Go Help Maude

Emma felt bad enough not clearing the table so there was no way she wasn't going to at least offer to help with the dishes.

Emma made her way to where her Aunt was in the kitchen and said, "Let me at least help you with the dishes. I feel bad enough enjoying such a nice dinner and letting you clear the table by yourself."

"Jen helped," Maude replied, "And she'd be helping here if I needed any. You're a guest in my home. Guests don't do chores."

"Please, Aunt Maude, I insist."

Emma's plea was met with a hard smack on her bottom from a wooden spoon. Maude gave a stern look, despite a warm smile, "No. Now get."

"Ow!" Emma said, half laughing as she rubbed her butt, "that really hurt. I never knew you were so strict."

"I'm very strict," Maude said, now very serious. "It's one of the major reasons your Mother and I never saw eye to eye. Before he died, your Grandfather was a very stern man. I always thought his teaching method's were fine. Ideal even. Your Mother always thought he was too tough on us and overstepped his bounds as a Father."

Emma let Maude continue, eager to learn more about the Grandfather she never met and the relationship between her Aunt and Mother.

"Then when we had children of our own, our difference in opinion grew and took on a life of it's own. Sure we had other problems, but no woman wants to be told how to raise her children, and it caused problems." Maude said, almost with regret.

"So you think I should have been spanked growing up?" Emma asked, half joking, half wanting an honest answer.

Her answer came in the reply of another sharp smack on her ass cheek from the wooden spoon. "I think discipline has a place, yes. I think how we were raised worked wonders on both your Mother and myself. I think it has helped my own children become good people. Though you certainly seem to have turned out very well even though your Mother had a softer approach to raising children." Maude paused in her explanation then finished, "though you don't mind so well, now get out of here and let me take care of the dishes. Or you're going to get another." Maude shook the wooden spoon at Emma in a playfully threatening manner.

Emma rubbed her sore butt again while she tried to decide if Maude was joking or not.