He was getting angry. His eyes narrowed. That little twit was disrupting his classroom. The whole back section was jumping with giggles and horseplay, and she was right in the middle of it. He looked down at his student list. Patricia Dahl. Well, Miss Dahl was going to shape up or ship out. This was an Honors Course in Physics and some of the kids in here wanted to learn the material.

He continued lecturing, keeping one eye on Miss Parties-R-Us. She was a perky kid, he wished he had half her energy. That blond ponytail was swinging all over as she stirred up the kids around her. He had noticed her clothes didn't really go with the act. Faded blue t-shirt fit her like a second skin. Blue jeans, a little frayed on the bottom, and dime store tennis shoes. Maybe it was that grunge thing.  Seemed like a girl with this much disregard for the class would be a spoiled rich kid. Something was off. He liked puzzles, he would work on it.

After class he headed back to his office, a big man with a full head of grey hair, and a body that spoke of football some years ago, but now carried some extra padding.  He was going to do some detective work on Miss Pati. He remembered seeing her papers now. She had neat tiny handwriting, and signed Pati, crowded into the top corner. He shut his office door behind him, and strode to his desk thinking that he was looking forward to this. After some calls, he sat and contemplated his notes. Miss Patricia was in big trouble. She was here on a full scholarship but she needed at least a 3.0, and her grades were dropping like a stone.

"The girl is very intelligent," he thought, "something's wrong. Maybe she's having fun somewhere else besides my class."

He did some more calling, and couldn't seem to track down her address. His next call was to the head of the scholarship committee. Yes, they were aware of her G.PA.  They had notified her that her days were numbered.

The professor asked for and got an extension for her on his responsibility,  then he sat behind  his large oak desk, thinking. He called a friend of his and borrowed a car of the non-descript variety, four-door sedan, dark blue, and checked her schedule. She should be coming out of Psych in about ten minutes.

He parked where he could watch the entrance to Chan Shun Hall, and waited, hoping she wouldn't go out the back way. Soon the rush of students poured out the doors. He watched carefully, and sure enough, right in the thick of it, there she was. The ponytail was bouncing again as she flirted and gossiped like a child with no cares.

But soon her cluster thinned out, as one by one they left for class or home. She walked down the sidewalk, still waving and calling to this one or that one. When she got further from the college, she disappeared into a small clump of trees by the road, and as he could see all around it, he stayed back, and waited. After the campus had cleared out, and everyone was indoors, she came out of the woods. She looked around furtively, and then scurried down the sidewalk towards town. With the help of his field glasses he followed at a distance, and watched her go into a bar/cafe. He took a chance and drove to a friend's house. Danny followed him back, and entered the same joint. After a few minutes he walked down the two blocks to the professor's car and got in. "She's working. They say she has the five to one shift four days a week. They don't have a home address on her."

They both sat in silence for a minute. "What are you going to do Richard? You can't kidnap the girl."

"She shouldn't be working. She has a full Scholarship! She has living expenses and tuition and she is blowing it!"

"Yeah, but what can you do about it?"

"I don't know yet. Can I keep the car a while? Your daughter isn't using it, right?"

"Sure go ahead."  Danny got out and leaned into the window. "Hey Richard, I know how you hate the waste of a good mind, but be careful, ok?"

"Yeah, thanks Danny. "

He went and got some coffee and settled in. He wasn't going to miss her. She might leave early if the rush was over. Sure enough, his watch said 12:30  when he saw the small figure in jeans and t-shirt walk down the street. It was hard to follow at night, but she walked straight down three blocks under streetlights before she turned right and disappeared. He drove down and turned right, but didn't see any sign of her. He went around the block several times, nothing.

At home in his big bed, he couldn't stop worrying about her. Where did she sleep? Was she safe?

The next day during his break he parked in the area and checked out all the doors and buildings in the area. Nothing. That night when she got off work, he was ready for her. He was parked on the street she had turned into, and was standing just around the corner of a building, watching for the small figure with the ponytail.

