Yesterday morning one of the girls from my assembly line came into my office.

"Teresa, I need a big big favor."

She's a good girl and tries hard. She's younger than the other workers, and I try to help her out, in a motherly sort of way.

"I think my brother's in trouble again."

She and her brother had come to work in this country a few months ago, and were living with their aunt, about a mile from the factory. She has no transportation, and usually walks to work.

"Is he dealing drugs again?," I asked her?

"I don't know, Teresa, I think so."

She's a bright, healthy girl - beautiful, actually - and she speaks very good English.

"I wish you wouldn't get involved in these things, Maria."

"But we're family! Anyway, do you think you can drive me over to the clinic during the noon break?"

"Sure, why not. Does he need some medication?"

"I promised I'd take something there for him. It's very important."

"Meet me in the parking lot at eleven-thirty sharp. We won't have much time."

She seemed greatly relieved that I could help her, and I was pleased to find her waiting beside my car when I went out. She looked good. Her clothes were always clean and pressed, but somewhat out of style. She wore long skirts and dresses, while the other workers usually wore jeans. Actually, I myself was wearing a long skirt yesterday, so I guess we were a pair.

"This is a really great car, Teresa."

"Maria, where is this important thing we have to take to the clinic?"

"You're gonna kill me. We have to stop real quick at my aunt's house so I can pick it up."

"Why didn't you tell me about this? It's starting to get too complicated."

"But I've gotta do it. It's a life and death matter."

I watched her run into the house. I had learned that in her country she had been very competitive in school athletics. And she was continuing to stay in great shape. But she surely didn't look like an athlete. Her hips were wide and full and her breasts seemed to stick straight out. They definitely moved when she ran, but they didn't flop around like those of other girls with big breasts. She clearly had the figure of a woman. (One day I asked her if she wore a bra, and she told me she never had.) We didn't get to see her legs, because of the long skirts and dresses she always wore. (I pictured them as being unshaven, but I never asked her.)

When she came out of the house she was carrying a package about the size of a large shoe box, wrapped in paper and taped closed. And she was crying.

"What happened?", I asked.

"You're gonna kill me. I can't go with you. You've gotta take it. They're waiting for it. Please, Please, Please!"

"You're crazy."

"I've gotta help my brother. Just take it to the front desk. They'll know what it is. I swear I'll make it up to you somehow. Just please please do this for me."

I had a really bad feeling about it, but I walked into the clinic and put the package on the front desk. The lady smiled at me very pleasantly, and I started to leave.

"Hey, where do you think you're going?" A guy grabbed me tightly by the arm. He was wearing greens, but I don't know if he was an orderly or a male nurse. "Lets have a look at the package. Open it up, Jenny."

"I don't know about this, Jake. It feels pretty light. - - - Yeah, there's nothing in here but paper and a few magazines. You'd better take her to see the doctor."

"Bullshit! - I have to get back to my job."

He twisted my arm enough to make me stop arguing, and half dragged me down the hall. We stopped in front of a door. Jake knocked and then tried the knob. After a quick look inside he dragged me in. We were alone.

"Let me out of here, you big jackass. I have an important job to do, and I'm late. You're really gonna be in trouble."

He closed the door and pushed me toward a chair. "Sit down and shut up, lady. You're gonna wait for the doctor."

I didn't have to wait long. A short, important-looking man came in and closed the door. "Jenny told me what happened." He was fifty-ish, and greying - sort of wiry. He wore a red short-sleeved golf shirt, revealing his hairy arms. "Is this the girl?" "What's your name, Honey?"

"Doctor, can you get this stupid jackass out of my face? And my name's not Honey. "

"I think I can handle this, Jake. Why don't you leave us alone?"

"She's pretty feisty, Boss."

"We'll be fine."

I was glad to see what I hoped was the last of Jake. Surely the Doctor would be more civilized. I put out my hand. "My name is Teresa, Doctor. I hope we can straighten this out. I'm very late for work."

"Call me Bob," he said, shaking my hand firmly and giving me a broad smile. "Jake gets a little carried away sometimes, but he means well. He's very loyal. So tell me about my package."

"There's nothing to tell, Doctor. One of my girls asked me to deliver it for her. She said it was an emergency. It was all taped up. I have no idea what was in it."

"I'm not a stupid man, Teresa. And I don't think you're stupid either. Do you really expect me to believe you'd do something like that?"

"I didn't have time to think about it, Doctor. She was upset and crying, and I was going to be late."

"We're talking about Maria, right?"

"Do you know her?"

"Indirectly. - Listen, Teresa, you're going to have to convince me about this. I can't just let it go."

"I don't know how to explain it. Maybe Maria didn't even know what was in the package. What was it worth? Maybe I can just give you the money. I'll straighten it out with her later. I've really got to get going."

"It's not only the money. I can't let somebody get away with pulling this kind of stuff on me."

"Look, Doctor, I had nothing to do with it. I don't care if you believe me or not. I'm out of here right now."

"I'm sorry, you can't do that - not until I get to the truth of the matter. You seem like a nice lady, but I have to protect my reputation."

"But what do you expect me to do? - take a lie detector test?"

"Well - - - maybe that wouldn't be such a bad idea."

"What do you mean?"

