Holiday Intervention – Part 2

Happy New Year Everyone! I’m finally posting my Christmas Story for Alyx’s Christmas exchange. https://alyxfic.wordpress.com/links/

My story is part 2 of Holiday Intervention that I wrote for the Xmas exchange in 2017. Yes, I know, I’m a slow writer but I hope you have as much fun reading it as I had writing it. Part 1 can be found here. https://waywardangels.wordpress.com/claire-britain/

Holiday Intervention – Part Two

Peggy gently knocked on the door as she entered Joanna’s bedroom. She threw an armful of clothes on the bed on the opposite side of the room.

“Jo, are you okay?” she asked timidly, seeing the upper classmen face down on her bed.

After getting no response she turned to leave the room, then turned back around.

“Look Jo, I’m sorry, I didn’t ask for this. I wouldn’t bother you at all, but Helen insisted. I’ll try and stay out of your hair okay. I can set up in the living room since everyone’s gone.” She said miserably.

“No wait, Peggy,” Joanna started, rolling over on her side to look at the sad freshmen.

“It’s okay, put your stuff away. I’m just feeling a little sorry for myself is all. I’m afraid I’ve been rather stupid, and I paid for it rather with Helen. So, kiddo, I hear you’re a little sad yourself. Come sit down and tell me all about it.” She said tapping the bed.

Peggy grinned at Joanna’s words and bounced over to her bed.

“Thanks Jo, are you okay, it sounded like you got it good from swim-bo.”

“Swim-bo? What on earth is that?” Joanna replied, with a confused look on her face.

“It’s an acronym, shh, you can’t say anything, but all the freshmen call Helen that. SWMBO, it stands for She Who Must Be Obeyed.”

Joanna erupted in a fit of laughter at Peggy’s revelation. “Oh my god, that’s the best thing I’ve heard all week, classic!”

Peggy grinned, seeing Joanna laugh, until Helen’s ominous frame appeared in the doorway.

“Good it sounds like you two are hitting it off, we’re ordering pizza. Peggy are you still just veggie or do you want something else?”

“Um, thanks, but I’m good, I’m not really hungry. You get what you like, I’m okay.” She replied, not making eye contact with Helen.

“Nonsense, you haven’t eaten since breakfast, I’ll order a large side salad for us all too. It should be quick, since most of campus is gone. How are you doing Jo?” Helen asked looking at her friend.

“A lot better actually,” Joanna replied with a small grin, winking at Peggy.

“Good to hear, and I have a little surprise, were going to have pizza and movie night. I may have gotten lucky and scored a particular movie for our new DVD player. Any guesses Peggy?” Helen asked, as she left the room humming the infamous Celine Dion Song.

“Oh my god, you got Titanic? Really?”
“Yep, and pizza should be here in 30 minutes!” She heard Helen reply from the stairs.
While they were waiting on the pizza to arrive Peggy shared the details of her parents’ divorce with Joanna.

“I’m so sorry Peggy, I kind of screwed things up for you, didn’t I? You could be having a nice Christmas break with Helen and Karen instead of stuck here with me.”

“Honestly, I’m just happy to be here with you guys. I really am,” Peggy replied with a small smile. “Now let me let you in on another little secret called arnica cream!”
***
Karen was seated on the couch clutching a pillow when Joanna and Peggy entered the living room.

“Jo, I’m sorry, I was just scared, I didn’t know what to do, I had to tell Helen!” Karen began.

“Karen it’s okay, I brought this on myself,” Joanna said, gingerly lowering herself on the couch. “And you had every right to go to Helen. I can’t believe how stupid I’ve been. I owe you an apology too. This won’t happen again, I promise you.” Joanna replied repentantly.

“Did she use the paddle? I hate that thing!” Karen grimaced.

“Not this time but I guess on Friday when we talk about the drugs.”

“Oh, you are so dead my friend, but after that, it will be behind you. There’s something to be said for a clean slate!”

“Well you would know all about that, wouldn’t you darling!” Helen said, coming into the living room and putting the pizza and salad down on the coffee table. “Ready for the movie?”

“Yes, I can’t believe you got Titanic!” Peggy replied excitedly as Helen put in the DVD.
Joanna noticed that Peggy didn’t touch the pizza and just picked at a few leaves of lettuce while she was glued to the movie.

“Peggy, I know this is your favorite movie but you need to eat!” Joanna said, pushing the pizza box across the coffee table.

“Not hungry, besides, I’m watching my weight, I’ve put on a few pounds.”

“Peggy your skinny as a rail, what are you talking about, you don’t need to watch your weight if anything a few extra pounds would do you good!” Helen admonished.

Joanna saw Peggy look at the pizza like it was her worst enemy. She grabbed the smallest piece, took a small bite and put the rest of it on her plate where it remained until the end of the movie.

“I’ll clean up,” Peggy said as the movie rolled the credits.

“Thanks Peggy, but you hardly touched your pizza.” Joanna said with a frown.
“I thought we’d be travelling all day so I had a huge breakfast.” Peggy replied collecting the plates and pizza box and taking it to the kitchen.
She returned a couple of minutes later, yawning. “I think I’m going to hit it, I was up early.”

“Wait, before you do Peggy, I just want to say how sorry I am. I let you all down and you’re here now and missing your break because of me. I hope in time you’ll forgive me.” Joanna announced somberly.

“It’s going to be okay Jo, we’ll get through this together,” Helen replied, getting up and hugging her friend.

“Yep, you know we’re here for you Jo,” Karen said, stretching, with a small yawn of her own.

“Sounds like we’re all a little sleepy, I’m going to hit it too.” Joanna replied.

“Well I’m always tired after a good spanking so you must be exhausted!” Karen said grinning.

“Is that so, well you better get up the stairs before your girlfriend, decides you need something to help you sleep!” Joanna replied.

“You girls go on up, I need a quick moment with Joanna.” Helen said in a more serious tone as Karen and Peggy started to ascend the stairs.
Joanna looked at Helen trying to gauge her mood.

“Sit,” Helen said, gesturing back towards the couch. “Jo, you and I go back a long way but we’re here now because of you. The next two weeks, you are going to do the work to get caught up. I want you in my study at nine sharp tomorrow morning to get started. I have your course work and Professor Myers has kindly given me a series of quizzes which I’ll be giving you.”

“But Helen why do I need to work in your study? And nine? We are on break it’s a little early….”

Before Joanna could finish her sentence, she found herself propelled over Helen’s lap, her pajamas and panties around her knees.

“I’ll tell you what young lady, let’s make it eight o’clock!” Helen replied as she started to pepper Joanna’s backside with her palm.

“Ow, okay Helen I’m sorry, yes, eight o’clock.” Joanna pleaded, as Helen continued to smack her behind over and over.

Joanna wanted the chastisement to stop. Her earlier encounter with Helen had left her poor rear end flaming and now Joanna’s palm was reigniting that previous inferno.

“Please Helen, no more, I understand,” she pleaded, as Helen went to work on the underside of her bottom.

Just as Joanna was about to plead her case for her poor backside again, Helen stopped and rested her hand on Joanna’s throbbing behind.

“Up you get,” Helen directed, helping Joanna off her lap. “I would usually make you stand in the corner to think about that for a while, but it’s getting late. Now, ready to try this again?”

“Yes Helen,” Joanna replied miserably, as she fumbled to right her pajamas and panties.
“Now then, tomorrow morning, eight o’clock, my study. And Joanna, if you’re a minute late or if your quizzes aren’t to my satisfaction, you’ll be right back over my knee. Do you understand?”

“Yes Ma’am, I understand, I won’t let you down Helen, I know you’re doing this for me.”

