Matt and Steve had been finishing their own whispered conversation, and now Matt placed a hand on Steve’s shoulder and looked frowningly at Ryan. Ryan dropped his gaze, avoiding his oldest brother’s eyes and turning his attention instead to his younger brothers. He didn’t want to think about the conversation Steve and Matt had been having. He could guess easily enough what they had been talking about, and the look Matt had given him didn’t bode well for his future ability to sit down comfortably. “It’s all right, Kev,” he echoed Danny’s attempt at comfort with a new, more potent empathy. He too placed his hand soothingly on his youngest brother’s back, but Kevin did not respond.

After a minute Ryan tentatively raised his eyes again, swallowing hard as he met Steve’s grim expression. “Give us your hands, Bud,” he coaxed his youngest brother softly as Steve tightened his grip on the paddle. Kevin looked up, and following his older brother’s gaze, he began to cry again, clutching his bottom harder. Matt took his seat quietly once more among the seniors, and wordlessly, Steve approached his three brothers.

“Come on, Man,” Danny added his encouragement as Kevin continued to cry. “Let’s just get it over with.” Kevin was sobbing hard now, but he had learned his earlier lessons well, and after a minute he obediently brought his hands to the top of the chair. He did not fight Danny and Ryan this time. In fact, he seemed somewhat comforted by their presence; he just pressed his face into the chair again, and wept as they gently pinned his arms.

“Kevin,” Steve began, his voice tight with the emotion he had so far successfully suppressed. The extreme degree of his brothers’ distress was starting to affect him. He could hardly stand the way Danny was looking at him, and Ryan would not look at him at all now. His throat constricted once more as he continued. “As bad and irresponsible as your behavior has been this semester overall, it is not the excessive partying, your failing grades, or inattention to fraternity rules that has earned you this punishment tonight. These infractions, as serious as they are, on their own make you no different than the majority of your classmates, and there is more than enough time for sufficient improvement if you work hard from here on in.” He paused and Kevin’s stomach twisting sobs filled the otherwise silent room.

“There is one distinguishing factor, however, that has led you to be singled out tonight,” Steve finally went on, “and that is your attitude. Your behavior to the fraternity in general these last few weeks, and specifically your behavior towards Danny, Ryan, and myself has been absolutely unacceptable. We are here to help you, Kevin, to guide you through this first year. We all remember how difficult it was, and all the advice we offer is given with nothing but the best of intentions. You may not like what we have to say, you may disagree with us, but you must always respect us. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Kevin sobbed, without lifting his head. Tears started to streak Danny’s face again too, and Ryan brought his hand to his eyes, fighting desperately to keep his own emotions in check.

“From here on in, there will be no more drinking or partying in general until you get your grades up! There will also be no more girls! Danny, Ryan and I will monitor your class work and your schedule closely. Danny will help you come up with a study plan that you will stick to, religiously, and you will report to him each day. You will keep an assignment book, which he will check, and if he feels at any time that you are lying or concealing things from him he will bring the matter to my attention. You and I will then have a discussion very similar to the one we are having right now. Is that clear?”

“Yes,” Kevin choked once more.

“Because you have lied to him in the past, in keeping track of your activities now, Danny will have the right, if needs be, to consult your professors regarding your progress. You will sign a statement, giving him that right. Understood?” Kevin was sobbing so hard now that he could not answer right away, and Danny squeezed his arm as he too tried to get control. “Answer me, Kevin,” Steve prompted. “Yes, ok! I understand!” Kevin wailed.

“Good. There will be no leisure activities at all, with the exception of team practices, until you complete each day’s scheduled assignments. There will be no more backtalk or vulgar language! You will address all of your professors and fellow fraternity members respectfully, and you will especially watch your tone when you are addressing the three of us. Is that clear?”

“Yes,” Kevin sobbed once more. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! I know I’ve been a brat! I’m sorry!” He was unable to articulate any other thought he might have had as he dissolved into choking, hysterical sobs, and Danny rubbed his back soothingly.

“All right, Little Bro,” Steve softened his tone. “You are not the only one who has had to learn these lessons the hard way.” Ryan and Danny both acknowledged their older brother’s words with another affectionate squeeze. “Many of us, in our time, have been where you are. Some of us,” he looked around the room in general, “still choose the harder path to learn our lessons by, and though you have many things still to learn, Kev, it took great courage for you to admit your mistakes tonight, and I’m proud of you! Understand,” Steve turned to the rest of the freshmen, “that I would make no different decisions if this were the beginning of the semester once more! I would still pick Kevin to be my youngest brother, and it is because he is my brother that I am hard on him now, not because I have doubts about the choice I made. There is not a single one among you who has any reason to think yourself better than him. It is his job as my youngest brother to set an example for you to learn from, and that is what this is about. As Danny said earlier, Kevin is taking the heat for all of you tonight, so pay attention and learn from his mistakes, so that hopefully you do not have to learn the hard way like he did.” Kevin, Danny and Ryan were definitely not the only ones crying now as Steve finished the lecture, and it was with a heavy heart that the fraternity president turned to face his three younger brothers once more. It was time to get this night over with for good.

