Page 99 of Daddy, Take Me Away
“Nu.”
“Baby,” Daddy warned.
“Go wif you,” I mumbled, closing my eyes.
“You can’t go with me to the bathroom, baby. You’re so sleepy. Let me tuck you in and I’ll come to bed too.”
“Nu.” I was not budging on this issue.
“Tinsley Harper…”
“Nu.”
“Tinsley Harper, you are being…”
“Elliot Michael…” I interrupted. Oh shit. Sleep deprivation. That was the only answer.
“Oh, little girl,” he warned, setting me on my feet.
My butt clenched in anticipation, and I covered my cheeks quickly.
“No, Dada!”
He had my diaper unsnapped and my body over his knee before I could even fully process what I had done.
His large hand covered both of my cheeks as he brought it down in rapid succession. Smack. Smack. Smack.
“Daddy,” I cried, kicking my feet out.
“Oh, I’m Daddy now, huh? Because I wasn’t when you were being sassy.”
Smack. Smack. Smack.
“I’m sorry!”
“No, I don’t think you are, little girl. That’s twice this trip that you haven’t used my proper title and I warned you last time what would happen if you did.”
Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack.
“What’s my name, Tinsley?”
“Dada,” I sobbed, going limp over his knee.
“That’s right, I’m Daddy.”
Smack. Smack. Smack.
“How many letters are in Elliot Michael?”
He wanted me to do math? Now? At a time like this?
Coughing, I tried to count. “Eleven,” I answered.
“Nope.” Smack. Smack.
“Thirteen?” I cried, kicking out. My poor butt was on fire and my heart was heavy. Why had I been disrespectful to Daddy?
“Thirteen,” he confirmed, setting me on my feet between his legs again.
