It all started Wednesday morning, August 28 in Scottsboro, Alabama, when Carolyn got out of bed to start her senior year of high school.  She looked worriedly in the mirror and saw the hickey hadn't faded any during the night; in fact it looked darker.  Dumb as a post, she thought to herself.  If Mama or Daddy see that...Code Blue!  Can't let that happen.  She went to her makeup mirror and tried some concealer, but it looked like what it was--makeup to cover a hickey!  Sometimes they wear turtlenecks to covering up sins just like this.  But that's in the cooler months; it's going to be 84 degrees today!
I hope a short sleeve mock turtleneck will be enough to cover it.  Carolyn pulled of the pajama top she slept in, got her bra off the floor, put it on, pulled out a black top from the drawer, and on it went.
It was true to its name-- the coller rose a couple of inches and stopped short, underlining the purple spot!  No good.  It was going to have to a real turtleneck.
Carolyn dug into her closet and pulled out her plastic storage container from under her shoes.  She pulled the lid off and dug through until she found the only turtleneck she owned-- a trusty white Skyr that she had bought at Marshalls last year to wear under sweaters or whatever.  It didn't get used too much.  Carolyn could remember wearing it under her denim jumper when she went to church on the day Daddy was doing something important, she couldn't remember what it was though.  She had worn it last March when they were selling band candy outside Wal-Mart.  The girls all had to wear white T-shirts with the red "A" for the football team on them, but it was in the 50's that day.  Tasha had a football jacket on, but Shelley just wore a dark red turtleneck under her T-shirt. The neck on her turtleneck was not folded, but standing straight up.  Hanging out over the top of her turtleneck was a gold necklace with the "A", matching the "A" on her T-shirt.  Carolyn had been thinking along the same lines of not covering her T-shirt, but simply adding the white turtleneck underneath, with the neck folded down in the traditional way.
Carolyn stood up and in one whoosh motion slipped into the white turtleneck.  As she did, she experience the infamous "OH, NO!" second-- the second when you realize you instantly made a huge mistake.  She ran to the mirror and confirmed what she suspected-- folding the turtleneck collar down exposed a smear of concealer on the white cotton.  CR**,d!$%^&,R*!#$%^!idiot! forgot to wash the concealer off!  When it rains, it pours! Carolyn had no choice but to leave her turtleneck unfolded.  Is this going to make me sweat?  She could just see herself sweating like a pig and hear the others saying, "Why'd you wear a turtleneck when it's so hot!?"
To make this work, she'll just have to compensate.  She picked out some acid-washed denim shorts, loose ones to let her legs breathe.  No socks, and her new running shoes were designed to breathe.  Carolyn's auburn hair was just short of shoulder length; she'd hurry, slip into Cosmotology and get it cut short, so the back of her neck would have some way to breath.  It's my hair; I can do what I want with it!
All dressed and armed with new supplies, Carolyn went out to leave.  Her mom Nina smiled as Carolyn walked by.  Does Mama know somethings up?  (she knows my turtleneck's up!)  Really, does she suspect something?  But Nina hadn't consciously noticed that her daughter was wearing something this summer day, this first day of school, that only appeared 12 or so days out of the whole winter.  For although it was less than common for Carolyn to see, Nina saw lots of 110 pound 5' 6" ladies wearing turtlenecks in weather like this.  She wasn't the least bit alarmed--yet.
Carolyn took a muffin from the pantry, and went out to her 1986 Ford LTD-- it was her parents' former family car, and she inherited it when her parents upgraded.
Engine on, A/C on!  "Norm" was usually enough, but today she needed "Max".
Thirty minutes later, she was in a barber chair, with Mark attending to her. In between the conversation and work, Mark said "I'm going to fold your turtleneck down so I can wrap this aound you and keep the hair from going down your back, OK?"  Carolyn turned a little white.  She was probably safe, but when people talk, you never know who's going to hear, or who they're going to tell.  But from behind,  three fingers on each of Mark's hands slipped into the turtleneck, with thumbs pressing on the outside, and his wrists turned up, folding the sides of the turtleneck down.  Then Mark moved his hands together, completing the folding of the back of the turtleneck.  Then he reach both hands around Carolyn's head to the front and repeated the motions, completing the folding of the turtleneck.
