Nathan Isaiah stole a glance back towards the train station as the wagon rumbled down the lane. It was a fine summer morning, but Nathan's thoughts were unwillingly drawn to the events of the past year. His father had died when he was eight years old. Since then, Nathan had been a problem child. His mother was not strict enough to reign in his defiant temper. In the past year, Nathan had been expelled from four schools.
His mother became aware of a program in which difficult children were placed into strict families for a month. These families were also looking to adopt, so the possibility of adoption was on the table. Because of the adoption option, only children of single parents could apply to the program. This would allow the family to adopt the child and house the single parent as well. His mother began looking for a strict family to place him in.
Nathan recalled how angry he had been when his mother had finally found a family that would take him. At seventeen, Nathan thought he no longer needed much parental control. But now he was riding in the wagon with Mr. Faris, the head of the household he would be living in. Nathan's thoughts were abruptly brought back to the present.
"Almost there now," said Mr. Faris. Over the crest of the hill, Nathan could see the large yellow mansion and two large barns his mother had told him about.
"The gardens are a very pleasant place to wander on a day such as this," remarked Mr. Faris.
"Sure," Nathan replied sullenly.
He was determined not to enjoy anything that happened while he was staying with this family. As the wagon teetered down the gravel lane towards the house, Nathan's eyes wandered around the property. He saw glimpses of the cattle that were the financial supply of the ranch, and the extensive gardens and grounds Mr. Faris had just mentioned. Even though he tried not to be impressed, Nathan couldn't curtail his feeling of awe at the massive scene before him.
"Woah!", Mr. Faris called to the horses as the wagon pulled up in front of the house. As he tied the horses up, "We'll get your things inside and get you settled before I put the horses in the barn." Nathan didn't say a word, but grudgingly jumped down from the wagon and grabbed his suitcase.
As Nathan turned towards the house, he saw the rest of the Faris family gathered on the veranda to meet him.
"Come on, no need to be nervous," said Mr. Faris, as Nathan hung back from the family. Nathan almost leaped forward in an attempt to look like he had not been afraid.
Nathan was a rebellious teen and had never had any structure or parental discipline in his life. He wore pants that hung down, so you could see his underwear and his shirt was too big for him. He wore a gold chain around his neck. He looked the model picture of a gothic teen. Mr. Faris planned to deal with Nathan's clothing in the future, for now he was introducing Nathan to his family.
"These are my children. Cargill James is 17, Melissa Joy, or Missie, is 14, Jason Peter is almost 10, and lastly Aaron David is almost 4." Nathan said hi to all the kids, and then Mr. Faris went on to introduce Nathan to his wife but was interrupted by his youngest.
"Why don't you have clothes that fit right? If ya did, we wouldn't see undies!" Mr. Faris immediately stooped down to Aaron's level and spoke sternly.
"Aaron! What you just said was very rude. Do you understand why what you said was unkind?"
"Yes, daddy. I make fun of Nathan's clothing."
"That's right, Aaron. It is rude and very unkind to make mean comments about others. What did daddy tell you this morning about how you are to treat Nathan?"
"I supposeded to be nice and not say rude or dis'spectful things."
"That's right. And what did I say would happen if you disobeyed me?"
"No, daddy! Please no spank!"
"Aaron, you disobeyed me by speaking rudely to Nathan and I told you what would happen, yet you still chose to behave unkindly towards our guest." At this, Aaron began to sob and leaned into his father, seeking comfort even from the man who he knew would be punishing him moments later.
"I sorry, daddy! I no do again! Please no spankin!"
"Aaron, you know that I love you right?"
"Yes, daddy. I wuv you too."
"Daddy just wants you to grow up into a man that other people will want to be around. People don't like to be around rude and unkind people, so I have to spank you, so you remember not to behave so again."
Still sobbing, but with less force, Aaron replies, "I know daddy. I just no like having stinging bottom."
"Oh, baby. Daddy understands, but it will be a small spanking, and you can be a brave little man and take the consequences for your choices, right?"
"Yes, daddy. I can do that."
"Alright son, give me your hands (you know you can't help but reach back and I don't want to have to give you more swats for interfering with your punishment)."
"Yes, daddy." With that, Aaron rested his small hands in his father's left hand. Then as soon as Aaron did that, Mr. Faris applied four stinging swats to Aaron backside.
Sobbing Aaron said, "I so sorry daddy, I no speak meanly ever again! I no want another spanking."
"Aaron, you are such a brave little man, and daddy is so proud of you. Now let this be a reminder not to speak such unkind things again, alright?"
"Yes, daddy." Mr. Faris then gave Aaron a look that even at his young age he knew meant his daddy wanted him to apologize sincerely to Nathan for his comment.
Aaron said, "Nathan, I sorry for saying mean things about your clothes. I think you look kind of cool. I never seen anyone dressed like you before. Will you forgive me?"
Nathan replied strongly, "Of course, little man. Little man, hmm, I like that name for you. Do you mind if my nickname for you is little man?"
"Sure!"
Mr. Faris interrupted the conversation to say, "Aaron, you will be going to bed an hour earlier tonight, and I want you to think about how your words can hurt people's feelings and how you need to think about what you say before you say it."
Aaron replied sadly, yet respectfully, "Yes, sir."
Mr. Faris interjected, "Well, let's get you inside Nathan and we'll have a talk about the rules." As Nathan went to follow Mr. Faris, his first thought was there was no way this man could make him do anything against his inclination. Nathan would soon learn, however, how very wrong he was.
Mr. Faris led Nathan into an office room off the entry hall and offered him a chair at a small table. He availed himself of the other available chair, and handed Nathan a sheet of paper. "This is a list of the rules that govern my household. One of the rules is to obey Mrs. Faris' and my authority. This rule should then be applied to all your elders." Mr. Faris gave Nathan a moment to look over the basic rules he had provided.
"Do you understand the rules of my household?", said Mr. Faris.
Nathan replied, "Yep."
"Let me make something very clear to you from the beginning," said Mr. Faris, "When speaking to us or your elders you are to say yes ma'am, no ma'am or yes sir, no sir. You are not to respond with yep or anything else. Do I make myself perfectly clear?"
"Yes, sir," Nathan replied.
"Very good. Now let me explain what the consequences are for disobedience," Mr. Faris began.
"I don't want to hear them," muttered Nathan.
"What did you just say, young man?", asked Mr. Faris sternly.
Nathan replied defiantly, "I'm not going to tell you. If I did, you would probably punish me."
"I'm already going to punish you for talking back to me in that way, so you are going to tell me what I commanded you to tell me."
"Fine. I said I didn't want to hear you explain the consequences for disobedience to your household rules," Nathan reiterated.
Mr. Faris replied sternly, "Then you will go to your room and wait there until I come to you."
As Nathan left the room, he glanced back to see Mr. Faris pacing the office. Once out of the office, Nathan made a bolt for his room and slammed the door. He threw himself onto his bed and waited for Mr. Faris to make his appearance.