Jenny checks her watch. Fifteen minutes late. How typical.
Mornings are such a pain. There's nothing she'd rather do than stay at home luxuriating under the warm covers, not a worry in the world, with nothing but time, and loads of it. But she has her weekly coffee with Dorit. What's so wrong with afternoon coffee?
"No, no, no," she can hear Dorit say in her thick accent, "it has to be 9:00. Otherwise the whole day is lost."
But that's Dorit: anal about every little thing. And Jenny's determined to get her to loosen up, stop being so German or Belgian or whatever.
After a hurried, three block walk, she rounds onto the flagstone walk that winds through the profuse plane of red, yellow, and purple tulips leading to Dorit's house. These are but a prelude to the waxing blooms peppering the painstakingly tended shrubs and ornamental crabs that in a few weeks will render a profuse frame around the red brick Tudor home.
She's about to press the doorbell, when Dorit's teenage daughter, Mattie, swings open the front door and rushes past in a burst of tears. Jenny watches the statuesque girl walk stiffly down the walk, her hand glued to her pert behind and rubbing it furiously over her short skirt.
Dorit appears in the door dressed in a thick white robe and matching towel turban. A few wavy red locks dangle over a face.
"What's up with her?" Jenny asks.
"Teenagers," she says scowling. "Come in. I'll tell you over coffee."
Jenny parks at the pristine breakfast table overlooking the equally well-manicured backyard. Dorit fills a mug with coffee and gives it to Jenny. Then she sits down on the opposite side with her own cup topped off.
"Mattie was very rude," Dorit says. "First she refused to pick up her things in the bathroom and we got into a big argument about her responsibilities and housework. Then she called me a bitch."
Jenny's mouth drops. "She said that to you?"
"I tell you, Americans have no manners." Dorit takes a long drink from her mug. "The things she learns over here."
"Boy, I'll bet she's grounded for a month, huh?"
"Hah! No, I don't go for grounding. I gave her a good spanking."
Jenny's mouth falls again. "Seriously? At her age?"
Dorit shrugs. "She acted like a spoiled brat. She got what she deserved."
Jenny regarded the tall, stout woman. Even at forty something, she had no doubt Dorit could easily take care of even athletic Mattie. A small butterfly fluttered inside.
"I could never do that," Jenny says. "It seems so...I don't know...old fashioned."
"Wait 'til you have kids. Your tune will change."
Dorit gets up and opens a bag of bagels. "Want one?" she asks.
"Of course. I'm starving. I make sure I never eat when I come to your house."
Dorit frowns slightly as she pops two bread rings into the toaster.
"I see." She crosses her arms and says a little coolly, "How goes the job search?"
"Oh, you know. It's hard to focus sometimes. So much going on."
"Uh-huh." Dorit tends to the popped bagels and places the plates on the table. Jenny tears into hers like a ravenous animal.
"My goodness. Don't you eat?"
As she chews she responds, "I haven't been shopping yet this week."
"That's right," Dorit says wryly. "You're very busy. Well, did you call my friend Mr. Mitchell at the book store?"
"Yeah, I was going to, but I'm not really sure I want to sell books. I'm not much of a reader you know." She stuffs the last quarter bagel in her mouth. "Anyway, I lost the number. Mm, would you mind getting me another one?"
"A phone number?" Dorit stares, confused. Jenny shakes her head and points at her full cheeks. "Ah," Dorit says. Without a word she gets up and pulls another bagel from the bag.
"Jenny," she says leaning against the counter, bagel in hand, "I'm concerned about you."
Jenny laughs. "Me? I'm fine. Everything's great."
"Yes, maybe right now. But in a couple years your new husband may resent your loafing around..."
"I don't loaf," Jenny scoffs.
Dorit drops the bagel into the toaster. "Well I've only known you about a month, but in that time I've heard a lot of talk but not seen much action. That sounds like loafing to me."
"Yeah, well, I'm still adjusting. Ted said I don't need to work if I don't want to. He makes a ton of money at the law firm. So I'm kind of searching for myself, you know?"
"Okay, well don't expect your self to come searching for you."
"Oh, stop now." Jenny shifts in her chair getting uncomfortable with the Dorit's persistence. "It's really not a big deal."
