THE PUNISHMENT OF SONNY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20229, 13 April 1929, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE PUNISHMENT OF SONNY.

By MARJORIE MAXWELL. f

There was 110 doubt about it, Sonny really had been very naughty all day—it was one ot his black days when he could not seem lo do anything right. After lunch ho departed to play with the small boy next door who had had his fifth birthday and was now a full-blown schoolboy, and therefore a very superior person to Sonny who was only four and ahalf. Peaco reigned for a little while until Sonny came stumping back " Oh, mummy, we've been having lovely fun," he cried. " Billy found a lot of old beer bottles and we've been playing shop and I drinked a litt.lo bit—jus' a littls tiny bit out of one. It wasn't very nico though:" he added screwing up his face at tho memory. " You what?" demanded mother. " My goodness, why aro you such a naughty boy 1 Now you are not to go next door again this afternoon. You musn't do such dirty things." Mother resumed her ironing with a sigh. "Whatever will ho do next!" she wondered. About two minutes later Billy-from-next-door and the unrepentant Sonny were tearing madly round tho houso disguised as buses. " Mummy said I wasn't to go to your place," Sonny remarked cheerfully, " but I s'poso you can come in our place. C'mon Bill! I'm the red bus that goes to Brown's Bay,'' and off ho dashed. Some little tfmo later mother realised that their voices sounded rather far away and upon going to see where they were

Siscovered that Sonny was back again next door.

This time she felt really angry, it seemed that she had to spend all her busy day running after one naughty littlo boy.

"Go into tho bathroom," she said crossly when the small youth returned. " You can wait tliero until daddy comes home. I'm tired of smacking you," arifi she shut the door firmly. Then sonny howled in good earnest, rage, selfpity and boredom possessing him in turn. Mummv took 110 notico and presently tho sobs ceased and everything was quiet —so quiet that after a while mother felt suspicious. She hurried to tho bathroom door and listened a moment. Cer- | fainly there was no sound at all inside. With a fast heating heart she softly opened the door and a Ray voice greeted her. " Oli, mummy, como and look at the beaut little hut I've made," and a curly red-gold head peered out from under the cork 1 lath-mat which was propped between the bath and a small cupboard and draped with numerous towels. Mummy's face twitched and she turned her head a moment until her gravity returned. After all her fears to find this! What an imp he was—but what a lovable imp for all his pranks. " Couldn't you leave tho door open a little bit mother?" lie was saying. " I won't come out, but I'd like tho door open." Mother yielded that much. " Yes, I'll leave tho door open, but you must stay there. Daddy will be homo in a few minutes now." Very soon after daddy arrived. "Where's tho family?" ho demanded. " Sonny's undergoing nunishment and I think baby's consoling him," said mummy with a twinkle in her eye. "Look in the bathroom." Daddy looked and gavo a snort of laughter. " What 011 earth are you doing ?" he asked. "I thought you wero naughty?" " So I am," said Sonnv gravely. " But I'm good now. Can I come out now you're home, daddy?" " If mummy thinks you're good enough. What have you been doing anyway?" asked daddy. Sonny told him. " May he come out now mummy?" inquired daddy, keeping his face straight with difficulty. " Yes, I think so, if he promises to stay good," answered mummy. And now hurry up. because I've made a nice pudding for tea.