Board Thread:What Would You Do?/@comment-34263048-20181128050418/@comment-36855838-20181128055208

Time for some good-old discipline.

I slowly advance, my weapon of choice aloft.

"Nichole, put that boy down, first and last warning, young lady."

She ignores me, and so I pull the trigger.

FSST Once, FSST  twice, FSST  thrice, FSST  frice, she backs away, hissing angrily, shielding herself with her arms.

Her bulbous-ended tail joins her arms in the defense effort, but the spray bottle has alrready soaked her face, fur, and hair.

She sits shivering in the cold of the room, as I hand the boy a monk's robe from my briefcase.

Relieved, he snatches it, running off, he doesn't get far before I've hoisted him off his feet and plopped him onto my daughter's bed again.

"Nichole, what do you say to the young men you like?"

"You're mine, and I'll kill anyone who tries to inter-"

FSST, FSST, FSST

"No! Bad daughter!"

"You've been associating with that violent shirohebi again, haven't you Nichole?"

She launches several barbs, which my calf pads thankfully block. (thank you, soccer hobby!)

FSST

"No! I taught you better than that! What have I always said?"

She looks at her feet before mumbling out:

"Barbs will get you kids and sex, but only work and time will get you love."

I smile.

"Very good! Now, I want you to put in the time, because remember what happened the year before mommy passed, how she felt when she saw? Do you want to feel how she did?"

She stares long and hard at the razor cuts on my wrists, guilt and fear evident on her face.

She firmly shakes her head no, and I offer her my most reassuring smile.

"Take your time, and please, both of you?"

I kneel, taking both of their hands.

"Be better than I could ever hope to be."

Old tears fill my eyes, and an old lump catches in my throat.

---

I stand in the bathroom, my shower done, staring at my shaving razor.

No, no, my daughter needs me.

I walk to the house cellar, I need another drink.