From: tlynch@cco.caltech.edu (Timothy W. Lynch)
Newsgroups: alt.ql.creative
Subject: "Afterimage", part 1
Date: 15 Aug 1993 05:00:49 GMT
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Lines: 37
Message-Id: <24kfu1INN1ri@gap.caltech.edu>
Reply-To: gina@ricevm1.rice.edu
Nntp-Posting-Host: sandman.caltech.edu

I'm posting this for the author.  Followups/comments should be sent to
gina@ricevm1.rice.edu; a straight "reply" should do it. -- TWL

                         "Afterimage"
                         by Gina Goff

                           Part One

    All he could see was bronze carpet.  Before Sam had a chance
to think about why he might be looking down at the floor from a
height of two feet, someone slapped him.  With a start, Sam
realized that he was being spanked.  He twisted around, trying to
see whose lap he was occupying, but the man held him too firmly.
His captor was definitely male; Sam could see his shoes.  Was the
man his father?

    Another swat.  What was he supposed to do?  Yell, cry,
promise not to do it again?  And what -- slap! -- was the "it" he
was being punished for?

    Perhaps he should say something.  "Dad..." he began
tentatively, but the man interrupted.

    "What do you think you were doing out there?  You could have
been killed."  Slap.  The voice sounded upset, but not abusive.
Good, at least Sam was dealing with someone rational.

    The man relaxed his grip and set Sam on his feet.  Sam stared
at him in numb silence.

    "Stay in your room."

    "Yes, sir" Sam mumbled, but his "father" was already closing
the bedroom door.  "Oh, boy."  He knew the man's name.

    Al Calavicci.