Short visit

German short story about the pleasure of an aching bottom. Author: Agnes Benniza

“Good morning, Mrs. Winterfeld! — Is there anything important in the mail?” Gloria was still holding the door handle and only half-entered her secretary's office. She was running a little late today. They must have been waiting for her at the first meeting this morning. “Good morning, Professor. — No! Just the registration forms for the congress in Vienna. I'll fill them out afterward, then you can sign them at noon today, yes?” Frau Winterfeld looked at her boss over her golden, somewhat old-fashioned looking glasses.

“But there's one more thing!” Gloria had already half turned away again to hurry to her appointment. She paused and looked back over her shoulder at Mrs. Winterfeld. Their eyes crossed. Actually, her secretary didn't need to say anything more now. The strange intonation of her last words and that very special, worriedly sympathetic look were too clear. Nevertheless, Gloria asked, startled, “Yes, Mrs. Winterfeld?” Quite contrary to her usually cool manner, something pleading resonated in it. “Please don't let it be Aunt Kate!” she thought, although she already knew she shouldn't hope for that. “Mrs. Schindler has called. She'll be here at four! I've already rescheduled the appointment with the hairdresser. I hope that's all right with you!” Mrs. Winterfeld dashed her hopes. Her look became a little more pitying as she did so. “Oh! — Oh yes! Thank you very much, Mrs. Winterfeld!”

Gloria finally let go of the door handle and took a step into the office. Almost compulsively, she unnecessarily smoothed the tight, almost knee-length skirt of her elegant, light gray costume at the back. “I'll have to go home to change before then!” Her discreetly brightly made-up face covered with a slight blush as she realized what her hands were doing. But there was really no reason to blush, because Mrs. Winterfeld knew everything anyway. How long had she been her secretary? Twelve years, for sure. To a certain extent, they were almost like an old married couple. “You don't have a fixed appointment after the lunch break, Professor. So there's plenty of time!” she reassured Frau Winterfeld, who was used to very conscientiously organizing the life of the renowned scientist, who was usually somewhat removed from the ordinary things of everyday life, “Yes, that's good,” she sighed. “And I … I've already put the … the … stick in the water,” the secretary shared a little hesitantly, blushing a little for her part; so to speak, on behalf of Gloria.