Chapter 2: Meeting the Mitchells

Neal had worked late into the night getting his present for his new grandmother ready and so slept for the majority of the trip to Carpentersville, Illinois where the Mitchells lived. Peter and El had awakened him a couple of times during the journey but mostly had let him rest for the main part of the journey but now upon entering the city limits El had turned in her seat to wake him. "Sweetie," she had touched him on his leg and shook, "it's time to wake up now…we are almost at Mom and Dad's." When that didn't seem to work, Peter took matters in his own hands and after checking the traffic behind him said,

"Hold on," and applied the brakes hard bringing the car to an abrupt stop for a few minutes before starting back up. The effect had been enough to throw Neal against his seatbelt and to wake him at once.

"What…what happened?" asked Neal as soon as he got his bearings.

"Your father braked to avoid hitting something in the road," El said as she gave her husband a glare, "but now that you are awake don't go back to sleep. We are nearly at my folk's home and I know I'm glad this journey is at an end and from the way Satch is behaving in his crate he is raring to get out and run."

Neal sat up and began to take in his surroundings at long last. He watched as Peter pulled into the driveway of an old two story white house with an enormous back yard with colorful plants and bushes all over the area. "I take it that your mom likes to garden?" he asked interested.

"Oh yes, it is one of her passions," replied El as Peter added,

"That and collecting wooden cooking implements; just wait to you see what she has collected over the years; she must have fifty by now and some of them…."

"PETER! You are scaring Neal," scolded El as she watched Neal's reaction.

"Sorry," replied Peter but you could tell from the twinkle in his eyes that he wasn't; he was only teasing his son.

As the pulled up Neal saw the front door open and his new grandparents emerge and he began to get nervous again. "It's okay Neal; they aren't going to bite you," comforted El who noticed his expression and then just as quickly smacked Peter on his arm when he opened his mouth for another teasing comment.

By the time the vehicle came to a complete stop Alan Mitchell was at his daughter's door to open it and welcome her home. She got out and was immediately pulled into a welcomed hug before being passed off to her mother. It was during this time that Neal quietly got out of the car and stood silently by as he viewed this loving exchange.

"Mom, Dad…this is Neal…our son," she said simply as she introduced Neal to the family.

There was only a second hesitation before Neal found himself pulled into that loving comfort found in a family. "Mom? Neal made you something; he spent most of the night to complete it," she added as she nodded towards Neal who quickly retrieved the package and handed to his grandmother.

"Oh son you didn't have to, but thank you for…oh Alan looked at these they are so beautiful," Marie Mitchell interrupted herself to show her husband as she revealed what was in the package.

"Neal is an artist," praised El as she looked at his effort. "We are hoping that he will pursue this field when he enters college this fall," she added proudly as she pulled him into a brief but loving hug. This all changed as Satch made himself known with a frantic bark and Neal hurried to let him out.

"I see you brought your dog as well?" remarked Alan as he watched the dog bound over a few minutes later.

"Well you did say that he was always welcomed back," replied Elizabeth as she watched an old chocolate lab bound up and soon she and Satch were running together happily.

I see that Cassie hasn't slowed down much," remarked Peter as he watched the two dogs play.

"She's making an effort for Satch; she won't keep it up much longer," Alan replied and then catching Neal's expression explained. "Cassie is Satch's mom."

"But Cassie isn't yellow," Neal said with confusion in his answer.

"Neal, Cassie is a Labrador retriever and they can have multicolored litters. Satch's siblings included two blacks, one chocolate and two yellows," explained El.

"Now with that settled let's get you all in your bedrooms so you can unpack. El, you and Peter will be in the larger guest room and Neal can have your old room, and don't worry Neal we have repainted since El left," Marie said.

It was about thirty minutes later that they all gathered for supper. Marie had made one of El's favorites, roasted chicken with vegetables and they all dug in to enjoy topping it off with a slice of chocolate cake. But due to the length of time that it took to get there the three turned in soon afterwards.

