The phone rang just as the Wells family was fiinishing their Sunday lunch. Mr Wells went into the hall to answer it, then returned to the kitchen as few minutes later.
"That was Mitch Hart," he explained, speaking to his wife but obviously wanting his son and daughter to hear as well. "He's bringing Jesse over in a little while to apologize to Mikey."
The twelve-year-old's face beamed with pleasure. "Did Mr Hart give Jesse a good whipping?"
"That's enough, Mikey," his father cautioned. "I want you to take this calmly, like a little gentleman."
"But Mr Hart promised Jesse last night that when they got home he was gonna blister Jesse's little..."
"I know, son, and if you'll let me finish ..." He turned again to his wife. "Evidently Mitch did give Jesse quite a spanking last night."
"Just a spanking, Dad? He deserved more than that."
"Quiet, Mikey. As part of Jesse's punishment, Mitch is going to have him apologize directly to you, and me, for his behavior. Then he's going to telll us all about his whipping. In detail, Mitch said. So how does that sound, son?"
"Great, Dad, just great!"
"I thought you'd like that part. Anyway, Helen, I think we'll go into my den for this. Just us guys. Judging from what Mitch said, I gather that some of these details may be inappropriate for mixed company."
"Yeah, I heard Jesse's dad uses a belt on him and makes him pull his pants down!"
"Mikey..."
"Is that what happened last night, Dad?"
"Something like that. But you'll find out soon enough."
Mrs Wells told her husband, "Linda and I will do some work in the garden while the Harts are here, okay?"
"Fine. I'm sure at least Jesse will appreciate that."
"Let's go wait for them, Dad. They ought to be here any minute."
"Settle down, son. Mitch said in a little while."
And in a few minutes, but not few enough for Mikey, the doorbell rang. Mikey wanted to run answer it, but his dad told him to wait on the couch and went to the door himself. Mrs Wells and Linda were already outside.
Larry Wells greeted his guests. "Hi, Mitch. Hi, Jesse. Come in." He shook both their hands. Jesse was obviously present only at the insistence of his father. Mr Hart practically had to push him into the house. The brawny fifteen-year-old took a few steps, spotted Mikey sitting on the couch with a broad grin on his face, and froze in his tracks.
"Hi, Mr Hart. Hi, Jesse!" Mikey chanted out, a taunting tone in his voice.
"Hello, Mikey!" Mr Hart heartily replied. He gave Jesse a sharp nudge. "Say hello to Mikey, son."
Jesse only mumbled something.
"Hey! Is that any way to talk to Mikey? After he's graciously consented to help me teach you a lesson?"
Jesse managed a few words that resembled a greeting.
Mr Wells said, "Let's all go into the den. Helen and Linda are outside, but we'll still have a little more privacy in there."
"Okay, Larry. But I think they might enjoy hearing Jesse's little recital, too. How about it, son?"
Jesse moved hurriedly to Mr Wells' den.
Once all four were inside, Mr Wells thoughtfully closed the door. Mr Hart guided Jesse to the center of the room. "Now you just stand right there, son. You can't sit down anyway, can you?" He laughed at his little joke, and Mr Wells and Mikey joined in.
"Oh, have a seat, guys," Mr Hart said. "Get comfortable. Jesse has quite a bit to tell you." Mr Wells and his son sat on a small sofa. Mitch Hart pulled up an armchair, to the side and slightly ahead of the Wells men.
Jesse stood sullenly before all three, the center of attention.
"First things first," Mr Hart explained. "Jesse is going to apologize to Mikey for his bullying behavior. I worked on this speech with him so I promise you'll find it satisfactory. Go ahead, son."
Squirming uncomfortably and looking down at the floor, Jesse started speaking in an inaudible voice.
"Louder, son. And face Mikey," Mr Hart directed.
His face burning with resentment, Jesse began again, delivering the humbling and lengthy apology his father had written for him. Finished, he relaxed, knowing that the first part of his ordeal was over, but also that the worst was yet to come.
Mr Hart turned to Mikey and Mr Wells. "Satisfied, guys? You don't have to forgive Jesse yet. Wait 'til he's told you about the whipping he got. Then you can let me know if you think he's been punished enough."
"Okay, I'd say that apology was acceptable, wouldn't you, Mikey?" Mr Wells asked.
