Late
Author: Nelson (with lots of input from Alex – thanks, girl!)
Pairings: O/C – Vic/Ben
November 2003
Ben laid a slightly sweaty palm against the doorknob of their front door and paused before turning it. He took a deep breath as he began to have second thoughts about his decision to intentionally wait 45 minutes past the pronounced 5:00 deadline Vic set for him to be home. Anger flashed quickly as he held the cool doorknob in his palm, thinking about how he ended up there. Why couldn’t Zach just keep his big mouth closed for a change? This was all his fault. Ben shook his head, dismissing the thought. Knowing he couldn’t wait any longer, he summoned his courage and turned the knob, willing his stomach to stay where it was supposed to be.
He pushed the door open and expected to find Vic standing just on the other side, anxiously anticipating his return. The hallway was empty and from the smells wafting through the house, Vic was in the kitchen working on dinner. Chicken. Wonderful. This evening was just getting better by the minute. He probably had an array of nasty vegetables to go with the main course. Just as he began to relax somewhat, Vic appeared in the kitchen doorway with his hands on his hips, Maggie following closely behind him. Ben was sure he had supersonic hearing and had come at the summons of the front door being swung open, despite his attempts to be quiet.
“Do you know what time it is, young man?” the stern admonition came from the doorway.
Without meaning to, Ben answered smartly, “Of course, I know what time it is!”
“In that case, I assume you chose to ignore the fact you were to be home 45 minutes ago?” He paused to glance at his watch. “Make that 47 minutes ago.”
It was all Ben could do not to roll his eyes skyward at his partner’s specificity. He knew he was in trouble having been so late without a phone call so he jumped immediately to excuses. “Well, you KNEW where I was,” he said pausing. “It’s not like I was in any danger!” Maggie had made her way over to Ben, her body language clearly indicating her excitement to see him. He stooped to rub her head, thankful for the distraction from Vic’s glare.
“And, how would you expect me to know that? It’s not as if you called to let me know where you were and to expect you home late. I knew only that you were with Zach. Not WHERE you were, much less know you weren’t in any danger.”
“But, you knew I was with Zach,” Ben said from his crouched position in the floor. “And, I would have called if anything bad happened.” He continued to keep his eyes focused on Maggie and away from Vic.
Vic sternly strode through the dining room and found his way to Ben. He pulled Ben to his feet to engage him fully in the conversation he was determined to have. Looking him sternly in the eye, he asked, “IS that the point?”
Ben squirmed under Vic’s dark glare, shrinking about five inches and said, “It COULD be…”
Vic’s eyes narrowed at his lover and he said, “Well let me clarify it for you since you’re obviously confused. It isn’t the point.”
Crap. Ben knew the only point he needed to know was that he was in trouble. Big trouble. He had a standing 5:00 deadline for being home unless he previously cleared it with Vic or called home. It wasn’t a new rule but one Ben had broken a few times in the past. It wasn’t an issue he consistently had trouble with, but it was one Vic didn’t take kindly to him ignoring. “So, you’re mad at me?”
“I am not mad at you, but I am not the least bit happy with your attitude OR lack of concern over breaking a known rule in this house.”
“But, I was just having fun. There’s nothing to DO here. You could have come, too.”
Vic’s dark eyes bored into Ben’s and Ben tried not to look away, knowing Vic would insist on eye contact. “You were told to be home no later than 5:00. You spent all afternoon with Zach. The fun ends early enough for you to be home by 5:00. If it doesn’t and you can’t make it, what are you to do?
Ben felt the familiar knot in his stomach at the question as he and Vic both knew he was to call if he were going to be late. It hadn’t happened. Without answering the question, he said, “But, if I called you, you would have said ‘no’ and made me come home. I wasn’t ready to come home.”
“So, you chose to disobey me when you anticipated you wouldn’t like my answer if you asked to stay out longer?”
Ben felt like a trapped rabbit and wished he could take back what he said. “I didn’t mean it like THAT…”
Knowing his partner, Vic was quickly adding up that Ben’s tardiness was a blatant act of defiance. There was no way he could ignore it and he needed to be sure Ben understood where he went wrong. His arms crossed over his firm chest and he asked, “Would you like to explain it another way, young man?” He eyed Ben and watched him squirming uncomfortably from the lecture and the trouble he was in. “Quit shifting and answer me.”
