This can stand alone, but is better read in succession, The Ticket, 1,2,3 the Day After the Ticket, The Second Strapping, and the Opening Night of Hockey. This follows directly.
Matthew moped around his bedroom most of Sunday. He had been absolutely devastated earlier today when Marc had donated the big screen television that Matthew had won from the hockey game. The only thing that kept him from saying anything to Rolf was that he would be in so much trouble if Rolf knew he had been to the game while on restriction. Matthew wanted to confront Marc, but he had left, and Matthew had no grounds to stand on anyway. Rolf tried several times to get Matthew interested in something, but Matthew wasn't willing to leave his own pity party. Finally, it was time for Rolf to leave for the hockey game. He knocked on Matt's door, and entered when Matt bid him to do so.
"Hey, I hate to see you so disappointed. It really wasn't your television to begin with, I don't know why you are so upset." Rolf really couldn't understand Matthew's mood.
"You just don't understand." Matthew couldn't say much more than that.
"You're right, I don't understand. You come home with Marc, bawling like you just lost your best friend, and you mope around your room all day. You act as if you had every right to that television, and from what I know, you had nothing to do with it. I don't understand what is so upsetting about Marc donating it. It was his after all, and he was nice enough to take you along."
"Can we just drop it? I'm tired of talking about him, and that stupid tv. I can't help it, I wanted it. He used my name, it should be mine, to do with as I choose. Just drop it, okay?" Matthew was becoming increasingly angry, talking about his loss.
"Okay, I'll drop it. I'm heading out to the game. Please try to get your homework done so you're not doing it at the last minute. I'll be back soon after the game. Remember, no tv or computer. 'K?"
"I KNOW, I know. You really don't have to tell me that everytime you leave. Give me a break, why don't you?" Matthew's tone had become increasing argumentative.
"Matthew, don't take that tone of voice with me. You need to get that attitude under control before I get home tonight. I'm tired of it. Get that homework started, and I mean it." With that, Rolf turned to leave. He didn't want to get into any further arguments with Matthew, it would only lead to more punishment.
As soon as Rolf closed the door to Matthew's room, Matt exploded. The nearest thing to him was a magazine, and he chucked it towards the door. It hit with a loud thunk, then fluttered to the floor. Matt yelled out "You don't understand, nobody understands" and flipped over face first on the bed and pouted some more.
Rolf jumped when the magazine hit the door. He stopped for a second, then realized that Matt was through with throwing things. He would ignore his temper tantrum for now. He REALLY didn't understand him today. It wasn't as if they didn't already have a big screen television, and even if it was Matthew's to do with as he wished, it wasn't going into that bedroom, no way. Maybe today's attitude was a combination of missing last night's game as well as today's. He hoped Matthew would settle down, he couldn't handle that attitude the rest of the evening. Well, it was time for Rolf to pick up Marc and head to the game.
Matthew fumed in his room for 15 minutes. He hardly had any tears left, he had been crying practically all day. He knew deep in his heart that he didn't deserve the television, but that didn't change the fact that he really wanted it.
Matthew listened to the game on the radio. The team played well, the game was exciting, filled with lots of scoring and a few fights as well. All of the excitement he was missing caused Matthew's bad mood to deepen.
Rolf arrived home, parking the car in the garage. As soon as he turned the engine off, he heard the stereo. His blood pressure rose a few notches, that was just WAY too loud. He walked into the family room, finding Matt lounging on the couch. Rolf stepped over to the stereo and turned the music down to a more reasonable level. He walked back over to the couch, ruffling his boyfriend's hair, saying "Good game, hey Sport?"
Matthew responded in an aggravated voice "Like I would know. Care to leave the stereo alone? I was listening." He pushed the volume button on the remote, and the radio returned to it's headache level volume.
Rolf did not appreciate that response at all. He held out his hand, saying in a very stern voice, "Give me the remote!"
Matthew slammed it down in Rolf's extended hand. "Here, I'm done anyway." Matthew started to get up, but Rolf wasn't finished yet.
Rolf placed his hand on Matthew's shoulder, holding him on the couch. He turned the stereo off, the silence almost as deafening as the music had been. He nailed Matthew with an icy glare. "You are one step away from a blistered backside young man. I warned you before I left to lose that attitude, and I won't warn you again. Is..that..understood?"
