Rules, Rules, Rules

Rules, Rules, Rules...a “Little One” story (M/f)

Little One and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week

(With apologies to Judith Viorst)

I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there’s gum in my hair. And by mistake I dropped my sweater in the sink while the water was running, and I knew it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad...

Oh wait a minute! That’s not me! That’s Alexander. But I wasn’t just having a bad day. I was having a bad week. It seemed like every time I turned around, I was in trouble. And you know what that means, don’t you? When I’m in trouble, I get a spanking.

The week started off okay. Well the first few hours anyway. I woke up Monday morning and put on my coveralls and my sweatshirt. I went down to breakfast and poured myself some cheerios. I saw the milk on the counter and took it and poured it in. Before I had even taken a bite, Mommy grabbed the bowl from me and practically threw it in the sink.

I just stared at her. “Mommy, what’s wrong?” I yelled.

“That milk is sour, Samantha,” she said, practically crying. “Didn’t you see it sitting on the counter?”

“Yeah, but,” I started to say.

“No buts. I had it out to return to the store. I only bought it yesterday.” Then she looked down at me. “What are you wearing, Samantha Karen?”

“Jeans and a sweatshirt, Mommy. Same as I wear every day,” I replied.

She pulled me up and said, “Not today, you’re not! Besides, this sweatshirt is dirty. And these pants are ripped. Go change right now.”

“Arrrgh,” I thought to myself. I ran up to change. So okay, maybe my week didn’t start out so good after all. And from there, it went completely downhill.

You know what the problem was? There were just too many rules. I seemed to have rules for everything. I couldn’t walk or breathe without breaking some rule.

Monday afternoon, Daddy came home from work. Alyssa told him I was in the backyard. Well, I was in the backyard for a little bit, but then I kinda took a walk. You see, we had gotten some of Mrs. Feller’s mail by mistake and I thought I should try to catch up to Mr. Jones, our mailman. I mean, he had just delivered the mail two minutes before, so he shouldn’t have been too far away.

Daddy found me halfway up the block talking to Mr. Jones. “Samantha! There you are! What are you doing out here? Alyssa told me you were in the backyard...and I checked all your hiding places. You aren’t supposed to leave the gate!”

I looked up at Daddy. Uh oh! He did not look too happy. I said goodbye to Mr. Jones and walked with Daddy back to the house. I explained what I was trying to do. But I don’t think Daddy cared; he seemed a bit upset.

“But Daddy, isn’t it good that I was trying to help?”

“Well, it is good that you wanted to make sure that Mrs. Feller got her mail. But what is the rule about going out of the yard?”

I hated when Daddy asked me to repeat a rule. Cuz then I have to admit that I knew it was one of my rules and also that I broke it.

“Uh, not to, Daddy?”

“That’s right, but you did it anyway, didn’t you, Samantha?”

I nodded. “Daddy? Am I in trouble?” I asked. I mean, I pretty much knew the answer to that question, but I asked anyway. Hey, what do you want from me? I’m only seven.

“Samantha, you know the rule: no leaving the yard without permission. You could have called out to Mr. Jones, or told me about it when I got home, and I could have taken Mrs. Feller her mail. I know you wanted to help, but the rules are there to keep you safe, and I expect you to follow them. Understand?”

“Yes, Daddy,” I said sadly. “Am I gonna get a spanking? I hate stupid rules!”

Apparently that was not a good thing to say.

“Samantha, this rule is not stupid. When you go outside, if I don't know where you are, you could get hurt or lost. Now I want you to stand here in the corner for a while, and then we'll see if you understand that you must follow the rules, even when you don't want to. Now scoot,” Daddy said, giving me one smack to my rear.

Man, this was turning out to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. I didn’t know it would be an entire week of bad stuff.

I ran to the corner and kicked the wall. “It's not fair!” I shouted. “I always get in trouble. I hate rules. Rules are stupid!” At that point, I picked up one of my toys and threw it across the room.

