Story: The Winter Ball, Part II

A continuation of The Winter Ball, Part I in the Just Shannon series.  As if Matt isn't enough to worry about, now Shannon must deal with Erik, who is less-than-happy about this whole lying/forgery thing.  After disciplining Shannon, he moves on to her partner in crime.

The Winter Ball, Part II
by Breanna Carter

I uneasily hung up the phone after talking to Erik. If I thought I couldn't sleep before then, I really couldn't sleep after I talked to him! I had this growing pit in my stomach and I felt complete and utter guilt for lying to him like that. Especially since he found out and seemed so disappointed. And to top it off, he wanted to spank me! I was in enough pain as it was..

Somehow, through all my worrying, I managed to find sleep. I drifted off into dreamland where I was being chased by squirrels who declared I needed a spanking. One of them was carrying a cutting board like Matt had used on me and I was running away from them and ran right into Erik who looked down at me with a gaze that made me want to cry. I woke up terrified and clutching my bum. I know, I'm a little crazy sometimes.

It was still dark outside when I woke, but I couldn't see myself going back to sleep anytime soon. I glanced at my clock and saw that it was a little after five. Matt wouldn't be getting up for a couple of hours. I hobbled over towards the computer and sat tenderly down on the chair, surfing through some websites before deciding to have a shower. I took my time, until Matt began pounding on the door.

"What the hell are you doing up so early? You never get up! I need a shower! Hurry! I'm going to be late!"

"I'm hurrying!" I shrieked, rinsing the conditioner out of my hair as quickly as possible. I got out of the shower and glanced at my bum that was still red and a little bruised. Yech... I would never be lying to my older brother again, or forging, or any of that crap. I was terrified to find out what his definition of "black and blue" was.

I opened the door and Matt shoved me aside to get into the shower. "What are you doing up so early anyway?" he asked, taking his shirt off and throwing it at me.

"Bad dreams."

He turned on the water. "If we're out of hot water I'm going to skin you!" he teased. "And anyway, sorry about your bad dreams. Anything you wanna talk about?"

"Nah... they were crazy." I shut the door and let him tend to his shower. I pulled my hair up in a ponytail and eased myself on the couch to catch some of the news. Boring as it was, it still kept my interest longer than any of the other stations would have.

Matt came out minutes later, clad in a pair of jeans and pulling an undershirt over his head. "You can start with the kitchen," he said. He grabbed a white button up shirt that was folded on the table and put it on.

"You're dressing up all nice today," I commented, avoiding making a statement on cleaning the ktichen.

"Yeah, I have a presentation for my history class. And anyway, start with the kitchen, then clean your room and vacuum. I'll be back in a couple of hours. I expect at least the kitchen to be finished by the, okay? Swept and mopped and everything."

"But I don't know how to sweep and mop!" I exclaimed.

"Guess you'll have to learn," he answered, tucking his shirt in and smirking at me. "I'm gone." He grabbed his keys and wallet from the table and kissed me on the forehead.

I scowled for a moment then figured there was no use, because I didn't want him to get that cutting board after me again. I lugged my stereo into the kitchen and blared some music, singing along as I washed dishes and cleaned out the fridge and everything else. I wiped off the counters and the microwave, then put the dishes up and took out the trash and began sweeping. There's a first time for everything, huh? I can't say I did a spectacular job, but I at least tried, then attempted to mop. When I finished, the kitchen looked a hell of a lot better than it did, so Matt couldn't complain too much about it.

Matt came back home while I was cleaning my room, and when I say cleaning, I mean it. I swear, no one had cleaned out from under the bed since it was put there, not to mention that there was dust everywhere. His closet was jam-packed full of junk that he probably didn't even know was in there. I was halfway through his closet when he walked in.

"Oh, hey! Didn't hear you come in. How'd your project go."

"Fine," he answered. "The kitchen looks good."

"Thanks," I said, smiling.

The rest of the morning and afternoon, I did as Matt instructed, and by the time four o'clock rolled around, the house looked completely different. "Guess there'll be nothing for me to do tomorrow," I teased.

"Oh, don't worry. There's plenty of laundry."

I groaned and sank into the futon next to Matt.

"Hey, Erik called me on my way home from class," he randomly said.

I shifted. "Oh? What did he say?"

"He just wanted to let me know that he had nothing to do with what happened with the forging and that he had no idea it ever happened."

"Ah," I said, looking away.

"Have you talked to him?"

"I talked to him yesterday. He called to see why I got suspended."

"Well, he asked if you could come over sometime this evening and I told him you could, so long as you finished everything. Said that he needed to talk to you about what happened."

I gulped. "Oh, erm, okay."

There was silence for a moment. "Well, you finished everything, so I guess you can go over there. But be back at a decent hour and stay out of trouble."

"Don't worry, I will," I said, standing and rubbing my bum.

He chuckled slightly, punching me playfully.

"See ya!" I wasn't too thrilled at seeing Erik. It'd be the first time we'd met face-to-face since my suspension and I knew he wouldn't be happy with me. Not to mention that everytime someone said they needed to talk to me it usually involved more than actual talking.

I snuggled up in my jacket as I walked through my apartment complex. It was definitely winter, because I could see my breath. Winter time was the best. That meant Christmas was near and my parents would at least be sending me some cool things from Europe, hopefully spiffy new clothes. It would be the first Christmas that I didn't spend with my entire family. Matt had mentioned something about inviting some college buddies over. While Erik was hott and my type of guy, I still wouldn't mind seeing some good-looking college guys.

Before I knew it, I arrived at apartment 109, Erik's. I knocked softly on the door.

"Ah, hey," Erik said when he answered it, moving out of the way and allowing me to come inside. The first thing I noticed was that he was wearing a belt. Is that a bad thing to notice when you first see someone? Maybe I knew my fate and was scared of what he'd use on me.

"Hey," I said back, not looking him in the eyes.

He closed the door behind us and plopped down on the couch, patting the seat next to him.

"Where's your mom?"

"Working," he answered. "We need to talk."

I bit my lower lip. "We do?"

"Yes, we do. About the Winter Ball."

"Oh, that thing... heh.."

"Yeah, and the fact that you forged a signature and lied to me."

I didn't speak.

He looked at me. "What the hell were you thinking?"

I shrugged.

"You don't know?"

"No."

"Did Lisa put you up to this? I'll spank her ass, too," he said and I shuddered, noting that he said "too."

"No need to do that," I replied. "She might have mentioned it, but, come on, Erik... don't be such a hardass."

"A hardass? Is that what I'm being? I apologize for caring about you, Shannon. And caring if you get thrown in jail or suspended and fuck up your school. Is that such a crime?" he asked.

"No, but that's what I have a brother for," I mumbled.

"So you're saying I shouldn't worry about your well-being?"

"I didn't say exactly that."

"And I certainly DON'T appreciate the fact that you lied to me. That's shitty, Shannon. And I honestly can't believe that you'd pull such a stunt."

I swallowed a big lump in my throat, fighting back tears. "I'm sorry," I said, looking up into his dark brown eyes. "I made a mistake and I've honestly learned my lesson. And I'm not going to lie to you anymore, or forge anymore. I've already gotten it from Matt."

He started to say something and then realized what I said and stopped, thinking about something for a moment before opening his mouth. "Did Matt spank you?"

I chewed on my lower lip, glancing away and muttering, "yes."

"Good, because you deserved it. But don't think you're not still getting it from me."

"But Erik!" I complained, beginning to throw a fit like a three year old. "That's not fair! I've already gotten it and you're my friend and that'd be embarrassing!!"

"Maybe a little embarrassment will do you good. Besides, did you forget that you LIED to me? Blatently... right to my face. Straight up told me that Matt signed the damn form."

"I knew you'd be upset if I told you that I forged it."

"Does that give you any right to lie to me?" he asked rhetorically. "It's too bad anyway, because my mind is made up. I'm going to spank you."

Something about Erik spanking me was much more appealing than my older brother, so I didn't fight much after that. I just sort of pouted, sticking my lower lip out and trying to put on my best puppy dog face.

He grinned at me. Damn, he was so hott. "Nice try, Shannon," he said, running his fingers down my cheeks. "Get up and over my lap."

Without thinking, I tugged my jeans and panties down, then fell over his lap. Then I blushed like crazy because it didn't seem like he was expecting that and I was over his lap and my backside probably looked like hell from the night before. I didn't even say anything because I was so embarrassed. But he didn't say anything either, just rested his hand lightly on my bottom.

"This will make you think twice about lying to me, Shannon," he said, slapping my sore backside with his hand.

I'll admit, Matt spanks much harder than Erik, but geeze, it was waaay more embarrassing! Then the fact that I was already sore didn't help any. I don't think it took much for me to be bawling like a baby.

"I'm not going to tolerate my friends getting themselves in trouble, and don't worry, I will be talking to Lisa about this. She's long overdue for a spanking," he told me as he swatted my bottom with all his might. "And if you ever lie to me again, Young Lady, this will feel like nothing compared to what you'd get. Because I have a nice leather belt that I'm sure would burn like hell on your ass, do you hear me?"

"Y-yes," I sniffled, tears streaming down my face. "I'm sorry. I won't lie to you anymore! I promise!"

He swatted me a few more times, then stopped, resting his hand and rubbing my bum slightly. I sobbed into the couch cushion, muttering apologies because I felt stupid and embarrassed. How could I have done something like this to my best friend?

He lifted me up and cradled me in his arms, rubbing my back and rocking me back and forth.

"I love you," he whispered after a while.

I smiled. "I love you, too," I answered, not quite sure if I answered that way because it was the right thing to say or because I actually felt that way.

We stayed that way for a while, until he got the bright idea to call Lisa.

"Come on, do you really have to bring her into this?" I asked.

"Yes. She's like a little sister to me and hasn't been spanked in years. And she needs it."

I pouted but he dialed her number, instructing her to come over as soon as possible. We watched tv until there was a weak knock on the door. I rubbed my bum as I got up to answer it.

"Hey Lisa," I said, letting her come in.

"Uhoh, I'm in trouble," she said, seeing Erik glare at her in such a way.

I shut the door behind her. "That's right," Erik answered, standing up to tower over my friend. "Do you have any idea why?"

She glanced at me, then looked back at Erik, claiming that she didn't.

"Well, I'll give you a hint. Shannon got suspended from school. Do you happen to know why?"

"Oh, um," Lisa began. "I guess 'cause she, er, forged a signature?"

"Mmmhmm. And where do you think she got that idea?"

"The tv?"

"Good try."

She shrugged. "Can't hurt to try, huh?"

Erik smiled slightly. "Do you forge signatures, Lisa?"

"Erm, no?" she said, obviously lying.

"You know what I think?"

"What?" she answered, casting me a pathetic look.

"That you need a spanking."

It looked like her heart stopped. "A... spanking?" she asked, rather taken aback.

Erik nodded, moving closer to where he was looming ove rhere. "How long has it been since you've gotten a spanking?" he asked her.

"Uhm, I guess when me and Shannon went to Kyle's house..."

He shook his head. "A pop on the behind doesn't constitute as a spanking."