Kevin had calmed slightly, now. Steve’s words, though they did nothing for his bottom, had acted as a soothing balm to his equally wounded heart, and Ryan and Danny now seemed more agitated by comparison than he was. As they felt Steve’s eyes on them, Kevin’s two older brothers did their best to pull themselves together and meet his gaze, but the stern expression they encountered caused them to fall completely to pieces. “Lift his shirt up,” Steve instructed them in the same patiently paternal tone he had been using with them all night. They were both sobbing now, but they didn’t dare disobey, and they each tightened their grip on Kevin’s arm, hoping to communicate their support to their little brother as they did what they were told, pinning his t-shirt about half-way up his back, leaving his already well-punished bottom completely vulnerable and exposed.

Kevin found strength as his brothers fell apart and though a shock went through him when his t-shirt was lifted, he took a deep breath and steeled himself for the punishment he knew would follow. “I want you to understand, Kevin, how serious I consider this issue of respect to be,” Steve reprimanded softly. “That is why we are going to go through my list of expectations one by one now, while I have your attention.” He pressed the paddle firmly into his brother’s bottom and Kevin winced. “I’m sorry we have to do it this way, Little Bro, but this was the only way we felt we could get through. Don’t forget to count and when I ask you if you understand please answer me with a clear ‘yes,’ or ‘no.’ Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Kevin choked. He gripped his brothers’ hands in his own, and stifling his sobs in the top of the chair, he let Steve’s comforting words run through his head. ‘It is my duty to set an example,’ he thought, ‘an example my friends and classmates can follow. Steve’s proud of me,’ the thought continued as tears of a more cleansing kind started to streak his face. ‘I’m going to do a better job,’ he vowed to himself, and he meant it. He would eventually return to that resolution and stick to it, faithfully, but there was a lot of emotion for him to work through between now and then. He had a lot of hurt feelings that it would take time to heal, not the least of which was his anger towards Danny. Kevin, at the moment, was feeling comforted by his brothers’ presence, Steve’s words, and the acceptance on a deep level that he did deserve this punishment. His impulse was to forgive and forget and try harder, but Kevin was young and not yet fully aware of how complex human emotions could be. He did not yet understand that sometimes our own feelings go against us, making rifts caused by conflict harder to repair than we want them to be.

He inhaled deeply as he felt the paddle leave his bottom, and he clutched Danny and Ryan’s hands harder. They returned the pressure, and the room became still once more. There was not a whisper or a breath to be heard, anywhere. “First,” Steve’s voice rang out, “there will be no more back talking! Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Kevin’s voice shook. WHACK! The paddle landed hard in the center of his bottom and Kevin threw his head back. “AHH! ONE!”

“There will be no more whining, sulking, stamping, slamming doors, throwing things or other tantrum like behavior! Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Kevin sobbed. WHACK! “OWW!” Kevin shot up in his impulse to reach, but Ryan and Danny kept his hands firmly in their own. “Two!” their little brother choked.

“There will be no more vulgar language, ever, at any time! Is that understood?” Kevin bit his lip as he hid his face again in the top of the chair. It was so hard to answer when he knew his effort would only be rewarded with another stinging smack across his bottom. “Answer me, Kevin!”

“Yes,” he sobbed finally, “I understand!” WHACK! Kevin’s face contorted, and he pulled his bottom inward, fighting desperately to free his hands, but once again Danny and Ryan hung on. “THREE!” he wailed.

“You will be respectful at all times!” Steve drew back again and WHACK! He brought the paddle down hard once more.

“AHH!” Kevin grimaced, clenching his teeth and pressing his cheek hard against the chair as he sobbed. “Four!” Danny and Ryan continued to offer all the little physical gestures of comfort they could, but they could not think of anything reassuring to say, and they were too broken up to express themselves clearly anyway.

“You will be polite when you are addressing your teammates and peers . . . .” WHACK!

“OWWW!” Kevin shrieked. “Five!”

“When you are addressing your professors . . . .” WHACK!

“SIX!” Kevin yelped, squirming hard in his effort to get away. “That’s six,” he sobbed, finally into the chair, his shoulders heaving in frustration.

“And you will especially be considerate when you are addressing Danny and Ryan! Do you hear me?”

“YES! OK! I’m Sorry!”

“Don’t tell me! Tell them!”

“I’m sorry,” Kevin whimpered, looking tearfully at his big brothers.

“It’s all right, Bud,” Ryan replied gutturally. Danny couldn’t even answer him. He just took his hand from Kevin’s t-shirt, placing it instead on the back of his little brother’s head, and leaving Ryan to take up the extra material as Kevin’s shirt slipped slightly.

“You will remember words like ‘please’ and ‘thank you,’ you will not interrupt when someone else is speaking, and you will not raise your voice! Do you understand?”

