One by one the boys fell into line for breakfast, then slowly took their place at the isolation table. Only for the first time it was full and had flowed over to another table. Mr. Parker stood at the end between the two tables to make sure the boys remained silent. As Mark stood talking to Patricia, he glanced over to his boys a couple times as they continued to eat their breakfast under his fathers watchful eye. Mark knew he had to make things right. He knew he had to try and explain things to the boys, but he could tell by the looks on their faces that they were a little apprehensive about him joining them at their table of solitude. As the meal went on and the boys finished, they waited for Mark to excuse them but he didn't. As the minutes ticked away the level of noise in the cafeteria diminished. It wasn't long before the room was quiet. His father had long drifted as most of the boys had left. Mark took his plate to the washing area and then returned to the table where his four boys waited. Mark took his seat at the end and slowly scanned each of the boys faces. When his attention turned to Jacob, he became very nervous at his fathers stare and he quickly looked to the floor. "Why are you looking at the floor son?" Mark asked. Jacob shrugged his shoulders. Mark scanned the rest of his boys faces, then looked at David. "I remember this table," Mark stated. "I spent a lot of time sitting at this table when I was a boy. "You did?" Nathan asked quietly. "I sure did son. I was always in trouble for one thing or another," Mark replied. "I remember the first time my dad took the belt to me. Right after, he brought me in here and sat me down at this very table. This room was filled with kids and I was so embarrassed. I was wailing like a wounded dog, but he put me right here anyway. I didn't know it at the time but no one was laughing at me. I got so angry at him for putting me on display like that. I felt awful.� David listened but didn�t look at his father. Jacob looked up from the floor. "I'm glad Mr. Parker isn't my Dad and I'm sorry he did that to you.� �I didn�t think my dad loved me at all, but I was wrong about that. After he would whip me, I�d get so angry I felt like I could explode. I was so very wild as a kid. A lot more than any of you. I didn't see what I was doing and how it was wrong. I kept being me. He kept whipping me and setting me at this very table. It took a long time. Then one day something happened and I understood what he was trying to do. I think I was around fourteen or so.� "That�s when he introduced you to that awful belt isn't it?" David asked. Happy that David had been listening, Mark smiled. "No son. I had already gotten that belt used on me more than once by this time. It was something he said to me that changed everything.� "What did he say to you?" Matthew asked. "He told me no matter what I did or said, he would always love me. He then said, he wished I would stop being so wild and disobedient because he hated whipping me. All that time I thought he was just a mean man that didn't really care about me. I thought he hated me and got stuck with me. I was so wrong. I felt so different after he talked to me. I made it two months before he had to whip me again and when he did I wasn�t angry. I knew I did wrong and I accepted his guidance and love. He was and is a great father. Turned out all that anger I felt, was actually fear. I was afraid of him because of the whippings. I didn�t understand them.� "Did you ever get that awful belt again?" David asked. Mark noticed David referred to the belt twice as �Awful� Mark smiled. "Nope. Not ever again," Mark knew an impression had been made and he hoped David�s attitude and behavior would improve. "You boys are good boys that made a mistake. You used bad judgment when you made the decision to do what you did Halloween night. The only thing I am truly happy about is this hurt I see on your faces when I look at you. You do know that I never wished to whip any of you like that." Mark continued to look at his boys. "I know you didn't want to. We made you have to do it." Jacob looked around the table at his brothers. "I know I'm sorry, how about you guys?� Nathan nodded. �Yeah I�m really sorry,� Nathan replied. David didn�t say a word. Mark noticed, but he didn�t push it. "I just want you to be able to come tell me anything. When your sad, hurting, frustrated and mad. We can always talk. I Don't regret punishing any of you for your misdeeds on Halloween night but I do regret not giving myself a little more time before I punished you.� "So does this mean I'm never going to get whipped again?� Nathan asked. "Well Nathan, That choice has always been yours, but you don't have to worry about another session with that particular belt again. That goes for the rest of you as well. Understand?� The boys all nodded. �So what about the sheriff and the charges against us?� David asked. �Well David, it looks as though all eleven of you boys are going to have to face the judge in juvenile court. It�s really up to the judge. The sheriff just files the report. We should get your court dates in the mail soon. �I don�t really want to go back to court,� David stated. Nathan shot his head around. �Back to court?� �Boys, I think we�ve talked enough about this today. We can talk about it again later.� �Does this mean we can go? Are we still grounded?� Jacob asked. I think you boys should all go back to your rooms and find something quiet to do. I don�t think Mr. Parker is ready to let you all off just yet,� Mark replied. �I will talk to each of you a little more later.� Nathan, Jacob and Matt left the table and headed back upstairs to their rooms. David remained at the table. �I know you�re worried about court son.� �How much time do you think the judge will give me?� �I don�t know David. We will just have to wait and see what happens.� "Dad, you said I could say anything. Right?� David asked. "That�s what I said son," Mark answered. David looked at Mark, then started to shake his head no. "It hurt Dad. It hurt a lot. It hurt beyond hurt. I know I made a big mistake, and I'm sorry. I've been messing up big time and I'm going to do better. I did so good for so long and now I�ve gone and screwed everything up, and I feel so damn strange.� "In what way do you feel strange? Is it You your bottom?� Mark asked as he took on a concerned look. "No Dad. Well I still hurt, but that's not what I mean," David continued as he tried to fight back the tears. "It's ok son. tell me?" Mark reached over and wrapped his arm around David�s shoulder. "I didn't think It mattered, but when I saw how mad you were, and then you whipped me the way you did I thought you didn't care about me anymore. I've never really pissed you off before," David cried. �Not like this.� "Son listen to me ok. I've never ever been pissed at you. Disappointed and a little upset at times, but never pissed. "I could never hate you. Your my son and I love you no matter what you do.� "I'm sorry I let you down. I'm sorry I caused so much trouble." David buried his face in his hands and cried. Mark gave David a few minutes before he spoke again. �Son, this is a big step for you and I�m glad you�re truly sorry. I can tell you are. I hope you can keep yourself in check so this doesn�t happen again.� �Don�t worry Dad. I�m going to tell the judge I� guilty and take what ever he gives me. I hope I�m not away for to long.� �Well I hope you don�t have to go at all, but if you do, I expect for you to watch our for Ricky while the two of you are in there.� David�s eyes widened and he sat up straight. �Oh shit! He�s on probation isn�t he? How am I going to explain this to Wendy?� �Well son, I�m putting it on your shoulders to tell her what might happen to the two of you. Ricky is the only one of the eleven of you that is on probation and you�re the only other boy that has been in court and on probation.� �I don�t want to go back to Juvenile Hall Dad.� �I know you don�t son, but that might be part of the lesson you have to learn.� David and Mark sat in silence for several minutes. Finally David stood. �I think I need to go for a walk and think a little bit.� �Go ahead, but don�t leave the grounds.� �No sir, I won�t.� Mark watched as David exited through the side door. He felt good about the chat he and David had and though he wished he could keep his boys from going to court, he knew they needed to learn sometimes there are worse things than taking a lickin from your old man. |
| Chapter Nine Healing Hearts & Relationships |
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