Well that was fun!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Nope it wasn’t as large as usual but it really was fun. Mollie came Tuesday night – fresh from a negative covid test, so she felt less nervous being around us. 

 

Like many of you I was happy to see my grandkids! And at least one of them was happy to see me. The cat still hates me but for the first time she did refrain from drawing blood on this visit.

Dinner was great and we all had a hand in it. I got the steaks and marinade them to perfection. Mollie got the crab legs and I could tell she knew what she was doing, so I just observed. I took care of the sides and made the pumpkin pie and Nick cooked the steaks.

 

I asked Mollie if she would like to use the good china. “Heck no!” she told me. “With cracking crab legs and throwing elbows, we’d be sure to break something. Let’s keep it simple.” So we did and it was great. Mollie is the crab leg champ and worked patiently to show Nick and me how to dig in and find all the delicious meat.

 

I’ve got most of the Christmas decorations up and the house looks very festive. Nick and I went Saturday to help decorate our church. We’re still only attending on line, but the Chrismom tree adds to the season, even on screen. (These Chrismom – yes, that’s spelled right, decoration were made my mother’s generation and each have a special meaning. They are very beautiful.)

 

Now as I write this Mollie has headed home with her critters, and my cat is thrilled with that piece of news! 

 Nick is playing golf and I’m sitting peacefully in my writing room, with my cat and we are enjoying the tree. I love seeing any and all of my family when I can. I enjoy the extra noise and chaos, but I also love the return of the quiet empty nest Nick and I are used to. 

 

I hope each of you enjoyed your Thanksgiving as much as we enjoyed ours.

A Thanksgiving bonus Fantasy Friday - A Thanksgiving Tale

This is just an extra Thanksgiving offering. I know most folks will be too busy for reading today, but in case you do get a break here's a really good story from friend of mine - Sunny! Leigh Smith herself. I think this is the first story she sent me, I know it was one of the first. Now Leigh is an established author, I love her books. 

I hope you've had a great Thanksgiving and that you enjoy...

A Thanksgiving Tale

Margo and Jim were going to his sister Pat’s for Thanksgiving. With his sister it is never so much an invitation but rather an edict. It was always a hassle because of the drive and the kids never liked going to Aunt Pat’s because “there was nothing to do” there. Margo really didn’t want to go. She had asked Jim to consider asking his sister and her husband Jack to join them at their house so their boys, Brian and Bret, would be more comfortable. Pat was ten years older than Jim and her children were adults. It would be even worse this year because their son, Jack Jr. was in the Coast Guard and would be out at sea and their daughter Emily was going to her husband’s family. So it would just be Pat and Jack and Margo, Jim and the boys Jim thought it was a good idea if Margo could get Pat to agree to it. He had his doubts. He was right – there was no way Pat wanted to leave her home for Thanksgiving. She had been doing Thanksgiving Dinner for twenty years and wasn’t going to stop now.

So off they went to Pat and Jack’s. It was a long ride and the boys were getting antsy in the back seat. Even with their games they were doing what siblings do – arguing. Margo was starting to get a headache and they weren’t even halfway there. She started complaining to Jim that this wasn’t going to be a good day. Jim was getting tired of dealing with Margo’s complaints, listening to the kids bicker and putting up with heavy traffic. He was losing his patience. By the time they got to his sisters in Silver Lake, everybody was on edge.

Dinner was to be at 3:00 which meant they had two hours to wait before dinner. The TV was on to the football game and the guys were engrossed. Brian and Bret were outside playing with the dog and beginning to get hungry. They kept asking when dinner was going to be ready. Margo had finally had it and scolded the boys. Jim overheard and guided the boys out of the room. He reminded Margo that she was the adult and the boys were just hungry. She snapped that they wouldn’t be in this situation if they had just stayed home. Pat overheard their argument and started to cry. Now Jim was really upset. He tried to cajole Pat and appease his wife. Margo was in no mood to be appeased and continued to state her displeasure. Jim whispered in her ear that if she didn’t stop right then she would be sorry when they got home. Margo got the sobering message loud and clear and her hand absent mindedly went to her rear.

They had just sat down to dinner when the boys started arguing about whose turn it was to say grace. Margo had had it. All she could think of was that she had to get out of there. She jumped up from the table upsetting her glass. Cranberry juice was everywhere. Sue and Jack started to mop up the juice and the boys just shrugged their shoulders happy that they weren’t the ones to spill the juice. Meanwhile, Margo grabbed her purse and headed for the front door. After offering to help with the clean up, Jim followed right behind her. He grabbed her by the elbow and asked her to return to the dining room. She refused. By this time Jim was really upset – he was in his sister’s house and this was not the time to argue with his wife. He took her behind their car and gave her three hard swats to the seat of her pants and told her to stay out there until she could apologize and behave herself. They would continue this discussion later when they got home.