Neal was looking forward to sleeping late but was dismayed when early the next morning he was shaken awake by Alan. "Wake up son, we are going fishing."

Neal turned over and looked out the window and croaked, "But it is still night," before turning back and trying to go back to sleep.

"This is the perfect time to go fishing…we have to get there just as the sunrises to catch the best fish," explained Alan as he waited for Neal to get up.

Neal contemplated his options and not wanting to upset El, climbed reluctantly and slowly from bed and headed to the nearest shower. If he hoped that Alan wouldn't be there when he returned he was sadly mistaken as the man was waiting with clothes ready to help him and with his plan on going back to sleep

foiled, Neal got dressed and followed his grandfather down the stairs to the kitchen where he found Peter drinking a cup of coffee and eating breakfast.

"I wondered what took you so long to get back Alan," remarked Peter as he gave Neal a look of sympathy and handed him a cup of coffee.

"I thought Neal might want to come along," replied Alan deadpanned, "and as you can see he is just raring to go."

"Alan I must warn you…Neal knows nothing about fishing and if he had a choice he would rather paint us fishing than to actual do it himself," Peter said in an attempt to get Neal off the hook and back in his warm bed sleeping.

"Nonsense…he just hasn't had a chance to see what it is like…who knows he might become a great fisherman after this," Alan replied as he put a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon in front of Neal and refilled his own coffee cup.

By the time they were packed and heading out, Neal could just see a little light coming from the horizon before lying back in the backseat and promptly going back to sleep while Peter and Alan talked a bit about the weather, work and fishing.

"Neal do you know anything about fly fishing?" Alan asked as they hiked from their car to the river they were going to fish at.

Neal shook his head, "No. The only thing I know about fishing is that you put bait at one end and put the line in water in hope that a fish will bite it and you reel it in."

"Then you will stay on the bank and cast your line into the river to catch your fish. Peter and I will venture out into the river to do our casting, since we have fished like this before," ordered Alan as he showed Neal how to cast before putting his waders on and walking out casting as he went.

Peter followed after telling Neal, "Now behave and if you get bored. just go back to the car and leave the rod. You can catch up on your sleep."

Neal watched Peter and Alan for a few minutes marveling on how easy they made casting appear before tentatively giving it a try for himself. "That's not so hard," he said to himself as he tried it again and again gaining confidence if not skill at his attempts. He soon got bored at casting and not even getting a nibble and decided that he would try it in the river like Peter and Alan were doing but remembering at the last minute that if his dad and granddad saw him disobeying Alan he wouldn't end well for his butt.

Neal glanced up the river and saw a spot that was out of Alan and Peter's sight and hightailed it to that spot stopping only long enough to grab the pair of waders that had been left on the bank. He saw the sign that warned not to fish from that area due to low spots in the river bed but decided to ignore it since it offered the best place for him to enter the river. "I'll just watch where I step and I should be fine," he thought and stepped out into the river but not so far out as to get himself in trouble….or so he thought. He was so intent on casting that he forgot about the low spots and promptly stepped into one which caused him to lose his balance and topple off into the river and into the quick current.

All the while that Neal was getting into trouble; Peter and Alan were having the time of their lives, that was until Peter happened to glance behind him and pause…Neal was nowhere to be seen. "NEAL! NEAL!" he yelled but Neal didn't respond.

"Alan, Neal is missing and I don't see his rod…I told him that if he got bored he could go back to the car but to leave the rod here. Something is wrong," Peter shouted to his father-in-law.

Alan nodded his understanding and started back to the bank to look for their boy. They had just started to move back when they saw Neal in the river struggling. "Neal...swim this way," Peter shouted as he dropped his rod and surged forward to try and catch ahold of his son.