“Yes!” Kevin keened. WHACK! Kevin threw his head back, gritting his teeth as his bottom shot inward once more. “SEVEN! Please, Steve, Please!”

“You will tone down the sarcasm, particularly when you are being addressed on serious subjects such as your grades or class work. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Sir,” Kevin sniffed. WHACK! “AHH! GOD! FUCKING JESUS CHRIST! I mean . . . OWW! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

“All right Little Bro,” Steve soothed gently, making up his mind to let the transgression slide. “What stroke was that?”

“Eight,” Kevin sobbed.

“Ok, we’re almost done. From now on, you will be on time to your classes, to team practices, and to fraternity meetings! Under no circumstances are you to miss any of the above without clearing it with Danny! Do you understand?”

“Yes, Sir,” Kevin wept. WHACK! “OWW! OWW, please! That’s nine!” he pleaded. “Please!”

“I will not tolerate anymore rudeness of any kind, Kevin! Is that clear?”

“Yes! It’s clear!” he bawled. “It’s so clear!”

Steve aimed the last stroke directly under Kevin’s bottom, and his little brother howled, shooting straight up and pulling frantically at Ryan and Danny’s hands as the fire in his bottom pushed every other thought from his head. He did not count, but Steve decided not to force the issue. He could tell that Kevin had had enough. He nodded at Danny and Ryan, and with palpable relief, they let him go, each of them placing their hands over their face as they did. Kevin remained crumpled over the chair, digging his nails into the cushions as he once again remembered his lesson from earlier. As desperately as he wanted to, he did not rub.

“All right, Little Bro, stand up and face me,” Steve directed softly. Slowly, with stiff, painful movements, Kevin did as he was told, holding his hands in front of him and digging his nails into his palms. “You may rub,” Steve authorized gently, and his little brother, amidst a fresh burst of relieved sobs, immediately availed himself of the permission. “Come here,” Steve held out his arm, and Kevin went to him, burying his face in his chest as Steve closed his arm around him. “I’m proud of you, Kev,” he whispered. “You showed a lot of courage tonight.” Kevin just continued to sob. “Tomorrow, after you’ve had some time to think about all this, I want you to do two things for me, ok? Are you listening?” Kevin still couldn’t speak, but he nodded against his brother’s shoulder. “First, I want you to draw up a list of all the rules we discussed tonight as you understand them. Danny, Ryan, and I will all look at it. We will continue to discuss and revise it until we have a list we can all four agree on, and then we will all sign it. Ok? That’s one.” Kevin nodded again. “Two, I want you to draft a schedule for yourself, blocking out all your study times, practice times, and class times for the next three weeks. You and Danny will go through this process more formally next semester, but for now I just want to know that you’re getting to your classes and doing your work. Once again, Danny, Ryan and I will look at it, and help you refine it if we have any concerns. We are all going to keep a copy, so we know where you are and when you should be studying. Ok?” Kevin nodded once more, crying harder and clinging to his neck. “I know this is all very overwhelming right now, Kev’bo, and I know it’s going to be an adjustment for you, but Danny, Ryan and I all see how much potential you have and we just want to help you live up to it. We are at least going to make sure you don’t fail, and if we have to get a little deeper into your business to prevent that possibility then that’s what we’re going to do. Understand?” His tone was gentle, and carried no further trace of strictness or severity. He was no longer the fraternity president fulfilling his duty, now. He was just Kevin’s big brother, and he was trying to comfort him the best way he knew how.

Kevin clung to him for another couple of minutes and Steve held him as he cried. Ryan and Danny were still trying to get themselves together, but the rest of the room was quiet. “Go on and get to the corner, Kevin,” Steve ordered finally, and his voice, though it was not loud, carried in the still stunned silence of the room. “While you are there, I want you to think about how you ended up there, and what you can do differently next semester. I am going to dismiss the meeting by class, and when everyone has gone, you may go too, but not before. Do you understand?” Kevin nodded against his chest, and Steve squeezed his shoulder. “All right, Little Bro, go on.”

With a heavy, shuddering sigh, Kevin left the safe confines of his brother’s arm and limped his way to the far corner. He collapsed into sobs as he reached it, and he leaned his head against the wall. He brought his hands to his bottom, but he did not even really have the energy to rub anymore. Steve turned to face the freshmen, and quietly, with a furtive glance at Steve, Danny made his way over to their little brother. He placed his arm around him, and Kevin turned his face into his chest. Danny held him tight. “Hang in there, Bro,” he managed brokenly. “It’s almost over. Here,” Kevin felt his brother press something hard into his hand and he looked down. It was the key to Danny’s single room. Single rooms were rare commodities in the house. Not many people had one, and they were awarded by merit. Both Danny and Ryan had one this year, and Kevin had envied them. Now he clung to his brother, keeping tight hold of the key and sobbing.

“But where are you going to stay?” he choked.

