Reforming Little Anya (13 page)

“Yes, sir,” she grunted, squirming as she continued to struggle. “Can I please… go?”

He shook his head, and the lecture—now from both of them—continued for several minutes.

Oh, I just want to die. God, if I don’t get release soon, something is going to happen that hasn’t happened since I was three!

Finally—
finally
—she was allowed to shuffle to a toilet and sit. That both of them stood there the whole time she went only served to add to her humiliation. But, as they told her, since she’d tried to run away twice, they didn’t trust her.

Sheesh, I’m going to the bathroom. Who runs away from that?

Still, she had to admit, she did feel better. She just prayed she’d never need one of those again.

She was wrong. Given the state of her digestive system and the harshness of the Czech diet, she ended up needing about one a week!

* * *

A week before Easter, she was fiddling with the second car, an old Ford sedan of some sort, and an idea came to her. She’d never bothered to learn to drive, but if she managed to do it, she could just drive herself to Prague and find the U.S. Embassy. What was wrong with that? Jessica stepped out of the garage and looked around. The coast was clear. As she was inexperienced at driving, to put it mildly, she wanted to make sure no one was around to get hurt, or stop her.

Jessica climbed into the car, sliding behind the wheel. Given the brevity of her height, she could barely see over the steering wheel, and she had to stretch to reach the pedals. As she turned the key, the engine started, and purred like the proverbial kitten. She’d done a good job fixing it. Jessica couldn’t help but smile. Okay, now she just had to remember the things her driver did when he drove her to and from the office. That was easy: put the car in ‘Drive’ and hit the gas.

She did so, and the car shot forward!

Whoa, this thing is really moving. How do I…? The brakes, the brakes!

She strained to push the brake. As her right foot made contact with the pedal, her right hand pulled down on the wheel, and the car swerved to the right. Jessica gasped; she was headed for the fence. She straightened up, turned to the left, and the car swung around. It was now headed at the building. She’d overcompensated. Swerving again, she tried to line up with the gate.

She failed.

Wham
, the car hit the left gate post and came to quite the abrupt halt. Fortunately, the car wasn’t going too fast, so Jessica was merely thrown forward a bit. She was shaken, yet uninjured, and she quickly turned the engine off. As she stumbled out of the car, she could see people gathering around her. She didn’t have to be a genius to know she was in trouble now. Misha swept forward to embrace her, even as Viktor checked the car and fence for damage.

“Anya, what have you done?” Misha said.

“I… ahhh,” she stammered.

Viktor turned to them both. “She tried to drive the car!”

Iva, standing with several other girls, gasped. She and the others looked at each other, and Jessica cringed. All of them slipped into the classic protective stance.

Jessica almost rolled her eyes.
Sheesh, it isn’t like they’re looking at getting, ahhh, what, caned, paddled?

She wondered what level of trouble this had earned her. Jessica broke free of Misha’s comforting arms and stood before Viktor. “Yes, sir, I did. I’ve always wanted to drive a car, and I-I did it. I’m sorry, I just wasn’t thinking. I’m so very sorry about the damage.”

“Yes, you weren’t thinking, and you’re still not thinking, young lady.”

“Huh?”

“Anya, I am extremely upset with you, but not for trying to drive, and not for even damaging the car and gate. Those are mere things; they can be easily repaired or replaced. No, I’m angry about what could have happened to you, to the girls and staff, and even to any of the townsfolk. Do you understand?”

“Ohhh,” she said slowly, the truth dawning on her. She hung her head. “I could have hurt someone,” she told him, lifting her eyes to meet his. “Sir, I-I don’t know what to say. Wait, yes, I do; I deserve the box.”

Iva and the girls gasped again, and Misha stepped up next to Jessica. Viktor crossed his arms and slowly nodded.

“Anya, that is a very mature act for a little girl like you to do. I’m proud of you,” he said, and turned to Misha. “I leave the matter in your hands, Misha. I’ll get the car back in the garage and assess the damages.”

She nodded and looked down at Jessica. “Very well. Anya, come with me.”

The two headed for the shed. Iva looked as if she was going to cry, and all the girls called out words of sympathy to her. Jessica positively shook with fear. She hated that cane; it truly—
truly—
hurt! Yet, she understood now just what she’d done, and that it called for a severe penalty.

