The gym bag and carry-all hit the kitchen table with a loud thud.
"It's a mistake, MOM. A big mistake." Jon glared in his Mom's direction.
He got no reaction in return.
"Aren't you the least bit worried about what she's making me do?" He gestured down at the neon-green sports bra and spandex short-shorts he currently found himself clad in. Still no response.
"I'm a guy. G-U-Y, guy. Guys don't do this stuff. It's like she doesn't even notice - like she doesn't even care! Mom, we've got to get this sorted out. I'm wearing lipstick. BRIGHT RED LIPSTICK! Because 'I need to get used to it.' This has gone too far."
Finally, Linda Madison turned around from doing the dishes. The look on her face wasn't the one Jon was looking for.
"Weren't you the aimless youth who told me you were joining this program to finally get some direction in life? Listen Jon, I'm your mother, and I'm just as uncomfortable having my baby parade around in skimpy outfits on national TV like some tramp. But that doesn't change the fact that it's what you're meant to do from now on. if you weren't ready to deal with the consequences, then why did you sign up?"
She walked over and put her arm around Jon's shoulder.
"But listen sweetheart. Won't it be nice to get your family free tickets to all the games? Having a professional cheerleader in the family might be a good thing. Maybe you can be the role model that Zoe needs to get her out of this phase she's going through. Just think about it. You'll be a minor celebrity around town too - you'll get paid just to go places, smile and take pictures. Everyone's going to want to meet you."
Jon moved away from his mother - she wasn't making sense.
"I admit though, when I heard what they were making you do, I was a bit skeptical. But after a few hours of talking to the scientists at the center, the whole plan made complete sense. Brittney-Lynne's going to be your new best friend, you know."
Jon took a couple more steps backward. This wasn't like his mother. The real Linda Madison would be appalled at what was going on with her son. She didn't really want him to become her 2nd daughter, did she? It was like she was brainwashed.
His mind was swirling. They wouldn't brainwash him too, would they? Had they already started? At that moment, Jon got really worried about having to return to the center for the next day's classes. Could he trust Brittney-Lynne? She was the one forcing him to change, he thought, but her smile was so disarming. Or Sarah? He didn't even want to think about that, but with her being in the same boat as he, maybe she was the one who could help him snap out of it .
