Enough to Miss Christmas

Timmy was in his usual happy mood. He'd brought the new game home to play before his bed time but I had unfinished business. There was a pie on the counter and ice cream in the fridge, his favorite combination. He finished his meal and looked up, expecting me to serve dessert.

"We have to talk about you going to the quarry with Karen," I said.

He blanched, and then began to cry. "Am I going to get a beating?"

"No. I told you. No more spankings in this house. But you did wrong, didn't you?" He bowed his head and nodded. "I know it was mostly Karen's fault for taking you but you could have refused and come to me."

"I just wanted to see it," he said, sniffing back his tears.

"Yes, but you knew you weren't to go there." He nodded. "No desert tonight and no games." He looked crestfallen as I continued. "You have to understand when you do something wrong, you'll have to answer for it. Now up to bed."

While he was distressed over his punishment, he seemed to understand. I hugged him even more than usual when I tucked him in after his bath. "I'll be good," he murmured. I was pleased at my first disciplinary success but Timmy was only the beginning. The next candidate came in with slamming doors and hurried footsteps as I was finishing.

"We won!" she exclaimed. "I didn't score but Mr. Haynes told everyone how well I did!" I hugged her, pleased with her success and that the euphoria apparently took her mind off the last evening's fiasco. After I'd let her describe the highlights, I told her we needed to talk. Her mood immediately dropped like a rock.

"I have homework," she answered, making a move to retreat to her room.

"Forget it. You're far enough ahead in school that skipping homework for one night won't make a difference. What I have to say is more important. Get in the love chair."

"Talk about it," I said after we scrunched together.

"I don't want to."

"You have to."

I was given a teenage sigh. "I never thought Daddy would do that or you wouldn't stop him."

"I wanted to but he's your father and I wasn't sure if I should interfere. He and I talked later and straightened the matter out. He's very sorry."

"He shouldn't be. I deserved it but I still hate him for doing it."

"No, you don't."

"Yes, I do!"

"Honesty pact! Total truthfulness. You're mad as hell at him for what he did, and you want to hurt him, like he hurt you. That's the truth. Say it."