| Chapter Four The Disappearing Pumpkins |
�When can we pick the pumpkins Daddy?" Nadia asked as they headed to the patch for their daily visit. "Well we can pick them any time, but we should wait till closer to Halloween," he replied. "If they have growled enough can they go inside then," she asked. "No Nadia, the pumpkins are dirty and have to stay here in the patch," he replied. "Look at this one," she cried as she sat down. It's big Daddy!� "It's the same size as yesterday," Sarah growled. "No it's not. It's lots bigger than yesterday," she replied Nadia crossed her arms. As the girls were discussing the different sizes of pumpkins Mark was walking around the patch. "Are you trying to find your pumpkin Daddy?" Sarah asked. �Well it looks like some of the smaller pumpkins are gone," he replied as he knelt down to examine the vines. �What?" Nadia cried as she hopped up and ran over to Mark. "Someone is kidnapping my pumpkins?" "Well now don't get upset," he replied. "There might not have been a pumpkin here." Every day for that whole week, Mark took Nadia and Sarah to the patch and every day there were a few more pumpkins missing. "Daddy, someone is kidnapping my babies," Nadia cried, as she threw her arms around him. Mark carried her back to the school and cleaned her up. He decided that until he could find out about the missing pumpkins it would be better if he didn't take her out there for awhile. When Saturday morning came, Nadia sulked in her room because she couldn't go see her pumpkins. Nadia spent her morning trying to get someone to take her out to see her pumpkins but everyone was busy doing their own thing. As she stood at the back door of the coat and boot room she could see the patch. It wasn't that far she thought and everyone is busy. I can go by myself and no one will even notice. She put on her boots and coat and headed to the patch. When she got there she noticed that some of her favorite pumpkins were missing. She found a pumpkin to sit on and as she was looking them over she got an idea. "I will save you," she said to the pumpkins as she walked around the patch. "You can come this time," she said to a pumpkin. Nadia leaned over and picked it, then headed back to the school. "Oh my, your a heavy one. you been eating to much," she stated as she walked up the back porch and into the coat room. Nadia sat the pumpkin down, hung up her coat and took off her boots. "You stay right here. Daddy says you can't come in cause your dirty." Nadia went to the bathroom just off of the porch and looked through all the cupboards. In one she found a little wash pan. she sat it on the floor. She then went into the kitchen and stood by the cook as she was preparing lunch. "Hi little pumpkin," said the cook. "Come to help me today?" "No," Nadia replied. "I'm doing a project but I need a cup and some water.� The cook went to the cupboard and handed Nadia a plastic glass. "Before I give this to you, what do you need the water for little one," she asked. "I am thirsty," she replied, with a smile. "Oh ok," replied the cook. She then handed the glass to Nadia. Nadia started to drink the water but when the cook returned to her task, Nadia snuck from the kitchen and back to her task as well. She turned on the water and put a few glasses in the little tub. She then went back into the coat room and picked up her pumpkin. She placed it in the water and sat herself on the floor. "Once your all clean then you can come inside. You can live in my room and no one will take you." Nadia continued to bath the pumpkin. Just about that time Sarah walked into the room. Nadia threw the little towel over top of her pumpkin and turned to look at Sarah. "Oh my gosh! what are you doing?" Sarah asked. "Nothing," replied Nadia as she continued to lean over her secret. Sarah pushed her back and lifted the towel. "Did you get that where I think you got that?" she asked, pointing to the pumpkin sitting in the pan of water. "Yes," she replied. "Daddy is going to spank your bad bottom when he finds out.