Punished Together

Frieda Noose was searching frantically for her children. They had vanished during a shopping trip. She was worried something had happened to Sol and Casey. Frieda found out to her dismay they had hidden from her, but watched her closely and had some fun. Frieda wasn't amused. In fact she was fuming and barely kept her temper in check. Frieda was glad she had herself under control. The temptation to smack her seven and a half year old daughter and four year old son was there. Instead Frieda grabbed her kids by the hand and left the store with them, walking briskly. She was silent until they reached their car. Frieda barked at her kids: "Get in!" By now Casey and Sol realized their mother was upset with them. When they were all sitting at the back and the doors were closed Frieda started her lecture. "Don't do that ever again! I was so scared you were lost! Casey, you are old enough to know hiding from me is wrong and that I would be worried. Involving your brother is even worse! I'm disappointed in both of you! I'm considering going home immediately..." "But Mommy, you promised us to go to the toy store!" Casey protested. "Didn't I say we would go there, when you are good?" Casey had heard it, but it had gone in one ear and out the other. Sol's eyes filled with tears. He had been looking forward to check out dinosaurs and Lego sets. Suddenly the prank didn't seem that funny and seeing how disappointed their mother was, Sol felt guilty. He climbed on Frieda's lap, snuggled close to her and said: "Sorry, Mommy. I didn't want to scare you. I will be good. I promise." Frieda didn't say a word for a moment. She was still very angry. "It's okay, honey. You made a mistake and hopefully you have learned from it." "Yes, Mommy." Sol replied meekly. They hugged. Frieda turned a gimlet eye to her daughter. "So, Casey, do you think you behaved in such a manner you have earned going to Toys'r'us?" Even if Casey had inherited Frieda's black hair, heart shaped face and brown eyes, she was very similar to Frieda's husband Fin, who could be own minded and stubborn on occasion. Casey didn't want to admit she had done something wrong. She stared at her mother with crossed arms and a scowl on her face. Frieda tried to stay calm. When Casey still didn't answer after a tense silence, Frieda said quiet: "Answer me, please. I'd like to have your opinion." There was a bit of a threat in Frieda's voice, so Casey thought it was better to admit she hadn't been that good behaved, before she made her mother even madder. Frieda could get very unpleasant if she felt she wasn't taken serious. Frieda took into consideration to go to the toy shop, but thought she had to reward and praise appropriate behaviour and to punish serious misdemeanors, so she had to go through with what she had said earlier. Sol burst into tears and Casey sulked. Frieda comforted Sol by saying: "I love you two very much, but you caused me great grief today. Just because we don't go today to see toys doesn't mean we are never going. If you are two little angels for the next few days, I'm sure we can maybe even Daddy convince to go on an outing with us." The promise worked like a treat for Sol. He stopped crying pretty soon, not so with Casey. She refused outright to return to the mall for grocery shopping. Frieda was okay with that. She left Casey with the babysitter service of the mall, which made her daughter not happier. Casey had planned to black mail Frieda, but it had back fired.
Sol wanted to come with Frieda. He liked helping his Mommy fetching and choosing groceries. He generally wasn't holding a long grudge and was easy going like his mother. He looked like a miniature copy of his father.
After the completion of their tasks Sol and Frieda picked up Casey. Frieda had regained her psychological balance again and her anger was gone.

At dinner Casey was still sullen. Knowing her daughter Frieda wasn't surprised. It took Casey a day or two to let go of events that upset her. Fin, who had managed to be home for the meal, but hadn't had time to catch up with Frieda, sensed the undercurrents and was wondering what had happened.
He and Frieda found a quiet moment. Fin wasn't amused about the prank. He understood his wife completely. Whenever the kids misbehaved and Frieda deemed it necessary to net out a punishment, he backed her up.
The kids knew playing out a parent against the other didn't work.
Fin brought the kids to bed and had a chat with Casey. Fin and Casey's thought processes worked similar, so he could easily walk in her shoes. He managed to explain to Casey why Frieda was disappointed and angry and made Casey understand her mother better. It helped keeping the sulking to a minimum and the next morning Casey was back to normal.

