Strictland Academy (8 page)

Attendant
Hazel
’
s stony face glared
down at the large, blue eyes.
 
"Are you interrupting me, girl?"

“
No,
Ma'am, it's just that we're here in the bathrooms, and I have to, you know ...
”
 
Her face flushed bright pink.
“
I have to go."

She
gasped as the older woman reached down and pushed a balled fist against her
lower tummy, holding her in place with a tight grip to her hot, pulsating
bottom-cheeks.
 
"You do not
feel full, girl.
 
The bathroom may
only be used in the morning before meditation, after lunch, and in the evening
before lights out."
 
Attendant
Hazel gave her a considering eye.
 
"Unless you have a medical condition that dictates the need for
additional time, these elimination breaks are sufficient.
 
Do you?"

"No
ma'am.
 
I don't think so.
 
I am just not very big, and ..."
April's downcast eyes brimmed with tears.
 
"I'm sorry."

"You
should be.
 
You are quite the cheeky
little thing for asking, aren't you?"

“
She
certainly is, Attendant.
 
It appears
necessary for me to make it impossible for Compton to get away with even the
smallest transgression," a familiar voice stated from across the
room.
 
It was April's nemesis,
Attendant Angela.
 
“
What has she done
now?"

“
She
claims the need to urinate."

“
Oh,
does she, now?
 
Didn't she go right
before her examination?"
 
Attendant Angela unhooked the showerhead sprayer from the hose and
handed the water line to April.
 
"Drink until I tell you to stop. Water is precious so you had best
not miss a drop."

April
hesitated, her eyes darting around the room, seeking help from anyone.
 
This action resulted in another ruthless
spanking, this time bent across Attendant Angela's lap with her bladder pressed
uncomfortably against the hard knee.
 
The callused palm landed in rapid fire across the hot, traumatized skin
that had already started to harden from deep bruising.
 
The matron scoffed, shoving the girl
from her lap when she realized the battered flesh was past the point of
feeling.

"This
is a waste of my time.
 
Get them
into the showers!"

The
ice-cold spray brought a new sensation of pain, as the overheated pores quickly
snapped closed and tightened their skin.
 
All the while, attendants with bath brushes viciously scrubbed every
inch, including their tender and recently abused intimate areas.
 
Their wet hair was brushed with no
concern to snarls and a simple, crude haircut was given that left their locks
in a choppy, unattractive mess.
 
This mutilation also marked them as newcomers.
 
Wretchedness filled the eyes of all
three as they sunk into a deeper realization that the nightmare was just
beginning for them.

They
were escorted into a dormitory lined with stacks of bunk beds, and assigned the
bottom racks to make them easily accessible to the supervisors.
 

“
You
will be out of bed no later than five in the morning to use the lavatory, and
you are to be prepared for your meditation and declarations by
five-fifteen.
 
Breakfast is at
six-thirty, lunch is at noon, and dinner at six.
 
There will be fifteen minutes after each
meal designated for use of the facilities.
 
Study time is from six thirty until nine.
 
At nine, the line is formed for the
lavatory and you are expected to complete your business quickly and without
dallying.
 
Community showers are
available at four-thirty on Sunday mornings, and it is advised you take
advantage of the privilege.
 
Uncleanliness
will
result in punishment."

She
took in a deep breath before continuing: "Lights-out are at nine-fifteen,
not one second later.
 
Anyone
failing to be in bed at that time, or out of bed after reveille, will be subject
to disciplinary action.
 
Your
uniforms and nightgowns are on your bunks, with shoes and an extra pair of
socks beneath them.
 
You may put
them on."

“
Attendant,
may I speak, please?" Molly asked quietly, careful not to look up.

The
attendant stood directly in front of her, affecting an intimidating
stance.
 
"What is it,
Petry?"

“
The
Headmaster said that we had to tell you that we'd earned another punishment
because we were too loud when he was paddling us in his office,
”
she blurted, fearful
of the consequences of disobedience. "He also said to defer it for a day
or two, due to the condition of our bottoms."

Attendant
Hazel raised an eyebrow to study the girl before turning to look at the other
two.
 
"Petry did as she was
told, showing some integrity and desire to comply.
 
Neither of you even attempted to obey
the Headmaster's order.
 
It'll go
much harder on you because of that.
 
Since you're not in classes yet, you won't need study time
tomorrow.
 
You'll be punished when I
am in the mood.
 
Don't worry, I'll
find you then.
 
Put on your
uniforms,
”
she clipped, watching them with narrowed eyes as they quickly obeyed.
 
"You've got one dress.
 
Take good care of it, because you won't
get another until these become threadbare.
 
Same with your nightgown and extra socks."

The
girls were dismayed by what was found waiting for them.
 
There was one white uniform with the
girl's last name written boldly in red just above the left breast, one
nightgown that was similarly emblazoned, one pair of socks, and one pair of
well-worn slippers.
 
No
undergarments were furnished, although each was grateful for being spared the
agony of having anything snug touching their scorched bottoms.
 
Their nipples rubbed uncomfortably
against the rough, crude fabric of the floor-length, high-collared uniform
dress; and the stiff canvas slippers pinched their numb, cold toes.

