Chapter 6

Once they returned from the restaurant it was time for Arnold to go pick up his sister’s dry-cleaning.

Then, on the way back he bought a huge amount of peanuts and granola bars at a vending machine which he hurriedly wolfed down before he entered his room, lest Lexi demand he give them to her.

It was late when he brought Lexi’s clothes back, but not quite midnight. So Poor Arnold was forced to stay in his leotard while he and Lexi watched TV from their room. Since the TV was facing the bed, with the cot off to the side, Arnold had to watch from the floor. Meanwhile Lexi was relaxing on the gigantic bed after showering and changing into comfortable pajamas.

They watched for a while saying nothing. Lexi controlled the remote as she was using it first while Arnold went to pick up her dry cleaning.

“Hey get me some water from the mini fridge” said Lexi at some point during a commercial. Arnold wanted to object that Lexi was closer, but thought it wasn’t worth making a whole thing out of it so he just got up and did as he was told. Besides he was mostly glad that Lexi seemed to be taking a break from actively taunting him or pranking him or tattling on him for stuff he didn’t do and he didn’t want to break that silence by objecting.

But about 20 minutes latter when the show finished Lexi perked up “Hey Arnold, why did you get me that water I asked for? Don’t you know I’m closer to the fridge.”

“Well, you know...”

“I know ... what? Lexi asked.

“I’m ... I just wanted to be nice to you, that’s all.”

Lexi smiled “really?” she asked slyly.

“ya...” Arnold said back.

Lexi chuckled “you sure it’s not cause mom and dad love me so much and clearly hate you that they would punish you severely if you didn’t do whatever I say?” she asked happily.

“Well I ... maybe I...”

“careful” said Lexi “don’t want to accuse mom and dad of playing favorites or they might punish you.”

“Right, ya of course. Mom and dad are very fair. And never play favorites ever.”

Lexi giggled as she watched her brother squerm and stumble over his words to try to say whatever he was supposed to say”

“So you’re saying you weren’t scared of being punished at all” she challenged.

“I guess ... I guess so” said Arnold confused.

“And you just wanted to be nice?” Lexi asked.

“Yes” Arnold replied.

“why?” asked Lexi.

“huh?” asked Arnold.

“Like, why be nice and get the water for me. Why not say I have to be nice and get it my self. Are you saying that I’m not nice. Now that’s not very nice of you.”

“I ... I no ... you are very nice. Awesome amazing sister. I ... um ... I”

Lexi giggled. This is so fun she thought.

“Well then if I’m so nice why did I not get the water my self?” she taunted.

“I ... I. what do you want me to say?” Arnold pleaded.

Lexi laughed “ah I’m just messing with you” she said before laughing again. “Come on, it’s kind of funny how easy it is to get you all tongue tied and scared and stumbling over your own words in frustration.”

Arnold opened up hiss mouth to speak, but no words came out.

Lexi laughed again “I’m really enjoying this vacation so far” she said “And it hasn’t even been 1 day. Go get me some more water Arniepoo” she commanded, and Arnold mutely obeyed.

... By the time midnight rolled around, Lexi was comfortably asleap. Arnold practicaly couldn’t believe it, it felt like he was wearing that pink leotard forever. He took it off and showered, feeling so wonderful to finally be out of that thing. He vowed then and there to always be as nice as possible to his sister and never give his parents any reason to punish him again.

...

The next morning at the hotel breakfast, Arnold did his best to find ways to show his subservience to his sister and parents. He held out the chairs for them to sit down in. He kept offering to get them more food and coffee from the buffet, every time they finished their portion.

“Arnold has been so nice this morning” said Mindy with a smile while he was off getting her some more french toast.

“I agree” said George “I think getting punished really brings the best out in him.” Lexi giggled at that.

While Arnold was coming back, Lexi waited until he had sat down to sweetly ask for more hash browns.

“Yes Lexi” he said in a pained voice that was trying to sound cheerful. Mindy and George shared a quick little grin at Arnold’s expense.

“Watch this” Lexi whispered to her parents with a smile. As Arnold was on his way back Lexi called out “get me some scrambled eggs too”

And Arnold forced himself to smile as he said “sure thing sis” and then turned right around.

