NO PART/PARTS OF THIS STORY, NOR THE WORK IN ITS ENTIRETY, MAY BE ALTERED, COPIED, EXCERPTED, STORED, TRANSMITTED, OR USED IN ANY OTHER WAY(S) BY ANY MEANS WITHOUT THE EXPRESSED, WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER.

Author’s note: This story is dedicated to the ineffably voluptuous, indomitably vivacious, indecipherably vampish, and indefatigably voracious GODDESS MISTRESS MARQUESA DE SADE. It should not be read: by any minor; by any individual ethically, legally, morally, religiously, or personally for any reason(s) prohibited or proscribed from doing so; or by any person who is fearful of or uncomfortable with the subject of female influence/control/domination/superiority/supremacy or the topic of mind-control in any of its forms or both.

Dr. Kenneth Leroy Barker had always possessed a large soft spot for, and been a colossal boon to, Minerva-Aspasia Svetpavlovich. (From the moment he first laid eyes on her, there was something about her that just thunderstruck a common chord with him.) While she was in high school, she applied for a job at his veterinary clinic during one of her summer vacations. Her interactions with him, her perception of the depth of his compassion and the height of his professional acumen, and her love of animals motivated her to follow in his formidable footsteps. When she was in college, he encouraged her to have as much fun as she could and to take the most wide-ranging spectrum of demanding courses she could handle. (When dialoguing with her on these two topics, he would often make the following statement. “When developing a skilled person, it is at least as important to develop the person as it is to develop the person’s skill.”) At his insistence Minerva-Aspasia went to human and veterinary medical schools. Dr. Barker often drilled his motto with respect to veterinary medicine into her consciousness. “Just because your patients aren’t members of your species, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t get the same level of medical care you would want for yourself, your loved ones, or any other human being.” Once she obtained her degrees, she became his assistant. After a couple of years he worked on her until she decided to fulfill her deserved destiny and start her own clinic. He provided the necessary seed capital, was a sole cosigner for her loans (which she repaid with interest he did not ask for and only grudgingly accepted), jointly advertised with her, and recommended her heartily to all people whose animals he was too busy to treat. From time to time he told Dr. Svetpavlovich, “I consider you a competent and competitive comrade.”

While heeding Dr. Barker’s recommendation concerning the scope of her collegiate curriculum, Minerva-Aspasia took several psychology classes–which culminated with her minoring in this subject. Among the psych courses she matriculated was an introductory hypnosis course. She discovered she had a knack for easily, imaginatively, and surreptitiously guiding people into a state of deep relaxation and heightened suggestibility. (When she elected to do so, she could also lead an individual to experience the heady, hearty heights of astonishing arousal and, in a few cases, compellingly consuming climax.) More than once Minerva-Aspasia had amusingly entertained and continually mystified her sorority sisters by wilily using some coeds feminine pulchritude as the fixation point while she bent some unsuspecting or (even better and more amusing) overconfident male–particularly one who assumed he was a big stud muffin on campus–to Svetpavlovich’s irresistibly implacable will. Some schoolmates who knew of Minerva-Aspasia’s hypnotic powers feared and avoided her as if she was the preternatural embodiment of some monstrously lethal and inevitably irresistible plague. Other classmates who were fascinated by her mesmeric capabilities begged her to put them under. A third group of people who were acquainted with her mind manipulating prowess were as terrified of as they were captivated by her abilities. She particularly loved playing with the members of this group. Watching them struggle with the cognitive dissonance she inspired was an exhilarating ego stroke for her. After obtaining her two doctorates, she continued her studies of mesmerism and became a certified clinical hypnotherapist. Dr. Minerva-Aspasia Svetpavlovich concluded any particularly stressful day with a soothing session of self-hypnosis.

