Don't Throw Rocks

My landlord was a tattle-tale.

One of my earliest recollections is the time I got into trouble for breaking a window.  I can't remember much, now, about details but my cousin Jack and I got busted tossing rocks at a garage window.  I've always believed it was Jack's idea but who knows?  I definitely was NOT a perfect child and I might have started it.  There was already a hole in the window, I promise!, and we decided to try tossing rocks to see if we could get them to go through the hole. Of course, we DID make the hole bigger.

Our fun was spoiled by the sudden arrival of Mr. Pate, the landlord and general caretaker of the apartment building where we lived. He wouldn't listen to our explanations that the window was broken before we ever threw the first rock. He grabbed each of us by the arm and dragged us to our apartments and turned us over to our mothers.

My mother was mad!

She marched me into the bedroom and plopped me on the bed.  "You are grounded, young lady, and you will not move from this bed until your father gets home, AND you will not go to Vacation Bible School tonight or the rest of the week either!"

Horrified, I laid there and considered my wrong-doing.  It never occurred to me that I would be punished!  Banned from Bible School - how horrible is that?  Keep in mind that I was only about 5 years old when I left the path of the straight and narrow to throw stones at my neighbor's property.


By the time Dad had come home, I was in tears and very repentant.  As I blubbered my way through recounting the story, I ended with, "and now I'll never get to go to Bible School!"


I may have been only five but I already knew the best way to get to my Dad's heart.  Let's just say that I got the good attendance award for being there for every night of Bible School.

I did learn to never throw rocks, no matter how tempting.

This post was written in response to Writer's Workshop prompt 4.) Tell us about a time you were grounded...what did you do?  You can see other responses to this prompt at Kathy's blog, Mama's Losin' It.