“Good girl, now go and get some sleep it’s late.” Helen replied, getting up and hugging her friend. “Oh, and Jo.”

Joanna paused and turned to look at her friend from the third step of the stairs.

“I think since you’re going to need to focus these next two weeks, bedtime for you will be ten. Don’t you agree?”

Joanna opened her mouth ready to protest but when she saw Helen fold her arms and look at her expectantly, she thought better of it. “Yes Ma’am, ten o’clock.”

Helen smiled, “Night Jo.”
***
“Jo, wake up, it’s after seven.”

“Ugh I can’t believe I have to get up this early on break. What are you doing up already Peggy?” Joanna replied, opening one eye and looking over at her.

“I went for a run, then made breakfast, come on you better not be late for Helen after yesterday.”

“Thanks Peggy I’ll be down in a minute.”

“You look a little pale, are you okay Peggy?” Joanna asked as she entered the kitchen about fifteen minutes later.

“Yeh, I’m fine, just a little tired from my run, is all…”

“Peggy!” Joanna exclaimed as she caught the red headed freshmen who was wavering and about to fall down.

“Are you okay, what’s going on Peggy? Are you feeling okay? Sit down here and take a minute.” Joanna said helping Peggy to one of the kitchen chairs.

“Yes, I’m okay, maybe a little light headed from my run is all, I’m fine,” Peggy replied.

“Here drink this,” Joanna directed, handing Peggy a bottle of water. “You probably need to eat; you didn’t touch dinner last night. How about I serve you up some of those eggs and sausages you made?”

“Thanks Jo, I’ll be fine really, besides, I’ve already eaten.” Peggy replied not making eye contact with Joanna.

“Peggy?” Joanna questioned with a warning tone in her voice. “What’s with all the running and hardly eating lately? You better not be starving yourself to lose weight!”

“Don’t be ridiculous Jo, of course I’m not, I just ate. Now you better eat and get moving if you’re going to be on time for Helen. Karen’s still sleeping I think, but Helen’s been up a while.” Peggy replied, getting up and grabbing a plate for Joanna.

“You just sit there and take it easy,” Joanna said, relieving Peggy of the plate and sitting her back down in the chair. “I’ll get you some juice.”

“Joanna I just had juice now please stop fussing and eat your breakfast, otherwise you’re going to be pretty hungry come lunch time!”

Joanna just leveled her gaze at Peggy, who was watching her expectantly as she ate her eggs.

“Peggy are you sure you’re alright?” Joanna asked, as she put her plate in the sink.

“Yes, right as rain, really. I think you’re right, I just needed to eat. I’ll make us some soup and sandwiches for lunch, tell Helen I’ll have it ready at noon.”

“Peggy, you don’t have to cook for us you know? This is your break and we can all pitch in. I don’t want you exerting yourself if you’re not feeling well.”

“I’m fine, now would you go. Your backside won’t stand another thrashing so soon if you’re late for Helen!”

“Hmm, well you take it easy, I’ll have Karen come check on you.”

“Okay good luck with Helen.”

Joanna drug her way back up the stairs to the top floor and knocked on Helens open, study door.

“Good, on time. Come on in Jo”, Helen said getting up from her seated position behind her desk. “I’ll leave you to it, here is the study guide for the modules you’ll be covering today. You can break for lunch then finish up and I’ll give you the quiz. Questions?”

“Well, you seem to have this all figured out, don’t you?” Joanna asked wryly. “But Helen, there is one thing. I’m a little worried about Peggy. She looked very pale this morning and a little wobbly to be honest. She said she ate after her run but can you check on her? She’s on this losing weight nonsense, and since when was she a runner?”

“You don’t think she’s telling you the truth?”

“I don’t know, there’s just something off, she couldn’t look me in the eye when I asked her if she ate today.”

“Joanna, there’s one thing I’ve learned, and that’s to trust your gut about these things. Let’s go talk to her.”

“Okay, she was in the kitchen when I left her.”

***
“She’ll be fine, her electrolytes are all over the place and her blood sugar was way too low. That’s why she passed out. She told me she’s been dieting but from her levels, I’d say she hasn’t been eating much at all. You can take her home, have her eat some proper food and she’ll be fine,” the emergency room doctor informed them, when the three women stood to greet him in the ER waiting room.

“Thank you, Doctor, we’ll make sure she does.”

“You were right Jo, I’ve half a mind to give her a dose of my hairbrush for being so irresponsible,” Helen said, pacing the waiting room after the doctor had left.

“Helen, let me handle Peggy, I think we have a connection, she opened up to me about her parents. I’ll make sure she’s eating right.”

“You’re not going to cook anything are you Jo? The poor girl will never eat!” Karen quipped with a grin.

“Very funny,” Joanna returned, folding her arms.

“She’s teasing you Jo”, Helen said with a big grin. “Well, if you think you can get through to her, she’s all yours but I want to know if there’s any issues.”

“There you are, how are you feeling Peggy?” Joanna asked, as a volunteer wheeled her out into the waiting room.

“I’m fine, I’m sorry you guys, I didn’t want you to be here all day waiting for me, I think I just overdid the running.” Peggy replied sheepishly.

Joanna could see Helen about to come unglued at the Freshmen’s cagey response.

“Well Karen and Helen are going to get the car, and you and I can talk about it when we get back to the house.” Joanna replied raising her eyes in Helens direction.
***
Peggy felt wretched on the drive back to the Sorority House. She hadn’t meant to have her three friends dragged to the ER for nearly 6 hours. In retrospect, Peggy knew she had brought it on herself. She just wanted to lose five more pounds, then maybe a boy might notice her like they fawned over some of the other girls in the house.

“Let’s get you into bed, then you and I are going to have a little chat. Helen is going to bring you up something to eat,” Joanna said, helping Peggy into bed.

“I really don’t have to go to bed. I’m okay Jo, you don’t have to fuss, I just overdid it that’s all.” Peggy replied with a sulk on her face.

“Young lady I suggest you stop right now! The doctor made it very clear that you haven’t been eating, so I suggest you stop with the act. Now I’m going to ask you a question, and I expect a straight answer.”

Peggy’s tummy did a little flip and her eyes went wide at Joanna’s stern demeanor. “Oh…okay.”

“When I asked you if you had eaten this morning, were you telling me the truth?” Joanna asked, locking eyes with Peggy.

Peggy blushed and fumbled with the bed sheets. She slowly looked up, catching Joanna’s piercing green eyes staring at her, and immediately averted her eyes that were beginning to tear up, back to the bedsheets.

“I…I suppose I wasn’t entirely truthful about that, sorry Joanna, I didn’t mean to lie to you,” she replied with a trembling lip.

“Oh Peggy,” Joanna said sympathetically, giving the young woman a reassuring hug.

“What’s going on? Talk to me”

“Well, I was trying to lose weight, I guess I overdid it a little.”

“Peggy, you don’t need to lose any weight, just what’s this all about?”

“I thought if I could lose a few pounds then, well then, maybe a guy might notice me for a change,” Peggy said blushing. “Everyone seems to have a boy or girlfriend except me.”

“Peggy, I don’t have a girlfriend?”

“Jo, c’mon, not for lack of interest. You’ve got most of the guys and half the girls drooling over you. You could practically hand pick who you wanted to date if you wanted to.” Peggy replied in a huff.

“That’s not true..”

“Oh please, you know it is. Umm, can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“Well, I know I don’t bat on your team, but do you think I’m attractive?”

“I think you are adorable! A pain in the ass sometimes, but definitely adorable! And Peggy, what about Brad? It’s obvious he likes you. He makes every excuse to come and talk to you.”

“Brad? As in Bradley Taylor, Brad? He’s really cute but he wouldn’t give me the time of day.”

