by Rose St. Andrews
Ginny stood at the controls of the little choo-choo train, an ear to ear grin on her face. She hadn't had fun like this since she was about twelve, which was a full decade ago. It made her giggle to think how she had to stand to see out the front. Ginny had never been a big girl, or a very highly-developed one at that. No, she was petite, very petite, and with the most minimal figure of any in her little social group. When they used to go out clubbing, it was literally impossible for her to get an alcoholic drink. It didn't matter that she had four different kinds of ID, the bartenders refused to believe she was of age, and her friends only compounded the matter by calling her 'Kiddo' or saying she was their little sister tagging along with the big kids. If it weren't for the full bar at her Daddy's place in Newport, she wouldn't have gotten a drink ever!
Well, that was all behind her now. She was out on her own, she had her own place and was supporting herself with a job, and she was making her way in the world. Actually, her father paid a reasonable allowance into her account every month, and that's what she really lived on. Given time, she was sure she'd find a way to earn a living. For the moment, she was going to live in the moment. She was working at 'The Playful Bruins Fun Camp' in (ironically) Newport, Florida (right on the Gulf Coast), and she loved it. The little train was about half scale, brightly colored, and full of happy chattering kids. Ginny felt like quite the engineer.
The train followed the serpentine tracks around the low manmade main 'hill' of the park, through the long tunnel (the kids all squealing in delight at racing through the dark), and into the dense woods that ringed the lake. She rang the bell. Nat (short for Natalie), her new friend and oldest daughter of the owners, had told her to ring it as a signal that they were coming into a station (there were four throughout the park). Leaning out the side window, the wind whipping her long brown hair about, she saw the station ahead. She turned the power level down, the engine stopped, and the train essentially coasted into the station. While the train was electric, the sound effects made it sound like it was a real steam engine. She pulled back on the brake. It squealed and the train kind of lurched to a stop.
Huh, I'm going to need to work on that. Mr. Parmenter was very clear on that point: 'Don't shake the guests up too much. One little injury and we'll get sued.'
She whipped her head around and smiled. Everyone was okay. Flipping the switch for the locks, there was a short buzz, a click, and the doors on the cars opened.
"Okay, folks, here we are at Mermaid Lagoon. The next train departs at eleven thirty," she called out.
The guests filed out, laughing and happily chatting away, and headed off to the beach and canoes. Ginny checked the clock above the platform of the station. She had fifteen minutes before she had to drive the train to Galloping Gulch, where the horses were. Now was her chance to see about the batteries for the train. Taking the key to the motor, she moved through the Employees Only door, and entered the Mechanical Room. When she'd started work this morning, Nat and her Dad (Mr. Parmenter) had showed her how to unplug the train from the charging station and keep an eye on the power levels of the batteries while she worked. If the gauge went into the red, she was supposed to plug in the auxiliary batteries until she got the train back to the main station.
According to Nat, she had to do that daily. The train might look pretty, but the signs of age were obvious to even someone not mechanically-inclined, like Ginny. She moved a chair from next to a small folding table, stood on it to reach the extension cord which was coiled up on the top shelf, and grabbed it. Hopping down with a thump, she plugged it in, and stood before the control panel.
Okay, now, I switch the power to 'standby' and then run the cord out to the train, and just plug it into the outlet on the engine.
"Little girl, what are you doing in here?" a sharp voice said.
Ginny squealed and spun to face the woman. "Holy shit, lady, scare the living daylights out of me, why don't you?"
"Goodness, a foul mouth too. Didn't you see the signs? First off, this area is for employees only. Second, this room is off limits to everyone except senior staff. It's much too dangerous for a child your age to be in here! Where are your parents?"
"Parents? Lady, who are...?" Ginny paused as she saw the woman's nametag. It read 'Violet'. "Oh, you're Nat's grandmother, her mom's mom. I'm Virginia, I started here today."
Violet cocked her head at her and put her hands on her hips. "Oh really? Linus hired a... what, thirteen-year-old to work the train? Where's your nametag? I bet you're one of Marie's friends."
"Thirteen?! Really, I look that young?" she said and patted her shirt. "Shit, I bet I knocked my tag off when I was leaning out of the train window. Look, Mrs. Brockton, check with your daughter or son-in-law, I am an employee. Now, get out of my way and let me-whoa!"
She had tried to push pass Violet, and that was a mistake. The woman looked like that Xena, Warrior Princess character from TV: about six feet, long black hair, with quite the figure. She snagged Ginny by the ear, dragged her over to a chair, and pulled her across her lap. Smack! Her large solid hand connected with Ginny's bright orange shorts.
"Little girl, an old-fashioned spanking for a naughty child might not be PC these days, but I'm old school. I don't care if you're not my child, or even my grandchild, you're getting a dose of what you certainly need!"
