Chapter 7

Tim looked expectantly at Neal before he got the hint and asked, "Where do you want me?"

"Bend over the desk son, that will be fine," Tim quietly said as he pulled the paddle from his back pocket.

At Neal's curious look, once the paddle came into sight, Tim felt like he had to explain. "I know this isn't what you were expecting but trust me it imparts quite a sting…it used to be one of my old hairbrushes that was losing its bristles so I removed them and sanded it down to use against naughty bottoms. Your dad and uncle can tell you that it works well in expressing my disappointment at their shenanigans while growing up and soon you will too."

Once his curiosity was appeased Neal got into position while his grandfather moved to his side. Soon he felt the first lick to his right buttock followed by another to the same spot before his grandfather applied the same combination to his left cheek. Neal felt the fifth lick to his right sit spot and the last to his left sit spot. All the swats were given with a firm hand. The last two were delivered with extra emphasis that caused Neal to squeal in pain.

"I wanted to be sure that I got your attention with those last two," he whispered in Neal's ear as he pulled him into a forgiving hug. "Your slate is clean for lying son and before the day's end it will be clean for the lock picking as well. We will pick up supplies before I drop you off at the library."

Neal stayed in the loving embrace as long as he could before pushing away, an expression on his face that let his grandfather know that Neal realized he was really loved even if his backside hurt. "Okay granddad…but did you have to give me the last two so hard…I'll be feeling them while I'm working on my report," he quipped as he rubbed his sore bottom.

"Those last two were to give you motivation to not do it again," while Tim smiled as he ruffled Neal's hair.

About thirty minutes later Tim pulled into the library's parking lot. "The library closes at seven and I'll be back then to pick you up then. Now 3000 words equal around six pages and I want to be able to read your report tonight. I want it handwritten and the writing had better be legible or you will be writing it over again tonight," instructed Tim as he handed Neal the notebook, pencils and pens.

Neal reluctantly got out of the car before turning and pleading once again, "Please Granddad can't I type it on the computer instead. I checked before we left and they have computers for public use."

"Sorry son, but that is part of the punishment…now get in there and start writing." Tim watched his grandson head into the public library shaking his head in amusement at Neal's whining, before driving off.

Thirty minutes later Tim walked into their living room to find his wife reading from a familiar notebook. "So you decided to reread Peter's essay?" he asked with a smile.

"Yes dear. Peter worked so hard on his essay and was nearly in tears when he handed it in because it wasn't the required length and you let him off the hook telling him that it was the effort he put into it that really mattered. Are you going to give Neal the same speech if his essay isn't long enough?" asked Maggie with a smile.

"What do you think?" he responded with a laugh. "Just doing it and the effort he will have used to get it done will make him think twice before doing something like that again…I hope. It certainly did the job with our Peter."

Neal entered the library and found a table to work at and put his notebook, pens and pencils down and went to look for books to get his material from. He hesitantly approached the two librarians at the front desk, Marcy and Kim. "Excuse me but I'm doing a essay on crime and punishment. It's a hypothetical paper about an ex-con trying to go straight and how he could change his lifestyle and actions and do things legally to keep myself out of prison. I have no idea of where to look."

The two young ladies, Marcie and Anna, thought for a moment and then began to bring Neal books on crime and punishment, criminal law, criminal justice, and a really good one called Changing Lenses: A New Focus for Crime and Justice. With his table overflowing, Neal sat down and began to read and take notes; every once in a while Marcie would place another volume on his table and quietly walk away in an attempt not to disturb the young man with the charming smile.

By the time Neal put down his pen his hand was throbbing, and he had the report finished to the best of his ability. He was dismayed to find that it was less than the required six pages but hoped it would be enough for his grandparents. He politely thanked the two librarians who helped him and went outside to wait for his grandfather to arrive. He had been sitting for only a few minutes when the familiar vehicle rolled up.

"Are you ready son?" and seeing Neal nod, motioned for him to get in.

"I thought we could have pizza for dinner tonight…do you have any favorite toppings?" he asked as they drove to the nearest Pizzeria.

"I'll eat anything Granddad," he said as he flexed his hand. He was tired and only wanted to go home to rest. He felt that he had wasted a whole afternoon doing this punishment essay.

Neal waited until they had returned home with the pizza to hand in his essay.

"Here it is," he said as gave it to his grandmom. "I tried but there wasn't enough material to write six pages."

Maggie took a glance at what Neal had written before nodding to her husband who said, "Neal, knowing your background as a con artist will you swear to me that you wrote this paper?"

That stopped Neal cold, "You don't believe me," he accused, outraged and hurt. "Granddad, I said that I would write it and I did... the only help I received was from the two librarians that got the materials I needed. I had no idea where to even start looking but other than them finding me the books I did everything…and if you can't take my word for it then you can call them," shouted Neal as tears began to roll down his face.

"Neal…I'm sorry son but you do have a reputation as a charmer and it is only natural that we would ask if this is your work or someone else's work. It's because of the career that you chose that you have to expect to be questioned….and you will just have to learn to deal with it until your life change is remembered more than the life you led before," explained Tim. "You should consider it a motivation to improve and stay on the straight and narrow to make your parents, and Maggie and me proud.

Neal smiled, "I'll try Granddad but next time I fail, please just spank me…writing essays are just too painful."

"Dry your tears dear and let's have some pizza. I dare say that you are hungry and tired," Maggie said as she pulled him to her arms for a group hug.