by John Glass Copyright on this story text belongs at all times to the original author only, whether stated explicitly in the text or not. The original date of posting to the MMSA was: 13 Oct 2014
Author’s Note
Thank you all for your generous feedback. I’m sorry if I haven’t replied to you, but I certainly read every comment and I love that my writing is enjoyed. Some have asked about the extent to which my stories mirror my own, and I must admit that my real-life spanking experiences were quite vanilla in comparison to both the stories on this site and the ones I write. Below is a story that more accurately reflects what I experienced as a child, and as such it’s shorter than my other stories, and lacks embellishment. Names have obviously been changed, and they in no way bear resemblance to myself or people I know.
Once again, thank you very much for reading. Please enjoy.
—John Glass
Katie McKinnon tapped her foot against the linoleum floor of her local grocery store, though she wasn’t aware of it. She was aware that her favorite song, Waterfalls by TLC, was humming mutedly through the overhead speakers, and she did a modest little dance as she pushed her shopping cart down aisle 3. So what if I’m 37 years old, she thought. A girl can have a bit of fun, right? Ahead of her, Riley McKinnon was scuffing his sneakers across the floor. At eleven years old, grocery shopping with his mother wasn’t the first thing he would have preferred doing. Wearing a scowl he hoped everyone could see, he held his iPhone in front of his face with both hands. He looked very much like an explorer holding a map, aimlessly wandering the dreary halls of some old monument in search of wifi, or perhaps the candy aisle. Don’t go too far, Katie called out, looking up from the back of the cereal box she was reading. I want to be able to see you, okay? I’m right here, Riley said, in that snotty tone only tweens could manage. Katie narrowed her eyes, but said nothing. Mom, can I go look at the candy aisle? Riley asked. Katie looked at him, and could tell he was serious—he had put his phone away and had shoved his hands in his pockets. We’ll get to that aisle in a minute, she said. You can wait until then. Come on, I’m eleven, Riley argued. I’ll be there and back before you even get done with this aisle. I don’t want you getting distracted or snatched up by some stranger, Katie replied. I know how old you are, but it’s not old enough. Why can’t you just trust me for once? Riley’s voice was getting louder. Lower your voice, you’re going to make a scene,Katie warned. And believe me, it’ll be a scene you won’t enjoy.
Riley’s scowl deepened, but he followed his mother through the aisles for another five minutes until they finally turned down the confectionery aisle. See? I told you it wouldn’t be long, Katie said. You can even pick something out for being so patient. Cool! Riley started scanning the shelves with ravenous eyes, going straight for his favorites. He picked up a pink roll of bubblegum tape and a Push Pop. I can’t decide which one to get, he said. Katie knew his plan immediately, and smiled. It’s a tough choice, but you can only pick one. I would have let you have both, but you weren’t exactly on your best behavior for this trip. Yeah, I know, but can I please get both of them? Just this one time? No, sorry. Pick one, and put it in the cart. This is so stupid! Riley tossed the roll of bubblegum tape back where it came from, and kicked the shelf. He didn’t know that the shelf would dislodge and fall, and he certainly didn’t know that it would send boxes of candy spilling out across the floor. But he did know he was in trouble. Katie couldn’t speak for a second; she was still taking in the fact that her son had just ruined an entire shelf over a bit of candy. When she found her voice, she said, Put everything down. After we talk to someone and get this mess taken care of, we’re leaving. She grabbed his upper arm and leaned in close to whisper the ultimatum. You’re getting the spanking of your life when we get home. Riley didn’t question her, because he didn’t think to do so. His boyhood was so punctuated with occasional spankings that they were as routine as carwashes, or visits to the dentist. He misbehaved, got spanked, and moved on.
The car ride was not as quit as Riley would have liked; Katie filled in the silence with intermittent remarks. I can’t believe you, she said. You acted like you were three years old today. Thank goodness we didn’t have to pay for damages, otherwise there’d be much more than a spanking coming your way. What do you have to say for yourself, hmm? I don’t know… I didn’t know it would fall, Riley mumbled. I’m really sorry. Not as sorry as you’re going to be when we get home. Katie left the treat hang in the air as she drove the rest of the way home.
