The Unpleasant Punishment    

Everyone was already

Seated at the long tables

In the enclosed

Porch-like dining area

Father called her to

Come to his office

Next to the kitchen

Behind the veranda

Silence as she obeyed

Knowing she was

To be punished for

Climbing the Big Pine

With the ace bandage

Wrapped in a

Figure eight around

Her slight shoulders

Her collarbone felt fine

Climbing trees had been

A forbidden but not

Acquiesced to activity

Father took out the

Karabac* - a piece of

Bungee cord he used to

Enforce discipline

She stood there trembling

Father ordered her to

Yell when he hit the table

With the karabac*

Relieved she yelled

As loud as she could

Yet she still needed

To be punished

Father grabbed the

Brown shoe polish and

Painted her face with

It and iodine

Brown and red streaks

Marked her cheeks    

Warrior style

For over a week

© Alice Vedral Rivera - 2010

* karabac - pronounced carabotch (cara as in cara mia)