Hello again! Welcome to another chapter of: Three Days.
-The Youngest Writer.
Warning: Spanking of a minor
CHAPTER 3-THE SECOND DAY
~Three Days~
I shuttered and shivered, walking into the warm house. It had been raining outside and I just hoped Darry wouldn't be mad at me for forgetting my coat-
"Ponyboy!"
Fat chance.
"Where in the hell have you been?" He stood up from the chair, his height easily towering over me. He looked intimidating with his piercing icy eyes glaring at me and the way he harshly clutched my purple jacket in his right hand, holding it with his whole hand as if my jacket was that small, as if I was that small.
"It's past dinner time and you're soaking wet!" He hollered. "For god's sake, you're tracking in mud, too!"
I looked down at my ruined tennis shoes, I guess I hadn't thought about it before Darry pointed it out. "You mean to tell me I have to buy you shoes too?! I'm not made of money, Ponyboy Curtis! Are you listening to me?!"
Was I? I shook my head to clear my thoughts. I had been so focused on trying to get warm from the storm I had to brace myself through that I wasn't listening to Darry. Sodapop came to my rescue with a warm towel that he draped around me.
"Let the boy breathe, Darry! For Pete's sake, he hasn't said a work in edge-wise since he stepped in the door!"
I shivered, my teeth chattering.
"Darry, he's as cold as ice-"
"Well, it wouldn't have happened if he had just came straight home instead of bumming around with those 'idiots' he calls friends." Darry crossed his arms, he never approved of Curly Shepard being my friend, but Curly helped me get my mind off Johnny and Dallas and I felt insulted he was saying such things.
". . .S-shut your m-mouth Darry!" my teeth chattered.
Darry glared at me, "Excuse me?! What did you just say to me?" He spoke with a parental tone that I knew meant trouble was dead ahead if I didn't keep my mouth shut. However, it wasn't my fault I was late. Really, it wasn't.
"Don't you talk to me the way you do, Ponyboy! I swear I'll belt you!"
I crossed my arms, "Oh that's very Christian of you: Obey me or I'll hurt you." I instantly regretted saying that because quicker than I could blink his hand collided with my face, smacking me. I flew back against the wall. I didn't even think as I ran out the door. He hit me, Darry had hit me! It was pouring rain and the thunder was booming so I couldn't hear Soda's plea for me to come back.
I ran as fast as my legs could run but soon I came to a street I didn't recognize and slipped on the concrete, landing on my head.
I laid in the dark with the rain falling on me, the only feeling I felt other than the rain, the sting from the slap on my cheek and the coldness of the night, was that of someone dragging me.
~Three Days~
I awoke and slowly sat up straight. There was sunlight coming in from the hallway into "my room" and I couldn't hear anything. I figured as much that maybe Rex and Chrissy were sleeping, giving me enough time to escape. I licked my lips and took the chance. I looked at myself for a moment, I was still in the light blue flannel pj's from last night and I wanted to be dressed in pants and a shirt, or at least have shoes on.
But if this was all I could have, than I'd bare the embarrassment.
I quickly left the room, careful not to make too much noise. I raced down the steps into the living room. I found the two front doors and smiled with delights as I went to push them open-
A hand was placed on my shoulder.
"Where do you think you're going?"
I turned in terror seeing Rex. He didn't look too happy. Before I could explain myself, Rex had swung my over his shoulder while I kicked and clawed, trying to escape.
"Let go!" I cried. "Please, let me go!"
Rex obviously didn't listen as he entered the living room, he placed me on his knee and rose it a bit, trapping me. I cried in horror as he started striking me with his bare hand on the backside of me. I cried in pain with each and every slap he gave me across my rump. I had never been spanked before, I never deserved one, the only punishments I normally got as a small child was 'corner-time' or 'sent-to-my-room' but other than that, this was the first.
I pleaded for him to stop, but I was ignored.
He finally stopped after I went limp from fighting in his lap.
"Michael, tell Daddy what you did wrong." Rex took a drag from his cigar. I sniffed, I didn't want to succumb to the demeaning behavior they obviously wanted me to follow.
"Michael!" He sounded impatient.
"I. . . I tried to leave." I sniffed.
"Do we leave this house without someone with us?" Rex asked.
"No." It was an obvious answer to an oblivious question. Rex stood me on the floor, yanking my ear to the kitchen where Chrissy was making eggs. He pulled me into the corner of the kitchen by the table.
