| Chapter Five Learning The Ropes |
"It's almost time for everyone to go to their rooms, but I can show you where most of the children are, and introduce you to your family," he replied. "My family?" she said in a puzzled voice as they walked up the stairs toward her room. "Yes Wendy. You are one of ten children that I am in charge of. Six girls and four boys. After you put your things away, I will take you to meet them. Tomorrow is chore day in the morning, and in the afternoon you are free to do what you want. We have our meals at the same time every day. 8 a.m. breakfast, lunch at noon and 6 p.m. is dinner. During the week, school starts right at 9 a.m. Lunch is from noon to 1p.m.Then you have school until 4 p.m. As long as you aren't in trouble or restricted to your room, you use your time after that for homework and socializing. You can't leave Barrington grounds or go to the boys dorm. I put you with Jessica, because she will help you adjust, and she is my oldest child.� Wendy laid her things on her bed and they started to walk back downstairs. "We are going into the social room. A lot of kids are there, including mine. I have to leave you with them for a few minutes, because my youngest had a little obedience problem before I came to meet you. I need to talk to her, so I will leave you with them. But I will check on you just before light out, ok? he asked "How old is she? Wendy asked. "Sarah is six, and has been here for only two weeks. I have been very patient with her, because she is so young, but tomorrow I think an hour of alone time might help her a little,� he continued. As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Mr. Parker approached. Clutched in one hand was a little girl and she didn't look to happy. "Mark, We have a little problem," he said. "Sarah, Tell him young lady," he ordered as he released her. Sarah crossed her arms in defiance and stood there, not speaking a word. "Mark, She disobeyed you. She left the quiet time table and preceded to unroll all of the toilet paper in the bathroom down the hall." "Sarah, unfold those arms, and get rid of that attitude right now young lady," Mr. Johnson said in a very stern voice. Sarah stood up straight, and put her arms to her side. Wendy thought she looked so cute in the little navy blue jumper. "Sarah, did you do that,?" Mark asked Sarah didn't answer, but shook her head yes. "Why did you do that?" he asked. She looked at him and then preceded to look at the floor in shame of her misdeed. "Very well then, I have warned you before about your behavior, he said as he knelt down to talk to her. "What did I tell you would happen the next time you disobeyed me on purpose and got into trouble because of it.?" he asked. Sarah looked at him and said in a questionable voice, "Spanking?" "Yes Sarah, spanking time. Go up to your room and wait for me, and Sarah, I mean it, straight to your room," he sternly ordered. "Yes sir", she said as tears started to develop in her eyes. She looked so cute. Wendy couldn't believe he was going to spank her. All she needed was someone to love her too. Wendy felt all they were going to get here was supervision and punishment for being frustrated, unwanted and unloved. Would anyone ever really understand any of them she wondered. Did any one ever ask us how we felt? Wendy continued along with Mr. Parker and the new person in charge of her life. They entered a very large room. Inside there were children everywhere. Wendy looked around the room. Some children were playing ping pong, some were playing board games, some were watching tv and some were just sitting around visiting. It seemed like they were having a lot of fun. For being children hidden away from society, they sure seemed happy. "Children," Mr. Parker called. "It's now 8 p.m. and in fifteen minutes we need to start cleaning up this room," he reminded. "Would Mr. Johnson's children please go into the hall.� Several kids started walking toward the door. As they turned and went into the hall, Mr. Johnson introduced Wendy to them one at a time. She couldn't believe it. Yesterday she felt alone. But today she had to accept five sisters and four brothers. She had already met Jessica and Sarah, now she just had to try and remember, Matt, Nathan, Jacob, David, Emily, Rebecca and Madison. Even though David looked older, she knew he wasn't because Wendy remembered that Mr. Johnson had already told her Jessica was the oldest and Sarah was the youngest. They all seemed very friendly, but so had most of the kids that she had been stuck with in foster care. "Kids I want you to welcome Wendy and visit with her for a few minutes, I will come check on you all at bed check. Emily, I want you to come with me and get your pajamas. You need to put them in Jessica and Wendy's room. You will get ready for bed in there and wait until I give you permission to go back to your room," he stated. "Yes sir," she replied, as he turned and walked away. "Sarah must be in trouble again," Madison stated. "She is," Wendy replied. "She is getting spanked." "And how do you know that miss know it all," Madison replied, with her hands on her hips. "Because Mr. Parker caught her unrolling the toilet paper in the bathroom, and Mr. Johnson told her that he was going to spank her this time, but she is only just a baby and if her so called brothers and sisters would have been watching her to make sure she stayed put, she wouldn't be getting spanked," she scolded then she walked off. "Wow, can you believe her? Rebecca stated. "She is mouthy isn't she?