Natty Stories/Page8

The Trial
It's been pretty nice for the last few days. Mommy's kept me in bed for a lot of the time, but she brought me things to color with and books to read. And she went and got me a biochemistry book! I love it already. I have to read very, very slowly, since my eyes aren't used to scanning a page, but that gives me time to process the information. And Mommy says it will come back to me.

And best of all, I haven't been spanked since I was rescued. After the trial, it'll be back to Penny spankings. I'm not looking forward to it. But the trial is this morning, so I'm sure I'll be spanked tonight.

Oh, well. It's so good to be back with people who really care about me. Mommy even bundled me up to watch her and Daddy practice pole vaulting. She says after they're sure I'm recovered, I can start too. Of course, it'll be just like I've never done it. I know how in my mind, but not in my body.

Here's Daddy. "Ready, dear?" I reach out my arms to be lifted out of bed. After a quick sponge bath, he dresses me in a beautiful and very stiff yellow dress.

After a nice big breakfast, the three of us get in the hovercar to go to the courthouse.

. ..

We're the third trial on the docket. I am sent to the children's room to play until I'm called to testify. But I'm too scared.

I'll have to face HIM. And say what he did. This isn't going to be a great morning.

All too soon, I'm called to testify. The bailiff walks me up to the witness box, where I'm sworn in. I focus on my lawyer. Anything to keep from looking at HIM.

"Now, Natty, please tell us what happened," he said very gently.

"Mommy had put me in the corner in the mall for disobeying her. Suddenly someone picked me up and I figured it was Mommy. But it was him." I point to my tormentor. He scowls at me and I can see him forming the words "Little slave." Quickly I rush on.

"He...he had a hypospray and he put me out. When I woke up I was tied down in his torture room. He said he was one of Klaus Merkad's old parents and missed it. He..."

"Yes?"

"He called me little slave and made me call him master. He made me beg for food and then eat it on the floor...like a dog." Tears are streaming down my face by now, but I have to finish. "Th-then he beat me everywhere with a switch. Even inside. He cut my hair so he could beat there. And then he-then he..." and I cannot say it. I just can't.

"Your Honor, please!" Mommy is on her feet. The judge nods and Mommy rushes to the witness box, seizing me in her arms. "It's okay, Natty," she whispers. "You can do it."

Her presence gives me the strength to admit that I was raped twice. Then we go back to where Daddy is sitting. "Good job," he says to me. I'm busy burrowing into Mommy's chest. I don't ever want to come out.

"Samuel Chester," booms the judge. "You are charged with abduction, assault and rape of a minor. How do you plead?"

My tormentor thinks for a moment. He has little choice. He was caught red-handed, literally in the act of rape. The IR scans showed him as solely responsible for the abduction. And I don't know who else he could blame my welts on.

"Guilty," he says finally with a shrug.

"In setting your sentence, I must take into consideration not only your heinous crimes, but the effect they have had on little Natty. Tazz-ph'chat, please take the stand."

The Rigellian counselor who's been by several times in these last few days walks calmly up to the stand and takes her oath.

["Natty is terrified, your Honor. Terrified of leaving her Mommy's side, for fear she'll be kidnapped again. Terrified of all men except her Daddy. She's very sad about her hair, and her self-esteem has taken a nose-dive. Some of this will fade with time. Some of it will be with her forever. I don't know if she'll ever be able to have a normal sexual relationship again, for instance."]

(This was all in Rigellian, of course, but everyone is taught Rigellian and Drakonian from the age of two.)

"Is it your professional opinion that Samuel should be placed next door to Natty?"

["No. He should be nearby. Spanking him sometimes should help Natty get over her fear of him - and she is absolutely petrified. But she should not see him daily.]

"Very well. Take your seat, please. Samuel Chester, rise. Face the court."

He complies.

"Your sentence is 25 times 3 to 6 with Y-repression. Your six Special Punishment Days will be Valentine's Day, Diaspora, your birthday, Thanksgiving...and given your religion, Hanukkah. But it looks like you managed to enjoy Easter anyway as a child, so you'll have that, too. Your parents will give all cooperation to helping Natty recover from her ordeal. No matter what that means for your bottom. Court is dismissed."