Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 ï>¿Mailgirls On The Run by eltree

   Chapter 9

   Another early Monday morning, another on-going downside to getting
sucked back into the world of mailgirls.

   One, Seventeen, and Twenty-four were due for punishment this morning. 
The more frightening prospect was Ms Barnes possibly deciding that the
crowd scene Sunday morning would require reminding mailgirls of their
station in life.  Megan still remembered the lineup of gagged and hooded
mailgirls, bound hands stretched up behind them forcing them to bend
forward - strappado position, according to then Mailgirl Eight - while
standing on newly laid gravel.  Some fifth floor executives had complained
of insufficient respect being paid by mailgirls.  The several mailgirls
that the fifth floor had called out by number were strung up first on a
Monday morning and the rest of the mailgirls were paraded past them.  Then
for the rest of the week a half-dozen mailgirls were on display each day
from 11-2 for the lunch crowd.  That stretch of gravel was still in the
courtyard as a reminder.

   Megan walked through the breakfast crowd in the lobby and down the
stairs to the Mailgirls' Locker Room.  Eighteen looked up at her and
complained, "Six miles next weekend is going to kill me.  Tell Ms Barnes
I'll accept my six strokes as a given and take another half-dozen in lieu
of pounding my feet on the asphalt." Several other women said that went for
them as well.

   "I can make the suggestion, but I suspect that Human Capital would come
up with something more painful than a dozen strokes of the paddle or crop
to discourage mailgirl initiative.  Anything else you would like me to
raise with Ms Barnes?"

   One spoke up, "The bra I was testing out didn't do the job."

   Samantha, aka Twenty-two, added, "Nor mine."

   Seventeen said, "Dawlish's leather cage isn't a sports bra, but it did
help.  A bit of chafing, but my boobs are less sore than they were after
the first run."

   Megan asked, "Eleven?"

   "Some chafing, not enough support."

   "I'll pass all of this on to Ms Barnes.  I suspect you'll each be called
up to report to Mr Dawlish personally."

   It was amazing how much disdain a mailgirl could express without saying
anything or even nodding her head.  Then they all froze and Megan knew
Mistress V had arrived and the mailgirls' workday had officially begun.

   * * * *

   Checking her calendar Megan saw she had a meeting with Ms Barnes at two
p.m.  - not a lunch date then.  The Mailgirls App showed the punishment
session for One, Seventeen, and Twenty-four at 10:30.

   She took time out from the finance business for the 10:30 ritual and
then worked through the noon hour at her desk, not feeling inclined to make
another trip to the dining hall.  Then it was nearly two and Megan made her
way up to Human Capital, mug in hand.  Four was in "Knees" position on the
mat next to the receptionist's desk when Megan walked into the outer
office. The mailgirl kept her eyes firmly on the ground in front of her
mat, steadfastly ignoring Megan's approach.  The door to Ms Barnes' office
opened and Two emerged, eyes downcast and obviously in pain.  She stepped
aside to allow Megan to go in.  Megan noted the six parallel red lines
across Two's ass cheeks, souvenirs of the caning she had obviously just
received.

   Ms Barnes was seated behind her desk, Mistress V was standing up
straight against the wall a riding crop dangling from her left hip.  There
was a thin black rod on Ms Barnes' desk, the instrument of Two's
punishment, Megan surmised.

   "They get paddled for running slow and caned for running fast?"

   "No, the caning was for that disgraceful scene in the parking lot Sunday
morning.  These are mailgirls, not porn stars.  There was entirely too much
hubris shown with all of those men crowding around at the end of the run.
SF&G personnel know how to treat mailgirls; those voyeurs need protocol
lessons.  We may have to cordon off the finish area to keep them away if
they can't behave properly.  It's not fair to the mailgirls to tempt them
so."

   Mr Starnes spoke from behind Megan, "We're going to have to walk a fine
line if we want this project to succeed.  While I understand that the
mailgirls have to know their place, we still need to provide something of a
carrot if we want them to run well.  The old trope 'Beatings will continue
until morale improves' is not an inspiration to strive for excellence on
the day."

   "Yes, we'll figure out something to remind all of them that they are
mailgirls.  Well, what do you have to report about the running?"

   "Three and Four ran very well indeed.  Then we have a cluster of
Twenty-two, Fifteen, Fourteen, Two, and Twelve.  It probably makes sense to
seed the heats in this weekend's runs to provide head to head competition
of those mailgirls.  We're looking for a squad of six mailgirls to race
along with Megan and any of the other female staff that wish to enter the
Corporate Challenge.  Five runners score and it's always best to have more
than just a bare five so that one bad race doesn't sink the whole team
Fourteen's and Fifteen's mailgirl contracts expire in September so we're
not sure of their availability."

   "Ms Brooks, what do you have to say?"

   "Both Three and Four could have run quicker and with training will do
so. The other women Mr Starnes mentioned won't disgrace themselves or SG&T.
From a competitive standpoint I'm feeling more optimistic about this whole
project.  But the pride in doing something well is antithetical the whole
Mailgirl concept.  I don't know how that can be reconciled."

   "That's in my domain, not yours, Ms Brooks.  You let me worry about the
Mailgirl concept.  You and Mr Starnes will let Mistress V know who will run
in the fast heat on Sunday.  We'll see if that selects our team for us.  Mr
Fforde has persuaded the fifth floor into offering Fourteen a part-time
mailgirl contract through the end of the year, offering the carrot that she
could attend college on-campus three days a week.  Legal is working on it
now, contingent on her making the team.  And we're very close to acquiring
a mailgirl from Donovan Runnels who was an All-American in college."

   "Also Ms Barnes, several mailgirls have said they are willing to accept
their half-dozen in lieu of running the 10k this weekend."

   "Mailgirls do not make suggestions, they merely obey.  Everyone will run
and the slowest eighteen will receive the cane.  Mistress V will spread
their punishments out over the next week."

   Megan sighed.  "Where are we on bras for the runners?"

   "Mr Dawlish will be interviewing the five test subjects today and I
expect his decision this evening.  Is there anything else we need to
discuss?"

   Megan headed back to her office, having agreed to send Mr Starnes her
picks for a fast heat on Sunday.  She wasn't looking forward to a summons
from Mr Dawlish.  As a senior executive she had to treat him with due
deference, but she needed to make it clear to him that she was no longer a
mailgirl and her choice of clothing was her business.  Floating her resume
was getting more attractive day by day.

   It didn't make sense to run three eight girl heats to select six, or
five, mailgirls for the team.  What she proposed to Mr Starnes was that the
eight least likely girls to make the team run on Saturday and the other
sixteen run in a single heat on Sunday.  Plus, this way she would only run
one race on Sunday rather then attempt back-to-back 10ks.  Her suggestion
would be that One, Five, Seven, Eight, Eighteen, Twenty, Twenty-one, and
Twenty-four run on Saturday.

   She then put thoughts of running Mailgirls aside and immersed herself in
the details of a proposed project before the the Investment Committee.  Mr
Bratz had been giving her increasingly more important proposals to review
which Megan took as a measure of his confidence in her work.  It was past
six p.m.  when her computer pinged and displayed a new calendar
appointment. Mr Dawlish expected her in his office at 6:30.  Megan closed
out the files she was working on, logged out of her workstation, and left
for the day.  Working after hours on financial proposals was one thing,
catering to Dawlish's fetishes wasn't something she need put up with any
longer.

   * * * *

   Fourteen looked for Ten as soon as she finished showering and retired to
the Mailgirls' Lounge at the end of her workday.  The former HR staffer was
laying in her sleeping niche looking at the ceiling.

   "Ten, Mr Fforde told me that Human Capital will offer me a part-time
contract if I make the running team.  I would work at SG&T Friday through
Monday and be outside on my own Tuesday through Thursday so that I could
attend class on campus beginning in mid-August and extended through the end
of the year.  That scenario would work better with my class schedule since
my current end date would be part way through the semester, but I'm not
going to be Fforde's live-in mailgirl.  Do you have any suggestions?"

   Ten rolled over onto her stomach and said, "Let me think.  Is Twenty-two
around?"

   Twenty-two was looking over Thirteen's shoulder while the ginger-haired
mailgirl was typing away on one of the computers in the corner.  She turned
around and sauntered over to Ten's niche asking, "Anything I can help you
with?"

   "Would your sister help Fourteen get settled when she leaves us?"

   Twenty-two paused to consider.  "I think so.  I mean, she's hanging
around to keep an eye on me.  And it would help get her focus off me."

   Fourteen explained about the part-time offer.

   "I'll ask her."

   Ten said, "I'll get you to see her.  Meanwhile, I'll have HR to forward
Fourteen's college transcripts to Megan."

   Fourteen asked, "Why is it that the folks in HR still do you favors? 
Are they expecting that you'll be their boss when you finish up this
contract?"

