THE MISTAKE

It had been five days since the upstairs was finished. Ethan and Amelia enjoyed having a room and moments of their own, not just on a sentimental level. Ethan and Joseph had made a cute dresser and for Amelia, a dressing table. So like the children , they could also put away their personal belongings now.

Other than a few reprimands, the children were well behaved.

"On Saturday we'll all be going to Mr. Axelrod's store for your lists for Santa Claus! He'll be here soon now!"

On Friday night, Claire knocked on the parents' room.

"Yes? Come in! ... Claire?"

"Papa, Mama? You spent a lot of money on the house and everything, I don't need anything, I don't want anything for Christmas! Besides I haven't been good this year, you know with upstairs and all ... I disobeyed you ... "

"Claire, come over here," Ethan ordered softly. Sitting on the bed to put her on his knees, he wrapped his arms around her.

"Do not worry about the money, I earn a good living, it is not your problem of how I manage it. You will not run out of money Claire, never again! And as for the incident upstairs and disobedience, you have been severely punished, it's over! I forgave you, you must forgive yourself! It is part of being a child to make nonsense, I don't want you to be perfect!"

Ethan felt like he was repeating himself.

"Yes, but even with all that, you gave me a room of my own! Oh Pa! I don't deserve it!" She was crying against his chest now.

"Claire, your Pa is right, I forgave you too!" Amelia said softly.

"Claire, listen to me, it's over! We have to move on! So you're going to come to the store and pick a gift, it's our first Christmas all together, and you'll havesomething! It's an order! "

"Yes Pa! I never want to be so bad again!"

"I hope you keep that promise!" Ethan teased. "If you have to be punished, I will, over and over again, until you become a responsible adult. And you, you will learn from yourmistakes and you will do better! This is what we expect from a child and a punishment, okay?"

"Yes Papa!"

"Good! How often does Tess bother you? Do you want me to stop her a bit?" The man changed the subject on purpose.

"No, she doesn't bother me she doesn't come that often, less than I actually thought!"

"Well that's great, I'll tell her she can go as long as you give permission. Now, give us one last hug and go to bed, it's late!"

Claire obeyed.

"I don't know how to reassure this child Amelia!"

"She suffered a lot and she was young to take on such a responsibility! You told me that sometimes she didn't eat! How about opening a bank account for her as part of her Christmas? Maybe it'll be reassuring to know that she has money and that she can take it when she wants? We can give her a small amount every month or only at Christmas and her birthday. Since she doesn't want "a toy", maybe just a new book with it?"

"That's a great idea Amelia! We have Claire's Christmas presents. Will you open it for her when you get to the office? Put ten dollars from my account in it for her."

"Yes I will take care of it."

"Thank you honey, I love you!" He said, kissing her.

Saturday morning, the whole little family walked through the store doors.

"Pa? Can I put this toy on my list?" Ben asked.

Ethan frowned severely.

"Do you think I forgot young man?" The child lowered his eyes.

"Look at me!" He looked up.

"I already made the rule on this toy! You can't have it since you stole it that time! Choose something else!"

"Yessir"

"George, I want this toy, but Pa doesn't want me to get it! Can you order it for me? And I'll take the train for you! Pa won't know!"

"Alright Ben."

"Benjamin!" Ethan said sternly! "Go sit in the cart! The toy order is finished for you."

"NO! IF GEORGE ORDERS IT, YOU CAN'T SAY ANYTHING!" Ben shouted stamping his feet and having a huge tantrum in the middle of the store!

"Alright, that's it then!' Ethan grabbed the child on his hip and walked outside to the back of the store, away from the cart.

"No Papa! I will be good! I will obey you!" The little boy knew very well that he had pushed his father to far.

"Too late Ben! My word is the law! When I say something, you obey immediately! You don't ask your little brother behind my back! You don't stomp your feet, you don't have tantrums and you will never say no to me again!

Ethan knelt down, put Ben on his knee, before slipping his hand under to unbutton his pants ... "

"Papa no! Not in front of everyone! Please! I won't do it again!" Ben pleaded for mercy.

"You don't mind shouting in front of everyone in the store! There's no one here Ben. I promise, it's just you and me."

Ethan reassured the child, before quickly pulling down his pants and shorts, just below his knees.

"You will obey me!" Ethan gave a loud slap. "You will not do anything prohibited behind my back!" He lowered his hand a second time over the exposed small bare butt.

"Ouch! Sorry Papa! I'll be good! Ouch!"

"And you'll never have a tantrum in a store again! Answer back to me and stomp your feet! You never say "no" to me Little boy!" Ethan lowered his hand a third and final time, this time a little harder!, Ben had to obey!

"Yes Papa! Ouch! I won't do it again!"

"Alright! It's over, I love you son!"

Ethan put his son's clothes back up as quickly as he'd taken them down and hugged him tightly. The child cried against his chest.

"Now you will sit in the cart, like I said, the fun of the store is over for you."

"Yes sir!" Ben said sniffing back tears

"George?" Ethan called firmly, "Come outside with me for a minute!" Ethan ordered.

George was already crying, he didn't want a spanking! Ethan only wanted to talk to him, but he would let him worry for a minute. He didn't say anything as he walked back to the back of the store, George was following.

"Sorry Papa! I didn't want to be naughty! Ben wanted it so badly!" George was crying.

"I know George! Calm down!, I'm not going to spank you, okay?"

" Really?" George asked surprised. He instantly stopped crying.

"No, I just want to tell you that you don't have to do everything Ben tells you. You almost got in trouble because of him. If you know what he's asking you to do is wrong don't do it! Do you understood?"

"Yes Pa!"

"Good because that's your only warning! If you're messing around with Ben, then I'll spank you the same as Ben! Have you got me?"

"Yes Pa!"

"Good! Let's go back into the store."

"Ethan? Can you come over for a minute?" "Called Amelia from the counter, she had the catalog in her hand. When Ethan arrived, she showed him the catalog. It was the picture of "a box and professional tool for a young experienced carpenter."

"These are real tools, not toys." Informed Mr Axelrod.

"That's why it's perfect! Amelia! Order it! while I keep Joseph busy! I love you! he said kissing her tenderly."

Jessie had found a tomboy doll, like her! She was dressed in pants, blouse and boots. Jason had seen a box with tin soldiers.

Adam was looking at a wooden chessboard. Tess was admiring a music box with a spinning dancer.

"Come on kids, put your ideas on the Christmas list, Santa will decide what to bring for you."

"Papa? Do I get her now?" Tess asked.

"No dear, it's just to give Santa ideas. That's why we're making a list. He'll choose what to bring you, You won't have to wait long."

"Alright Papa."

A week later, Christmas Eve was here, Dakota, Marie and Carry had come for dinner.

The kids played while the adults talked and joked.

"Come on Joseph! He's busy, he won't see us. We take it, we look at it and put it back! Neither seen nor known!"

"If he notices, it's a spanking, Adam! And not with his hand!"

"Oh you're such a chicken, Joseph! Go play dolls with Tess!"

"No Adam! I don't want to see Pa's things. It is forbidden! Go alone!"

Slowly making his way to the coat rack where Ethan's belt was holding his colt revolver, high up away from the little ones, Adam grabbed it and sneaked out into the barn.

Joseph, finally changed his mind and joined his brother in the barn, only Adam jumped lest it be Ethan and the gun fell to the ground.

The gunshot echoed through the night.