Miss Fine was pleased as Jon entered the room for their session. He was already starting to adapt physically.
As the boy sat there in his flimsy hospital gown, she could see two bumps peeking out of a formerly flat chest and a dozen more subtle changes in bone structure.
"We were talking yesterday about your need to take more responsibility and act more assertive," she told him, offering him a cup of tea. Yesterday, he'd turned it down, but today he took it. Her voice was soothing.
"But, Miss Fine, I..." Jon protested, uncomfortably.
"Call me Rebecca," she said. "I want you to think of me as your friend."
********
Jon entered Linda's room and found her sitting on the bed with a laptop. "What are you doing?" He asked, curiously, sitting down next to her.
"Miss Fine suggested I work on my computer skills. I don' know how to do much besides typing and checking email. She thinks it is a valuable skill."
"Want some help?" Jon offered. He was good with computers. She nodded and he scooted over and began to do so.
"I'm not any good at this," Linda complained.
"Rebecca says you have to take responsibility. If you are having trouble, you have to try harder."
"Rebecca who?"
"Rebecca Fine," Jon said, patiently, not noticing the tone his voice had taken.
Linda felt confused. Miss Fine was an authority figure...how had Jon gotten on a first name basis with her? "I don't care what she says," her voice unintentionally whining.
"Linda," Jon said, not realizing he'd addressed his mother by her first name. "Rebecca is only trying to help."
In another room, Rebecca Fine smiled. Her work on Jon was progressing nicely. He was already starting to parrot and act on the suggestions she'd given him. And by allowing him to believe they were friends, she'd isolated Linda and made Jon see her as less of an authority figure. She'd encouraged a dislike from Linda, one that would make Linda see her as threatening, to help aid her work on them.
She watched as Jon, encouraged by the suggestions he'd been given, remained calm as Linda grew more frustrated with the lesson.
