"But, Nelson!" Zach whined from the kitchen table, breakfast untouched, "I don't want to stay here all day doing stupid homework."
"You should have thought of that when you put this off until the last minute," Nelson said calmly. He was busy putting his dishes in the sink, rinsing any remaining food from them.
Zach wanted desperately to do ANYTHING else other than hang around the house all day. He had already been dragged unwillingly from the bed at a most ungodly hour on a Saturday and he was in no mood to face the books for a solid day, possibly the whole weekend, if he dragged his feet.
Nelson had insisted that Zach spend his Saturday that way when he learned about the paper due on Monday, which Zach had barely started. Nelson also had insisted on spanking Zach's bottom for hiding the issue from him. They had a standing rule that homework came first and was not to be put off. Zach squirmed in his chair, his rear still tender from the previous night.
"But, it's so boring! I can throw the paper together tomorrow, Nelson, please? It doesn't count much toward my grade."
"Quit arguing with me, young man. One more word and I'll relight the fire I started last night. Got it?"
"Yes, sir," Zach said, not too kindly.
Nelson walked over to where Zach sat and lifted his chin up to him, forcing eye contact.
"This is not my fault, Zachary. Do not take it out on me. If you had told me about this paper when you should have, it would be done and you'd have the day to yourself."
"I know," Zach said, tearing his eyes away from Nelson.
"Get busy. I'd better find a good start on it by the time I get home. In fact, if you can 'throw it together tomorrow' I should find it finished today."
Zach scowled at Nelson's words. "I might have to go the library. Can I at least do that?"
"If you find you need the library, call me before lunch and I'll take you to get what you need."
_d_a_m_n_ it! He couldn't even go to the library! His lip poked out in a defiant pout, not at all happy at how this day was starting. Nelson bent down and kissed the pouting lips, then he nibbled at the protruding lower lip playfully.
"I have to go to work. Do a good job," Nelson said, heading out of the kitchen. "I'll be checking your work."
Of course he would. Nelson went to work since it was his Saturday to cover at the clinic. He and the other doctor in the practice rotated weekends along with a couple of nurse practitioners in the office. It meant losing one Saturday a month and this happened to be the one.
Zach angrily slapped the table with his hand when he heard Nelson leave since the coast was clear. He was still in his pajamas and decided to get a shower and dress before starting his homework.
Emerging clean and refreshed, he pulled out the dreaded books onto the kitchen table where he could spread out. He needed to get his notes finished before he seated himself at the computer to type everything up. He absolutely HATED writing assignments, which was the very reason he put it off until the last minute.
He pressed on diligently for a couple of hours then stopped to answer the phone, a wonderful respite. He didn't even care if it was a telemarketer.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Zach. What are you doing?" Benji asked.
"NOTHING! I'm stuck here doing _f_u_c_k_ing homework because I didn't start it early enough."
"Nelson let you wait until the last minute?"
"Nelson didn't know until last night," Zach said, as he scribbled absently on the message pad beside the phone.
"Uh, oh."
"Exactly."
"Well, I'm not doing homework but I am _d_a_m_n_ bored. Vic had to go to work today and left me a list of chores to do."
"Have you done them yet?"
"No, I don't feel like it. Besides, I have time."
"What time will he be home?" Zach asked recognizing in his fellow brat the need to procrastinate. That's how he got in his own recent trouble. Zach always thought he had PLENTY of time, not typically feeling the urgency to do anything until it was absolutely necessary.
"He won't get home until around 4:00. He doesn't have to work all day, but thought it would take that long to get his stuff done."
Zach knew Nelson would be gone most of the day as well. With him and his friend having a lot of time on their hands, Zach made an unwise suggestion.
"Hey, you wanna go to the mall? We could go to the music store."
"I can't, I've got to get this housework done. Vic's mother is coming by this evening for dinner and he wants the house spotless."
"Come on, ya big baby. We won't be gone long."
"Aren't you afraid Nelson will find out? I'm guessing your rear's feeling it from last night."
Ignoring the reference to his painful rear end, Zach said, "We won't stay long. Come on, Ben."
"No. He said to get the house cleaned before I do anything else. I don't want to end up over Vic's knees today, thanks very much."
"Why would he spank you if you get your chores done? We'll be back in plenty of time."
"I haven't even started. Sorry, buddy. You'll have to put your ass on the line alone this time," Benji said. He was determined not to get sucked in again by one of Zach's bright ideas.
