She approached cautiously. A cat slinking towards it's food dish but not sure the dog had actually disappeared. Watchful and waiting.
It was easy to explain her hesitance. She had broken the rules and knew I would punish her for it. It was our nature. Mine to impose order and hers to tug at the constraints she wore so happily around her neck. I could see her worry at what was in store for her. Concern tinged by excitement I noted with some announce as I returned to my meal. Cautious she waited beside the table, not wanting to poke too hard at my buttons, until I gesture for her to sit across the table from me.
Settling her napkin in her lap she hesitated and asked, "Is being denied dinner my punishment?"
"Nope, dig in." I gestured to the simple but fine dish if rice and chicken I'd prepared.
"Oh, am I getting a spanking?" She asked after cutting into her chicken breast.
"You'd enjoy that." I chuckled as he took a thoughtful bite.
"Time out?" She said after a second bite, her cheeks flushing with color.
"Those don't seem to have worked." I grumbled over her repeated soft coughs.
"Are we just going to drop journaling?" She sounded slightly dejected. Or as dejected as she could over another cough and a loud sniffle to fight a suddenly runny nose.
I shook my head. She enjoyed the task, just like being made to do it even more. Beet red and alarmed she managed to ask, "You're not going to give me the silent treatment?"
"Of course not." I smiled reassuringly.
"Then what are you going to do to me?" She said reaching for her water that I quickly moved out of reach. It wouldn't have helped anyway.
"Nothing." I cooed, "In fact if you run right now and get started I will give you this bottle of milk and yogurt. Which are quite probably the only dairy products in the house."
As I spoke I lifted both items into view. My red faced Paramore stared quizzically at them through teary eyes. Seeing her confusion I lifted my other hand and out the can of hot pepper seeds into view.
She looked from the can to me to the chicken and back again. Then at the yogurt and milk. Comprehension slowly dawned.
The chair banged against the floor as she shot off. And in the few heartbeats I knew I had between now and when she returned to demonstrate just how deserving of my reward she was I attacked my own dinner. It was a bit spicy but the overwhelming hint of victory made it delicious.