“With Ryan,” Danny soothed huskily. “We agreed a long time ago that we would do this. Everything is set. We brought a cot in yesterday, we moved your books and some of your clothes into my room, and I have everything I need in Ryan’s room. You can stay as long as you want . . . .”

“But where was I?” Kevin sobbed in exasperation. “How did I not know about all this?”

Danny brought his hand up to Kevin’s face, trying to dry some of his tears with his thumbs as he met his little brother’s searching eyes. “You were thinking about your birthday,” Danny murmured gently, “and planning all the different ways you were going to celebrate it . . .,” his voice broke as Kevin hid his face on his shoulder once more. “I’m sorry, Kev,” he whispered as his brother cried. “I’m so sorry.”

As Danny held Kevin, Steve began to dismiss the rest of the meeting. He cautioned the freshmen to remember the example they had been set tonight, and warned them again that many of them were on a track to face similar consequences if they did not shape up immediately. He glanced at the scene taking place in the corner and sighed. Danny was not supposed to be over there. Kevin, in the tradition of the fraternity, was supposed to be using these last few minutes to reflect on the night, and the mistakes he had made this past semester. He was supposed to be standing in the corner by himself as one last warning to the already shaken freshmen as they filed by him, but Steve simply did not have it in him to be that hard hearted. ‘The point has been made,’ he thought wryly. ‘Let it rest.’ That sounded very good to him, and that is just what he did. “You may go,” he turned back to the youngest fraternity members. They did not wait for a second invitation and as they passed by their disgraced companion the disconcerted glances they cast his way made it abundantly clear to Steve that no further example was needed.

“Sophomores,” he continued as the last of the freshmen disappeared, “thank you for all your help tonight. You are all doing an excellent job. This next semester is of the utmost importance as you all know. Please inform me early if things are not going well. It will be difficult to fix things at the last minute, and as you are aware, after this semester there will be no second chances. Thank you again for your help. Continue doing what you’re doing, and you may go.” The sophomores got to their feet and slowly made their way from the room. Some of them were talking quietly amongst themselves. There were a few glances thrown in Danny and Kevin’s direction, but most of these were prompted by sympathy for their friend and his little brother. They were not as visibly upset as the freshmen; not this year.

“Juniors, thank you, you may go,” Steve spared them the fanfare. They had heard it all before. They followed their little brothers, some of them stopping briefly to talk to Ryan and offer their support. He had grown considerably calmer now, but he was still feeling crummy. It didn’t get easier. That was for sure. ‘What would next year be like?’ he swallowed as the question flitted briefly through his mind. He didn’t want to think about it.

“All right everyone,” Steve turned at last to his peers, “thanks for all your support tonight. I appreciate it more than I can say! You can go.” The seniors too had been whispering amongst themselves as the underclassmen exited, but now out of respect for Steve and his younger brothers, they stopped their conversations, got to their feet, and made their way slowly out of the room; well most of them did. Some of them placed reassuring hands on Steve’s back or shoulder as they passed by him and Steve acknowledged their support gratefully. He watched the last of his classmates as they disappeared, and then turned to face his brothers. It was not Ryan or Matt, however, that he encountered as he turned, and he narrowed his eyes lividly. He was staring down at Gregg Mcarthy’s simpering face.

“I believe I’ll do some studying,” Gregg quipped, dragging an empty chair forward and propping up his feet. He picked a book off the floor that wasn’t even his and opened it. “What?” he asked, feigning innocence as he met the fraternity president’s smoldering eyes. “Kevie won’t mind standing there for just a little longer will he?” Gregg probably to this day has no real concept of how close he came to losing his life in that moment, but fortunately Matt was there.

“Give me that,” he stepped between Steve and Gregg and forcibly took the paddle from his little brother. Then in one quick movement he collared Gregg and jerked him to his feet, causing the book to fall to the floor once more. “You are coming with me,” he informed the astonished senior as he hustled him towards the backdoor. “We are going to have a long discussion right now, Mcarthy, concerning what is and is not appropriate and respectful behavior.”

“No, wait! Matt, please, I was just joking, Man! Come on . . . .” It was quite a sight to see, Matt dragging a pleading and whimpering Gregg Mcarthy across the common room, but Steve and Ryan were way too emotionally drained to enjoy it, and Kevin and Danny did not even seem to be aware that it was happening.

“Matt,” Steve called tiredly, and his big brother looked back as he reached the back door with his struggling captive firmly in hand. “Since you’re going that way anyway, can you send James and company back in here please?”

Matt nodded. “Not a problem,” he responded as he swung the heavy wooden door open. Gregg was still protesting as Matt pulled him roughly outside, letting the screen door clatter shut behind them.