It took the combined efforts of both Alan and Peter before they were able grab Neal and haul him back to the bank. Alan was able to catch his rod but Peter's was lost to the current and by the time he returned to the bank Peter was in the process of stripping off his wet clothing.

"I packed a change of clothing and a blanked just in case," Alan said as he started for the car. "I'll be right back."

Peter nodded and waited until he was out of earshot before turning back to Neal. "Okay how did you end up in the river after you were told to stay on the bank?"

"I got bored casting off the bank and not getting even a nibble…so I thought I would try another spot," Neal replied as he skirted the truth. "I must have slipped and that's how I fell in."

"Why were you wearing the waders?"

"I didn't want to get my feet wet."

"Where did you go?" Peter asked as Alan came back carrying a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt. He also had a pair of thick socks, which he handed to Neal. "Change and then you can take us to where you fell in from?" ordered Peter as he turned around to give Neal a bit of privacy to change.

Neal stripped before using the blanket as a towel and drying off as best he could. He quickly pulled on the sweatpants and shirt before sitting in a dry area and putting on the dry pair of socks. He pulled on the shoes he had on while wearing the waders.

"Now take us to where you were?" ordered Peter.

Neal nodded and started to the place realizing too late about the sign warning against stepping into the river at that location. "Didn't you see this sign, son?" asked Alan as he recognized the area.

Before Neal could answer Peter responded, "Oh, he saw it; he just decided to ignore it...isn't that the truth Neal?"

When Neal didn't reply Peter and Alan had their answer. They exchanged a glance that wasn't lost on Neal. Alan then handed Neal his pocket knife, a gesture that surprised him as he looked questioningly at the man.

"I want you to go and cut me a switch about the size of my little finger, strip off the bark and bring it back to me," instructed Alan sternly. There was no doubt about what was going to happened when Neal brought the switch back.

"Dad?" Neal pleaded.

Peter looked at Neal and they exchanged a glance before explaining, "Alan I'll take care of it…there is no need for you to use that switch on Neal…this time. But if he disobeys again he's all yours to punish," Peter said seriously.

Alan nodded and Neal quickly returned his pocket knife. "Neal, come with me," Peter ordered and walked away into the woods.

Neal sighed as he reluctantly followed his dad into the woods. He knew that Peter was going to punish him for his disobedience that led him to endangering his life.

Peter led him until they were completely hidden from the river. "Drop your pants and grab that tree, son," instructed Peter as he motioned to a sapling in front of him.

As Neal did as he was instructed, he heard the unmistaken sound of a belt being removed and grabbed the tree for support. A few minutes later he felt the first lick hit his bare backside since when he changed he had taken his wet boxers off as well. He hissed at the pain and cried out as the second lick caught him on his upper thighs. After that, the remainder licks peppered his upper thighs and butt causing Neal to sob. Peter brought the spanking to an end after the twelfth lick and pulled his sobbing son into his arms. "I might have lost you today, son and how could I have explained that to your mother. Don't do something that foolish again," he added as he kissed Neal on the top of his head and pulled up the borrowed sweatpants.

Neal clung to him as he brought his emotions back in line before walking gingerly back to the car where Alan was waiting. The ride home was painful to Neal as he squirmed in the backseat before finally lying on his side for the return trip home.

As soon as the car came to a stop, Neal bolted for the safety of his room running past both El and Marie without speaking.

El waited for Peter to arrive before asking, "What did you punish him for this time?"

"He disobeyed both Alan and me and nearly lost his life fishing; we had to pull him from the fast current of the river when he was told most empathically to stay upon the bank to fish," Peter said simply.

El started for her son's room only to be held back by Peter. "Give him a few minutes; he's been punished and really doesn't feel like having any company at the moment."

El nodded as she clung to Peter not wanting to think about what might have happened if Peter and her father hadn't been there. By the time she did enter Neal's room, she found the boy sleeping on his stomach. She just sat there for the longest time watching him sleep; thankful that he was still in their lives.