Tobias: The Neighbor Next Door*

The shuttle glided over Evergrand Island, the mixture of lush greenery and gleaming metallic structures below a striking contrast to Tobias’s sour mood. He sat slouched in his booster seat, glaring out the window as Mrs. Rowe pointed out landmarks.

“Welcome home,” she said cheerfully as the shuttle touched down. “Evergrand Island is a beautiful place, and it’s the last Starfleet holding on Cyberia.”

Tobias grumbled. “Looks more like a tourist trap.”

Mrs. Rowe sighed. “You’ll learn to appreciate it.”

---

*The Modular Home*

The Rowes’ house was identical to dozens of others on their street: a two-story structure with a 1940s charm—wide porches, gabled roofs—but with glowing solar panels and sleek tech integrated discreetly into the design. Inside, the futuristic nature of the home became more apparent. Polished surfaces, holographic assistants, and self-adjusting lights made it clear that this was no ordinary home.

Upstairs, Tobias was shown his room. It was stark, minimalistic, with plain white walls and a neatly made bed. A box containing his belongings sat unopened in the corner.

“It’s a blank slate,” Mrs. Rowe explained. “We’ll set it up together later. For now, I want you to meet our neighbors.”

Tobias rolled his eyes. “Do I have to?”

“Yes. It’s polite,” she said firmly.

---

*Meeting Martha Whispertuft*

Next door, the Whispertuft house had a more welcoming air. Bright flowers adorned the front yard, and the doorbell chimed softly when Mrs. Rowe rang it. The door opened to reveal Mrs. Whispertuft, a tall, brown-furred rabbit with an apron tied around her waist. Her long ears twitched as she smiled warmly.

“Tobias, this is Mrs. Whispertuft,” Mrs. Rowe said. “And this—” she gestured to the small figure peeking out from behind her, “—is Martha.”

Martha stepped forward hesitantly. Her floppy ears partially covered her face as she gave Tobias a shy wave. She wore a simple dress and carried herself with quiet politeness.

“Hello, Tobias,” Martha said softly.

Mrs. Whispertuft’s voice was calm yet firm. “Martha is a Gravitos, Tobias. She made some bad choices as a hacker, and now she’s here to make amends.”

Tobias raised an eyebrow. “What’d you hack?”

Martha’s ears drooped. “I didn’t know I was hacking Starfleet. I thought it was just... for fun.”

“Well, you picked the wrong target,” Tobias said with a smirk. “Rookie mistake.”

“Tobias,” Mrs. Rowe warned. “Be polite.”

Mrs. Whispertuft ushered them inside. “Why don’t you stay here for a bit, Tobias? Martha can show you around while your mom gets your room set up.”

---

*The Incident*

Martha led Tobias upstairs to her room. It was cozy and colorful, with shelves lined with books and small crafts. On her desk sat a mechanical toy—a rabbit with glowing eyes and articulated limbs.

“This is Bunn-E,” Martha said, picking it up proudly. “I built it myself.”

Tobias grabbed it from her hands before she could stop him. “Looks kind of basic,” he said, fiddling with the controls.

“Be careful!” Martha protested. “You’ll break it!”

Tobias grinned, pressing random buttons. The toy froze mid-motion, its lights flickering out. “Oops.”

Martha’s face fell. “You broke it!”

“It’s just a dumb toy,” Tobias said, shrugging.

Martha ran to the door, calling for her mother. Mrs. Whispertuft appeared moments later, her calm expression masking a firm resolve.

“What happened?” she asked.

“He broke Bunn-E,” Martha said, pointing accusingly.

Tobias folded his arms. “It’s not a big deal.”

Mrs. Whispertuft’s gaze hardened. “Tobias, that toy wasn’t yours to play with. You need to apologize.”

“I’m not sorry,” Tobias shot back.

Mrs. Whispertuft sighed, retrieving a wooden hairbrush from a nearby drawer. “Martha, step outside, please. Tobias and I need to have a serious discussion.”

---

*The Spanking*

Mrs. Whispertuft led Tobias to a sturdy armless chair in the living room. Tobias’s heart sank when he realized what was about to happen.

“You can’t do this!” he protested, squirming as she guided him over her lap.

Mrs. Whispertuft lowered his pants, leaving him bare from the waist down. “This isn’t just about the toy, Tobias. It’s about learning to respect others and their belongings.”

The first swat of the hairbrush’s bristled side landed with a sharp *crack*. Tobias yelped, the sting immediate and intense.

“Ow! That hurts!” he cried, kicking his legs.

“It’s supposed to,” Mrs. Whispertuft said evenly, delivering another swat. “This is a consequence of your actions.”

The bristled side left a biting sting with each strike, Tobias’s protests growing louder as the spanking continued. Then she switched to the smooth side of the brush, the flat surface amplifying the heat already radiating across his backside.

By the time it was over, Tobias was sobbing, his small body limp over her lap. Mrs. Whispertuft helped him stand and pulled his pants back up before guiding him to a nearby stool.

---

*The Disciplinary Stool*

The stool was wooden, with a flat, hard surface designed for one purpose: reflection. Mrs. Whispertuft guided Tobias to sit on it, his freshly spanked bottom making immediate contact with the unforgiving seat. Tobias winced, tears still streaming down his face.

“This is called a Disciplinary Stool,” Mrs. Whispertuft explained. “You’ll sit here and think about why you were punished.”

Tobias sniffled, his lower lip trembling. “I already said it’s just a dumb toy.”

Mrs. Whispertuft’s gaze was steady. “It wasn’t about the toy. It was about respect, Tobias. Take this time to think about that.”

Tobias sat on the stool, the sting in his backside a constant reminder of his actions. When his time was up, Mrs. Whispertuft knelt in front of him.

“Now, what do you say to Martha?”

Tobias wiped his face with his sleeve. “I’m... I’m sorry.”

Martha stepped forward, her ears perking up slightly. “It’s okay,” she said softly. “We all make mistakes.”

---

*Reflection*

When Mrs. Rowe returned to pick him up, Tobias was unusually quiet. As they walked back to their house, Mrs. Rowe glanced down at him.

“How did it go?”

Tobias hesitated, then muttered, “I think I’ll try to behave... next time.”

Mrs. Rowe smiled. “That’s a good start.”