| The New Big Brother Chapter 15 |
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| The next few weeks went by rather quickly. Though Wendy still missed Ricky, she came out of hiding and returned to school. Alex struggled with her punishment from Mark, and his idea of being her father. Nathan returned to Barrington, and Camille did all she could to make amends with those whom she had angered, including her father. Mark and Kevin made two trips a week to visit the detention center where Ricky and David were. When they returned to the school, Wendy would be found waiting on the bench outside Mr. Parker�s office for a report on her brother and Ricky. Mark always told her Ricky and David had seemed to be in good spirits and Ricky had asked him to tell Wendy not to worry. Thanksgiving had come and gone, and Christmas was less than a month away. Today was the day Mark was to go to the detention facility and pick up David, so after he finished his breakfast, he spent a few minutes with his children before he headed out the door. Mark made the 35 minute drive, filled out the familiar paperwork, chatted with the discharge officer, then sat in the waiting room for him to bring David out. When the door opened, Mark stood up when David walked in. �Hi son.� Mark wrapped his arms around David. �Are you ready to go home?� �You have no idea,� David replied. On the ride home, Mark watched David from the corner of his eye. David sat staring out the window of the van as they drove through the city and onto the freeway. David didn�t talk much on the ride home. Mark pulled off the freeway and took the winding country road that led back to Jacksonville. He pulled into the small diner and turned the van off. �What are we doing?� David asked. �Well it is nearly lunch time so I thought we would get something to eat before we went back.� David jumped from the van and headed for the diner with Mark. He wasn�t going to pass up a good hamburger for school food. While they sat and waited for their order, Mark watched David. He seemed very distant and this worried Mark. When the waitress brought the food, David ate quickly, but didn�t talk much. Mark didn�t push it. They paid for their meal, then headed back to the school. Mark parked the van in the usual spot, and they both headed for the door. As they walked up the stairs, David stopped. Mark stopped and turned. �You ok, son?� �I�m fine, Dad. I just wanted to say thanks for lunch.� Mark smiled. �You�re welcome, but I wish we could have talked a little.� David and Mark entered the school. �Everyone is done with lunch and back in school already. Do you want me to go to class?� �You don�t have to go today. I think you should just go on up to your room. We will talk later.� David nodded, then headed back to a room he hadn�t seen in twenty days. It wasn�t much to look at, he thought, as he stood in the doorway, but it looked like heaven today. David stretched out on his bed and fell asleep. When he woke, the sun had gone down and the entire room had grown dark. He flipped on a light, then looked around the room. He thought maybe he should go see everyone, but he remembered his dad had told him to go to his room. It hadn�t sounded like an order, but David wasn�t sure. He decided to wait. A minute later, the door opened, and Nathan entered. �Hey, you�ve been sleeping for hours.� Nathan said. He closed the door, then threw himself onto his bed. David sat up and stretched. �I know but that�s all I did when I was locked up. I feel tired all the time. How is everyone?� David asked. Nathan filled David in on everything; All the good as well as the bad stuff. Before he could get a chance to ask about Ricky, Mark knocked, then opened the door. Nathan excused himself so David and their dad could talk. Mark closed the door, and took a seat on Nathan�s bed. �You haven�t said much since you came home. Are you all right?� Mark asked. �David looked around the room, then stared at the wall. He felt like crying, but he didn�t want his dad to think that being in detention had made him a sissy. �I�m sorry, Dad,� he whispered. �Sorry for what, son?� �For everything; for being a bad influence on my younger brothers and sisters; for always disobeying you and for always putting you in the position so you have to punish me. I will be 15 soon, and I think it�s time I grow up a little and start being a better influence.� �Well I am certainly glad to hear it. I never wanted for you to go to detention, but sometimes having time to reflect on the things we have done, and where it gets us, is a good thing. I hope you�re serious about behaving and being a better influence. You know you do influence them. They do look to you, and your behavior does affect them.� David finally looked at his father. �I know, and I�m sorry. I want to help and I want to be a better big brother. No more stupid stunts for me.� �Well son, give yourself some time to be home before you throw yourself into things again.� �I will,� David replied. �Now before I turn in, I wanted to discuss one more thing with you.