It only took two seconds, but for Carolyn, it seemed to be 15.  As Mark had folded her turtleneck, a tide from within filled her, and gradually receded.
Meanwhile, Mark examined his fingers; concealer?
When Carolyn came back to earth, she became aware that Mark was snipping away, and little tufts of hair were falling onto her apron.  Oh ,%^#@%, did I tremble when he did that?  Does he think I'm turned on easy?  Am I?  NO, I can't!  I'm saving it for marriage, remember?
Two inches of hair later, Mark removed the apron and the tissue, pleased with his work.  He put a bit a talc on the back of Carolyn's neck and rubbed it around, just a bit beneath her turtleneck too.  Then he walked around to the front to admire the beatiful teen.
Mark's eyebrows furrowed just a bit, then his face concealed a "Dr. Watson, I think I have it" grin. It took a couple seconds for Carolyn to realize that the brown smudge on her white turtleneck had been seen, and he had a pretty good idea why it was there, and why the turtleneck was there.
Carolyn resisted the urge to flip her turtleneck back up.  Act like it's nothing.  Maybe he really doesn't know.  "Thank you, Mark."
Mark handed her a hand mirror so she could see the length of the back in the full size mirror behind her.  "It looks really good!"
I have to turn my turtleneck back up before someone else sees me.  But when?  Carolyn wished Mark would do it.  But she knew he wouldn't-- to do so would be like telling someone to zip his fly!
So she did what so many guys have done when they discovered their fly undone.  Carolyn waited until Mark dutifully turned away, then casually scratched her neck, and then with both hands unfolded her turtleneck as if it was an afterthought, bouncing it a couple of times to scrunch it a bit.
Carolyn paid the student working as a cashier, then left.  As she passed through the door, she saw Tasha.  "Oh, hey, Carolyn!  You look real good!"
Did she mean the haircut, or my "shorts and a turtleneck"?  Or both?  Or was she just saying that because she hadn't seen me since last spring?
As the day went on, and Carolyn passed from class to class, meeting new teachers and classmates, she noticed that this outfit was actually a pretty good one, even if she didn't have a hickey.  She wasn't hot--maybe a black turtleneck would have been, but the white cotton was comfortable.  Her bare legs wicked off the warmth, and the time she spent in the air-condition rooms made up for the less-than-five minute times she spent outside, so she never broke a sweat.
Boys spoke to Carolyn, just "hi Carolyn", but it was the first time she could remember so many making the effort!
"...did you see Rob? He was with Lisa, and they....Terri told me Gary like Sarah.."  Shelley and Carolyn were talking about all the gossip, especially the boys.  Shelley, like Carolyn, isn't looking for a boyfriend until she's older, but she loves the subject like a old man talks about deer hunting.
Carolyn worked at Dillard's, now only weekends, but full-time during the summer, and there developed the desire for a boys attention.  Not "all the way"; but a warm hand, a kiss on the cheek, there's nothing wrong with that! She had complimented a customer on his looks, then he dropped by every couple of days, always buying something, a pair or socks, a T-shirt, whatever.  Last night he asked her to join her for pizza.  So she called her parents and told them she was planning to go to Trudy's and see what she got for school.
"...and Eric told Tim he wants to go out with you"  Another compliment!
Before she started her car, Carolyn looked in her rear view mirror and pulled down her turtleneck to see if the hickey had faded any.  A little, but it'll probably still show tomorrow.  Maybe I can get a scarf to wear tomorrow; that's looks pretty cool, right?
So she stopped at Dollar General to look.  She had maxed her Dillard's card on school clothes already, so cheap was going to have to do.  Pay day wasn't until Friday.
She looked at the scarfs, but was nervous.  What if it comes untied, or slips?  She wrestled with herself and her guilt for disobeying and lying, and at the same time, let her eyes wander to the rack of women's turtlenecks.  Two days in a row?  Won't it be obvious?  Mama, will she ask?  Tasha, the boys, won't they figure out that turtleneck=hickey?