Frieda asked Fin after the kids were asleep if he and his brother Mike had ever been punished together. She knew she was walking on treacherous ground and might open old wounds. Fin thought about it for a moment. "Well, let's put it that way we might were in trouble at the same time and sometimes got a warning smack in front of each other, but that was it. In most cases Mike managed to wriggle out of the situation by claiming I was responsible and my parents believed him, so I was the one, who ended up with a sore bottom. I remember only one occasion, when we were both punished for the same thing at roughly the same time, but in separate rooms." "Why were you spanked?" Fin grinned. "Our neighbor, Mike and I were in disagreement. I was around nine and Mike eight. Mike and I loved at the time nothing more than playing soccer in our garden. A few of the shots went wild, and well, the ball ended up in the neighbor's garden. She was an old lady and very proud of her prize winning flowers, so she was very disturbed and annoyed about it. She always swore at us, talked to our parents about it, who told us off, and confiscated our ball, when it happened again. Mike and I were very angry about the mistreatment and swore to get revenge. I came up with the idea to climb over the wall and pee on Mrs. Tomczyk's terrace. Stupid - I know." Fin and Frieda giggled. "Mike agreed it was a brilliant idea, so when we both had to wee we sprang into action. As bad luck would have it Mrs. Tomczyk was at home and saw us. She was quite fast I can tell you." Fin smiled at the memory. "We didn't even have a chance to zip up our trousers, she had us grabbed by the ears and we were on our way home. Mom and Dad were outraged about our little prank. They scolded us right in front of Mrs. Tomczyk. Of course we had to apologize and Mrs. Tomczyk was promised we were going to be punished. I knew what it meant for me. I wasn't sure how our parents planned to deal with Mike, though. We were ordered to our rooms. Waiting was awful. I tried to figure out if I was going to allowed to keep on my underpants or if I would be caned on the bare and how many strokes I was going to get. It didn't take long until I heard Mom and Dad approaching. I shivered. Mom entered my room, cane in hand, without knocking. To my surprise she was alone. Normally - no matter who spanked me - both parents were present during my punishment. She told me off about my disgraceful behavior again. I listened with one ear, because I thought I had heard Mike cry out. I heard him again, this time louder, so I knew he was being spanked as well. It was a small comfort. My mother told me to lower my pants and to bend over my writing desk. I only realized then that I had opened my window earlier in the day and hadn't closed it yet. I didn't dare ask my mother to move again. She said: "You are going to get four strokes." I was dreading it and hated the three ft. long cane. It inflicted so much pain." Fin was silent for a moment. His blue grey eyes had changed color and were more blue than grey, a sign he was upset or angry. Fin continued. "Mom was merciless. She brought the cane down with a flick of her wrist, hard. As always for a few seconds I didn't feel anything and then there was the searing pain. Even so I knew what to expect, the stroke took me by surprise and knocked the air out of me. My mother waited until the fire in my behind was a bit subsiding, before she lined up the next lash. The pain from the second stroke merged with the first. It was unbearable and I cried out. My eyes filled with tears. I hoped I could hold them back a bit longer. It didn't work. I burst into tears, when the cane landed at the center of my buttocks. I nearly jumped up, because it hurt a great deal. Holding on for dear life, I waited and waited... Mom took her time. Finally she flicked the cane across my sit spots. I screamed at the top of my lungs and I cried now unrestrained. I was so concentrated on the fire in my behind, I didn't hear Mom