Gretcheneldagarth Vandergeller was no stranger to privilege and pride. Among her deceased husband’s ancestors were several of the most noteworthy patroons in New Netherlands’ history. Even today, she and all within her wedded, and ultimately usurped, familial clan perceived themselves as patricians and acted toward outsiders as if the other persons were nothing more than villeins or at best vassals. That the member of the Vandergeller dynasty in question was not wealthy had no bearing upon said individual’s self-concept or that person’s attitudes and actions concerning non-Vandergellers. Gretcheneldagarth was by far the most monied of her people. She never passed up any opportunity to manifest this fact, nor did she ever turn away from any chance to remind any unfortunate soul within earshot, or sight, of its truthfulness. Why she was never wedded a second time was a mystery to no one–save Gretcheneldagarth Vandergeller.

Gretcheneldagarth did show a modicum of compassion to some living beings which were not Vandergellers–by blood, by marriage, or by any other legitimate means. The recipients of her magnanimity were her animal companions. She lavished the care upon her pets that an exceptional and exemplary nurse would give to that medical professional’s sole charge. She found it more than easy to come across with the attention and money for her fauna family that a doting parent might expend on said progenitor’s only offspring. She more meticulously and exhaustively scrutinized the pedigrees of her “fur children,” “feathered ‘enfants’,” and cold-blooded kiddies than many a human being expended in delving into a potential spouse’s past or the history of their betrothed’s family. Gretcheneldagarth Vandergeller would go anywhere, do anything, and pay any price to see to it that not a single one of her love interests never wanted for the best of everything.

Though each of them was exceptionally busy, Dr. Svetpavlovich and her mentor-confidante made certain they took time out to have a leisurely, relaxing supper as often as their schedules permitted the mutually pleasurable indulgence in this luxury. She eagerly expected this night to be one of those thoroughly enjoyable evenings.

Minerva-Aspasia had never spied such a lugubriously despondent look on her friend’s countenance. She: looked at him sympathetically; came over to her inspiration; placed her soft, feminine hands on Dr. Kenneth Barker’s weary shoulders; and began to administer a, hopefully, soothing and stress-relieving massage. “What is wrong?” she inquired compassionately.

“I didn’t realize i looked as badly as I feel. I do apologize for being such a downer and such bad company. I really should have given you a rain check for tonight.”

Minerva-Aspasia continued maternally massaging his neck and shoulders. “Kenneth Leroy Barker, you have mentored me, guided me, encouraged, and supported me since the first day we met. It is only right for me to be here for you now. Please, tell me what is wrong? Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Gretcheneldagarth Vandergeller is suing me for malfeasance, malpractice, and anything else she can come up with.”

“Why?”

“I performed a delicate and complicated operation on one of her pets. I told her the procedure was unnecessary. I warned her it was at best experimental and that she, in all likelihood, would be dissatisfied with the results. She insisted that I do the surgery. I said it would be best for her to find another veterinary surgeon. She threatened to ruin my business if I refused to comply with her wishes. Considering the weight she carries in this burg and her willingness to throw her weight around at the drop of a hat, I was between Scylla and Charybdis, a rock and a hard place, the Devil and the deep blue sea. I did what she wanted. Saying she was extremely dissatisfied with the results understates the obvious. Now she has set her heart and sights on nothing short of my utter and absolute professional destruction and my total and complete personal devastation.”

Minerva-Aspasia began to stroke his ears and the back of his neck with her nails. “Kenneth, I have observed you ever since the first day we met. Your work has always been of the highest quality. Even if Gretcheneldagarth Vandergeller does file some baseless and frivolous lawsuit against you, no judge or jury could possibly render a verdict in her favor.”

“I only wish I was as certain of that as you are,” Dr. Barker said dejectedly. “When she does sue me, there are several things in her favor. People become very emotional where animals, and especially pets, are concerned. Emotion-driven thinking is very different from logical thought. Many people assume any kind of medical doctor has a bank account like the widow’s cruse of oil and meal barrel, not to mention the horn of plenty, and old Saint Nick’s goodie bag of toys. Then there is the ten thousand ton cockroach to consider. Question, where does a ten thousand ton cockroach sleep? Answer, anywhere Gretcheneldagarth Vandergeller wants to. Taking into account her considerable, ubiquitous influence and her virulent, vindictive nature, I seriously doubt any judge or jury in this venue will hand down a verdict that would displease her. Put all those things together and you can stick a serving fork in me because I’m well done.”

