PLEASE READ AUTHOR'S NOTE:

This is something I wrote only as a reference for chapter 5 of this story. I was reluctant to post it, because I was afraid people would miss the point. It's not my intention to paint the picture of an abusive parent here. The point of this is how good intentions can go bad when methods are flawed.

References to corporal punishment being used on children. If you think that will upset you, please don't read it anyway and then comment to tell me how upset you are. Thank you.

Discipline

"I think you've got something to tell me, young man."

"..."

"Gregory?"

"What?"

"I'm speaking to you, son. You need to respond."

"Yes, sir."

"I said, I think you have something to tell me."

"About what?"

"About what happened at school today."

"Nuh uh."

"What do you mean nuh uh?"

"Mom already told you."

"And how do you know that?"

"I d'know."

"So you were listening to us talking in the kitchen?"

"..."

"What did I tell you about eavesdropping?"

"Not to do it?"

"And you did it anyway. Why?"

"I d'know."

"Yes, your mother and I spoke. Now I'd like to hear it from you."

"…"

"What happened at school today, son?"

"I d'know."

"You don't know?"

"I mean, nothing."

"Nothing. Are you absolutely sure?"

"..."

"So Mrs. Kendrick was lying to your mother then."

"..."

"Are you calling your teacher a liar? She seemed to think something happened today that was worthy of our attention."

"Yes, sir. I mean, no."

"Well...which is it, son? It can't very well be both."

"Yes."

"So something did happen at school today."

"Yes, sir. Something happened."

"Then why did you lie to me, just now?"

"…"

"Gregory?"

"I d'know."

"So…out with it. Why did you get in trouble today?"

"Mom already told you."

"Yes, we've established that already. Now I would like to hear it from you."

"I said…something."

"And what did you say?"

"…"

"Out with it."

"I…used a bad word."

"Uh huh. Which word did you use?"

"…"

"Gregory, stop shrugging your shoulders and giving me the blank stare and answer the question."

"..."

"Cat got your tongue?"

"You already know what I said."

"Yes, I do. But I want to hear it from you."

"You're just going to get mad if I repeat it."

"Then give me a hint."

"…"

"I can't hear you, son. Funny how you're plenty loud the rest of the time. Can't shut you up for five minutes. When I need you to talk, you're as quiet as a church mouse."

"..."

"Can you at least tell me what letter it started with?"

"F?"

"Yeah, I think I can tell where that's going."

"..."

"And where exactly did you hear that word?"

"I d'know."

"Other kids? Other men around the base, maybe?"

"Maybe."

"Which?"

"Both?"

"You sound like you're not sure."

"It's both."

"I'd like to think that I've raised you well enough, that you know better than to repeat everything you hear."

"Yes, sir."

"So why did you see fit to use this particular word, in the presence of your teacher and your classmates?"

"I d'know."

"I don't know? You say that an awful lot, Greg. Have you noticed that?"

"..."

"You don't know why you're saying something, and yet you're saying it anyway."

"Yes, sir."

"Why do you think that is?"

"I d'know."

"Do you see where that could be a problem?"

"…"

"I can't hear you..."

"Yes, sir."

"And how might that be a problem?"

"…"

"Answer me, boy. Don't just keep shrugging your shoulders."

"I should think before I speak?"

"Are you asking me or telling me?"

"I should think before I speak."

"Yes, you should."

"..."

"We've had this same exact conversation before, haven't we?"

"Yes, sir."

"How many times have we had this conversation, Gregory?"

"Um...I didn't count, sir."

"You think you're pretty funny, don't you?"

"No, sir."

"And how many more times before this particular lesson finally gets through?"

"I d'know."

"Again with the I don't know. It's always I don't know, isn't it?"

"Yes, sir."

"Wipe that stupid grin off your face."

"Yes, sir."

"Okay, smart ass. To the bathroom."

"For what?"

"First of all, you don't ask me for what? You say yes sir, I will. Second, you told a bold faced lie when I asked you what happened today, which I will not tolerate. I expect obedience. I expect you to tell me the truth and to it promptly. So I intend to wash out your lying mouth with soap."

"…"

"Not smilin' now, are ya?"

"..."

"Don't start with me. I haven't even begun to give you a reason to cry."

"…"

"Greg…let's get this over with. Open your mouth."

"..."

"Yes, it is going to taste bad. This is nothing compared to the foul tasting soap they had when I was a kid. Course your granny would use vinegar and cayenne pepper on my brother and sisters and me. You should be grateful that I don't."

"..."

"Open up."

"Can I get a cup of water first?"

"You don't need a cup of water. When we're done here, you can have all the water you want from the tap. It's right there."

"I want a cup."

"Oh, for God's sake. Open up."

"..."

"Open up, Greg."

"..."

"That's more like it. One whole minute, starting...now."

