The Fetching

The paddle, solid stained oak with a contoured handle and a three inch wide by fourteen inch long business end, hung from the wall by way of a small brass hook catching the leather loop extending from a tiny hole in the paddle’s handle. For guests it appeared a prominent curiosity in the home’s family room, where it rested on display. Few would mention it and fewer still would acknowledge its unconcealed purpose without the mask of humor. However, to the young ladies in residence the displayed paddle harkened no memories of joy or laughter. It served first and foremost to remind them of the consequences befallen to those who would dare break the house rules.

On the sad occasion a young lady did break the rules, she would be called forth to the study. Her hands would sweat clasped together behind her back while butterflies swarmed in her stomach. She would stand in the center of the room, head bowed in a sign of respect or at the very least, regret at being caught. The booming words of a well conceived lecture would rattle her ears and in some, elicit tears. And at the conclusion, she would be sent to fetch the paddle from the family room, knowing full well that upon her return it would be used on her quivering bare buttocks.

She blushes upon leaving the privacy of the study. Her lower half is already naked, exposed to the slightest glance of any in her path. A mere twenty paces to the paddle and twenty paces back to the study feel like miles. Each step may as well have been on hot coals for all the pain she feels dodging the judging stares, knowing smiles, and taunting snickers of friends, family, enemies, and strangers who line the fringes of her path. The paddle itself taunts her as she struggles to lift it free of the hook where the leather loop inevitably catches and refuses to let go easily. She will breathe deeply, tuning out the audience, focusing on the task without acknowledging the future it bodes. Only when her hands steady from their trembling will the paddle come free, but even then her heart beats with a shudder and pounds deafening blood into her ears. It is good though, because the final steps go quicker.

Finally, paddle in hand, she returns to the study and its privacy. She returns to her former place in the center of the floor. Her gaze fixes on the wood held in her hands and she lifts it out in front of her. The paddle is offered by gesture. Her throat constricts around the expected words and her mouth runs dry. The careful eye would notice the tremor in her outstretched hand, the rapid rise and fall of her chest and the glimmer of a desperate plea for leniency twinkling in her eyes. Silence settles on the room, on the entire house and she says, “Please, may I have my spanking now.”

Fetching The Implement

It may hang on a nail or a hook. Perhaps it is displayed in prominence like decor on a wall or a knickknack resting on a shelf. Or maybe it hides behind a closet door, inside a cupboard, or lays innocuously inside a drawer. Wherever it is, it is not in the hand of the one of who will use it nor the hand of the one who will receive it. It must, therefore, be fetched by one or the other. We are of course speaking about the dreaded implement.

The fetching of the implement is a time-honored tradition in many households. While the location of the implement and the implement itself may vary greatly, the miscreant in these homes is always well aware of its existence and locale. And they know without doubt when the time comes, they will be sent without hesitation to bring it forth. From their own hands it will be offered to the one who will use it. It is an act of ceremony, respect, and obedience.

A spanker may have many reasons for having their subject retrieve the implement for their spanking, but few would argue that above all, the act sets the tone of what is to follow. The spankee who fetches their own implement may do so under protest and yet in the end they have cooperated and when the implement leaves their hands for the hands of the spanker, the spankee has in effect given their consent. This act’s importance cannot be overstated because it establishes an acceptance of the forthcoming spanking, perhaps reluctant acceptance, but acceptance nonetheless. It is therefore understood between spanker and spankee that once the implement has been fetched, a spanking will ensue and the time for arguing and resisting has passed. In essence, the fetching of the implement sets an atmosphere of calm, controlled, and planned discipline.

The procedure itself may have a near infinite number of variations. Some of the popular possibilities include;

• Fetching the implement prior to corner time and keeping it until called forth from the corner.
• Fetching the implement prior to a lecture which ends with the implement changing hands.
• Fetching the implement just after a lecture and leading immediately into the spanking.
• Fetching the implement just after corner time and leading immediately into the spanking.
• Fetching the implement in an altered state of dress. (ie. bottom bared, wearing undergarments only, bare foot, naked, etc.)
• Fetching the implement by way of crawling to and from its location.
• Fetching the implement and returning it to the spanker, balanced on the spankee’s head.
• The spankee may be required to ask permission to fetch the implement.
• The spankee may be required to ask for their spanking before completing delivery of the implement to the spanker.

