Todd's Punishment

The next morning, Marty awakened just as the sun came up. She sneaked out of bed, before Dr. Larry or Meredith could awaken. She got dressed and slipped out the front door of the cottage. She started walking down the dirt road toward Peter Manning's house. She would hurry over and see Todd, before her foster parents had a chance to get up.

Her sense of excitement was strong as she neared the little shack where Todd lived. She couldn't wait to see him! She hoped he was happy with his aunt and uncle. She hoped they were treating him well.

As Marty approached and looked into the window, she could hear shouting coming from inside.

Peter Manning was standing in front of his wife. "You let that brat get away with everything!" he yelled ferociously.

Peter reached out, striking Barbara across the face. Standing at the window, Marty watched in horror as Peter proceeded to shout obscenities at his wife. She couldn't make out everything the angry man was saying, but she knew they were arguing about whether or not Todd should be punished.

Standing on her tip-toes, Marty could see Todd cowering in the corner. He looked very afraid. "Get over here, boy... and take your punishment!" Peter sneered. It was obvious to Marty that Todd didn't want to go. He wasn't about to get up.

Todd knew his uncle was furious because he had willfully disobeyed his mother. He had gotten off the train in Boston. Now Peter insisted he had to accept the consequences of his actions. Todd's mother may have been indifferent and at times cruel, but she had never struck him. Todd had never known physical punishment... until now. Peter Manning was very tall, muscular, and mean-looking. Todd was absolutely terrified.

"Are you listening to me, boy?!" Peter Manning bellowed. "Get your scrawny ass over here NOW and take your punishment like a man... or are you nothing but a worthless, little worm?!"

"Peter, leave the boy alone," Barbara begged.

"Shut up, Bitsy! You stay out of this, whore!" Peter growled at his wife, back-handing her already bruised face with a sickening crunch. "This whimpy, little bastard needs to learn some respect!"

"Don't touch him," Barbara begged, stepping in between her husband and Todd in an attempt to protect the boy. "Please don't hurt him. He's only a child!"

Marty trembled in fear at the window, seeing Peter punch his wife in the nose with all his strength. Barbara fell to the floor, her face covered in bright-red blood. Marty had never seen so much blood in all her life. It soaked the floor as Marty's eyes started to sting. Hot tears started to fall.

She was scared and worried. She didn't know what to do. She didn't want Todd to be hurt. He was her world- he was her EVERYTHING.

*Please God,* Marty began to silently pray. *Don't let Todd's mean uncle hurt him. Please help Todd and his Aunt Barbara.*

More tears fell. Marty was just a little girl. She couldn't stop Todd's uncle from hurting anyone. All she could do was pray... so she prayed and prayed with all her heart.

*Ohhh please God,* Marty quietly whimpered.

Sadly, Marty's sincere prayers weren't answered. She saw Peter Manning approach Todd where he was crouching in the corner of the room. He grabbed Todd by the collar and drug him into the back bedroom.

With tears streaming from her sorrowed eyes, Marty went running back to the Woleck's cottage as fast as her small legs could carry her. When she arrived there, she saw Merrie fixing a delicious breakfast. Her foster mother had just set a tray of steaming eggs and bacon upon the table.

Marty stood in the doorway, her face streaked with tears. She was trembling from head to toe. "What is it, Marty?" Meredith asked.

"Nothing," Marty said softly. She solemnly walked over to the table and sat down next to her foster brother.

"Did you see a bear outside?" asked little Danny. "Near the outhouse?"

Marty shook her head. She was very scared, but she wasn't sure if she should tell anyone what she had just seen. She didn't know Dr. Larry and his wife very well. She was afraid she'd somehow get in trouble, too. She did not say a word to anyone. She just sat at the table quietly, her hands folded in her lap.

Larry knew something was wrong, but he didn't push it. Marty was just settling in to her new home. There was bound to be some tears as Marty adjusted to her new surroundings. Lovingly, he put his arm around the small girl. "Why don't we have some breakfast?" he suggested. "Everything will get better; I promise."

Marty was so sad she couldn't eat. All she could think about was the look of terror on Todd's face when Peter Manning had drug him away toward the bedroom. *I'm so sorry, Todd,* she whispered to him quietly.

She had failed him. She had failed Todd. He had always protected her... but now, she couldn't protect him. Todd lived with the devil.