The Fishing Trip: The Further Adventures of Fox and Chip

By Pepper

(Main characters: Walter and Joe Skinner, Fox Skinner, and Chip Walker. I want to thank my beta for all of her help in editing this story.)

Walter drove off thinking, "What have I gotten myself in for," glancing at the sleeping boys, "two kids who attract trouble like bees to honey." Then he smiled, he wouldn't have to deal with it alone, and he did have Joe. Surely the two of them could handle two little boys who were magnets for trouble. Well, he concluded, "It will be an interesting trip; and I do have a paddle as insurance against any misbehavior."

He pulled up to his brother's house at 5 a.m. to find him and all of his gear waiting in the driveway. "I didn't want to wake the household", Joe said when Walter got out of the Jeep Cherokee. The boys woke when the dog got up; they were resting their heads on his body. After Joe's gear had been packed and Joe had settled in the front seat, Walter handed him the bag of sausage biscuits and coffee thermos that his mom had sent. "Mom sent this," Walter explained, "She didn't want you to starve before we stop for breakfast." Joe grinned at the explanation and began to eat.

"Uncle Joe, this is my friend Chip," introduced Fox.

"Please to meet you," replied Joe.

"Hi, Uncle Joe," responded Chip. At Joe's surprised expression, Chip added, "Uncle Walt told me to call you that."

"I thought it would be easier all round," explained Walter.

With that, the boys laid their heads back down and went back to sleep. "Nice kid," remarked Joe to Walter, "I hope having him with us will keep Fox out of trouble."

"Don't bet on it, one of the last things Mom told me was that Chip has the same knack for finding trouble as your nephew does."

At that statement, Joe turned around for another look and found the boys looking so angelic as they slept that he muttered, "It should be very interesting indeed." As an afterthought he leaned close to Walter and whispered, "Can we use the same discipline on him as we do on Fox?" At Walter's nod, Joe began to grin, "Then it should be a piece of cake," and settled back to finish his "first" breakfast.

Soon all that could be heard in the jeep was the soft breathing of the sleeping boys and dog, and of Joe consuming his "breakfast". It was too quiet, Walter turned on the radio to assure that he wouldn't be falling asleep.

Several hours later, Walter pulled into the parking lot of a McDonalds. This would be the perfect place to eat another breakfast, to use the restrooms and walk the dog. While the boys were waking up, Walter took the dog out for a mini walk. While Walter was walking the dog and Joe was using the facilities, the boys went to order breakfast.

Fox ordered the first thing that caught his eye, "I want a order of pancakes, hash browns, orange juice." He turned to Chip and told him to order as well. Chip took a little longer to look over the selections and then ordered, "I want a sweet roll, orange juice, a sausage biscuit." When Fox heard sweet roll, he added, "I want one of those, too and a chocolate milkshake", his eye had caught that item on the board of selections. By the time the adults arrived, the boys’ trays were filled. Walter took one look at what Fox ordered and frowned. "Wait a minute boys," and ordered for himself and, after consulting with Joe, for Joe as well. "We will also have two orders of pancakes and orange juice and coffee. May we also have three small paper cups? How much is that order as well as the ones my boys ordered?" He paid for all of it and then they made their way to a larger table and set down.

Before Fox stop him, he grabbed the milkshake and split it four ways. "Let's eat, we have a long way to go." Fox was a very unhappy boy not to have the whole milkshake to himself but he managed to eat everything on his plate, except the sweet roll. Walter looked at Fox and said, "We will take that along with us, one of us is bound to get hungry later. Is everybody ready? Boys use the facilities before we leave and meet us by the jeep."

By the time the boys appeared Joe was in the driver’s seat, relieving Walter for the next leg of the journey. They would do this every 3 to 4 hours to keep the driver fresh during the trip. "Fox, Chip, I want you two to promise me that you will not order without an adult with you again."

"We promise", the boys replied, although it was obvious Fox was not happy with the promise.

Turning back to Joe, Walter muttered softly, "A piece of cake, my eye. We are going to have to keep an eye on those two." With that said, he leaned back in the seat and prepared to get in a nap before it was his turn to drive again.

The boys amused themselves for a while by being the first to spot out-of-state license tags. This didn't last long before they became bored. Walter was awakened by Joe's shout, "Fox, sit back down and fasten that seat belt back." Walter glanced back and saw Fox rummaging through the gear in the back of the jeep. He noticed right away that Fox was ignoring his Uncle's request. "Joe pull over, please, " requested Walter.

As soon as the jeep came to a stop, Walter was out of it and at Fox's door. When the door opened Fox looked into the angry face of his dad and tried to explain. "Dad, I was just looking for our knapsacks, we have games in them. We were bored." Walter pulled Fox from the jeep as he was explaining and escorted him to the wooded area a few yards away. Soon they were out-of-sight of the jeep but not out of hearing range. Although Joe and Chip could not hear the licks being given, they had no trouble hearing Fox's anguished cries. When father and son returned to the jeep, Fox was still crying and rubbing his bottom. Walter returned Fox to his place buckling him into his seat. He then went to the back of the jeep and after looking for a minute returned with two knapsacks which he handed to the boys. He also handed Fox a pillow to sit on so he could be a bit more comfortable on the remainder of the journey. "Now behave," he told both boys, but he was looking directly at Fox.

Fox was still sniffling as the jeep started to pull away and he squirmed a bit trying to find a comfortable position on the pillow to sit but soon his attention was focused on the Gameboy in his hand and after glancing at Chip discovered him playing with his Gameboy as well. Seeing that the boys were entertained, Walter resumed his nap.

The next stop didn't arrive until 3 p.m., when they stopped for a late lunch. This time they stopped at a local hamburger stand. Having learned his lesson from breakfast, Walter went in with the boys while Joe walked the dog and fed him. By the time Joe came in, he found the waitress bringing the food to the table. "I hope you don't mind, I ordered for you," explained Walter.

"No, not in the least," Joe said as he picked up his cheeseburger. He noticed Fox pouting across from him and asked, "What's bothering Fox?"

"He wanted a milkshake and I said, NO, now he is pouting hoping I'll change my mind. What I'm going to change is how I will treat him if he doesn't get that pout off his face and start to eat." Leaning close to Fox and speaking in a low voice, so that no one other than those at this table could hear, "I was going to ignore you, but I'm going to change my mind and give you a spanking right here and now, bare bottom, if you don't start eating RIGHT NOW." Fox took one look at his father's face and picked up his cheeseburger and started to eat with gusto.