"Fine, sorry your boyfriend won't LET you go," Zach said, mad that Ben wouldn't change his mind.
Ben chafed at the remark, "Asshole. Yours wont either, in case youve forgotten. I gotta go."
Zach slammed down the phone.
"'You'll have to put your ass on the line alone'," he mimicked to himself, doing a fine imitation of his friend.
Undeterred, he grabbed his keys and headed to the door. He wouldn't be gone long; he just needed a little time, a quick break. He started toward the mall then suddenly decided he would go by Benji's house instead. Maybe he'd have a better chance of convincing him to come along in person.
He knocked on the door then switched to the bell when he heard the vacuum running on the other side. Benji only heard the bell after Zach rang it a couple of times. He switched off the vacuum and ran to the door, peeping out the side window first.
"What the _f_u_c_k_ are you doing here? I told you I wasn't coming with you," Ben said ungraciously as he swung the door open wide.
"What if I help with your work? Then can you go?" Zach asked, stepping inside.
"NO! I said, no, Zach. I don't want to get into any trouble, okay?" Ben pleaded then headed back to the vacuum.
"You weren't told not to leave, were you?"
"I told you he said to get all this stuff done before I do anything else. If I don't get it done and Vic finds out I went to the mall, I'll be in trouble. Please, just go," Benji pleaded. Zach was starting to get on Bens last nerve pushing so hard.
"You're a disgrace to brats everywhere."
"Leave me alone, Zach."
"Come ON, just for an hour? ONE hour."
Ben debated the issue with the vacuum cleaner nozzle still in his hand. He really wanted to go with Zach, but he didn't want to end up in trouble. Knowing Zach, he wouldn't stick to the promised hour and that could definitely be a problem. He couldn't afford to be gone long IF he went.
"It can't be ANY longer than an hour, Zach," Ben warned, relenting.
"It won't, I promise," Zach said, a smile lighting his face. Success!
He and Ben hopped into Zach's car and took off for the mall. He parked in the sea of cars and the two of them headed for the music store. It was the only mall shopping the guys liked to do, besides visiting the mall candy shop.
They scoured the new release section and spent time listening to cuts of new songs.
"I wish Creed would put out something new," Zach complained.
"Me, too. Have you heard Train?"
"No, I don't think so."
"I'll bet you have, you just don't know it," Ben said and handed a CD to Zach.
They spent about a half-hour in the store then Ben urged Zach to take him home, gripping his purchase to him.
Zach guessed he should go home himself, but wanted lunch first. They climbed back in the car and the engine roared to life when Zach turned the key. He maneuvered the vehicle through the mall parking lot and headed out onto the main roadway.
"Let's eat before going home," Zach suggested.
"I don't have TIME!" Ben argued.
"You said you'd stay an hour. We have fifteen minutes left," Zach calmly pointed out, indicating the clock on the dash. "We can go through the drive-through."
Ben shook his head and looked over at his friend. He said, "You're determined for me to get my ass toasted, aren't you?"
Zach just grinned in response and turned toward Taco Bell. He knew Benji liked Taco Bell because it was one of the few fast food restaurants that offered Dr. Pepper. Benji could be quite a picky eater, even about his drinks. He never failed to gripe when he was forced to drink a Coke product.
"What do you want?" Zach asked pulling up to the microphone to order.
Benji leaned up peering through the window and perused the menu board trying to quickly make a decision before the unknown voice asked for his order from the speaker box.
"Number three," Ben said, just as the speaker box came to life and asked if they'd like to try some blah, blah, blah today.
Not able to make out the words coming from the box, Zach just answered, "No, give me a number three with Dr. Pepper and a number four with Pepsi."
"Your total is $8.32, drive through to the second window," the voice from the box instructed through the static.
Ben dug into his pocket and retrieved his share of the cost, handing it over to Zach. Zach steered the car around the corner of the building and was getting the money together when he felt a distinct impact from behind. Both boys pitched forward with the impact, money dropping to the floorboard tinkling as the coins knocked together.
"What the _f_u_c_k_?" Zach said turning back.
"_s_h_i_t_, she hit us!" Ben exclaimed.
They both looked back and saw the driver of the vehicle behind them with her mouth hanging open in surprise. Zach jumped from the driver's side and didn't bother to close it. He rushed back to the rear of his car to inspect the damage. His bumper was pushed in enough to prove there had been an accident, but it wasn't a lot of damage.
