Mrs. Smith let go of her daughter and stepped over to the device, placing
her feet in the holes.
Madame Petrushka handed Regina one of the padlocks. "Lock her in place."
"What? I--I can't do that."
"Do it," commanded her mother. "It's part of the contract."
"What contract?"
Madame Petrushka explained. "When a young lady's mother agrees for her
daughter to be punished, it's with the understanding that she will also
submit herself to it. That way we can be sure that the desire for her
daughter to undergo corrective action is only out of the deepest love."
"I only want what's best for you, Regina, even if it means...this."
Regina bent down and locked her mother's feet in place. When her mother
lifted her arms, Regina locked them in place also.
"Stretch her out," said Madame Petrushka.
Regina turned the crank until her mother's feet lifted slightly, then down
again--just like it had been done to her.
Regina looked at her mother and noted how lovely she still was, how
youthful. And how helpless she was, stretched out in her strapless dress
as Regina had been just moments before. "I love you, Mother."
Madame Petrushka placed a blanket around Regina's shoulders and told Elsa
to take her away. As she was led toward the door, she turned around and
saw Madame Petrushka reaching toward her mother's bare underarms. The
hysterics had already started
as she reached the door, then became muffled as Elsa closed it behind her.