When lunch was over with, Walter turned to Joe and asked, "Joe, please pay for this meal, Fox and I need to have a discussion." Turning to Fox he added, "Come with me, son." Fox, filled with trepidation, followed his father out the door and behind the restaurant. When they were out of sight, Walter said, "Fox we need to talk. Now Fox for the next few days we are going to be in pretty close company so you need to behave. I know that you want to do things your way but that’s not possible and unless you want to have a close encounter with my hand to your bottom I would keep that in mind. Just remember how uncomfortable it is to sit on a sore bottom. We still have a way to go before we reach the cabin. I want this trip to be enjoyable for you and Chip. I want to be able to spend some quality time with my son so please THINK before you act. Okay?"

Fox nodded, jumped up and gave his Dad a hug, which was instantly returned. It was a more relaxed Fox who accompanied his Father back to the jeep.

Walter climbed into the driver's seat, and with everyone in place, the trip was resumed. Fox was quick to sit once again on the pillow. He had missed it while eating the hamburger and eagerly sat back down. "Ahhhh," he sighed contentedly. He buckled up before his Dad had a chance to remind him and picked his Gameboy back up to continue the game.

The next stop came when they had to get gas. It gave the boys time to stretch their legs and once again use the facilities. When they returned Fox and Chip walked Yoda and gave him a drink of water while the adults took their turn in the restrooms and picking up some snacks, bottled water and soft drinks. Walter and Joe changed places once again. This went on for the rest of the journey until they finally pulled into a family style restaurant in Twin Mountain, N. H., the town close to where their cabin was located.

After a home-style meal of chicken and dumplings with string beans and for dessert, peach cobbler, they were ready to go the last leg. Before leaving the restaurant they asked and received directions to the nearest grocery store. They got there in time to get only the necessities, milk, orange juice, bacon, eggs, bread, tea bags and coffee. They would return tomorrow to finish their shopping.

It was an hour later when they finally pulled up to the cabin. With everyone helping the jeep was soon unloaded and four weary people and one dog made their way to their rooms. Tonight they would be sleeping in their sleeping bags, but tomorrow they would be making the beds with sheets, pillowcases and blankets.

Walter and Joe were asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow. The boys stayed up for a few minutes more. They had something important to discuss. This was they first chance they had to really discuss it in private.

"Did you mail it?" asked Fox in a low voice.

"Yes, it went out in yesterday's mail along with a letter I sent to mom. Wal Mart should be getting it by Monday or Tuesday at the latest. I waited until the last minute to be sure granddad wouldn't find out."

"Did you put all the money in it?"

"Yes, I put in two ten dollar bills."

"And did you remember to put the letter I wrote, explaining that it was payment for the slingshot we took last week, in it?"

"YES, I remembered everything…now relax will you and lets go to bed."

"Then we are in the clear. Goodnight, Chip."

"Goodnight, Fox"

Everybody slept in the next morning and breakfast wasn't served until near 9:30. Joe cooked a big skillet of scrambled eggs and some bacon for everybody. He brewed a pot of coffee for himself and Walt. The kids had milk with their breakfast and they all had orange juice as well.

While Joe was cooking, Walt went to wake the boys.

This proved to be easier than he thought when they got right up. He left the boys to dress and took Yoda for a walk . They would be leaving him at the cabin while they did their grocery shopping. Walt also fed Yoda when he came back in. Soon they were all seated at the table and eating. There was little conversation, all were eager to get going.

Fifteen minutes later they left the cabin and piled into Walt's Jeep Cherokee for the journey to the grocery store. When they pulled into the local grocery store, a Shop & Save Market at Lancaster, New Hampshire, Walt had already warned the kids to obey or else. He didn't have to explain what he meant by "or else" they both interpreted it quite well. Upon entering the store Walt again admonished them," Now boys I had better not hear of you two getting into any trouble." He got two solemn promises to behave. They went their separate ways. Joe and Walt each got a shopping cart and they began to fill them with everything they should need to eat well this week. The boys wandered off towards the magazine rack.

The first thing Fox saw was a sign stating, "If you want to read the magazines, you must purchase them first." Fox rationalized that the comic books weren't magazines and they settled back to read the comics to their heart's content. Unfortunately for Fox and Chip the store manager came by some time later to see the mess they had made. They were sitting in a middle of read comics that had just been thrown down.

"I guess you boys didn't understand the sign," he said nicely, trying to keep from exploding.

"Oh, Yes sir," replied Fox. The sign said not to read magazines unless they are to be purchased first. We aren't reading magazines, we are reading comic books," making sure he answered sincerely.

"They are the same thing," the manager said taking an instant dislike to the dark hair boy. Boy, wouldn't he like to take a hand to his backside. "Now get up and pick those comic books up and hand them to me."

Fox and Chip got up and quickly gathered the comics and gave them to the man who had fussed at them. Fox and Chip left muttering to themselves on how they didn’t know they were doing anything wrong. They spoke louder than they meant to and mentioned on how mean the store manager seemed to be for jumping on them like that.

The manager hadn’t liked being called mean and decided to keep an eye on the boys to be sure they didn’t misbehave further. He followed them making them nervous and they accidentally bumped into a display of cans. They hurried to pick them up only to have the manager there, fussing at them again.

Walt and Joe shopped on not knowing that "their" boys were in any trouble. Fox and Chip were angry with the manager for constantly picking on them. He was blaming them for anything bad happening in his store. He was hoping that they would soon lead him to their parents so he could get them in trouble and punished.

The next aisle the boys ran by was the one stocked with Coca-Cola and Pepsi products. There was a sign advertising a contest and the possibility of free drinks. The prize was printed in the inside of the caps.

Fox looked at Chip and remarked, "This would be a great way to get back at that store manager for blaming us for everything going wrong in his store. I mean if we are going to be blamed for something let’s at least get something out of it. This way we can get some free soda."

Fox looked at Chip and Chip looked back and they began to swiftly unscrew several of the 16oz. coke bottles. They also checked the 2 liter bottles. They found several and hid the opened bottles behind the unopened bottles. They stopped when they found one free Coca-Cola top each and went up to the checkout to get their "free" pop.

The manager was suspicious of the boys when they arrived with a free soda bottle cap each and backtracked to the Coca-Cola display and finally discovered the opened bottles. He had no proof that these two had been the ones to do this but as before decided to blame them for it anyhow. He couldn’t wait for the parents to arrive and took matters in his own hands by picking up the microphone and making the a store wide announcement. "Would the parents of two boys, one with black hair and the other with blond hair, please come to the front of the store immediately."

As soon as Joe and Walt heard the descriptions they made their way towards the checkout area and the first thing that caught their eyes was the store manager holding on to the arms of Fox and Chip. They left their carts under the watchful eyes of the head cashier and moved towards the manager.

Both boys immediately found the floor extremely interesting. Walt walked up to the store manager and asked, "What did they do?" The manager was more than happy to tell him and Joe everything the boys had done from the point of reading the comics and being rude to him to the knocked over display, which he implied that he witnessed. He finished his story with the problems in the Coca-Cola products. He produced the bottle caps the boys were attempting to redeem. He told Walt and Joe about the bottles they opened even if their caps were not removed.

