Lisa McGreager, nee Simpson, was a 22 year-old graduate of the Columbia Journalism School, just married five months ago to her college sweetheart. Everything had broken her way recently, and the future looked rosy. The only flaw after her wedding was a lack of money which necessitated that she and her husband, George, live with his parents, a very strained situation that already had led to a frosty relationship with her in-laws. However, that one blotch on the conjugal bliss had been cleared a month ago by her being hired as a junior reporter at a major local newspaper. It was an ideal job, one she had hoped to get down the road, not so soon, and, significantly, her salary combined with George's permitted them to rent and furnish a lovely condominium apartment. It would have been hard for her to see a cloud dimming her sun.
Unfortunately, that cloud appeared, ready to rain on her parade, in the form of a major mistake in her first significant independent story. She diligently researched a local story of corruption, interviewed those involved, checked all of the facts carefully -- and then carelessly typed in the wrong name of the accused! It probably should have been caught by an experienced editor, but it wasn't, and, suddenly, the paper was threatened with a disastrous suit. As the most junior employee involved, she received all of the blame, and being fired seemed inevitable.
The managing editor, one James O'Conner, was noted for his rigidity and his refusal to give employees a second chance except in very unusual circumstances. She, and everyone else, expected the worse. There was no question as to ultimate blame in this case and she sat there all day, suffering and waiting for the axe to fall. Finally, as the press room emptied out and everyone was going home, Lisa was summoned to his office. As she stood before his desk, being berated for her stupidity and carelessness, Lisa was determined to accept her fate stoically and bravely since, other than her inexperience, she had no defense. However, as doom was delivered and the severance from a job she loved took place, it was just too much. Suddenly, it all hit -- the loss of the job, the catastrophic loss of her income, the consequent inability to keep the apartment, the thought of being forced ignominiously to go back to George's parents, etc. She saw her whole future and, perhaps her marriage, collapsing around her. Her stoic facade broke, and disintegrated into a flood of tears and a plea for leniency. Her woes tumbled out and her boss was regaled with more than he wanted to hear about the impact of firing her.
Now, James O'Conner was a gruff, hard veteran of the news business, but he was not immune to the desperation displayed by the tearful young woman before him. He was a 52 year-old widower, old enough, literally, to be her father, and, contrary to popular opinion, he did not enjoy firing people. In reality, he quickly fired employees who, in his opinion, were not dedicated to the newspaper business, but he actually tried to find a way to overlook the indiscretions of those in whom he saw that dedication. In this case, he had been on the phone all day, apologizing and placating the offended party and was preparing a prominent retraction, thus, averting a suit. Nonetheless, there was no way that her careless actions could be overlooked and he had already prepared an alternative to firing her -- after threatening her, successfully, with the ultimate punishment. "All right, Miss McGreager, what do you suggest? That I should just overlook your story that has greatly embarrassed this newspaper? I hired you on the recommendation of Dean Simmons at Columbia, my old friend, and I hate to disappoint him, but I can't just let this pass and risk you doing something like this again.
Lisa suddenly saw a ray of hope. "Oh, Mr. O'Conner, please let me stay! I'll do anything! Punish me some other way!"
"All right, young lady. If you don't want to be fired, you will have to suffer another way....a good, hard spanking!"
Lisa was stunned. She had never even dreamed of such a proposal. She hadn't been spanked since she was six years old and the idea of being spanked by her boss was inconceivable. Still, mulling it over for a second or two, she realized that this was a real way out. Her job, her home....everything, hinged on this unexpected reprieve and if being treated like a little girl would save her, well, a little embarrassing pain was a small price to pay. Finally, she managed to say, "I did a stupid thing, and if that will make up for my mistake.....well, ok."
"Understand, I'm not talking about a little paddling. If we do this, your little ass will be blistered and you won't sit down for a week. Think about it."
Lisa was shocked, both by the blunt language and the realization that this would be real punishment. Still, she saw no other way, so, hesitantly, she replied, "I guess I have no choice. I want this job so very bad, for many reasons. Ok, go ahead."
O'Conner swung his swivel chair around, saying, "All right, come over here and get ready. I'm not going to do it over all those clothes, though. Take off your pants."
Again, Lisa was shocked. Somehow, she had never conceived of having to undress for the spanking. Worse, this day of all days, she had worn a one piece jump-suit with only her panties beneath it. She had small, perky breasts and frequently, as today, went braless. She was stunned at the thought of being almost nude in front of Mr. O'Conner, yet she saw no alternative as he waited impatiently for her to follow his orders.
