It had been a few of the cuter stuffed animals that had brought Malcie into the store.
She had not thought that it was a baby furniture place when she had walked in.
She was disappointed to note that toys that had brought her into the store were not even for sale.
She looked about, a little disappointed about the lack of anything she wanted to buy.
Malcie, in her blue pleated skirt, sailor blouse and yellow neck scarf-all part of her school uniform did not really look like someone who would be shopping for baby furniture.
At the back of the store the owner, and old woman, drowsed on the counter, hardly aware of her customer.
Malcie was about to leave when she heard a soft creak.
Turning about she saw a door at the back of the store, partially open.
She did not remember a door being there before, but maybe she had just missed it.
Curious, though she should have known better, she walked over to the door, peaking around it, wondering what was behind it.
She could see nothing.
Suddenly, out of that nothing, came a hand.
Malcie jumped back slightly, a little shocked.
The hand, she assumed that the arm and the rest of the body were just hidden by the darkness, made a beckoning motion to her.
She moved closer.
It spread its fingers.
Again, Malcie should have known better, but she reached out and took the hand.
It gently clasped around hers, then suddenly yanked her into the darkness.
Malcie found herself falling.
She let out a surprised scream, pushed her skirt down, it was threatening to blow up above her waist, and quietly wondered why these things always happened to her.
She fell for a time, though she could tell she was not gaining speed, nor falling particularly fast.
That was nice.
Other times she had been in such a situation she had been sure she was to fall to her death.
Though that had obviously never happened.
With a suddenness that shocked her, the darkness was gone and she came to an abrupt stop, landing in a pile of stuffed animals.
A number of teddy bears, kitties, puppies, and other toy animals shot into the air, then rained down upon her.
Malcie floundered around in the mountain of toys before finally righting herself and pulling herself free.
She half slid, half rolled down the side until she came to the bottom, a hardwood floor.
As she stood up she was perplexed to note that the pile of stuffed animals did not seem that high at all, coming up no farther than her waist.
It was very odd.
The room she was in was decorated in bright colors and fanciful murals covered the walls.
She was turning around, looking at everything, chests of some sort, a small table and chairs, a few doors, when she came face to face with a woman.
She was a very attractive woman with red hair and blue eyes.
She wore something that looked like an old-fashioned nurse’s outfit.
Victorian, Malcie’s mind supplied her with an era.
“Good day young miss,” the woman said in a warm voice.
“Uh, um,” Malcie stuttered. “Where am I?”
“Your name young miss?” the woman asked, not answering Malcie’s question.
“Uh, Malcie.”
“Malcie,” the woman said, reaching down to take her hand.
“Such a pretty name. Come along,” she turned and started off, pulling Malcie along with her.
“Wait!” Malcie said, already not liking things.
Why did it seem things like that always happened to her,
“Where are we going.”
“Come along,” the woman said. Malcie tried to resist, to break the woman’s grip, but she could not.
She has simply pulled along.
They exited the playroom through one door and entered what looked like an infant’s bedroom.
The woman propelled Malcie forward, into the arms of another woman, this one with black hair and brown eyes, dressed identically to the first.
“This is Malcie,” the first woman said.
“Hello Malcie,” the second said as she reached up and began to undo the yellow scarf around Malcie’s neck.
“Wait,” Malcie gasped, trying to bat the woman’s hands away.
Before she could put up any sort of concentrated effort she felt the first woman loosening items.
From there it was something of a losing battle.
As she reached around the try to keep the second woman from further removing items, the first woman suddenly pulled her arms , forcing them up.
At the same time, clothing was taken off her.
Before she could do anything about it, the woman began to dress her, in a quick, effective manner.
Very quickly she stood in clothes that looked like a copy of her school uniform.
A sailor suit with a very short skirt that showed off thick garments, marked with even cuter pandas.
Malcie was a little stunned as she looked at herself, looking over her shoulder to try to get a better idea of what she was wearing.
“Why…? What…? How…?” She began, more than a little confused.
“Perfect,” the first woman said, admiring her handiwork.
“Yes.” The second woman nodded

.
“Now I think Malcie should take a nap.”
Malcie, who had long since learned that running was ultimately the best option in such situations, did just that.
Her short skirt flipped up as she bolted for the door.
It opened easily and she found herself in a hallway.
“Malcie!” one of the women said sharply.
“Get back in here now or you’ll get a spanking.”
“Someone help me!” Malcie yelled as she ran down the hall as fast as she could go.
It seemed an impossibly long hall, with many doors on either side.
Worried that she might be pursued, and of the threat of a spanking, Malcie turned and tried one of the doors.
It opened in her hand, presenting her with a bathing room.
A woman dressed in only in an apron smiled at her.
“Time for your bath Malcie,” she said.
Malcie slammed the door and continued running down the hall.