A Little Training (7 page)

I
put my chin down and crossed my arms over my chest. I felt like he let me down.
I had hoped he would be decent and listen to me and he shot me down.

“Stop
pouting, little girl.” He smacked my rear with his open hand and my head popped
up. Then he kissed me on my forehead and took my hand. “Let’s go down and see
if it’s time for you bath.”

We
met Uncle Tommy in the hall and he reminded Daddy that we had been washed in
the pool shower before dinner, so Daddy told me to go color. I didn’t want to
and I said so. He gave me the look so I took off that way. Just as I turned in
the family room door I noticed out of the corner of my eye that he had gone
into our bedroom.

He
was going to talk to Erin. Maybe he was going to make things right. My heart
started to beat really fast just as I heard a nasty voice.

“
Oooh
look
Caity
, the princess has
decided to join us.”

I
turned to see Sara with her little smile. I mean sneer.

“Sara,
play nice,” Uncle Tommy came in after me. “
Alivia
,
come here please, I just realized I never brushed out your hair after we washed
it.” He sat down on the end of the couch.

My
hands instantly went up to cover my hair. “No, it’s fine.”

“One…
Two…
thr
-”

I
drug my feet as slowly as I could to where he was, snapping into place when he
started on the three. I mean seriously, why do they have to start counting?
It’s unfair.

“I
don’t want it brushed.” I sat where he directed on the small triangle of beige couch
between his thighs.

He
started right in and thank goodness he wasn’t nearly as bad as Uncle Chris but
then I remembered how nicely Daddy had done it and how he had held me after.

“I
want Daddy to do it! I don’t want you.”

“If
you don’t stop, I am going to use this brush on your hind end instead.”

I
didn’t say another word. I wasn’t stupid. Even in the worst of the tangles I
might have ground my teeth and pulled my chin halfway to my knees, but I didn’t
say another word.

“You
need a haircut. This is crazy.”

“No!”
That
I would protest.
 
They wanted little girls, not little
boys!

“No,
they’re not getting any haircuts,” Daddy proclaimed, coming into the room
behind us.

I
would have jumped for joy or even kissed him if my hair wasn’t wrapped in the
brush at the moment.

“You
don’t know what you are talking about, Trace. I don’t mean to cut it short. I
mean layers or something to get rid of this bulk of tangled mess. You should
talk to Dane’s girlfriend, she cuts hair. I know you can do something without
losing all the length.”

“I’m
not getting a haircut!” I don’t know where I thought I had any weight in the
conversation.
 
In one quick movement
Uncle Tommy tipped me over his thigh and gave me three cracks with the purple
plastic brush he had.

“Do
not talk back. Is that clear?”

My
belly was pressed over his hard thigh, my face against the cushion of the
couch. He had his left hand flat against the middle of my bare back and the
brush poised above my bottom as if he was going to continue depending on my
answer. I flung my hand back to my butt. How much abuse could it take?

“I’m…
done,” I sniffled.

“You
sure?”

“Yes!”

He
set me back between his legs and moved the torture back to my head instead of
my rear. I shifted trying to get comfortable and focused on not crying. It was
only a few swats. I should be able to handle that. I sniffed again. When I
wasn’t so focused on myself I was drawn to the conversation behind me.

“It’s
fine if you believe the goody-two-shoes! I don’t care.”

I
wanted to wrench my head around. I didn’t dare. Uncle Tommy would have a field
day on my butt with the brush then. I didn’t have too, anyway.
 
I knew it was Sara calling someone—either
Erin or myself—goody-two-shoes.

That
meant that Daddy had listened to me! But did he really believe us over her? Had
Erin told him the truth?

A
long braid finally dropped over my shoulder and Uncle Tommy lifted me from his
lap as he stood. He moved around the couch and walked out of the room.

“I
do not understand why you have been spiteful. I will not tolerate this ever.” He
stood up. He had been sitting on the loveseat that was close to the coloring
table where Sara was. I noticed Erin then. She must have been sitting at his
side the whole time.

He
started to unbuckle his belt and pull it through the loops. Sara’s eyes grew as
large as quarters and Erin got up and ran toward the bedroom. I climbed on the
couch. I hadn’t realized I had just been standing there since Uncle Tommy left.
I knelt against the back, facing Daddy and Sara, my chin on the cushion.

“Come
here, Sara.” He held out his hand to her and sat down again.

I
saw big fat tears running down her face then. It was hard to stay mad at her
when I knew that she was going to get the belt. I saw real fear in her huge
blue eyes.

“I
am so disappointed. You have been here such a short amount of time and Erin has
been nothing but sweet. It would not be ok if she had done something to you
either, however at least I could begin to understand.” He pulled her right over
his thigh only this time he locked his right leg over hers, and when he put his
arm across her back- he caught her hand in his and held it there.

He
had the belt folded in his right hand already. I wish I had run away when Erin
had. Sara was facing me over his lap. She was just hanging there at first but
from the first slap of that awful thing she had lifted up and I watched her
face as she sobbed.

It
was awful… truly dreadful.

“I
want you girls to be friends, sisters, playmates. I never ever want to hear of
something like this again. Do you hear me?” Daddy didn’t give her a chance to
respond. His arm flew back and the belt came down with a mighty
thwuap
.

Over
and over.

“
Ahh
…
eee
…
Ayee
…
ssor
…
eee
… I…I’m…
st-pd
…
owww
…
pleaz
…”

I
buried my face in the cushions and covered my ears. It didn’t help. I thought
it would never stop.