Often, though not always, the fetching of the implement is reserved for a singular implement in the spanker’s repertoire. In these cases it is typically one of the more fearsome choices such as a large wooden paddle or a thick cane, but it can truly be anything from an ordinary cooking spoon to an elegant hairbrush and beyond. Whatever the choice, the spanker can rest assured their spankee will view the implement they are sent to fetch as noteworthy. Perhaps it is because of the tactile connection established by holding and carrying it or maybe it is due to the extended contemplation of the impending spanking while traversing the distance to and from the implement’s home. Though it may not be the most severe implement choice available, if it is the only one they are ever sent to fetch it will take a special place in the thoughts of the spankee as a thing to be avoided.

In general, sending the spankee to fetch the implement of their spanking heightens anticipation and enhances acceptance. Those spankees who are given to fits of resistance will benefit the most from this ritual while none will suffer adversely from the added benefit of longer contemplation prior to the first spank. For spanker’s, the extra time is useful to collect thoughts, calm any agitation, and focus on the specific goals of the coming discipline they are about to impart on their spankee.

Motivating Factors

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The Winter Storm, Part 16

Miles escorted Jennifer into his old bedroom and closed the door. He sat on the edge of the bed while she remained standing, chewing on her lip. There was no doubt in Miles’ mind that she was beautiful. Even the flaws she would see in the mirror, looked amazing to him, but the things she had done and the way she continued to act toward Rachel were not attractive or beautiful. They were ugly and they left him wondering if being with her was a mistake.

He looked up at her and said, “If I’ve learned anything today, it’s that the way things are between us is going to have to change.”

She frowned. “What do you mean ‘change’?”

He swallowed his doubts. “I mean, I will not tolerate you lying to me, hiding things from me, and above all, I will not tolerate your attitude toward Rachel.”

“She’s a bitch,” Jennifer said.

“And so are you,” Miles said. “I have to fire you after everything you’ve done, there is no way around that. The question I have left is whether or not our relationship is going to move forward or end right here.”

Tears filled into Jennifer’s eyes. “You’re dumping me? On a fucking day like this, you are going to fucking dump me? You’re a goddamn bastard!”

“It’s up to you really,” Miles said, “either we can end this thing or you’re going to have to accept going over my knee from now on whenever your behavior calls for it.”

Jennifer wiped the tears from her cheeks. “That’s it?”

He nodded.

She stepped forward and dropped herself down on his lap, pushing her butt up as a promising target. “What are you waiting for?” she asked.

Miles chuckled. “That went better than I was expecting,” he said and raised his hand. A clap of thunder outside echoed his hand impacting her fleshy cheeks. From there, he settled into a routine that complimented the patter of the rain against the bedroom window.

A while later, they returned downstairs, Jennifer exhibiting a bright red bottom and tear-stained cheeks, as they entered Mr. Bennett’s office. Michelle’s phone rested on the desk next to the larger telephone and plugged into the computer. On the computer screen, embarrassingly clear pictures of a naked Jennifer being strapped by a shirtless Brody were cycling through in a slideshow. Miles walked around the desk and sat in his father’s chair.

“Are you ready?” Miles asked, looking up at Jennifer, still standing on the opposite side of the desk.

She nodded. “Might as well get it over with.”

Miles picked up the desk phone and dialed the local police department. When a clerk answered he asked to be transferred to the internal affairs division. It took a few minutes on hold, Jennifer paced the floor in front of the desk, but finally a detective answered. Miles gave the short version of the story— Brody, a traffic enforcement officer at the DMV, had blackmailed his girlfriend into submitting to his personal sexual whims in exchange for not losing her drivers license.

