A/N This is a short stand alone story in the New Beginnings: A Fresh Start story line. This will contain corporal punishment of minors by a parent.

Being Real Men

Chapter 1: Making Plans

Early in the school term:

Listening to the teacher drone on about Romeo and Juliet, Rob tries to stay alert. It is extremely difficult to stay awake trying to listen to this man he so despises go on and on about some stupid play no one but Claire understands.

"Mr. Cord! What would your response be to the question?" he hears.

Jerking himself out of his trance, Rob asks "Sir? I missed hearing the question, sir."

"Of course you did! Daydreaming your life away will get you nowhere boy! Learning will open doors for you that you never even knew existed. Pay attention!"

"Yes sir. What was the question, sir? I can't answer if I don't know the question, sir. Do you remember what you asked?"

"Impertinence will get you a note home, young man. Is this what you desire?"

"No sir. I desire to know the question, sir." Rob answers with his best innocent student look.

"See me after class! Now, Mr. Hale. What purpose did Romeo have for..."

As the teacher's focus turns to Alex, Rob stops listening again. Whatever it is he missed he can find out from Claire as they study later on.

"This Shakespeare is so dull. Why can't he teach us about something interesting like how to make machines for ranch work! I could really listen then. I would bet he's never done any real work. He probably has no idea even how to saddle a horse! I doubt he'd be able to survive on his own for long. Such a Dandy!" Rob thinks.

Having to endure a long scolding lecture for not paying attention and then promise to give the note to his Pa, Rob is finally released from his torturous school day. Walking out he finds Alex waiting at the bottom of the stairs.

"Thanks for waiting for me."

"Sure. Did he punish you? Did you get extra work?"

"No, I got a long dull scolding but no extra work. That was good as I sure don't want to do some essay again. He sent a note to Pa. That part isn't so great. Pa isn't going to be happy but at least that's something I don't have to deal with right now. Let's go to your house. I have a suspicion I will be housebound after Pa sees this note so let's have some fun while I can."

"Getting a note home from the teacher isn't good news is it? I never have been in school enough to have it happen but I've heard other kids talk about it. They got punished. Have you had a note sent home before?"

"No, like you this is my first term in a schoolroom. Joseph had a note sent home last spring. I signed it for him so he never got into trouble for it. Well one good thing is my Pa isn't going to be home tonight. Maybe by the time he does get home, I can come up with a plan to deal with this small problem. I don't want to be housebound. It seems I have very little freedom as it is what with schoolwork and chores."

"Yes, I have my hotel job and then schoolwork so I don't have much free time either. I wish we didn't have so much schoolwork. Two hours of studying a night doesn't leave much time to do something I'd like to do. I hardly ever get to do anything with Claire since school began."

"Hey Alex?" Rob asks as they walk to Alex's home.

"What? I don't like that look in your eyes, Rob. When you look like that it means trouble!"

"I'm so tired of school! I need a distraction and I have the perfect idea for it, too! Doesn't Mitch keep a spare tin of bootblack somewhere? One he isn't using right now?"

"Yeah, there's an extra one in his dresser drawer. Why? Do you need to polish your boots?"

"No, I'll explain once we get to your place. Mitch isn't home today, right?"

"He went with your Pa to do something out of town. I couldn't find out what, as he wouldn't tell me. He said he'll be back tomorrow afternoon by supper. I asked permission to spend the night with you but he denied it. He said I wasn't to be alone in the house unsupervised if Claire was also there. What do they think we'll do? Crazy grown people!"

"I will tell Claire I'm going to stay here tonight to keep you company. She can take care of the boys alone. I have great plans for us to have some fun for a change. Ever since school started and I was forced to attend, all I get to do is schoolwork and ranch chores. I have tried to talk Pa out of having to attend class but he won't allow me to stay home. I had no idea he was so set on schooling for me. I think I'm too old but he doesn't agree. There are days I wish he'd never listened to Mr. Davis about school for older students! Let me go home and get my clothes and tell her the plans then I'll be back. Do you have money? We can go to the hotel to eat. I don't fancy cooking tonight do you?" Rob asks.

"Since all I know how to cook is beans, eggs and bacon or toast, no I don't want to cook. Yes, Mitch left me some in case I needed it and he said I could charge to his account for breakfast or supper if I wanted. Won't you tell me your plans now? I'll be on pins and needles waiting for you to come back if you don't."

"You'll have to wait, Alex. It's too good a plan to tell and leave you alone to think it over. I'll be back in thirty minutes or a little longer. I probably need to do the chores at home first."

