Natty Stories/Page10

Natty Discovers Corner Time And Meets an Old Friend
It's not so bad, being a little girl. Of course, I have to worry about when I'll be spanked today.

I just woke up. My diaper's soaked, as usual, but I got it off. By stretching, I managed to reach my panty drawer, so I'm at least decent. So now I'm stretched on my bed, taking notes on my biochemistry book.

It's SO hard. I have to hold my pencil with both hands, and the result looks like I dipped a baby chick's feet in ink, set in on the page, and set the little thing ablaze.*

But I'm getting somewhere. It helps that I find the material absolutely fascinating. Even as a prestigious doctor, there are some things here that I didn't know, and more that I'd forgotten. Mommy also got me a Research Protocols book, and a Medical Ethics computer game. That thing is hard. Among other things, you have to decide what to do in a triage situation.

I'm trying not to think about what happened a few days ago. Little Susie lives about ten minutes away. Mommy says we'll go over soon, and I can spank her. I don't know if I like that idea. In the first place, I'm scared, even though I know she's a little girl my age. And in the second place, I don't like the idea of inflicting pain on another human being. I'd make a terrible Penitatas parent.

Some of my other neighbors are pretty interesting. Beth lives next door on our right. She's six and really nice.

(What'd you get it for?

I got ten times three to eight for assisting a suicide. You?

Eight times six to twelve for slicing.

Wow. Why so much?

I was convincing a computer that certain people hadn't really been rejected from the parenting program. I thought I was right because some people just didn't have enough money or the right friends. I learned different when one of my clients got busted in a really spectacular abuse case. They'd probably have found out anyway, but I was so horrified I confessed.)

Beth and I were playing on her swings yesterday. We had a lot of fun, though I can't go very high. She pushed me some.

Then there's Joseph, on our other side. He's twelve, and a Medicalos. And an out-and-out bully. But he only picks on Penitatas, and no one believes them. This caste system is sickening. As if a Medicalos can do no wrong! I try to stay away from Joseph.

Laura had a really brilliant bank scam going. She's so good with computers. Not too moral, though. She's five. She lives across the street. I haven't played with her yet. Beth and I like each other because we both meant well. Some Pennys do really deserve every bit of the torture.

"Upsy Daisy, Natty!" Oh, it's Daddy. Mommy's at work today. He gets me out of my nightgown and into a pair of jeans and t-shirt. Nice to get to wear pants again. Then he makes my bed.

We go downstairs, and I am served cereal. I wonder what we're doing today. I kind of want to go back to biochemistry.

"Okay, Natty. Today I want you to go stand in the living room corner for an hour. Then I'll spank you. I think it's time you got introduced to a hairbrush."

Oh, lovely.

I go and stand in the corner. I try and focus on the material I was just reviewing, but my mind keeps wandering to the hairbrush. Beth says it really burns and hurts deep. At least they haven't bought my Very Own Spanking Paddle yet.

I lose track of time and stand, shifting from foot to foot in the corner, willing this to end. I hate this. I'm so bored!

"Stop fidgeting!" booms Daddy. I didn't even know he was there.

"Please, Daddy, can't you just spank me now?" I can't believe I'm asking to be spanked!

"FIVE swats on the thighs. Now be quiet!"

Oh, no! Beth says thigh shots hurt really bad.

I try hard to be good, but I'm three, for heavens' sake! And soon I'm squirming again!

By the time my hour is up, I have 25 penalty swats.

As my jeans are lowered to my ankles, I plead desperately for the mercy I know I will not get.

And then my panties follow, and Daddy's got a beautiful (I hope!) view of everything. And he puts me over his knees. I hate it when I get spanked in a chair! My poor butt sticks straight up, and it's so uncomfortable to dangle like this!

SPLAT! "Yeoow!" WHACK! "AIEE!" THWACK! "NOOO!"

Two dozen swats later...

My bottom is a mass of pain, and I won't be sitting for quite some time.

"We'd be done, now, young lady, if you'd behaved yourself. But I can see you're going to need a LOT more practice in the corner. Believe me, you'll get it. And now it's time for you to understand that we will not tolerate disobedience. When you're told to stand still, you STAND STILL!" Whackwhackwhackwhackwhack! Etc.

