This short story is an entry in the 2001 Soc.Sexuality.Spanking Summer Short Story Contest and is copyright by the author and commercial use is prohibited without permission. Personal/private copies are permitted only if complete including the copyright notice. The author would appreciate your comments
Category: Edge; before reading this story, take note that it is in the Edge category, and that it involves a child, and be guided accordingly.
An Incident in Occupied Manila
By
Starship <starship_64@yahoo.com>
Martial music filled the air of downtown Manila. From his fourth-story window Ramon watched the victory parade passing by; first the soldiers and their tanks, and now various government officials. He recognized the mayor, the finance minister, and several others. He turned away. "Those bastards!" he said under his breath. "Those worthless, collaborating cowards." He limped across the dingy room, grabbed a bottle of whisky that stood open on the table, and took a long drink. Were there no patriots left?
He pulled out a chair and sat down, still clutching his bottle, and studiously ignoring his young son playing on the floor nearby. Courage was gone from his country, and with it honor. Six months of resistance; of sacrifice; of bloodshed, both American and Filipino. And for what? Just so the fucking government officials could roll over and smile and march in the fucking Japanese victory parade. "What did my brother get himself fucking killed for?" he muttered to himself, taking another long, burning drink from his bottle. "And what did I get my fucking leg shot up for?" For nothing it seemed. His country had given up.
Without warning a toy airplane struck him in the forehead. He jumped to his feet and with two long strides reached his son. The boy's eyes were open wide in an expression of terror. "I'm sorry Daddy!" he cried as Ramon yanked him up by one arm and dragged him back to the chair.
"I told you not to throw that in the house!" he shouted as he sat down again, pulling the child face down across his lap.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" the boy repeated over and over, but Ramon was past listening. In a single move he yanked his belt free of his pants.
"Shut up!" he shouted as he folded the belt over and began bringing it down hard across his son's bottom. "You selfish, ungrateful whelp. I fought for you. I got myself crippled for you. Your uncle Manuel was killed for you. And all you want to do is play with your stupid fucking toy!" As he continued the punishment, the boy's shrieks of pain and fear only spurred him on to whip even harder.
Suddenly Ramon stopped in mid-swing as the music from the parade outside caught his attention through the alcohol and his black rage. The band was playing a different song now. A familiar one. He stood up, allowing the boy to slide to the floor where he lay for just a second in surprise, then ran off to his bedroom to hide. Ramon ignored him and stumbled to the window, then fell to his knees and began weeping. Maybe it wasn't all over, after all. And outside the window the crowd cheered louder than he had ever heard before as the band, now passing directly in front of the viewing stand set up for the Japanese officers, continued to blast out The Stars and Stripes Forever.
The End
© Copyright Summer, 2001
Historical Note: The characters and the story I used are fictional. However the details of the Japanese victory parade, including the song played by the band in front of the reviewing stand, are true and took place shortly after the fall of Corregidor in May of 1942.
Reviews
Kent Stoneking <kentls001(at)worldnet(dot)att(dot)net>
Edgy indeed ... a parent taking out his frustrations on his child (however justified those frustrations may be) is never easy to read about. I also like how the author left the aftermath (what happened between the parent and the child later) up to the reader's imagination. And the historical tie-in was a nice touch.
RCG <rcg1574(at)yahoo(dot)com>
An excellent use of a historical setting, and wonderful depth of character is developed quickly. This short snippet of a story makes you want to read more.