It was a Friday night, and everyone was heading to the drive in, well everyone except for me that is. I had gotten into trouble that morning for disobeying and then mouthing off to my eldest brother, Mark - the head of our household since our parents death two years ago- and he informed me that I would be staying home from the movies that night, which was a complete drag. I mean Steve - my second eldest brother - hardly ever took me along with him anywhere. It was a complete miracle that he had even asked.
Oh, I begged and begged and begged Mark to reconsider, but he would not budge. He said that he thought it would be a good lesson to help me remember to keep my big mouth shut.
"It's not fair." I said as I flopped down on the couch - arms folded over my chest - and began to pout.. Everyone else gets to go but me."
"Yeah......It's called punishment." Mark shouted from the kitchen where he was making dinner.
Oh, I hated my life right then. I mean you'd think a twelve year old kid being raised by his twenty four year old brother would have more freedom, right........not. He was tougher on me than my parents ever were. Even Steve knew not to cross him, but it was different for him. He was seventeen now. He could get away with a lot more because Mark considered him practically grown. I still had six more years of his rules.
"Ahhhhh, you won't miss much." Steve said as he looked out the front window and waved to John (His best friend since forth grade) who was coming up the walk.
"That's easy for you to say, you get to go." I said.
A second later the front door opened and John came in. "Hey hot shot, you ready?" He asked Steve who was now standing there with his jeans unbuttoned and open, tucking in his shirt.
"Yeah, just about."
John flopped backwards into the recliner. "What time is Mr. muscles coming home?" He asked about Mark, not knowing that he was home already and now leaning in the doorway with his big arms folded over his broad chest.
Steve opened his mouth to fill his stupid friend in, but Mark held up his hand. Steve closed his mouth and watched as John dug himself in deeper.
"Well I hope it's soon because I'm not waiting here all night with the kid. He can just kiss my ass." He said and out came the cigarette...as if speaking wasn't enough.
Mark could take no more. He walked over and pulled the recliner back suddenly causing John's feet to fly up into the air on his way back, then he got down in his face. "You even think about lighting that thing in this house and I swear you'll eat it."
"I knew you were there." He lied. "I was only playing around."
Steve and I couldn't help but to laugh. John really stuck his foot in it that time. I mean Mark was huge. No one in their right mind messed with him. No one.
"Well, you just watch yourself." Mark said and then quickly snapped the recliner back up into place.
John jumped out of it quick - although it looked more like he was catapulted - and went over and stood next to Steve, who was grinning at him.
"You bastard." He whispered when Mark went back into the kitchen. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Steve just laughed. "Man you should have seen the look on your face."
"_f_u_c_k_ you."
Just then the door opened and Bob and Jeff walked in, then Chris a few minutes later, which meant the gang was all there.
"Are we ready or what?" Jeff asked.
"Yeah, just one sec." Steve said looking in the hall mirror one last time to make sure he looked cool enough . "Al right, lets go."
"Have fun," Mark yelled from the kitchen. "And be home on time."
Steve rolled his eyes and walked out the door. I followed him onto the porch and he looked back at me. "Take it easy runt." He said.
Jeff gave him a funny look. "I thought you said we had to take the little pain in the ass along."
I just jammed my fist down in my pockets and made a face.
"Well there's been a little change in plans." Steve told him as he waited for everyone to pile into the back seat so he could get up front.
When everyone was in Jeff started to pull away.
"See ya." Steve said as he stuck his hand out the window then Jeff stomped on the gas and the car went squealing down the street.
I waited till it was out of sight then I went back inside feeling sorry for myself. I flopped back down on the couch and tried to watch some TV to take my mind off of my misery, but there was nothing on that could compare to a movie at the drive in.
"Time to eat Justin." Mark called from the kitchen.
HUH....dinner. "He grounds me for the night and now he wants me to come in and eat dinner?" I thought. There was no way. I didn't even want to be in the same house with him, much less sit at the same table and eat food which he had prepared. Hell no. "I ain't hungry." I said coldly.
He popped his head around the corner. "I said it's time to eat Justin, now get in here."
"And I said I wasn't eating." I said a little louder and with a lot more arrogance.
He walked into the room and stood to my right. "What's with the attitude?"
Jesus, did he have to ask? "I don't want to eat with you."
"Fine......eat in here then. I don't really care." He said and was about to walk away, but I started to run my mouth some more and he came right back.
"I don't want to eat your stinking food." I said sounding more like a five year old than a twelve year old.
