| Chapter Sixteen Pushing The Limits |
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| As mid December approached, the weather grew very cold. Frost covered the ground, and ice lined the panes of glass. Wendy liked getting up early so she could sit in the window, and watch the sun rise. She hoped that one morning when she woke, there would be snow on the ground. It just didn�t seem like Christmas without snow. David did his best to stay out of trouble. He made sure he never missed class, he didn�t argue with his teachers, and he made sure to go straight to his room as soon as supper was finished. He would say his goodnights to his siblings at the dinner table, or in the hall on his way up. Although a little skeptical, Mr. Parker kept his word, and as the weeks went by he reinstated some of David�s privileges. Wendy spent more time with Patricia, Alex and Missy. The girls talked about the upcoming Christmas holiday, and how they wished that Mark would ask Patricia out. Alex smiled and pretended to agree with the girls, but deep down inside, she hadn�t decided if she wanted a father. She knew if she were naughty, Mark wouldn�t hesitate to spank her. She loved him, but she also loved Patricia, and she feared if Mark became her father, all her punishments would come from him, and not Patricia. Wendy kept busy by reading to Sarah and Nadia at night when Mark had other things to do. Sarah decided that she wouldn�t draw on any more walls, because it took too long to wash it off the last time, not to mention, she wasn�t too excited about Daddy�s handprint being left on her bottom again. It had been close to three weeks since David had returned, and not one of Patricia�s or Mark�s children had earned so much as a scolding. Mark had told himself it was because Christmas was just around the corner, but Patricia suspected it was because the children had been too busy to cause any trouble or to get into any mischief. Although Wendy kept herself occupied with projects and her two little sisters, she still found herself thinking about Ricky, and wishing he hadn�t left. She had placed a hand drawn calendar of December above the table in her and Jessica�s room. It contained a large x across each day that had passed, and a big circle around the day Ricky would be coming home. December 20th was the day circled. That night when Wendy crawled into bed, she crossed off the 16th. Tomorrow Patricia was taking her, Alex and Missy into town to go Christmas shopping. Wendy had saved enough money to buy something small for everyone in her family, and one special gift for someone very special. She knew Patricia would help her. Wendy closed her eyes, and as she drifted off to sleep, happiness filled her. She knew Ricky would be home in four days. Mr. Parker had purchased a grand Christmas Tree, and it had been placed in the far end of the cafeteria. lights had been strung on it, and each child hand made an ornament to hang on the tree. Wendy stood in front of the tree as she waited for Patricia. It was the nicest tree she had ever seen. The one thing she liked the most, was how all of a sudden on Christmas morning, tons of presents would magically appear under it. �Are you ready to go, Wendy?� Wendy turned toward Patricia. �Yes Ma�am.� Wendy took Patricia�s hand and they headed toward the door where Alex and Missy stood waiting. The girls were in their beautiful dresses that Patricia had given them months before. They wore them on their monthly luncheon and shopping trip into town. Wendy not only liked this trip because it afforded her a chance to get out of her navy blue jumper, but it gave her a chance to feel like she wasn�t an orphan. It gave her a chance to feel like Patricia was her real mother. Wendy�s manners had improved greatly since that first luncheon with Patricia and the girls. When lunch was finished, they headed for the bookstore, then shopping at some of the little shops close by. �Patricia, do you think they will ever get a bookstore in Jacksonville, or will we always have to come to Canyon City to go to a bookstore?� �Well sweetheart, I don�t know if Jacksonville will ever have a bookstore. It�s pretty small.� �I know but every town should have a bookstore don�t you think?� �Yes I suppose it would be a good thing for every town to have one. Books are very important to have around.� �Well maybe you could open a bookstore in Jacksonville.� Alex stated. Patricia laughed. �Ohh sweetie that would be great, but I already have a full time job at the school. I wouldn�t have time to open a bookstore, let alone run one.� �Ohh.� Wendy lagged behind so she could window shop. When Patricia noticed that Wendy wasn�t with them, she turned around. Wendy had stopped one store back and was staring into one of the shop windows. Patricia turned around and went to her. �Do you see something you like?� she asked. �Yes Ma�am.