The boys...
Shelley had sold a lot of candy that day.  Boys hoot and holler over a girl with a short skirt and a low-cut blouse, but is there something to a turtleneck?  Like a secret fishing hole?  The magazines always have the models wearing turtlenecks-- a subliminal message?
Carolyn looked at the solid colors:  bright red turtlenecks, pink turtlenecks, creme turtlenecks, black, and white, of course, and olive green turtlenecks, lavender turtlenecks, purple turtlenecks, khaki turtlenecks.  Cotton, $5.
Then there were turtlenecks with things printed on them-- a motif, right?  turtlenecks with trains, turtlenecks with rings, turtlenecks with stars, turtlenecks with scottie dogs with red bows, turtlenecks with paper clips, turtlenecks with orange flowers, turtlenecks with an argyle pattern, turtlenecks with vines.  Most were white turtlenecks with the motif printed on them.  Some were in colors; the vines were printed on a maroon turtleneck.
There was also a small selection of ribbed, turtleneck sweaters, in the same solid colors as the cotton ones.
There were also heavy turtleneck sweaters with chunky cable knit, and a thick ribbed neck.  Creme and red were the only two colors.
Maybe this winter I'll wear one of these to school.  A red one with blue Levi's.  I can't remember the last time I wore a big turtleneck sweater!
But for the immediate problem, it was to be white turtleneck with a motif of old antique cars.  I'll wear it with my black jumper!
In her bedroom that night, after everyone turned out the lights, Carolyn turned on a small lamp.  She couldn't resist taking of the tags and trying on her new turtleneck.  She looked in the mirror.  Her white turtleneck had done it's job well today.  The neck was crinkled and scrunched from the day's wear.  It looked good!
Carolyn took the turtleneck in her right hand and pulled it up over her mouth and looked in the mirror.  It looked funny.  She hadn't done that since she was a little kid!  Then with both hand she pulled the neck up off her head, then removed the rest inside out, so that the cotton wouldn't show wear from washing.  Then she pulled her new turtleneck out of the bag and removed the tags.
Then she tossed her bra on the floor and slowly pulled on her new turtleneck.  It felt so fresh and new going on.  And sensuous too!  The neck was a little stiffer and tighter than her white one--must be lycra or spandex.  Carolyn looked at the mirror.  Her turtleneck was up, up to her chin about.  She looked at it a while, then folded it down to see what it looked like.  Nice!  Looks classy!  Then she unfolded the neck back up.  Nice!  Looks cutting edge!  She actually wasn't so how she would wear the neck , up or down.
Carolyn couldn't resist reaching down with two fingers and rubbing, s l o w l y at first, then a little faster...
Thursday, the second day of school.  Now Carolyn could see the hickey had faded some.  Better safe then sorry!  Her butt flinched a bit.  Carolyn knew it was much better for her daddy not to see the hickey.
Actually, Carolyn had to admit, she was looking forward to wearing her new turtleneck.  Was yesterday just a fluke?  Carolyn admired herself in the mirror in her turtleneck and black jumper.  The jumper was a little shorter than knee-length--left something to the imagination.  The temperature was still in the low 80's in the day, but the mornings were 68.  And Carolyn had found it fairly easy yesterday.  She neatly folded down her turtleneck, being careful not to expose the hickey.  Not to worry, even folded, it covers it.  I look innocent, like a little school girl!
As she left out, Nina said, "is that a new turtleneck?  I'll have to borrow it sometime!".
When she got to school, Carolyn felt compelled to show herself to Mark, to see his reaction.  She wouldn't need a good excuse to go to Cosmotology.  She'd think of it on the way.
She went to the station where Mark was setting up.  She was glad he was alone, though he wouldn't be for long.  He look up, and smiled and his eyes wandered down--not to her breasts, like the stereotypical guy, just to her neck--then back up to her eyes.
"I--I just came back to tell you I like my hair cut a lot!"   It was lame, but the best Carolyn could think of.
"You have pretty hair, easy to work with.  Oh, and you look very nice today."