Dr. Minerva-Aspasia Svetpavlovich continued to manually minister to her forlorn friend. She longed to say some words which would give her beloved mentor even the slightest peace of mind or the tiniest ray of hope. There were no words to be found. Though it much pained her to admit such, she was keenly aware that all he had said was absolutely true.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” she offered at last.

“Knowing that you care is a source of some comfort. There is one other thing I would like you to do.”

“Considering how much you’ve done for me, you know I will do anything for you.”

“Would you review all of my actions concerning Gretcheneldagarth Vandergeller’s pet? I want you to do so as coldly and objectively as you possibly can. Look for any mistake I may have made or anything I might have overlooked. I want you to be as brutally critical as you can be. I promise I will not shoot the messenger.”

She loved this man with all her heart. Reluctantly, Minerva-Aspasia acceded to Dr. Barker’s urgent request. With Draconian and Procrustean exactness she painstakingly and meticulously scrutinized each and every aspect of all Dr. Barker’s activities with respect to the case of Gretcheneldagarth Vandergeller’s beloved pet. She left no stone or grain of sand or speck of dust unturned–down to the most minutely minuscule detail. Mrs. Vandergeller’s initial consultative visit, Dr. Barker’s diagnosis and recommendations, the surgery itself, and the postoperative follow-up–nothing escaped Dr. Svetpavlovich’s hypercritical, all-seeing, ‘Falconiformes Accipiter’-eyed, ‘Lynx canadensis’-eyed eye of Argus. She looked at the entirety of the case from all possible rational angles. She even took the time to apply some irrational analyses to this case. Her conclusion–in all that Dr. Barker had said and done She could find nothing askew, amiss, improper, or untoward.

Each of them was glad his words and actions had passed muster with her lily white glove tests. Still, the items which worried him were still extant. Neither of them could come up with any way for him to countermand any of the swords of Damocles hanging o’er his professional future and personal happiness.

* * * * *

While Dr. Svetpavlovich listened to the phone message she received from Gretcheneldagarth Vandergeller, the former was so flabbergasted that she could have been knocked over with a solitary barbule from a single feather plucked from an infant member of the most minuscule in size species of (Trochilidae.) Madame Vandergeller all but commanded the veterinarian to appear at the ‘grande dame’s’ domicile in order to discuss the doctor’s being Vandergeller’s expert witness in her forthcoming lawsuit against Dr. Barker. Minerva-Aspasia was thoroughly incensed. Her first impulse was to dismiss this patronizing poltroon of a patroon out-of-hand by reading her the riot act and sending her packing. The veterinary doctor quickly realized that giving in to her understandable ire and justifiable choler would decimate her ability to aid Kenneth in this apparently upcoming, unavoidable confrontation with the Vandergeller matriarchal, maniacal menace. If Minerva-Aspasia spoke with Gretcheneldagarth, she might learn something which could turn the tide in her colleague’s favor. She also recalled his assessment of Vandergeller’s character and nature. The doctor determined that it was imperative for her to make a video recording of any face-to-face interactions she had with the Vandergeller woman.

Dr. Minerva-Aspasia Svetpavlovich was on time for her command performance for Madame Gretcheneldagarth Vandergeller. Before their discussion of the matter at hand, Gretcheneldagarth gave Minerva-Aspasia an exhaustive and exhausting guided tour. Vandergeller made no pretense of trying to ameliorate or conceal her intention to impress the veterinarian with meretriciously ostentatious showboating of the Vandergeller’s estate’s opulence and overwhelm the doctor with Gretcheneldagarth’s familial heritage and present-day influence. Minerva-Aspasia quickly came to realize that subtlety and tact were two concepts of which Vandergeller ‘regina’ of the (Apis mellifera adansonii) had little or no knowledge and with which she had at best all but no familiarity. A significant portion of this excursion was taken up by Madame Vandergeller showing her first-class menagerie to the veterinarian. During this tour, Minerva-Aspasia opened her large handbag and after ostensibly fumbling around for several moments forthwith she drew out a lacy, silk handkerchief with which she daintily dabbed at her brow.