The detective listened politely, but Miles could tell the man was skeptical. He handed the phone to Jennifer and she proceeded to fill in all the gory details. There was much, Miles wished he had never heard and having heard it, he couldn’t keep his blood from boiling in pointless anger.  Once her story was complete, the detective asked for evidence. Miles sent the email with all the pictures. It was embarrassing for him to contemplate the number of people who would see those photos and therefore his girlfriend stark naked, but of course it was nothing compared to the humiliation she had to be feeling. The detective received the files almost instantly and even from across the desk, Miles could hear the change in the man’s tone. Brody was finished.

“Are you alright?” Miles asked, as Jennifer hung up the phone.

She nodded. “I’m probably going to lose my license you know.”

“And you went through all of that just to avoid it and now it’s for nothing,” Miles said.

Jennifer smiled and rubbed her red backside. “Well, not exactly nothing, seeing as we’re finally moving our relationship forward.”

Miles raised a questioning eyebrow.

Jennifer laughed at him. “You don’t think I’m going to let you spank me and not marry me do you?”

“Are you asking me to marry you?” Miles said, wide-eyed.

“No,” she said, “that’s a man’s job, sort of like taking a bitch like me in hand.”

---

Michelle laid on her stomach atop her neatly made bed. She hugged a pillow to her chest and propped herself up. Her hands travel beneath the folds of her school skirt and gently lowered the white cotton beneath it, exposing her pink buttocks. The worst of the discomfort had already faded away leaving only the color and occasional sting of a well-spanked bottom. It was a small price to pay and certainly far less than either Rachel or Jennifer had received.

Her fingers touched the delicate flesh, probing for warmth and sting. Memories of the days spankings came fluttering back into her head. The exhilaration of embarrassment and shame flushed her body with tingling warmth and then the image of Nick floated behind her closed eyelids. Her thoughts kept turning back to him and their morning fight. She should have said yes.

Before she could think better of it, she grabbed her phone from the floor beside the bed and dialed Nick’s number. The phone rang three times and she was just about to hang up when he answered. She hesitated considering what she should say or if she should just end the call.

“Michelle?” he asked.

“Yeah,” she said. “I wanted to—

Nick said, “Hey, it’s okay. I just heard about Cody. I didn’t know, I guess hardly anybody knew, but I should have known you weren’t into him like that. I’m sorry.”

Michelle blinked at her telephone. “What are talking about?”

“Cody,” Nick said. “Haven’t you heard?”

“No.”

Nick said, “He came out to everybody in the locker room this afternoon. It was like he was suddenly free, he was practically jumping up and down, trying to show everyone pictures of what he likes.”

Michelle laughed. She hadn’t expected to learn if her plan had worked or not until Monday at school.

Nick continued, “I guess he’d just got these nudes from some guy he was really into. Too bad for him someone in the administration found out and they walked in while he was showing off the pics. I hear he’s going to be suspended for a week, having porn on his phone and all, but you know I never figured him for gay. I guess I should have considering how badly he treats the girls at school, but I just thought he was an asshole.”

“He is that,” Michelle said, still laughing. Not only had she seen to it that Cody’s reputation was trashed, apparently he’d helped complete the image and got himself suspended on top. It couldn’t have gone better if she’d planned it. Then again, she did plan it.

“So look,” Nick said, “I’m sorry about acting all jealous. We’re not even going out so I really had no right and it’s pretty obvious to me now you were trying to help Cody and not betray his secret. I feel like a complete dick, can you forgive me?”

“It’s not all your fault,” Michelle said. Telling him the whole story was out of the question, because even if he understood, he would probably not approve, but she couldn’t have him thinking he was to blame for everything. “I haven’t made things easy and I was way out of line with my attitude this morning. If you forgive me, I’ll forgive you and we can move on.”

There was silence.

Nick said, “I’ll forgive you but I’m not so sure I want to move on quite yet, unless you’re telling me you just aren’t interested.”

Michelle laughed. “That’s not what I meant. Of course I’m interested. Why else would I be calling you?”

