Bringing Home Danny (20 page)

As the cool air reached Danny's hot bottom, he squeaked, “No!” It was more of a plea than a protest.

Mitch could see that his whole bottom was an angry red. Not too bad, he decided. Mitch repositioned his boxers so they were once again covering his backside, and Danny hitched a sigh of relief.

“
All right, Danny, if you can hold still and cooperate this spanking will be over in few minutes.”
 

Mitch administered the remaining spanking hard and steady, alternating between his thighs and his cheeks until his entire backside was on fire. Danny was determined not to cry and give Mitch any more reasons to think of him as a child. But the smacks were relentless, and whatever was left of the remaining minutes seemed excruciatingly long. After biting a hole through the inside of his mouth, Danny gave in. It wasn't so much the pain, as Danny was used to enduring discomfort; it was rather the fact that he had no real control over what was happening to him.

Danny had never been punished like this, and was overcome with varying emotions. Being at Mitch's mercy as he spanked him made Danny experience a sense of helplessness that he hadn't felt since the night he met TJ. Once he accepted it, he ironically felt comforted lying over Mitch's lap. It was as if Mitch was offering him both protection and absolution. He was conflicted by a desire to tell Mitch off, and an urge to beg for his forgiveness. He resented his guilt and his need for Mitch's approval. He eventually gave into the painful sensations, humiliation, and shame. A few hitching sobs escaped. By the time the spanking was over, he was quietly crying out his anguish.

Mitch rubbed the sting out from his hand and said, “Okay, Danny, we're finished.”

He helped Danny off his lap. Danny immediately reached for his pants, and hissed out in pain when the fabric of his jeans brushed against his sore bottom. Mitch had never spanked someone as young as Danny. He felt a moment of guilt as he took in the tearstained face and the trembling bottom lip. Danny stood with his arms crossed tightly against his chest. His pants were slipping off of his slender waist, and it occurred to Mitch that he had not been eating adequately. As if seeing him for the first time, Mitch thought the boy appeared fragile. He pulled him into a hug, and rubbed his back briefly in an effort to sooth him. Danny forced himself to pull away, and Mitch released him. He lifted Danny's chin with his right hand, and brushed away the few remaining tears with his left thumb.

“
No more running away,” Mitch said, holding his gaze. He allowed Danny to respond with a nod, before saying, “Go up to bed, I'll call you when dinner is ready.”
 

*****

TJ couldn't stay upstairs any longer. He inched back down the stairs until he spotted Antonio. He could hear Mitch disciplining Danny, and went over to lean into Antonio for comfort.

“
Why did Danny run away from us?” TJ asked, seeking the wisdom and reassurance he relied on from his more nurturing partner.
 

“
Don't take it personally, sweetheart. He's like a scared little rabbit. He's reacting to fear he may not understand himself.”
 

They sat together listening to Mitch spank Danny with increased intensity. Attuned to Danny's distress, TJ could hear his faint cries through the harsh slaps.

“
Why does Mitch have to spank him so hard?”
 

“
Danny's been warned, honey. He has this spanking coming to him.”
 

“
He's only going to run away again.”
 

“
You have to trust Mitch to know what he's doing. If Danny's going to stay here, he's going to have to know what to expect when he breaks the rules. We can't keep him safe if doesn't know who's in charge.”
 

“
What if he decides his mother's house is better than ours?”
 

“
Then maybe her home was not that bad after all.”
 

“
I don't think so, he'd rather be on his own than with her. He's better off with us so we can take care of him.”
 

“
Well, we'll just have to wait and see what happens. It sounds like they're almost done in there. Why don't you go back upstairs? Danny may need you, and I want to speak to Mitch alone.”
 

“
But...”
 

“
TJ
,” Antonio warned.
 

“
Yes, sir.”
 

Danny walked slowly out of the office with his head down to avoid seeing Antonio. He was hurt, angry, and ashamed. His pants creating friction as he climbed the stairs was agonizing. His only thought was to climb into bed and hide himself until morning. When he got to his room, TJ was waiting by the doorway.  Danny scowled at him sending a mental message to leave him alone.
This was his fault. If it wasn't for TJ convincing me to come to New York, my ass wouldn't be stinging, and I wouldn't have to face seeing my mother.
 

“
Why did you do it, Danny? Why did you leave without saying anything?”
 

The pain evident in TJ's voice was too much for Danny. He had intended to tell him to stop worrying about him. He could take care of himself, and didn't need him or Mitch interfering with his life. All that came out was, “I'm sorry.”

“
Why, Danny? I thought you liked it here?”
 

“
I can't stay forever,” Danny answered with his head down, not daring eye contact. “I told Mitch I didn’t want to see my mother. He wouldn't listen.”
 

“
Sometimes you have to accept that other people know better. He was only trying to help.”
 

“
Yeah, well, I felt his help, and I don't want it!”
 

“
I missed you.”
 

 
Danny was disarmed by the sincerity of TJ's words. It took the heat out of his temper. “I wasn't gone that long,” he said feebly.
 

TJ smirked. “No, you weren't, thanks to Mitch.”

Danny gifted him with a weary smile back before shaking off his pants and crawling into bed. Despite the pain in his backside, his bed was comforting. He fell asleep hard and fast.

Danny had slept through dinner and all of the night. Still sleepy, he could hardly hear the faint voice of Antonio who was shaking him lightly and calling his name.

