As promised, nine and ten are the hardest yet, and I’m certain I’ll never sit comfortably again by the time Auntie Gray gathers me in her arms, gently rocking me from side to side as I soak her shirt with my tears.
“Shhh, little one. It’s okay. You’re forgiven and all your naughties have been spanked away.”
Her words gradually ease the ache in my chest, though the ache in my bottom throbs with every heartbeat. After what feels like forever, my sobs quiet to hiccupping little sniffles and Auntie Gray gently nudges me away.
“Let’s get you cleaned up and into a fresh diaper, and then we can go finish our errands.”
“O-okay, Auntie.”
She wets a paper towel to wash the tears from my face before wrapping me up in a clean diaper. The cotton, which normally feels soft and fluffy against my bottom, now itches like crazy with every movement. But my heart feels light and happy, especially when Auntie Gray takes my hand again, giving it a reassuring squeeze as she smiles indulgently at me.
When we step out of the bathroom, Lanie is waiting exactly where we left her, but she’s been joined by Josie and Poppy, the latter of whom watches us approach with wide eyes.
She looks from me to Auntie Gray, and when she does, a deep-red blush floods her cheeks and she immediately looksdown at the book in her lap. Seemingly unperturbed, Auntie Gray ignores her entirely as we approach the group.
“All done here?”
Josie and Lanie share a look before nodding, both their cheeks tinged with pink. We say our goodbyes to a silent, still-blushing Poppy and head outside to walk down to the post office.
“Auntie Gray, can we wait for you outside? It’s kinda crowded in there,” Lanie asks, all wide-eyed innocence.
Maybetooinnocent.
But if Auntie Gray finds it suspicious, she doesn’t say. She only frowns a bit before nodding. “You can wait for me out hereifyou promise to sit on that bench and not move. I mean it, girls.”
We promise with another chorus of “Yes, Auntie” and hurry over to wait on the metal bench she pointed us to. I can’t help but wince as I settle on the hard seat, despite the cushioning of my diaper.
As soon as we’re seated, my cousins pounce.
“What happened? Are you okay?” Lanie asks, her voice full of concern.
“I’m okay. Just really, really sore.”
“I bet.” Reaching over, Lanie gives my hand a sympathetic pat. “Auntie Gray wasreallymad.”
“What did you do?” Josie asks, curiosity shining in her eyes. “Lanie couldn’t really tell me anything with Poppy sitting right there. Though I’m not sure it would have mattered since she definitely heard you getting your butt paddled. That brush is really loud.”
“Oh my god,” I groan, dropping my head into my hands. “That’s soembarrassing.”
“You didn’t have to tell her that, Josie,” Lanie hisses quietly.
“Why? It’s the truth! I’d want to know if someone overheard me getting my butt spanked.”
A small hand comes to rest on my back, rubbing in soothing circles. “It’s okay, Tabby. We all get in trouble sometimes.”
“Yeah, but do you get your bare butts paddled in public?”
“Well… no,” Lanie confesses. “I have managed to avoid that particular fate. Although Sheriff Donnelly did see my naked butt once after Uncle Eli spanked me.”
“Really?” Lifting my head, I stare at her in shock. “How did that happen?”
“I was supposed to be asking Daddy for a new diaper when the doorbell rang and I ran to answer it instead and Reese was on the other side of the door.”
“Oh man. Judging by the way Auntie Gray acted when she saw me talking to her in the candy store fully clothed, I can only imagine how that went.”
Josie’s mouth drops open. “You snuck out to the candy store? Ballsy.”
“I guess. I wasn’t really trying to be, um, ballsy, I just didn’t feel like hanging out in the bookstore.”