"What if Claire doesn't agree to watching the kids alone at night?"

"Alex. She and Joseph were watching the boys way before I came into the picture. They kept Ben and George when Claire was younger than Joseph is now! They both looked after the boys when their Mother was performing. She's capable of ramrodding the little boys and Joseph too, while I come have fun with you. Besides, I'm the eldest so she can't tell ME what to do."

"You're only the eldest by six months. You make it sound like years!" Alex replies, laughing at his irritated friend's "Hush UP you blathering Irish idiot!".

"You best watch what you say, Rob. You say that around your Pa and you'll hear about it! Disrespect and all that!" Alex returns with a grin.

"I know. He's a stickler for being very respectful and doesn't like it much when we even tease each other. He punished Joseph for being disrespectful just two nights ago. It was Joseph's chore to wash the pots and dishes from supper. He'd been irritable and snappish to everyone all day and Pa said he had to do clean up alone as punishment. Claire didn't like how he haphazardly swiped the cloth around the pots. She told him he needed to soak them first and then scrub them out. He actually said "Just leave me be! Go soak your dumb head in a bucket, Claire!"

He didn't know Pa was back inside from checking the barn. Pa grabbed him by the back of his suspenders and hauled him to the barn for a one on one chat. Joseph told me later Pa practically pulled him all the way to the tack room! Once there he had a few things to say to Joseph on showing respect. He finished his talk with his belt to the seat of Joseph's pants for eight licks. Joseph had been ornery for days. Pa had warned him about using that tone of voice and showing good manners. Joseph didn't heed the advice and it seems Pa decided enough was enough. It was effective as Joseph has been much more polite since then."

"I'm surprised your Pa didn't take a strap to him. He should not be so disrespectful to Claire!"

"Pa was still irritated when I went to bed that night and it was three hours later. We were all watching what we did and said around him. He doesn't have to use a strap, Alex. He's very good at lighting a fire on your backside with his belt! Let's stop talking about being punished, it's making me want to back out! I'm going now. Don't go eat without me."

Back at the ranch, Joseph is complaining about being left to do everything alone.

"You get to run off and be with your friend while I have to stay and listen to Claire nag me and the boys just do whatever they want to! They won't mind me the way they mind you, Rob! Pa refuses to let me spank them the way he lets you so they know they can do whatever they want to do! You need to stay here! Besides you didn't ask permission to stay overnight with Alex! You'll get in trouble for it if you do go."

"I'm going anyway, Joseph. Pa might scold or even housebound me but I'm going! Now stop whining like a kid and help me get the milking done! If the boys act up for you, send them to bed! You were minding the boys when you were ten so what's the difference now?"

"The difference is I would spank them and no one got mad at me then. Now I would be punished for it. Come on Rob, stay home. You can go see Alex anytime."

"Milk the cow, Joseph! Stop complaining and do your chores or I'm going to set your backside to burning! I'm not staying here tonight and that's the end of the discussion! YOU however, ARE staying here and helping Claire! I better not hear that you ran off and left her unprotected! It's a guy's job to protect women and children and since you are staying here that's what you will do."

"You know what Rob? You think you are so great just because you are sixteen. You aren't my Pa and I don't have to mind you!"

"What Did You Say?" Rob asks menacingly as he stands up from the milking stool.

"I said "You think you are so great just because you are sixteen." You are my brother not my Pa! Stop bossing me! I DON'T have to listen to you!"

Seeing Rob approaching with a furious look on his face, Joseph backs away until he runs up against a stall wall.

"Now, come on Rob. It was all a joke. I was kidding, you know that. You can take a joke."

"I can, but you are not joking. I told you to stop complaining or I would reignite the fire in your backside. You didn't listen. That's a shame." Rob answers as he pulls Joseph away from the wall and over a hay bale. After three hard licks of his hand, he has Joseph pleading. "Rob, stop! I Promise I'll be good. Please no more! I swear I'll stay and not complain."

"Joseph. I meant what I said. You are staying and helping Claire!" Rob declares laying down two more swats. "Now get to work on your chores!"

"Yes sir. I'm sorry for being rude."

"Apology accepted. We won't talk of this again. This can stay between us."

"Thanks Rob." Joseph answers as he gingerly sits on the milking stool.

"I can't believe you called me 'Sir' just now! What made you do that?"

"You busted my butt so I was being respectful as to not get it busted anymore. Don't worry, I won't be addressing you as Sir again. It was a one time slip up. I forgot you weren't Pa as you spanked me as hard as he does!"

"Hmm, well just remember that next time I tell you to do something. I'm the boss when Pa isn't here."

