______ felt silly. There was no other word for it. Here she was a 25-year-old college teacher standing in a dormitory housemother’s room in just her white cotton blouse, a bra and a pair of cutie short pink socks. She eyed her denim pants and white silk on the chair by the door trying to find the will to snatch them up and leave. There were many better ways to be spending her Saturdays than this.

She was still working up the nerve, or pretending to, when she heard Mrs Jessica returning and grimacing in panic made a scurry for the corner where she was supposed to be. ______ had only just felt the cool of the plaster at her forehead where she had most exactingly order to place it when the door opened and someone entered the room behind her. Just in time she remembered to clasp her hands neatly into the small of her back.

It could be anyone for all ______ knew, she didn’t dare turn to look. You are so… she winced as she berated herself… so whipped. The heat rose in her face and for the 10,000thtime she ran the options through her head.

“Ah, ______, on time and in place I see,” Mrs Jessica said cheerfully. “And in position number one, you remembered. Good girl.”

“Yes Ma’am,” _______ said in a voice as close to surly as she dared.

Mrs Jessica frowned and her eyes narrowed.

“I think we will have your hands behind your head, with the elbows touching both walls,” Mrs Jessica said sharply.

______ gulped and quickly complied.

“Yes Ma’am,” she agreed in a rather more respectful tone this time.

The act of lifting her arms also raised the hem of her blouse in back and her pert dusky bottom was revealed to the housemother’s gaze. It was a satisfying enough sight, but one she had seen often. To her it only signified one more of her charges learning her place.

As for _______, she was wondering if after a week of not putting a foot wrong she had fallen at the last hurdle. What was wrong with her, she knew Mrs Jessica wouldn’t tolerate the slightest rebellion. The woman had her beat; literally. She felt rather lightheaded at the prospect of a harder session with the housemother and icy finger of dread clawed at her belly at the thought of the row of bags and other such accoutrements she had been shown on that first Saturday. She had been told then that she would endure extra suffering once a month or so or whenever she crossed the line. Otherwise she merely faced a spanking. God let this not be one of those Saturdays, please, please, please God, she silently prayed.

Mrs Jessica paused for long effect and then brusquely told _______: “As you have been in on time every night this week and have so far complied with my instructions… I think… yes, just a maintenance spanking this morning.” Although _______ did not see it the woman nodded decisively and crossed the room to her writing desk adding, “Next week or the week after we will have a more serious session to keep you on your toes. I trust you will continue to behave and not add to that. It seems to have been working so far doesn’t it? Funny what you can do with the right incentive isn’t it?”

“Yes Ma’am.” _______’s relief was palpable and she visibly loosened in the corner.

There was a long silence then and _______ could feel the pulse hammering in her head and the hush of quiet in her ears. The sounds beyond the room were faint and surreal now, belonging as they did to another world.

Then there was a rattle and a clunk followed by the sound of a draw or cupboard being opened.

“Alright ________, please come here,” Mrs Jessica said sharply.

_______ stole a rueful glance over her shoulder to see the housemother sitting in her favourite armless chair, her gingham draped thighs like two unyielding logs and the Korean Literature teacher gulped. Mrs Jessica was holding a large black wooden hairbrush and as _______ watched, the formidable woman patted her lap and sadly beckoned to her diminutive tenant.

_________ wondered if she had ever been spanked so hard. It was almost as if every encounter with Mrs Jessica so far had been a practice for this. The woman had the strength of 10 men or so it seemed then, for _______ had been bucking with all her might under the onslaught but so far her bottom had not dodged one spank.

Mrs Jessica had opted to hold _______’s right wrist in the small of her back while the teacher steadied herself with the left against the leg of the chair. In any case _______’s bare bottom was elevated to good effect and only her legs were semi-free to kick and cross ankles under the relentless blast of the spanking.

The biting sting of the brush where it struck her behind had begun harsh and quickly ascended to the heights of unbearable. Not that _______ was ready to submit. Instead she clamped her jaw and hissed out intermittent groans as she tried to ride the pain.

From Mrs Jessica’s point of view ________’s failure to announce the landing spanks was a show of defiance; the girl must be getting used to it, she decided. All the same there were already two dark red ovals staining the woman’s pert bottom cheeks and as the punishment progressed the tender pads of soreness spread outward to encompass ever more of _______’s bottom.

The housemother put the brush to the woman ever harder, biting both under her curves and then along the summits before returning to undermine the sitting area. The crack of the impacts came fast and loud so that even after just five minutes Mrs Jessica reckoned she must have landed four or five hundred spanks.

Finally _______ broke and let go with a “uhh-oooh” before settling on a rapid pained repeat of “Plaese, oh stop.”

“I am going to give you two spankings today,” Mrs Jessica said angrily, “Why are you being so stubborn?”

, _______ thought, but for some reason the unspoken sentiment made her feel ashamed.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” _______ tearfully admitted the unspoken insult.

“Good girl, but you’re still having the extra spanking and we are not yet done with this one,” Mrs Jessica said firmly.

Maybe it was this promise or maybe it was just the kind word, but _______ spluttered out a sob and the floodgates opened. After that she could no more stop bawling than get off of the housemother’s lap. Not that the spanking was done. If Mrs Jessica had bothered to time it she would have known that the rest of the spanking lasted another eight minutes.

_______ cried long and hard in Mrs Jessica’s arms while the older woman soothed her.

“You don’t understand any of this, do you?” the housemother cooed.

“No Ma’am,” _______ sobbed and it was true.

She knew now she could leave and tell this woman where to get off but yet… the elusive thought slipped away and _______ began bawling more heartedly for a while.

“I meant it about that other spanking,” Mrs Jessica sighed.

“I know,” _______ said wistfully and sniffed as she brought her tears under control.

“But that comes later,” the housemother said, resolve returning to her voice. “Now I know a young lady who has corner time to do.”

“Yes Ma’am,” _______ sniffed and got achingly to her feet.

The long walk to her angular bar-less prison was unbelievably sore-making and her still exposed bottom flared with every step. Even without another spanking ______ knew she would be lucky to sit easily all week. Just in time for another Saturday with Mrs Jessica. Oh the joy, she thought ruefully, this town is crazy.