Steve looked at his three younger brothers as he found himself alone with all of them for the first time since their pool game that morning. How far away that seemed now. Tears stung his eyes. It was hard to say who was having the hardest time, but Kevin and Danny had each other, and Steve’s first concern was for Ryan. Silently, he made his way over to his little brother who stood alone to the side. He was trying desperately to get himself together as he pressed his fingers to his eyes and swiped roughly at the tears that escaped. He was not having much success, however, and as Steve placed his arm around him, he gave up the effort altogether, beginning to sob once more as he laid his head against his big brother’s shoulder.

There was no time for the comforting words Steve was preparing in his head as the screen door banged once more, letting the four occupants of the room know that they were no longer alone. Steve looked up to see Danny, Ryan, and Kevin’s best friends standing frozen at the far end of the room, their eyes fixed anxiously on the scene in front of them. Sean closed the wooden door softly, and wordlessly Steve beckoned them forward. Still, they hesitated. “Come on, it’s all right,” Steve encouraged a little impatiently, and finally, with a sidelong glance at his brothers and friends, Sean started towards the president. Andrew followed him, and a moment later the others did too. They came to a rest in front of Steve, and for a minute no one said anything. Ryan, Danny and Kevin seemed oblivious to the presence of their friends, and Steve kept his arm around his little brother who just continued to cry.

“I want to thank you,” the president finally began quietly, looking particularly at Sean and Jesse, “for everything you did tonight and all the help you have given us over the last couple of days.” He shifted his eyes to include Andy and Patrick, “I know this night was not any easier on you guys than it was on us. You’ve all been tremendously supportive and I don’t know what we would have done without you. As you know, though, it’s not really over yet. The next few weeks are likely to be pretty sticky at times, and I hope you will all continue to hang in with us.”

“You know we will, Steve,” Sean responded quietly, and the president rewarded him with the beginnings of a smile as he squeezed Ryan’s shoulder and pulled his little brother closer. He was glad Ryan had a friend like Sean to turn to.

“Alex and James come out here please,” Steve summoned the two freshmen with an air of resigned determination. They had been cowering in the middle of the pack, hoping to remain unnoticed, and now they came timidly forward as Andrew and Sean reluctantly parted to let them through. Jesse placed a reassuring hand on his brother’s shoulder, and James dropped his eyes as Steve glared at him. “I know how difficult and shocking tonight has been for both of you,” Steve started evenly, “and I can appreciate the passion you displayed in defense of your friend. Kevin is extremely lucky to have you both in his corner. That is still no excuse, however, for the disrespectful behavior you displayed tonight!”

“Sorry,” Alex and James mumbled, looking at the ground.

“I hope so,” Steve admonished. “Alex, look at me, please.” Tentatively, Alex obeyed, shrinking against his big brother as he met Steve’s stern eyes. Patrick placed a hand on his shoulder as the president continued. “Be advised, Young Man, that Pat and I will be keeping in close touch from here on in regarding your progress. Your performance has been barely satisfactory this semester, and I urge you to spend some time rethinking your priorities before a more serious discussion concerning your habits and behavior becomes necessary!”

“Yes, Sir,” Alex replied meekly, glancing at James.

Steve too shifted his eyes to the more disgraced of Kevin’s two friends. “I’m afraid you and I are going to have to have a long talk tomorrow, James,” his voice was gentle, but stern, and Sean and Jesse both paled as tears began to streak their little brother’s face.

“Is that really necessary, Steve?” the soft question came from Ryan, showing them all that he was more cognizant than they had imagined him to be. He had grown considerably calmer now, and Steve looked fondly down at him as his little brother looked at him pleadingly. Steve brought his hand up to brush at some stray tears that were still trickling down Ryan’s face and he remained quiet for a moment. “It was an accident,” Ryan continued softly, grasping hopefully at the indecision with which he equated his brother’s silence.

Steve raised his eyebrows at him, “An accident?” he questioned. “You think it was an accident? Come on, Ryan.” There was the tiniest glint of amusement in the fraternity president’s eyes now as he looked at his little brother. He knew what Ryan was trying to do, and he wanted to give in. He wanted to, but he couldn’t. It would be wrong to let this go. “Danny, come here for a moment, please,” he called.

“Do I have to?” Danny sobbed in response.

“Yes, you have to,” Steve commanded patiently, but firmly. Reluctantly, Danny separated himself from Kevin, leaving his little brother to sob in the corner by himself as he made his way quietly to stand just in back of Steve’s shoulder. “Come on,” Steve encouraged softly, “come up here so they can see you.” Biting his lip, Danny did as he was told, avoiding Jesse and Patrick’s eyes as he stepped up behind his brother. They had not seen the damage yet, and now they both sucked in their breath.

“Jesus Christ,” Jesse muttered.

James snuck a look as he heard his brother’s horrified exclamation, and as he saw Danny’s face, he started to sob. “I’m sorry!” he exclaimed. “I’m so sorry!” Jesse tightened his grip on his little brother’s shoulder as an awkward silence fell. Danny’s red, swollen eyes and tear streaked cheeks might have made things look a little worse than they were, but it was bad. There was no doubt about that. Alex gaped at him in dismay and Sean and Andrew shifted uneasily.

