The Belt:
I learned that "the belt" meant a whipping. Nothing much happened until ten years passed. I was fifteen, it was recently. Chastity and I hand pamphlets out every day. Modesty soon grew very close to me. I promised her I would always take care of her. When I had not done what Ma had told me I had taken off my belt. I prepared myself for the blows, unfortunately it seems I get beaten more than the girls. Thankfully I would do anything to keep both of them from getting hurt. Even Chastity who believes Ma is a good person. I know she's not though. Modesty is too young to run away with me so we are stuck. Modesty is nine. Chastity is sixteen. Ma led me up the stairs I gave her my belt. She led me to my room. I looked over the railing in the hallway Chastity was sewing and Modesty was hopping on her hopscotch. Right after Ma had done a few practice snaps. I started to beg her to please not beat me. "Next time you don't come home for dinner you'll get a worse punishment!" She told me before she hit my first wrist. I balled up my hands the pain was uncontrollable. She hit my second my eyes began to fill. "Ma." I gasped. "I'm not your ma... you selfish boy." She hit my first wrist again the pain doubled the first. Then she hit both I fell to my knees in agony. Tears rolling down my cheeks. She hit my wrists about three more times. My cheeks were stained with tears and she raised her arm again suddenly the belt flew from her hands. A woman holding a wand had moved it with magic. Mary Lou stood trembling with fear. She walked down the stairs to get away from the woman as fast as possible. I sat shaking in fear on the floor. The woman knelt beside me she wore a blue hat and a nice long coat. "Shh..." She whispered in my ear. Tears started to fall like rain down my face. Everything I had experienced was flooding through my mind. "My name is Tina and its ok...Credence, is it?" Tina told me. I nodded I just wanted her to affectionately hug me. I desired that someone wouldn't hurt me for a change. She gave me a soft hug not like Mary Lou who would hug me roughly. She tenderly wiped my tears away. "Now, its ok." She whispered like I was a child it was so calming I actually heard my mother's voice. She then realized the blood trickling down my hands. "Oh." She gasped. She tenderly touched my first wrist which I jerked away in pain. She opened her small bag and pulled off a cloth she then wrapped that hand and wrist. She then touched my other one. This one was worse the skin on my hand was covered in previous scars. It was covered in blood. "Oh...my" Tina gasped again. She pulled out another handkerchief. She went to wrap it, but. "You lay a hand on that boy...my son...I'll tell people about it." Ma had come up the stairs and was yelling at Tina. I grasped my unwrapped wrist to my torso. I started to sob. "Oh, there...there." Tina said. "I'm sure he's not your son. You don't treat him like your son." Tina yelled back. "Well I'm not an Evil Unnatural Woman like yourself!" Retorted Ma. I started to weep...I didn't want Tina to leave me with her. Tina's eyes filled but she wouldn't let words stop her. "You are EVIL!" She said looking at me. "WITCH!" Ma yelled at the top of her lungs. I lost it and cried hard as I've ever. Suddenly a bunch of men came and took Tina away. "I'll come back for you Credence, I promise!" She called to me as she was dragged off. After Tina left Ma turned to me. "What did she say to you?" She asked sharply. "Nothing Ma." I answered. My only condolence is Tina promised she would come save me. Ma grabbed the belt from the floor. I scooted away from her my wrist burning from the last round of beatings. She grabbed my wrists and pulled me up. I howled in agony. She saw the second one being un bandaged and hit it three times with the whip it was the most horrific pain I'd ever felt. The first being bandaged she ripped of the cloth and whipped not three times but five. After she had left me up by myself I crying softly gathered the ripped bandage and wrapped it around my first wrist again. I ripped a clean shirt for the second. After a couple of minutes Modesty came in. She ran and hugged me. I hugged her back. She traced her fingers lightly on my bandaged hands. "Sorry...Credence." She softly consoled me. I hugged her again. I couldn't leave with Tina even if I wanted to. I had to stay here with Modesty.