She was a little late, but he still had legs of iron under the cushioning, and he stood in the shadows, with his 7-11 coffee and watched her walk towards him. Halfway down the block she went down a stairway, and disappeared again.  He waited a minute and followed. As he walked lightly down the stairs, the comparatively fresh air from the street gave way to the dark rotten smell of garbage and dank cement. He carefully pushed open the door, and stood very still, using the same skills he used every fall when he went hunting, and the same skills he had used in Nam a lifetime ago. Sure enough there was a rustling, and his ears pinpointed it before his eyes adjusted to the dimness. At the end of the hall to the right, he saw an empty room, with a dark shape in one corner. He turned on his powerful flashlight, and caught her in the beam, sitting on a blanket under a large box, her eyes wide, and her whole body tensed to move. She jumped up and tried to pass him, but was easily snagged by a big hand. He had a small hurricane on his hands, she fought and scratched, and bit, with all the ferocity of any cornered animal. He had to drop his flashlight and use both hands, but he lifted her off the floor, catching both her legs between his like a vise, while his arms clamped around her holding her tight to him. When all she could move was her mouth, she bit into his chest, frantically trying to writhe free, squealing and sobbing in terror.

Then one hand held her hands behind her, and  the other held her head to the side. She couldn't hear him at first through her panic, but after a couple minutes the rumble of his voice filtered down to her ears and then to her brain. "Pati, Pati, come on. I'm not going to hurt you.  It's Professor Castillo. From your Physics class. Come on Pati, Calm down.  I just want to talk to you.  Don't be afraid, nothing is going to happen to you. Hey girlie. Can you hear me?"

He felt her body start to relax, and set her gently on her feet, staying ready. Good thing, because as soon as she hit the ground she was a small torpedo heading for the door. But he picked her up again, surrounding her with his strength and calm, talking to her like he would a frightened child.

"I'm not going to let you run away,  so stop fighting. Now stop it! We are going to stand right here until you calm down. Ok, you go ahead girlie, I can stand here all night."

"You S** **  * B****! Let me go! You have no f****** right to do this! What the f*** do you want anyway! Let me guess! You dirty f*****!"

"Boy you do have a mouth on you don't you. Well that's one thing we'll work on. Now calm down! Listen to me! "

She  fought on, with no results, trying frantically to free an arm or leg, but held almost motionless in his embrace. Her mouth went constantly, as he held her face sideways against his chest. Spewing language that would make a sailor proud, trying her best to provoke....something, anything!  Finally while the vile curses never stopped, he knew she was tiring as the tears rolled down her face even as the garbage flowed out of her mouth.

"Pati, I'm not going to hurt you, but I am going to find out what's going on. So you might as well relax." Now the tears were really rolling, leaving a wet spot on his shirt. But finally she was still. Her mouth and body both. He set her down again, staying balanced, ready to retrieve if necessary. She stood before him, a small shadowed figure, tight with nerves, holding herself ready for the slightest chance. He reached down for her hand, and gently tugged. "Come on young lady,  I'm taking you to my house for the night. You need a hot shower, and a good night's rest is a safe place." He turned and led her up the stairs, down the block to his car, and belted her into the passenger seat.  He went around, and slid in, wondering if he could catch her if she ran. He smiled, "so which was it? The hot shower, or the safe nights sleep?"

As he pulled away he glanced at her again, chuckling a little at the questioning look on her face. "What made you stay in the car! The shower, or the sleep? Hey, you're going to be ok now Patricia. Don't look so worried. I don't know what's going on, but you are not going to make it through school without some help and you know it." As her head lowered, and her face crumpled, he reached over and patted her tiny hand. "I know you did the best you could, and I know you don't want help, but we all need help sometimes. We just have to decide when to accept it, and who to accept it from. Now you think about it. Do you really want to finish school?" He waited patiently until there was a reluctant nod. "Ok. They have given you two weeks until review, at which point what do you think will happen?" Again, he waited patiently.

"I'll be out." Her face was white and strained in the chequered lights of the city.

