In the weeks following the death of her parents, Abbie was functioning on autopilot. The funeral had been a whirlwind of emotions, and now Abbie was charged with caring for her 15 year old sister Sophie. Despite all of the changes in her life, Sophie was adjusting well to life in NY. She was getting good grades in school, loved helping Abbie and Claire, and never got into any trouble.
"Abbie can you sign this please?" Sophie asked as she slid a permission slip in front of her sister at breakfast. Abbie glanced over the slip then turned to Sophie "your class is taking a field trip to the courthouse?" Sophie smiled, "yeah isn't it neat? We get to watch a trial and everything! Maybe I'll run into you or Claire there!" Abbie smiled as she signed the slip, happy that her sister enjoyed spending time with her and her girlfriend. After signing, she looked at her sister with mock sternness. "Now young lady you'd better be on your best behaviour, otherwise I'll have the bailiff throw you in lockup with all the other delinquents!" "Abbie!" Sophie giggled as she placed the paper in her backpack. Claire looked at the two of them where she sat on the couch and smiled as she rolled her eyes. Abbie continued to be a big kid at heart, and seeing how she interacted with Sophie made Claire love Abbie more than she thought was possible.
Sophie's trip to the courthouse was spectacular! Her class ended up sitting in on an arraignment being run by Claire and Abbie. After spotting Sophie in the third row, Claire let Abbie take the lead and Sophie beamed when her sister successfully argued remand with no bail. Afterwards, Abbie and Claire took the class on a tour of the D.A.'s office. Sophie scored some major coolness points with her friends that day, who were all in awe of Abbie's beauty and brilliance.
That evening at dinner, Sophie could hardly contain her excitement as she recounted her friends' reactions to the trip. Neither Claire nor Abbie could squeeze a word in edgewise, but they didn't mind. They simply smiled at each other, feeling lucky that Sophie was such a genuine, kind kid.
The evening went the way most evenings went in the Carmichael-Kincaid house. The trio watched a few episodes of Murder, She Wrote, ate a little ice cream, and then headed to bed. Around 1:30, Abbie woke up to use the restroom. As she walked out, she noticed the door to Sophie's room was ajar. Peeking into the room, Abbie felt the colour drain from her face. Her sister was gone. Abbie dashed out of the room toward her and Claire's bedroom. But just as she hit the hallway, she heard the familiar click of the front door opening then shutting. Abbie whirled around and took a few steps toward the living room. Standing just inside the threshold, was her sister who, upon seeing Abbie, looked like a deer caught in the headlights. "Abbie...you- you're up" Sophie stammered. In a few swift steps, Abbie crossed the room and pulled her sister into a tight hug. As she let go, she popped Sophie four times over her jeans. Sophie winced, but didn't try to twist away. Finally, Abbie looked at Sophie, her expression alternating between relief and fury. "Is that all you have to say for yourself? 'Abbie, you're up?' Where on Earth have you been? It is nearly 2 o'clock in the morning!" Sophie looked at her shoes, tears filling her eyes. "I - I was out." Abbie stared incredulously at her sister. "Out? Do you think that is a sufficient explanation, young lady?" Just then, the living room lights flipped on. The sisters turned to see Claire standing in the hallway, rubbing her eyes and trying to wake up enough to figure out what was happening. "What's going on?" Claire asked, still half asleep. Abbie turned back to Sophie "that's what I'd like to know." Sophie simply started to cry silently, to wrought with emotion to speak intelligibly. Abbie softened a bit as she hugged Sophie once more. "Alright sweetie, I'm glad your home safe. We will discuss this further in the morning but right now, I think we could all use some rest. She leaned in and kissed Sophie on the forehead then stepped aside to allow Sophie to walk to her room. As Sophie passed Claire, she glanced up at her guiltily, feeling awful for letting her down. Claire could read Sophie's expression plainly, and tenderly brushed a few strands of hair from the young girl's face. "It's alright sweetheart, I'm not angry, we'll talk in the morning." Sophie simply nodded as she walked into her room and shut the door behind her. Abbie walked over to Claire who held out her hand and pulled her girlfriend into a hug. Rubbing Abbie's back, Claire spoke "it's going to be ok babe, she's home safe. Maybe tomorrow we can get more answers from her." Abbie sighed exasperatedly, as she leaned into Claire's embrace. "I'm failing as a parent" she muttered. Abbie yelped as Claire delivered a single sharp swat to the seat of her PJ shorts. Rubbing her bottom, she looked at Claire pitifully who chuckled at her girlfriend's dramatics. "Oh don't even pretend like you didn't deserve that" Claire laughed. "What have I told you about being self-deprecating?" Abbie mock-frowned before responding "it's not self-deprecating if it's true!" Then she playfully stuck out her tongue at her girlfriend, and sprinted down the hall to their bedroom, fending off swats as she went.
