"Kim, where are you going? I thought you lived here, in Hillman."Kim looked up at the massive high-rise, then appreciatively eyed her fellow student, Jake. She admired the muscled arms, the chiseled jaw, the eager, sparkling blue eyes. Jake had walked her all the way across campus for this moment. Kim knew what he was thinking: an afternoon's fun with a willing female in the warren of rooms up in the coed dorm.
"No, Jake, sorry. I moved out after last semester. I'm in ILP housing now."
"ILP housing? What's that?"
Kim smiled, a bit ruefully.
"I don't remember what it stands for, exactly. It does mean I live off-campus, but no, I can't take you home with me. Listen, I'll see you next class, OK?"
There was no way he could hide his look of disappointment.
"Well, yeah, OK, next class then."
I...L...P...let's see, Kim pondered as she walked the quiet, tree-lined streets of town, a world away from the anonymous bustle of the campus. In Loco Parentis, yes, that was it-- Latin for "in place of the parents." Yep, that's what I signed up for, Kim sighed to herself. She had had a rough first semester, two F's, one D and one Incomplete. Her academic counselor had suggested ILP housing, a program where students were matched with local families and lived in their homes. It was supposed to benefit the students, and improve town/gown relations as well. And so far it had worked out. Kim loved her little attic room in the spacious Victorian home of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Dayton, and she got along well with the other girls living there, Kathleen and Susan. Well, with Susan anyway, Kathleen was sometimes hard to take. Mr. Dayton was a pharmacist and had a store in town, while Mrs. Dayton kept the whole household running efficiently. Kim found the Daytons a bit old-fashioned, it was true, but really very kind, and they seemed genuinely interested in their charges. And it had done her good, Kim had to admit, to live away from the noise, the parties, the beer, and the boys. Especially the boys. Not that she had given up those things entirely. On more than one occasion Susie had covered for her, telling Mrs. Dayton that she and Kim had been studying together at the library, when really one or both of them had been out partying. I guess I went a little too far with that sort of thing, Kim thought worriedly as she climbed the porch steps. There was a pang of anxiety in the pit of her stomach as she felt for the midterm grade report in the pocket of her jacket. She had only one F this time, but she knew her usual alibis wouldn't wash now. Last semester Kim had tossed her midterm marks aside and hadn't give them a second thought. This year she would have to show her grades to Mrs. Dayton.
Mrs. Dayton was at the dining room table, folding freshly-laundered kitchen towels. Kim tried to slip right up the stairs to her room, but Mrs. Dayton called to her cheerily.
"Why, Kim, there you are! Do come in and show me your grades. Kathleen and Susan are already home and they did fine. Kathleen all A's, I'm so proud of her! Susan did OK, too many C's, though, in my opinion."
Kim stood silent and forlorn.
"What's the matter, dear? Didn't you get your report?"
Kim just mumbled something, then reluctantly proffered the crumpled sheet. A cloud passed over Mrs. Dayton's normally placid features. She definitely did not like what she was seeing! Mrs. Dayton had raised a daughter of her own, now married, but girls today could be so exasperating! Some of them simply lacked self-discipline. She took a moment to compose herself before speaking.
"I must say I find this disappointing, Kim. I work hard to provide a good study environment for you girls. However, " she stated calmly as she stood and smoothed her skirt, "we'll discuss this after dinner." Kim could see that Mrs. Dayton was hurt, and the dignified way she voiced her disapproval only made Kim feel more miserable. Kim just wanted to run and hide.
"I'm really not hungry, Mrs. Dayton. I think I'll skip dinner tonight."
"As you wish, child. But I suggest you stay to your room. Mr. Dayton will want to speak to you."