   "Mostly it's because they really dislike Human Capital.  Ms Barnes is
nominally part of the Human Resources Department, but she reports directly
to the fifth floor.  HR is left to clean up after Human Capital's messes.
While Human Capital makes sure that the workforce doesn't go over the line
with their treatment of mailgirls, that line is far past the boundaries of
sexual harrassment and HR has to ride herd on the workforce's behavior with
the rest of the women at SG&T.  Human Capital can pitch becoming a mailgirl
to an employee, but for anyone else telling a woman that she should be a
mailgirl can be seen as threatening.  Human Capital lays down the law that
we are to be treated as sub-human, and HR has to follow behind with
seminars, memos, and counseling about how to deal with the clothed
population.  Throw in the fact that mailgirls recruited from the
professional ranks are pulling down outsize salaries to perform menial
tasks and/or have been promised major promotions down the line and we have
resentful women who see us as whoring for money and advancement.  Human
Capital just keeps pushing their agenda which keeps the tension high."

   "Well, if Megan helps to keep me out of Mr Fforde's grasp I'll be
forever grateful."

   * * * *

   Tuesday morning, Megan was unsurprised to find a premptory message from
Ms Barnes directing her to set up a meeting with Mr Dawlish at his
convenience.  The post-it note telling her to talk to her sister was more
puzzling.  Dawlish wasn't in yet, but as with most of the 5th floor his
secretary handled his calendar and Megan arranged a ten minute appointment
with him at 10:15 promising Mrs Johnson that she wouldn't bleed into his
10:30 meeting.

   She was trying to decide whether to just summon her sister via the
Mailgirl App when she heard a soft knock at her partially open door
immediately followed by Samantha, that is Twenty-two, entering carrying a
closed mailing envelope.

   "Delivery, Ms Brooks" chirped Samantha, coming to a stop beside Megan's
desk in Feet position, presenting her MMU to be tapped in acknowledgment of
the delivery.  Megan complied, noting that Sam had twenty-three seconds to
spare.

   "Knees" and Samantha sank gracefully down into position while Megan
looked at the envelope from Human Resources.  "What am I supposed to talk
to you about?"

   "This Mailgirl is passing on a request from a colleague.  Mailgirl
Fourteen would like your help.  She may be offered a part-time mailgirl
position for the duration of the next semester.  Mr Fforde has arranged
this offer, but she would prefer that Mr Fforde not arrange her life
outside of SG&T.  She wanted to know if you could help."

   "And the envelope from HR?"

   "Mailgirls do not queston what we are given to deliver."

   "So why didn't Ten just arrange for Fourteen to come talk to me?"

   "This Mailgirl does not know.  Mailgirl Fourteen believes that she can
finish her accounting degree over the next two semesters and then move on
with her life."

   "Does Mailgirl Twenty-two have any such plans?"

   "This Mailgirl is just doing her inadequate best to be the best mailgirl
that she can be."

   "Oh, get out of here Sam and tell Fourteen that I'll see what I can do.
Go out to the mat and titilate the rest of the Investment Group."

   Twenty-two gracefully rose to her feet - Megan ascribed it to her early
dance training, not that Sam continued once she discovered boys - and left,
closing the door behind her.

   Megan opened the envelope from HR and found college transcripts from
Mount Holyoke College, Montgomery College, and the University of Maryland,
University College.  Marie Hyland was a straight A student her first year
at Mount Holyoke, then her grades tailed off a bit in her sophomore year,
especially the final semester.  Her courses didn't indicate any particular
field of concentration.  Marie Briggs' grades the last year and a half at
the two local colleges were back to straight A's in business and accounting
courses.  She hadn't been wasting her time in the law library.

   Mount Holyoke..., who did Megan know that went to Mount Holyoke?  Her
smart phone chimed to warn her of her upcoming appointment and Megan put
that question off until she returned from the fifth floor.  She headed out
of the Investment Group, idly noting that the mailgirl in position by the
receptionist's desk was Fifteen; Twenty-two must be off on her next
delivery.

   Megan took the stairs.  It wasn't a lot of exercise, but walking stairs
was part of a healthy lifestyle and Megan realized that she needed to take
back her life.  She unconsciously squared her shoulders preparing for the
meeting with Dawlish.

   Up on the fifth floor she entered Dawlish's office and announced herself
to his secretary.  Megan wondered why Dawlish didn't have the stereotypical
gorgeous young woman as a secretary - jealous wife?  Or maybe besides being
a creep he did real work and Mrs Johnson was part of that.

   "You may go in now.  Remind him that he has the Naimo people coming in
just a few minutes."

   Mr Dawlish looked up as Megan entered.  "Our Miss Brooks.  You can keep
the bra, that's not the model I chose.  We're going with the 'Bondage Bra',
but in satin instead of leather to avoid the chafing issue.  So, when you
and Starnes choose a team we'll order a couple of bras for each of the
girls and they can add hand washing them to their list of after hour
activities.  It's not a style that suits your figure however, so you can go
with what you have."

   Megan was stunned, this wasn't Dawlish the lech.  He'd actually put some
constructive thought into this project, though she suspected he got off on
it as well.

   "Mr Dawlish, the gentlemen from Naimo are here," came through the
speakers on his executive desk.

   "Send them in."

   The door opened again and Mrs Johnson - definitely not Ms - ushered
through three Japanese men.

   "Welcome gentlemen, I trust you enjoyed your escort."

   "How could we not appreciate a mailgirl leading us to your door."

   "This is our Ms Brooks, one of the top analysts in our Investment Group.
She'll likely be on the team that reviews whatever plan we develop.

   "Well, I mustn't keep you, Megan.  Back to your corner of the coal
mine."

   Megan responded, "Yes, sir." and left Mr Dawlish's office, not at all
surprised to see her sister kneeling on the mat next to Mrs Johnson's desk,
in full view through the open door behind her.

   Entering the stairwell musing on what was going on with Dawlish, her
sub-conscious lifted Seven up.  Seven had been a petit Oriental woman:
gorgeous face and fabulous hair, not that much up top - she and Megan had
been lined up side-by-side more than once by some wit who decided to hold
an itty bitty titty contest.  When she signed her mailgirl contract, Seven
was ABD (all but dissertation) in some branch of higher mathematics and her
thesis advisor was a Mount Holyoke alumna.  The former mailgirl left SG&T
for a teaching job subbing in mid-semester for someone out on maternity
leave.  The last Megan heard Seven was still there.

   Megan passed Three sprinting up the steps and called out, "Tell Fourteen
I'm working on it."

   She had real work to do, but she googled 'Hood college faculty' and
began scanning the list.  There was no entry for "Seven" which is the only
name that Megan knew for her former colleague.  Mailgirls did not have
names only mailgirl designators and that had been thoroughly beaten into
Megan by the time the second cohort - Mailgirls Seven through Twelve - came
on board.  Megan still bounced between Twenty-two and Samantha in her head
every time she saw her sister despite her sister being Samantha much longer
than she was Twenty-two.  Mistress V had been brutal in correcting both
women in the few months that Two and Twenty-two had spent together as
mailgirls.

   This search would be a lot easier if the Hood website posted headshots
of their faculty, but there weren't any women with Oriental names in the
Math Department.  So Megan checked the Business Department list where she
found Lin Chang.  No photo, but she did have an email address and Megan
dropped a quick note.  Then Megan got back to work looking at financials.

   It was well into the afternoon when her telephone rang and the caller id
indicated an unknown, outside line.  "Two, what are you still doing at
SG&T?"

   "Well, it's Ms Brooks now and I enjoy Ms Brooks' work.  Plus, if you
remember, my sister was hired last summer as Mailgirl Twenty-two and I had
to stay around to keep an eye on her.  Passing on Samantha sightings is the
only reason that my folks still talk to me.  Call me Megan.  I'm sorry to
say that I didn't even remember your real name."

   "So, what can I do for you?"

   "I don't know if you ever knew, but I ran track in college.  Last fall
just a few months after returning to the finance desk I ran on the SG&T
team in the annual corporate challenge.  That's a 10k race between teams
from companies and government agencies across Central Maryland.  I was
SG&T's top woman by a wide margin.  This year SG&T hosts the race.  Jeremy
in Corporate Relations told me they brought in a couple of male runners
from other SG&T locations, but had a problem in finding women who would
accept a transfer.  So, some bright soul on the fifth floor decided that we
could field a team of mailgirls.

   "I've been formally tasked to help select and train the team.  One of
the wrinkles in the whole scheme is that Mailgirls Thirteen through
Eighteen come to the end of their contracts before the race.  I don't know
if you remember Fourteen, she's the older woman that used to be married to
a lawyer.  She spends weekends in the law library taking on-line courses
through a special dispensation arranged by a friend of her ex-husband and
she's a serious contender to make the team.  They've tenatively offered her
a part-time mailgirl contract to start in mid-August and go through the end
of the year if she makes the team.  She'd work Friday through Monday
allowing her Tuesday through Thursday to attend class.  She's afraid the
friend of her husband sees her as a live-in mailgirl and she doesn't want
to go there.  So Ten sent her to me."

   "And your thought is?"

   "Ten had HR send me her college transcripts and she's doing well.  She
had two years at Mount Holyoke before marriage and she has straight A's in
her on-line classes at Montgomery College and Maryland the last two years,
aiming for a degree in Accounting."