Ben’s eyes rolled and he finally found an answer he hoped to be appropriate. “It’s still light out, and you knew I wasn’t going to want dinner anyway.” Especially if he had known it would consist of chicken. “I just wanted to stay out with Zach a little bit longer.”
Not satisfied with the flimsy argument, Vic shot down the excuses deftly. “You know skipping dinner is NOT an option. The simple fact is, I said to be home by 5:00 and that’s what you should have done. You know better.”
“Zach doesn’t have to be home by 5:00! It’s not FAIR!”
So, that’s the problem, Vic thought. This was the first time Ben had ever complained about the 5:00 deadline being unfair. “I have absolutely nothing to do with when Zach has to be home. I have EVERYTHING to do with deciding when YOU are to be home.”
“But, why do you have to spoil my fun like that? Nelson doesn’t do it to Zach.”
Vic sighed and reached for Ben’s hand, tugging him toward the couch. “Benjamin, sit down.” He patiently waited for Ben to take a seat while he remained standing over him. “Our rules are not about spoiling your fun, regardless of what you might think right now. They are about doing what’s best for you: setting boundaries and keeping you safe.”
“But, I WAS safe! It’s not like I was out doing drugs or killing anyone!! This rule SUCKS!” he flamed. Having said his peace angrily, he slumped back against the cushions and planted a pout on his lips.
The outburst pushed Vic closer to having had enough and he straightened up to his full height. “Watch your temper, young man. You’re in enough trouble right now, don’t you think?” he asked and watched Ben’s head dip down at his words. “Benjamin, you might not like this rule, but it is a rule in this house nonetheless. One that you broke without good reason from what you’re telling me. What happens when you break the rules?”
Without looking up, Ben mumbled, “I think we should talk about the rule. It isn’t fair.”
“Your opinion of fairness would be clouded by the fact you’re about to be punished. Now is not the time to discuss it.”
Hearing for sure that he was going to be punished, solidified Ben’s concern that his arguments weren’t working. He lashed out verbally and tried a different tactic. “You treat me like I’m 12!! And, before you say it, I DON’T act like it!”
“Watch your tone, young man. I won’t tell you again,” Ben pushed himself into the cushions at Vic’s words, trying unsuccessfully to hide amongst them. “I do NOT treat you like a 12 year old and you know it. I treat you like a grown man who knows what to expect when he breaks the rules. Which would be what, by the way?”
Ben totally sidestepped the question for a second time, not in any way inclined to admit he had a butt-warming coming. Ben said, “You never LISTEN to me! Is that treating me like a grown man?”
Not willing to be pulled away from the topic at hand, Vic said, “I am listening to you, Benjamin. I’m waiting to hear an answer to my question.”
“Oh, sure, when YOU write the script, I am allowed to speak. FINE. I get punished, okay? Is that what you want to hear?” he answered, huffing noisily.
Having warned Ben twice about his outbursts, Vic took his arm and pulled him to his feet. Ben was always surprised at the speed with which Vic could get his butt into a vulnerable position and he suddenly found himself feeling several sound swats to his bottom - more than were at all necessary, in his opinion. Once Vic’s hand quit connecting with Ben’s rear end, he settled him back on the sofa and said, “WATCH your temper, Benjamin David. I have been listening to YOUR script. So far, all you’ve given me are excuses for breaking the rule,” Vic said, as he counted them off on his fingers. “You wanted to have fun, you were safe, and didn’t want to eat. Do you have a better reason to offer me?”
Ben shifted sideways to rub the sting out of his butt and said, “It was 45 minutes, Vic. That’s all!”
“It doesn’t matter if it was 45 minutes or 5 minutes. Five o’clock was the time you were to be home or call me. You did neither.”
“I’m sorry?” Ben tried.
Vic had had enough of the conversation that was only going in circles. He could see he needed to wrap it up so Ben would talk to him and not keep tossing out lame excuses. He held his hand out to Ben and said, “I’m sure you’re sorry you’re about to get spanked, but not sorry for what you did. Am I right?”
Not able to willingly place his hand in Vic’s, he said, “I’m sorry you’re mad at me?”
Vic reached for Ben’s arm and pulled him to his feet. “We aren’t going over that again. A guilt trip isn’t going to stop what you have coming,” he said taking a seat on the sofa in Ben’s place.
Panic rushed through Ben as the inevitable was upon him. “But, Viiiiccc! I don’t want you to spank me!!”
