I watched as Dane sat on the bed and tied his hiking boots. His face was flushed with excitement and I smiled at him when he looked up.

"Are you looking forward to going to the Fair today?" I asked, pretending he hadn't been talking about it non-stop for days.

He grinned and then stood up. "Not really," he answered casually and then laughed.

I sat down where he'd been sitting, and put on my trainers as he stood before me, impatiently shifting from foot to foot.

"You got ants in your pants, Dane?" I asked, as I sadistically took my time tying my shoes.

"All right, let's go now, Max!" he ordered, sounding like a Marine drill-sargeant.

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Don't tell me what to do, unless you don't feel like sitting for the rest of the day," I said calmly.

He lowered his eyes for a minute, blushed, and then made eye contact. "Can we go now Max?" he asked in a more subdued tone of voice.

I smiled and then grasped his hand and pulled him down to sit next to me. "That's a good boy," I said gently as I ran a palm through his silky, dark hair.

He put his hand on my thigh and gave it a soft squeeze. I could feel waves of excitement emanating from him as we sat there, and I was amazed at the way he could glean so much pleasure from activities that most would find only mildly amusing.

I cleared my throat. "Now, we're going to have a good time today but we're also going to have to have a few rules too," I informed him while I absently ran my hand through his hair.

"Rules!" he huffed.

"Yes rules. Dane, I want you to stay close to me today. No running off to look at things when my back is turned. We need to stay together, and I don't want to spend the whole day searching for you."

I gave him a stern look, remembering how I'd searched for him for hours, when we'd gone to Six Flags. I'd finally found him sitting on a box, behind the sombrero vendor's booth. He was chatting away, while weaving a hat to help the guy out. A smile tugged at my lips, as I remembered that when I'd found him he had a giant pink sombrero perched atop his head. I found out later that the gaudy thing had been payment for helping the vendor out. It seemed like an odd memory to me now, seeing as how Dane avoided people in the extreme. I wondered what it had been about the hat vendor that had made Dane relax and start talking to him.

I shook my head, clearing it of everything, except getting my point across, and continued sternly. "If I do have to come find you, we're going straight to the mens room, and you're going to get your bottom blistered. You got that, mister?"

He nodded and then scowled at me.

I ignored the scowl and tugged at his earlobe gently. "If we do get seperated, where do we meet?" I quizzed him.

He rolled his eyes and twisted impatiently. "Max, what do you think I am, retarded or something? You just told me where we'd meet up, ten minutes ago."

I chuckled. "Indulge me. I may have Alzheimer's or something. You know, what with my age and all," I joked.

Dane gave me a small smile. "We meet in front of the pirate ship ride," he said in a flat voice. Then it seemed he couldn't wait any longer. He stood up and took my hand to pull me up. "C'mon gramps! Can we go now?"

I swatted his corduroy-covered butt, and stood up. "Get a jacket," I reminded him as I searched the dresser for my car keys. "It's supposed to get cold tonight."

I heard him grumbling as he opened the closet door. He snatched a denim jacket off of a hanger, and then slammed the door closed. When he noticed me walking toward him, he gave me his most impish smile. "Sorry, didn't mean to slam it," he said quickly.

I walked over to the closet and opening it once more I got a jacket for myself. "Close it softly," I ordered him. Then, when he stood next to me with his hand on the door to close it, I pinched his butt.

Dane yelped and jumped, causing the door to slam closed.

"Gotcha!" I said, with my own version of an impish smile.

Dane chuckled and put his arm around my shoulder, and we walked out to the car.

I took a deep breath, and felt the cool, crisp fall air, tingling in my nostrils. We were standing just inside the gates of the fairgrounds, and swarms of people were pushing past us. Appearing out of nowhere, a man banged right into me and spilled beer all over my leather jacket, then just stumbled on.

I turned quickly to Dane and grasped his arm. "It's all right, monkey. Things like that happen," I soothed quickly.

Dane's cheeks had twin pink splotches on them, and his dark eyes sparked with anger, just like I'd expected.

"He didn't even apologize!" Dane hissed in outrage, as he looked wildly around.

