Fantasy Friday - The Challenge

One test down, one this morning and two more next week. The end is in sight, but there is some hard babysitting to come through the second week of June. Actually I'm doing some good teaching now that the test on my subject is done. I'm doing interesting stuff and the kids really liked it today.

I'm very happy to bring you this weeks Fantasy Friday.  I have a feeling many of us could relate to this story. It's a rerun but it's been a while since I posted it, hope it new to some of you. Please enjoy...

The Challenge

Annie stared at the mirror in disgust. How had this happened? At twenty-four how had she become a fat blob? She had had to work to keep her weight down in high school but college had really gotten her. The freshman fifteen had become the sophomore twenty and on and on. Taking a teaching job so far away from friends and family didn’t help. Eating and vegging in front of the TV had become her main source of comfort and relaxation. She hated the weight, hated the feeling of lethargy, and she hate the feeling of sadness that overcame her when she passed a mirror. But try as she might nothing seemed to motivate herself to get started.

Until she saw the ad in the paper several days later. It was from the gym she passed on the way to work.

Three month weight loss challenge
No membership required
Improve your health and lose weight

Money back guarantee!

Hmmmm…. That could work, only 3 months, didn’t have to join for a year and your money back if it didn’t work. Now maybe this was worth a try. Annie called for an appointment.

~~0~~

The appointment was for an information meeting in a group of about twenty. An instructor walked in precisely at 6:00 PM and began the program introduction. Annie hid a small smile at the sight of him. If this was the eye candy available she was pretty sure she would like this program. At 6:05 two women entered chatting quietly and the instructor turned to them.

“Excuse me ladies were you coming to the information meeting on the weight loss challange?”

“Yes.” one answered smiling. “Are we in the right place?”

“No, you aren’t. The meeting began at six and you weren’t here. This program only accepts serious applicant. Being late tells me you are not serious. Good day.”

Every mouth in the room fell open at the man’s rudeness. The two women stared at him nonplus before coloring slightly and leaving with out another word. The instructor began again.

“My name is Jonas. I have an excellent program to offer but as you just heard me explain I will only be working with people that are committed to what they are doing. Not all of you will be accepted, but those that are will reach their goal.”

“Who decided on what that goal is?” a woman from the back asked the question. Annie was wondering about.

“At your private assessment we will decide on that goal together. We want to push you but the goal has to be realistic and obtainable. Only when we come to a mutual decision will you be able to sign a contract.”

“Contract?” another woman asked. “What kind of contract?”

“This is a strict program,” Jonas explained. “You will be required to come to the gym for a minimum of one hour a day, six days a week for the duration. It you can’t make it call to let us know and plan on staying an extra hour the next day. You will have some required classes, access to a private trainer and a nutritionist. There will be required weekly weigh in, motivational sessions when necessary and penalties for not complying with the contract.”

‘Geeze,’ Annie thought to herself ‘this sounds more like boot camp that a gym program.’ But at the same time she was excited. This could work.

“You haven’t told us how much this is going to cost,” came another inquiry.

“That’s right I haven’t,” he agreed. “Before I tell you the cost I want you to know that this program works. It’s not cheap and it’s not easy – but it works. The cost for the three months is five hundred dollars.”

Five hundred dollars?

Was he out of his friggin mind? Annie heard muttering and chair scraping all around her as seven women got up and left. ‘I might as well go with them,’ Annie thought. Her entire fortune at this point consisted of five hundred and seventy-two dollars in savings and around ninety in her checking account. But she was hooked now and she had to know what he was going to say next.

Jonas made no effort to stop any of the women from leaving. He waited quietly for the room to settle and then continued. “Well, now I know who is serious.”

Annie couldn’t keep her mouth shut any longer. “I can’t afford this program, but I have to know one thing. You said a money back guarantee. Are you saying that if we follow all your rules and still don’t lose all the weight we get that money back?”

“No ma’am, our money back guarantee is a little different. The challenge is only with yourself and at the end of three months if you have met or exceeded your goal then you get your money back – all of it.”

~o~

Her assessment had been an ordeal. One hundred eighty-five pounds! She was horrified. Jonas himself had been taking her measurements with an assistant writing down one horrible number after another.

“You need to lose around fifty-five pounds. Not,” he stressed, “in three months, but that should be your over all goal. Based on what you have told me about your current eating habits and your lack of any physically activity, with work on your part you can lose twenty pounds or more during this program. You will be required to lose two pounds every week. Even if you lose three one week, you will still have two pound goal for the next week.”

“What if I mess up one week and don’t lose that much. Does that mean I blow my chance to get my money back?”


“Annie,” he said looking intently at her. (Damn he had beautiful eyes!) “My goal is to have you improve your health and lose some weight. I also want you to get your money back. If you don’t make goal one week or miss a day at the gym you will have penalties and you may have to come to motivational sessions, but if you lose twenty pounds in three months you get your money back.”

“Now here is your contract. Read it all and read it carefully. If you decide you can live with the terms and conditions it spells out be here at or before five PM Monday with the signed contract and five hundred dollars in cash ands we’ll get started. Don’t be late.”

Annie had debated with herself all weekend but by Monday the decision was made. She left school at 3:30 – to the bank for the money and on to the gym. She hadn’t read the entire contract, but she felt she could trust Jonas and she knew she had to get that money back. What better motivation could their possible be? Grabbing the contract and her cash she headed into the gym.