telling me I could get up. She repeated herself a couple of times, before my body functioned more normally again. I wasn't happy about Mom's tries to comfort me. When she hugged me I tensed, so she gave up, frustrated. Mom had just hurt and humiliated me, so I thought she was two faced and not serious about consoling me. I was also upset, because I thought it was unfair Mike got away relatively easy. Okay, he got - I would guess - something between eight and sixteen smacks and they definitely hurt, but while his pain was gone by the evening, I was still smarting the next day and it was impossible for me to sit. Any signs of his spanking would have vanished within hours; my tramlines stayed for two weeks. Mike had the higher embarrassment factor, because he was spanked on the bare. Not that my underpants offered a lot of protection from the cane. My brother had the lighter spanker. Dad always was a little bit softer than Mom, but he made me cry as much as Mom did. Of course I couldn't say anything about my feelings. I feared I would make it worse for myself if I would bring it up, so I kept quiet. Like Casey I was holding a long grudge, but I was better than she is. I think on this occasion I ignored my parents for a week." Frieda didn't know if Fin wanted comfort, but thought it couldn't hurt. She put a hand on his tanned arm. "I'm sorry." "Hm, it wasn't the worst caning I've got and one of the fairer ones. Mike and I were so careful afterwards the soccer ball never again ended up in Mrs. Tomczyk's garden, so I guess we both had learned the hard way." Frieda and Fin looked up startled. They thought they had heard Sol sobbing. Frieda went to investigate. She found Sol behind the kitchen door, crying. "What's wrong, honey? Did you have a bad dream?" Frieda crouched down. "I was thirsty and I... I heard what Daddy said." Frieda picked up Sol and brought him to the kitchen. She thought it was better Sol spoke with his father. Depositing Sol on Fin's lap, Frieda made hot chocolate for all of them.
Sol was hugging Fin tightly. "What's bothering you, sweetie?" Fin asked. "Your Mommy and Daddy weren't nice to you." "No, unfortunately they weren't." Fin confirmed. "I'm sad about it." "That's very generous of you, Sol." Fin smiled against his will. He was proud Sol showed empathy. Frieda and he must have done something right. "You don't have to be sad, though. I'm still alive. Growing up the way I did made me decide I wanted to be a different type of father, so all's good." "Don't you miss your Mommy and Daddy?" Since there was no love lost between Fin and his parents and they had parted acrimoniously a long time ago, Fin didn't. "No. It is better for all of us if we don't see each other. We have our own lives." "I would miss you." Sol said seriously. "I would miss you too, sweetie, but we don't want to go different ways, so we don't have to miss each other. Or do you plan to be a big boy and move out tomorrow?" Fin asked with a twinkle in his eyes. Sol giggled. "Noo." He said. "I'm happy to hear it." The hot chocolate was ready and Sol had asked all his questions and seemed satisfied with the answers. After his thirst was quenched he went to bed.
Fin checked later on his sleeping children and was amazed how deep he felt for them. Love was a strange thing. Fin had come a long way. At first he didn't want children. His biggest fear was he would turn out as brutal and uncaring as his parents. Frieda's pregnancy with Casey was an emotional roller coaster ride for Fin, but he fell immediately in love with his daughter when he held her in his arms shortly after she was born. It wasn't the same with Sol. Fin had originally wanted a second daughter and was convinced Sol would be a girl. For about one and a half months Fin had felt betrayed Sol was a boy. Fin realized he was heading down the same path as his parents had with him, corrected his behavior in time and learned to fall in love with his son too. Now living without Sol would have been unthinkable for Fin.

