The blows on already bruised flesh were just too much.
Tears welled up and I remember saying, “Please, enough.”
There was to be no mercy.
I guess it was five minutes she beat me for, but I was in too much pain to really think by the end.
It was agonising. My bottom felt as I imagined it would were it to be skinned.
At last, it was over. She let me rise and dress and called Felipe in. My brother entered, and now I was the emotional one and he had time to calm down. He was, however, still clutching his bottom.
“Back to bed. Not one word out of you til morning,” said my aunt.
As soon as I was in bed, I burst into tears. The punishment, I felt, had been excessive for the crime.
A few smacks for swearing might have been in order, but this was a serious beating.
Felipe agreed, for he was not tearful but angry.