“Now that you’re about to be spanked it’s suddenly an issue for you? You seemed to think it was worth it when you decided to break the rule earlier, knowing full well what would happen when you did it.” Undeterred by Ben’s words, Vic’s fingers found their way to Ben’s belt buckle and they unfastened belt, button and zipper with practiced precision. Ben felt his pants slide down as they were tugged out of the way, then felt the blood rise to his cheeks when his underwear followed suit. “You’re going to learn to start considering your actions before we get to this point, Benjamin,” he heard Vic saying as he was pulled across his lap.
Tears threatened and he felt their familiar prick against the backs of his eyes. “I couldn’t call! You don’t like me to use the phone when I’m driving!! I just lost track of time! Please! Vic!”
“Where was this story when I asked for a reason before, Ben? Like the other excuses you gave me, this one won’t do either.”
His breathing was quickening in anticipation and he said with a crack in his voice, “Can’t you see I’m upset?”
Bringing the conversation to a quick close, Vic said, “Yes, and it’s about to get worse.” His arm clamped down around Ben’s waist while his right hand began to pour down spanks upon the bottom turned up to him. Maggie fled the room with the sounds of skin against skin as the smacks echoed off the walls of the living room.
Ben’s pleas began in earnest. “OWW! I’m sorrrryy!”
Vic ignored the protests and carried out the punishment, knowing he had to do it. He started to lecture again, keeping time with the swats. “When you are going to be late, you CALL this house and let me know. Is that clear, young man?”
“YES! Yeesss, sir!” Ben wailed as the tears began to flow.
“You do NOT break known rules for the simple reason you want to have fun! It is common courtesy to let me know where you are even if we had no rule.”
Ben was gulping on the tears and managed to get out one more “Sooorrryyy” before he could no longer get out coherent words. He squirmed across Vic’s lap and flung his hand back to protect himself.
“Move your hand, Benjamin,” Vic directed, never losing his rhythm while he persistently moved to unprotected territory.
Ben gulped out, sobbing, “I caaann’t!”
Tiring of having to work around Ben’s protective hand, Vic clasped it to the small of his back and continued on. He finally heard the repentant cries and stopped the steady swats, easing the throb on Ben’s bottom and the sting in his own hand. He began to calm his crying lover and said, “It’s all right.” Ben felt Vic’s punishing hand begin to stroke his back gently as he spoke.
When he finally got his breathing and tears under control, Ben complained, “It’s not faaaaiirr!”
Vic gently pulled Ben to his feet standing with him and adjusted his pants until they were back in place. “Come here,” he said gently, pulling Ben into his arms. “What’s not fair? That you got spanked or that you have to be home by 5:00?”
“Both!” Ben sniffled.
“You had no problems with it being fair until today.”
“I DID!” he protested. “You just didn’t listen!”
“What didn’t I listen to?”
Ben said, taking a deep shaky breath, “That I feel smothered sometimes.”
“What? Am I hugging you too hard?” Vic asked trying to lift his lover’s mood. Instead, Ben tried to pull away.
“See? You don’t LISTEN!”
Vic smiled at him and pulled him back into his arms, “I AM listening, pumpkin. You only feel smothered today because this rule didn’t fit with your plans. Am I right?”
“That rule NEVER fits with my plans,” he sniffed. “Just because I am not out past 5:00 a lot doesn’t mean it’s a good rule.”
“You’ve never expressed having a problem with it before. So, how did I not listen? Do you think I just know what goes through your head?” Vic asked, pulling Ben back to look at him.
Ben’s head dropped away from Vic’s eyes. “You seem to know everything ELSE,” he said with a pout.
Vic raised his tear-stained face to look at him. “You can’t expect me to know something you don’t talk to me about. Now, tell me what the problem is with being home by 5:00.”
“It’s too early! If I need to go somewhere, I almost have to SPEED to make it home on time. And, you don’t LIKE for me to speed…”
Vic looked hard at Ben and said, “You’d better not be speeding or how your bottom feels now will pale in comparison to how it will feel if I catch you.” He paused a few seconds to let his words sink in. “There’s no need for you to speed anyway. You have merely to call me if you’re going to be late. I don’t remember getting any calls, and you typically manage to get here on time.”
Ben squirmed in Vic’s grip and felt the sting in his rump from the movement against his jeans. “I don’t always want to go somewhere. And, if I do, like today, it’s embarrassing because I have to leave and everyone else gets to stay!”