"You're taking pre-law. You have impressive grades through high school, and your first semester. But something happened." He saw her mouth tighten, and her body tense as she prepared to keep her secret. "Ok, you don't have to tell me what happened, but what if there was a way you could get free board and room, free wardrobe, lots of time to study, and someone like a good father to keep you in line?"

He watched the wheels turn in her head, and knew the exact minute that she hit on his supposed motive. She  grabbed the door handle, and pushed with all her might, trying to jump out. But his hand was on her arm like an iron clamp.

"Now Pati, think about it. Do I have the reputation of hitting on the girls at school? Answer me!" He gave her arm a little shake. "Do I? Ok. I will get a lot of pleasure from having you in my house, watching you bring your grades up, and mature into a lovely young woman. I will enjoy making sure you behave yourself. But I have my own lady.  I'm a teacher. I want to see you have time to study, and stay safe and healthy."

They studied each other, he watching to see if she was convinced, and she trying to decide if she could trust him. "However, there is a price to pay. If you accept my help, you will voluntarily give up some of your independence. You will accept me as your guardian. There will be a list of rules, that you and I will decide on, and consequences if those rules are broken.   That's enough to think about right now. I want you to have a shower, and sleep. In the morning, over breakfast you can tell me what you have decided."

"It's pretty simple really. Do you want to finish school bad enough to give up complete autonomy and accept my authority over you for three and a half more years? Or, do you want to stay completely independent and work in a bar the rest of your life."

He pulled into his long driveway, and into the garage. As they sat in the silent car, he could feel the nervous indecision as she fidgeted in her seat.

"Pati, look at me."

The small grubby pony tailed head moved as she instinctively fought obedience. But he waited, having learned patience in a hard school, and then big blue eyes, tired from her fight for survival, met brown eyes, steady and calm.

"Patricia, nothing bad will happen to you in my house. Think about what you have heard about me at school. Think about your alternative.  I promise. You're safe."

He waited until he saw she was ready, then they went into the house. He showed her to a guestroom, showed her the towels, brought one of his t-shirts and a robe, and said good night. He had told her to feel free to lock the door, and it clicked as he walked to his room, wondering what tomorrow would bring.

She stood in the shower, thoughts churning in her brain, just as the water churned onto her body. This was too good to be true. Didn't they say that if it's too good to be true it usually is? What kind of rules? She had only heard good things about him. They said he was fair, that he didn't hit on anyone, that he wasn't a push over. They said he didn't fall for excuses, but she knew when Melly had had surgery and been out for two months, he had spent a lot of time helping her catch up.

She dried off and went into the bedroom, cautiously looking around. She put on the t-shirt on the bed; it came below her knees. As she lay in the lovely clean bed, she tallied up all the things she had heard about him. Well, maybe... and somewhere in dreamland tiny blond Patricia Dahl started to grasp a new picture of her future. One that included education and a safe place to sleep.

She woke to a hand on her shoulder, and conditioned to her box in the basement, she erupted. Striking out at him, and fighting with all her strength to escape. But before she could get far, she found herself on her back her shoulders held to the bed, and Professor Castillo's face close to hers.

"I had to come in and wake you, or you'll be late for class. Your clothes are on the bed, hurry and get dressed and come to the kitchen for breakfast. I put a brush and toothbrush on the counter for you. Hurry now." And he was gone.

She hurried, her stomach rumbling. How long had it been since she had eaten anything but greasy fries, and cold hamburgers. She walked hesitantly into the large kitchen, looking around at the cream tile and light wood. Stainless steel appliances and a working island with assorted pots and pans hanging on a wooden wheel over it. He was cooking. She had never seen a man cook before, except the short order cook at Mickey's. As she stood in the doorway taking in the sunny room with it's huge windows out onto a garden, she watched him move from the stove in the island to the small table in the corner.

"I didn't know what you like and I want you to eat, so I made several choices."