"Listen, you've been married almost a year. That's long enough to be idle. You need work or something to keep you stimulated, keep you fresh and alive. You're going to waste away into a bitter old maid when Ted starts to work late every night because he doesn't want to hear you drone on about your empty day."
Jenny folds her arms. "Shows what you know. He's worked late for almost as long as I've known him. That's the way it is in law..." Jenny's voice drops with her chin, "...he says."
Dorit comes over to Jenny and places the bagel on her plate. Jenny fidgets with her nails. She looks up, a little teary eyed. "I don't know," she says.
"Take it from someone who's been there," Dorit says as she tinkers with the flower vase on the table. "When Hans and I first married I was pretty aimless, too. Marriage is a big change."
"Yeah, tell me about it," Jenny snorts.
"But I had lots of, shall we say, loving guidance from my parents, and Hans. I think you maybe need some help to find your way."
Jenny sighs. "You think? I don't even know where to start."
Dorit tosses a wilted tulip. "Talk to Ted."
"He's so tired when he gets home." Jenny stuffs the last bite into her mouth. "Now that you say it, he does work a lot."
"Call some friends. But more importantly, just get out. Get some interviews. Even if they're not exactly what you want. You never know where things may leave."
"Maybe you're right." Jenny gets up and brushes the crumbs off her lap all over the floor.
"Oh, my clean floor," Dorit gasps.
"Oops. Sorry. Well, you have a maid, right?"
Dorit tightens her robe belt. "She doesn't come until Friday."
Jenny shrugs. "Oh, that's a bummer. Well, I'm going to go make go make a bunch of phone calls then hit the streets. Thanks for breakfast."
Jenny starts for the door, but Dorit stands in her way and says, "I don't believe you."
Jenny laughs nervously, "What? Why?"
"It's almost ten. Your show is almost on."
"Huh? Oh, yeah, it is isn't it? Then I really better get going." Jenny smiles and tries to pass. Dorit moves with her, blocking her.
"What?" Jenny says, exasperated.
"We need to talk before you leave," Dorit says evenly.
"We have been talking." Jenny fidgets. "I don't want to take up more of your precious time."
"You've been rude today. More than usual."
"Me? Well, you know me," Jenny chuckles awkwardly, "I'm like a bull in a china shop. Everyone knows I just say what pops in my head."
"That's no excuse," Dorit says.
"So what, are you going to spank me now, too?"
"I haven't decided yet."
Jenny gulps and steps backward, but is blocked by the counter. "Oh, Dorit, you really need to lighten up a little. You Germans are always so serious."
"Jenny!" Dorit yells and grabs her by the wrist. "I am Dutch."
She pulls Jenny over to a chair by the table and sits down.
"What are you doing?" Jenny cries.
"You just don't listen, do you?" Dorit yanks Jenny over her lap and grabs her tightly around the waist, then starts to spank her sharply. "From now on you are go-ing to list-en to me," she smacks like a metronome.
Jenny grabs the chair legs and tries to wiggle off but Dorit holds her firmly in place. All her efforts get her are harder swats.
"Hold still," Dorit barks, "or I'll pull down your pants."
"You wouldn't dare," Jenny shrieks. "This is insane."
Dorit increases the speed of her slaps until her hand sounds like a rapid-fire pop gun every time her palm flattens across Jenny's jeans. Jenny kicks her legs out trying vainly to avoid the blows.
"Ow," she says, "that stings."
"Good, I'm glad something's finally getting through to you." Dorit stops a moment, her palm cupped lightly over one of Jenny's ample buns.
Jenny starts to get up. "Thank god, I can't believe you just..."
Dorit slams her down against her lap and pushes her forward so her head is almost touching the ground and delivers a high, arcing wallop. "Quiet. Right now."
A loud whimper escapes Jenny's lips. Dorit squeezes her butt hard. "Now, I said."
Jenny recognizes something from far back in her youth in Dorit's tone and goes immediately limp over her lap. She starts to tremble.
"Now then," Dorit says sternly, "I want you to listen very carefully to what I say. Understand?"
Jenny grunts her affirmation and Dorit lands another stinging blow.
"Answer me loudly and clearly."
Jenny clears her throat and manages a loud, "Okaaay. Yes."
Another hard swat. Jenny cries out.
"Yes,
Ma'am