by Alta Hensley
When play time was over, she cleaned up her mess so Costello wouldn't have to, and that was when Hanna walked into the playroom. Squealing, Juniper bounced over to her, doing what she knew needed to be done. "Hanna! I didn't know you were coming. Come and meet my friends."
"In a minute, Juniper." Hanna took hold of Juniper's hand and turned to the group. "Hello, girls. My name is Hanna, and I work with the people who run this place. Yesterday you all took part in painting the ceiling—"
"We're sorry." The chorus of voices came as no surprise to Juniper. "We won't do it again."
"That won't be a problem soon enough. We had a very long chat last night about how we could make the playroom better for you, as you all spend a lot of time in here. In the end, we came to the conclusion that we're going to make the playroom prettier now, with paintings on three of the walls and the ceiling, while the fourth wall, as suggested by Juniper, will be covered with blackboard paint, so you can draw on it all you like."
Seconds later, the two of them were swarmed by girls who all wanted to talk about what was going to happen to the room and what they wanted on the other walls. Juniper spent the time introducing people to Hanna, who she called her special friend, as Hanna did her best to talk to everyone in order to get their opinions. It was nice that someone from corporate was willing to try something different in an attempt to make the girls happy, so the smile Juniper shared with Hanna was genuine. Eventually, though, Hanna did have to leave in order to pass on their ideas.
"I promise you all that I will be back. Next time I was thinking that we could talk toys, because the ones you have in here really are very old. We want to get you something new as soon as possible."
* * * * *
Costello followed Hanna out of the playroom. "Will Juniper still be punished?"
"No, she won't." Hanna smiled at him. "There have been a lot of changes here, thanks to you. You said in one of your recent reports, I believe it was about snack time, that we should listen more to the people who know what it's like for the girls. None of us do, but we want to remedy that, and I will be coming to talk to all the poppas in the next couple of days to see what ideas you have that you think we should implement."
"We'd appreciate it." He smiled back. "Looking after the progenies isn't always easy." He glanced through the door to where Juniper was talking to a couple of the other girls. "It's been hard for me to get used to the difference between body and mind."
"A lot of the poppas have talked about that. When you're dealing with a group of adult women who all have the minds of children, it's going to be difficult, and it wasn't until I met Juniper yesterday that I realized how hard it is. I wanted to talk to her like she was an adult, even though I know that mentally she's a child. So I'm thinking that all new poppas should spend a couple of days shadowing one of you, so they can see if they really can do the job. Staff turnover in these places is terrible."
"It would help, but it isn't just that. Everyone here gets tired. We don't have any real breaks, apart from bath time, and we're not permitted to take holidays. Eventually the job begins to feel like it's a prison. Then you're dealing with these bouncy enthusiastic women all the time, who don't want to stop, which makes me think we need to change things for the poppas."
Hanna nodded. "I'll keep that in mind for when I come back. Talk to the others and we'll start making plans as to how we can make this facility better for everyone here, poppas and progenies both."
Breathing a sigh of relief, Costello went back into the playroom. "She listened to me." The other poppas breathed the same sigh. "She'll be coming back in a couple of days to have a proper conversation with us, so think about what you want to say. This is our chance to change things for us and for them."
John smiled. "That means we talk to the girls about what they want as well, okay? I know how hard it is for them to keep getting used to new poppas, so if we do want to have time off, I think the plan should be to convince corporate that each girl should have two poppas instead of just one. Or maybe a nanny that steps in…"
* * * * *
Juniper bounced over and all the poppas went quiet. "We're bored now. What happens next?"
"How about you just play for a bit longer, Juniper?" Costello smiled at her, and she did her best to smile back. "There's only ten minutes until bath time."
"Bath time! Yay!" The words almost stung as she said them.
She bounced back to the group, wishing she wasn't aware how stupid she looked. "Ten minutes until bath time, so we should play more."
Every one of the girls went back to what they were doing before Hanna's arrival, while Juniper went over to the book cupboard, because she didn't want to play. She didn't want to read, either. The few words she'd overheard were enough to make her worry about what the poppas' plans were, as she couldn't imagine dealing with more than one poppa, and she couldn't help thinking that Costello would get jealous. She remembered the jealousy that had been in his voice when she'd stupidly mentioned Jeffrey. Falling in love with Jeffrey really had been a mistake, and it was one she'd tried her best not to repeat. Yet with Costello… had she made the mistake all over again?
It seemed like no time at all before the girls started making their way to the baths. Juniper bounced along with the group, wishing her life was different, but wishing wasn't going to do her any good. She'd get through bath time the same way she did every day. Then she'd talk to Costello about what she'd overheard.
Bath time, however, seemed to take much longer than it ever had before, even with Mae washing her hair, in part because all Annabelle seemed to want to do was complain that there was no one around willing to play with the wind-up frog. For some reason, which Juniper herself couldn't figure out, she offered to play with the frog—although she suspected it may have had something to do with the fact that Annabelle was being really annoying.
