Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
When traveling life’s journey, it’s good to have a friend’s hand to hold on to
Tula
There was nothing better than to be in the arms of the man she loved more than life itself. There was nothing worse than knowing she’d scared him so badly that she could feel his arms trembling around her.
“I’m sorry, Daddy.”
“I just found you, babygirl. I just found you and I almost lost you.”
“But you didn’t. I’m fine and I didn’t mean to scare you.”
He shook his head. “Scare me? Hell, you had to be scared just as much. Tula, when I think about you being under that water, all alone, not knowing if we’d be able to get to you—”
“But that’s just it, I wasn’t afraid. Well, maybe a little when I felt something nibbling on my toes and I couldn’t move my foot to shake it off.”
“Only a little? I was scared shitless.”
“I wasn’t really scared because you told me not to be.
You told me I never need be afraid again because you were there for me.
I kept thinking about you and knew you’d come.
I just had to stay calm and wait.” Despite her desire to soothe him, tears began to course down her cheeks.
“I kept hearing you telling me I was safe, that you’d find me, and you did. ”
He cupped her face in his hands, using the pads of his thumbs to brush the tears off her face. “I always will, babygirl. You can always count on that.”
“I know.” She gave a shaky laugh. “But, Daddy, next time do you think you could come a little faster?”
Tula had to smile when he barked out a laugh and pulled her to him, wrapping his arms tighter around her. “I’d like to say there won’t be a next time, but somehow, I just know that would be a lie. All I can promise is that I’ll come as fast as I can. How does that sound?”
“Good. Really, really good. The only thing that would sound better is to hear you say you know that this was just a little prank and you aren’t going to like… um, spank me or something.”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible,” he said, any trace of amusement evaporating.
“But it was—”
“No, otter. I believe that’s what you intended it to be, what all of your friends thought, but that’s not how it turned out.
Even though you were attentive enough to cover the points on the lures and made sure everyone had two tubes, they weren’t true reeds.
They are candy sticks. They weren’t made to withstand water. ”
“I guess I didn’t think of that,” she said, her voice soft.
He nodded. “They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Let’s compare them. Where’s your second stick?”
A sickening feeling settled in her stomach at the picture he was painting. “I don’t have it. I was using it to whistle but dropped it when my foot slipped and I got stuck. I tried to duck down to find it but—”
“You couldn’t because these aren’t long enough to reach the surface and let you bend over to search, are they?”
She could only shake her head as the possibility of a completely different outcome overcame her.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the stick she’d been using. “Tell me, Tula, how much longer do you think this would have kept you alive beneath the water?”
She looked at the stick. After dropping the first one, she’d been too afraid of losing the second that she hadn’t dared to attempt to use it as a whistle.
This straw was the only thing that allowed her to breathe.
Now, one end had indentations of her teeth despite her trying not to bite down on it.
The other was no longer perfectly circular, but instead, the area she’d made a small notch in was torn, the cardboard fibers badly frayed.
Blinking hard to keep the tears at bay, she slowly lifted her head to look at her Daddy.
The dread now sliding throughout her whole being, she whispered, “Not very long,”
“Not very long,” her Daddy repeated. His eyes had darkened to a deep blue which she’d learned meant he wanted to make sure he got his point across.
“It is only by the grace of God that it lasted long enough for me to find you. Because, if I’d been looking elsewhere, if I hadn’t decided to try to dive under the tree, instead of standing here with you now, I’d be holding your body knowing my soul would never again be whole. ”
“Oh, Daddy,” Tula felt tears begin to slide down her face, her lips trembling as she reached up to brush away the tear that slid down his cheek. “I’m so, so sorry.”
“I know, otter, but what’s important is that you understand why I can’t consider this as just a prank.
This wasn’t a case of glitter bombing the campsite, or exchanging sugar for salt, or even a bit of fibbing to wiggle your way out of a chore.
This was far more serious. You placed yourself in danger and that, little girl, will never fail to have consequences. ”
For the first time, Tula truly understood the reasoning behind a spanking.
It wasn’t a practice done simply to punish someone.
It was an opportunity to seek redemption for a mistake, an error of judgment, a choice to do something without truly considering how it might affect others.