She opened her mouth to say something, then looked defeated. "I don't remember," she finally said.

"Well, I do," he answered.

It was silent for a minute as Lisa stared at her feet and I stared at the scene I was witnessing.

"It was about four years ago when you lied to your parents about where you were going. I was sitting outside with one of my buddies and saw your dad dragging you across the parking lot. Then later you told me it was the last time you were really ever spanked. Remember?"

She nodded softly.

"And you're long overdue, Lisa," he concluded. "You've gotten away with too much since your dad's been gone. I know it hurts, but there's other ways, okay?"

She nodded again. Wow, I was finding out new stuff everyday!

"I already spanked Shannon for forging the signature and lying to me, now I'm going to spank you for convincing her to sign it and to deter you from ever pulling a stunt like she did. I want you to remember this when you decide to get in trouble, because believe me, Lisa, I will spank you again if I find it necessary, do you understand?"

She gave a final nod and he helped her toward the couch. I just stood there by the door, looking dumb, eyes fixed on the matter at hand. Erik was so much taller than she, and so much stronger. It took practically no force at all to get her over his knee. He didn't take down the khakies that she was wearing, which made me blush because I'd been so used to Matt spanking me that I'd automatically assumed my jeans would be lowered.

He held onto her tightly as the spanking began. She was squirming to no end and trying not to scream.

"Ooowwww, Erik!! That hurts! Ahhooowwww!" she exclaimed. "Pleaseeeee stopp!! I'm sorry I'm sorryyyy."

"Are you going to behave from now on?" he asked.

"Yyyesss!!" she squealed, her squirms dying down because he was keeping a stronger grip.

"Good. And you better, or you'll find yourself in this position again, got it?"

"Ooowww yesss!!"

He gave her a final smack in the middle of her bottom then let her up to rub the pain out. He hugged her tightly. "You're like a little sister to me," he said, "and like I told Shannon, I care about you girls and don't want you to end up in jail, okay?"

She nodded, sniffling.

I then gave her a big hug and apologized for telling Erik as he went to the kitchen to heat up some hot chocolate for us.

"Don't worry about it, Shannon. I deserved it. He knew that."

Erik came back minutes later with three mugs and we sat down on the couch, sipping on our hot chocolate as we watched Christmas specials on tv. I could have snuggled with him all night, but Matt called and snapped me back into reality, reminding me that I was still under a restriction. Lisa announced that she should go as well, so we walked her home, then he walked me to my apartment.

We joked around for a little while until we stopped in front of my door.

I fidgeted nervously. "I really am sorry about lying to you."

"I know. Just don't do it again," he said, smiling.

"I'm not. Don't worry. I learned my lesson about lying."

"Good." There was silence for a moment as he looked me deep in the eyes. My hair was fallen in front of my face and he tucked it behind my ears, touching my face softly then coming in close for what I'd been waiting for... a kiss... my first real kiss...

Story: The Winter Ball, Part I

Part of the Just Shannon series.  Shannon's overdue library fine prohibits her from attending the Winter Ball without both Matt and the librarian's signature giving her permission.  Desperate times call for desperate measures, and the librarian isn't planning on signing it anytime soon, so Shannon forges it herself.  Will she get caught?  I think you know the answer.

The Winter Ball, Part I
by Breanna Carter

I held the note in my shaking hands as I rode in the passenger's seat next to Erik on our ride home. "Shit, I can't believe this," I muttered, reading it for the seven hundreth time.

"Well, it's your fault that you didn't turn in the damn library books," Erik replied.

I glared at him. "Still, there's no fucking way that lady is going to sign this, nor will Matt. I'm so not going to be able to go to the winter ball!" I exclaimed.

Allow me to elaborate: the fall semester was ending and all library books were due in for the winter break. I didn't fail to turn mine in, the problem was that I'd waited so long that I owed over $100 in late fees. I'd been called to the office where the assistant principal of discipline gave me a note that said I wouldn't be able to attend the winter ball unless both the librarian and my brother signed it. I'd already taken it to the librarian and she didn't even allow me to explain. I just had to go to that dance! Erik had asked me and it'd be our first chance to actually dress up all pretty and go out together, like a real date!

"I'm sure you'll be able to go. I'll buy our tickets tomorrow," Erik told me, giving me a reassuring pat on the head.

However, nothing we tried actually worked. The ticket-sellers knew my name and Erik's. I asked the librarian again and she still refused. You can see why I did what I did...

I didn't tell Erik... if there's something he doesn't like, it's dishonesty. Actually, it was Lisa who gave me the idea.

"Just forge it," she said one bland afternoon as we sat in Matt's apartment while he was at his night class. "It's not like they'll ever know, or that they'll care..."

Hmm... I let the thought sink in for a minute. "You have a point," I admitted. "But what would happen if I got caught?"

"Worry about that later, Shannon. Do you wanna go to the dance or not?"

That did it. I took out the note as well as another note that her signature was already on and scribbled her name down messily. I also decided to go ahead and add Matt's name as well, though I'd eventually have to tell him about the fine I owed. I'd rather live to make it through the dance first, though.

"She signed it?" Erik asked happily the day before the dance.

I smiled. "Sure did! I promised her that I'd pay the fine as soon as possible if she just signed it. She could tell I was getting desperate."

"Very awesome!" Erik exclaimed as he walked me to the table where they were selling tickets.

The senior behind the desk almost refused us again until I held up the note. He gave a surprised smile and handed us a ticket, writing our name down. Lisa is a genius!!

So we went to the dance on the next night and it was AWESOME! I'd never had so much fun in my life. I just hung out with Erik and some of our friends from school, we ate a nice dinner then half-ass danced, though neither of us really wanted to. By the end of the night I was exhausted and my feet were killing me cause I'd been wearing very very high heels. Things were going so well I didn't think anything could go wrong...

Until Monday morning when I was called to the office during first period and saw the librarian and my brother sitting down in the office.

I almost walked right back out the door. "Shannon, how nice to see you," the vice principal said. "Come on in."

I gulped. "Y-yes? Is there a problem?" I asked.

"I don't know, you tell me," he said, pretending to be as clueless as I.

I shrugged, glancing at my older brother who stood there, arms folded.

"Do you remember getting this note?" Mr. Jarrow asked me.

"Um, no," I stammered, hoping that lying would get me out of this. I should have known that it wouldn't.

"Shannon Kate, you're better off telling the truth," Matt warned.

I gulped again. "Well, er, I might remember the note..."

"Well, Miss Waters seems to remember you having it," Mr. Jarrow concluded. "She says you've been bringing it to her all week and she has refused to sign it."

"But the week just started."

I felt three sets of eyes glaring at me. He didn't answer my smartass comment, but instead continued on. "What I don't understand is that, if she refused to sign it, how come it's signed?" he asked, pointing to the badly forged signature.

"I guess she forgot that she signed it?"

Nobody spoke, just gave me this look of death. Damn. How come this always happened to me.

"Any day now, Shannon," Matt urged.

"Any day now, what?" I asked, trying to play innocent.

"Any day now you can start telling the truth," Mr. Jarrow said, sitting down.

"What's there to tell?"

"Well, Miss Waters says she didn't sign this form, and somehow it's signed."

"She might have been highly intoxicated when she signed it. Obviously she doesn't remember. How else would it have gotten signed?"

"I don't know, Shannon. You tell me."

I shrugged, folding my arms.

"Shannon, I am giving you one minute to spit out the truth, or I'll get to the bottom of this, right here in this office," Matt said.

I gulped again. Matt was giving me that look that made my stomach churn and the other two were studying me fiercely. I didn't doubt that Matt would spank me right there in that office in front of everyone. The longer I waited the more I realized that he was ready to pull me over his lap and get the confession out of me. That's why I admitted it, fifteen seconds before my minute was up.

"I really wanted to go to the winter ball and I decided that the only way I'd get to go would be to forge the signatures."

"And the reason you didn't listen to me was...?" the librarian said.

"I didn't listen to you?"

"Obviously not. I said I'd sign it once I got the money for the books. Wouldn't it have been much easier just to get the money and then ask me to sign it?"

"No, 'cause then I still wouldn't have been able to go!"

"But at least you'd be able to sit tomorrow," Matt scolded, giving me that evil look.

I knew I deserved to be embarrassed like that.. you know, with all the trouble I'd caused and the lying and stuff. But, geeze, my face must have turned at least 19 different shades of red and I was fuming with anger from him telling me that.

"Yeah, whatever," I muttered, slumping in my seat.

Mr. Jarrow shook his head. "Well, Shannon, as you know, forgery is grounds for suspension."

"Nope, didn't know that," I said, emotionless.

"You should have, it was in the handbook," Matt replied.

"I'm never bored enough to read the handbook," I said back in a smartassy tone.

He gave me the look of death.

Mr. Jarrow, wanting to break up our confrontation, finally spoke. "As the handbook states, any student found guilty of forgery shall be suspended for no less than three days. I find three days of suspension to be an appropriate punishment, since it seems that your brother will be punishing you as well."

"Oh yeah," Matt answered, still staring at me.

"In that case, I will see you Friday."

"Whatever," I murmured, rising from my seat and heading out the door.

Matt was furious as could be when we got outside.

"Shannon Kate!" he yelled. "You have no right to disrespect adults the way you just have. Young Lady, I am NOT impressed with your behavior."

"Who cares?" I said under my breath, but he heard and grabbed my arm, stopping me.

"This better stop," he said, pointing at me. "All of this attitude, Shannon. That's something I can't put up with. You know how I feel about that and you know how I feel about lying. It's all going to stop, do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," I muttered, not brave enough to make another smartass comment.

He shook his head at me then walked off.

By this time, I'd lost the attitude and my body was quivering with fear. I guess I hadn't exactly realized what the hell was going through my head when I was being all smartassy and stuff. I mean, I'd always been the type of girl to think stuff, and say half of it... but this time I was saying everything that I was thinking. What the hell was wrong with me?

There was a bitter silence in the car as we drove back home. The ride seemed endless, but not endless enough. I didn't like the silence piercing me in the way it did, but I'd rather have sat in that car than facing my impending punishment.

I followed Matt inside and sat down on the sofa (that's what he was pointing to).

"I can't believe you, Young Lady," he started. I tried to keep my exasperated sigh soft enough to where he couldn't hear me. "Not only did you forge signatures, but you acted like what you did was absolutely nothing and lied to me with your smartass comments. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Nothing. What I did was completely and utterly stupid. I guess I didn't realize that at the time... But Matt, I really wanted to go to that dance and I knew that if I'd have given you the slip to sign you wouldn't have let me go. It was the first time that Erik and I were actually dressing up and going somewhere as a couple. Don't you remember high school?"

His face softened a little. "Yeah, kid sis, I do remember high school. And I remember my first dance with the girl I liked. It really wasn't that long ago, ya know?"

I nodded. "Sometimes it's just hard to believe, though, because you can be really strict on me."

"The thing is, I remember high school enough to know the kind of trouble you can get into, and I don't mean trouble with me. I remember going to parties and having friends be arrested, hurt, and pregnant. If it were mom and dad, they wouldn't know as much of what's going on, so they would probably be more lenient. I just worry about you. I don't want something bad to end up happening to you."

