I was standing in the woodshed, looking at the place I put Feltar's body.
Grace was right, it was gone.
"Maybe Shawn came back for it?" whispered Grace.
I shook my head. "You know, I don't think so. If he wanted the body, he
could take it then."
Grace sighed. "I wanted to bury him," she said. "Properly, you know. I know
he was a bad man, but in the end he went through a lot of pain, too."
"What was that thing with him and Raia?" I asked.
Grace sighed. "Zack... you spanked me for what I did, right?"
"Right," I nodded.
"And... it was for everything, right?"
"Where are you going to?" I asked.
Grace was trembling a bit. "Did... Merta tell you what really happened?"
"Yes," I nodded. "She told me that she sent yourselves to Ceris."
Grace nodded. "Except it wasn't her. It was Raia."
When we left the woodshed, we didn't speak. I was shocked by Grace's revelation.
I was angry, yes, for her summoning of Raia, but I never thought...
Thinking about it, Raia, when I met her, didn't exactly behave in the way
the legend described. Yes, she was responsible for Spectre's death - and maybe
Fia's - but...
I wasn't sure what I would do in her place. I wanted to talk to her, but
I was afraid I would hurt Merta.
For the first time I started to wonder if Raia's disappearing would really
be a good thing.
Then we reached the house. Grace didn't change, she just fell asleep on
the floor.
After a while, so did I.
Once again, I've woken up into darkness. There was a few blankets in the
house and the girls wrapped one of them around my head. It was starting to
be really annoying.
"You could just let me sleep," I sighed.
"What, risking you will wake up and see us naked?" smirked May. "No, thanks."
"Hey, I'm not nearly as perverted as you seem to think," I protested.
"There are things you are just not supposed to see," replied May.
"May, I think I'm going to turn you over my knee and we will see just what
things they are," I threatened. "This is maddening! We must do something about
this accommodation!"
May finally removed the blanket. All the girls were dressed, except Rosey.
She was still sleeping in her flower-patterned pajamas.
"I didn't have the heart to wake this little angel up," sighed Soot with
an apologetic face. "So, what's the today's plan, 'leader'?"
"I know!" cried out Merta. "I could show you that new spell I got! I think
we might use it to make more rooms under this house!"
"I just don't think it would be stable," said Grace. "What if the whole
house collapsed? Then we would have nothing."
"It could be done," said Merta. "I'm sure it could!"
"And what about those big chunks of dirt and rocks?" complained Grace. "You
could make holes in the cliffs with that thing, but not here. Over my dead
body!"
"Over your dead body?" mused Soot. "I am the owner of this house,
you know."
"Yes, and I'm the maid responsible for cleaning," countered Grace. "Of course,
if you want to do it, madam..."
"Girls!" I interrupted them. "Now. Both of you have your points, but,
we might only stay here for three days. Two more nights. We can do that without
any extensive remodelling. Now, Soot, you were asking about my plans?"
She nodded. "Yes."
"We don't have much money - once again. So, I guess... I'm going to the
town to buy some food. If anyone wants to go with me, he can. May, Linda,
would you get the dinner from the forest?"
Perfect pairing, I thought. A hunter and a gatherer.
"No fair!" said May. "I wasn't in the town yesterday. I want to go, too!"
"I'll stay," said Merta. "I learnt about mushrooms and such things."
I paled a bit. "Please, stay away from the mushrooms. Get some raspberries,
blueberries, and so on. Grace... will you stay and look after her?"
She nodded. "Yes. Of course."
"I'm going outside," I announced. "Soot, do you want to take Rosey?"
She nodded. "Definitely! I would... worry, leaving her here."
When I was going outside, I pulled on Grace's elbow and took her with me.
"Now, I'm sure it's a common sense," I said, "but no calling upon Raia again,
OK?"
"I told you, Zack!" sighed Grace. "She might be bad, but she's definitely
not evil!"
"I trust you," I nodded. "but I still think it's dangerous. If Raia should...
surface again, I want to be there. Please, Grace, there could be trouble.
Promise me!"
Grace nodded. "OK, Zack. I promise." She smiled. "Upon my paddle."
"If you break your promise," I nodded, "the paddle is definitely going to
make an impact."