“I don’t know,” Nick said.

“Do you still want to go out tomorrow night?” she asked.

“I thought you were grounded?” he said.

“I managed to get my Civics done even without you, remember?” she said.

“Ah, that’s right. So, seriously tomorrow night?”

“The storm supposed to have past by then,” she said.

Nick said, “Okay, but I swear if I show up and you’ve changed your mind, I’ll spank you right on your own doorstep.”

Michelle laughed. “Deal.”

---

Rachel walked toward her bedroom hearing footsteps trailing behind her. At her doorway, she spun around and said, “Are you following me?”

Richard stopped in his tracks, grinning at his naked sister. “As a matter of fact, yeah.”

“I’m not much in the mood for company,” she said, turning away and stepping into her room.

“Sure,” he said, “but you owe me.”

She turned back to him. “I don’t think so.”

“A deal is a deal,” he said.

“Right,” Rachel said, “but Dad let me off for the running.”

“Nice try,” Richard said. “If you recall, I didn’t specify whether it’d be for running down the stairs or something else, I just said I’d get Dad to keep you naked for the weekend.”

“Then why did we run down the stairs this morning?” Rachel asked. “I could have just flown under the radar all weekend and won.”

Richard laughed. “I seem to recall you mentioning that you were too old to get a spanking.”

Rachel recalled her morning assertions that she could get away most anything because she wasn’t a teenager anymore. It should have been true or at least she thought it should have been true, but then her mother still hadn’t gotten around to treating her like an adult. Of course, adults don’t make foolish bets with their little brothers either, or do they? “I didn’t say I was too old.”

“Yes, you did,” Richard said, crossing his arms and narrowing his gaze on her.

Rachel sighed. “It doesn’t matter anyway. You lost.”

“Really?” Richard said, blinking. “Are you or are you not grounded in your birthday suit for the weekend?”

“That’s beside the point,” she said.

Richard laughed and pointed at her breasts. “No, those are the points.”

Rachel glanced down at herself and quickly wrapped her arms over her cold nipples. “You’re real proud of yourself aren’t you?”

“Yeah,” Richard said, “you were the one who said it wouldn’t happen no matter what I did, but looks like I proved you wrong.”

“Fine,” Rachel said, “this wasn’t exactly our bet, but if it makes you feel better, you won. Okay?”

“So does that mean you’re going to pay up?” Richard asked.

Rachel rolled her eyes and sighed. “Sure. What do you want?”

Richard said, “Well I was going to ask for your computer, but considering what you’ve been up to with that jerk, Julian, I think I have a better idea.”

She frowned at her brother. “What?”

“Just stay away from him. Don’t call him, don’t visit him, don’t email him, don’t even wave at him. Stay away from that bastard and we’ll be square,” he said.

“Don’t worry,” Rachel said, “I don’t plan on ever talking to him again.”

Richard left her alone. She closed her bedroom door and walked to the window. The curtains were still drawn and the blind pulled up. Outside the storm was finally easing. The heavy raindrops were nothing more than a mist and the darkest clouds were rolling out into the distance. Tomorrow there would be sunlight and blue skies, but even though the storm would be gone, its aftermath would remain. The damage done would need repairing, fences would need mending, bridges would need rebuilding and the debris would need clearing. And when it was done, things would be as they were and different, new and better.

The End.

The Winter Storm, Part 15

Miles stood silent in the hallway just outside Rachel’s bedroom. Even having heard her incriminating conversation he could hardly believe his own sister had indeed betrayed the entire family. The situation which had led her to it wasn’t her fault, he understood, but to undermine the family business for petty revenge remained inexcusable. He steadied himself with a deep breath and suppressed the boiling anger threatening to take control of his actions. One deliberate, calm step at a time, he walked into her room and confronted her.

“I really wanted to believe it wasn’t you,” he said.

Having had her back to the door, Rachel spun around coming face to face with Miles. Her phone clattered on the floor, dropped from her hand. She gaped at him, no doubt wondering how much he had heard.