I gave his arm a gentle shake, to get his attention focused on me. "No, he didn't, and that's just the way it is sometimes. It's OK," I said I an easy-going tone, as I looked into his eyes with growing concern.

"Why don't you go after him?!" Dane raged, his whole body shaking now. "He spilled beer all over your jacket, and you don't even seem to care!"

His eyes were glazing over with tears as he shouted at me and I could see his upper lip quivering.

Still holding his arm firmly I took a step closer to him. "Dane, settle down now. It's all over, and we're here to have a good time. That was just a little thing." I shrugged slightly to show him how unimportant it really was.

I sighed as I saw a tear slip from his eye and roll down his ruddy cheeks. "Come on, pal," I said briskly, "let's find a bathroom so I can clean my jacket. You don't want me smelling like a brewery all day do you?"

He was breathing hard as he wiped the back of his hand across his face. "It's not fucking fair! People shouldn't do shit like that, Max! That stupid dick just ruined the whole day!"

I took a deep breath and tried to keep my voice steady as I spoke. "Dane, you're making too much out of this. Little things can't ruin the day, unless you let them."

He stood there quiet and sullen, and I found myself thinking that maybe if we'd come in a different entrance, this wouldn't have happened. But I knew what a ridiculous thought that was. I also knew that Dane wasn't going to just forget about this. He was absolutely right about one thing, this was going to spoil the day for him, if I let it. And, unless I could help him to see things in a different light, he was going to sulk from now until we left. I just couldn't allow that. Too many days had been spoiled for Dane because of small things like this and his oversensitivity to slights.

I gave his wrist a firm tug, and I felt the the tremendous tension in his body. "I think we'd better get our hands stamped, and then go back to car," I said neutrally..

He didn't argue. He simply let me pull him along. He held out his hand to get the stamp and then walked beside me, head hanging, as we walked out to the parking lot.

"Maybe we should just go home, and try again some other day," I told him gruffly as I rested my hands on the steering wheel."

He didn't reply.

I shifted in my seat so that I was turned toward him. He wouldn't look at me, but his cheeks still had those splotches on them, and he was clenching his fists so tightly that the knuckles were blanched.

"Baby, stop and think about this for a minute," I said more gently. "That guy was probably drunk, and didn't even realize what he'd done. How would it make you feel if you did some stupid thing without realizing it, and then you found out later, that it had ruined someone's whole day? That it ruined their day because they couldn't let go of it?"

I put my hand on his corduroy-covered knee and gave it a squeeze. "How would you feel, monkey?" I persisted quietly.

He looked up at me quizically and I sighed with relief, because at least he seemed to be really listening.

"But Max," he said huskily, on the verge of tears, "I wouldn't do something like that and not apologize." He paused for a minute and then continued. "I hate it when people do stuff like that, and especially to you." he mumbled.

"I can take care of myself, my boy," I said as I pulled him close for a hug. "You know that. And I've told you over and over, that little things like this are going to happen all of the time."

I stroked his raven hair as he relaxed against my chest. "Life is funny like that, and you have to learn to roll with the punches, if you want to be happy." I didn't know how many times I'd had to remind him of this fact, nor did I know how many more times I'd have to tell him before it sank in.

Dane chokingly began to cry. I continued to run my fingers calmly through his hair and made soothing sounds as I waited for his response.

"Why do people have to act like that?" he demanded as he clung to me.

I didn't reply immediately. Instead I concentrated on pushing away the sadness that I felt for him. Dane could just break my heart sometimes. I would, absolutely, do anything in my power to protect him. If I could, I would make sure that noone ever hurt him with their careless words, or thoughtless actions again. But I knew that to do that I would have to keep him at home all of the time. He would be like a caged bird, and he would be miserable. The only thing I could attempt to do, was help him to see that it didn't have to ruin things for him when people were rude or unkind.

"Dane baby, I'm afraid that people aren't going to change. The problem is the way you're reacting to the very human things that they say and do. You're expecting too much from people, and getting hurt, and that's what has to change," I reminded gently, as I patted his back.

He murmered something unintelligable, and continued to cry.

After a few minutes he pulled himself together, and when he sat up his face was red and slick with tears. He offered me a watery smile, and I smiled back at him, relieved that he seemed OK. As I reached over and opened the glove compartment to get a tissue for him, his voice, sounding stuffy from crying, was right in my ear.