Jim came in and explained that Margo would be in shortly and they should begin to eat dinner. Eventually, a subdued Margo joined them and apologized for causing the mishap. The rest of the dinner went smoothly. After coffee and dessert, Margo and Sue started putting away the leftovers and getting the dishes done. After a while, Jim suggested they get on the road. Now Margo was the one that was trying to prolong their departure - she knew what was awaiting her once she got home.

The drive home was much quieter than the drive to Silver Lake. The boys fell asleep in the back and Margo tried chattering away to ease some of the tension between her and Jim. When they arrived home, Margo tucked the boys into bed. Jim told her he would be up to kiss them goodnight and she should just go into their bedroom to wait for him. Jim took his time entering the bedroom. He knew Margo would be nervous and the longer he waited the more time she would have to think over her behavior and dread what was coming. When he entered the room he sat down at the end of the bed and asked Margo to join him. He started lecturing her about her misbehavior. He placed her over his knee, pulled down her panties and proceeded to spank her bottom hard, no warm-up tonight. Margo started to whimper and wiggle around. Jim was having none of it and anchored her legs and began spanking her in earnest - left cheek, right cheek, middle, then concentrated on her sit spots. She was now sobbing loudly. She kept repeating how sorry she was and to please stop spanking her. After five more swats to each thigh he stopped and brought her up on his lap. He held her and told her how much he loved her and that he was sorry that she didn’t have a very good Thanksgiving. She apologized for ruining their Thanksgiving and said that next year she was going to make sure the turkey was the only thing that was going to be roasted.

~o~

Thanks Sunny! For many, many things but for today, thanks for this story. I hope even more of you are out there writing, if you're willing to share send your stories to elisspeaks@yahoo.com

Non-traditional Thanksgiving

After saying in my LOL post that I wanted to try and post about three times a week, I realize that's difficult these days. There is not a lot of spanking going on around our house. We don’t go anywhere and we don’t see anybody. Doesn’t make for fantastically exciting posts. But then, when has that ever stopped me?

Not this year!

 

We won’t be seeing Nick’s family for Thanksgiving this year but it was our Sunday to cook for his dad this past weekend. Little old me fixed, fried/baked chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, lima beans, corn, carrots, cooked apples and a pumpkin/angel food cake from a receipt Rosie Dee sent me. Delicious!

 

Mollie planned our Thanksgiving menu this year since it’s only the three of us. Turkey isn’t her favorite, so we are having crab legs, shrimp and steak, along with a variety of sides and pumpkin pie. I’m just so happy we get to see her.

Strangely, I couldn't find a picture of crab legs 

and pumpkin pie together.

 

Although March is blogland’s traditional question and answer month, I’m searching for blogging ideas all the time. If anyone does have a question or suggestion for a post please leave it in the comments or email me (elisspeaks@yahoo.com). I can pretend to be an expert on nearly any subject (except cooking and laundry), so ask away. 

LOL Day, part two

I really appreciate everyone who came by to read yesterday. Today I went back and found the very first LOL post I ever put up. It's still true so I wanted to repost it. It was so long ago I was going by Elis, rather than PK. Now that was a LONG time ago!

After that I've included one of my all time favorite posts, just to give you something to read today if you get the time. And please, come by anytime and say hey.

This is for my quiet readers, those that never leave comments. The lurkers. Yes we are all talking to you today for a very special purpose. We want to meet you. Remember total anonymity. 

Let me introduce myself. Like most of us here I am in my forty’s and boy, did I have to type fast to make that true! I’m a school teacher. I have a son who is a college freshman and a daughter in the 8th grade. We go to church each Sunday and I teach my Sunday school class every third week. 

I tell you this because when I started lurking I assumed that anyone writing a spanko/sex blog had to be a bit strange, a little perverted, a person who might have a few stories I would like to read but never someone I would want to talk with. I just hope you will realize that we really are just normal people. We are fascinated by the idea of spanking. We have been since we were little kids and if you are here you understand what I am talking about. 

I have made wonderful friends here. No I do not know where they live and I will probability never see them. But they are good friends. Blogging is a good thing in my life. I would love for you to say hi! If you are still not comfortable then wait until you are and say hi then. Although it is anonymous its nice if you will use a name, any name you want to make up, just so we will know it’s the same person.

Hugs, Elis

Gotta Rant

An email from a friend got me all stirred up about this topic so pardon me while I rant but I am just so mad. I want to know where the rest of the world gets off thinking that what we enjoy and the lifestyle we chose makes us some type of sicko that should not be accepted in polite society!

