Appointment #2 Tuesday 24 November 2018
Jodie arrived today dressed more casually this week. She was clad in tight designer jeans, knee high leather boots and an aqua-colored cashmere sweater that did nothing to conceal her ample bosom. Wearing little makeup, her worried face was framed by shoulder length black hair with diamond stud ear rings glistening brightly. She paced the room and sat down only when I insisted. She crossed and uncrossed her legs a few times. She was clearly agitated.
"Doctor," she began abruptly, "this...this incident for lack of a better word, has really caused havoc in my life. I'm having trouble sleeping, and when I do, I have nightmares. I really lit into the kids about their behavior on the bus and made them promise me that they were going to be good. I get nervous each time my cell phone rings. Even Jeff noticed that I'm often moody and on edge but I assured him that everything is OK...but I don't know how much longer I can keep everything from him."
She seemed so distraught that it I almost had to look away but I forced myself to meet her gaze.
"Jodie, I understand the pressure you're under but before I can give you any advice I need to hear the entire story. We need to continue from where we left off last session. Did you see Steve again after that first...incident?"
"Oh yes...unfortunately so. After not hearing from him for a week or so I almost convinced myself that it was all some sort of a sick prank that would just disappear...that is until he called again. I was so upset that I decided just to ignore the call. What could he do? I began to chide myself for being afraid of an old man...a bus driver no less. I could probably get him fired if I complained to the school district. I wondered if he had a history of this sort of thing. Oh, I got really righteous and indignant that I had let this pathetic old man bully me. To think I allowed him to touch me! The next time he call I promised myself that I would take the offensive and put him in place. He would regret he ever messed with me! I soon had my chance when a few hours later he called back."
"What is it, Steven?" I asked, making sure I had the right amount of condescension in my voice.
"Hi there, Jodie. I thought you'd like an update on your kids. You won't believe what they did yesterday. Could we meet at your place tomorrow to discuss the latest?"
The last thing I wanted is for Steve to return to my house. The neighbors would surely notice and the last thing I needed was to give some on my nosey neighbors something to gossip about. I just couldn't chance it...besides I had made up my mind that I wasn't going to allow Steve to continue this charade.
"No, Steven, I don't think that will be necessary. I am sure I can handle them without your help." There, I thought, that will show him who's boss.
"Sure...whatever you say Jodie. I guess I will just have to file a report. I guess I shouldn't have bothered you in the first place. The District doesn't really approve of the drivers discussing bus discipline with the parents anyway. The protocol is to report all problems in writing directly to the Principal. That way the school can deal with the children directly and they have an anecdotal record to protect themselves from potential lawsuits. You know, Jodie, some of these parents who can afford to send their kids off to these expensive private schools can get really defensive when they find out that their kids become little brats when they are out of their sight."
He said this with a little laugh and I knew very well that he was really talking about my children. Suddenly I remembered Mrs Stein...how had I forgotten? She was a very strict principal and we had frequent conferences with her over the years. Like I said before, my children were challenging at times. I wondered what mischief they've they done now? Last year when Laurel wrote all over the bus seats with her fingernail polish, we were told that the next time she acted up on the bus she would lose her bus privileges for a week. Goodbye tennis lessons! Oh, sometimes I wish I never had children...they could be such an inconvenience! I realized that I had to somehow placate Steve so he wouldn't file that report to Mrs Stein. I had to think of a plan quickly. I decided I would fool him into thinking that I would play his little game. Maybe I would even let him spank me again...and perhaps it wouldn't hurt so much once I got used to it. He could have his little fantasy and I would be able to keep my tennis lessons three days a week at the country club. Oh, I had it all figured out!
"On second thought, Steve, I'd be happy to meet with you. My children are so important to me and maybe your way is best. Look, as you know, I do real estate on the side. Tomorrow I'm showing a house at 7. The owners have already moved out so it's empty. Why don't you meet me there at 6? I'll text you the address...ok?"
"Sure Jodie, that sounds like a plan. See you then."
At 6PM the next day we met as planned. The house was quite beautiful, and it was still fully furnished since the owners had been relocated for work and they hadn't had time to ship their furnishings...besides homes sold so much faster furnished than empty. Steve just wandered around the house like any prospective buyer and I felt sorry for him knowing this home was way out of his price range.
"This room will do. I love the feel of leather...don't you?...plus it'll give us plenty of room."
He winked at me suggestively while settling on a huge leather couch in the den. He had a gleam in his eye and for a moment I caught my breath thinking that maybe I was going to get more than I bargained for but I was determined that I was not going to lose control of the situation. Last time the spanking had caught me off guard. This time I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry. Hell... I'm almost as big as he is...I can handle this...or so I thought.
I took a deep breath and said, "OK Steve, let's get this over with. I have clients coming at 7."
He smiled as he removed his denim jacket and carefully placed it on the back of the couch. "In a hurry, are you? I guess you enjoyed your first taste of discipline and are anxious for more."
"No, Steve...you are wrong. I find corporal punishment abhorrent and I would never subject my children to that...no matter what you say."
"Well, I guess that explains why they have continued to misbehave on the bus. Do you want to hear the latest?"
"No, I don't. Jeff and I are raising our children the way we see fit and hitting them is just not right. You are only using this as a way of fulfilling your own sordid fantasies. I've decided this is the last time we're going to meet. If you want to file a report on our kids behavior go ahead because then we'll report your behavior to the bus company. Understand?"
I held my breath wondering what Steve's reaction would be to my ultimatum. His reply caught me off guard.
"OK, if that's the way you want it," he replied amicably. "I'll do as you ask only on the condition that I can give you one last spanking."