Ducky the Frog...A “Little One” Story (M/f)

(c) 2000 by Sampast and Don A. Landhill

 

It was the first day of summer vacation.  I was so glad that school was over.  I was looking forward to a summer of fun.  Unfortunately for me, it was not to start yet.  Mommy had a bad cold and had taken the day off from work.  She called my babysitter, Alyssa, and told her not to come.  I spent the whole day inside.

 

By the time Daddy got home, I was literally going stir crazy.  What’s a seven year old to do all day inside when her mother is sick and cranky?  She wouldn’t even let me play outside in the yard.

 

When I heard the key in the lock, I ran at full speed to the front door and right into Daddy’s arms.  “DADDDDDDDDDYYYY!!!!” I yelled.

 

“Hello, little one.  It’s good to see you.  Did you have a good day with Mommy?”

 

I shook my head no.  “It was awful, Daddy.  I am so bored,” I told him.

 

Daddy just smiled at me.  He put his briefcase down and picked me up and swung me around.  I smiled.  He gave me a big hug and told me he loved me.  It was the best feeling in the world.

 

“I love you, DADDDY!” I said.

 

Daddy smiled.  “I know you do, but it is always good to hear.  So you had a bad day, little one?”

 

I nodded.  “It was so boring.  I been in the house all day.  Can we go somewhere, Daddy?”

 

Daddy seemed to think about this.  “Let me go talk to Mommy.”  He came back a few minutes later.  Apparently Mommy had said okay to getting rid of me for a little bit.  I’m sure I drove her as crazy today as she had me.

 

“Can we go somewhere now?” I asked, a little impatiently.

 

I guess Daddy decided to overlook my tone and nodded.  “Sure.  Where did you want to go?”

 

I thought about it and shrugged.  “I don't know.  How ‘bout the mall?”

 

“Okay, if you like.  Or we could go to the park if you don't want to buy anything,” Daddy suggested.  I think it was HIM who didn’t want to buy nothing.

 

I thought about it and suddenly had a great idea.  “Can we go to the puppy store?”  I absolutely loved the puppy store.  But I didn’t know if Daddy would bring me back there, after what happened that last time.

 

To my surprise, Daddy said, “Okay.”  I smiled.  Then of course, he continued, “But remember, no letting the puppies out.  I want your promise to behave in that store, little one, after what happened before.  Do you promise?”

 

I would have promised the world then, just to get to go.  “Yes, Daddy, I won't let the puppies out.  I'll remember,” I said, rubbing my bottom in remembrance. 

 

“That's my good girl.  All right, come on.”  I took Daddy’s hand and we headed out to the car.  In the car on the way to the mall, I was busy wondering what kind of pet I would buy.  I already had two bunnies, a pony, and a ducky.  But the pony and ducky were kept at a farm nearby.  I really wanted a puppy. 

 

When we got to the mall, Daddy reminded me of the rules -- to stay near him, not run around, not whine or make a fuss, and not to let the puppies out.

 

I sighed.  “Okay, Daddy, you don't gotta remind me.”

 

“I just wanted to be sure you were clear on this, little one.”  Daddy led me into the mall and over to the puppy store.

 

I immediately forgot the rule of not running and ran toward the puppies.  “Puppies!” I shouted.  Daddy followed and came over to where I was standing.  I was pointing at a mutt.

 

“Look, Daddy, isn't he cute?”

 

“Yes, that is a very cute puppy,” Daddy said.

 

I looked up at Daddy and smiled.  “I want him,” I said quietly.

 

Daddy looked down at me.  “Little one, you have a lot of pets already.  We talked about this before and I don't think a puppy is a good idea just now.”

 

I pouted.  I mean, I kind of knew that’s what he would say, but when he said it, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed.  “Okay, Daddy.”  But I wasn’t giving up.  I started to walk around and look at the other animals.

 

Snakes? nah.  Mice? yuck.  Frogs?  hmmm, frogs.  I looked at the different kinds of frogs.  I saw one with a yellow spot on his back.  He was kind of cute.

 

“Oooh, can I get a frog, Daddy?” I asked, figuring he’d say no right away.

 

Daddy actually seemed to think about it.  “Hmm, let’s see what kind of care they need.”  I watched as Daddy talked to the store keeper to find out what was needed for a pet frog.

 

When Daddy came back over, I pointed to the one with the yellow spot.  “I like this one.” I said.

 

“Okay, we will take that one.”  I smiled as I watched the storekeeper put the frog into a terrarium and give Daddy all the things it would need.  Then Daddy paid.  He looked at me and smiled, “All right, let’s get your new frog home.”

 

“Yay!  Oh, thank you, Daddy.  You're the best!”  I hugged Daddy tight.  I didn’t even think about what Mommy would say when she saw another pet.