“Samantha! Come here, and tell me the rules about corner time, and about throwing things in the house!” Daddy said sternly.

“I don't wanna tell you no more rules,” I said indignantly. “I hate rules. Rules are yucky and stupid and they really really SUCK!”

“Samantha Karen! I'm surprised at you. You know that you are not to use language like that. Clearly, you need a reminder about behaving and what happens when you don't follow the rules,” Daddy said, taking me by the ear and marching me into the bathroom.

“No, Daddy, I not want my mouth washed out with soap!” I cried.

“Too bad, Samantha. You should have thought about that before you used such language.”

Daddy made me sit on top of the closed toilet lid. Then he put a bar of soap in my mouth and made me hold it there for several minutes. It felt like forever and it tasted disgusting. Finally he told me I could rinse.

I rinsed but the yucky soap taste didn’t go away. I looked up at Daddy. I knew more punishment was to come. “I hope that will help you remember the rule about not using naughty words,” he said. “Now come with me; we have some other rules to remind you about.”

He marched me to my room. Then Daddy sat on my bed and pulled me over his lap. He pulled down my pants and my panties and started to spank me.

{Smack} {Smack} {Smack} {Smack} {Smack} {Smack} {Smack} {Smack} {Smack} {Smack} “You do not throw things {Smack} in the house. {Smack} That is a rule.” {Smack} {Smack}

“Owwwwwwwww, Daddddddy, I'm sorrrrry!” I cried. I always said that when I was being spanked, whether I was sorry or not. Usually I was.

{Smack} {Smack} “You do not {Smack} {Smack} yell at me. {Smack} That is {Smack} another rule. {Smack} {Smack} And when you are sent to the corner, {Smack} you are to stand up and stay quiet. {Smack} That is the rule for corner time. {Smack} When you break the rules, {Smack} {Smack} you get punished, {Smack} young lady.” {Smack} {Smack}

Now you’d think I’d learn at this point, but I didn’t. That must be why I was always in the position I was in now. I wiggled and cried and screamed, “But I not like rules! If I didn't have the rules, I wouldn't break them.” I was whining and crying and reaching my hand back to rub my bottom and trying to push Daddy’s hand out of the way.

But Daddy kept going on. He took my hand and held it out of the way and continued to rain those smacks down on my poor little bottom. It was on fire.

{Smack} {Smack} {Smack} {Smack} {Smack} “No whining, Samantha. {Smack} Rules are important. {Smack} They are to keep you safe {Smack} and make things work better {Smack} for all of us. {Smack} Mommy and I set the rules around here, {Smack} young lady, {Smack} and we expect you to {Smack} follow them. {Smack} We also expect you to be polite {Smack} and respectful.” {Smack} {Smack}

I couldn’t take much more of this. “Owwwwwww, okaaaaaayyyyyyyyy, DADDDDDDDDDY, stoppppppppppp!” I cried.

{Smack} {Smack} “I'll stop {Smack} when I think you've learned your lesson. {Smack} Now, are you ready {Smack} to behave {Smack} and follow the rules?” {Smack} {Smack}

I would have promised Daddy the world just then. “Yeessssssssiiiiirrrrr!”

{Smack} {Smack} {Smack} {Smack} {Smack} “All right then, your spanking is over. But you still have your corner time from before. Now back in the corner, and leave your bottom bare,” Daddy told me.

I refrained from stomping over to the corner. That would probably not have sat well with Daddy. I stood in the corner, crying and rubbing my bottom. I waited for Daddy to tell me I could come out.

After about ten million minutes, Daddy asked, “Samantha, are you ready to come out of the corner and behave now, and to follow the rules?”

“Yes, Daddy,” I said, crying. I ran over to where Daddy was still sitting on my bed. I climbed up into his lap and hugged him, sobbing over his shoulder. Daddy patted my back and comforted me. He held me and cuddled me and told me I was forgiven. I knew I was, but it was always nice to hear it. After a while, I asked, “Daddy? Why there gotta be so many rules?”