“I heard enough,” he said, answering her unspoken question. He grabbed hold of her arm and stepped to the side, propelling her toward the doorway. “Let’s go.”

Rachel resisted trying to break free of his grip. “You know what she did to me.”

Miles held tight and said, “Two wrongs don’t make a right.”

“You can’t tell Dad,” she said. “He’ll never forgive me.”

“Never is a long time,” Miles said, walking her toward the door. “Forgiveness isn’t really the issue anyway. We all understand your reasons, they just don’t excuse the betrayal. It’s going to be a long time before you’re trusted again and I just hope you realize that this is your fault, not Jennifer’s or anybody else.”

Without further delay, Miles escorted her downstairs to the living room. From the top of the stairs they had heard the spanking in progress. Michelle was lying over their father’s lap, her skirt flapped up on her back and her white panties lowered to just below the crevice of her buttocks. Her legs kicked mildly with each rhythmic clap of Mr. Bennett’s hand against her fully pinkened posterior. Jennifer still sat on her stool in front of the fireplace with clipboard and pen in hand, but she was watching the scene in front of her more than writing. Richard sat on the nearby arm of the couch watching the spanking with a shameless grin while their mother stood closer to Michelle’s head on the other side lecturing.

—matter if the boy is a pig or not,” Mrs. Bennett said, shaking her finger at Michelle’s downturned head, “your language was simply unacceptable. And for that matter, your attitude of late hasn’t been very acceptable either. You better take this opportunity to heart young lady because if you throw me any more attitude or if I hear any more language like that coming out of your mouth, it’ll be my lap you’ll be over. And it won’t be my hand you’ll be feeling either.”

“I’m sorry,” Michelle said, her voice a mere squeak of its normal character. “It won’t happen again. I swear.” She continued to kick and squirm over their father’s lap.

Mr. Bennett ceased the spanking with a last pair of hard slaps, one to the center of each buttock. Her naked bottom bobbled up and down in the aftermath. He grabbed hold of the waistband of her panties and pulled them back into place, dragging the material over her irritated skin and making her squirm. His hands flipped her skirt back down and then guided her up off his lap to stand in front of him. She wiped at her eyes and upon seeing Miles, she blushed and looked away, but quickly discovered there was an audience to her embarrassment in every direction.

Miles prodded Rachel forward, walking around the couch until they stood in the center of the living room. “Rachel has something to tell everyone,” he said and let go of her arm.

She blinked at him. Everyone else in the room turned their eyes in her direction. The crackle of the fireplace and the patter of the rain outside were the only sounds beyond a single sniffle from Michelle as she dried her eyes. Rachel crossed her arms in front of her naked chest and stared at Miles.

“If I tell them,” he said, meeting her gaze, “things will be a lot worse.”

Mr. Bennett stood and looking at Miles, said, “I take it you’ve learned the whole truth behind today’s events?”

Miles nodded and Rachel turned her gaze from him to their father. She said, “It was me.”

An eyebrow raised on Mr. Bennett’s forehead. “What was you?”

She looked down at the floor and spoke in a whisper. “I gave Julian the files.”

“Speak up,” Mrs. Bennett said, stepping closer to Rachel.

“The files,” Rachel said, louder and looking at her mother, “I gave them to Julian, but it was only because you believed her— she looked pointedly at Jennifer sitting on her stool— instead of me.”

“What an excellent choice,” Mrs. Bennett said, her tone contradicting her words. “When someone fails to trust you why not show them just how untrustworthy you can be. It makes perfect sense to me.”

Rachel bristled and  her cheeks grew dark red. “Things don’t just happen in a vacuum Mother. I was meeting my responsibilities and then some bitch comes along and tells you I’m not and every last one of you gobbled it up. Face facts, you all betrayed me first.”

Mr. Bennett stepped forward and laid a restraining hand on Mrs. Bennett’s shoulder. Looking at Rachel, he said, “You’re right. I made a very big mistake and I owe you an apology.”