Another
bell rang, and they were herded towards the crowd of girls who were corralled
within a large cafeteria.
 
The eerie
silence was discomfiting as the other inmates moved mutely through the lunch
line with plates that were alarmingly devoid of anything but a plain boiled
potato, a slightly wilted pile of greens, and a slab of unidentified gray
meat.
 
Each girl was given a glass
of tepid water with a citrus wedge.

Attendant
Hazel led them to a table, where the silent occupants quickly rose to
attention.
 
They were briefly
introduced to their prefect and authorized to address her directly at appointed
time periods if there were any questions.
 
Like the other women, the prefect was clothed in a white uniformed dress
that was set apart by a small amount of black piping around the collar.
 
Molly's eyes also caught the dark faces
of several men watching them from an observing chamber that overlooked the
area.
 
She shivered.
 
Who exactly were they and what were
they looking for?

The
rumbling of their stomachs did not induce an invitation to eat in the sparse
ten minutes given to complete the meal.
 
Instead, they were rushed through the area and led to the schoolroom.
 
Attendant Hazel spoke, her low, graveled
voice rumbling through the room.

“
In
case you were wondering why the cafeteria is so quiet, it is expected that you
conduct yourselves in contemplative silence at all times and to speak only when
spoken to by a superior.
 
Conversations among the girls will not be tolerated for any reason, and
you are always being watched and evaluated, either by us or by prospective
husbands who also practice the same type of discipline as we do.
 
For that reason alone, proper behavior
is expected if you ever hope to leave this place.
 
These men who are watching you might be
the ones who the State will qualify as your husband.
 
The better show you put on for them, the
sooner one will subject an acquisition petition to the headmaster, and begin
the process of State approval.
 
The
competition is high, and no one really knows what each particular man is
looking for. The Rejected tend to be choosier than the others because their
tastes
lean towards the more aggressive spectrum of ownership."

She
saw the horrified look on the young faces and a slow, toothy grin crossed her
lips.
 
"Why do you look like
deer in the headlights?
 
Did you
actually think you were just going to be released to your own devices?
 
Did you really believe that you would be
given the privilege of making a choice about your own futures?
 
Your mothers signed your lives into our
care, and by all intents and purposes, made you into wards of the court.
 
We have agreed to better your lives by
searching for the right mate for you and have assured your families that you
will be well taken care of for the rest of your lives in exchange for complete
absolution from your crimes.
 
See
how kind we are?"

The
girls dumbly nodded, unable to comment.
 
The attendant continued with her tour.
 
"This is the school room.
 
In the mornings, until the bell for
lunch, you will be given instruction in practices of etiquette, conduct, and
home economics.
 
We believe this
curriculum is more than adequate for any young woman to learn how to be
obedient citizens, wives and, eventually, mothers.
 
You are not here to become captains of
industry or gain an advanced education.
 
That being said, if any of you had hopes of 'becoming something', it is
time to abandon them.
 
Take a few
minutes to look around and accept what your future holds for you."

Slowly,
the girls raised their eyes to study their environment.
 
The room was free of furnishings, other
than a large teacher's desk and several elementary desks which where clearly
too small to be used by any of the girls in the facility.
 
A pommel horse was located in the far
corner, equipped with cuffs attached to the legs.
 
The wall was decorated with implements
of various sizes and shapes, and a plain, white-faced clock.
 
A single glance upwards revealed a
windowed enclosure tucked into the rafters above them.

Attendant
Hazel snapped her fingers and the trio followed her into an attached building,
where the inmates were hard at work doing various light chores that included
sewing and mending.
 
Once again,
there was no sound of chatter.
 
Sitting on high stools along the wall were two black-garbed supervisory
attendants, who appeared to be directing the punishments administered by the
room's prefects.

"This
room is for those ladies who have proven themselves trustworthy to work alone
or have sustained some type of injury preventing them from engaging in more
menial tasks.
 
They do various
piecemeal assignments and have daily quotas to fulfill.
 
It is considered to be a place of
privilege, and assignment here is dependent upon your performance and
behavior.
 
Do not try to get
yourselves hurt so that you are transferred here, either.
 
We have ... other places ... for girls
who have attempted such deception.
 
As newcomers, you three will be working in the laundry room."

Patricia
grabbed Molly's hand.
 
"Do you
think they will let us eat soon?
 
I'm hypoglycemic."

Molly
bit her lip and shrugged, glancing briefly at the faceless watchers
overhead.
 
The words the matron used
... stating the prospective husband would 'acquiring them' ate at her. The only
monetary exchange that was required by the State was for the future husband to
provide support to his new wife
’
s
family. Did the headmaster receive a finder
’
s fee? That was
impossible! It sounded too much like flesh peddling
…

The
next room they entered was smoldering hot and suffocatingly humid.
 
The pungently acrid air hung heavily
around the workers, as though it were weighed down by an unseen force.
 
Each girl inside was red-faced and
covered with perspiration with hands that were raw from hand-scrubbing laundry
in steaming water and lye soap.
 
Four attendants were positioned comfortably in front of fans and
carefully watched for anyone to falter at her post.
 
The girls came to a halt in front of one
of the older women, who swung a short doubled leather strap from a loop on her
wrist.