“Belinda’s seen my padlock before,” Minnie explained, unabashed. She dropped her dress and retrieved her panties. “What she’s snooping over is you and what’s round your tum-tum.”
“I like it!” Mrs. Pendleton said decisively. “Now just turn your bottom this way a bit, dear, so I can see.”
Only partly under the influence of alcohol, a proud Drusilla gathered her dress beneath an arm and bent over for inspection.
7
Teens in Trouble
“Knees straight. Head up!” Diana’s was the voice of authority.
Ginny stood to attention. Her eyes were dreamy. Drusilla’s handcuffed nudity watched from the sidelines. Ginny made her breathless—always!
“How do you plead, poppet?”
“Guilty on all counts, Mother.”
They were incredible! Drusilla knew she would never cease to marvel at the female rapport between mother and daughter. Nor at Ginny’s penchant for punishment. The child was insatiable. An eternal innocence impervious to guilt.
“You already have a tally of ten, girl.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Doesn’t it bother you?” The query was sharp.
“Yes, Mother.”
“You don’t look it.”
“I’m standing at attention, Mother. Awaiting sentence. I’m not supposed to show emotion.”
“I stand corrected,” Diana conceded dryly. She turned to Drusilla. “I don’t think the cane gets through to her anymore.”
“Oh, Mummy, it does!”
“Quiet, nymphet! Speak when you’re spoken to.”
“Yes, Mummy.”
“Don’t be too hard on her, Di’.” Drusilla’s heart was melting for the delinquent damsel she adored.
Diana chuckled. “The little fox has got you under her spell. You have to watch her. She’s a witch.”
“Oh, M-o-t-h-e-r-r-r!”
“Two extra for interrupting.”
“Thank you, Mumsie.”
It was a picture to touch the heart. Sneakers, shorts and a close fitting shirt through which the nipples showed erect. The bare thighs and legs proclaimed a potent youthfulness as they tapered their length below the svelte hips.
“You’re not wearing a bra, Ginny.”
“No, Mother.”
“Well, why aren’t you?”
“Because it feels all lovely when my nips rub—and people turn and look.”
“That’s enough!”
“Well, Mummy, you did ask!”
Diana turned to her watching slave. She made a motion of mock helplessness. “You see what I mean?”
“But she’s so sweet—”
“Drew, stop it! You, too! If you can’t get yourself out from under the little witch’s spell, I’ll cane your can too, just to bring you back to your senses.”
“Don’t get into trouble over me, Drew. Mummy knows best.”
“Good thing you made that amendment, Ginny,” Diana grumbled. “I was just about to raise the ante. You just can’t keep quiet.”
“I do try, Mummy.”
“If you hadn’t told us we’d never have known.” Diana’s remark was heavy with sarcasm. “What am I to do with you?”
“Cane my bottom, Mummy?”
“I’ve done that so often you’ve got so you don’t notice. ”
“Oh, M-o-t-h-e-r-r-r! I notice terribly.”
“Oh, yeah! I’ve got to think of something.”
“You’ve got a lovely whip, Mummy. You could whip my back. I’ve never had that. I expect it hurts something awful.”
“Good try, kid. But your back’s so lovely I hate to mark it.”
“Isn’t my bottom lovely, Mumsie?”
“Your bottom is indestructible, darling. I’m not sure about your back.”
“I don’t mind you trying on my back, Mummy. Honest!”
“Isn’t there something you do mind?”
“I expect there is, Mummy. But you get so angry when -”
“When what?”
“Nothing.”
The teenager stood before the desk, chin up, breasts outthrust. Her eyes were still mistily intent upon the wall. Her discipline was perfect. Diana eyed her daughter shrewdly. “How do you feel about Drew watching you punished?”
“It’s lovely, Mummy. Makes me feel all—”
“All right, all right! Suppose it was a stranger—or some one you don’t like—or someone who might laugh? Remember you’d be naked.”
