linking arms like the characters did in
The Wizard of Oz
when they were preparing to meet the wizard. I’m the Cowardly Lion for sure. I can practically hear my knees knocking together. Will’s definitely the Scarecrow with his extra-long arms and legs; Marie, the ruby-lipped Dorothy; and Brian makes a perfect stiffly postured Tin Man. I wish we really were headed down that long hallway in the Emerald City, but instead we’re making our way around the stables to the corral. Pioneer is standing in the exact center and beside him are multiple buckets and wood beams.
“Come here.”
We walk as one. The adults linger by the corral gate where they can watch. None of our parents came with us. They’re being kept away on purpose so that they can’t intervene, a common practice for punishments.
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my
. These absurd words fill my head as we walk. I press my nails into my palms to keep from chanting it out loud. Somehow I don’t think Pioneer will find it funny.
Pioneer waits until we’re directly in front of him before he picks up four of the beams one at a time and handsthem to us. They’re notched on either end. We look at each other and then back at Pioneer.
“Put them behind your necks.”
Pioneer’s voice is harsh enough to get us moving immediately. The beams are heavy and awkward. I balance the wood on my shoulders and try to find a comfortable spot for it to rest on, but there is none. Pioneer picks up two buckets and puts one on either end of Will’s pole. They’re almost completely full of water and Will has to scramble to get them balanced before they can spill.
“You will carry these buckets around the corral until I say you can stop. Keep the water in the buckets and today will be your only day of punishment. Spill too much and you’ll do this again tomorrow.”
I can already feel the wood cutting into my neck, the roughness of it rubbing my skin raw. When Pioneer hangs my buckets, it only gets worse. I’m not sure I can do what he wants, but I don’t have a choice. I struggle to get my balance right, then start following Will. Together we begin walking along the fence that borders the corral.
“Slow and steady, Lyla,” Will calls back to me.
“No talking!” Pioneer shouts from behind us.
I grit my teeth and take careful steps forward. We’re not even halfway around and already I’m sweaty and shaking. How long before the beam becomes too heavy for me?
Pioneer and the others watch as we do lap after laparound the corral. I’ve lost count of how many we’ve done after a while, but the sun has slowly climbed a third of the way up the sky. The only thing I can concentrate on is balancing the pole. At first I was able to keep it steady enough that the buckets barely swayed, but now they’re slowly rocking back and forth. My entire back is cramped. I’m crying and so is Marie. I’m not sure if we’re going to make it. But I can’t do this again tomorrow, so I readjust the beam for the hundredth time and take another step. My neck seizes. I try desperately to stretch and still keep the beam steady.
“Please. I can’t keep going. I need to stop.” Marie doesn’t wait for Pioneer to answer her before she stops walking. Her beam is listing back and forth. The buckets are sloshing violently. I suck in a breath. Marie lets out a little wail and drops to one knee.
“Stand up!” Pioneer yells.
“I can’t,” Marie cries.
“You will stand up now!” Pioneer hops the fence and charges over to where she is. Marie closes her eyes. Tears stream down her cheeks. The back of her neck is bleeding. I can see the trail of blood along her collarbone, a gruesome necklace. I shudder and try not to think about what my own neck looks like. All I know is that it’s getting harder and harder to think about anything other than the pain I’m in.
“Get up!” Pioneer pulls Marie to her feet. “You have no one to blame for this but yourself. You left withoutpermission.
The Wizard of Oz
when they were preparing to meet the wizard. I’m the Cowardly Lion for sure. I can practically hear my knees knocking together. Will’s definitely the Scarecrow with his extra-long arms and legs; Marie, the ruby-lipped Dorothy; and Brian makes a perfect stiffly postured Tin Man. I wish we really were headed down that long hallway in the Emerald City, but instead we’re making our way around the stables to the corral. Pioneer is standing in the exact center and beside him are multiple buckets and wood beams.
“Come here.”
We walk as one. The adults linger by the corral gate where they can watch. None of our parents came with us. They’re being kept away on purpose so that they can’t intervene, a common practice for punishments.
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my
. These absurd words fill my head as we walk. I press my nails into my palms to keep from chanting it out loud. Somehow I don’t think Pioneer will find it funny.
Pioneer waits until we’re directly in front of him before he picks up four of the beams one at a time and handsthem to us. They’re notched on either end. We look at each other and then back at Pioneer.
“Put them behind your necks.”
Pioneer’s voice is harsh enough to get us moving immediately. The beams are heavy and awkward. I balance the wood on my shoulders and try to find a comfortable spot for it to rest on, but there is none. Pioneer picks up two buckets and puts one on either end of Will’s pole. They’re almost completely full of water and Will has to scramble to get them balanced before they can spill.
“You will carry these buckets around the corral until I say you can stop. Keep the water in the buckets and today will be your only day of punishment. Spill too much and you’ll do this again tomorrow.”
I can already feel the wood cutting into my neck, the roughness of it rubbing my skin raw. When Pioneer hangs my buckets, it only gets worse. I’m not sure I can do what he wants, but I don’t have a choice. I struggle to get my balance right, then start following Will. Together we begin walking along the fence that borders the corral.
“Slow and steady, Lyla,” Will calls back to me.
“No talking!” Pioneer shouts from behind us.
I grit my teeth and take careful steps forward. We’re not even halfway around and already I’m sweaty and shaking. How long before the beam becomes too heavy for me?
Pioneer and the others watch as we do lap after laparound the corral. I’ve lost count of how many we’ve done after a while, but the sun has slowly climbed a third of the way up the sky. The only thing I can concentrate on is balancing the pole. At first I was able to keep it steady enough that the buckets barely swayed, but now they’re slowly rocking back and forth. My entire back is cramped. I’m crying and so is Marie. I’m not sure if we’re going to make it. But I can’t do this again tomorrow, so I readjust the beam for the hundredth time and take another step. My neck seizes. I try desperately to stretch and still keep the beam steady.
“Please. I can’t keep going. I need to stop.” Marie doesn’t wait for Pioneer to answer her before she stops walking. Her beam is listing back and forth. The buckets are sloshing violently. I suck in a breath. Marie lets out a little wail and drops to one knee.
“Stand up!” Pioneer yells.
“I can’t,” Marie cries.
“You will stand up now!” Pioneer hops the fence and charges over to where she is. Marie closes her eyes. Tears stream down her cheeks. The back of her neck is bleeding. I can see the trail of blood along her collarbone, a gruesome necklace. I shudder and try not to think about what my own neck looks like. All I know is that it’s getting harder and harder to think about anything other than the pain I’m in.
“Get up!” Pioneer pulls Marie to her feet. “You have no one to blame for this but yourself. You left withoutpermission.
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