� "No no you can't tell Daddy. Someone is taking them and I'm gonna save them." Nadia told Sarah all about what she wanted to do and Sarah decided to help her. She couldn't resist Nadia�s attempt to save the pumpkins. The girls worked together and were able to get three more pumpkins into the school before anyone checked on them. Nadia would walk ahead of Sarah and peek around the corners to make sure no one was coming before they would hide them with the others. Every time they got a chance they would go to the patch, pick a pumpkin, wash it and put it in a safe place. Every night before they went to bed they would check on their family of pumpkins. A few days later Mark wandered out to check on the patch. To his surprise many of the pumpkins were gone. He knew there weren't going to be any left by Halloween. Barrington wouldn't have many pumpkins this year. He just wished he knew what was happening to them. In the mean time the girls continued to work to save the pumpkins. Later that night when Mark was tucking the girls into bed he couldn't help but notice the smell of pumpkins. "Did you girls bring some of that pumpkin pie up into your room?" he asked. "Nope Daddy, we ate it all up downstairs," Nadia replied, then looked at Sarah. After Mark tucked the girls in and turned out the light, the girls ran to the secret hiding place. Sarah reached over and poked at one of the pumpkins. "This one is sort of squishy," she stated as she poked another. "This one is too. They are all getting squishy." "Sarah, they aren't eating so they will get squishy when they don't eat." "I don't think that�s what�s wrong with them. We need to get them out of here tomorrow,� stated Sarah, as she turned out the light and crawled back into her bed. "Today is the day that we can pick the pumpkins and carve them for Halloween," Mark said as he entered Nadia�s room. "Can we really," she asked as she jumped up and down. "Well the few that are left," he replied. The only pumpkins that were left were the ones that had been to big for the two little girls to carry. Throughout the day children made their way to the patch. Because there were hardly any left, children had to share their pumpkins when it came to the decorating and carving contest. When Mark took a few of his children to get their pumpkins, Sarah and Nadia decided that they wouldn't take one since they had many already. "Are you going to get a pumpkin?" Wendy asked, as she, Alex and Jessica carried theirs back to the school. "I got mine already," Nadia said. Sarah poked Nadia and Wendy knew something was up with them but she didn't have time to question them now. Sarah and Nadia stood there as the patch became empty. "Sarah, some kids don't get pumpkins?" Nadia asked as she looked at the empty field. "I don't know, lets ask Daddy," she replied. "Daddy, did everyone get a pumpkin?" Nadia asked as she approached. "Well there were a few kids that didn't, but they can share with some of the other kids. "Where are your pumpkins?" he asked as he looked around the girls. The girls just looked at each other. "Sarah we need to show Daddy our secret," Nadia stated as she pulled at her sleeve. "We have many and should share.� "You have many what girls?" Mark asked, looking at the girls with suspicion. Sarah looked at Nadia and then at her Dad. She knew this little secret was gonna be trouble as a lump developed in her throat. "I asked you two a question," Mark once again spoke. What do you have many of?" "We have many pumpkins Daddy," Nadia replied with a smile. "And where are these pumpkins Sarah," Mark asked as his voice became stern. Looking at the ground, Sarah said nothing. "We hided them under our beds," Nadia replied with a smile. "YOU DID WHAT?" Mark yelled. Both girls jumped at Marks reply. Nadia's smile turned to a frown and when Sarah looked at Marks face she took off running toward the school. "We saved them Daddy," she replied in a somewhat weak voice. "You saved them from what sweetie?" he asked as he scooped her up in his arms and headed back toward the school. Someone was taking them so we hid some under our beds to save them. It was my idea," she replied. "But I told you that you couldn't bring them into the school," he continued. "But I gave them a bath and made them all clean Daddy," she stated as they approached the back steps. Once inside, Nadia showed Mark how she put them in the little tub and gave them a bath. Mark watched in amazement at her intelligence, being just four years old. "Nadia, do you know why I told you that the pumpkins needed to stay outside?" he asked. "Yes, you said cause they were dirty, but I cleaned them," she replied as Mark scooped her up and headed out into the hall. "Nadia sweetie, when you bring pumpkins inside where it is warm, they get soft and start to go bad," he said. "Bad pumpkins, Daddy?" she asked. Mark now knew that she didn't understand and that she had truly thought she was doing a good thing. This was going to be difficult. "Nadia, Pumpkins don't like it very warm. They get really soft and fall apart. They need it really cold. That�s why they need to be outside.