Birthday Surprise

Birthday Surprise...a “Missy” story (M/mfff)

(Regular disclaimers apply.)

~~~~~~~

Mommy’s birthday was coming up and I wanted to make sure we got her the best present. I talked it over with my brothers and sisters and we tried to think of something really great. It was actually Katie who thought of the idea. And she was only four.

“How bout one a dem bracelets wif the lil peoples on it?” she suggested.

“A charm bracelet?” Joey asked.

Katie nodded.

“Yeah, that’s a good idea, Katie. We could get two little boys and three little girl charms...one for each of us,” I said, already loving the idea.

“How you gonna get it, Missy?” Billy asked.

He sure did have to put a cramp in things.

“Daddy’ll help me order it,” I explained.

“Are you forgetting that Daddy’s going to be away all week?” Billy asked skeptically.

I did forget about that. I looked up at Billy. “Well, I’ll think of something,” I said.

“Why we can’t walk to town an’ get it, Missy?” Debbie asked. She had remained silent for so long, I forgot she was in the room.

“Ummm, yeah, we can do that,” I told her.

“You can not!” Billy said, strongly. “Mommy and Daddy would kill you if you walked into town. Heck, you’d be dead for stepping foot outta the yard, Melissa.”

“Don’t call me Melissa, William,” I said. “Besides, this is for Mommy’s birthday; I’m sure it would be fine.”

But Joey shook his head. “Not a good idea, Miss.”

Katie was agreeing with Joey. I looked at her and she rubbed her bottom. “Daddy spanked me fur leabing the yard...it hurttts!”

“Kids! Come say goodbye to Daddy; he has to go,” Mommy called from the living room. We were in the den, and all got up and ran when Mommy called. Daddy was going on a business trip out of town and would be gone for a WHOLE week.

When it was my turn to hug and kiss Daddy, I started to cry. He reached down and picked me up. “Oh, Missy, baby, don’t cry, Daddy will be home soon,” he said, reassuringly.

“But you didn’t even go yet,” I said. “I don’t want you to go, Daddy.”

“Me neither,” said Katie. “I gonna hibereight all week.”

I looked at her. “Hibereight?”

She nodded. “Yeah, yike the bears...inna winter.”

I looked at Daddy; I had no idea what she was talking about.

“She means hibernate, Missy. You learned about that in school,” Mommy explained.

I nodded. “Oh, hibernate. You mean sleep for months on end, Katie?”

Katie nodded. I just shook my head. I had no idea why hibernating was going to help her not miss Daddy, but it wouldn’t work for me. Daddy was the one who tucked me in at night and held me when I was sad. I didn’t want him to go away. Even if it was just for a week.

Daddy gave me one last hug and kiss and placed me down on the floor next to Katie. The other kids had already said their good-byes and went to watch TV or something. “Be good while I’m gone, girls. Don’t give Mommy any trouble. Okay?”

“Okay, Daddy,” Katie said. “I can’t do nuffin’ bad if I sleepin’ all the time, anyways.”

Daddy looked at me. “Missy?”

“Yes, Daddy?”

Daddy came over to me and lifted my chin so I was staring up at him. “I want to hear good things about you during the week when I call, and when I get back. Understand?”

I nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“Good,” he said, giving Mommy a kiss, picking up his briefcase and suitcase, and heading for the door.

Katie grabbed my hand and squeezed it. She was more upset about Daddy going away than I thought. I squeezed it back and watched as Daddy headed for the front door.

Suddenly, I let go of Katie’s hand and rushed at Daddy. “Daddy?” I uttered.

He turned to look at me and smiled. “Yes, baby?”

“If I forget and am a little naughty while you’re gone, will you still love me?” I asked in a little voice. I think I knew the answer already but I just wanted to hear it from him.

He put down his things and picked me up. “Oh, baby, I will always love you,” he said, reassuringly. “But could you try hard to behave while Daddy’s gone?”

“Yes, Daddy,” I said, smiling.

This time I let Daddy go. But as soon as he was out the door, I ran crying into Mommy’s arms. She held me tight. “It’s okay, baby, Daddy will be home before you know it. Come on, let’s go figure out lunch.”

I took her hand and went with her to the kitchen. I’m not sure where Katie went to. Probaly went to hibernate. I giggled thinking of her snuggled up with a grizzly bear.

