Leading the Way

by Constance Masters

  “Wow. Poor girl,” Brock said.

  “Yeah. Trouble is, no matter what we need, we can’t break the law to get it,” Crystal said sadly.

  “That’s right,” Toby said.

  “It doesn’t help to know though that our other halves are going to face the board,” Zach said.

  “It breaks my heart,” Crystal said. “I feel like what we have is between us. I’m dreading that I’ll probably have to punish her in front of the town.”

  “Me, too,” Brock said, trying to comfort his friend and colleague. “But, they’re punished for a reason; so they’ll not repeat what they’ve done, and let’s not forget what could have happened. Sienna was driving. What if the car hadn’t gotten a flat battery?” he said.

  The room was silent while they contemplated the consequences of Sienna driving while stoned.

  ***

  “We’re home,” Brent said.

  Erin’s eyes sprang open. Her head thumped and nausea turned her tummy. She didn’t know what she was most scared about, the board or facing Zach. “I need to be sick,” she said, holding a hand over her mouth.

  “Take some deep breaths,” Brent said.

  “This isn’t home,” she said, looking out of the window. “I need to talk to Zach.”

  “He’s inside. They’re all inside.”

  The other girls were wide awake now and very aware of the mess they were in. They blindly followed Brent up stairs and along a hallway until they reached the room where the emergency board meeting would be held. They were lead to a small room that was separated from the room where the meeting was already convened. Even with the mess she was in, Erin was over the moon to see Zach.

  “Oh thank God you’re alright,” he said, gathering her up into his arms as she ran across the room to him.

  She sobbed pitifully into the crook of his neck. “I’m so sorry,” she said.

  “We’ll talk about it when we’re alone,” he said “I can’t do it now, not with an audience, and not with the result of the board meeting hanging over our heads.”

  “I don’t want to be spanked in front of everyone in town,” she said. “Do I have to be bare?”

  “I don’t know, honey, but whatever happens you have to remember...” Zach wiped a tear from his own eye.

  “What?”

  “That I love you, and whatever happens, we’ll get through it together.”

  “I love you, Zach.” She did and she believed that he loved her, but she could see the devastation in his eyes. Erin hadn't meant to but she'd managed to destroy the trust that Zach had in her again. She could see it in his eyes. Could she get it back? That was the question.

  ***

  The girls had to face the board together. They stood shoulder to shoulder, like soldiers at arms, while Brent read out the charges and asked for their plea. Erin thought she might actually throw up. Each of them in turn pleaded guilty and waited with bated breath for the outcome. When it finally came, Erin sagged, thinking she might faint.

  “We have never had to deliberate on a problem such as this before. I would imagine for the crime of buying marijuana and smoking it in a public place, the penalty would to be forty swats with the paddle, delivered by your husband or partner,” Charles said. “However, I wish to say something to you ladies. You are mothers. You lead your family in a way that no other person can. You may or may not answer to your husbands or partners but the key relationship in your lives is between you and your children. They watch you. They learn from you. Whatever you do right, or whatever you do wrong, they are paying attention and storing it in their memory banks forever. Ask yourselves, do you want to collect your children from a police station because they have done what you did today? Do you want the other young people of this town to look up to you and to mimic the behaviors that you modeled today because they heard on the grapevine that you got away with it?” He gave the women a stern look. “With that in mind, we are splitting your punishment. The board and I have decided that as well as twenty public strokes with the paddle, all of you will spend four hours, of every Saturday for the next six months, doing community service. You will do something that will work towards leading the children and young people in this town in the right direction instead of the wrong. Are you all agreeable to this ruling?”

  Erin looked at all the women to see their reactions, but mostly Carol, hoping she wouldn’t argue. It wouldn’t help the situation. They’d just lost twenty strokes but if Moonbeam made a curtain call, they would end up in more trouble for sure. When Carol nodded, they all nodded. Erin knew the ruling was fair. They knew what they were getting into when they moved here. Brent was right, they hadn’t been good role models for their children. That had to change.

  “The physical part of your punishment will take place this Saturday evening at five pm, and the room will be open to all adults over the age of eighteen who wish to witness the punishment,” Brent said.

  ***

  Zach hadn’t punished her that night, which considering what she’d done, was unnerving. “I don’t understand it,” he said. “Why you have to buck the system? We’ve had this discussion over and over. I thought you wanted this lifestyle.”

  “I do. I love it. But the very thing that makes me love it is the thing that I hate.”

  “That doesn’t make sense,” he said.

  “I know,” she answered. “I wish I understood it enough myself so I could explain it to you.”

  “Start at the beginning,” Zach said. “What is it that you like?”

  “I like the order,” she said. “I like the smoothness and the way I always know what’s going to happen next. The routine. And I love when you take me in hand. I love that I can trust you to keep the children and me safe. I love that you are so thoughtful and kind.”

  “And what do you not like?”

  “It would be nice to not know what’s going to happen every minute of the day. Routine is good for kids, I know that. But our lives are so ordered that I could almost live without waking up in the morning.”