Many people enjoy massages; often they pay big bucks to have a stranger give them a massage. They talk about how good it felt and how relax they felt afterwards. If their friends, family and colleagues have any thoughts on the matter most would think, “Yeah, a massage would be great.” But I hate massages! Often people I barely know come up behind me and start rubbing my shoulders. It hurts likes hell! I want to scream at them. If I say anything about not wanting them digging their digits into the muscles near my neck I get a strange look and something like “You don’t LIKE that? There must be something wrong with you! You're way too tense!”

I see people at the gym lifting weights so heavy they look as though they are going to tear a muscle. Runners and cyclist are taught to run or ride through the pain for the benefits on the other side. Huge men are paid bazillion dollars to slam into one another to get a ball moved down a field. All of these people are engaging in activities, by their own choice, that both hurt like hell and are activities that some others would never ever want to do. Yet they are considered normal. People will let them talk about what they enjoy doing and it’s even acceptable to encourage other to at least give it a try.

I enjoy being spanked. I love the sting, I love the afterglow, I love the achy soreness the next day, I love the feeling of release, I love the emotional closeness I feel with my husband, I love everything about it! Spanking is good for my physical, mental and emotional well-being. I am not even encouraging others to try it. I am just saying it is a wonderful thing in my life.

So how come I would be the one to possible lose my job if my superiors were to discover that I blog about it. At best I could expect to be ridiculed, thought of as unnatural or perhaps perverted. I’TS NOT FAIR! I am just as normal as those who like massages, lift weight, run or play football. But no, our desire is strictly taboo. I want to stand up and yell, “I’m mad and I’m not going to take it anymore!” instead I have to sit here and type “I’m mad and there is not a damn, friggin thing I can do about it!”

And if you don’t mind if I rant on, another topic we are discussing on our blog is about our sex life. This would also make our friends and family gasp in horror and heap embarrassment on us. WHY? If I was reading blogs to improve my cardiovascular system that would be fine, if my boss or family found out they would be proud of me. I could ask all the question I wanted to and gathering all the information I could. But if I want to learn about my sexuality, if I want to learn more about how this part of my body how it works and ways to improve or enhanced the quality of an orgasm – oh my, heaven forbid! And speaking of heaven, God created our bodies and included in the female special added features strictly for pleasure having nothing to do with reproduction. So evidently He intended for us to enjoy this part of our lives. There is nothing wrong with researching how our bodies are supposed to work.

We are talking about sex and spankings on our blogs. I am not standing on the street corner yelling these things at folks that do not want to hear it. If you don't want to hear my opinions on these topics you wouldn’t have read this far. I know that none of us are embarrassed in the least by what we read or write yet we are all afraid of others finding out, because many others won’t understand. I want my blog to remain a secret. Not only would I have to live with the embarrassment if it were discovered, my family would also. But if anyone I know does find my blog and tries to make me feel guilty or threats to tell others I am going to print this post off, shove it in their face and tell them to kiss my ass!

My friends, I thank you for allowing me a place for my rant. I knew I would be safe here.

Today is YOUR day!

I’m so happy to still be around for our fifteenth Love our Lurkers day. I’m delighted you took a minute to stop by here. I do want to encourage my lurkers to speak up, but I want to give you my reasons.

 

Blogging isn’t as popular as it once was. Many people have moved on to Twitter and Instagram and probably other things I’m not even aware of. Things there move faster. Ideas have to be concise and short and many people love that. Blogging moves at a slower pace and I admit I kind of like that. I like being able to get long winded if I choose or just post a picture if that says it all for me that day.

 

But the thing I like best is something I think we all need to be aware of – most especially now.  I love comments. I like reaching out to people with my thoughts and I love it when they reach back. I don’t see many people face to face these days. I’m guessing many of you don’t either. But it’s safe here. I sit in front of my computer – mask less – and talk with people. Sometimes I get long comments back that lets me know that person really understands. Sometimes I get funny or sarcastic comments which always makes me laugh. And at times I just get a ‘thanks’ or ‘I understand’ and it really helps me not feel so alone in our strange world.

 

I’ve been trying (not always successfully) to post three times a week. With Covid everywhere I want to provide some normalcy – for myself and for my readers. No, I don’t post about spanking all the time. I still post about my kids, things that are happening in my world, silly things, serious things, the things you normally talk about with your friends. And these days those of you reading here now are the friends I get to talk to. And if you’re more comfortable emailing – elisspeaks@yahoo.com

 

One more thing, I nearly always answer my comment – I have more time than many of my fellow bloggers who are trying to juggle jobs, kids, home school and many, many other things. But being retired and sitting here with my computer for hours I do like to respond if you’ve taken the time to talk with me. I used to get an email alert when I got a comment. I don’t any more. So if you comment on a post a day or two after it goes up. It might be a few day until I see it, but I do go back and check and I will answer. So you go back and check too. 