Good.  This is my chance to get his reaction.  "Thank you.  I've had the jumper for a while, but I just bought the turtleneck yesterday"
"Oh, well, it looks real nice.  You look good in a turtleneck!"
Carolyn tried hard to suppress a smile.  Don't be too obvious.  Remember -- "The Rules"!  "Thank you.  I think you'd... ah, you look very nice today too."  Chill out a little.  Not too quick!  Others were starting to set up their stations.  "Well, I have to get to class now."
"OK, see you around."
As Carolyn started out the door, she turned around and almost asked, "Which way do you like my turtleneck better, up or folded down?" but she didn't.  No, she went on to class, trying to remember if she had ever seen Mark in a turtleneck.  She knew she really wanted to.  Maybe a ribbed turtleneck sweater.  Dark green?  That'd look good with his dirty-blond hair and greenish eyes.  Yeah, a dark green ribbed turtleneck sweater with dark blue Levi's.
English lit.  The Scarlett Letter.  That would have look good on the neck of  my white turtleneck from yesterday.
At lunch,  she noticed guys making a point to say "Hi" again.
Last period of the day, Carolyn saw a 5' 7" thin Oriental girl.  She had a blue linen flowered skirt, down to her knees, and a short-sleeve sparkly  blue turtleneck sweater.  Even though the neck was folded down, it covered a good 4" of her neck.  It looked very flattering on her, with her long thin neck.  Carolyn made a point to introduce herself.   "Hi, I'm Carolyn"
"Hi, Carolyn, I'm Xani" and a new freindship was started.  Xani just moved from Napa California.  Her main hobby was going to Lake Tahoe skiing, and she liked playing Clue while watching rented movies, and of course shopping for clothes.
"I like your turtleneck.  Where did you get it?"
"Back home.  I got 4 of them on a buy 1 get 1 free sale.  You were wearing a turtleneck yesterday too.  Do you like turtlenecks a lot?"
Carolyn got goosebumps.  Fortunely, the long sleeves hid them.  "I'm just trying out a new look"
"I've got a bunch of turtleneck sweaters for skiing and stuff.  You can borrow them whenever you want."
"Gee, thanks!  I work at Goody's here.  I'll let you know when new stuff comes in and when they're going to have a sale!"
Xani asked Carolyn over to her house, and Carolyn looked at the photos on the hallway walls; most noteworthy was one of Xani in skis, bibbs, a white turtleneck with the neck folded neatly and she must have just taken off a hat or cap because her hair was mussed.  Carolyn liked that look a lot now and was driven to wear it herself!
Xani put her shoes in the closet, and Carolyn spied a folded stack of sweaters--turtleneck sweaters!  She could see the necks peeking out the sides.  She must have let a gasp out, because Xani turned her head back. Xani looked again to see what had caught Carolyn's attention.  "Oh, my sweaters.  I just love these.  Here..." and she took the stack and put it on her bed.
One by one, Carolyn picked them up by the shoulders watching them unfold.  The first was a dark green cable-knit turtleneck sweater.  It had about a 5" neck and looked very outdoorsy.
The next was a creme mohair turtleneck sweater with about a 6" neck.  It looked very dressy, like it would go good with a plaid blazer and nice dress pants.  The right thing for meeting a boyfriend's parents for the first time  Marks?
"Could I borrow this one?"  It was a peach cashmere turtleneck.  It looked very smart!  Add black stirrup pants, and I'm set!
Friday:
It was a good day at school, and the cashmere breathed enough not to be too hot.  Carolyn went over near Cosmotology near lunch, hoping for an "accidental" meeting with Mark.  As she was about to give up, Mark came by, but going in, not coming out.  "Hey, Carolyn!  You look nice today!"  Specifically what, Mark?  Please tell me you like my (borrowed) turtleneck sweater!
"Thank you.  You look good today too.  "  What am I, nuts?  Hanging around waiting for a guy?  Make him chase me, that's what I should do."  But Carolyn just didn't know how to do it.
After some small talk, Carolyn went on to her class.  She felt exquisite in the turtleneck, but wished a situation could have happened that Mark would had touched it, even unfolded the neck.  Carolyn daydreamed about it during class, growing more and more excited by the fantasy.