� �What�s that?� �Tomorrow morning before school, Mr. Parker wants you to come to his office.� �Ohh, well I don�t think he wants to ask me how my vacation was. How much trouble am I in?� �Well just between the two of us, you need not worry too much. He just wants to talk with you. I do know he is going to put you on restriction. I am not sure just what all he has in mind. �Hey, as long as he doesn�t take out Old Faithful I�ll be fine with any restrictions he gives me.� �I don�t think you have to worry about that.� Mark stood and headed for the door. �Dad?� �Yes, son?� �I�m really sorry.� Mark placed his hand on David�s shoulder. �I expect to see how sorry you are, but by your future behavior.� David nodded. When Mark made his nightly rounds to tuck in his girls, he made it a point to include Alex. She hadn�t disobeyed her mother since he had spanked her, and when he tucked her in each night, her tummy would knot up. She wasn�t afraid of Mark, but his voice and his stern demeanor, made her a little afraid of future disobedient acts. When Mark left the room, Missy stared at her. �Why are you staring at me?� �Well I was just wondering something.� �What?� �Mother and Mark are getting real close. You know, we all know they like each other. He has already punished you. You think if they get together he will be my father too?� �I don�t know if I want them together.� Alex replied. Missy sat up in bed and propped her head up with her hand. �Why not? Are you afraid of him?� Alex lay in bed for a minute before answering. �I don�t think so. I don�t know.� �Well he isn�t anything like Mr. Callahan, so I don�t know why you would be afraid of him.� Alex thought of Mr. Callahan, then of Mark. �I was afraid of Mr. Callahan because he hurt me. I�m not afraid of Mark. It�s just that he is the one who saved me from Mr. Callahan, and if Momma and Mark get married he is going to be the one spanking me. I don�t think I want that.� Missy sat and listened with curious eyes. �I don�t know if I want to have a dad either. I mean Mother�s spankings are bad enough. I don�t think I want to take a trip across Mark's knees at all. I was talking to Jessica, and she says the belt stings something awful. She says it really hurts if you get it on your bare bottom.� �It does, but I don�t think Mark would hit me as hard as Mr. Callahan did. If anyone should know the difference between Mark and Mr. Callahan�s belt, it would be Wendy since she got the belt from Mr. Callahan.� Missy closed her eyes and thought of how things might be, if Mark were indeed her father. He had never reprimanded her or sent her to her room. He hadn�t even punished her. He had always been kind and always took the time to tuck her in when he came in to cover Alex and say goodnight. When she opened her eyes again to speak to Alex, she was sound asleep. Missy turned out the light and closed her eyes. The next morning, Wendy dressed as quickly as she could. She could hardly wait to get down to breakfast and see David. Her father hadn�t allowed them to see David the evening before, and she was about to burst. When David entered the cafeteria, Wendy ran to him and wrapped her arms around him. David hugged her back. She went with him as he retrieved his breakfast, then sat with him at the table. �I�ve missed you so much,� she whispered. �Well I�ve missed you too. I also heard all about what you�ve been doing while I was away.� �You have?� �Nathan sorta filled me in. I can�t believe you lied to Dad again. What were you thinking?� Wendy widened her eyes and sat up straight. �Are you scolding me?� �Yes I am. You should know better by now!� Wendy didn�t know what to think. �What happened to you while you were away?� �I did a lot of thinking while I was locked up. It�s time I straightened up and did what I�m supposed to. I know you�re just a kid still, and I know you�re going to do things, but you shouldn�t lie to Dad.� Wendy looked at David, then down to her plate. She wondered if now would be a good time to ask about Ricky. David reached out and touched Wendy�s shoulder. �What do you think Ricky is going to say when he finds out how much trouble you�ve been in, huh?� �I don�t know. He probably wouldn�t be too happy with me.� �No, he probably wouldn�t. I also think he wouldn�t be too happy to find out how much you been moping around either.� Wendy looked up from the table. �How is Ricky?� �Well he misses you, but he is just fine. Only nineteen more days and he will be home.� Wendy looked at her brother. �He is going to miss Christmas. No one should miss Christmas. It�s not fair the Judge is making him be locked in for Christmas.� �No he won�t! He gets out on December 20th.� Wendy�s eyes widened and she jumped up from her chair. �But Daddy said he wouldn�t be back until after January!� �Yes, he will. I don�t know what you were thinking, but his forty days is up on the 20th if I counted right that is.� �You mean Daddy counted wrong?