"I got the message. What are you and Alex going to do together?"

"Guy stuff. We just enjoy being away from girls and parents."

"I want to go too! Please? Claire will be all right with the little guys for a while. Please Rob take me along! I never get to go do anything."

"We already settled this. You are staying to be the man of the house. Another time, I'll take you somewhere but not this time. This time is just for me and Alex alone."

"What if I tell Pa, you went off and left us alone?"

"Then I would just take my belt to your bare butt the next time we were alone. You just said I spanked as hard as Pa. Do you want to risk it?"

"No. When did you get so mean? You used to be more fun and not so mean."

"I'm only mean when you don't listen. Now finish your part of the chores."

Finished with the evening chores, Rob has packed an extra shirt, pants and nightshirt. Ready to leave, he is telling the boys to behave.

"Ben, George, you have to behave for Joseph and Claire tonight. No acting up just because Pa isn't here."

"Where are you going with a knapsack, Rob?" George asks.

"I'm staying the night at Alex's place. I'll see you tomorrow."

"But who is going to check for monsters if you aren't here? Monsters might get in, Rob." Ben asks.

"Joseph or Claire will do Monster Check tonight boys. I'll be with Alex. We can't let him stay home all alone and his Pa wouldn't let him come here."

"Uncle Mitch isn't his Pa, Rob." Joseph points out having listened.

"In most ways he is, Joseph. Now give me a hug boys so I can leave." Rob replies easing towards the door and freedom.

"Rob, you must have forgotten the rule. No sleepovers on a school night. Tonight is Wednesday not Thursday so you and I have class tomorrow. If it was Thursday, it wouldn't matter as we would not be in school the next day." Claire reminds him.

"Claire, stay out of my business. I'm going. Now, you and the kiddies have a good night."

"You walk out that door and you'll be in trouble, Rob. Pa will punish you for disobeying the rule. He left you in charge of the ranch and you can't just go off and leave us alone! What if something happens? I won't know what to do if it's about cows or horses! Besides, there are outlaws around! Remember? Pa was telling us just the other day to be watchful of strangers and come straight home from school."

"Bye, Claire. I'm going and you are in charge now. Have fun playing house tonight. See ya squirts!" Rob answers closing the door in her face.

Finally back at Mitch's house, Rob puts his knapsack in Alex's room. "You just wouldn't believe all the arguing that went on just to get me to stay at the ranch! Joseph was being a brat about it. He hushed when I gave him a few smacks. Then Claire got into it, mothering me and scolding about leaving on a school night, blah blah blah! I swear Alex, sometimes I need a break from being in a houseful of people. You have it good since it's just you and Mitch. Two guys batching it like camping out."

"Mitch doesn't treat me as a fellow bachelor. I'm a kid and he's the adult. I do what he says or I get punished. He's not much of one for lectures and restrictions as my Pa was. I either do as I'm told or I get my butt burned! No discussion in the matter. I appreciate him letting me live with him and not have to live apart from Claire but really, I'm SIXTEEN not six! I deserve to be treated like a man now not a kid."

"I'm glad to hear you say you want to be treated like a man. So do I. I'm tired of rules and punishments and being forced to go to school! I've tried this school thing for five weeks and I've had enough of it! Tomorrow, you and I are men! We get up, go eat breakfast at the hotel and then my friend, we go to Dagbert Pond and fish until lunch. We'll have a nice fire, cook some frankfurters and beans and nap or fish. Then we come here, put some bootblack on our hair and go down to the saloon that opened up last month. We have to go to the Purple Palace because my Uncle Matt works at the Golden Slipper. No one will know us at the Palace. We can order whiskey and have a game of cards just like real men!"

"I like everything except the saloon part. Do you know what your Pa would do if he heard about us doing that? First he'd tell Mitch and then he'd haul you out to the woodshed! Have you forgotten the time we went up to the mine and were drinking? I know enough about Uncle Ethan to know how he'd react! Mitch might take his strop to me, Rob! Uncle Ethan might do the same to you!"

"Yes, I know. That's why we're going to wear old clothes with bootblack in our hair. We go in disguise, Alex. We dirty our faces too. We'll look like a couple of hobos that way. No one would recognize us. Come on, be brave. Are you a man or a kid worried about getting a spanking from your Papa?"

"Fine. We just best be cleaned up and back home before Uncle Ethan and Mitch get back. That's all I have to say on the matter."

"I agree with you on that statement, Alex! I will make sure we are home before they are. Now, let's go to the hotel and eat. I'm starved!" Rob answers grinning happily.