After listening to the store manager Walter asked, "Fox, Chip did you do what he said?"

Fox answered for them both, "Only the part about the Coca-Cola bottle tops."

"Go get in the car. We will settle this at home." The boys ran for the car. They had been so afraid that they were going to be punished then and there.

Walt turned back to the manager, "Mr. Wright, I apologize for their behavior and they will be punished for the Coca-Cola incident."

"What about the rest of it," Mr. Wright really wanted the boys to be punished for everything.

Walter replied, "They didn’t admit to those things. You must be mistaken about their involvement in them. Now if you will excuse us, we need to continue our shopping." He had taken an instant dislike for the man. He was a good judge of character and he felt in his heart that this store manager was making a mountain out of a molehill. He would get to the bottom of it only after he had a long a talk with the boys. Walter joined his brother and resumed their shopping. They hurriedly finished and left the store. They would not be returning here to shop.

When they finally returned to the car, both Fox and Chip were pale and silent, sitting straight up with their seat belts fastened. Joe and Walt loaded the jeep and made a point to speak to the boys in an effort to relieve the tension. "Fox, Chip it is all right. You made a mistake and we will discuss it when we return to the cabin but until then lighten up." After that Fox and Chip calmed down a bit. They were sure they would be punished for the Coca-Cola incident but now knew that they could talk to the adults about the rest of the manager’s complaints.

When they finally arrived, Joe told them, "Boys, we could use your help in unloading the jeep then we will discuss what happened today and what you shouldn’t have done." The boys eagerly jumped to help. It was only moments later that all of the supplies were unloaded and put up. The boys were directed to find a seat on the couch and wait for them.

Walt and Joe came in moments later carrying a cup of hot chocolate for the both of them. They had realized immediately that the boys were in need of some comfort food. After waiting for the boys to take a sip Walt cleared his throat and asked, "Fox, why don’t you start it off by telling me what happened today."

Fox took another swallow of hot chocolate before starting, "Dad we were reading comic books at the magazine stand when the store manager came up and started to fuss at us. He snidely remarked that we must not have read the sign over the magazines that stated not to read the magazines if we were not going to purchase them. I told him that we weren’t reading magazines only comic books. He said that it was the same thing and to pick up our mess and go. We obeyed him immediately and remarked among ourselves that we thought he was mean to pick on us like that since we hadn’t known the comic books were considered magazines."

Fox paused to take another swallow of hot chocolate and while he was swallowing Chip picked up the story. "Uncle Walt, that store manager followed us so close behind that it made us nervous and in trying to avoid him we accidentally knocked over a display of canned goods. As soon as we saw what we had done we rushed to pick up the cans only the manager got there first and yelled at us. It was an accident…honest, Uncle Walt."

Fox picked the story back up then. "Dad, when we saw the Coca-Cola display advertising the free soda we thought that this would be an ideal place to get back at the store manager. He was still picking up the cans so we hurriedly opened some of the Coca-Colas and looked for the bottle caps offering the free soda. We stopped as soon as we found one bottle top offering the free soda and took it up to redeem it.

The manager looked at us suspiciously as we redeemed the caps and disappeared. When he returned he went straight to the microphone and made that announcement that alerted you and Uncle Joe."

"Is that the truth Fox? Chip?" Asked Walt.

The boys nodded. "You admit to the Coca-Cola incident, right?" Again the boys nodded. "Finish your hot chocolate and we will get back to you," said Walter as he and Joe left the room. They talked among themselves and came to the same conclusion…the boys were guilty of the Coca-Cola incident only and that would be the only thing they would be punished for.

The boys were nervous when Joe and Walter returned.

"Fox, Chip we have decided to spank you for what you have done, and before we start let me tell you that your grandfather gave us permission to spank you on this trip if needed, Chip." Chip nodded, he had figured as much. "Chip go with Uncle Joe and Fox you stay with me." Chip followed Joe into their room and Fox stayed where he was. Before continuing Walter locked Yoda up in the store room and then sitting down in a straight back chair he motioned for Fox to join him. Fox slowly made his way to his father, knowing what was coming next. His Dad told him to lower his pants and briefs and to get over his lap.

"Fox William…why are you getting this spanking?"

"For removing the bottle caps of bottles without first buying them." Walt was satisfied that Fox knew why he was going to be punished and began to smack his son’s bottom. He started to heat his son’s bottom and turned it a bright red in a matter of minutes. Fox tried to keep from crying out at first but soon found himself sobbing as his backside began to burn. Walt focused the last few to his son’s sit spot before finishing for good.

Walt pulled his sobbing son up from his lap and enveloped him in loving hug. As soon as he felt his father's arms around him he returned the hug and laid his head against his father's chest and cried. He stayed that way until he calmed down. His bottom hurt too much to pull up his pants so he decided to stay bottomless until the pain receded a bit and fled to his room to find Chip with his red bottom on display, crying. He knew from experience that his Uncle Joe spanked hard, too. Fox threw himself on his bed and stayed there until his Dad and Uncle Joe returned.

"Boys, Joe and I were thinking that you two need to write a letter of apology to the store manager for the Coca-Cola incident. Be sure to explain that you have learned not to ever do anything like that again and why it was wrong for you to do it. Paper and ink pens are awaiting you on the kitchen table, so get a move on. The sooner you start the sooner you’ll be done.

Fox and Chip nodded and made their way out to the kitchen to write their letters of apologies. Walt and Joe had to stifle a laugh when Fox and Chip came out of their rooms dragging a pillow behind them. Their bottoms were still a bright red and they looked so repentant as they came into the room.

Walt went to Fox and Joe to Chip and led them to opposite ends of the dinning table and each taking a pillow placed the pillows on the chairs, then each boy was placed on their pillow. It was quite a sight to behold: two red bottoms sitting on white pillowcase. Each were provided with paper and a pen and told to begin.

There was a lot of squirming by the boys as they tried to find a comfortable position. In between the squirming they boys wrote and after much thought they eagerly jumped down from the chairs and still rubbing their bottoms with one hand while holding the letters out with the other. Walt and Joe picked up the letters and began to read, both letters were similar as they expressed that the need for revenge wouldn’t be repeated ever again. They apologized for their action with the Coca-Cola incident and that they had been spanked for it. They asked to be forgiven and signed their names to the bottom of their letter.

Joe and Walt looked at each other and said, "Okay boys, tomorrow you will deliver these letters and stay while they are read. You can return to your rooms and put your pants back on, although watching you sit red bottomed on those white pillows is a sight we won't be forgetting for some time."

The boys fled back to their rooms with their faces as red as their bottoms. They stayed there until lunch was called. When they returned to the table their places were easily found. Theirs were the place with a pillow in the chair seat. They were wearing only sweatpants, no underwear, because they were the softest things they could find to wear.

