No More Baths for Me

The washing machine rumbled, and I frantically pounded on it, wanting to get out.

"Mommy. Daddy. The washing machine started. Let me out!"

Water kept pouring in from the pipe, and I curled up inside the washing machine. It wasn't long before water had risen to my chest.

I panicked and choked on water several times, but Mommy and Daddy just walked around, holding Jason as he coughed.

"Daddy. Mommy. I just choked on water too." I tried to call out to them.

If only they would look back at me. All it would take was one look, and they could get me out of here.

I pushed against the washing machine door with all my strength, but it did not budge an inch.

I remembered Mommy and Daddy saying they were afraid I would climb into the washing machine and play, so they had deliberately bought one with a child-lock feature. Once the door closed, it couldn't be opened again.

The washing machine drum slowly began to spin, and the cold metal pressed against my skin.

Suddenly, the whole world shook violently and began to spin.

An unstoppable force threw me up and slammed me down, over and over again. My body slammed violently against the hard metal drum, and a heavy thunk rang out.

I tried screaming for help, but the moment I opened my mouth, the scented, soapy water kept rushing into my mouth and nose.

Daddy… Mommy…

I was starting to feel dizzy and suffocated. I forced my eyes open, hoping to see Mommy and Daddy, but all I saw was them holding Jason in their arms, frantically getting him dressed.

"Caleb really let me down. He's already doing this to Jason when we're right here. I don't even want to imagine what he does when we're not around. We really have to teach him a lesson this time."

"What do we do, honey? Jason's been coughing all day, and he's not getting any better. His face is all red."

"We need to get to the hospital! Now!"

The first spin cycle of the washing machine stopped, and the water that I had been choking on finally drained away. But more water slowly began pouring in.

Terrified, I used all my strength to pound on the washing machine. "Daddy! Mommy! Please save me. I really can't take it anymore."

Mommy froze while she was getting dressed and hurried over to me.

"Mommy, please save me." Hope welled up within me. I knew Mommy only wanted to teach me a lesson.

In the future, I would be more careful and never hurt Jason again.

Mommy reached toward the washing machine, but she did not open the door. Instead, she stood nearby and pointed at me, disappointment written all over her face.

"You still don't know what you did wrong, do you? And now you're taking your anger out on the washing machine?

"Caleb Tucker, your brother's only two years old. He had just learned to talk, and he already knew how to say your name. How could you bring yourself to hurt him?

"Stay in there and think about what you've done. We've been too good to you. That's why you've become so spoiled and arrogant."

I shook my head, crying. I could feel the water slowly running down my back.

The first spin cycle had left me dizzy, but I forced myself to bang on the washing machine, trying to respond to Mommy.

Instead, it only made her even angrier.