Chapter 8

Standing on the driveway in front of the garage Liam hopped over the rope he was swinging around his body where he had been for the last twenty minutes. It was getting close to sundown now and he expected to see his brother’s truck any minute. He really didn’t want to be jumping rope or playing hopscotch like he was doing a few minutes ago, but it beat some of the things she had him doing throughout the day.

After the incident on the back patio Megan had brought him back inside for more lessons, but all he could really think about was how he was dressed like a girl, had just gotten a spanking and she had done something to his bank accounts. Being seated on the couch he watched as his tormentor put her laptop screen on the coffee table in front of him, pulling up a powerpoint presentation. “On the screens you will see some photos of people and what you should be calling them. You will sit here and follow the instructions on the screen, do you understand me young lady?”

Nodding his head glumly, Liam could feel the pigtails she put in his hair bounce and sway. “Remember Leah, a good girl always has a smile on her face.” Megan waited till she saw Liam smile before started to walk down the hallway to her home office, turning around just as she got to the hallway. “Oh and the camera is on, so I will be able to see if you don’t look happy or you are not following your lessons.”

The presentation started with instructions saying “read the names out loud as their appear on the screen.” The first image was that of his brother smirking off at something, with the word ‘Daddy’ below it. Not feeling good with himself for doing it, Liam smiled repeating what the screen said. “Daddy.”

Some of them had descriptions along with what to call them, like the image of Megan said ‘Daddy’s girlfriend, can be called Miss Megan, Miss Best.’ The presentation even had Bailey in it. ‘Babysitter, can be called Miss Bailey.’

“I don’t see you smiling, Leah!” He heard the woman’s voice echoing down the hallway. “Fuck.” He said forgetting to keep the smile on his face, it was not his default expression. “A good girl doesn’t use foul language.” Her voice came back again. She wasn’t even in the same room as him and was bossing him around. He grumbled a little, but continued to follow the instructions on the screen as the images started to play a second time. When the presentation ended Liam had said each of their names fifteen times. He expected the entire presentation to start over on a loop at this point, but instead Megan or Miss Megan as the stupid video wanted him to call her came out of her office.

“Good job sweetie, the next thing we are going to do today is have you watch one of your favorite shows.” Liam looked at her skeptically as she picked up her laptop, doubtful that it was anywhere close to the truth. When she put the device back down he groaned. On the screen played the opening sequence to a bad CGI cartoon for Barbie’s Beach Adventures.

“You sit here and watch your favorite tv show, after one episode you are going to excitedly talk to the camera telling me all about the episode and what you loved about it. Then you will write down your good girl motto before you are allowed to watch another episode. I will get your paper and pen you left outside, and I really do look forward to hearing you excitedly tell me about your show. I have work to do, but I promise I am keeping an eye on you.” Megan said with a wicked smile.

Liam had watched four episodes of the girly child show, hating every second of it. After the first episode he had been given a warning for not paying close enough attention after he couldn’t give any real report excited or otherwise about what happened. It was dull so he occupied his mind with other things. He was thinking how he would put up with this for the rest of the day and then call it quits, the woman got her pound of flesh. Besides he couldn’t just take a bunch of days off of work without getting into serious trouble. Already his boss was grouchy about him saying he had a stomach bug and couldn’t make it to the shop. The lack of attention to what he was watching only earned him the privilege of watching the same episode over again.

After that he was happy to get a break from the mind numbing show and writing how he was a good girl and proud over and over again after each episode. Though writing that was still better than smiling and talking about how he wished he could change outfits as quick they did on the show or how cute the dog was. “Time for a break sweetheart, I bet you are ready for lunch.”

Putting the lunch down in front of Liam, Megan whispered in his ear. “Smile sweetheart.” knowing he would want to be at least scowling. She had put a small plastic plate in front of him with four chicken nuggets, a bowl of a diced up pair and a refill of the apple juice she had given him earlier, making sure to add in the same special ingredient. Wanting to make sure Liam stayed weak and compliant.

“Miss Megan, this is a lunch for a child… could I get something else or maybe just more?” Liam poked the previously frozen chicken nugget that had been microwaved. If it was cooked in the oven it at least wouldn’t be rubbery like it is now.

“You need to learn to eat smaller portions, besides you acted like a child earlier. We can talk about you being a big girl tomorrow when your father drops you off.” It wasn’t worth an argument with her. Liam had gone more days without lunch than days with, but he also hadn’t eaten this morning so he eat what was in front of him.

“Slow down Leah, small bites of your nuggets. Chew them completely before swallowing, swear it is like your father didn’t teach you any manners.” When Megan saw the smiling but disgruntled person at her table follow her directions she smiled.

