*Tobias: Trouble at the Park*

The morning sun cast a warm glow over Evergrand Island as Mrs. Rowe led Tobias and Martha toward the park. Tobias trudged along, dragging his feet and grumbling under his breath.

“Why do I have to go to the park? It’s not like I need to make friends,” he said, glaring at the ground.

“Because it’s good for you to get outside and socialize,” Mrs. Rowe said firmly. “Besides, you and Martha could use the fresh air.”

Tobias rolled his eyes. “Socialize with who? Nobody likes Penitatas.”

Martha’s ears twitched nervously at his words, but she stayed quiet, walking a step behind him. Mrs. Rowe shot Tobias a sharp look.

“You mind your attitude, Tobias,” she warned. “We’ve already had this conversation.”

Tobias muttered under his breath, but the memory of his last spanking was enough to keep him from arguing further.

---

*At the Park*

The park was bustling with activity. Groups of children played tag around holographic projectors, while others climbed advanced jungle gyms that shifted shapes as they played. Martha gravitated toward a quieter area near a patch of trees, but Tobias had other ideas.

Spotting a group of normal children playing a fast-paced game of holographic tag, Tobias motioned to Martha. “Come on, let’s go see if we can join.”

“I don’t think they’ll want us to,” Martha said hesitantly, fiddling with her bracelet.

“Why not? It’s just a game,” Tobias said, walking toward the group with a determined stride. Martha reluctantly followed.

“Hey!” Tobias called out. “Can we play?”

The children stopped and turned to face him. One of them, a boy with spiky blonde hair and glowing sneakers, frowned. “Wait, are you Penitatas?”

Tobias stiffened. “So what if we are?”

The boy crossed his arms. “That means you’re criminals.”

A girl with a holographic visor nodded. “Yeah, my mom says Penitatas are bad news.”

Tobias’s hands balled into fists. “That’s not fair! You don’t even know us!”

The boy sneered. “We don’t need to know you. You wear collars and bracelets because you’re bad. Why would we play with you?”

Tobias felt anger rising in his chest, his cheeks flushing red. “You think you’re so much better than us? You’re just—”

“Tobias!” Mrs. Rowe’s voice cut through his rant like a knife. She approached with a calm but firm expression, her arms crossed.

---

*The Outburst*

“They wouldn’t play with us because we’re Penitatas!” Tobias shouted, tears of frustration stinging his eyes. “It’s not fair!”

Mrs. Rowe looked at him evenly. “And you think throwing a tantrum is going to change that?”

Tobias stomped his foot. “But it’s not fair! They’re jerks!”

Mrs. Rowe’s expression hardened. “We’ve talked about controlling your temper, Tobias. Yelling and name-calling is not acceptable.”

Tobias glared at her, his fists still clenched. “Why should I have to be the one to control myself when they’re the ones being—”

“That’s enough,” Mrs. Rowe said, cutting him off. She reached into her bag and pulled out the wooden hairbrush Tobias dreaded. “Clearly, you need a reminder.”

---

*The Public Spanking*

Tobias’s eyes widened as Mrs. Rowe sat on a nearby park bench. “No! Not here!” he protested, backing away. 

“Yes, here,” Mrs. Rowe said firmly, taking his arm. “You know the rules. Public misbehavior earns public consequences.”

Tobias squirmed as she pulled him over her lap, ignoring the curious glances from other park-goers. She lowered his pants, leaving his bare bottom exposed for everyone to see.

“This is to remind you to control your temper,” Mrs. Rowe said, raising the hairbrush.

*Smack!* The bristled side of the brush landed sharply, and Tobias yelped, his small body jerking with the sting. 

“Ow! That hurts!” he cried, his voice cracking.

“It’s supposed to,” Mrs. Rowe replied calmly, delivering another swat. “You will learn to control your temper, Tobias.”

Each swat left a biting sting, the bristled side of the brush making its point with painful precision. Tobias kicked and protested, but Mrs. Rowe was unfazed. When she switched to the smooth side, the spanking continued with firm, steady strikes that left his bottom bright red and throbbing.

By the time she finished, Tobias was a sniffling, tear-streaked mess. She helped him to his feet but didn’t pull up his pants.

---

*The Hard Park Bench*

“Sit down,” Mrs. Rowe instructed, pointing to the hard wooden bench.

Tobias looked at her with wide, tear-filled eyes. “But... my pants!”

“Exactly,” she said. “You’ll sit here with your bare bottom on the bench and think about your actions.”

Tobias hesitated, glancing around at the other children who were staring at him. His face burned with embarrassment, but Mrs. Rowe’s firm expression left no room for argument. Reluctantly, he lowered himself onto the hard bench, wincing as the unforgiving wood pressed against his sore skin.

“This is called reflection time,” Mrs. Rowe said, standing nearby. “You’ll stay here until I say otherwise.”

Tobias sniffled, his small hands gripping the edge of the bench. Every shift sent a sharp reminder of his spanking through him, and he avoided the gaze of the onlookers, his humiliation complete.

---

*The Watcher in the Shadows*

From the shade of a nearby tree, a pair of green eyes observed the scene with keen interest. A small tuxedo cat Penitatas, wearing Saiyan armor that gleamed faintly in the sunlight, crouched low in the branches. Her tail flicked as she watched Tobias, her expression contemplative.

“Could it be...?” she murmured, her voice quiet but curious. “The Fifth Generation Hero of the Penitatas?”

She smirked, her fangs glinting. “Hotheaded, stubborn, but... there’s potential. We’ll see.”

With a flick of her tail, she disappeared into the shadows, leaving Tobias to his uncomfortable seat on the bench, oblivious to the larger destiny looming ahead. For now, his world was narrowed to the sting of his backside and the shame of rejection.