Pt 3

“Okay, do please pull up a seat.” The Museum Director indicated a row of padded office chairs which Dinah and her parents made their selections from, placing them opposite the Director’s desk. Dinah got the strange feeling of being at a Parents’ Evening at school, making the fact that she was naked feel very strange indeed, almost like an anxiety dream. Sitting in the nude in this smart office between her two smartly-dressed parents felt far stranger than it had to stand in front of the public amongst the other naked figures. She wished she had asked to get dressed before coming in but she supposed it did not matter too much – the air in the room was reasonably warm and the cushioned seat felt comfy against her bare bottom.

“Now Dinah,” the Director tapped a stack of papers on his desk to straighten them, “I’m required to ask you three clear questions to which I need you to answer either yes or no. If you do not understand the question, you’re welcome to ask for clarification.” He picked up a small recording device and pressed a button causing the red light to come on, showing that it was recording. “Ready?” He asked with a smile.

“Yes!” Dinah replied then added with a cheeky grin, “Was that the first question?” The Director made no reply other than to chuckle.

“Okay,” he picked up the top sheet of paper from his stack, a printout of the email the museum’s legal team had sent him. Following the result of the vote, Dinah’s full name had been written in the relevant space in pen. “Here we go. Is your full name Dinah Maria Martinez?”

“Yes.” Dinah replied with a firm nod.

“Did you enter this contest of your own free will with no coercion or pressure from either family members, employees or anyone in any was affiliated with this museum?”

“Yes.” She replied again.

“Do you understand that, should you accept the obligations of this contract, your life will be terminated and your remains preserved to be placed on public display and that neither you nor your family will have right of veto in regards to either process, manner of display or future use?”

“Sorry,” Dinah frowned, “I think I know what you mean but before I answer, could you explain it slightly more simply, please?” The Director stopped the recording.

“Of course.” He smiled. “I will need to record you giving your answer to the question as it’s worded here but basically it’s asking if you understand that you will be killed and your body displayed and that you will have no say over the way any of it is done or if, in the future, we decide to change to display, or make your body part of a different one. That sort of thing.”

“Ah, right!” Dinah nodded. “I thought that was what it meant but it sounded so complicated!”

“Yes I’m afraid that’s often the way with legal things,” he smiled understandingly, “the language has to be so precise. So, if you’re ready, I’ll start recording again and repeat the question so you can give your answer. Ready?” Dinah nodded and glanced up at her parents who were both beaming down at her, immensely proud of their little girl.

“So,” the Director took a breath, preparing himself to repeat the mammoth question once more, “Do you understand that, should you accept the obligations of this contract, your life will be terminated and your remains preserved to be placed on public display and that neither you nor your family will have right of veto in regards to either process, manner of display or future use?”

“Yes!” Dinah replied with certainty this time. The Director looked relieved and switched off the recording device. Next there were papers to be signed, both by Dinah herself and by her parents, essentially transferring and right of ownership over their daughter’s body over to the museum and granting consent for her termination, legally classified as euthanasia.

“So what happens now?” Dinah asked, after the boring stuff was out of the way. “Are you going to stuff me today?”

“Oh no,” the Director chuckled, “although I’m glad to hear you’re keen to get started! I’ve arranged for the preservation team to meet with you tomorrow, take the measurements they need and suchlike and talk you through what you need to know about the process. Then, depending on how long it takes them to prepare what they need, we’ll have you back in three or four days for the actual process. In the mean time they’ve asked me to ask that you refrain from contact sports or any activities which may result in cuts and bruises, avoid preparing hot food and do not spend too long in the sun. Basically anything that might damage your skin that you wouldn’t have a chance to heal from.”

Mrs Martinez then asked a few practical questions about any particular foods Dinah should try to eat or avoid and if there were any restrictions or requirements about bathing, washing her hair and that sort of thing. The Director assured her that it would be fine to continue with normal routines but that they should avoid introducing any new cosmetics, soaps or laundry detergents to eliminate risk of allergic reaction. It was also best to stick to foods that they knew Dinah had no adverse reaction to.

“Oh but there is one more thing, I nearly forgot!” The Director opened the top drawer of his desk and rummaged around for a few moments before pulling out a tub of cream, apparently a kind of moisturiser. “They’ve asked that your rub this all over your skin twice a day, they recommend when you get up in the morning and before bed.”

“Should I start today?” Dinah asked as her mother took the tub and stowed it safely in her handbag.

“Yes, that would be a good idea.” The Director smiled. “Maybe when you get home then when you’re getting ready for bed?” The excited girl smiled and nodded. “Lovely! Well, we’ve been through everything we needed to go through from our side so, if you have no further questions, I’ll have Dinah’s clothes brought through for her and you folk can get home for some well-earned rest! It’s been a long day for everyone!”

The next day could not come fast enough as far as Dinah was concerned! She was anxious to meet the team of experts who would be preserving her cute young body and to learn exactly how it all worked. She wondered, for example, how they made sure everything stayed the right shape and how they got all the meat and bits off her skeleton so it would be displayed behind her. All the way home in the car she excitedly chattered, sharing her speculations and asking her parents, who had to keep reminding her that they had exactly the same amount of information she had, how they thought it might work.

“Why don’t we go up to the bathroom and take a look at this cream?” Mrs Martinez suggested when they finally arrived home. The drive had taken less than half an hour but felt as if it had gone on for several days.

“Good idea!” Dinah grinned, racing up the stairs, staring to pull off her clothes as she went. About half way up, she had a though and paused, turning with her T-shirt off her head but only half way down her arms, and called to her dad. “Bring the camera!” She instructed him. “We should make a sort of diary about this whole thing!”

“Good idea!” Mr Martinez grinned. “Go get ready, I’ll be up in a minute!”