   "Well, my former thesis advisor is now the Dean of Faculty here and she
has a mad on at SG&T for doing the mailgirl number on me.  She might be
inclined to pull some strings to admit this woman; we're big into
non-traditional students.  Send me her transcripts and I'll talk to Dr
Smithers."

   "Thank you.  Then we'll just have to figure out housing and transport.
She's an hourly employee, so no big salary.  No expenses either, so she's
got nearly two years wages banked, but she deserves to hang on to some of
that stash to start her new life."

   "I'll see what we can do.  And and and I will have to sit down and have
a cose about our other friends - I know you were tight with Five, and Ten's
still a mailgirl, and then there's Ms Barnes and Mistress V.  I could tell
stories in the Faculty Lounge, but I don't."

   * * * *

   Megan picked up dinner at Panera Bread on the way home after having no
more Mailgirl involvement the rest of her work day.  She decided that
Fourteen's saga was worth a call to Sarah.

   "So, how are 'The Young and the Naked' going?"

   "One more run for all the mailgirls, this time a full 10k.  The slowest
eight to date will run Saturday and then the other sixteen will all run at
once on Sunday.  Brendan says that he'll show up to cheer."

   "I don't know whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, but it will
give him some insight into where we're coming from."

   "Ms Barnes says we're very close to acquiring a mailgirl from one of the
west coast firms that was an All-American.  Also, Human Capital says
they'll offer Fourteen a part-time mailgirl contract beginning mid-August
and extending through the end of the year if she makes the team.  She would
be on duty Friday through Monday and be able to attend class the other
three days."

   "I've heard of Mailgirl programs where being a mailgirl is a 9-5, well
probably more like 7-7, job which means you're reduced to mailgirl status
five times a week.  I think the 24/7 model might be easier."

   "Well, Fourteen seems to be considering it except she's afraid that Mr
Fforde sees it as an opportunity to start a 'Mailgirl at Home' program. 
She consulted Ten and Ten sent Sam, my Sam, to ask me to help."

   "I know Ten was an HR person, but what's she got to do with it."

   "Well, she seems to be playing good Mother Mailgirl..."

   "Which makes Mistress V bad Mother?"

   "And Ms Barnes the evil step-mother.  HR sent me Fourteen's college
transcripts; more of Ten's work, I'm sure.

   "Do you remember Seven?  Tiny Oriental woman?  She's teaching at Hood,
about an hour from here in Frederick.  Her former thesis advisor is now the
Dean of Faculty there which is how Seven got hired, that and her academic
credentials.  The Dean is a Mt Holyoke alumna which is where Fourteen
matriculated before dropping out to get married."

   "So, mailgirls to the rescue?"

   "We'll see."

   * * * *

   The next day Megan was cc'd on an email from Ms Barnes announcing the
running lineups for the weekend and directing Mistress V to adjust the work
schedules to match.  She made a mental note to let Brendan know in case he
really did plan to show up and watch.  There were no more mailgirl
interruptions to the rest of her workday to her unvoiced relief.

   Her dinner however, was punctuated by a call from Seven, that is Lin
Chang.  Lin asked if Megan could arrange a meeting with Fourteen within the
next few days and Megan suggested Saturday or Sunday post-race.  Fourteen
would be working on Saturday and Megan could call her to her office or she
could set up a meet immediately after the run on Sunday or when Fourteen
was in the law library working on her on-line courses.

   "Do you have a suggestion as to which would be better?"

   "I could send Fourteen down to the Med Center after the run Sunday
morning and you could interview her in one of the examining rooms.  Nurse
Allen, you knew her as Mailgirl One, will be on duty this weekend and she
can arrange for you to have as much time as you need.  If you get here in
time for the race at seven, I'll get you into the building.  It's likely to
be chaotic so we can slip you in unnoticed.  We had quite a crowd for last
week's run; the coffee shop did record business for a weekend and I expect
more of the same."

   "So you want me up and on the road before 6:30 a.m.  on a weekend.  I
thought I left that behind when I my clothing back."

   "You could come down Saturday and spend the night in my spare bedroom.
We could go out Saturday night or have a girls' night in."

   "Girls' night in.  If you can handle me hitting on you about life
post-mailgirl?"

   "I've spent long hours talking to Sarah.  She has her Sam to talk it
through with, but we still have mutal therapy sessions, sometimes even
without wine."

   "Oh, I know that feeling.  Text me your address and I'll let you know
when I start your way."

   Megan closed the connection, then muttered "In for a penny, in for a
pound" and called Brendan.

   "Megan, it's good to hear from you.  I'm still planning to come to your
run this weekend.  Would you suggest Saturday or Sunday or both?"

   "Saturday will work better.  That will be a lower key run as it will be
the eight slowest women through the first two runs.  As to how crazy the
crowd will be, that remains to be seen.  Also, if you'd like we could head
off to brunch after the run.  Sunday, I'm arranging a clandestine meeting
with one of the mailgirls and a former mailgirl, now an instructor at Hood
College.  I'll explain that when I see you."

   "Hey, I'm in the hush-hush business, not you.  Brunch however, sounds
terrific - do you have a recommendation?"

   "I'll ask around.  I haven't gone out much at all in the three years
I've lived in Maryland.  Doing something normal will be a good thing.  The
run starts and finishes in the parking lot in front of the main entrance to
the SG&T headquarters.  You'll be able to recognize me, I'll be the woman
with clothes on."

   * * * *

   Three passed on Megan's message to Fourteen when they passed on the
service stairs sometime that afternoon.  Fourteen asked Ten what she knew
as they were showering in the Mailgirls' Locker Room at the end of a long
workday.  The two women made a show of scrubbing each other thoroughly,
playing to the onlookers from the lobby above which allowed them the best
chance of not being overheard.  The Mailgirls Lounge was out of sight, but
the mailgirls firmly believed that Human Capital or maybe just the nerds in
IT had that whole space wired for sound.

   "What does Ms Brooks mean she's working on it?" as Fourteen knelt in
front of Ten making sure that the blonde's pubic area was squeaky clean.

   Ten gasped, not immune to Fourteen's attention, "I don't know, but HR
sent her your college transcripts.  She's a good person.  She will get back
to you as soon as she has something to tell you."

   "So, I'll have to run hard on Sunday to preserve my options."

   "And I'm so going to get my ass paddled when I don't finish in the top
six.  Let's just take it one step at a time.  Just a little more..." and
Ten's orgasm exploded.  Five came through the outside door just at that
moment and the mailgirls could hear the applause from the onlookers from
the upper lobby.

   * * * *

   Looking back, Megan thought of Thursday as the calm before the storm. 
She actually put in a full day's work, well the usual more than a full day,
on banking business and was on the verge of wrapping up a couple of reports
that Mr.  Bratz had been upping the priority on.  Her only mailgirl
interaction was when she tracked down Fourteen in the dining room. 
Fourteen was kneeling down before two bowls in the center of the room, one
hand holding back her hair as she bent down to eat a nourishing meal of
Mailgirl Chow.  Mailgirls were not allowed to use their hands to eat in
public and were required to lick the bowls clean.  Megan had always found
the sheer humiliation even worse than the taste of the Mailgirl Chow.

   She casually walked behind Fourteen and paused, speaking quietly. 
"After the run Sunday I'm going to send you down to the Med Center when
there will be someone to talk to about college plans for this semester if
you make the team and sign the new contract.  Nurse Allen will make sure
you're not disturbed."

   * * * *

   Friday dawned bright and sunny.  The Washington Post rated their
forecast for the day 8/10 as predicted highs in the low-90s and elevated
humidity were being short of perfection, though completely normal for
Maryland.  Megan didn't really have a feel for Maryland's climate, having
spent her first two years in state as a cloistered mailgirl, then morphing
back to the workaholic life of a financial analyst.  Except for the running
she spent most of her waking hours in the office and knew little of the
area aside from her commute.  However, the storm clouds about to dump on
Megan were metaphorical, not to be seen in the sky.

   She had just done the final revision of her analysis of the proposed
Downing Brothers deal and sent it off to Mr Bratz when her in-box pinged
with a calendar appointment.  She had a 2 p.m.  meeting scheduled in
Conference Room 5C with Ms Aldridge, the VP of Financial Development from
the Chicago office - Tad's mother, Mr Starne's ex-wife, and Megan's
one-time boss who Mr Starnes alleged had engineered Megan's tranfer to
Maryland and the Mailgirls Program.

   After a late lunch at her desk Megan climbed the stairs to the fifth
floor for her meeting with Ms Aldridge.  Her thoughts were of brunch with
Brendan, meeting up with Seven, and Fourteen.  The door to the conference
room was closed, so she knocked and heard a brisk "Come in."

   Megan entered to find to find Mailgirl Two trembling in the "Toes"
position while Ms Aldridge circled the young black woman who was straining
to the ceiling, clearly hoping not to be found unkempt.  Twenty-two was
down in "Knees and Forehead" with the top of her head against the wall and
her asshole winking at the room.

   "Oh, if I had known how much fun this was, I would definitely have paid
a visit while you were Mailgirl Two.  Well, don't you have anything to say
to your old boss?"