"How does a lie detector work? - By measuring certain changes in the body."

"What are you trying to say, Doctor?"

"I'm saying a woman's body reflects what's going on in her head."

"I'm leaving."

"Sorry, I'm keeping you here until I'm satisfied."

"I'll report you to the police."

"Go ahead. They'll never believe you. Besides, I have important friends in high places."

"That's kidnapping."

"No, because you're going to agree to my plan. I'm giving you a chance to clear yourself."

"You're crazy. - - - - - Okay, let's say I agree. What would you do to me?

"I'm a doctor."

"So you say. I don't even know your name. Doctor Bob. Are you sure you're a doctor?"

"My credentials are on the wall. Take a look. Tell me what you see."

There were three or four framed documents on the wall, and I got up from the chair to take a closer look. They were all written in fancy printing. "Okay, okay!"

"Read it."

"This is to certify that Robert M. Stearns has passed the blah blah blah blah etcetera. Blah blah blah School of Gynocology. - - - Okay. - - - So you think this will work?"

"The female organs are very sensitive to emotional change."

I went back to my chair, and sat down. "That sounds like something from a textbook. - - What about men?"

"Not nearly as much. Women are my specialty. I see this every day. For some women, a pelvic examination can be a very emotional experience."

"So I've heard."

"Seriously, Teresa. I can tell by a woman's body when her emotions are about to change. I know it before she does. I know what she's thinking."

"I'm very skeptical about this. How do I know you're for real?"

" I know what I'm talking about."

"So let's say for the moment that I believe you. How is this going to work? How long is it going to take?"

"Well, you'll just have to trust me. It may not take very long. We'll just have to find out. I've never seen you as a patient."

"So what's the deal, Doctor?"

"How about this? - - You'll submit to certain tests. You'll do exactly as I say, No exceptions. No arguments."

"You're really asking a lot. I'm just an innocent person in this whole mess."

"If you're really innocent, as you say, then you'll be free to leave. I'll even pay you well for your trouble."

"But what if it takes a long time? I can't stay here forever. You've got to give me a better idea of how long it will take."

"Until I'm satisfied - one way or the other. I enjoy my work. I don't like to be rushed."

"Can I call my boss?"

"No."

"Well - - I don't want to be manhandled again by your loyal friend Jake. - - - Okay, I'll try it. At least I know I'm innocent, so you'd better come up with the right answer."

"Once we begin, there's no backing out."

"But I don't want to be injured in any way."

"I'm a doctor. I don't injure people."

"You've got to promise. I can stand pain, Doctor, but I can't stand the sight of blood. No cutting. No marks on my body of any kind."

"You'll just have to trust me on that. You must obey all my orders. Whatever I say goes. Agreed?"

"Okay. Understood. What do I do?"

"We'll need to check your general condition before we do anything stressful."

The Doctor sat down at his desk and opened and closed a few drawers. I was already thinking I'd made a mistake. I didn't see any examining table. "Just stand here in front of the desk, my dear." I slowly got up again and tentatively walked toward the desk. He made some notes on a pad, then got up and walked around behind me. He spoke authoritatively. "Spread your legs."

It wasn't the tone I was hoping for. It seemed like he just wanted to feel me up.

His hands were strong and his movements were deliberate. I decided he knew what he was doing. I guess it made me feel a bit more confident.

"Put your hands on top of your head."

He firmly smoothed both hands down over the sides of my body, from my armpits to my hips. He moved to the side and applied pressure between my tummy and the small of my back - then between my abdomen and my buttocks. He worked his hands down the outside of my long skirt into my crotch area - one in front, against my vulva - one in back, with a finger against my anus. Then he lifted upward, keeping the pressure on for several seconds.

"Doctor, this seems a bit unusual."

"Am I hurting you?"

"No, not at all. It's just not what I expected."

"How old are you, my dear?"

"How old do you think?"

"I'd say about thirty-seven."

"Try forty-three."

"Really? - You know you ought to get more exercise. Do you work out at all?"

"I don't go to the gym, if that's what you mean. But I walk every day - six or seven miles."

He moved directly behind me again and concentrated his attention on my buttocks and upper leg muscles. "That's amazing," he said. "Forty three years old! That's not bad. Do you have any problems with your breasts?"

He reached around from behind and started lifting and squeezing them. "I think they're okay, Doctor."

"Does this bother you?"

"Well, I'm not too crazy about it. I'd like to put my arms down before too much longer."

He kept squeezing. "They're not as firm as I had expected, but they're typical for a woman of your age."

"Ouch! Hey!"

Now he was pinching my nipples. "So, we're a little bit tender here. And are we expecting our period in a couple of days?"

"Shit. Yes, that's correct for me, Doctor. I don't know about you."

"Teresa, I'd like you to raise your skirt for me, If you don't mind."

"Yes, Doctor."

Now he was getting polite. I took it as a bad sign, and began to wish I was wearing jeans.

"All the way up, please."

It was a very full skirt, and a lot longer than I would have preferred. I gathered it up and raised it well above my knees. "Is this okay?"

"Above your bottom, Teresa - yes, that's it. I see you're wearing pantyhose, my dear. I'll have to ask you to remove them."

"But Doctor,"

"Don't argue."