SSC category: child

The Watcher
by Tasha

   He stood in the shadows, watching.

   Tara looked twice before crossing the street. Such a good little
girl. She stood patiently at the corner, waiting for the big yellow
bus.

   The man looked at her and smiled. Then he spoke to her.

   I clenched my hands into fists.

   Tara smiled politely and responded.

   He said something else and she replied again, lowering her eyes
to the ground and shifting her feet uncomfortably.

   I seethed.

   Their conversation seemed to last an hour before the school bus
appeared and took her away.

   The man left.

   He was there again when the bus dropped her off and she made her
slow way back home to me. I drew the curtains when I heard her come
in. But he was still there.

   Tara cried and pleaded, but it was no use. She knew the rules.
Huge, fat tears rolled down her cheeks as I sent her to the corner,
her skirt up and her white cotton panties around her ankles. Her
sniffles were like sweet music as I made her wait. Moved the chair
to the center of the room with a loud scrape. Smacked the hairbrush
against my palm. Once. Twice. Thrice.

   She jumped each time.

   'Come here, naughty girl,' I said at last, enjoying her awkward
shuffling steps. 'Over my knee.'

   Tara obeyed, knowing hesitation would only make it worse. I
didn't waste any time peppering her bottom with hard, sharp smacks.
And she wept and screamed and kicked and begged, all to no avail.

   I had only intended to give her a few strokes, but her
disobedience had enraged me and I lost count long after twenty.

   When I stopped I stared at her red and bruised bottom. She was
trembling with sobs as she promised she'd never speak to strangers
again.

   'What did he say to you?' I asked gently, caressing her scorched
skin.

   Tara choked out an answer. Just what I had suspected.

   I gave her a hard pinch that made her yelp.

   'And what did you say to HIM?'

   Fresh tears spilled from her eyes and she babbled an apology.

   'Tara. . .'

   'I didn't tell him anything,' she said in a rush. 'I didn't say
a word, honest!'

   I knew she was lying. The exchange had lasted too long. The man
had been watching her for too long. He was still out there now.
Watching. Waiting. He had probably heard the spanking.

   For the first time I began to worry. And I was furious. I
grabbed Tara's arm and hauled her roughly off my lap. I dragged her
down the hall, into the back bedroom. Closed and locked the door.

   'Let me show you what happens to little girls who tell stories
to the police,' I said, unbuckling my belt.

   Tara hid her face in her hands and sobbed.


© 2004 SSC by Tasha