Category: Missing Scene

SSC07 A Different Song for the Sopranos
A Fantasy Story by Elisabeth Edgerton

Dr. Jennifer Melfi tapped her chin, listening to Carmela Soprano's message. Although Anthony, Carmela's husband, was her therapy patient, she had not met Carmela until a month ago.

A clearly frustrated Carmela described her misbehaving daughter, Meadow. Rather than call back, Melfi opened the desk drawer, pulling files forward, revealing a palm-sized paddle below. Anthony would be her courier.

"Dr. Melfi sent this for you," Anthony said, handing Carmela an envelope, "so check your e-mail for instructions." Carmela cocked her head and shook the package. She peeked inside. Smiling and nodding, she glanced at Anthony and headed for the computer.

"Carmela, you must take control of Meadow," said Melfi's message, "and do so with determination." Carmela felt her heart race as she continued: "I advise you be old-fashioned, and soon."

The message detailed exactly what to do. Carmela remembered her own childhood, and obviously Dr. Melfi was very traditional. Assure that the two of you have privacy. Know what Meadow will be wearing. It's jeans down or skirts up. No jumpsuits! Meadow goes over your lap, but first she pulls down her underpants. Refusal means more swats. No excuses. Limit the pleas and the claims of embarrassment and being too big to spank.

Carmela smiled when she found Meadow, that evening, making a PB&J sandwich in the kitchen. With a maternal frown, Carmela declared it was time to talk. Sitting at the table, Meadow was halfway through her sandwich when her eyes opened wide and she gasped at her mother.

"Do what?" Meadow exclaimed, dropping the sandwich and jumping up in one motion. "Oh, no, that's never gonna happen, Mom." Then she heard a voice from over her shoulder. Her father stood there, casting a shadow over her protest.

"Meadow," Anthony said calmly, "Get your ass upstairs to your bedroom, or you get the strap from me, you get it?"

Meadow welled up and looked at her mother, then down at the seams of her jeans. She blushed and brushed back her long, dark hair.

"Those Levi's are coming down, young lady," Carmela said, "so get ready for a good paddling."

Trudging upstairs, Meadow's gentle curves bounced sexily beneath snug pockets. Door closed, paddle in hand, Carmela pointed to Meadow's pants. "Now," she said, "drop the jeans and over my knee."

Meadow bit her lip. Snap, unzip, tug.

"Panties too?"

"Yes."

"No spankings since you were nine," Carmela said. Meadow said nothing. Her back to her mother, her thumbs tugged jeans and panties in one motion. Resigned, she turned and assumed position, her fresh skin blushing in anticipation.

Carmela delivered with determination. In a few seconds, six swats descended, then six or eight opposite, then it felt like everywhere. A staccato spanking.

Meadow started squirming, and then she was crying , wanting to jump up, gripped with the searing and stinging only cool wood can create on warm, soft skin.

Tears blurred Meadow's vision. She didn't see the camera taping her childish cries.

Not knowing much about the Sopranos, I had a bit of a tough time reviewing this story. However, I think that it's very evident that you know the characters and understand how they are likely to interact with each other. I think that is very important for a fanfic because they are very unbelievable if the author doesn't have a proper grasp of all the characters involved.

I especially enjoyed the therapist's instructions to the mother because it was so no nonsense and to the point. I got my own little shivers when I read that! I also loved Meadow's reaction to hearing she was going to be spanked. I thought that was very realistic!

The story moves very quickly, both because of the word limit and the style of conversation the characters maintain. I think that serves to convey the mob culture of the Sopranos. I thought the spanking itself mirrored the conversation in that sense (quick, no nonsense).

Thanks for writing!

I do enjoy good fanfic and Meadow is certainly one of the more deserving girls in mainstream fiction. (Admittedly, some details are probably lost on me, as I haven't seen the final episode.) I hope the author's pics can accompany the story on the archive site.

I liked the idea of Dr Melfi sending the paddle to Carmela (a shuddering recollection of how Melfi's parents had used it on her once upon a time might have been a juicy touch). I love Tony's crude interjection - a perfect characterisation in a single line of dialogue. And the anticipation is handled well. In fact, this story is _mostly_ anticipation, which is the best kind of spanking story.

On the 'critique' side, I found myself wanting to know the characters' thoughts. The story would be stronger with a single POV and the strongest would probably be Meadow's. I'd like to be in her head to experience the shock, outrage and contrition from her perspective.

Poor Meadow. Born under a bad sign indeed.

I may be the only person in the US who has never seen the Sopranos, so I can't evaluate this story based on its faithfulness to the characters, but I liked that you put in enough explanation that I wasn't left in the dark about the people and their relationships. The story has a sharp, staccato feel to it that is an interesting parallel to the description of the paddling; I appreciate it when the tone/execution of a story matches the content. Nice job!

An interesting concept, having Dr. Melfi intervene so directly in Carmela's relationship with Meadow. The author conveys a certain frustration on Carmela's behalf, but from what I've witnessed re the Meadow character I felt she succumbed a little too quickly. Like the author, I recognize the limitations of the 500 word maximum, and the difficulty of capturing the right mood in so few words. I think this story would benefit from an extended try outside the parameters of the contest.

As a Sopranos fan, I think you got the tone right. The story feels true to who the characters are, or were at the time the story takes place. It took me back to when Meadow was that rebellious teen, and I always hoped she would be spanked. Thanks for writing the one scene that has been missing for all these years!