Page 41 of Saving Little Jenna
I began shivering in daddy's arms worried about the consequences. It was supposed to be a foolproof plan and we would've gotten away with it, but we were so excited that we left clues behind.
I had to take full responsibility considering it was my idea to teach Kristen a lesson. I just couldn't bear to watch Michael get bullied. Maybe it had something to do with me being bullied all my life. After escaping that traumatic life, maybe I saw myself in Michael when Kristen bullied him. While back then I couldn't do anything about it, now I could.
Kristen crossed her arms as she continued, her furious expression turning into a calm and loving one, albeit a fake one. "I've looked after you like a brother and I've done nothing to deserve the cruel joke you've played on me. Everyone knows I have a big heart, so I'm willing to forgive you if you apologize."
Silence loomed in the room as all of us just stood there in disbelief.
"Wait," uncle John said as he shook his head. "You don't know Michael like I do. Sure, he's the naughtiest boy I know but I love him just the same. I wouldn't change a thing about him because it's just who he is. But surely, you're mistaken, Kristen. Even Michael wouldn't go that far with his pranks. He's always been careful not to hurt or scare someone because deep down, he's a very good boy "
When Michael looked to the floor disappointed in his actions, I just couldn't watch him suffer like that. Friendship was such a beautiful thing and if it meant taking his pain away, then so be it. He shouldn't blame himself, nor should he have to face the consequences for something I suggested.
"Michael had nothing to do with this." I gulped and then continued. "In fact, it was…"
"No," Michael interrupted as he realized I was taking all the blame, looking up at his Daddy with big apologetic eyes. "Kristen is right, Daddy. I don't know what I was thinking. I didn't realize how far I was going until it was too late. When Jenna was downstairs, I got dressed in the gorilla costume, cut the power, and scared Kristen. Then I convinced Jenna to be my alibi."
Turning to a smirking Kristen, he put his head down and spoke quietly. "I'm ashamed of my actions and I hope you forgive me, Kristen. I promise it won't happen again."
Walking over to Michael, she ruffled his hair with a gleeful smile. She could hardly contain her happiness knowing he was going to get his bottom busted.
Michael turned back to his Daddy and put his head on his shoulder, looking at me from the corner of his eyes. "I'm sorry I disappointed you, Daddy. I hope you can forgive me too."
I could hardly believe Michael's self-sacrifice. He was willing to go through physical pain just to save me from it, something I was willing to do for him too. Never had I seen such an act of friendship towards me, so naturally it brought a tear to my eye.
"Oh, Little one." Uncle John frowned and clicked his tongue. "You aren't getting away with an apology this time. You've earned yourself some spanks and I don't mean the fun kind. It hurts me more than it hurts you, but I hope you remember them the next time you decide to go too far. Grab yourself a paddle and follow me into the bedroom. I haven't used a paddle in months but it's important to teach you a lesson."
I mouthedthank youand he nodded ever so slightly. He stood on the floor when Uncle John let him out of his arms, still finding it hard to look his Daddy in the eye as his eyes turned red and he began to sniffle. He was too embarrassed to cry before us.
"Sorry, Daddy," he managed to say with a shaky voice.
Rushing to the dresser, he grabbed the paddle out of the drawer and handed it to his Daddy. He held onto his daddy's hand and looked away in embarrassment. He didn't want us to see him crying.
Uncle John led him out of the nursery but Michael was walking so slowly he was barely moving. Who could've blamed him? Receiving punishment wasn't exactly exciting or something to look forward to.
"Let's wait downstairs," Daddy said when they left. "I don't know if the sleepover is still on."
Instead of carrying me downstairs, Daddy led me by hand and Kristen followed. Soon they sat on the couch while I paced around the living room nervously. Occasionally I would stop in my tracks and give Kristen a death stare, but it didn't affect her. She looked pleased with herself for getting Michael punished.
When I looked over to Daddy, he was staring at me with narrow suspicious eyes. Did he somehow know that I was equally responsible? He did seem awfully quiet and distant. Maybe it was the guilty expression on my face. I smiled sheepishly at him before continuing to pace around.
The spankings were so loud we could hear them downstairs along with Michael's counting and whimpers. Soon they joined us downstairs, Michael's hand covering his bottom as he occasionally winced. Imagining his pain caused me to wince too.
Michael trailed behind his Daddy, walking ever so slowly from a sore bottom. His free hand rubbed his red eyes and the poor boy was still looking to the floor. I wanted to run to my dear friend and throw my arms around him, to tell him that I didn't think of him any less, that in truth he was a hero and I was cowardly for letting him suffer for my mistake.
I looked to Daddy for guidance and when he nodded, I ran to Michael and gave him a tight hug before whispering. "I'm sorry, Michael. Thank you for being such a good friend."
When I broke the hug, he briefly smiled through his tears before continuing to sniffle as his lower lip wobbled. The pain probably wasn't as bad as I imagined, but everything was amplified when in a Little headspace. Not just joy, but also pain. sorrow and embarrassment.
Uncle John cleared his throat as he took a seat on the couch. "Since Michael decided to be bad today, I can no longer let him have a sleepover. Kristen, I'm very sorry you had to go through this and I hope you forgive my boy. I'll ring up your daddy and apologize to him too. He'll come pick you up. As for you, Jenna. I hope you've learned something from this today. There's a difference between being naughty and being mean. What Michael did today was the latter. Michael's grounded but once he's back to being good again, you can have a sleepover."
I fidgeted with my fingers and feet. I wanted to tell uncle John that it was Kristen who was mean to us, that what Michael did was extreme but justified, that he was only being a good friend. But instead, I decided I'd set the record straight later on when emotions weren't running so high in the room.
We bid everyone goodbye and soon we were on the road heading back home. I was lost deep in my thoughts, restless about the injustice. Halfway through I realized Daddy hadn't said a word to me.
"How was your night, Daddy?" I asked, just to see if he was still talking to me.
"It was going great," he said with no expressions whatsoever. "But then somebody decided to be naughty and we had to come back home because of a nonexistent threat. You know how I feel about lying."
I gaped at him, surprised at his use of the wordsomebodyinstead of Michael. He probably wasn't convinced that I had nothing to do with this. Blood froze in my veins as I pictured being punished when we reached home. I could probably end up having a sore bottom and teary eyes soon. My best bet was to jump into bed the moment we reached home and pretend to be asleep. There was no point in being brave and taking the punishment when Michael had taken the blame.
