but the hope of freedom on his mind. The car keys on the kitchen table looked inviting but he had learned about that already! He pulled open the door and headed down the driveway. The gravel poked into his bare feet and made running impossible. Gingerly he made his way as fast as he could.

Halfway out a voice shouted at him. "Where do you think you're going?" Susan stepped out from behind the shrubbery and blocked his path. "Don't make me hurt you, Susan! I'm leaving, so get out of my way!" he threatened. She didn't budge an inch as he continued to carefully walk on the stones toward her. "I'm warning you! he shouted, cocking his right hand into a fist and shaking it at her. He didn't change pace for a second but her feet remained firmly planted. Ten feet from her he paused to issue one last warning. "I'm stronger than you think I am. Make it easy on both of us and get out of my way!" A bitter smile crossed her face as she continued to stand with both hands behind her back.

Terry lunged at her like a football player. Faster than he could move her arm flinched, something wrapped around his legs and he found himself He scrambled to his feet sprawling on his back!

as the sound of her laughter filled the air. No sooner had he gotten up then she knocked him down a second time. Again he scrambled to his feet and faced her. A cold shiver raced up and down his spine as he looked at her. Extending from her hand were the long black coils of the bullwhip.

"Who's the stronger?" she called as thunder cracked in his right ear and he dove for the ground. He tucked up like a ball and tried to roll for the cover of the bushes as crack after crack burst around him. He imagined his ears and fingers falling to the ground like the leaves she had snapped off weeks ago. He leaped to his feet next to a bush as the tongue of the whip severed off a large branch to his left. He lurched toward the center of the driveway as small stones bore into his bare feet painfully.

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SNAP! The seam of his pants was cut! SNAP! The left pant leg flew off! SNAP! The top button from his pajamas disappeared! SNAP! The right shirtsleeve ripped free! "Had enough!" she screamed. He was so frightened he just stood there frozen to the spot, thinking that if he dared to move her aim would be off and he would lose a piece of his body as easily as he had lost the various parts of his pajamas. Half of his rear end hung exposed where the pantleg used to be. CRACK! The globe of flesh suddenly burst into pain! He let out a cry like a wounded animal as his hand dropped down to guard the area from assault. "I said have you had enough!" she demanded again with a shout. "Yes! I give up! Just don't hit me anymore!"

As Susan strode toward him tears burst forth from his eyes. Never in his life had he felt so totally defeated! And what was worse was that a woman had done it to him! He could take a beating from a man, but this affair completely humiliated him. Seeing the whip knock leaves off the tree had convinced him of its power and given him what he thought was a healthy combination of fear and respect for it. But this display had scared the

life out of him. could forget the

It would be long time before he look on Susan's face as the whip had bitten into his bare flesh! At this point he would do anything just to keep her from punishing him again!

Reaching him, she grabbed him by the shoulder and shook him forcefully. Never had he seen her so angry! "I've had just about enough of this do you understand! It cost me plenty to bail you out of jail and now you pull this stunt! One word to your probation officer and you'll be in jail for years! Is that what you want?" She glared at him while she waited for his response. "No," he said

timidly, fearing the possibility of being hit again with the whip. "Then you had better do

" he

exactly as I ask from now on! Are you going to cooperate or not?" she yelled. "I promise, said meekly.

Taking his hand, she pulled the cowering boy back into the house.

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