 

And a word to my fellow bloggers – and I’m definitely talking to myself too. We need to do a better job commenting to one another. I’m sure guilty of reading and moving on without commenting. If we truly want our lurkers to talk to us, we need to talk to one another. And let me say once again – Thank God for Roz! She keeps me from feeling like I’m talking to myself!

Fantasy Friday - Caught Red Handed

Yes, we're a day early for Fantasy Friday. Tomorrow is a special day, it's LOL day! One of the most special day in blogland. Please come by tomorrow and visit.

     I'm so happy to bring you a brand new Fantasy Friday story from a brand new writer. Bless her heart she sent it in weeks ago when I was in the middle of posting a multi-part story. But finally I can share! 

     She says, "Hi, my name is Sam, and I am 21, I’ve been writing these types of stories for a while, and thought I’d share with you all one of my recent stories! Enjoy!"

     

Caught Red Handed 

Daddy came home early and caught me red handed. Well, not really red handed. I just kinda made a mess in the living room and well, I sorta just forgot about it! yeah, we’ll go with that for now. 

“Little one, did we forget about the rules around cleaning up messes when we make them?” he looked at me a little disapproving. 

“Well, uhm I was gonna pick it up daddy,” I said, swallowing nervously. A complete lie. Well, not a complete lie, but surely he didn’t know that. 

“Uh huh, and what about the rules about glitter when daddy is at work?” he raised an eyebrow. Shit. I forgot that he doesn’t allow glitter when he’s gone.

Although, I didn’t understand why he made that rule in the first place.  “Well uhm,” I stammered, trying to find something to say to save me. 

“Uh huh, well then I guess you and the corner have a little date,” he looked at me and gestured to the bedroom. I pouted and half stomped my feet. 

“But daddy, I don’t wanna,” I whined. 

“Excuse me?” His voice turned firm and unyielding. I swallowed nervously and walked into the bedroom and into the dreaded corner. “Five minutes little girl, pants and panties off and hands on your head.” 

I groaned but did as he said. I knew better than to argue with him at this point, even though I really wanted to roll my eyes and protest. Five minutes passed and then he called me over to where he was sitting on the bed. 

“Over you go and if you’re good, I’ll only use my hand,” he said, positioning me over his knees. 

I huffed, but didn’t say anything else. As his hand crashed down on my bare ass, I tried to hold still and not kick or reach back, but damn he spanks hard. “Owie daddy, not so hard,” I whimpered. 

“It’s a spanking, it’s supposed to hurt,” he said, not stopping the onslaught on my ass. I kicked a little, and he targeted my upper thighs as a warning to stay still and be good. After a few minutes, he slowed down but didn’t stop. “Can you tell me why we clean up messes when we make them?” He asked, continuing to spank me. 

“Uhm cos if I don’t clean them up then it gets forgotten and that’s a no no,” I sniffled, tears falling down my face. 

“Good girl,” he praised. “Can you tell me why glitter is not allowed when daddy isn’t home?” He asked. 

“Cos you poopy head,” I muttered, miffed that he even made that a rule.

“Excuse me?” He said, peppering my backside with harder swats. 

“Ouchie Daddy, please no more,” I squealed. 

“Try again baby,” he said. 

“Uhm, cos glitter is messy and hard to clean up and I need help cleaning it up when I use it,” I sobbed, trying to stay still for him. 

“That’s right baby, and all you had to do was wait for daddy to get home but you decided to disobey daddy,” he responded. “So what do you think is gonna happen little girl?” He asked, now rubbing my poor ass. 

I whimpered. “Probably take away my glitter privileges?” I asked hesitantly.

“Uh huh, and what else?” He asked, waiting for a response. 

“I gonna have to clean up my mess and go bed early,” I sighed sadly. 

“That’s right honey, good job,” he praised. He pulled me into his lap and rubbed my back as I clung to him, still crying a little. He shushed next and rubbed circles on my back and rubbed my stinging ass, calming me down. He even helped me clean up the mess and helped me brush teeth and get ready for bed. As we were snuggling, he continued to rub my ass and kissed my head and soon I was asleep.

 

 ~~

Thank you, Sam! We always love new stories out here. I hope you'll keep writing and share with us. If anyone else is willing to try their hand at a story please send it to elisspeaks@yahoo.com

 

Worried about how your child is learning?

