Chris, age 18

"Great party, Summers!" Chris nodded his head in the direction of his classmate. He had no idea who'd said it. Honestly, he didn't care. Katherine was all that mattered. He passed the beer kegs and went around the back of the cabin looking for her.

"There you are," he smiled, relieved she was still around.

"Hi Chris."

"Is everything ok?" Katherine looked around, frowning.

"This isn't you. This isn't us. Why-?"

"I wanted to go out with a bang," he grinned. "High school is over. School is over. I wanted to celebrate."

"Alcohol?"

"Is how some people celebrate. Kat, if you're uncomfortable with this, then I'll…"

"Send everyone home?"

"Yeah. If that's what you want." Katherine glanced around.

"I just don't think it's a good idea," she admitted.

"Ok. I'll tell them the party is over." She nodded and kissed his cheek. Chris smiled at her and turned towards the cabin. He went inside and started giving the bad news. People groaned, but started to leave.

"Don't send them out on my account." Chris froze, eyes wide and mouth open.

"Dad?"

"A party, Chris? Really? You asked to have a friend or two over, and your mother and I trusted you. I should have known better."

"That's not fair! It got out of control- I was sending them home!"

"Out of control?! There are four beer kegs! There's enough food to feed an army! Out of control?!"

"Pop, please-" Phil looked around.

"Get them out of here and then clean this place up. If there's even a cup out of place, I'll take it out on your hide. Got me?"

"Yes sir." Phil sat on the couch and stared at Chris.

"Get moving, boy." Chris hurried his guests out and grabbed several trash bags as the clean up began. It took several hours and Chris was beyond exhausted, but he finally put the last trash bag by the door, knowing he couldn't put it outside due to the bears, and fell onto the couch.

"I'm done," he quietly told Phil. Phil nodded and did an extensive check around his vacation home.

"At least you can do something right."

"I'm sure you're disappointed that you can't beat me harder."

"You'd best watch that mouth, Christopher Daniel."

"I can't watch something on my face." Chris cried out and put his hand over his stinging cheek.

"I think it's high time you experienced a switch, Christopher." Chris' eyes went wide.

"Dad!" Phil grabbed the back of Chris' shirt collar and pushed him outside to a bush. He made Chris watch as he cut off a branch and stripped the bark.

"Back inside," Phil ordered. "Strip. Everything off."

"Dad- Dad, please. You promised-"

"I believe I promised that when you promised to stop forcing my hand like this!" Chris looked away.

"Please-"

"Strip and then bend over the back of the couch." Chris sniffed as he removed his clothing and bent over the back of the couch, hands gripping the couch cushion.

"Please- Ah! Dad! Ow!"

"Keep your mouth shut or I'll add more." Chris clamped his mouth closed and covered his face with his hand. Phil struck Chris with the switch until it was worn. He put it down and then removed his belt.

"Dad," Chris wept. "I'm sorry. Please no more."

"I'm sorry, too, Christopher. But this was big, and you're going to remember this for years to come." Phil raised his belt and brought it down, cringing at the blue mark it left across Chris' behind. He raised the belt again and faltered.

"I'm sorry," Chris repeated over and over as he wept.

"I don't want to have to do this again, Chris. I thought eighteen was old enough for you to act like a man. I'm ashamed to be wrong." Chris only sobbed. "Get your clothes on. I know we said you could stay the next few nights here, but that privilege has been revoked. I'm taking you home, and you'll have the honor of telling your mother exactly what happened. Am I clear?"

"Yes sir," Chris cried as he stood up. He carefully put his clothes back on.

"Get in the car."

"May I ride in the back-?"

"No. I want you up by me." Phil carried out several bags of trash and locked them in the dumpster before unlocking the car. Chris stiffly walked to the front seat and slowly lowered himself down.

"Ah!" He couldn't help but cry as he made contact with the seat. Phil said nothing as he got behind the wheel. Chris squirmed and blinked away tears as they made the hour drive back to the house. When Phil parked, he opened his mouth, closed it, and opened it again.

"Go let your mother coddle you. Remember to tell her why I was as hard as I was." Chris sniffed and tried to open the door. "Did you hear me, Christopher Daniel?"

"Yes," Chris spat. Phil grabbed his ear.

"Try that again," he said through clenched teeth.

"Yes sir! I'll tell her!" Phil let Chris go and unlocked the door.

"Get." Chris scrambled out and stiffly made his way to the house and inside.

"Chris? Dear, what are you doing home?" Chris sniffed.

"Dad stopped by."

"I know. He realized you'd left the money we'd given you for food. He was concerned-" Chris scoffed.

"Yeah. Concerned. He was so concerned that he had me strip and he whipped me! With a switch!" Deborah frowned as Phil walked in.

"Phil, you punished Chris for forgetting the money? It wasn't his fault-"

"Is that what he said?" Chris looked at the floor. "Christopher. Tell her what I walked in on."

"I had a few friends over. You'd said it was fine."

"A few?" Phil fumed. "A few?!" He grabbed Chris and started swatting him again.

"Phil!"

"Stop! I'll tell her! I'll tell her!" Phil stopped and shoved Chris to Deborah.

"Now." Chris took a shaky breath.

"I threw a party," he admitted.

"A… party."

"Yes ma'am."

"You took the trust we put in you and threw a party?"

"Yes ma'am."

"And that's not all," Phil said, crossing his arms. "Tell her, Christopher."

"I…"

"Chris?" Chris looked away from his mother.

"Someone brought some kegs and I didn't… stop them."

"Did you drink?"

"No ma'am."

"There's that at least. Go to your room, Chris." Phil stepped forward and grabbed Chris' arm.

"Get some sleep. You're grounded for a week. I'll be in with my belt every night before bed to remind you of why you don't go behind our backs."

"Dad!"

"No, Chris. You threw a party that had alcohol. You're lucky I don't call the police myself!" Chris jerked his arm away.

"Let me guess. It wouldn't look good for you, so you won't. Thanks, Dad. I really appreciate it." He stormed away and Phil heard the door slam.

"He doesn't even care that it could have ruined his chance in the military, does he?"

"I don't think he realizes it," Deborah said. "Are you ok?"

"I had him strip," he admitted. "He needed some humility. I know I'd said I wouldn't do it again, but he… Deb, we could have lost him tonight." Deborah nodded her understanding.

"He'll understand when he's a father himself one day."

"I hope not. I hope he never has to experience something like this with his own family."