WARNING: The following story will contain discipline in the form of spanking of one (or more) teenage vampires. If this bothers you at all, please abandon the story now. I will provide an additional author's note for the chapter that contains the spanking. That is all.
Up in a Tree (Carlisle)
I got home from work an hour early today. After finishing my house calls, I decided to forgo paperwork and spend some time relaxing instead. I parked my El Dorado on the edge of the property so that I could walk through the woods and stretch my muscles. It was a perfectly nice overcast day in late August. Perhaps, I thought, the boys could be convinced to join me outside for a game football before the rain came in.
As I neared my home, my sensitive hearing picked up on something familiar. I looked up towards the rustling leaves and caught the scent of one of my children. Our family has ran, climbed and explored every inch of these woods, so at times it was hard discern a new scent from one left an hour or even a day ago. Or perhaps my sense of smell was deteriorating in my old age. Either way, when a blonde head poked out from the foliage a moment later and I was relieved that I hadn't completely lost my touch.
"Hi, Pa," the boy called down softly.
"Hello, Tex." I watched the boy's antics with an amused countenance. "Spot any good prey from up there?"
"I'm not hunting," Jasper looked around carefully before continuing in a hushed tone. "'M hiding."
Before I could ask what he was hiding from my question was answered. My wide suddenly appeared in the clearing where I stood, eyes narrowed in frustration. I gave a surreptitious glance at the tree tops and found that my son had disappeared again.
"Where is that boy?" She demanded of me.
I don't know how she figured out I was guilty so quickly. I'd just arrived home from work. What was the likelihood that I'd become an accomplice to Jasper's crime in under two minutes?
"Whatever is the matter, love?" I asked, carefully avoiding her own question.
"We have an appointment for a shoe fitting downtown in less than half an hour and your son has decided to go missing." She gestured her hands up towards the heavens in a helpless sort of way and I couldn't help but sympathize with her situation.
Jasper and Alice both came to us with bare feet some 12 years ago, but while Alice had taken to shoes (and all other accessories) like a duck to water, Jasper routinely fought against having his feet constricted in any fashion. First having spent 18 years a southern farm boy and the last century or so in combat, he never saw a use for footwear.
It didn't matter much in our first few years as a family because Jasper spent the majority of his time in our home or the woods surrounding it. But now that he had been deemed in enough control of his blood lust to attend school next week, something was going to have to give. Esme saw it as her duty to turn Jasper into a respectful, shoe-wearing citizen. I saw it as my duty to make sure my wife remained happy at all times.
"Jasper," I sighed, looking up. "Come on down, son."
"Aw, Pa!" The leaves whispered furiously as Jasper reappeared amongst the branches. "You gave away my hidin' spot!"
"You're going to get another type of hiding, young man, if you don't mind me," Esme answered back.
Jasper slid down the tree trunk like one would a fireman's pole and landed on his feet beside the two of us. "Shoot," he kicked at the ground, sending a small rock flying into some nearby bushes. "I hate shoe shopping."
I turned away to smother my smile.
"Well, you're just going to have to try and make the most of it," Esme told him. "You'll need a pair for school and church. Don't think I don't know what happened to the last pair. Now let's get going."
Jasper turned towards me, his eyes pleading. I felt sorry for the boy and almost started to plea with his mother on his behalf when I realized that the compulsion was most likely due to Jasper's influence.
"Go with your mother, boy," I said, nodding towards the house.
I watched as my wife grabbed hold of Jasper's collar and started hauling him towards the house. Although Jasper wouldn't dare fight her, it didn't stop him from complaining.
"I hate shoes. They're hot. They pinch my toes…"
"Your father wears them," Esme argued as I trailed behind the pair.
"Pa's citified," Jasper said the last word as if he were describing a puss filled boil.
"I enjoy being citified, thank you very much." I responded with a laugh.
As soon as we reached the house, Esme released him. "Go upstairs, get a pair of Edward's old shoes and come right back down, mister. We're running late."