He finished loading the table and turned to look at her.  At the serious questioning look on her face, he stood still, studying the petite figure in the frayed jeans. She surveyed him, taking in the dark dress slacks, the light blue dress shirt, and his signature wildlife tie. 6'4" to her 5'6", and with thick forearms crossed on his chest, muscled thighs braced apart in a typical male stance; then her eyes travelled to his face. His eyes were kind, twinkling at her, the laugh lines matching the small smile. She was very aware of their different stations in life, and if there had been the least hint of condescension, she would have caught it. But he only looked interested, and solid.

"Shall we eat?"

He turned and sat, starting to serve himself, giving her the courage to come into the room and sit in the chair across from him. After some minutes of enjoying the good food, he said, "have you decided?"

"Well, I need to know what the rules will be, and what the consequences will be."

"Yes, you do. Very good. But we don't have time to go into that now. Do you know if you are interested enough to come back here after class with me? If you do, we'll spend some time after supper in my office, going over the rules and consequences. Then, if you can not accept, you can sleep here one more night, and tomorrow, I'll rent you a room at the Pink Flamingo for one week. If you decide to go back home, I would like you to let me know, and I'll pay bus fare. 

"Nice of you. Even if I accept your offer, I can't get my grades up in two weeks. That's all the time they gave me."

"I got you an extension on my responsibility. Another three months."

"But then I can do it! I can take care of myself and bring my grades up in three months! I know I can!  Oh  thank you so much!"

Then she noticed that he was shaking his head no. "Uh uh. I'm sorry Pati, but if you don't accept my terms, I will call Dr. Manning and withdraw my offer."

At the look of shock, then anger on her face he raised his hand.

"Now wait a minute. I know you had a full Scholarship and living expenses.  I don't know what happened, but they gave you the extension on my responsibility. My word that I would see to it that you buckle down.  If I don't have control so that I can make sure of that, I have no choice but to tell them no deal."

They finished breakfast in silence. Professor Castillo almost was feeling sorry for her. She was between a rock and a hard place, and trying to squirm out.  Good place to grow up.

When he pulled into his parking spot at school, she still hadn't answered him.

"You'll have to decide. I need to know whether you're coming home with me to talk about this."

She turned and studied his face, looking for answers. "Ok, I-I would like to come."

That night after stuffing herself with roast and mashed potatoes, as she was still in survival mode, she followed him to his office. He sat down behind a huge mahogany desk, and turned to the PC.  He reached over and levered a straight-backed chair to place beside him, and invited her to sit where she could see the monitor. 

Pati was reading as he typed, and looking at him with wide eyes at certain places. "You've got to be kidding! You can't really mean...no way!"

"You don't have to stay Pati. You can go to school tomorrow and make your own arrangements. But if you stay here that's what will happen."

She left her chair and walked around the room, her movement's jerky and agitated. After a few minutes, the professor took pity on her.

"Pati, come here. I want to show you something. Come on, look now. You have Friday night and Saturday night for parties and dates, until 1 p.m. Sunday you can have friends over here. There's a pool in back. Now, look. What do you have to do to get a spanking? I won't start this right away, but two weeks from now we will start checking your grades. Do you think you will have any below a C?"

"No. But. . ."

"And if I treat you with respect do you think you will be mouthing off at me? Or coming home past one?"

"Well no,"

"And do you usually ride with people who are drinking?"

She shook her head. "Definitely not!"

"Ok. Are you one of those who thinks they have to drink to have fun? And do you take drugs?"

"No! I don't like to drink. It makes me stupid. And I don't do drugs!"

"Well then, you can stay here, get your education, be safe, and never get a spanking."

There was some more discussion, but after serious thought she signed the document, and Richard added his signature below hers.

"Good night Pati. It's late. I'm glad to have you here. You are a very intelligent girl, and I don't want to see you miss out on your chance."

The week went by, Pati still a little nervous, avoiding  him like a wary bunny. Looking for the catch. But as the good food and secure surroundings worked their magic, she started to believe. She felt that the quiet time at a lovely desk in her own room to study was a wonderful luxury, and her grades started climbing. The party girl was still there, and started to come out in his class one day.  As the noise in the back of the room drew his eyes, she looked up to see him looking right at her. It was truly amazing how the room quieted down after that.