“Now listen Leah, this is important, when your father comes to pick you up you are going to drop whatever you are doing and scream his name. That is Daddy to you dear and gie him the biggest hug. It is important he knows how much you love him and how much fun you had here with me today. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes…” Megan sighed, teaching Liam manners would be a challenge on its own.

“That is yes Miss Megan and sweetie. Finish the food in your mouth before you talk, you are not a cow.”

The lessons continued through the day, things like how to sit like a lady, the proper way to walk and she insisted on finding constant ways to keep him talking in the softer girly voice. From saying things in a sing-song voice . “I love pink, I love purple, I love hearts, I love people.” To just repeating his new name. “My name is Leah. My name is Leah.” As she had him do different activities. When she told him he was going to pay in the front yard he had frozen, thinking about how out there anyone walking by or driving by would be able to see him.

“I can’t let anyone see me like this, I’m not going out there!” Liam said pointing towards the front door. Megan crossed her arms just looking at the young man that very much looked like a much younger girl, not saying a word. She just stood there holding his gaze.

“I’m not doing it, no way.” He said starting to feel a little anxious with her just looking at him and not saying a word. “I mean it.”

“Well if you mean it there is nothing I can do.” Liam felt a moment of relief before she started to walk towards him, his instincts had him taking a few paces back right away. “Stay back!”

There wasn’t much room for him to go and Megan was taking longer strides forward than him back, so when she caught up to him she simply turned Liam to face the door and gave him one hard swat on the ass. “Leah, a good girl never argues or complains. What else is there about being a good girl that you are not doing right now?”

He could feel one of her hands on his shoulder like a vice grip, he tried to pull away but the woman seemed to be as strong as a gorilla or maybe he was starting to come down with something, he did feel awfully weak. He thought that just might be his mind trying to make sense of how strong she was. “Umm.” The lessons had the answer come easily to mind. “A good girl is always obedient.”

“What else.” Megan said, giving his shoulder a tighter squeeze.

“A good girl is seen and not heard?” Liam’s eyebrows pressed together as he thought though each line for the one she might be talking about.

“Are you asking me or telling me?” Liam could almost feel her lips with how close she leaned into him to whisper that question.

“Telling you that I should be seen and not heard.” He said in a small voice, the recent single smack on his rear, reminding him of what would happen if she was upset at him. He knew he absolutely would not be coming back here tomorrow, once he was away from her he would tell his brother about all this crazy stuff. He bet Chuck wouldn’t even believe the clothes she was making him wear today and he was not going to repeat it.

That is how he ended up outside drawing on the driveway a hopscotch grid, jumping around it on one foot, hands out to the sides to keep his balance before he was told to play with the jump rope and was given a song to sing while he did so.

“Butterfly, Butterfly, throws a kiss…” Liam stopped as he missed the jump, the rope hitting him in the leg. His cheeks were red from embarrassment. He needed to do this three times and then his motto three times without missing a jump before he would be allowed back inside. While his thoughts of earlier with his brother not believing what she made him look like he needed to get inside and changed before he arrived. “Butterfly, Butterflyfly, throws a kiss, kiss, kiss, Butterfly, Butter…”

Liam glared at the rope before starting again. “Butterfly, Butterflyfly, throws a kiss, kiss, kiss, Butterfly, Butterfly, get out before you miss, miss, miss.” Liam was sure he had never jumped rope in his life and it was a little more challenging than he had expected. Adding in the rhyme and keeping his voice in this early way while terrified someone was about to stop their car as they drove by and point directly at him as they took a photo.

Making it through the Butterfly chant took a few times of starting and stopping, apparently the rule wasn’t he had to get through each chant three times, but get through all three without missing a jump or he would be starting all over again from square one. The good girl motto ended up being much harder, mostly because it was longer. He was on the third repetition for about the sixth time when the familiar truck pulled up behind Megan’s SUV in the driveway. All thoughts of motto or jumping left Liam’s mind as his eyes went wide. He turned to dart inside the house when he saw Megan stand up from her chair, closing the book she was reading and start heading in his direction.

Megan gave a wave to Charles as he stepped out of his vehicle, then over to Liam. “Leah, we talked about how you should greet your Daddy didn’t we?” Liam gave her a nod, feeling horrified. He expected to be back into his clothes at this point, not standing out in the open. With a swallow Liam looked over at his brother who looked more confused than anything. Then he ran over to him, wrapping his arms around his chest under his arms.

“Daddy, Daddy, I missed you so much. Miss Megan and I had a lot of fun today!” The words made him want to barf as did his brother's expression when he pulled himself out of the hug, keeping his arms on Liam’s shoulder to keep the two separate. “The fuck?” He asked, looking at Liam, before he moved his gaze over to Megan. “The fuck is this?”

“Just your daughter happy to see you, why don’t we go inside so we can talk.”