The kids were very well behaved for the next few days, so their reward was to visit the toy shop as promised and their Dad was also coming with them, which was a highlight for them.

  ©2014

Grey

This is a short story about a friend of Coldham Fintan Noose III. Hope you like this one too.

"You are a girl!" "Cry baby!" Another kid shouted. Marion Sweeney Hall's lower lip quivered and his eyes welled up in anger. He wasn't a girl, just because he had that stupid name! His mother had been a film and musical buff and had chosen Marion for Marion Morrison, the actor John Wayne's real name, and Sweeney for Sweeney Todd, the main character of a musical.
Marion didn't accept being teased, so he pushed the girl, who had called him a cry baby. Soon they were fighting and rolling on the ground. Their classmates were supporting them by shouting: "Fight, fight!" The cries of encouragement and the fight stopped soon, when a teacher separated Marion and the girl. They were brought to the principal, who was displeased with the behavior of both. She lectured and suspended them. She also informed the legal guardians of the children. In Marion's case it was his grandmother Clyde B. C. Dahl. He called her Momma.

Marion felt sick. Momma was going to be so disappointed in him. Momma was tall, thin with black hair and cinnamon colored skin. She moved very graciously. Sometimes Marion thought she was a queen. Momma was his maternal grandmother.
Carita Dahl, Clyde's daughter, and Michael Hall were high school sweethearts and had been going steady for years. When she was twenty she got pregnant. Michael decided to do the right thing. They married before the baby bump showed. Michael and Carita hadn't lived together before. They realized soon their lifestyles were different and the pregnancy turned out to be a difficult one. Michael couldn't take the situation and left for good, leaving Carita to deal with it alone. Carita was glad her mother supported her. The experience made her bitter and when the chance came to move to Chicago for a better job, she was more than willing to forget she had a son.
Marion didn't remember much about his mother. She left him when he was a bit over two. Since then it had been only Momma and him. Momma took her responsibility to raise Marion serious. She made sure he knew how to behave and that he was able to go to a better school in downtown Phoenix. They weren't poor, but they weren't wealthy either. Momma and Marion lived in Sunnyside. It wasn't the best area to live in.

Momma wasn't too pleased she had to leave work and deal with her errant six year old grandson. Unlike others she didn't believe in walloping. It would be double standard and teach Marion the wrong lesson. Fighting violence with violence didn't make sense.
The issue had to be dealt with, though.
Momma had a quick chat with the principal and took Marion home. They had been quiet on the bus journey, each one hanging after their own thoughts.
"Why don't you change into something more comfortable?" Momma suggested, not unpleasant. She bustled in the kitchen, making Brazilian Lemonade - normally it was a Sunday treat. Momma thought it was a good idea to have a more relaxed atmosphere when talking with Marion about the incident at school. It would be difficult enough getting him talk.
When Marion returned, Momma invited him to take a seat at the kitchen table. "So, tell me what happened." Marion looked at her with big brown eyes, but didn't say anything. Momma filled the glasses with the lemonade. She thought she had given him enough time to answer. "Marion Sweeney, if you don't tell me what happened I have to believe what Mrs. Senter is telling me. If that's the case I would be very disappointed, because there wouldn't have been any reason for you attacking that girl." Marion looked down and mumbled: "You are going to be disappointed any way." "We will see." Encouraged by Momma's gentleness, he described what had happened, finishing with: "I'm sorry." "Oh, Marion! I can understand that the other kids hurt you and made you angry. I don't appreciate, though, that you choose to solve your issue with your fists. That's never good. What does our Lord, Jesus, say?" Momma didn't get an answer. She sighed. "Matthew 5:39 and Luke 6:27-6:29. Go, get the bible if you don't know and we read the verses together." Marion didn't give a lot what Jesus preached in his situation. Jesus was perfect anyways, while he was a little boy. Marion refused to cooperate and stared at the table. "Marion?" Momma could be very stern. Momma changed her tune, when Marion still didn't comply. "What's the matter with you, boy?! Have you swallowed your tongue?" Momma's voice was suddenly sharp. Marion shook his head. "Then answer me or get the book." Marion stood up and trudged to his grandmother's bedroom. The bible was lying on the bed stand. It was leather bound, old and well used. Momma studied it every night.
Marion returned. Momma motioned him to take a seat beside her. She had no problems finding the location of the text she was looking for. "Read that to me, please." The Gospel of Matthew was first. The language of the King James' Version was difficult, and it took Marion a few attempts to have it correct. He read: "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." Luke was a bit longer. "But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also."
Momma explained to him what this all meant. Marion didn't agree. He and his grandmother had a heated argument about behavior. Since Momma was more powerful, Marion had to give in. He didn't know what he hated more: Apologizing to the girl he had fought with, having to spend the time he had been suspended with Mrs. Zorbas, a disliked neighbor (Her home reeked of cat urine and she was really old.), or to copy the verses they just had read and discussed 250 times in his nicest hand writing.
Momma had to go to work, but couldn't leave Marion alone at home, so she asked Mrs. Zorbas to look after Marion. She didn't like being indebted to Mrs. Zorbas.
The lines were punishment for loosing his temper and forgetting about "Christian" behavior as Momma liked to call it.
Marion knew this wasn't all, because Momma always punished him for causing trouble in school as well.
To his dismay Marion had to go to bed an hour earlier than usual for a whole month. He thought it was too hard and unfair, but kept quiet, because if he protested too much, Momma would extend the punishment and Marion wanted to avoid that at all costs.
Momma decided something else to make life a bit easier for Marion. "I want to discuss something else with you. Since you don't like your name, you can choose a nickname." Marion was unsure. "You can take your time, darling. When you have chosen, let me know."