"Go out and break off a hickory.  You are going to get a spanking, young lady!!"
The words rang in her ears.  Carolyn couldn't believe it when she came in the house after school.  Helen at Nina's office had seen Carolyn Tuesday night.  Nina was talking about Carolyn working at Goody's, and Helen said she had seen her car in the parking lot when the store was closing, and she hoped that Carolyn had someone walk her out to her car.  But Nina thought that Carolyn got off work much earlier Tuesday--didn't she go to a friends?  A couple phonecalls later, the truth was out.
About 8 months had passed since she last got spanked.  She was only 16 then, and mortified that a 16 year old could get a spanking.
She looked over the small shrubs and wild trees.  If she picked too small a branch, she would get spanked with it, then sent out for a "real" hickory.  She finally found a suitable one, bent down and broke it off.  She had little green pods on her stirrup pants and a lot of them on the bottom of the cashmere turtleneck sweater.  Later she'll have to pick them off, then take it to the cleaners before returning it to Xani.
There was a shuffling noise in the weeds.
Mark looked at the hickory in her hand, then back to her face, framed by her peach turtleneck sweater.  He cheek were a bit red.  "Toasting marshmallows?", he said.  Actually, he could tell that it was something else soft and white that was about to get toasted!
"Oh, this?  This is for my sister"-- a lie, and Mark knew it but didn't say so.
"I didn't get to tell you before, but I like your turtleneck sweater."
Carolyn blushed some more, but felt satisfaction inside.  But I better hurry!  Her butt flinched again.  "Thank you.  I have to go, but I'll see you Monday"
Carolyn brought in the hickory.
Nick pulled his daughter down so she was bent over the back of the sofa.  She started immediately crying, "No Daddy!  I'm sorry!!  I'm really sorry!  I promise!  I won't ever do it again!"  Wearing the peach cashmere turtleneck, Carolyn squirmed to no avial as Nick swooshed  that hickory down hard through the air, spanking thru those tight stirrup pants to her buttocks.
WHOOSH--  SMACK!!!
Carolyn's crying intensified when the hickory sliced through her butt.
WHOOSH--  SMACK!!!
Carolyn squirmed as loud sobs came from her.
WHOOSH--  SMACK!!!
Ow!  That one hit a little lower!
WHOOSH--  SMACK!!!
"No Daddy!  Stop!!"  She moved a little to the left.
WHOOSH--  SMACK!!!
Her nose was running from crying.  She snuffled it back amidst her cries.
WHOOSH--  SMACK!!!
Owwww!  the same spot got spanked twice!  It was on fire!
WHOOSH--  SMACK!!!
When is this going to end!?
WHOOSH--  SMACK!!!
"No!!! No!!"
Nick ignored the pleas and continued the punishment.
WHOOSH--  SMACK!!!
WHOOSH--  SMACK!!!
WHOOSH--  SMACK!!!
Her butt was really on fire!  She couldn't take anymore. She tighten her butt to reduce the pain.
WHOOSH--  SMACK!!!
OOOWWWW!  Her butt instantly loosened again.  Tightening it was a bad idea!  Carolyn let out a loud cry.
WHOOSH--  SMACK!!!
WHOOSH--  SMACK!!!
WHOOSH--  SMACK!!!
WHOOSH--  SMACK!!!
WHOOSH--  SMACK!!!
WHOOSH--  SMACK!!!
WHOOSH--  SMACK!!!
WHOOSH--  SMACK!!!
WHOOSH--  SMACK!!!
WHOOSH--  SMACK!!!
WHOOSH--  SMACK!!!
WHOOSH--  SMACK!!!
WHOOSH--  SMACK!!!
Carolyn was left sobbing.  She was also told she would not be allowed to drive the car for one month, and was grounded-- she would have to stay home except for school and work.
After, Carolyn looked in the mirror at the red and white stripes on her buttocks and legs, and thought about the lessons she learned.  She'd have to start thinking before she did something, instead of after.  And isn't that what I should buy-- a red and white stripe turtleneck?