� "Nadia looked at her daddy as they walked down the hall toward her room. "I killed the pumpkins," she stated as she burst into tears. When Mark entered the room, he could smell the pumpkins and dreaded looking under the girls beds. Sarah was lying on her bed crying. Her tears were for a different reason for she knew they were in trouble. Mark laid Nadia on her bed. He then took hold of her bed and pulled it from the wall. The pumpkins looked in tacked, but as he touched one, the whole side caved. This was going to be a messy clean up. "Daddy you killed him," screeched Nadia as she watched in horror. "You be quiet," he replied as he pointed to her. �I know I didn't explain very well about the pumpkins, but when I tell you something you are suppose to obey me." Mark walked over to Sarah and pulled her from the bed. Sarah threw her hand back behind her "Daddyyyy, noo I'm sorry.� Mark took her over to the pumpkins to show her the mess. "Covering you naughty bottom?" he asked. "Well you know then what you did was wrong, don't you?" Not only do you have a room full of rotting pumpkins, but Nadia thinks she killed them. They are real to her.� "I'm sorry Daddy," Sarah said as she looked at the mess. Mark sent Nadia and Sarah to stay with Wendy and Jessica. He then recruited David, Jacob, Nathan and Ricky to help him remove the rotting pumpkins. Wendy peaked out of her room every time the boys came and went. Ricky smiled and Wendy smiled back. She stepped back into the room every time she saw her father. Just having gotten spanked a few days ago, she didn�t want to make him mad especially when he was dealing with a problem already. "Dad, why did Nadia and Sarah stick pumpkins under their beds anyway?" David asked as they continued on their task. "Well pumpkins were disappearing from the patch and she thought she was saving them," he replied. "Ohhh," David replied. He turned and looked at his brothers and Ricky. When the mess was finally cleaned, the boys took the last ones out and put them behind the barn while Mark went to retrieve his two little miscreants for a long discussion. Nadia and Sarah were sitting on the floor playing dolls when Mark entered the room. "Hi Daddy," Nadia said as she walked over to him. "Are all the pumpkins dead Daddy?" she asked. "Yes sweetie, all the pumpkins were to squishy to save," he replied as he glanced over at Sarah. Sarah instantly developed another knot in her tummy from her fathers stare. She quickly crawled onto Wendy's bed and snuggled close to her for protection. "I only wanted to save them Daddy," Nadia said as Mark scooped her up into his arms. "I know you did baby, but we have a little problem and Daddy has to figure out what to do about it. I want you to stay here just for a little while longer with Wendy while I talk to Sarah.� Sarah's eyes became very big at the mention of her name. She tightly clutched Wendy's arm and hid her face behind her back. "Ok Daddy,� replied Nadia as Mark sat her down onto the floor and back to her game. Sarah could feel him coming. She threw herself onto the bed, clutched onto the covers and buried her face into the bed. "Sarah, There is something that I want to show you. Come with me," he stated as he touched her on the back. His touch didn't feel angry and Sarah suddenly didn't feel scared. She turned her face toward him. He didn't look angry either. Sarah scooted off of the bed and took her daddy�s hand. She left the room quietly and they walked across the hall together. When they entered her and Nadia�s room, the window was open and the smell was almost gone. The twin beds had been pulled from the wall and now were together in the center of the room. "Sarah, I want you to look at the floor where yours and Nadia's beds were.� Sarah first looked where her bed once was. She then walked to the other side and looked at the floor to which Nadia's bed had once covered. "It looks really awful Daddy,� she replied as the knot in her tummy returned. �That is what happens to wood floors when pumpkins sit rotting on them. Sarah, I know you didn't know this could happen, but you know that I tell you things for a reason. I told you and Nadia both that the pumpkins had to stay outside. I shouldn't have had to explain to you why.� Sarah stood there staring at the floor. She just couldn't look at her daddy. "We can't fix the floors until springtime now, so they will have to stay this way until then. When they dry out a bit we can move your beds back.