He regretted it instantly. David thought he had self-control, he'd told himself that nothing was going to happen, but who was he kidding? Maybe he was just as bad as Doctor Gilmore.
The knock had shaken him from his reverie, and, almost by reflex, he'd invited whoever it was on the other side of the door to enter.
It had been his father, Steve. No longer was the older man dressed as Kayla, no longer did he act the part. When Doctor Gilmore had released David, he must have released the rest of the town as well. A warm smile was on the patriarch's face as he sat down on the bed and spoke to his son.
"That was a weird one," David's dad said through a chuckle, "The day my town turned into Kayla... sounds like it should be the title of some 50's B movie."
David smiled. His dad always knew what to say. They'd always had a great relationship, unlike most of his friends and their fathers. David's dad was a warm, accessible father, a role model.
"Not that I'd mind living in a town full of cheerleaders," Steve continued, "just not as one of them!"
That elicited a laugh from David. A laugh, and then something else. Some sort of twinge. Something unfamiliar.
"Oh come on, Dad, you looked very fetching in that outfit," David teased his father.
"You flatterer," David's dad laughed, "What do you think the doctor's going to do next?"
"He just told me he was going to leave us alone for a while," David said, bending the truth.
"Well that's excellent news!" David watched his man jump up from the bed in joy, "With that guy in charge, the next thing you know I'd be a walking, talking Barbie doll!"
What I wouldn't give to see that..., came the unbidden thought, unlike David's normal thoughts, but strong. So very strong. For a moment, David fought it, pushed it down, but the words, Barbie doll... Barbie doll... Barbie doll... kept repeating, over and over. It only took a moment, but it was exhausting. Finally, he relented. Sure, the thought may have been planted by Doctor Gilmore, but maybe something inside of him did want to see his dad as a walking, talking Barbie doll. It wasn't as if a thought would do anything, would it?
FLASH