� Wendy�s voice was faint. Patricia looked into the window. Sitting just inside was a small silver jewelry box shaped like a heart. Wendy�s eyes were fixed on it as if it were the most beautiful thing in the world. Wendy turned to Patricia. �May I please go inside and look at it?� Patricia smiled and motioned for the girls to join them. They all entered the tiny shop. Wendy went to the window and carefully picked up the box. �Ohh it�s very heavy,� Wendy stated. Patricia took it from her. �Why it is very heavy. It�s made of sterling silver. Quite expensive Wendy. We should put it back before we drop it.� Patricia handed the box back to her. Wendy held it in her hands for another second or so. She turned it sideways and admired the intricate detailing on the side. The top had a slight roundness to it, and a smooth spot shaped like a heart on top. There was more small detailed work around the heart as well. Wendy held the box in her right hand and slowly lifted the lid with her left. Her eyes widened as she peeked inside. It was lined in red velvet. Wendy was in heaven. Alex and Missy each stood at her side admiring the box. �I want this.� Wendy whispered. �Wendy honey, it�s very expensive I am sure. You need to put it back.� Wendy looked at Patricia, then the box. She turned it over to see how much it cost. The price was sixty-five dollars. Wendy gulped. She knew she would never be able to have it. It was more money than she had to buy presents with for everyone. Slowly and carefully she placed the box back in the display window. She looked at Patricia, then headed for the shop door. She tried to make the best of the rest of their shopping trip, but she couldn�t stop thinking about the jewelry box. By the time they headed back home, Wendy had all of her shopping done. Still her heart remained with the little heart shaped box in the small shop window. The next couple of days passed quickly. Wendy attended class but couldn�t concentrate on her work. She kept thinking about the little box and the fact that Ricky would be coming home in a couple of days. She had failed to do her chores the night before and her father had scolded her. She promised to do them today, but when school let out, Wendy abandoned them and went to the school library to find a good book instead. Mark had gone into town on some errands and wouldn�t be back until suppertime. Wendy found a book then headed upstairs to her room. As she sat on her bed reading, she could feel her schoolbooks staring at her. She had homework to do as well as chores, but she didn�t feel like doing either one. Finally she picked up her schoolbooks and shoved them under her bed. She knew she had promised her teacher she would finish her assignments, but she just wasn�t interested. �Wendy! Didn�t you hear me call you?� Wendy looked up from her book at Jessica. �I�m sorry, I didn�t hear you.� �It�s time for supper.� Jessica turned and disappeared out the door. Wendy placed a folded piece of paper in the book and shoved it under her pillow then headed down to supper. The cafeteria was as noisy as ever, sometimes too noisy for her liking. She stood in line and waited for her turn. She noticed her father entering through the side door of the cafeteria. She watched as Nadia, and Sarah ran up to him as he tried to walk through. He reached into his pocket, and pulled out two small candy canes. He gave one to Sarah, and one to Nadia. Wendy knew by the small shake of his finger, that he was telling them not to eat them until after supper. As the line shortened, Wendy began to regret not doing her chores. She had to think up something to tell Daddy as to why she hadn�t done them. �Homework!� �What did you say?� a girl in front of her asked. �Oh nothing,� Wendy replied. She finally got her supper and took a seat with David, Jessica, Alex and some other kids. With the conversation and the food, Wendy forgot all about her troubles. When she finished and returned her plate, she headed out the door. She figured that if she could avoid her father until the tuck in at bedtime, then she wouldn�t have to tell him anything. Wendy crawled onto her bed and retrieved the book out from under her pillow. At around 8p.m., Sarah peeked through the door, and asked Wendy if she would read her and Nadia a story. Wendy once again placed the book under her pillow. She snuggled up with the girls on Sarah�s bed and started to read. Just as she finished the last page, Mark entered the room. �Time for bed, girls!� Wendy jumped up and pulled the covers back on Sarah�s bed. After she hopped into bed, Wendy leaned over, and hugged her, then she did the same for Nadia. Wendy stood at the end of the two beds and listened as Mark sat on the edge of Sarah�s bed and talked. She knew he would be a few moments, and this would be her chance to hop into bed, and pretend to be asleep. So far he hadn�t even let on that he knew she hadn�t finished her chores. Obviously he hadn�t even noticed. She figured bed would be the best way to go just in case. Wendy hurried to her room, peeled off her school uniform, and threw on her pajamas. She didn�t even bother to brush her teeth or wash her face. She kicked her clothes under the bed and jumped under the covers. Jessica lay in bed with a book and watched. �Ok fire engine, Wendy, what did you do this time?