Oh, my God! "DADDEEENO! PLEEZE! I SORRY! IBEGOOD!"

But it was no use. Charles carefully extended the hot red of little Natty's bottom down each thigh. Natty thought she was going to die. It felt like someone was pressing a poker to her little legs.

At some point, I finally became aware again. I tripped out, not thinking of anything but PAIN. Daddy must have been listening for a change in my bawling, because he then propelled me to one of the kitchen stools. Correction: I won't sit COMFORTABLY for a long time.

Through Herculean efforts, I sat still. Mostly. But I think Daddy didn't mind too much because he knew I was in a lot of pain. After about half an hour, I was released from durance vile. And allowed to go upstairs and play.

"Behave, today, Natty, and there'll be quite a treat this afternoon." I decided to stay in my room as much as possible. Out of sight, out of mind.

I played with my computer game for a couple of hours. It's got some really neat graphics. I got a good score.

Daddy made peanut butter sandwiches for lunch. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed mine. I guess I really am a little girl. I was put to bed for a nice long nap. I had a hard time going to sleep. I was wondering what my surprise was.

I found out when I woke up. Two male faces were bending over me. I thought I was dreaming, but...

"ALEX!" And I leapt into my darling husband's arms.

He hugged me tight, swinging me around the room. "Natalie, oh my sweet Natalie, I miss you so much!"

Much later we calm down enough to talk.

"I know what we agreed, Natalie, love, but I intend to stand by you."

"Alex! You really think you can wait fifty years?"

"You are the woman I love, and nothing is going to change that."

"But Alex, what if you meet someone else? I can't ask you to wait fifty years. And I have to grow up again too."

"You didn't ask. I give. I give you my heart. Natalie, we are soul mates. We've made it through forty seven years of marriage. We'll make it through this. You just be as good as you know how to be and get paroled early. I'll stand by you."

"Oh, Alex, I love you!" I buried my head in his chest. We're in my rocking chair, me on his lap. Daddy's sitting on the bed watching quietly.

"It's an honor to stand by you, love. I just talked to Annie Jones, and she says thanks again for helping her mom. She also says to tell you she'll try and get you for soft time."

"Alex!" I sat up straight. "We are NOT going to try and cheat the system!"

"Relax, love! Annie's pretty experienced with little soft-timers. I don't think she'd go easy on you. But I intend to get you as a Completatas. They probably won't let me get you as a soft timer, but maybe I will try and qualify for it."

"We don't try and cheat the system."

"I know love, I know. Have I told you lately I love your integrity?"

Alex stayed all afternoon. He told me about how his work's going. Alex is the premier muscle memory expert. There hasn't been a breakthrough in the field for quite some time, but Alex hasn't given up hope.

Alex told me our special study and scholarship program for new doctors was going really well. "A couple new researchers and a real crop of family doctors."

Alex asked how I was doing. I had to gloss over the details somewhat.

"Don't feel too guilty. You did what was best for her."

"That's not what I feel guilty about. I failed."

"You're not perfect!"

"Natty, what happened exactly?" asked Daddy.

"Danielle Jones had an EXTREMELY rare blood disease. The problem cells were dormant for over three hundred years. In fact, it didn't show up until she rejuved to six to study Chandlerian physics. I was assigned to her because it was felt that the only cure was rejuvenation, and my specialty is programming rejuvenation machines to correct faulty genes."

"And she's good," Alex interposed.

"So we took blood samples and got to work on figuring out how to correct the faulty gene. Which is not my specialty. We called in other experts on that. We thought we had the answer, and we rejuved her. Problem was, it didn't work. And after a couple of weeks it became apparent she wouldn't live until we could try again. She wasn't going to make it three months, let alone three years. This was something we were VERY sure about."

"So you killed her." said Daddy

"AT HER REQUEST. That's why I'm going into research. To try again. To find the answer."

"And leaving an incredibly lucrative profession," said Alex.

"Come on. love, those programs can be duplicated by others. I found the way, now others can follow. I measure success in lives, not dollars."

Alex gave me a hug. "I've really got to go. But remember. You are mine and I am yours and nothing changes that."

(*The chick description is lifted from a great book by Chris Crutcher.)