“Peggy, he was totally flirting with you a couple of weeks ago during the game!”

“He was? but he asked us all if we wanted popcorn?”

“Oh Peggy, it’s obvious I need to teach you a few things about recognizing when a cute guy is flirting with you!”

Peggy felt a big grin wash over her face, she had no idea Brad was interested in her. And he was one of the good ones, smart, clumsily funny and definitely a gentleman.

“Now, let’s get back to today. I had to talk Helen out of taking a paddle to your behind for the little stunt you pulled today. I told her I would look after you, so I want to talk about a few things.”

The grin quickly disappeared from Peggy’s face.

“No more starving yourself, you need to eat sensibly especially if you want to run and tone up.”

“I wasn’t starving myself!” Peggy replied a little defensively, rolling her eyes.

“Oh really. Okay, tell me what you’ve had to eat since yesterday morning. And don’t you dare lie to me Peggy Michaels!” Joanna ordered sternly.

“Since yesterday?” Peggy replied a little more timidly, knowing she was about to be royally busted.

“Yes, starting yesterday morning what did you have for breakfast?”

“That’s easy, I had oatmeal!” Peggy said somewhat triumphantly, until Joanna pressed her some more.

“Then what?” Joanna asked, folding her arms.

“Umm, well it was a busy day so I guess nothing else until our salad and pizza last night.”

“uh huh, and today?”

Peggy knew she was in trouble, she had lied to Jo already, so she thought it best to come clean.

“Nothing until the fruit they gave me in the hospital today.” She replied staring down at her hands and picking absently at her nails.

“I see, so let me get this straight. After the one bowl of oatmeal you had yesterday, which I think you said last night was a huge breakfast, you’ve had a bite of pizza and a couple of damn lettuce leaves?”

Peggy grimaced as Joanna’s voice went up a few decibels.

“Well I suppose it is, if you put it like that. Please don’t be mad Jo, I really am sorry and it won’t happen again” Peggy replied as the tears threatened her eyes again.

“Oh honey, I’m not so much mad as worried about you,” Joanna replied, a little more sympathetically. “So, since I saved your backside from Helens paddle, I want you to do something for me.”

“Yes, of course, what is it Jo?”

“Well for the rest of the week I want you to keep a log.”

“A log, what for?”

“You are going to write down when and what you eat each day and how much exercise you do. Then you and I will go over the log every day to see how you’re doing.”

“Jo, is that really necessary, I told you it won’t happen again.”

“Says the woman who spent half the day in the ER after she practically starved herself for days and then lied about what she had eaten? You know what Peggy maybe I should just have Helen deal with you!”

“No! Okay I’ll do the log,” Peggy replied with a pout.

“Well that’s a start but I want you and I to come to an agreement. I expect you to eat a decent meal three times a day. That’s not negotiable. And if I catch you starving yourself and not eating or lying to me again, I’ll take a paddle to your backside myself. Do you understand me Peggy? Are we both in agreement on this?”

“Spose,” Peggy replied sullenly.

“Peggy, I want a proper answer from you, do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Yes what?”

Peggy rolled her eyes. Joanna had never been one to lay down the law in the house but Peggy got a little nervous when Joanna turned and headed for the door.

“Helen.” Joanna yelled from the top of the stairs.

A wave of panic immediately came over Peggy. “Jo, please! Yes, Ma’am we have an agreement, three times a day and I will keep the log.”

Joanna came back into the room and smiled, then bent down and dropped a small kiss on Peggy’s forehead. “Good girl, we’ll look after each other okay kiddo. I don’t want to be on the receiving end of Helen’s paddle either!”

“Deal!” Peggy replied with a grin.

“What’s up Jo?” Helens voice sounded from downstairs.

Joanna winked at Peggy. “Just wondering what’s up with dinner, people are starving up here you know!”

“Coming right now”, came the reply from downstairs.
The two girls erupted into nasal giggles.
***
“How’s Peggy this morning?” Helen asked Joanna, as she entered her study and put her text books down on the desk.

“She’s in better spirits, she just finished her oatmeal. I still can’t believe she was starving herself in hopes that a guy would notice her.”

“Well I’m glad to hear you’ve set her straight and will be holding her accountable. I think a little loving structure is just what she needs right now, with what’s going on with her parents.”

“Yes, I think so too, and I really think I got through to her. She had no idea Bradley likes her either. I don’t think she’ll be pulling that crap again, that’s for sure.”

“I’m glad to hear it, and since you are already five hours behind on your studying because of yesterday, you have a little catching up to do so you better get cracking. Here is the syllabus Professor Meyers gave me for today. Remember lunch is at one then I’ll give you some time to review before you take the chapter quiz.”

“Okay. Thank you for doing this Helen, I know you gave me a second chance and I want you to know, I do appreciate it.”

“I know,” Helen replied, as she left the study.
After a few hours into her studies, Joanna’s eyes began to get tired and she found herself starting to nod as she tried to soak in the inner workings of the human lymphatic system. This is no good, she thought to herself, so she headed to the kitchen for some coffee.

“Hey, I hope you’re not overdoing the running?” Joanna asked seeing Peggy flop down onto one of the kitchen chairs in her running gear.

“Nope, how’s the studying going?”

“Slow, but I’m getting there. I better get back to it. Will you be around for lunch?”

“No, I’m going to do a little last-minute Christmas shopping with Karen but we’ll be back before dinner.”

“You make sure you eat lunch young lady!”

“Yes, yes. I’m going to take a shower, see you later.”

“I mean it Peggy. You make sure you eat!”

Joanna watched as Peggy bounded from the kitchen, before she headed back upstairs to study. It was just like Helen, she had a whole curriculum laid out for the next two weeks. Joanna just shook her head as she began the next module. She was so looking forward to a break from studying but if she could better her grade with professor Meyers, it might all be worth it, sore backside and all.

Joanna was engrossed in her textbook and didn’t hear Helen come up the stairs.

“Hi Jo, I’m glad to see you’re hard at it, I brought you a sandwich.”

“Thanks, what time is it?”

“It’s after one, why don’t’ you take a break and eat, do a little review and I’ll give you the quiz on the first three modules.”

“Okay, I think I’m ready, some of this stuff is actually interesting,” Joanna said, grinning back at her friend before taking a bite of her sandwich.

“Glad to hear it, I’ll be back up in thirty minutes and you can take the quiz, sound good?”

“Yes, thanks Helen, I’ll be ready.”

Joanna looked over her notes briefly, then spent the next twenty minutes with her feet up on the desk, with her eyes closed. She was startled out of her tranquil siesta as Helen came back up the stairs, and into the study.

“Well you must be ready to take your quiz if you have time for a nap!” Helen declared, taking Joanna’s notes and text book away and handing her a piece of paper.

“I just closed my eyes for a minute, I wasn’t really sleeping.”

“Uh huh. You have thirty minutes, starting now, so if your quite awake I suggest you get busy.”

Joanna began the quiz and answered the first ten or so questions fairly easily, only to get a little flustered with the next set of questions. She glanced over at Helen who was sitting on the couch. She knew she had to get an almost perfect score to get an A grade and Helen wasn’t accepting anything less.

“Two Minutes,” Helen stated, looking at her watch.

Joanna quickly went back over her answers. She was a little unsure of how she did, but after the two spankings she received from Helen, she was desperately hoping she wouldn’t be taking another trip over Helen’s knee.

“That’s time. Hand it over Jo, let’s see how you did.”

Joanna sat nervously, while Helen graded her quiz from the other side of the desk.

“So, tell me how it went with Peggy, did you set some ground rules.” Helen asked, briefly looking up at Joanna.