His hands went up to his hips. "Oh, I see. You're pouting, right?" He asked.
"That's right." I said with as much attitude I could manage..
"Huh." He snorted "Well, that's your choice, but you're not doing it in here. Go do it in your room." He said and jerked a thumb down the hall in that direction.
"FINE" I yelled jumping off the couch suddenly. "That way I don't have to keep looking at your stupid face."
He gave me an angry look. "Now you can stay in there for the rest of the night!"
I gave him an equally angry look and walked past him so close I bumped him. "That's fine with me." I said, my voice cracking slightly as the angry tears came into my eyes.
"Hey! You better settle down. I'm in no mood for this crap from you." He said as he watched me stomp off down the hall.
I responded by slamming my door and locking it, then I just flopped face down on my bed and wiped my angry tears off on my pillow.
A second later I heard him try the door knob. "Justin.... open this door." He demanded.
"No. Go away. I hate you." I said through my tears.
"Oh, that's a nice thing to say." He said arrogantly. "You don't know how much I appreciate hearing that."
"You're welcome you Jerk." I said coldly.
He got mad suddenly and started to pound on the door. "JUSTIN!" He shouted, but then there was silence as I'm sure he was counting to himself, trying to hold on to his temper. Finally he spoke again....calmer this time "All right you know what? You're not going to do this to me. You can hate me all you want.....you're still not going."
Then that was it. He left my door to go eat his dinner.
"God, why did he always have to be like that?" I asked myself. "I was only going to be young once, right? So why did I have to waste my time being punished? Why did I have to go by the rules? Why? Why? Why?"
I flipped over on my back and looked up at the ceiling. I could smell dinner in the other room and my stomach started growling. "Maybe refusing to eat wasn't such a good idea." I thought to myself, but _d_a_m_n_it I needed to prove a point. I needed to show my big brother that I was not a little baby anymore. I mean I was only a year away from being a teenager for god sake. I didn't need any of his rules.
"That's it." I said and sat up quick. "I'm not going to sit in here and take this. I'm going to the movies."
I got up and slipped my shoes on, then I went to my window and looked out at the back yard to make sure the coast was clear. No one was out. Not even old Mrs. Quinn - our nosy next door neighbor who seemed to hate everyone and everything except for her mean old cat. All was quiet. So I slip the screen up and quickly and quietly snuck out into the evening air.
I only had a few bucks in my pocket and I had already decided that that was going to be spent on food - I was so hungry - so in order for me to even get into the place I had to jump the fence, and the only good place to do that was at the south corner where it backed the woods.
What a spooky trip that was, walking along that dark path along the fence. I kept thinking that any minute some creature of the night was going to reach out from the dark foliage and yank me in to my doom - which is kind of what happened later on - but for now I was determined to do this no matter what.
First thing I did was get something from the refreshment stand....a cheeseburger, a coke, and an ice cream sandwich... ..then I sat down at one of the picnic tables outside and practically inhaled everything as I waited for the place to fill up, which it did. I guess being that the regular theater was so far away, most people came to the drive-in for a movie. Of course some people came for other things, as I could see by a few already fogging windows.
I sat there a while, scanning for Jeff's car or maybe one of them walking so I could sit with them, finally I spotted Steve and Chris coming out of the refreshment stand. I jumped up and trotted over to them happily. "Hi guys." I said happily.
Steve's feet came skidding to a halt suddenly when his eyes fell on me. Then he started to look all around - for Mark I guessed. "What are you doing here?" He asked.
"Mark let me out." I lied.
He gave me a crazy look. "What do you mean he let you out?"
"He told me that I could go if I wanted to." I lied again.
Steve began to fire away on the questions. "What do you mean he told you that you could go. Go where? Here? Where is he?"
"He's home." I told him.
He looked at me like I had three heads. "You're trying to tell me that Mark let you come to the drive-in all by yourself?"
"Yeah." I said, but he saw right through me.
"Jesus Christ...you snuck out didn't you?" He asked looking amazed.
"NO." I said but I didn't sound very convincing.
Steve looked over at Chris who started laughing.
"Brave little son-of-a-bitch." Chris said.
Steve sighed loudly. "Come on, lets go call him." He said as he handed over his food to Chris to take back to the car with him, then he reached out for my arm.
I jerked back away from him. "NO, please. Don't call him. I want to stay." I begged. "Please let me stay."