Both boys hissed when their sore bottoms met pillow covered padded chairs. They were served sandwiches with potato chips and a glass of cold milk.

"Boys, we’re going fishing. You can come with us or stay here. Think about it during lunch and let us know what you want to do."

As soon as lunch was over Fox turned to his dad and asked, "Will we be sitting?" He was answered with a nod. "Then if you don't mind, I think I will stay here and recover. Is it okay if I walk around and not stay in the cabin?"

"Okay Fox you stay and recover. And yes you can walk around. Just don't go too far. I'm going to TRUST you to obey me. Now Chip, what about you?"

"I'll stay with Fox, sir."

With that settled Walt and Joe left the boys, "We will be back before dark and hopefully we will be eating freshly caught trout for supper. If you don't mind, make us a big salad to go along with the fish, boys and put it in the refrigerator before you go out. Other than that have a good and SAFE time."

Fox and Walt watched the adults leave and policed the cabin washing then drying the dishes and utensils before taking the lettuce, celery, tomatoes out of the refrigerator. They threw them together in a big bowl and covered it with Saran Wrap and put it in the refrigerator to cool for supper. They then went out to explore. For protection they took their slingshots with the marbles ammunition.

Fox had acquired his slingshot by paying an older boy into purchasing it for him. He had been too young to purchase such a powerful weapon, although by the time Chip appeared on the scene Fox had been forced to use a more unlawful method to acquire one for his friend…he had stolen it. Fox’s Dad and granddad had built him an Arcade to use the slingshot with but the older slingshots had not been powerful enough for Fox so he had a way to get a better one. Now they had the slingshots with them for protection as they hiked around the cabin area.

After a while they came upon a swift moving stream, the water looked so cool that they waded out into it. They stopped when it came to their waist. It felt so good against their red and sore bottoms that they stayed until the pain was numb. They didn’t leave the river until their teeth were chattering and they were shivering. They continued their hike without first returning to the cabin for dry clothes.

While the boys walked, hoping their pants would dry, their letter containing the explanation and money arrived at Wal Mart. It was given to the store manager, Mr. Jim Strong, who upon reading it went investigate.

First he went to the department in question and asked the clerk on duty if he remembered two small boys in his area on the day of question. The clerk looked at him and said that there were always boys in his area and he couldn’t even come close to describing them.

The manager went to check the security tapes for the last week. It was a slow process and it took nearly the whole week before he happened upon the tape containing Fox stealing the slingshot. That kid looked familiar to him and with a copy of boy’s picture he took it around the store until someone told him who the boy was and how he could be located. It was days before he was able to get a hold of the boy’s grandfather.

It was starting to get dark when the boys returned. Their pants were still damp and only then did they take them off and dry off and put on dry ones on in their place. They put the same color sweatpants on so their folks wouldn't know about them getting the others wet. They were scared that it might be interpreted as doing something that might earn them another spanking.

They were setting the table when Walt and Joe returned. The men were extremely tired and excited. They had a good afternoon fishing and were quite successful. They brought home the limit. They had cleaned the fish at the docks and were ready to fry their catch. While one started the frying the other grabbed a quick shower and change of clothes. When he was clean he changed places with his brother. By the time supper was ready both fishermen were clean and ready to eat. They also fried some tater tots and with the salad and ice tea they were ready to eat.

Walt and Joe looked so much more relaxed than they had earlier and they ruffled the boys' hair and asked if they had a nice afternoon exploring. "Oh, yes sir. It is so pretty out here. We saw the prettiest mountain stream flowing just about a mile from here. It looked so cool and inviting."

Before they could continue their recitation Walt broke in and said, "beautiful mountain stream? Don't go in the streams; they are too cold to wade in at this time. You can catch a chill if you get too wet. Where else did you two go?"

When his father said that Fox glanced quickly at his friend and the look they gave each other said, 'don't tell' and Fox just avoided the topic of the stream and continued telling of the animals and flora they had seen. "When it started to get a little dark we came back."

"Tomorrow we will all go on a float down the river and fish along the way. Now eat up," and they began to eat everything.

They spent the rest of the evening playing some of the board games they thought to bring along. They played "Sorry" until both boys began to yawn. They were sent off to bed. Joe and Walt entered to tuck them in and tell good night before turning in them selves.

It was about midnight that Yoda woke Walt. As soon as he realized who had waken him he hurried to their bedroom. What he found was two sick little boys. They were burning up and their teeth were chattering. "Joe get in here and bring mamma's medicine bag. The boys are sick," Walt yelled.

Joe hurried in with the bag their mother had packed for emergencies. After rummaging through the bag Joe pulled out two rectal thermometers and his mother's medical notebook. In the notebook were the symptoms and cures for several ailments. He also pulled out a jar of Vaseline and several bags containing tea leaves marked lemon balm or catnip, a bottle of children’s Bayer aspirin, children’s and adult’s cough syrup and a bottle of honey.

Walt was checking Fox for insect bites and Joe followed suit. They could find nothing. "I wonder what brought this on. I know they were okay when we left to go fishing. Just what did they get into while on their own," Walt turned as Yoda came in dragging Fox's sweat pants behind him. Walt went over and felt the garment and it was still damp. He then went to Fox and shook him and gently asked, "Fox, baby did you get wet this afternoon?" Fox looked at his father with eyes fill with fever and nodded. "Baby, what happened?"

"The cool stream looked so inviting that we waded in up to our

waists. It felt so good on our red and sore bottoms."

"Baby, how long did you stay in the water?"

"Until our bottoms were numb and our teeth were chattering. I'm sorry daddy." < Fox felt so bad that he unconsciously returned to the language he used when he was younger >

"That's okay baby. We'll help you feel better soon. I have one more question, baby. Did you come back immediately afterwards and change into dry clothes?"

"Noooooo, we thought our pants would dry on their own."

"Joe, go get the Vaseline out and let's take their temperature. Their teeth are chattering so hard we are going to have to use the rectal thermometers." They approached their patients with the lubricated thermometers in their hands. Walt went to Fox and Joe went to Chip.

As soon as Fox realized what was in his father's hand he struggled to get away but was too weak, thanks to the fever. Walt had no trouble lowering his son's pajama pants and rolling him on his side. He gently inserted the thermometer as Fox cried "Nooooo." Fox continued to cry, "I'm sorry dad, and I won't do it again, and please take it out."

This troubled Walt. He walked around so he could face Fox and said, "Fox, I'm not using the rectal thermometer as punishment. Your teeth are chattering too hard for me to use anything else. Now calm down and I'll be removing it in a few minutes." True to his word 2 minutes later Walt was removing the thermometer and peering at the temp. It was 102 and he knew he had to get the temperature down. While Joe was checking Chip's temp, Walt was reading what his mom had wrote about treating fevers. The first thing he did was to take out he bottle of children’s aspirin and give both boys the recommended dose. The aspirin was orange flavored so both took them easily.