"What kind of man was your father?" asked May along the way.
Soot turned her head. "What kind?"
"Well, you know... Was he a good father?"
Soot wondered. "Hmmm... I'm not sure. He was a good thief, definitely."
"How could he do any thieving in this place? He lived long way from the
town, but everyone knew about him!"
Soot nodded. "He didn't do any of that stuff after we moved here. He...
had retired, you know. Did a lot of hunting - and woodcrafting. He was famous
thief while Mom was alive, but I don't really remember much from that time.
But he was always teaching me, telling me the tricks of the trade..."
She sighed. "I went away to follow my own path. That was five years ago.
And I never saw him again."
"I'm sorry," said May. "I shouldn't... make you remember that."
"Oh, it does hurt," said Soot. "But not as much as if we were close
these last few years. But... the Queen will get my revenge, you know."
"For your father?"
She shook her head. "Not for him. And not for Fia, either - we were never
too close. I want to get revenge for Rosey. For her having to grow up without
parents."
"You are her parent now," said May quietly.
Soot shook her head. "No way. I would be... very bad parent."
I've started to develop a soft spot for Rosey. I've never seen a girl so
lively. She was constantly running out of sight, but she knew the way by the
heart so I was not worried about her.
"I'll buy you some sweets in the town, right?" I asked.
She nodded. "Thanks, Uncle Zack!"
Uncle? I wondered. Still, it sounded quite natural... it had a nice ring...
"What are you doing?"
Merta blinked and looked around. She was sitting under the tree. From branch
above her, Linda was hanging by her legs. Her skirt was falling down to reveal
that she still wasn't wearing any panties. Despite herself, Merta had to laugh.
"Come down, you," she said. "I'm trying new spells."
"Like this?" asked Linda. She quickly traced a small tetrahedron on the
ground.
"Yes," nodded Merta. She drew an icosahedron and dowsed the fire. "But you
can't make a fire in the forest," she scolded her.
"Why not?"
"Well, it would get you spanked."
"Point taken," nodded Linda. "Can you do others?"
"Well, I can do this..."
Merta drew a cube. In a short while both girls were looking in the hole.
"Could be useful," said Linda. "Can I try it?"
"You can't do it?"
"I've never tried. Show me again - please."
Merta drew another cube. Then she made it close.
"Is it still there?" asked Linda.
Merta showed her a faint outline of the outer square traced in the ground.
"Yes. As long as this line is not broken."
"If it is, what happens with whatever is inside?"
Merta sighed. "It's expelled out. You know, this would be the perfect thing
to enlarge the house. It doesn't really drain you - not after it's done. But
it's too unstable to use all the time..." She opened it again.
"I'll try!" cried Linda. Then she traced her own version. On the bottom
of the original cube.
"No, you can't do it over another diagram, that won't work..." started Merta,
but Linda has already finished.
Then the ground vanished.
"Shall we have to work again?" asked Soot as the town gates neared. "I mean
- people here are mostly fishermen, right? We live a bit too far in the forest
to be fishermen."
"We will find something," I ensured her. "Why, doesn't the idea of work
appeal to you?"
"Oh, Zack," she sighed. "You are soooo understating..."
I had to laugh.
"I won't mind working," said May. "As long as I won't have to be a waitress."
All of us started to laugh, except Rosey.
"Don't let me go!" yelled Merta.
"Don't worry!" replied Linda. "I could hold you there the whole day."
"Well, don't do that, pull me out!" she shrieked.
Where the square was drawn, was now a deep pit - so deep Linda couldn't
see the bottom. Merta couldn't, neither, but she tried her best not to look
into it. Finally, Linda pulled her up the tree.
"How deep do you think it is?" she said in wonder.
Linda drew a small tetrahedron and threw it in the pit. It fell, and shined...
"Very deep," she said, in the end. "But I think I've seen the bottom just
before it burned out."
"Someone could fall into it!" cried Merta. "Zack would burn our bottoms
for that! Quick, we have to cancel it!"
But the pit has stayed, even after they completely destroyed the edges.
The inside was covered with hard crust as if the dirt and stones had to withstand
intense heat.