“By ‘everyone else’ you mean Zach?” Ben barely bobbed his head up and down in the affirmative. “How is calling home on your cell phone, in private, embarrassing to you? Zach wouldn’t need to know.”
“But, if I called, you’d say ‘no’ and make me come home!”
“You shouldn’t assume I’ll always say ‘no’, Benji.”
Ben looked at Vic with a look of shock painted on his face. “But, you DO!”
“You didn’t give me a chance to say ‘yes’, now did you? I don’t always say ‘no’. You got a puppy.”
Ben looked at him uncertainly. “Well, I love Maggie, but you DID make me take the first one back…”
“I had a reason for that, Benjamin, and you know it. Come here, you.” Vic walked Ben over to the sofa, settling them both there, and Ben cuddled close to him. “You even agreed later I was right about that first puppy. I’m sure you’re glad Maggie doesn’t crap on the floor,” Vic said gently while feeding his fingers through Ben’s dark blonde locks. He was mildly surprised when he heard a slight snicker through the sniffles from Ben.
“Not as glad as YOU are,” he said remembering that Vic stepped in puppy shit in his sock feet. It wasn’t at all funny at the time, though.
Not able to staunch a chuckle himself, Vic laughed. “That was downright nasty, Ben.” The laughter died away and Vic returned the conversation to the point at hand. He knew he had yet to get to the bottom of whatever was troubling Ben that had led to his tardiness. “Now, tell me why you think coming home at 5:00 is such a struggle all of a sudden. It hasn’t been a problem in the past.”
“Can I come home later? Maybe 7:00?” Ben asked, raising red-rimmed eyes hopefully at Vic.
Vic glanced at him from the corner of his eye and said, “I don’t think so. Did you ask that just so you could say ‘I told you so’ when I say ‘no’?”
Ben tried to suppress a grin. “No??”
The hanging question mark was as good as answering “yes”. Vic smiled at his sniffling brat and said, “That’s what I thought. I know you too well, Benjamin David.” Vic allowed a fleeting thought for the chicken, knowing it was approaching the “well-done” stage, if it wasn’t there already. It would have to wait. Whatever issue his lover was battling took priority over dinner. Ignoring the chicken, he asked, “Is 5:00 an issue all of sudden because Zach gets to stay out later?”
A pout touched Ben’s lips as he answered. “Well, he DOES.”
“The last time I checked, you weren’t Zach and I wasn’t Nelson. It doesn’t matter what rules they have in their house, does it?”
“Not to you, apparently.”
Vic gently brushed a kiss against Ben’s damp hair and said, “You’re right about that. YOU are the only someone I worry about. I think the world of Zach but I’m in love with you. Zach is Nelson’s job. I don’t check with Nelson to see if our rules work for him and Zach, and theirs don’t apply to us.”
“But, why 5:00??” Ben pleaded.
“Because we eat at 6:00 and it gives us time to be together some before we sit down to eat. Don’t you enjoy talking with me in the kitchen while I work on dinner?”
“We could eat later and still have time together before dinner. There’s no rule book that says dinner HAS to be at 6:00, is there?” Ben asked, wondering if perhaps there was a secret Top Manual out there somewhere.
“We aren’t changing our routine because you chose not to be home on time today. Why are you upset all of a sudden that Zach gets to stay out later than you?”
“It would be nice to know I could stay out later if I wanted to, like Zach does.”
Vic’s caressing hand moved to the underside of Ben’s chin and he tipped his face upward. “Isn’t that what I said? If you’re going to be late, you call. It’s that simple.”
Ben looked away and mumbled, “Zach says…Never mind. Whatever you say, as usual.”
Vic turned Benji’s face to him once more and looked squarely into his eyes. He could sense they were finally at the precipice and he was determined to get the full story. “What did Zach say? I can’t believe I didn’t think about it before. He’s said something to upset you about this, hasn’t he?”
Vic the Almighty had struck again. He might not know what Zach had said, but he knew it was something. Ben tried to avoid the question. “It was nothing. Just forget it,” he said, trying to slide away from Vic’s embrace. “Can I go upstairs now?”
Vic took a firm grip to keep him in place. “No, you can’t. Talk to me.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Ben! I want you to tell me right now. I WILL call Nelson if I have to in order to get to the bottom of this.”