   "I guess Mr Starnes was correct when he told me that you were
responsible for me being selected as a mailgirl."

   "Of course, Megan.  You really shouldn't have led my poor husband on."

   "I did not."

   "So you say.  Mailgirl Two, get down into position next to Mailgirl
Twenty-two.  What do you think Megan, should I call for Mailgirl Twelve to
complete the set?"

   "No, I think this is quite enough.  And these two may have actual work
to do."

   "Nonsense, the other mailgirls can pick up the slack.  They may just
have to scurry between offices a little faster to make sure all those
important messages get delivered."

   "Have you called me here for some other reason than to watch you indulge
yourself, Ms Aldridge?"

   "Oh yes, dear.  I'm trying to convince the Board of Directors to expand
SG&T's Mailgirl Program to the Chicago and San Francisco offices.  So,
we're putting together a video presentation highlighting the success of the
program here in Washington and as you are the only mailgirl that I know
personally, I thought that I would ask for your input."

   "Don't do it."

   "Not that input.  I want your feedback on the rough cut of the video. 
And of course, we're waiting on your little race to show how the program is
accepted in the local business community.  We'll be videoing the runs this
weekend and then return for the race in October.  Now, just pull up a chair
and I'll show you what we have so far."

   Ms Aldridge proceeded to project a video mixing shots of the Board of
Directors voting, the SG&T Maryland complex under construction, and graphs
of productivity, sick leave usage, employee retention and the like with
images of naked Mailgirls running through the office space making
deliveries, the Mailgirls' Lounge and Dormitory, mailgirls grooming in the
Locker Room, mailgirls kneeling to eat and drink from their bowls in the
dining room, and so on.

   "What do you think, very persuasive, no?"

   "Ms Aldridge, SG&T is not going to be able to recruit any young,
professional women if you spread the Mailgirl Program across the entire
bank.  I've been told that one reason we're selecting and training
mailgirls to run in the Corporate Challenge is that women won't accept a
transfer to Maryland."

   "The larger reason is that positions don't open up here very often.  I
do believe this is the way forward.  And now dear, I'd like to show you the
other video - the one I show to female employees that need a bit of
guidance."

   Megan watched in horror as her time as a mailgirl played out on the
screen beginning with stripping down in Human Capital that first day, the
training at DDE, the cold showers, eating Mailgirl Chow out of a bowl on
the floor, posed in all the humiliating positions throughout the complex,
and the inevitable clips of being paddled, caned, and flogged.  There were
also passages of Megan frantically fingering herself to orgasm in the
Mailgirls' Lounge, in the shower, and even in the stairwell between
deliveries.

   "Once I show them this video it's amazing how they see things my way. 
It's also popular viewing among the men thinking of transferring to
Washington.

   "Well, that's all I wanted to show you.  Now, run along and leave me
with this pair.  The Chicago office is sadly lacking in mailgirls to play
with."

   Megan fled, leaving Mailgirl Two and her sister behind.

   * * * *

   Megan messaged Mr Bratz saying that she was going home sick, locked down
her computer and desk, and headed out to the safety of her condo.  This
whole mailgirl business was seriously impacting her time spent actually
doing banking and investment work.  She left a message on Sarah's voicemail
and then took a long, hot shower trying to scrub herself clean.  She
realized the shower bit was mostly symbolic, but hot water was proof that
she was no longer a mailgirl.

   Sarah called while she was on the couch eating her dinner of fudge
ripple.  Sarah was horrified at Megan's near-incoherent recounting of the
meeting with Ms Aldridge and the videos.  "You need to find out where Mr
Bratz and hell, even Mr Dawlish stand.  If they don't support you, you need
to find another job and let Samantha fend for herself.  Do you want me to
come over tonight?  Or send Brendan?"

   "No, I'm just going to get through this weekend and then talk to Mr
Bratz on Monday.  I'm meeting Brendan for brunch tomorrow and then
Seven-that-was is spending the night here Saturday before meeting with
Fourteen after the run Sunday.  Hopefully, Ms Aldridge left Samantha in
shape to run.  If not, I will take that to the Fifth Floor."



   Chapter 10

   Another too early Saturday morning.  Megan looked for Brendan as she
walked up to the building, but didn't spot him among the crowd beginning to
gather near the starting line.  SG&T was the place to be weekend mornings.
Megan wondered if they were going to post a schedule of training runs once
a team was selected.  She, or Mr Starnes, was going to have to speak to
Security about protecting the mailgirls while running - this whole project
just called for crazies to come out of the woodwork, or woods, in this
case.

   All the tables overlooking the Mailgirls' Locker Room were occupied,
everyone looking down at the floor show below.  Megan could feel eyes
following her as she descended to the lower lobby and entered the Locker
Room.  Six of this morning's group were already waiting for her, then Eight
and Twenty emerged a few moments later.

   "Okay, based on the last two weeks none of you figures to make the top
six and qualify for the running team.  Anybody want me to push the pace to
give you your best shot to keep running?"

   "My brother used to brag that he and his lacrosse teammates would take
turns hiding out below the hill when running laps in practice, any chance
we can take turns ducking out in the woods?"

   "Mr Starnes will pay better attention than the lacrosse coaches and they
keep an eye or camera on all of us for security reasons - that idea just
sounds like an invitation for Ms Barnes to come up with a new and exciting
punishment.  I'm willing to stroll through this run, but you're going to
have to convince Mistress V that you were trying or the mandated half-dozen
will just be the start.  Everybody topped up on water?  Then it's up and
out."

   Megan led the way up the stairs and out through the lobby where she was
startled to see a Channel 5 news van across the parking lot.  A camera man
was videoing the crowd near the starting line.  Was this Ms Aldridge's work
or Fox News looking for ratings?

   "Five minutes, ladies" and then Megan jogged over to speak to Mr
Starnes. "What's going on?"

   "We're making the news.  My ex-wife, your ex-boss, has promised them
interviews with the two of us.  I've called Jeremy, but his cell phone just
goes to voice mail.  Do you want to talk with them before or after the
run?"

   "I'd rather not appear on the Ten O'clock News drenched in sweat so it
better be now.  Plus, I can make it clear we're not postponing the start
which will keep it short."

   Mr Starnes waved over the camera man and reporter while Brendan strolled
up.  "We can't get results into the local papers for any race on the
Striders schedule and you get a camera crew for a time trial.  I'm
impressed."

   Megan was impressed that Brendan was looking at her and not staring past
her at the eight naked women standing around the water table.  "Mr Starnes,
this is Brendan; Brendan, this is Bob Starnes who is my co-lead on the
Mailgirl running program.  Step back if you don't want to be on the news."

   The stereotypical tv news reporter - thin and blonde, short skirt and
blazer - came striding towards them on her four inch stilettos.  "I'm
Tiffany Ambergris here with Megan Brooks and Bob Starnes at Sloane Guaranty
and Trust in Montgomery County where eight nude mailgirls are about to run
a ten kilometer race.  Megan, can you tell us what is happening?"

   Megan looked directly at the reporter, "Tiffany, SG&T is hosting the
Maryland Corporate Challenge 10k race in October as part of our outreach to
the local community.  SG&T is determined to be not only a gracious host,
but also a competitive force in the event.  Last fall our women's team
finished well back.  Local management realized that we have a pool of
extremely fit, active women that we could draw from in fielding a team. 
None of our current twenty-four mailgirls have a track background, so this
is the third in a series of weekend trials to select a group for further
training in preparation for the race.  The eight mailgirls that are not on
duty today will start their run in a few minutes, the other sixteen will
run tomorrow morning."

   "Will they be wearing running attire for the race.?"

   "No, nudity is a condition of their employment and at SG&T being a
mailgirl is a 24/7 commitment for the length of their two year contract. 
They will just be wearing the collar with their ID tag, an ankle bracelet
for the timing chip, and we're still sorting out a proposal for a sports
bra, though that may be just for training.  I imagine their race numbers
will be stenciled on their chests and backs.  And now if you'll excuse me,
we have a race to get underway."

   As the mailgirls moved to the starting line Megan heard the reporter
speak to the camera man, "Frank, try and get some footage of the girls
running that we'll be able to put on the air."

   As Mr Starnes called out "Ready, steady, go," Tad pushed off on his
bike, and the run began.  Megan strided through the 1km loop around the
parking lot and heard Mr Starnes call out "three fifty-five", then "three
fifty-nine, four minutes" as she began the second lap with a detour by the
water table to grab a cup of water.  Megan eased into a comfortable pace
leading the way across the parking lot and onto the tail into the woods. 
She reached the road noting the now familiar line of cars parked along the
other side and the comforting presence of the SG&T security car.  When she
turned left onto the road she glanced over her shoulder back along the
trail and was surprised to see just a lone mailgirl a good fifty yards in
arrears.  Turning left again on the road leading back to SG&T she could
only see three mailgirls on the road behind her which meant the other five
still hadn't emerged from the woods for the first time.  This group was
definitely resigned to the inevitable paddlings and had apparently come to
the conclusion that they might as well put it off.  Megan hoped that Ms
Barnes and Mistress V wouldn't go nuclear at the finish.  She eased her
pace still more.

