Report 3: South Hanenrow University, Interview 2: Dominic Graham and Shelby Bill

            Dominic and Shelby arrived within five minutes of each other.  I noted that Shelby was actually a few minutes late to the three o’clock appointment time to begin her shrunken discipline session, and the look on Ellen’s face to see the sophomore come in with a delay indicated the infraction was going to be counted against her.

            Before they arrived, Ellen asked that I allow her time to get the two of them shrunken and situated before beginning their parts of the interviews, just to kill two birds with one stone.  I agreed and waited patiently for my opportunity to question them.

            Apparently the itinerary for the pair of them had already been planned out at the previous session, because all the professor has to do was point to the ground like a dog trainer as she turned to face them in the chair at her desk.  It was an interesting and frankly surreal sight to see both Dominic, a six-foot-four defensive lineman, and Shelby, a petite academic in horn-rimmed glasses, get on their knees in tandem before their officer as though bowing to royalty.  Without any further comment, the professor removed her PMRD from the case, which she had had sitting next to the computer, and took aim.

            Ellen’s favoritism for the behavior of one of her charges was evident almost immediately, and confirmed her earlier remarks, as she only shrank Dominic down to roughly ten inches in height, while Shelby soon found herself standing at only one inch.

            It’s a peculiar thing to see someone at the minimum height the PMRD will allow, and though I’ve seen someone lowered to that extreme level many a time, it never fails to throw me slightly off balance.  Shelby was about half as tall as a human thumb.  Instantly I was put in mind of the idea that if the professor accidentally knocked an item off her desk, or sneezed toward the carpet on accident, Shelby could be severely injured or worse.

            Ellen didn’t seem concerned about possible safety hazards, though I would guess it’s because she’s become so practiced at handling shrunken students, since she did appear to act with great care and gentleness, at least when in transit with them.  She lowered a hand to the carpet in front of Shelby and I assumed at first she was just going to pick her up between two fingers, which I imagine would be rather uncomfortable and probably quite terrifying being lifted at that size with no support to stand on, but instead she just offered her the chance to climb onto her fingers, which Shelby took immediately.

            The next part puzzled me at first.  While still holding Shelby in her hand, Ellen kicked off a shoe, which was a black stiletto of some variety, from her left foot and crossed it over her knee.  She then lowered the girl back down toward it, cupping her underneath it close enough that the professor’s toes actually covered her up.  To my surprise, I saw Shelby willingly clambering her way up between Ellen’s big and second toes, which then pinched around the girl’s sides just enough to hold her weight up without squeezing her to the point of injury.

            Dominic’s turn came next.  Ellen seemed to be more comfortable dealing with him herself at his height of ten inches because she simply pressed her hands to his sides and lifted him up like a doll, placing him on her thigh, which he took a seat on almost immediately.  She then handed him a nail filer from beside the keyboard and fanned her left hand out within his range.  He got immediately to work on evening out her nails, while Ellen herself redirected her attention to the computer and began scrolling through a page with her other hand on the mouse.

            Meanwhile, the foot that had Shelby gripped between two toes began bobbing up and down, though not at a pace that would necessarily make the passenger sick, which at least was fortunate for all there to witness it.

TC: Hello, Dominic and Shelby.  Are you prepared to answer a few questions?  I believe your professor would’ve mentioned it to you a while back.

Dominic: Yeah, it’s cool.

TC: Shelby?  You too?

Shelby: Fine.

            Shelby’s answer came quickly and curtly, though I suspect it was mostly due to the air constriction caused by having her professor’s bare toes squeezing so directly into her abdomen.

TC: Thank you.  Just to let you know, I’m Howard Taylor from the Techilogic Corporation, and this is a study I’m conducting on The Shrink Act and those affected by the new systems put in place.  Feel free to answer my questions with as much detail as you’re comfortable sharing.  Just to get started, how do you feel the program has impacted you as students and as citizens?

            The students paused for a moment to chew it over.

Dominic: Well, my grades are definitely up.  And I’m learning to handle myself and my time better.  I haven’t been able to go to as many football practices as I want to be, but I’m putting the important stuff first, and I guess that’s what matters, you know?

TC: Shelby, what about you?

Ellen: Shelby, I’m not getting any younger here.  Are you going to start rubbing today, or do I need to put the shoe back on?

Shelby: Yes, Professor.  Sorry.

            Here, Shelby set about trying to use her arms to massage Ellen’s big toe while it continued bouncing up and down in rhythm.  It looked difficult, as her head only just appeared above the top of her professor’s foot.