"But I can't end up arrested, hurt, or pregnant for signing your signature to a note."

"Sure you can. You can end up arrested. And besides, it could also mess up your chances of getting into colleges. How's this suspension going to look when you apply to college?"

That statement hit me in the pit of my stomach. "I guess you're right. I didn't really think about that much when I was signing it. I just really wanted to go to that dance."

"And ya know, I probably would have still let you go, just made you earn the $100 I'm going to have to pay in library fines, which, for the record, you're still going to have to earn."

I pouted at that statement.

"And now you're in a bigger mess than you were to begin with. I wouldn't have had to spank you if you'd just given me the note."

I winced. "You still don't have to spank me?"

"Ohhh yeah, believe me, I do. I can't let you get away with deceit, forgery, and attitude. What kind of brother would I be then?"

"A nice one?"

He smiled. "Nice try. Not getting out of this." He sat down. "Pants and panties down, Shannon Kate, and not a word of argument or I'll start out with my belt and no warm up."

I decided that it'd be better to comply for once and I stood up, slowly unbuttoning my pants and slipping them down, then taking down my panties as well, still shaking with fear. He helped me over his lap, positioning me in the right place so he could light my bum on fire (or at least make it feel like he had).

"I am very disappointed in you, Young Lady," he began, slapping my bottom in the middle and HARD as hell, causing me to squeal like a little mouse. "This behavior is going to stop. I won't tolerate it, do you understand me?"

"Ooooowwwwwww, yesss sirrr!!" I howled, wishing that he would ease up a little on the spanking. This didn't feel like the warm up... and that scared me. If this was the warm up then that meant....

"And if you ever, EVER, lie to me again, Shannon Kate, I will scrub your mouth out with soap and spank you until your bottom is black and blue and you can't sit for weeks, got it?"

"Y-yessss!!!"

He spanked me twice as fast as he had been spanking, ignoring my kicks and pleas, concentrating on my sitspots and thighs and not letting up to save my life. I felt like he'd been spanking me for hours, but it probably had only been minutes, and he let me up, marching me to the corner.

"You stay right there and don't so much as move an inch," he ordered and shivering, I nodded to let him know that I wouldn't.

I must've stood there with my knees shaking for at least twenty minutes, because by the time he allowed me to move, my sobs had died down some and I wasn't shivering as much.

"Come here," he said and I turned to see him sitting on the couch.

As I saw what was in his hand, I began to sob again. "Noooooo, please noooo," I begged.

He held up a cutting board that would make a really good paddle... It was the kind that was wide and sort of long, with a handle at the end. It was supposed to be used for cutting onions, not burning my backside!

"Now you see what happens when you're dishonest?"

I nodded, still crying and covering my bottom.

He just pulled me towards him and threw me over his lap, pulling my hands away from my bum and twacking me with the damn cutting board so hard that I moved my hand back to cover again and yelped in pain.

"Move your hands," he ordered, not giving me much of a choice as he grabbed my wrists and pinned them down.

Keeping a steady grip on my squirming body, he twacked it down again and I howled again, trying to wiggle free from the pain but not succeeding.

"O-oowww! It hurtsss!!" I gasped, as he smacked it down again and again, finding a definite rhythm and not giving two shits that I was in pain. I guess that was the point in this punishment... duh.

"Why am I spanking you?" he asked, as if he didn't know already!

"B-because I... ooowwww!!!... l-lied to you a-and ACH! forged that oooowww signature!!! And I had an attitude!"

"That's right, Shannon Kate. And what's going to happen if you ever lie to me again?"

"Y-you're going to s-spank OW me til I'm b-black and b-blue," I murmured, blushing and kicking crazily.

He didn't stop spanking me after asking me those damn embarrassing questions. I really thought I was dying and wondered what a "black and blue" spanking would feel like if this wasn't considered one of them. Obviously it wouldn't feel very good, so there'd be no chance in hell that I'd be lying to Matt again, ever!

After my hell of a spanking, he finally let me up and sent me to my room to think about what I did, reminding me that he loved me and all that sappy stuff that no one really wants to hear about. I don't think I actually thought about what I'd done, just the pain that had been inflicted and promised myself that it wouldn't happen again. Not with that damn cutting board. That hurt like a bitch.

Finally, Matt came into my room and hugged me, making sure I was okay and telling me to get some rest, cause the next few days I'd be learning what a maid's job was. In other words, I'd get to do bitch work while Matt was at class and I was suspended.

I'd decided to rest as Matt had ordered, but couldn't really get any sleep, especially when my phone made that familiar noise telling me that I had a message.

heard u got suspended?

Yikes... now Erik was going to be mad at me, too, since I'd lied to him about lying to people. Geeze! How'd I get into so much trouble from lying!!

yah

what happened?

long story

Then the phone rang. Dammit! Why'd he have to want to know the story!

"Hello?"

"Hey Shannon," Erik said on the other line, sounding slightly aggitated.

"Hey Erik..." I answered, wincing as I rolled over on my back, then deciding to lie on my tummy instead. "What's up?"

"Waiting to hear your long story."

"Oh... that. Well, ya know... it's not really that important." I could tell by the tone in his voice, though, that he already had an idea of what had happened.

"Well, I'd like to hear anyway," he replied.

"Hm... well, I kinda forged something, but it's really not that important. So how was school today?" I said quickly, hoping that he'd forget about the whole thing.

"You forged that letter, huh? The one so you could go to the dance?"

I bit my lower lip, ashamed of myself. "Yeah."

"And lied to me about it... you know how I feel about dishonesty, Shannon."

"I know, and I apologize... sincerely."

"I guess you got in trouble, huh? Grounded or something?"

I shrugged as if he could see me. "Something like that."

"Obviously Matt wasn't too hard on you, seeing as you're on the phone..."

"Hey!" I said, taking offense. "He was a lot harder on me than you think!"

"Oh? I doubt it. I think that you really just need a good spanking..."

Oh my gosh, I almost died when he said that. "N-no... I don't.." I insisted.

"Yeah, ya do. AND I think I should give you one for lying to me like that. That's not cool... not at all."

I gulped. "I know," I answered.

"I'll talk to you tomorrow or something."

"Okay. I really am sorry for lying to you.."

"Not as sorry as you're going to be.." And with that, he hung up the phone.

Story: Rave, Anybody?

Part of the Just Shannon series.  Shannon and Erik sneak out to go to a rave.  Yeah, that's going to go over really well with Matt.

Rave, Anybody?
by Breanna Carter

I was the idiot that left the damn poster sitting on my bed. I knew that Matt would come in to get all the dirty clothes that piled up on the floor.

I was at Lisa's when he found it... We were just hanging out like normal. Actually, we were talking about going to the rave -- you know, the poster I had? Yeah, it was a poster to the rave. I had things planned out already. It started at eleven, but people didn't start actually getting there til later. So I figured after Matt was sound asleep, I could sneak out and go to it. I'd heard it was going to be a kickass party and ALL of my friends were going to be there -- including Erik, who was getting sexier by the moment. I know, I know, falling for one of your friends is a BAD idea, but I can't help it! I was only a teenager... with raging hormones... what do you expect??

The second I got home Matt was standing there with the poster. "You're not going," he demanded, before even knowing if I was going.

I tried to play dumb. That always works. "Going where?"

He gave me that look. "You know exactly where, Shannon Kate," he said, pointing to the poster.

"Ohhh, that thing? I'm not going... I just took it because... I thought it was pretty." Hey, it was pretty! And that was the only thing I could think of.

I don't think he bought it. In fact, I'm pretty sure he didn't. "Pretty or not, no sister of mine is going to a rave, got it?"

"Yes, sir!" I said and saluted him. "What's the fun in raves anyway? Just a bunch of people fucked up on X jumping around like idiots."

He glared at me. "Language, Shannon," he warned.

"Oops! Sorry.." I said, then snatched the poster back. "And it IS pretty! Even you have to admit it!"

He rolled his eyes. "Whatever," he said, muttering something under his breath that sounded like "girls."

Phew... got out of that one without getting into any trouble. Is that a first for me or what? If only things always worked out that easily.

So Friday night came around and I basically hung out with Lisa, Erik, and Jen all night. Surprisingly, Jen and Lisa weren't going. Well, not so surprising. We kinda didn't want them to go since it was a rave, and not really the thing for middle schoolers. I wasn't really that sure what to expect, though... um, I'd never been to a rave before. Neither had Erik.

I ended up back at home at 10:43. Seventeen minutes before the rave started. I figured I'd see a relieved look on Matt's face, but truthfully, I think he'd almost forgotten about it. That was lucky for me!!

Erik and I were supposed to meet outside about 12:30, so as to make sure that everyone was completely asleep when we met. We're good at devising plans. If someone wasn't asleep, we'd just call the other person and tell them in code... we just didn't figure out a code.

Luckily, everyone was asleep by 12:30 and I made it safely out of my window to Erik's car. "Everything smooth?" he asked, flipping a cigarette away and unlocking the doors. Gah, the way he was leaning against the car made him look sooo sexy.

"Everything's fine. Matt's asleep, and for all he knows, I'm asleep, too."

We both looked sexy in our raver outfits. I was wearing super baggy jeans and a tight T-shirt that showed off my belly button ring. My hair was twirled up in little balls, though it's kind of hard to explain. I was wearing dark eye makeup and silver lipstick, my face sprinkled with glitter. Erik was looking Orgy-ish, if you know the band I'm talking about. He was wearing a blue shirt and black pants, with some blue fingernail polish and makeup (guys with makeup are sexy, thank-you-very-much). His hair was spiked a little.. I could've raped him then and there... but I didn't. Aren't you proud of me?

He had a cute car, too.. perfect for jamming to techno as we prepared for the rave that was ahead. I was a little uneasy because this was something daring and new -- something I hadn't done before. And, um, I knew if I got caught then sitting during class for a couple of days wouldn't be easy. I think that's the adventure I got out of it... knowing that I couldn't get caught.

"Couldn't" is a strong word that's often misused... especially by a teenager when referring to getting caught.

Anyway, we made it there safe and paid our entry fee and put on some glowy thingies which were really cool! and the loud techno music hit my ears. Ohhh wow, it was amazing. There was like, an automatic rush when you entered... everyone was dancing, crowded around the speakers. There were strobe lights and black lights and tons of glow sticks and necklaces and bracelets. I mean EVERYONE was dancing (okay, everyone on the dance floor was), and everyone was happy, and just.. wow. You see stuff like this on tv, but it's nothing like real life.

I think everyone was on ecstasy, too.. If the kids weren't dancing they were hanging out in the other parts of the warehouse. Some people were sitting on the stairs just talking to each other. Everyone kept hugging... So many people came up to us and started talking like we'd been friends forever. They were all so nice... and welcoming... a spiffy environment. Really... it was.

Erik and I decided against the X... duh. I wasn't about to go home doped up on a drug, even though it was tempting. I knew that A) Matt would kill me, and B) if a cop happened to pull us over, I'd end up in jail for being on drugs, and C) what if it really wasn't what they said it was and it fucked me up bigtime? I didn't want ANY of those things to happen. But we danced anyway, jumping up and down, waving our arms around like idiots.

