Little Susie/Page5

Little Susie: Trying to talk to a Stone Wall
by Little Laurie

(I'm NOT doing a first shopping trip for Susie. It's been done and done and done. So assume she behaved atrociously and got her butt beat.)

"How was school, Susie?" We're in the hovercar, driving home.

"Fine." "Got homework?" Susie's "homework" will consist of word matching or some other simple assignment that helps teach reading. I've read some of the assignments, and they are good about dropping information about the world, unusual occupations, things to spark a child's interest. That's what I like about this preschool. They try to spark a child's interest in learning. That's something I'm trying to do with Susie as well. Though Susie's only interest appears to be dominating Pennies. I have suggested to her that she'd better participate in her rehab if she ever wants to keep a Penny again. I do think that's the first thing I've said that got through to her.

But she's not getting a Spanking Susie any time soon. I don't think it's good for her to have something she can dominate right now. I know it's a therapeutic tool, but given how much she likes hurting things, it's just not a good idea. I know that means she'll be more frustrated, but, well, that's her problem. Besides, I don't want to spring for a Spanking Susie. Actually, if she ever gets one, it will be a Spanking Sammy. If she is going to take out her frustrations on something, it's not going to be something that looks female.

"No." Stupid-ass assignments. I'm not doing them. I'm not!

"Okay, then we'll talk when we get home." Good, I want to have a counseling session today. I guess the preschool doesn't give homework on the first day. Shit. Maybe I should do the homework. Talk, talk, talk. Just like a woman. After ensconcing both Susie and myself in comfortable chairs, I begin. "I want to talk about Y-repression today, Susie. I know that's one of the things you really hate. I want you to consider the idea that it's not so much a punishment as a way to help you learn."

"Right," drawled Susie. "My being mentally an idiot should give me compassion for those doomed to be idiots, unless they have the sense to have a sex change? Of course, since they're idiots, they won't, even though they supposedly know that women are still disadvantaged in the workplace? How many women have been Earth President, for instance? None."

I was listening to the diatribe with one eyebrow arched, trying, in truth, not to laugh. Susie was so obviously trying to upset me, but she'd have to learn a bit more about what actually upset me first. At the moment, I was glad she was talking. I might not be able to refute her ridiculous arguments, but at least she was being relatively honest at the moment, and I was learning something about her.

"And my being biologically submissive should help me have compassion for the poor souls who are made to serve men? Who don't even dare walk alone at night because there might be big scary men out there? Who have to have some MAN protect them? Women have no guts. There are barely any in the military, even though it's open to them. They're made to stay at home and take care of the kids. Just like you're doing."

You are trying for below the belt, aren't you? "Susie, you know perfectly well that I work. What are you trying to gain by talking like I don't?" She dodges. Susie usually does, I'm learning. "What's the point of this stupid conversation, anyway?"

"It's part of your rehab. Tell me what you think might be an advantage to being female."

"Let's see...you get to depend on men to take care of you, pay for your dinner, do all your thinking, while you busy your little mind with looking pretty so you can snag more men, and you don't have to worry about any of the world's problems, because you're too stupid to, or take any responsibility for your actions."

Could you be more offensive? "What else?"

"Lots of you don't have to work, you can just sit at home watching holovision all day, and you don't have to prove yourself like boys do, because you don't have to make anything of yourself. You yack, yack, yack all the time and giggle with other girls, none of you can ever keep a secret, but that doesn't matter, because none of your little affairs are worth anything anyway."

"But we have each other for support. Women do talk to each other a lot, and we make good listeners."

My God, she looks like she's run out of insults for once. "Women are nurturers. Yes, we're the best for taking care of babies, because we have natural compassion."

"Weakness. Yeah, you all whine to each other, and everyone knows women talk way too much without saying anything. But then, how could they, with what little is in their heads?"

Don't you EVER get tired of taking cheap shots, Susie? "We can also be beautiful, both in mind and body, in a way men can't because they always have to be so tough."

"Weakness."

"Men find their "strength" in being big, strong, harsh, uncouth. Women know you can be strong while being quieter, more polite."