“You do?” Rachel blinked like she couldn’t believe her ears. She cleared her throat and said, “You do.”

“Absolutely,” Mr. Bennett said. “I’m sorry for not believing you when I should have and to make it up to you, I’m going to cancel your punishment for the weekend.”

Rachel hesitated, uncertain if their father was toying with her hopes or legitimately admitting to a failure. “Really?” she asked.

“Really,” Mr. Bennett said with a nod, “but I think you owe the entire family an apology as well, don’t you?”

Rachel glanced around the room. “Um, sure. I’m sorry for giving Julian those files. I was angry and he took advantage of it, but I should have known better.”

“I think I can safely say we all accept your apology,” Mr. Bennett said. “Now, what are you planning to do for reparations?”

Rachel stared blankly at their father. “Huh?”

“As you know,” Mr. Bennett said, “certain mistakes require a bit more than apology to set things right. For example, I fired you without having all the facts and just saying I’m sorry wasn’t sufficient to correct that mistake. As a result, I’ve given you a free pass on the behavior that has gotten you into a bit of trouble today. What are you going to do to make up for giving proprietary information to Julian? It’s not like you can take it back, the damage is already done.”

Rachel chewed on her lip. She glanced around the room as if looking for assistance, but none was forthcoming. Looking back to their father she shrugged. “I don’t know. What do you want me to do?”

Mr. Bennett said, “Personally, I think a spanking from the various people you’ve hurt would be appropriate, but this is the sort of thing you should really decide for yourself. Your actions affect everyone in this household it’s probably going to take a significant gesture on your part to regain every one’s confidence.”

She sighed and said, “If taking a spanking from everyone will put things back to normal, then I can deal with it.” Looking around the room, she found them all nodding agreement. “Okay,” she said.

Richard cleared his throat and said, “And I think you should stay naked for the weekend, you know just to be sure you got the message.”

Rachel opened her mouth to object, but a quick glance around the room showed no one else disagreeing. She shrugged and said, “Fine, but no more spankings after today.”

Mrs. Bennett said, “As long as you behave yourself you won’t get spanked, but as long as you live in this house, when you step out of line your bottom is going to pay the price.”

Rachel cocked her head at her mother. “I wasn’t meaning ever, just that this spanking will end after everyone has had their turn. In other words, I don’t want to be getting whacked all weekend over this.”

Mr. Bennett nodded. “Then we’re in agreement?”

She nodded.

Mr. Bennett looked to Jennifer and said, “Why don’t you stand up and bring that stool over here to the middle of the room.”

Jennifer rose quickly and dragged the stool till it stood between Rachel and Mr. Bennett. She stepped back to wall beside the fireplace and held the clipboard to her chest. Miles shook his head at her and she rolled her eyes, but dropped the clipboard to her side, re-exposing herself.

Mr. Bennett said, “Richard, go and fetch the paddle please. Rachel, bend over the stool, grab the legs as far down as you can and stay there until it’s over.”

Rachel stretched herself over the stool while Richard disappeared to retrieve the paddle. When Richard returned, Mr. Bennett had the family stand behind Rachel where they could all see her pink bottom bulging out at them. It was decided they would each deliver two swats except Mr. Bennett, who would go last and give three. Richard, being the youngest, was elected to go first.

Richard approached Rachel with the paddle firmly grasped in his right hand. The grin on his face clearly revealed it was his first time to be up to bat with a paddle and he was savoring every second. He touched the paddle lightly against her buttocks and then raised it and brought it back to lightly hover against the skin again.

Miles said, “That’s one.”

The family laughed.

“That’s not fair,” Richard said. “I was just aiming.”

Jennifer said, “If you can’t hit her big ass with that, then you have no business even holding it.”

“Ignore them,” Rachel said. “Just take your time and do it your way.”

Richard pulled the paddle back high in the air and whipped it through the air, cracking it hard against her bulging butt. Rachel yelped. Richard lowered the paddle to his side and admired the red oval mark raising itself to prominence in the center of her bottom. Encouraged by the result, he raised the paddle again and swung it even harder. Rachel howled and kicked her legs up in the air giving an unfettered view of her naked sex.