"This is so awesome!" I yelled to Erik over the music.

He smiled. "Shit yeah!"

It didn't seem like long, but we must have danced for about an hour straight before deciding to take a break. I wanted some water, but I'd heard plenty of horror stories about water at places like that. Erik got us a bottle of water, though, and since it was sealed shut, I went ahead and drank it.

After we rested, I went back on the dance floor, but Erik decided to sit out for a little while. At first I was a little uncomfortable going out there alone, but after a while, with all of the inviting people, I just kinda got used to it, and didn't even realize I was alone. Then I felt a heavy hand on my shoulder. I thought it was Erik -- I was wrong. I looked straight up into Matt's face.

Uhm, needless to say, the dancing stopped about right there and all I could think was SHIT!

"Uh, hey, Matt," I stuttered.

"I'd like to know what the hell you're doing," he said.

"Dancing?"

He wasn't expecting such a smartass answer and I knew right then that he want to haul off and smack me. But he didn't, thank God.

He did, however, grab me by the upper arm and begin hauling me out of there.

"Hey! What the hell are you doing!"

"Taking you HOME," he said.

I struggled to get free from his grip. "No! I'm staying here!" I commanded.

He stopped and turned around. "Shannon Kate Johnson, I am not in the mood for this attitude. You will get into the car without a fight or I will spank you right here and right now, Young Lady."

He wouldn't... would he? I decided not to chance it... I'd at least wait until we got in the car to talk about how I felt.

So that's exactly what I did. I folded my arms and pouted and followed him out to the car. I started to worry about Erik. I could just call his cell later and let him know that I was okay and at home. Um, at least those were my intentions... even though I knew that I'd be so sore and exhausted after Matt got through with me that I probably wouldn't be able to talk.

We finally arrived to the car and I decided to start my rant. "This isn't fair!" I shouted. "I was just having a good time and you had to fucking drag me out of there and it isn't fair!!"

Um, did I mention we weren't even in the car yet? And wow... you thought he was infuriated before, you should have seen him then!

"It's not fair to YOU?!?" he shouted. I'd never seen Matt lose it before and... honestly, I didn't want to see him lose it then... but I couldn't help it!

"No, it's not fair for me! I'm not twelve fucking years old! You should treat me like an adult!!"

"Well you're not a fucking adult either," he said, pointing at me, not bothering to open the door. Thankfully there was a car inbetween us because he was on the drivers side and I the passengers, so he couldn't hit me. "And you're sure as hell not acting like one! What is this? Sneaking out of the house? Lying? Going to an illegal party where there's tons of drugs? What else did you do, Shannon, huh? Are you on speed? X? LSD?"

I glared. "No, I'm not that stupid."

"Yeah, well it was pretty stupid just being in that place because you and I both know that there are TONS of drugs in there and if the police decided to check it out, you'd be up a shit-creek just for being AROUND the drugs. Is that an adult thing to do? You're saying I should treat you like an adult?"

"YES!" I yelled.

He sighed heavily, unlocked the doors, and plopped onto the seat. He held his head in his hands, trying to calm himself. He was so angry that he was shaking. Maybe trying to fight this wasn't such a good idea...

"Look," I said, trying to speak calmly and rationally, "I'm sorry."

"Sorry? You worried me half-to-death and all you have to say is 'sorry'? I'm going to tell you one thing, Shannon Kate, you might get away with this at home, but you're not getting away with it with me. I'm sick of the bullshit you keep pulling. All the lying, the attitude, the disobedience, is going to stop, do you understand? I'm not going to put up with this. If I have to spank you everyday to keep you in line, if I have to look over your shoulder every minute of the day, I'm going to. Got it?"

"There you go, treating me like a fucking kid again," I muttered.

This time there wasn't a car inbetween us... and I totally wasn't expecting it, but he slapped me across the face, and hard. "You won't use that type of language either, Shannon," he said, then started up the car.

At that time, I was too shocked and hurt to really say anything. Tears were burning my eyes. I couldn't believe that he'd slapped me... I couldn't believe this was all happening like it was... I wanted to wake up from this dream... This couldn't be happening...

I pulled out my cellphone to send a text message to Erik. Clearly, I wouldn't be calling him anytime tonight.

Erik -- Matt found me. sry. talk 2morrow.

I took a deep breath and leaned my head back, closing my eyes, the tears wanting to stream down. I had on so much makeup, though... I couldn't ruin it. I never wore makeup.

I survived the long, silent ride home. I'd have liked it better if I could have at least listened to some music, but I guess I had to be content that I was still alive?

"Go to bed. We'll discuss this in the morning."

Totally wasn't expecting that. That meant I had to deal with all the nervous anxiety that I had... and he expected me to sleep???

As you could probably have guessed, I didn't sleep much. I was up all night basically crying. Matt was always the easygoing type, didn't lose his temper, was always smiling and laughing... and geeze, I'd really screwed it up this time. I'd screwed it up enough to where he'd actually come out to the rave and yell at me... a lot! And he also wasn't the type that used much profanity... and I'd also seen that side of him! Great job, Shannon.

I ended up text messaging Erik back and forth all night, telling him kind of what happened. Embarrassing as it was, he knew that Matt spanked me. It was kinda something that all of us got at one point or another, so though I didn't exactly want him to know, it wasn't as big of a deal as it would be if spankings were unheard of.

I finally managed to sleep a little. When I woke up, Erik had sent me three text messages. Well, it was fun while it lasted. and Shannon? are you still there? and finally, at like 5am he sent I had a good time but itd have been better with u. Those were great ways to start my morning. I actually ended up smiling.

That didn't last long. I pushed myself up from the bed, still in the raver clothes I'd worn the night before, my hear all messed up, my makeup all smeared. The first thing I wanted to do was get a shower, not a spanking. I hoped Matt would make that possible.

He was lying on the futon when I emerged from his room. He looked like he hadn't slept at all. That made me feel worse. "Hey," I mumbled.

He nodded.

"It's okay if I take a shower before we talk?"

He nodded again.

I took a towel and some fresh pjs (I figured I wouldn't be much in the mood to do anything the rest of the day) and made sure it was a really hot shower. I washed my hair and tried not to think about my impending punishment. So much for that.

When I got out and dressed, I dried my hair with the towel, then went back into the living room. Matt was in the very same spot, still looking exhausted. I figured he wouldn't be much in the mood for my attitude... and I was probably obligated to speak first.

I cleared my throat. "I'm sorry," I began. "I shouldn't have gone to the rave, I shouldn't have lied to you. I'm sorry."

He looked at me. "I'm glad you're finally seeing the seriousness of what you did." He stood up and walked over to me. "I don't think you realize, though, why I didn't want you to go there. It's completely and totally illegal, it's dangerous, you could get into all sorts of trouble. I know you know that, Shannon. You're not a child anymore."

I nodded.

"And I don't appreciate the language you're using with me, so from now on, anytime I hear any type of obscene language from you, I'm washing your mouth out with soap, end of story. Understand?"

I nodded again.

"So we're going to start that now. Come with me."

"Wait... Matt... do we hafta???"

"YES we have to, and don't even think about resisting because you're going to make it harder on yourself."

I gulped and followed him to the bathroom where he repeated the same procedure as always. He got out the bar of soap and a washcloth and wet them both, then scrubbed the soap with the washcloth, getting it all bubbly. My stomach churned. I hated this part as much as the spanking itself.

"Open," he ordered.

I closed my eyes and opened my mouth like I was at the dentist -- I knew it was going to hurt, but maybe if I closed my eyes it wouldn't feel so bad. I felt him take ahold of my chin and then he thrusted the washcloth in my mouth, scrubbing the insides. He scrubbed the roof of my mouth, the cheeks, and finally my tongue. I started gagging and then crying, wanting to plead with him to stop. It tasted so gross and it was so embarrassing and I hated this so much. But he just kept scrubbing and when he finally stopped, he put the soap in my mouth.

"Leave it there," he said, then sat down on the edge of the bathtub, taking me over his lap. I squirmed, wanting to spit out the soap and not wanting to get spanked. I cried harder.

My pjs were thin... great idea at putting them on instead of pants. He didn't take them down, but I could still feel his palm, clear as daylight. He spanked me and spanked and spanked until I was kicking and crying and couldn't really breathe because I was keeping the soap in my mouth. "This is for having a dirty mouth, Shannon Kate. You're going to have to learn to control that."

I nodded, wanting to promise that I'd stop talking badly around him.

He lifted me up and took the bar of soap from my mouth then gave me a tiny cup of water to rinse out with. My bottom stung like crazy and I wanted to rub, and I wanted this to be over, but it wasn't... I wasn't even close to being finished.

I spit the water out, trying to make sure I got the nasty soap taste out of my mouth (I didn't), then allowed myself to be dragged to the living room. "I'm not going to put up with any of this backtalk, the language, the lying, the blatant disobedience... do you hear me? No sister of mine is going to act like this."

I nodded, sniffling and letting the tears stream down my face.

"If I have to ground you and watch your every move to make sure that you don't sneak out of the house again to go to some kind of rave, I will. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," I said, feeling that it was the necessary thing to say at that time.

With that he threw me over his lap, tugging my pj pants and panties down, and then began spanking me rapidly with the damn hairbrush! I hadn't even noticed that he'd been holding it, I was too busy thinking about the fact that this wasn't over and I was freaking out about the punishment... how had I been so stupid as to not realize he was holding the hairbrush!!

In no time I was screaming, kicking, squirming, and throwing a fit! Oh my gosh that thing hurt like hell. "Ooooowwwwwww... pleaseeeeeeeee Matt!!!!! I'm-m sssorry!!!!! Pleaseee no moreee!!" I pleaded, kicking and trying not to block.

He held me firmer, keeping my squirming to a minimum, until it hurt so badly that I was squirming and kicking full-out again, and then he stopped, placing me over one knee, and using the other leg to keep me from kicking.

"Pleaseee," I wailed, crying more than ever, unable to contain myself.

"Shannon Kate, are you going to do as I say?"

"Y-yessss!!"

"Are you going to lie to me?" he asked, emphasizing his words with a hearty smack of the hairbrush. "Are you going to cock an attitude? Are you going to use profanity??"

"Nooooooooo!!" I cried. I was trying to promise him that I'd do what I was supposed to, that I would NEVER go to a rave again, and all that good stuff. He kept spanking, though, and through the spanking I couldn't find much room to talk (it was because I was crying too hard!)

He kept his hand on my back, holding me down as he spanked harder, spanked my sitspots, and move on to my thighs. He kept going for what felt like hours, until after I was out of energy, after I was bawling like a baby, and after my thighs felt like they'd be bruised for weeks. My arse was on fire. I was drained.

He lifted me up, keeping my hands away from my face to dry my tears, and made me look at him in the eyes. "I love you, Shannon. I love you so much. What you did last night was very dangerous. Anything can happen at raves... stuff that you don't want to happen. I'm sure it was fun, but it's also illegal. I don't mind if you go to a party every now and then, but make sure that it's okay with me and that you aren't doing anything you're not supposed to, got it?"