"Uh-huh. You're deluding yourself, you know. Men rule the world!"

Oh, Susie does bring out the worst in me. "Perhaps in the foreground. Women rule from behind the..." But before I can finish, she cuts me off, somewhat passionately.

"Yeah, yeah, sure, that's what you all say, pretend you have this invisible power because you don't want to deal with reality. Women never do. They're too weak, so they make up all kinds of stupid fantasies."

"Susie, remember the rules. No interrupting. Respect me and I'll respect you. Secondly, remember you're a penny because you wouldn't deal with the reality that Merkad-like sentences are a thing of the past."

Unsurprisingly, she ignores the last half of that. "Oh, sure, we're having this discussion because you want to hear what I think, but the minute I say things, it's defiance. You just don't want to hear the truth about women."

I snorted loudly. "Susie, I've been listening to your chauvinistic claptrap because I want to hear what you think. Basic rules of courtesy aren't that much to ask."

"That's like you women, too. More interested in your rules of etiquette than anything of real substance. Going on a stupid power trip by making me adhere to silly little rules, because this is the only place in your life where you can have some power or superiority over a man."

"And why were you a Penny parent, Susie? Was it a power trip to you?"

Ooh, low blow. My counseling skills need work. Susie folds her arms, flops back into the armchair and quite blatantly sticks out her lower lip and pouts. I wonder if she really believes that trash she was giving me. Oh, to be a Rigellian and know. If she does, then I've got some serious work in front of me.

I was going to say something, but Susie got in first. "Why are you so crazy about talking, anyway? Rehab is for soft-timers. I'm just supposed to get my ass beat. That's what you perverts like anyway."

I make a mental note to "talk" to her about her language. Again. That's one of Susie's more common forms of defiance. "That's a commonly held view. Certainly they were a lot more concerned with teaching me the correct angle to hold a paddle than teaching counseling techniques in training. But I believe that just beating you won't change how you think. It helps, because you won't want to go through this again. But there's a chance it may just make you sneakier about your crimes. Unless we can change the way you think."

"Brainwash me, you mean. Turn me into a nice little drone, yes sir, no ma'am, kiss ass or get spanked."

"Susie, watch your language. You've already earned yet another spanking for that, and I think it was deliberate." I sigh and hold my head. "If I guess right, you feel the need for meaningless defiances to prove that you are not a 'good little drone.' If you must, then you must, I guess. But your butt is going to hurt for it."

"Yeah, like that's really a problem for you."

"Susie, you know I'm not really a spanko, so I don't know what you're trying to accomplish by saying things like that."

"All right, so you're on a power trip."

"Right, Susie. That's why I give you more freedom than most pennies, and have yet to actually give you an unearned spanking, given that you've yet to earn less than three or four a day. Can we please talk like civilized people for five minutes?"

"Meaning I agree with everything you say, that I'm bad and need to change my evil ways?"

"If you do that, you're going to get spanked for lying. I was referring more to the respect issue."

"You aren't worthy of my respect."

"That's it." I yank Susie from her chair and put her over my knees. "I've given you a lot of freedom to say what you think and all you're doing with it is blatantly disrespecting women in general and me in particular." I begin to give her a warmup spanking. I want her to hear what I have to say.

"Well, like it or not, young lady, I am your mother, and while you are welcome to say what you really think, you will be more respectful! I am tired of your specious arguments! You tell me women like to stay at home and depend on men and are only fit to take care of children, when you know I work. You act like I'm a spanko, when you know I'm not. You take advantage of my leniency every chance you get, and never fail to grumble about how badly you're being treated."

I begin to spank harder. "Yes, I'm young!" Spank, spank, spank! "Yes, I'm poor!" Spank, spank, spank! "Yes, I'm lenient!" Spank, spank, spank! "Yes, I do things differently!" Spank, spank, spank! "And yes, I am FEMALE!" Spank, spank, spank, spank, spank! "BUT I AM YOUR MOTHER AND YOU WILL OBEY ME AND YOU WILL SHOW MORE RESPECT!"

And then I begin to explain why she will do that. With my hairbrush.