I read Morningstar’s post the other day on homeschooling. She was worried about the lil one’s school progress and if she was helping enough. I know there are thousands out there with the same worries. I want to share my opinion which is worth exactly what you are paying for it.

 

Of course kids need schooling, in person if it’s safe, is probably best. It addresses not only some of the education needs, but also social, emotional, nutritional even safety needs of many children.

 

But for the moment in our crazy world, while you should encourage your kids to do their online assignments – just remember, for your child to be successful in life they really only need two things. To know how to read (and hopefully learn to LOVE reading) and basic math.

 

Let’s talk math first. While you insist they give a good try to all the online teacher is giving them, behind the scenes teach them to add and subtract. YOU know how to do this, don’t worry about the half sheet explanation with number lines, boxes and arrows, teach them the way you learned. Have them memorize there multiplication tables – trust me, they don’t know them. Yes, unlike what I told my students, “You won’t always have a calculator handy…” actually now they do and will. But they still need to know, by memory, the 1’s through the 12’s tables. I say this is true for kids first -fifth, starting with the 1’s an 2’s for the little guys and moving on as they master them. 

 

Once these are mastered and as they are moving into middle school start working on life skill problems (using calculators are fine here – we adults do). Work on basic perimeter and area – they may need a fence or carpet someday. Start with rectangles and then work toward different shapes. You can find these formulas on line. Then work on percent – for anticipating tax, discounts and knowing how to tip.

And reading – helping them develop a love of reading is really all that’s needed. I wish every family would begin a half hour or more reading time. A time each day where you read a book aloud together, the whole family. Just make this fun – the adult can do the reading. Find books you liked as a kid, The Little House Books (I didn’t read these until after I was married and I loved them), Goosebumps books, The Hatchet series, or the Hunger Games, if you have older kids. This can continue into the teen years. Read books for grownups – the Mary Higgins Clark's books are great for holding interests. Even younger kids will be caught up in them and develop the love of hearing a great story. Pop popcorn, bring the whole family into it, make it an event if not every night, try it several times a week.

 

Of course they still need to read for themselves – get stories and novels below their reading level so that the reading will be easier and therefore, so much more fun. As their reading skills improve they will want harder/more interesting books. 

 

I’m not trying to say don’t worry it’s all going to be okay on the learning scene – but, well yes, I am saying that. Are your kids going to fall behind this year with less face to face time with their teachers? Yes! As is nearly every other child on the planet! So really are they behind or has everything just slowed a bit?

 

Think about your education or your child’s. My sister was a brain. Always did her homework. Well behaved, fantastic grades. Then I came along. I hated schoolwork and if I did it at all it was half-assed. All through elementary school and high school I did just enough work to mostly keep everyone off my back. I was your average low C student. 

This little fellow definitely reminds me of me. 

I was probably making up spanking stories

 most of the time I should have been studying.

And even that might not have been a waste of time.

I was a poor student until I could finally study something that interest me. When I went into the veterinary technician program I got straight A’s as well as my classes for my teaching degree later. Once I was grown and cared, I did great. 

 

Now my sister (the fantastic student) had a great career as a private secretary to a college administrator. She enjoys writing and has published thirty-two books.  Me (a piss poor student) had two wonderful careers as a vet tech and later as a teacher. I’ve published fifteen books. How we did in K-12 school did not determine our futures.

 

So while you’ll continue to worry a bit, step back and realize that whether you kids is making straight A’s or is barely scraping by he or she will grow up and find their interest in life and in all probability have a job they enjoy and can do well.

 

Even as long as this ‘thing’ is lasting in our world – it will eventually be over and we all go on, every student having had to deal with this serious bump in their education. It’s going to be all right.

Fantasy Friday - Coronavirus Menaces

Happy Friday! I'm really happy to have a brand new Fantasy Friday for you today. This story comes from my friend Viola Vales. 

Like most of us out here she's a real grown-up, mature, we call ourselves. TTWD began for them three years ago and she has been a long time lurker on many blogs. As she said, "I'm grateful to all those bloggers who encouraged me to finally approach my husband. I'm a happy woman." 

 I hope you'll enjoy...

 Coronavirus Menaces

 

Ginny was first downstairs this morning because she wanted to be early for the 7AM appointment.  She and Doug were being extra cautious and had decided to take advantage of online grocery ordering and no contact pickup.  An employee would carefully load all the bags in her trunk and she would mouth words of appreciation from behind her car window.  She had requested over a hundred items this time which she hoped would include some of the scarce paper products, disinfectants and toiletries for her husband.  As suggested they only shopped every two weeks.  Ginny realized that she would be lucky to get half of her list so menu planning would be completed later with whatever meats, produce, and dairy she found in the bags.  

