Chapter 1: Danielle meets Natalie

“I’ve never been to a therapist before,” I say. “What happens next?”

“You make yourself comfortable and tell me about yourself,” replies Natalie, the young therapist.

I settle on the well padded leather couch and look at the smartly dressed woman with long slender legs. Natalie can’t be much older than me. She seems far too young to be a qualified therapist, but the framed certificates on the wall say otherwise.

“Um. I’m Danielle. I’m twenty-four years old. A year ago I inherited my parents three-hundred square kilometre ranch, and enough wealth to keep me comfortable for the rest of my life. I suppose I have everything that I need, which means that you are probably wondering why I’m here.”

“So, why have you sought my help?” prompts Natalie.

“Sally ... she’s my personal assistant ... badgered me into making an appointment to see you.”

“I see. One of your employees told you that you needed therapy, and you simply complied?”

“Yes. Well. Sally can be very persuasive. And she’s more of a friend than an assistant. A really good friend. We’ve known each other since childhood. Anyway, the truth is, I’m bored to tears. I don’t get full control of my inheritance until I turn twenty-five in three months time. The family lawyers have appointed four managers to run the ranch in the meantime. All I’m expected to do is to attend boring meetings ... sorry, board meetings, twice a week. I’m not allowed to make any major decisions, not that I know enough about running a ranch to be trusted with anything like that. My brother was groomed to inherit the ranch, not me. I was the pretty wallflower to be married off as a trophy wife to some rich guy. Thereafter, confining my duties to producing and caring for a brood of kids.”

“You said that your brother was groomed to inherit your ranch. How come you inherited it instead?”

“My parents and brother died in a helicopter crash on the ranch just over a year ago.”

“Ah! My condolences. The file your doctor gave me doesn’t mention your loss. Do you miss your family much?”

“I suppose I should say ‘yes’, but we were never a close knit family. I was packed off to boarding school as soon as I was old enough. That’s where I met Sally. We shared the same dormitory at school. We were both sent to summer camp during the holidays. When Sally and I graduated we left to do voluntary service overseas. That ended abruptly when my parents and brother died.”

“Which school did you attend?” asks Natalie.

“The Roderick Whipple Academy for Young Ladies,” I reply.

“I don’t believe I’ve heard of that school. What was it like?”

“Okay, I guess. Most girls passed their exams with good grades. The school teams excelled in several sports. The social life wasn’t so great, but we rarely had time for any of that.”

“What about discipline? I hear that some boarding schools can be something of a riot with students running wild.”

“Oh that would never be tolerated at the Academy. The girls all called the school ‘The Rod and Whip Academy for Obedient Girls’, and it’s a nickname that is fully justified.”

“I see. How did you feel about having to return home early? Do you miss doing the voluntary service?”

“I miss the friends I made, and obviously I would have preferred to come home in different circumstances. However my four year assignment had only a few months left to run, so I would have needed to return home soon in any case.”

“And when did Sally become your assistant?”

“The family lawyer recommended that I hire an assistant. By that time, Sally had completed her voluntary service and was on her way home. She was my first choice.”

“Hmm. So what do you do when you are not attending board meetings?”

“Not much. I daydream a lot. That’s why Sally persuaded me to come here.”

“Tell me about these daydreams.”

I take a deep breath and introduce her to my alter-egos; Emerald, Ruby and Sapphire.