"You know," said Linda thoughtfully, "I think we might just have found out
something..."
"I'll go shopping at the market," I said to the girls. "You should try to
find a stall that would need your help. Not necessarily today, you know, but..."
May nodded. "I will try it. Soot and Rosey should go with you, though."
And she was gone.
"We will try some fresh fish," I mused. "Linda will love them."
"What about my sweets?" asked Rosey indignantly.
"Later," I said. "It's late morning and the fishmongers usually close at
noon."
Rosey pouted. "Oh."
She was cute even when she was pouting. I had started to look for a fishmonger's
stall.
"There is nothing about that effect in the book," said Merta. "But I think
nobody really ever tried to combine powers of more Geomancers." She drew a
cube on the tree trunk. It opened to a bark-covered cavity. "Draw another
one here."
Linda complied. A burst of light - and suddenly there was a square hole
leading right through the trunk. The inside of it was charred.
"By itself, the cube creates a sort of... extension," said Merta. "A place
that didn't exist before. But this technique just blasts a hole through anything."
"So we can't enlarge the house this way," said Linda. "We would just destroy
the walls."
"Maybe not. If we dig in the floor, then..." Merta blinked. "I have an idea
- draw a cube on the trunk, please!"
Linda did. Then Merta draw hers.
This time, the hole only reached halfway in the trunk.
"It's the angle," said Merta. "If the second cube is skewed, the hole is
more shallow. Oh, this is great! No more trouble with space!"
"Grace won't allow us to try it in the house," said Linda dubiously.
May was going through the market, looking at the stalls. Would anyone employ
me? she wondered. Would I be worthy of being employed?
She almost bumped into someone and she raised her head to apologize. "I'm
sorry..."
The man smiled at her. "Oh, what a coincidence. I was just thinking about
you."
"Max...!"
My fears were justified - there were not many fish left. I've chosen a big
one, fresh enough to last a while. Linda would be happy. At least...
Suddenly I heard cries. I turned around.
I've seen Rosey standing by a stall, yelling at the top of her lungs. A
man was holding her hand firmly.
Just when you think there were no more trouble.
"What are you doing here?" asked May.
Max shrugged. "Selling my wares, what else? Even on a small island, there
are naughty girls. By the way, what about that wooden spoon I gave you? Was
it used already?"
"No!" yelped May. "I was pretty good all the time, thanks. Many... things
happened."
"No doubt," nodded Max. "Hmmm... are you, by any chance, looking for a part-time
job again?"
"What?" May blinked. "But... your voice is all right now. You don't need
help anymore."
"Oh, I can always use some help," Max assured her. "I can offer you the
same pay, too. I'm going to stay here for a while."
"Hmmm... I don't know." May hesitated. "I still don't feel good among those
things."
"Oh, you don't have to! If you will look a bit worried about your bottom,
it will be a good advertisement," said Max.
"What? I am not an advertisement!" said May sternly.
"Just a little joke," replied Max. "Please, permit me. Would you like to
work for me?"
"Not right now," said May quickly. "Tomorrow - maybe. But... surely Soot
would be better for your business?"
Max smiled. "Might be. But trust me - I have my reasons. Besides, I have
to find a place in the inn for today, I can't start business today..."
He fell silent as both him and May turned their heads to a commotion in
the center of the marketplace.
"What's going on there?" he muttered.
"She did what?" I asked again. I couldn't believe it.
"She tried to swipe off that lollipop," said the sweets seller, a pink,
fat man with three chins. "Again!"
"Again?"
"You're new here," said the man, "but she has already tried that once. Well,
young lady, you do remember what happened then, don't you?"
Rosey paled and started crying even harder.
"I guess her mother must have given it to her pretty good then," I said
with sympathies. Inside, however, I was furious. What did Rosey do? Cute
or not, such behaviour couldn't go unpunished!
"No, not really," said the man. "I did."
"You spanked her?" I blinked. "And her mother didn't mind?"
"No," shrugged the man. "She told her that it's her responsibility and turned
her over to me. And I've turned her over my lap and gave her a thrashing she
wouldn't soon forget! Except that she apparently did - so she needs a reminder."
Soot finally found her breath. "Maybe she does - but now I am in
charge here and I say you won't lay a finger on her!"