Even feeling the fresh effects of the spanking on his rear end, Ben was unable to keep from snapping. “So, NOW you’re all ears?”
“Benjamin. Temper.” Vic’s cool response calmed him a bit and he was grateful not to get swatted. “What was said?”
“Nothing, okay?” Ben said, squirming again. He winced at the pressure on his sore bottom as it shifted against the sofa.
Vic was quickly losing patience with the song and dance; he held Ben firmly once again to keep him where he wanted him. His voice was firm when he said, “You have five seconds to start talking before I get the phone.” He wasn’t at all pleased with the fact that Zach had once again upset his lover.
Benji exhaled loudly and crossed his arms in defiance. “One.” The only response from Ben was a slight shrugging of the shoulders. Vic continued the countdown, “Two.” Ben began to fidget as he approached the next time marker. “Three.” Again, no response. “Four.”
Finally answering to try to stop Vic’s counting, Ben said, “It’s only just after 6:00. They’re probably not even HOME.”
“Five,” Vic said with finality as he stood from the sofa to get the phone.
“WAIT!!! Don’t call!” Benji begged, and he jumped up to follow Vic. He grabbed for Vic’s arm and tried to hold the towering man in place, expectedly unsuccessful in his attempts.
Vic continued to near the cordless phone in the kitchen. “Sorry, Ben. You had your chance.”
“But, Zach will get mad at meeee!” Ben whined desperately. Tears were threatening to spill over once again.
“I’m not worried about how Zach feels. He’ll get over it.” As Ben saw Vic within steps of the kitchen door, he burst into tears and ran hard up the stairs. Vic paused at the doorway when he heard their bedroom door slam hard enough to shake the foundation. Vic shook his head and picked up the phone, punching the “talk” button. He dialed Nelson’s number then held the phone to his ear. Confusion crossed his features over hearing the dial-tone instead of the quiet pause he expected after dialing. The cloud was lifted when he heard a sniffle through the phone line, giving away the fact that Ben had engaged the extension so he couldn’t dial out.
The cat and mouse game was over, and Vic stormed up the stairs. Ben backed up against the pillows of the bed as he heard his lover’s footsteps approaching. His eyes widened when the door swung open and he realized a little too late he still held the phone in his hand. Not directly addressing the phone situation, Vic said, “Benjamin, I’m going to find out what happened if I have to drag you to Nelson’s house, since I’m obviously having trouble calling. You are about to get your butt spanked again!”
Ben sensed the battle was over and fresh tears overwhelmed him. He flopped face down on the bed and cried into his arms. “It doesn’t matter anyway! He was right…”
Vic sat on the edge of the bed and started rubbing Ben’s back, his heart breaking at the sound of his partner’s tears. “What was he right about, pumpkin?”
Ben tried to slide away from Vic and he finally repeated what Zach had said. “You don’t think I’m responsible. That’s why you make me come home so early.”
“Is that what he said?” Vic asked, tugging Ben closer.
“It’s truuuee!” he cried.
“It is NOT true, Benji. And, you know that if you’d just think about it. Zach was just trying to get you worked up, and I see he succeeded.”
“I COULDN’T call you after he said that. Can’t you SEE that?”
Vic sighed heavily and fingered Ben’s hair, “You can’t let what Zach says influence what you do. You still should have called. You know that. Do you think Zach would have gotten himself in trouble to prove you wrong?”
“No, because HE didn’t have to be home by 5:00.” His tears were starting to slow again with Vic’s tender touch. The feel of Vic’s fingers through his hair never failed to relax and calm him.
Vic said gently, “That’s not the issue, is it? You wouldn’t have had any trouble being home on time if Zach hadn’t said anything. Would you?”
“I don’t know…” he answered through his sniffles.
“Well, let’s look at it then. I don’t remember hearing any complaints yesterday. Did it bother you then?”
“I think so…” Ben said.
Vic’s hand momentarily left Ben’s head and squeezed his shoulder. “Benjamin. Tell the truth.” Ben scooched over an inch or so away from Vic.
“No, it didn’t, but I didn’t GO anywhere.”
Vic pulled him back once again. “How about the day before? Did it bother you then?”
Ben allowed himself to be pulled against his partner. “I can’t remember.”
“I think you can. The very fact you claim you can’t remember tells me you didn’t have a problem with it. Would you agree?”
“Maybe?” Ben answered, wishing Vic would play with his hair some more. The fact that he wasn’t was a sign they were back in discussion-mode.