 

The whole car ride home I was thinking of a good name for my frog.  I thought about the little spot on its back and considered calling him “Spot”,  but that seemed so boring.  I thought about my other pets’ names; they were all so original. 

 

I started naming them inside my head.  I had “Puppy” the bunny, and “Kitty” the bunny; then there was “Dasher” the pony and “Horsey” the duck.  Hmmm, what would be good? Then I knew; I had the perfect name.  “Ducky”.  I giggled.  Daddy was always so confused with my pets’ names.

 

We took the froggy inside and Daddy carried it up to my room.  I was sure he set it down far away from the bunny’s cages.  Ducky might be scared of them.  Daddy started to read to me from the care rules booklet we got at the pet shop.

 

I was still thinking of his name when Daddy snapped his fingers to get my attention.  “Little one, are you paying attention?  You are responsible for your frog -- you will have to care for him properly.”

 

“Yes, Daddy, I'm listening,” I said.

 

“Good.  Then tell me how you feed the frog.”

 

It’s a good thing I had been listening.  So I told him.  “Okay, that's good.  I hope that you have a lot of fun with your frog.  But remember he is to stay in his terrarium.  He is not to hop around the house or go outside, okay?”

 

That was a bummer.  “Why not, Daddy?”

 

“Because he might get lost, and not have the things he needs.  Or he might make a mess.  Neither of those would be good.  Understand?”

 

I nodded but then had a thought.  Very seriously I asked Daddy, “Daddy? What does froggy poop look like?”

 

“I think frogs just pee, not poop,” he answered as seriously as I had.  “That’s why you must change his water twice a day.”

 

“Okay, Daddy.”  Daddy helped me to set up the terrarium.  We had read about different ways to set it up but decided that the half and half tank worked best.

 

It was half water and half land.  We filled the tank with water and put in some giant rocks.  Daddy had gotten special separators to divide the water and land masses within the tank.  We also put down some moss and soil.  We put in some plastic plants and I had to keep a spray bottle nearby.  This pet was gonna be a lotta work.

 

Daddy said to me, “Samantha, you have a lot of pets.  I hope you can take care of them all.  If you neglect any of your pets, you will be in trouble.  Now you take good care of this frog, okay?”

 

“I will, Daddy.  I’m gonna name him Ducky.”  I giggled.  Daddy just looked at me and shook his head.

 

The next day Mommy went back to work, thank goodness, and Alyssa came over to watch me.  We had fun all day.  When Daddy came home, he saw the note Alyssa had left him on the kitchen table that said we were at the park.

 

When he got there, he saw me and Alyssa hunting frantically over the grass.  I saw Daddy and started to cry.  “What’s wrong, girls?”

 

Sheepishly, I said hi to Daddy but then started to walk away.  I knew I was gonna be in big trouble.  Alyssa said, “Hi, Mr. Leonard.  We’re looking for Ducky.”

 

Daddy just looked at me.  “That would be Ducky the *frog*?  The one I told you not to take out of his tank or outside?”

 

I looked up at Daddy and nodded.  Alyssa looked at me and said, “Sammie, you said your daddy said it would be okay.”

 

I didn’t answer her.  I knew I had been caught in a lie.  I didn’t know he would hop away.  I thought we could get him home long before Daddy would even know.  Now I see I made a big mistake.

 

I looked up at Daddy again.  All he said was, “I see.  Well we will deal with this later.  First let me help you find Ducky.  Where did you lose him?”

 

I pointed around.  I kept looking, crying the whole time.  I don’t know which I was more upset about...losing the frog or knowing I was gonna get a spanking, and probably a mouth soaping for lying.

 

I ran over when Daddy called me.  He had spotted a bit of green in the sand box and soon had dug up Ducky, complete with distinctive yellow spot.  “Here he is,” Daddy said, holding up Ducky.  “Now let’s get him and you back home.”

 

“Yes, Daddy,” I said somberly, as the three of us walked back to the house.

 

Daddy washed him off and set him back into his tank.  He explained to Alyssa the rules about him staying in his tank and not being taken out.  He looked at me then and said, “Samantha, now do you understand why that is the rule a bit better?”

 

I nodded and said, “Yes, sir.”  Then I asked a question I already knew the answer to.  “Am I in trouble, Daddy?” 

 

“Yes, for breaking the rule and lying to Alyssa,” he explained to me.  Then he turned to Alyssa and said, “Alyssa, thanks for helping, and I will see you tomorrow.”

 

Alyssa seemed nervous when she answered.  She was probably thinking of the last time when we both were in trouble.  “Um, yes, sir, bye Sammie, good luck!” she called out on her way out the door. 

 

I was thinking of the trouble I was in.  I had to at least try to get out of it.  I looked at Daddy and said, “But Daddy! I’m sorry.”

 

Daddy looked at me and said, “You should be sorry.  You know that you are not to lie, and particularly you are not to lie to Alyssa about what you are allowed to do, aren’t you?”