� �What?� �Don�t give me that! Dad is across the hall with Nadia and Sarah, and you�re tearing around here like a fire engine, so what did you do?� �Nothing!� she replied. Wendy turned away from Jessica and buried her head under the covers. Her tummy turned to stone when she heard the door open. Ohhh, why hadn�t she done her chores, and her homework? Daddy always knew everything, and she was only kidding herself to think that he wouldn�t notice. She stayed completely still as she heard her father and Jessica mumbling. When she heard the door close, a pout came across her lips. Daddy didn�t even say goodnight. Maybe he had thought she was asleep after all. Wendy couldn�t breathe anymore, so she threw the covers off her head. Her eyes widened as she saw her father standing over her. His face looked cross. �Come out of there, young lady!� he scolded. Mark took a step back and pointed to a spot on the floor in front of him. Wendy gulped, then kicked off the covers. She crawled from her bed with wide eyes, then took her place in front of him. �Well, obviously from your quick departure, and sudden desire to turn in for the night, as well as the look on your face, I don�t need to ask you what you�ve done wrong, do I?� Wendy shook her head. �Wendy, Why? It�s only seven days until Christmas. Six days, yet you suddenly get the desire to misbehave. I let your chores slide yesterday when I should have just made you do them. Why didn�t you do your chores like I asked you to?� Daddy�s voice seemed more disappointed, than scolding. Wendy thought about what she had decided to tell him, and she tried to think of something quickly, but she couldn�t. �I would have, honest! but I had a lot of homework, Daddy, and it took most of my time to do it. I promise to do all of my chores tomorrow.� Mark placed his hand under Wendy�s chin and studied her face. He felt she seemed sincere, still he decided to ask. �Are you telling me the truth?� Wendy gulped. She knew she was digging a hole, and she knew the taste of soap would be awful if Daddy found out she was lying. Still, if she told the truth, Daddy would no doubt, send her to bed with a well-spanked bottom. �I�m telling the truth!� she replied. Mark took his hand away. �I want to see this homework!� Wendy�s eyes widened. �What?� �You heard me. I want to see all of this homework you claim that kept you from your chores.� Wendy stared at her father. She knew she was in so much trouble. She could just see herself getting a spanking with Daddy�s belt this time, then the awful soap washing besides. How could she be so naughty just before Christmas? Why did she find it so necessary to lie? Wendy burst into tears. She went to her bed and pulled the book out from under her pillow. �I lied! I didn�t do any of my homework! And I didn�t do my chores because I didn�t want to. I went to the library and got this dumb book to read instead. I read this all afternoon!� Wendy dropped the book onto the floor and threw her hands over her eyes. Mark stood there in amazement, and watched her cry. She had indeed lied, but in the lie came the truth. She had told the truth. This was the first time she had ever told the truth without being across his knee while admitting it. Part of him was proud of her, but he also knew she had to be punished. Mark stood and waited for her to calm herself. Wendy wiped her tears and looked up at her father. She waited for him to reach for his belt, but he didn�t. Instead he placed his hand on her shoulder. �How do you feel after blurting out the truth?� �The truth? I told the truth?� �Yes, Wendy you did. Now that is what you need to do when asked. You need to tell the truth when asked.� �Are you going to whip me, and wash out my mouth for lying to you?� �Do you think that is what you deserve; A spanking across my knee, and another trip to the bathroom?� Wendy wiped the tears from her eyes. �I don�t want you to do that, but when I lied the last time that is what you did to me.� �Yes, that is what I did, isn�t it? But when I did that, you hadn�t been truthful and honest. You stood by your lie even when I knew it was a lie. Tonight you did lie again, but when you knew you were caught, you confessed the truth to me.� �So I don�t have to eat soap?� �Don�t misunderstand me, young lady! You did lie, and you are going to be punished, but I am not going to wash out your mouth. That is your reward for telling me the truth, and you did so with great sincerity.� Wendy looked straight at her father. �I know I am going to be punished. I didn�t do my chores or my homework, and I lied to you as well. I�m sorry, Daddy. I didn�t want to get punished. That is why I lied.