"Stay there." He hissed in my ear, walking away. I choked on a sob. My backside hurt so bad, but not as much as my pride. I stood in the corner, hearing the sound of Chrissy's high heels clomp on the floor every once in a while and the smell of breakfast was alluring.
I heard plates being set on the table and short afterwards, Chrissy came over, putting her hand on my shoulder and gently bringing me to the table. I hissed in pain when I sat down but tired to ignore the sting on my butt and focused on the food.
After a short while of silence, Chrissy made an offer I couldn't resist.
"Michael, how about we go outside in the garden today?" She smiled.
I looked at her strangely. She's joking, right?
"We'll tend to the flowers, you like that, don't you?"
I smiled, eagerly, "Sure, I'd love that."
~Three Days~
The garden outside wasn't grand, but it was fairly large with lots of Calla Lilies growing to a substantial height. Chrissy smiled, handing me the water bucket while she went to an opposite side of the garden. I looked around. I could see literally NOTHING but plains for miles. Any chance of escaping would be tricky and not to mention, I don't even know which direction Tulsa was.
"Having fun, Michael?" I turned around seeing Chrissy smiling and waving.
"Y-Yeah," I lied. "So much. . . fun."
I frowned, grazing a flower with my finger tips. These were my mother-my REAL Mother's-favorite flower.
I watered while Chrissy weeded and soon the job was done and she hesitantly brought me back inside, making sure to lock the back door. I was to be in "my room" until lunch time, Chrissy brought me books and paper to draw, but I wasn't in the mood. I laid my head on my pillow trying to catch a small nap when I heard voices.
". . he's not ready yet!"
It was Rex. I narrowed my eyes, tip-toeing to the door, I looked around to see where the voices were coming from, I could hear them in the living room. I slowly walked to the banister and crouched down to the side and looked through the black bars, watching Rex stand before two men.
"He hasn't shown signs of warming up to us or even trusting us." Rex replied, "I'm working as fast as I can here."
"Boss wants the money as soon as possible, Rex. Him warming up to you, is the least of your problems."
I was confused, who were they talking about?
"Look, I've got a bigger problem on my hands, more than if your boss gets his money or not!" Rex growled, "I just took a kid off the damn streets and if the cops find out, than I'm history and he doesn't get paid! Do you understand that?!"
"We'll provice you safety for one more night, but tomorrow, you better have the money!"
They left, slamming the door. Rex quickly turned to stare at me and I screamed, rushing to the room, but was yanked by the arm just before I could hide.
"How much did you hear?!" Rex yelled in my ear, making me turn away. "How much, Michael?!"
I whimpered as he pulled my arm.
"N-Nothing!" I lied.
"Don't you fib at me, boy. I'll give you a real reason to cry. Would you like a repeat of this morning?!" I shuttered at the memory and Rex started to raise his hand-
"Wait, I can help!" I cried, I didn't realize what I had said before I opened my eyes slowly to see now Rex's confused face. I shivered as he let go of me and I raced to the bed, grabbing a pillow to hold for comfort.
". . . what did you say?"
"I-I. . . I can help." I spoke, "With the money."
Rex's steel, angry eyes softened but only for a moment. He got closer to me, sitting on the bed. I would have moved further away from him if I wasn't already against the wall.
"Oh?And how so?" He taunted.
"There's a stash I know of. It's hidden away." I began. "It's in a box, a brown one, in the dirt. I hid it." Maybe if I convinced Rex to take me back to Tulsa, I could escape. I mean, he needed money he obviously didn't have. Rex let out a bark of laughter and I was scared he wasn't going to go along with my plan.
"You mean to tell me you got a little over five grand stashed away? Kid, you're bullshitting me."
"In the bank!" I cried. "My parents-"
Rex cleared his throat, a gesture that I was stepping over the line. "Er, I have a lot in my bank! My bank." I cried, desperate for him to believe me.
"Yeah, okay. Little punk." Rex patted my head. "You keep telling me that." With that he chuckled and left the room. Leaving me more hopeless than ever.
I couldn't say I was hopeless for long, later on as I was waking up from a small nap I took, Rex was in my doorway once again.
" . . . you were telling the truth about the money, were you?"
I bit my cheeks, trying not to smile.
I nodded.
"Yes. I have a good amount. It should help."
It was working, my plan to return home way working!
Thanks for the kind, encouraging reviews, keep them coming.
-The Youngest Writer.