"What the hell did you do?" He screeched at the woman behind him.
"I'm so sorry! My foot slipped from the brake and onto the gas. I didn't mean to do it, really," she apologized to the angry face before her. She had slipped from her car and stood nervously in front of Zach.
"You _f_u_c_k_ed up my car. I can't believe it!"
The young woman's face contorted as she lost control in the face of Zach's anger, breaking down in tears. Ben was out of the car by this time and frowned at Zach. He mouthed the words "be nice" to his friend. Zach just scowled back at him. The young woman was alone and Ben tried to comfort her.
"It's okay, I'm sure it was an accident."
Zach's mouth flew open and he cast an angry look at Benji.
"Whose side are you ON? Look at the back of my car!"
"Come on, Zach. Let's just get through the line and move the cars. We can deal with this after we get out of the drive-through."
Turning his angry eyes back to the crying woman, Zach said, "How do I know she won't take off?"
She started crying harder at the harsh words.
"Come on, Zach, don't be an asshole."
A worker emerged from Taco Bell, presumably one of the managers.
"Hi, what's going on?" he asked, concerned that his line was no longer moving.
"That bitch hit my car," Zach said angrily. More tears from the guilty.
The manager asked them to move their cars and advised he would call the police. They went through the line and pulled to the side parking area where Zach again surveyed the damage to his car. The boys picked at their food while they waited for the police to arrive. Zach rolled down the windows and killed the engine then the boys settled back munching absently on numbers three and four. The lady who caused the incident couldn't eat, continuing to cry in her car.
"Why did you have to be so mean about this?" Ben said, glancing over at the bawling woman in the car next to them.
"Easy for you to say. It isn't your car. At least it wasn't MY fault. Nelson won't be mad at..." he stopped talking and snapped his head toward Ben, just realizing the trouble he would be facing.
"Oh, no. Nelson's going to know you've been out," Ben spoke the obvious.
"_s_h_i_t_, _s_h_i_t_! Do you think he'll notice the damage?"
"Its not like you cant see it. He'll know eventually anyway because you'll have to get the car fixed."
"I can't believe it! Where are the cops? We have to get home," Zach griped, suddenly nervous on top of being angry.
"Yeah, but SOMEbody had to push it and get lunch," Ben said, now equally angry that he would be very late getting back. "If I get in trouble because of this..."
"What time is it?" Zach interrupted.
Ben glanced at his watch, "It's almost 1:00."
It had been nearly half an hour since the police were called and they still weren't there. It was a good thing this wasn't an emergency, although it felt like an emergency situation to the boys.
"There is NO way I'll get everything done before Vic comes home," Ben said as worry began to show itself in his voice.
The tacos were sitting heavily in Zach's stomach and he knew that short of a miracle, he would find himself bottom up across Nelson's knees this evening.
"Here he comes," Zach said, looking up and finding the police cruiser headed their way.
With the police officer listening, both drivers had gone through the process and shared their version of events. The policeman nodded his head and listened to the drama, then announced he wouldn't be filing a report.
"You mean we waited all this time and you aren't even going to file a report? She isn't getting a ticket?" Zach complained.
"We don't write up reports for accidents on private property," he explained. He handed them an exchange of information sheet so they could get each other's personal and insurance information.
Zach was fuming. His car was damaged and soon his butt would be as well, and this woman wasn't even going to get a ticket! Great.
"Hurry up, Zach, so we can go, already," Ben pushed.
They exchanged information and the officer bid them farewell. The boys left once again and Zach headed for Ben's house. It was almost 2:00 by this time and Zach had barely put a dent in his paper and Ben's chores had hardly been touched. They rounded the corner toward Ben's house and Ben's stomach twisted when he saw Vic's car in the driveway.
"_s_h_i_t_! He's early. He's going to be so pissed. Thanks a lot for getting me in trouble, asshole," Ben complained, casting a nasty look toward his friend.
"I'm SORRY. I didn't mean for this to happen. It wasn't my fault."
Ben rolled his eyes, "What difference does it make now?"
Ben grabbed his bag bearing the new CD and went inside to face his own music. He slipped quietly in the door and tried to listen for Vic. The vacuum he had left in the living room was missing and he heard the sounds of it upstairs. Rather than going upstairs, he decided to start cleaning downstairs to avoid Vic a little longer.