I nodded.

"While Mom and Dad are out of town, you're my responsibility, and that means that you're going to do what I say. I understand you're a 'teenager' and it's in your nature to rebel every once in a while. But get rid of the attitude at everything I say. I'm not much older than you, Shannon. I can remember being in high school like it was yesterday. I know what goes on in school, I know what goes on at parties, and I know the types of stuff you're likely to do. I'm not stupid and not as old as Mom and Dad. There's stuff that you could get away with them and you won't be able to get away with it with me. It's not because I'm mean or cruel or just a total asshole, but it's because I know how things work, I know how dangerous they are, and while it's okay to experiment with certain things, other things are not okay to experiment with. No sis of mine is going to jail, okay?"

I nodded again.

He gave me a quick hug and a pat on the bottom. He let go of my wrists to allow me to wipe my eyes. "Go stand in the corner while I fix lunch, and then you can eat, change clothes, and do whatever. Consider yourself lucky that you're not grounded, Shannon."

I wiped my eyes and gave a final nod, letting him know that I knew I was lucky, since I still wasn't able to speak from crying so much. I hobbled to the corner, planted my nose in it, and waited there with a throbbing bottom while he fixed us something to eat. Then I sat down on that damn hard chair, squirming all the time I was eating. I wasn't angry with Matt -- how could I be mad at my own brother? I did take what he said to heart. He wasn't stupid, no doubt about that. He was only a few years older than me. He'd gone to parties all the time... Had something happened with him that I didn't know about? What kinds of stuff had he seen? Under what circumstances would I be allowed to go to parties?

Just then I heard my message alert on my cell. I'd gotten a text message. That reminded me of Erik. "So, you said I'm not grounded?" I said, raising my eyebrows.

He smiled. "Nah, I have to work tonight. I couldn't keep much of an eye on ya."

I smiled back. "So I can hang out with Lisa or Erik?"

"Yeah, just no parties."

"Don't worry," I answered, finishing my meal then giving my older brother a hug.

Skipping back to my room to change clothes, I checked the message on my phone.

hey, everything ok? if it is, wana see a movie tonight? just me and u?

A grin was plastered on my face (I nearly ran into the wall staring at that message!). Erik was asking me... on a date!!!

I allowed the excitement to fill my body as I responded that I'd love to attend a movie (of course, trying to make it sound as much like friends as possible, in case he had different ideas about things than I did), and then I took another shower (what? my hair was frizzy because I didn't dry it). The day didn't turn out to be as bad as I thought it'd be.

Story: Procrastinating Into Trouble

Part of the Just Shannon series.  Shannon isn't up for doing her homework, but she's about to have to stand up to finish it because Matt found out how much she's been slacking off.  As if it isn't bad enough that she hasn't started the report she has due tomorrow, she gets a little too much of an attitude.  Time for Matt to intervene.

Procrastinating Into Trouble
by Breanna Carter

Good Charlotte was blaring through my room as I flipped through the latest issue of CosmoGirl. I was singing along, headbanging and all, taking notes on how to tell if a boyfriend was cheating, when Matt walked in.

“You could at least knock ya know!” I yelled over the music.

“I tried!” he yelled back. “I don’t think the neighbors appreciate you holding a rock concert in my room, ya know! Think you could turn that down a bit?”

When I shook my head no and averted my attention back to the magazine, Matt sighed and turned the music off. “Hey! What’d you do that for,” I asked, glaring at him.

“Because it was too loud and besides, I gotta question for you.”

I rolled my eyes. Great. “Fine, what?”

“Your teacher called today and said that you have a huge report due tomorrow and she hasn’t seen you working on it in class, but instead you’ve been goofing off. I assured her that you probably already finished it, but didn’t mention that I haven’t seen you working on it either. I figured that all those nights you said you were going out with Lisa you were really at the library working on the report.”

I blinked. That report was due tomorrow? “Uhm, yeah. That’s what it is.”

He smiled, not buying it. “Great. How about I read it then? I’ll proof it for you, make sure you don’t have any mistakes. What’s the report on anyway?”

I blinked again. “I don’t need it proofed.”

“Sure ya do. It’s a really big report, so I hear. Counts as about 400 points... I wouldn’t like it if you didn’t get your full 100 percent just because it wasn’t proofed.”

“Truth is, I left it at school.”

“I’m sure. Guess we’ll just have to go up there and get it then?”

I sighed.

“You know, things would be so much easier if you just told me the truth..”

“Okay, fine... I haven’t gotten the report finished yet. There, happy?”

“No.” He took the magazine away. “You should finish your school work before you have a rock concert.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’ll finish it later,” I promised, attempting to grab the magazine from him, but failing.

“No, you’ll finish it now.”

“Ma-att!” I whined.

“Shan-non!” he mimicked.

“I don’t feel like doing the report right now.”

“I don’t care. You’ve had weeks to do it and if you hadn’t procrastinated, it’d be finished by now. And as your teacher said, you’ve had class time to do it. So I don’t want to hear it.”

I glared at him.

“And if you keep arguing, you’ll be doing that report standing up.”

Understanding what he meant by that remark, I sighed heavily and grabbed my backpack and threw it on my bed. Before I could get the books out and stuff, Matt spoke.

“At the table, Shannon.”

I groaned and threw my backpack over my shoulder then shoved past him to the kitchen table.

I worked on the report for about ten minutes then grabbed a snack from the kitchen. Then I worked a little more and got distracted by Wheel Of Fortune which is what Matt was watching on tv. Then I got engrossed in having a philosophical conversation with myself about how come Matt was watching that show, and then he woke me up.

“Shannon... staring into space isn’t going to get the report written,” he said.

I groaned and went back to work. It wasn’t twenty minutes before I got bored with it again and grabbed another snack from the kitchen.

“You’ll ruin your appetite,” Matt muttered from the living room.

“I don’t care. It’s keeping me more entertained than this stupid report.”

Finally, after it’d already gotten dark outside and Matt had told Lisa that I was too busy to talk or hang out, I finished the second page of my report and threw down my pen.

“Finished,” I murmured, then shoved everything in my backpack.

Matt got up and held his hand out.

I raised my eyebrows. “What?”

“Let me proof-read it,” he ordered.

“It’s fine, I finished it... no big deal.”

“I don’t care. Let me proof-read it.”

I sighed and pulled it back out of my backpack and handed it to him. He wouldn’t let me get up. He stood there over me, reading the paper to himself. I rolled my eyes at him, but he didn’t seem to notice, just kept reading. “Two pages, Shannon? You’ve got to be kidding me. This is a rough draft, right?”

“Matt... just... leave me alone. It’s fine.”

“No, Shannon, it isn’t fine,” he said, this time actually getting a little mad at me. “You’ve had this report for two weeks now and all you’ve been doing in class is goofing off and talking to your friends. Every night when you come home, you go out with Lisa or someone else for the entire evening and you don’t do any of your homework. While you’re in my house, you’re not going to goof off and let your grades drop, understand? You’re a smart girl and I know you can write a better paper than this.”

“No, I can’t,” I said, trying to stand up and push away from him, but he stood firmly in front of me.

“Yes, you can,” he replied, gently pushing me back in my chair. “Finish writing your paper, then you can type it up on my laptop and save it to a disk and print it out at school tomorrow.”

“No. I finished the report, I’m not doing anymore,” I said, standing back up.

“Shannon! Look at this paper! You have scratch-outs and bad grammar..” he shoved the paper in my face, and I shoved it away, so he smacked my hands away and I don’t know what came over me, I guess I was just acting on impulse, and I smacked him back.

Everything stopped with that deafening smack... he stopped talking and just stared at me, and I just stood there with my mouth dropped.

“That’s it,” he said, throwing his hands up and putting the report down on the table.

“No, wait... Matt... I’m sorry,” I muttered, but he was already grabbing my wrist and dragging me to the bathroom.

“You’re always sorry, Shannon. I’m sick of it. I’ve tried to let you off easy, tried to give you a chance to actually do the damn report even after you lied to me and gave me that attitude, and you just don’t want to take the easy way out. So we’re going to deal with this the way it should have been dealt with to begin with.”

“Nooooo, please, Matt..” I begged, trying to release from his firm grip.

He dragged me to the bathroom. “This is what happens when you lie to me and cock an attitude,” he said, finding a bar of soap and a washcloth.

“Nooooooooo!” I sqealed upon seeing it. “Pleaseeee, Matt... don’t do that...” I begged.

“Too late,” he said, turning the faucet and wetting the cloth then lathering the soap into it. He held onto my wrist tightly so I wouldn’t escape. I was whining like a baby.

When the washcloth was covered with soap, he turned the water off and let go of my wrist, then held onto my chin, practically having to pry my lips open. “Matt, stoppp,” I whined. “I’m sorry!” He wouldn’t listen to me though, just held my mouth open and washed it out with soap, scrubbing my tounge and my cheeks, then the roof of my mouth.

“You will not lie to me, Young Lady,” he said. “And you’re going to stop it with this attitude.”

“Mmmkay... ah will!” I choked through the nasty tast of the soap.

He stopped scrubbing and threw the cloth down, then got the bar of soap and shoved it in my mouth. “You will hold it there and if you spit it out, I will use the hairbrush and belt on you, understand?”

I nodded hurriedly, by this time the tears streaming down my face because it finally hit me what I’d done... I’d hit him, and that wasn’t good.

He led me to a corner in the living room and swatted me on the bottom. “Nose in the corner and don’t move it an inch. I want you to think about what you’ve done and what you’re about to get.” More tears began streaming down my face as I buried my nose in the corner. I heard Matt sit down behind me.

I tried not to think of what Matt told me to think about, but having the gross bitter taste of soap in my mouth and staring at the wall, it was hard to not think about it. I was wondering what he was going to do to me, desperately wishing that he wouldn’t use his belt or hairbrush... even though I honestly knew I deserved it. I regretted putting off the report until the last minute. Had I just done the work in class, none of this would have ever happened...

“Okay, Shannon,” he said. “Come here.”

I turned around, bar of soap still in my mouth.

He led me to the bathroom and threw the soap in the sink. “Spit out, but do not rinse,” he ordered.

So I spit as much of the soap out as I could, then he grabbed me by the upper arm and led me to the futon. He unbuttoned my jeans and tugged them to the floor, then did the same with my panties.

“Please, Matt,” I choked out through more tears. “I’m sorry. I’ve learned my lesson.”

“I don’t think so, Shannon,” he replied, throwing me over his lap. “This is for procrastinating, playing around during class, and hitting me.”

“But I’m sorry!”

He replied with a hearty smack to my poor bottom, and then landed more and more, causing a few yelps to erupt from my soapy mouth. “Ooowwwww,” I whined. “Ahhhh, Matt... that hurtssss.”

“Good.. maybe you’ll think of this next time you decide to get into trouble.” He kept smacking, hitting my backside at full force and concentrating mainly on my sitspots.

I just lay there, whining and groaning and letting the tears stream down my face. My heart was pounding to no end and I was desperately wishing that he wouldn’t decide to take his belt off.

