The blow hit him like a gunshot – in an instant. He wasn’t ready for it. The force of the blow knocked him ten feet – right into the end post of his bed. It was wrought iron (dark green, with silver serpents entwining around each post – not that that mattered at the moment), so he knew as well as he could feel that it would leave a horrible mark. No bother – just one more to add to the growing roster his father was inflicting upon him.