He heard the vacuum stop running followed by footsteps on the stairs. His stomach tumbled. Vic came around the corner to find Ben diligently polishing the furniture.
"Would you like to tell me where you've been?" Vic asked, leaning casually in the doorway. His face gave him away and Ben could see he wasn't at all happy.
"I went with Zach to the mall."
"Funny, I didn't see that on the note you left."
Crap. He didn't leave a note. Ben looked away from Vic and continued rubbing at the coffee table.
"We weren't going to be gone long. That's why I didn't leave a note," he said as he continued stroking the table.
"Benjamin, stop it and look at me," Vic said. He waited for eye contact before he continued. "Why didn't you take your phone?"
_d_a_m_n_ it! He was going to kill Zach if Nelson didn't do it first.
"Zach came and took me to the mall all of a sudden. It wasn't planned. I guess I just forgot the note and my phone." Ben fidgeted, fingering the dust cloth in his hands nervously.
"I guess you also just forgot that I told you to get the house cleaned before you went out today?" Vic asked.
"I TOLD Zach I couldn't go. He just kept pushing. Then we were in an accident..."
Vic's brow creased with concern at the last statement and he covered the distance between him and Ben, sitting beside him on the sofa. He put his hand to Ben's back.
"Are you all right, Benji? What happened?"
Ben began to feel somewhat relieved at Vic's concern. Maybe he could play up the accident and get out of this mess after all. He planted a perfectly, well-practiced, pitiful expression on his face and turned sad eyes up to Vic.
"It was SO scary. This woman came flying around the drive-through and SLAMMED into the back of us. It threw us forward and we dropped our money and everything," Ben embellished.
"The drive-through?" Vic asked, concern dissipating.
Vic did defense work for insurance companies and knew only too well the difference in a drive-through accident and one on the open highway. There was no such thing as "flying through" a drive-through with the short distances around the buildings.
"Did the police come?" Vic asked.
"Yes, sir."
"Did they write a report?"
"No, sir."
That did it. Vic knew they didn't write a report on private property accidents unless there were significant damages or injuries. He was sure the incident was unsettling, but it shouldn't have been the drama Ben was making it out to be.
"I'm sorry you were in an accident, Benjamin, but if you had done as I asked, you wouldn't have been in one."
Ben's hopes were quickly deflated with that comment.
"Zach wouldn't listen to me, Vic. I tried to get him to bring me home, but he wouldn't! And, I would have had plenty of time to finish the cleaning if the accident hadn't happened."
"You shouldn't have gone in the first place," Vic said with finality. "What part of 'don't go out until the house is cleaned' did you NOT understand?"
"I understood, but Zach didn't," Ben mumbled in reply.
"I am not responsible for Zachary and his actions. Yours, on the other hand, are a different story."
Ben's friendly butterflies were fluttering around in his belly. They never failed to show up when he was faced with a possible spanking. _d_a_m_n_, he wished they would stop.
"You disobeyed me, Benjamin. You know what that means, don't you?"
Ben nodded mutely. Now the sad eyes that turned to Vic were genuinely sad.
Vic reached down and pulled the dust cloth from Ben's hands halting the nervous twirling of it. Ben felt Vic's hand slip into his own and the large fingers wrap around his. Vic pulled him to his feet as they stood together, hands still interlocked. Tears were threatening behind Ben's eyes as he was led over to the dining room table. Vic pulled a chair out and turned it from the table, taking a seat. He pulled Ben to him and Ben felt his fingers at his waist.
"I'm sorry, Vic. I'm sorry. Ill finish all the cleaning I was supposed to do. I just couldn't get rid of Zach. I TOLD him I couldn't go. Please don't," Ben begged.
His pants were lowered anyway as Vic wasn't swayed in the least. His underwear was pushed down and Ben was quickly upended across Vic's lap.
His strong hand began to fall against Ben's bottom and the tears that were threatening earlier were falling in short order. The cracking sounds of the smacks against Ben's bare bottom filled the room, joined by Ben's cries and pleading. Vic was determined to make sure Ben learned to do as he said and not blindly follow his friends. Ben's bottom was warming up nicely and the hotter it got, the madder he got at Zach. This was his ENTIRE fault and he tried to say so around the tears.
Vic heard enough to piece the message together, which was not easy around the sobbing. He stopped spanking long enough to respond and give his stinging hand a break.
