When friends are like family (for Cam)

[Birro]

Carolyn and Jessica had been friends ever since they could remember, and spent most of their time together whenever they had the opportunity, which was often. They would go on family vacations with eachother, and even spend holidays with the other's family. They were 16 now, but still were almost inseperable, even though their two families were very different; Jessica's parents always seemed so strict to Carolyn, and her own parents were very laid back.


One Thursday after school, Carolyn walked into the front door of the house and headed up to Jessica's room for the third time that week. She had planned on chatting and getting through a little math homework in the class they shared, but to her surprise Jessica caught her before she got to the stairs. She seemed pale, and Jessica looked at her with concern.

"Hey, Carolyn..." she trailed off, shifting her feet, "My parents said they wanted
to have a talk with you when you came over today. We can hang out after, if you don't mind. They're in here," she said.

Leading Jessica to the den, a little off the hall, she smiled apologetically before shutting the door and leaving to wait in the kitchen for her friend.

Puzzled, Carolyn walked in to the room, looking at the two people in front of her. "Hey, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, what did you want?" she asked hesitantly.

[Roark]

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were sitting on a small two person couch, and Mr. Johnson immediately signaled for Carolyn to take a seat in the oversized catty-cornered across from the couch. Mr. Johnson had a very serious look on his face. Mrs. Johnson offered a muted smile, but it was clear they both meant business.

Mr. Johnson sat tall and erect, with perfect posture. Some would consider him rigid, but in reality he just had a very strong belief in discipline and held himself to a very high standard. He expected the same standard from his family, biological or otherwise. After, what must of seemed like an eternal silence to Carolyn. Jack Johnson finally began to speak.

"Carolyn as you know, I am a big believer in respect, politeness, and self control among other things. I do my best to always show these qualities to others, and expect to receive them in turn. I also hold my family to the same standards. I reinforce these principles with Jessica through discipline whenever she falls short.

But Mrs. Johnson and I have been talking and you have practically spent half of your life here with us and Jessica half of her life with your family. As a result you know that we feel like you are a second daughter to us and would do anything for you that we could. However, we also feel that we don't hold you to the same standards as we do Jessica. And we feel like we have failed you in a way because of it. We haven't done our very best for you. I know that it may be a little late to start, but we believe that you can still receive a great deal of benefit if we start holding you to the same standards we hold Jessica.

Which brings us to my final point. I don't believe that Jessica has ever told you exaclty how we handle discipline in this household. So I will spell it out plainly for you. Whenever, Jessica needs to be disciplined we spank her. I know your parents have never spanked you, but I'm also sure your old enough to have a pretty good idea of what that entails. From now on Carolyn, we are going to treat you exactly like your are a part of our family, because you are and have been for a very long time, but that means you will be disciplined as such." Mr. Johnson rose out of his seat, signaling that he was finished with the conversation and that there would be no discussion of his decision. "Understood Carolyn?" he asked expecting a prompt answer.

[Birro]

Carolyn began simply puzzled, but as the conversation went on, she became more and more nervous and uncomfortable, shifting around in her seat and adjusting her skirt unnecessarily. This melted to surprise when it became clear that they would be "holding her to the same standards" (and wondering how they would pull that off) and to utter shock when the word "spank" came out.

When he finished speaking, she squirmed a little more, speechless. At his impatient look, she finally began to stammer something out,

"Look, I know I am like a part of this family, but I'm not really your daughter for something like that..." she trailed off, taking a breath, "And I knew you were strict, but... at 16!... and for me?... and how..." after a few more seconds under their gaze, she finally steeled herself to say "But I understand and I agree to it,"

[Roark]

Jack's eyebrow raised and his brow furrowed as Carolyn told him that she wasn't actually his daughter. Obviously, this was technically true but they all knew that for all intensive purposes she really was. Jack's face grew even less pleased as she questioned the method, he chose to discipline his "daughters". He kept his relentless gaze right on her and she finally agreed that she understood the new expectations.

"I know that you think you are an adult Carolyn, and that you think spanking is only for children. And as long as you act like an adult you won't have to worry about it. But if you act like a child, prepared to be punished like one. And as far as how goes, you can speak to Jessica about it if you like." Mr. Johnson spoke very matter of factly. Then he did something very unusual and walked over to Carolyn. He took her in his arms and gave her a quick reassuring hug, rubbing her back with one hand for a moment before letting go. "I really do think of you as a daughter Carolyn. Now go see Jessica." he added as he turned back to his seat back with his wife.

[Birro]

"Yes, sir." she said, "And I guess if there was anyone to do this, it sure would be you. I trust you, and I guess I am more or less family. It makes sense that you treat me the same way..."

With that, she left the room to find Jessica right outside. She mouthed WOW, before the two hurried upstairs. "They really spank you! At your age! At our age and us I should say now..." She glanced involuntarily at her friends bottom, and reached back to feel hers while it was still unmarked. "I don't want to know about it, I think I'd just be dreading it forever."

"Yeah," Jessica said, "My whole life. I'm so sorry they decided this. Even if you don't want to know, it hurts. A lot. You don't feel like you're 16 at the time. Just stay out of trouble, kay?"

"Sure," Carolyn replied, "I understand where they're coming from, I mean the times we've both gotten in trouble you've gotten it a lot worse than I did at home if you were getting spanked. This won't change anything,"

After about an hour in her room, Carolyn decided to go home. Walking down the stairs, she walked into the kitchen were the Johnsons were talking.

"Um, if I'm not interrupting anything, I just wanted to say goodbye and I guess thanks. And ask if this changes anything, like how I should act differently around you. I don't want to... you know... by mistake."

