The rain had made the area where St. Frances�s Rugby team practiced each day, a mud pit, and by the time the boys finished their practice, all of them were filthy. Alex, usually took the bus to his uncle�s resort, and then from there got a ride home with Jonathan, or sometimes like today, he road home with one of his pals.
Before the boys had gotten into Darby�s car, they had spread out an old quilt, to minimize the amount of mud they would more than likely get on the seats. On the drive to the house, Alex and Darby talked about an upcoming game against Augustines Fine School for Boys, both ready to play in the game and put another win under their belt.
�Are you and Megan going to come to Tammy�s party?� Darby asked, as he pulled into the long drive way leading to the O�Connell�s house.
�I think we are, if we leave her house,� Alex said as he shot his friend a grin.
�You better hope her old man doesn�t come home early, or you�ll have to find a way to talk without a tongue,� he reminded, remembering what Alex had said about the last time he and Megan had been caught making out by her father.
�He�s going to Paris, provided the war doesn�t change his plans,� Alex said as his friend pulled the car to a stop.
The war, which had been named the Second World War brought worries for everyone living in London. Everyday they lived with the threat of being bombed, and now everyone was cautious, but also unwilling to stop living life the way they were used to.
After saying goodbye to Darby, Alex walked to the front door of the house removing his muddy shoes, and socks, then opened the door, and walked inside. He was ready to get a bath, and take a rest before he started on his homework.
**************
In the Parlor he found his sister playing house with her friend Miah. The two girls were holding baby dolls with fancy dresses, and both looked at him as he entered the room.
�You�re messy, and Mum is going to be mad at you if you get it on her floor,� Heidi said.
Too tired to deal with his sister, Alex passed them by, and took the stairs two at a time, leaving a little bit of dirt on each step, something the two girls took notice of instantly.
�He�s making a mess,� Miah said as she walked to the steps, still holding her baby in one arm. She watched as Heidi walked past the stairs, and then went over to the doll bed, and put her baby down, waiting for her friend to return.
**************
In the back of the house, in what used to be her father�s old study, Evelyn sat at the old mahogany desk reading of some documents the museum had sent to her, regarding a dig the museum was funding just outside of Cairo. She had on her wire brim reading glasses, and her dark hair hung loosely over her shoulders. When she heard the door open, she looked up and smiled at her six year old daughter.
�Mum, Alex left mud on your stairs,� Heidi said sweetly.
Evie looked at the clock on one of the many book shelves, not realizing that it was already a few minutes past four, and that Miah needed to be on her way home. �Heidi, you know about tattling, and you need to help Miah gather her things to go home,� Evie said as she stood up, stretching the kinks out of her shoulders, and back.
�But we have to make a cake for our babies birthday party,� she said as she began to pout. She loved having her best friend over to play, and when she left it was always an unhappy time for her.
�I�m sorry baby, but Miah�s mum would like her to be home before her father arrives there from work. You are going to her house tomorrow after school, I�m sure you can make your cakes then,� Evie said as she walked over to where Heidi stood.
�But they have birthdays today mum,� she said as she folded her arms across her chest.
Evie sighed, not willing to have an argument with her six year old. �I�m going to go help Miah gather her things. You may stay in here if you like, but you�ll miss taking her home,� Evie said as she left Heidi behind.
Not getting her way, was something the blue eyed little girl, who had hair the same color as her mum�s and as well her mum�s delicate facial features, hated. Heidi stomped her bare feet against the hard wood floor, sticking her bottom lip out, looking pitiful, however no one was there to take notice.
*************
In the Parlor, Evie and Miah had put the toys away, and as they finished Rick came in from his meeting with Sam down at the docks. �Hiya beautiful,� he said as he kissed her lips, causing Miah to giggle.
�Mmm, hello yourself,� she said as she pulled away rubbing her nose against his. �I need to get Miah home, and Alex needs to clean up the tracks of dirt he left on the stairs,� Evie said as the parted. �Heidi, Miah is leaving,� Evie called out toward the back of the house, knowing that she was likely still in the study pouting.
When she didn�t respond, Evie told Rick where to find her, then took Miah�s hand and walked toward the front of the house with her, hoping her husband would coax her to come with them.
Standing behind the door in the study, Heidi was still pouting, swiping away at the tears which had dared make their way down her cheeks. Her mum wasn�t being fair, at least not in her eyes, and Heidi decided that at least for the rest of the day she wasn�t going to speak to her. She sniffed, then stood still as she heard big feet approaching, and knew it was likely her daddy.
Rick walked into the Study, guessing his daughter was behind the door which wasn�t all the way against the wall as it usually was when no one was there. �Heidi, I think Miah might be lonely if you didn�t go with her, and your mum,� he said as he sat down on the leather sofa on the left side of the room.