He rested it against the hot cheeks across his lap, "Ben, this is about YOUR actions. Zach didn't MAKE you go with him today, did he?"
Ben gulped and his breath hitched as he tried to speak around the tears, "N. n.nooo, sirrr."
"You made a choice to go with Zach. I hope you'll remember this spanking and make a better one should it happen again."
Ben was hoping the spanking was over and this was just an end-of-spanking lecture, "YY..yyess, ssirr."
It wasn't. With the answer he was looking for, Vic started raining down his hand against Ben's bottom again. He stopped after a lifetime and began to rub Ben's back. He gathered Ben to him and pulled him into his lap, comforting him. He hugged Ben tightly, slowing the tears.
Vic spoke softly to a still sniffling Ben, "You have to learn to say 'no' to Zach, Benji. If you had done that, we wouldn't be in this position."
"But I DID tell him 'no'. He just wouldn't give up!" Ben sniffled.
"So, he was more persistent than you were?"
"Yes, sir."
"Was it worth it?"
Ben was vigorously shaking his head, "NO, sir."
"I'm going to have a talk with Nelson about today."
"What are you going to say?" Ben asked nervously, not wanting to get Zach in any more trouble. He pulled back to look at his lover.
"Don't you worry about it. All you need to be concerned with right now is getting done what you should have done earlier."
Vic kissed him before pushing Ben from his lap and helping with his pants.
"Let's get this house cleaned before my mother shows up this evening."
Zach arrived home and sat back down at the kitchen table, furiously working on his paper. He hoped to get a good deal of it completed before Nelson came home at 5:00. He knew he couldn't finish, but if he got a good bit of it done, maybe Nelson wouldn't be too mad. Zach decided not to mention the car accident and had slid the garbage can behind the car to try to conceal the damage. He knew he should tell Nelson right away, but he just didn't want to do it any time soon. He would have to tell Nelson eventually but he didn't see the point in rushing it.
He got his outline completed with notes in order and headed to the computer. He had just begun to type when he heard the garage door opening. His stomach did a swan dive and he tried hard to concentrate on his paper and not Nelson's return home. He heard Nelson come in and yell for him when he didn't find him at the kitchen table.
"Zachary? I'm home!"
"I'm in here!" Zach yelled back from the office.
Nelson's large frame soon filled the office doorway and he paused to admire his brat. He strode over to the computer and put his hands on Zach's shoulders, kissing the top of his head.
"How's it coming, sweet pea?"
"Really good, Nelson. I've just got to type it up. I could probably finish it tonight, or tomorrow if you let me off the hook today," he said hopefully.
Nelson smiled down at him, "One more hour. I don't think that will kill you, even if you've been working on it all day."
Zach flushed with guilt and looked back to the computer so Nelson wouldn't notice. He could feel the heat in his face and thought about the heat that was yet to touch his ass when Nelson found out about the days escapades.
"Why did you move the trash can?" Nelson questioned curiously.
Oh, God. Why did I move the trash can, Zach thought wildly, trying desperately to come up with a quick, plausible answer. He failed to anticipate the question and didnt think it would be all that noticeable.
"Um, I just did it so it would be easier to get to when we set it out tonight, I guess. I was going to put some trash out today," he tried.
Nelson frowned in his confusion over the explanation, but figured it must have made sense to Zach. He shook his head not understanding, but not concerned either.
He said, "Whatever. I'm going to start dinner. By the time it's ready, your hour should be up and you can stop for the day."
"Okay," Zach said, beginning to type again.
Nelson went into the kitchen and pulled out some frozen veggies to go with the chicken he had in to soak. He put the chicken and spices on to broil and put the vegetables in a saucepan. He was cleaning up the dishes Zach left from breakfast when the phone rang. It was Vic.
"Hi, Vic," Nelson said into the phone, heading back to the sink, propping the phone between his ear and his shoulder.
"How are you, Nelson? I hear we were both stuck working today," Vic said casually.
"Yep, my Saturday. I'm off the hook for another month. You?"
"I just had some things I had to wrap up and didn't want to be rushing Monday."
"What's Ben up to?"
"He's cleaning up for dinner. We're waiting on my mother to come over. She should be here in 15 minutes or so."
"Zach's hunched over the computer banging out a paper he should have done a long time ago," Nelson said.
"I actually called about Zach. I guess you know about the accident."