"Yes ma'am," he muttered and thundered up the steps. It became apparent after two minutes, however, that Jasper wasn't planning on coming down on his own volition.
"That's it! I'm going up to get him, "Esme declared, pushing one sleeve of her sweater up to her right elbow.
"Let me handle it, dear." I stopped her. "Why don't you call Mr. Anderson and let him know that you're going to be a tad late."
I headed up the stairs while Esme stormed off in the opposite direction. Before I could knock on his bedroom door it swung open, Alice's cheeky grin on the other side.
"Hi, Daddy. How was work?"
"Just fine, Ace." I kissed her on the cheek. "Do you mind if I talk to Tex alone for a moment?"
"Sure, Dad. I keep trying to tell him that shoes are a beautiful thing. Maybe you can talk some sense it to him." She stuck her tongue out at her mate then breezed out the door.
Jasper eyed me from where he sat on the bed, and I could feel the nervous energy in the room. I supposed Jasper thought I might spank him for his behavior. However, I knew on most occasions Jasper could be reasoned with, and thought it better to try and make him see sense with my words rather than my hand. God knows I just barely managed to spare him from the wrath of Esme.
I knew Jasper, like the rest of my children, was bound to test boundaries in the confines of a safe and loving home. And secretly I found all this commotion about shoes amusing.
I sat down at the other end of the bed. "Scoot closer, Tex."
The boy did until we were about a foot apart.
"I'm surprised at you, Jasper. It's not like you to be so stubborn over such a small thing."
Jasper almost shrugged his shoulders, but caught himself. He knew how I felt about that.
"I just don't see the point in wearing 'em," he explained. "They don't make me a better runner or hunter. All they do is slow me down."
"I understand that, son, but I can't very well send you to school without shoes on," I pointed out. "Especially when the seasons change. How would we explain your bare feet in the winter?"
"Snow don't hurt my feet none," Jasper murmured, staring at the bedspread.
"But what sort of impression would I be giving as head of the family, if all of my children have protection from the cold except for one?"
"Like…like, you don't care about me. Or can't take care of your own," Jasper's eyes met mine before dropping back to the covers.
"Exactly. It would draw unnecessary attention, son, and you know we can't have that."
"Yes, sir." The boy answered. "I guess I understand that. But why do I have to go shopping? Esme bought me the last pair without my having to be there."
"I think your mother is hoping that if you help purchase the shoes yourself you'll be less inclined to lose or ruin them," I looked at him pointedly.
"I didn't lose the last pair, Pa," Jasper argued.
"No, you had Emmett throw them in the stream out back." Jasper's guilty face was all confirmation I needed. "Next time, make sure the person you bribe can't be out- bought," I advised him.
Jasper gave me sheepish smile.
"It's not funny, Jasper," I told him, fighting down my own grin.
"Sorry, Pa," Jasper mumbled.
"You should apologize to your mother. She's the one that goes through all the trouble of buying shoes she thinks you'll like."
I gave him a firm pat on the knee. "Here's what we're going to do. You are going to go shopping with Esme for new shoes. Which I promise will be the most comfortable shoes the two of you can find."
Jasper groaned.
I held up my hand. "I'm not finished. Furthermore, you will wear these shoes unless hunting or at home. You need to break them in in order for them to be comfortable enough for you to wear to school. Unless of course, you've decided you don't want attend high school with Alice after all."
"Of course I do," Jasper piped up. "I want to go."
"So I shouldn't hear any more complaints about footwear?" I asked. "And your shoes will remain intact?
"Yes, sir. That's a promise." He stood up.
I grabbed his arm to stop him.
"I mean it, Tex. This habit of getting rid of your shoes as soon as Mother gives them to you is going to stop. This isn't a game anymore. If I find out you've done it again, you'll be in serious trouble with me. Is that clear?"
"Yessir, clear as crystal," the Texas native answered.
"Go on then. And behave." I sent him off with a light swat to his backside.
I sighed, hoping that was last I'd have to deal with about shoes. On the surface Jasper was a docile southern gentleman, but underneath he could be as stubborn and sneaky as a newborn.