Afternoons of a Woman of Leisure (9781101623565) by Elizabeth Bennett Page A

puts his hands in his pockets. “Excuse me for interrupting,” he says, glancing at Dr. Simon, “but does your boyfriend touch your breasts.”
    â€œNo.” Joanna shakes her head, looking confused. “Is he supposed to?”
    â€œNot necessarily,” Dr. Simon says authoritatively. “But some women find it pleasurable.”
    â€œReally?” Joanna frowns.
    â€œYes,” he says dismissively. “But tell me, exactly what is the nature of your problem?”
    Joanna blushes. “It’s so embarrassing.”
    â€œThat’s all right,” says Dr. Simon. “We’re both doctors. We’re here to help you.”
    â€œOh I know!” Joanna cries. “I’m so grateful. It’s just . . . it’s just so hard to talk about.”
    â€œTake your time,” says Dr. Stein, the medical student.
    â€œWell,” she begins, her head down. “I was wondering, you know, if there might be something wrong with me. Some medical reason why . . . why I can’t, you know . . .”
    â€œCome,” says Dr. Simon. “You would like me to examine you, in order to see if there is a physiological obstacle.”
    â€œYes,” Joanna nods enthusiastically. “Oh would you? Please examine me thoroughly. My boyfriend is so upset about this, and of course, so am I.”
    â€œYou would like to come, in other words.”
    â€œOh yes, yes I would,” Joanna says. “But there must be something wrong. I mean, he’s doing everything right, isn’t he?”
    The two doctors exchange glances. “We’ll have a look,” Dr. Simon says, rising. “We’ll see what we can find.”
    He leads Joanna into an adjoining examining room and points to a screen. “Please take off all of your clothes,” he says.
    â€œYou mean my bra too?” she asks. “And my panties?”
    â€œYes,” he nods, impassive. “I’m afraid so. There is a gown over the chair. Please put it on so that it ties in front. I will be back in a minute and we will begin the examination.”
    He turns, shutting the door behind him. Through it she hears muffled voices, a laugh. Joanna wonders briefly if either of them is really a doctor. Not that it matters, she smiles to herself.
    She goes behind the screen and removes her clothes, unhooking her bra and peeling off her underpants. Then she slips on the gown, made of some kind of soft paper, white. It crinkles as she fumbles with the ties down her front. She goes to the leather examining table and sits sideways on it, waiting. Before her, a steel table is covered with examining tools, white cotton swabs, syringes, lubricant and rubber surgical tubing. The door opens.
    â€œAll set?” Dr. Simon asks brightly. “Please lie back on the table. Just relax.”
    Joanna lies back, her legs together, her hands demurely crossed over her stomach. On her forearm, the black metal bracelet glitters dark against the pale of her skin. Dr. Simon goes to the foot of the table. The medical student stands at Joanna’s head, watching.
    â€œJust scoot down a bit, that’s right,” Dr. Simon croons as Joanna moves down the table towards him. Her ass rests at its edge. He gently lifts her legs and moves them apart, settling her heels in the cold steel stirrups. Then, to her surprise, she feels something move across her ankles and tighten, locking her in place. “This is for your own protection,” he tells her. “It’s important that you not move. Please try to relax. I know this is difficult for you.”
    â€œOh, it is,” Joanna says fearfully. “Will it hurt?”
    â€œI hope not,” Dr. Simon says, sympathetically. “I’ll try to make you as comfortable as possible. Dr. Stein? Will you help me with the screen please?”
    Together they take a long piece of green surgical draping and place it across Joanna’s