"..."

"You got another forty-five seconds to go."

"M'gung thrup."

"No, you're not going to throw up. Give me a break. It's just a bar of soap."

"..."

"You've got thirty-three more seconds. Suck it up."

"..."

"You roll your eyes at me again, young man, and I'll start the clock over."

"…"

"Twenty seconds."

"..."

"Five seconds..."

"..."

"Alrighty then…that's it. Are you going to lie to me again?"

"…"

"Answer me, Greg."

"M'rinsing."

"..."

"I'll give you another ten seconds to finish rinsing out your mouth. Then you will answer me."

"..."

"Are you going to lie to me again?"

"No, sir."

"That's right. Now go on back to your room and don't even think about asking me for what."

"…"

"Don't you start crying either, young man, or I'll give you a reason."

"…"

"You got the soap for lying. You're getting the belt for using foul language and disrespecting your teacher. Let's hope for your sake that this lesson sticks."

"…"

"Come on. Let's do this."

"…"

"Don't make me wait, boy. Be a man about it and do it yourself."

"…"

"Speak up. Stop mumbling."

"I said…how many?

"You'll find out when I give them to you."

"..."

"Stop pouting. You already got the soap for lying. So let's say...five licks for swearing. Sounds fair to me."

"..."

"Doesn't that sound fair, Greg?"

"..."

"I can't hear you."

"Yes, sir. It sounds fair."

"Okay, then. Let's hear it."

"..."

"Gregory, stop dilly dallying. Let's hear it."

"…"

"If we finish this up quick, you can still make it downstairs for dinner. If you keep screwing around, you're going straight to bed and you won't be eating until breakfast tomorrow morning. So what's it going to be?"

"Can't you just do it?"

"I could ask you the same."

"..."

"I can sit here all night, if I have to. I've waited out way more stubborn folks than you."

"…"

"I can't hear you. Speak up."

"I said…please discipline me, sir."

"That's better. If there's a next time, and we both know there will be, you'll say it loudly and won't make me ask twice."

"…"

"Alright...move your hands, son."

"…"

"I'm sure you'd much rather that I hit your rear end than your hands. You might want to move them out of the way."

"..."

"Greg, I really don't want to hit your hands..."

"..."

"Thank you."

"Ouch...Jesus."

"Watch your mouth. That's why you're in this mess to begin with."

"..."

"Don't act so surprised. It's supposed to hurt."

"..."

"What?"

"Please stop....that's enough, Okay? I...I won't say that word again."

"Oh, for God's sake...you'd think I was beating you to death."

"..."

"You've got four more. Move your hands so we can finish this."

"I'm sorry, Daddy. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I won't say that word ever again. I promise."

"It's always Daddy when you're in trouble, isn't it? I'd rather you call me sir and abide by the rules. You cannot appeal to my sympathy, son. I have no sympathy for someone who intentionally makes the same mistakes over and over again. A few minutes ago, you looked me in the eye and lied, and then you smiled about it. It's just five licks. The least you can do is take them like a man."

"…"

"Alright...four more. Let's go."

"..."

"Move your hands Gregory John. Or I will move them for you, and you won't like it one bit."

"…"

"You're making this much harder than it needs to be."

"..."

"Three more."

"..."

"Greg...seriously. We could have been done by now. Move your hands."

"..."

"Stop blubbering. This is nothing compared to what you're grandpap used to do to me, and I at least learned something from it."

"…"

"Two more. Move your hands."

"..."

"Gregory. Move your damn hands and put them on the bed. Now."

"..."

"Now keep 'em there until I'm finished."

"..."

"One more."

"..."

"Okay, that's all. You're done. What have you got to say to me?"

"…"

"Stop crying. For God's sake, I've hardly even left a mark on you. What have you got to say to me, son?"

"…"

"I'm going to count to five, and if you haven't said what needs to be said, I'll be adding another five licks to the tally."

"…"

"One…"

"…"

"Two…"

"Thank...you."

"Thank you what?"

"Thank you, sir."

"For what?"

"Thank you for…duh…dis…"

"Disciplining me."

"Thank you for duh...disciplining me."

"For what?"

"For…for…lying and uh…"

"Using foul language."

"For using foul language."

"And disrespecting your teacher and classmates."

"And…duh…duh…disrespecting my teacher and classmates."

"Now pull up your pants and go get ready for dinner. Blow your nose and wash your face."

"..."

"You're ten years old already. You're not a baby anymore. It's bad enough your mother knows what filth came out of your mouth earlier today. You don't want her knowing that you whined and fussed your way through this ordeal, do you?"

"..."

"Do you?"

"No, sir."

"I thought not. I don't want to have to have this conversation again, Gregory. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir."

"Because next time I will leave a mark on you and then you'll definitely have something to cry about. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."