"Yeah, yeah," his son answered, impatient to get to the good stuff.
"Good. Now, I'm sure you saw how furious I was last night. I knew that Jesse's conduct called for something severe. But let my misbehaving son tell you."
He turned to Jesse, who, after a short hesitation, began, "When Dad and I got home last night..."
"Wait, son, why don't you start with the warning I gave you about two weeks ago? When that smart mouth of yours got you in trouble again. I know you remember."
Jesse cleared his throat. "Dad told me that the next time he caught me picking on anybody, he was going to go buy the biggest belt he could find and ... " Jesse looked imploringly at his father.
"Tell 'em my exact words, son."
Jesse paused; then "...and whip my little butt good with it!"
Mikey tried in vain to hold back a laugh. Mr Wells smiled. Mitch Hart looked quite pleased with himself.
"Yep, that's what I told him. And then some. Go on, son."
"Dad told me that instead of making me pull down my pants and underpants like he always does ..." His audience awaited eagerly. "...he would make me take all my clothes off!"
Mikey laughed aloud.
"And what else, son?"
"That I would be a lot more embarrassed that way."
"Right."
"Having to be completely naked for my whipping."
"And you were embarrassed weren't you, Jesse? But I'm getting ahead of the story. Now tell Mikey and Mr Wells about last night. And don't leave anything out."
"Well, when we got home, Dad told me to go to my room and take off everything except my underpants. And he said, "Don't think those aren't coming off, too!'"
"Everybody in the house must have heard me yelling, and known exactly what was happening. That couldn't have felt too good, did it, son?"
Jesse's face, which had been turning pink with embarrassment, got even redder. "No, sir."
"Yeah, Jesse always gets in with his pants down, so I thought that making him be naked as a jaybird would add a lot more to the humiliation. Go on, son."
"I did what he told me and sat down on the bed and waited."
"In just your underpants," Mikey teased.
Jesse was about to respond angrily, but his dad said sharply, "That's right, isn't it, Jesse?"
"Yes, sir. In just my underpants. In a few minutes, Dad came back into my bedroom, and he was holding a new belt he said he'd bought just that afternoon."
"Yeah, I knew I might need it anyday. You should see it, guys. I wanted something that would pack a wallop and I got it! Beautiful black leather. Not too wide, so I can swing it easily, and thick enough to cause a really good sting. But I'm telling you how it looks. Jesse's gonna tell you how it feels, aren't you, son?"
"Yes, sir." Jesse grew more hesitant as he proceeded. "Well, Dad told me to get up, so I stood there while he gave me a lecture. He had folded the belt and kept smacking it against the palm of his hand. Then he told me to move the pillows to the center of the bed, one on top of the other. Then Dad said...he said..."
"C'mon, son."
"He told me to take off my underwear. So I pulled them down and stepped out of them. Then I stood there and waited."
"Naked as a jaybird," Mikey taunted.
"Now, Mikey," Mr Wells warned.
"But that's what Jesse's dad said, isn't it, Mr Hart?"
"Sure is, Mikey. And I don't think my big teenager felt like much of a bully standing there without his clothes on, did you, son?"
Jesse whimpered, "No, sir."
Mikey sighed, "Gee, I wish I could have been there."
"I'm sure you would have enjoyed it, Mikey. And that would really have embarrassed Jesse, don't you think? Even more than now?"
All three spectators seemed to find this amusing. Jesse blushed bright red. He knew the others were imagining seeing him with no clothes on.
Mikey, encouraged by Mr Hart's obvious pleasure in his son's discomfort, said, grinning maliciously, "I'll bet Jesse doesn't have a very big willy, does he, Mr Hart?"
Mr Wells reprimanded his son, and Jesse looked as if he could strangle the kid. But Mr Hart only chuckled. "Jesse seems awfully proud of it, judging by all the bragging he does." He bent down to Mikey's ear, and said loud enough for everybody to hear him, "But just between you and me, Mikey, I'll bet you would have laughed if you had been there. I know I almost did!"
After this humiliating break, Jesse was ordered to continue.
"Dad told me to lie face down on the bed. The pillows were right under my..."
"Willy!" Mikey supplied.
"Dad said, 'Good! I want that butt in the air! Now move your hands above your head and keep 'em there!'"
