Punishment

When she saw me, she hung her head in shame. Then she went towards her room and closed the door. I went to her. When I opened the door she became more restless. I knew it from her actions.
- Again?
She was looking at me calmly – and she at times didn’t look ashamed and was looking around. She hadn’t any answer she stretched out her arm towards the bag and was playing with it.
-I am telling you....
She fastened the bag zipper and maybe not to feel ashamed too much. I went towards her. She pulled herself together a little. Maybe she feared.
- Mother, I swear; I promise to study from now on.
I took her bag and opened it and threw out its contents angrily.
I took her mathematics notebook. The first couple of sheets, and I noticed a bad mark followed by the teacher’s dissatisfaction signature.
- Why didn’t you study your lessons?
And before I waited far her answer, I went out side and came back with a stick. I hadn’t beaten her yet for her to weep loudly.
Although we understood towards each other, I slept sadly that night; I had a wonderful dream. Hossein came towards me. He was sad and my body started trembling. Oh my God, why is he nervous? When he reached me, I saw a strange stick in his hands.
Did you beat Zeinab with the same stick?
I was tongue–tied; I hadn’t any thing to say. And he was gazing at me continuously.
He waited for my reply. I pulled my self together, and answered him:
- She annoys me and doesn’t study her lessons.
He didn’t say any thing. And stood opposite me and raised the stick.
- Do you like to be beaten with this stick?
And I was mixed up, what could I do, suddenly he brought the stick down but didn’t beat me.
- You didn’t do the right thing.
He said these words and then turned to the light and disappeared.
He slept by the bed of yellow flower.