The man got red in his face. "In that case, young lady, I demand that girl
to get an exemplary chastisement - and I'm going to watch to see if it's enough.
Do you know how much money I lose thanks to kids like her? She steals something
from me almost every time I'm here - but I could only catch her red-handed
twice, and believe me - I'm paying very good attention to her!"
It seemed impossible for Rosey to cry any harder, but definitely not for
lack for trying.
"Well..." Soot faltered. I could see a moral dilemma brewing, so I decided
to step into the matter.
"This girl, sir," I said, "lost her mother recently. I'm sure that whatever
she did, she did just because the shock didn't wear off yet. She won't be
punished just because you want her to be punished. I will pay for any
damages, in full. How much does it cost?"
The man blinked. "Well, she stole at least dozen of those lollipops while
I wasn't looking over the time..."
"If you weren't looking," pointed out Soot, "how do you know it was her?"
"Who else it could be?"
"I don't know," shrugged Soot. "I suppose you have some... evidence?"
The man paused. "Well... no, if you take it that way."
"And today," continued Soot, "she didn't actually steal anything,
right? You caught her and the lollipop is undamaged."
"And we are going to buy it anyways," I said. "So there is no problem at
all. Right?"
Merta and Linda approached the house with excitement. Grace opened the door
when they came near.
"Good you're back," she said. "I was just thinking about making lunch!"
"We will help," offered Linda.
"Did you get any food?" asked Grace.
"Well... not yet," admitted Merta. "I mean - we were experimenting with
geomancy."
"But we will need it," said Grace. "There's almost nothing in here. Some
salted meat, some flour, some biscuits... Potatoes... Well, I could bake
something, I suppose..."
"You know," said Merta, "we have discovered something really interesting.
We... think we might enlarge the house considerably - and without any debris!"
"Wait for Zack with that," said Grace. "I'll make some potato pancakes.
Thete's no garlic, but..."
But the girls didn't listen to her. They were busy making their own plans.
Not a word was spoken until May returned. And she wasn't alone.
"Max!" said Soot, pleased to see him. "Hi!"
Rosey was silent.
"Max wants me to work for him," said May. "He will pay me - so I can do
the shopping from now on! Did you find anything?"
"Well, not really," I shrugged. "You see, Rosey..."
Rosey clamped my arm. "No, Uncle Zack, don't tell her!"
I sighed. "Well, there's something we have to talk through with her."
Max nodded. "A family matter, is that right?"
I hesitated. "Well, not exactly family, but... I think I know what
you mean."
Max beamed. "I would consider a honor, if you would allow me to get your
sister a lunch."
I blinked. "Come again?"
"I was saying..."
"Oh. Sure..." This shocked me a bit. "But she eats quite a lot... Ouch!"
As May left, dragging Max with her, I rubbed my head where she bonked it.
"Girls are sensitive," smirked Soot.
I turned towards Rosey and she lowered her eyes.
"Rosey," I asked. "Can you tell me what happened?"
"I tried to swipe a lollipop," said Rosey. "But I made a mistake and he
caught me."
"Why did you do that in the first place?" said Soot.
Rosey shrugged. "I just wanted it."
"You can't just steal whatever you want..." said Soot, but her voice trailed
off. She started sweating.
"Why? You do, right?" replied Rosey.
Soot was panicking. "What... how do you..."
"Grandfather told me," shrugged Rosey. "He told me lots of things. Showed
me how to do it so they won't catch me. And he told me you are the best thief
he had ever seen!"
I was kind of sympathetic to Soot. How can you explain to a child that stealing
is bad when you are a thief?
"I... I didn't steal anything for... quite a time," said Soot. "Look, I...
The thing is... stealing is..."
She couldn't say it. If stealing was bad, then so was she. And if it wasn't
- there was nothing to talk about.
To my horror, she started to sob.
"Please," she said. "Don't do it again! This is not a life for you - you
can never have a home, you are on the run all the time, get thrown in the
prison sometimes... Please, Rosey!"
"When Mommy found I tried to steal, that time, she was furious," said Rosey.
"I had to go to that man and ask him to forgive me. And he... he... he spanked
me with a belt! It hurt soooo much!"