“Yes, she promised me she’d eat three times a day and keep a log of what she eats. She seems to be taking it seriously. I think the ER gave her a little scare. Well, that, and I told her I would take a paddle to her backside if she didn’t stick to our agreement!”

“Well good for you, I’m glad you and her are hitting it off. Let me know if you need any help,” Helen replied with a smirk.

“Yes, I will, but how did I do on the quiz?” Joanna asked anxiously.
Joanna saw Helen pause, then sit back and fold her arms leveling her green eyes with hers.

“Jo, the key to all this, is follow up and consistency, do you agree?”

“Yes, I suppose so,” Joanna replied hesitantly.

“Good, so you understand the need to follow through, just as I need to follow through, no matter how much it pains you or I.”

“What does that mean Helen?” Joanna asked apprehensively.

“Well my friend, it means you should have studied the module on systemic anatomy a little harder because you missed it by one.”
***
Joanna flopped gingerly on her bed. She was irritated at herself for not doing better on the quiz and irritated at her best friend for giving her another throbbing backside. She picked up her text book and started to go back over the module again. After a couple of hours, she stood up to relieve the pressure and gave a little rub to her smarting behind.

“Not again Jo, what happened?” Karen asked, coming into the bedroom.

“Yes again, I didn’t do well enough on my first quiz,” Joanna replied, rubbing with a little more emphasis.

“You poor thing. Are you grounded, can I get you anything?”

“No, not grounded, just have nine more quizzes to pass or I’m toast.”

“Sorry Jo, but I am kind of liking the attention away from my butt for a change,” Karen replied, grinning.

“Hmm, I’m sure you are, but you can do one thing for me. When you and Peggy went to the mall, did she eat anything there?”

“No, we were on a shopping tirade, didn’t stop until we got home just now. Peggy’s still unloading.”

“Okay, thanks Karen. Don’t mention to her that I asked, okay?”

“Oh dear, sounds like there’s going to be more stinging backsides before the day’s out. I’m going to make myself scarce and go and start dinner. I’m making my famous chili since it’s so cold out. Oh, Peggy hey. Jo was just asking where you had got to. Umm, see you later.”

“Hi Jo, how did the studying go?” Peggy asked cheerfully, flopping down on her bed.

“Well not so good if the truth be known Peggy, but I want to talk about you.”

“Me, why?”

“I’d like you to show me your food log for today.”

“But Jo, the days not over, I thought…well I thought it would be at the end of the day?” Peggy stammered.

“You didn’t eat before you went out, what did you have for lunch?” Joanna asked the now red-faced Freshmen.

“Umm, I…”

“Peggy, I know you didn’t eat when you went out shopping, so I would tread very carefully if I were you.”

Peggy looked down at her hands before she mumbled her answer. “I didn’t eat lunch, time sort of got away from me.”

“Well, I guess that makes two of us that couldn’t keep our end of agreements today. Peggy, we’re going to talk about this, but right now you’re going to get something to eat. Kitchen, march!” Joanna ordered, pointing towards the open door.

Joanna watched Peggy make her way down the stairs before she headed up to the third floor.

“Helen, can I have a word?”

“Of course, sit,” Helen said, gesturing to the chair across from her desk.

“I’m not sure I’m the right person to be helping Peggy right now. I mean, I feel like a failure myself. I hardly think I should be giving Peggy ultimatums. The worse thing is, I don’t even think she’s taking it seriously. This is day one and she didn’t eat lunch today.”

Helen regarded the serious face of her friend. “First of all, you’re not a failure. I don’t want to hear that again from you, and second, I think you’re exactly the right person. You need to be strong and follow through, let her know you mean business. It’s a process Jo, but I think Peggy needs you right now. She looks up to you more than you know.”

“Well she totally blew off our agreement.”

“And did you tell her what would happen if she did that?”

“Yes.”

“Then,” Helen started, before opening her desk drawer, retrieving the hairbrush and handing it to Joanna. “I suggest you go and take care of business.”

Joanna slowly took the hairbrush from Helen and nodded solemnly, before leaving the room.

When Joanna entered the kitchen, she was a little irritated to see a half-eaten sandwich on the table and a pot of chili boiling over on the stove making a huge mess.

“Damn it,” Joanna said under her breath, turning off the stove, before finding Karen and Peggy in the living room, playing the game consol. “Peggy Michaels, you will go up to my study, change into your pajamas and get your nose in the corner!”

The two girls initially startled at Joanna’s intrusion but then just erupted into nasal giggles.

“So, Jo’s bedroom with the desk is now The Study,” Karen asked, making quote signs in the air and giggling.

Peggy turned back to the TV screen where she had Sonic the Hedgehog spinning through her game at warp speed.

“C’mon Jo it’s only five thirty, can we talk later? I’m close to beating my record here,” Peggy replied, dismissing Joanna’s request and continuing her game.

Joanna stood for a few seconds with her hands on her hips. She took a deep breath before she felt Helen’s hand on her shoulder.

“That, was the wrong answer Ms. Michaels,” Helen said, in a slow growl, making both girls jump. “You will do exactly what Joanna said, and you’ll do it now, do you understand me?”

Peggy’s eyes went wide, as she jumped to her feet and started cautiously towards the door that Helen and Joanna had partially blocked.

“Um, yes Ma’am, on my way,” Peggy replied, trying to take a wide berth around Helen to get through the door.

Joanna couldn’t help a little chuckle as Peggy’s attempt to slide past Helen was thwarted when Helen grabbed Peggy by the ear and delivered several slaps to Peggy’s jean clad backside.

“Ow, ow, ow,” Peggy cried, before she scrambled up the stairs, when Helen released her ear.

“As for you, young lady,” Helen said, narrowing her eyes at Karen. “Leave anything in the kitchen, did you?”

“Shit! The chili!” Karen replied, shutting her eyes and scrunching up her face.

“You’re going to clean up the mess in the kitchen, then you can go upstairs to my study. I won’t tolerate disrespect and irresponsible behavior from you, young lady so I better find you in the corner, in your pajamas.”

Karen turned off the gaming console and put the controllers away with a small pout on her face. “Sorry Jo, I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful, Peggy and I were just goofing around.”

“I know you were Karen, but I’m trying to help Peggy and she seems to be blowing this whole eating thing off. I could use a little support from you too,” Joanna replied, giving her friend a small smile.

“Yes, of course, I wasn’t thinking. It won’t happen again Jo.”

“Thank you honey. I appreciate that too. There’s still going to be three women in this house with sore backsides tonight, but you may have just saved yourself from the paddle. Now go and get that mess cleaned up and wait for me upstairs,” Helen directed. “Oh, and the chili is actually good, it just boiled over.”

Karen sighed, “Yes Ma’am.”

Joanna gave Helen a knowing look. “SWIM-BO, it’s actually perfect!” Joanna said, under her breath, as she headed up to find Peggy.                                                                                                                                                                    ***
Joanna was relieved to see Peggy in her pajamas with her nose in the corner when she entered her bedroom. Peggy stole a quick glace behind her, then blushed slightly as her eyes briefly met Joanna’s.

“Peggy, come and sit over here, and bring your log book with you,” Joanna said, sitting down on the bed and placing the hairbrush down beside her.

Peggy turned around slowly. She looked around the room looking a little bewildered.

“You don’t have a note book started, do you?” Joanna asked, getting up, and going to her desk.

Peggy shook her head. “No, I don’t, I was planning to though Jo, I was!”

“Mm hm, just like you were planning on eating lunch,” Joanna replied, handing her a journal. “Now, I want you to write on the first page what our agreement is, and also what we discussed would happen if you didn’t stick to our agreement. Then I want you to write down what you’ve eaten today so far, under the headings breakfast, lunch and dinner and then what exercise you’ve done today. Is that clear?”