Walt then stripped his son of his pajama top and pulled off all the covers except for the top sheet and one blanket from the bed. He laid Fox on his back and disappeared into the kitchen to get a container of water and washcloths. He carefully but thoroughly began to wash his son's body with the wet rag; in this way he was cooling the body. Soon Joe was doing the same for Chip. After trying this for 30 minutes Walt returned with the thermometer and retook Fox's temperature. Fox still didn't like it but he didn't protest it this time.

This time when Walt removed the thermometer he learned that Fox's temp had gone down a few degrees. He went over to the medical bag and removed some rubbing alcohol and treated the soles of Fox's feet, his wrists and the palms of his hands. Joe once again mirrored his brother's actions with Chip. "Joe watch them I'm going to brew a pot of mom's lemon balm tea. Mom says that a few cups of this should break the fever. I'll sweeten it with the honey and bring a cup for Chip as well as for Fox. I'll be back soon. Call me if you need me."

With Joe looking after both boys, Walt made his way into the kitchen taking his mom's bag of lemon balm leaves with him. After what seemed like hours to Joe, Walt finally returned bearing the tea. He gave one cup to Joe while taking the other to Fox. He first pulled Fox to him as he sat down, cradling Fox to his chest. Once he had Fox situated he lifted the cup to his son's lips. "Drink baby, it will help you feel better. Fox took a tentative sip and found that it was good and drank some more. Walt coaxed Fox into drinking more and more until the tea was gone. He then held his son as he did when he was younger and sick. Soon Fox had drifted back to sleep and Walt returned him to his bed. He looked over to Chip and found him also in bed with Joe keeping vigil over him. It was going to be a long night.

6 o'clock finally came with everybody still in the boys’ room. Both Walt and Joe had fallen asleep in the chairs next to the boys' bed and Yoda was lying beside Fox's bed. Walt and Joe had been up every 4 hours to give the boys more aspirin and to bathe their bodies with the cool water. Every time they checked their temperatures they had found that they had been steadily going down.

At Fox's first movement Yoda was on his feet and whining. It was the whining that woke Walt and he quickly felt his son's forehead. It was considerably cooler. His movement also woke Joe who was checking Chip's temperature, too. At Joe's smile Walt knew that Chip's temperature had resided during the night. Walt pulled Fox to him and discovered that he was wet and cool to the touch. The fever must have broken sometime between 4 a.m. and 6. "Fox's fever has broken; what about Chip's?" At Joe's nod he continued, "We have to get them out of these wet pajamas and dry them off. We can change the sheets afterwards."

While his father was stripping his pajamas off of him, Fox woke up and was embarrassed to find that he wasn't wearing any clothes. "Dadddd," he cried as he struggled to cover himself.

"Hush, baby. Your fever has broken. All I am doing is getting you out of these wet pajamas and drying you off." Walt hurried to dry Fox off and put him in his own bed. He didn't have time at the moment to dress him and just put him under the covers nude. Fox snuggled under the covers and Yoda jumped on top. He would guard him. Soon Fox was feeling warm and drowsy and drifted off to sleep. Chip was put in Joe's bed and soon he too was asleep.

Walt and Joe were quick to strip the beds and check to see if they had gotten wet when the fever broke. They were a little damp in places and it was decided to let them dry out first. Since they had gotten little sleep Walt and Joe elected to sleep in shifts so some one would be awake if needed. Joe said he would take the first watch and he would wake Walt in a few hours.

Walt went over to his suitcase and removed two of his T-shirts and with little help from the boys dressed them in his T-shirts. They would make good nightshirts for the boys. That accomplish he got into bed with Fox and cuddle the boy to his chest and went to sleep.

While his older brother was sleeping Joe used the time to call and check in with his parents. He told of his and Walt's fishing the day before and then broke the news of the fever the boys got from wading in a cold stream and keeping cold and wet clothes on but the fever had broken just a couple of hours ago and everything seemed to be all right now. Walt was sleeping at the moment and in a few more hours he would be changing places with him.

Rachel told her son that it wouldn't be a bad idea to get as much vitamin C down their throats as they could and since they had bought plenty of orange juice just the day before Joe agreed to as soon as they awoke. Rachel also reminded them that if they continued to cough to treat them with the cough syrup she had packed. She warned him that although the cough syrup was an excellent one for curing the cough it had a strong and disagreeable taste. She wished him luck into getting it down their throats. Joe assured his mom not to worry that he would take care of everything. "Tell Walt to call when he awakes, and goodbye son. I love you."

By the time Walt woke up Joe was more than ready for his time in the sack. Joe told his brother what their mother had said and before he left to go to bed he said, "Oh, by the way call mom." He then went in to check on the boys and found them still sleeping soundly. He carefully picked up Chip and moved him over to sleep with Fox. He then got in his own bed and was asleep by the time his head hit the pillow.

Walt had a long talk with his mom and got the same instructions for treating the boys as Joe had.

Walt used the time wisely while Joe and the boys slept. He baked a chicken and Joe swore that it was the scent of the bird cooking that woke him. He came out of the room trying to rub the sleep from his eyes, and then turned those accusing eyes upon his brother. "Walt, why did you fix something that smelled so good. I didn't finish sleeping."

"Joe, you can always have an after dinner nap, now come in here and help me. You can make us a salad. Just make it for yourself and me. The boys won't feel like eating much more than some chicken and rice. I think that they have had enough sleep. Let's wake them and give them their first dose of cough syrup. Mom packed some. I pulled it out of the bag and it is sitting on the counter. Get two teaspoons and we will give them a dose before they are fully awake."

Joe grabbed the bottle while Walt grabbed two teaspoons and so armed went to wake the boys. Walt decided to help Joe with Chip and then Joe could help him with Fox.

"Chip, son, its time for you to wake up," called Joe as he gently shook him. Chip struggled to wake up and just as he was opening his eyes he saw a teaspoon of something before his mouth. "Baby, this will help you get over your cough. Now open your mouth," Joe cajoled him and Chip obediently opened his mouth. Joe was quick to empty the spoon and step back. Chip came fully awake as he tasted what was in his mouth, but before he could spit it out Walt covered his mouth and stroked his throat and he swallowed.

With one down and one to go they moved on to Fox. All of the steps were repeated and they almost got away with getting Fox to open up when Chip yelled, "Don't do it Fox. It is nasty. Fox closed his mouth just in the nick of time.

Walt turned towards Chip and growled, "Chip, that wasn't nice. He's going to have to take it, too. Your warning is going to make it harder."

"Now Fox, your Gram says that you have to take this and you know what happens when you disobey her. Now open your mouth!!"

