6 Punishmen

"I'm going! I'll go down in a minute, " dad answers from his room.

'I should go to my room now that he's not here'

I grab my pancakes and climb the stairs.

Now I did it faster, even so, it took me 1 minute.

'Damn, this isn't good in any way'

When I arrive, I raise my voice a bit to tell dad:

"I'll be in my room, I want to read the books you brought!"

I hear dad open the door of his room, although I can't see him because it is turning the corner of the hall.

I begin to open the door of my room, while dad walks towards the stairs.

I enter my room and close the door.

I put the pancakes on a small table that I have in my room.

I go to the bag that dad brought yesterday and I grab it.

I return to the table and sit on the carpet.

I see what's inside.

'Great, it's 3 books and 2 mangas, enough for several days. Let's see which one looks more interesting...'

I check each book and manga.

'The books are: The Lord of the Bracelets, The Way of the Queens and The Initial Empire'

'The mangas are: Dragon Teeth Super, PARANEKO and Revive La Revive...'

'I haven't seen manga for a long time, let's see how good PARANEKO is...'

I grab the manga and start to read it, I eat the pancakes as well.

5 minutes pass.

'Really? Humans half cats? What's next? Humans half dragons? '

I read for another 10 minutes.

'Well, it seems that this is going a very ... peculiar way'

I leave the manga on the table.

I see the other 2 mangas.

'What about this one?'

I choose the manga Revive La Revive.

I keep eating the pancakes.

50 minutes pass.

'Interesting the theme that clothes have powers, and the suit of the protagonist is very... striking'

30 minutes pass.

I finished the pancakes.

'This manga isn't bad at all. Now I have to go down to wash the plate. I'll do it fast to continue reading'

I stand up and grab the plate.

I go to the stairs and look for dad.

'He's reading a newspaper, I'll take my time to get down'

Now I only take 30 seconds.

'Well, I seem to be improving'

I go to the kitchen and wash the plate.

I turn to see dad and he is still reading the newspaper.

'I'll try to go up quickly so he doesn't suspects'

I go to the stairs and I start to walk up relatively fast.

'It still hurts, but I don't bend my knees anymore'

I'm on the last step.

"Hey, Alex..." dad calls me, with a serious tone.

'Please don't tell me I have to go down...'

"Tell me" I answer happy.

"Why haven't you tell me?" but he still doesn't turn to see me.

'Oh shit…'

"I've been waiting all morning..." he tells me.

"Sorry! I just didn't know how to tell you. I'm really sorry..." I say, preparing myself for what follows.

"You remember the punishment, right?" Now he turns to see me.

"Yes, you aren't going to tell me- Wait, what punishment?" I have no idea what he means.

"The last time you forgot to water the plants, we established that if you forgot again you would have a punishment"

'I forgot again. Fuuuuuuu- '

"Yes... I remember. I'll have to cut the grass"

"That's right, so go put on proper clothes"

"Okay..."

'At least we have a mower'

I go to my room and open my closet.

'I have to find something to hide the bandages...'

But something catches my attention.

'Isn't that the shirt I was wearing yesterday?'

It is practically new.

'How is it intact? The wolves ripped pieces...'

The jeans are also intact.

'Well, I'll wear this, they hide the bandages very well'

I change clothes and I go down.

"Ready? Let's go" dad tells me.

"Let's go?" I say as a question.

"Yes, I'll go with you so you're not alone" he says smiling.

"Well..."

I don't like the idea, but I'm not against it.

As soon as we leave, dad stops me.

"How about you start here?"

He points at the contour of the front of the house.

'It is really overgrown'

"Well, I'll go for the mower"

"Yes... about that..." he replies as he puts his hand on the back of his neck and smiles.

'I don't like this'

"You see, although yesterday I went to the city..."

'Don't say it'

"I forgot to bring fuel..."

'Oh god no...'

"And the mower no longer has..."

'I have to get out of this'

"Really? Then it will have to be done the next month" I start to walk towards the house.

But dad stops me.

"I do not think there's a problem if you cut it with the pruning shears" he says with a truly sincere smile.

'I hate you'

*sigh* "Fine, where are they?"

"That's my daughter! I will go for them"

Dad goes to look for them, while I wait, seeing the nothingness with no expression.

'I swear he is doing it on purpose. And he's enjoying it'

Dad comes back with the shears.

"Here" he gives me the scissors.

"Thanks..." I answer sarcastically.

I approach the lawn, I get on my knees and start cutting it.

10 minutes pass.

'Dad is still here and the pain is getting more intense'

20 minutes pass.

'I can't anymore'

I begin to tremble from the pain.

"Huh ... I didn't think you could hold so much" he says surprised.

I didn't expect that.

"What are you talking about?"

"Did you really think I haven't noticed?"

I'm static looking at him.

"Haha! Don't worry, I understand it was hard to tell me, but I'm surprised you lasted so long. I mean, you were attacked by 4 wolves and you used your elemental magic, it must have hit you quite a bit"

"Wait, how do you-"

"I have a proposition. If you want, you can stop cutting the grass, but if you keep doing it, I'll tell you right now everything you want to know while you cut it"