Chapter 4

"What are you doing here?" Tony asked his friend as they met at the Emporium for the second time in two days.

"Mom had some other stuff she had to buy, so after we left the school we came here," replied Neal. "What about you?"

"The same; how did you like the thought of going to school?" Tony asked as he followed Neal back to where he had stolen the handkerchief.

"I can't wait; I liked school it was my old man that made me quit," explained Neal as he carefully looked around before replacing the handkerchief he had stolen right on top of the others and walking off.

"What are you doing?" whispered Tony in amazement.

"Putting it back…Tony since I stole it I've been feeling a bit guilty and after all of the stuff Mom bought me it just didn't seem right," he confessed. "So I thought I would put it back and no one would be the wiser."

Tony looked a bit sheepish with Neal's explanation. "I know what you mean…I've already returned my stuff."

"Even the knife?"

"Especially the knife."

Neal nodded and headed towards the art supplies where he had taken the sketch pad and pencils only this morning and carefully replaced them not realizing that he had been seen by the owner who had wisely kept quiet about it to see what else he could learn. It was Tony's return of the knife which alerted him that something was up and remembering the small boy with him that morning had wondered if he had taken something too. He just sat back and waited to see if Neal would appear and when he had he had discreetly watched and had been amazed with the their return of what he decided they had stolen to begin with.

"I've know Jethro and Peter for a long time," he muttered to himself, "I'll just have a long talk with them later; there is no need to embarrass their wives over this," and that is why he didn't say a thing when they got ready to leave.

************

It was after supper that Elizabeth and Peter sprung their surprise on Neal.

"Neal, your father and I want to give you something. We noticed the drawing pad you brought along from New York and I hope you didn't mind, but we had a look at what you drew. They are very good, dear," Elizabeth said as she brought out a wrapped present.

"Mozzie always said that I had a talent for art and brought me a pencil and that pad to draw on. I did a sketch of him and later of Tony as well as some of the sights of New York. I even have one of Mozzie and Tony together," explained Neal.

"Well, maybe with this you can add some color to your drawings," Peter said as El handed Neal the present.

"I've never gotten a present before," Neal said as he quickly tore into it.

"Well, for a boy who never got one before you definitely know how to open one," teased Peter, and then noticing how quiet Neal got as he opened the box asked, "what's wrong, son/"

Neal looked at the box containing the very items he had stolen and brought back and began to cry.

"Neal!" cried Elizabeth as alarm showing through as she rushed to his side.

"Baby what's wrong?"

Peter was about to say something when the phone rang and he went to answer it. He listened for a few minutes and then said, "That's okay I'll handle it…thanks for calling."

"Neal that was Mr. Samuels, the owner of the Emporium; you were there this morning twice. He told me the most particular thing but I had rather hear it from you," Peter said quietly.

"Peter?"

"Wait, El, I think Neal can explain why he started to cry just now," her husband explained.

"W-when we were there earlier I s-stole a few things," confessed Neal.

"Go on," instructed Peter.

"I took a handkerchief for Kelly and that art set for myself."

"Oh, Neal," cried Elizabeth, "why would you do something like that. I would have bought it for you if you had asked," she added sadly.

"I d-don't know…it was so tempting to have everything within reach. It was like they were begging me to take them," Neal tried to explain.

"Why did you decide to take them back, son?"

"You took them back?" asked El confused.

Peter nodded, "that was what Ben said when he called. He figured that Neal must have stolen them to begin with but he never saw the theft only the return and since he got his items back he wouldn't be pressing charges, not that he would have since the boys are so young," Peter went on to explain.

"Boys? Don't tell me that Tony did the same thing?" exclaimed El.

"Yep and Jethro is probably having the same conversation with him now," Peter said.

"Neal, why did you return them?" Peter asked his son again.

"At the time it was a thrill to take them and not get caught but afterwards, I started to feel funny and then after seeing all of the clothes that Mom bought me and …I just can't explain it; it just didn't feel right," explained Neal.

Peter and El exchanged a glance before El said, "Neal that funny feeling is your conscience. It tells you when you are doing something wrong. It's nice to know that yours is still working."

"Neal while we are proud that you returned the items you stole without being told however we are distressed that you took them to begin with and you must be punished, you understand that don't you son?" asked Peter.

"I guess," replied Neal.

"Then come on," Peter said as he held his hand out.

Neal moved slowly as he approached his father and the certainty of a spanking.