Her heart ached more than her bottom ever could even after a thousand spankings.
“I understand, Daddy, I know I deserve a spanking. I promise, I won’t fuss, and afterward… will you, do you think you can forgive me?”
“I’ve already forgiven you, babygirl. The punishment is to remind you that not only are you forgiven but that your Daddy cares enough to make sure you learn not to ever pull that stunt again. But first, you have apologies to make.”
She knew she owed Master Travis an apology as well. “I know.”
He dropped a kiss on top of her head. “Ready?”
“To go back to camp? Yes. To confess? Well, not so much, but I will.”
“And when it’s all over and done, you’ll find I’m still here.”
“I’m counting on that, Daddy.”
Once back at camp, Tula looked around. She’d expected to be explaining, but not to a huge crowd.
Her Daddy hadn’t mentioned the fact that it wasn’t only Master Travis she’d be making her apology to.
It wasn’t even just Master Derek either as he wasn’t the only Big who’d joined their camp.
No, that would have been too easy. Instead, Tula would be making her speech in front of all the campers’ Mommies and Daddies, not to mention her very own aunt and uncle.
Taking a deep breath, she began. “I can explain…”
“Please do. We’re all ears.”
Though he’d not yelled or even raised his voice, Master Derek had never sounded so disappointed in her as he did now. Nor had he ever looked as imposing as he did standing with his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes locked on her as he waited for her to attempt to explain what had happened.
All she could do was try. “It was meant to be in honor of you, Master Derek. I—”
“We—” Blake corrected.
Tula nodded. “Right. Um, we all would have felt as if we’d failed you in your mission and the spirit of Littles who live or visit here if there hadn’t been a bit of mischief.”
“I can’t wait to hear how you came to that conclusion.”
“Well, you named the session ARK, correct?”
“I approved the name,” Master Derek corrected.
“Um, okay. The point is, you wanted us to experience the river, right?”
“If by experience it you mean putting your lives in danger, then no.”
She flinched. Not at his tone but because he wasn’t the first one to inform her she should have thought of that before the fact, not after it was done.
“You’re right, and I’m really sorry. It wasn’t supposed to turn out this way.
When I tripped trying to walk along that tree, I should have known it was a sign I should reconsider.
Instead, I thought the split would hide me better.
I didn’t know there would be so many branches on the bottom.
They were covered in algae and when I slipped, my foot went out from under me.
If I’d just stayed with the others, I wouldn’t have gotten trapped and—”
The fact that not a sole Big looked pleased with the direction she was going, Tula took a deep breath. “You’re right, Sir. If it helps, Daddy’s already told me I’ll be paying the consequences for putting myself in danger.”
“That’s what I’d expect,” Master Derek said. “As for experiences, I believe there was some hiking, climbing, and riding as well?”
Grateful he’d moved on, Tula nodded. “There was and those were all fun.”
“Then I’m having difficulty understanding how you could consider the session as a failure.”
“Oh, I don’t, camp was great, right guys?”
“Yes! On our hikes, we learned that nature has far more to offer than you’d think if you’d only take time to look,” Everly said.
“And I learned that it’s a lot more fun to climb an actual mountain than a wall,” Chloe said.
Wren smiled. “And while we ride horses at the Ranch and even on the trails, riding up the mountain and galloping across the mesas, well, that was really cool.”
“Exactly, but still we knew those weren’t enough to be worthy. Of the name, I mean.” Tula said. She looked around the group, a bit worried to see that while every Little was nodding, Master Derek and his fellow Bigs looked perplexed.
“Otter, I’m not sure where this is going, but I, for one, am not following,” her Daddy said.
“Camp is officially over tomorrow and none of those Master Derek just mentioned were on the water.”
The response to that revelation was rather disappointing as the Bigs didn’t instantly break into applause, nor did their faces morph from confusion to understanding… much less agreement.
Tula tried again. “I’m not discounting the fact that I was wrong or saying that what happened wasn’t scary for everyone, but please believe me that was never my intention.”
“That we do know, little one. Go ahead,” Master Derek said, his tone softer.
“Thank you, Sir. What I’m trying to say is that great is not awesome”. Turning to her friends, she mouthed, “Help!”