After Gretcheneldagarth’s ghastly guided tour, Madame Vandergeller quickly downed one very dry gin martini followed by a Gibson. Minerva-Aspasia allowed her nostrils and taste buds to luxuriate in a single snifter of Napoleon brandywine. Once they were finished with their respective beverages, Gretcheneldagarth Vandergeller brusquely broached the subject for which she had summoned the veterinarian to her luxurious, loathsome lair.

“I have selected you to be my expert witness in my suit against that quack of a fraud who dares to call itself Dr. Barker.”

“Before you say anything else, I should tell you that Dr. Barker and I have been friends for some time,” Dr. Svetpavlovich answered candidly.

“I know that,” Vandergeller responded with condescendingly curt smugness. “That is the only reason I chose you. I can fly in any number of world-renowned veterinary specialists any time I wish. Your friendship with Barker will serve me well. When you testify as the plaintiff’s expert witness, it will be his gross incompetence which has compelled you to speak on my behalf. While you lay out your evidence, you may do so with as much regret as you can muster. You should make it very clear to the judge and jury that you are so very sorry about what you are doing. Nevertheless, professional ethics will demand that you reveal Dr. Barker’s flagrant incompetence.”

“I have thoroughly reviewed the case, and I found nothing wrong with anything he did.”

Gretcheneldagarth’s face flushed with angry disgust. She quickly composed herself and proceeded with her stratagem. “It is in your best interest to do as I say. No business enterprise in this area of the country can long survive without my patronage or good will. A store once sold me an inferior quality item. Now that shop is owned by someone else. I trust you take my meaning.”

“Suborning perjury, bribery, and extortion. Were there any stygian, infernal depths of deceitful, disgusting depravity to which this insidious, wretched, worthless, pompous, conceited, self-apotheosized shrew of a virago would not stoop?” These were the thoughts whirling in Dr. Svetpavlovich’s mind. The desire to throttle this cold-blooded, blue-blooded, bastardized, she devil, (Bison bison) bitch was increasing in strength. It was a tour de force for Minerva-Aspasia to not give in to and immediately act upon this delectable idea. It was meet for her to remind herself that extinguishing the Gretcheneldagarth Vandergeller excrescence would not help her mentor. Seeing Minerva-Aspasia incarcerated would cut Dr. Barker to the quick.

Minerva-Aspasia had to do something to assuage the turmoil in her inner being. She absentmindedly cast her gaze up at the ornate chandelier hanging directly over her head.

Gretcheneldagarth Vandergeller was never one to pass up an opportunity to unabashedly and excruciatingly execute her often exercised un-exorcised propensity for singular, self-serving self-aggrandizement. “Yes, it is an excellent specimen. It is a completely handcrafted improvement upon a much smaller and far less ornate, paltry knockoff found in the Dutch royal palace.” The look of intense enrapturement as she spake these words was all but impossible to ignore.

Minerva-Aspasia Svetpavlovich examined the chandelier’s intricate design. She had to admit to herself that it was an exceedingly excellent exemplar of craftsmanship and a masterpiece of finely detailed workmanship. If its owner’s character and personality were even close to rising to the level of this light fixture’s caliber, then Gretcheneldagarth Vandergeller would truly be “noble” in all the best senses of the word. It is said that “Youth is wasted on the young.” The doctor reckoned that in this case, great wealth most assuredly and certainly was wasted and squandered upon a vulgar, vampiric, verminous varlet.

“It is said that, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” It is also written that “A prophet is not without honour, save in his own house.” Sometimes, a person who possesses a marvelous thing fails to fully and truly appreciate its magnificence. Have you ever taken the time to really look at the intricate detail executed in the fine workmanship shown in this splendid chandelier?”

