Abuela

Jethro stood up then and motioned Tony to stand up as well. When Tony slid off of his chair his dad sat down in his place, then looked meaningfully at him. Copious tears were flowing before the spanking even began. Tony unsnapped and unzipped and uncovered as slowly as possible, hoping his father would change his mind. Nevertheless, he was pulled over his father's lap, leaving his bottom completely bare and in the line of fire. Instinctively he reached back to exert some self protection, but Jethro ordered firmly, "Move your hands right now, Anthony, or I am going to spank your hands first, then your rear second. It will be much worse for you, I promise." Tony obeyed the command, then buried his face in his crossed arms.

He tried in vain to squirm away from the blistering smacks, and by the time his father's strong hand made its third contact with his bottom he was sobbing loudly in response. He was held firmly, though, and felt every bit of the discomfort elicited from the stinging assault on his rear end. His dad meant he was going to regret his actions the past couple of days. Jethro stopped with eight actual smacks, but left Tony across his knees a while longer until his son's tears began to slow. He loosened his grip at last and Tony slid off, then used one hand to wipe his eyes and the other to pull up his clothing. He had gotten to the age that having his bare bottom exposed was extremely embarrassing, and almost as upsetting as the physical pain of the spanking itself. Jethro stood up and promised softly, "If you ever pull a stunt like this again I will use my belt, Anthony, and you will not want to sit down again for several days. Am I clear, Son?"

"Yes, Dad, I won't do that again," Tony assured him, rubbing at his rear end to try to alleviate the sting.

Jethro put his hand on Tony's shoulder and squeezed. "I am glad to hear that. You have more punishment, though, besides that spanking. There is no television for you for the next week, and no outdoor playing either. You are on restriction until this time next week. I want you to spend some time thinking about poor choices and their consequences."

Tony nodded, and his dad leaned down and kissed him on the forehead. Tony immediately threw his arms around his father's waist, clinging to him, and buried his face against his daddy's stomach. His dad smelled familiar, like sawdust, and coffee, and the outdoors. Jethro stood a couple of minutes like that, not speaking while his son clung to him, but gently rubbing Tony's hair, and back, and shoulders. Tony finally let go of him, and stepped back.

"Feel better now?" Jethro smiled and leaned down to kiss him on the tip of the nose. Tony laughed, breaking the silence, and Jethro did, too, chuckling as he made his way out of the room.

When his father's footsteps disappeared Tony threw himself across his bed on his stomach and buried his head in his arms. This had been a horrible afternoon, and a painful one. Lying there, he reviewed the actions that had gotten him to this point and made a vow to stay as far away from Noah as he could.

Half an hour later there was a knock on the doorframe and he turned to look up. Maria was standing there and she addressed him. "It is almost time for supper, Nieto."

He pulled himself up, wincing as his tender bottom protested. He looked at her and his lip started to quiver.

Maria moved into the room and sat down in the rocker. She didn't say anything, but Tony quickly scrambled off the bed and climbed into her lap and snuggled against her. She rocked slowly, holding him loosely, and finally he spoke, his voice muffled. "I am sorry, Abuela, lo siento."

She looked down, then brushed his bangs away from his face, "I know that."

He reached up and stroked her hair, a habit he had adopted in babyhood when she would rock him to sleep. "Dad spanked me."

She smiled and patted his bottom. "Good, then I won't have to take care of that myself."

Tony had hoped for some sympathy, but realized she wouldn't share any. He moved her other arm around his waist. "It really, really hurt a whole lot, though, Abuela mia. Plus, I'm on restriction."

"Tomorrow, you are going to go to Mrs. Johns and let her know that you realize how inappropriate your behaviour was. Es verdad. Do you need my help, or can you handle that by yourself?"

The veiled threat didn't go past him and he sat up quickly and made eye contact. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that I am going to start picking you up at the end of the day, instead of letting you ride the bus..."

"What?" Tony was horrified. He loved riding the bus and hanging out with his buddies on the ride home from school. Furthermore, it was something he had begged to do for years, but had been denied until this school year. Heretofore, he had always been a car rider.

"No, you have just shown us that you are not as mature as we thought, so you certainly are not going to be allowed to go home on the bus any longer."

Tony turned pleading eyes her way, "Abuela, please, I have learned my lesson. I promise! Please let me ride the bus like always. All of my friends ride the bus. They're not car riders."

"No, Bambino, there is no bus until I can trust you again." Maria answered in the tone of voice that meant the subject was closed for Tony. "Furthermore, I am going to meet with Mrs. Johns each afternoon when I come to get you. If she says your conduct has been bad or you have not worked, then you are going to be in lots of trouble immediately. Comprende?"

Resigned, Tony took a deep breath before he answered, "Comprendo- She won't have anything bad to say. Abuela, I am not going to act like that again, ok? I learned my lesson. Please, though, I will look like a baby if you come to check on me every day, though, like an elementary kid, and don't let me ride the bus with my friends."

Maria looked thoughtful, "When you were spending all of your time cutting up in class you should have devoted some time to deciding what the consequences would be."

Tony didn't bother to respond. There was nothing to say, and no way to defend himself. It was the truth.

Maria kissed him on top of the head and ordered, "Come now, it's time for supper. Go ahead and get out your pajamas first and then come down. You are going to take your bath and go to bed as soon as supper is finished."

She put him down and stood up, then made her way downstairs.

Tony shook his head. An early bedtime was par for the course when he was being punished.

Leaning against his doorframe he caught sight of his bookbag lying beside his desk and shook his head emphatically, then murmured out loud, "I will never, ever, ever in forever withhold evidence again!"