“Well, little one, there are lots of rules because there are lots of things in the world, and there is a rule to cover how you act in many cases. But each rule is to keep you safe, or to help make things safe for others, or to help everyone be nice to everyone else, and keep things working well. The rules are only there because Mommy and I think that they are needed, honestly, little one, and because we love you very much.”

“I love you, too, Daddy. And I'm sorry I left the yard and threw a tantrum, and said a bad word.”

“That’s okay; I forgive you. But try to remember the rules and not break them and you won’t be in trouble and we can just have good times. And remember the rules are also so you know what to expect. I don't punish you unless there is a rule that I have explained to you before, you know. I love you very much little one, whatever happens, but it is important that you learn to follow the rules.”

“Okay, Daddy, I'll try hard to follow them,” I said, really meaning it at the time. I gave Daddy another big hug. And he hugged me back real tight. And I did manage not to break any more rules. Well that day anyway.

~~~~~~~~

The next day I must not have been trying very hard. We were going out to dinner somewhere fancy. We were meeting Grandma and Grandpa. I hadn’t seen them for a while.

There were lima beans for dinner, and I hate limas. There was kissing on TV and I hate kissing. My bath was too hot, my marble went down the drain and I had to wear my railroad train pajamas. I hate my railroad train pajamas.

Oh wait, I don’t own railroad train pajamas. That’s Alexander again. But if I did own them, I’m sure I'd hate them too. Wearing a dress was bad enough. I was having my own kind of terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days.

I was all dressed up, which I detested. I hated wearing a dress and party shoes. I much preferred overalls and a t-shirt, but Mommy said I hadda dress up.

“You look very nice, little one,” Daddy told me. I pirouetted in front of the mirror. Well, if I had to say so, I did look all right.

“We are leaving to meet Grandma and Grandpa at the restaurant in just a little while. Just wait right there til Mommy and Daddy are ready, okay?”

“Okay, Daddy,” I said. I continued to look at myself in the mirror. Then I sat on the couch and did some more waiting. Gosh, I thought, grownups sure do take a long time getting ready. I was restless. I looked around the room for something to do.

That’s when I noticed the plants needed to be watered. I thought I’d be helping. I went to the sink to fill up the watering can that Mommy had left on the plant table.

But when I tried to tip the watering can into the plants, it was too heavy. I finally managed to water the plant, but also got dirt thrown up on top of me. I really ended up making a big mess.

When Daddy came down, half the dirt from the plant was on the kitchen floor and my dress was all muddy. It was not a pretty sight!

Daddy saw me and exclaimed, “Samantha Karen! Look at your nice dress. You are all muddy! What were you doing?”

“I was watering the plant, Daddy,” I said simply. Daddy just stared. “Well, you and Mommy was taking too long,” I whined.

”Samantha, don't whine. Now I told you to wait quietly, didn't I? Not to water the plant. You know the rule is to do as you are told.”

“Yes, Daddy, but...”

“But what, young lady? You knew we were going out, and you were all dressed up and ready. Now we will have to change you into something else,” Daddy said. He did not sound happy.

That was too much for me. “But I was just trying to help!” I shouted.

“Samantha, don't raise your voice. I'm sure you meant well, but this was not the time. And trying to do things when we have told you to do something else can cause lots of problems. Now come with me and let’s get you into some other clothes,” Daddy said, holding out his hand for me to take.

“Yes, Daddy,” I said, taking his hand. As he led me up to my room, I asked, “Am I in big trouble?”

