David ran into the house. He was out of breath, hot and thirsty from the run home. He grabbed a drink from the fridge. On the kitchen table were two notes. The first from his mother read:
"Dear David, I will be a little late getting home today, should be home by five. Make sure you do all the things that your dad asked you to, that should keep you out of trouble while I am gone. Remember, you are being punished, so no TV or anything. Also, Tommy is in charge until I get back. I don't want to hear any bad reports from him, and I'm sure your father wouldn't either. Mom"
The second one was from Dad:
"David, Here is your writting assignment for after school. It is from the bible, I want you to write it 100 times, NEATLY. "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him". It better be done by the time I get home. Also, I want you to get another "rod of correction" from the yard before you start. One just like last nights will do fine. Leave it on the kitchen table so that you can look at it while you are doing your lines. Also, remember where your pants and underpants are supposed to be until I get home. If I find out from your mom or Tommy that they have not been around your ankles the whole time, you will be very sorry. That includes while you get the switch. Try not to get into any more trouble. - Dad.
Jesus, David thought, I'm already due for that switch again tonight, and Dad doesn't even know about the math test yet. I got it 24 times last night, how many am I going to get tonight? How can I face that? That pain was too awful last night. How am I going to face him with this note? Will I ever be able to look him in the eye again.
David thought back to all the other times he had gotten into trouble when he was younger. Then when he was spanked, it wasn't so bad. It wasn't just that Dad's hand didn't hurt as much as the switch or the belt, although that was certianly part of it. No it was more the feeling that once it was over, it was over. Then all seemed forgiven, he would say he was sorry and then his dad would give him a hug. He would have a clean slate. Dad would be mad at what ever he had done, but not really mad at him. It wasn't like that this time. There seemed to be no sense of closure. Each punishment just seemed to be a prelude to another punishment.
David, of course, knew nothing of his Dad's plans for the following weekend. He did not know that his dad had called in some mightly big favors to get those basketball seats, third row at center court no less. He didn't know about how his dad had cleared his schedule not only for Saturday and Sunday, but Monday as well, to go camping. How he had even called the school to get David allowed out on Monday to make it a two night camping trip. He didn't know that his dad, figuratively, was going to give him a hug that lasted three days after this was all over. No all he saw was pain and humiliation, followed by more pain and humiliation. He felt his dad would never forgive him.
Now he had to walk out in the front yard, his feet bound by his underpants, his butt and pecker on view to the whole world...in broad daylight. Worse, he had to do it while he was the only one home, like it was totally volentary. He thought about the pain of last night. Last night he did not know how much it would hurt. Tonight he did. As bad as last night seemed, tonight seemed even worse. And again, Dad did not even know yet how badly he had screwed up today.
He couldn't do this, but he had to, there was no way out. Nothing he could think of could hurt as much as that switch did. He lowered his pants and underpants to his ankles. He got a knife from the kitchen drawer and waddled out towards the front door to do what he had to do. He looked out the front door, the street was filled with kids. He wanted to wait until some of them left, especially the girls. He was running out of time. There was no way out...or was there.
David took the knife...and held it up to his wrist.
The END ???