 

As their nest emptied and they moved outside the city,  Doug and Ginny entertained the notion of getting rid of one of their two cars.  It seemed like an extravagance until they considered the logistics of Doug meeting a friend for lunch on one of Ginny's volunteer days at the food pantry.  

 

Ginny always drove to the store while Doug readied the garage to triage, unwrap and disinfect their haul.  She put on vinyl gloves and carried a mask, just in case she ever had to exit the car.  Her 13 year old Honda had been so reliable that she had declined her husband's recent offer to replace it.  

 

Ginny turned the key in the ignition and didn't hear that familiar "ruh, ruh, ruh" noise.  The engine was not turning over.  She tried again.  Nothing.  She closed her eyes and sat very still contemplating the problem.  The grocery pickup was not the issue; she could easily use her husband's car.  It was all those polite reminders from Doug to start her car and take a spin around the neighborhood during these days when they were sheltering at home.  Her sweet husband asked so little of her.  What was so important that she couldn't spare ten minutes every few days to prevent this from happening? 

 

As she pulled out of the driveway in Doug's car, Ginny thought about the beginning of their spanking relationship only three years earlier.  Doug had listened with a mixture of amusement, disbelief and empathy for his wife as she struggled through what, for her, was one of the most difficult conversations of their marriage.  

 

Doug remained skeptical as he tried to understand exactly what she was asking him to do and the origin of this request.  Initially he was certain it had something to do with all those new blogs she had discovered.  Had Ginny come across some posts about adding new energy to their love life?   Spanking as a part of foreplay was worth exploring but words like discipline and accountability were incompatible with his concept of a healthy marriage.  

 

As the months went by, Doug noticed Ginny became somehow softer around him.  She paid closer attention to his opinions and his needs.  Ginny smiled all the time as if the weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders.  In some ways, these last weeks had seemed like a second honeymoon.   He found increasing confidence in decision making and pleasure in changing the hue of his wife's rear end.

 

Besides, those blogs weren't all bad.  Ginny was finally learning to ask for his help when she needed it.  Bloggers had finally gotten through to her that spouses were not mind readers.  He remembered that Steak and BJ Day was a blog suggestion.  He certainly wasn't about to argue with that.

 

Doug shook his head as he entered the garage.  When he saw which car was missing, he knew immediately what had happened.  What was he to do with her?   Conscientious about traffic laws, Ginny never maintained her car in the same way she paid attention to speed limits and other regulations of the road.  Always scrupulously attentive to the needs of home and family, she shrugged off any responsibility for yearly state inspections, oil levels, or tire pressure.  Last fall she even ran out of gas! 

 

While other couples complained about this period of social distancing, Ginny had never been happier.  She was willing to let their new dynamic evolve in a way that was comfortable to Doug.   She certainly did not fear the consequences today because Doug would most likely just make excuses for her oversight as he always did when she missed the deadline to renew her license or failed to inflate the tires.  She was angry at herself for ignoring the patient reminders from her husband and maybe angry with him too, although she wasn't sure why.

 

Popping the trunk for supermarket employees to fill, she could tell by the number of bags in her order that scarcities continued to exist.  By now, Doug would have discovered that she had opted to take his car and probably figured out the reason.  He would never confront her with questions, but instead wait for her to spill the story.  Ginny only hoped one of the parcels would contain his Old Spice.

 

The garage door was up and Doug, already wearing gloves, waved and motioned the car forward.  Together they sorted through the trunk to find all the frozen food and perishables.  They got busy cleaning each item with disinfectant wipes.  

 

Ginny made the first attempt at conversation,  "Hey, I saw they had your aftershave.  And I got an eggplant this week.  No frozen peas or chicken, but two pounds of ground beef so I can make moussaka!"  She paused for a response.  "I could make eggplant parmigiana if you prefer or maybe some baba ghanoush."  Silence from Doug was not unusual when he was concentrating on completing a job quickly.  Ginny continued her monologue emphasizing the part of the haul Doug had requested.  

 

Her speech became increasingly pressured and she began to clean and reclean the same surfaces.  "No dates, but of all things, they had a papaya!   I did get chocolate chips, but only a dozen eggs.  I could use a couple for cookies or maybe I should save them for a frittata?  What do you think?"  Without looking up from the work, Doug, aware of his wife's discomfort, raised his eyebrows and slowly replied, "I think...  you have wiped that box at least a dozen times around and it's about to disintegrate."

 

Ginny took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself.  She knew Doug wasn't really angry but he would continue to taunt her until she fessed up.  As she worked with more focus, Ginny knew how she would explain herself.  They finished the rest of the perishables in silence.  