He laughed. "Are you nuts? If I let you stay here after he punished you he'd skin me alive....... now come on." He said and headed off towards the pay phones.
I dropped my head and followed along behind him as if I were on the way to my death, which was not that far from the truth. I watched miserably as he dialed the number and then waited as it rang....and rang.....and rang...and rang. Finally he just hung up.
"He ain't home. He's probably out looking for you right now." He said looking a little concerned for me. "He's going to kill you, you know that right?"
I just stood there digging the tip of my sneaker into the dirt. "Not if you stop him." I said glancing up with a hint of hopefulness in my eyes.
"SHHHITTT." He said then chuckled loudly. "Like I said he's going to kill you."
I frowned. "So what now?"
"Well, I'm not leaving." He said. "I just got here and Amanda brought her cousin along with her and rumor has it she likes me. Besides Mark will probably look here anyway .....Christ that means we have to hide all the beer........ thanks a lot Justin."
I frowned again.
"Well, don't just stand there with your thumb up your ass. Come on. You may as well enjoy what you can while your still breathing." He said and walked ahead of me. I followed silently.
When we got to where Jeff's car was parked - next to the rest of their friends (four car loads) - I noticed that everyone was kind of standing there looking sort of funny, especially when they saw me. I mean did they all know what I did that fast. "God, Chris must have ran back blabbing his mouth like a mad man for them to know that quick." I thought.
Then everyone kind of stepped aside and there was Mark. Standing there with his hands on his hips, starring at me with fire in his eyes - looking madder than I could remember seeing him in a long time.
I took a step back and gave him a startled look. "Mark." I said.
"Having a good time little brother?" He asked in an angry voice.
"I was just--" I started, but apparently he was way beyond listening to anything I had to say.
He just started for me and I - not being able to think - just stood there.
"Mark, calm down." Steve said. "He only wanted to --"
Mark's feet came to a skidding halt and he snapped his head around and gave him a look that could have melted steel. Steve stepped back before he could help himself.
"What was that? What did you just say?" Mark asked, his light eyes blazing with fire.
"Uhm....Nothing." Steve said and gave a little grin and a wave.
Mark stood there starring at him for a second longer, then he walked up the me and slapped his hand on the back of my neck then yanked me forward, creating a horribly embarrassing scene. I went stumbling.
"Wait...." Steve asked quickly. "What are you going to do to him?"
"KILL HIM!" Mark shouted as he went on pushing me towards the truck.
I was fighting as hard as I could - twisting and squirming. I just about got free too, but he quickly grabbed my upper arm and held firmly.
"Get off of me!" I shouted.
"I am going to beat your ass!" He announced for the world to hear.
"Oh no your not!" I yelled and kicked at him.
He raised his knee and turned his body slightly to protect his groin. (I wasn't aiming there but I guess it was his Instinct to protect himself)
"You kick at me again and I'll yank your pants down right here in front of this whole drive-in and give you a blistering like you never had in your life."
Needless to say I did not attempt to kick him again.
He walked me over to the truck, ripped open the passenger side door, and threw me in like a rag doll. "Get in there." He shouted then slammed the door hard enough to make the windshield rattle.
I was pretty scared at this point. I mean I had never seen him this angry at me before. He looked like he could have spit nails.
"Mark.......Come on he's just a little kid." Steve said as one last effort to save me, but Mark wouldn't hear him. He just pointed his finger at him and began to lay down the law for him too.
"You make sure you're home on time. I'm in no mood for any other foolishness tonight." He said as he walked around to the driver side, where he ripped the door open and was about to get in, but then he stopped and looked back. "Oh and another thing.......You touch one drop of the beer you got hidden in Jeff's trunk and I'll _f_u_c_k_ing kill you."
Steve made a face and jammed his fists down into his pockets.
Marks eyes were burning like fire when he got in the truck and started the engine. He kept looking over at me and then shaking his head. "You little son of a........I can't believe you snuck out of the house. How in the hell did you get here........and if you tell me you hitchhiked I'll........"
"I walked." I said softly as I sat there trying not to cry.
"Oh my God.....you know you're not allowed to walk on the road. What if you were hit by a car..."
"I didn't walk on the road. I walked along the woods, and hopped over the back fe---." I caught myself right there, but it was too late.
"You hopped the fence.......Jesus Christ Justin." He shouted.
"It's not anything big. Steve and his friends do it all the time when they're low on cash." I blabbed.