Then
he said, “I want an honest answer why you would do such an awful thing. We’re
going to get to the bottom of this and stop it right here and now.”

“…
ohh
hoo
hoo
…”
I peeked out over the cushion with one eye. Sara was hanging toward the floor
like a limp doll then. But she was rocked with her sobbing.

“I’m
waiting…” I heard the belt slap down again.

“
Ahh
… -
pleze
…I… just wan…
dem
…be bad… like…
meee
…” she
shuddered as if that had taken everything out of her.

I
felt tears on my own face. I was so glad when I saw Daddy put the belt down. He
left her lay like that for a minute crying while he rubbed her back and
murmured to her. I couldn’t hear him but finally he lifted her to his lap and
held her.

I
took off then down to our room. I wanted to check on Erin. The door was closed
and the light was off. I hoped I wouldn’t get in trouble again for going in
there. I found her humming to herself. She was so good.

I
felt guilty for staying to watch. I would never get those images out of my head
again. I wanted to tell her what Sara had said, or that maybe we should take it
easy on her, something….
 
Maybe I
should say that I felt like Sara learned her lesson, that she would be really
sorry now. I don’t know.

But,
I didn’t say anything. We just sat by each other on her bed like we had the
first morning we had awoken, backs to the wall, knees to our chests, chin on
our knees.

I
don’t know how long we sat there, not very long. Uncle Jeremy and Chris came in
with Caity and bundles of pink and white bedding. They proceeded to make mine,
Caity’s
, and Erin’s beds all up. They were beautiful with
tiny flowers and little ribbons. They were all thick and fluffy, layered and
luxurious-everything a little girl could dream of.

Afterward
we got our teeth brushed and got tucked in with our new blankets. It was kind
of nice. Uncle Chris told us that that Daddy said we could have the bedding for
being good. Erin for not getting in trouble and getting a spanking she didn’t
deserve, me for telling the truth and sticking up for Erin, even though it was
hard. Lastly,
Caity’s
was for not being involved in
Sara’s plan.

But
the truth of it is Daddy brought Sara in and put her in her bed without new
bedding. And I think it was more of a punishment to her. I felt so bad for her
too. She just laid there sniffling for so long. Then Erin did the sweetest
thing. I would have missed it if I didn’t hear the faintest whispering.

I
looked up in the near dark—there is one small night light in the room. Erin
was by Sara’s bed, she stayed there for a long time. I think she was comforting
Sara and she gave her the stuffed elephant she had brought with her from home.

Sara
was snuggled up with it the next morning.

Chapter 5

I
didn’t sleep well that night. I think that Daddy left the heat up high for
Sara- because I woke many times and was way too warm. I tossed and turned all
night and finally awoke on top of the covers rather cranky. I loved the fancy
bedding and I should have been in better spirits that morning. Things seemed to
be looking up.

I
was the first one awake and had to go pee. When I was done I did not stay up
but went back to my bed. I was determined not to make the same mistake I had
made the other mornings. I stayed in bed until the other girls were up and I
was called for. It was tense during breakfast I felt if people were staring at
me. I knew they were waiting for me to start screaming or having a seizure. It
was hard to control myself the smell of coffee was fresh and strong. Daddy didn’t
saying anything about me pouting, either. I guess he was just happy I wasn’t
raving like a lunatic.

I
didn’t feel good. I think I said that already. I tried to eat, to pretend I was
eating… I just hoped that Uncle Jeremy would toss my food again. I knew I would
be sick if I had to eat it. I just wanted to lay my head on the table. It
seemed like it was taking forever for everyone else to get done when I felt Daddy
reach for me and pull me over to come sit on his lap.

He
ran his fingers through my hair and rested his cheek against me forehead. “Are
you feeling ok
sweety
pie?”

“I
don’t want to eat.” I whispered hoping he wouldn’t put me in the corner since
he was being nice.

“Does
your tummy hurt?”

Why
hadn’t I thought of that before? It did kind of hurt… not hurt, it was just
that I wasn’t hungry and if I ate it would hurt. But, he was asking if my tummy
hurt- that must mean if our tummy hurt we wouldn’t have to eat.

“Yeah…”
I rested my head on his shoulder sucking up the attention.

“It’s
ok, baby, why don’t you just go lay down on the sofa in the front room.” He
stood me up and nudged me toward the couch. I should have been happy I had gotten
out of eating. But, instead I was sad and confused about wanting to stay with
him, on his lap. I don’t know how long I lay there before the doorbell rang.

Uncle
Matt came to answer the door and Daddy came out of his office. I scooted to the
end of the couch where whoever was at the door couldn’t see me. But, when Uncle
Matt started to welcome the visitor in, I jumped up and ran down the hall to my
room. Daddy called for me to come back, but I didn’t want to. I was naked. I
stopped in the hall and came back to the end, just shy of where they could see
me.

Uncle
Matt came then. “
Alivia
, go to Daddy.” He pushed me
out of my hiding spot into Daddy’s line of vision.

“
Livvy
. Come here now.” He pointed to the floor just in
front of him. He was sitting in his chair between the two couches. The guests
were a man and a woman seated on the couch closest to the office or front door,
but I didn’t look at them. I looked at the floor and tried to cover myself as I
walked to him. I didn’t want to make him angry. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind
that he would just spank me in front of the company.

When
I got to him he turned me around and pulled me backwards onto his lap and spoke
against my cheek. “Honey, this is my friend Dr. Ross and his little girl, Ellie.
Can you say hello?”

I
turned to him and spoke through my clenched teeth. “I can’t say hi when I don’t
have clothes on.”