Nelson straightened up taking the phone off his shoulder, disregarding the dishes. His face registered concern then he immediately thought of the car in the garage partially hidden by the trashcan. He quickly dried his hands of dishwater.
"What accident?" he asked, heading for the garage while he spoke with the cordless in his hand.
He rounded the back of Zach's car bumping the trashcan out of the way with his knee and saw the small scratches and slight indentation in the bumper. His lips pursed as he realized Zach had lied to him AND had been out that day after he specifically told him not to do it.
"Zach didn't tell you? Then you'd better sit down, because I think your brat is in trouble."
Vic proceeded to tell Nelson all about the incident and the main reason he called. He didn't care for Zach encouraging Ben to do something he knew he shouldn't be doing. He realized Ben was responsible for his own decisions, but he thought Nelson should know how Zach pushed Ben to go with him that afternoon. Vic knew he would want to know had the roles been reversed.
"I see. I'm sorry he got Ben into trouble," Nelson said, one hand on the phone and one on his hip. "It looks like Mr. Bartholomew and I will be having a lengthy discussion tonight. He was supposed to stay here all day and he knew it."
"Sorry to be the bearer of bad news," Vic said.
"I needed to know. Thanks for the phone call, Vic."
Nelson hung up the phone and decided to finish the dishes before approaching Zach. He was so angry over Zach's behavior he thought it best to get dinner out of the way so he could cool off.
Once dinner was on the table, he called Zach to come eat. Zach looked uncomfortable, obviously feeling guilty over what had happened that day but still not inclined to admit anything. Nelson thought he would give Zach a chance to confess and possibly redeem himself a little.
"So, was hanging around here today all that bad?" Nelson asked.
Zach's eyes stayed on his plate as he pushed his food around. He just couldn't look at Nelson. He was miserable and hated lying to him. He also knew lying was not tolerated at all in this household. Instead of answering, he just shook his head.
"What's the matter, Zach? Are you mad at me for making you work on your paper?"
Zach's head came up at that question, "Oh, no, Nelson. I'm not mad at you."
"What's wrong then? You aren't yourself."
"I don't know. Just tired from the schoolwork, I guess."
Nelson began to bristle at the new lie and saw his brat was weaving a tangled web. He didn't see the point in letting Zach get himself in any deeper. "Are you sure you're not just tired from the accident and all the excitement today?"
Zach looked sharply at Nelson, eyes wide. "How did..." Zach began.
"Vic called."
Zach should have known. He had no business not telling Nelson immediately and he knew it.
"How long did you plan to lie to me about it, Zach?"
Zach felt like he could throw up. He didn't want to eat another bite. He couldn't answer, just continued to stare at Nelson. Now his eyes were stinging and his throat was constricting as he tried not to cry. Nelson noticed the glassy eyes and the fact that Zach had barely touched his food.
"We'll discuss this in detail after dinner. Eat," Nelson said.
Zach's pleading eyes turned to Nelson then back to his food. A part of him was glad the subject was being dropped for the present time, but he knew he would have to face it soon enough.
Nothing more was said except the occasional command from Nelson for Zach to stop playing with his food and eat it. They got up silently from the table and cleared it, putting the dishes in the dishwasher. Zach was mutely wiping off the table when Nelson took the dishcloth from him, replacing the centerpiece on the table.
"Upstairs," he said to Zach. "I'll be up in a minute and I want to find you in a corner when I get there."
"Please, it wasn't my fault, Nelson..."
"Now," Nelson said, finger pointing toward the kitchen door.
Zach's glassy eyes turned toward the floor when he saw the determination in Nelson's face and he left the kitchen heading towards the stairs.
He found himself in the usual corner in their bedroom, staring at the crease in the wallpaper where it hadn't been hung perfectly. He fingered the crease absently. Smudges were on the wall where he had performed this routine many times in the past.
He thought about the day and where he had gone wrong. It started out badly with him waking in a rotten mood. If only he had just stayed here like he was supposed to, none of this would have happened. He felt a stirring in his stomach, upset to know he was about to be spanked. He wasn't looking forward to discussing it with Nelson. He knew he should have done like he was told. Nelson knew it, too.
Nelson made him wait 20 minutes before he took the paddle from the top of the refrigerator and headed up the stairs. He could see Zach through the door standing obediently in the corner, head down, and waiting for him to come. His heart squeezed in spite of how angry he had been. He stepped inside and closed the door softly behind him.
