Punishment: Revenge or Reform?

[Adonya van Rutherford]

It should be illegal. Blythe walked through the crisp morning, a scowl on her face, her hands up as she tied her hair into a ponytail. Once that was done, she hurried to slip them inside of her sweater pockets once more, because it was far too cold to be walking out and about already! It was way too early to already be on her way to do something, and she had been up almost an hour earlier, because there was no way she was going to go out of her room looking terrible. Her hair was neat and brushed, and while she was wearing jeans and a shirt, her boots were clean and she had applied enough makeup to look decent.

Now it was five minutes to six, and she was headed to the Red Willow barn. Glancing at her phone, she slowed her pace slightly, not wanting to show up early, but not exactly wanting to push the matter and be late, either. As she walked into the barn, she stopped in the center of the aisle, hands on her hips, as she looked around for the man who had dragged her out here at this ungodly hour.

[Deleted]

Having had been in the barns for about twenty minutes, Drew had come up with his punishment. There were so many things that could have been done to put Blythe in her place, but Drew wasn’t the type to work a person till they bled so he was going to give her some light work today, he felt as if she didn’t know such a word.

Moving towards the Red Willow Barn, Drew had taken care of his three horses and now he was ready to deliver the news to the blonde. The man was completely ready to deal with her mouth especially at this time of the day, no one really wanted to be up at this time but hey, if she hadn’t talked back she wouldn’t have to be.

Having discussed his plan with Ana, he needed to make sure that she wouldn’t mind the girl doing a little work around the barn. Since Kodiak was in the Red Willow Barn, Drew figured it would be easier for Blythe if she just did her work in that barn. Once he looked at his phone he headed to the entrance of the barn. He saw that his student was already in the barn, ”Hello Miss van Rutherford, are you ready?”

[Adonya van Rutherford]

Blythe had settled to checking her phone, scrolling through the updates that her friends back home had posted in the meantime that she had been sleeping. They were hours behind, after all, and so time was a bit off, not that it really mattered. Not many of them were doing anything interesting. Her perusal caused her to almost miss the arrival of the teacher, but only almost. She noticed him in time, and turned her phone off, tucking it carefully into her back pocket, where she knew it wouldn't fall out. After all, it was doubtful that what Mr. Rhodes had planned for her included sitting, so it wouldn't be in the way.

As he asked her if she was ready, she wanted to roll her eyes, but remembered Andie's words on the matter. Meek as Mother-May-I, she mused. It would make her punishment go all the quicker... And so would thinking about that phrase. She had heard it somewhere, or read it somewhere, but it made no real sense to her. Whatever, she would think about it, and be polite in the meantime, "Yes, Mr. Rhodes." She faced him, her hands clasped behind her back, waiting to hear his verdict. Whatever it was, it couldn't really be that bad, right?

[Deleted]

The odd behavior, at least from Blythe, was welcomed almost but Drew was wary of her. He was ready for her to come back with a smart remark. With all honesty he was surprised that she wasn’t spitting out fiery words with the time of day and the possibilities that waited for her. ”With that if you could follow me we will get started.” He wasn’t going to admit it to her but if she performed the tasks he was about to give her with the same attitude in which she answered him with then the punishment would end quicker.

They stopped at the quarter-ish length of the barn, ”So the common punishment would be to have you muck out stalls, yes?" It was a rhetorical question and so he continued on his rant "Well I didn’t feel like thinking outside of the box so that is what we will start with.”He picked up the muck bucket and pitch fork. ”Wet spots and manure.” Drew crossed his arms over his chest and waited for her to begin. ”Finish this row and begin on the next if you would.” Pointing to the remaining part of the row of stalls, which was only about 15 more and then the next row had nothing done. He had asked Ana about her barn staff to lay off of the stalls as he had plans to use them.

[Adonya van Rutherford]

Blythe shrugged and followed the teacher down into the barn. She was stuck now, she might as well get it over with. To be honest, she was glad that the teacher had decided not to lecture her, and just jump right into her 'punishment', because the sooner she could start, the sooner she'd be finished, and the sooner she could go back to the important things, rather than this stupid waste of time. They paid the barnhands for a reason, after all.

When they stopped, Blythe listened to Mr. Rhodes talking, although he didn't seem to be expecting an answer to his question, and she didn't supply one. As she was handed the pitchfork, she frowned, although she didn't comment, and looked at the rows she was supposed to do. After she had started, she sighed, quietly enough to where it wouldn't be noticeable, then started thinking about cheer routines.

There was no reason to waste time with talking, and Blythe made her way through the first row of stalls with relative ease. After checking to make sure she'd missed nothing in the last stall of the row, she left her pitchfork leaned up against the fall and then headed towards the muck heap, where she emptied the bucket and then returned, her mind on whether they could incorporate some of the newer songs into their new routines.