| Chapter Twenty-Seven Alex Gets Lucky |
�What was I thinking, Why did I help them," Alex whispered, as the tears ran down her cheeks. Sitting in the window of her room, she stared out into the storm that had now begun to subside. She couldn't help but wonder just how her mother was going to deal with her for her involvement in the scheme that had played itself out so well that day. Alex jumped every time she heard footsteps in the hall; surely the footsteps would soon belong to her mother. Terrible thoughts ran through her mind. How would she be able to live at the school knowing that she had betrayed her friends? "They won't ever forgive me," Alex cried, as fresh tears washed the old ones further down her cheeks. Suddenly she heard footsteps again, faint, fast-paced footsteps. Alex jumped from the window and ran to the door. She quickly placed her ear on the door for she dared not open it. She heard a door open and then slam. She knew without looking, that it was Wendy. Alex turned, and placed her back against the door. She took a deep breath and wiped her tears. You have to be brave, she said to herself. You did the right thing. As Alex stood by the door the room began to spin. Her stomach had a lump the size of a tomato and she felt very tired. Her mind was spinning and she couldn't get it to stop. Alex made her way back to the window seat, curled up into the corner and cried. Suddenly, Alex heard the knob of her bedroom door turning. She felt that she had been forgotten and left for hours, but it had been barely an hour. She wiped her tears and watched the door slowly open. Through watery eyes she watched her mother enter the room and close the door behind her. Alex scooted closer to the window and further from her approaching mother. Patricia wasn't smiling. Her face looked stern but not angry. She stopped in between the two beds and placed her hands on her hips. "Alexandra,� she called. " Come, we need to have a little chat.� Patricia seated herself on the bed, and Alex slowly crawled from the window seat. She walked to her mother and stood in front of her. Alex placed her hands behind her back and hung her head in shame. As her tears fell and landed on the hardwood floor, Alex realized that she had become too comfortable with this position, that it had become a regular part of her life. She knew she needed to try harder not be such a naughty girl. Alex felt her mother�s hands grasp her by the waist, and pull her closer. Alex closed her eyes tightly. She felt dizzy with the fear that her mother could be so angry as to go right to the spanking. Not even a scolding first. Suddenly Alex felt her mother�s hands change positions. She opened her eyes just in time to see Pat stand and wrap her arms around her. Everything that had happened in the past few days had cluttered Alex's mind, and filled her heart with more guilt than she could handle and she burst into tears. "I'm sorryyyy, Motherrrrrrrr, I'm so sorryyy," Alex wailed. Patricia continued to hold Alex until her sobbing had subsided a bit. She reached into her pocket and handed Alex a tissue. "I want you to try and stop crying so we can talk," Patricia said, as she brushed Alex's hair from around her face. "Blow your nose now and stop crying." Alex obeyed her mother and did the best she could to stop her crying. Patricia guided Alex back to the bed and together they sat down. "Tell me what you are feeling," Patricia asked, lifting Alex's chin so their eyes could meet. �I feel bad, Mommy. I feel really bad," she said with sniffles. "What do you feel bad about?" Patricia asked. "For letting them talk me into being so bad," Alex answered. "What did they talk you into?" Patricia asked. "Passing their dumb notes and going along with all their stuff, and stuff," Alex replied. "Alex. Did they really talk you into doing those things. Do you believe that?" Patricia prodded. Alex looked deep into her mother�s eyes. "Noooo, I did it cause I wanted tooooo," bursting into fresh tears. �They didn't make me. They didn't make meeeeeeeee and now they're gonna hate me forever. Mommy, I don't wanna lose them as friends. I couldn't take it.� Patricia held onto her crying child once again until the cries had subsided. "Do you think you can stop long enough to talk to me?" Patricia asked, softly. "Ummhmmm," Alex murmured. "I am proud of you for telling Mark and me the truth when you were asked, but I am disappointed that you went along with it in the first place. Ricky and Wendy may have bugged you, but you are the one who decided to say yes," Patricia scolded. "I know, Mommy. I'm sorry," Alex replied, glancing up at her mother with big questioning eyes. "I just don't know how to tell them no." "Well I think that is something you are going to have to work on then. I know you know what the right thing is, you just have to remember to do it. Saying no to your friends when they want you to be naughty with them is something you have to do," Patricia scolded. "I don't know if I can, Mommy," replied Alex, wiping her eyes. "Do I need to remind you what happens to naughty little girls?" Patricia asked, swiftly giving Alex a swat over her skirt. "No, Mommy. You don't have to remind me," replied Alex, quickly covering her bottom. "Well we will see if I have to remind you, or if I don't,� Patricia stated, as she studied Alex's movements. �Alexandra, I should put you over my knee and give you a very sound spanking for what you were involved in today, but I want to show you that honest behavior sometimes gets rewarded.� "You�re not going to spank me, Mommy?" Alex looked up in surprise. �Today you will not be spanked, but I do have an assignment for you. I want you to write on a paper why it is important to obey the rules and how you are going to say no the next time someone tries to talk you into something you know is wrong," Patricia ordered, as she got up to leave the room. "Ok, Mommy," Alex quietly replied. �I want it before bedtime, Alexandra, and you will sit at the isolation table for all of your meals until I tell you otherwise.� "But, Mother! That�s not fair!" Alex screeched and stood in protest. "Not fair? Is that what I just heard you say, young lady?" Patricia scolded, as she turned and looked at Alex. �Perhaps a spanking is just what you do need to remind you who is in charge here!� "No, Mommy no no no no. I take it back," Alex replied, quickly covering her bottom and hoping all was not lost. �One page on obeying the rules.� (Swat) �One page on how you are going to say no the next time someone tries to talk you into something� (Swat) �And one page on why talking back is not good for you or your naughty bottom� (Swat-Swat). "I expect it before bedtime or a sound spanking is what you will get. Do I make myself clear?� With tears in her eyes and knots in her tummy she quietly replied, "Yes, Ma'am." Alex watched as her mother turned and left the room. She stood there staring at the door while she rubbed her bottom. It didn't hurt much, but the thought of what her smart mouth could have gotten her, sent shivers down her spine. Alex quickly wiped the tears from her cheeks. Now is not the time to feel sorry for myself, she stated, quietly. I had that coming. She took a deep breath and started searching for some paper. |
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