"I thought maybe you were bringing me out here to spank me."

I handed him a kleenex, then tapped his swollen nose. "I was going to spank you if talking didn't work. But, I'm glad that I didn't have to."

He blew his nose on the tissue, while I looked at him with compassion. "Now, let's go back in. You want to go on a ride first, or do you want to eat?" I asked with a forced grin.

He smiled back, his hair sticking out every which way, and his eyes still red-rimmed. "First, I wanna get a Belgian waffle, then I wanna go on the haunted mansion ride." I nodded and started to open my door, then turned enquiringly back to him when I felt his hand on my shoulder.

"Then we'll go to the petting zoo place and feed the animals, and I wanna buy some souvenirs and stuff too. And we have to play some games and you can win me a stuffed animal. OK Max?"

I heard the small whine creeping into his voice, and I laughed. "Yes, but remember what I told you about staying with me. There isn't going to be any talking about it, if you wander off. You'll just get a hard spanking. Got it?"

He chuckled and got out of the car. "I'll be good," he said with a wink.

"You'd better be!" I said sternly.

The Fair always brought back fond memories for me. The smell of the cotton-candy and the hot-dogs--even the the aroma of the nearly dried beer on my jacket--brought back memories that made me feel carefree and happy.

Dane and I sat on a bench as he ate his Belgian waffle, and I lazed and drank a beer. I watched the roller coaster start, and listened to the shrieks as the cars plunged down the first steep curve, and felt an excitement begin to grow in my belly. I couldn't wait 'till sundown, because that was when everything really came alive. The neon lights on the rides, the firework shows, the light parade; everything looked more colorful and vibrant against the black backdrop of the evening sky. It seemed odd to me, but people always seemed more relaxed at night too. Something about the cloak of darkness, seemed to make everyone less self-conscious; more jovial and friendly.

The crowds continued by as I relaxed contentedly, with the sun warming the top of my hair. It was such a beautiful day, the sky was a deep rich blue, and a soft breeze made the leaves on the trees whisper. "It sure is a gorgeous day, isn't it?" I said loudly, to be heard over all the of the festive sounds.

I turned to look at Dane, and he wasn't there! I looked quickly toward the trash can nearby, to see if he was throwing his plate away. Then I stood up and looked all around, trying to make out his purple t-shirt and tan cords. There was no sign of him. Irritation welled up in me as I threw my cup in the trash. And as I craned my neck and scanned the huge throngs of people, hoping against hope that he was nearby, I remembered the wink Dane had given me in the parking lot, and I ran my hand through my hair in frustration. Dane was going to be one sore and sorry boy when I found him.

The first place I checked was our meeting place. I stood in front of the ride and waited...and waited. I looked up at the pirate ship, which was going up so high that it looked like the people were going to fly out. As I watched the ride arcing back and forth gracefully, I fumed. I looked around once more, and then tried to figure out the most likely place the brat would've gone. Earlier, he'd mentioned the haunted house ride. Mybe he'd gone there. My palm was literally itching as I strode across the midway, heading toward it.

And there he was. Standing in front of the spooky facade of the haunted house, his face tilted upwards with a look of fascination. The direction I approached from afforded me a view that Dane didn't have from where he was standing. Behind the eerily decorated and fearsome looking, plywood front, was the ride itself. It was made of plain metal and was huge,and massively ugly looking. I thought how it was so like Dane to see the magical side of things, to ignore the fact that if he walked to the side and looked, the magic would disappear, and he would know what was really there. I knew he did it deliberately, and I wondered why he couldn't do the same with the people he encountered; why he couldn't at least pretend that they held some magical appeal.

Ear-splitting shrieks of terror emanated from within the ride, and jolted me out of my musings. I walked up to Dane and stood quietly beside him, waiting for him to notice me. As I stood there impatiently, I told myself that those weren't the only shrieks that I'd be hearing today. Not after I was through with Dane!

Finally, the brat tore his gaze away from the ride and became aware of me. His velvety eyes opened wide and he froze, just like a deer caught in the headlights.

