How does he do it?

I’ve been sharing many stories from way back and I just thought I’d show that some things don’t really change. This little story happened just this past summer. Although I still rarely do anything wrong, you’ll see that Tom is still way too picky. 

Actually, I’d personally been so good that there had been little to write about. I didn’t take the boat out by myself one single time that Tom knows about, and rarely at that. His stern admonishment at the beginning of the summer, ‘do not drink if I don’t put the drink in your hand’ has not been difficult to abide by. You see, when we last stocked up on wine, I positioned myself so that I put each bottle away as Tom unpacked it. Every drop of wine in those bottles was handed to me by my dear husband and thus, fair game! 

Now don’t worry. Sue and I usually limit ourselves to one or two glasses in the afternoon and I’m pretty sure Tom knows. But truly I have been good, and while I know Tom appreciated the effort, I think he gets bored if I behave too well for too long. When this happens, I think he sometimes gets picky and begins looking for reasons for a sound spanking. Goodness knows why, we have plenty of fun ones. But then for no reason, he gets all stern with me. 

Here’s a case in point. Sue and I had plans to go to a pottery/craft show. Tom knew we were going. I didn’t really know what time we were planning to leave, but that morning Sue called early – right after Tom left on his run. “How soon can you be ready? Let’s go to breakfast before we go to the show.” 

I told her to come on as soon as she was ready and I’d hurry. I kept thinking Tom would be back before we left but evidently he was on a long run. Being a perfect wife, I left him a note:

‘Tom, 
Sue and I left early for breakfast. We’ll be home around one. 
Love you,
Cassie’ 

We were headed out the door when Sue began fussing at me, “You’re not planning to carry that suitcase around all day are you? We’re going to be walking a lot and you’re gonna break you shoulder.” 

Sue’s always making fun of my pocketbook and claiming I carry everything but the kitchen sink. It’s certainly not true, but for this particular outing, I realized she was right and quickly changed to a smaller bag. 

We had a great day. The weather had cooled off and the crafts at this show were amazing. I love the craft shows where you can visit with the artist. We talked with many and got to watch them create some of the lovely pottery that they were selling. We bought a few things, had a big lunch and arrived home a little before two. Sue let me off and headed on home without coming in. 

That was probably for the best. Tom was not in a good mood. I could tell that the minute I walked in. Tom came over and kissed me but it wasn’t a lingering one. “Where have you been?” 

“Where have I been? You know Sue and I were going to the craft show today. And I left you a note this morning. You know exactly where I’ve been,” I told him, somewhat bewildered. 

“You’re late. You said you’d be home at one.” 

I couldn’t figure out what had put the bee in his bonnet. “I think I said around one and it’s not even two, so that’s around one. Would you be mad if I’d come home around twelve?” I was starting to get aggravated. 

“That’s enough, Cassie Jane.” Tom told me, in his sternest voice. 

Enough? Cassie Jane? What was going on? He was really upset and I knew it wasn’t because I’d been a little late. 

“Tom, what are you mad about?” I asked, truly not understanding. 

“I’m not mad,” he stated, shortly. “But you know one of the rules of this house is that you will not leave without your cell phone. I come back home this morning and you’re not here. The cell phone, however, is. And, then you breeze in here late, acting as if nothing’s wrong.” 

Bingo! I finally found what had gotten him upset. Hidden in that statement was the real reason for his annoyance. He  came home and I wasn’t here. It bugs him to death. That was what had started all this. But I realized he was planning to spank me for not taking my phone – chalk another one up to, ‘It’s really Sue’s fault.’ She was the one who made me change my purse and I just forgot to pick my phone back up. 

“Tom, you know I always have my phone with me these days. I haven’t forgotten it in months. Now just calm down and I’ll tell you all about the craft show.” 

I was talking to myself. Tom took my hand and led me to the bedroom, with me protesting all the way. I had not done anything wrong, not really. That didn’t stop him for a minute. I was quickly bare-bottomed and over his lap. He spanked with his hand and I know in my head that it wasn’t even that hard, but I was fighting him mentally the whole time and that always makes it hurt more. 