~~~

The first few days of the week Daddy was gone went pretty quickly. We were all busy with school, homework, and after-school activities. On Wednesday, Debbie came into the kitchen where I was sitting working on homework.

“Missy, lookee here,” she said. I looked...she was holding a magazine...the one with the ads in it.

“What’s that?” I asked.

She showed me. It was a picture of jewelry, but most importantly, there was a photograph of a charm bracelet and necklace. The one in the picture only had two charms on it, but I thought they made them with more. I looked at the address under the ad and it was right in town. My eyes lit up.

“Missy, Debbie! Come say hi to Anne,” Mommy called. My eyes lit up again. Anne was our older cousin. She was so nice. And she was almost 13. Surely, she’d be able to walk into town with us.

I ran past Debbie to the front door and threw myself in Anne’s arms. “Hi, Anne!” I exclaimed.

Anne smiled and looked at Mommy. “Gee, someone’s happy to see me,” she said.

I nodded. “I haven’t seen you in a long time. What you doing here? Can you stay for a little bit?” I asked.

“Sure, Missy,” she said, putting down her books.

I smiled and took Anne’s hand. “C’mere,” I whispered. I dragged her into the kitchen. I showed her the ad that Debbie had found. “We want to get this for Mommy for her birthday. Will you take us?” I asked.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Anne said.

“Whyyyy?” Debbie asked. “You’s big; you can take us.”

We both stared at her. She was almost thirteen, after all. We thought that was so old. That was almost two years older than Billy. “Pleeeease?” I said, giving her the puppy dog eyes.

Anne knew she was taking a chance. She wasn’t sure how Aunt Christine and Uncle David would feel about her taking the girls all the way into town. She thought about asking but then if she said no, Missy and Debbie would be real disappointed.

She sighed. “Okay, when do you want to go?” she asked.

Me and Debbie jumped up and down. “Let’s go right now.”

“Now?”

I nodded. Anne looked at her watch. It was 4:00. “Okay, but we have to be back by 5:30. I’m expected home for dinner at 6.”

“Okay,” I said. I ran upstairs to get my money. I knocked on Billy and Joey’s door. “I need money.”

Billy looked up from his homework. “What for?”

Anne’s gonna take me and Debbie into town to get the charm bracelet. You wanna come?”

“No,” he said. “Did you get Mommy’s permission, Missy?” he asked.

I shook my head and looked at him like he was crazy. “Like I’m gonna ask permission from Mommy to get her birthday present!”

Joey went to his piggy bank and handed me ten dollars. “Here, sis, it’s all I have.”

I looked at the money. “Wow, that’s a lot. You think it will cost that much?” I asked him.

Billy nodded. “I think it will be a lot of money, Missy. How much do you even have, sis?”

I took the dollars out of my pocket and showed Billy. He unfolded them and counted. “There’s seven dollars here, sis. That’s not going to be enough.”

My lip started to quiver. “It’s not?”

Billy sighed. “Look, here’s twenty dollars. I was saving up for something, but you can take it for Mommy’s present. Just don’t come crying to me when you get into trouble for going into town.”

I took the money. “I won’t. Besides, we’re going with Anne. She’s almost a teenager.”

Debbie ran in. “Lookee, Missy.”

I looked and Debbie had three dollars. “Great. Now we gots forty dollars. I’m gonna go see if Katie gots any money.”

She did. She had 85 cents. Oh well, maybe we could use it for tax. Debbie and I put our shoes on and met Anne back in the kitchen. We had asked Katie to come but she said she wasn’t finished ‘hibereighting’ yet. I decided to leave well enough alone.

“Okay, I told your mommy we were going for a walk to the park. Let’s go.”

Debbie looked up at Anne. “You lied to Mommy?”

“Well, yeah, sorta. I didn’t want to tell and ruin your surprise. You won’t tell on me, will you, Debbie?”

Debbie shook her head no. We said goodbye to Mommy and headed out the door. I was so excited. I took Anne’s hand and so did Debbie. We skipped.

“Now, girls, do not let go of my hand for any reason, understand?” Anne declared. “I still remember what happened last Halloween, Missy.”

I looked at my cousin and then away. I remembered, too. Anne had taken me trick or treating and I had run away from her. She had looked for me for a long time, and I had gotten in a lot of trouble. Geez, she was never gonna let me forget that.