� Mark reached down and clutched her tiny hand. He walked her over to a chair and seated himself. "I want you to look at me, because I want to know that you are listening," he ordered. "Are you listening?" Sarah nodded. "Nadia don't understand any of this and I believe what she did was done in innocence. She thinks the worst thing she did was kill a pumpkin family. She is only four and very upset about hurting the pumpkins. When she told me about them you ran away. That tells me you knew what you had done was wrong.� "I'm sorry Daddy," Sarah said as she began to cry. �I just wanted Nadia to be happy.� "I know you didn't know that the pumpkins would get soft and fall apart, but you still went into the patch alone and although I don't know how, managed to sneak several of them in and you hid them under your beds. Why did you hide them under your beds?� When Sarah thought of her answer she knew she was in trouble. "Sarah!� Mark scolded. "Because we didn't want you to find them," she replied as she burst into tears. Mark wrapped his arms around her and held her close until her cries had diminished a little. "Sarah, You knew better than to do such a thing didn�t you?� Sarah looked up to her father and nodded. Mark took a deep breath and let out a disappointed sigh. He pulled Sarah to his knee, lifted her and placed her across it. "Daddy please don't spank me," Sarah cried as she quickly covered her bottom. �You know what you did was wrong and you�re old enough to accept a punishment when I give you one. We�ve talked about this before haven�t we?� �I don�t want you to spank me!� she cried. �Move your hands Sarah!� Her head hung down toward the floor and her feet dangled down the other side of her fathers knee. Her body wobbled back and forth as she tried to keep balance, yet not take her hands off her bottom. Suddenly she felt them being pulled away and held tightly by her fathers hand. �Daddy nooooooo,� Sarah cried. Mark secured her legs, lifted her jumper and pulled her panties down just below her pudgy little cheeks. �Daddyyyyy,� Sarah cried. �I�m sorryyyyyy.� Mark paid her no mind. Quickly his hand descended over and over. Sarah screeched, then cried long wails as tears developed and fell down her cheeks. Her little feet wiggled and kicked the best they could under confined circumstances. In seconds her bottom felt as if it were on fire. Suddenly the spanks stopped as quickly as they started. Sarah felt her panties being pulled up, then she too was set straight. She hiccupped and cried as she stood in front of her father. Mark took hold of Sarah�s hand and led her to her bed. Sarah crawled up and laid down. Her cries fell so heavy that she didn�t hear the door close. When Mark returned to retrieve Nadia, he had decided he wouldn't punish her. He felt that she truly hadn't known better. She had been so devastated by the loss of the pumpkins. "Hi Daddy,� beamed Nadia when he entered the room. Mark took a seat and motioned to Nadia. She jumped up and crawled onto his lap. �Are we going to talk too?" "We can talk a little," he replied. "You seem like your happy again. Are you feeling better?" "Yes Daddy, but I feel bad bout sneaking them in when you said they had to stay outside," she stated willingly. "Nadia, you remembered that I said you couldn't bring them inside?" he inquired. "Yes Daddy, but I had too.� "How come you had too?" he continued to inquire. "Cause I wanted them in my room," she replied. Mark continued to ask questions and Nadia innocently continued to answer as she sat on his lap with a smile. "Young lady, you did a very bad thing by disobeying Daddy. When he tells you that you can't do something it is very naughty to sneak things. I think maybe I need to give you a little reminder to behave.� Suddenly her smile turned to worry. I know how to behave,� she whispered. Mark looked at Wendy and Alex. �Would you two girls excuse us for a few minutes.� Wendy and Alex scurried from the room. Nadia watched them go. Nadia turned her head slowly and looked up. �Daddy I can behave. I promise.� Her words were very faint, but Mark heard them. I would like to believe you know how, but today you have been naughty and you need a reminder.� Mark took hold of Nadia�s shoulders, lifted her up and turned her over his knee. �No Daddy nooooo. I said I know how to behave,� she cried. Mark started spanking immediately. Nadia kicked her feet and cried as Mark administered six spanks over the top of her jumper. Nadia screeched and cried though it didn�t hurt all that much. When he finished, Mark stood Nadia on the floor, took hold of her hand and led her back to her room. Mark led the crying child over to the dresser, and dug through the drawers for her pajamas. Still crying, he pulled off her dress and proceeded to put her pajama top over her head. "I DON'T LIKE YOU NO MORE," she screamed as loud as she could. "Young lady, you quiet down that voice right now!