Randy sat there, his ears growing red as the two women discussed his misbehavior. Sensing the direction of the conversaiton, he asked if he could be excused only to provoke a sharp reply from Aunt Carolyn.

“Young man, I will excuse you when I am good and ready. You will sit right there quietly until I say otherwise, do you understand me, child?”

“Yes, ma’aam.”

“That’s better, young man. As I was saying, Susan, I now treat Randy exactly the way I treat Davey and that goes for disciplinary matters whenever he misbehaves.”

“Really … oh my … I see … I see,” Mrs Symington replied. Catching a little twinkle in her friend’s eye, Mrs Symington pushed a little further into the matter.