“You gotta stay with me, or we’ll turn around and go back. Okay?” Anne asked.

“Okay,” I said. “Okay,” Debbie said.

We went to the store and looked around. I told the man what we wanted to buy. He smiled and showed us several charm bracelets. I explained that we had to have two lil boy charms and three lil girl charms.

He wrote down the order. Then he told us it would cost one hundred dollars.

“A hundred dollars?” I said really loud. Everyone in the store turned to stare at us. Anne gave me ‘THE LOOK’. “Sorry,” I said quietly. I said to the man, “A hundred dollars? For a bracelet?”

“Yes, little lady. Each charm costs more than ten dollars and then there’s the bracelet itself,” he explained.

“Is that the most inexpensive one you have?” Anne asked.

“I’m afraid so. You’re welcome to look in other stores, but you’ll find we’re the cheapest around.”

I looked down at Debbie. “We only have forty dollars. What’re we gonna do?”

“I dunno. We gots to get dis for Mommy,” Debbie cried.

Anne looked up at the man. “Well, maybe I can give you a discount,” he said. He pulled out his adding machine and punched numbers for a very long time. “Seventy-five dollars,” he said. “That’s the best I can do.”

Anne looked at the two of us. “Look, girls, I can give you twenty dollars. But then you’ll still need fifteen more.”

I looked at the man. He smiled. “Look, sweetie. You have to order the bracelet. We don’t have them here in the store now. I’ll call you when it’s ready and you can try to get the rest of the money before then. How’s that?” he asked.

I looked up at Anne. “What you think?” I asked my cousin.

“I think that’s a good idea, Missy. Maybe Billy or Joey have more money at home,” she suggested.

“Okay,” I told the man. “Order the bracelet.”

We walked home feeling a bit sad. I thought for sure that they would have the bracelet and we would have more than enough money. I thought we’d bring it home today and I would wrap it and hide it under my bed. But now I had to wait. And Mommy’s birthday was coming up fast.

On Saturday, Mommy called me upstairs. “Melissa, you have a phone call,” she said.

I ran up the stairs and followed Mommy’s voice to her bedroom. “I do? Who is it?” I asked Mommy.

“I don’t know,” Mommy said. “It’s a man. He wouldn’t give me his name.” Mommy looked at me peculiarly. I’m sure she was worried when a grown man called to speak to me.

I took the phone and said, “Hello?” It was the man from the store. But I couldn’t let Mommy know that. So I pretended it was my art teacher. “Oh, hi Mr. Sanfiz,” I said.

Mommy smiled and left the room. I said into the phone, “Yeah? Is it ready?”

The man told me it was and that I could come to pick it up that day. “Today?” I asked. First of all, I didn’t have the money yet. Second of all, I knew Anne was gone for the day and wouldn’t be able to take us.

“Well, I, uh,” I started to say. “Maybe we could come tomorrow?” I asked. Maybe Anne’s Daddy, Uncle Ben, could give us the rest of the money and we would pay him back. After all, he was Mommy’s brother.

“I’m sorry, sweetie, our store is closed on Sundays. I can hold it for you for during the week if you want,” he said.

“But Mommy’s birthday is Sunday,” I explained. Darn, I had just thought of that. And Daddy was coming home, too. We were going to celebrate with a barbeque and cake. Aunt Jill, Anne’s mommy, was baking the cake.

“Well, did you get the rest of the money, sweetie?” the man asked. He was being super patient; I had to give him credit.

“No,” I admitted. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw something on Daddy’s dresser. “Wait a minute,” I said into the phone, “hold on.” I ran to get the card. I looked at it. It was Daddy’s library card, the one with the numbers on it, the one that Mommy used sometimes to buy things when she didn’t have enough cash.

I ran back to the phone. “Hey, Mister, my sister and I will be there today to get the bracelet. And I gots the money.”

“Okay, we’ll see you later. We’re open until 6.” He hung up. I put the library card in my pocket and ran to get Debbie.

“C’mon, sis,” I said, excitedly. “We’re going to town.”

Debbie jumped up. “We are? Wif Anne?”

“Umm, no, Anne’s not around today. We’ll just have to go, you and me,” I said.

