by Katie Bradford
Katie stared silently out the window of her father's Honda. He had hardly said two words to her since they had spoken earlier in the police station. It had been a bittersweet reunion. The second she and Jennifer had walked into the station, both sets of parents had swooped down on them. Once they had discovered there was nothing physically wrong with either one of them, all hell broke loose!
Both girls had been scolded royally by all three adults. Nothing was left unsaid, including what was going to happen once they got home.
Katie saw the smirk on the face of one of the arresting officers when her father announced rather loudly that he was going to blister her bottom the second they got home. Her face turned a deep shade of red with embarrassment. She wanted to walk over to that stupid officer and slap that smile right off his face! He had been smug with the girls right from the very beginning.
As soon as their parents had thanked the officers for all their help, all five of them exited the station. Once they were all outside the station, walking to their separate cars, the girls had been reprimanded again and told they were forbidden to have contact with one another for the next month. The girls could do nothing but look at one another miserably before being hustled into their own parents' car.
The drive home had been disheartening to say the least. As her father drove, Katie was staring dismally out the window, wishing her father would say something... anything as long as he was talking. Not that she really wanted to hear one of his lectures, but it would be better than him being so quiet.
Katie tried talking to him once, but he had told her not to say a word. He was still too angry to discuss things with her reasonably. He implied all the talking would be done once they were home, in one way or another. So, Katie sat quietly contemplating what her fate would be, as well as why she'd let Jennifer talk her into going to Brenham in the first place. She had known all along that they wouldn't get away with it.
The ride home hadn't lasted long. Her father had driven the miles in much less time than she and Jennifer had earlier that morning. Or at least it had seemed that way. In reality, it was probably about the same. It's amazing how time flies when you are dreading what's ahead.
As Mr. Williams pulled into the garage and parked, he reached up and pressed a button on the visor, automatically closing the garage behind them. He then turned his full undivided attention to Katie, and said ominously, "I want you to go up to your room and wait for me."
"But, Daddy..." she started to whine, until she saw the look of fury written all over her father's face and decided it might be best not to cross him at the moment.
"Yes, Sir." Katie hung her head.
Without another word, Katie hurried past her father, trying hard not to cry. She knew she'd be crying plenty before the night was over, no sense in starting early!
Once she was in her room, she unconsciously grabbed her bear and crawled in under her sheets. Berry the bear had brought comfort to Katie for many years, ever since he'd appeared under the Christmas tree when she was two. At one time she wouldn't have been able to sleep without Berry, but of course as she grew older he began sitting on her shelf more and more until one day he was left there permanently. Only when she was particularly sad would she rescue him from his dreary existence, and cuddle with him.
She was definitely in need of comfort that night as she hugged Berry close to her chest and waited for her father to appear.
When he did finally appear, Mr. Williams pulled Katie's desk chair out and placed it by her bed. "Sit up and let's talk," he snapped as he crossed his legs and folded his arms.
Katie wasn't about to defy her father after what she had done. Immediately, she sat up in bed and leaned back against the headboard, while keeping her eyes on Berry who was sitting faithfully in her lap.
"Do you know how worried I was when I found out you weren't where you were supposed to be, young lady?" he asked anxiously.
"Yes Sir..." Katie mumbled monotonously.
"No, I don't think you do! And you probably won't know until you're a parent yourself. It's a parent's worst nightmare to have a child go missing."
Katie's heart jumped slightly with a false sense of hope. She could have sworn she heard a crack in her father's voice, but when she looked up, he had either recovered quickly, or she had been mistaken altogether, because he was scowling more than ever. Her eyes returned quickly back to her bear, with a small aching in her heart.
Mr. Williams sat staring at his daughter for several long seconds, wondering how he was going to make her understand the severity of the situation. Finally, he took a deep breath and said, "When Jenny's mom called and asked to speak to her daughter, I about fainted! I reminded her that you girls were spending the night over at their house, only to be told they were under the impression Jennifer was staying the night with us. Needless to say, the Bowers cut their dinner party short and came over here. We started calling anybody and everybody who might know something. And only after a lot of cajoling did Travis spill his guts."
Mr. Williams saw the dour look on Katie's face and said, "You better be damn glad that boy told us your plans. He didn't want to, but we threatened to go to his parents, so don't be mad at him."
Katie sniffed angrily, making a mental note to kill Travis later.
"Neither of you girls had your cell phones on. Whenever I called your phone it went straight to the voice box. Why did we even buy the damn thing if you're not going to have it on?"