George chuckled “I love your adorable little pranks Lexi” he told his daughter.

Then when Arnold he was coming back Lexi called out “don’t forget my orange juice”

This time Arnold’s anger showed through a little more as he said “ok Lexi” but he still dutifully turned around for the orange juice.

On his way back, Lexi noticed a waiter with a food cart with more food for the buffet from the kitchen moving in the aisles “now this is the real prank” she whispered to her parents. She waited until the food cart was right behind her brother to call out “And bacon too!”

Arnold was so angry and frustrated at his sister abusing his kindness that he wasn’t thinking quite straight. He tensed up his muscles in involuntary anger. The anger was like a jolt of energy he needed to release. But in his submissive state he could think of no release for his anger other than simply doing what his sister asked, but angrily. He forcibly turned around and started striding towards the bacon in such a fit of rage he was oblivious to the waiter pushing the cart of food.

Lexi laughed out loud and her parents chuckled as Arnold slammed into the waiter, his knee slamming into the cart. The plate of food Arnold was carrying for his sister smacked into his face, with some of it falling down on top of the food on the waiter’s cart “Hey! What’s wrong with you! Look where you’re going!” The waiter yelled at Arnold as Arnold clutched his knee in pain.

“sorry I ... ow...”

“Tourists” muttered the waiter in derision before heading back to the kitchen to replace his food.

“Ow, ow ... ow” Arnold moaned as he hobbled back to the table.

“wow” said Lexi with an evil smile as she looked at her brother’s suffering face. “It’s going to be hard for you to give me my piggy back ride to the beach now won’t it.”

Wait, there still expecting me to do that? Arnold’s jaw dropped.

“That’s riiiight” Mindy said with a smile “I forgot, but ya, we said Arnold would give Lexi a piggy back ride as punishment for that little prank he tried to pull on her at the restaurant.”

“But ... but I can’t do that anymore, I’m in a lot of pain” pleaded Arnold.

“Probably should have looked where you were going” said his father with a shrug. At this point Lexi’s smile was so big and happy, she was practically glowing.

“Come on” pleaded Arnold “It’s her fault I crashed into the waiter. She asked for bacon at exactly that moment intentionally!”

“It’s Lexi’s fault you can’t see what’s two feet in front of you?” asked Mindy.

“But I know it was intentional on her part. I saw her snickering.”

“Arnold, we’re not denying that maybe Lexi was trying to get you to fall.” George explained.

“You’re ... you’re not?” Arnold asked.

“But the fact remains” continued George “That all she did was ask you for some bacon. She didn’t push you or anything. If all she has to do to make you fall and injure yourself is ask you for bacon, then you kind of deserve to get injured.”

“So you admit she intentionally hurt me and still she get’s off scott free?”

Lexi tossed her beautiful dark hair in a carefree motion as she gave a happy little sigh “na na na na na, I can never get punished” she sang happily.

“Now that’s not true Lexi” said Mindy “It’s just that you’re too much of a perfect little angel to ever do anything deserving of punishment.

“Yup, that’s me all right” Lexi replied with a smug grin.

“Now, as for your brother on the other hand...” Mindy chuckled “ ... well he has some piggy back rides to give, now doesn’t he.”

... The walk from the hotel to the beach was a short one by normal standards. Not more than a few hundred meters. But with a hurting knee and a hundred pounds of Lexi on his back it was a very painful trudge for Arnold. Very comfy ride for Lexi though.

“Alright, we’re finally here” said Arnold as they reached the sand.

“I don’t think so” said George, “carry her up to the water”

“But then I’ll get sand in my shoes” complained Arnold.

“So take them off” offered Mindy, who was in the process of taking off her own shoes and putting them in the bag they had brought.

Lexi hopped down so Arnold was able to remove his shoes. Then once every one was ready they started walking on the sand.

Mindy and George immediately ran to the water, to minimize the time the hot sand would be burning their feet.

Arnold however couldn’t run so easily with Lexi on his back.

“ow, ow, ow hot hot hot eeeehh hot ow, eeeehh aaah hot” he stammered as he trugged off to the water, Lexi comfortably enjoying the ride.