"Oh they do huh? Well, I'll discuss that with him later .....For now you are my main concern." He said as we pulled out of the drive in.
We didn't live that far away, but it still seemed as if we got there a little quicker than normal. Almost like time was all screwed up and running double or something. I didn't even have time to come up with a good plan on how to get out of the spanking that I knew awaited me.
He pulled into the driveway quickly then jumped out quickly. "God think, Justin." I told myself as I watched him walk in front of the truck and around to my door, which he threw open.
"Get out," He ordered, but I wouldn't move. I just sat there starring at him. "You heard me Justin."
He was right. I heard, but I still didn't want to get out..........So he reached in.
"I SAID GET OUT!!" He shouted.
I jumped across the seat and grabbed onto the steering wheel, holding it for dear life as he grabbed my ankles and started pulling. "Let go of it." He shouted.
"NO!"
Bad choice. He reached in further and - I could see him out of the corner of my eye - raised his hand above my now upturned backside. I threw my hand back and covered myself, which was just what he had intended. Next I knew I was sliding across the seat and pulled right out of the truck.
"Let me go...please. I'm sorry." I shouted as he carried me into the house kicking and screaming
"Yeah, you will be." He said.
He took me straight to my room where I noticed my door was sitting kind of off it's hinges, and there were a few splinters of wood laying on my carpet.
"I stood out here and talked through your door for a half hour before I just busted it in, and what did I find? A God _d_a_m_n_ empty room." He said.
"I'm sorry." I said. "Please I didn't mean to do it."
"Don't give me that crap. You did mean to do it." He said as he sat down on my bed and pulled me in front of him.
I was so scared that I started to cry right then. I mean I was twelve, and for a twelve year old a spanking was like the end of the world. All I could do was beg. "Please don't hit me...please."
He paid no attention to my pleas. It was like he was deaf to it or something. He just undid my fly and yanked me right over his knee.
"NOOOO....please....don't Mark...Please." I cried as I kicked and fought and screamed.
"You have been begging me to give you a good ass beating for months, so now you'll get it." He said and he pulled my underwear down.
I went even more crazy. "NOOOO........Don't...Not bare.... NOT BARE!!"
He wrapped his arm around my middle and adjusted his knee so my backside was higher than the rest of me, then he went to work.
SLAP, SLAP, SLAP, SLAP, SLAP.......The slaps were quick and hard.....CRACK, CRACK, CRACK, CRACK CRACK.......... Falling down one right after another, his hand burning my skin like fire.
I was bawling like crazy.
"You will not sneak out of this house ever again, do you hear me?" SLAP, SLAP, SLAP, SLAP.
"I'm sorry......I'M SORRY......Ahhhhaaa....owl........ Please."
"I make the rules around here and you will abide by them or I will spank your ass every day for the rest of you life." SLAP, SLAP, SLAP, SLAP, SLAP, SLAP, SLAP, SLAP.
"Please....Ahhhhaaaa..........OHHHHH........MARRRRRRRRRRK!!" The burning got so intense that it felt like he was using a red hot iron on me. God, I didn't know how much I could take. I mean he was skinning me alive, on and on and on till finally I thought I would just burst into flames, or flat out die, but it didn't get that far. The last slap came crashing down, then he stood up - lifting me right along with him- ripped the covers back and tossed me in bed. I was crying hysterically and rubbing my butt for all I was worth.
"You EVER do this again and I'll give you a tanning that will make the one you just got seem like a vacation!" He shouted, then he stormed out.
Oh my God. What a nightmare. I think I laid there crying for a half hour before my butt finally stopped burning and throbbing enough to where I could pull my underwear back up. And my jeans, forget about those. I just kicked them off completely.
Steve came home around twelve thirty and decided to check on me. I was still laying on my stomach, when I heard him come in.
"Hey......Justin......You awake?"
"Uh huh." I said softly.
"Hey bud.......You OK?" He asked.
"No. My butt still hurts.......he took my pants down." I told him and my eyes began to fill up again.
He made a face, then sat down on the edge of my bed. "Really."
"I hate him." I said sniffing.
He rubbed my back. "AHHHHH, you don't either. You just think you do because you're still hurting." He said
"No, I hate him."
"Well all right, just don't hate him too long. He only did it because he loves you." He said.
"He doesn't love me. If he did he wouldn't have hit me."
"If he didn't love you he wouldn't care where you went or what you did."
I looked at him like he was crazy, then just turned my head towards the wall. He left me alone to.
To be continued...........