“
Wake up, love, it's time for breakfast.”
 

“
Breakfast?” Danny was surprised it was the next morning already. He was accustomed to waking up several times during the night, and could not remember falling asleep or getting up since early Tuesday morning.
 

“
Yes, I made pancakes, and it's getting late.”
 

“
I'm not hungry.” Danny rolled over onto his other side not ready to face the day.
 

“
Hungry or not, you missed dinner and it's important you eat."
 

Danny groaned and sank deeper into his pillow.

“
Get up,” Antonio encouraged with a tap to his hip. “You slept long enough, and there are things we need to talk about.”
 

Danny carefully eased out of bed. Although most of the heat had left his backside, he was still sore. At the breakfast table, Danny's resentment was evident on his face as he tried to find a tolerable sitting position. Mitch informed Danny of his mother's transportation plans to initiate the conversation about her visit. “We won't need to pick her up. She will be renting a car and driving out from the airport by midday.”

“
My mother is driving out here on her own?”
 

“
No. I believe she mentioned something about being accompanied by a friend.”
 

“
A friend? You mean a boyfriend?”
 

“
She didn't specify. She only indicated that a friend had business in the area, and
he would be coming along.”
 

“
Figures.”
 

*****

Danny waited anxiously. He resigned himself to the idea of seeing his mother for the first time in a year, and wondered what she could possibly have to say to him.
What should I say to her?
Nothing very pleasant came to mind. When the doorbell eventually rang he stayed back in the living room and left Mitch and Antonio to greet her at the door. Mitch did not expect to find such a genial and soft-spoken woman to be standing on the other side. Although she was not as petite in stature, she had Danny's slender frame, and could easily be his female double. She was a pretty woman with delicate features. Bouncy brown curls framed a youthful face with big eyes and long lashes.

“
Hello, Ms. Young. Is that your friend in the car? He's welcomed to come in.”
 

“
Thank you, but I think it’s best if he waits in the car for now. Are you Mitch?”
 

“
Yes, and this is my partner, Antonio,” he confirmed, while shaking her hand.
 

“
I hope your flight went well,” Antonio said, extending his hand in turn.
 

She shook it briefly and said, “Yes, it was fine, thank you. Is Daniel here?”

“
He's waiting for you in the living room.”
 

Mitch and Antonio escorted her to the spacious room in the center of the house. Danny was slumped in the couch biting his nails. He did not stand up or even acknowledge his mother when she approached him.

“
Danny, be polite, and say hello,” Mitch warned.
 

Danny looked up from under the fringes of his hair. “Hey,” he muttered, with a deliberate lack of enthusiasm.

“
Hello, Daniel. It's good to see you.” She stood unsure if she should reach out and hug him. Danny offered no sign that a hug would be welcomed or reciprocated.
 

“
Have a seat, Ms. Young,” Mitch offered.
 

“
Please call me Amy. Thank you.” She chose a seat directly across from Danny. “It's been a long time," she began apprehensively. "How have you been?”
 

Danny gave a slight nod in agreement, and said, “Fine.”

“
I'm glad to hear it. I've been worried about you.”
 

Danny didn't want to act like a sulky teenager, but he couldn't help it. He refused to respond to her comment, and continued to bite his nails.

“
Could you take your fingers out of your mouth and talk to me?”
 

Danny dropped his hand and frowned at her. “What do you want to know?”

“
Well, for starters, where have you been, and why are you in New York?”
 

Danny shrugged his shoulders.

“
Dan, as your mother, I believe I deserve a better answer.”
 

“
Perhaps it would be helpful if you had some privacy,” Mitch suggested.
 

“
Yes, please, that would be nice.”
 

Danny watched as the three men left the room, and suddenly felt as if his safety net was being taking away. He turned scornfully towards his mother and asked, “What do you want?”

“
It's been close to a year since I've seen or heard from you. What the hell are you doing here with these people?”
 

“
I needed a place to stay,” he answered defensively.
 

“
In New York? Who are these men to you?”
 

“
Friends.”
 

“
Friends? Their grown men!”
 

“
So?”
 

“
So, what kind of relationship do they have with you? Where the hell did you meet them?”
 

“
What difference does it make to you?”
 

“
I see I'm not getting anywhere with this. I want you to come home with me.”
 

“
What! Why?”
 

“
Because I am your mother, and...”
 

Danny laughed sarcastically. “I'm not going anywhere with you,” he said, not giving her a chance to finish.

“
Please, Daniel, you can't stay here. I'm buying you a plane ticket and we're going home.”
 

Danny shook his head and rolled his eyes.

She dismissed his silent protest, and continued, “You have one more year of school, and when you turn eighteen you can move wherever you want to.”

“
I haven't been to school in months.”
 

“
We can work that out once you get home.”
 

“
We?”
 

“
Dan, I am your mother.”
 

“
Stop saying that!” Danny jumped up in agitation.
 

“
Daniel!” Amy shouted back.
 

She stood up matching Danny in height, refusing to be intimidated by her son. She had a strong desire to slap him despite the promise she made to herself to keep her cool.

“
I don't understand. I have a job. I like it here. Why do you even want me? Why now?”
 

Amy had forgotten how stubborn her boy could be, and was trying hard to keep her temper in check. She was hoping that after living on his own, Danny would have been more open to coming back home.

“
Calm down, son. Things are different now. Stan and I have worked things out. We have a new place, and we want you with us.”