Once inside the small building, Misha closed the door and moved to the rack on the wall. Jessica stood at the foot of the box. She knew what she was supposed to do; she just couldn’t bring herself to do it. Misha turned to face her, and Jessica’s jaw dropped.

Misha was holding a stout paddle.

“Ma’am?” she squeaked, unable to say more.

Misha smiled; she clearly understood Jessica’s one-word question. “Yes, Anya, the paddle. Get into position, please. I looked into your eyes, dear, and I saw genuine remorse and concern for what you’d done. Because of that, I feel a small dose of mercy is called for.”

Jessica just about exploded with pride. She even smiled as she hoisted herself into position, and then shuddered when Misha tapped her jeans-clad bottom with the paddle. Looking around, Jessica was surprised to notice that Misha was not restraining her.

Wow, she actually trusts me to hold still!

Whack!
The paddle landed. Jessica lurched forward and let out a yelp. Then came the tap-tap again, as Misha took aim.

Crack!
The next swat fell. Jessica gripped the edges of the box until her nails were white. Misha was taking her time; she was obviously quite the expert at wielding the paddle. She would strike, allow Jessica a moment to react, pause to let the sting start to fade just a bit, and then swing that paddle again.

Jessica got a full two dozen swats, and she was sobbing by the time it was done. It was a
horrible
sting. She just stood there lightly cupping her stinging seat, as she was way too sore to rub, and Misha got her some tissues. Helping her to both dry her face and to walk, Misha led Jessica outside. Through her tears, she saw that the car was back in the garage. The left front fender was banged up, but that seemed to be the extent of the damage. She was glad of that; maybe Viktor would let her help Misha fix it.

The girls swarmed around Jessica, offering words of comfort, and she tried to smile. She made her way inside to lie down, and thought of something on her own. She would write a letter of apology to Viktor and Misha. Granted, she had to stand at her desk to do it, but she made a point of getting it done before dinner, at which she was allowed to stand. It would be a full day before the worst of the sting faded.

Chapter Ten

And then came the day she’d been dreading: Easter.

The actual day was okay. They had a special breakfast, and then went off to church. The priest told the story of the Resurrection, and then the choir sang. Iva, standing at the forefront, dressed in a lovely handmade gown, sang a song so beautiful that nearly everyone in the church wept. When she was done, Jessica almost forgot herself and applauded. After that, they joined the townsfolk in the town square for their Easter meal. For once, no one picked on Jessica, and she found herself having fun.

It was later, going home that she started to feel dread. Tomorrow was the day she was supposed to work for Sergio, and he still held the threat of a… what did he call it? Oh, yeah, a pomlázka, over her head. She knew, she just knew that it had to be something horrific. Yet, what could she do about it?

So, bright and early Monday morning, she got up, got dressed, ate, and set off under the escort of Viktor for the inn. As they headed down the street, a huge gang of boys, laughing up a storm, raced toward them. Every boy wielded a clump of… well, they looked like a bundle of willow rods, and each was decorated with colorful ribbons tied to one end.

What in the world are those things?

They kept walking, but she looked over her shoulder to see where they were going. It was the home. The girls, likewise giggling, ran out to meet them. Each girl bent over, and the boys started to spank them! Jessica’s jaw dropped.

What the heck is going on?

“Searching for a handle on the moment, Anya?”

“I, ahhh, yeah,” was all she could come out with.

“In the Czech Republic, we have a tradition of spanking or whipping women on Easter Monday,” he said casually.

“What?” she gasped.

He laughed. “Not for real, sweetie, it’s all done in fun. In the morning, the men ‘spank’ the women with a special handmade whip called a pomlázka.”

“Ah, so
that’s
that pomlázka thing the innkeeper mentioned.”

“Correct. Most of them are made of eight to twelve willow rods a meter to two meters long and decorated with colored ribbons. The spankings don’t hurt.”

“Well, I’m glad to hear at least some spankings around here are like that. But why do they do it?”

