"She takes your clothes off of you?" Steve asks. David sniffs and nods his head before burying it in Steve's shoulder and sobbing again. Steve sits silently with this young boy crying like a baby in his lap. He pats his head and rubs his back. "David sit up and dry your face." Steve says handing the child a handkerchief. David mops the tears from his wet face and blows his nose. He hands the handkerchief back to Steve who lays it on the bed.
"David I'm going to have to photograph your bottom and I am going to have to report this to protective services. Everything will be fine. I will keep you here with me until all this stuff goes through court and there is a good chance I can adopt you as my son. You have to be a big boy for me though. Can you do that?" Steve asks. "Yes Dad." David referred to Steve in that way sometimes. Steve really was more of a father figure than anybody else in his life.
David got up off Steve's lap. "Lie down on the bed David. I'll be right back." Steve exited to go get his polaroid camera. He knew that thing would really come in handy some day. As he went through the kitchen to get the camera he found Josh and Shawn sitting on the couch watching cartoons. The kitchen did not look much better than it had before. "I thought I told you two boys to CLEAN this up COMPLETELY!" Steve hollered. "We did Steve." Josh said.
"You call this clean?" Steve asked. "Yes Steve it is cleaner than it was." Shawn piped in. "I agree Shawn. I really do. However, you will recall I said the kitchen was to be immaculate before I finished with David. So cleaner than it was doesn't quite cut it. You guys are very lucky that I haven't quite finished with David. I'd say you have about another ten minutes. So get cleaning. I may spare your naughty little bottoms. Then again I might not. It's up to you."
With that Steve returned to the bedroom where David was laying on his back on the bed. "Ok buddy turn over." David turned over and Steve cringed again. He had actually been able to tune out his mind what David's bottom looked like.
Steve walked up to the laying boy and repositioned him so he could take in the boys' full bottom in the photo. He snapped one picture and then another more close up. "Ok David you can get up and get dressed now. David hopped off the bed and slipped his underwear on and then his pants. Before long David was once again fully dressed.
"So what is going to happen to me Dad." David asked. "Well David like I said I will keep you here for the weekend and I will call your mom Sunday night and tell her I will take you to school on Monday. That will allow me to keep you here Sunday night without setting off alarms. Then Monday morning I will take you to school. When I get back to my office I will call protective services. I have dealt with them before so I know what to say to make them act on this on an emergency basis. I will try and get a message to you at school as to what is happening sometime on Monday. After school do NOT go home with your mom if she comes to pick you up. She may try that. Also do not get on the bus. Stay inside the building. I will come and get you myself after I know it will be safe. We'll take it a day at a time ok." Steve said.
David nodded. "Ok come on out here. I have a feeling you are about to see two boys get spanked." Steve said smiling.
David opened the door and Steve wheeled through. David followed him out. Steve surveyed Josh and Shawn feverishly trying to clean up the kitchen the rest of the way. Josh looked up and Steve could tell he knew he was defeated in his efforts. Shawn was facing the other way.
"Well well boys if only you had been working this hard the entire time you would be done. Why don't you guys come in to the living room. We need to have a chat." Steve summoned them with a finger and then pointed to the couch.
"Have a seat David." Steve said. David took a seat on the couch. Josh came in and sat down next to him. Shawn brought his chair up next to them. "Guys we have a situation coming to a head. A few years ago I removed David from his home due to severe abuse and neglect. The court terminated his parents rights and I attempted to adopt him but on appeal the ruling was reversed and I only got a temporary guardianship of David while his parents sought some counseling. They did complete a few months of counseling so I started sending David on weekend visits. They seemed to go well and I talked to David about ending the guardianship and giving them a second chance. He was agreeable but hesitant, understandably so. Anyway, I have not had much contact with David in two years. I am sorry for that now because if I had I could have saved him a little quicker. I am now convinced that David's parents are not able to deal with their issues between each other and are not going to terminate their marriage so I once again am going to get their rights terminated. David will be coming to live with him. I will have the same expectations of him in the area of conduct as I have of you guys. He will also be punished in the same fashion for misbehavior as you guys are. You will all be on an equal plane which means I can leave David in charge of you guys if I so choose. That will include discipline." Steve paused for a reaction from his boys.
