Cookie, Neal and Paddle Makes Three: A New Year's Story

Peppe1951

Summary: Neal experiences an interesting New Year's. Warning: The story contains non-consent punishing of an adult; if you don't like, don't read.

Disclaimer: White Collar belongs to USA; I only write about it.

Chapter 1

It was December the 29th and the Christmas decorations were coming down to be packed away for another year. "You know it is only an old wife's saying that states that these have to be down before New Year's or you will have bad luck," groused Neal who had been drafted to help with the chore.

"Maybe but we need all of the good luck we can get; or maybe I should say that you need all of the good luck you can get to keep your backside out of hot water," quipped Peter as he handed down more ornaments to be carefully packaged up.

"Very funny Peter," Neal replied with a frown, his bottom was still sore after the licking he had received from Santa even though none of the family had seen the jolly elf in action as he placed lick after lick on his backside. They hadn't even heard his yells. He guessed that had been Christmas magic as well; he just knew that once it was over with he had believed that Santa really existed and next year he would try harder not to piss the man off.

"Neal…HELP!" cried Cookie as she was loaded down with refreshments for her two hard working boys. Neal sprang up to help and took the tray from her so she could bring in the freshly baked cookies and they all set down to enjoy their treat.

"Is the tree the last thing to take down?" Cookie asked Peter.

"Yes, ma'am; once we have packed up the ornaments and put them in the attic then all we need to do is take the tree to the curb for pick up and we can move on to our next chore," replied Peter to Neal's great surprise. He had thought he would be free after the tree was down.

"I thought that once everything had been taken down and put up I could leave," Neal whined.

"Oh, no," replied Peter sternly, "we still have Mom's stuff to bring from the country and put in her house," he continued to explain and after a careful glance at his Mom he moved on to add, "In fact Mom and I have decided that by the time all of that is done it will be nearly time for the New Year's celebration and to make sure you don't get into any trouble you will be celebrating it with Mom!" He then stood back to wait for the explosion to come forth.

Neal didn't disappoint them for as soon as he understood what Peter was saying he exploded, "NO! I will not agree to that. I want to celebrate with June and Mozzie. I spent Christmas with you guys and it is only fair that I get to celebrate New Year's with June and Mozzie!"

When Neal expressed himself he didn't have the good fortune to think his words over before he yelled them out or he would have remembered that Peter and especially Cookie had remembered June's calling around Christmas Eve to state that she wouldn't be back until after the New Year and what he had just said would be considered a lie by his grandmother who had made it clear on many occasions that she didn't like to be lied to.

"Neal, don't you want to reconsider your words and tell me the truth this time about your New Year's Eve plans?" Cookie asked sternly.

Neal paused as he reconsidered his words and then bounded ahead with, "I told you the truth…June invited me to her New Year's Eve party and I have already accepted." It was only then that he noticed the expressions on both Peter and El's faces and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Neal when June called to ask to talk with you Christmas Eve she mentioned that she would be staying with her son until after the first of January…so if she is having a New Year's Eve party you wouldn't be able to go since it is out of town," El said quietly.

"I can only assume that if you lied about June's party then you probably have with regards to Mozzie," Peter said seriously, "have you?"

"I…I…"began Neal only to feel his ear being grabbed and pulled leaving him no choice but to follow as he cried, "OWWW!" when he felt a blow to his rump followed by two more as he was pulled into the kitchen.

Peter and El only looked at each other as the sounds coming from the kitchen got louder and more frequent. "It seems that your mom found the wooden spoon and is putting it to use on Neal's bottom," murmured El.

Peter nodded and winced as he heard the thrashing continue. "You would think he would have learned by now…come on and hand me the boxes and I'll put them in the attic; hopefully by the time we are finished so will Mom and we can get back to the business of moving Mom to New York City."

The ride to upstate New York was painful for Neal as he had to ride on a very sore bottom having once again being punished for lying to his grandmother. The rest of the day was going to be spent loading the U-Haul with Carolyn's possessions. They would be spending the night to get an early start in the morning for the return to New York and unloading everything at Carolyn's new residence. Carolyn and El had stayed in New York allowing the men to do the actual hard work. Besides Neal and Peter there was Peter's brother Tom and his sister Sally's husband. They felt that between then all they would be able to do the job. This was the final trip they had already had a moving company bring the heavy stuff plus washer and driver and they were already set up in the new house.

"Neal," Peter called, "I want to show you some of my favorite places," and set about to show Neal the tire swing that he remembered swinging in as a small boy as well as the tree it was connected to.

"I remembered the whipping I got when I climbed this tree to the very top when I was nine years old; Mom had told me that I could only go as high as the limb the tire was tied to but when I got there I couldn't stop until I had climbed all the way up."

"She was mad?"

"I think she was more afraid for my safety than mad but as soon as my feet hit the ground and she gathered me up in her arms for a hug she soon remembered that I had disobeyed her and spanked me on the spot. I couldn't sit down comfortably for days…or so it seemed," Peter remembered with a smile.

"You endangered your life needlessly," Neal said slowly as the words only then made sense.

"Yes, and she loved me enough to punish me when I was wrong and when I did foolish things. She wanted me to grow up to be an honorable man," Peter added seriously. "You know she wants the same for you; and she won't stop until she has achieved her goal…no matter how many times she has to show how much she loves you to the seat of your britches…now come with me and I'll show…"

Peter spent the next hour showing Neal everything he had experienced growing up on this farm because soon it would no longer be home. Home was wherever Mom was and now that was a few houses down from his.