"Come here, Zachary," Nelson said from behind him.
Zach turned and came around the bed. He wasn't surprised to see the paddle in Nelson's hands.
"Sit down," Nelson said as he pointed to the bed. He was kind enough not to finish with "while you still can".
Zach crept over to the bed and sat on the edge. The chicken was threatening to come back up and he swallowed hard, trying to still his nerves and his stomach.
Nelson waited while Zach got settled before he began. "What do you have to say for your behavior today, Zachary Adam?"
Zach wanted desperately to answer "I don't know" but didn't want to continue this part of the discussion facing the carpet.
He struggled but managed, "I just wanted to go out for a little while, then that lady hit me. It wasn't my fault."
"Did I say you could go out even for a little while today?" Nelson asked, ignoring the reference to the accident. He was determined not to be sidetracked from the point.
"...No, sir..."
"I THINK you were told to stay here and work on your paper. As a matter of fact, I know that's what I said and so do you."
Nelson didn't often show it, but it was clear in the sarcasm he used and in his tone that he was clearly NOT happy.
"Not only did you disobey me, you went over to Benji's and convinced him to come along when you knew he wasn't supposed to. You got not only yourself, but your friend in trouble as well, didn't you?"
"Yes, sir," Zach answered, eyes down. He really did feel bad about getting Ben in trouble.
"Look at me, Zachary."
With great effort, Zach's eyes found their way from the carpet to look into Nelson's. It was so hard to keep eye contact when he knew how upset Nelson was and how much trouble he faced.
"You and Ben find enough trouble for yourselves without dragging each other into it. The next time he tells you he can't do something, you leave it at that. Understood?"
"Yes, sir."
"Would you like to try again with the correct answer for why you moved the garbage can?"
No, he really didn't because it was different from the first answer and that meant one of them was a lie. Lying didn't go over well with Nelson.
"Answer me, Zachary."
_s_h_i_t_.
Zach's voice was barely above a whisper, "I did it so you wouldn't see the damage."
"What did you say?"
"I didn't want you to see the damage," he said again, just a fraction louder than the first time.
"You mean you werent just trying to make trash day easier on us? Does that mean you lied to me?"
_s_h_i_t_, _s_h_i_t_. Zach had seen that one coming for miles.
"I guess so," Zach whispered.
"Do we lie to each other?"
"No, sir. I was going to tell you, I just didn't want to tell you today."
"So, you lied to buy time. Is that an acceptable reason to lie to me?"
"No, sir."
"Is there ANY acceptable reason to lie to me?"
This conversation was getting progressively worse.
"No, sir."
"Hiding it from me in the first place is lying as well. Do we hide things from each other? For any reason?"
"No, sir."
Zach's answer ended the interrogatory. Nelson stood looking at him saying nothing for a moment letting this important part of their discussion sink in for Zach. After what seemed to Zach an eternity, Nelson spoke again.
"Get up," Nelson instructed.
It was time and Zach started trying to think of something – anything - that would make this not so horrible.
"Nelson, you didn't even ask me about the accident. Don't you even care about that? I could have been hurt!"
"I know about the accident. It wasn't your fault and I'm not punishing you for that. You're being spanked for disobeying me then lying to me and for getting Ben into trouble."
"But it was so scary! I think THAT was punishment enough. Doesn't it count for something?"
"No. It has nothing to do with why you're being spanked. You weren't hurt and it was apparently a mild impact. Now, get up like I said."
Zach wanted to tell Nelson how horrible and mean he was but figured it would only make things worse. He managed to keep his mouth shut and got up off the edge of the bed. Nelson took a seat where Zach had been sitting and put the paddle on the bed beside him.
"Come here to me," Nelson said, holding out his hand.
Zach scuffled over to his lover, wishing desperately he had stayed home today. No use crying over spilled milk, although there would soon be plenty of tears.
Nelson clasped Zach's hand and pulled him close. His practiced hands unfastened Zach's pants and pushed them down out of his way. He pulled Zach across his lap and pushed his shirt up so he could pull down his underwear. Zach felt the tug at the waistband then his underwear was pulled down to meet his pants. The view of the carpet was about as familiar as the crease in the wallpaper. He tensed waiting for the first slap.
"Why am I having to spank you, Zach?"
"I disobeyed you and lied to you."
Zach sucked in air at the sharp smack to his posterior.