Josh and Shawn sat stoic. They knew that Steve's mind had been made up on this matter and any rebellion from them would only assure them of severe punishment. They still had not dodged the kitchen mess completely so no more punishment was wanted.
Steve was disappointed that they didn't react. "Well boys I expect this whole process to take a little time. The court does not terminate rights unilaterally. It could be stressful at times." Steve said.
"Now boys we have one more issue to deal with. You know I don't mind if you cook or use the kitchen especially under circumstances like today. I had to go get David. However, you also know the house rule is make a mess, clean it up. That means completely. Now I gave you a second and even a third chance to do it. You should have done it as soon as you finished eating. That was your first chance. When I came home I could have spanked you right away. I didn't. I went to talk with David. That was your second chance. Now I also could have spanked you when I came out to get the camera. I didn't, I gave you a verbal warning that it wasn't good enough. That was your THIRD chance. You have failed to obey the house rule. Do you want an evidentiary hearing to that effect?" Steve asked. He would explain the house court process to David later.
"Josh do you want an evidentiary hearing or do you want to plead now?" Steve asked. "I'll plead now." Josh said. "OK Josh how do you plead to the charge of failure to obey a house rule?" Steve asked. "Guilty." Josh said.
"Ok then this house court finds you guilty. I will pass sentence on you after I deal with Shawn." That being said he turned to Shawn. "Shawn do you want an evidentiary hearing as to your part in this matter?" Steve asked. "No I'll plead now." Shawn said. "Good, how do you plead to the charge of failure to obey a house rule?" Steve asked Shawn. "Guilty." Shawn responded.
"This house court finds you guilty on the charge of failure to obey a house rule. Now, as to your second charge. Shawn, how do you plead on the charge of failure to remind another of a house rule?" Steve asked. "Guilty." Shawn responded.
"I find you guilty of the charge of failure to remind another of a house rule." Steve said. "Now it is time to pass sentence."
"Josh please rise." Steve said. Josh picked up his crutches and stood. "Josh, are you ready to hear the sentence to be imposed upon you for the charges?" Steve asked. Josh simply nodded his head. "This court having found you guilty of all charges against you now imposes sentence in the following way. Joshua Pelton, you will be grounded for a period not less than one month but not to exceed three months. The terms of your grounding will be discussed with you privately following the conclusion of this hearing. Your current clothes restriction will be extended for a period of six months." Steve paused.
"Furthermore, I impose the following physical punishments. You will be spanked on your bare buttocks fifty times with my hand, you will be paddled on your bare buttocks fifty times with a medium paddle. You will receive fifty lashes with the belt across your bare buttocks. You will receive six cuts with the senior cane across your bare buttocks. These punishments will be imposed after I meet with each of you privately. You may be seated." Steve was harsh with Josh's punishment.
"Shawn, are you ready to receive your sentence?" Steve asked. Shawn nodded. "Please come forward." Steve requested. Shawn wheeled his chair up closer to Steve.
"This court having found you guilty for the cumulative charges against you I will impose the following punishments. Shawn David Parker, you will be grounded for a period not less than two months but not to exceed four months. Terms of your grounding will be discussed privately after the conclusion of this hearing and I will meet with Josh first. Your current clothes restriction will be extended for an additional year." Steve paused to allow that to sink in.
"Furthermore, I impose the following physical punishments. You will be spanked one hundred times on your bare buttocks with my hand, you will be paddled one hundred times on your bare buttocks with the small paddle." The small paddle would be adequate and more painful to Shawn because his bottom was quite small. "You will receive one hundred lashes with the belt across your bare buttocks. You will receive twelve cuts of the senior cane across your bare buttocks. These punishments will be imposed after I meet with each of you privately. You may withdraw." Steve stopped talking.
