The Day Daddy Spanked Mommy
Domestic violence can take unexpected turns
This story contains graphic depictions of domestic violence as seen through the eyes of a child. Sensitive readers should be aware.
Jerry, short for Jeremiah, is eight years old. His Mom always told people he was old for his age. He didn’t know what that meant and wondered if he needed to shave like Daddy. He guessed not since he didn’t see any hairs on his chin.
Jerry lived with his Mom, Dad, and little sister, Carolyn, in a small mountain town. It used to snow there a lot, which Jerry and his sister loved, but now not much. Mom said it had to do with climbing change or something. Jerry didn’t know what that meant.
His sister was only four and still in kindergarten, but Jerry was in third grade. He liked school, and his teacher, Mr. Bailey, was nice. Sometimes Jerry wished Daddy were nice like Mr. Bailey. Mr. Bailey never yelled, and he smiled all the time.
It was Friday night, and Jerry was reading The Secret Lake in his room. It was a fun story about two kids and a dog named Harry. Jerry wanted a dog like forever, but Dad hated dogs and said they stink and poop everywhere. Jerry didn’t think Harry stank and pooped everywhere.
Jerry heard Mom yell for dinner, and he was glad because he was really hungry. When he got downstairs, he saw Dad in the living room. He was drinking beer. Jerry didn’t like that because Dad got mean when he drank beer. Maybe he wouldn’t be mean tonight.
Mom was in a good mood and laughing and talking. Jerry was laughing as well. He loved his Mommy. Tonight, the family had macaroni and cheese with hot dogs. Jerry loved it, Carolyn did, too, but Daddy didn’t.
Daddy started yelling at Mom and asking her if that was all she knew how to make. Jerry didn’t understand because it had been forever since they had it for dinner. Carolyn started crying like she did when Daddy yelled.
Daddy told her to stop sniveling and shut up, and Mommy told him not to talk to her like that. Daddy got really mad and stood up. His face was red, and he swayed like he sometimes does when he drinks beer. Mommy looked scared and told the kids to go upstairs to our rooms.
Jerry and his sister sat on the bed and hugged each other. When Daddy gets mad like this, he sometimes spanks Mommy, which Jerry doesn’t like. It made Mommy cry and cry. The next day, sometimes her eyes would be black. Jerry didn’t like that either.
Jerry could hear screaming downstairs and stuff breaking. Mommy was crying, so Jerry decided to run downstairs and help Her. He loved her so much. She hugged him and smiled all the time. She was the best Mommy.
Daddy had Mommy pinned against the sink. She was bleeding and begging, but Daddy just kept hurting her. Although Jerry was only eight, he could reach the counter. On it sat the big butcher knife Mommy sometimes used to cut meat. Jerry grabbed it and stuck it into Daddy’s foot. He screamed and said fuck a whole bunch. We weren’t allowed to say fuck.
The police came next, and an ambulance. It took Daddy away, and that made Jerry both happy and sad. Happy because he wouldn’t hurt Mommy anymore and sad because he loved Daddy too.
Mommy told Jerry to go to bed now. He was glad because he was really tired.
When he woke up, he saw that Mommy had packed everything. Mommy said the family was going to stay with Nana for a while. Jerry wanted to know if Daddy was coming too. Mommy said Daddy wouldn’t be going anywhere for a long while.
Jerry didn’t know if that made him happy or sad. He only wanted to know whether they could get a dog now.
Daddy never spanked Mommy again.
About the Author: Professor Mike is a writer and editor. He also teaches at his local university. He doesn’t like people who hurt other people.