Her brother’s lower lip jutted out and quivered. Tears were soon to follow.

Gloriana gave him a brief hug. “Go to your room and wait for Papa.”

JT said nothing more but hung his head and moved toward his bedroom. Part of her wanted to run after him and tell him everything was forgiven and there would be no further punishment, but another part knew he’d never learn if he didn’t have to face the consequences of his actions. It was just so hard to be an eight-year-old boy in a world full of rules.

Norman Womack looked at his son and shook his head. “I’m very disappointed in you, JT. What got into your head that made you think it was all right to destroy someone else’s property?”

“I don’t know.” JT kept his gaze on the floor. “I guess I didn’t think.”

“No. You sure didn’t. I can’t understand what got into you. I’m disappointed, son. Very disappointed.”

JT bit his lower lip and braved a glance at his father’s face. Gloriana wanted to step in and save her brother from further pain and discomfort, but Papa had made it clear after Mama died that Gloriana could no longer play the role of sympathetic sister. She would be JT’s disciplinarian in their father’s absence, and it was crucial that she understood how important that role was. Children without discipline grew up to believe they could do whatever they wanted. Papa had told her that it wasn’t easy to be so firm with JT, but it might very well keep him from making bad choices in the future. Gloriana knew her father’s words were true, but she hated seeing JT so upset.

“So what do you have to say for yourself, Jeremiah Thomas?”

JT knew that when his full name was used, there was severe punishment coming his way. “I don’t know. I didn’t mean to hurt the desk, but when I started, it was just fun and I couldn’t stop.”

“Did you know what you were doing was wrong?”

JT nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“There will be other times in life when you might get involved in something that you find fun but know is wrong. You have to fight against those kinds of wrongdoing. They will not only cause you a world of problems but may hurt others as well, like Mr. Nelson.”

“Mr. Nelson is mean. I hate him!” JT’s expression showed he had surprised himself by making such a strong statement. He wasn’t usually one to sass or speak against other people.

“I don’t much care if you like him or not. Each man makes his own judgment about such things,” Papa declared. “What I do care about is you speakin’ your mind when I’m reprimanding you. That will get you a more severe punishment.”