"Josh it is time for us to meet privately. I declare this hearing adjourned to reconvene at a time later today after my private meetings. At that time all physical punishments that have been handed down will be administered." Steve said. With that he motioned for Josh to rise and follow him. Josh did so and they entered the bedroom where Steve had spoken with David.
"Have a seat Josh. It probably will be the last time you do that comfortable for a good long time. The purpose of this meeting is for me to tell you what the terms of your grounding period will be. It is also an opportunity for you to ask for an appeal of your trial, adjudication and sentence. Just becuase you plead guilty doesn't mean you lose that right. Before we go over your terms of grounding do you want to ask for an appeal?" Steve asked.
"Yes Steve I would like an appeal." Josh said respectfully. "On what grounds?" Steve asked. "Well Steve I really feel we were making a valiant effort to get it cleaned up." Josh said. "Josh that evidence was presented previously and is not a new issue. I agreed that you were making an effort however, I had to weigh that against the fact you knew about the rule and had been given three separate chances. At any one of those points I could have spanked you or placed you on trial at that point. I didn't do that. I felt that had the greater weight between the two. Subsequently your appeal is denied. Now shall we discuss your grounding?" Steve asked. Josh nodded. Looking defeated.
"Good now like I said you will be grounded for at least one month and not more than three. Here are the terms of the grounding. You will receive a nightly spanking. There will be a set number of spanks administered and I have decided that these nightly sessions can be in private. The spanks will be administered to your bare bottom by my hand only. The number of spanks will be ten percent of the total number of spanks you receive at today's discipline session." Steve paused to allow that to sink in.
"While grounded you will not be allowed to watch TV, listen to the radio, use the computer, or talk on the phone unless it is purely a business call. You will be allowed to be out of your room at any time you want to but if I am watching TV you are not allowed to watch. You can sit in the same room and read a book or play a game, however if I notice you watching there will be a severe correction administered immediately." Steve paused again. "Is this clear?" Steve asked. "Yes Steve." Josh answered.
"You are dismissed. Send Shawn in." Steve ordered. Josh got up and exited the room. Shutting the door behind him. Soon Steve heard the sound of Shawn's chair coming to the door so he opened it and ushered him into the room.
"Well Shawn we are here to discuss your grounding terms. But first I need to dispense with something. Do you wish to appeal your trial, adjudication, or sentence?" Steve asked. Shawn thought for a second and then said, "no." Steve assumed that he had spoken to Josh and found out that his appeal was denied.
"Good. Now let's talk about your grounding." Steve said.
"Good now like I said you will be grounded for at least two months and not more than four. Here are the terms of the grounding. You will receive a nightly spanking. There will be a set number of spanks administered and I have decided that these nightly sessions can be in private. The spanks will be administered to your bare bottom by my hand only. The number of spanks will be ten percent of the total number of spanks you receive at today's discipline session." Steve paused to allow that to sink in.
"While grounded you will not be allowed to watch TV, listen to the radio, use the computer, or talk on the phone unless it is purely a business call. You will be allowed to be out of your room at any time you want to but if I am watching TV you are not allowed to watch. You can sit in the same room and read a book or play a game, however if I notice you watching there will be a severe correction administered immediately." Steve paused again. "Is this clear?" Steve asked. "Yes Steve." Shawn answered.
"I'm glad we are clear on this. We will now go and deal with the physical portion of both you and Josh's punishments. Josh will go first of course." Steve said. That being said he opened the door and escorted Shawn out of the room and back to the living room. Josh was seated on the couch. David was not in the room. "Where's David?" Steve asked Shawn.
"In the bathroom." Josh responded. "David come on out here. We're about to start the punishments." Steve hollered. "When David gets here we will reconvene and begin this session." Steve ordered.
TO BE CONTINUED....