"No wonder," I said. "I don't think it was right thing for her to do, though.
But if I was there, I would give you a spanking myself - and I would spank
Soot, too, if she tried to steal while she travels with me!"
"Is it true?" yelped Rosey. "Auntie, he would really spank you?"
Soot hung her head in shame. "I have no doubts he would," she muttered.
"He's that type of a person."
Rosey sighed. "So... will you... spank me?"
I thought about that. She did deserve a spanking, no doubts about
that, and Soot wasn't clearly the right person to do it, but...
"Rosey," said Soot. "If you promise me you won't steal again... I won't
steal, either."
"Really?" said Rosey, amazed.
"If they caught me, they might took me from you," said Soot. "And right
now... Rosey, you are the only relative I've got left. I don't want to lose
you."
She took a deep breath. "Rosey, it's bad thing to steal. I'm sorry."
"But if it is, then you are..."
Soot nodded. "I am a bad girl, yes, Rosey. I'm ashamed, but I am. And so..."
She came to me and smiled. It was a scared, nervous smile.
"Zack, you must show Rosey that stealing has very bad consequences," she
said. "You should use my hairbrush to do it."
"What?" I blinked. "Soot, I don't think she deserves the hairbrush..."
"Who's talking about her?" sighed Soot. "It's me who should get the
hairbrush. Rosey must see what can happen if she will steal again."
Rosey stared at her. "He's going to spank you?"
"Yes, he is," said Soot firmly. "Because I really was a naughty girl.
And I... don't want to be, not anymore. There is a spanking room in
the restrooms, right?"
Rosey nodded. "Mommy took me there... many times. But, Auntie, I don't want
you to get a spanking! I understand, I won't steal again!"
"It's something I have to go through," said Soot. "For myself... and for
you."
"Look," I said, "I haven't said I will spank you."
"Oh? You don't want to?" she asked, with head cocked.
I wanted to, but I couldn't really admit it.
"Well, you see..." I gave up. "What kind of spanking do you want?"
Soot sighed. "A big one. Please."
"No!" yelped Rosey. "Don't spank her, please! I deserve a spanking, not
her!"
That was something you don't hear every day. Both of them were looking at
me teary-eyed. I could understand their feelings... or maybe I just thought
so.
"Well," I said, "what about this: instead of giving Soot a big spanking,
I'll give a good spanking to both of you."
They both hesitated. "OK," said Rosey, in the end. Soot had just nodded.
"In that case," I said, "we will go to the spanking room now, and get to
the bottom of the matter."
Merta drew a cube and Linda drew a second one.
They looked at the result.
"Looks good," nodded Merta. "We can now control the depth quite easily.
So... we will do a vertical shaft, right?
"Right," nodded Linda. "With a ladder, for easy getting in and out. And
in the bottom, we make a larger room and some small ones for each of us.
"Won't it collapse?" asked Merta.
"Hmmm... not sure," mused Linda. "You know... we could try it here. In the
forest. Just a trial."
Merta didn't hesitate for long.
"Good idea."
"I wonder if he will spank her," said May. "I mean - she's so small and cute.
But I'm sure she must have done something."
"Do you think he should?" asked Max.
May shrugged. "I don't know. I mean - all the girls get spanked at
times, right? I... have never heard otherwise."
Max nodded. "I think Zack is a just disciplinarian. After all, if he can
spank you properly, he should have no trouble at all with that girl."
"And just what did you mean by that?" countered May.
"Well, I can imagine you can be rather... difficult to deal with," chuckled
Max.
"I have my own head, if it's okay with you," said May calmly. "And he doesn't
spank me because of disagreements. He's not like you."
"Hey," protested Max. "I never said I would..."
"Sorry," sighed May. "I'm a bit edged right now."
They brought the food.
The spanking room was small and unoccupied. Children here were probably
notoriously good. There wasn't even a proper chair, just a bench for waiting
and a small, three-legged stool.
Soot gave me the hairbrush and bent to hug Rosey.
"We both deserve a good spanking, don't we?" she said.
"Yes, Auntie," sighed Rosey. "Please, Auntie, can I get my spanking first?
I hate when I have to wait..."