� �I know how to count. Maybe Dad just got it mixed up, because forty days ends on December 20th.� Wendy threw her arms around David. �I love you!� She turned and ran from the room. David took a seat outside Mr. Parkers office just as the school bell rang. Several kids waved at him when they walked by, but some snickered. It wasn�t the place anyone wanted to be caught sitting at. As the halls quieted down, David began to wonder what kinds of rules Mr. Parker was going to inflict upon him. When the door to his office opened, David felt a little twinge of fear flow through his body. �Come on in, son!� Mr. Parker motioned toward the door. David stood, took a deep breath, then entered. �Have a seat, David!� he ordered. David took a seat. He watched as Mr. Parker took his place behind his desk, then thumbed through some papers before speaking. �You�ve been gone for twenty days. Did you learn anything while incarcerated?� �Yes, sir. It was quite an experience and one I don�t care to repeat.� Mr. Parker stopped organizing papers. �Well that is good to hear. How is Richard doing?� �Well sir, he is doing ok, but I don�t think he is too thrilled to have to be there for such a long time.� The boy�s lucky he didn�t get sent to a boys� group home until his 18th birthday.� �I guess so, sir.� �Well young man, I suppose you are probably wondering why I wanted to see you.� �Dad said something about restriction, so I guess that is why I am here.� �Well I talked to your father a few minutes ago, and he feels that incarceration has done you some good. However there are going to be some additional rules that I will expect you to follow. First of all, you will not leave the premises of the school grounds unless you are accompanied by your father or me. You will be in your room every night for the next thirty days right after supper.� David�s eyes widened. He thought that was a bit harsh, but he didn�t make any objections �You will attend school each and every day. You will not miss one day. Not one day!� You will do all of your homework and participate in class. You will not give your teachers grief of any kind. If I see you on that bench, I will whip you, and then send you to your father for further punishment. If I see you anywhere other than in your room after supper, I will whip you right on the spot!. And if you intend to do any night time prowling, you will get a taste of that belt hanging in that closet.� Mr. Parker pointed to the closet behind his desk. �You know which one I�m talking about, don�t you!� David sat up straight. �Yes sir, I know which one.� �Have I made myself clear?� �Yes, sir.� �Very well then. You are on restriction, so you best behave yourself.� David sat and waited for Mr. Parker to excuse him. When he did, as David approached the door, he turned around to speak. �Mr. Parker?� �Yes David.� �I wanted to ask you something.� �Go on.� �Well I know you said I am to spend evenings in my room, but I�ve been away from my brothers and sisters for twenty days now, and I was hoping to spend some nights with them. I�ve really messed up, and I want them to see that I am a good brother. Ever since you asked me, that Halloween night what kind of brother I was, I thought about it. As a matter of fact, it�s all I thought about the whole time I was locked up. I want to be a good influence on them, but I can�t do that if I am in my room.� Mr. Parker remained quiet for a couple minutes before speaking. �One week. You will obey my rule for one week, and if I hear no bad reports on your behavior, I will allow you Wednesday nights and Friday nights with your brothers and sisters. As the month goes by, I will consider adding one day at a time until the thirty days are up.� David smiled a big smile. �Thank you, Mr. Parker. Thank you very much.� Mr. Parker smiled back. �Get to class before your teacher marks you tardy and sends you to see the principal.� With a smile, David hurried out of the office to class. Wendy could hardly contain herself through school. The smile she carried all day made Mark feel better. If he had realized what she had been worried about, he would have made it a point to tell her when he would be coming home. That night Wendy could hardly get to sleep. She thought of how wonderful it was going to be to have Ricky home for Christmas. She had to start working so she could get him a present. The next morning Wendy met Alex at their usual table for breakfast. They were chatting about Christmas when Mark approached. �Have either of you girls seen Sarah?� Wendy knew her father looked a bit troubled. �I saw her in the halls upstairs just this morning, but I haven�t seen her get breakfast yet. Is something wrong?� �You just eat your breakfast, I will tend to Sarah.� Mark turned and walked back through the door and into the hall. �I wonder what she did?� Alex asked. �I don�t know. I haven�t spent much time with her lately, but I think we should go and look for her.