Then the weekend. She had worked hard that week and he told her he was proud of her as they ate supper together. He was happy to see that she had the colour of health in her cheeks. She was excited about a party and he reminded her of her curfew.

"I know I said Sunday would be a free day for you, but I would like to take you into Boston shopping."

"I don't want fancy clothes. I wouldn't feel comfortable in dresses."

"You can wear whatever you want Pati. You can shop at the Salvation Army if you like. But you need shoes and underwear and night wear. You are going to need a jacket, and school supplies."

He watched her face, enjoying the different expressions as the wheels turned. She was so used to having nothing, that it took a minute. Then the girl in her took over, and a big smile lit her up.

"Ok. I think I'd like that."

They worked together to clean the kitchen, then she was off in a car full of rowdy kids. Richard had his own Friday night activities. But he carried his cell phone, and she had the number. He cut his night just a little short, and got home just before one. He was watching when a car pulled up in front at ten minutes after.  She noticed he was on the phone when she hurried in, but didn't know why.

"I know I'm late, but only by ten minutes. Good night Mr. Castillo."

And she hurried past, confident that this man who had been so kind wouldn't mind ten little minutes. An hour or so later when Pati was sleeping safe in her bed, Richard got a phone call. He looked very serious as he hung up the phone, and sat at his desk thinking for a while.

The next day, she slept till noon, and enjoyed a lazy day. A snack in the kitchen, she still was amazed at the cupboards full of groceries. A dip in the pool, a little TV, boy this was the life! Before she knew it, 3 p.m. had crept up on her.

She hurried to the office, and knocked tentatively at the door, wondering why her stomach was doing flip-flops. And there were goose pimples, and shivers. She had only been ten minutes late for heavens sake! He was sitting behind the desk with the contract in front of him.

She headed towards the couch and heard, "Pati, stand in front of the desk please."

She did so, with some rolling of eyes. But the nonchalance was a sham. As she stood, peeking at his face when she dared, a very heavy scary feeling came over her. He waited in silence as she was miraculously transformed from a confident brash 19 year old, to a small guilty girl who stood with her hands clasped behind her back, her head hanging down.

"I have a recording that I want you to hear Pati."

And to her horrified ears came a voice saying that they had stopped a Chad Rawlings at 1:20 a.m. and his blood alcohol had been. . . 

"But I didn't know. . . " and her voice trailed off as she met his eyes.

"Don't be dishonest on top of everything else."

"But I was trying to get here on time!"

"We talked about this. You could have called me, or taken a cab. Why didn't you call me?"

"'Cause it would be embarrassing to have you show up to get me!"

"Well, why didn't you call a cab then?"

"''Cause Chad said he would take me! It wasn't my fault he didn't go . . . "

Again her voice trailed off as she heard herself making excuses. Then she burst into noisy tears. "I don't want a s-spanking! You can't! It's not fair! I was only a little late, please Mr. Castillo!  I won't ever be late again! I promise!"

She started a little as she realized that he was standing right beside her. She felt his large hands on her head and back as he pulled her close, soothing her with little pats.

"Patricia, did you enjoy your week here? You can keep on just like that. I'll take you shopping tomorrow, and everything is going to be OK. Next week you'll know what to do, and this won't happen again, will it. But right now, you did the crime and you have to take the punishment."

He waited till she had calmed, then he stepped back from her, and held her small face in his hands. "Pati, I want you to go to your room, and in your closet hanging in the back, is a uniform. I want you to put it on, and come back down here. Do you understand me?"

He waited for her nod, and stepped back. "Go now."

She trudged down the hall to her room, one hand on her stomach. Her eyes still wet from her outburst, she was churning inside with a kamikaze mix of emotions. Regret that she had screwed up this quickly, anger at herself for her weak excuses, anger at him, it was only ten minutes! Fear, what would this be like? Anger at herself, she had known Chad was drinking! Fear.

"I can't do this! I can't! I can't!"  Somehow she was in her room, and looking in her closet. Sure enough there in the back were some clothes under a dry cleaners bag. A white blouse, and a pleated skirt. Knee socks and white cotton panties? What was going on here! 

