“Big boys don’t have to make stacks of books so they can see the top of their dressers,” his mother pointed out in a reasonable tone.
“But…but,” Thomas started to say.
“That will be quite enough out of you, young man! The watch stays in my jewelry box and that’s final! You’re lucky that I don’t paddle your behind for making a mess like this! You know better than to stand on books! Books are meant to be read, they aren’t stepstools!”, his mother declared firmly.
“But I couldn’t find anything else!”, Thomas whined in self-defense.
“Pick up those books this instant and put them away, Tommy!”, his mother ordered.
“But how will I get to the things on my dresser?”, he demanded with pouting expression.
“Thomas Burns!”, his mother reprimanded sternly, “If you don’t get those books off of the floor this instant, I’m going to pull down your pants and spank you!”