 

I cried and said sadly, “Yes, Daddy.”

 

“What happens when you lie, Samantha?”

 

“You wash my mouth out with soap, Daddy?”

 

“That's right.  And you have a soaping coming right now.  Come with me, young lady.”

 

Gone was the “little one” nickname.  And gone was just Sammie.  In its place was “young lady” and Samantha.  At least, I didn’t get the Samantha Karen.  Not yet anyway.  I followed Daddy reluctantly into the bathroom.  He pointed to the closed toilet seat and I sat down.  Then he motioned for me to open up.

 

You’d think I would be so used to this, but when Daddy put the soap into my mouth, I started to cry.  It didn’t do me any good, neither.  It was hard to cry around the soap.  And it tasted awful.  After several minutes, Daddy let me rinse.

 

I rinsed and rinsed, but I couldn’t get that awful soap taste out of my mouth.  I guess that was the plan.  I reached up and hugged Daddy.  “I sorry, Daddy, please no spank me.”  I always sounded like a baby when I was in trouble.  Somehow being punished, took me back a few years.

 

Daddy hugged me back but then released me.  He kneeled down and looked into my eyes.  “Don’t you think you’ve earned a spanking, Samantha?  Why shouldn't I spank you?”

 

I thought about this.  I did break the rules, but I didn’t mean for anything bad to happen.  “I didn't mean to make Ducky lost, Daddy,” I tried.

 

Daddy nodded.  “Okay, but you knew you were breaking the rule, right?  I explained why that was the rule, didn't I?”

 

We were still in the bathroom.  I nodded.  “Cuz he might get lost? Or hurt?” I offered.

 

“That's right.  Like what happened today.  And since you knew that was the rule, you are going to be spanked for breaking it.  Now, come along.”  Daddy held out his hand.  I took it and walked with him back to my bedroom.

 

Daddy sat on the edge of my bed and brought me to stand in front of him.  He pulled down my shorts and panties in one motion and pulled me over his lap.  He started to hand-spank me. {smack} {smack}{smack}{smack}{smack}

 

It hurt right away.  I don’t know why.  I mean, I was spanked all the time.  You’d think I would become immune to it.  But I didn’t.  That first smack on my bare tushie was always a shock.  “Owwwww, DADDDDY! Wahhhhh!” I cried.

 

The spanking continued, and with it, came the lecture.  {smack}{smack} “You will not {smack} break the house rules!” {smack}

 

“Owwww, yes, sir!” I cried.

 

{smack}{smack} “You will not {smack} take your frog outside {smack} again.” {smack}

 

“Owwww, I won't, Daddy, I promise!” I yelled, trying hard not to wiggle and squirm.

 

The next thing I felt was a crack on my backside.  Daddy must have picked up the hairbrush from my side table.  Ow, that hurt.

 

{Crack} {Crack} “And you will not {Crack} tell lies, {Crack} not to me, {Crack} not to Alyssa, {Crack} not to anyone!” {Crack} 

 

“Owww, Daddy, you already soaped me for lying.  Waaaaaaaaaah!” I cried.  I did not think this was fair.

 

{Crack} {Crack}  “I want to make sure {Crack} you remember how strongly  {Crack} I feel about lies.”  {Crack}  {Crack}  {Crack}  {Crack}  

 

I tried to nod, which in this position, was very difficult.

 

Then Daddy stopped.  I heard the brush be put down on my nightstand.  Daddy rubbed my bottom for a minute, and said, “All right, little one, your spanking is over.”

 

Music to my ears.  Daddy helped me up and hugged me to him tight.  I was still crying.  “I sorry, Daddy,” I said into his chest.

 

“I forgive you,” he told me.

 

“I'm sorry I broke the rules.”

 

Daddy smiled, and looked me in the eyes.  “Okay, I am sure you will be more careful in the future.  Now why don't you take a nice nap?”

 

I nodded; I was feeling sleepy.  But I needed to ask one more question.  I looked up at Daddy and said, “Do you still love me, Daddy?”

 

“Oh yes.  I love you and I always will, no matter what.  I love you so very, very much, even when I don't like what you have done, or when I have to punish you.”

 

I nodded.  “Okay, Daddy, I know that, I just like hearing you say it, again and again.”  I smiled through my tears and hugged him one last time.  Then I pulled up my panties, carefully, kicked off my shorts and laid down in my bed. 

 

“G’nite, Daddy,” I said, already closing my eyes and snuggling into my pillow.  I really was exhausted.

 

“Good night, little one,” Daddy said, but I think I was already asleep.

 

I didn’t take Ducky out of his tank again, except to clean it.  And I was real careful about taking care of my other pets.  I wanted to show Daddy that I could be responsible.  Even if I was only seven, and bound to make SOME mistakes.

 

The end.