For a while Marion called himself Mario, but since he didn't have any resemblance to what the Italian name implied, he dropped it. Marion was African American, very dark skinned and small for his age. Even as an adult Marion was smaller than most.
Sweeney was the next choice, but Marion wasn't happy with that either. It was still too feminine in his opinion.
As a teenager he found the final and perfect nick name. Marion was unobtrusive and blended into a crowd without getting noticed. Being unremarkable and inconspicuous had its advantages. Marion associated the color grey with those characteristics and took a philosophical look at life, having learned that the world was not black and white. There were many grey zones and that was how he chose his name. Whenever he introduced himself, he was Grey Hall.

©2013

I will show them!

Coldham Fintan Noose III wanted to go out, but his parents told him no. It was a school night and Coldham and Beverly believed it wouldn't be wise to let Fin visit his friend.
The light ash blond boy was disappointed and seethed with anger. He thought his parents hated him and tried everything to take away the fun in his life. They had refused previously visits. He was going to show them! A rebellious streak awakened in Fin, as the boy was nicknamed. The fourteen year old sneaked out, spent a few hours with his friend and returned home. He hadn't calculated in his parents would miss him. When he opened the door they were already waiting for him. They "invited" him for a brief discussion in the living room. Fin knew how this was going to end and wasn't looking forward to it.