   The crowd along the course from the edge of the parking lot to the
finish was even larger and louder than it had been the previous week. 
Well, it wasn't that loud when she strode by, but the noise grew behind her
as the mailgirls exited the woods.  Megan made the turn to start her third
lap and could see only four mailgirls stretched out along the course behind
her.  She kept glancing to her right and saw three more enter the parking
lot before she picked up the trail again and disappeared into the wood.

   Re-entering the parking lot she noticed Frank the camera man in position
to video the crowd cheering on the mailgirls along the final straight.  He
wasn't recording her progression along the course.  Starting the final lap
she could hear Brendan shouting encouragement although she was sure that he
could tell that she wasn't running flat out - still, she reflexively picked
up her pace.  She found herself just cranking her stride a bit faster and
crossed the finish line for the final time to Mr Starnes' call of "forty
thirty-seven."

   Brendan handed her a cup of water as she came to a halt.  "You looked
very comfortable out there and finished with a rush."

   Megan saw Mistress V standing by the water table, riding crop in hand.
Brendan gestured to the forbidding figure whose quasi-dominatrix garb stood
out in the casually attired crowd of men, "Who is that woman?"

   "That's Mistress V - though I learned recently that her name is actually
Wilhelm.  She's the sort of den mother to the mailgirls and responsible for
keeping them in line.  And yes, I've bent over in front of her while she
applied six of the best to my bare behind with that crop, or more commonly
a paddle.  Stick around and you'll see her use it on the last place
finisher."

   Megan looked back along the course and could see Seven and Eight
striding along together.

   "This is our slow heat and it looks like they all decided that they
weren't going to avoid the paddle so they wouldn't kill themselves to get
to the finish and confirm it."

   Mr Starnes called out "Forty-one thirty-eight as the two women finished.
Twenty was next in "forty-one fifty-five" then Eighteen and Twenty-four in
"forty-two seventeen." Finally, One, Five, and Twenty-one trotted in
together in "forty-three oh-one."

   Mistress V advanced on the three tail-enders "Mailgirls One, Five,
Twenty-one bend down over that table and assume the position." The three
women rested their torsos on the water table knocking aside and squashing
paper cups of water and grabbed the other side of the table, spreading
their feet shoulder width apart.  Her first blow caught the well-rounded
backside of the plump redhead just above her ass crack, then a backhander
landed at the top of the thighs of the tall blonde Twenty-one.  The first
strike to One's buttocks split the difference.  Megan heard Brendan suck in
his breath at the casual brutality of the beating while Tiffany stared
avidly at the spectacle.

   Then, "Mailgirls, back to the Locker Room, now." and the eight naked
women headed straight for the building entry and disappeared inside.

   Tiffany said "Too bad we can't use that on the evening news.  That would
do wonders for our ratings." Then she turned and walked over towards Megan.
Megan was happy to see Jeremy shouldering his way through the crowd in the
tv reporter's wake.

   "Frank, come over here for the wrap-up.

   "Well, that was very enlightening Ms Brooks.  I understand that the
initial impetus for this project came when SG&T Management realized that
their fastest woman last year had been working as a mailgirl until just
before the race.  Did you find that delivering messages in the nude was
sufficient preparation for the event?"

   Jeremy came up beside Megan and responded, "Our management doesn't
explain their decisions to the workforce any better than anywhere else, so
that supposition is pure speculation.  What we do know is that Bob Starnes
and Megan Brooks are fine athletes with strong backgrounds in the sport and
devoted to meeting SG&T's goals both professionally and in the community.
I'm Jeremy Digness of SG&T's Community Relations Department and I can
answer whatever questions you have while Megan has a chance to shower and
change out of her running gear."

   Megan gasped "Thank you." and bolted for the building.

   * * * * *

   An hour later sitting down to brunch with Brendan, Megan was still
shaken.  "Ms Aldridge must have tipped her off.  Thank God for Jeremy - I
know I was about to do something that I would regret."

   "What were you going to do?  And who is Ms Aldridge?"

   "I don't know what I was going to do, but it wouldn't have come out
well. Ms Aldridge was my boss in Chicago and according to Mr Starnes
engineered my transfer to Maryland and the Mailgirls program.  She showed
up yesterday and showed me two videos: one promoting the Mailgirls program
and a second documenting my life and times as a mailgirl.  She says she
shows the second video to women who 'need a bit of guidance.'"

   "Ms Aldridge sounds like a real piece of work.  Can't you bring her up
on charges of sexual harassment?"

   "That's always a tough charge to make stick and usually damages the
complainant as much as the guilty party.  Add in that I'm trying to
re-establish my professional standing post-mailgirl experience and I think
I'm better just to soldier on.  I've gotten some solid expressions of
support lately and I want to build on that and not remind everyone of those
two years where I ran around naked, abasing myself to everyone in sight."

   Brendan looked dubious and concerned.  "Well, all right.  I take it you
expect tomorrow's run to be a different proposition from today."

   Megan was much happier with the change of topic.  "The eight women that
ran today were the slowest in the trials over six and eight kilometers and
none were excited about racing.  Tomorrow's group isn't excited either, but
a number of them have real talent and are competitive so they can lose
themselves in the effort.  They're all in excellent shape - mailgirls lead
a healthy, active life, eat a wholesome nutritious diet, and get plenty of
rest.  Mailgirls are also constantly demeaned and told they are the lowest
of the low so doing well at something is pretty heady stuff.  Mr Starnes
and I have both tried to point out to Ms Barnes - the Mailgirls coordinator
- that pride in racing well and the mental abuse of mailgirls is
contradictory, but the party line looks to be the old 'floggings will
continue until morale improves.'"

   "How do you put up with all of this?"

   "Well, I was well compensated financially for my time as a mailgirl and
I enjoy the job I'm doing now.  Plus, I feel I have to keep an eye on my
sister and every now and then I feel like I can strike a blow against the
system.  The Corporate Challenge may be a positive thing and I may have a
chance to help rescue Fourteen who is fearful that one of our senior legal
people wants to make her his personal mailgirl.  That's part of what I've
got going on tomorrow morning - I'll let you know how it works out."

   Brendan seemed to be ready to keep the date going past brunch, but Megan
was still somewhat shaken by the morning's events and begged off, saying
that she had a friend - female - coming for an overnight visit and needed
to straighten up the guest room.  Their goodbye kiss was more than just a
peck on the cheek and both Megan and Brendan parted feeling that this
relationship was worth exploring farther.

   * * * *

   Back at her condo Megan dropped notes to Sarah and Lin about the Fox 5
camera crew.  Then it was fresh sheets on the bed in the guest room and
generally straightening up her already tidy home.  She was at the grocery
store picking up snacks for the evening when she got a text from Lin saying
'heading your way.'

   Not quite an hour later Megan was sitting on her balcony when a sky blue
Miata pulled into one of the guest parking spots.  A few minutes later her
phone pinged to announce a new message.  She stood up and called out "I'll
be down in a moment" and waved when Lin looked up at her.

   Megan raced down the stairs and met Lin on the walk leading to the
building and flung her arms around the petite Oriental woman.  "It's so
good to see you" surprising herself with the force of her feelings. 
Stepping back she continued, "You look really good, college life must suit
you."

   "And look at you: clothes, shoes, and everything.  Do you know when you
make your television debut?"

   "I'll probably watch the ten o'clock news tonight, but if not I'll wait
for Jeremy to let me know."

   "Boyfriend?"

   "No, Community Relations at SG&T.  But, I did have a brunch date this
morning after the run.  He's a friend of Sarah's partner and a runner."

   "You may be in recovery.  Let's not talk Mailgirls just yet.  Can we do
something normal - check out the pandas at the Zoo..."

   * * * *

   Several hours later, two carefree, smiling, very attractive women
climbed the stairs to Megan's condo.  They'd eaten at the Zoo where the
only unattached men in sight invariably had small children in tow.  So the
pair were admired, but not hit on.  As she unlocked her door Megan
suggested, "How about I open a bottle of wine and we sit out on the balcony
until the mosquitos drive us in?  White or red?"

   "That sound lovely, white, I think."

   Lin was leaning back, looking over the parking lot, when Megan emerged
with a bottle and two glasses.  "This is an Albarino from a Maryland
winery; I picked it up at the farmers' market in Silver Spring before my
Saturday mornings became dedicated to mailgirls."

   Lin accepted a glass and raised it in salute.  "Catching up or Fourteen,
first?"

   "Fourteen, I think.  Then we can go on to the wider world."

   "Well, assuming this part-time gig flies, we'll admit her and we've
sketched out a tentative schedule of Tuesday/Thursday classes and a
Wednesday seminar.  She can take the MARC train up to Frederick Monday
evening and then back here Friday morning - it'll be a reverse commute. 
She can bunk with me this fall and sort out housing and transport for the
spring semester later.  The admissions counsellor says that Fourteen
shouldn't have any problem finishing her degree this academic year." Lin
paused to sip her wine appreciatively.

   "That sounds great.  Let's hope she runs well in the morning."

   "So how does this Mailgirl racing team work?"