The youthful figure tensed. “Oh, Mummy... !”
“Not so good, eh?”
Silence.
“I was thinking of Petty Prentiss.”
“Mummy, she’s my best friend!” It was a wail of anguish.
“Is that bad?”
“Of course it is! Seeing me all naked and—and—”
“She goes swimming with you.”
“Oh, Mummy, you know it’s not that. It’s a different naked. I’d feel awful—and Petty would laugh.”
“Your best friend laughing at you being beaten!”
“Oh, M-o-t-h-e-r-r-r!” For a moment Ginny’s shoulders twisted in frustration. “You’re putting it all wrong. I think you’re laughing at me.”
“No, I’m not. I think I’d like Petty to come over. What have you got against her?”
“Oh, Mummy! It’s not Petty, it’s the humiliation.”
“Ah, now we’re getting somewhere! Do you agree, dear, having Petty watch would make your punishment a little less—enjoyable?”
Ginny pouted, but did not reply. “Answer me!”
“Yes.” Ginny managed to make the single word sound as though the bottom had fallen out of her world.
“Excellent! You may phone Petty, dear, and ask her over.”
“Mummy, I don’t want to. Oh, please?”
“Do it, Ginny.”
“Mumsie, can I have extra? Something really terrible instead?”
“No, dear. We’ve gone into this often before. I refuse to flay your back or bottom just because of a notion.”
“Is that it, Mummy?”
“That’s it, dear. You’ve been sentenced. You needn’t stand to attention anymore.”
“Thanks, Mummy—I’m sorry.”
“That’s all right, Ginny. I’ll just allot you a couple more for all those quibblings. What’s your total?”
“Fourteen strokes, Mother.”
“That’s my girl! You can now phone Petty.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
Ginny picked up the phone as though it were a venomous reptile.
Drusilla knew herself privileged. Private winks had passed from her mistress to herself as Ginny’s small drama unrolled. No doubt there were those who would pay vast sums to witness what was about to take place. The Room had become a stage.
“I want you to kneel to one side, Drew. You may sit back on your heels and rest your hands on your thighs so we can all see your handcuffs.”
Drusilla obeyed, blushing under Petty’s startled scrutiny.
But at least she had been told her place. She would not be flitting from here to there. She placed her palms upon her thighs so as to stretched the handcuffs’ single link as far as it would permit.
“I don’t want you to feel awkward about this, Petty dear,” Diana said kindly. “I think you know, don’t you, we’re a bit unconventional?”
“Oh, yes, Mrs. Winslow. It’s kind of you to want me to come.”
“You must forgive Ginny if she’s embarrassed by your presence. But that’s part of her punishment, dear. Do you get caned at home?”
“Gosh, no, Mrs. Winslow.”
“What a pity! It’s so good for girls your age.” Diana made it sound as though their guest was undernourished.
“I expect it is, Mrs. Winslow. But we just—I’ve never—I say, Mrs. Winslow, where’s Ginny?”
“Ginny will join us shortly, dear. We like to carry off these little affairs with a touch of ritual. It’s wonderful for building character.”
“Ginny’s awfully lucky,” Petty ventured doubtfully. “I do love her so.”
“We all love her, dear. That’s why I’m very strict with her punishments. Has she told you?”
“Well, some—”
Petty was out of her depth. Drusilla longed to laugh at the poor child’s puzzlement. For herself, she wanted only to be as unobtrusive as possible... ! What must the girl be thinking of a naked woman, handcuffed! Diana was having herself a field day.
Ginny made an entry.
Drusilla could not be sure, but she shrewdly guessed the youngster had assessed her predicament and decided to milk it of as many titillations as it might provide. Ginny’s native exuberance was under control, but her eyes were shining. Her dress was unchanged but her hair had been groomed as had her features. For one brief moment she and Petty locked eyes. Then the delinquent daughter strode into the Room and stood before her mother.