  “That’s not true!” Zach said. “When you were missing, or we thought you were missing this afternoon? This whole house was wrong. The girls wanted their mom, I wanted my wife. It wasn’t just because I wanted to cook dinner or lay beneath me. I wanted you, all of you, in our house making it warm.”

  “You won’t stop me seeing my friends, will you?”

  “No, of course not. I’m pretty sure once you’ve been though the public punishment you will all be deterred from making the same mistake again.”

  “We just wanted to have some fun,” she said.

  “I know. I hope it was worth it.”

  “Aren’t you going to spank me, Zach?”

  “Yes. This Saturday at five pm. In front of the whole town.”

  “What’ll we do about Jordan?”

  “She will have to be punished, too, but I will take care of that.”

  ***

  The children were all being minded a long way from the community center where the girls were all awaiting their fate with their partners. Erin sat on Zach’s knee. The warmth of his body underneath her trembling legs, soothing her. Of course he was as nervous as she. He was the one that had to deliver the twenty whacks of the paddle.

  Brent had been in to talk to them and was waiting outside the door for Carol and Crystal. They’d been standing in the corner together. Crystal held Carol tightly in her arms, smoothing her lover’s hair to calm her, kissing her forehead and speaking softly while Carol rested her head on the taller woman’s shoulder. Erin couldn’t hear what they were saying but she could guess that it was similar to the conversation she and Zach had over and over for the last couple of days. Sienna was also wrapped in her husband’s arms and Jen was in the bathroom. Brock was right outside talking to her through the door.

  When the door opened they all jumped. It was starting.

  “Carol,” Brent said.

  Normally the mentors would be in the room waiting with the couple that
was about to face the spanking bench, but when there were a lot of people like now, they waited outside. As Brent had suggested, as soon as the door closed behind Carol and Crystal, she put in her headphones and blasted her music.

  The music through her headphones wasn’t enough. Every now and then she could hear Carol cry out. Not in her usual smart ass way, but with a desperate growl of sheer pain. She was glad that she was next and not one of the other girls, having to wait and listen to even more.

  ***

  Soon enough, the door opened again. “Erin,” Brent said. It felt like she was walking on someone else’s legs as she moved through the doorway and across the room to the bench. The titters of the crowd reached her ears, but she didn’t look. There was no way that she could do this if she had to imagine the faces that were sitting there enjoying her fate. Her heart lurched when she saw Diana standing behind the bench waiting to help; to sooth and to give her strength. Rick was there, too, to support Zach, whose role was no less harrowing. In some ways, she thought it was worse.

  It was the most humiliated she had ever felt; to have her bottom bared in front of the town. She trembled, partly from the cool breeze that wafted over her bare skin when Zach lowered her panties, but mostly with the cold fear of what was about to happen. Thank God he didn’t ask her, as he usually did when he was about to paddle her, to spread her legs. There wasn’t much modesty involved with being bent over a bench with your ass out in front of the same people you would see in the school grounds or at church. At least they wouldn’t be getting a peak at her bits.

  Erin squeezed her legs together nervously when she felt Zach move from behind her. She knew his soft footfall and she could tell he hadn’t gone far. Sadly, she could guess what he was doing. She was right. When she felt him behind her again he was tapping the paddle. It felt cold against her bare skin when he rested it on one cheek. His breathing was labored and she could tell he was struggling.

  “Begin the punishment,” Lelo said. His booming voice meant to spur Zach on. It worked.

  She felt a slight rush of air before a line of fire burst across both cheeks. If she was at home, she would have shouted or sworn, but here she had made up her mind to hang on to the little dignity she had left. She sucked in a breath and her eyes opened so wide she thought her eyeballs might pop right out of her head.

  “One,” Lelo bellowed.

  The second, although not a surprise, was worse than the first. The burn hadn’t dissipated at all when the next crashed over the top of it, fanning the flames to a raging fire. By sucking in deep breaths and hanging on to the bench, she took five strokes before her control slipped. A low groan started deep in her chest, moving up until a strangle cry escaped. “It hurts,” she whimpered after, half an explanation for her lack of control and half a plea. Diana tapped her foot ever so slightly on the floor and she looked up at her face.

  “Good girl,” she mouthed.

  Erin took a deep breath and tried to get her mindset back in order. It lasted for one whack. By the time she’d taken the tenth, she was sobbing audibly and her pride was a thing of the past. Every crack after that made her wail.

  ***

  Zach ran his hand briefly over his wife’s red and swollen cheeks. He’d never seen her sob this badly. He wanted to rub out the sting, take her in his arms and tell her that all was forgiven. But, that was the only drawback with living in a community such as this. This wasn’t just about them. Sometimes it was about everyone, and he didn’t get to decide the outcome.

  “Continue the punishment,” Lelo said.

  It took every ounce of Zach’s willpower to draw back the paddle, but he had to. If he didn’t, then someone else would finish for him. He couldn’t put Erin through that. He placed his left hand firmly on Erin’s back and bent to whisper in her ear. “Hang on. We’re going to finish this.” He brought the paddle back and swung it hard, wincing when it connected with the already red and motley flesh. There was the start of a bruise or two forming but he couldn’t think about that. She was at a point where the pain was constant anyway, so the kindest thing was to make it go quicker. Ignoring her sobs he followed through with another firm thwack. He continued the same way, holding Erin place until the last stroke. “Last one.” He brought the paddle down hard enough that it would pass Lilo’s scrutiny and then dropped the paddle on the floor. He hoped he never had to touch that damn paddle again. Ever.

