Naked Tao by Robert Grant Page A

move. I wanted to protect Ginny, but I was afraid the woman would turn the switch on me. 
    “You’ll not speak to that nasty little boy again,” her mother hissed. “Do you understand me?” 
    “Yes mama,” sobbed the girl. “I promise.” 
    Holding my knees, I rocked back and forth. “Please stop,” I pleaded. 
    My stomach was feeling hot and then I threw up all over myself. As I was wiping the vomit from my chin, the beating stopped, but not before angry red welts swelled across Ginny’s backside. 
    Her mother was breathing heavy from the exertion. There was an odd glow to her face, as if she had enjoyed herself. When she finally caught her breath, she said to Ginny, “Get your pants and go to your room while I deal with this evil half-breed.” 
    “Yes, mama,” said Ginny. 
    “When I’m finished here, I better find you on your knees in prayer,” said her mother. “Say ten Hail Mary’s and ten Our Father’s as your penance. When you’re done with that, beg God for forgiveness, and pray he does not to send you straight to hell for your sins.” 
    Ginny nodded and then limped in the direction of her house. She only stopped and looked back once. Her eyes met mine. They looked so sad before she turned and disappeared into the house. 
    Terror filled me as I turned back to her mother. She was eying me curiously. She seemed to soften for a brief moment, but it passed. Taking a menacing step toward me, she raised the switch. I shrank from her and tried to make myself as small as I could. Closing my eyes, I waited for the first blow.  Instead of the swish of the switch, I actually did hear my mother calling me for dinner. 
    Relieved that I hopefully wouldn’t get the beating after all, I jumped up to run home, but she grabbed my arm and pulled me close and hissed. 
    “You think you’ve escaped your punishment,” she said. “I’m sure you’ll get much worse from your mother after I tell her about the terrible things you did today.” 
    I pulled away, hoping the ordeal was over. It wasn’t and my hope evaporated in an instant. The image of her beating Ginny flashed through my mind, and then was replaced with a picture of my mom standing over me with a switch. I felt a chill run up my spine and shuddered. 
    “Please don’t tell my mother,” I pleaded. 
    “The boy’s afraid of his mother,” she said. “That’s good. I can use that.” 
    She thought for a moment and then said, “If you don’t want your mother to know she has a little pervert for a son, then you’ll do exactly what I tell you. Is that understood?” 
    I didn’t answer right away, so she squeezed my arm and glared at me. I wanted to tell her she was hurting me, but knew it would please her. Instead, I nodded my head. 
    “First, you must promise you will never expose yourself to another girl again,” she said. 
    I wasn’t sure what expose meant, but I was willing to agree to anything to escape. So, I nodded my head and said, “I promise.” 
    “Second, if you ever come near my daughter again, I’ll make sure your mother gives you the beating of your life,” she said. 
    “I won’t,” I promised. 
    “May God have mercy on your miserable soul,” she said. 
    With that she finally released me and I fled for home. I should have been happy I escaped without a beating, but I wasn’t. I kept my promise, and had never spoken to Ginny again…until the party. 
     

 
     
     
CHAPTER 7
     
     
    “…to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another…" - Declaration of Independence
     
     
    This terrible childhood experience had haunted me for many years, but I had never shared it with anyone, not even Ch’ing. In some weird way I think the open atmosphere of the party made it possible for me to open up to Kinsey and I found myself looking to her for answers. It was comforting to see her hard expression soften a little. 
    “This explains a lot,” said Kinsey. “You do know, Grant,