Fox stubbornly shook his head. Walt nodded to Joe and Joe held his nose. Fox opened his mouth a minute later unable to hold his breath any longer. As soon as the mouth had opened Walt emptied the spoon in his son's mouth. Walt immediately covered Fox's mouth and once again stroked his son's throat making him swallow. "Ugh, Dad. That is awful," and began to try and get the taste out of his mouth.

"I know, son. Your Uncle and I remember it all too well. Now you two have slept enough. Joe and I are going to help you up so you can eat a little something.

While Walt was talking with the boys, Joe was fixing their lunches. He first cut the chicken into bite size pieces and gave them each a spoonful or two of rice. He poured a little of the drippings on the rice and brought one plate and then the other to the boys' room. He went back for cups of warm tea and the utensils. He took the food and drink to Chip while leaving the other food and drink with his brother. They each took up a fork and began to feed their individual charge. All Chip and Fox had to do was open their mouths and take the food offered. They ate about half of what was on their plates. They did drink all of the warm tea. The effort of eating completely exhausted them and they went back to sleep.

After feeding the boys the men returned to the kitchen table to have their own lunch. Before sitting down to finish his lunch, Walter put food down for Yoda.

They saved the food from each of the boy's plate to give to them when the next got hungry.

As soon as they finished eating they policed the area and went into the family room to watch a little TV and take a nap. They knew that if the boys needed them Yoda would wake them. It was during the time that Walter and Joe were sleeping that Fox woke. He staggered into the bathroom to use the facilities and found the bottle of cough syrup and remembering that they were to be dosed with the vile stuff whenever they needed it and decided to get rid of it. He carefully unscrewed the top and poured it down the lavatory in the bathroom. When he saw that it only contained a little in the bottom he carefully positioned it so that it looked like it had been accidentally knocked over and emptied into the sink. He placed the top in the sink, so it would look like the top hadn't been screwed on tight and when it feel it had slipped off. His bottom was still sore and he didn't want another spanking but he just couldn't take any more of that cough syrup

.

He then returned to his bed and went back to sleep relishing in the notion that the cough syrup was gone. With that happy thought in mind he promptly went back to sleep.

When Walter awoke he went to check on the boys and seeing that the cough syrup wasn’t handy started to search for it before remembering that he left it in the bathroom. Walt thought that he returned the bottle to the bathroom. He remembered being in a hurry at the time, so he wasn't completely sure that it was there. He walked in and the first thing he saw was a bottle lying into the sink and looking closely discovered that it must have fallen and since the top wasn't screwed on real tight it must have come loose when the bottle fell and the liquid had been lost. Peering into the bottle he saw that there was only enough for one boy to get the full dose. He decided to half the dose between them. As he reached to pick it up he hard coughing coming from the boys’ room and seeing that there was only enough for two doses decided to treat them with what was left. Taking the bottle into the boys' room. The boys were awake and coughing. "Fox, Chip there is only enough for one spoonful each and then we will have to get some more. Chip opened his mouth knowing it would do no good to protest, although by then the coughing was so bad that he would have tried anything to stop.

Fox’s turn came next and although he too, didn’t like the taste he opened his mouth to take it and stop the cough. Once that was accomplished, Fox and Chip were left to their own devices and the men left. They went back to sleep. It was later in the day that Walter decided that the boys needed to take a bath and to put on clean clothes. He went to run a bath for Fox. After Fox it would be up to Joe to help bathe Chip.

Walter went into the bathroom to run a bath for Fox. He noticed the bathroom still smelled of strong tasting cough syrup and made a mental note for Joe to pick up some air freshener when they went for more cough syrup. Once he had a warm tub full of water he went to wake Fox. He knew that he would have a fight on his hands; it was always a struggle to get Fox to bathe. "Fox, son, wake up. It's time for your bath." Just as he thought Fox woke up protesting that he didn't need a bath.

"Dad, I don't need a bath. I'm not dirty," whined Fox. His father paid him no heed. He just picked him up and carried him into the bathroom where he had no trouble stripping off his T-shirt and plopping him into the warm water. He even picked up the washcloth and proceeded to give his son a thorough bath, even washing his hair. He picked up a clean towel and began to dry him. When he was dried Walter picked him up and carried him back to his bed. This time he dropped his naked child back on his own bed and left him to scramble into clean clothes.

Walter returned to the bathroom to pick up his mess and put the T-shirt, wet towel and washcloth together to clean later. He pushed it to one side until Joe added his lot to the load. He emptied the tub and then started to fill it back up with clean water for Joe to use on Chip. As he was heading out he called, "Joe? It's your turn. The tub is full of clean warm water."

Soon he heard the sounds of laughter coming from the bathroom. He smiled, it would seem that Joe was having a better time of bathing his charge than he had with Fox. About 15 minutes later Joe came out carrying a basket full of wet towels and dirty clothes. Once he brought the basket out a strong smell of the cough syrup invaded the kitchen. That got their attention right away and after going through the clothesbasket they discovered the T-shirt Fox had been wearing. It had the tell-tell sign of cough syrup on it.

"That little scamp, must have spilled some of the syrup while he was pouring it down the drain. He positioned the bottle so we would think that one of us had spilled it," chuckled Walt.

"Are you going to spank him?" Asked Joe.

"No, I would have done the same at his age if I thought I could have gotten away with it. Don’t you remember using the same kind of cough syrup when we were young, and don’t you remember the bad taste." At Joe’s nod Walt did mention that he was going to have to talk to him about pouring good medicine down the drain only because of the bad taste.

Joe got the dirty laundry packed and a list of other supplies and then left. After their bath both boys weren't sleepy and wanted to get up for a while. Walt helped them to move into the living room and found something interesting on the TV that they could watch. It didn't take long before both boys were back asleep.

Walt left them to rest while he fixed them some more chicken with rice. He sat their places at the table before awaking them. Once they were awake the table was set with their dinner. The boys were ravenous and ate every bite. They returned to the couch and watched some TV. It was about an hour later that Joe returned.

Walt helped him carry in the supplies. Joe handed Walt a bottle of cough syrup and said, "The pharmacist recommended this. He said it was just as good as the stuff Mom packed only this was just for kids and had a pleasant cherry taste. Fox and Chip should take it willingly.

Walt turned to the boys and said, "Uncle Joe brought you some more cough syrup but this one has a pleasant cherry taste to it. He checked with the pharmacist and this one is as good as the other but made for children. I don’t want to see it disappear down the drain like the other one did...Fox!"

Fox blushed, knowing that his Dad found out that he was the guilty party and got up and walked over to his Dad and whispered, "I’m sorry Dad. That other stuff was so strong and tasted so bad that I only wanted it gone. Are you going to spank me?"