Debbie smiled mischievously. “Just you and me, Missy?”

“Yeah, unless I can get Joey or Billy to come. Put your shoes on and meet me downstairs.”

I went to the boys’ room but no one was there. The treehouse. They had to be there. I grabbed my jacket and ran out back. I ran to the treehouse and called up, “Billy! Joey!”

Joey poked his head out and looked down. “Yeah?”

“You wanna take a walk into town with me and Debbie?” I asked. “Mommy’s present is ready.”

Joey climbed down from the treehouse. “Is Anne going with you?”

I shook my head no. Joey looked up at Billy. Billy was staring down at us. “You can’t go without a grownup, Missy,” he said.

“Well, you’re only a bit younger than Anne. Please?” I asked. “The store is closed tomorrow and it’s Mommy’s birthday,” I whined.

Billy looked at me and then at Joey. Debbie ran out to meet us. “I’s ready!” she called.

“Joey!” Mommy called. “Mrs. Drucker is here to pick you up!”

“Oh, I forgot, I’m going to Bobby’s house. Sorry, sis.” I watched as he ran off.

I looked at Billy. “Well, you don’t gotta come, but I’m going anyhows,” I said, starting to walk away.

“Oh, all right, I’ll come. But we better not get caught in town,” he said.

Me, Billy, and Debbie walked downtown. I thought I remembered where the store was, but after wandering the streets for more than half an hour, I had to admit I had no idea.

“Well, what was the name of it?” Billy asked. “We can ask someone.”

“I don’t know,” I admitted.

“Remember somefin’,” Debbie said.

“Yeah, that’s it, Things Remembered. Good memory, Deb,” I said, patting her on the back.

“Gee, Miss, you’d think you could remember a store called Things Remembered,” Billy said sarcastically.

“Oh, shup!” I said. “Shup” was a slang word for shut up. Mommy and Daddy didn’t like us to use it. But they wasn’t around right now.

We asked directions and made it to the store within ten minutes. We hadn’t been that far from it. Once I saw it, I remembered where we had made the wrong turn.

The man was very happy to see us. Billy and Debbie walked around while I paid. I put the sixty dollars cash on the counter and the library card. “I don’t gots enough cash,” I told the man, “but I can pay some with this, right?”

He looked at me. “You need to have permission to use this, young lady,” he said.

“Oh, my daddy said I could. It’s for my mommy’s birthday,” I told him. Okay, so it was a little bit of a lie, but it was an emergency.

“Well, I can see you really are determined to get this today,” he said. I nodded. “Okay, I’ll take it.” He knew he was risking a lot taking the credit card without a note from the parents, but he would just call later and confirm.

But his boss saw what he was doing and insisted he call the house right there and then. So the man did.

Unfortunately for Missy, David answered. Turns out, her daddy had come home early. He was upset to learn that three of his kids were at a store downtown without an adult and with his credit card none-the-less. He told the man to stall them and he would be right down.

I looked around while we waited for the man. I didn’t remember it taking this long when Mommy used the library card. I was looking at a display of rings when I saw someone I hadn’t expected to see.

“Uh oh,” I said quietly. Billy looked at me. “What’s wrong, Missy?”

I pointed. Daddy walked into the store and set off the bells above the door. “Daddy!” Debbie called, running to him. Daddy picked Debbie up and hugged her. “Hi, sweetie,” he said.

He came over to Billy and me, holding Debbie. “Lookee who’s here, Missy,” she said.

“Uh, hi Daddy,” Billy said. “Did Mommy send you to get us?”

“No, young man, she did not,” Daddy said sternly. “Mommy didn’t even know the three of you left the house.”

“She didn’t?” Billy asked, turning to stare at me. “Missy, you didn’t ask Mommy permission to go out?”

I shook my head no, but I didn’t look at my brother. I was too busy staring at Daddy. Daddy put Debbie down and took my hand.

“Good going, sis,” Billy said. “Now we’re in big trouble.” Billy muttered under his breath. I knew he hadn’t wanted to come at all, and he did tell me he hoped we wouldn’t be caught in town, but now he knew we were in bigger trouble for leaving the yard, too.

I looked up at Daddy. He led me over to the counter where the man was waiting with the library card.

“Melissa Erin? Did you take this off of Daddy’s dresser?” he asked, pointing to the card.