�They are going?� she asked as she ran out from behind the door.
�You�re mum called out to you,� Rick said, and watched as she tore out of the study, screaming for Evelyn to wait for her. He got up, knowing by the time she got to the door they would be gone, and that he would have one very unhappy daughter to contend with.
*********
Being clean, revived Alex enough to remember the dirt he had left on the steps. After putting on some clean slacks and a shirt he walked downstairs, finding his dad sitting on the couch, holding his sobbing sister, wondering what tragedy had happened to her this time. �I know, I�m going to clean it,� he said as Rick looked at him.
In the kitchen he asked Marie where she kept the broom, and once he had that and the dust pan, he went back to the stairs and easily cleaned his mess, hearing his sister saying something about hating someone. Once he had returned the broom and dustpan to Marie, he went upstairs, and settled down in his chair to start his study on the first World War.
�They want us to study that war when we are fighting a second one,� he muttered as he began to read his history assignment. If it were up to him he would study Egyptian History, and it was for that reason he was looking forward to attending Oxford next year.
*********
An hour later, Evelyn arrived home finding Heidi sitting at the chess table with her spelling book in front of her, and could tell she had been crying, and could also tell that at least tonight, she wasn�t going to be her usual happy self.
Rick was sitting on the couch reading the paper, in front of him, on the coffee table, sat his half full glass of bourbon, and water.
First Evie walked over to her daughter and kissed the top of her head, not getting any response as Heidi practiced writing the five words she had to learn for tomorrow�s test. Deciding not to press her daughter for a response, Evelyn walked to the couch and plopped down next to her best friend. �I think I�m the enemy,� Evie said softly as Rick set his paper aside.
�She was really upset, but she heard you when you said you were leaving,� he said, as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and then pulled her to lean against him. �We need to talk to Alex about this weekend,� he said, knowing that both of their children were going to be mad at them by the end of the day.
�I know, where is he?� she asked, surprised that he wasn�t down here telling Rick about his practice.
�Megan and he are studying for a history test they have in two days,� Rick said.
Evelyn nodded her head, and their conversation turned to other topics.
Megan had been Alex�s friend since before he had been potty trained. Neither Rick nor Evelyn had realized that the two of them had fallen in love; nor that the type of studying they were doing upstairs was not on history, but more on anatomy, more specifically their own anatomy.
*********
The more they were together, the more difficult it became to stay away from one another. Alex�s kisses left Megan breathless, and all rational thought left her as his lips molded to hers, as his tongue pressed into her mouth.
His hands worked their way down the sides of her legs, and she felt her skirt being pulled up as he continued to kiss her. Her own hands explored his back, then she pulled away when she felt his hand trying to remove her panties. �Alex we can�t do that,� she said. She knew he would never hurt her, and desperately wanted more than just his kisses, but she was afraid that once they traveled down that path they wouldn�t be able to stop, and she would end up pregnant at the young age of seventeen.
Alex kissed her lips gently opening his eyes to look at her. �What makes you so afraid?� he asked as he pressed his forehead gently against hers.
Megan pulled fully out of his arms then, and walked over to his desk gathering her books. �I�m not afraid of you, and I just... I can�t think straight when we get this way,� she said as she picked up her book bag.
It took two steps to get to her side, and when he reached her he hugged her. �You always do this,� he said as he began to sway with her. He loved her more than he had ever loved anyone in his life, and her always running away was making him crazy. �Is it me, do you think I would get carried away and hurt you, I mean you say you know I won�t, but if it�s not that then what?� he asked as he let her go, and began to pace.
The look in his eyes made her heart thud painfully in her chest. He was hurt, and she was causing that pain. �You�ll think I�m stupid if I tell you,� she said as she walked over to his bed and sat down. When he settled beside her, she was going to tell him, then Hiedi walked in.
Without thinking about how small she was compared to him, or much of anything, Alex launched off the bed, and grabbed her hard around the top of her arm, crushing his hand around her without realizing it. �GET OUT AND STAY OUT YOU LITTLE BRAT,� he yelled, then flung her out the door and slammed it.
Megan watched in horror, hearing her screaming. �Alex, you hurt her,� Megan said as she ran past him. Hiedi was already gone, but Megan could hear her cries from downstairs.
She knew both of them had things to answer for as she walked back into his room and found him laying on his bed faced away from her. �Alex, we need to go check on her, and maybe talk to your mum and dad,� she said, wondering when Rick would arrive.
She didn�t have long to wait as he appeared at the door his face red from anger. �Mr. O�Connell, we need to talk to you and Evelyn...�
�Wait outside,� he said.