“It’s ok, Bud, I’m ok,” Danny finally broke the silence as James’ agonized sobs continued to fill the air.

“No!” Steve contradicted sharply. “No, it’s not OK! I’ll have you know, James,” he went on grimly, “that I was this close,” he illustrated with his thumb and forefinger, “to having you switch places with Kevin tonight! This,” he reached up to grasp Danny’s jaw gently in his hand, “was NOT an accident.”

“Ok,” Ryan acknowledged fretfully, brushing at his own tears now as he tried to regain his brother’s attention, “but James just reacted, Steve. He didn’t mean to hurt Danny so badly. It’s been a very long night for all of us. Can’t we just let it go? Please?”

Steve tightened his arm around his brother, but he was looking at Sean and Jesse, now. “Does he know what a summons is?” he asked quietly, indicating their little brother. They swallowed hard and nodded as James started to cry harder.

“No!” Danny cried as the significance of the conversation finally caught up with him, but Steve ignored him.

“Look for one tomorrow, James,” he instructed Kevin’s best friend with dismal finality.

“No! Steve, come on! Please!” Danny begged. “He didn’t mean it to happen! Can’t we just forget it, please?”

“No, Danny. I’m afraid we can’t. We simply do not do these kinds of things to one another, in this fraternity. In this fraternity, we do not fight!” The pointed reprimand went over the heads of the youngest fraternity members, but nobody else missed it. Ryan and Danny lost what little color they had left in their faces, and Danny clutched his head in exasperation. They had no leverage in this situation, clearly, where they might have had some before. Steve had grabbed hold of this fighting thing now, and he was intent on making his point. For a minute Steve’s younger brothers were quiet, not knowing what else to say. They avoided their friends’ eyes and Patrick, Andy, Sean and Jesse shifted restlessly as James continued to weep.

“Does it have to be tomorrow?” Ryan sobbed, finally, still clinging to his brother. “Can’t it wait a little?”

“We’ll talk about it later, Ry,” Steve responded, hugging him close to his side.

“But Steve, please . . . .” Danny entreated desperately.

“Later, Danny,” Steve repeated. “We’ll talk about it later.” Steve had no intention of changing his mind, but he also had no intention of arguing with his brothers at the moment and he could tell they weren’t going to let the issue go. Danny and Ryan both opened their mouths to protest, but Steve held up his hand to cut them off. “It is late,” he continued decisively, “we are all exhausted, and it is time that we all went to bed.” It had been a very long night as Ryan had previously pointed out, and now was not the time to talk about this. He certainly was not going to involve his brothers’ already distraught friends in the dispute. Besides if Ryan and Danny were going to insist on bringing this subject up right now, he had things to say to them that he would rather nobody else heard. “Go on back to Kevin,” he commanded his second youngest brother in a tone that was not to be argued with. “Let’s get him upstairs, so we can all start to put this night behind us.” Danny and Ryan were both crying hard again now, and with an anguished look of apology in Jesse’s direction, Danny did as he was told. “Thanks guys, again,” Steve turned back to his brothers’ friends. “Ry and I are going to help Danny get Kevin upstairs. Why don’t the rest of you go on and go to bed. We’ll see you guys, tomorrow.”

“Night Steve,” Andrew returned quietly, and, ushering Alex before them, Andy and Patrick headed for the hallway. Jesse and Sean started to follow with James, but Steve placed a hand on Sean’s arm, and covering Ryan’s ear with his hand, he mouthed, “Make sure he,” he pointed at James, “he checks his mail early tomorrow.” Sean swallowed again, but he nodded. He had one hand on each of his little brothers now, and he offered Steve one final good night as he guided both Jesse and James towards the door of the common room.

Not long after Sean and Jesse had gone with their little brother, Danny came up behind Steve and Ryan with Kevin. He had his hand on his little brother’s shoulder and was carrying his jeans. Kevin had managed to pull his underwear painfully back up over his still burning bottom, but Danny had seen no point in having him go through the excruciating business of pulling up his jeans when he was just going to take them off again upstairs.

Poor, Kevin. Upstairs seemed such a very long ways away now and getting there was such a very slow, disconcerting process. All he wanted was a bed and a pillow, and an opportunity to cry himself to sleep. He couldn’t think straight at all, and he leaned heavily on Danny as they inched their way up the stairs. Steve and Ryan came behind. Danny took the key from Kevin’s hand and opened the door to his room, steering his little brother inside to the bed. Ryan and Steve saw them that far and then left them with some last gentle words of encouragement for Kevin. Kevin was not really paying attention by that time, though. He already had his face buried deep in the pillow, and he was hugging it tight to his chest as he sobbed.

Ryan squeezed Danny’s shoulder as he and Steve made their way to the door. “I’ll be down in a bit,” Danny managed brokenly. “I just want to make sure he’s all right.”