The next day, breakfast was an uncomfortable affair. The three women sat in silence as they ate their cereal and drank their coffee. Sophie was quick to clear the breakfast dishes and load the dishwasher, hoping that good behaviour might work to soften Abbie's anger. Abbie smirked, knowing what Sophie was up to, but appreciative that she seemed to be showing remorse. After the dishwasher had been loaded, Abbie asked Sophie to join her on the couch. Sophie sat next to her sister and a few moments later, Claire sat across from them in the chair.
Abbie spoke first, "Sophie, last night when I looked in your bed and saw you were gone, I was terrified. I thought the worst had happened. Please tell me what you were doing out at that hour." Tears began to roll silently down Sophie's face at Abbie's scolding. After a moment, she spoke "I- I was at school." Abbie looked at her sister quizzically. "You were at school at 1 in the morning? Don't tell me you were being tutored." Sophie looked into Abbie's eyes and began to cry harder. Claire, sensing that Sophie was too ashamed to answer Abbie, silently crossed to the couch and pulled her into a hug. After a few moments of allowing the teen to cry on her shoulder, Claire pulled Sophie back to look her in the eye. "Soph, Abbie and I love you so much. Whatever it is that you did, can't change that. But we need to know what you were doing out in the middle of the night." Feeling a combination of assurance and trepidation, Sophie took a shudder breath before she spoke. "W-w-well, see our assistant principal has been handing out detentions for really dumb things - but only to the girls! When my friends and I tried to talk to the principal, he wouldn't listen. Then yesterday Cara got a detention for laughing at lunch. Mr. Green said she was being "loud and disruptive to student learning." So we decided to get revenge -" Abbie interrupted her sister "wait a minute, who's 'we?'" Sophie fidgeted as she answered "Cara, Ellie, Macy, and I." Abbie fought the urge to roll her eyes. All of Sophie's friends were lovely girls - how could they get caught up in something like this? Sophie continued "so anyway, the four of us decided to sneak into Mr. Green's office after school let out and...well...silly-string the office." Claire let out an involuntary snort of laughter which she quickly silenced upon seeing Abbie's pointed glance. She knew she shouldn't laugh at Sophie's antics, but she couldn't help but fail to be surprised that the "revenge" Sophie and her friends had concocted was so benign.
Abbie spoke once more, "Sophie I'm sorry that you and your friends have been having so much trouble with your assistant principal. If you like, I can go down and have a word with him on Monday. But we still need to address your choices last night." Sophie nodded submissively as she accepted Abbie's scolding. "First of all, young lady, the behaviour exhibited by you and your friends was extremely childish. You know better than to solve problems using juvenile pranks. I will be calling your friends' parents to inform them what took place, and on Monday, you four are going to personally apologize to Mr. Green and clean up the mess you made." Sophie almost protested Abbie's mention of calling her friends' parents, but held her tongue when she saw Abbie's stern expression. "Now to address the sneaking out. Young lady have you any idea how dangerous that was? Four teenage girls walking the streets of New York at night? Any number of terrible things could have happened to you. You're lucky you all made it home safely." Sophie simply nodded as she silently wept. Disappointing Abbie was like a knife cutting her heart. She had always looked up to her sister, and knowing how she let Abbie down made Sophie feel miserable.
"Now I know you're fifteen years old," continued Abbie, "but you certainly didn't act your age last night. If you are going to act like a child, then I'm going to punish you like one. Go get the wooden spoon from the kitchen please." Sophie's head snapped up in horror. Pleadingly, she whispered "please Abbie, not in front of Claire!" Sensing that her presence was no longer aiding the situation, Claire stood causally and said "I need to run to the library to return some books - do either of you need anything?" "No thank you," responded Abbie politely. Sophie simply shook her head, unable to look Claire in the eye. Claire knelt down and spoke kindly to her girlfriend's little sister, "hey Soph, there's no shame in being spanked. I got my last spanking at 21, and some of us still get one from time to time," she finished as she glanced innocently at Abbie. Sophie's eyes widened "you mean you...?" she trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. Abbie mock-glared at Claire before turning back to Sophie "let's just say I still find ways to get into trouble from time to time." Sophie looked between Abbie and Claire, unsure how to respond. Claire leaned in and gently kissed Sophie on the cheek before standing. "I'll see you two in a bit." Claire picked up her keys from the hall table, and left the apartment.
Abbie turned to Sophie "honey, I believe I asked you to go get me something. If I have to ask again, that'll mean extra swats." Eyes widening, Sophie quickly got up from the couch and walked into the kitchen. Sophie gulped softly as she picked up the dreaded spoon, but didn't dare hesitate before bringing it to her sister. Abbie gently took the implement from her sister and patted her lap. Knowing what was expected of her, Sophie awkwardly draped herself over Abbie's thighs. Abbie shifted the younger girl slightly and tapped the spoon on Sophie's jeans as she spoke. "Sophie, you're a very good girl. But I'm disappointed in the choices you've made. I expect that there won't be a repeat of this behaviour." Sophie shook her head and Abbie quirked an eyebrow. Delivering one sharp swat to Sophie's bottom, Abbie asked "how do you respond when you're being punished?" Sophie gasped at the blow. She and Abbie had both been spanked plenty as kids, but Abbie had never been the one doling out the discipline. Abbie was strong! And Sophie immediately knew that she wouldn't be sitting comfortably that day. "No ma'am, I'm sorry ma'am," responded Sophie. "Good girl," Abbie replied before lifting the spoon and beginning to pepper Sophie's bottom with sharp, stinging spanks. Sophie squirmed a bit under the assault to her rear, but tried to be obedient and accept her punishment gracefully. After a few minutes, Abbie suddenly stopped. "Stand up," she ordered. Sophie complied, though she was confused. Her parents' spankings had always gone on much longer. Maybe Abbie was going easy on her because she was her sister. Sophie was soon dispelled of this notion as Abbie reached over and unbuttoned her jeans. Silently and swiftly, Abbie pushed Sophie's jeans down around her knees, followed by her underwear. She tapped her lap wordlessly and Sophie submissively draped herself back across her sister's legs. Though she tried to brace herself for the impact of the spoon, Abbie spanked hard and fast, and before long, Sophie was crying and wriggling uncontrollably.
After a few unsuccessful attempts to still the miscreant, Abbie shifted Sophie to one leg, placing the other over Sophie's legs to keep her in position. Sophie sobbed openly as Abbie continued.
POP POP POP*
"Little girl, if you EVER sneak out in the middle of the night again, this is going to feel like a tickle."
SMACK WHAP SLAP*
"I already lost mom and dad, I WON'T lose you too!"
At this, Sophie sobbed brokenly and went limp across her sister's lap. Seeing that her sister had fully accepted her punishment, Abbie finished up with 20 swats to the backs of her sister's thighs. When she was done, she sat the spoon next to her on the couch and gently pulled her sister into a hug.
Sophie winced as her crimson bottom made contact with the couch cushion. She was certain she'd never sit comfortably again! As she silently sobbed on Abbie's shoulder, she realized she felt...lighter. Sure being spanked was no fun, but she knew that now in Annie's eyes, her slate was clean and that her sister wouldn't hold this over her head. As Sophie's breathing began to steady, Abbie spoke softly. "Sophie I'm so sorry that I had to spank you, and I'm proud of you for accepting your punishment without a fuss. Please promise me that you'll never ever scare the life out of me like that again." Sophie nodded vigorously and replied "no ma'am, I promise I will NEVER sneak out again. I've learned my lesson, I'm so sorry!" Abbie smiled and pulled Sophie into another hug. "Abbie, may I please go to my room for a while?" Sophie asked softly. "Sure thing, kiddo," responded Abbie. "Oh and Sophie?" Sophie paused and turned to face her big sister. "I love you so much!" Sophie smiled, "I love you too, Abbs."
About 45 minutes later, Claire walked into the apartment. She found Abbie sitting on their couch reading a book. "Where's Sophie?" She asked. Abbie put down the book, "she's in her bedroom resting, I think she may have fallen asleep." Claire sat next to Abbie "how did it go? Are you ok?" Abbie smiled at Claire "it absolutely broke me to have to punish my baby sister like that, but she accepted her spanking gracefully and I don't think we will be having this talk again." Claire tenderly rubbed Abbie's thigh as she replied "I'm proud of you for looking after your sister, even though I'm sure it wasn't easy." Just then, they heard the sound of a throat being softly cleared. Sophie stood in front of Claire and Abbie, not sure if she should join them or not. Claire stood and gestured warmly to the seat between her and Abbie. Sophie walked over and ever so slowly sat between the two, wincing once more as she did. Once seated as comfortably as she would ever be, Sophie turned to Claire. "Claire, I'm really sorry for behaving so badly. Are you going to punish me too?" Claire was slightly taken aback at this question, never having considered taking Sophie in hand. "No darling. Thank you for the apology, but I think you've been punished enough." Claire smirked slightly at this last part as she noticed Sophie shift as she tried in vain to find a position that didn't bother her punished bottom. Sophie threw her arms gratefully around Claire "thank you ma'am! I promise to be on my best behaviour from now on!" Claire smiled as she hugged the teen. "I'm glad to hear it sweetheart. Now, who's for ice cream?"
And with that, Abbie, Claire, and Sophie walked down to the corner ice cream store. Though thoroughly chastised, Sophie could not have felt more loved than she did in that moment. Finally, among all the loss and chaos, Sophie found a home.