And he didn’t, but he did decide to grab the wooden hairbrush that was conveniently sitting on the coffee table in front of us. “Noooooo... Mattttt,” I begged, more tears pouring out of my eyes. “I’m sorrrrrryyyyyy. Pleaseeee not the hairbrush!!”

“*WHACK!* Sorry, kiddo. *WHACK!* *WHACK!* You’ve been very *WHACK!* disrespectful *WHACK!* today. *WHACK! WHACK!* And I *WHACK WHACK!!* will not *WHACK!* tolerate *WHACK!* you hitting me *WHACK WHACK WHACK!!*”

“I knowwwww,” I pleaded. “I won’t do it again!”

He didn’t let up. He hit me with that damn hairbrush so many times I thought I felt my bottom beginning to turn numb. I began bawling, feeling true remorse for what I’d done. Feeling bad for pushing Matt’s limits and practically begging for this spanking. I howled in pain, my head hurting nearly as badly as my burning rear end, and I was crying so hard that my body shook. He finally put the brush back on the coffee table and let me lie there to regain myself. I was shaking and crying for a long time, just lying there over my brother’s lap.

“Shhhh, shhhh, baby sister,” he said in a soft voice. “You’re all forgiven now.”

I nodded. “It-t h-hurtsss,” I whispered.

“I know. But I bet you won’t hit me ever again, will you?”

“N-nooo.”

He lifted me from his lap and hugged me tightly, wiping a tear out of my eyes. He tugged my panties back up. “Now, I want you to go finish your report, sitting down.”

“But...” I began, but he gave me a warning look and I knew that now wasn’t the best time to argue. “Okay, Matt,” I said, then kicked my pants away and hobbled towards the table. I sat on my throbbing bottom for hours writing the stupid report, but I even let Matt proof-read it and he said it sounded great and even offered to type it for me. Yep, I have a pretty cool big brother :)

Story: The Bell Rings at Three

Part of the Just Shannon series.  Shannon has been leaving class before the bell rings, and her teacher finally catches her.  The always-respectful (yeah right) teen gets mouthy enough to earn a trip to the office, where she is informed that her brother will be notified.  Matt isn't going to be too happy.

The Bell Rings at Three
by Breanna Carter

As the months passed on and cool weather came nearer and nearer, I noticed that October had approached. It had been about two weeks after Erik’s birthday when he finally got the car that he’d been begging for. As promised, he offered to take Lisa, Jen, and me to school every morning. We started out getting to school early every day, in time to where we could both sit in the hallway and finish the homework that we’d neglected to do the night before. He ended up helping me with a lot of my own homework, seeing that he was a junior and I only a sophomore. For the record, he was awesome at math! And after school we’d wait around for a little while so the parking lot could thin out and then we’d set off to the middle school where we’d pick up Jen and Lisa. It was so much fun to finally have a friend who had a car. Jen and Lisa seemed to think so, too.

After a while, though, Erik kept getting irritated with the stupid busses at the middle school. They’d hold up traffic forever. And soon, we were getting to school seconds before the bell rang, and slipping out of class five minutes early so we could hurry up and make it to the middle school before the busses left. We did this everyday, meeting at his car at 2:55, unless one of our teachers held us back. That usually wasn’t the case, though. My sixth period teacher was absent-minded and didn’t even notice when I left class early.

I guess you can see where this is heading... One day, I left class, early as usual, and so did many of the other students. Well, they didn’t exactly leave, but they sat outside on the boardwalk (this class was in a T-building which means that it wasn’t in an actual hallway or anything, but outside next to tons of other T-buildings with a boardwalk connecting them all... in case you didn’t know) waiting for the bell to ring. As I trampled down to the parking lot to meet Erik, I heard some yelling but paid no attention. She’d never notice I was gone... And as we pulled out of the lot, I noticed that no one was sitting on the boardwalk any longer. Hopefully none of them would clue her in on the fact that I left.

Problem was, they did. The second I walked into class the next day, I heard about it.

“Miss Johnson,” she said. “I noticed that you left yesterday afternoon before the bell rang to dismiss the students.”

I bit my lip, trying to conjure up a good excuse. “I did?” What a great excuse.

“Yes, Shannon, you did. I had plenty of students tell me that they saw you leave campus.”

“They didn’t see me leave campus,” I argued. Well, it was true... they didn’t *see* me leave. “I.. I have choir practice on Thursdays. I had to get my music out of my locker. I told you but you must not have heard...”

She stood there, unmoved, totally not buying my lame excuse. “If you need to leave early, you will make sure I hear you and you have a hall pass from me.”

“Whatever,” I muttered, rolling my eyes and slumping down in my seat.

“Excuse me!” she shrieked. “You left my class early and that is like skipping, Shannon Johnson. I do NOT need that attitude from you!”

“Yeah, well, I don’t like you yelling at me either.”

Her mouth was dropped and instantly I regretted saying that. She walked to her desk, muttering things under her breath and finally pulled out a yellow slip of paper. “If you’re going to have that attitude with me, I have no other choice but to give you a referral. I will not tolerate that in my class.”

I was livid. My teeth were clamped together and my fists balled up. How dare she give me a referral!

She scribbled something on the paper and handed it to me. “Straight to Mr. Jarrow’s office and no detours through the parking lot or the choir room or where ever it was you went yesterday.”

I glared at her and snatched the paper from her hand then threw my backpack over my shoulder and stomped out of the room. I wanted so badly to flip her off, but I was too upset. Plus, I knew it’d get me in more trouble... and I was sure that Mr. Jarrow would let me off easier without that added comment on my referral. Speaking of referrals... I wondered what mine said on it so I looked down.

“Leaving class without permission and disrespectful attitude.”

I groaned. She made it sound like what I’d done was horrible! But it really wasn’t that bad... all I did was mutter a few things I could have kept to myself. Maybe I’d get after school detention and Erik could pick me up and Matt’d never know what happened. Yeah, right.

I ambled towards the office and stopped at the secretary’s desk. “Hi, um, I need to see Mr. Jarrow..” I muttered.

She pushed her glasses up and turned around. “You may go on in,” she told me and nodded towards an open door with a tall, thin man sitting behind a large desk filling out some paperwork.

I said a quick “thank you” and walked down the hallway, dreading each step more and more. I’d never actually been sent to the principal’s office before... I remembered all the times I was younger when other kids were sent to the office. In kindergarten a boy was being mean to the other kids and saying bad stuff to the teacher and got sent to the office. He came back crying. I remember the year after that, we went to an assembly about discipline and the principal held up a paddle and said that it’s what she used on the students when they acted up... and I remembered how one kid had once told me, in the third grade or something, that the principal’s paddle was big and had holes in it so it’d hurt more. I wondered if Mr. Jarrow had a paddle... surely not... not in high school... we were too old to get paddled! And if I got paddled at school, they’d definitely tell Matt and then I’d get in trouble at home, too! That’s not cool at all.

“Can I help you?” he was saying and I realized that I’d made it to the door without even noticing.

“Oh, uh,” I stepped inside and handed him the note.

He glanced at it. “Shut the door, please,” he ordered, and I figured the next thing he’d do was take out that large wooden paddle with the large holes drilled through it... But I shut the door anyway. “Have a seat.”

I sat down across from him on a hard wooden chair. I shifted uncomfortably.

“Shannon, is it?”

I nodded.

He scanned over the paper once again then placed it down on his desk and folded his hands while looking at me. “Well, Shannon... says here that you’re leaving class without permission and using a disrespectful tone with your teacher...”

I bit my lower lip again. “I guess so,” I murmured.

“Care to explain this to me?”

I shrugged. “I told her I was going to get some stuff from my locker and she said it was fine, so I left early and today she was accusing me of not telling her, so I got upset and told her she could stop yelling at me already.”

He nodded. “The thing is, Miss Johnson, I’d like to believe you, but this is Mrs. Strait, and she doesn’t normally send students to the office. And, in fact, I think the last referral I received from her was in 1997. So I know it must have been more than that. I understand that she can be a little forgetful sometimes, but next time, make sure that she knows, okay? As for this ‘attitude’ thing... well, don’t let it happen again. I guess I can let this go with an afterschool detention.”

Score!

I let out a slight smirk. “Yes sir, Mr. Jarrow. I won’t let it happen again.” I began standing up.

“Sit down, Shannon. I can’t let you leave until I give you your detention slip and get your phone number.”

“My phone number?” I muttered, plopping back down in the chair, smirk gone.

“Yes, your phone number.” He was digging through a drawer now, and finally pulled out another yellow slip of paper.

“Why do you need my phone number?”

“To call your parents, of course.” I watched as he scribbled information down on the sheet of paper.

“My parents are in Europe.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Oh? With whom are you staying?”

As usual, I spoke before I thought about it. “Just by myself.”

“By yourself?”

I nodded.

He didn’t buy it for one second. Instead, he finished filling out that yellow slip then moved towards a large filing cabinet that was against a wall. “Any family members in town?”

“No.” I guess it was partly true... if you don’t consider Matt a family member. I guess I was too dumb to realize they had my file.

He pulled out a folder and looked inside. “I see. Who is Matthew Johnson?”

“My brother.”

“Says here that you reside with him.”

“It does?”

He showed me the file folder where a sheet of paper was stapled inside. There it was written inside... my address and guardian’s name. Dammit. Caught in another lie.

I looked up at him and he moved the folder away. “So Matthew is your guardian or not?”

“Kinda.”

“Are you living with him right now?”

“Kinda.”

He was getting upset. “How can you ‘kinda’ live with someone?”

I shrugged.

“Shannon, I don’t appreciate you lying to me. I’m letting you off easy by giving you only a day of after school detention when I could be giving you in school suspension, or I could even suspend you.”

I looked at the floor and twiddled my thumbs.

“When I ask you a question I expect you to answer me honestly, do you understand?”

I nodded.

He sat down on the chair and wrote the number down on a post-it tablet with Matt’s name at the top and mine at the bottom. “I’ll be having a word with Matthew later this afternoon.”

“Okay.” Maybe I could get home in time to erase the message...

“Detention is Tuesday after school in Mr. Jacobson’s room. You are expected to be there promptly.”

“Okay.”

“You’re dismissed.”

Needless to say, I didn’t leave class early that day. In fact, I wasn’t even close to the first one. Erik was kind of upset when I came to his car later than usual, but he let it go after he saw how pissed I was about the whole day. He listened to me bitch the whole way to the middle school, and we got caught in bus traffic, so I bitched some more, and when the girls weren’t there, I bitched even more.

“Don’t worry about it,” Erik said. “They probably just figured that we weren’t coming. Just calm down a little.”

“I can’t calm down. Mr. Jarrow’s gonna call Matt and he’s going to blow a head gasket.”

“Just tell him it was an honest mistake... that you asked if you could leave early and she said you could, you had no idea you needed a pass, and you didn’t mean to be rude to her...”

“And what about lying to Mr. J?”

“Deny it?”

I sighed. There really was no way to get out of this.

We met up with Lisa and Jen when we got to the apartment complex and they were furious. I told them about my shitty day, and they were a little nicer. At least next time they’d know where we were.