 

"Let's stop for some coffee.  I can finish up after some breakfast while you work on your presentation.  Come on.  I scored a package of your favorite rum buns." Ginny coaxed. 

 

Everything refrigerated, Ginny set out a quick table with yogurt, fruit, and the prized rum buns.  As soon as Doug got the first big bite of pastry in his mouth, Ginny started,  "I'm really sorry.  You reminded me so many times to start my car.    Today of all days when you are so busy.  It won't happen again.  Really, I'm so, so sorry."  

 

"Give me your phone, please."  Ginny was confused.  "Give me your phone now," Doug repeated.  She reached into her pocket, retrieved her phone and pushed it across the table cautiously.  

 

Doug studied the phone maybe 15 seconds very purposely and seemed to be doing something.  Ginny's expression remained quizzical as he pushed the phone back to her.  "Okay, I set your alarm to ring twice a week and you are to get your car started those mornings.  Do you think you can manage that?"

 

Ginny smiled with relief,  "For sure.  Sure, I'll make certain this doesn't happen again.  You know I'm really sorry."  Hoping the matter would be settled with another coffee, she offered, "May I warm up your cup?"  

 

Doug nodded in the affirmative and Ginny moved around the table to get his cup.  As she reached across he grabbed her arm and simultaneously, pushing his chair away from the table, Ginny landed squarely over his lap.  She gasped and let out a squeal.  Before she could reorient herself, Doug lit into her behind.  

 

It was not unusual for them to be playful in the kitchen, but this didn't feel like his usual devilish teasing.  If she didn't know better, Ginny might have guessed he was using one of those new silicone spirtles she had not been able to resist from QVC.  These swats were stern, accelerated, and dead-centered on the sit spots.  Ginny had often wondered why some of her excess fat couldn't be relocated to the lower part of her glutes.  

 

"I said how sorry I was to ignore the car.  

 I'll listen for the reminders.

It won't happen again! 

Please stop!"  

Ow-ooo..." 

Her words became unrecognizable and the pleas stopped.  

 

Doug returned Ginny to her feet as abruptly as he had positioned her.  "Now how about that fresh cup so I can eat my breakfast?  We can finish this discussion after my Zoom call."  As Ginny poured the coffee, it felt to her like there had been enough communication on the subject.

 

She sat down gingerly.  Her husband was usually one for savoring every meal, no matter how modest, but today he was clearly preoccupied with his upcoming meeting.  As he stepped away from the table,  Doug asked a familiar question,  "Is there anything I can do for you, sweetheart, before I get busy?  I'll take care of your car later."  Moving around by her side, he motioned her to stay seated and planted a soft, tantalizing kiss on her lips, saying only "I love you," before he disappeared for the day's work.

 

Shifting from left to right on her chair, Ginny chewed slowly and could only think about mitigation.  Clearly the rum buns hadn't provided the distraction she had hoped for.  She had a long day ahead of her and was confident that her culinary skills could be her saving grace.  How her husband loved to eat!

 

While finishing disinfecting and storing the rest of the grocery haul, Ginny formulated her menu.  She would go Mediterranean, Doug's favorite cuisine.  He would prefer lots of potatoes as a substitute for the missing zucchini anyway and she had saved some real butter and cream for the Bechamel.  Yes, she had decided, it would be Moussaka.  

 

Stopping only long enough to do some finger plays, sing songs, and read with her youngest grandchild on FaceTime, Ginny went about slicing, chopping, baking and transforming the table into a more inviting space with fabric, linen napkins and warmer colors.

She added zinnias from Doug's prize garden.  She would use her mother's Lennox gold-rimmed bone china.  Ginny had often altered their living spaces for variety during the long weeks of home confinement.  

 

The warmth of the spanking seemed to be spreading and she was frustrated by the unsatisfied itch.  She or Doug would generally seek out the other somewhere in the house for a quick hug during the day.  Sometimes a kiss would turn into playtime but Ginny knew that was not an option today.  

 

While trying to focus her energy, the pandemic shortages became increasingly bothersome.  There weren't nearly enough eggs for creme brûlée, Doug's idea of a great dessert.   She could have spared a couple for avgolemono soup, but then she had neither lemon nor chicken.   Ginny decided to concentrate on incorporating her two little fresh pears into the salad and making vinaigrette.  No apples, she settled on a rustic jam crostata.  

 

Just as the garlic bread was coming out of the oven, Doug appeared in the kitchen.  His face was tired but he gave her a reassuring wink and a broad grin.  It would be more commitment than he had anticipated but he had been offered a six month gig on the spot.  