She stood holding the clothes bag and looked around her room. Yes, already she thought of it as her room, and she didn't want to give it up! The soft midnight blue  carpet, the four poster bed dressed in white eyelet comforter and  curtains, the roll top desk with all the neat nooks and crannies. The Tiffany study lamp in rose and green glass.

She took a deep breath, and slowly unwrapped the clothes, carefully laying each piece on the bed. She lay her clothes on the soft sky blue chair by the bed, and picked up the panties. Plain cotton, full coverage. Well, at least they weren't thongs. Would he see her panties when he spanked her? Maybe that was why he had her wear certain ones. She pulled them up, feeling a little funny. She was going to lay over his lap, and he would look at her bottom. . . well, at her panties.

She stood with both arms around herself as she thought of the new experience to come. Well, she had known that Chad was too drunk to drive. But she had wanted to handle it on her own! Ok, but why knee socks? She put on the knee socks, and there was no bra included in the outfit so she left hers on. Then the forest green plaid skirt, and white blouse. There was something in the pocket of the blouse. . . a tie? A very good quality tie to match the skirt with some sort of insignia on it.

"I don't know how to tie a tie!  Holy Toledo! I don't even know any men who wear ties!"

So the tie was left hanging around her neck as she took a deep breath and started down the hall to her fate. The office door was open. He closed it behind her, and sat down behind the desk,  Pati standing in front of it. He hid a small smile at the thought that she had probably never worn a skirt in her life. Her face was white and strained, and he knew the uniform was pushing it.

"The reason I asked you to wear the uniform is twofold. Number one, is modesty. I intend to spank your bottom. And if you are wearing pants, there is too much revealed when you pull them down. Schoolgirls in private schools where corporal punishment is practiced wear skirts.  And if you have earned a spanking I will expect you to wear this uniform. Number two. When you earn a spanking, you give up your status as an adult. You are legally of age, and should be able to plan ahead in order to avoid any punishment. But you didn't make a mature decision, and now you have to pay the price. Part of the price is the pain of a spanking. Part of it is the humiliation and embarrassment of dressing as a schoolgirl, and lying across my lap. Now there was no bra included in this outfit. I'm going to wait outside the door, and I want you to take off the bra. When I come back in, I will tie your tie for you, and then we will proceed."

With that he left the room. He gave her five minutes, knowing he needed to get her over this hump before she lost it. He knocked and entered. As he reached for her tie, she flinched, and he froze.

"Pati, has someone hit you?" He could see her dredge up a wall of anger.

"No! Of course. . . "

But she met his eyes right then, and couldn't continue. As he calmly knotted her tie, he said, "That is not something that you ever have to be ashamed of. Ever! And as soon as this is done, you will see that getting punishment from me is far different. One, I will be in control. Of you, and of myself. Two, spankings will be for something you know you shouldn't have done. You will know ahead of time that you will get one, and why. Three, when this is over, it will be over. I won't be angry and you will have received punishment for your crime,  and hopefully won't need it again."

He could feel her body tensed, her breathing rapid, her eyes dilated, her mouth trembling. He took her by the wrist, and led her to a chair he had placed in readiness. He sat, and pulled her over his lap, snugging the slender body up tight to him with his left arm, and centering her bottom over his left thigh. He pinned her legs down with his right leg, having no intention of asking for any more self-restraint from her today. She felt him brush her skirt up, and then he pulled her panties down! Easily lifting her the little bit to clear her hips.

"No! No No! You didn't say you were going to do tha. . . owwwww!"

A large hand slapped down on her bottom. Over and over. So this was a spanking. It didn't hurt so bad, but her bottom was bare! She could feel the air on it as his hand came down again and again. The front of her was still covered, the panties were big enough to pull down the back just enough to clear the two firm white cheeks. She couldn't see anything but the chair rungs and the carpet, and she couldn't move!

The tears started to leak and ran down her forehead to drip on the carpet. Her bum was starting to feel very warm, and the sting was building, and she didn't like this!  She was so embarrassed!