�I won�t, your mad and it�s my fault as much as it is his,� she said as Alex sat up, to face the music. When Rick turned around and left, he slammed the door, and Alex let out the breath he had been holding.
�I hurt her,� he said looking at the floor. He had been mad at Megan, and confused about his feelings and Heidi had been the last straw for him. �I don�t hate her, she�s a brat, and I hurt her, what the hell is wrong with me?� he asked.
Megan sat down next to him and he leaned against her. �You were mad at me, because I kept running away, and you have a bad temper when you don�t let things out,� she said as she ran her left hand through his hair.
�Yeah, but I don�t have a right to take it out on my baby sister,� he said.
They both looked up as the door opened again, and watched as Evie walked in without Rick. She didn�t look happy either, but looked more in control of her emotions than her husband. �What just happened Alex? You very nearly broke her arm,� Evie said, doing her best not to take him over her knee and ware out his back end.
�Megan and I had a fight, and she was going to tell me about something, that had really made me mad, and Heidi walked in, and I just let things get out of hand mum. I didn�t mean to hurt her, and I swear to God, or Anubis or any god that I won�t ever hurt her again,� he said.
Evelyn saw the tears in his eyes, and looked at both children realizing that she and Rick had been blind about them. �For right now, Megan needs to go home. Your father will take her. You are grounded for a month, and aside from Rugby, and School you will stay in this house. For right now you will not leave this room. I will bring your dinner to you after I tend to your sister, and then we are going to have a long talk about a few things,� Evelyn said.
Megan felt numb as she gathered her books, and afraid that his parents now hated her. As she walked out of the room she felt Evelyn walking behind her, and once the door was shut she turned. �I�m sorry, it�s my fault,� she said as her own tears now fell.
Evelyn was angry at both of them for doing things she felt they were too young to be doing, but also realized Megan was worried about their friendship. She hugged the young girl, which seemed to help calm her down. �Megan, I love you like one of my own children, but for a while, I think it best if the two of you keep your distance. That is his punishment, and when it is over then you may see him again, and the three of us will talk about the feelings the two of you are going through,� Evelyn said as she kissed the top of Megan�s head.
�Is it all right if I write to him?� she asked.
Evie smiled then. �I think perhaps that might be good for both of you,� she said as she led her downstairs to where Rick was sitting with Hiedi, holding an ice-pack on her upper arm. �Megan needs a lift home, and you need to get out of the house,� Evelyn said, not willing to leave Rick home alone with their son. She knew he loved Alex with all of his heart, but she also knew that his anger was still simmering, and he needed to get out and cool down.
�I don�t want daddy to go,� Heidi said as she began to cry again.
Evie walked over to the couch and sat down. �Why don�t you and I go into the kitchen and have a bowl of ice cream, with chocolate sauce,� Evelyn said.
�But I haven�t had my dinner,� she said softly.
�Tonight, we are going to break the rule, but only this once,� Evie said. Heidi went willing into her arms then, mindful of her arm, which Doc Fitzgibens had said was just going to have a big bruise.
Rick got his leather coat, and pulled that on, then reached out and took Megan�s bag for her letting her lead the way. He was thankful she had not listened to him in Alex�s room, knowing that he would have forever regretted what he had thought at the time was an appropriate punishment.
**********
When someone knocked at his door, Alex was already in his night cloths, and called out for whomever to come in. When he turned he found his dad holding the tray with his dinner on it, looking more calm than he had the last time Alex had seen him.
�Did I ever tell you about my reason for leaving home, why you never hear me say anything about my childhood?� Rick asked as he walked over to his son�s desk setting the tray down.
�Um, mum said you had a fight with your father, and that it was a sore spot for you,� he said, afraid his dad was going to kill him.
Rick walked over to Alex�s bed and sat down. �I grew up in the United States of America, in Montana. My father raised horses there, well, more specifically he would catch the wild ones, Mustangs, and tame them, then he would breed them, and sell them to whoever needed them,� Rick said as Alex stood next to his desk. �Eat before that gets cold, pal, I�m going to be here for a while,� Rick said.
Alex sat down in his desk chair, and held the tray in his lap beginning to eat while he listened to his father�s story about his childhood.
�It was when I got older that I met a bunch of what my pop called �no gooders.� They caused problems, and I thought it was in my best interest to do what they did. Thats when the fighting started with my pop. He had never had to deal with a kid that didn�t listen to him, and his way to handle me was to take me outside behind the barn, and use his belt on me until I could barely stand.
By then Alex had finished his meal, and was realizing alot about why his dad did the things he did. He had been spanked at various times in his life, but only by his father�s hand, never by anything other than that.