Finally, though, bath time was over, and Juniper let Costello lead her into the bedroom, feeling much more adult than usual as her pink pajamas just had stripes on, rather than the silly designs she usually had to deal with. Their eyes met as she sat down on her bed. "Two poppas?"
"They need time off, Juniper, and by the time they implement it, we'll be long gone."
"You want to change the facility before we leave?"
"Change it or destroy it." Costello shrugged. "Personally I'd much rather destroy it, but I don't know if that's a good idea. What would happen to the progenies? Would they be trapped like that for the rest of their lives?" He pulled her bedding back and helped her under the covers. "And the harsh reality is that there are hundreds of facilities out there. This whole 'adopting for marriage' thing is barbaric and archaic. But traditions are hard to break."
"Maybe being trapped in innocence is better than suddenly becoming an adult. Why did they think that was something that would work, Costello? What must it be like for them? They're either going to remember that they spent several years of their lives believing they were six, or they're going to be in their mid-twenties and not know how it happened. Why? Why do they do this to the women?"
Costello stared at Juniper. "Many reasons." He brushed a hand through his hair and sighed. "Training to be a poppa means that there are a lot of things you aren't told about, and what happens to the progenies when they're chosen is one of those things. But we learned the thinking behind the facilities." He sat down next to her on the bed and wrapped his arms around her, as he had done so many nights before. "They, whoever 'they' are, believe this is the way to maintain order. By keeping the women innocent in all ways before marriage, they believe that the woman can function as a wife and mother more efficiently. The woman has been sheltered, nurtured, babied, pampered. No baggage, no hardship, no broken hearts. There are no dark secrets in her life, no torrid affairs, and no pain. Her husband is buying the purest gem there is. He adopts for marriage so his wife is flawless. Life has not chipped away at her."
"Everything about this is wrong. Do the women not remember what happened to them in
the facility?"
"No, they don't. The idea is that they remember the feelings of safety, of being taken care of. That they leave the facility with an innocent outlook on life… all of which will make them a submissive, nurturing, caring wife and mother."
"Do they remember their childhood?"
He shook his head. "No. As I'm sure you know, none of the progenies even remember having parents. They all believe they were orphans, or don't think anything of it at all. The mental reassignment wipes the slate clean."
She snuggled up to him and pressed her face against her favorite spot on his chest. "I was devastated when I was parted from my family. I knew I would never see them again. I don't even know where they live."
"There might be a way." He tightened his grip around her and shifted his position so he was sitting more comfortably on the bed. "In a place like this there are going to be lots of records."
She nodded.
"All of them are kept on computers, so there must be a way to hack into them, if you know enough about that sort of thing, and I happen to know such a person. I think we could find them if you wanted."
As she nibbled on her lip, thinking about what he'd just said, she shook her head. "No. I wouldn't want to put them in danger. They followed the system and gave me away. They clearly believe in the tradition."
"Not necessarily. There's no choice, Juniper. If the money isn't there, and in most homes that is the case, this is the only choice. In your heart, you know this. I would do anything to not have my sister in one of these places. But the choice was not given. My parents did what they had to do."
"What about you? Don't you want to find your sister?"
He sighed. "Yes. But what good would that do me? Or her?" He sat silent for quite some time. Then, in a hushed voice, he broke the silence between them. "I think finding out information on your family could help in the escape." She opened her mouth to protest. "Before you say anything, let's just see if we can get the information before we decide if we are going to use it."
She blinked as though she was trying to hold back tears. "What if they really did leave me here because they just didn't want me?" She shook her head. "You might think it was simply about poverty and tradition, but I think I was just another unwanted girl, and finding that out for certain would hurt more than not knowing."
"What if I promise you I won't tell you what we find out unless it's something that proves to be helpful?"
"Okay." Juniper looked at Costello. "I trust you to make the right decision."
"Then I'll send the letter. If they find out anything interesting, I'll let you know as soon as I can." He kissed her cheek. "One of the things I really wouldn't want to do is hurt you after everything you've been through."
She smiled. "I know that."
"Yesterday, when I told you about the money, that wasn't to hurt you—you know that, right?"
"Costello, you were just telling me what I needed to know. I accept that." She reached for his hand to hold it. "Have you been worrying about that all night?"
"Maybe a little. I'm afraid I stole your hope." He sighed. "It took me longer than it should have to realize what I'd done. And when I did, I couldn't help thinking that I'd made a mistake, even though I did truly think it was something you needed to know. You deserved to know the truth about why you haven't been adopted for marriage. No one else was going to tell you, so I thought it was better that I did, because at least you know me…"
"I understand." She squeezed his hand, trying not to laugh. "Honestly, it's okay. I was never angry at you. I am angry with the system that's trapping me here. Although I do accept that it's a logical way to do things, because I have been here my entire life. It would have cost them a lot to raise me. I just…" She sighed. "I just want to be out of here and have a life. Even though there are times when I enjoy being here, I would much rather be able to lead a normal life—although I don't know how normal it could be. I'm nearly twenty-nine and I haven't lived yet. And unlike all the 'purest gems' you mentioned, I'm just broken. Flawed." Tears welled up in her eyes and she was amazed at how quickly she could go from one emotion to another. "Where do I stand? I don't belong here, and I won't belong outside the facility either."
