Beginnings - how madame Penelope Von Meretrix came to Viola Parker's Institute for Excellence in young women

When Astrid arrived at the Parker Institute for Excellence in young women, she knew she was on thin ice -- this was the fifth school in less than five years. She heard the admonition: don't mess this up. Please. She couldn't help it if all of the other schools were boring, horrible, Dickensian places where she felt stifled. Maybe, she thought, this school will be different.

And, for a time, it was. Headmistress Viola Parker was welcoming and understanding. The classes were challenging - in a good way and Astrid found herself engaged in such a way that she was feeling good about her future. Even the other girls were different. They were intelligent, articulate, free-spirited, kind. There were a few that Astrid could do without, but she had found a small circle of like-minded girls who she felt she could trust. Sure, she flouted the uniform code and had a habit of sassing her teachers, but she never found herself in real trouble.

...Standing at the administration building door, madame Penelope took a deep breath. She still wasn't entirely sure what she was doing here, other than the madame had said once that if the Headmistress ever needed help, to be in touch. The Headmistress offered that invitation -- so, naturally, madame Penelope couldn't possibly refuse; an offer of help was one she never made lightly, and never made to anyone she didn’t feel she couldn’t trust. Plus, her curiosity was getting the better of her -- Penelope arrived at Viola Parker's Institute willing to hear more about the role that the Headmistress envisioned for her...something about enforcing the standards the Headmistress had established.

Being at the Institute brought back a flood of memories for the madame. Penelope had a fulfilling, if somewhat solitary, life. She had grown up a bright, clever girl, but shy and somewhat introverted. Penelope always being able to perceive where the power was and possessing an uncanny ability at a young age to maneuver that power to get what she wanted, or others needed. Penelope leaned into her gifts, developing a keen eye for people and an understanding of what motivates them -- and how to use that to her advantage. madame Penelope vowed to make the most of the opportunity here, in service to the Headmistress and her Institute.

madame Penelope had quickly established a reputation as the Institute's head of Standards, Code, and Discipline department. Like some demented Mary Poppins, under the madame, there was a new order and discipline across campus, delivered without the spoonful of sugar. Astrid saw many a classmate bruised and shaken after a visit to the madame's office. The rumors swirled around campus as to who the madame was and her methods for enforcing the school's standards and code of conduct, sadistically so. Furthering the rumors, madame rarely appeared at campus wide functions and when she did she often stood off to the side or in the back, observing coolly. Astrid sometimes felt the madame staring at her, as if she was sizing her up.

Seeing the madame striding across campus caused the girls to walk quickly the other way; even the faculty -- all of whom were committed to the Institute, friendly, and encouraged the girls in their charge to pursue their passions -- seemed fearful of the madame. The only person on campus who seemed to know the madame well was Headmistress and she was very committed to her protege and her methods.

...Astrid was unimpressed. After earning more than one too many reprimands and warnings that soon she would have to face the madame, Astrid, in a moment of bravery welcomed the challenge; she would very much like to know this madame for herself.

Her wish was soon granted. A summons from the Standards, Code, and Discipline office arrived on a small white card. The black text stark against the white background. A date and time the only information.

When Astrid arrived, a few minutes late -- on purpose -- she was ready. She had had enough of the rules, she was feeling stifled and she was no longer willing to just go along with them.

Entering the office, she could see the Headmistress and the madame standing before her. Her bravery began to melt, this was not what she was expecting. Nor was she expecting to see some very serious looking implements.

Headmistress spoke first, she told Astrid she was here because of repeated reprimands for her behavior and especially her uniform -- and gasp, the fact Astrid was not wearing any underwear! This just proved she was setting a bad example and was becoming a bad influence on the younger students. Astrid didn't know quite what to say, the stern look and sharp tone from the Headmistress and thrown her off. And the madame's glare at her was unnerving.

Headmistress said that Astrid would have to submit to corrective action or be expelled - it was her choice. This wasn't a choice at all, Astrid had to stay and so corrective action it would be. Astrid reasoned that neither the Headmistress or the madame would be very harsh, no other teacher at any other school had ever been.

Little did she know. The Headmistress and the madame encircled her, pointing out flaws, commenting on her uniform and what would come next. Inspecting her. It was all beginning to swirl, Astrid was having a hard time keeping up. Astrid focused when she was told to bend over and the first strike of the paddle bit into her flesh. She looked and the madame was grinning evilly, paddle in hand. Another and another shocked Astrid, Headmistress was clearly serious about corrective action and the madame was there to deliver it.

Astrid's head was spinning, she had never been struck so forcefully. The madame was living up to the rumors, she had a sadistic streak for sure. Astrid could feel her bottom getting hotter and hotter from the paddle. Astrid was smarting when she was ordered to the bench and the madame began to spank her, an old fashioned hand spanking! She hadn't had one of those...ever. And now she was on the receiving end of a hard one. Then back to the paddle and a particularly hard implement that looked like a lollipop but was not in any way sweet.

Just when Astrid thought she would be released, she was stood up and restrained to the wall, for more correction and pushing by both the Headmistress and the madame. They poked and prodded and tormented her. Any bravery she had felt going in had been completely obliterated. She found herself reacting to every strike and every word, wanting to please these two women, she had never felt like that in any place she had been previously. Even though her bottom was sore and she surely would not be able to sit for a week, she knew that the Parker Institute for Excellence in young women was exactly where she needed to be.

...madame Penelope knew that this was where she should be. She was grateful to the Headmistress for bringing her here, to be the Headmistress's protege. These young women needed a firm hand and she had discovered that she wanted to offer that; they might think her mean - she heard the rumors. Watching this particular young woman, Astrid accept her punishment willingly, even eagerly, the madame felt a connection to her and to the rest of the students on campus...there was definitely work to be done and the madame would do it. madame Penelope would ruthlessly enforce the code of conduct and standards on behalf of the Institute and to further the Headmistress's vision.

But first, Astrid needed to learn that there are standards for a reason and the madame was there to ensure that those standards were met, no matter what.