“Yes,” Peggy replied, with an exaggerated pout.
Joanna was beginning to lose her patience with Peggy’s flippant attitude. “Yes what, young lady?” Joanna asked, landing a sharp swat to the seat of Peggy’s Pajamas.

“Ow, yes Ma’am,” she replied, making an urgent dash to sit on the bed.

“That’s better, now get busy. You have five minutes.” Joanna replied handing Peggy a pen.

“I’m done Jo.” Peggy said in a quiet voice a few minutes later.

Joanna got up from her desk where she had been going over her module Helen had given her for the following day.

“Very well, let’s take a look,” she replied, sitting down on the bed next to Peggy.
Joanna skimmed over Peggy’s writing, acknowledging her work with little grunts of approval as she read.

“So, Peggy, you were clear on our agreement by the looks of things, and you fully understood what would happen if you didn’t follow through. Yes?”

“Yes Ma’am,”

“Then, tell me what happened, and then tell me what’s going to happen.”

Joanna could see Peggy squirming uncomfortably. “Look at me young lady,” she directed sternly, when Peggy sat there in silence.

Peggy lifted her head and looked at her sadly. Joanna couldn’t help feel sorry for her and she reached up and took Peggy’s hand in hers. “Tell me what happened today.”

“I don’t know, I just forgot to eat, and then we went shopping and then…I don’t know. The day just sort of got away from me.”

“Mm huh, and what do you think should happen now?”
Peggy flushed in embarrassment, but Joanna was determined to hold her young charge accountable for her actions. “I want an answer young lady.”

“Um, you said you would take a paddle to my backside.”

“Yes, I did, didn’t I, but that wasn’t the question was it, Peggy?”

“Um, what? I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Really, because I think your stalling Peggy Michaels. What was the question I asked you?”

Joanna could see Peggy getting flustered. “You asked what was going to happen next and I told you, how is that stalling?” Peggy asked, folding her arms and sticking her bottom lip out in an exaggerated pout.

“No, I asked you what YOU think should happen now, and since YOU, don’t appear to be listening to me, we’ll try something else. Up, let’s go, take a seat at the desk.”
Peggy got up and slowly crossed the room to the desk. She slumped down in the chair. Joanna put the journal down in front of her and opened it to a blank page.

“Write this down Peggy.”

Peggy readied her pen and looked up at Joanna.

“After I broke our agreement…”

Peggy started to copy down what Joanna was dictating to her.

“by not eating lunch… and not following through… when Joanna asked me to eat.”

Peggy huffed and rolled her eyes as she wrote.

Joanna smiled noticing the Freshman’s indignant body language, but continued. “Joanna asked me…what I think should happen now.”

“Good,” Joanna said, seeing Peggy finish and put down her pen.

Joanna flipped over two more pages of the journal and handed Peggy back her pen.

“Now take this down.”

Peggy let out another sigh.

Joanna began again. “Because I broke our agreement…this is what I think should happen….”

Joanna watched as Peggy finished up the sentence. “Okay young lady,” she said flipping back the pages. “You start here, and repeat writing this sentence until you get to the question I asked you. Then, I want you to answer that question and repeat your answer for two more pages. When you’re done you can come and find me and we’ll start the conversation over. I think then your memory may be a little clearer, don’t you?”

Peggy opened her mouth but when Joanna put the hair brush down on the desk in front of her she busied herself, and began copying the first sentence down.

Joanna opened her bedroom door and flinched a little as the unmistakable sound of wood meeting skin, echoed from the study on the third floor.
***
Peggy poked her head around the living room door timidly and was relieved to see only Joanna siting on the couch studying.

“Jo…. I’m done, I wrote what you asked.” Peggy said in little more than a whisper.

“Okay kiddo, let’s go see what you wrote,” Joanna replied, putting her book down. “Are things quieter now on the third floor?”

“Yes, I think so, but I’m worried things will just be getting started here on the second floor,” Peggy replied, as she entered the bedroom and glanced back at Joanna.

“Let’s have a seat and see, shall we?” Joanna said, closing the bedroom door behind her and motioning to the bed.

Joanna glanced at the pages, seeing them completed as she instructed, but she wanted to hear it from Peggy. “Ready to tell me what you think should happen next?”

Peggy’s faced flushed red again. “Um, I think you should, um, well, use the paddle?”

“Well that’s close, but how and where should I use it.”

“C’mon Jo, just spank me already!”

“Okay, now we’re getting somewhere!” Joanna said smiling. “You know honey, as soon as you tell me, or actually I’d like you to ask me, exactly what should happen, the sooner we can get this over with.”

Peggy looked at her with the saddest eyes that made Joanna melt and want to scoop up her little miscreant, cuddle her, and tell her all was forgiven. But that would have to wait.

“Tell me,” Joanna said, putting a reassuring arm around Peggy.

“I broke our agreement, and I think you should spank me with the paddle…please,” Peggy finally blurted out.

“Good girl, I’m proud of you Peggy, I know that wasn’t an easy thing to ask. The good news is I’m not going to use a paddle. The bad news is, I only have Helen’s hairbrush and I’ve been on the receiving end of it today and it’s not very pleasant.”

“I have a hairbrush, it’s not as big and hard as Helens but its wooden?” Peggy announced.

“Go and fetch it Peggy.”

Peggy jumped off the bed and rummaged around in one of her duffle bags until she found what she was looking for.

Joanna took the brush from Peggy and examined it. The brush was lighter and smaller than Helen’s, and Joanna nodded her approval, “This should do the job quite nicely I believe.”

Peggy almost smiled until Joanna beckoned her with her finger. “Peggy, I’m going to put you over my lap and spank you with my hand and then finish with the hairbrush. If it’s too much, or you need me to stop for any reason, I need to hear the word, red. That stops everything and we will talk about it.

“I know, I won’t need to Jo.”

“Good girl. Now, pajamas down please, and over you go.”

Joanna waited until Peggy’s pajama bottoms were down at her knees before guiding her down over her lap. Peggy’s arms and torso rested on the bed while her feet tiptoed on the floor.

Joanna spared Peggy the embarrassment of having her take down her silky underwear. They wouldn’t offer her much physical protection anyway she thought, as she smoothed her hand over Peggy’s bottom.

“Are you ready Peggy?” She asked.

“Yes Ma’am, I am”

Joanna raised her arm and brought her palm down crisply on the seat of Peggy’s underwear. She did this several times more being careful to gauge Peggy’s reaction. She wanted to send a message to her young charge but she didn’t want to hurt her. She started to land a few harder spanks to the underside of Peggy’s behind, until she began to groan and flinch a little. Joanna’s palm began to get warm, as she continued with firmer spanks.

The other times Joanna had a young lady over her knee was in fun, during pledge week. This time it was different. It felt natural to Joanna, she knew what she had to do.

“Are you doing okay Peggy?” she asked, pausing for a moment and resting her hand. She could feel the warmth through the smooth fabric of Peggy’s underwear

“I suppose,” Peggy replied, in a disinterested tone.

Joanna frowned, she wasn’t at all happy with Peggy’s answer.

“Then, I SUPPOSE, I’m not getting through to you if that’s how you address me when you’re over my knee Miss!”

Joanna punctuated her statement with a sharp barrage of hard swats concentrating on Peggy’s sit spots until she could see a pink hue starting to form around the bottom edges of Peggy’s underwear.

“Ow, ow, I mean, yes Ma’am, I’m doing okay, although now, not so much!” Peggy yelled out, starting to squirm in earnest trying to avoid Joanna’s palm.

Joanna grinned a little at the now compliant young woman over her lap. She stopped the spanking and picked up the hairbrush.