[Roark]

The Johnsons turned and listened as Carolyn said goodbye and then asked if she should behave any differently. "Well Carolyn your welcome and I want you to know that I think it will be the best for you. And we don't to change the way you behave, because we love you the way you are. That being said we do want you to do a little more and improve a few things. But since you asked, I think we can go over all the rules with you before you leave."

"Obviously we expect no cursing or backtalking, but we also want you to address us as sir and ma'am. We would also like you to be a little more proper to authority figures so no more yeahs, or sures, just yes sir and no ma'ams.

Also we want you to wear modest clothes not just here but also when you go out with friends or on dates. If you have any questions on whether something is ok just ask Mrs. Johnson. And when you do go out and leave from this house you are to inform one of us where you are going, who with, and what you are doing. There will be a 12 o clock curfew on the weekends. On weekdays if you stay over here then 10 o clock will be the curfew time. If you do stay here there will be an 11 o clock bedtime during the week.

This also means we want all homework and chores done, before hanging out or going out on any day of the week. As for chores, since you are here so much we feel like you should contribute so we want you to take care of the dishes after dinner every night you eat here. We may also ask you to do other chores here and there. We also want to check your grades every progress report, and any grades under a B will have to be explained. And even if you have an A if there are any comments about you skipping assignments or not trying your best then you will be punished as well.

I know it sounds like a lot, but we know you can do it and already do most of it. If you make the effort I'm sure you will have no problems. Any questions Carolyn?" Mr. Johnson asked.

[Birro]

"No, I don't have any, Sir, Ma'am. I can't say it won't be for the best I guess. And all that is probably fair. Though it wouldn't matter if I didn't think that, would it? But I promise I'll behave and do all that," she said with various degrees of confidence. This whole thing was a little overwhelming, but it was fair, if unusual.

She left and the next week passed without incident. Carolyn invited Jessica over a bit more than the other way around, but when she was over she was sure to follow all of their instructions, and Monday evening the dishes were spotless.

That Wednesday Carolyn showed up at their house wearing a knee length skirt, one of a few she had that she thought would be considered modest. Underneath she wore a red thong, but it was for comfort and they certainly wouldn't know. The two girls sat down at the large table in the living room, getting out a couple of sodas. Math books open but with blank homework sheets out in front of them, they got to giggling and joking. Fifteen or twenty minutes progressed, and Jessica had about five problems done, but Carolyn's page remained blank. The joking only increased and their energy levels were rising. After jokingly teasing Carolyn's boyfriend, Jessica got up and darted around the table. Eyes lighting up, Carolyn jumped across the table, knocking over the sodas and grabbing onto her friend's shirt. They lay in a giggling mass on the floor, Carolyn looking a little surprised to find a fragment of pink sleeve in her hands.

[Roark]

Jack had been in the den reading and had heard an awful lot of giggling and laughing coming from the living room. He had considered visiting his daughters, scolding them, and making sure they got back on track, but he was really into the book and couldn't tear himself away without reaching a good stopping point first. Then, Jack heard a very loud thump and knew it was time to see what was happening and to settle things down at the least.

As he walked into the living room, still wearing his white long sleeved button downed collared shirt and neat black dress pants, he saw Jessica and Carolyn laying on the floor giggling and laughing on top of each other. "Girls I think you are a little too old for that...." he began but stopped himself as he saw that Jessica's shirt sleeve was ripped and that there were two sodas knocked over, running down the table, and spilling onto the carpet. "Jessica, get up and go get something to clean up this mess right now!" Mr. Johnson's voice was raised and clearly angry though he did not yell at the girls. Jessica quickly got up and ran to do as she was told, leaving Carolyn alone with her father for the time being.

"Carolyn what is going on here? You two are supposed to be doing your homework, and all I've heard since you have been in here is laughing and cutting up!" As he approached he looked over at the girls' papers laying on the table. Jessica had at least started, but Carolyn's paper was still completely blank. "I see your homework isn't done yet it seems like you and Jessica were having a good time playing around. I think it is clear that you both earned yourself a spanking. Now how about you explain yourself young lady?" Mr. Johnson did not look the least bit amused.

[Birro]

She stopped laughing immediately, and got up, shying back a little. She faced Jack, smoothing her clothes. The blood ran out of her face when she heard what he said.

"L-look, Mr. Johnson... we were just messing around. Theres plenty of time left to get this done. It's only 3:45! And the stains will come out of the carpet. We can clean them. And I'll pay for a new shirt, I swear I will," she stammered, trying to get it all out quickly. "And even if you do decide to... spank me... please not Jessica. It really was my fault, and she even started! I'm the one that dove across the table like an idiot. But like I said we can clean it up..." her voice rose in pitch at the end, in an almost hopeful way.

[Roark]

Jack listened to what Carolyn had to say and did take it all into consideration. He was strict but he was fair. "Carolyn its not just about what happened, and the fact that it can all be easily fixed. What if while you were playing around you had crashed into the tv? That would not have been quite so easy to fix would it? What if your homework ends up being a lot harder than you think it is, and you put it off until later. Then it's too late to get help, and you run out of time to get it done and you don't finish it at all. It's about the attitude and the fact that later in life a lack of self control, can have much greater consequences then spilled soda and not having your homework done before dinner."

"As far as taking the blame for Jessica, it is a very kind thing of you to do for your friend, but are you sure you want to do that? Most of the time it takes two people to egg each other on, but if you say you were solely responsible then I will believe you. It will also be worst though, because this would all be your fault, not to mention being a bad influence on your friends is not a good thing Carolyn. Are you sure you that you deserve all of the blame and the full punishment yourself?" he asked just as Jessica made her way back into the room with the cleaning supplies in hand.