   "There are unlimited entries in the Corporate Cup - one firm had nearly
fifty men and women running in last year's race.  Only the top five men and
women score - you add up their places and that's the team total; low score
wins like in golf.  I finished three minutes ahead of our next woman last
fall and she took a job downtown.  So, our effective team will be me and
six mailgirls to be chosen by Mr Starnes and me.  Three and Four look to be
shoo-ins for the top six.  Ms Barnes said SG&T is acquiring a former
All-American from a West Coast company - did you know they can buy, sell,
and trade mailgirl contracts?  - and so she'll take a slot.  Fourteen is
one of five mailgirls, including my sister, in contention for the last
three places.  This special arrangement may give her extra incentive
tomorrow.  None of our current twenty-four mailgirls were serious runners
in their previous lives and I'm not sure how excited they're going to be to
give their all for SG&T while baring their all for SG&T."

   "So, refresh my memory about Fourteen."

   "Tall, classically beautiful brunette, late 30s.  I wasn't a psych
major, but my take is that she was deeply depressed post-divorce after a
series of miscarriages which left her feeling inadequate/guilty, pick your
adjective.  Mr Fforde in the legal department here was a law school buddy
of Fourteen's ex and he arranged her to not only get hired as a mailgirl,
but also to take on-line courses.  She kneels in front of a computer in the
law library where he can monitor her via webcam.  I'd say he's one of our
typical management perverts, but she's pulled herself out of her funk and
this part-time gig seems like it could be a good stepping stone back into
the normal world.  For a pervert, Fforde's done well by her, but she
doesn't want to be swallowed up by him."

   "And you've arranged a meet in the Med Center post-race?"

   "Yes, just you and Fourteen, aka Marie Hyland Briggs, with Susan to run
interference."

   "And how is the former Mailgirl Two?"

   "Well, work's great except for the shits that can't let go of me as
Mailgirl Two.  My boss has been especially supportive in a thoroughly
professional way.  Things are at best tense with my folks who are still
horrified by me as mailgirl and firmly blame me for Samantha signing up. 
She really gets off on being a mailgirl; she treats it as a two year
cos-play experience with pay.  I'm exploring a relationship with a nice guy
- we'll see how that goes if I'm majorly outed because of the whole
mailgirl running scheme.  But, a visible boyfriend may help rehabilitate me
with my folks.  And that assumes I don't freak out at a 'normal'
relationship after two years of sustained debasement, frenzied
masturbation, and girl-on-girl sex.  For the past year it's just been me,
my fingers, and my trusty vibrator.

   "So what has Mailgirl Seven moved to?"

   "My father decreed he no longer has a daughter and my mother will not
challenge him.  I meet up with my brothers and their wives, but they don't
mention me in his presence.  Dr Smithers saved me.  She rages against
mailgirls in general and SG&T's treatment of me in particular, so she lined
up the job for me when I left and has mothered me for the past year.  She's
married, but childless, so select students wind up filling that niche for
her.  I'm finally getting to the point where I can get back into
dissertation mode and move on with my life.  No boyfriend/girlfriend in
sight, just self abuse."

   "We are a sad pair.  Five is living with Sam and waiting for her
clearance to come through to work at Sam's agency.  One is manning the Med
Center here.  Three is an executive assistant on the Fifth Floor working
directly for Mr Soames.  Four resigned, but followed Twelve to San
Francisco - you'd think they'd know lesbian couples are mainstream in any
major city these days.  Six is in law school in New England; the original
Eight is a model/actress/waitress in New York; Eleven went to work for a
bank in her home town.  Three, Six, and Nine re-upped as mailgirls; the
replacement Eight is closing out her two years.  All but Eight will be
running tomorrow morning."

   Lin looked down at her wine glass.  "Two years as a mailgirl was hell.
I'm not sure that I'm ever going to recover - it was a life changing
experience.  The most painful part was the dehumanization, the constant
humiliation, the former colleagues, the one-time friends who abused you,
reveled in your pain, spit in your water bowl...

   "The beatings, eating Mailgirl chow out of a bowl on the floor, cold
showers, being locked into a cage to sleep on a cold stone floor - those
were awful, but I now appreciate the comforts of life so much more now. 
But the closeness of a shared experience with seventeen other amazing
women, most of whom I would never have gotten to know otherwise, much less
been intimate with.  It was like girl scout camp on steroids with little of
the back-biting and petty jealousies of middle school and high school.  And
the sex..., I miss being kept at that low boil and then just having to rub
one out in the shower or in the stair well.  I earned many a demerit for a
late delivery because I paused on the landings between floors to relieve
the tension.  I miss the cuddling, the finding solace in the arms and the
pussy of another mailgirl - fingers and vibrator have never brought me to
orgasms the way that One and Six could.  I loved those women desperately,
but then I just ran as soon as I walked out of the Locker Room for the last
time put on clothing again."

   "You haven't been with anyone since you left?'

   "No, I haven't had the courage to move on as yet.  I have taught a class
plugged fore and aft with dildos wondering if there were any of my students
that would be right to get to know better.  Not the just out of high school
students, but one of the older non-traditional who has known something
outside of home and school."

   Megan hesitantly asked, "Would you like to sleep with me tonight?'

   Lin grinned.  "Yes, and in all senses of the word sleep since you're
dragging me off to SG&T at mailgirl a.m."

   "You know, I haven't had sex in a bed since I left Chicago.  And then
there's the whole process of getting our clothes off - we never had to
bother with that step as mailgirls."

   Lin put down her wineglass and stood up.  Let's take this inside unless
you want to replicate another part of the mailgirls experience and let
everyone see."

   "Actually, I've always been partial to outdoors sex and I don't believe
we'd be obvious rolling about on a blanket on the balcony."

   "I don't know about that, I remember you as a screamer.  Someone walking
across the parking lot would certainly hear, if not see us."

   Megan slid open the door into the condo and said, "my bedroom is this
way."

   * * * *

   "Explain to me why we're up this early." grimaced a bleary-eyed Lin
Chang.

   "I'm up because I don't run well on a totally empty stomach; so I'm
toasting myself a bagel to go with my orange juice.  You could have spent
another half hour in bed asleep and picked up breakfast at the coffee shop
during the race."

   "Am I riding in with you or driving myself?"

   "If you're heading directly back to Frederick after interviewing
Fourteen then we drive separately.  If you want to come back here post-run
we can drive in together.  I'll have to stay long enough to spring Fourteen
from the Med Center and who knows what other mailgirl related issue I may
get sucked into.  I am not taking work clothes so I will not be going up to
my office afterwards - there's always work that I could be doing, but I'm
planning on escaping SG&T for the rest of the day."

   "We can take the Miata and leave the top down.  It should fit in better
with the party crowd than your stodgy little Toyota.

   Fifteen minutes later Lin and Megan were sitting in a line of cars
waiting to turn into the SG&T parking lot.  "This is crazy.  It's not even
6:30 on a Sunday morning and the parking lot looks like Black Friday at the
mall - before Amazon."

   "Pull into Mr Dawlish's spot.  He won't be here this hour of the morning
and I'll square it with Security.  They and the IT guys respect
ex-mailgirls much more than the rest of the workforce does.  I'll take you
down to the Med Center and re-introduce you to Susan before I head down
into the locker room and check in with our runners."

   As the two women walked towards the entrance Lin pointed at the small
back pack Megan was carrying and asked, "What did you bring?"

   "Nothing exotic, just a towel and a dry top and socks and shoes for
post-run.  I'll leave it in the Med Center.  You can wind up soaking wet in
a summer race between perspiration and getting sprayed by water to stay
cool along the way.  At a normal race I'd just peel off the wet top and
towel off wherever I left my car, but in this crowd I'll do that out of
sight."

   They entered the building to find every seat taken outside the coffee
shop and elsewhere in the lobby with a two to three deep crowd at the rail
overlooking the lower lobby and the glass wall of the Mailgirls Locker
Room.

   "If you think they're checking us out now, this is nothing compared to
the interest I'll draw when I descend to the lower lobby and walk into the
locker room."

   Megan led Lin up to the Security Desk guarding the passage into the SG&T
office spaces.  "George, this is Professor Lin Chang; you used to know her
as Mailgirl Seven.  She's in town this weekend and wants to visit with
Nurse Allen while the run goes on.  She's seen enough naked women running
about."

   The middle-aged guard waved his hand towards the inner entrance and
said, "Sure, go ahead.  Welcome back Ms.  Chang, the new Seven isn't half
so pretty."

   Lin blushed and responded, "Thank you, George."

   As they walked down the corridor towards the Med Center Lin commented,
"You know, I'm really impressed with Fourteen.  I didn't give any thought
to my dissertation for those two years and she's carried a nearly full
class schedule despite a more than full-time work commitment."

   "Well, she's had it a little easier than we did.  There are twenty-four
mailgirls now as compared to the twelve, then eighteen for most of our time
- and the bean counters have convinced Human Capital to think about the
cost of extra hours for hourly employees as opposed to salaried.  Plus, I
suspect her lawyer friend has protected from from some of the after-hours
events.  The beatings and utter debasement of mailgirls haven't changed
though.

