"Mom!"
Seeing Alma Ferreira raising her hand for another slap, Oliver dashed forward, grabbing her hand directly.
He looked at Alma in disbelief, "Mom, what are you doing?"
Suddenly being grabbed by the wrist, Alma's slap didn't land. She stiffly turned her head, her face pale, eyes vacant, appearing momentarily like a walking corpse.
She stared blankly at Oliver, as if it took a few seconds to remember who he was, her lips trembling, her voice hoarse as she questioned, "Oliver, are you not listening to me anymore?"
"Mom, do you know what you're doing?" Oliver stared intently at Alma, "Even if Sophie was wrong, you shouldn't hit her."
The Scott family never advocated physical punishment.
Alma disciplined her children strictly but had never actually hit them; even when reprimanding, it was always measured.
Although many times, her subtle methods of education often left them short of breath.
