Three weeks into the punishment Jaxsen was becoming stir crazy and Sebastian was starting to feel the strain. He was moody, bored, and generally driving Sebastian and Nizhoni crazy. The first nearly two weeks went better than Sebastian had anticipated, however, now was a whole other story. Sebastian didn’t really believe the boy was doing anything on purpose, but the man was nearly at his wits end. Sebastian sat at his kitchen table, a hot cup of coffee resting between his palms, drinking in the peace of the afternoon while sipping the caffeinated beverage. He wasn’t sure how long he could continue to keep himself sane by keeping his son grounded. Normally when faced with an outlet to rid himself of excess energy, by bed time he’s worn out and climbs into bed without a fuss. Lately he had been extra hyper as well as extra moody, despite the house cleaning he did as ordered daily. He was going to have a mutiny on his hands soon, he knew.

Jaxsen had been becoming restless and irritable. Sebastian knew the boy did not like being confined as a result of the more physical confines he experienced before coming to stay with him. At first Jaxsen had a hard time adjusting to not having the freedom he’d grown accustomed to. Sebastian had never before had the causality to need to restrict him prior to his little running away stunt, but he needed Jaxsen to learn and know this behavior will not be tolerated, accepted, nor merely swept under the rug. If it had been Daniel who’d have pulled something like that, Sebastian would not have hesitated in blistering his little bottom right then and there.

But his sons were completely opposite to each other. Many times over the last ten months Sebastian had creatively come up with ways to discipline while still getting his point across and not at all using corporal punishment. Luckily Jaxsen did not need discipline often. Sebastian sighed, dog tired, and rubbed his hands over his face to dispel the strain in his head. He sighed when he failed, cracked his neck as a sigh slipped out once more, and downed his coffee and walked out the front door.

“What are you doing this weekend?” Basil asked as he took a bite of a Granny Smith apple. 

Jaxsen shrugged. “Probably nothing.” Jaxsen nibbled on his Lunchable he insisted Sebastian buy. Usually he loved Lunchables’. The pizza ones being his favorite, which was what he was eating. At the moment Jaxsen thought it tasted like cardboard and dropped the offending product back into its container. He sighed heavily.

“Think I can come over?”

Jaxsen brightened. “Yeah! I bet my dad wouldn’t mind. I’m going crazy, Basil, I need you to come rescue me from this bland, slave-like oppression.”

Basil chuckled. “You’re way too into the Slave Wars in history, Jax.”

“Hey, if Spartacus can lead a revolt against it, so can I!” He said, aghast with indignation in his voice.

“I, uh, hate to burst your bubble there, buddy, but, uh, Spartacus lost his revolt as did the two attempts by Eunus and Salvis before him.” Basil paused, took a bite of his green beans, swallowed, and continued, the prongs of his plastic fork pointing at his friend. “And besides that, not only did Spartacus lose in his endeavor, valiant a try as he gave it, he went MIA and was never heard from again. So…I wouldn’t model myself too much after him if I were you. Just sayin’.” Jaxsen glared at him. Basil smiled, a small chuckle escaping him.

Jaxsen sat on his bed preparing his argument with Sebastian to allow Basil to come over for the night. He thought he’d been doing well these past few weeks. He hadn’t complained once about the endless housework he was made to do. Who knew so much needed to be done? Today he had to pull all the weeds from the large garden in the backyard and he had to help Sebastian re-mulch the beds when he was done weeding now that spring had arrived. Sebastian had helped with that, too. The garden was rather large. On a good day it took Sebastian a few hours to complete the task, he wouldn’t make Jaxsen do it alone. 

Sebastian had been reading more about non-physical discipline. He’d read an article about alternatives to ‘time out’ which essentially evicts the child from the group, making them feel unwanted as they watch the others get attention, while they remain in solitary confinement. He wants to discipline, not punish. To discipline is to teach, instruct; coming from the Latin form discipulus/disciplina and the English form disciple. 

Punishment is what is done to criminals when receiving a jail term. His son was not a criminal; he was a hurting child doing his best to cope. He read that ‘time in’s’ is a positive disciplinary method instead of forcing him to feel rejected by making him stay in his room. By sequestering him away from the family the child feels neglected in the positive attention and security he needs, so, Sebastian spent time with him during these moments. If Jaxsen spoke, he listened. If not they worked in companionable silence. He didn’t want Jaxsen to feel rejected or abandoned by him, isolated or ashamed by his behavior.

He wanted the boy to feel he did not have to worry about being left behind while also teaching him how he went about things should not be repeated. Sebastian was reading such methods in his study when a small knock sounded at the open door. He looked up and smiled.

“Hey, sweet boy. What’s up?”

Jaxsen hesitated in the entryway. “Um,” he started as he walked in and stopped mid-way. “H-have I been good the past few weeks?”

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Yes, you have. You’ve been very good and very helpful.” He wondered where this was going. “Why?”

Jaxsen chewed on his lower lip, his courage faltering at the time when he needed to leap. “W-well, can-well, I mean…h-have I been good enough to have Basil spend the night?” He stuttered over the question while looking at his feet.

Sebastian worked to keep his face schooled. “If you continue being good and helpful then he can next weekend. I’ll negotiate two days off for good behavior. How’s that?”

These terms were unacceptable. “Why can’t he come tonight?”

