Private Lessons

Katie Jefferson swallowed, watching Latoya Richards walk back and forth in front of her. She'd made a C- on the first test. And her professor wasn't pleased.

"I just don't understand why I did poorly, Professor Richards. I wrote --"

"You wrote exactly what the other white students wrote," Latoya said. "Entitled pablum from an entitled student."

"I -- I -- " Katie stuttered.

"You what? You did the best you could?" Latoya said mockingly. "You need some humility, girl. Kneel down."

Katie bit her lower lip. Part of her said no. A larger part said yes. She got out of her chair, kneeling down before her professor. Latoya kicked off her flats. Katie paused for a moment, then leaned down and kissed them both. Latoya smiled.

"Good. Subservience. Not entitlement. My ancestors probably knelt like this to yours you know. But their subservience was enforced with the whip and the collar. The weaker enforcing their will on the stronger. Was that good, in your view?"

Katie simply shook her head. Latoya smiled thinly.

"You'll submit because you're weaker. And in exchange, I'll take you under my wing, pet."