I narrowed my eyes and shook my head at him. "OK, I warned you." I told him gruffly as I snagged his arm. "Come on, we're going to the bathroom."

He tried to pull away but I was too strong for him. "Come on Dane, don't make a scene, or I'll have to drag you."

He looked at me for moment and then seemed to give in. "OK, but what if there are people in the mens room? Don't spank me in front of anyone!"

"You should've thought of that before, mister," I growled as I tugged him along. He had to walk quickly to keep up with my determined stride, and he looked into my face occasionally as we looked for a restroom. "Please, don't spank me in front of any people," he repeated, sounding shaky and anxious.

I spied a restroom and ushered him inside. Sure enough there were a few guys in there. I held Dane's arm discreetly, so he wouldn't run, and then drew him over to the sink. "Wash your hands," I whispered, and then talking more loudly, I informed him that I was going to try to get the beer stains off my jacket.

Giving him a warning look, I released my hold on him. He turned on the faucet and I took off my jacket and wiped it off with a wet paper towel. I glanced over at him every now and then as I dabbed at the dried beer, to make sure he hadn't done another vanishing act.

The minute the room was empty, I slipped my jacket back on, and quickly pulled him over to the far corner of the room. "Drop 'em," I hissed in his ear.

He turned red. "But Max, someone might come in!" he whined, sounding pitiful.

I nodded. "Yes, and the longer you take, the more likely it is. There are a lot of people here today, you know. So we'd better hurry up."

He looked stunned at my words. "Aw Max, please let me keep my pants up!"

"Just pull them down to right under your butt. That way you can tug them up quickly, if anyone comes in," I conceded.

He looked toward the door and then unfastened his cords and jerked them down, along with his briefs. He flushed as he turned his back to me.

I stood directly behind him to shelter his bare bottom, in case anyone happened to come in, and then brought my palm down on his rear with a resounding slap. I spanked him firmly but quickly, aware that time was of the essence. He gave a small squeak of protest at the first hard swat, and then I heard nothing from him except his ragged breaths and gasps. His firm bottom bounced slightly as I spanked, and he braced his hands against the walls for support. I watched as bright splotches of color bloomed on his olive skin wherever my palm landed. By the time I was finished, his bottom was a bright cherry-red. It wasn't the longest spanking I'd ever given him, but it would have to do. The smacking probably lasted less than a minute, and I hoped I had gotton my point across.

I patted his butt to let him know I was finished, and he hurriedly pulled up his pants and fastened them.

When he turned to me, I tousled his hair and then shook my index finger at him as I warned him. "Now you stay with me. Do you hear? If you go off alone again we're going to go straight home." He pouted at me and then rubbed the seat of his pants.

"Dane, do you hear?" I growled.

"Yeah, I hear you, Max! I'm not deaf you know!"

I took a step towards him and he put his hands up in a warding gesture. "Sorry, sorry!" he said quickly.

Despite my best intentions not to, I cracked a smile. "You really are a brat, you know," I said as I put my arm around his shoulder and we left the dank restroom and emerged into the bright sunlight. Dane mumbled something under his breath.

"Eh?" I said as I put a hand to my ear. "You'll have to speak up sonny, I'm getting kind of old," I said in a shaky voice.

He smiled and poked me in the ribs. "I just said," he enunciated each word clearly while rolling his eyes skyward, "that I knew you'd come find me." His eyes were soft and trusting as he gazed at me. "You always do."

I gave his shoulder a squeeze of pure affection. "Yes, and you always let me find you. I guess we make a good pair."

Suddenly, Dane hopped once and then came to a dead stop.

"What is it?!" I asked with concern as my heart thudded.

His eyes sparkled as he looked at me. "Gimme a kiss!" he demanded, and then puckered his lips in expectation.

And despite the huge crowd of people, and whatever they might think about two men kissing in public, I tilted my head and gave him a deep, long kiss.

I could taste strawberries and whipped cream on his mouth. "Mmmm, that Belgian waffle tastes pretty good, I think I'll get one too." I told him as I tugged at his hand.

"OK, but then we have to ride some rides."

"Whatever you want, my little monkey," I answered, and then smiled, as I realized that we still had most of the day before us.

Copyright ©2003 by Tris