“Not bad,” Miles said, nodding at his little brother.

“Michelle’s turn,” Mr. Bennett said.

Richard handed the paddle to Michelle as she stepped forward and he rejoined the rest of the family to watch. Michelle held the paddle a short distance from Rachel’s still quivering bottom. Rachel had calmed enough to plant her feet back on the ground, but the tension in her legs and back were testament to the discomfort Richard had left behind. Michelle flicked her wrist and snapped the paddle against Rachel’s buttocks.

“You can do better than that,” Richard said.

Michelle looked over her shoulder and said, “I can, but I don’t need to.” She flicked her wrist against and turned back to the family holding the paddle out for the next spanker.

Jennifer stepped forward and grasped the paddle. Michelle took her place next to Richard and Jennifer sauntered up behind Rachel. The way Jennifer held the paddle against Rachel’s bottom was as if she had somehow forgotten her own role in events and the fact that she too was stark naked and sporting a glaringly red backside. She pulled the paddle back and swished it through the living room air with all the force she could muster. The impact roared like the thunder outside. Rachel howled again and kicked her legs wildly in the air. Jennifer didn’t wait. The paddle bounced off Rachel’s bottom and Jennifer whooshed it once more cracking against the wriggling bottom on the stool. Rachel fell off the stool and on the carpet, her hands grabbing at her flaming rear while she rolled around moaning.

Richard rushed to his sister side, throwing a glare in Jennifer’s direction. “That was totally uncalled for,” he said. He helped a trembling Rachel back to her feet and left her alone when she pushed his hands away. Rachel bent back over the stool without a word or even glance in Jennifer’s direction.

Jennifer shrugged at the rest of the family, turning her back to Rachel. “It was just two swats.”

Miles said, “I’ll remember that later when it’s your turn.” He stepped forward and took the paddle from her hand. She fluttered her innocent eyelashes at him, but he walked right past without even blinking.

Taking position behind Rachel, he asked, “Are you ready?”

Rachel said, “Just get it over with, please.”

When he had first heard her on the phone with Julian, he had wanted to paddle her so hard he raised blisters and left her twitching for a week, but after Jennifer’s turn his anger mellowed. It was true that Rachel had brought her troubles on herself with a poorly made decision and it was also true that the decision had been proceeded by the actions of his girlfriend. He felt partially responsible and so when he raised the paddle he found he no longer had any desire to cause her pain.

He slapped it against her bottom hard enough to sting and loud enough to make his eyes blink. The second swat was delivered identical to the first and Rachel yelped and kicked her legs up. It was far less than he was capable of delivering, but his conscience felt it was appropriate to her crime. He turned back to the family and handed the paddle to his mother.

Mrs. Bennett took position behind her daughter and quickly delivered two echoing licks. Rachel yelp and kicked after each, but it was clear the swats had been no harsher than those delivered by Miles. Rachel’s bottom was shining red, almost glistening in the flickering firelight. Mrs. Bennett turned away once Rachel had settle back into position on the stool.

Mr. Bennett stepped forward and took up the paddle. Rachel tensed up and grabbed the stool tighter turning her knuckles white. Mr. Bennett laid the paddle on the center of her buttocks and after the briefest pause lifted it about a foot off of her and slapped it back down with enough force to bounce her buttocks inward and out. Rachel whimpered behind gritted teeth.

He raised the paddle again and repeated the first swat. Rachel kicked her legs up and yelped aloud. Mr. Bennett waited for her to settle back into place and then he raised the paddle another foot off her bottom and cracked it back down. Rachel leapt from the stool and grabbed her butt with both hand, jumping around in a circle. All her bits jiggled and bounced, giving the entire family an amusing show as she danced around in front of the fireplace, oblivious to them all. When she finally settled down the entire family, with the exception of Jennifer, encircled her into a reassuring hug.