“No I have not. Not to the extent I should have,” Gretcheneldagarth admitted.

“Well, perhaps you should. There is no time like the present. As the saying goes, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” It is also said that one should “Strike while the iron is hot,” and “He who hesitates is lost.” I find it so easy to just take a few moments to sit back, relax, and focus my gaze upon this marvelous chandelier. It is so simple for me to easily and peacefully allow myself to simply scrutinize each and every fine facet and delicate detail displayed in this chandelier’s exquisite and exceptional craftsmanship. I can see the beautiful and oh sooooooo lovely artistry and workmanship wrought in each of this chandelier’s branches. It is soooooo soothing to simply stare at all the pretty, pretty, little lights. The pretty, little lights are so soothing and soporific to just relax and simply stare at. I find it so easy and sooooooo soothing to allow my eyes to focus on nothing save the pretty, pretty lights and all their so soft and soothing shades. Yes, the soft and soothing shades quickly capturing my eyes. The soft and soothing shades of the pretty, pretty lights easily and swiftly and oh so peacefully causing my eyes to only focus upon the pretty, little, pretty lights. As my eyes continue to see only the pretty, little lights, my conscious mind seems to be drifting into a relaxing realm of quiet and sleepy rest. My conscious mind and my tired and oh sooooooo heavy eyes easily and peacefully drifting into a quiet and relaxing and sleepy rest. A quiet and relaxing and sleepy rest for my conscious mind and my heavy, heavy eyes. My eyes are so tired and heavy that they want to softly close down and simply go off into a relaxing realm of oh so sleepy, sleepy rest.”

Dr. Minerva-Aspasia Svetpavlovich took a few moments to study Madame Gretcheneldagarth Vandergeller. A placid and stupefied expression was plaistered upon her haughty and hawkish and haggard, wizened and well-worn and wrinkly, matronly mug. Only in the depths of her beady and only partially open eyes was there any significant stirrings of waking consciousness.

Minerva-Aspasia was bemused and temporarily perplexed. While preparing for this encounter with Vandergeller, the veterinary doctor had not even considered attempting to employ mesmerism upon this elderly, snobbish, plutocratic, creaky, craggy crone of crones. When she directed Gretcheneldagarth’s attention to the chandelier’s loveliness, she had done so offhandedly. After discovering what Gretcheneldagarth Vandergeller was truly like, Dr. Svetpavlovich’s reason for focusing on the pendent was to provide herself with a modicum of tranquility.

Minerva-Aspasia was not one to throw away a golden (Anatidae Anser) of an opportunity. She would not do so in this case. She decided her first task should be ascertaining the degree and the impetus of the old woman’s animosity toward Dr. Barker.

The veterinarian and hypnoteuse recommenced Vandergeller’s mesmeric induction. “Pendent is a synonym for chandelier. Your chandelier is a pendent. Pendent, like a hypnotic pendant. Yes, just relaxing and simply staring at the harmless, little, pretty lights shimmering and glittering and sparkling in this perfect pendent is sooooooo soothing and so soporific.” The hypnoteuse suspended the induction for a few moments to allow the depth of Gretcheneldagarth’s mesmeric entrancement to yet deepen naturally of its own accord. “And now, Madame Gretcheneldagarth Vandergeller, as you continue focusing your tired and oh so heavy, heavy eyes upon the lovely light emanating from the chandelier, you will quickly, easily, and peacefully become more and more relaxed, more and more receptive to your instructions to yourself which I shall give you, and more and more ready for tired and sleepy restfulness. The only sound you shall be able to comprehend is the soothing sound of my oh so soft and soothing voice. Any other sound you may hear will only assist you in your chosen knight errant quest to only listen to the soft, soothing sound of my velvety and voluptuous voice.” The inscrutable and subtle hypnotist watched her prey’s eyelids flutter, as the latter subconsciously and autonomically struggled in vain against the waves of increasing relaxation. “Now you realize you are ready to go down deeper and still deeper and yet deeper still into the depthless depths of deep, deep relaxation. Now is the proper time for your tired and sleepy eyes to softly and tightly close down and lock shut. Although your eyes are completely closed, you will still be able to hear my voice and follow all of your instructions which you shall hear my voice say unto thee.”