Alone in her room, Kim was depleting her personal stash of Doritos as she contemplated the current mess she was in. At first she had been happy to be away from them all-- Kathleen was probably gushing over her straight A's. But now she was not so sure. Maybe she was in disgrace. After all, here she was in her room, nervous as a naughty schoolgirl, awaiting a summons from Daddy! Last semester after she had gotten her grades, she had gone out with some really great guys she knew who were always ready to party. After a joint and a couple of beers, Kim had managed to place the blame for that disastrous first semester on everybody but herself. Now she was in the ILP program. She wanted to feel sorry for herself-- so why was she thinking, despite her nervousness, that it was the best thing that could have happened to her?
Just then Susan knocked and stuck her head in the door.
"Kim, they want you downstairs. Boy, are you in for it!"
As she came down the stairs, Kim could hear Mrs. Dayton talking to Kathleen. "I just think it would be good for you to get out, dear. I know it's a weeknight, but you deserve a break from your studies."
Kathleen laughed gaily.
"I guess you're right, Mrs. Dayton. I could use a night out. Maybe I'll head over to the Koffee Kup."
"Yes, run along and have a good time. And, Kathleen-- back by midnight, please."
As Kathleen headed out, Mrs. Dayton turned and grimly gestured Kim toward the dining room. Why, thought Kim to herself, was one of the chairs turned away from the table? Then she saw Mr. Dayton-- and the paddle. Mr. Dayton cleared his throat uncomfotably, then spoke in his shy, formal way.
"As you know, Kim, ILP students share not only their hosts' homes, but agree to abide by their rules as well. Mrs. Dayton and I take an 'F' very seriously, and we have decided to act as if you were our own daughter. I'm afraid you've earned yourself a paddling, young lady. Now turn around and grasp the arms of the chair."
Kim had not expected this!
"Mr. Dayton, please, it's only a midterm mark."
"Which means, Kim, that we have caught this in time. This spanking becomes all the more effective, because we can still save the semester," Mrs. Dayton explained as she took Kim by the arm and led her to the chair. Kim was shocked. Mrs. Dayton was in on this, too! She instinctively obeyed the older woman though, bending herself slightly over the seat of the chair as Mr. Dayton drew near to deliver the swats.
"Really, does Susan have to watch?" Kim cried as she noticed her friend standing wide-eyed at the back of the room.
"We thought it might be instructive if Susan saw what happened to girls who get 'F's," Mr. Dayton explained. "her own grades are hardly exemplary."
Kim decided that she would allow them to go through with this silly business. She knew ILP housing was a privilege that could be revoked at any time. It was just her luck that she got stuck with a couple of old fogies. Old fogies who cared...oh, well...please, God, don't let it hurt too much. And, actually, it wasn't too bad. The paddle looked scary, but Mr. Dayton smacked her slowly and not very hard. It sounded worse than it was, Kim decided. Not that she was enjoying it. As a thoroughly modern young college woman, she felt she should be quite outraged, and so she resisted, in her feminine way. She "ouched" once or twice, she wiggled her behind, and, after five or six strokes, she turned and batted her eyelids at Mr. Dayton. "Oh, please, please stop!" she exclaimed breathlessly. He hung on for two more strokes-- and that was it.
"I am sorry I had to do this, Kim, but I hope you have learned your lesson," Mr. Dayton intoned gravely. He looked at Susan. "You, too, young lady."
Neither girl noticed Mrs. Dayton rolling her eyes heavenward in exasperation.
"My assistant has called out sick, and I must return to the store this evening," Mr. Dayton stated. "I leave Mrs. Dayton to look after you."
As he stepped from the room, Kim checked with damage control. Beneath her jeans and panties her bottom seemed unusually sensitive. It felt all warm and tingly in an unfamiliar way, but it really didn't ache. Of course, she was embarrassed at having been punished in such a juvenile fashion. But all in all, it hadn't been too awful. The thought was just beginning to cross her mind that she had gotten away with something, when Mrs. Dayton spoke.
"Susan, I suggest you go to your room and study. And you, Kim-- go to your room also. I will be in to see you shortly."
Part II
Part II
[Photo: Univ. of Washington Quad by nordique at flickr.com]