"Now I want you guys to imagine Jesse, lying there with his bare butt stuck up for all to see. I moved to the side of the bed - but this is Jesse's story. Tell 'em, son."
"Then -then I heard something whoosh through the air, and a loud crack, and the right side of my butt was on fire. I yelled because it hurt so bad. I started to reach back and rub where the belt had hit, but Dad yelled, 'Move those hands or you'll get more licks!'"
"And what Jesse didn't see was the bright red stripe I had left on his snow-white little butt. But he felt it, all right, didn't you, son?"
"Yes, sir."
"Tell Mikey what it felt like, since he wasn't there to see."
"It felt like a whole line of wasp-stings. And all of a sudden I felt Dad's belt hit my left cheek, and set it to burning."
Mr Hart explained, "I was standing on the right of the bed, and I had to really lean over to get to that left cheek. But I think I made it hurt enough, didn't I, Jesse?"
Jesse was almost crying at the recollection of that painful event.
Mikey chimed in, "And Jesse's butt had two red stripes across it now, didn't it, Mr Hart?"
"It sure did, Mikey. Then another and another and another! Jesse was thrashing from side to side and crying like a baby, begging me to stop, weren't you, son?"
Sob! "Yes, sir!"
"I gave him twenty good licks, just that hard. Now, I don't want to brag, but let me tell you, Mikey - Jesse's butt was red!"
"I can see it now!" Mikey sighed with pleasure.
"And that's not all. Go on, son."
"I wanted to move, but Dad said, 'Don't you dare get up! We're not even half finished!'"
"Ha ha!" Mickey laughed.
"That must have been quite a whipping, Mitch."
"Believe me, it was. I had to stop a minute to give my arm a rest. Then I moved to the other side of the bed to make sure that both Jesse's cheeks got equal treatment. He was already kicking his legs, and squalling like mad. And you should have heard him when I started whipping his butt again."
"I'm surprised you didn't wear that belt out, Mitch."
Mr Hart laughed. "I got quite fond of that piece of leather last night. I plan to keep it a long time!"
Jesse was the only one who didn't find this funny.
"Now where were we? Oh, yeah. I gave Jesse ten more good licks. Then for a little variety, I laid a couple across the backs of his thighs. You remember that, don't you, son?"
Jesse only nodded his head and sobbed.
"He cried so pathetically and begged me so hard not to do that anymore that I gave him a break."
Mikey snickered at the thought of the neighborhood bully begging for mercy.
"What happened then, son?"
"Dad made me count out the last ten licks."
"Right. And I took my time giving them, too. Nice and slowly, to drive the lesson in. He cried so much at number six he lost count and we had to do that one over. But we finally got through. You won't forget last night anytime soon, will you, Jesse?"
"No, sir."
"I let him lie on the bed for a moment or two. Crying his eyes out. Pounding his fists on the bed. Then I told him he could get up. You know what happened then, I'm sure."
"I can guess," Mr Wells smiled.
"Yep, the famous butt-rubbing dance! Jesse was hopping around, grabbing his rear end! Now that's something you really would have enjoyed, Mikey!"
"You bet, Mr Hart!"
"Those little balls of his were bouncing like crazy! Not to mention his..."
"His willy! Right, Mr Hart?"
"Right, Mikey! Oh, it was a comical sight all right."
Mikey couldn't wait to spread the story at school.
"Now, Mikey, are you and your dad satisfied that Jesse's been adequately punished? Because if you aren't, I'll be happy to remedy that situation for you."
Mikey was about to suggest another whipping, just to make sure, but Mr Wells said, "It sounds to me that you've been properly punished, Jesse." Mikey reluctantly kept quiet.
"He won't be bothering Mikey anymore, I promise. Will you, Jesse?"
"No, sir."
"Because if you pull anything like this again..."
"I won't, Dad, I won't!"
"...Not only will I let you have the belt twice as bad, not only will I make you take off all your clothes again, but I'll let Mikey watch the whole thing!"
"No, Dad, please!"
"Oh, yes, Jesse. And if think you've been embarrassed today, just think how you'll feel when Mikey's seeing you get your butt blistered - naked! He'll probably be laughing, too. And I'll let him!" Jesse was horrified at the prospect; Mikey was thrilled.