“I am sure that you didn't mean to cause a problem, but when I tell you to wait quietly, I mean it. And you know that. I think a brief reminder is in order.”

Before I could ask what he meant by that, Daddy pulled my muddy dress over my head and planted about a half dozen smacks on my pantied rear.

“Owwww, okaaaaaaaaaay!” I cried.

“Now let this be a lesson,” Daddy said. “Stay quiet means stay quiet.”

“Yes, sir,” I said quietly.

Daddy found me another nice dress. When he had helped me on with it, he hugged me tight. “All right, little one, you are forgiven. You know Daddy loves you. Now let’s get going to the restaurant, okay?”

I nodded.

Daddy said, “And please try to practice very good manners there, okay?”

“Yes, Daddy, I'm gonna be the goodest kid there,” I said.

I kinda meant it. But sometimes things happened I just couldn’t help. When we got there and Grandma and Grandpa weren’t there yet, I looked for something to keep me occupied. There were dozens of kids there. They were all running around, so I joined in. I figured if they could do it, I could do it, too.

Daddy stopped me and said, “Samantha, please try to settle down. You know that running around inside is against the rules, particularly in a public place like this. You are disturbing all these other people.” He waved his hand around to show all the other people waiting for tables.

“But all the kids is running, Daddy.”

“That is between them and their parents. You follow our rules, okay, little one?” Daddy asked, already deciding that was it.

But I wasn’t having any part of that. I stupidly said, “But that's not fair...if they's doing it, I should be able to do it, too.” Under my breath, I muttered, “I hate them damn rules.”

“Samantha, do you want to repeat that out loud, or are you going to be more polite and use better language from now on?”

I was afraid to open my mouth any more, so I just nodded. Luckily that was when Grandma and Grandpa showed up. I ran over to hug them. They picked me up and hugged the stuffing out of me. Soon we were seated at a table. They took our orders quickly enough, but then it took forever for them to bring us our food. I was getting bored.

I started playing with the silverware and began emptying the sugar packs onto the table. It was fun. Then I pulled my fork through the spilled sugar and made little ant trails.

”Samantha, please leave those alone. The food will be here soon.”

“But I'm borrrrred,” I cried out.

”Samantha, remember the rules of manners. You don't yell like that in a restaurant. Now do we need to go outside and talk about this, or can you behave?”

“I not wanna talk about nuffin with you, Daddy, you not talk the way I like,” I said. I knew I wasn’t talking properly but I didn’t care. Sometimes when I got upset, I started talking more like a real ‘little’ kid. I guessed what I really needed rather than grammar lessons, though, were manners lessons. That’s what Daddy wanted to talk to me about, but I didn’t want that.

“Samantha Karen, you will apologize right now. You do not speak to me in that tone,” Daddy said firmly. He was staring at me.

“Sorry!” I spit out.

Daddy stood up then and said, “Excuse me,” to the other grownups. “Samantha, come with me, your attitude needs adjusting,” he said, standing me up and leading me out of the restaurant by the wrist.

“Noooooo,” I cried. “I not want my attitude justeddddddd!”

“Too late, young lady, I warned you. If you can't follow the rules, you get in trouble.”

“Nooooooooooo!” I shouted again. I managed to get away from Daddy and run across the restaurant. Just as he was about to grab me again, I went where he couldn’t come after me. Right into the ladies’ room.

Next thing I knew, though, I was being hauled out by Mommy. “Samantha Karen Leonard! I'm surprised at you. You know better than to run away from your daddy. Now you are in big trouble,” she said.

I looked up at Mommy. She did look pretty angry. And if that’s how she looked, I didn’t want to see Daddy’s face. “I don't want to be in trouble, Mommy,” I said quietly.