   "I would have thought it would have been harder for an older woman, but
she'd already been beaten down so far as her marriage unraveled that the
group debasement was easier to bear.  I wouldn't say that the mailgirl
experience helped her, but I think it did offer her a safe space to
recover. And in a somewhat twisted way her self-mage was affirmed by being
accepted as a mailgirl We used to be put down for being small busted, but
there was always this track running in my head saying 'yes, but I wouldn't
be kneeling here in the nude if those sickos in Human Capital didn't think
I was beautiful.' Add in her doing well in her college courses and she has
received continuing positive reinforcement."

   Lin chimed in, "I've read Dr Scott's book based on her PhD thesis, but
she is a anthropologist.  I wonder if there's a graduate student in
Psychology somewhere also living the life.  There's thesis material for
many fields in the mailgirl phenomena, but sadly not in Mathematics." She
sighed dramatically, then added, "We can laugh now, but it was a shitty two
years while we were living it."

   The two women entered the Med Center where Nurse Allen looked up and
cried, "Seven!"

   Megan put her back behind Susan's desk and said that she would be back
after the race, not that either Nurse Allen or Professor Chang noticed as
they were hugging and crying and paying the rest of the world no mind.

   Megan retraced her steps back to the lobby and then it was down the
stairway to the lower lobby and the Mailgirls Locker Room ignoring the
crescendo of interest from the crowd above.  Nearly all twenty-four
mailgirls were visible - her sixteen runners and most of the eight women
who were on Sunday mailgirl duty.  Mistress V was looming over the runners
who were in Knees position, snapping her crop against her high boots as she
hectored her charges - probably speaking about their behavior before the
crowd of spectators that would be lining the course today.

   "...any misbehavior today will earn you at least a half-dozen blows in
addition to any due for tardy finishes." is what Megan heard as she entered
the locker room.  "Now remain in position until Ms Brooks leads you to the
starting line."

   "Good morning, ladies.  We're running ten kilometers this morning. 
That's once around the parking lot following the yellow line and then three
trips off campus following the blue line.  That's the course that the
Corporate Challenge will be run on in October.  For most of you this will
be your last run unless we go for a repeat next year.  I haven't gotten a
firm answer from the fifth floor, but my assumption is that at least five
of you will make the racing team and possibly more if they want to hedge
against someone being injured over the next eleven weeks.

   "So, up the stairs and out to the table by the finish line for some
water.  It's hot out there and you need to stay hydrated, so we don't
overwhelm Nurse Allen with heat-prostrated mailgirls."

   Megan turned and led the way out into the lower lobby and up the
stairway to a deafening chorus of cheering men.  The visitors had
apparently been well briefed by their SG&T hosts as the interaction was all
verbal, no one reached out to cop a feel of any of the sixteen naked women
heading towards the entry to the outside world.

   Sometime after Megan had entered the building someone - Megan bet on
SG&T Security - had roped off a corridor from the entrance to the
start/finish line.  The outside crowd was even more raucous than the men in
the lobby and Megan could feel herself shrinking from the wall of noise and
intense stares at the passing parade.  She grabbed a cup of water from the
table and walked over to Bob Starnes and Tad.

   Bob said, "You'll be happy to hear that Corporate Relations rejected the
offer of a beer truck in the parking lot this morning."

   Megan responded, "From the sound of it I think a large portion of the
crowd brought their own.  I don't see any barbecues, but it reminds me of
tailgating in the Big Ten."

   "I thought you went to a small college?"

   "Yes, but I went to Iowa for my Masters and attendance at a home
football game was part of new student orientation and I got the whole
experience.  We had nothing like it for D3 cross country and track meets,
not even Nationals.  On the whole, I prefer a sober crowd or none at all to
alcohol fueled enthusiasm."

   "We've got Security out in force to manage the crowd in the parking lot
and lobby.  Jeremy reports the County, State, and Park Police have been
squabbling over who has jurisdiction over the stretch of road through the
park.  No camera crew this morning - your job is to focus on the run and
the mailgirls that will make up the running team."

   "I expect to let Three and Four lead today while I run along with the
women that look to be on the bubble.  Let's get everyone on the starting
line."

   With a minute to go before before seven a.m.  Megan and sixteen naked
mailgirls were standing behind the painted white line; Tad was standing by
his bike, eyes fixed on the vision at the start.  Bob Starnes gestured to
let Megan know it was time.  "Ready, steady, go" was nearly lost in the
clamor from the cheering crowd.

   Tad jumped on his bike and started pedaling as the women started forward
following the yellow line.  Megan settled in alongside her sister, a few
yards in arrears of Twelve who had bolted into an early lead.  Megan knew
Fourteen had reason to make the team, but had no feelings as to the
motivation of the other fifteen.  Three and Four had run well over six and
eight kilometers, but did any of them care?  Twelve led through the first
lap in 4:01, slower than Megan had run yesterday, then followed Tad's lead
along the blue line for the first of three laps.

   Megan continued to run easily behind Twelve, noting gratefully that the
road portion of the course was coned down the middle with police stopping
traffic at both ends while the mailgirls traversed that stretch.  She
grabbed a cup of water from the table near the finish line, taking a
healthy swallow as Twelve made the turn to start lap three to Bob Starne's
call of "Sixteen-o-seven." Unlike yesterday, there were a half-dozen women
in a line just behind her and another clump not far back.

   Fourteen surged past Megan and Twenty-two as they reentered the parking
lot for the second time.  Megan accelerated smoothly past Twelve to pull
even with Fourteen as they began the final lap at "Twenty-eight sixteen."

   "You're doing well, but we still have another three k to go so you want
to spread your effort over the whole lap."

   Fourteen choked out, "The fix is in.  No one else cares if they make the
team, so none of them will challenge me.  Six fewer blows to the ass is
just not much of an incentive."

   "Bob Starnes and I have both told Ms Barnes that we need to provide some
reason to run fast.  I'm not going to fuss about today, but we need to
provide some carrots for the other women leading up to the race in
October."

   Four came up on Fourteen and Megan as they turned onto the road for the
final time and said, "Three stepped on a rock back there and is hurting
bad."

   Megan said, "I'm going to have to get you all in shoes before the race;
yet another argument with Ms Barnes.  Maria, when we finish I'll tell you
to escort Three to the Med Center while I run interference with Mistress
V."

   Four started to pull away as they made the final turn towards the finish
and Megan decided to stick with Fourteen.  The cries from the spectators
were deafening so she didn't hear Four's time as she finished thirty yards
clear.  "Forty eleven" greeted Megan and Fourteen.

   Three was in knees position at Mistress V's feet near the end of the
water table.  Bob Starnes called out another time and Megan turned to see
Twelve and Twenty-two come to a halt with Fifteen and Two about to finish
and a line of mailgirls following.

   Megan grabbed Fourteen's elbow and steered her over towards Mistress V
commanding "Fourteen, Tad; take Three down to the Med Center." She
continued, "No, Mistress V, you and I have fourteen other mailgirls to deal
with." as Fourteen and Tad led a hobbling Three through the roped off
corridor towards the building.  Megan noted the thin red lines across
Three's buttocks; Mistress V hadn't wasted any time punishing Three's
non-finish.

   The women that had finished were mostly clustered near the water table
with cups of water trying not to draw Mistress V's attention.  Twenty-three
was off to the side talking to a young woman - Megan recalled that she was
a local hire so the woman was probably a friend or relative.  They were
both ignoring the men pushing ever closer.  Curious, Megan walked over
towards the pair and Twenty-three spun around when the other girl warned of
her approach.

   "Ms Brooks, this is my friend Heather; she wants to be a mailgirl."

   "That's not a career choice I can recommend" Megan responded looking at
the blushing blond, automatically assessing her by mailgirl standards. 
Cute, girl next door look, probably only a B cup.

   Heather burst forth "I got into Penn State, but my folks can't afford it
and won't take out a loan so I'm stuck with going to AACC and living at
home.  Bonnie says I could make enough to pay for college and I'd rather
room with her instead of my brothers."

   "I wouldn't call it rooming exactly The money's good for a high school
graduate, but the life is hellish and there is no guarantee that you'd
still be college material after two years of being treated like an animal."

   Heather looked shaken but said, "I could do it."

   "I still wouldn't advise it, but if you want to talk some more about
being a mailgirl, just hang around until all this is over.  My car is the
the blue Miata over there" Megan gestured off to her right.

   The last finisher, Seventeen, crossed the finish line to deafening
cheers, but looked wholly rung out.  She leaned into Bob Starnes and went
limp which induced a chorus of whistles from the spectators who weren't
focusing on the dozen or so mailgirls standing by the water table.

   Megan jogged over and asked, "Do we need to get her to the Med Center?"

   "Probably heat issues, wouldn't hurt to get her inside into the A/C and
have her lay down where someone can keep an eye on her.  First, we get some
water into her."

   Mistress V was rounding up her charges and pointed at Megan, "You, Ms
Barnes wants you down in the locker room with the other mailgirls."

   Megan ignored the implication of 'other mailgirls' and just said, "I'll
be down after Mr Starnes and I get Mailgirl Seventeen to the Med Center.:"

   "You do that, Missy."