"Well," said Mr Wells, rising from the sofa, "Why don't we all have something to drink." He and Mr Hart started for the door. Jesse, utterly crushed, came next, with a smiling Mikey close behind. The seat of Jesse's jeans proved irresistible.
"Is your little butt still red, Jesse?" Mikey teased and playfully swatted the tempting target.
Jesse whirled. "That hurt, you little creep!" he yelled and was on the verge of punching Mikey. Mitch Hart took hold of his son, spun him around, and grabbed him by the shirt collar.
"Jesse! What did I just tell you?"
Jesse wailed. "I'm sorry, Dad! But he was making fun of me! Please don't give me another whipping!"
Mr Hart considered. "All right. But I am going to teach you a lesson!" He dragged Jesse to the armchair, sat down, and hauled his son across his lap. "Is Jesse's butt still red? Let's find out!" Swiftly and surely he began unbuckling Jesse's belt.
"No, Dad, no!"
Mr Hart spun Jesse face down and pulled his jeans halfway down his thighs. Mikey stood directly by, open-mouthed with delight. Mr Wells looked on with amusement.
Then Mr Hart yanked his son's underpants down to join his jeans. "Take a good look, Mikey!" He held tightly to the struggling Jesse and displayed his blazing red bottom to Mikey and Mr Wells. Jesse's writhing made his butt bounce up and down, increasing the humor of the spectacle.
"Ooo -eee, is it red!" Mikey exclaimed with awe.
"Thank you, Mikey." Mr Hart slapped the bobbing botttom. "Hold still, Jesse! I want Mikey to have a nice long look at your naked butt! You too, Larry!"
While Mr Wells walked around to examine Mitch Hart's handiwork, Mikey moved so he could gloat right in Jesse's face. "I got to see your bare butt!" he sang. "Ha ha!"
"You little bastard!" Jesse screamed.
"Jesse!" his father yelled. "Just for that, Mikey gets to see your bare everything!" He turned Jesse face upwards, pulled up his shirt, and tugged his jeans and underwear all the way down to his ankles, completely exposing his son!
Jesse cried, "No!" his face burning with shame. He tried to cover himself, but Mr Hart grabbed his arms tightly. His struggles set his private parts to dancing.
Mikey laughed and pointed. "That is a little willy! It's not big at all, is it, Mr Hart?"
"No, it's not, Mikey. Why don't we find out just how little it is. Go get a ruler!"
Jesse squirmed and protested as Mikey ran off. "Stop wriggling, son. I want you to be as embarrassed as possible! So hold still, or I'll use that ruler on your butt! I bet Mikey would really like to see that!"
That threat kept Jesse quiet while Mikey returned and proceeded to measure his "dickie".
"It's only four inches long, Mr Hart!"
Mr Wells said, "Aren't you exaggerating, son?"
"Well, maybe four and a half."
"That's nothing to be proud of, is it, Mikey?"
"Ha ha! It sure isn't, Mr Hart."
"In fact, this naughty son of mine doesn't have much to be proud of at all. A red butt and four inches!" He stood up, hauling Jesse with him. "You've got some corner time coming, mister." He started to drag Jesse away, but paused. "I've got a better idea!" Mr Hart picked his son up and stood him on a nearby coffee tablle. "And you keep that shirt up and those pants down and stand right there, Jesse. I'm going to let Mikey look at you just as much as he wants."
"But Dad!"
"And if I feel like it I'll invite Mrs Wells and Linda to come see you, too!"
He and Mikey's father headed for the kitchen. Mr Wells turned and said, "Don't you want something to drink, son?"
"Later, Dad," Mikey answered, looking fiendishly at Jesse. He had no intention of leaving his victim.
Mr Hart called, "Mikey, Jesse will be happy to show you anything you want to see. And tease him all you like. You have my full permission to laugh!"
Mike sat leisurely on the sofa, hands behind his head, smirking. He had a perfect view of Jesse's bright red butt. "Bend over and wiggle it, Jesse! That's right. Now turn around. I want to see your willy again. I can't believe how little it is! Now make it bounce again!"
When the two men returned thirty minutes later, Mikey was still putting Jesse through his paces. They enjoyed the show a little while, then Mr Hart finally let Jesse pull up his pants. He took his thoroughly humiliated son home, leaving Mikey and Mr Wells to sit back and have a good laugh at Jesse's expense.