In Between Codes

Chapter 10

Martha smiled softly, a mix of pride and love in her eyes. "You know, sweetie," she began, her voice gentle, "I'm really proud of you. You're showing a lot of maturity. But—" she hesitated, then continued, "I want to make sure you understand something. If we're going to do this, there are a few things you need to agree to."

Tamy looked up at her, nodding eagerly, her excitement barely contained.

Her mommy met her gaze, her tone serious but warm. "I want you to promise me one thing: that you won't question me, you won't push back, and you won't complain about what we're learning. It's not easy to master everything all at once, and I'll do my best to teach you. But this will take patience, and I need you to be willing to do your best, too. Do you understand?"

Tamy's eyes widened with the weight of her mommy's words, but she felt confident. She nodded firmly. "I understand, Mommy. I promise I won't question you or complain. I want to learn. I'm ready!"

Martha's face softened, and she smiled, feeling proud of how mature her daughter was becoming. "Alright then, I'm in. We'll start tomorrow morning. It's getting late now, and I think we both need some rest. But since tomorrow is Saturday,  and you don't have cheerleader practice, we'll work on it all day long. How does that sound?"

Tamy grinned, practically bouncing on her toes. "Perfect! I can't wait!"

****

The sun had barely crept over the horizon when Samantha, monitoring the activity inside the house saw Martha was awake, she gently nudged Tamy awake. It was unusually early for a Saturday, and Tamy stirred groggily, blinking against the soft morning light filtering through her curtains.

Still half-asleep, she moved on instinct—slipping into her desk chair and beginning her new morning ritual. A touch of foundation, a sweep of blush, careful strokes of mascara. Her hair followed, brushed and styled with quiet focus. Despite the hour, there was a sense of purpose in her movements.

Samantha suggested something more: full feminine underwear, including a bra, and one of her new dresses. "It'll help you feel the part," she'd said. "Remind you of what you're working toward." Tamy agreed. She chose a soft, floral dress and put on full undergarments.

Just as she finished, a knock came at the door, followed by her mommy's familiar voice, warm and teasing: "Wake up, baby girl. We've got a lot of work to do today."

Tamy opened the door, revealing herself in full makeup, dressed and ready. Martha blinked in surprise, taking in the sight of her daughter all dolled up. "Wow," she said, tilting her head. "Don't you think you went a little overboard? Full makeup, dress, bra..."

Tamy shook her head with a shy smile. "No, Mommy. I want to look the part."

Martha paused, then smiled softly. "Alright then. Lesson one: a proper lady always keeps her clothes clean and tidy. So for now, you'll need to wear an apron."

She took Tamy's hand and led her to the kitchen, where she pulled out a frilly apron—lace-trimmed and pastel pink. She tied it gently around her daughter's waist.

"What's this for?" Tamy began to ask, but Martha raised a finger, her expression firm but kind.

"Remember what you promised last night," she said. "You said you'd be a good girl. That means doing as you're told, even when you don't understand everything right away. Okay?"

Tamy nodded. "Okay."

Martha waited, eyes expectant.

Tamy added, "I promise to be a good girl."

Satisfied, Martha gave her a gentle pat. She herself was dressed in a neat skirt, a crisp blouse, and modest heels—elegant, but practical. Compared to Tamy's outfit, hers was more everyday, more lived-in. Yet she too slipped on an apron, signaling that this day wasn't just about appearances—it was about shared effort, learning, and love.