Ryan nodded. “Take your time, Bro,” he responded hoarsely, and he gave his little brother’s shoulder another squeeze. Danny followed them as far as the hallway and softly closed the door behind them as they stepped outside.

Alone, finally, with his own little brother, he dropped to his knees beside him. There was a pile of icepacks on the nightstand that he and Ryan had brought in earlier. They were the kind that you had to crush to activate. Danny took one now, and immediately began the necessary activation process, with perhaps just a little more than the necessary amount of vigor. It was no time at all before he felt the pack growing cold in his hands, and when it was cold enough to satisfy him he whispered a warning to Kevin, “This is going to feel cold, Bud, but it will help.” He then unceremoniously lifted the waistband of his little brother’s briefs, and as gently as possible slid the icepack between his bottom and his underwear. The sudden cold against his scalding skin made Kevin buck a little and clutch the pillows tighter, but it did feel good and after a moment he relaxed. Danny was already repeating the process and soon Kevin had another icepack sticking out of his underpants. He was still sobbing, but slowly, as the cold went to work soothing his tortured bottom, he began to grow calmer. For at least an hour, Danny stayed with him. Several times, he changed the icepacks which quickly warmed beyond usefulness, and finally the cold seemed to be lasting a longer time. Kevin’s sobs subsided gradually, and his eyes began to droop as Danny stroked his hair. At last he fell into a deep, exhausted sleep, and Danny prayed, as he changed the icepacks one more time that his little brother would sleep through the night.

He remembered all too well what those first few days after felt like. “Night, Kev’bo,” he whispered as he got to his feet, and gently pulled the sheet over him. Kevin’s world had been turned upside down tonight, and when he woke up Danny knew that he would feel like everything had changed, and not for the better. He looked back one more time as he silently made his way from the room. Kevin was still sleeping soundly. ‘Let him get a good night’s sleep,’ Danny thought again, biting his lip, ‘he’s definitely going to need it.’ Softly he closed the door and with a bitter heart made his way down the hall to Ryan’s room.

Steve was still there, and Danny found his two brothers engaged in heated conversation regarding James’ impending punishment. Slowly he started to undress. He felt just as strongly as Ryan did, but he didn’t have the energy to argue about it right now. Ryan was sitting on the cot that Danny would be sleeping on, and now Danny stripped to his boxers and flopped down next to him, clutching the pillows and burying his face. Ryan placed a soothing hand on his back, but the argument continued, and a few minutes later they were joined by Matt as they heard Gregg Mcarthy’s door slam some distance down the hallway. “If he woke Kevin up, I’ll kill him!” Danny seethed into the pillow as hot tears once more began to streak his face. That brought the conversation to a momentary halt and Ryan squeezed his brother’s shoulder.

“I think it’s all right,” Matt said softly, cracking the door and listening hard, “I don’t hear anything. Want me to go check on him?” Danny shook his head. If Kevin was awake, they’d probably hear him. “What were we arguing about?” Matt asked quietly, addressing Steve and Ryan now.

“It wasn’t an argument exactly,” Steve replied softly, glancing uneasily at Ryan. He wasn’t sure he wanted his older brother involved in this conversation right now. Matt was pretty put out with both Danny and Ryan. “It was more of a discussion, really,” Steve went on, carefully. “We were discussing the importance of controlling our impulses and specifically we were talking about the fraternity’s position on fighting.”

“Ahh, I see,” Matt returned, taking a seat on Ryan’s bed next to Steve, and looking steadfastly at their little brother. Ryan bit his lip and looked away, and for a moment, there was silence. “Would somebody like to elaborate further?” Matt inquired, finally.

“Steve is going to summon James,” Ryan began to sob again as all the emotions of the night resurfaced. Danny flipped over onto his back, bringing his hand to his eyes as Ryan’s distress over the situation reignited his own.

“Well of course he is,” Matt said gently. “What other choice does he have?”

“To let it go,” Danny sobbed in support of his brother.

“But then, what has this whole night been about?” Matt inquired in the same soft tone. Ryan and Danny didn’t respond. “There is a certain standard for the way we treat each other in this fraternity,” Matt went on quietly, placing his hand on Steve’s shoulder as Danny and Ryan continued to sob. “We do not fight,” he reiterated.

In that moment, Ryan and Danny knew they had lost. There was no point in continuing the argument. They also knew the conversation had taken a turn. This discussion was no longer about James. Ryan placed his head in his hands and Danny covered his eyes with his arm. Patiently, Matt and Steve waited while they tried to collect themselves.

“Are you going to summon us?” Ryan sobbed finally. Neither Matt nor Steve was really prepared for the question, and Steve stood up suddenly, turning his back and bringing his own hand to his eyes. That was a question he did not want to think about, let alone answer right now. Tears started to streak his face as his little brothers looked at him and waited.