When I got home, Matt was sitting at the table, working on something. I tried to avoid him and walk to my room to throw my backpack down, but to no avail. “Got any homework?”

“No,” I muttered.

“Mrs. Addington called today. Said you were slacking off on your geometry homework.”

I grimaced. How come she didn’t tell me she was calling? Then I could have at least been prepared. “I’ve done most of it, just left it at home, or lost it.”

He put the pencil down and looked at me. “Yeah, and I’m Bruce Willis.”

I cracked a nervous grin, trying once again, to turn away and walk to my room.

“And your vice principal guy called, too... Mr. Sparrow or whatever.”

“Who?”

“Your vice principal. Said he had a conference with you today.”

“Oh. Uh, yeah. Look... it was a mistake...”

“Really? A mistake? I’d like to hear how lying to him was a mistake..” he said, giving me a sarcastic grin.

“Well... see... er... I asked my teacher if I could leave early yesterday and she said I could, and she didn’t remember today and started yelling at me so I asked her to stop and she took it the wrong way... and then when I went to the office I didn’t understand his question... I thought he wanted to know if I was living with a real adult... you know... like an aunt or uncle or something.”

“Shannon, you’re lying out of your ass. I can see it in your eyes. You can’t even look at me and tell me all this stuff.”

Damn, brothers always know that stuff. “Sure I can.”

He raised his eyebrows, giving me a doubtful look. “Firstly, Shannon, I know that you leave school early everyday, else you wouldn’t get here by 3:30 every afternoon. Today you didn’t get here until at least 3:45. For the past two weeks you’ve gotten here at 3:20, sometimes 3:15 or 3:10... I don’t think Erik’s driving speed fluctuates that much. Secondly, the guy who called me had talked to your teacher and she told him that you used a very sharp tone with her, otherwise she wouldn’t have given you a referral. And thirdly, he said that he plainly asked you who you lived with and you said no one. And the fact that you’re lying to me is NOT helping the situation, Young Lady.”

I gave an exasperated sigh and rolled my eyes. “You don’t understand,” I concluded.

“*I* don’t understand? Are you forgetting that I’m 19 years old and I, too, was in high school not too long ago and I wanted to leave school early, too. I had to deal with pesky teachers and principals.. hell, I still do! But that didn’t give me any right to backtalk them or lie to them. And if Mom or Dad had received a call from someone I sure as hell wouldn’t lie to them!” He was practically yelling by this time and I wasn’t liking the looks of this.

“Geeze, Matt. Chill.”

“Chill?? You’re telling ME to chill? I just got two phone calls about you and the first I could live with but when I hear that you’re using bossy tones with your teacher and lying to your principal, I have a problem with that, Missy. And I have a problem with the way you’re acting right now and the way you just stood there and blatantly lied to me.”

I fidgeted nervously.

“I’m not going to put up with this attitude. Mom and Dad can deal with it, but I’m not. Understand?”

“Whatever,” I said plainly. Mistake!

Matt nearly knocked his chair over from getting up so quickly. The closer he got to me, the more I moved back, until I ran into the wall.

“No... Matt... I’m sorry!”

But it was too late. He was flustered with anger. I held my hands up to keep him away.

“Matt! Stop!” I squeaked.

He ignored me and grabbed my arm. I tried to hold onto the futon, the wall, anything! But his grip was stronger than mine and in a matter of seconds I was being dragged towards the chair. I fought and struggled. “No!” I kept saying. “Stop it!” But he kept ignoring me. I leaned all of my weight towards the floor, hoping that I’d fall out of his tight grip and make a quick getaway to my room, but he just gave me a sharp smack on my rear. “Matt! No! St-op it!” I said, enunciating my words.

He finally got to the chair and sat down, grabbing my arm and throwing me over his knee. I struggled and fought, trying to stand up.

SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!

He began smacking me over my skirt because I was struggling too much for him to bare my bottom. Before he knew it, though, I was rolled off of his lap and on the floor, trying to crawl away.

“SHANNON KATE! If you don’t stop struggling, I am going to spank you so hard that you won’t be able to sit for a month! You’re already in enough trouble, Young Lady!” He lifted me up as if using no strength at all and I found myself, once again, over his lap and looking at the carpet.

SMACK!! SMACK!! SMACK!! SMACK!! SMACK!! SMACK!!

He slapped with all of his might, but I didn’t neglect to put up a fight. I kicked and screamed and squirmed to no end. If you think it didn’t hurt, you must be crazy! But I’m crazy, too, because as much as that hurt, I still managed to be as big of a brat as I could, which only made me get it worse.

After about thirty or so smacks over my clothes, he lifted my skirt and tugged my panties down. I could already feel my reddening bottom.

He lifted his hand again and my backside was greeted with more smacks. “Shannon Kate, *SMACK!! SMACK!!* you will NOT *SMACK!! SMACK!!* use that attitude *SMACK!! SMACK!!* with me *SMACK!! SMACK!!* or anyone else *SMACK!! SMACK!!* Do you understand? *SMACK!! SMACK!! SMACK!! SMACK!!*”

I was yelping with each smack, mostly because he was concentrating on my thighs and sit spots. “Stopppp!!” was all I could answer. That wasn’t what he was looking for.

“I will NOT stop, Young Lady. You are getting what you deserve and you know it!” And with that he continued spanking and spanking and spanking, as hard as he could, my bottom and my sit spots and my thighs, and before too much longer I was crying and not totally broken, and he lifted me from his lap and marched me to the corner. “Nose in corner, Shannon. No rubbing!”

I sniffled and stood in the corner, glowing bottom on display. I studied the wall and tried to make sense out of everything that was happening. I shifted uncomfortably, my bottom stinging to no end.

“All right. Come here,” Matt ordered after about twenty minutes of corner time.

I sniffled and turned around, wiping my eyes. I assumed it was over, but I was wrong. There he was, unbuckling his belt and sliding it through the loops. It took me a good three seconds to realize what he was doing.

“Nooooooooo,” I pleaded, beginning to cry again.

“Shannon, what you’ve done today is unacceptable,” he scolded, grabbing my left arm and guiding me over the futon. “I’m not going to put up with it.”

I heard him fold it over as I buried my head into the mattress. I heard some dangling then CRACK!!! the leather crashed against my backside and it was throbbing.

“OWWWWIIIIIIEEEEESSSSSS!!!” I shrieked, standing up and grabbing my bottom.

Matt pushed me back down and kept his hand on my back. I heard him lift it again and crash it down. This hurt more than I could ever imagine! By the forth blow, I broke down into sobs and I was clutching onto the mattress for dear life. I howled in pain after each smack. By the tenth smack, I was broken. I was sobbing into the couch and really and truly sorry for what I’d done. Sorry that I’d left school early, sorry that I’d used an attitude with my teacher, sorry that I’d lied. “Shannon, I’m very disappointed in what you did today. I didn’t expect such a thing from you. You know that it’s wrong to lie. *CRACK!!!!!*”

“AHHHHHOOOWWWWW!!! I k-knowww!”

“And you need to learn how to respect others. Not have an attitude. *CRACK!!!!!!!!*”

“ARRGGGGHHHHH!!!! I w-won’t do-o it again-n. I pwomiseee!”

“And you need to do your math homework. Got it? *CRACK!!!!!!*”

“Yyyyyesssssssss!!!!!!”

“Good.” He gave me five final smacks then dropped the belt and scooped me in his arms. I cried into his chest as he patted my back and rocked me. I couldn’t help but apologize. I felt bad for letting him down, for disappointing him. He kissed my forehead millions of times and told me he loved me.

“I won’t leave class early again.”

“Good... but that’s not what I’m worried about. I’m worried about how you’re going to treat your teachers and other adults...”

“I won’t be mean,” I assured him, feeling like a small child.

He smiled. “I love ya, little sis.”

I smiled back. “I love ya, too. But that hurt.”

“Well, maybe you’ll remember this next time you’re on the verge of a referral, huh?”

“Maybe.”

Story: Kyle's House

Part of the Just Shannon Series.  Even though Shannon doesn't have her license, she drives her friend (Lisa) to Kyle's house.  However, lack of license means lack of car, so the girls sneak out in Lisa's mom's car, only to return to an angry mother, and later, an angry brother.

Kyle’s House
by Breanna Carter

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon when Lisa knocked on the door. I was sitting in the living room watching tv, feet propped up on the coffee table and munching on some Cheerios and Matt was sitting at the kitchen table doing a research paper. We both recognized the knock at the same time but neither of us bothered to get up and answer it until she knocked the second time.

“Fine, I’ll get it,” I muttered, putting the box of Cheerios on the coffee table where my feet had been and scooting towards the door.

“Hi!” Lisa said, bright smile and that thirteen year-old enthusiam that I wished I had.

“Hey,” I murmured back. I opened the door wider, inviting her to come inside.

“Oh, hey,” Matt said. “How’s it goin’, Lisa?”

“Going great. Wanna hang out for a little while?” she asked me.

I shrugged. Since school had started back I didn’t want to go out often, but it was a Sunday and I was bored. I looked at Matt. “Is that okay with you?”

He nodded. “Whatever you want. I’m going to finish this last paragraph then head off for a little nap. I need a break.” He took a sip of his coffee and continued writing.

“Let’s go,” I told Lisa, practically pushing her outside of the doorway.

“Don’t go anywhere too far away!” Matt was yelling as I walked outside the door.

She sun was shining brightly in the sky and blinding me. I was glad that it was finally September, though school wasn’t the greatest thing in the world. I loved September weather with the air becoming more crisp and the leaves beginning to turn darker colors.

“Shannon, have you ever driven a car?” she asked me suddenly.

I blinked. “Yeah, I have before. Why?”

She took a deep breath in. “Well, you see, I have a friend, and well, he lives kinda far away, but I promised that I’d come by and see him today and my mom won’t take me. And I was wondering, well, if I got the keys if you’d drive me there. I mean, it’s not that far away and it wouldn’t take long and it’d be fun.”

“Er, Lisa, I dunno... I don’t have my license yet...”

“If you’re a good driver it won’t matter, will it?”

I bit my lower lip and thought on that. “Well, it won’t be such a big deal,” I concluded. “I mean, we’ll be back soon and no one will ever know we’re gone, right?”

She smiled. “Right!” She gave me a quick hug. “Thanks, Shannon! I owe you one!” then scurried towards her apartment. I stood there in the grass thinking about what I’d agreed to. Was I really going to drive a car with only my learner’s permit? A learner’s permit is for someone who can only drive with their parents or a licensed driver over the age of 21... and not only was Lisa under 21, but she wasn’t even a licensed driver yet!

She came back minutes later, smile on her face. “Got the keys! Mom’s busy helping Jason with his homework... she’ll be busy for hours. Won’t even notice we’re gone.” Jason was Lisa’s younger brother.

I grinned. “Great!” I said and took the keys from her.

