Chapter 67

I had no idea what I might find when I returned to the house. The fact all my things hadn't been dumped on the front lawn was a good sign. I went inside and both of them were bent over the back of the couch as I ordered. They both eyed me as I walked through the door, and it surprised them when I more or less ignored them. As soon as I passed him, Phillip started to stand up.

"That's five more swats for you, Phillip. Remain bent over."

He bent back down with alacrity. I went out to the patio and checked the cleanliness after the mess we'd left behind last night. It was sufficiently clean. I went into the kitchen and muddled around in the kitchen utensil drawer, looking for something to be used as a paddle, finding a wooden mixing spoon and a long, thin metal spatula for spreading frosting on cakes. I could see the edges of that cutting if they didn't remain still, and it would be difficult for them to remain still, so I took the wooden spoon