� �I know why you lied. What I want for you to do now, is get to bed. No lights and no doing homework. Your punishment for that will be up to your teacher. Tomorrow after school, you will come straight to your room and wait for me here. I need to think about how to punish you for not obeying me, and for the lie.� �Yes, sir.� �Get into bed now.� Wendy turned, and scurried back to her bed. She jumped in quickly before Mark changed his mind. He covered her up, and kissed her on the forehead. When he closed the door, Wendy reached under her bed, pulled out her stuffed animal, and wrapped her arms around him. Ricky would be home on Saturday, and all would be better then. It was Friday December 19th, the last day of school before they would have a week off for winter break. Christmas was six days away and Ricky would be home tomorrow. Wendy had skipped breakfast, and stayed in her room. She didn�t want to see Daddy before school. She was sure he had thought of a punishment for her by now, and she didn�t want to know what it was before the end of the school day. She had enough to worry about with what her punishment would be from her teacher. As the kids walked in and took their seats, they all placed their assignments into the basket. Wendy shuffled through the line, and took her seat. Mid way through instruction, the teacher gave the students an assignment to work on silently while he shuffled through the basket. Wendy kept watching him from the corner of her eye. When the bell rang for lunch, the teacher dismissed the class. �Wendy Barrett. Would you please come here!� Some of the kids turned and looked at her. She took a deep breath, turned and walked to his desk. �Yes, sir?� �I don�t see your homework in here. Did you forget to turn it in?� �No sir. I uhhh, I didn�t do it, sir.� �Oh I see. That does present us with a bit of a problem, now doesn�t it?� Wendy looked down at his desk. �Yes, sir.� �Would you be so kind as to share with me just why you didn�t do your homework?� Wendy thought about making something up, but she had barely escaped her lie last night. She figured she had better tell the truth this time, and face the consequences. �Well sir, I uhhh, I didn�t do my homework because I didn�t want to.� she whispered. Shocked, her teacher leaned back in his chair. �Well is that a fact?� �Yes, sir,� she whispered. Her teacher leaned forward and started to scribble something onto a piece of paper. He folded it, and stapled it closed. �Take this, and yourself to Mr. Parkers office!� �But!� Her teacher sat across the desk with the note in his hand. His face was very cross. �Take this note, and yourself to the principal at once!� Wendy gulped, and slowly reached for the note. She was being sent to see the principal. This was just awful. She left her classroom, and headed down the hall. She handed the note to the secretary. �I am being sent to see Mr. Parker.� �Are you in trouble child?� �Yes, Ma�am.� �Have a seat on the bench, and he will be with you shortly.� Wendy took a seat, and waited. She wished Ricky were here, and she wished she had done her homework. Wendy looked up at the ceiling. �God, please don�t let Mr. Parker whack me with the paddle. I�m sorry I�ve been bad so close to Your birthday.� Suddenly Wendy heard Mr. Parker�s office door open. She watched as the secretary handed him the note. He opened it, and read it. When he looked up from the note, and across the hall to her, Wendy felt a chill run down her spine. Wendy grabbed the edge of the bench as Mr. Parker approached. �Would you come with me please?� He turned and headed back toward his office. Wendy slid from the bench, and followed Mr. Parker. He paused at the door, and Wendy slipped past him. It had been a while since she had seen the inside of his office, and she wished for anything, not to be there now. She felt Mr. Parker�s hand rest on her shoulder. She turned and looked up. Mr. Parker seemed so tall and stern looking from where she stood. �It seems as though we have a little bit of a problem, Wendy. This note is from your teacher, and it says that you didn�t turn in your homework today. It also says that the excuse you gave is not acceptable to him, and that is why he has sent you to see me.� Mr. Parker moved Wendy so she was standing in front of his desk, then he walked around to the other side, and took a seat. �I would very much like to hear the excuse you gave your teacher.� In a very soft voice, Wendy repeated what she had said to her teacher. She could tell Mr. Parker was not amused. �Well I can see why he sent you to see me. I must say though, it is quite an honest answer, yet quite unacceptable. I hope you understand that children can�t just choose not to do their assignments.� Wendy watched as Mr. Parker stood and headed for the door. She wasn�t sure why he had left the room, but she could see him speaking quietly to the secretary. Wendy stayed perfectly still even when Mr. Parker returned to his seat. �The note here says you failed to turn in your math assignment, and your spelling practice paper. I have sent Mrs. Baker after them.