 

"Do you think you can take on more responsibility around here?" he asked her over dinner.  Ginny was beaming because she knew how enthusiastic he was for the project and she was happy to reassure him.  She sat back and enjoyed his account of everything that had transpired.  Exhilarated yet exhausted, Doug did not eat as much as usual but he noticed Ginny's efforts, praised her ingenuity and promised to enjoy the leftovers.  

 

"Let's leave the dishes tonight and go upstairs," Doug declared after a piece of the crostata.  Certain he had decided to forgo further 'discussion' of the car, Ginny was on board.  "I'll refrigerate a few things and lock up," she replied.  

 

He was out of the shower and brushing his teeth by the time she got to the suite.  Doug relaxed while Ginny completed her nighttime rituals.  He mulled over the car situation.  Anyone could forget; he occasionally let things fall through the cracks.  Everyone did.  

 

His wife had never been comfortable with change and he had been so pleased by her flexibility during this prolonged 'house arrest.'   She was trying so hard to make every moment of this lockdown enjoyable.  He could take responsibility for her car.   Doug was fast reasoning his way out of further spanking.  He could think of more interesting ways to celebrate this evening.  

 

Except she was the one always talking about 'accountability' and 'consistency.'   Ginny was spoiled!  She liked to pick and choose where her energy went. 

 

She exited the bathroom wearing his favorite of her nightgowns, the one with tiny flowers on a pink background.  Ginny hoped it would evoke his tender side.  Doug was sitting straight up against the headboard; it surely meant play, not punishment.  

 

She eagerly crawled up on the bed and under his outstretched arm.  Ginny took a deep breath and totally decompressed against his  chest.  They sat silently for a few minutes as he stroked her hair.  Doug was first to speak.

 

"I can program your phone, honey, but that won't change your mindset.  You know how much I love you,  but perhaps it is time to try an 'attitude adjustment' your blogs always talk about.  Consider it a coronavirus opportunity to make some desired changes."  

 

 Coronavirus hazards, Ginny thought.  "But you did that at breakfast!"  She tried not to sound as indignant as she felt.  

 

"You can consider that a warmup," Doug replied.

 

Ginny knew she shouldn't argue, but she was so sure she had figured how the evening would end.   She was so sure she could control the situation.  "I understand that you will be busier than usual and I intend to step up.  You know I feel really badly about what happened," she pouted.

 

Doug reached into the nightstand and retrieved their wooden salad paddle.  Before Ginny got another word out of her mouth, he pulled her over his lap resting his left hand firmly at her waist.  

 

"Hey, that thing is only for fun.  Remember, we agreed it's too hard!"

 

"We never agreed on any such thing."  He started swatting, slowly alternating cheeks and listing all responsibilities relating to vehicle maintenance and how each one was related to her safety, at least all the ones she had routinely ignored.  

 

Not that she was able to concentrate on what he was saying.  Each time the paddle made contact it was like searing a different piece of meat for the stew.  "Plea-ease!  Acacia wood was for the Ark of the Covenant.  Not my behind!  she gasped.

 

"Ginny, take a breath."  Doug picked up the pace and she lost the will to fuss further.  She just wanted it over and tried to concentrate on holding some kind of position.  Each time he hit the same place twice, Ginny would squirm and her feet jerked.

 

She gritted her teeth.  Tears welled up.  They didn't flow.  She unwittingly held her breath.  Ginny tried to vocalize a another plea to Doug but could only formulate garbled moans.  He sensed her stress.

 

Holding her firmly in place, Doug paused and reminded her again to take a deep breath.  "Please, I will take care of my car.  Please, you know I'm sorry.  I can't take anymore, please."  

 

"We're almost finished.  I want you to breathe!"  He followed through with ten rapid fire swats on each sit spot before he put down the paddle and began to gently rub her back.  Ginny unleashed those tears and sobbed.

 

Doug massaged until he felt her body had released the tension and her breathing had returned to normal.  He pulled her up next to him and she sighed, burying her head into the crook of his arm.

 

"I'll get your car started first thing tomorrow morning." Doug reassured her, "Put out your new decals with your keys."  

 

"Decals," Ginny repeated trying for a casual tone.

 

"Yes, I'll attach them to the license tags for you.  Tomorrow is the first of the month and you can't drive without the registration renewal."

 

"Oh...  right,"      Ginny snuggled closer and was relieved that her husband couldn't see her face.  

 

VV

 ~~

Thank you Viola! We can all relate to stories like this now, except poor Nick would be more likely to get a hot dog than the beautiful meal you described. But to me it sounds like things are going pretty well for you and I hope that continues. And I hope you have time to write more!

If anyone else has a story they are willing to share, please send it to elisspeaks@yahoo.com

*Just a note - next weeks Fantasy Friday - also a brand new story - will be posted on Thursday, Nov. 19. Don't forget to come by!