"Nope, Rosey," said Soot. "I'm older." She hooked her thumbs on the waistling
of her trousers. "Zack, sit down. We should do this quickly."
I sat down and she bent forward, quickly pulled her trousers and panties
down, and lied across my lap.
She started to sob. And I raised the hairbrush.
This was only the third time I've spanked Soot, but I tried to do my best.
I spanked her slow and steady, trying to cover every square inch of her bottom.
I improved all the time and I let her feel the improvement in full.
Saying that she cried like a little girl would be understatement. She was
bawling so much even Rosey looked a bit embarrassed. She was coughing and
crying, kicking her legs as much as she could with her trousers and panties
tangled at her knees.
Really, there was no spanking that could actually punish her for all those
years of life she spent as a thief, but I had promised her a "good" spanking
and that's what I was giving her. She wanted to be an example for Rosey? Fine!
I made her an example.
By the end, she was crying freely - and so was Rosey. I let her go. However
cool she normally was, she wailed and rubbed her red bottom the same way as
any other girl. I don't know - maybe it's my charm.
I tried to stand up, but Soot stopped me.
"No... don't," she said. "You... still have work to do."
She looked at Rosey who was desperately trying to not be seen.
"You need to work a lot on your blending," she chuckled.
"How did you get to this... line of work?" asked May. "It still seems...
odd to me. I mean, I always thought that those... things are sold by stern
old man who never smile."
"Why should a spanking peddler look like he wants to spank you all the time?"
said Max. "I prefer my way. Look at my implements, I say. Yes, each and every
one of them can burn your bottom. All of them can sting, all of them are
scary and they would make you cry. But I see you are a good girl. Surely
your Mom needs a new wooden spoon for the kitchen? Maybe your Dad's trousers
keep falling? Your hair are getting tangled easily? So be a good girl...
and you will never have to find out their other purpose."
Despite herself, May had to laugh. "So how did you get to it?"
Max smiled. "My father was a lumberjack."
"And... that's it?"
Max shook his head. "No. You see, when I was ten, my father had an accident.
He... lost his right arm."
"I'm sorry," said May quietly.
"Since then, I had to take over all the 'men's jobs'." He smiled. "House
repair, garden work... and yes, spankings, too."
"Spankings?"
"I have two younger sisters. Mom never spanked us and Dad... couldn't, not
after what happened, so it was my job."
"I bet you enjoyed it," said May sourly.
Max chuckled. "Well, yes. They could be terrible pricks at times. It was
always easier to talk to them after a good bottom-warming."
"And you still like to spank, right?" said May. "That's why you sell that
stuff."
"I believe in spankings," said Max, simply. "You wouldn't believe how well-behaved
my sisters were after I started to tend to them! The first few months were
hard, but after I got enough authority, they were spanked very sparsely."
"They were afraid of you!" accused May.
Max sighed. "I... really don't think so. They were just better behaved."
It was a strange picture: Soot holding Rosey with one hand, and clutching
her bottom with the other. Her pants were still tangled, but her shirt was
long so I didn't see anything I "wasn't supposed to see".
I sighed. "Well, what do we have here?" I said.
"Will... will I get the same spanking as Auntie Soot got?" asked Rosey.
"Well, I won't use the hairbrush on you, Rosey, and I won't spank you nearly
that hard, but you are going to get a good spanking, yes."
"Will you scold me?" asked Rosey.
"Excuse me?"
"Mom had always scolded me before she spanked me. She was telling me what
a naughty bad girl I was. Sometimes, when I did something really bad..."
"Yes?" I said.
Rosey sobbed. "She... she would tell me that I'm as bad as Auntie Soot."
Soot opened her mouth in gasp. "She did what?"
"Come here," I said. "Sit on my knee."
Rosey did, reluctantly. I hugged her. I nodded to Soot and she hugged her,
too.
"You might do a bad thing," I said, "but you are a good girl. You are getting
a spanking because you were bad, not because you are bad. Understand?"
She nodded.
"I think you got enough scolding for today," I continued. "Don't you think
so?"
She nodded again, more resolutely.
"So, stand up and go over my knee. Consider this spanking a reminder to always
be a good girl."