Ellen: Sorry about that, Howard.  Continue.  Shelby, I believe he asked for your opinion next?

Shelby: It’s fine here.  I’m learning from my mistakes now and getting better.

Ellen: Are you really?

Shelby: Yes.

TC: I’m glad to hear it’s been a success for you both, then.  Tell me, do you believe there are detriments to a program like this?

            There was a long moment of pause from both of them.  Ellen’s eyes seemed to divert from her computer screen again, but they quickly returned.

Dominic: I guess if you got a discipline officer who didn’t know how to take care of people who were small, it would be bad, but Professor Taggert’s got this on lock, you know?

Ellen: (laughs) I appreciate that, Dominic.

TC: And you, Shelby?

Shelby: None.  None that I can think of.

Ellen: Well, that’s a first.

TC: If you’re both willing, I was wondering how this has impacted your time at school in terms of schedules and social lives.  How do you fit it all in?

Dominic: Oh, well.  Um.  My friends actually don’t even really know what I do here.  They know I get shrunken, but I don’t tell them what I do.  I guess I prefer they don’t know.

TC: Why would that be?

Dominic: They just wouldn’t. Um, I mean, they just wouldn’t understand how.  Um.  It’s just embarrassing sometimes, I guess.  For me.  I don’t know.

            At this point, Ellen gently ruffled the top of Dominic’s hair with a fingertip.

Ellen: And that’s your business to have.

TC: Shelby?

Shelby: I don’t talk.  About it.  With.  Other people.  Like she said.  My business.

Ellen: I would assume, too, her debate opponents are better off not seeing her in positions like this one right now, right?

            Here, Ellen slowly uncrossed her foot from her opposite leg and lifted it up higher in the air for just a moment before lowering it back down again.

Shelby: Right.

Dominic: (to me) Hey, mister?

TC: Yes?

Dominic: People aren’t going to be able to read about what we’re doing, are they?  What you’re writing?

TC: They will, but I can use an assumed name for you if you’d prefer, so you stay totally anonymous.

Dominic: Yeah, I would.

TC: I’ll make a note right now, then.  Now, it sounds like you feel like this system has been working for you.  Do you feel it could work for others in similar situations?

Dominic: Sure, I guess, depending on what they did, and if the officer knows how to work with them well.

            There was a long pause as the pair of students continued at their duties, followed by a deep sigh from Shelby.

Shelby: No.

            I noticed Ellen stop scrolling on her computer screen at this moment and shift her attention back to us.  From the looks of it, the grip of her toes on her student increased its pressure.

TC: Really.  Could you elaborate, Shelby?

            After taking a deep breath, Shelby’s answer came out quickly and determinedly, despite regular huffed intervals caused by her professor’s toes squeezing around her.

Shelby: It’s a.  Tough.  System.  Like using intimidation.  To.  Force.  Changes.  In people.  It works for some.  For.  A.  While.  But then they get out later and.  Find.  Stuff.  Doesn’t.  Work.  That way, and then.  They’re in trouble because.  They can’t.  Understand.  How to.  Resolve conflicts.  Without.  Just.  Scaring.  People.

            At this point, Ellen lowered her hand to the area just under her toes again, which she parted, allowing Shelby to drop about an inch in height back into her palm.  She lifted her up to her face and closer to the bridge of her nose.  The look on her face was oddly stoic.

Ellen: That was quite a lot of detail from you, Shelby.  I’m almost impressed you’ve given it so much thought.

Shelby: Well, I have to.  I spend so much time in here, thinking about things is all I can do to stop from blowing my brains out.

            There was another long pause, and Shelby and Ellen seemed to be having a stare-down.

Ellen: Howard, are there any last minute questions you have for Shelby?

TC: Just Shelby?

Ellen: Yes, because I’m afraid I’m going to have to break my promise I made earlier by putting someone in a shoe before you’ve left.

TC: Oh.  No, no more questions.

Ellen: I suppose Shelby’s not too eager to have full access to fresh air this session.  Are you, little miss?

Shelby: Lay it on me.  I don’t care.

Ellen: I will, thank you.

            Ellen lowered her student back down toward her bare foot.  This time, she plucked her directly from her own hand with her toes, gripping her between the same two while descending back toward the overturned stiletto.  After a moment of awkward struggle as Ellen slid her foot back in, I heard a softly muffled cough from inside the black heel.

TC: Well.

Ellen: Sorry you had to see that go like that, Howard.  But that’s just all a part of the process. We’re here to correct wrongful behavior, after all, and this is a highly prestigious university campus.  Backtalk like that isn’t tolerated anywhere, let alone in my presence when I have a job to do.