� The two girls put their trays away, and headed out to look for Sarah. It had been a while since Sarah had caused any trouble, and knowing Sarah like she did, Wendy knew she was about due. It was Saturday morning, and usually Sarah liked to watch cartoons, so the girls checked one of the playrooms. When they entered, both of their mouths dropped open. Nadia was seated in front of the television. He hair had been cut really short, and it wasn�t even close to being straight. All her beautiful long blonde hair was gone. �What happened to your hair?� Wendy asked. �Me and Sarah played beauty parlor,� Nadia replied. �Sarah cut your hair?� Alex asked. �Uh huh,� Nadia replied. �Ohhh my,� Wendy cried. �Now I know why Daddy is so upset. We better see if we can�t find her.� �What good would that do?� Alex asked. �He is going to find her anyway.� The girls jumped up and headed out the door. �I don�t know what�s gotten into her. She is seven years old and she knows better than to do something like that.� Wendy complained. Before Alex could answer, they heard Sarah�s voice from way down at the other end of the main hall. The girls continued down toward where the two halls connected. Just before they reached their destination, they heard two slaps, Sarah�s scream, and then they heard Mark�s voice. Wendy and Alex stopped. Suddenly Sarah ran past the hall, and headed for the stairs. Mark was not far behind her. �Wow, Daddy looks real mad!� Wendy explained. Alex nodded. The girls decided not to get involved this time, so they went back to where Nadia was. Sarah ran all the way up the stairs and down the hall to her room. When she entered the room, she stopped and stared at the walls for a second. If Daddy is mad about Nadia�s hair, wait until he comes in here, she thought to herself. Ohh why had she done it! Sarah ran and hid in the closet. �Sarah!� Mark yelled as he approached the room, but when he entered, he caught sight of the far wall. It had become a canvas of crayons, markers and finger paint. His eyes widened. He didn�t remember that being there the night before. At first Mark thought it must have been Nadia, work, but the artwork was too difficult for such a small child. �Sarah Jane Crothers! You get your butt out here right this minute!� Sarah slowly opened the closet door and stuck her head out. She didn�t like the look on her fathers face, or his stance of hands on hips either. �One!� Sarah�s eyes widened. Daddy was counting and if he reached three, Sarah knew it would be bad. She had never let Daddy get to three before, because getting to three could be really, really bad. �Two!� Sarah moved out of the closet with caution. Daddy was still counting and Sarah wanted to go to him. Then she realized that Daddy was definitely going to spank her, so how much worse could letting Daddy count to three be? �Three!� Mark started for the closet. Sarah jumped back in and let herself fall against the back wall of the closet. Her stay lasted only a second before she felt a hand wrap around her arm and pull her from within its safety. She had barely emerged when she felt her father�s hand smack her on the bottom; once, twice, then a third time between the closet and her bedroom door. Out the door and down the hall she went, as her father�s hand kept swatting. Swat!, Swat! �Oww Daddy, Oww! Swat! �Owww Oww!� Swat! �Nooooo� Swat! �Ouch! Owww!� Swat! �No Daddy Owww!� Mark continued to smack Sarah�s behind until they reached the linen closet down the hall. He stopped, opened the door, then reached for the paddle. �No Daddy! Nooooo,� Sarah screeched. �What did you do wrong, Sarah?� Sarah looked up at Mark, then the paddle. She knew what she did wrong, but she wouldn�t let the words spill out. Quickly, Mark pulled Sarah close to him and swatted her with the paddle. Sarah yelped, then started to cry. �What did you do, Sarah?� Sarah looked up at Mark. �I cut Nadia�s hair,� she cried. �And are you responsible for the wall in your room?� �Yes, sir,� she cried. �And what else did you do?� �I didn�t come before you got to three,� she wailed. Mark turned her around and headed back to her room. He continued to hold her, and when they walked through the doorway, Mark pushed the door closed with his foot. �Sarah Jane, you�re seven years old, and old enough to know better. You also know that when I call you, you had best come.� Sarah stood in front of her father and bawled. �Why did you cut Nadia�s hair?� �We were playing beauty parlor and I was the lady who cuts hair. I�m sorry, Daddy. I didn�t mean to cut so much off.� Sarah burst into renewed tears. �And the wall? You know better than to draw on the walls.� �I�m sorry, Daddy.� As Sarah stood in front of her father, she cried like she had never cried before. �Sarah Jane, you knew better than to cut Nadia�s hair and you�re old enough to know not to draw on the walls of your room. You also know when I count, you had best move that little fanny of yours, and be quick about it!� Sarah stood and stared at her father as the tears continued to fall down her cheeks. �Yes, sir.