Matthew was still feeling his last strapping, and knew he was dangerously close to another spanking right now. He didn't want that, and managed to say in a somewhat repentent voice "Yes, Sir."
Rolf removed his hand from the shoulder, and Matthew got up with a loud sigh. He was still upset, but wasn't going to give Rolf anymore reason to yell.
Rolf just stood still for a few moments, letting his own temper cool some. He knew Matthew was bored, and understood why he was acting up, but it was still unacceptable. The punishment was a tough one, but Matthew needed to learn that getting a ticket and then lying about it was also completely unacceptable behavior.
Matthew got to bed that night without any more problems. He also made it through the rest of the weekend without any trouble. He was absolutely bored to death. This was the third week in a row that he was not allowed out of the house, nor allowed computer or tv time. He did a lot of reading, made a few "illegal" phone calls, and did manage to watch a little tv, all without being caught. The time was drawing nearer for his fourth and final strapping for the ticket. He remained nervous about it, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that it would hurt like hell, but he wanted to get it behind him. Besides, the last one Rolf had even let him keep his shorts on, maybe the fourth would be lighter still. He just didn't know when that last strapping would take place.
Rolf watched Matthew all week. He was extremely pleased with Matthew's attitude change, accepting his punishment and not making a big deal of it. Rolf, for the first time that he could remember, was thinking about cutting Matthew's punishment short. Matt had taken his last strapping very well, worked his way through a very disappointing weekend without too much fuss, and hadn't begged or pleaded to go to this weekend's hockey games. He continued to mull over what he was going to do.
Friday morning arrived. Matthew had climbed in with Rolf sometime during the night, and it felt glorious waking up next to his warm body. Matt laid there for a few minutes, enjoying the feeling. Finally, he rolled out of bed, went to the bathroom, then russled through Rolf's closet, looking for the belt. He found it, and approached the bed.
"Rolf, Rolf, wake up." Matthew gently shook Rolf until his eyes opened.
"Good morning Sport, you're up early." Rolf enjoyed a deliciously long, languid stretch, before sitting up. As his eyes focused on Matthew, he realized that Matthew was holding the belt.
As Rolf took the belt, Matthew said "I want to put this behind us."
Rolf stood up, and directed Matthew to bend over the bed. While Matt got into position, Rolf was making up his mind. He was extremely pleased with Matthew. He doubled up the belt, and asked Matthew to count.
Rolf laid down the first lick, with Matthew calmly saying "One." Rolf kept the strap falling, Matthew moving a little with each stroke, still rather calmly counting. He had tears running down his face, but no sobbing yet. When Rolf reached 19, Matthew began to sob quite loudly, the pain was becoming intense. Rolf laid on lick 20, right across the fleshy seat of Matthew. Matt stood up, nearly grabbing to rub out the sting, but though better of it. He had wanted to get this over, now he just wished it would stop. He leaned back over the bed. His stomach dropped into his toes when he heard Rolf say "You can stop counting. These next five are coming hard and fast. Stay in position." Matthew was sure he was getting five extra for standing up.
Rolf did lay on five good solid whacks. It left Matthew breathless, then crying loudly. Rolf stood back and watched Matthew shiver in pain and the anticipation of more. His backside was crimson, several of the belt marks clearly visible. In a stern voice, he told Matthew to stand up and turn around.
Matthew was scared. He was only 1/2 way through with the strapping, and here he was, about to get his head bit off for standing up. Would it ever end? He wiped the back of his hand across his face, trying to stop the flow of tears and snot that was running down his face. He looked up at Rolf, waiting for the lecture. He saw instead, the blue eyes he loved so well.
Matthew was confused when Rolf said "Are you going to slow down in the future, and are you going to be completely honest with me in all things?"
Between sniffles, Matthew said "Yes, sir. I never wanted to keep that ticket from you, really I didn't. The timing was just off, and I'm sorry for making that mistake. You....You do forgive me, don't you?"
"Yes, Sport, I do forgive you. You've been pretty good, though a very harsh punishment. Your strapping is finished, and if you remain on your best behavior today and tomorrow, I'll take you to the hockey game on Sunday, and end your restriction there."
Matthew's smile nearly lit up the entire room and he almost knocked Rolf to the floor when he went to give him a hug, saying over and over "Thank you."