Cold Open

Down in the family room, Cindy sat alone watching television. It was rare that she got the opportunity to watch television alone as she had five other siblings, not to mention her Mommy and Daddy who wanted to watch also. There was only one television in the house.

On the color television, the Road Runner Show was playing. Cindy loved it because she saw herself as the Road Runner and boys in general were the Coyote. Boys were always ruining girls' fun.

Cindy was glad that she had two sisters: Jan age 10 and Marcia age 13. Her three step brothers, Bobby age 8, Peter age 11, and Greg age 14, she wasn't so sure about. Her Mommy had only married her new Daddy a short time before and Cindy was still getting used to having three brothers.

The worst and the best of the three brothers in her extended family was Bobby. He was the boy closest to her age as he was less than a year older than she was. Cindy was seven and Bobby was eight. When the family was grouped for whatever reason by age, she would always be paired with Bobby.

Cindy tried to get away from the silly boy, but he would chase after her like the Coyote chased after the Road Runner. The Coyote was always trying to do something nasty to the bird. Unlike the Road Runner who always got away, Cindy wasn't so lucky. She had to endure Bobby's nasty ways.

Sitting next to Cindy on the love seat was her favorite doll, Kitty Carryall. She loved her doll and took it everywhere she could. She wished she could take it to school, but Mommy wouldn't allow her. Mommy reminded Cindy, that she could lose Kitty at school.

"No, I won't. I would never let anything happen to her!" Cindy would protest. But Mommy wouldn't let her take Kitty with her. But all other places, Kitty accompanied Cindy.

"See Kitty, thith ith where the Coyote ith painting a cross walk on the road, and he puts up a sign that sayth, School Crossing. Now look the coyote, he ith wearing a little girl dreth and skipping across the street. Now watch as the Road Runner just runs by the Coyote turning him around in thircles. Isn't that funny! The Road Runner comes back carrying a thine that sayth 'Road Runners Can't Read'. She ith tho much smarter than any old dumb boy!" Cindy lisped.

Cindy always referred to the Road Runner as she and the Coyote as he.

"It was really funny to see the Coyote wearing girl's clothes." Cindy told her doll. I don't know why boys don't wear drethes like girls. Or have long hair or act nice like girls."

Jan had been standing at the doorway of the family room, enjoying the cartoon too. When she heard what Cindy said, she decided to play a trick on her youngest sister. She walked away to find Marcia and Bobby. Cindy was sweet, but she was very gullible.

The cartoon ended and another started, when Jan returned.

"Cindy, you're not going to believe this," Jan told her excitedly.

"I don't care. I'm watching TV."

"Come, you have to see this. Marcia learned hypnosis. She is going to make Bobby think he is you."

"Think he ith me? He can't be me. I'm already me!"

"Come and watch. It'll be so much fun. We'll dress him up in dresses and you can play with him like he's a girl."

"Dress him up?" Cindy remembered how the Coyote had just put on a school girl dress and how funny it was.

"Yeah, come on."

"Okay."

In the bathroom, Marcia was talking to Bobby. "When Cindy gets here we'll start. I want you to stare into space with your mouth open like you are being hypnotized."

"Sure."

"I hear her coming. Get into position."

Bobby presented a blank expression on his face. His eyes opened and then he stuck out his tongue.

"Stop that, she is almost here."

Bobby got into character. Marcia had tied a pocket watch to a string and swung it in front of Bobby's eyes.

Cindy took a position at the door. She could clearly be seen, but Bobby and Marcia who sat perpendicular to the door pretended not to notice her. Jan stood behind Cindy, smiling.

"Now you just watch this shiny object. Just relax," Marcia told Bobby in a soothing voice.

Bobby concentrated on maintaining a blank and to refrain from giggling.

"Watch it swing, back and forth, back and forth," Marcia continued.

From the door on the opposite side of the bathroom, the one that connected to the boys room, Peter noticed something going on. He decided investigate. He stayed hidden from sight, but he could clearly see what was happening. Peter saw Marcia and Bobby sitting across from each other and the hypnotic watch between them.

"You're getting very drowsy. You're eyelids are getting heavy. You can hardly keep them open. You are going into a DEEP,..DEEP...DEEP, sleep."

Bobby closed his eyes. At the same time, Peter did also. Bobby was faking, but Peter was not. Peter had been hypnotized.

"You're in a deep, sound sleep. A very relaxing sleep. And when I awaken you, I'm going to say 'Goodbye'. And when you hear 'Goodbye' you won't be a boy anymore, you'll become a girl like Cindy. You will think like Cindy, act like Cindy, talk like Cindy."

Bobby didn't move. Peter nodded his head. Cindy snickered.

"Now, I want you to repeat after me. 'When I hear 'Goodbye Cindy', "

Bobby whispered the words, "When I hear 'Goodbye Cindy."

Peter also whispered the words, "When I hear Goodbye Cindy."

"I will become Cindy," Marcia stated.

"I will become Cindy," Bobby repeated.

"I will become Cindy," Peter also repeated.

"Peter what are you doing there?" Greg called from inside the boys' bedroom. This roused Peter from his trance.

"Umm, nothing," Peter explained. He had forgotten why he was at the door. He saw Marcia and Bobby in the bathroom and instinctively closed the door from his side.

"The guys are starting a baseball game, we could use an extra player. Wanna play?" Greg asked.

"I don't feel like it," Peter replied. Peter didn't know why he refused. He just felt like he was waiting for something. He didn't know what.

"We could use you."