� Mark scolded. Startled by Nadia�s outburst, Sarah flipped over in her bed and watched. Nadia placed her hands on her hips and stomped her foot on the floor. �NO! she yelled. �I don�t wanna be quiet!� Shocked, Mark stopped, pulled her pajama top from her head and looked at her. Standing just in her little Mary-Janes, white cotton panties and white cotton undershirt, Nadia stomped her foot two more times, then stared at her father. �Young lady! We do not behave like this,� Mark scolded. He reached for Nadia and pulled her forward, leaned down over her shoulder and gave her two quick smacks on her bare leg. �Ouch! Ouch!� Nadia screeched, then started to cry. Mark took hold of her arm and turned her around, lifted her up and placed her on the bed. Mark leaned down and took off her shoes. �We do not raise our voices or tell Daddy no. When Daddy gives you instruction and we certainly do not stomp our feet.� Nadia twisted and wiggled so it was difficult for Mark to remove her shoes. Finally he pulled them off, sat them on the floor. �You sit right here while I get the rest of your pajamas,� he ordered. As Mark headed toward the dresser, he suddenly felt something hit him from behind. He turned quickly and looked down. There sitting on the floor beside him, was one of Nadia�s little Navy Blue shoes. Sarah�s eyes widened and her tummy knotted. She quickly covered her mouth. Sarah knew Nadia had done a very naughty thing and she knew what her father was going to do because of it. Sarah quickly looked at her father. His face showed shock and anger. Mark reached down and picked up the shoe. Nadia was standing beside her bed with the other shoe in her hand. �Sarah!� Her voice quivered. �Yes Daddy?� �Put on your slippers and go across the hall,� he ordered. Sarah jumped out of bed, grabbed her slippers and ran out the door. Nadia took off after her but Mark stopped her and took her back to the bed. �Hand me that shoe young lady!� Nadia lifted the shoe and placed it in her fathers hands. Mark took the shoes and returned them to the top of Nadia�s dresser. When he turned, Nadia had crawled into bed and buried herself under her covers. Mark lifted the covers and pulled the naughty child from her bed. He seated himself on the bed and pulled Nadia between his knees. �We do not yell at adults and we do not throw things at people. It�s time for you to learn a lesson.� Mark reached out and pulled Nadia close. She fussed and squirmed but it did no good. He wrapped his arm around her waist, lifted her from the floor and pulled her panties completely off. Nadia�s feet barely touched the floor again. Mark turned her and pulled her across his knee. �Nooooo!� Nadia cried. <Spank> <spank> (Ohhwweeee) <spank> spank> (Owweheee) <spank> <spank> <spank> Owheeowwwee <spank> spank spank (owhooowwee) <spank> <spank> <spank> (Owwwww owweeeee) <spank> <spank> <spank> <spank> <spank> (owww owww heee oooo oweeee) <spank> owweee <spank> <spank> (Daddyyy owwee oweee) <spank> <spank> <spank> (woohoooo) Nadia yelped, twisted and kicked. Mark continued to spank her bare little bottom as well as up and down the back of her pudgy little legs. Her yells and screams could be heard down the hall. Sarah stood in the doorway with Wendy and Jessica. They had returned just before Sarah had ran into their room. She told them what Nadia did, so the three girls stood listening as their father continued to spank their little sister. Sarah reached up and took hold of Jessica�s hand. �Wow! Daddy�s really letting her have it,� Sarah cried. �Jessica looked at Sarah and lifted her chin. �That�s the kind of spanking you never want to get from Dad. Remember that!� Jessica turned and went back into her room. Sarah followed her. �Aren�t they all the same?� she asked. �No they aren�t all the same,� Jessica answered. She closed the door and took a seat on the bed next to Sarah. �The kind of spanking Nadia is getting is the worst kind you can get.� Sarah scrunched her face. �I don�t understand.� �Well when we break a rule or mess up, we get punished in different ways. Sometimes Dad just wants to know why we did it and sometimes after a talking too, we don�t get punished, just scolded,� Jessica explained. �What Nadia did was what Daddy calls deliberate defiance and when you do that, Daddy doesn�t bother explaining or talking to you about it. You get one scorcher of a spanking. It�s the kind of thing you never want to do, and after Daddy is done, Nadia won�t ever do it again. That�s the lesson she will learn.