  “Twenty,” Lilo said. “You are both now free to go.”

  “Thank you,” Zach said huskily. He lowered Erin’s skirt and straightened it over her behind as gently as he could before picking up her underwear and stuffing the discarded item in his pocket. “You okay to walk?” he asked softly.

  She nodded and took the handkerchief he offered her. She wiped her face and blew her nose. “I’m fine,” she said bravely. Zach kissed her forehead and took one arm. Diana rushed over and took her other arm and together they walked the proud woman from the hall. Rick picked up the paddle and passed it to Lelo and then followed them out.

  ***

  “Is that it now for my punishment? Apart from the community service, that is?” Erin asked, through a voice that was barely audible. Her scratchy throat sounded like she had laryngitis. It hurt, but not as much as her ass. The paddle that they used at home was nothing compared with that thing. Her skin was burning and chafing against the thin material of her skirt, but deep inside a dull pain thudded relentlessly.

  “Yes. We do need to talk about what happened with Jordan another day. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough.”

  “Rick and I were wondering if you’d let us take the girls tonight for a sleepover,” Diana said.

  “That would be wonderful,” Zach said.

  “Yes it would,” Erin said. “I don’t think I can face them yet.”

  “We would love that,” Rick said. “I still need to figure out how to beat Jordan at checkers. You two go home and rest up. We’ll pick the girls up from the sitter.”

  “Thank you,” Zach said.

  Fresh tears filled Erin’s eyes. “You’re all being so kind. I don’t deserve it.”

  “That’ll be enough of that,” Diana said. “You’ve paid the price now, it’s over.”

  “I’ll bring the car around,” Zach said. “I have a soft pillow for you to sit on. He turned to Diana. “Will you stay with her while I get the car?”

  “Of course,” Diana said. She beckoned Zach over and passed him a pot of gel. “This is arnica. It will sooth her.”

  Zach gave the woman a hug. “I keep saying it, but thank you.”

  “Go on. Get the car, your wife needs to lie down.”

  ***

  Zach pulled the car up the driveway and didn’t bother to put the car away in the garage. Most of the neighbors were still at the center so he didn’t have to worry about prying eyes. He unlocked Erin’s door and when she stood tentatively, he crouched to lift her over his shoulder. It was the quickest way he could think of to get her inside without touching her anywhere that hurt.

  Zach took her straight to their en suite and set her down on the tiles. “What do you think will feel better, hot or cold?”

  “I don’t know,” Erin whispered.

  He settled on lukewarm, adjusting the temperature until it felt just right. After stripping off her skirt and undoing her blouse, he let both pool at her feet. He reached behind her, kissing her trembling lips gently as he undid her bra. Not even bothering to remove his own clothes, he stepped into the shower with her, holding her up while the water refreshed her and he hoped washed away some of the pain of that day.

  “It hurts,” she cried as the spray bounced off her burning skin.

  “Too hot?” he asked. “Too cold?”

  “I don’t know.” She dropped her head on to his shoulder and cried.

  Zach bathed her quickly, shampooing her hair and washing her body. He put the shower on the finest spray to rinse her clean. “Come on, honey, let’s get you to bed.” He dabbed at her carefu
lly with a thick towel and then carried her to bed, laying her carefully on her tummy. His own head thumped. They needed some Advil. He went to get some and some ice water. “Take this,” he said. “It’ll help.”

  “You’re still wet,” she said huskily.

  “I know. Take these. I’ll change and come lie beside you.” He watched while she swallowed the pills. When he stripped off his wet clothes, he remembered the gel he’d put in his pocket.

  ***

  Erin felt calmer but her bottom was still thumping. It was cool in the room but she didn’t want to wear clothes. She didn’t think she could stand to have anything touch her.

  The bed depressed a little and Zach was beside her, his lips pressed lightly to her shoulder.

  “Any better?” he asked.

  “A little maybe.”

  “I have something that Diana gave me that might help,” he said.

  “No!” she cried. “Please Zach. Please don’t touch me.”

  “You have to trust me, okay?”

  “Okay.” But she was seriously not convinced. Her eyes widened when Zach scooped out a handful of the pungent gel.

  He dropped the cool gel on to her bottom on a place that didn’t look too bad to test the effects. “How’s that?” he asked.

  “Cold,” she said. “But okay, I think.”

  “That’s good.” Zach laid his fingers over the top of the yellowy-green mound and moved it around, trying not to actually touch her burnt skin. “Still okay?”

  “It feels nice.”

  He could see her shoulders relaxing as he wiped her over with the gel. By the time he’d ducked into the bathroom to wash his hands and come back, she was asleep.

  Chapter 10

  “I just want to tell you girls that I’m sorry,” Carol said. “That was the single most humiliating experience of my life and it felt worse because I knew you all had to go through it too, because of me.”