"Ouch! What are you doing? Let go of-OW-me! I'm not a child, you big dope. Ow! I'm a grown woman, and I don't intend to be treated this way. Ouch!"
"Goodness, you are fresh. Now, I ask again, where are your parents, or at least a guardian? I'm not stopping until you tell me so I can turn you over to a responsible adult," Violet said.
The whole time, her very firm hand kept right on smacking away at Ginny's poor little bottom. Ginny had never been spanked in her life. Back home, especially after her mom died, she was Daddy's little girl. Whatever she wanted, she got, except his personal attention. Now her behind was getting slow-roasted by a woman with a very strong arm. As the minutes progressed and Violet didn't let up, Ginny's resolve weakened. She tried begging to be taken to the dressing room to show Violet her ID.
That failed.
She decided to adopt a different tactic. "Okay, okay, you're right. Ouch! I'm sorry I snuck in. If you-OW-just take me to the food court, I can find my mommy."
A final hard smack descended and Violet hoisted her up to stand next to her. "There, was that so hard? Now, come along, and we'll see about getting you home."
Ginny winced and rubbed her stinging seat. "Yes, ma'am."
Violet took her by the elbow and marched her out, and promptly ran into Peg, the middle girl of the family.
"Ah, Virginia, there you are. Dad just buzzed me on the radio, said you're late on the train. Where's your radio? Where's your nametag? Gran, what are you dragging her around for?"
Ginny actually managed to smile and giggle. "Oh, Peggy, you are something. If there's ever a contest for speed talking, you'll take the blue ribbon."
"Peggy, you know this little girl?" Violet said. "Does she... work here?"
Peggy chuckled. "Little? Huh, well... yeah, I guess she does look young, but didn't you talk to Mom or Dad this morning?"
"I had my tai chi class this morning, remember? Been doing wonders for my bad knee. So, wait, how old is this girl?"
"Ah, she's twenty-two," Peggy said simply.
Violet's eyes grew large. "Oh dear."
She then explained about what had transpired between them, which made Ginny blush bright red, and Peggy giggled up a storm, until Violet threatened her with double what Ginny got!
Huh, it seems the old lady is one tough dame. I like that, even if I don't care for her going off half-cocked, thought Ginny.
There then followed a proper introduction and explanation.
"So, Virginia Williams, eh? Well, my dear, I apologize for spanking you. Had I known your true age and employment status, I never would have done such a thing."
"Just call me Ginny, everyone does. As for the spanking, well... actually, there's no hard feelings. Granted, I didn't deserve it for being in here, but trust me, I've done plenty in my life that would earn me far worse. So, let's call it a wash, and let me get back to the train."
"That's very mature of you to say, and you can call me Gran, all the girls do. Come on, Peggy; let's help her get the guests loaded."
They headed out, Ginny trying hard not to rub once they were out on the platform. She had to admit, even alongside Peggy, who was only fifteen, she did look young. Peggy was taller, heavier, and definitely had curves and a figure. Ginny was only a bit taller than Marie, and she was thirteen, but whereas Ginny was barely an A cup, Marie was already a B. So, she couldn't fault Gran for thinking she was just a kid. In a way, she kind of liked it. While her dad had always seen to it that she wanted for nothing in the material sense, other aspects of her life had always been wanting. She was an only child, and she had no memories of her mother. Her high-flying businessman father lost interest in her when mom died, and he'd appointed a succession of nannies to look after her. Until she was twenty, they were constantly moving around owing to the demands of his job, so she'd never had a loving, stable childhood. So, the idea of going back to her teens, even if it included old fashioned discipline, actually had a very strong appeal.
The last part was what truly amazed her. Never had she known the pain and humiliation of being spanked across someone's lap, especially given that she was an adult. Yet, mixed with those feelings was something else. She felt a connection to Gran. No one had ever cared enough about her to give her the discipline she needed, which was why she didn't begrudge Gran doing it. Over the course of her teen years, she had done plenty of things warranting a good spanking, but never gotten one. At the time, she'd thought herself lucky. Now, looking back, she felt regret that none of her nannies, not one, had ever felt enough love for her to do the right thing.
Once the passengers were on the train, Ginny started it up, and off they went. Peggy went back to the Sun Shack, the little shop on the shore of the lake where they sold sunscreen, inflatable mats and floats, and other swimming supplies. Gran hopped on the 'coal car' right behind the engine. It didn't have any coal of course. It was a place to store supplies (like when Peggy would need more things for the shop), and Gran sat on a flat of water bottles.
"So, Mrs. Brockton, I mean, Gran... you're Mrs. Parmenter's mom?"
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