“Peggy, I’m going to use the hairbrush now and I want you to think about this and what will happen if you don’t eat properly. Clear?”

“Yes, Ma’am, clear. Ow!” she hollered, as the first swat of the hairbrush landed on the underside of her behind.

“Hurts doesn’t it?” Joanna asked, as she repeated the swats on alternating cheeks.

“Ow! Yes, Ma’am, it hurts!” Peggy grunted, as Joanna continued the chastisement with the hairbrush.

Joanna landed ten more swats that had Peggy bucking on her lap. She was satisfied she had gotten through to Peggy, so she stopped the spanking.

“Good girl, we’re all done,” Joanna said, helping Peggy off her lap.
“Ow, that smarted!” Peggy announced, with a big pout, as she pulled up her pajama bottoms.

“I know sweetie, come here,” Joanna replied, opening her arms.

Peggy climbed into her lap and buried her head in Joanna’s chest.

Joanna wrapped her arms around Peggy. “Are you okay? And are you clear about our agreement for at least the rest of the week, then we’ll discuss it?”

“Yes Ma’am, crystal clear, and to be honest, I’m a little hungry!”
***
Helen could tell that Joanna had been feeling more comfortable with her studies and she had aced the last couple of quizzes Helen had given her. It seemed Joanna was pleased with Peggy too. She had been eating regularly and filling out her log like Joanna had asked her to.

There was something that was marring her friend’s good mood, however. Helen sensed it was the anticipation of her promised paddling, that was nagging at her, now that it was Christmas Eve.

“Jo, you’re really starting to grasp this now you’ve spent some time and applied yourself. I’m really proud of you. You can take a break for the next couple of days and enjoy the Holiday,” Helen said handing Joanna back her quiz.

Joanna didn’t answer, she just sat at Helens desk in silence pretending to stare at the latest quiz she had just aced.

“What’s wrong Jo?” Helen asked, seeing her friend’s distant demeanor.

“Kinda hard to enjoy the Holidays when you’re gonna blister my ass on Christmas day, isn’t it?”

Helen let out a deep sigh. “Do you think you don’t deserve it? Remember how we talked about follow up and consistency?”

Joanna’s lip began to tremble, as she looked up at her friend and shot her a piercing glare. “You know what Helen, you can take your follow-up and consistency and shove them up your…”

“JOANNA!” Helen boomed, not letting Joanna finish her sentence. “I know this is hard, and some of it, altogether unpleasant, but you’re the only one who brought this on. We’re all here now because of you and because we care about you. If you’re asking for a trip over my knee, then I’ll be happy to oblige. If not, I suggest you check your attitude and stop feeling sorry for yourself!”

“Sorry, Helen, you’re right. I guess I am feeling a little sorry for myself.”

“Well that will all be behind you tomorrow, you’re doing well Jo. You won’t have any trouble with your final re-test the way you’ve been studying. So, what is it? Something else bothering you Jo?”

“I don’t know. I just don’t think I’m getting through to Peggy. I mean, I thought I was, but I came up from breakfast this morning and heard her talking to Karen in our room. I wasn’t meaning to eavesdrop but I heard her basically tell Karen that I was easy on her. She said something to the effect that I was a pushover, she told Karen she just had to fuss a little and I just caved. She’s probably right, not sure I’m cut out to be an effective Top!”

“Did she now? That’s funny, Karen told me you seemed quite effective with the lines you assigned her and she is doing what you asked her to do and eating sensibly?”

“I’m not sure. I have that nagging feeling she’s just appeasing me, writing down what she thinks I want to see. Any time we are actually in the same room about to eat she finds an excuse to leave. Then, I just think I’m being paranoid. God I don’t know!”

“What did I tell you about trusting your gut? You have good intuition Jo. Keep an eye on her.”

“I will. Want to come caroling with me and Peggy tonight? I guess it’s kind of a tradition with her family on Christmas Eve so I said I would go.”

“Sure, sounds like fun actually, I heard that group always has a good time. I’ll drag Karen along. We can have dinner and make a night of it.”
***
After the evenings third, blazing rendition of We Wish You a Merry Christmas, the girls decided to call it a night. They had been singing for several hours with the group of carolers, a few by now who were quite tipsy.

“That was actually a lot of fun,” Helen said, looking at her watch.

“Yeah, the group at the front was having a little too much fun, pretty sure someone spiked their eggnog!” Peggy replied. “And you know what, were’ just in time for a Christmas Story to start. They are playing it all day today, and tomorrow.”

The four women changed into their pajamas and huddled in the living room just as the movie was starting. About an hour into the movie, Joanna was somewhat aloof. She had stopped watching the TV altogether and she just absently picked at her nails with a slight frown on her face.

She noticed Helen get up and walk towards the entrance of the living room. When she got to the doorway she turned around. “Jo,” she said, motioning with her head.
Joanna got up quickly, almost as if she welcomed the interruption.

“You two stay and finish the movie, I just need to talk to Jo for a bit.” Helen said to Peggy and Karen who had barely noticed her get up.

“Sure thing Hun,” Karen replied, without averting her eyes form the television.
Joanna followed Helen up the two flights of stairs to Helen’s study. Maybe she was going to impart some more wisdom about Peggy. Helen motioned her inside the study and closed the door behind her.

“You’re on edge I can tell Jo. Tell me why?” Helen asked, sitting at her desk and motioning to the chair in front of her desk. Joanna sat down and sighed.

“I don’t know. I just feel so terrible about what I did. You know that isn’t me Helen. Yet here we are. I’m feeling better about the studying but I can’t believe I was so stupid. I know I have a paddling from you coming tomorrow but is that going to make things right?”

“How about we find out, then tomorrow it will be all behind you.”
Joanna looked up at her friend with wide eyes. Her bottom puckered when she realized what Helen was saying to her.

“You mean right now?” Joanna asked, as butterflies started to dance in her tummy.

“No point in beating about the bush, that’s exactly what I mean. Now you can stand up and get those pajamas and panties down young lady, by the time I’m done here tonight, drugs will be the last thing you’ll want to think about.”

Helen’s stern demeanor caught Joanna off guard. She just watched as Helen moved a straight back chair to the middle of the room and sat down on it. Helen’s finger silently beckoned her and somehow her feet took her over to stand in front of her friend.
Helen reached up and grasped Joanna hands.

“Trust me Joanna. This will not be pleasant but you remember your safe word?”

Joanna nodded and her bottom puckered again, as Helen pulled down her pajama bottoms and panties in one motion.

“Good girl.” Joanna heard, as she was upended over Helen’s lap. She felt the cool breeze on her bare nether regions and she tried to steady herself with her hands and feet touching the floor. She clenched her bottom in anticipation. She didn’t have to wait very long until she felt Helen’s palm connect with her bottom in a sharp slap.

“Jo, I don’t think I need to tell you how irresponsible and dangerous your behavior was….” Helen started, as she rained down hard smacks to Joanna’s bottom.

Joanna’s backside started to burn, and the swats seemed to get harder and harder. She winced as a flurry connected with the same cheek over and over.

“Damn Helen, that really stings!” she complained, with a slight whine in her voice.

“Oh, my friend, we’re just getting started here, I suggest you buckle up because it’s going to be an uncomfortable ride,” Helen replied, as she gave the same treatment to the other side.

Joanna tried to look back to see what was imparting the wicked sting, but there was no hairbrush. Just Helen’s palm. Joanna could feel the perspiration starting to form as she tried to deal with the pain that was increasing with every blow. Why in the hell did she ever agree to this? Her backside was on fire and she knew Helen was just getting started.

