Karen, Linda, Ann, and Sherry shared the big Victorian at the end of Maple Street, the one that old Mr. Harris wanted to tear down to make room for a video store. If it hadn't been for Dan Jenkins, the real estate agent, he would have. But Dan persuaded him that the young women would make excellent tenants, and would fix the place up in exchange for reduced rent. All were local, had steady jobs, and had known each other since high school. The capable, high-spirited foursome put in a lot of work, which was why the property looked so nice. And why Karen was so upset one Saturday morning last month.
"This place is a disaster area!" she exclaimed as she surveyed the living room. "And last night's dishes aren't done. Whose turn was it?"
"Ann's," said Linda, who had cleared a space amid the clutter and was flipping through the pages of an old magazine. "And, yes, she was supposed to clean this room up, too."
As the eldest, Karen Croley felt the most responsibility, both to Dan, who acted as landlord, and to her roommates. She taught social science at Green Valley High, so she knew what it took to keep a group effort going. Over time she had become the informal leader of the household.
Sherry looked up from feeding the goldfish. "What else can we expect, now that she's seeing Paul regularly. She always was forgetful. Now she'll be even worse."
"Hmmph!" stewed Karen. 'Forgetful' wasn't the word. 'Spoiled' was more like it. Ann had always been a popular girl, as used to compliments as she was to getting her own way. Her job as sales rep for the local pharmaceutical firm seemed to bring her into contact with a prodigious number of young men, all of whom vied for her attention. She was quite caught up in the social whirl, thought Karen-- and guilty of neglecting her responsibilities around the house!
"What time did she get in last night?" asked Karen.
"I went to sleep at two," answered Sherry, "and she hadn't come in yet."
"You and your murder mysteries!" laughed Karen. But then she grew serious. "I really think it's time for a showdown with Ann. This shirking has got to stop, and it won't until we put our foot down."
"You're absolutely right, Karen," agreed Linda. "I've had it up to here with her."
Just then a sleepy figure made her way down the stairs. As if exhausted by the effort, she stopped near the bottom, yawned, and sat down, resting her head on her drawn-up knees. "What time is it?" asked Ann groggily.
Her eyes were a bit puffy, and Karen surmised that Ann may have had just a little too much to drink. Still, Ann's dark, tousled hair framed her sapphire eyes prettily, and as she perched on the step clad only in a roomy pajama top and lacey peach satin panties, Karen knew any man would find her irresistible.
"Past eleven," answered Karen, rather tartly.
Ann took no notice of her roommate's tone of voice, but instead closed her eyes dreamily, looking as if she would fall right back to sleep.
"Having a rough morning, are we?" asked Karen.
Mm-hmm," was all Ann managed.
"Well, it's going to get even rougher," Karen intoned. "You've got dishes to do from last night, and this room to straighten."
"Oh, Karen, lighten up. I had a perfectly wonderful evening with Paul and I'm not going to let you spoil my mood. Let the dishes sit--big deal. They'll get done."
"That's just the problem, Ann. We always wind up doing your chores. Well, this time it's not going to happen. You get yourself into that kitchen right now."
"Right," agreed Linda. "I'm tired of doing your work, Ann."
If Ann had been more awake, she would have noticed that even sweet-tempered Sherry wore an expression of determined resolve. Instead, she remained obstinate.
"No one's going to order me around," said the seemingly imperturbable Ann. "I'm going back to bed." She stood and started up the stairs. But Linda quickly blocked her way.
"Oh, no, you don't," said Linda. "You heard what Karen said. You just hop to it, young lady."
Ann stood her ground, and glared haughtily at her roommates. Then she spoke.
"You're all pathetic. Just because I had a date last night and you sat at home!"
Up until then the girls would have been satisfied with even a sulky compliance with their reprimands. But this was the last straw. Was there no end to Ann's impertinence?
"That remark, young lady, was entirely uncalled for," said Linda menacingly as she gripped Ann firmly by the arm. "We're through talking to you. You're beyond that. What you need is-- is-- a good spanking! Are you with me, girls?"
With that, the three young women as one surrounded Ann and bundled her down the stairs and to the sofa. Each seemed to know what the other was thinking. Ann, on the other hand, didn't have time to think. She quickly found herself drawn bottoms up across an accommodating lap, viewing the living room from a most novel angle. She became acutely aware that all she had on were those pretty panties, and that her turned-up bottom seemed to be the center of everyone's attention.
The girls had seen fit to put Ann across Karen's knee. Karen grasped her firmly about the waist and confidently pulled her in, placing Ann's fanny into perfect position for a thorough warming. She then spoke coolly to her cohorts, almost as if Ann weren't there at all.
"We should all have a share in this spanking," Karen declared. "After all, Ann has offended everyone by not doing her work. We should each give her, what, a dozen swats?"
"No," smiled Linda, admiring the deft placement of Ann's derriere. "You're doing just great. I think you should handle it."
"Yes, I agree," said Sherry with finality. Gentle Sherry, who wouldn't hurt a fly. Karen could tell she was not looking forward to witnessing Ann's punishment.
"OK, I'll be the mommy," Karen laughed.
"Oh, girls, get real! Let me up!" Ann demanded petulantly.
"You just be quiet, Miss," replied Karen. "You're in no position, shall we say, to negotiate. Instead, I suggest you ready yourself for some good, old-fashioned discipline."