Peter stood aside and let Neal precede him into his room and closed the door afterwards. He pulled out a chair and pulled Neal over his lap as he sat. It didn't take him long to bare his bottom or to start spanking his son.

Neal hadn't had the experience of a over the knee spanking and it left him a bit distress as his bottom started to heat up at once and no matter how hard he struggled or cried Peter didn't stop until he was sure that the lesson was learned.

"Are you going to steal again…smack…smack…smack," Peter asked among the spanks?

"Owww…owwww…no…owwww…I'll try," promised Neal as the licks continued for a few more minutes before coming to a stop.

"I think you should go to bed now, son," Peter said after giving the boy a hug and telling him that he was forgiven. "We will not talk of this again…your slate has been wiped clean, but sitting is going to be a bit uncomfortable tomorrow."

While he was in bed, Neal thought over the events of the day and decided that he had tested his new parents when he had stolen and then returned the items. The test was how his father had corrected him with love like he had said he would. He realized then that the main reason he had been punished was that they loved him and even though he had suffered it was acceptable since he had finally gained the love he had missed since his mother's death....and he was satisfied.

******************

Saturday morning came soon enough and although Neal was eager to get up and explore the bed just felt too good to get up from. He heard Elizabeth call him twice but he just turned his back and went back to sleep.

"That rascal is still sleeping Peter. I've called him twice and he hasn't done anything but turn over and gone back to sleep, if he keeps that up it will be too late for your fishing trip," complained Elizabeth with a smile.

She knew that her husband and Jethro had decided to take the boys fishing today and from experience she knew that they like to leave early before the sun had even risen…but if Neal didn't get up soon the sun would be high in the sky.

"I'll get him El, just get our lunch ready please," responded Peter as he snuck into his son's room and approached the sleeping boy quietly before yanking him from the bed and tickling him soundly. The response was instantaneous as Neal woke in a fit of laughter.

"No…laugh…laugh…not…laugh…laugh…there…laugh…laugh…laugh," cried Neal as he tried to get away but was laughing too hard. As soon as Peter paused Neal cried, "I'm up; I'm up….stop tickling me."

Peter rolled away leaving Neal still in bed. "Hurry and get dressed Neal; we are going fishing today with your Uncle Jethro and your cousin Tony; wear along sleeved shirt and jeans and be sure to wear a jacket; it gets cool early," explained Peter as he left him to get their supplies ready.

Neal came to the kitchen table yawning, "But it is till dark; won't the fish be sleeping…I know I would," he muttered the last part softly.

"They start to feed early; just after the sun rises and if we won't to catch a lot this is the time to go," explained Peter as Neal set down with a wince to eat his oatmeal.

**************

It was ten in the morning and Neal couldn't remember having so much fun. They had arrived at his Dad's favorite fishing spot just as the sun was rising and as soon as the bait hit the water he had a bite. They couldn't keep a line in the water longer than a couple of minutes before there was a hit. There were a lot of small fish that were thrown back but by the time Jethro called a halt in the fishing they had caught several messes of fish.

They had stopped and eaten the sandwiches Shannon and Elizabeth had made and drunk all of the lemonade they brought along when Tony got mischievous and pushed Neal in and after that it became a free for all and by the time it was over they were all dripping wet.

"Let's get these fish cleaned so we can have them for lunch," stated Jethro as he began to gut and clean the trout they caught.

"I can help," cried Tony as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his old pocket knife. "I just need to see how it is done first."

Jethro paused and waited until Tony was ready before he said casually, "You will have a better chance of cleaning them with a better knife, son," and handed Tony a brand new pocket knife.

At the same time Peter handed Neal an identical knife, "You'll going to need one to keep those pencils sharp as well as for cleaning fish."

"I thought after what I did yesterday you wouldn't want to give me a present for a long time," cried Neal as he looked up at Peter.

"What did I tell you after your spanking, Neal?"

Neal thought for a few minutes before replying, "that my slate was wiped clean?"

"Then all you have to do is enjoy," replied Peter as he too began to show Neal how to clean fish.

It was four happy 'men' who returned later that morning bringing home dinner. "Mom looked what we caught," yelled Neal as he ran in carrying clean fish, with Tony at his heels.

Elizabeth came out wiping her hands, "and I've just fix dessert for my hungry boys to eat with their fish."

"Is it chocolate?" yelled Neal.

Elizabeth nodded.

Neal turned happily to Tony and said, "wait until you taste this it is heavenly."