For some moments the hypnoteuse watched her odious subject. Minerva-Aspasia was checking to see if Gretcheneldagarth’s eyelids would manifest some activity. There was none. Vandergeller’s breathing was slow, deep, and rhythmic. These were positive portents.

“Madame Gretcheneldagarth Vandergeller, nod your head and say, “Yes,” if you can understand me.” Minerva-Aspasia saw and heard the other woman’s compliance with the hypnotist’s dictum.

Now it was time for the commencement of Gretcheneldagarth Vandergeller’s necessary mental programming as a prelude to her ensuing interrogation. Minerva-Aspasia knew that connecting the subject’s obedience to the mesmerist to something the hypnotized person found desirable, facilitated the mesmeric process. Dr. Svetpavlovich reviewed what she knew concerning the Vandergeller harpy. Gretcheneldagarth acted in a way which made it clear to any perceptive person that this lady–in name only–deemed herself to be an inestimably esteemed member of the most high and mightily exalted strata of society. Gretcheneldagarth Vandergeller’s assumption about her high-class status would become the key to Minerva-Aspasia’s power over her. “Gretcheneldagarth Vandergeller, everyone in town knows very well that you are a well-bred woman. An excellent character is one of the most significant signs of one’s good upbringing and fine breeding. Truthfulness is an important indicator of someone’s fine and well-developed character. When I ask you any question while you are under hypnosis, you know it will reveal your superiority when you tell me the total truth. You know full well, that everything I say to you is certainly true. While you are in a hypnotic trance and I ask you any question, you will be revealing your own personal greatness each and every time you tell me the absolute and unvarnished truth. The more you tell me the truth, the more of your singular excellence and familial superiority you will reveal. You know full well, that all I say to you is certainly correct. You are certain that each and every thing I tell you is the total truth. And so, you are completely certain that whenever you tell me the truth, you are showing your personal magnificence for all the world to see.”

Minerva-Aspasia paused to take a few deep breaths. “Soon you shall hear me clap my hands three times. After I have clapped my hands, you will be able to open your eyes, to move about, and to truthfully answer any question I shall ask you. Your conscious mind will have no memory of ever being hypnotized by me. You will have no conscious memory of ever being hypnotized by me. Nevertheless, while you are answering my questions, you shall continue to remain in your state of hypnotic entrancement. While you are truthfully answering my queries, you shall remain deeply mesmerized. Do you understand?”

Gretcheneldagarth gave her assent. Dr. Svetpavlovich thrice clapped her hands. Madame Vandergeller yawned, stretched, and slowly opened her vacuous, greedy, glittering, biliously greenish eyes.

The time for the third degree had come. “Gretcheneldagarth Vandergeller, why are you suing Dr. Kenneth Barker?”

The subject began to sob. “He butchered my favorite pet. I was counting on entering that lovely animal in a pet show. I’ve never won a blue ribbon in any show I’ve ever entered. I was sure I would win this year. After what Barker did my pet, my love will never win now. It’s all his damned!!! fault!” More tears fell from Vandergeller’s eyes.

“Did Dr. Barker inform you of the risks associated with this operation?”

“Yes. He told me what might go wrong. That doesn’t matter. He should have done a better job. I wanted to win so badly. I’ll never ever win now. It’s all his fault. It has to be his fault! I want him to suffer. He has to suffer–just like he butchered me. I’ll make him pay. It’s all his! fault!” Gretcheneldagarth dropped her tear-stained face into her small and trembling hands.