� Jessica continued. Sarah jumped up and went to the door. She opened it slightly and listened. The spanks had stopped she could still hear Nadia�s wails come from the other side of the door. Suddenly she heard the sound of another spank followed by another long wail from Nadia, then another spank. Sarah closed the door and ran back to the bed. �She�s getting it again!� �Not again. Daddy wasn�t or isn�t finished,� Jessica answered. Sarah looked at Wendy and then to Jessica. �How do you know that�s what he is doing?� Jessica reached out and touched Sarah�s arm. �Because I�ve gotten one of those kinds of spankings,� she replied. �Only Daddy whipped me with the belt instead of his hand. It happened A long time ago. Before Wendy or you came to live here.� Wendy and Sarah both looked at Jessica in surprise. �You defied Daddy?� Wendy asked. �It was shortly after I got here. It�s not something I talk about, but when I came here I was very defiant. Daddy gave me a few warnings, but one day I did just the opposite of what he told me to do, and my defiance came along with some not so appropriate words.� �You mean naughty words?� Sarah interrupted. �Yes. Daddy took me by my arm up to this room. I yelled and cussed all the way. He put me over his knee. He decorated my bottom and my legs with his handprints. I defied him again the very same evening. I didn�t stay in this room and when he found me, he told me to go up to my room and wait. I didn�t. I turned around, stomped my feet and cussed all the way down the hall.� �Wow,� Sarah said. Wendy sat there and listened wide eyed. �What happened next?� �Well he came after me and I swore at him all the way up here. I struggled, but next thing I know is I�m bare bottomed and when I look up, Daddy was taking off his belt. It was then I knew I had to mind. I got the whippen of my life. Then just before bed, Daddy brought in a little bowl with water in it, along with a bar of Ivory soap.� �Ohhh my!� Sarah interrupted. �He took off his belt and sat it on the bed next to him. He pulled me in front of him. He cut off a thin slice of the soap, dipped it in the water then told me to open my mouth.� �What did you do?� Sarah asked. I opened my mouth. Daddy placed the thin piece of soap on my tongue. I had to close my mouth and hold it there for ten minutes. I stood there in my pajamas between his knees with my hands placed on each one of his knees. I cried and wiggled, but it didn�t do much good. He let me rinse, then he cut another piece and made me do it again. I held it for ten minutes, then he let me spit. He didn�t let me rinse. When he put me into bed, it was with a soapy mouth. He told me if I cussed again I�d be eating the bar of soap. I never cussed again and I never defied Daddy again.� �I always thought you just sucked up to Daddy, but now I understand why you don�t cross him. You�re scared,� Wendy said. �Listen!� Sarah jumped up and went to the door. �I don�t here Daddy spanking and I don�t hear Nadia crying anymore.� �Well I�m sure he is talking to her now and I�m sure she will be good now.� Wendy stood up and gave Jessica a hug. �I didn�t know that happened to you and I�m glad you�re who you are now.� �I�m not afraid of Daddy. I�m don�t defy him because now I�m older and I understand why it�s not right to do so.� The girls all turned their heads when the door opened. �Girls, supper is in a few minutes, please do not be late. Sarah, you will sleep with Jessica and Wendy tonight. Mark turned and left the room. Sarah opened the door and ran after Mark. "Daddy?" Mark stopped just short of the stairs. "What is it Sarah?" he asked. Sarah could tell he was sad. "I don't hate you for spanking me. I love you Daddy.� Mark leaned down and wrapped his arms around her. "I love you to Sarah Bean," he replied. Sarah watched Mark go all the way down before she headed back to Wendy and Jessica�s room. She stopped at her door and listened. She could hear Nadia crying on the other side of the door. Sarah wished she could comfort Nadia, but since she was told not to go inside the room, Daddy might take it as defiance if she did so. Sarah shivered at the thought of receiving such a spanking. She turned and ran for Wendy and Jessica�s room. Nadia would just have to learn this lesson alone. Posted Replies Susan, What a great story! I especially enjoyed Nadia's declaration of her ventures out to the pumpkin patch, it was a neat twist. Your dialogue is always exceptional, but verbal exchange in this particular story was especially sweet. SG:) |
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