"Oh it hurts! Please don't anymore, please I won't be late, please stop! Oooow!"

The white knee socks tried to kick but she was held in a vice.

"I'm sorry little girl, but you really earned this. Not only did you come home after curfew, but also you knew that Chad was drunk, and you wouldn't have told me. Severe corporal punishment means a hard whipping with a strap or some cane strokes.  But since you're new to this I have decided to give you three spankings instead."

 "What? No! I-I can't take it! Why three? AAAAAAAh!"

The small firm bottom that was bent over his thigh was fast moving from pink to red, and the tears fell faster as Pati discovered what consequences meant.

"One for being late. You have no excuse. You had enough money for a cab, and could have planned to be home on time. Two for accepting a ride with someone who was drinking. And three for not telling the truth! Girls that don't tell the truth get punished."

The hand continued bringing punishment to the helpless bottom, and she cried harder as the  pain accumulated.

Then he stopped. He sat still listening, and rubbed the sore red cheeks over his knee, soothing the pain a little. He helped her to her feet and walked her to a corner that he had prepared for just this purpose. He showed her with his hands that she must stand  with her hands behind her back holding up the skirt.

"Ten minutes Patricia. Keep your hands where they are please."

She heard the chair squeak as he sat,  and cried out. "I have to! I have to rub it! It hurts too much!"

Her hands rubbed a little before they were caught in big strong ones, and her trembling body was pressed into the wall and supported.

"I'm here Pati, I'll help you. Just eight more minutes.  Hang on now."

And he did help. One hand held both of hers at her waist, and the other hand on her shoulder steadied and comforted, his thumb rubbing back and forth.

In the silence of the room her crying lessened, as the burn on her bottom faded to a dull roar.

"In a minute it's time for another spanking, Pati."

She started crying again, and he spoke into her ear, his voice rumbling right through.

"You know you deserve it. What happens to naughty girls who ride with drunk drivers?" He shook her shoulder a little. "What happens?"

"They get killed?"

"Yes, and if they are lucky and make it home safely, what happens to them at home?"

At this there was a fresh outburst. "T-They get spanked!"

He led her back across the room to the chair, and bent her over his knee again, pinning her down with his arm and leg. She yelled out at the first slap, then subsided to soft sobbing and little whimpers as he delivered spank after spank, covering the area evenly and steadily.

Then he stopped again, massaging the red cheeks carefully to give some comfort.

Again she was walked to the corner and positioned, and again he could tell that she couldn't stand there on her own. She clenched her great muscles as his movement behind her moved air across her very sore tush. She was shaky, her face wet, her nose running, her bottom burning. But he held her hands behind her back, wiped her face with a soft white hanky, and steadied her against the wall, talking softly as she gulped for air, and tried to stop crying.

As she compared this to the last time her stepfather had beaten her up, she decided this was better. Even though it actually hurt worse. She was afraid of the spanking, but not afraid of him.

"Ok, this is the last one sweetie; it'll be over soon."

When she stumbled he simply tucked her under his arm, and before she knew she was again bent over the merciless knee, her bottom bare and offered up, sacrifice to her disobedience. He slapped down, and it hurt so bad that she screamed, and for one second fought frantically to escape. Then her exhaustion took over and she lay still, sobs rivalling the sound of the slaps of the calloused hand on soft skin.

An onlooker would have noticed that this spanking didn't last quite as long as the others, and soon he was rubbing gently, softly comforting.

"You must always be honest Pati. Please don't attempt to deceive me. I don't want to have to spank you for this ever again."

When she had calmed a little, he turned her over, wondering how she would react. But she curled into his lap, and pressed her face into his shoulder, muffling her crying and wiping tears on his shirt. Her ear was pressed against his chest, and she listened to his voice rumble.

"Will you be my good girl now Patricia? I know it hurt, but I want you to be safe."

There was no answer but little sobs, and the blond head nodded yes against his chest. He sat for many minutes, cuddling her close against him, and finally she started to calm. Her breathing evened, no more gulping, and he could feel her body relax as she succumbed to the inevitable exhaustion that follows an emotional and physical tempest.