Minerva-Aspasia cogitated over what she had just heard and what she previously had known about this woman. Gretcheneldagarth was heartbroken concerning the results of the operation. Still, had Vandergeller been in a reasonable and sound state of mind, she would have to acknowledge she was the one who brought upon her pet the results of this unwarranted and risky operation. Human vanity was bizarre enough. Gretcheneldagarth was more than willing to subject her pets to her desire to achieve perfection of physical beauty. Minerva-Aspasia was strongly averse to even considering making the attempt to conceive of the depths to which such a shallow mind might sink.

The veteran veterinarian and hypnoteuse believed it would be to no avail to talk to the conscious Madame Vandergeller. Gretcheneldagarth was out for vengeance. Nothing else would ever satisfy her.

When Minerva-Aspasia first heard of the impending legal action against her friend and colleague, she initially assumed there had to be some way of reaching this Vandergeller woman. At this present moment, as she scrutinized the unwittingly massively mesmerized nuisance, she believed that such was all but impossible. Since compromise apparently was out of the question, The doctor’s speculations next turned to neutralization or conquest. “Was there some way to pull Madame Gretcheneldagarth Vandergeller’s fangs?” She pondered this question for some time. Once more did the veterinarian consider the kind of individual with whom she dealt. Vandergeller’s pride concerning her perception of herself and how she was viewed by others was paramount.

A bright and gleaming smile spread across Dr. Svetpavlovich’s knowing countenance. The key was in her hands. Now she knew what needed to be done. Such a devious doom could not be inflicted upon a more deserving individual with such an unworthy personality.

Properly marinating certain foods in an excellent marinade is one time-honored means of drawing forth the maximum amount of said food’s flavor. A confidence artist ofttimes finds it necessary to painstakingly set up a potential mark before the score can be made. The time had arrived for Minerva-Aspasia Svetpavlovich to marinate her miserable, misanthropic mark.

“Now, Gretcheneldagarth Vandergeller, tell me how much you love your pets?”

“I love! them! I love each of them more than anything. No one is more important to me than the loves of my life. They are everything.” The look on her face was like that of an adoring bride as she gazes at her bridegroom on her wedding day. Perhaps it was more like the facial expression of a loving parent for their sole progeny.

“Would you like to be closer to your pets than you already are?” the veterinarian inquired.

“Yes! yes! yes!” Gretcheneldagarth answered enthusiastically.

“What would you do to become even closer to your beloved pets than you are at this moment?”

“Anything!!!” The conviction in Vandergeller’s voice was evident for all who were conscious and present to hear.

“You would do anything to become more and more in love with your animal companions? Your animal companions have always given you unconditional acceptance and unfeigned love. You are certain you would do anything to become more and even more in love with them?”

“Yes!” Prim and proper Gretcheneldagarth Vandergeller’s manner was like a parched animal in a bleached and barren wasteland panting at the only available source of water.

“Dr. John Dolittle learned how to talk to the animals. He did so by imitating the sounds they make. Imitation can be sooooooo much more than “the sincerest form of flattery.” Imitation can become a delightful doorway to understanding. The more you understand your animal companions, the more you will love them. The more you come to understand your animal loved ones, the more your feelings of love for them shall grow and grow and grow. When you imitate your animals behaviors, then and only then you will understand them more and more. Whenever you imitate the behavior of any of your animal friends, your understanding for them will increase exponentially. When your understanding of your animals increases, your love for them shall grow stronger and even stronger and even stronger still. Soon I shall ask you to perform certain actions which are imitative of typical animalistic behaviors. Whenever you obey any of these commands, your understanding of your be-love-ed animal friends as well as your feelings of love for them shall both grow exponentially, immeasurably, and beyond all possible measurement. What will happen when you obey any of my commands to you to act like your animals do?”

“I will understand my pets. I will love them more than I do already.”

“Very good. You perceive the facts correctly.” Minerva-Aspasia came up with some appropriate behaviors for Gretcheneldagarth to imitate. “And now, we shall begin your journey on the road to understanding your animals.”

* * * * *TO BE CONTINUED!