She didn’t answer me, though. She only took me by the hand and led me out of the bathroom, and right over to Daddy. I looked at his face. Mad was not the word I’d use to describe it.

Very quietly I looked at both my parents and asked, “Sorry?”

“I should hope so,” Mommy said. “Don, I’m going to get back to Mom and Dad and let you finish dealing with this.” Daddy nodded at her.

He looked down at me. “Samantha, you know much better than to run away from me, don’t you?”

“I guess, but I didn't wanna be in trouble, Daddy.”

“Then you should follow the rules. Not running away from me is one of the rules. So is being polite and well behaved, and not whining or snarling at me, particularly in public, do you understand that?”

We were still standing outside the restrooms. “That's too many rules, Daddy! I can't remember all that; I'm only 7!” I cried. Then I threw myself on the floor and threw a major temper tantrum. I refused to get up. I was causing quite a scene by now. But I didn’t care.

Daddy reached down and picked me up. He carried me kicking and crying out to the car. He opened the back door of the car and put me inside. I sat there still crying, but not kicking anymore. Daddy waited a few minutes until I had calmed down. “Now, are you ready to listen?” he asked.

I was still crying, but managed to say, “Yessir.”

“Okay,” he said. “Do you know that you shouldn't run away from me?”

I nodded and said, “Yessir, I'm sorry.”

“Samantha Karen, you know much better than to act like you have been. I am quite unhappy with you, and you are getting a spanking right now.”

“Now, Daddy? Here? I don't want to!” I whined.

“I should hope not. If you wanted spankings, they wouldn't be punishment. And yes, you are getting spanked right here in the car, and if you keep acting up and breaking rules, you might get spanked in the restaurant and you will get a paddling at home.”

Before I could even respond, Daddy sat down next to me in the car and pulled me over his lap. He lifted my skirt, but because we were in public, did not lower my panties. He began to spank me. Right there.

{smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack}

Now remember I had gotten those few spanks at home, so my bottom was already a bit warm. “Owwwwwww, Dadddddy, I sorrrrrrry, I won't do it againnnnnn!” I cried. But Daddy was just getting started.

{smack}{smack} “You will not {smack} run away from me. {smack} Not ever! {smack}{smack} And you will improve {smack} your attitude, {smack} young lady. {smack} No more sulking {smack} or whining. {smack} I want you to be on your best behavior and follow all the rules. {smack} That means acting nicely {smack} and politely. {smack}{smack} Is that clear, {smack} Samantha?” {smack}{smack}

“Owwwww, yesssssir, Dadddddddy! I'm sorrrrrrrry! I'll be goooood, waaaaaahhhh!”

{smack}{smack}{smack} “All right, do you think you can behave yourself now?” {smack}{smack}

“Owwwww, yesssss!” I said crying.

Daddy finished up. {smack}{smack}{smack}{smack} Then he said, “All right then, little one, your spanking is over.”

He pulled me up and placed me on the ground outside the car door. He pulled my skirt back down and hugged me to him. I was still sobbing and reached back to rub my bottom. I wasn’t sure how I was expected to sit in the restaurant now, but I would.

Daddy held me tight and said, “I forgive you, and I love you very much, but I must insist that you behave yourself, understand?”

I nodded.

Daddy said, “Good. Now let’s go back and try to have a nice time at dinner.”

“Yes, Daddy,” I said, sobbing a little. I took his hand as he led me back to the table where I apologized to Mommy, Grandma and Grandpa for my behavior, and gingerly sat down in the booth. At least it was cushioned.

We didn’t have any other problems that day. It was a good thing, too, because I don’t think my little butt would have been able to handle any more.

In fact, I was good for a couple days after that, but then I relapsed again.