He stopped. But before letting me up, he said, “I’ve told you before, being without your cell phone will get you spanked every time. I don’t want you to forget that.” 

I hate cell phones! I wish the damn things had never been invented! The spanking hadn’t been harsh but neither had it been a good-girl. I was still annoyed and very quiet when he let me up. He hugged me and kissed the top of my head, but now I was the one mad then. I hate feeling this way after a spanking, but I couldn’t help it. 

Tom went about his afternoon and I took on the job of completely avoiding him and muttering to myself about his unfairness. Around four, Steve and Sue came over. Tom, Steve and Ryan, who had joined us, were in the yard chipping golf balls while Sue and Allie and I sat on the deck. We watched the men and they listened to me gripe. Both Sue and Allie were properly sympathetic. Sue continued on her old theme, ‘You shouldn’t have to put up with that shit’ and ‘why don’t you throw his ass out?’ It’s her way of showing support and, as always, we ignored what she was saying until she came to the following phrase. “He just needs to cool off.” She was exactly right. He did need to cool off.

Do you ever do something and the instant you do, you are stunned by your own actions? That’s what I felt almost as soon as I turned on the lawn sprinklers. I could hardly believe my own actions. I heard the men bellow and watched them sprint to the house. I stood there like a deer caught in headlights. 

They were soaked when they reached the deck. Everyone was staring at me in disbelief, even Sue and Allie. I made a stab at behaving like any mature woman who was completely justified in doing what she had done. That is, I blamed Sue. 

“I… I… Sue said Tom needed to cool off,” I stammered. 

Sue was on her feet in a flash at my treachery. “You’re trying to blame me?” 

I’m sure the rest of what she had to say would have been most interesting but I wasn't around to hear it. Tom, now with a slight smile on his face, grabbed me with one wet hand and marched me through the house to the bedroom. He picked up the school ruler – that darn thing is heavy and stings like hell. I was quickly pulled across Tom’s wet lap for my second spanking of the day. 

“Wait!” I yelled in a panic. “Tom you didn’t close the door! Close it, close it!” Tom had our suite soundproofed when we redid the house. While I know everyone on the deck was fully aware of what was happening, I still didn’t want them hearing it. 

“I wasn’t the only one you just tried to drown,” Tom told me, flatly. “Maybe they would like to hear you get your comeuppance!” 

I couldn’t believe him! My embarrassment didn’t slow him for one second. I know the pop that ruler makes could have been heard next door and I wasn’t exactly silent myself.
“Owww, Owww! Stop!” I couldn’t help shouting. He was spanking fast and hard. I finally managed to throw in a few ‘I’m sorrys’ and ‘I won’t ever do it again’ as he finally came to a stop. 

Tom was in a fine mood now and he was laughing as he helped me to my feet and gave me a big hug. “Girl, what am I going to do with you? Sometimes I think you’d spit in the devil’s face.”  

“I thought I just did,” I told him sourly and I tried to rub the sting away. “You could have shut the door,” I hissed.

Tom laughed at me again. “And you could have behaved yourself. Now, you go out there and apologize to Steve and Ryan. And Sue, while you’re at it. Imagine trying to blame that sweet woman for your bad behavior. And one more thing,” Tom continued, before I could voice my indignation, “whatever else you may do – don’t ever change. I do love you.” 

What am I going to do with him? He can spank me for no reason, as many times a day as he feels like. Embarrass me in front of my friends. Order me to apologize when I don’t want to and laugh at me in the bargain. Yet with one smile, one touch, just the sparkle in his eyes and I just melt with love for him. How does he do it? I guess I'll never know, but he’s a master at it.

Note from PK:

If you enjoy Cassie's stories you can read all about Cassie and Tom and their friends in the Cassie's Space series.

And you can find them in paperback here.