Walt’s reply was to grab his son and sit in a nearby rocking chair and cuddle him. "No, I’m not going to spank you, you showed more gumption than your uncle or me. When we were young we talked about doing the same only weren’t brave enough to actually carry it out. Although…just because the medicine is nasty tasting doesn’t give you leave to pour it down the drain. The cough syrup does work at stopping coughs. What you didn’t know was that we were going to get some more when next we went into town. It was at hand so we used it."

Fox always felt so safe in his father's arms, and Walt loved to cuddle his son. He had thought that Fox thought himself to be to old to cuddle, it was nice to know that this wasn't so.

Joe had brought back clean clothes as well as some treats for them all. He had potato chips, Coca-Cola and cookies. He felt they all needed some junk food to make things happier. He even brought some steaks to grill. "Walt, let's grilled the steaks once the boys have recovered from the worse of the coughing. Walt agreed and the steaks were put in the refrigerator for later.

It was only after a couple of days of taking the cough syrup before the worse of the coughing came to an end. They continued to cough but only early in the day and later in the night, after a day of activity. Walt and Joe felt that all they needed now was a good piece of meat to get them back on their feet. "You know Walt, Mom and Dad used to give us steak after we had recovered from a illness. She always felt that getting some red meat inside of us helped get us back on our feet. I always looked forward to the steak at the end of each illness I had. These boys will feel the same."

While the boys were resting Joe and Walt got everything needed for a good supper. The marinated the steaks all afternoon and scrubbed four big potatoes, which he put into the oven an hour before he would grill the steaks. Joe prepared a big salad and brought out the chocolate cake he had picked up in town the day before. Joe didn't even forget Yoda, while at the butchers selecting the steaks he requested a big knucklebone to be prepared. It even had a large portion of meat attached to it. Yoda would be given his treat as the family sat down for supper.

Joe put the steaks on while Walt set the table and then they let the smells of the grilling steak bring the boys to the table. Fox's eyes really lit up when he saw the cake. "Dad, what's for supper, Chip and I are starved?"

"Fox and Chip, my lads Joe and I have a real treat in store for you. We knew you two would be hungry after your recovery from the coughing spells and fever etc, so Joe is grilling steaks, there are baked potatoes in the oven and chocolate cake for dessert, and a tall glass of milk for the both of you. So if you are ready find a seat and your supper will be brought to you. One request though, wait until we are all seated and the blessing is said before you start."

Just before sitting ant the table with the rest of the family, Joe got the bone out of the refrigerator and handed it to Yoda. Then he sat down and they are joined hands for the blessing.

Soon they were too busy eating to talk much, and the food just disappeared. Fox didn't stop until he was eating the small slice of cake his Dad had given him.

The boys ate as if they hadn't eaten for days and Joe and Walt had to make sure they didn't over eat and get stomachaches.

After such a good supper everybody slept wonderfully. Walt and Joe decided to wait an extra day before taking the boys fishing, so they would have the extra day to grow stronger. Walt and Joe made sure the boys rested and ate and drank plenty of orange juice to build them up for the day of fishing the next day. They played games with the boys and sent them to bed early that night to prepare for the early rising the next morning to go fishing.

Walt and Joe got up early to make breakfast so they could get an early start fishing. Once breakfast was on the table, Walt went to wake the boys. He got them up by asking, "Fox, if you want to go fishing with us today, you need to get up and dressed. Breakfast is on the table." He repeated his request to Chip a moment later. It only took a few minutes before both boys were at the table, half dressed but eating. While Walt and Joe were packing the car, Fox and Chip finished dressing.

Yoda was let out and then before they family left he was put back in and they went fishing. It was a wonderful day for fishing and Fox only knocked his father and uncle into the water once. He said it was an "accident" but he was smiling soon afterwards. The adults took it good naturally and the sun soon dried out their clothes. They caught the limit before going back to the cabin and that night they enjoyed a fish fry. They had tater tots and hush puppies and corn on the cob. They finished the cake for dessert.

For the next two days they continued to fish and had fun. If it wasn't the adults sprinkling the boys with cold water it was the boys doing the same to the adults. All in all they were having a wonderful time together.

On Sunday, two days before they were to leave, Walt and Joe took them back to the store where they had their trouble with the store manager. They waited for them as they went in on their own to apologize. It was then they that they discovered that the store manager in question had been fired. It seemed that many of the customers had complained of his treatment of their children, always blaming them for things they didn’t do that his superior had asked him to leave. Fox and Chip handed their letters of apology to the new man who upon reading them thanked them for coming in and apologizing. He handed them a free Coca-Cola in hopes of making up for Mr. Wright’s harassment of them. The boys left smiling and hurriedly explained the details to his Dad and Uncle Joe.

It was on Monday that the call from the store manager of Wal Mart finally came to the Skinner household. It was a grim Walter Skinner who hung up the phone after talking with Jim Strong. Rachel had been standing nearby and seeing the expression on her husband’s face said, "Walter? What’s wrong?"

"That was a Mr. Strong. He is the store manager of the Wal Mart store in Danville. It seems that a week ago today he got a letter in the mail that contained two ten-dollar bills and a letter. The letter stated that the money was to pay for an item stolen from the store. After checking the security tapes he discovered a boy stealing a slingshot. Rachel, it was Fox he caught on tape stealing the slingshot. Mr. Strong has decided that while the boys did send money to pay for what was stolen the fact still remains that the slingshot was stolen. I assured him that the boy would be punished for the theft and he has said that he will not be pressing charges this time. I have to call Walter about this. At least they got to spend the week without trouble before I had to hand this over to him."

On the same day as Gran was getting the bad news from Wal Mart; Walt and Joe began packing for the return trip home. They thought they would get a really early start tomorrow on the return trip. They would pack the car tonight, leaving out only one change of clothes. They would place the pajamas in a bag and throw it in at the very last. Joe and Walt were just thinking that their scamps weren't as bad as they had thought at the beginning of the trip, when the phone rang. Joe was the closest and answered it. It was their father. Walt continued to pack while the pleasantries were exchanged and then he saw the expression on Joe's face change and he worried that something terrible had happened at home.

"What's wrong?" He mouthed at Joe. When Joe came to a stopping place he handed the phone over to Walt. "Dad? What's wrong? Is Mom all right?" Walt listened a bit more before answering, "Good, then everything is fine at home." He listened a little longer.

While his brother was finding out what his son and Chip had done, Joe was busy looking for the paddle he had packed earlier. The last few days they hadn't needed to correct the boys once and they figured that they could pack them; it seemed that they were wrong in their assumption. He timed it perfectly as his hand closed on the paddle he heard his brother roar, "FOX WILLIAM SKINNER… COME HERE AT ONCE!!!"

Fox came running to his Dad, with Chip following close behind. Fox took one look at his father and knew he was in trouble but couldn't come up with what he had done to make his face go all purplish. Not once did he think of the slingshots.