   Bob offered "I can help her to the Med Center."

   Megan snorted "No, I need to point out to Mistress V that I am not a
mailgirl and no longer have to follow her orders or those of Ms Barnes. 
Besides, I need to check on Three and get Fourteen headed that way."

   "We do have to discuss which mailgirls we select for the team.  Are you
up for a working lunch today?"

   "I've got a friend visiting, but she'll be heading off this afternoon.
Can we slide that into the dinner hour?"

   "Okay, it's a date.  Text me when you're free." Bob turned and headed
off to supervise the clean-up of the finish area.

   Megan muttered, "Not a date, not a date" as she helped Seventeen back
into the building and down the hall to the Med Center.

   She opened the door to the Med Center and ushered Seventeen in calling
out "I've got more business for you, Susan."

   Nurse Allen looked at Seventeen's flushed visage and said, "It's too hot
out there to run."

   "Not my idea.  Where are Three and Fourteen?"

   "I sent Three back to the locker room.  She has a stone bruise and six
welts across her backside - I put ointment on her butt, told her to stay
off her foot, not that she'll be able to follow that advice.  Fourteen is
is Exam Room 2."

   The door to Exam Room 2 opened just then and Fourteen emerged followed
by Professor Chang.

   "Oh, good, you're finished.  I'll walk Fourteen back to the locker room
and should I meet you here or out at the car, Lin?"

   Lin looked at Seventeen and said "Either the lobby or the car.  It
depends which location looks less crazy."

   "Well, if you go out to the car, there is a Heather who was talking to
Seventeen who says she wants to be a mailgirl.  You can counsel her just as
well as I could."

   "Maybe a cup of coffee in the lobby then.  I'll be the non-panting
female amoung all the horny men."

   Megan walked Fourteen out of the Med Center and down the hall and saw
that the lobby was largely emptied out.  When they started down the
stairway she saw that the locker room was empty - hence the lack of
spectators - and surmised that Mistress V had taken the other mailgirls
back into the dormitory.

   "How was your discussion with Lin?"

   "Oh, she was wonderful.  She said that I've been admitted and even
worked out a schedule for me for this semester.  She says I can stay with
her at college - no it's not like that, even I could see that she's totally
into Nurse Allen.  I had forgotten that they were so hot and heavy when we
were all mailgirls together."

   "You know, I hadn't put that together.  You're absolutely right.  Maybe
we'll see more of Professor Chang around here from now on." The two women
passed through the locker room and into the dormitory which Megan had last
entered when she was still Mailgirl Two.

   The mailgirls were lined up against the wall in Knees position except
for Mailgirl Twenty-two who was lying face-down on the spanking bench with
Mistress V on one side and Ms Aldridge on the other.  Mistress V gestured
to the row of mailgirls and said "Fourteen, knees."

   As Fourteen dashed over to take up her position Ms Aldridge looked at
Megan and said, "Ms Brooks, I have a proposition for you.  I will
personally oversee Mistress V doling out twelve of the best to each and
every one of these mailgirls beginning with Mailgirl Twenty-two with the
promise of another dozen to come in the next week or..." She paused,
smiling sweetly at Megan, "...we'll forgo all that if you take your
sister's place for a mere six strokes of the cane.  I feel like I missed so
much when I was in Chicago during your two years as a mailgirl."

   Megan sputtered, "You can't mean that.  I'm not a mailgirl any longer
and having these women beaten because you're obsessed with me is just
wrong."

   "I prefer to think of if as something that just gives simple pleasure to
a top executive at SG&T.  Surely, you have some empathy for these girls -
are six blows from the cane too much of a sacrifice to avoid twenty-four
strokes for each of these twenty-four innocent girls?  Let's see that's 24
x 24 ..."

   "Six hundred and seventy-six" Megan said numbly.

   "Yes, I remember that you were always good with numbers.  Now, which is
it to be, dear - or should Mistress V just begin with this girl while you
make up your mind?  I think we'll have to strap her down, twenty-four seems
like just too much to bear without moving."

   "You bitch.  Let my sister up."

   "Of course, I am.  You don't become a senior executive by playing nice.
Get those sweaty clothes off and she can join the other mailgirls and
watch."

   Megan kicked off her shoes and skimmed out of her running shorts and
top. She reached behind her back to unhitch her bra and then stepped out of
her panties.

   "You can hand those to me.  I understand that handing over your panties
is a mailgirl tradition.  I'll let you keep the socks.  Now, bend over this
bench; I think that's a better position for a caning than lying down.  Do
you need Mistress V to strap you down."

   "No.  Just get this over with."

   Megan leaned over the bench, feet spread wide and hands holding onto
either side of the bench; she had had two years to learn this particular
stance.

   "Oh yes, and thank Mistress V for each stroke."

   Megan heard the whir of the cane and then felt a line of fire across her
bare buttocks."

   "Thank you, Mistress V."

   She managed to stay silent otherwise until the fourth stroke when a cry
of agony burst forth from her lungs.  She leaned her head down onto the
bench and stoically bore the last two.

   "Well, that was very enjoyable.  No, no, don't bother seeing me out.  I
have a flight to catch this afternoon.  It was so nice to see you again,
Megan."

   Megan stayed leaning over the spanking bench until she heard the door
open and close.  She straightened up wincing in pain and collected her
clothing, less panties, dressed, and started towards the exit.  She then
turned and said, "Mistress V, I trust you'll keep Ms Aldridge's part of the
bargain.  There will be no beatings beyond the six strokes promised the
slowest eighteen."

   Megan walked slowly up the stairway to the upper lobby and went straight
to the Security Desk.

   "George, do you monitor the video from the Mailgirls Dormitory here?"

   "No ma'am, we just have the feeds from the outside cameras.  The
interior cameras are route to the office down in the basement.  Harry's
working that desk today, he can answer any questions."

   "Thank you, George; I'll do that.  If you see Professor Chang tell her
that I'll meet her here in the lobby or out at her car shortly."

   She stopped by the Med Center to change into dry clothing and collected
her purse with her employee id.  Her employee id as a mailgirl had featured
a full-length photo of her nude body, her current id had the normal head
shot.

   Nurse Allen popped out of Exam Room One to see who was there and asked,
"Are you ready to leave?"

   "No, I'm going downstairs to talk to Security.  Do you know where Lin
is?"

   Susan blushed, "She's still here, we're getting caught up."

   Megan smiled and said, "Does Exam Room One afford the same opportunities
for mailgirl interactions as the dormitory?"

   Susan blushed even deeper and said, "Yes, but I have to worry about
interruptions from random someones seeking medical aid.  Just give a call
when you're finally heading home."

   Megan took the service stairs which she had traversed so often as a
mailgirl down a flight and found the Security Office.  An older, balding
man opened the door at her knock and said, "George called to say you'd be
down.  Mistress V really laid into you; I thought you were past all that
now."

   "So did I, Harry.  The trade off was six strokes for me or twenty-four
for each of the mailgirls including my sister who was laid out on the bench
when I walked in."

   "How did that happen?"

   "Ms Aldridge was my boss in Chicago and engineered my transfer here in
the first place.  She's still got it in for me."

   "And that's the Ms Aldridge who called to tell us to delete the
recording of the video from the dormitory cameras this morning.?"

   Megan groaned, "You didn't, did you."

   "Well, of course, we followed orders and it's scrubbed clean off our
system.  You'll need to talk to the IT folks - you know they haven't done
any such thing.  I advise talking to Damon in the morning.  Not too early,
they work to their own schedule."

   "Thank you, Harry.  I'm going to nail her ass to the wall."

   "You do that, Ms Brooks."

   Megan turned and headed back up the stairs wondering if Heather would be
waiting to talk to her.

   * * * *

   On the drive back to Megan's condo Lin asked, "What's with your
fidgeting in the seat?  My driving's not that bad."

   "Six strokes from Mistress V's cane; sitting is painful."

   "You're still subject to Mistress V even as an analyst?"

   "No, but when I walked into the dormitory with Fourteen Ms Aldridge
offered me the choice of my taking six stokes or all twenty-four mailgirls
getting twenty-four, starting with my sister who was laid out on the bench
in front of me.

   "I went down to talk to Security about getting the video to take to HR,
but they told me Ms Aldridge had ordered them to delete that file.  Harry
also said that he was sure that IT would have a copy and to talk to them in
the morning.  If they have the video, I'll do my best to nail Ms Aldridge
on sexual harassment charges.  In either case I'll go to my doctor tomorrow
to document the damage to my ass.  With that and testimony from the
mailgirls that may be enough, the video would help though.  I'll call Sarah
and ask her advice, she's the lawyer."

   Good luck with that.  I know as mailgirls everything was stacked against
us.  Hopefully, that doesn't apply to ex-mailgirls."

   "Fourteen seemed pleased after talking to you and she was the second
mailgirl finisher today so she will make the team; now if the part-time
contract comes through...  And what's with you and Susan?"

   "There were somethings that didn't suck about being a mailgirl; Susan
was one of them.  Well, she did suck in a literal sense and I've got a
dinner date with her tonight."