"A caning is warranted in this case. Young man, you can't simply take off, not telling us where you are going to! We are responsible for you and need to know where you are at all times!" His father and name sake told him. "I am ashamed. You are old enough to understand rules and obey them." His mother Beverly added. Fin was resigned. He wasn't going down without a fight, though. "Maybe the rules are shit." He suggested. His mother's eyes blazed at him. She nearly shouted: "Mind your language!" Fin stared back at Beverly as angry as she did. "Let's get over with your punishment. I guess you don't want to wait." Coldham suggested calmer. "It's unfair!" Fin protested. "Why?" asked Coldham, pretending to be seriously interested. "I haven't been warned I would be punished if I go out." "Fin, that was to expect, don't you think?" Beverly replied. "No, would it be darling Mike, he would escape with a warning." Mike was Fin's younger brother and their parents' favorite son. "That's not true!" Beverly shot at Fin. "He would be punished like you." confirmed Coldham. Fin snorted. Coldham didn't accept disrespect, lost his temper and slapped Fin across the face. "Now touch your toes, Coldham Fintan." Beverly ordered Fin. Her son obeyed with a smarting cheek and soul. "Five strokes." Fin's father added. "I'm going to deliver them." Beverly said. The cane was already lying on the coffee table. Fin was surprised he was allowed to keep on his pants and didn't have to bend over the armrest of the sofa as he had done a few times before. He obeyed, knowing there was no escape anyway. His mother picked up the three foot long can and swished it through the air. Fin barely kept from shuddering. Even if he was getting caned on his fully clothed behind it was going to hurt a lot. His trousers tightened over his backside, showing a clear outline where Fin's underpants ended. The cane tapped softly, once, twice on his buttocks. Fin braced himself. The cane was removed. There was another whistling sound. The cane made contact with the center of Fin's behind. The strength of the cut pushed Fin a bit forward. He regained his balance and with gritted teeth was back in position. "Stick your butt out a bit further." The sting was incredible. With trepidation Fin complied. Beverly took measurement for a second time, and soon the cane whooshed again through the air, landing right on target just a few inches above the first cut. Fin exhaled loudly. He wasn't going to cry out. The third cut made Fin's eyes fill with tears. He fought them back. His pride kept him from showing emotions. He wasn't going to give his parents any satisfaction.
The pain had been building up and was nearly unbearable. It felt like Fin had sat on a hot oven. There were still two more lashes to come.
The next stroke hit Fin on the sit spots and made him fall forward. It had been harder than the previous ones. Fin bit hard on his lower lip to prevent a cry.  The tears threatened to overflow. "Fin, back in position." His father reminded him. Gathering the last bit of courage he had left, Fin touched his toes and made sure his buttocks offered the perfect target. Beverly took her time. She wanted to make sure Fin felt every stroke. Fin hated the wait. After what seemed like ages Fin felt the cane tapping on his already inflamed behind. He took a deep breath and squeezed his eyes shut. Fin tried to concentrate on something else. His thoughts went to a recent windsurfing event his grandmother had taken him to. It had been fantastic to see all his heroes performing. Remembering it, took the edge off the last stroke. It still hurt a great deal. Fin shot up, clutching his buttocks. Normally Fin had himself better under control, and it was rare he got out of position before his parents told him, he was allowed to move. Beverly smirked a bit, still slightly disappointed she hadn't been able to make Fin cry or show much emotions. Coldham addressed his son: "Did we say anything you are allowed to get up?" Fin was fighting with his tears, so it was difficult to answer. He shook his head and replied with a quivering voice: "No, Dad." He hated himself for sounding so weak. Coldham had stood during the whole procedure beside Fin. "Turn around." Coldham ordered Fin. His son obeyed, Fin feared Coldham was going to use the cane on him again for getting up. He was lucky Coldham thought a light smack was enough to remind Fin to stay in position. "Next time you might not escape so easy, so you better have yourself under control." "Yes, sir." Fin answered, hating every moment. His mother had another question. "I hope you understand why we thought it is important you learn a quick, sharp lesson..." Fin didn't. In fact he was angry, nearing an explosion, and still felt he had been given a raw deal. He thought it was better to keep his feelings to himself. Fin wouldn't have been able to stand another round with the cane, so he nodded. "If you ever leave without permission, you can expect to be caned on you underwear and one stroke more. Is this clear?" Beverly's voice was hard. "Yes, Ma'am." Fin was struggling to keep up his composure. "Okay, everything is forgiven. You can go now." "Thank you, sir."
Fin managed to keep his tears at bay until he was on his room. He was sad, angry, full of hatred and hurting. He let off steam by undressing and throwing his clothing against the wall. Fin shed a few tears, but stopped crying soon.
He had his own bathroom and checked in the mirror what his behind looked like. Fin could see ridges, some were higher raised than others, especially the one covering his sit spots and the one in the middle of his behind. He thought there were going to be bruises surrounding the tramlines. He had already some dark splodges. Fin took a cold shower to ease the pain and maybe stop some of the bruising. His bottom had been throbbing, now Fin felt a dull aching. One thing was for sure he was going to sleep on his stomach tonight.
His anger was still there, but Fin was sadder than anything. He hurt from feeling absolutely unwanted and unloved. No matter what he did, he never received a word of praise or approval. Instead he had to listen how perfect his brother was. He was frustrated and punched his pillow.
He was lonely, knowing exactly his parents wouldn't understand if he tried to broach the subject. Fin could have talked to his grandmother Lil, who lived in Boston, but he was too ashamed to admit he was physically punished. There was nobody else whom he trusted.
After thinking about it Fin decided to call Lil. He got his most pressing issues off his chest. He left out the caning, though. Lil was supportive as always and talking to her calmed him.
The stripes healed within a week.
It took Fin a while to forgive his parents.

©2013