�I was a year older than you, the night I got drunk and set the barn on fire. It was an accident, but I killed all twenty horses in the process, and two days later when I came home, he took me by the neck of my shirt, despite my mom screaming for him not to, pulled me into the house, and beat the crap out of me. He told me I was no longer his son, and tossed me out the door with enough money to get me a hotel room in the town we lived closest too.� Rick said as he wiped at the tears that had fallen down his face.
Alex swallowed the lump in his throat. �I�m not doing any of what you did. I don�t drink when my friends do, or anything like that. Megan and I kiss alot, but lately it�s gotten really intense, and we both want to do more, but she�s afraid. She kept running off, and she tried it tonight,� he said, knowing he was risking getting his butt toasted for revealing that they had been making out in his parents house. �She was finally going to tell me why she was afraid, when Heidi walked in. I was mad at Megan, at me, for getting mad, and Heidi was it,� he said.
Rick rubbed the back of his neck, trying to maintain his state of calmness. �You have a temper pal, you have had it sense you could barely walk, and there are reminders of it all over the house. I think you get it from me, because I�ll admit that there have been alot of times when I�ve almost lost control, like tonight. If Megan wouldn�t have stayed in here I would be staying in a hotel, and you would be in a lot of pain,� Rick admitted.
�So how do I control it?� he asked feeling frustrated.
�You talk to the two people who love you the most, and don�t sneak around doing things behind our back. It�s natural for you to feel love for her, and your mum and me should have seen it coming. If you don�t want to talk to us, then talk to your uncle...On second thought,� Rick said, as the both shared a laugh.
�Mum said Megan can�t see me, is that permanent or is it just until the month is out,� he asked.
�Your mum only meant the month, but there are going to be rules about you two seeing one another. We can�t keep you from expressing your love for one another, though I think you two need to slow things down, and maybe get used to this new relationship, before you do more,� Rick said.
Alex sighed, knowing that it was going to be a long torturous month for he and Megan, but figured it was a small price to pay for what he had done to Heidi. �Are you going to spank me?� he asked. He hadn�t gotten one since last year when he had tried to drive Rick�s car, and had proceeded to wreck it into the fence just before you turned out of the driveway.
�I think your old enough not to get them anymore, and I think there are more appropriate ways to help you learn about the consequences of your actions. I�ll have to discuss it with your mum, but I think your old enough to get a part time job, and I have one in mind for you down at my office,� Rick said as he stood up.
Alex also stood up, and started to ask something then stopped.
�What?� Rick asked.
�Can I see Heidi?� he asked.
�I�ll bring her in here, you two need to talk,� he said as he took the tray. �Hey Alex, he said as he turned from the door. �I love you, and don�t forget that,� he said then walked out of the room to check on his wife and his daughter.
******
Almost a half hour later, someone knocked at his door, and by then, Alex had already gotten in bed and was reading a book on Ancient Curses his mum had written and gotten published before Heidi was born. �Come in,� he said.
Heidi did. �You aren�t going to hurt me are you?� she asked staying at the door. She was already dressed for bed, and had a sling around her arm, keeping it in place so that it wouldn�t hurt so bad.
�Not ever again,� he said as he made room for her on his bed.
Hesitating only a moment, Heidi walked over to his bed, and after a few failed attempts got into bed resting against his right side. �What�s that book about?� she asked.
�Stuff that you wouldn�t like. Do you want to read Peter Pan?� he asked.
�Yes,� she said and waited as he crawled to the end of the bed, and then walked to the book shelf, getting the worn copy, bringing it back to his bed where he settled next to her.
�Read about when Peter teaches John, Michael and Wendy how to fly,� she said as she stuck her middle fingers into her mouth and began to suck them as she always did when she was going to bed.
�Your going to get crooked teeth if you keep doing that,� Alex said as he flipped the book open to the page she had requested.
�They are straight still, so I won�t worry till they start to get crooked, then my daddy will find a doctor who will fix it for me,� she said, and added. �Read please,�
Alex shook his head. Then began to read about happy thoughts, and flying lessons.
NOTE: I know what Alex did was bad, but he really loves his baby sister, so keep reading, and find out other ways Heidi finds to bug him, and also what will happen once Alex and Megan are once again allowed to see one another.
The next chapter I�m pretty much going to devote to the grounding, and Alex getting a job, and the letters he and Megan write to one another, as well as Heidi�s antics.
For all of those who Reviewed, Dee, Marx, Jennifer, Giantpygmygirl, Heidi herself, and anyone else who read it, your comments are welcome, and I love hearing from you so don�t be strangers.
Shelby