I found her mom’s green Mustang. I unlocked the doors and we hopped inside. Wow, it was such a nice car. I’d never driven anything like it... my parents wouldn’t let me drive their nice cars... instead I drove a beat up old Chevy that hadn’t been driven since Matt got his license. I turned on the car and blared the radio, my favorite station was playing the greatest song ever. I admired the automatic windows and let the wind brush my hair out of my eyes. “Ready?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.

She smiled like I’d never seen her smile before. Here we were, only 15 and 13 years old and we thought we were the greatest things to ever roam the planet. Who else actually had the guts to drive their friend’s mom’s brand-new 2004 Ford Mustang? I did, that’s for sure! And I was so great that I just KNEW we wouldn’t get caught because, after all, Lisa’s mom was helping Jason with his homework and Matt was working on his paper then taking a nap.

I pulled out of the parking lot in a nervous fit. I always get nervous when backing out of parking spaces, especially since I didn’t have my license and I didn’t want to hit any cars. Getting out of there was a breeze, and getting out of the neighborhood was even more of a breeze! How nice it felt, going 20 miles over the speed limit with the wind blowing my hair back and the radio blaring in my ears. Oh, how I love September!

Lisa directed me to her friend’s house, pointing out the roads I was to turn down until we finally pulled into the driveway of a large house with a white picket fence. All I could do was wonder if this family had the average 2.5 kids. That’s what white picket fences always remind me of.

Turns out, this family had five kids, and all of them were running around screaming when we got to his house. The boy’s name was Kyle and he was a 14 year old soccer player at Lisa’s school. He’d just broken up with his girlfriend and was devastated, but I could tell when Lisa walked in the door that he wasn’t *that* devastated, just wanted some female attention. You can’t really blame him... everyone needs attention from the opposite sex sometimes.

I noticed the time about halfway through the movie we were watching. For some unknown reason, I had gotten this really bad feeling in my stomach and looked up at the clock.

“Oh my God!” I squeaked. “Lisa! It’s nearly six! We’ve gotta go back home so they don’t suspect anything!”

Lisa lifted her head from Kyle’s shoulder. “Huh?” she said, completely oblivious to what I’d said.

“It’s getting late. We gotta go.”

She stretched out and looked at Kyle. “Aww, do you really hafta go?” he asked, giving her this puppy face.

“Sorry, Kyle... she’s the driver and it’s my mom’s car. I’ll come back over soon, though, I promise. Okay?”

His pouting stopped and he smiled, hugging her tightly. “Oh, well, all right,” he said. “See you guys later!”

He walked us to the door where the sun was just beginning to fall. “Sorry I dragged you out of there,” I said when we were safely out of his driveway.

“Oh, it’s okay,” she muttered. “He’s so cute. I like him a lot. Do you think he likes me?”

I shrugged. “Sure...” That’s when I realized I had no clue where I was. “Hey, uh, Lisa, do you know how to get home from here?”

She glanced at me then out the window and finally behind her. “Uh, I think you take a left at the red light..”

I took a left at the red light and then another left at the red light, and you’d think we’d have gone in a circle, or square rather, but we didn’t. We were lost.

“Oh, Shannon!” she said, burying her head in her hands. We’d been driving around for a good thirty minutes and the sun was down and it was getting closer and closer to being pitch black. “We’re lost! I don’t know what to do!”

I tried not to panic. “Just chill... we’ll find our way home.”

Oh and we found our way home, all right... about two hours later after we stopped by a gas station to get directions. We found our way home and we also found Lisa’s mom standing outside her doorway, arms folded.

She threw her hands up in the air as I pulled into the parking spot. “Where on earth have you girls been!” she shouted, opening Lisa’s door and grabbing her by the arm to pull her out. “We’ve been worried sick about you! I sent Matt out an hour ago to look for you girls. We’ve called all over the place! You are in some trouble, young lady!” She was dragging Lisa as she spoke. I was shivering with fear. She’d sent Matt out to look for us? That meant he’d be really upset with me...

Lisa’s mom practically snatched the keys from my hands. “Inside, both of you!” she ordered, smacking her daughter on the rear end as we approached the door. Lisa plopped down on the couch and I sat next to her. Her brother, Jason, was running around the house with his airplane toy and making obnoxious noises, and the dog was barking at him. Lisa’s mom rushed inside and slammed the door, instantly walking to the phone and dialing a number. Lisa gave me a pathetic look and I just returned it. Both of us were definitely not looking forward to what was going to happen.

“Hi, Matt?... yes, the girls have made it home.... Everything’s fine.... Yes, they had the car.... Yes, she was.... Okay, see you then,” she was saying, then hung the phone up. “Jason, go into your room with that,” she ordered her son.

“But Mo-om!” he whined.

“This instant!”

“Yes, ma’am.” The small boy tottled off to his room, airplane in hand. The dog stopped barking and flopped down on the floor next to the tv. Lisa’s mom paced around the room, not speaking. It seemed as if we had practically transformed houses -- we went from a very LOUD room to a very QUIET room. I didn’t know which was worse but I could feel the tension creeping through the air and I didn’t like it one bit.

I was startled when we heard a knock at the door after sitting through five minutes of silence. That’s when my heart began racing and my leg began thumping. Lisa’s mom opened the door to reveal a tall figure, hands on his hips, hair messed up, and a look of sheer disappointment spread across his face. It was Matt.

“You, young lady,” he said, pointing to me, “have a lot of explaining to do when we get home.”

I subconsciously gulped.

“Come on, Shannon. Let’s go.”

I stood up, wanting to clutch my bottom for fear of what was going to happen when we got home and I had to explain myself. “I’m really sorry,” I told Lisa’s mom.

She nodded. “I hope, Shannon, that you learn your lesson from what you did tonight. It’s never okay to take something that doesn’t belong to you, and it’s also not okay to go somewhere without telling someone where you are. What if you had gotten into an accident?”

I hung my head. “I know. It was a stupid thing to do. Please don’t go to hard on Lisa...”

Lisa’s mom didn’t say anything. I felt Matt tugging me towards the door.

I couldn’t help but let a few tears slide down my cheeks as we walked home in the darkness. It was already really late and I didn’t want to get in trouble before I went to bed... but there was really no way to get out of it...

“Shannon Kate, did you honestly drive that car?” Matt asked firmly.

I nodded. “Yes, I did... and I feel completely stupid for it, too.”

“I can’t believe that you’d do something like that...” We arrived at our own apartment and he unlocked the door then swung the door open. “You’re not even legally able to drive yet... and it wasn’t even your own car!” He paused to shut the door and lock it. “Sit down,” he ordered, pointing to the futon, “and tell me everything.”

I plopped down and wiped a tear away. Matt was towering over me, arms folded across his chest. “I dunno,” I began, “Lisa wanted to go see a friend and asked if I’d take her and practically begged so I told her I would...”

“So let me get this straight... you stole a car because your friend ‘practically begged’ you to take her somewhere?”

I bit my lower lip and nodded.

“Do you realize what you’ve done?”

He was so angry that it was scaring me. I couldn’t even answer with my usual brattiness. I knew I was in too much trouble. “Yes,” I stammered. “It was totally stupid, Matt. And I’ll never do it again, I promise.”

“Damn right you’ll never do it again. I’m going to make sure of that.” He paused then sat down on one of the chairs in the kitchen. “Go to the bathroom and get that wooden hairbrush of yours,” he ordered.

“But Matt...” I protested.

“I mean it, Shannon. Don’t make me have to go in there and get it myself.”

“Please, Matt... I won’t do it again...” I begged.

He gave me an exasperated look. “If you don’t get that hairbrush in three seconds, you are going to be one sorry young lady, do you understand me?”

I managed to hop up from the futon in fear of what would happen if I didn’t get the brush. I already knew I was in for it, and I didn’t want more than was in store.

My legs felt like jelly as I walked towards the bathroom, the whole time biting my lower lip. I finally held the brush in my hands, running my fingertips over the smooth edge. In a matter of minutes, that damn thing would be raining down on my ass... and I was sure it’d hurt way more than Matt’s hand had.

“Shannon! I don’t have all day!” I heard Matt yell.

I glanced up, then back down at the brush, then paced myself. This wasn’t going to be fun.

When I walked back into the living room, I handed Matt the brush. “Okay, pants and panties down.”

I hesitantly unbuttoned my jeans and let them fall to the floor, then tugged my panties down to join them. He grabbed my left arm and steadied me over his lap.

“I’m very disappointed in you, Shannon,” he scolded, resting a warm hand on my bottom. “I can’t believe that you’d do such a thing. Stealing someone’s car and driving without a license and worrying me to death. We didn’t know what happened to you guys. You could have been in an accident and no one would have ever known. I hope you understand how serious this is...”

“I do,” I murmured, trying not to begin crying already.

“Good.” And with that, he lifted his hand and brought it down on my bottom, immediately getting a rhythm and spanking each cheek a few times in different spots, then concentrating on my sit spots and thighs, then going back to the cheeks. I was howling with pain.

“Owwwwwwiiieeeeee!” I squealed, kicking my legs.

“You will SMACK never SMACK steal again SMACK SMACK young lady SMACK SMACK SMACK! And SMACK you will SMACK always SMACK tell me SMACK SMACK where you’re SMACK going SMACK SMACK! And SMACK you will SMACK SMACK not drive a SMACK car SMACK SMACK unless I am SMACK in it with you SMACK SMACK SMACK! Do you understand? SMACK SMACK SMACK!”

“Ahhhooowwwwww yeesssssssss,” I whined.

“Good! SMACK SMACK!!”

He kept the smacks going for what felt like hours and my bottom felt like it was on fire and it hurt so much I couldn’t help but cry out in pain and try to wiggle away from his hand. But he kept a tight grip on me.

I had a false hope when he stopped spanking: I actually thought he was finished. The bad thing was that I actually tried to get up.

“I am NOT finished yet!” he scolded, picking up the brush and sending it right to my right thigh.

“YEOWWWWW!” I screamed, getting the message.

He steadied me back over his knee again. The tears were streaming down my face. “You will not get up until you are told to do so, Shannon,” he warned me, sending a second blow, this time to my left thigh.

“OWWWWWIIIIIEEEEESSSS!!! Yes sir!” I screamed.

He kept a firm grip on me. “You are fifteen years old, Little Sister. Fifteen smacks for stealing, fifteen smacks for underage driving. Those last two didn’t count. Okay?”

Tears steadily streaming down, I somehow managed to choke out, “yessir!”

He lifted the brush high in the air and smacked my already reddened backside, and I lost count after three spanks because it hurt so badly! All I could do was howl in pain and attempt to beg him to stop, but I couldn’t speak because I was crying so much.

Finally, after the thirty smacks were up, I was lying there motionless, bawling like a baby, too exhausted to fight anymore. He lifted me from his lap.

“It’s all over now, Shannon,” he whispered in my ear, hugging me tightly. “Shhhhhh, baby sis, it’s okay.” He rocked me back and forth. “You worried me a lot. I was scared something had happened to you. I care about you a lot.”

I nodded, pressing my face against his chest. “I’m sorry,” I blubbered through tears.

“You’re forgiven,” he said, and I could feel him smiling.

We stayed like that for a while until he carried me to my room and tucked me into bed, turning the light off and saying, “goodnight, kiddo.”