“Ben…” Vic said warningly.
Ben answered, “Vic…”
Ben suddenly wished even more that Vic’s fingers were in his hair as he felt a familiar impact with his bottom. Vic said, “Don’t be smart. Answer me and don’t lie about it.”
“OW! Okay!” Ben relented, propping up on his elbows to look at Vic. “I didn’t really think about it until tonight!”
“Thank you for being honest about it. So, all this tantrum-throwing and being late to begin with was to show Zach you could do what you want.” Vic said as a statement, not a question.
Ben’s head dropped and he stared at the comforter, “I guess…”
“Come here.” Vic gathered Ben to him and pulled him into his lap. His lips were close to Ben’s ear and he said, “You and Zach get each other into more trouble.” He kissed Ben’s head firmly. “When are you going to learn to ignore him?”
Vic felt Ben snuggle up to him before he spoke. “I don’t know…”
Vic thought about calling Nelson but wanted to be sure it was the right thing to do first. He wasn’t sure Zach’s taunting needed to be reported but he WAS sure Ben needed to learn how to react to it. “You have to learn to do the right thing no matter what Zach says or tries to convince you to do. Do you understand?”
“I know, but he made sense.”
Vic shook his head at Ben’s analysis of the situation and said, “Ben, it doesn’t matter what he says that SEEMS to make sense at the time. You need to concentrate on doing as I say and ignore him if it contradicts what you know. All right?”
Ben nodded against him. “Okay, I’ll try. I don’t mean to push. I’m sorry.”
“I know you don’t,” Vic said, kissing him once again. “How about we put this behind us and eat some over-cooked chicken? It’s probably dry as a bone by now.”
Ben sat back and frowned at Vic, his nose turning up as if he smelled something disgusting. “Yuck. Can’t we just stay up here?”
Chuckling at his lover’s expression, Vic said, “No. We are going downstairs to try to salvage dinner. I won’t make you eat the chicken if it’s nasty. How about PB&J instead? Your favorite.”
Ben considered it briefly, happy to have a choice. “Okay…” Ben slipped off Vic’s lap but clung to his hand as they exited the bedroom. A thought suddenly struck him and he asked, “You aren’t going to call Nelson, are you?”
“I’m giving it some serious thought.”
Ben rolled his eyes, “Why?!”
“Because I get sick and tired of Zach getting you all worked up. And, I would want to know if you did it to Zach. We’d be having a little discussion if it were you.”
“But, he’ll be MAD at me!”
“Calm down. I haven’t made my mind up yet. I AM inclined to think Nelson needs to know.”
“I don’t want you to tattle on him. I wouldn’t want Nelson to tell you…” he said as they meandered through the house towards the kitchen.
“*I* would want Nelson to tell me. Especially if it’s something I needed to know. Zach might not like it but he needs to learn.”
“Pleeeaasse don’t call him! I’ll eat your disgusting chicken.”
Vic cast a sidelong glance at Ben. “Now, that’s a sure sign you REALLY don’t want me to call Nelson.” Vic started laughing at the sacrifice his brat was willing to make. “Don’t worry about it, pumpkin.”
“Does that mean you won’t call?” Ben asked hopefully. He pulled out a kitchen chair and sat gingerly on it, propping his head on his hand.
“I didn’t say that. I said I hadn’t decided.”
Ben sighed deeply and asked, “Do I still have to be home at 5:00?”
Not able to resist the adorable face, Vic kissed the pouting lips, “Yes, you do.” Ben returned the kiss, not entirely upset with the answer. After all, it hadn’t been a problem until Zach pointed it out.
Vic reluctantly turned from his partner and pulled the chicken out of the oven. Upon seeing it, he said a silent prayer for the remains. “You know what? This chicken IS disgusting. Do you care if I have PB&J with you?”
“Not at all!” Ben said with a smile. Looking at the chicken Vic held, Ben said, “I don’t even think Maggie would eat it.”
Maggie had come out of hiding after the noise of the spanking had died down, and she sat on the floor at Benji’s feet. At the sound of her name, Maggie’s head tipped over to the side in a familiar gesture, looking quizzically at Ben. As if understanding what Ben said, she went to her own bowl and ate before she had to endure the chicken. After all, SHE hadn’t done anything wrong. Vic and Ben exchanged looks when she went to her bowl, well away from the chicken, and they burst out laughing.
The end.