This time, she didn't nod, she just hung her head.
We let her go. She sighed and lied over my lap.
"When does Zack spank you?" asked Max. "It seems to me that it's the
same thing as with me and my sisters."
May blushed. "That's not your concern! I... I barely get spanked!"
"Oh, on the bare?"
May blushed even more. "Oh, you would like to know that, would you?" He doesn't
have to, she thought. Girls were always spanked on the bare, she never
heard about doing it otherwise, but still - it was so embarrassing to admit
it!
"Maybe I would," nodded Max. "I mean, my implements are dimensed for bare
bottoms, so..."
May slapped his face. "How dare you!" she cried. "Do you think I find it
funny, to stay here and... speak about these things? You know what - you
should print your name on all those... things, so every time some poor girl
gets hurt because of you, she will know who's guilty!"
Max sighed. "Look, I didn't mean it that way..."
"Don't count with me ever helping you again!"
May stormed out.
She whimpered as I bared her bottom. Soot clasped her hands in hers.
Then the magic moment passed. The full realization of what was going to happen
hit her just before my hand did.
Once again, I had to try my best. Rosey was very naughty and I had to make
sure her bottom will pay the full price.
OK, actually I didn't spank her hard. I couldn't, I was feeling sorry for
her. But I slapped her bare butt anyways, because that's what I was supposed
to do.
Why did it have to end up like this, I wondered. I was never popular with
girls, but I always wished to be their friend. To help them through tough
times, to make them laugh...
Instead, I was making girls cry. Was it worth it?
I gave Rosey a few final spanks and let her go. She ran to Soot, hugged her
and cried and cried. I felt terrible.
Then she let Soot go and hugged me.
"I'm sorry," she sobbed, "to make you do this, Uncle Zack."
I patted her head. There was nothing to be said.
We came out of the restroom only to encounter May who was apparently waiting
for us. Rosey yelped and blushed furiously. Soot managed to stay calm. They
certainly heard Rosey's spanking, but her own could, maybe, stay secret?
"How was the lunch?" I asked.
"Fine," answered May coldly.
I raised my eyebrows. "Where's Max?"
"Why should I know?"
"Oh, a quarrel?" smirked Soot. She was back to her old self - almost.
"No!"
Soot backed. "OK, I was just asking, that's all..."
"We should buy something for lunch, too," I said. "Then - we can go home."
"Home," mused Soot.
"Ready?"
Linda nodded. "Ready."
"OK. Digging... now!"
Then there was light.
When we went out of the town, Max was waiting there.
"What are you doing here?" yelled May. "Get lost, you... you..."
"Oh, I'm here to talk to Zack, actually," said Max. "It doesn't concern you.
Still, if you want to come tomorrow and help me... my offer still stands."
"Are you stupid or what?" cried May. "I'm not going to help you! Soot,
Rosey, let's go! Let the men talk!"
She stormed off.
"She seems to really hate you," I noted.
He sighed. "It's that job of mine. May hates everything that concerns spankings.
They must have really strong effect on her."
"Yes," I admitted. "Well... I'm sure she didn't mean it that way."
"She's probably scared I would spank her," he sighed.
"Would you?"
He considered that. "If she deserved it. And if you gave me the permission,
of course."
"That's not enough," I told him. "You would have to get her permission,
too. She's old enough to have a say."
Max nodded. "I'm sorry. I should have thought of that."
"So... you wanted to speak to me just to ask for permission to spank my sister?"
Max laughed and shook his head. "Oh, no. In fact, I want to talk to you about
another girl we both know."
I sighed. "Did Soot steal something from your stall?"
He looked puzzled. "Not that I know... No, Zack, I want to talk about
Raia."
End
of Chapter 15
May's Readers' Corner:
OK, here it is. I can't believe I was looking forward to him. He's such
a jerk! And when I slapped him... for a second I was really afraid he's going
to turn me over his knee and spank me right there, in the restaurant! I wonder
what he wants to talk with Zack about? Wait... he doesn't want to tell on
me, right? I would probably get out of that, but there is still a possibility...
Well, you might find out in the next chapter, titled "Dreams of the Blood"! And
just what are those girls back home doing?
May's Readers' Corner: