Eric and Hyde entered the kitchen through the sliding glass door to find Laurie eating breakfast and Mrs. Forman nervously cleaning the counters. When Kitty saw the boys, she brought them large plates full of eggs, bacon, toast, and ham.
"Here, boys, eat up."
"Thanks, Mom, but Dad said we had to go to bed. I don't want to be down here when he comes in."
Laurie snickered.
Kitty shot a disgusted look at her daughter and nodded. "That's fine. Take them up to your room. I'll come collect them later."
Mrs. Forman picked up a third plate and cup of coffee to take out to her husband, who she knew would be puttering around in the garage. He hated punishing the kids and would linger outside to avoid everyone.
Once her mother left, Laurie began taunting the boys. "Better head upstairs. You don't want Daddy to think you've disobeyed his orders, now do you?"
"Shut it, Laurie!" Hyde snarled.
"Yeah, She Devil! Dad's gonna punish you, too. He said so. …So, there!" Eric finished lamely.
"Ok, then. Well, you almost showed her," Hyde teased his friend as they left the kitchen.
Safely in their room, Eric quietly raged. "He better whip her butt, too, man. ...It's just not fair."
"I know, man. I can see this is really bothering you. …Can I have your bacon?"
Kitty handed her husband his breakfast and coffee and kissed his cheek. He smiled and thanked her.
"So, you've taken care of the boys now. When are you gonna deal with Laurie?"
"Ugh, Kitty, can't I just eat breakfast first?"
"Of course you can. But your daughter is a mess, Red. She needs structure and discipline, too. You can't be super hard on the boys, and then turn a blind-eye to everything Laurie does. It isn't consistent."
"I know, I know, dammit. …Oh, just take this food back to the kitchen. I'll eat after I… when I'm… Dammit," Red yelled, storming out of the garage.
He took the steps three at a time. At the top of the stairs, he heard the boys talking in their room and suddenly go silent. Suspicious, Red walked to the door and opened it. Both boys were stretched out on their respective beds, reading innocently.
"You didn't sleep at all last night, so no more talking. Sleep now," Red said sternly.
As he started to shut the door, the man heard a sarcastic, "Aye, aye, captain" from his son.
It was one comment too many. The door flew back open, and Red walked swiftly to Eric's bed. He grabbed the boy's arm, ignored his son's pleas and apologies, and tossed him over his lap. The lanky boy was wearing nothing but pajamas, which offered almost no protection. After ten swift smacks, Red released the boy.
"Eric, be less of a dumb ass. Got it?"
"Yes, sir. Got it."
"Ok, now I have to deal with your sister. So, go to sleep."
As soon Red left the room, the stunned boys moved quickly and silently to the door to spy. They heard Red knock on Laurie's door, enter the room, and close it behind him.
"Hi, Daddy. Is Eric in more trouble?"
"Hi, sweetie. Oh, your brother doesn't know when to shut his mouth. Nothing new."
Red seemed uneasy in Laurie's room. He looked around, as though he'd never really noticed the posters of boys that lined the walls.
"Is everything ok, Daddy?"
"Well, truthfully, no. I am upset that you went to Chicago without permission. It was a dangerous trip to make and you knew you weren't allowed. I'm afraid you deserve to be punished too."
"Please, Daddy. You don't need to! I'll never do it again."
"I know you won't. But, nevertheless. You need consequences too. So, bend over the bed." Red walked over to Laurie's vanity and picked up her hairbrush. It was a large, flat brush and he slapped it against the palm of his hand. Yep, he thought. That will work.
Laurie paled, but made no other appeals. She bent over the foot of her bed and waited. Smack, the brush landed on her cotton-pajama bottoms and she gasped. Laurie was silent the second and third times the brush fell; however, every spank afterwards elicited a plea, cry, or whimper.
After the fifteenth blow, Red patted his daughter's back and said, "That's it, honey. It's finished. Try and calm down."
Laurie cried quietly, still leaning over the foot of her bed. Her father walked back to the vanity, returning the brush to its original position.
"Calm down, now, please. Everything's forgiven. Come give your dad a hug," Red said gently.
Laurie stood slowly and hugged her father. She was embarrassed and angry and sorry that she had worried her parents.
"Sorry, Daddy," she said quietly.
"Just don't do it again, pumpkin. Now it's time for you to rest. Try and get some sleep, ok?"
"I will. Good night."
"Night."
The boys had cracked the door and even ventured into the hallway. As they listened to Laurie's punishment, neither felt like reveling in her pain. Long before the punishment ended, they snuck back in their room and got back in their beds.
Hyde broke the silence with a whisper, "Man, that was not as satisfying as I thought it would be."
"I know. Dammit. I don't even want to tease her about it. …Man, this sucks."