I nodded. “Yes, sir,” I said quietly.

“I see.” He told the man to charge the whole amount of the bracelet. He then took the sixty dollars cash and put it in his pocket. After the exchange, he pocketed the bracelet, and took my hand and Debbie’s. Billy followed him out to the car.

“We will talk about this at home. I am very upset with the three of you, but especially you, Melissa.”

“Yes, sir,” Billy said. “Yes, Daddy,” I said. Debbie didn’t say anything.

~~~

The ride home was quiet. When we got there, Daddy sent Debbie to our room, Billy to his room, and me to Mommy and Daddy’s room. He went to find Katie. She had been asleep for a nap when he first got home and didn’t get to see him.

She looked up from watching her favorite movie, 101 Dalmations. “Dadddddy!” she yelled. “You’re home!”

“Hi honey,” he said. “How’s my little teddy bear? Are you all done hibernating?”

Katie nodded. “I am, now dat you’s home, Daddy,” she said excitedly.

Daddy sat with her for a bit, listening to her tell about her week. He was also trying to calm down. He knew he had some unpleasant business to take care of upstairs. He guessed he could have told Christine and she could have helped him, but he didn’t want to ruin the surprise for her birthday, so he kept it to himself.

Finally, after a bit, Daddy told Katie to go back to her movie. Mommy told Daddy she was going to run to the supermarket now that he was home with the kids. She still had no idea how much trouble we were in.

Daddy went up to Debbie’s room first. He went in, sat down, and called Debbie over to him. “Deborah? Do you know why Daddy is upset with you and your sister and brother?”

Debbie nodded. “Yes, sir, cuz we walkeded inta town wif no permission.”

“Yes, that’s right. And why isn’t that allowed?”

“Cuz it be dangerous, Daddy? We could get losted or taked by bad people?”

Daddy nodded. “If you know that’s the rule, then why did you break it, young lady?”

Debbie looked up at Daddy and said firmly, “Cuz we hadda get Mommy’s present. Anne not around today.”

“Anne? What does Anne have to do with this?”

“Anne taked us the odder day but she not around today,” Debbie explained.

“Let me get this straight. Anne took you, Missy and Billy into town a few days ago?”

Debbie shook her head. “No, Daddy, just me and Missy. Billy onyey comed today cuz Anne not around.” She was getting exasperated trying to explain.

“I see,” Daddy said, and proceeded to spank Debbie. He didn’t smack as hard as he would me or the others, cuz she was only five. After the spanking, Daddy reassured her that he loved her and sent her to take a nap before dinner.

He then went to Billy’s room. He knocked quietly on the door and went to sit on Joey’s bed when he opened the door.

“I understand you only went today because Anne wasn’t around?” Daddy asked Billy.

Billy nodded. “Missy told you, Daddy?”

“No, Debbie did. William? Are you old enough to walk downtown without a grownup?”

“No, sir.”

“Then why’d you do it, young man? You had to know this would get you into trouble,” Daddy said, sternly.

“I didn’t want to, sir, but Missy said she was going to go anyway. I didn’t want to let her go alone. And she would have. You know how strong-willed she is, Daddy.”

Daddy nodded. “Yes, that she is. Why didn’t you tell Mommy what Missy planned to do?”

“Well, I just didn’t want to spoil the surprise, sir. We’ve been working so hard all week to make Mommy’s birthday special. I knew how much this meant to Missy and I didn’t want to ruin it, I guess.”

“Okay, I understand that. But you are still in trouble, Billy. As much as you five love Mommy, I will not let you do things that are dangerous. Is that understood?”

“Yes, sir, I’m sorry, Daddy.”

“I know you are, William Mark. Now come here,” Daddy said.

Billy got up and went to Daddy. He reached down and pulled his bottoms down and laid him over his lap. He started to spank with just his hand.

{Smack!} {Smack!} “I won’t use the hairbrush because I know you didn’t mean any harm. {Smack!} {Smack!} But you will not {Smack!} {Smack!} leave the yard without permission. {Smack!} {Smack!} Is that understood?” {Smack!} {Smack!}

“Owwww, yes, sir!” Billy said. Daddy hadn’t smacked him that hard, but it had been a while since his last spanking and he forgot how much it hurt.

“You will set a better example {Smack!} {Smack!} for your sisters and your brother, too. {Smack!} {Smack!} You will not {Smack!} {Smack!} do things that you know are dangerous {Smack!} {Smack!} and against the rules.” {Smack!} {Smack!}

“Yes, Daddy, owwwww!” Billy cried. He reached back to rub his bottom, but Daddy pushed it out of the way.

“You know {Smack!} {Smack!} better {Smack!} {Smack!} than that, {Smack!} {Smack!} William. Now I hope {Smack!} {Smack!} I will not {Smack!} {Smack!} have to repeat {Smack!} {Smack!} this lesson again any time soon. {Smack!} {Smack!} Am I making myself clear?” {Smack!} {Smack!}

“Yesssssss, sirrrrrr,” Billy said, sobbing. His bottom was on fire.

Daddy finished up with several smacks to Billy’s sit spot. {Smack!} {Smack!} {Smack!} {Smack!} {Smack!} {Smack!} Then he let him up and let him rub.

When Billy calmed down, Daddy pulled up his underwear and his pants and pulled him in close for a hug. “You know I love you, don’t you, Billy?”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“I only want you to stay safe. Please try harder to follow the rules. I would die if anything happened to you or your siblings,” Daddy admitted.

Billy looked up at Daddy with a different look and feeling. He was going to try harder to be a better big brother and told Daddy so. Daddy left Billy’s room feeling a lot better.