~~~

It was late in the day when Daddy called up, “Little one, it is getting near dinner time, do you have your room cleaned up yet?”

“No, Daddy, I'm still playing,” I called down to him.

Obviously that was not the answer Daddy wanted to hear. I heard him come up the stairs. I looked around at my room. Oh, please don’t let him come in, I thought.

He was outside my door. “Little one, didn't I ask you to have everything cleaned up this afternoon? And you know that it is one of the rules that you must keep your room neat.”

Argh, I was so sick of hearing about the rules. I opened my door, slipped out and closed it behind me. I looked at him and said, “Daddy, what is it with you and your dumb rules this week? I hate cleaning my room. I'm trying to play and you're making me mess everything up!”

“Samantha, I don't like hearing that tone of voice from you. It is really not so unreasonable to ask you to clean up your room once in a while. Now are you going to start picking it up, or do you need a reminder about doing as you are told?”

“No, I'll do it, Daddy, geez!” I said, slipping back into my room. I slammed my door behind me and barricaded it so he couldn’t follow me in.

“Samantha, you know that slamming doors is against the rules,” Daddy said from outside my door. “Now you come out here and go back into your room properly, and I don't want any more of this kind of thing from you today.”

“Yes, Daddy,” I said. “Go downstairs and then I will do it. You can't come in.”

“Samantha, I want you to come out here right now, or else I will come in there, and you won't be happy about what happens next,” Daddy said firmly.

I moved the stuff away from my door, opened it a tiny crack and slipped out again. Then I shut it behind me. I looked up all innocently into his face and smiled and said politely, “Yes, Daddy?”

“Samantha, I don't want any more bad attitude or rule breaking today. Now go into your room properly and pick up. I will be up in half an hour to check; understand?”

“Half an hour, Daddy? But I need more time than that.”

“Well, we'll see how far you get in half an hour. Now scoot, your time has started.”

I went back into my room and scrambled to clean up. But of course, I got into a little bit more playing while I was doing that. After a bit, I heard Daddy coming up the stairs. Oh no, I thought, it couldn’t be half an hour already.

I heard the knock on my door. “Daddy, I not done yet!” I yelled out to him.

He tried the door but it wouldn’t open. Since I didn’t have a lock on my door and I didn’t want him to come in, I had put my chair under the knob.

“Samantha, open this door. I want to come in and see how you are doing. Now, Samantha!” Daddy shouted.

“But Daddy, I not done yet!”

Daddy sighed. “Okay, I understand that. But you had better be pretty well along. Now open this door before I start counting to five.”

I knew I had just better open the door. There was no way I could pick up the room by the time he reached five and it would only make things worse anyhow.

I opened the door. Daddy’s jaw dropped to the floor as he took in the room. Every toy known to man was opened on the floor, the desk, and the bed. I looked up into Daddy’s face. I was scared and started to cry.

“I tried to clean up, Daddy, but it was just too much!” I cried.

“Samantha, this is a disaster. Just how many toys did you need to have out this afternoon? And not one thing has been put away. What have you been doing for the past half hour? Besides, when I told you to clean up this afternoon, didn't you think I meant it?”

Daddy continued to survey my room. Every inch was covered in toys.

“I did start cleaning, Daddy, but I had all my toys out,” I explained.

“And which ones have you put away again? Samantha, have you been playing some more instead of picking up?”

I could tell Daddy was flabbergasted.

“No, Daddy,” I lied. It’s not like he would have been able to check anyway. “I put my stuffed animals away,” I said, pointing to the shelf they were on.

“That's nice. That took maybe five minutes. Have you put anything else away?”

I shook my head. “Uh, no, sir.”

“Well, if you can't pick your toys up, I will have to -- and you will lose them for a day or two. But first you have a spanking coming, young lady.”

“No, I don't want a spanking, Daddy. What for?” I demanded.

”For not keeping your room neat like the rule says, for not doing as I told you and picking up, and for playing when you were supposed to be picking up. Do you have anything to say before your spanking?”

”I hate rules! And I wasn't playing!” I yelled. “I really was putting stuff away; there was too much!” I stomped my foot and looked for something to throw, as Daddy had made me really angry.

”Samantha, you don't yell at me! Is that clear, young lady? Now look me in the eye. Were you really picking up the whole time, not playing?” Daddy asked, as he crouched down next to me and made me look right at him. I think he was ready to hold me if I had a full blown temper tantrum, which of course I was known to do from time to time.

I chose my words carefully. “Welllll, I might have played a lil bit, Daddy, but just for a second. You gotta, when you put the pieces back in the boxes,” I explained.

Daddy nodded. “I see. And how did *all* your toys get out at once? I seem to recall that the rule is not to play with too many at a time, just to avoid this problem.”

