I've taken to sneakin' into Row's bed at night because we can't always be slippin' out to the haybarn and we still like to be close together, even when we ain't kissin' and touchin'. Recently Mister caught Sammy Lawson, who's one of the older boys, with one of the older girls from the girls' school nearby in his bed. Boys here at school ain't allowed to have relations with anyone, and any boy who's caught with a girl in his bed is likely to be beaten. I can only assume the same's true fer a boy caught with another boy in his bed. So I always make sure I'm outta Row's bed before the rest of the boys are awake.

So the months go on. But one day, Row's on top o' me and we're both not wearin' our nightshirts 'cuz it gets real hot under his covers and we ain't been out to the barn in ages 'cuz it's wintertime and I'm likin' the feelin' of his mouth on mine and then the covers is pulled back and I hear Jeb go, "See, Mister, I told yew they were up t' no good!" and there's Mister lookin' the maddest I ever seen him and I get real scared as he grabs Row by one arm and me by one and silently takes us both to his office.

Mister's office is this dusty, borin' place full of bookshelves and with a big desk in the middle. He sits at the desk and glares daggers at the both of us. Row's got his head held high, and I'm lookin' down at my poor bare feet as we stand there in just our white underdrawers. I promise I ain't cryin' from the fear but sniffles escape from me and tears drop onto the dark red carpeting anyway.

"You boys are in some serious trouble." Mister is good at the understatin'. "Do you have any idea what sin you were committing?"

"No, sir..." I mumble. Row don't say a word. I guess he got told it was okay to do what he was doin' even though he knew it was bad.

"You were commiting the sin of homosexuality. In the term of a devil-possessed boy like you, Jason, you were performing sexual acts with another male."

I wonder if devil-possessed boys are allowed to cry when they're 'shamed o' what they done. I sure hope so 'cuz that's what I'm doin'...

"I didn't know it was wrong, sir! I got told by Row that his sister said it was just somethin' all teenagers do at this time!" Row chimes in,

"Sir, please, J.G didn't know any better, honest! Let him go, please!"

Mister grabs my arm and drags me out the door. "Perhaps we can still save the younger of you, then. Follow me, Rowan." He says, and even though he's draggin' me so it ain't like I got a choice in the matter, "Come along, Jason."

We're goin' towards the whippin' post out back and dear God I don't wanna be whipped again so I start screamin' like I'm bein' murdered and beggin' for Mister to not whip me, and some of the slaves headin' to their quarters out by here stop and look at me with sort of a pityin' look but they can't do nothin' and as my hands are tied to the post I can hear Row beggin' Mister to not do it, please sir, he didn't do nothin' wrong, sir!

But it don't help nothin' and I hear the crack of the big whip goin' through the air and then feel the terrible stingin' burn on my back and 'cuz I'm so small wrap 'round to my belly too and I start cryin' harder as it hits me again 'n again 'n then it stops and through my misery I can hear Mister tell Row,

"Since you're the initiator, and the one pleading to spare the one you've corrupted, you may give him the rest of the lashes. Do it until I tell you to stop. Now, Rowan."

I hear Row whimper out how sorry he is to me as the terrible, awful pain starts again as my back gets torn open by the leather and then I hear Row cry out and Mister shout at him to stop talkin' to me, and then I pass out from it, it hurts so bad...