"If—and only if—you don't get adopted for marriage, we will find a way to live outside the facility."
"I don't want to be adopted for marriage." Juniper stood up. "I won't fit in. It didn't work on me. Don't you see? I will never be that innocent woman everyone wants in a bride. And besides…" She stomped her foot and crossed her arms, suddenly appearing six again. "I want you!"
Chapter Nine
"Juniper, sit down." She recognized his warning glare.
"No!"
"I know you're upset, but regain control—or I will. And your butt won't like the way I'll choose to do it."
She had no idea why she did it, and if she'd been thinking at all, she would have thought better of it, but she did it anyway. "No!" She stomped her foot and flipped him the bird. Why? Why… was all she thought when he got off the bed in a split second and grabbed her by the arm.
"Juniper Mae!" His eyes darkened and his jaw clenched. "What in the hell has gotten into you?"
She remained silent as he pulled her over to a high-backed chair in the corner of her room and pulled her over his lap in one fluid motion. With her face inches from the ground, Juniper suddenly grasped the situation she was in. He was going to spank her. Not as a six-year-old, but as a grown woman.
"Wait! Costello, I'm sorry. I just got worked up and wasn't thinking."
SWAT! SWAT! SWAT! He raised her nightgown and lowered her panties to her knees. The spanking continued. Over and over he landed the palm of his hand onto her increasingly fired ass. She kicked and wailed, fighting to no avail for safety from his punishing hand.
"You are right, you weren't thinking," he lectured. "Pouting is one thing, but flipping me off? If someone had seen that, it would have given your secret away! A six-year-old girl doesn't even know what that means!"
He spanked harder, forcing Juniper to squeal in discomfort. Costello had always been a hard spanker, but never before had his hand peppered her backside with so much force. Pain coursed through her bottom with an intensity that had her gasping and crying.
"I'm sorry! I really am." No doubt about that.
When she reached the point where she didn't think she could take one more swat, he mercifully stopped. "Stand up and go bend over the bed."
She swallowed the lump in her throat, knowing exactly what that meant. "You don't need to do that. I've learned my lesson. I have!" she pleaded.
He nodded. "Yes, I'm going to make damn sure that you do." He pointed to the bed and began to unbuckle his belt. With a swish of leather, he held the belt in his hand. "Lay across the bed."
She did as he commanded, knowing that arguing would only add to the whipping. As soon as she'd positioned herself on the bed and raised her nightgown to expose her naked behind, the leather made contact with her flesh. She screamed out and gripped the edge of the bed to prevent herself from reaching back. She knew that if she just took the spanking like a good girl, Costello would only issue a few whips. Doing so wasn't exactly easy, but she was determined to not put up any resistance.
He rained down lash after lash as he began his lecture. "You are Poppa's little girl. Say it!"
"I'm…"
Two more cracks of the belt.
"I'm Poppa's little girl!" she wailed.
"Say it again."
Leather cracked against her skin, making her cry out in pain.
"I'm Poppa's little girl! I'm your little girl, Poppa."
The spanking continued.
"How do good little girls act? How do six-year-old girls act?"
"I'll be a good little girl. I will be a good little girl, Poppa! Please stop, my bum hurts!"
He issued two more swats and then sat down on the bed, pulling her into his arms. Juniper clung to him and sobbed into his neck. She cried harder than she h
ad ever cried before. Her body shook as her ass blazed. Costello just soothed her and held her tight while she released all the emotions that had been threatening to suffocate her.
"I can't have you losing control like that. What if you did that in front of another poppa? You are still a little girl, and you need to remember that. I don't want you to get careless now that you're able to act older around me. Never lose control." He pulled her tear-stained face away from his neck. "Look at me."
She did as he ordered.
"Never lose control. Your life depends on it."
She nodded and sniffled back her tears. "You're right. I just felt like I was going to explode. I feel so helpless."
"I know that." He wiped at her tears and smiled. "Do you feel better?"
She laughed. "You just gave me the spanking of a lifetime, and you ask if I'm okay?" She laughed again. "Yes… yes I do," she finally admitted.
"Good. From now on, when you feel like that, you need to make sure you confide in me. I don't want you snapping in front of anyone else. Are we clear?"
She nodded. "Yes, sir." She looked down at her hands. "I'm sorry I flipped you off."
He pulled her into his arms. "I know, June bug. I know."
Even though she was a grown woman and he knew it, she liked that he still called her that.
She rested her head on his shoulder. "Sorry for that. There are just times when my emotions get the better of me… and when they do, logical thinking is something that I fail at. But I meant what I said. I don't want to be adopted for marriage. I want you."
"I know, and in a perfect world... But I want you safe, and I'm prepared to sacrifice everything to make sure you are."
