Holidays

Sitting on the bedroom floor
of our holiday house
in shorty pajamas
boys with bare backs
tired after a long day at the beach.
Giggling
Father’s voice
“Quiet in there”
Our giggles now muffled
“Quiet in there”
Father’s footsteps
His strapping belt
My brother – the quiet one
His skinny back
Covered in red welts
Heaving as he sobs
Yet we do nothing to sooth him
It’s now quiet.