“Because you’re still grounded, Jaxsen,” Sebastian said, keeping his tone as even as he could.

Jaxsen balled up his fists in anger, his nostrils flaring. “Well, I already said he could.” Fierce blue eyes locked onto Sebastian’s, following his gaze as he stood full height.

“Well, you young man, do not run this house. I don’t care how smart you are, you are the child, I am the adult, and I say what goes, is that understood, Jaxsen?” Sebastian told him looking at the wayward child. 

“Fine!” He turned and stormed from the room. Waiting a moment before moving, Sebastian took several deep, calming breaths. While trying to gather his wits about him, he began to hear Jaxsen’s muffled voice in a one-sided conversation; his voice completely devoid of any of the previous anger he’d just displayed.  When Sebastian walked into the room, his blood nearly boiled.

“…yeah, he said it was fine. Go tell your mom. She can bring-Hey!” Jaxsen turned as the phone was snatched from his hand and away from his ear. His eyes widened and face paled as he looked up into his father’s angry glare.

Sebastian held Jaxsen’s gaze as he put the phone to his ear. “Basil?” He paused. “Hi, Basil, this is Jaxsen’s dad. Did you already inform your mother that you could come over? Yes, well, I’m sorry to say that Jaxsen lied. He’s still grounded. Can you put your mom on the phone, please?” Sebastian used great self-control at setting down the phone in its cradle when he’d finished his conversation with Mrs. Robinson. Jaxsen remained rooted to the spot.

“Jaxsen Andrew Michaels-Green, how dare you not only disobey me, but flat out lie? What the hell did you think was going to happen when he showed up, huh? That I would just let it slide?” Jaxsen shrugged. “Answer me,” Sebastian barked.

Jaxsen jumped. Sebastian had never yelled at him before. He began to stutter over his words but Sebastian interrupted, “Consider yourself lucky, Jaxsen, that you are who you are.”

“Wh-why?”

“Because if you were Daniel, boy, I’d bust your ass so hard you’d not sit for the rest of the month.” Jaxsen paled a bit more, his eyes watering, and spilling down his cheeks.

“I’m-”

“Save it. You’re sorry you’re in trouble. You’ve got absolutely no excuse for what you just did. It was deliberate, Jaxsen. Just go to your room for right now.”

Jaxsen faltered. He didn’t want to go to his room. He wanted Sebastian to comfort him and tell him everything would be okay. “But, Daddy,” Jaxsen took a step forward but was stopped short.

“No. No ‘but Daddy’, no nothing. Turn around and march your ass to your room. I’ll come talk to you when I’ve had sufficient time to not be so livid with you.” His tone was tight, strained, his muscles tense; though he kept his hands loose, noticing the boy’s eyes flicker nervously to them. “Now,” Sebastian commanded, making his voice loud enough to make Jaxsen flinch and jump backward.

“I hate you!” Jaxsen screamed before running the other way. “You’re just like all the rest!” he bellowed as he ascended the stairs. Sebastian stood still, his hands clutching the back of the couch to keep himself upright, even after the bedroom door slammed closed. He had no idea how long he stood there before he felt Nizhoni’s hand on his shoulder. He hadn’t noticed her come home. She frowned when she felt him trembling.

“Hey, what’s going on?” He couldn’t speak. He shook his head and let out a humorless laugh that closed his throat. He swallowed.

“He didn’t get his way. He lied. He got caught. He’s in his room.” Nizhoni’s frown deepened.

“Is there a reason I’m just getting the Cliff’s notes?” Her other hand slid over his that gripped the couch. “Bastian, breath. Come on, let’s sit down and tell me what happened.” Gently she pried his fingers from the furniture and led him to the kitchen. He sat down at the kitchen table, dropping his head heavily in his hands. From the cabinet above the fridge, far away from little hands, Nizhoni pulled out an almost full bottle of Tullamore Dew Phoenix, Sebastian’s favorite Irish whiskey. She poured a dram into a glass and placed it in front of him. He sipped slowly, savoring the taste and feeling its warmth spread through his belly.

“He asked since he’d been good if Basil could stay the night. I told him if he remained as such I’d take off two days of his grounding and Basil could stay then.” He took another sip. “Apparently that wasn’t good enough talking about ‘well, I already said he could’.” Nizhoni’s eyebrows shot upward.

“He said that?” Her voice was disbelieving, her expression matching her tone.

“Shocking, right? Well, it gets better. He stormed out of the room and I heard him on the phone. Talking to Basil. So I took the phone from him. I’d come up behind him so he didn’t know I was there. So after I explained to Maggie that Jaxsen lied, I hung up and…I was so fucking mad, Nizhoni.” Not being able to remain seated any longer Sebastian shot up, the chair sliding backward into the wall. He paced for a moment before leaning against the counter.

“I said…well, I told him to consider himself lucky because I’d have blistered Daniel’s ass.” Nizhoni sat for a moment before nodding in agreement. Sebastian sighed heavily and rubbed his eyes. “When I sent him to his room he said he hated me. That I was just like all the rest.” He did not look at her, or even remove his hand from his face. His voice was rough with emotion.

“I gotta go.” Abruptly he pushed off the counter. “I love you. I’ll be safe. But I’ve gotta get some air.” He kissed her and Nizhoni watched him leave as cold anger flooded her veins.