~~0~~

Annie loved her first two weeks at the gym. Sore! Sore wasn’t the word for it. She was so sore she couldn’t move but it felt wonderful. It was new, it was exciting, she was meeting new people and best of all Jonas had seemed to take a special interest in her. He worked with her, pushed her, and encouraged her. And everything paid off. Saturday morning of the first week – 9:00AM weigh in and a loss of three and two tenths pounds!

“Fantastic!” was Jonas’ response as she stepped off the scale. “I knew you could do it. I’m proud of you.” He told her with a smile and a hug. But remember – another two pounds next week. You can’t slack off any. And she hadn’t! Saturday morning of the second week showed her down another two and four tenths. Jonas’ smile was again a thing of beauty and his hugs were addictive. You know what works now Annie. But keep at it, week three comes hard.

And it did. Everything seemed to conspire against her. Three birthday parties at school – true she could have refused the cupcakes, but they were home made and delicious. Her parents came by to take her to supper Wednesday and she didn’t even make it to the gym.

Thursday afternoon Jonas was waiting on her, he didn’t look happy.

“Where were you yesterday?”

For a split second Annie was flattered that he had even noticed her absence, but the look on his face didn’t keep her flattered for long.

“You’ll be staying an extra hour to make up for it tonight and you’ll be working with me,” he stated shortly.

Annie’s temper faired suddenly. “Who died and left you boss!” she shouted. “I don’t have to stay here and be treated like this.” Annie felt tears of anger coming as she turned quickly to leave the gym.

Jonas was right behind her as she reached the door and he grabbed her hand. “Is this temper tantrum really worth five hundred dollars? Annie, the middle of week three is early for a motivational session but I know you need it. Come with me please.”

Annie let herself be lead to Jonas’ office. “Now what’s going on?” he asked kindly.

The kindness in his voice took her by surprise and took the edge off her anger. “I’m blowing it,” she told him truthfully. “I did so well the last two weeks, but this week we have had snacks all over school. My folks took me out to eat and ordered dessert and everything. I missed a day exercising and I know I’m not going to make the two pound goal this week,” Annie felt herself tearing up as she continued. “I know I won’t be able to do this. Nothing ever works. I’m going to be fat forever.”

Jonas closed the door and turned to her. He looked very stern this time. “I’m not listening to this. I think we need to address this right now.”

With no explanation or warning Jonas took Annie’s hand and led her to the couch. With one firm tug Annie found herself over his lap.

“What are you doing?” Annie shouted. “Let me go! What’s wrong with you, you jerk! Get your hands off me.”

Jonas acted as though he hasn’t heard a work. Annie’s protests were ignored as he began a hard warm-up spanking with his hand. “You need to be quiet,” Jonas said in a quite firm voice. “You had to know this was coming. Three weeks into a three month program and you’re ready to give up. I think I am beginning to see your problem. You give up on yourself. That’s not going to happen any more.”

“Know it was coming … are you crazy? Let me go, what gives you the right to do this to me?” she demanded.

Jonas continued to spank hard – Annie tried to stay quiet, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of knowing how badly he was hurting her, but she couldn’t help crying out at the hard pops. Finally Jonas helped her to her feel and stepped over to his desk. Annie nearly headed for the door but she wanted an explanation. Her bottom hurt from the impromptu spanking and she rubbed it vigorously. “Who the hell do you think you are?”

“First let me tell you who you are.” Jonas said as he held a paper out for her to take, “you are a young woman who signs a contract without reading it. Would you care to read the clause I just circled in red?”

Annie took the paper and read it swiftly. Good grief! Right there between the gym hours and the rules for proper attire:

• Motivational sessions will be given at the discretion of the instructor. A motivational session will use corporal punishment to encourage the participant to work harder and to maintain a good attitude. A wooded paddle will be used with a minimum of ten swats and not to exceed fifty in one motivational session. (Not including a warm-up) Corporal punishment may be given over clothing or on the bare at the discretion of the instructor.

• Penalties may be occurred for missing sessions, tardiness, bad language, rude or abusive behavior toward the instructor. Penalties will be given with a leather strap and always on the bare. Penalties will build up to five before they will be given. No more that ten in a give day.

Annie continued to stare at the words and at her initials beside them.

“Did you not sign this contract?” Jonas asked.

“Yes, but I didn’t…”

“Read it?” Jonas supplied. "You should be spanked for signing a contract without reading it. Very dangerous. See what it’s gotten you into?

“You can’t spank me! You can’t be serious, I won’t let you.”

“Of course that’s up to you. You can leave right now but you will be breaking your contract and you’ll be forfeiting your five hundred dollars.”

Annie started at him a moment longer. She couldn’t lose that money. How had she been stupid enough to get herself in this trap?

“I can’t afford to lose the money” she said quietly, not really believing what she was agreeing to.

“I understand,” Jonas told her, “Let’s get started. “Please bring me the paddle in the right hand drawer.

With a shaking hand Annie opened the drawer. The paddle looked wicked. She brought it over. He handed it to Jonas who in turn handed her a small towel. “Keep both hands on the towel,” he told her. “I don’t want you reaching back. I don’t want to hit your hand by mistake.”

He pulled her gently down on his lap once again. “Annie you are going to receive ten and I am letting you keep your shorts on. But if this happens again it will be more swats and it will be on the bare. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Annie managed to say. She was feeling major relief. Ten, how bad could just ten be she thought. She quickly found out.


To be continued...

~o~

So you may not want to wait until next week for the rest of the story, but geeze folk do you know how long I wait for a new story? You might have guessed that I wrote this story. The idea has been in my head for a long time and I finally decided to get it written. I hope you will come back next week for the rest of the story. If you have a story to share please send it to elisspeaks@yahoo.com