While Walt had both boys full attention Joe slipped past them and rummaged through their luggage and found the slingshots in question. When he came out of their room he held up the slingshots. Only his brother saw them.

Walt thundered at them, "Boys, did you really think you could fool everybody concerning the theft of slingshot?"

Fox and Chip looked at each other in amazement, "How did they find out?"

Walt and Joe saw the exchanged and knew that Chip was involved as well. They only had proof of Fox’s involvement. Walt looked at Chip and asked, "Chip, I want the truth now. Are you involved in this, if not in the taking of the slingshot but maybe in the cover up?"

Chip looked him straight in the eye and only after a moment’s hesitation nodded.

Walt smiled at the boy and said, "Thanks for your honesty, Chip." Then turning to include Fox in the exchange he continued his lecture, "Boys I truly believe that you didn’t really consider the taking of the slingshot as theft since you sent a letter of explanation and payment for the slingshot later but it was. There was a reason why 12 year olds aren’t allowed to buy such powerful slingshots without adult supervision and that is for your safety. What you two did was wrong and you both will be paddled for it. I will paddle Fox first and then Joe will paddle Chip." Joe handed Walt the paddle as he went by on the way to their room.

As Walt grabbed Fox by the shoulder to lead him from the room he also said, "I know two boys who will be returning home on two very sore bottoms tomorrow.

Your grandfather will have to be told of your involvement in the theft, Chip and I’m going to suggest to my Dad to tell him about it after your punishment and to asked him if he wants you to be a part of the Punishment Tour Fox will be experiencing once he returns home. Fox will tell you about the concept of the Punishment Tour later."

Walt led Fox into their room and pulled the boy to him as he sat down. "Fox I want you to lower your pants and briefs and to put yourself over my knees. Fox did as he was told and soon found himself bottomless and over his Dad's lap. He now understood what he had done was wrong and that he deserved the paddling he was about to get. "Fox William, what did you do to receive this paddling?"

"I stole a slingshot," replied Fox who could feel the tears beginning to form. He was unprepared for the mighty sting of the first lick and let loose a loud yell, "Yeoowwwwch," when it arrived. His Dad kept up a steady rhythm of licks until he came to a stop after only 8 licks were given. Walt felt that 8 licks were more than enough for the crime after all Fox did send in the explanation and money to pay for the slingshot, and that had to count for something. The paddling had done a righteous job on his bottom since it was red and he suspected that Fox would remember it for some time since he had focused the last four licks to his sit spot.

By the time he had stopped Fox was sobbing his heart out and Walter pulled him up into a hug and held him until the crying had subsided. He held Fox by the hand and led him back to his room and helped him to pull on a pair of sweat shorts, minus underwear.

"Fox you stay here and consider your actions, they led you to have a sore, red bottom. Maybe next time you will consider the consequences of your actions before heading into trouble." Walt gave him another hug before leaving him to think.

As soon as he arrived back into the living room he handed the paddle over to Joe and said, "Only give him 8 licks. They did try to pay for the slingshot. They went about acquiring the slingshot in a wrong way and will be punished for it but they did try to pay for it. Trust me 8 licks will be more than enough."

Joe lead Chip in their room and it was only a matter of minutes before the sounds of a paddling could be heard. First came the loud CRACK and then the yell of pain. Walt counted the 8 licks given and then there was a moment of silence and knew that Joe was talking to Chip in probably the same way he had with Fox. He knew his brother would comfort Chip and it would be a moment or two more before they would make an appearance. It was a bout 15 minutes later that Chip made his appearance with Joe in hand. Later Joe came out after leaving Chip in the room with Fox to rethink his misdeeds.

"Okay, they’re punished. Have you called Dad?"

"No I was waiting until the both of them were punished." Walt picked up his cell phone and in a few words caught his father up on the new developments of the slingshot theft. He concluded with, "Dad, now that Chip and Fox have both been dutifully punished, please inform Mr. Walker and suggest that his grandson would profit from a week of a Punishment Tour with Fox. We should be home late tomorrow. We are going to bed early tonight so we can get a real early start tomorrow. Give our love to Mom and we will see you soon."

Turning to his brother he nodded and said, "Dad said he would take care of it and to have a safe trip home tomorrow."

That night the boys were very subdued as they stood for their supper. They found that it hurt even sitting on fluffy pillows and the decided to stand while eating. Nobody was that hungry and they only had sandwiches. Everybody went to bed early that night. Walt and Joe wanted to get an early start the next morning.

It was still dark when Walt woke the boys. He helped them get dressed and Joe helped him carry them to the back seat of the Cherokee. Yoda jumped in with them and they left. It was 4 a.m. By 6 they found a McDonald's and stopped for breakfast. The boys gingerly used the restroom while Walt ordered. He had breakfast waiting as takeout and while the boys were eating Walt and Joe used the facilities before joining the boys in the Cherokee. Yoda was let out to do his business and fed quickly and soon they were back on the road. The boys went back to sleep and slept until noon. Joe joined them so he would be refreshed to take over the driving after lunch.

Driving in shifts the brothers were able to drive the whole way home that day. They pulled into the Skinner driveway by 10 that night. The boys had slept off and on most of the day. They laid them on their sides, since their bottoms hurt too much to sit up. They were carried to bed and undressed. While changing Walt told his father how much he hated to paddle his son for the theft of the slingshot but felt that he had no other choice. He knew that Fox would be sitting gingerly for the next couple of days due to the paddling. His father consoled him.

"Walt you did the right thing. Young Fox has got to learn that stealing is wrong and won't be tolerated in this family. I would have done the same thing to him if we had discovered it before you all left for the fishing trip and so would have John. Trust me after a week of the Punishment Tour and bedtime spankings they won't even think of stealing again. Now go to bed," and gave him a playful swat to his backside.

They all slept soundly and the next morning when the boys awoke they were greeted not only by the Skinner family but also by Chip's grandparents.

"Fox, Chip as soon as you are able we want to see you both downstairs," Gran said to the boys.

They winced as they got dressed and carefully walked downstairs. They were directed to the kitchen for breakfast. They sat in the two pillow lined chairs and ate a quiet breakfast of cereal. Once they had finished, Walter took over.

"Boys, I must say that John and I are very ashamed of you. Stealing is wrong, as I'm sure my sons made crystal clear to you the other night." Both boys nodded, with Fox unconsciously rubbing his bottom, "They made it crystal clear, Gran."

"Today, and for the rest of the week you and Chip will be on a Punishment Tour. You and Chip will be doing chores here and at John's. There will be no TV, or Internet, you will be getting up by 7 each morning and going to bed by 7 each night, and you will receiving a bedtime spanking to remind you that stealing is wrong. This Fishing Trip has netted you more than fish it has also netted you a Punishment Tour to learn that stealing will never pay.

The End