As if Helen could sense what she was thinking, Joanna felt the cool wood of the hairbrush resting on her bottom. For a moment the sensation was rather comforting, until Helen cracked it down with a hard snap. Helen didn’t waste any time peppering Joanna’s backside with crisp hard blows with the brush.

Joanna started to writhe on Helen’s lap, as the inferno that was once her bottom, was stoked to a fiery blaze.

“Shit, not so damn hard Helen,” Joanna yelled, as she tried to cover her blazing bottom with her right hand before the brush could connect again.

“Oh, young lady, I hope you didn’t forget for one moment why we’re here?” Helen chided, taking a hold of Joanna arm and snapping the brush down again.

“Ow! No, of course not.”

“Then I suggest you stop fussing. I’ve got Freshman women who can take a paddling better than you’re doing at the moment, so I suggest you calm down and focus! I want you to think about the drugs that you thought were a good idea to take.”

With her last statement, Joanna could feel Helen grip her tightly around her waist. She felt Helen put her right leg over hers essentially pinning her legs and rendering her immobile over her friend’s lap.

“I want you to think about every one of these You’ll have a clean slate after we’re done tonight so the sooner you come to terms with it, the sooner it can be over.”

What the hell does that even mean? Joanna asked herself. She heard a loud crack and a new level of pain assaulted her rear. Over and over the hairbrush cracked down but when Helen began to go to work on the underside of her bottom and tops of her thighs she cried out in anguish.

“Please Helen, no more. I can’t take any more,” Joanna screamed.

“Honey, you’re doing well. Concentrate and focus. I want you to try and breathe nice and slow. You have your safe word if you need it.”

Joanna tried to concentrate. She knew deep down that she needed to endure whatever Helen dished out if she was going to forgive herself. She trusted her friend, and many of the women of the house had endured similar chastisements and seemed to survive.
After a few minutes more, Joanna’s ears started ringing from the silence. Her behind throbbed but she no longer heard the cracking down of the brush on her scorched flesh. She felt Helen release her waist and legs.

“Not quite done but you’re doing well,” Helen said, as she gently rubbed Joanna’s behind. “Now my friend, you’re going to feel the senior paddle and then we’ll be all finished here,” she announced, as she helped Joanna off her lap to stand.

Joanna’s instinct was to cover and rub her backside frantically. She looked at her friend with a wounded scowl and tried to reason with her. “Helen please, that was the worst spanking of my life and now you want to use the paddle?”

“Jo, like I said, you have your safe word if you want to use it. Do you?”

Joanna looked at Helen sadly, and shook her head. “No, I don’t want to use it. I want to get this over with. I trust you Helen.”

“Good girl,” Helen praised, getting up and retrieving the long heavy sorority paddle from her desk. “I want you to bend over and put your hand on the seat of the chair. I want you to count them aloud but don’t you move your hands from that seat or it won’t count.”

Joanna took a deep breath and bent over placing her palms on the seat of the chair that Helen had just vacated. She closed her eyes and tried to breath slowly. She felt Helen move behind her, then heard a loud whoosh and crack as the paddle connected across the fullness of her bottom.
Joanna shot up and clutched at her wounded rear, “Ow fuck Helen, that hurt like fuck. Fuck, shit, what the hell?”

Joanna glared at her friend who had her arms crossed holding the paddle menacingly. She was about to protest again until she saw the ominous look Helen was giving her.

“That one doesn’t count, I suggest you bend over and get those hands on the chair where they belong. You get out of position again and we’ll be doing this again tomorrow night. Do you understand me Jo?”

Jo’s bottom lip trembled but she got back into position with her hands on the seat of the chair. She closed her eyes and waited. The paddle came down again and a small cry escaped Joanna’s lips as she tried to contend with the wicked sting. After clenching her bottom and waiting for the pain to subside a little she uttered a breathy “One.”

“That’s better. Only nine more Jo and we’ll be all done here. I know you can do it.”
Helen’s encouragement didn’t make the pain feel any less intense when Helen cracked the paddle down a third time. Joanna didn’t know how she would make it to ten.

“Two,” she heard escape from her mouth in a whisper as beads of sweat started to from on her forehead.

Joanna didn’t know if it was the pain or the guilt she felt, but tears started to well in her eyes as she started to accept the penance from her friend. Even though the paddle seared down relentlessly, Joanna felt herself submitting, allowing a sense of atonement to engulf her.

When the number ten escaped her lips Joanna couldn’t hold back her emotions anymore and she cried in earnest sinking to the floor on her knees. Helen immediately caught her and helped her over to the small couch.

“How do you feel Jo?” Helen asked Joanna, who was perched uncomfortably on the edge of the couch sobbing.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but better. I don’t ever want to be here again Helen. I don’t want to let you, or myself down. I promise you I won’t.”

“I don’t think you will Jo. I’m so proud of you. The punishment is over,” Helen said, wrapping her best friend in a tight hug. “The rest of the studying is up to you. You can do it at your own pace as long as you pass the five remaining quizzes. Deal?”

“Deal,” Joanna replied with a weak smile. She glanced at the clock on the wall. “Hey, it’s after midnight, It Christmas!”

“It is, isn’t it?” Helen replied, getting up and retrieving something from her desk.
Joanna got up and gingerly pulled up her panties and pajamas over her throbbing backside.

“I have something for you Jo. You probably don’t want to think about it right now but I think it might be something you’re going to need. English walnut, and just the perfect weight I think,” Helen said, admiring the good size wooden hair brush with a red bow tied around the handle that she had in her hand. “Merry Christmas Jo!”
***
Joanna’s bottom was still throbbing when she awoke later that morning. The red digital numbers of her clock on the nightstand showed nine twenty-five. She glanced over at Peggy’s bed which was empty. Despite her aching backside, she had slept soundly, and all of the guilt and stress she was feeling seemed to have left her. She could hear the other women down stairs, so she put on a robe and went to find her friends.

“Merry Christmas Jo!” Peggy said, bounding over and hugging her. “You get to sit right here!” Peggy was pointing to a wooden chair at the kitchen table that had a fluffy pillow strategically placed on the hard seat.

“Only because its Christmas, don’t for one-minute think that’s the norm in this house!” Helen replied, winking at Joanna.

Joanna blushed a little but she welcomed the pillow that gave significant relief as she sat down on the chair.

“That’s very big of you my love, such a giver you are this morning!” Karen quipped, as she put a plate with a steaming hot burrito in front of Joanna and Helen. “Peggy and I made breakfast burritos. That’s it until Christmas dinner this afternoon, so eat up!”

Helen sat down at the table across from Joanna, who was already tucking into her burrito. “Mmm, these are delicious. Did you two eat?”

“Yep, we were hungry, couldn’t wait for sleeping beauty over there, I scarfed my burrito long ago!” Peggy said, as she got up and heading for the door. “I have to finish wrapping. This is going to be a good Christmas; I can feel it!” She said, as she disappeared out the door.

“I have to go and finish wrapping a couple of gifts myself. I just put the turkey in, so everything’s under control,” Karen stated, checking the temperature on the oven.

“Karen before you leave, did you actually see Peggy eat her burrito?” Joanna asked, with a slight frown on her face.

“Yeah, she ate. Well, I think she did. I mean, we made four burritos and the plate is empty. I wasn’t here the entire time, but she must have,” Karen replied, shrugging her shoulders and heading out of the kitchen.

“Trust your gut Jo,” Helen said, putting a hand on Joanna’s shoulder, before throwing her paper plate away.

“Yeah, but there has to be a certain amount of trust doesn’t there? I mean, what do I do? Go and interrogate her every time someone doesn’t actually see her eat something?”

“You do whatever it takes Jo. You’ll figure it out. How are you feeling this morning?”

Joanna smiled at her friend. “Well, apart from the obvious, I feel tons better. Thank you, Helen.”