"I didn't even take my phone," Katie snapped back. "We were using Jennifer's phone."
"Why wasn't hers turned on? I called her number too."
"I don't know, Dad... ask her. It's her phone."
"Watch your mouth, little Missy!" He scowled. "Unless you'd like to taste a little soap."
Katie puckered her brow even further, and slumped down in her bed.
"Anyway, once Travis told us you were spending the night in Brenham, the three of us drove up there in my car. We looked for you a little while, but when we couldn't find you on our own we got the police involved. And I believe you know the rest of the story." He snorted. "Now..." He paused then said, "Do you have anything to say to me before I start paddling that little bottom of yours?"
Feeling rather brazen, Katie said, "You know... you and Jenny's parents cause us to do things behind your back. You're so fifty-ish, it's not even funny! You never let us do anything we want to do."
"I don't even remember you asking if you could go to Brenham," Mr. Williams replied sarcastically.
"Well, would you have let me go?"
"No..."
"Well... there you are!" Katie snapped, making a point.
"Well, let's go over the reasons why I would have said no, shall we?" he replied patiently. "For one... you had school on Friday; plus, two sixteen-year-old girls spending the night on their own... I don't think so. In today's world it's far too dangerous!"
"Nothing happened, Dad!" Katie replied with exasperation.
"But it could have. Where were the brains God gave you when you pulled over on the side of the road like that? HUH?!"
"Just spank me, and let's get this over with!" Katie retorted while ignoring his question. Pushing the bedcovers off and scooting towards the edge of her bed towards her father, she added, "Nothing I say will make a difference anyway."
Mr. Williams leaned forward in his chair, gripped Katie's chin firmly between his fingers and made her look directly into his eyes as he spoke malevolently, "You listen to me, little lady. This is no game we're playing. What you did tonight was very serious, and you will be punished severely. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, Sir!" Katie replied, showing the first real sign of fear.
He still had an iron grip on Katie's chin when he continued, "You and Jennifer have been suspended from school for the forged excuse notes. Jennifer, one day and... you get two because this is your second offense! I am also assuming you signed my name when you were signing up for being an extra in that damn movie production. Because my dear... I know for a fact minors have to have parental permission before they can appear on National television. Am I correct?"
Katie nodded her head as best she could with her chin pressed firmly by her father's thumb and forefinger. The anger in his eyes scared Katie enough to direct her own eyes downwards away from his.
"LOOK AT ME WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU, DAMN IT!" Mr. Williams yelled, shaking her chin slightly.
Katie gave a startled cry, but managed to focus once more on her father's enraged eyes.
"During those two days of suspension, you will be reminded that you're not in school. You'll be spanked twice each day, and," he paused and then added, "you're going to be spanked again Saturday night and Sunday night. So six spankings besides the one you're getting tonight! How does that sound, young lady?"
Katie would have balked at this revelation, but was unable to open her mouth.
"You're also grounded for a month, during which there will be no privileges whatsoever. Even your precious computer will be monitored daily to make sure you are using it only for school. Do you understand?"
Katie nodded with tears in her eyes. Her future looked very bleak.
"Now... that brings us to tonight, doesn't it Kathryn?" he said condescendingly.
Mr. Williams was feeding off the fear he was seeing in his daughter's eyes. He wanted her to feel the same way he had felt earlier that evening when he thought she was missing. Although the reasoning was certainly different, the fear factor was still there.
"You're in for quite a spanking tonight, sweetheart. I wouldn't plan on sitting comfortably any time soon," Mr. Williams warned as he stood up and walked over to the dresser. Turning his head briefly, he ordered, "Take your jeans off, young lady."
Knowing her punishment was inevitable, Katie slowly unzipped her zipper and began the process of lowering her jeans. She hated undressing in front of her father, although she wasn't sure why. This wouldn't be the first time he'd be seeing her practically naked.
Her jeans were barely past her bottom when she heard her father gasping.
"What are those!?"
Katie had no idea what her father was referring to until she saw where his eyes were resting, and then she remembered the panties she had chosen to wear that day. She would have changed into some of her granny panties while she was waiting if she had remembered.
"Just who in the hell did you think would see you in those panties? Turn around and let me see the back," he demanded.
Apprehensively, Katie turned around as she was told, only to feel a tremendous swat on the very center of her bottom.
"These will be going in the trash momentarily!" he yelled, as he pulled on the waistband and let it pop back against her skin.
"But, Daddy, all the..." Katie started, but was quickly cut off.
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