“Steve and I have not talked at length about this yet,” Matt began, gently redirecting Danny and Ryan’s attention as Steve’s agitation became more and more apparent, “but I think you should prepare yourselves for the answer to be yes.” Both his little brothers’ faces crumpled and they hid them once again, crying more quietly than they had been before, but just as hard. For a few moments, the soft sounds they made were the only ones to be heard, but finally Matt broke the silence again. “Why don’t you go to bed, Steve,” he suggested evenly. “I would like to have a private word with our little brothers on this subject.”

Danny’s sobs became audible again and Ryan glanced quickly at their oldest brother. He swallowed as he met Matt’s now stern eyes, and his bottom began to tingle. Matt was not a big believer, as all his little brothers knew, in either the paddle or the process of the summons. He was a bigger believer in on the spot spankings, and felt that his hand was more than sufficient as an implement. He had punished both Ryan and Danny this way a few times, though not many people knew it. He had punished Steve this way too when Steve was in his freshman year. Even fewer people knew that. In any case, they all recognized the signs. Steve was reluctant to have the night end like this for his already emotionally taxed little brothers, but he was also too emotional himself to argue. Biting his lip to keep the tears back, he made his way over to Ryan now, and placed his hands on top of his little brother’s bowed head.

“We will talk more about this tomorrow, Ry, ok?” he inquired tenderly.

“About James, or about us?” Ryan looked tearfully up at him and Steve cupped his face in his hands.

“About both,” Steve answered huskily and tears started to streak his face despite himself as Ryan looked down again and began to sob harder. He brushed his fingers through his little brother’s hair once more, and then catching Danny’s ankle in his hand, he gave it a brief, gentle squeeze as he made his way to the door, and then out into the hallway.

“Please don’t spank us, Matt,” Ryan began pleading the moment the door closed.

“Ryan, you and Danny are subject to the same rules and codes of conduct as James, Kevin, and everyone else in the fraternity. When you break rules, there are consequences. This is not so much about the fight because that it is too serious for me to handle right now. This is more about the extremely awkward position the two of you put Steve in. I want to impress upon both of you how very serious this is. Danny, come here.”

Anguished sobs racked Danny’s shoulders as he got hesitantly to his feet, and in one swift movement Matt took him by the wrist and pulled him across his knees, lowering his boxers and resting his hand on his bottom. “Go on and get ready,” he commanded looking up at Ryan as Danny twisted under his arm. “I am seriously disappointed in both of you,” he scolded as he began to spank. Danny yipped and squirmed as Matt’s hand fell, and Ryan rose sobbingly to his feet. He was still wearing his jeans, but now as Matt continued to punish their little brother, he unzipped and unbuttoned them, pushing them down and off.

“Oww! Oww! Oww!” Danny yelped and wiggled and bawled, but Matt continued to spank him hard, toasting his bottom to a warm, rosy pink before sending him to bed and moving on to Ryan.

“I’m sorry,” Ryan sobbed as Matt pulled him over his knees and lowered his boxers.

“I know you are,” Matt replied gently, but his hand was not so sympathetic. Danny lay in his bed, rubbing his bottom and sniffling as Ryan too paid his penance. Matt spanked him perhaps just a little harder and a little longer even than he had Danny. Ryan’s bottom, by the time Matt let him crawl into bed, was perhaps just a little redder because Matt expected more of him, especially when it came to protecting Steve and understanding his position. It was nice to be the president’s pet, but on occasion there was a price to be paid, and tonight Ryan had paid it.

It wasn’t that the spanking Matt gave either of his brothers was very severe. Really, he warmed their bottoms just enough to make them uncomfortable, and the punishment hurt their hearts more than anything. They knew they had put their big brother in a bad position by acting on impulse the way they did. Matt had reminded them that it was their fault, not Steve’s that they were in this mess. Steve had a responsibility now, he was not in any kind of position to play favorites, and they were the ones who had put him in that awkward situation.

Matt was extremely fond of all his brothers, and he was sorry this whole thing had happened. He had not wanted to punish Danny and Ryan, but in the end he had felt it was necessary to place the responsibility back on them. By punishing them, he had put an end to any possible protests they might have otherwise made when more serious consequences were handed down. There would be pleading, and begging for sure and the scene would be plenty emotional, but there would be no bitter sense of injustice to get in the way of their relationship with Steve. They would remember exactly whose impulsive actions were to blame. With the spanking he had given his little brothers tonight, Matt had paved the way for The Healing they all so desperately needed, and he had also set the tone for The Summons Danny and Ryan would inevitably receive.

Ryan and Danny were both crying softly still as Matt pulled the blankets up over them. He explained his position once again, gently, said some soothing words to both of them and then left them to cry themselves to sleep as he turned off the light and closed the door softly behind him. Finally, the night was over. He checked on Kevin who was still sleeping soundly, and then made his way down to Steve’s room. A rare peace had settled over the house, and for the moment all was quiet. There was a long way to go yet, and a great deal of emotion to be worked through, but in those early morning hours of deep and dreamless slumber The Healing had begun.