~~~

Until he got to my room. He knew this was going to be the worst one of all. Daddy came in and sat on Katie’s bed, facing me. I was lying on my bed. I just looked at him when he came in.

“Well, young lady, what do you have to say for yourself?” Daddy asked me in that stern Daddy voice.

“I just wanted Mommy’s birthday to be special,” I admitted.

“Even if you break every family rule in the process, Melissa?”

I thought about that one before I answered. It was true; I had broken many rules, but it was all for a good cause. But I couldn’t tell Daddy that.

“Well, um, no sir, I guess not,” I said.

“But you did it, Melissa Erin. You left the yard without permission. You walked downtown twice without an adult, and...”

I cut Daddy off. “But the first time Anne taked us, Daddy.”

“Anne is not old enough to take you into town, young lady. And she and I will be discussing that later.”

“But she’s almost thirteen!” I whined.

“Melissa Erin, you are already in enough trouble. I suggest you tone that voice down. Now, let me get back to the rules you broke. You left the yard without permission today, you walked downtown twice without an adult and you took Daddy’s credit card without asking or without permission. That’s a lot of offenses, young lady. You were told to behave while Daddy was gone, not break every rule you have.”

My lower lip started to quiver so I bit it. “But I WAS good the whole week, Daddy, except for this.”

“THIS was a lot, young lady. I suggest you start explaining yourself. You are in for a good spanking. With the hairbrush,” Daddy added.

I cringed when I heard that. I didn’t like spankings, but I especially did not like when Daddy used the hairbrush. That was only used when I lied or behaved really badly. I guess this was going to be one of those times.

“I’m sorry, Daddy. I just wanted to get Mommy’s present and we didn’t got enough money.”

“Melissa, what is the rule about touching other peoples’ things?”

“Not to, Daddy?”

“That’s right. And you took Daddy’s credit card off my dresser without permission and used it. Do you know what a credit card is, Missy?”

“I thought it was your library card. I seed Mommy use it sometimes in the store when she didn’t got enough cash.”

“That’s right; it’s like money, a lot of money, young lady. You are never to touch it again. Is that understood?”

I nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“Come here,” Daddy said, pointing to his right side. I slid off my bed and went to him, no matter how much I didn’t want to; I kinda wanted it to be over with. “Tell me why you are getting this spanking, young lady.”

I took a deep breath. “Cuz I left the yard and walked downtown two times, and used your moneycard without permission,” I said.

“Yes, that’s right,” Daddy said. “Go get me your hairbrush, Melissa Erin.”

I went to my dresser right away to retrieve it; no sense in making Daddy more upset with me. I gave it to him and said, “Daddy? Would it help if I said I was sorry?”

“Well, I am glad you are sorry, Missy. I hope you really mean that. But you know that will not help get you out of this spanking, young lady. You earned this.”

I nodded. “Yes, Daddy, I know. I just wanted you to know I was sorry.”