“According to legend, if a woman is spanked in this manner, she’ll stay healthy and beautiful during the next year. In additional, many men use it as a way of showing a woman that they’re attracted to her. In fact, if a woman doesn’t get ‘spanked,’ she often feels offended.”

“Wow. Sounds sort of like a birthday spanking. Seems pretty one-sided though. Do the girls get to have revenge?”

“Well, traditionally, the women give a colored egg and sometimes a small amount of money to the men as a sign of their thanks.”

“Money!” Jessica squeaked, and again looked back at the home. “You mean poor Iva and the other girls have to hand over the money they’ve worked—?”

“Relax, Anya. No, they do not. Our girls just give the eggs. Also, the women get revenge in the afternoon; they get to pour a bucket of cold water on any man they meet.”

Jessica grinned. “Ah,
now
you’re talking. Okay, lead me to the inn, I’m ready to work!”

Now it was Viktor’s turn to grin. He was proud of her, and told her so.

Finally, they reached the inn, and Jessica saw that it was decked out in all the colors of spring. Streamers dangled from the eaves and lighting fixtures, and beautiful red and white checkerboard tablecloths covered every table. Viktor spoke to Sergio briefly, and then Jessica set to work waiting on the guests. Everyone was happy and joyous at the celebration of spring; it meant it would soon be time for planting. Their joy was downright infectious. Despite her desire to remain cool and aloof, Jessica couldn’t help herself, she actually had fun. And yes, she got ‘spanked’ quite a lot over the course of the morning, and didn’t mind once. Besides, she was looking forward to the afternoon.

Finally, shortly after noon, she stood before Sergio, even as he held his pomlázka. She hoped she’d done a good job, but she knew better than to question his judgment or even try to apologize again.

“Ahhh, so, sir, I guess I’m all done, right? Ahhh, did I do a good job?”

He chewed his lip. “Here is your answer, little one: turn around and bend over, and grab your ankles.”

Jessica cringed, but immediately did as she was told. She’d learned the hard way about defiance. Shivering just a bit, she saw Sergio move into position, just like Misha had done, and she waited. She didn’t have long to wait. He swung his pomlázka across her, ‘striking’ her with the long colorful ribbons. Jessica smiled. It seemed Sergio wanted her to be healthy and beautiful in the coming year, and once more she felt a little twinge to her heart. She couldn’t think of any other man who’d ever shown such concern for her.

No, wait, she could, and once more she felt regret. If she ever got home, she was definitely going on a little trip to Chicago.

At last he stopped. “All right, Anya, you’re done, and you may go home. Oh, wait, here, I walk you home.”

Her brow wrinkled in confusion. “Oh? Why? I can… ohhh, you’re right, I need a chaperon.”

She laughed, he smiled, and they set off down the street. As they rounded the corner to head to the home, she had reason to laugh again, much harder. The boys were back, and now they were on the receiving end of the day’s festivities. Iva and the other girls had buckets, cups, and even the garden hose going. Everywhere Jessica looked, a boy was being chased down and splashed.

Ah, yes, sweet, sweet revenge, so to speak. After all, it was all in fun.

“I will leave you here, Anya,” Sergio said. “It would seem you’ll be in good hands.”

She smiled up at him. “Thank you, sir.”

“You are most welcome. Oh, and I shall speak to Viktor. If you want, you may come and work at the inn again, and this time I shall pay you what you deserve—hey!” he shouted, as he was doused. “That’s cold!”

Jessica looked around, just in time to see Bela squeal in delight and run off, empty bucket in hand. Sergio giggled, his slightly pudgy belly wiggling, and Jessica tried hard not to laugh out loud. She was only moderately successful.

“Well, sir, it
is
the tradition,” she said with a grin.

“It is, and I should go before I get any more ‘tradition’ thrown at me.”

He cupped her chin in his hand, turned, and departed. For some reason, Jessica felt a sudden warmth. She had wronged that man, she had worked to make amends, and he had forgiven her. She couldn’t recall ever experiencing such a thing. A shout snapped her out of her daydream.

“Anya, come on,” Iva called out.

Looking around, Jessica saw that Iva was trying to hose down several boys, but the hose was caught on a tree root. With a grin, she was off, racing to the tree, and a moment later she had freed the hose. After that, the true revelry began.