“Well, I was looking for something, Daddy, and I hadda open all the boxes.”

“Oh really? What were you looking for and why? And did you have to take everything out?” I could tell Daddy was trying to understand. I really did have my reasons and for once he wanted to hear them.

”I was looking for the little man with the hard hat from my Lego set; he's missing, and I neeeeeeded him, Daddddddy. I had to find him...but I didn't find him,” I said, pouting.

I looked at Daddy to see some compassion but all I got was a frown and a headshake. “I'm afraid that is not a good reason for getting everything out at once. But I'll tell you what; I will keep an eye out for him while I pick things up. Now come with me,” Daddy said, taking me by the wrist and leading me to my doom.

We walked into his bedroom. “But Daddy, I'll clean up, pleeeeeease?” I begged.

”You had your chance, Samantha. If you had gotten a good start I would let you finish, but this is completely unacceptable. Besides I seem to recall a similar incident happening several months ago with you and Megan. You don’t seem to have learned a lesson from then.”

I smiled to myself as I thought back to when Meggie and I had pulled all the games off her shelves. I had forgotten about that. But still, this had happened due to extenuating circumstances. A Lego man with a hard hat is a good reason for making a mess. Daddy just didn’t understand.

“I hope you sit on a tack. I hope the next time you get a double-decker strawberry ice cream cone, the ice cream part falls off the cone part and lands in Australia!”

I laughed to myself. Don’t worry; I didn’t say that to my Daddy. Alexander said that to his friend, Paul. Ah, but back to me.

Daddy sat down in a straight no-arms chair and lowered my pants and panties. He then lifted me over his lap and started to spank me.

{smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack} {smack}

“Owwww, DADDDDY, stopppp!” I cried.

But he didn’t. {smack}{smack} “You must learn {smack} to follow the rules {smack} and do as you {smack} are told. {smack} No tantrums, {smack} no whining, {smack} and you will pick up {smack} your toys {smack} when I tell you to. {smack} Not get more of them {smack}{smack} out.” {smack}

“Owwww, yes, Daddddddy!”

{smack}{smack} “I am very unhappy {smack} with the way you behaved {smack} today. {smack}{smack} And another thing, Samantha, {smack}{smack} you will not {smack} block the door of your room. {smack}{smack} That could be dangerous.” {smack}

I was hardly in a position to argue with Daddy right now. “Owwwwww, yessssssir!”

{smack}{smack}{smack}{smack}{smack}{smack}{smack}{smack}{smack} “All right, your spanking is over, Samantha.”

I stood myself up and rubbed my tushie. Ow, it was on fire. “You spank hard, Daddy,” I said as I cried into his shoulder. Daddy rubbed my back and bottom and held me close. I was sobbing.

Daddy held me tight for a bit and cuddled me. “There, there,” Daddy said. “I love you very much, no matter what you do.”

”But Daddy?”

“Yes, little one?”

“There's too many rules, Daddy, I can't ‘member them all.”

“Well, we will try to work on that. But the first rule is if Daddy or Mommy says to do something, you do it. And if they say not to do something, you don't. Can you remember that one?”

I nodded. That sounded easy enough. “I think so, Daddy. Daddy? Can I help you clean my room, so I don't lose my toys? Please?”

”Well, I'll tell you what. I'll give you another half-hour. Any you get away in that time you won't lose. And if you seem to be working well at the end of it, and behaving yourself, then maybe I will help with the others and you won't lose them either, or at least not all of them. Okay?”

I smiled for the first time in a while. “That's fair, Daddy. Daddy? I love you,” I said, as I wrapped my arms tight around him.

I sure did have lots of rules. But where as I had my reasons for making messes and sometimes getting into trouble, I guessed Daddy had his reasons for having those rules in the first place.

I was lucky I had my Daddy there to help me.

The end.

(For a good children’s book, read Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, by Judith Viorst)