“Okay.” Daddy pulled my panties and my jeans down and pulled me over his lap. He started to spank with just his hand. It hurt so much, and this part was nothing. He smacked me several times before picking up the hairbrush. That’s when the lecture began.

{Whack!} {Whack!} “You will NOT {Whack!} {Whack!} leave the yard EVER {Whack!} {Whack!} without permission from an adult. {Whack!} {Whack!} And you will NOT {Whack!} {Whack!} go anywhere {Whack!} {Whack!} without a grownup. {Whack!} {Whack!} Am I making myself very clear, Melissa Erin?” {Whack!} {Whack!}

“OWWWWWW, yes, sir!” I cried.

“You also know MUCH better {Whack!} {Whack!} than to take things that do not belong to you {Whack!} {Whack!} and use them. {Whack!} {Whack!} I don’t ever {Whack!} {Whack!} want to hear {Whack!} {Whack!} that you used my credit card ever again.” {Whack!} {Whack!} {Whack!} {Whack!}

“Okaayyyyy, I sorrrry, Daddddddy, please stop, it hurrrrrts!” I sobbed.

“It is supposed to hurt, {Whack!} {Whack!} Melissa. That’s how I make sure {Whack!} {Whack!} you learn the rules. {Whack!} {Whack!} I don’t want to discuss {Whack!} {Whack!} this with you again. {Whack!} {Whack!} Am I understood?”

“Y-y-yes, Dadddy, you won’t, I promise!” I squealed.

“Okay, then,” Daddy said, putting down the hairbrush. He smacked my sit spot several more times with just his hand and then stopped. He began to rub my bottom. I could imagine how red it was. It felt very sore to me.

When Daddy let me up, I reached back and rubbed my bottom. I was sobbing, hysterically. Daddy picked me up and hugged me tight to him. He let me cry on his shoulder and rubbed my back and bottom.

“There, there, baby, your spanking is all over now. I’m sorry I had to be so firm with you about this, but you broke many rules. I hope I won’t have to do that again.”

“You won’t, Daddy,” I sobbed. “I promise.”

“Okay, good,” Daddy said. “I missed you while I was gone, Missy. I’m sorry we had to have this discussion my first day back.”

“I missed you a lot, too, Daddy. Daddy? Do you still love me? Even though I messed up real bad?”

Daddy pulled me away from his chest so that I was looking right into his eyes. “Oh, Missy, Daddy will always love you, no matter what you do. It’s true; sometimes you mess up, but that’s why I correct it, so it doesn’t happen again. Okay, baby?”

“Okay, Daddy,” I said. I knew he’d say something like that, but it always helped to hear it.

Daddy cuddled me until I calmed down. Then I went downstairs with him to help make dinner. No one said a word to Mommy about all the trouble we had been in. She knew we had gone out, but Daddy downplayed our punishments. He didn’t want to upset Mommy the day before her birthday. He also didn’t want to ruin the surprise we spent so much time planning.

After dinner, me, Debbie, and Katie wrapped Mommy’s bracelet. It took us forever to put it in the box, because we couldn’t help staring at it. It was so beautiful. And we knew that Mommy would just love it.

We heard a knock at the front door. Katie ran down to see who it was. When she came back, she said, “It’s Anne. Daddy taked her into the den.”

