Alright friends, so I've gotten a few reviews saying the same general thing: Neal has too easily/quickly been convinced that Peter wants to hurt him, and that he's been broken too quickly. Looking back at the story, I have to agree and could see how the amount of time does not match up with the level of trauma… so I'm hoping this helps. Please let me know! Again, thank you for all of the reviews!
"Follow the rules, Neal. If you'd just listen, you wouldn't get in trouble." James Bennett scolded his son, picking up pieces of the broken vase on the floor. "Imagine how upset your mother will be with you. You're three years old, you should know better by now. No running in the house."
Grabbing his son by the collar of his shirt, James dragged him across the living room to the couch, sitting down and moving Neal to stand in front of him. "I've told you the rules, and you decided to break them. That makes you a bad boy."
Little Neal sniffled, doing his best to pull away from his father. His breath smelled… bad. His breath always smelled that way when he drank the stuff that only Daddy was allowed to have… He didn't like it when Daddy drank that. It made him act mean. Maybe Daddy wouldn't be too mad if he could just be quiet while he was punished… If only he had not run! But, his toy train had gone under the table and when he ran after it he fell and hit the table… Daddy hadn't even checked to see if he was alright! Did it matter if he was? Daddy had told him not to run, and he had anyways. Just like last week, when he left the front door open, and a few days before that, when he knocked over the kitchen chair. He was bad. A bad boy. Would Daddy use his belt again? Neal hoped not. It hurt so badly. He deserved it, though!
James held Neal's arm up, keeping him in one spot while he began spanking him. He didn't count—he'd know when Neal had enough. If the boy would just listen, he wouldn't have to keep doing this! It was like he never learned. Maybe that was just it—he wasn't giving him anything worth remembering. Releasing Neal's arm, he barely noticed as the little boy fell to the floor, crying quietly, whispering promises about being a good boy.
After slipping off his belt, James reached down to pull Neal back up, giving him a good shake. "Quit your crying! Everytime you cry and promise to follow the rules, and then you go and break them again! You're going to remember this time, I promise you." His voice was low, threatening. Neal turned again to try and wiggle away, but he couldn't move. When James spun him around to deliver the first blow with his belt, three-year-old Neal let out a scream…
I realize this was short, but I hope it serves to get the point across… While perhaps grown Neal doesn't recall these memories from his childhood, the hurt and feelings of inadequacy are still there, living just below the surface, so what's happening could've so easily triggered something. Again, please review and let me know what you think. Thank you all again!
