Melissa knew that all of the kids who drew Ms. Olivia for punishment detail were happy to get her, she knew that some of the teachers could be wanton or cruel with the kids who drew them. Some opted out, and went into the private stocks in the schoolyard for the day instead, there to be groped, poked and berated by their fellow students during recess and between classes, but others played the luck of the draw, and the ones who got Ms. Olivia never complained, boys or girls.
Melissa hurried home, she knew better than to be late, she didn’t want there to be any reason to add anything to her punishment. About halfway home, she caught up with her brother, and fell in with him. They walked together in silence for a while, her strides shortening to match his.
Travis turned to her and said in a flat voice, “They were talking all over the school about you, they said that you are a big slut, and you deserve it, and some said that they were going to ask their parents for a ride over just so they can,” and here pitch of his voice changed, like he was repeating something he had heard, but didn’t quite understand, “knock the back out of that whore’s cunt until she screams.” He looked up at her, “No one wanted to play with me or sit with me, they just kept telling me what they were going to do to you. Everyone at school hates me because of you, so I think you deserve it, for making everyone hate me, and hogging the bathroom all day too!” He finished in a rush, his voice angry, then ran for home before Melissa could say anything to him.
Her mother was waiting for her when she got in, Travis was already at the kitchen table, a glass of milk, and the better part of two fresh baked chocolate chip cookies still on his plate, another one being crammed into his mouth.
“Did you get all your homework Dear? You may want to get an early start on it, I really don’t know how much you will feel like doing on Sunday. I’ll bring your snack to your room, and some other things you may need, I don’t know if you’ll be wanting any supper tonight, we’ll see.”
Mom came into her room a few minutes later, Melissa had changed out of her school clothes, and she was wearing her purple fleece track suit, staring forlornly at the schoolbooks piled on her desk, the list of reading and homework for tonight and tomorrow swam in her vision, always dancing out of her teary eye’s focus every time she tried to read it.
“Here you go Dear, your snack, and a few other things you may want for tonight and tomorrow.” She set down a large cup of milk, a small plate of cookies, and a tiny paper cup with some pills in it.
“What are these?” Melissa asked, eying the pills.
“Those two red ones are laxatives, and you’ll want to take them right away so they have time to work, you are going to be out there for two full days, and you really don’t want anything in your system, otherwise you’ll eventually make a mess of yourself, and neither you or your guests want that. The white one is a sleep aid, I expect you are pretty nervous, and aren’t like to get much sleep tonight without it, and you’ll appreciate having a good night’s sleep come tomorrow, I don’t expect you’ll be getting much rest, even when you don’t have any guests.”
There, mom had said it again, “guests” that was how she saw the people who would be there, in her front yard, fucking and beating and humiliating her fifteen year old virgin daughter. They were guests, and she, her Mom would be the best hostess she could. She’d probably bake them cookies, and have a cold pitcher of lemonade out.
“Mom, they aren’t guests, they are going to be here to rape me!” Melissa cried plaintively.
“Oh, no Dear,” her mother said, in a soft voice, kissing her daughter on the top of her head, “we’ll be having a Stranger out in our front yard to entertain anyone who should pass by.”
Her mother left the room as Melissa sat there in shocked silence, then poked her head back in, “Oh, and don’t forget to sort your dirty clothes, I’m doing laundry tomorrow.”
Melissa took the two red pills and ate her cookies, they tasted like ashes in her mouth, but she ate all four as she cried.
She skipped dinner that evening, she couldn’t have eaten if she wanted, she was splitting her time between trying to do her homework, and running to the bathroom every few minutes. She had never crapped so much in her life. She eventually gave up, and took her homework into the bathroom, only coming occasionally out to change schoolbooks, and to let Travis in a couple of times. But finally, she seemed about done on the toilet, and had finished nearly everything she could of her schoolwork, and she headed back to her room. Her father was there sitting on her bed.
“Ah, there’s my princess, back from her time on the throne, come here”
Melissa sat down on her bed next to her father, the tired old joke was a comfort in itself, he put his arm around her shoulder, and pulled her close to him, he was warm and comforting as he always was, always there for her, ready to support her, defend her, love her. She looked up at him, as he looked down at her.
“I know princess,” he said warmly, “I know you don’t want to go out there tomorrow, but we had an agreement, and learning to stick by your agreements, to accept responsibility for your mistakes is all part of growing up. I hope that Sunday morning, when you are my daughter again you’ll better understand what it means to be an adult, and better understand your place in the world. Every day, I see you coming closer and closer to becoming the woman you will be, becoming more and more beautiful, poised, and intelligent, and I can only hope to set you on the right path.” He squeezed her tight, and said “You should probably get to bed soon, you’ve got an early start tomorrow.”
Melissa got ready for bed, took the pill her mother had given her, and fell into a dreamless slumber.
Her alarm woke her with a start, it was 5 AM, an hour and a half earlier than she usually had it set for, she didn’t even remember having turned it on, much less changing the time, it must have been her Dad. She stumbled into the kitchen, Mom and Dad were already there, dressed, and chatting over coffee.
“Good morning, Dear,” chirped her mother, “have you been to the bathroom? You really should try, see if you have anything left to get rid of. Afterward, I’ll make you some eggs, you’ll be better with something in your stomach, although…” she trailed off for a moment, “ I suppose you’ll be okay, growing girls need all the protein they can get. Have a good hot shower, and don’t forget to wash your face, and it may be good to braid your hair, that way it won’t get all tangled and look unruly.”
In a half dazed stupor, Melissa shuffled back to the bathroom, to shower. Later she sat at the kitchen table, naked under her bathrobe, slippered feet kicking under the table, eating a large plate of scrambled eggs as her mother brushed out and braided her just washed hair. She was starting to twist in queasy anticipation as her mother finished her braid with practiced precision, when her father walked in.