TC: I understand.  Actually, I’d say my interview is just about wrapped up now anyway.  Dominic, do you have any extra comments to make before I head out?

Dominic: Not really.  I mean, I guess I’m just glad I wasn’t booted right out of the school.  I worked hard on the field to get in here, and now I’m working just as hard to stay in here in the library too.  You know?

TC: I do indeed.  That’s an important lesson I’m sure anyone looking into the situation would be glad to know isn’t lost on the students.

Dominic: Oh, it’s definitely not.  Not on me, at least.

            At this, the professor gave Dominic another little pet on the top of the head before switching hands for him to file nails on.

Ellen: See?  He’s learned so well, and he knows I’m very proud of his progress.  Careful, though, you missed a spot on my thumb.

Dominic: Sorry, Professor.  It won’t happen again.

            My departure came shortly afterward.  Professor Taggert just shook my hand from where she sat, and Dominic shook my fingertip, though nobody showed me to the door.  I was actually grateful for this, as I couldn’t help but feel for Shelby, should she be forced to endure being walked on at only one inch tall while trapped in what I have to imagine is a fairly muggy environment.

            I waited outside the building for two hours for Dominic and Shelby to emerge.  After the difficulties in getting what I believed to be honest answers from my first case, I was determined for a more effective division of parties.  I had a feeling that Dominic wouldn’t be particularly inclined to share anything further with me, but I had hoped Shelby could at least be counted on for some additional feedback, especially once she was outside of her professor’s grasp.

            Unfortunately, both declined my invitation for a private interview to go into more detail on their experiences, with full discretion from their professor’s knowledge of their answers.  Dominic was quick to refuse and move on his way, clearly embarrassed by his association with me, his professor, or any of these matters outside the solitude of the office.  I noticed a hesitant expression on Shelby’s face before she shook her head.  She appeared absolutely exhausted for the obvious reasons and said she was not interested in further comment at this time.

            Still, I passed her one of my business cards as she made her way down the path, which she put in her purse.  It’s a long shot, but I decided it’s worth it for the off-chance to talk to her about her experiences in more depth.

            For now, I am left with the interviews I did manage to acquire.

            As with the previous case, almost everything said was positive, and what wasn’t positive was discouraged, albeit a bit more openly this time.  Though I can’t start making definitive conclusions until at least one more round of interviews, which will take place in six months as well, I have my normal analyst’s suspicions already.

            On Professor Ellen Taggert: she’s very serious about her career and her work, and seems to legitimately care about improving the students who come to her on probation.  Still, I couldn’t help but detect a certain pleasure she seemed to get from her work that had to extend beyond mere job satisfaction.  It manifested in two ways: first, in her joyful acceptance of Dominic’s praise and compliant presentation.  She was glad to let herself believe that her program was working so well that he had been totally turned around, and she wasn’t afraid to show it; I got a sense of it as pride more than anything else.  Second, and most prominently, in her treatment of Shelby: though she appeared bitter in the face of the student’s commentary on the surface, there was a subtle yet undeniable inevitability about what she was doing, as though she’d already decided the flow of events for her charge, and a bit of self-righteous glee couldn’t help but shine through while she did it.  She’ll be one to keep a close eye on at our next interview.

            Dominic I found a bit easier to read.  Again, I can’t make concrete statements now on these individuals, but I would be hard-pressed to say Dominic hasn’t just learned exactly how to play the system.  His answers were too rigid and clearly thought out beforehand, as though rehearsed for a play.  He knows exactly what I, anyone else, and especially his professor, want to hear to suggest the system is working perfectly for him.  Not that he doesn’t necessarily dislike the situation he’s in, as he was clearly embarrassed at the prospect of his regular lapdog sessions with Ellen becoming public knowledge, but he has a greater goal in mind of simply ending his sentence as fast as humanly possible, and from a personal standpoint, I can’t really blame him.

            Shelby Bill was the most significant to me and my notes, though I had the least amount from her before she was deposited into her professor’s stiletto.  She seemed to be going along with the designed system of discipline for as long as she could, before finally giving into her true feelings on the matter that Ellen hinted at seeing often from our earlier interview.  My impression is that she doesn’t believe in the system’s validity, seeing it as literally bullying into behavioral changes just under the threat of continued punishment.  It is my hope that she decides to take me up on my offer for a follow-up interview in private.

            Only time will show which of these observations merit further questions.  For now, I will move on to the next case undeterred by these somewhat troubling early conversations I’ve encountered.