A Little Training by Abbie Adams

face against the cushion of the
couch. He had his left hand flat against the middle of my bare back and the
brush poised above my bottom as if he was going to continue depending on my
answer. I flung my hand back to my butt. How much abuse could it take?
    “I’m…
done,” I sniffled.
    “You
sure?”
    “Yes!”
    He
set me back between his legs and moved the torture back to my head instead of
my rear. I shifted trying to get comfortable and focused on not crying. It was
only a few swats. I should be able to handle that. I sniffed again. When I
wasn’t so focused on myself I was drawn to the conversation behind me.
    “It’s
fine if you believe the goody-two-shoes! I don’t care.”
    I
wanted to wrench my head around. I didn’t dare. Uncle Tommy would have a field
day on my butt with the brush then. I didn’t have too, anyway.   I knew it was Sara calling someone—either
Erin or myself—goody-two-shoes.
    That
meant that Daddy had listened to me! But did he really believe us over her? Had
Erin told him the truth?
    A
long braid finally dropped over my shoulder and Uncle Tommy lifted me from his
lap as he stood. He moved around the couch and walked out of the room.
    “I
do not understand why you have been spiteful. I will not tolerate this ever.” He
stood up. He had been sitting on the loveseat that was close to the coloring
table where Sara was. I noticed Erin then. She must have been sitting at his
side the whole time.
    He
started to unbuckle his belt and pull it through the loops. Sara’s eyes grew as
large as quarters and Erin got up and ran toward the bedroom. I climbed on the
couch. I hadn’t realized I had just been standing there since Uncle Tommy left.
I knelt against the back, facing Daddy and Sara, my chin on the cushion.
    “Come
here, Sara.” He held out his hand to her and sat down again.
    I
saw big fat tears running down her face then. It was hard to stay mad at her
when I knew that she was going to get the belt. I saw real fear in her huge
blue eyes.
    “I
am so disappointed. You have been here such a short amount of time and Erin has
been nothing but sweet. It would not be ok if she had done something to you
either, however at least I could begin to understand.” He pulled her right over
his thigh only this time he locked his right leg over hers, and when he put his
arm across her back- he caught her hand in his and held it there.
    He
had the belt folded in his right hand already. I wish I had run away when Erin
had. Sara was facing me over his lap. She was just hanging there at first but
from the first slap of that awful thing she had lifted up and I watched her
face as she sobbed.
    It
was awful… truly dreadful.
    “I
want you girls to be friends, sisters, playmates. I never ever want to hear of
something like this again. Do you hear me?” Daddy didn’t give her a chance to
respond. His arm flew back and the belt came down with a mighty thwuap .
    Over
and over.
    “ Ahh … eee … Ayee … ssor … eee … I…I’m… st-pd … owww … pleaz …”
    I
buried my face in the cushions and covered my ears. It didn’t help. I thought
it would never stop.
    Then
he said, “I want an honest answer why you would do such an awful thing. We’re
going to get to the bottom of this and stop it right here and now.”
    “… ohh hoo hoo …”
I peeked out over the cushion with one eye. Sara was hanging toward the floor
like a limp doll then. But she was rocked with her sobbing.
    “I’m
waiting…” I heard the belt slap down again.
    “ Ahh … - pleze …I… just wan… dem …be bad… like… meee …” she
shuddered as if that had taken everything out of her.
    I
felt tears on my own face. I was so glad when I saw Daddy put the belt down. He
left her lay like that for a minute crying while he rubbed her back and
murmured to her. I couldn’t hear him but finally he lifted her to his lap and
held her.
    I
took off then down to our room. I wanted to check on Erin. The door was closed
and the