If Riley hadn’t kicked the shelf, Katie would have had bags to bring inside. But she didn’t, and she cursed under her breath when she realized she’d have to make a second trip to get the groceries she still needed. And I’ll be going to a different store, she thought. Hell, I’ll be going to the next county if that’s what it takes to not be recognized. Come on Riley, she snapped, waving him out of the car. Inside. Riley got out and followed behind her, trudging like a condemned man. He waited while she unlocked the front door, and stood dutifully next to her when she put her purse on the small table next to the phone. He hoped, foolishly, that small acts of obedience would grant him some sort of leniency. Okay. Into your room, please, Katie said, and although her words were a request, her tone was a command. When Riley walked into his room, Katie closed the door and sat on his bed. Over here, she ordered. Riley shuffled over to her. Pull your pants down. Riley heard the command, but couldn’t find the will to do it. This was not a new problem; it had been this way ever since he was young. I won’t tell you again. Pull down your pants or I will do it for you. Riley looked at his mom, and his expression seemed to communicate what he wanted to say: I can’t do it. I need you to do it for me. Katie sighed, unsnapped her son’s jeans and pushed them down to his ankles, then pulled his underpants down to join them. Over my lap, she said. Riley draped his frame over her lap so that his head was almost touching the floor, and his feet dangled in the air. He felt a hand press on the small of his back, and then the searing shock of sudden pain as his mother’s palm began spanking his bare bottom. All that could be heard was the steady slap, slap, slap, slap of her hand against Riley’s smooth cheeks. He wasn’t crying yet, and Katie knew that she would have to turn his bottom a good shade of cherry red to get some real tears. She spanked him from the top of his crack to the junction of his bottom and thighs, alternating from cheek to cheek and then placing some hard slaps on the center of his buttocks. Through the sound of the spanking, she could hear Riley sniffle. Moooom, pleeeease! he whined, his voice starting to waver. I’m sorry, I… ahhh, pleeeease, it hurts! Good, Katie said, as she continued spanking. You hurt me today by disobeying and embarrassing me. Riley cried softly as his bottom slowly bloomed into a shade of dark pink. Katie could feel her palm tingling, and knew her son’s cheeks would be feeling far worse. She brought her hand down sharply, cracking her open palm against his tender skin over and over again. After another two minutes, Riley’s crying turned into full-on sobbing. He went limp over Katie’s knee and bawled, his wails blending with the staccato of his mother’s steady hand. His bottom was soundly spanked for another minute before Katie stopped and let him up. Riley wiped his nose with the back of his hand. I’m sorry, he moaned between sobs, I’m sorry… I kicked the shelf… I’ll never… Shhh, honey, it’s okay, Katie said, pulling him in for a hug. We all get angry sometimes. You’ve just got to learn that it’s not alright to let your anger out on people or their property. I know, Riley cried. He pushed away from his mother so he could pull up his briefs and jeans. When he had redressed, he wiped his eyes and sniffed. I promise I won’t kick anything ever again. Katie laughed. We’ll see how that works out. What happens when you start soccer next month? Riley thought about it, and laughed too. Oh, yeah, I forgot. How dumb would it look if I just ran around on the field and didn’t kick anything? Pretty dumb. Katie stood up from the bed. I’m going to get some things sorted out in the laundry room if you need me. Are you going to be alright? Yeah, Riley said. I’ll just play some Playstationor something. Katie gave him one more hug before leaving the room. As she folded the laundry, she wondered what it would be like in another two years, when her already strong-willed son became a teenager. Better start battening down the hatches, she smiled to herself. From what I’ve heard from other mothers, the struggle is just beginning. Oh well. I’ve can always bribe him with candy.Her smile broadened. That’s sounds like a plan… candy for all the little problems, and the palm of my hand for anything bigger.