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Hoisting our babygirl into his arms, Graham bounces her lightly as he shushes her. “It’s all right, angel. You’ll feel so much better once it’s all over.”

“No I won’t!” She wails with such drama I have to cover my mouth with my hand to hide my laughter.

Is it any wonder we’re absolutely wild about her?

“Baby,” I manage to say once I have myself under control. “Can you honestly tell us you don’t deserve to be paddled for lying to us and getting Solene in so much trouble?”

Her gaze slides to her friend and Kerry sighs. “No, Mommy. I deserve it. Paddles are just so big and scary.”

“They can be. But Mommy and Daddy will be right here with you the whole time. Okay?”

“Okay, Mommy.”

“Good girl. Let’s get that diaper off you so we can show you how very, very loved you really are.”

Kerry

I really don’t want a spanking. Especially in front of so many people, and especially not with one of my least favorite implements. There is no doubt in my mind I’m going to cry and carry on like a baby, and the thought of doing so in front of Uncle Max and Dr. Ashcroft is beyond mortifying.

But I also know they’re right and that I won’t feel better until I’ve been punished. I hate that I got Solene in so much trouble with my lies, and I won’t feel as though I’ve earned her forgiveness until my bottom pays the price.

So when Mommy reaches for the tabs on my diaper, I don’t fight her. And when Daddy carries me over to the couch and drapes me over the thickly cushioned arm so that my bare bottom sticks up for everyone to see, I still don’t fight, even though my whole body feels like it’s on fire from the humiliation.

To my surprise and relief though, Mommy and Daddy don’t immediately abandon me to my fate. Mommy sits on the couch directly in front of me, pulling my hands into her lap with one hand while the other strokes my hair.

“You’re such a sweet, brave girl, Kerry. We know this is going to be a very difficult punishment, but you aren’t alone. You’ll never be alone again.”

Those words combined with her presence, help settle some of the anxiety twisting around inside me. “Thank you, Mommy.”

“You’re welcome, sweet girl. Uncle Max is going to go first, and for every swat he gives you, you’re going to repeat the thing he loves most about you. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Mommy. I’m okay, I can do this.”

Daddy crouches beside the couch and taps the tip of my nose with his finger, making me giggle in spite of the circumstances. “We know you can, angel. You’re so big and brave.”

Big and brave. I don’t feel either of those things right now, but I cling to their faith in me as Uncle Max steps up behind me and taps the paddle against my bottom.

“You’ve always been an exemplary employee, Kerry. But that isn’t what I love about you. What has always stood out to me the most is the way you always have a smile for everyone who boards my plane, even when they aren’t necessarily nice to you. So for these five, I want you to say ‘I make people feel welcome’.”

Something hard and heavy slams into my bottom, knocking the air from my lungs. Tears immediately fill my eyes and I have to breathe deep a few times before I can speak.

“I… I make people feel welcome.”

I’m not really sure that’s true. I’ve been so jealous of the other Littles on the island, and I know I could have been nicer sometimes.

The paddle connects with my bottom a second time, and when I try to jerk my hands back to cover myself, I realize Mommy’s position on the couch isn’t only for my comfort. It’s to keep me from putting my hands in the way, and I’m filled with gratitude to have a Mommy and a Daddy who love me enough to protect me from myself.

“I make people feel welcome,” I say, stronger this time.

Three more times Uncle Max paddles me and three more times I repeat his phrase. By the time he hands the paddle off to Auntie Myra, my whole bottom feels swollen and achy but some of the pressure on my chest has eased.

“I’ll be giving you ten, little one,” Auntie Myra says with more warmth than I deserve in her tone. “Five for me and five for Solene. We’ll start with what I love most about you—your laugh.”

Sniffling back tears, I twist my head to look over my shoulder at her. “My laugh?”

“You have an absolutely adorable laugh. And you can always get my Solene to laugh with you, even when she’s in one of her moods. So for this five I want you to say, ‘My laugh brings people joy’.”

Again the paddle slams into my bottom, adding to the ache Uncle Max left behind and fresh tears fill my eyes. “My laugh brings people joy.”