Penny turns around

As Penny reluctantly turned around and bent over to appease the woman on the TV screen, she found herself really beginning to hate acting. Is it really worth it to jump through this many hoops just to get one assignment? Sure, it paid well, but it was hardly less humiliating than having to beg for rent money from Sheldon.

Still, she came this far. There was no point in going back now.

As she turned her naked butt toward the security camera, she casually wondered what was taking so long. Did they have so many pictures of naked butts on file that they had to sort through them all before they let her in? Or was just some bizarre test invented to indulge some rich guy's sense of humor?

Whatever it was, Penny could not help sighing with relief when the woman said," Okay, you've been approved. You can get dressed again."

Oh, good, she thought. Now I can go back to feeling like a normal human being.

But the woman was not through with her instructions. "Please enter via the small wooden gate on the left-hand side of the gate. Once you get in, take the path to the rear of the mansion where you'll find a green door. Please knock on the door and ask for Magda. She will handle the rest."

So I don't get to go in the front door like a honored guest but instead I have to go in the back way like I'm part of the hired help, thought Penny. Nice.

Oh, well. It could be worse.

And indeed, the brief walk to the green door went rather well though a cool breeze kept reminding Penny of her lack of undergarments.

When she got to the green door, a young dark-haired lady in a maid's uniform answered her knock and let her in. Speaking with an Eastern European accent, the woman -- whose name was obviously Magda -- insisted on directing Penny toward a small bathroom and then asked that she shower.

"But I already showered this morning," said Penny.

"Well, the master insists that you shower again," said the woman called Magda.

"Very well," said Penny. "Aren't you going to leave?"

"No, Miss," said Magda. "The master also insists that I take your shoes, your dress, your purse, your watch and all your jewelry. For safe-keeping, of course."

"Of course," said Penny. "In that case, where's my robe? I'm going to need something to wear when I get out of the shower and these little hand towels you have here in place of regular bath towels aren't going to help me that much."

Magda smiled an enigmatic smile. "I'm so sorry, Miss. But the master says you don't get a robe."