“See, whatever it takes! You’re welcome! Now, I’m got to go help Karen wrap.”

Joanna smiled again, as she ate the last bite of her burrito. That was good, she thought, as she threw her own plate away in the trash. Now, a shower sounded alluring, although she wasn’t sure how the hot water was going to feel on her punished behind. Helen certainly left her something to think about. For the next few days, she was sure.

Something stopped her and made her pause. Trust your gut. She turned around and looked at the cabinet beneath the kitchen sink that housed the trashcan . She wouldn’t, would she? Her question was answered as she rifled through the trash to uncover a discarded, uneaten burrito.

“PEGGY ANNE MICHAELS, YOU HAVE EXACTLY FIVE SECONDS TO GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE!”

In, pretty close to the five seconds, the young blond haired woman was starring wide eyes at the burrito Joanna had placed on the table. Karen and Helen were close behind her.

“Care to explain this Peggy?”

Peggy looked at Helen in trepidation.

“Don’t you dare look at Helen young lady, you look at me while I’m speaking to you. Now explain!”

Joanna glanced across at Helen, who gave her a small nod in encouragement.

“But…I…where did you…Karen um…”

“That’s it, I’m tired of your lies young lady!” Joanna stated, through gritted teeth as she retrieved a long thick wooden spoon from the utensil canister on the kitchen counter.

“Unbelievable! Karen what? huh Peggy? You know damn well I ate mine!” Karen stated in a raised voice. “You just stood there and lied to all of us!”

“But, I…” Peggy stammered.

“Are going to be one sorry young lady by the time I’m through with you!” Joanna finished her sentence as she bent Peggy over the kitchen table. “And this time, you don’t get to keep these.” Joanna said, whisking her pajamas and panties down to her ankles in one swift motion.

Joanna ignored the look of pure mortification and the flush on Peggy’s face as she went to work with the spoon hard and fast on Peggy’s prominent backside.

“You, young lady, don’t get the privilege of a private spanking after you lied to all of us, and so you know, this is just a preview of the main event.” Joanna scolded, as she walloped the underside of Peggy’s cheeks with the spoon.”

Peggy cried out each time the spoon connected in a sharp whap to her bottom. Her feet began to flail and kick, and soon her pajama bottoms and panties had fallen to the floor.

Joanna was pleased with the deep shade of red that was now Peggy’s bottom.

“Ow Jo, please, no more. I’m sorry I lied, yes the burrito is mine!” Peggy wailed.

“Mildly interesting young lady, but I think we all know that.” Joanna paused, and leant down close to the young girl’s ear. “And Peggy, you were right. I was being easy on you before. Way too easy as it turns out. A pushover I think is what you told Karen. Yes? And before you assume Karen told me you should know I heard you in your room. Now let’s see what kind of a push over I am, shall we?”

“NOOO!” Peggy wailed as Joanna went to work with the spoon again, making a special point to cover the tender spots where Peggy’s thighs met her bottom.

After about ten more swats with the spoon Joanna stopped the spanking and laid the spoon on the table.

“Up,” she ordered, simply.

Peggy got up and rubbed her behind ruefully. Joanna saw the tears that were starting to form in the young girl’s eyes but she wasn’t going easy on her charge any longer. She bent down and picked up Peggy’s pajama bottoms and panties from the kitchen floor.

“Now then, young lady, you can get upstairs. You won’t be needing these for a while,” she stated, handing Peggy her garments. “I want you, bare bottomed with your nose in the corner and I suggest you start thinking about why you lied to us and why you deliberately broke our agreement again. And just so there is no mistake, I intend to light a fire on your rear end with my new hairbrush, that you won’t soon forget. Do you understand?”

“Yes Ma’am,” came the tearful reply from Peggy, who scurried timidly out of the kitchen.

Joanna took a deep breath. She would need a few minutes before she could deal with Peggy again.

“Well done Jo, I have to say that was pretty impressive. Take a few minutes. Peggy’s not going anywhere.

“Shit, impressive? That was scary, is what that was.” Karen replied with an incredulous look on her face.

“You would think that, being the brat that you are my darling.” Helen replied with a grin.

“Well yeah, and now it looks like I need to watch out for the both of you. Not sure I like this Top bonding thing, or whatever it is you two have going on!”

“Well I think it’s time I christened the gift you gave me. If you two will excuse me, I’ll be back down a little later.”

“Good luck Jo, stay strong!” Helen told her friend.
***
“Good luck. Really? “What about poor Peggy?”

“Poor Peggy? You really think that little imp doesn’t deserved to be spanked after what she’s been doing?”

“Well of course I think she does, but us brats have to stick together somehow. What was the gift Joanna kept talking about anyway?”

“It was a lovely walnut hairbrush, nice and heavy. Should leave a good impression on a naughty brat’s behind I would think!”

“Evil! See you Tops do stick together. I’m goanna have to rethink my strategy going forward.”

“Come here my little brat,” Helen said with a smile, pulling Karen in by her pajama top for a kiss. “How about I show you a little merry Christmas, we have a few hours before dinner don’t we?”

“Uh huh, I think we do,” Karen replied, invading Helen’s mouth with her tongue, as she kissed her back. “But you know what? Apparently, Santa said I’ve been naughty, so I may need a spanking before anything nice.”

“Oh, I planned on it darling, now get up those stairs before I bend you over the kitchen counter!”

“Promises, promises,” Karen replied, licking her lips and giving her girlfriend the sultry bedroom eyes, she knew Helen couldn’t resist.

“You better get moving, or I’ll use that spoon on your behind!”

Karen poked her tongue out at Helen and ran up the stairs.
***
Joanna was arranging a few of her the gifts in the living room when Helen came in with a silly grin on her face.

“Well it doesn’t take a genius to see what you’ve been up to.”

Helen just smiled at her friend and flopped on the couch. “How did it go with Peggy, you both okay?”

“It went well, I think I’m finally getting my message across and that hairbrush did its job for sure. It made my backside pucker while I was spanking that little brat. After we dealt with it, I made her go through her journal and tell me all the times she’s been lying to me about eating. I asked her if she thought she had a problem and that little brat told me she was just trying to see what she could get away with. She lied four times on her journal as it turns out.”

“Oh, I see.” Helen said with a grin. “They like to test us you know, that’s exactly what Peggy was doing.”

“Well now that little imp has four bedtime spankings coming to her. I think she and I now have a better understanding and we are both learning very thoroughly!” Joanna said, wincing a little as she shifted on the couch.

“Still hurt my friend?”

“Yes. Is it bad that I sat on a cushion on the chair when she was over my knee?”

Helen couldn’t help but chuckle, “I have to say, I think that’s a first for me!”

“I hate to break up this Toppy party in here, but dinner is ready and I think we’ve all worked up an appetite in one way or another today.” Karen said from the entrance of the living room. “C’mon Peggy’s on her way down too.”

They were seated at the kitchen table when Peggy timidly appeared. She looked pretty miserable until Joanna motioned to the chair next to hers that had another fluffy pillow perched on the seat. Peggy smiled.

“You know, it occurred to me that the only person who hasn’t had a sore backside this week is you Helen,” Karen said, as the four women enjoyed their festive meal. “In the spirit of things, I think you should partake in the benefits of a paddle. What do you say ladies I think between the three of us we can pin her down and give her a Christmas spanking?”

The three women looked at each other menacingly, contemplating Karen’s suggestion.

“I don’t think so, and you won’t dare if you know what’s good for your backsides. I’ll let you in on a little secret ladies. There’s a very good reason why the Freshmen in this house call me SWMBO. Merry Christmas Ladies!”

They grinned at each other. “Merry Christmas!” they said in unison.

The End