Uh oh, I thought. Anne was in big trouble with Daddy.

~~~~~~

“Welcome home, Uncle David,” Anne said excitedly, giving her favorite uncle a big hug and kiss.

“Thank you, Anne. Did you have a nice time out shopping with your parents today?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Sit down. I think there’s something we need to talk about.”

Anne took a seat nervously and looked up at her uncle. “What’s wrong, Uncle David?”

Daddy asked Anne how old she was. When she answered twelve, almost thirteen, he said, “And do you think that’s old enough to take two little girls, ages 5 and 7, into town by yourselves?”

Anne knew they had been caught, and also knew better than to lie. “No, sir. I’m sorry, Uncle David. I knew it was wrong, and I did it anyway.”

“I see. And why is that?”

“I guess it’s just hard to say no to Missy, sir. I have no other excuse.”

Daddy tried not to laugh; although he knew what his niece said was true. Missy was almost impossible to say no to. She sure was a determined little girl.

“Okay, but you know I can’t let it go at that, don’t you, young lady?”

Anne just nodded.

“Come over here,” he told her.

Anne got up and went to stand next to her uncle, who had just taken a seat on the den couch. He pulled her over his lap and then reached down to pull down her pants and panties.

“I am going to be very firm with you about this, Anne, because I don’t want this to happen again. Is that understood?”

“Yes, sir,” Anne said quietly.

Daddy picked up the hairbrush that he had brought in with him and started raining it down on Anne’s backside. She cried out from about the sixth spank. It had been a while since her uncle had had to spank her.

{Whack!} {Whack!} {Whack!} {Whack!} {Whack!} {Whack!} {Whack!} {Whack!}

“OWWWWW!” Anne cried.

“You will not help your cousins to break the rules that your aunt and I have given them. {Whack!} {Whack!} You will not take the little ones into town by yourselves. {Whack!} {Whack!} You are only 12 {Whack!} {Whack!} and you are not to be downtown without permission. {Whack!} {Whack!} Is that understood?” {Whack!} {Whack!}

“Y-y-yes, sir,” Anne said, crying.

“Good, {Whack!} {Whack!} then we won’t have to have this discussion again anytime soon,” Daddy said, putting down the hairbrush.

Daddy let Anne up and helped her fix her clothes. He hugged her to him and smiled. He moved some hair that had fallen into her eyes away and said, “You know I love you, don’t you, honey?”

Anne sobbed and nodded.

“I love you like my own daughter. That’s why I care so much about what happens with you. Please don’t take chances like this again, especially with the little ones. Okay, sweetie?”

“Okay, Uncle David. I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to cause so much trouble.”

“I know you didn’t, Anne. And you’re right, Missy is hard to say no to. But try, for me, okay?”

Anne nodded and let her uncle cuddle her.

The next morning, we tried to let Mommy sleep in. But she must have heard us giggling. All of a sudden, Mommy was downstairs in her robe and slippers looking around. We all ran to the den and hid.

~~~~~~~

She smiled as she saw the balloons and hand-made signs that we made that said, "Happy Birthday, Mommy!" She heard Daddy and turned to smile at him.

“Did you know about all of this?” she asked.

Daddy shook his head no, but smiled when he saw all the trouble we had gone to.

Mommy suppressed a giggle when she recognized the flowers that were sitting in the vase on the dining room table. She realized they had come from the neighbor's yard and laughed because they had already started to wither.

“Where are they?” Mommy asked Daddy. He shrugged and the two of them went looking for us. They found us in the den, each holding several pictures and hand-made cards that we spent hours making.

"Surprise, Mommy!" we yelled. I noticed Mommy was practically crying from how sweet we were being. We all rushed to hug and kiss Mommy and give her our cards. "Happy Birthday!" Katie yelled, in her cute little baby voice.

Mommy scooped us all up and hugged each one of us. She looked at each picture and card and smiled. We knew she had never had such a good day as this. It was to be her favoritest birthday ever.

"This isn't it, Mommy," Joey stated.

"We have a present for you,” Debbie said.

Mommy looked at Daddy and then back at us. “There’s more?”

We nodded. I ran to get the present. It was on the dining room table next to the flowers, but I guess she didn’t see it. I ran back into the den and placed it in Mommy’s lap.

Mommy looked at the little box. It was oddly wrapped, but we had tried our best.

"It's from all of us," I said, smiling sweetly. Long forgotten was how some of us had gotten in so much trouble. I looked at Billy and he smiled. I guess he had forgiven me for getting him punished.

"We all chipped in, Mommy. We hope you like it,” Billy said.

“Yeah, and Daddy helped us pay for it, too,” I admitted.

Mommy looked up at Daddy as she quickly opened up the little box. Her eyes widened as she saw the bracelet. She counted the little charms and noticed there were three little girls and two little boys, just like she had.

I stared at Mommy. "Do you like it, Mommy? It was Katie's idea. But I ordered it. Huh? Huh? Do you like it?" I asked, a little impatiently. After all, I had gone through a lot to get it.

Mommy smiled and hugged me tight. Then she hugged the other kids and then Daddy. “I love it!” she exclaimed.

Daddy helped her put it on, and she wore it all day. In fact, she wore it for as long as I could remember. It had been a really special birthday.

For all of us.

The end.