Category : Books-Fiction

Sub Category : Fantasy

Ruby Jones was driving along in a Chevy Silverado on a warm, sunny mornng, when she came upon a sign pointing the way to a town called "Spankerville". She wondered briefly on the novelty of the name, but thought no more of it as she turned the car onto the dirt road that led to the town.
Her pockets and gass tank were empty, and her number of ties was officially at 0 since her boyfriend ditched her. All she possessed were the clothes on her back, the truck she'd worked so hard to steal, and a guitar which had been her best friend through the last few years.
Ruby was only 15 years old, but she'd depended on her ability to steal, and attract rich boyfriends, since her parents abandoned her in an alley, a long time ago.
Now she merrily turned up the radio, admiring all the modern stuff on the almost new, expensive truck. She'd really been very lucky when the gentleman who owned the truck had turned out to be a little to trusting of the "faint, weak girl" in need of air-conditioning, that Ruby had masqueraded as. She laughed remembering how easy the whole thing had been.
Now, as she got closer to the town, she came upon another sign, reading as follows: "Warning: Spanking". This almost caused her to turn back, just because it seemed weird. Her gas tank was empty, however, and she couldn't have made it to the next town. So she drove into town, hiding her uncertainty under reckless driving.
She came to a screeching halt in front of the little gas station. An attendant, a middle aged man with slicked back hair, came out of the building, a slight reprimanding frown on his face.
"You oughta be more careful with your driving, young lady. There's a lot of kids in town, who play on the streets, and driving like that is dangerous to everybody."
"Good to know. I need a regular fill." Ruby brushed off his warning, and started searching through her pockets for money. She knew she wouldn't find anything, but the attendant didn't. "I just have to find the money. I know I have it around here, someplace. Could you just fill it up, while I search for the money?"
"Of course." The man said, moving to fill up the tank.
'Man, people are trusting nowadays.' Ruby thought, as she started going through the compartments in the truck.
Finally, the tank was filled, and the man asked for his money.
"Oh, well, I'm so sorry, but it appears I'm broke." Ruby shrugged nonchalantly, and moved to get into the truck. She wasn't fast enough, though, and the attendant grabbed her arm before she got all the way in.
"Come on, young lady. You have some explaining to do." He said, and started pulling her towards a small-townish police department.
"Hey! Lemme go!" Ruby yelled, beginning to struggle.
"Not until you have a talk with the sherifff." He said firmly, ignoring her struggling. "For one thing, you tried to go off without paying for your gas –"
"But I told you; I'm broke!"
"Then you should have told me before I filled up your tank. And in the second place, that truck looks an awful lot like one that was stolen from our school teacher!" The man finished.
'Uh oh!' Ruby thought. Stolen vehicle charge was a lot more serious than not paying for gas, and she was beginning to panic just a little. She made up her mind quickly, and sent her fist towards the man's face.
It connected soundly, but to Ruby's dismay, the grip on her arm only tightened.
"Bad idea, kid. You just made it a lot harder on yourself." The man spun her around and landed five hard swats on her backside.
"What the hell?" Ruby squeaked in surprise.
"Oh, that's nothing compared to what's coming your way!" He promised.
Ruby was momentarily stunned by surprise, and so he didn't have any trouble pulling her the couple meters to the office.
Before entering, Ruby chanced a quick look around, and was surprised at how no-one seemed to think it strange that a teen had just been spanked by a random gas station attendant.
They entered the police department, and Ruby chanced a look around. It looked pretty much like any other police station, but a door on the right, had her puzzled. Over it, in big block letters, were the words "Juvenile Punishment Department". She didn't have long to wonder though, as the sheriff himself entered the room.
"Morning Bill. What can I do for you?'" He greeted.
"Morning Sheriff. Just this girl here. I'm reporting bad behaviour, as well as two counts of theft."
"Oh? Well, go ahead, Bill." The sheriff said, looking at Ruby with new interest.
"Well, first of all, this girl came barreling into town, driving like a mad woman. I was seriously worried for any and all people and vehicles on the street. I warned her, but she didn't seem to deem it important, and brushed the warning off. Then I was looking over her truck, and it occurred to me that it looked a lot like Adam Tanner's. You know the one that was stolen, incidentally, by a teenaged girl?"
"Yeah." Sheriff seated himself on the edge of his desk, and crossed his arms over his chest.
"I figured I wouldn't go off half-cocked, accusing her of such a serious crime when I had no proof, so I kept quiet. I was filling up her tank, and she just couldn't seem to find the money. By the time I'd finished, she still hadn't come up with it. Then she thanked me, graciously, I might add, and tried to go off without paying. I cought her, and started bringing her over, when she gave me this." Bill touched his swelling cheek gingerly.
"That a fact." Sheriff got up, and walked a slow circle around Ruby. "She's walkin', so I guess you haven't dealt with her yet?"
"Not by a long shot, Sheriff, not by a long shot. I figured I'd talk talk you first."
"Y' done good, Bill. I don't know if I'da been able to keep my temper that long!" Sheriff laughed, pretty cheerfully, considering the situation he was in.
Ruby wondered at the respect Bill showed the younger sheriff. Of course, the sheriff was respectful of Bill as well, but Ruby figured the sheriff's position played a role in that.
"Yeah, well, I gave her five right then and there, but they hardly weren't anything at all."
Ruby's eyes widened when she heard that. She wouldn't admit it, but those five had stung something awful. She could still feel them, and if that was "hardly nothing at all", then she sure wasn't planning on staying around to find out what was.
Acting quickly, she brought her elbow into Bill's stomach, and went for the door. The sheriff got there before she did.
"Don't ever try that again, young lady." He said, taking slow, purposeful steps toward her leaving her no choice but to step back.
"What's your name anyway, kid?"
Ruby stayed silent.
"I asked you a question, kid." The sheriff said, his voice taking on a dangerous tone.
Ruby still held spitefully silent.
"Alright, have it your way." The sheriff spun Ruby sideways and slapped his hand against her rear, so fast she didn't have time to react.
Ruby shook lose, but the sheriff grabbed her arm again, and pulled her to the desk. He sat down on it, and pulled the struggling girl over his knee.
"You gonna answer me?" Silence greeted his question, and he brought five stinging swats down on Ruby's squirming bottom.
Bill leaned against the door, and crossed his arms, just watching.
"I can go on all day, you know." Sheriff said.
"Ruby Jones." She mumbled under her breath.
"I can't hear you." Sheriff sang out, swinging hard, and landing his hand again.
"Ruby Jones." Ruby said, a little louder this time.
"Good." The sheriff said. "You gonna cooperate now?" He asked, putting her on her feet and wiping away a tear.
Ruby nodded, staring at the ground.
"That's good." Sheriff said, the jovial tone back in his voice. "Bill. Can you go get Adam? I'd like for him to identify the truck."
"I think he's in class right now, sir." Bill said, glancing at a clock on the wall.
"You're right. I forgot about that. Well, we'll just have to wait, then. Uh, Bill, would you like to address your problem with Ms. Jones here, now?"
"Yes sir, I believe I'll do just that." Bill said. He put his arm around Ruby's shoulders, and led her through the door the girl'd been staring at before.