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Change of Habit
Saturday mornings were room inspections at the Facility. If their room passed they had the rest of the day free. If it didn't pass they had to make it right. Elise stood next to her bed, waiting for the inspector.
When Mrs. Yates walked in the open door it was an unexpected visit. Elise had never seen her on the Saturday room inspections before now. Mrs. Yates was far more thorough than the men who usually made a cursory check and passed them, but by now the inspection was more of a formality since Elise knew exactly what they looked for and had gone over the entire room earlier that morning.
Her roommate, being next to the door, was the first to pass and be dismissed. Elise felt nervous even though she knew everything was in order. It went well until the last item on the checklist, her closet. At first Mrs. Yates checked to make sure everything was in order, but then she pulled out every blouse and skirt and dumped them all on Elise's bed.
"Jamie, come in here!" Mrs. Yates yelled at the doorway. Jamie came in carrying an armful of new clothes. Elise realized she must have been waiting out in the hall, just out of sight. Mrs. Yates took the clothes from Jamie and hung them in Elise's closet.
"Take these away, and close the door behind you," she told Jamie, pointing at Elise's old clothes on the bed.
"Yes, Mrs. Yates," Jamie answered as she left. Elise caught the questioning look from Jamie as she went out. Something was happening but so far it made no sense.
"Starting today your uniform will be changed to the ones in your closet. I want you to put this on right now." She took out one of the replacements and handed it to Elise.
After she changed Elise looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. The colors were the same but the style was radically different. The blouse was the same off-white beige but the neckline was much higher, overall it was a looser fit, and there were full length sleeves with buttons at the wrists. The skirt matched the maroon color she was used to but it was much longer, below her knees.
Mrs. Yates pulled out the chair at the small bedside desk. "I want you to sit down and hold your hands up, above your head. Pretend you are reaching for something on a shelf," she ordered.
Elise sat down, gathering the skirt underneath her. Even sitting it still covered her knees. She reached up as far as she could.
"Good, the length is right. You can put your hands down. Elise, I can't explain why you are being singled out for this but I want you to know it's for a good reason, one I hope you will learn about soon. I let it be known that anyone who gives you any kind of grief over this will answer to the Director himself."
Her new outfit wasn't as revealing as the old uniform but in some respects it was more comfortable. Still Elise couldn't understand why she had to change. "Mrs. Yates, did I do something wrong? Am I in trouble?"
"No!" Mrs. Yates was emphatic in her denial. "It's nothing like that. You'll have to trust me on this. We, and that includes both the Director and several others, believe this will be in your best interests for the future. I can't explain why right now.
"This is for you alone. Now I want you to pay particular attention to the change in your uniform. It is very important that you stay covered below the collarbone, and that your knees and elbows are not exposed to anyone else. The guards have special instructions to make sure you don't forget. Is that clear?"
"Yes Mrs. Yates, I'll do my best." And Elise would, even though she had no idea of the reason why.
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