The rest of the day was uneventful. I was still tired and feverish Edna had prepared dinner, which Josephine and myself ate. I watched a bit of TV with Josephine, but soon excused myself and went to bed.

I slept fairly badly — interruptions, headache and bouts of fever. I had forgotten to bring aspirin with me. I went to the bathroom, where I think Josephine stored medicine over some shelves. There was the little canvas bag — I could not help looking into it — the familiar glass thermometer in its case, the jar of Vaseline, the little bottle of alcohol and the cotton. Some cough medicine. The glycerin suppositories that were put to such a humiliating use the other day — a sizable box, I guess Josephine had constipation issues. Some suppositories for throat ache — what an idea?! Other odds and ends. But no aspirin.

I woke up at 10.40. Aunt Josephine was practicing on her piano. I went to the loo; as I came out and pondered going down to greet her, I stumbled upon a very smiling Edna who pointed to my bedroom and gave a playful slap on my buttocks. I meekly went back to my room. Edna soon came in with the canvas bag. I sighed. “You know the position.”

I could hear the piano in the distance. I sighed again, went on my side over the bed and pulled down my pajama bottoms. I felt her hands pulling my cheeks apart, and then, some hesitation on her part. Then the now familiar procedure resumed “Bear down for me, please!” and in came the thermometer. “I'll be back in a second.” and she left.

Edna was soon back and started questioning me about my night. I told her about my uneasy slumber. “No stomach ache? You went to the toilet this morning, right — #1 and #2? No aspirin or other drugs?” and so on.

Finally she removed the thermometer. Then, surprise! — she wiped between my buttocks. “As I suspected”, she said while showing me the dirty toilet paper, “you did not wipe carefully enough. In fact, you have stains in your pajamas. I'll wash them.”

Edna had a knack for making me feel again like a 6 years old! I did not know what to say. There was an awkward silence — my bare bottom still prominently shown, the piano still playing.

I heard some noises behind me — I turned my head. Edna was preparing a suppository!

“Edna, I'm not constipated and have just been to the toilet.

- Sure. But this is aspirin, not glycerin. This is for your headache and fever. Please show me your derrière.

- But... can't I have it in drink as usual?

- Not this time, young man.” and she tickled me.

“On your side again.”

I sighed... and obeyed. Soon my buttocks were pulled, “Bear down!” and the suppository was in, perhaps pushed deeper than the first one. I could not decide whether I liked feeling Edna's finger up there — it was disgusting, slightly uncomfortable, and yet strangely pleasing.

“Now go shower. Please wash carefully the dirty bits front and back, armpits, etc. For the front don't forget to peel the skin. And after you go to the toilet, wipe carefully and if you have any doubt go use the bidet, as I showed you. Understood?

- Yes, mommy.

- Uh uh. You know, Alex, I wonder how you would have appreciated, back in the days, if I had treated you as I had treated my children. Remember the day you threw this pot of water onto your sister? Your aunt was quite easy on you.”

Couldn't she spare me this rather ridiculous episode with the little snitch?

“Actually this gives me some ideas. Go shower, and wash well this naughty derrière of yours!” she said after tickling me on the said derrière.

And so I did. By then, Edna had resumed her chores., Auntie had stopped playing the piano. After I answered her inquiries about my health, we discussed life in the United States.

I was actually fairly uneasy. By then some of the melted suppository had oozed out of my anus, and I had a squishy feeling between by buttocks. I ended up excusing myself to go to the toilet to wipe myself.

Then I recalled Edna's admonitions and went to the bathroom to use the bidet. As I awkwardly sat on it to wash myself, I could not help wondering what Edna had in mind for me in the forthcoming days. I knew I could stop at any time... but I found her “lessons”, even the most humiliating ones (such as the suppositories), so... exciting?

“Alex! Lunch is ready!”