Mikey's dad...the teenager...was watching Stacy and Linda play...and this time Mikey was certain Linda had gotten smaller.
He stormed in and looked at Stacy. "How are you doing this?"
"We're just playing," Linda said.
"What's going on?" her former father asked.
"Why don't you go downstairs?" Mikey told 'Roger'.
Roger shook her head. "Spend time with them...don't spend time with them..." She headed out of the room.
Mikey tried to think. "Umm...why don't we play house?" He said. He looked at Linda. "You can be the mommy....okay?"
"Nuh-uh...." Linda said.
Stacy looked at her. "Then...say what you want to play," she encouraged Linda.
"I want to play with you," Linda said softly, in that childish voice.
"Then say you don't want to play..." Stacy urged.
Linda looked at Mikey. "Don't like playing the mommy....then I have to tell everyone to eat their vegetables and clean up their toys...I have to be re-SPON-see-bull."
"But you are the mommy," Mikey protested.
"I'm NOT the mommy!!" Linda said. "I'm not the mommy!!" Mikey could see her shrinking before his very eyes, growing less mature.
