It was a warm, late summer day, and the sky was an intense shade of blue that seemed to stretch on forever. The sunlight streamed through the open window, casting a soft, golden glow across the teenage boy's bedroom. The air was thick with the scent of freshly cut grass and honeysuckle, reminding him of lazy afternoons spent playing baseball with his friends.

He had been in trouble again, and he knew exactly what was coming. His mother's stern voice still rang in his ears, the words, "You're going to get a good, hard spanking," echoing through his mind like a haunting refrain. The thought of it made his stomach churn with a mixture of fear and anticipation.

As he waited for her to enter the room, he couldn't help but wonder if she would sit him on her lap again or if she would make him bend over the bed. Either way, he knew he deserved it. He'd been stealing cigarettes from his father's stash and sneaking out at night to go to parties. He'd been acting like an idiot, and he knew it.

The door opened, and there she was, his mom. She was wearing her favorite pair of jeans and a light blue blouse that brought out the color of her eyes. She looked stern, but there was also a hint of sadness in her expression. He swallowed hard, feeling a mixture of shame and regret wash over him.

"Come here, young man," she said, her voice firm but not unkind. He stood up and walked over to her, feeling like a small child again. She didn't say anything else as she led him over to the bed and helped him lie down on his stomach, his face pressed into the soft pillow.

He felt her hands on his hips, pulling down his jeans and underwear, leaving him completely exposed. Then, he felt the cold, hard wooden paddle against his bare bottom. "This is for stealing cigarettes and lying to me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, "and this is for sneaking out at night and putting yourself in danger." Her words sent a shiver down his spine.

She raised the paddle high above her head, and before he could brace himself, it came crashing down on his left cheek. The impact was like a stinging slap, but somehow deeper. He let out a yelp, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes. She spanked him again, and again, and again, each blow harder than the last. The pain was intense, but it was nothing compared to the shame he felt.

He tried to count the spanks, but soon lost track. His bottom was on fire, and he was sure that every part of his skin was bright red. He squirmed and writhed beneath her, unable to get comfortable. Despite the pain, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. It was like a weight had been lifted off his chest. He knew that he deserved this punishment, and he was glad that his mom was giving it to him.

She continued spanking him for what seemed like an eternity. He could feel the stinging pain radiate outward from his cheeks, making it hard to focus on anything else. Finally, after what felt like hours, she stopped and pulled his pants back up.

"Get in the corner and think about what you've done," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. He didn't need to be told twice. He crawled over to the corner of the room and huddled there, his bottom throbbing and his eyes filled with tears.

He had to stay in the corner for ten minutes, his face turned towards the wall, his hands clasped behind his head. He had not been allowed to cry or make any noise. He had to think about his actions and how they had hurt not only his mother but also himself.

As the time passed, his bottom began to throb less and less. His breathing slowed down, and he started to feel calmer. He knew that he had learned his lesson this time. He would never steal cigarettes or sneak out at night again.

When the ten minutes were finally up, his mother called him over and sat down on the bed beside him. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close, resting his head against her shoulder. "I'm proud of you for accepting your punishment," she whispered. "It's not easy to admit when you're wrong, and it's even harder to face the consequences."

He felt her finger gently rubbing his back, soothing away the last of the tension and pain. "I know you're going to make better choices from now on. You're a smart kid, and I believe in you." Her words brought a tear to his eye, and he felt himself loved.