� "She is right you know," David replied. "We should have watched her closer." "She is right in a way, but she just got here and she don't know how lenient dad has been with Sarah, A few swats might help Sarah with her attitude," Jessica stated. "A few swats? When dad put me at that table and I left, I swear he gave me at least a million, Madison stated. "Madison, Dad didn't give you a million spanks," David replied. "But you better work on the smart mouth, or you might just get that many." he said as he laughed and walked back into the social room. Emily entered her room with Mark. He stood there as she gathered her pajamas to take them across the hall. She noticed that Sarah was lying on her bed face down. She knew right away that Sarah was in big trouble. "Emily," he said as they stood in the hall. "You can go back downstairs now, or you can get ready for bed and wait in there for Wendy and Jessica if you wish. "Dad, are you going to spank her?" she asked. "What did she do?" "Now Em, if you were in trouble, would you want me to tell?" he asked "No sir, I think I will go now," she said as she scurried down the hall. Jessica got David and Rebecca to sit and try to get Wendy to talk. Wendy sat there with them, but she just couldn't talk. She couldn't get Sarah out of her mind. Jessica and David both tried, but it wasn't working. Soon Rebecca and Jessica got tired of just sitting, so they left. "David, can I ask you some questions?" "Sure," he replied. "What do you want to know?" "Is Mr. Johnson really mean? "Well sometimes I think he is, especially when I get into trouble. Most times he is pretty cool though, If you need anything, or just need to talk, he always listens. But if you break his rules, you better be prepared to get punished." "You mean spanked, don't you?" she asked. "No not always, sometimes you just get sent to bed early, or sometimes he makes you write sentences. Or a different number of things can happen. Let me give you some advice, if your being scolded, look at him and be very respectful. You know. Say things like, Yes Sir and No Sir when you answer him." "I don�t think I like him and I can't believe he is up there right now spanking her." �Wendy, she has been naughty,� he replied. Just then Jessica returned and took a seat at the table. "Why do all of you call him dad? Wendy asked. "Well because he is our dad in a way. He is the only parent we know, and after a while, it just sort of feels right," he replied. "One day you will feel the same," Jessica replied. "No I won't" Wendy stated. Emily once again joined her friends in the social room. When she returned, everyone had just about cleaned up. They were just getting lined up to return to their rooms. "Did you see Sarah?" Madison asked, as she stood in line to return the board game to the closet. "I saw her lying on her bed, but she didn't look at me." "Children, children, quiet please," Mr. Parker shouted. When you are done with your clean up, please come get in line. Wendy watched as the kids picked everything up and left the room spotless. They made two lines. The boys in one, and the girls in the other. As she stood there waiting with Jessica, David spoke to her once again. "Look Wendy, I'm glad your in my group, and I'm sorry I said what I said. I don't want to fight with my new little sister on her first day, but don't mess with dad," he said as he turned to get into line. Finally everyone had lined up and were ready to go. Mr. Parker dismissed the boys first, when they were gone, he let the first floor girls go, and just as the last of the second floor girls left, Mr. Johnson appeared from the hall. Wendy noticed him right away. He didn't look mad or upset, maybe he changed his mind. As Mr. Parker excused the last group, Mr. Johnson called to Jessica, Wendy and Emily. "Jessica, I am going to let the three of you stay up until about 9:20, then I want you to walk Em back to her room. Em get right into bed and don't bother Sarah, ok." he ordered. "Yes sir," Emily replied. "I can't believe you spanked her," Wendy murmured in a very unhappy tone. "Wendy, come here," he ordered in a very stern voice as he motioned with his finger and pointed to the floor in front of him. She obeyed with out question. "Do you have something to say young lady?" he asked "No," she whispered "Goodnight then," he said as he turned and walked away. |
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