"Ok, let's get you to bed. When you wake up we'll make supper together. How about my special homemade pizza?"

And he continued talking softly as he stood her up, replaced her panties, and guided her down the hall to her room. There was a sleep shirt on her dresser that said, 'I am well loved." She had wondered where it had come from. He stood her by the bed and handed her the shirt.

"Put this on  and crawl in bed. I'll be back in in a minute."

When he came back in, she was under the covers and almost asleep already. The clothes she had been wearing were on the floor where they had been dropped. He lay them on the end of the bed, and sat on the bed beside her.

"Pati girl, roll on your tummy."

When she did, he pulled the covers down to her thighs and uncovered her bottom. She started, but one hand was ready for that, and resting on her back to hold her in place.

"I'm going to rub some lotion on your bottom. Lie still now."

She groaned softly at the feel of that hand smoothing something cool on her stinging aching cheeks. Then he had flipped the nightie back down, and the covers up, and as he stood, he patted her shoulder.

"G'night little girl. Dream about shopping tomorrow."

He picked up the uniform and left the room, and she heard the soft click of the door as it shut. When she woke, it was dark out, and it took her a minute to remember where she was. Her small lamp was on, and she was warm and safe. She reached down to carefully touch her bottom, and go over the new experience in her mind. It had hurt, oh how it had hurt! But it wasn't frightening. He had been calm and kind even as he punished her. She felt a sense of wonder steal over her, as she compared being laid over his lap, feeling serious pain, and safe at the same time, to the fear and isolation she felt while trying to exist on her own.

He was in the kitchen, mixing pizza crust when he looked up to see the slender figure in the doorway. She had added his white terry robe over the t-shirt, and he thought that was one of the first things they better get before she tripped on it and broke her neck.

"Hey there kiddo. Ready for some pizza?  Come on, you can help me."

He continued rolling out dough, watching her unobtrusively to see what she needed. She padded into the kitchen in bare feet, and leaned against the counter. He saw that her eyes were darting around the room, wanting to look at him, but not wanting to get caught.

"Patricia, everything's okay now. I'm glad you're here, and what happened this afternoon doesn't change my opinion of you.  You are a very smart, pretty girl, and you are going to be able to do whatever you want.  This afternoon is over and done."

He reached over and set a glass of milk, and one of her Root beers in front of her.

"You need to replace liquid.  What do you like on your pizza?"

When she looked at the pans, he laughed.

"Yep, you get a whole pizza just for you. Method to my madness. I don't want to get stuck eating some veggie pizza!"

And so passed a very pleasant supper hour, where the Professor enjoyed having company, and the student gradually relaxed as she saw that he really wasn't angry.

When the evening was passed, and Pati's TV show was done, she stood and said, "Good night Mr. Castillo."

He looked up from his easy chair where he was reading. "Pati, would you come sit here by me just for a minute?" He indicated the Hassock by his feet.

She came and sat carefully, watching him with nervous eyes, wondering.

"I'm sorry that this afternoon had to be so hard for you. I hope that next Saturday will be more pleasant?"

She blushed, and nodded.

"Good girl. I'm proud of you Pati. You could have quit. Given up on your education. But you stayed and took your punishment. You did good girlie."

He waited until she looked up, and as she met his eyes she saw that he meant it.

"I'm going to have the uniform dry-cleaned tomorrow, and it will hang in your closet again, but I don't think you'll need it. You're going to be just fine."

She snuggled into her soft warm bed, and thought of his words and his smile. He hadn't touched her, but it felt like a hug. A feeling of strength and determination stole over her, as if she could climb mountains! He was proud of her, she was safe here, and she was going to bring her grades up to 4.0! And maybe next week she could have a swimming party? And so, a tired girl slept the sleep of the righteous. Her sins were paid up, and her future was bright.

Meanwhile in the living room, the Professor picked up the phone.

"Baby, how would you feel about spending the night here? Good girl! Wear the blue one for me, OK? The east entrance. I'll turn on the light down there for you.  Oh, and Baby? No panties."