Actually, Karen was a little unsure about the next step. She hesitated a moment, then just blurted out, "Well, do you think I should take down her panties?"
That proposal had an immediate effect on Ann. She realized her friends were serious, that they were really going to spank her! Maybe she did deserve it, but bare-bottom was just too awful to contemplate.
"Oh, no, girls, please, not that!" Ann begged. "OK, I admit I've been a bad girl, and I'll take my licking. But please, let me keep my panties on. Aren't I being humiliated enough as it is?"
"Karen, let her keep them on," Sherry said quickly, but Linda considered carefully. Should Ann suffer an even greater indignity? It suddenly seemed to be up to Linda, who more than once in the past week had finished up her roommate's chores. She took in the sight of her vibrant young friend, stretched out and helpless in that ignominious posture. Ann was going to pay for her misbehavior, no doubt about it, but how much was enough? Ann's eyes pleaded.
"Make it fifty spanks," Linda decided, "and let her keep those cute little pants on. It is her first punishment, Karen. Maybe if she's negligent in the future..."
"OK, Linda, I'll go along with that. We might need something to ensure future good behavior. Do you understand what we're saying, Ann?"
"Yes, I do," breathed a clearly relieved Ann. "I'll get it worse if I'm naughty again. But, believe me, I won't be."
The thought crossed Ann's mind that some further words of repentance might spare her the present unpleasantness too, and she tried desperately to think of something that would do the trick-- but that hope was quickly crushed.
"If she gets to keep her panties on, I'll need something to paddle her with," Karen said firmly. "After all, a spanking is supposed to hurt."
"I know just the thing," Linda said, and hurried into the kitchen. She returned a moment later with the long-handled, hard rubber spatula she used so expertly in her baking.
Ann turned to look as best she could. "Oh, no!" she moaned.
"Oh, yes," replied Karen. "I guess we've kept you waiting long enough. You've been needing this for a long time, Ann. Now uncover that naughty bottom."
When Karen had threatened to spank her bare-bottom, Ann had instinctively grasped her behind, even hitching her fingers under the elastic on the legs of her panties. Now she reluctantly uncovered. She moved her hands, still in two little fists, to her front, burrowing a little into Karen's thigh. Karen waited till Ann was still, drew in a breath, and raised the spatula.
Whap-p! The hard rubber bit sharply throught the thin fabric of Ann's panties. Ann squealed at the sting, then swallowed hard and gamely resolved to bear the rest in silence.
Whap! Whap! Each spank echoed loudly in the hushed little household. Karen took her time, applying five spanks to one cheek, then five to the other. She didn't want Ann to smart too much-- one mustn't be vindictive. Still, it didn't take long for Karen to tell from Ann's reaction when a small flick of the wrist at the end of each stroke gave it just the right amount of sting.
Whap! Whap! Whap! Karen made sure each spank landed to good effect. Ann had a lesson to learn, and Karen would teach it thoroughly. Ann took it well, though-- Karen had to admit. She was quite sure that shapely bottom had never felt so much as a disapproving tap; well, Ann was feeling it now.
Indeed, as her chastisement continued, seemingly without end, Ann began to squirm and raise her legs at the knee. Sherry came over, sat by her on the floor, holding her legs down, soothing and encouraging her. For her part, Linda watched from the chair by the door. She was not unsympathetic to Ann's plight, but she had seen the look of cold fury on Ann's face when she had blocked her way up the stairs, and now she noted with satisfaction how the defiant set of that jaw had softened.
Whap! Whap! Karen counted out the spanks carefully. Forty-eight...forty-nine...fifty! The last stroke was applied as vigorously as the first, but at least it was all over.
"All right, Miss, you can get up now," Karen said simply.
Ann jumped up, cupping her behind in both hands. She felt a hundred hot pinpricks there that she was powerless to do anything about. Great tears welled up in her eyes. Last night's sophisticate was looking a bit disheveled.
"That was the worst punishment ever!" she wailed. "You're all mean!"
"Ann," Karen replied menacingly, "aren't fifty spanks enough? Do you want more?"
Ann swallowed hard. She could feel her tender, flaming buttocks beneath the cool satin of her elegant undergarment. She looked with alarm at the utensil that Karen gestured with pointedly.
"No-o," Ann quavered. "I...I...just wish Paul were here."
"Oh, Ann," said Sherry, "you certainly have fallen for that guy, haven't you?" She embraced Ann closely. "But you don't want him here right this minute. I mean, with you and the place looking quite like this?"
Ann couldn't suppress a tiny smile.
"You're right, Sher." Slowly she looked into the faces of her friends. "You're all right. I really did have that spanking coming to me."
"It's okay, Ann," said Linda. "C'mon, I'll help you. We'll have this place fixed up in no time."
"We'll all help," said Karen with a wry grin. "Just once more, that is."
"Thanks, guys, and I really mean that," said Ann. She eyed the spatula in Karen's strong hand. I do mean it, she thought, even as she caressed her derriere again.
Wow, thought Linda, can you believe the transformation in her? I guess everyone acts like a jerk sometimes, but if you're lucky enough to have friends who care, it's only temporary.
And Ann, she reflected happily, has friends who care!
[Photo: Houses on High by Cindy Funk on flickr.com]
