CHAPTER 8
We walked home in silence, Darry gripping my arm the entire way.
I couldn't believe this was happenin' again. No...I could believe it was happenin'. What I couldn't believe was that I'd lied to Soda - and made my brothers worry - and all because of some silly blonde.
When we arrived at the house, Darry escorted me inside and into the kitchen. Still holding my arm, he pulled out a chair, chastising me.
"I don't understand why you decided to put yourself in this position again, Ponyboy."
Sitting down on the chair, he started to unbutton and unzip my jeans.
My face flushed. He couldn't be serious!
"No, Darry! Wait!", I begged, trying desperately to pull away. "Darry, please! I know you're gonna spank me again...and...I know...I know I deserve it", I admitted, swallowing hard, "but you can't take down my pants! Darry, PLEASE!"
I was 16! I wasn't a little boy anymore! What on earth was he thinkin'?
"That's where you're wrong, Ponyboy. I can...and I will...take down your pants."
I was horrified.
"I was easy on you the other night, Pone, and you obviously didn't learn a thing because of it...lying to Soda, makin' him worry half to death...tryin' to get to Buck's again...! Damnit, Ponyboy, this time you ARE gonna learn and I'm gonna be sure of that!"
And he put his thumbs in both sides of my jeans and pulled them down.
I thought I'd die!
Darry yanked me to him and in one swift motion flipped my over his knees. For the second time in a week, he held me firmly in place. There was nowhere I could go and nothing I could do.
Shit, I thought miserably, I'm really in for it.
Darry's hand came down hard on my backside. I gasped. Damn, he has strong hands!
His hand came down again and I felt hot tears wellin' up in my eyes. I didn't want to be spanked anymore!
"Darry, please, I'm sorry!" I pleaded, and his hand connected once again. I yelped.
Darry's hand kept comin' down, hard and fast, almost rhythmacally. It stung like hell and by the 6th swat I was tryin' to keep from bawlin' like a baby. By the time the 10th swat landed, I lost all control, sobbing and beggin' Darry to stop.
Damn him, he just kept on spanking.
"Soda?", Darry started, while continuing his rampage on me.
Soda was back? I hated the thought of him seein' me over our big brother's knees once again.
"Hmmm?"
"Go into my room and get me Mom's hairbrush...it's on my tall dresser."
I looked up, and through my tears could see Soda leave the kitchen and head down the hall.
Darry stopped spanking me for a moment and my hands immediately flew to my burning backside, but he quickly pushed them away.
"Oh no, kiddo. We're just gettin' started." he hissed.
And with that said, he put his fingers into my briefs and yanked them down to my knees.
"Darry, No! Not like this!" I thought I'd die from embarassment! "Please Darry...I'm 16! No!"
I squirmed and wiggled, trying to get free, but Darry just tightend his hold on me.
"No, Ponyboy, it has to be like this." And he waited for Sooda to bring him Mom's hairbrush.
"Here ya go, Dar.", Soda drawled, as he loped back into the kitchen. Then he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw me, bare assed, over Darry's knees. I was mortified, and just kept my head down, staring at the floor and crying.
"Darry..." he paused, "you sure ya wanna do it like that? I mean...he is 16...I'm sure just bein' over your knees is humiliating enough for him..."
Well, at least he's sticking up for me this time, I thought smugly. Ain't no way Darry's gonna do this if Soda's sayin' somethin' about it. Suddenly I felt ashamed. I didn't deserve him to stick up for me. I lied to him...and I made him worry...
"I'm sure." Darry interrupted my thoughts. "This is exactly what this kid needs to keep him from finding himself over my knees again."
"Whatever you say, Superman. I'll be in the living room playin' poker with Two-Bit and Steve. Call me if you need me, K."
Great! Just what I needed to top of my already perfect night! Two-Bit and Steve hearing me howl like a 6 year old over my brother's knees.
"K, little buddy", Darry responded. Then to me he said, "This time you ARE gonna learn..."
And I felt the first smack of Mom's wooden hairbrush.
"Nooo!" I started kicking and crying! Glory, that thing smarted! He paddled me long and hard with that hairbrush. He just kept bringing it down on my backside while I sobbed. And he didn't say a word.
He didn't have to say a word.
I knew why I was over his knees. I knew I deserved what he was doin'. And I knew that he'd never be doin' it again. I knew I had learned. Just like he said I would.
"I'm so sorry, Darry!" I choked out. Glory, I was.
"I don't want you to forget."
And he paddled me harder. I kicked and bucked, pleaded and begged for mercy, but Darry just kept right on paddling me. He musta had me over his knees, using that hairbrush on me for a good 20 minutes.
I'll never sit down again, I thought miserably.
Suddenly I realized I wasn't being held down anymore. I quickly jumped off Darry's lap, and he stood up from the chair, wrapping his arms around me and letting me sob into his chest.
"I'm sorry, Darry. I'm so sorry." I cried. Darry just held me tightly until I calmed down, then he spoke gently to me while helping me pull my pants back up.
"Why don't you go and get some sleep, huh, little man. You've had a rough night."
"K, Dar." I said sullenly and sniffed. I turned to walk to my room, then stopped and ran back to Darry's strong arms. I needed him to hold me again.
"You ain't never gonna hafta do that again, Darry, never again!" I was crying again, overcome by emothion...and it wasn't because my backside stung. It was because I'd disappointed my brothers, and I knew it.
"I know, baby, I know." He looked me in the eyes as he spoke again, "But there's someone that doesn't know. Go and talk to Soda."
I stiffened. Soda didn't want to talk to me...not after what I'd done to him. There was no way he'd talk to me again. 'Sides, Soda was playin' with Steve and Two-Bit...and I couldn't face any of them at the moment.
But, Darry urged me on.
"Go ahead, Baby...the worst is over. Go on and talk to your brother..."
I nodded.
I hesitantly made my way outta the kitchen and into the living room where Soda, Steve and Two-Bit were in a heated poker game. Soda musta been cheatin again, I thought, dully. They all stopped playing and looked up at me when I walked into the room and cleared my throat. I musta been a sight to see...my eyes all red and puffy, my clothes dissheveled, my nose running. And they all knew why. They'd heard everything - me begging Darry to stop, the sounds of Darry spanking me with the hairbrush, me crying like a little kid. I'd never been so embarassed in my life!
"Soda..." I began. Hey, Soda. Can...can we talk?"
Soda glared at me. I put my head down, turned, and slowly made my way into the room I shared with him.
Then I felt his hand on my shoulder. I turned and threw my arms around his waist as he enveloped me in a tight hug. I started bawling again.
"He really let you have it, huh, Pone?" Soda questioned, solemnly.
"It...it hurts." I choked.
"I know honey. I know it hurts..." he said, brushing some tears off my face.
"No..." I sobbed. "Not that. It...It hurts that I hurts you and Darry...that I lied to you and...and that you were both worryin' about me again tonight. Soda...I'm...I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"
Soda just held me while I cried.
I suddenly felt Darry's strong arms around both me and Soda and I looked up through my tears.
Both my brothers were cryin' too.
Tuff enough, I thought...and held onto the two of them even tighter.
And I knew they would hold onto me forever.