Parker

Chapter 12

Parker's legs and feet ached as he stood in the corner and he was sure that he wasn't seconds away from screaming if he stood staring at the same for moment longer. He wanted to turn and beg his father to let go, tell them him that he had learned his lesson.

There was even a more rebellious part of him that wanted to tell him that he was done. Thaf he refused to stand one more second in the stupid corner.

That he wasn't a little kid and he refused to be treated like one.

But he could not summon the courage to do that. He did not want to disappoint his father again. He could not do that again.

Plus he was certain he would be on the receiving end of the paddle if he did.

And he wanted to avoid getting the paddle.

The alarm went off and Rodger "Okay Parker you are done."

Parker turned he was now dressed in his pajamas in his room. He sighed in relief that his last cornertime punishment was finished.

"Come here."  He said.  Parker walked over to him unsure if he was getting a hug or going over his lap. "Are we going to have a better day tomorrow?"

"Yes, dad." He nodded his head. I don't want a beating three days in a row he thought. And I don't want anymore time added to my grounding.

"I hope so son." Rodger said.

"It will be dad." Parker then hugged his father tightly.

Rodger hugged his son and then said "Okay time for bed."

Parker said yes sir and then crawled into bed. "Dad I was curious."

"About what?"

"Why are you so much stricter on me than the others?" Parker asked. "The others did not have so many rules imposed upon them and they hardly ever got grounded and they were never ever spanked for their behavior. So why me?"

"Because I want you to do better than them."  Rodger said.

He looked at his father in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Look at your siblings." Rodger said. "College drop outs, children before they were eighteen, arrest records."  Sadness filled his face as he thought about his older kids. "That is not going to be you Parker. You are going to make it to twenty two with a college degree, without an arrest record, and without becoming a parent even if I have to whip backside every day to do it."

He then placed his hand on the top of his head. "I love you son and I only want the best for you."

"Okay I get it." He said.

"I'm glad you do." Rodger said.

"I would rather go without my butt getting beat though." Parker said as he gave him an uncomfortable look.

"That ball is in your court Parker." He said. "You know the rules, you know what is expected of you. If you want to avoid being punished don't break the rules."  Rodger said.

"Yes dad."

"Good night."

Rodger turned to walk out when Parker said. "Dad?"

"Yes, Parker." He said shooting him an impatient look. He was treading perilously close to being punished again.

"I know you expect me to go asleep but I'm not tired." Parker said. "And thanks to my six hour nap I doubt I will fall asleep anytime soon."

"No you probably will not."

"And I can't just lie in bed and stare up the ceiling for the next four hours." Parker said. "I will go insane and probably do something to get myself in trouble again."

"And we wouldn't want that."

"No we do not." Parker said.

"So what do you propose?" Rodger asked.

"Can I have the tablet again so I can watch something?" He asked. "I know I am supposed to be grounded but I need to do something to occupy my time."

Rodger thought about it. "Okay you can it for tonight but you are going to have to get used to not having electronic devices during your grounding."

"Yes, sir."

Rodger walked out and then a few minutes walked back in with the tablet. He held it out to him and just as he was about to grab it pulled it back. "Remember no social media."

"Yes dad." He said with a contrite look.

Rodger then gave him the tablet and said "Good night.'

"Good night dad." Parker then laid on his side.

Parker began to watch a show on Hulu and after a couple found himself falling asleep again. It was around three when he was awaken by the sound of something hitting his window.

He looked at the confused as something stuck it again.

"Parker."  A voice then said.

What is going on? Parker got up and walked to the window as the voice called him again. He looked out and saw a teenage boy standing beneath his window.

He opened the window and said "Zane?"

His best friend Zane Jackson waved at him. "Hey."

"What are you doing here?" He thought how Zane's dad will kill him he knew he snuck out in the middle of the night.

"Christine was worried about you." Zane said.

"I've been worried about her too." Parker said. "How is she?"

"She's fine." Zane said.

"Her parents didn't come down too hard on her?" Parker asked.

"Not at all." Zane said. "You?"

"Grounded for one month." Parker informed him.  He decided to leave out the whipping part but he probably already knew.

"I'm sorry man." Zane said. "Hey can you come down so we can talk."

Parker looked at the door and then back. "That would be a very bad idea."  He said. "Actually you probably should go now so I don't get into anymore trouble."

"Okay."

"Tell her that I love her." Parker said.

"I will." Zane said. "See you Monday."

"See you." Parker shut his window and then laid on his bed.

A few seconds later he heard footsteps approaching his door. A lump began to form in his throat as the door opened.

"Who were you talking to?" Rodger asked.

His first impulse was to lie, to deny he was talking to anyone. Or to play dumb or claim he heard the tablet.

But then realized that would be a bad idea.  The only thing he would accomplish would be getting paddled. Plus he did not want to lie to his father. He did not want to hurt him again.

"It was Zane." Parker said. "He wanted to see if I was okay."

"He could have picked a better hour to do it." Rodger said with annoyance in his voice.

"I guess." Parker said.

"I'm happy you didn't sneak outside Parker." Rodger said. "You made the right choice."

"Thank you dad."

"I'll see if you in a few hours." He said.  "And if you have anymore late night visitors send them away immediately.".

"I will."

Rodger walked out and Parker laid on his bed and sighed in relief.