pay with your naughty behind. Since you had one day of no punishment, you will get 3 days of atonement for your acts."
"You will be punished several times each day, starting now. Understand that, if there is a repeat of this type of offense, your punishment will only get worse. Injuring yourself is no escape. You have to learn that the only way thru this is to learn to accept your punishment. Now, come here, and climb over my lap."
Frank and Jenny were astonished at the reply. "I am prepared for your torture, but I will not participate in it." Frank's face flushed with anger, and he reached over and grabbed his 'niece' and dragged her over his lap.