"Why else?" Nelson pushed.
"Because I got Benji in trouble."
"And?"
"I don't know..."
The hand came down again and Zach winced, tears already stinging his eyes.
"Want to think about it in the corner?"
_s_h_i_t_, no. That question was almost as stupid as asking if he wanted a spanking. He thought hard and finally remembered. It was difficult to think clearly in this position.
"I tried to hide the accident from you?"
"Exactly."
Satisfied that Zach understood why he was in this position, Nelson began to spank his bottom with his hand. He continued until Zach's butt was an even shade of red before he picked up the paddle. Zach was already crying fiercely. Nelson waited a moment for him to calm enough to hear him and picked up the paddle while he waited.
"I will not have you disobeying me, hiding things from me or lying to me, Zachary. If I have to paddle you every time, I will not hesitate to do it."
The paddle came down and Zach's breath left him. The prickly sting spread across his bottom where the paddle had licked down on his already reddened cheeks. Nelson brought it down again before he had a chance to absorb the first swat, then again and again. He was crying hard trying to ask Nelson to stop but couldn't get anything out but sobs. Nelson continued to bring the paddle down. Zach thought he would never stop, then suddenly he did.
Zach was weak from the spanking and hard crying, and he lay helplessly across Nelson's knees sobbing. Nelson gave him time to slow the tears before bringing him up off his lap. He walked Zach back to the corner and left him to cry it out.
Zach's bottom felt raw, and worse, it was on display. He leaned his head against the wall and couldn't see the familiar wallpaper crease through his tears. He tried to wipe his eyes but it was no use as the tears kept coming. It took him a good 30 minutes to calm down to hitching and sniffles.
Nelson came back and put his hands on Zach's shuddering shoulders.
"I don't want to have to spank for this again, understand?" he said gently.
"Yes, sir. I don't want you to spank for this again either."
Nelson smiled at the response and he bent over to pull Zach's pants into place.
"Nooooo, it hurts, Nelson," Zach sniffed.
"It's supposed to hurt," Nelson responded, carefully pulling Zach's pants into place.
Zach whimpered as the material slid across his crimson bottom. Nelson's once punishing hands caressed Zach's back and turned him from the corner. He pulled Zach into a strong hug to let him know everything was all right. Zach melted into the embrace and hugged back. He didn't want to ever let go.
Eventually, Nelson pulled away and pushed Zach's hair back then wiped the remaining tears from his cheeks.
"Have you called the insurance company to report the accident?" Nelson asked.
Zach grimaced, "I didn't exactly think about it."
"Why am I not surprised?" Nelson said gently, smiling at his brat.
"Sorry," Zach said with a crooked smile.
"We'll try them tomorrow. I doubt they're there at this time of day, plus its the weekend. We may have to call Monday."
"Do I have to work on my paper any more tonight?"
"I think you've had enough excitement for one day, don't you?"
"YES, sir!" Zach exclaimed.
Nelson smiled again and kissed Zach's forehead. He took Zach's hand and led him downstairs to the comfort of the den.
Nelson continued to hold Zach, not saying anything. Zach just needed to be held for awhile. He was feeling as he should, punished and vulnerable. He needed the reassurance of Nelson's affections.
Nelson switched on the television and stopped on a channel, not really interested in what was on, just wanting the distraction.
Some time later, Zach said, "I'm really sorry I didn't do like you said today."
"It's okay, sweetie. It's all over now," Nelson said, rubbing his hand up and down Zach's back. Zach had moved from Nelson's lap and was stretched out on his side on the sofa to keep from sitting.
"Ben probably hates me now," Zach mumbled into Nelson's lap where his head was resting.
"You need to apologize to him, but not tonight. I don't think either one of you feels much like talking."
That's for sure, Zach thought.
"You'll need to apologize to Vic, too."
"Yes, sir," Zach said sleepily.
Nelson's hand was working up and down his back relaxing him. That, coupled with the exhaustion of the spanking, was beginning to put him to sleep.
Wanting to be closer and not wanting to fall asleep quite yet, Zach pulled himself upright and crawled back into Nelson's lap. Nelson's arms wrapped themselves tightly around him. Zach's eyes kept drifting shut again in spite of his efforts to stay awake in the comfort of his lover's arms.
"I love you, sweet pea," Nelson whispered.
"I..love you...too," Zach said as he slipped off to sleep.
The end.