� Mark looked at her, then took a deep breath. �When we get done dealing with your lesson on why we don�t cut hair and play with scissors, as well as the art work on the wall, we will deal with your not coming when I counted.� Mark accentuated his scolding, with a shake of the paddle. Sarah�s cries grew louder. Ohh how she wished she hadn�t wanted to find out what happens when Daddy gets to the number three. Mark set the paddle down on the bed next to him, then reached for Sarah. �Daddy, noooo. I won�t do it again!� she cried while Mark pulled her across his knee, lifted her jumper, and pulled down her panties. �Daddy, Daddy, nooooooooo,� Mark started to smack her tiny little white cheeks the instant he bared them. Sarah kicked her feet and screeched like she had never gotten a spanking before. �Daddy, owwweeeee, owww,� Mark slapped her bottom a little harder than he usually did, but he wanted her to know she had been very naughty. After fifteen or so spanks, Mark stopped. Sarah remained across her father�s knee, and after a few minutes, she calmed down. Mark voice was soft. �No more cutting hair, and no more drawing on the walls Sarah. Do you understand?� �Yes, Daddy,� she mumbled. Sarah�s hand started to reach back for her bottom, but Mark took it and put it back down. �We are not done yet Sarah, so keep that hand away!� Sarah started to cry again, �Daddy, I�m sorry I hid when you counted. Please don�t paddle me, please, Daddy. I will always come when you tell meeeee.� �When I count, and you don�t come, you�re being very disobedient, and that won�t be allowed.� Sarah felt Mark tighten his arm around her waist. She lifted her head and looked back just as Mark picked up the paddle. �Nooooo Daddyyyyyy, Noooooooo� Whack, Whack, Whack! �Owww eee heeeee,� Sarah cried as she threw back her hand. Mark flipped it out of the way and smacked Sarah�s bottom a couple more times before her hand flew back again. �Owwweeee owweee,� The smacks were light, but enough to make Sarah yelp and kick her legs. Mark gave her three more light smacks. Sarah threw her hand back again. Mark gathered both wrists in his hand and held them on her back. �You know better, young lady!� Mark scolded. �You�re not obeying me so I think you need a few harder smacks.� �Noooo Daddyyyyyy noooo, I�m sorrryyyyyy,� she cried. Though it seemed like a lifetime to Sarah, Mark had only given her eight light smacks with the little paddle. The next four were much harder, and Sarah jumped with each smack, then wailed. After the four harder smacks, Mark set the paddle down on the bed and lifted Sarah from his knee. Sarah tossed her head into his shoulder and bawled. Mark stayed with Sarah until she stopped crying. �I want you to stay here in your room until supper. I will come get you, understand?� Sarah nodded. When Mark left the room, Sarah reached under her jumper to try to rub out the sting. As the kids flocked into the cafeteria for supper, David looked around the room for Wendy. �Is Sarah coming down for supper?� �She is here. She is in line with Dad getting her supper. Why?� �Well I just wanted to check on her and make sure she was ok. I know she got a spanking from Dad and I just wanted to give her a hug.� �A spanking isn�t all she got,� Wendy replied. David looked at her with raised brows, and Wendy filled him in. When he finished his supper, he waited outside the cafeteria for Sarah. When she came out into the hall with two other little girls, David called her. �Sarah?� Sarah and the other little girls turned and looked at David. �Where are you going?� he asked. �I am going back upstairs to get on my pajamas. Daddy says I have to stay in my room tonight.� �So you�re being punished then?� Sarah nodded. �Uh huh.� David reached out, took Sarah�s hand and led her away from her friends. �Why don�t you tell me all about it, Sarah.� To Sarah, David seemed different; his voice was nicer and so was his touch. Sarah decided to tell him what happened. Together they sat on the steps and chatted. �Well Sarah, It sounds like you�ve been quite naughty. Dad�s spankings hurt don�t they?� Sarah nodded. �It hurt a lot.� �Well I hope next time Dad counts, you will remember how much the paddle stung and you will move that bottom of yours a little faster.� �I will,� she replied. Sarah listened as David spoke. He told her if she ever felt the need to draw on things again, to come tell him, and he would make sure she had lots of paper. �It�s getting late and I�ve kept you long enough from doing what Dad said. Go wash your face and brush your teeth. Put on your jammies and stay in your room like he told you. No more naughty behavior today. Ok?� Sarah nodded, then squeezed David tight. �I love you David,� �I love you too, squirt. Now better get going.� Sarah brushed her teeth and washed her face. When she slipped off her panties to put on clean ones, she could still feel the sting from Daddy�s paddle and when she twisted around to look, she thought for sure one of Daddy�s handprints was still on her behind. Sarah reached back with her left hand and rubbed. |