� Mr. Parker turned his chair slightly, then opened his desk drawer. Wendy watched with wide eyes as Mr. Parker placed a small round paddle on the top of his desk, then closed the drawer. Wendy�s eyes moved with Mr. Parker as he stood. Tears welled in her eyes. Had God not heard her prayer? Maybe He had, and He thought she needed to be paddled too. �When Mrs. Baker returns with your assignments, you will sit over there and complete them.� Wendy turned slightly and glanced toward the small student desk in the far corner of his office. �Wendy?� Wendy turned her attention back to Mr. Parker. �Do you think that you deserve to be paddled?� Wendy stared at Mr. Parker, and then the paddle. �I�m sorry I didn�t do my homework. I was tired, and just didn�t feel like it Mr. Parker.� Mr. Parker studied Wendy as she stood next to his desk. He walked over to the window, and stared out. Wendy kept quiet, and didn�t move. She shivered when Mr. Parker returned. �I have taken into consideration, your honesty, and as much as you deserve to be put across my knee, I am not going to paddle you. When you finish your assignments, you may go.� Mr. Parker handed Wendy the paddle. �Go put it back, then get to your assignments!� Wendy took the paddle and placed it back in the drawer. Knowing how lucky she was, she hurried to the desk and started on her assignments. When she finished, she raised her hand, and waited for Mr. Parker to check her work. �It looks complete, and all of the answers on your math are correct. You may stand up now.� The words were music to her ears, she quickly stood gathered her things, and headed for the door. �I don�t expect to see you in here again for non completion of an assignment, or I shall set a sting that you will take to bed with you. Do you understand?� �Yes, sir.� Wendy returned to class with an empty stomach. Lunch had long passed, and school was just an hour from dismissal for the winter break. So far she had been very lucky and she hoped her father�s punishment that awaited her, wouldn�t be a spanking. As soon as school finished, Wendy headed to her room. She made a quick stop in the cafeteria and grabbed an after school snack. Jessica was already upstairs working on her homework when Wendy entered the room. �Why are you doing that now? You have a whole week!� �I want it done and out of the way, and I think with all the trouble you�re in, it wouldn�t be such a bad idea if you were working on yours when Daddy comes up.� �Yeah, yeah I know.� Wendy tossed her books onto her bed, then lay down on top of them. �I�m studying. Happy now?� Before Jessica could answer, Mark opened the door. Wendy jumped off of her bed, and started straightening her books. �Would you excuse us for a few minutes, Jessica?� Jessica gathered up her math book, then glanced at Wendy. �I will go to the library and do my math.� When the door closed, Wendy looked at her father. �I heard about your day, and your time spent with the principal. �Did he paddle you?� Wendy shook her head. �No, sir. I did my homework in his office.� �Marks eyes raised. �He was very lenient with you.� �I missed lunch,� she replied, as though that was worse than a spanking. Wendy set her books on the table, then returned to her bed. �I�m sorry I lied, Daddy. Really I am.� �I went to my room last night and I thought about this whole thing. I thought about it today as well, and I�ve made my decision,� Mark said. Wendy clenched her fists together, and her bottom began to tingle. She had been too lucky to not get a spanking this time. �I have decided not to spank you.� Wendy relaxed her fists, and smiled. �You did?� �Now hold on. I�m still going to punish you. I�m grounding you to your room for the weekend.� Wendy�s mouth dropped open. �But Daddy! Ricky is coming home tomorrow.� �I know that, and that is why I gave this a lot of thought. I want you to learn that lying and disobedience doesn�t pay. You will spend the weekend in your room, and that�s all there is to it.� Wendy started to cry. �It�s been a long time since I�ve seen Ricky. Daddy, why can�t you just spank me?� Mark was shocked. He shook his head. �No! You will stay in your room all day tomorrow, and on Sunday you will sit with Patricia and me at church, and at Sunday supper, then you will come back to your room. Monday morning you may come out. I think I am being more than fair.� Wendy wiped her tears. Mark could tell by her expression what she was thinking. �Don�t think that if you leave your room, you will get spanked, and that will be it. You�re grounded, and if you come out, I will add one day for each time you do so.� Wendy stomped her foot and yelled. �You�re being mean!� �I think you should watch your tongue, young lady before I do spank you, as well as the grounding.� �That�s just not fair!� Wendy turned and ran to her bed. Mark walked over, and took a seat on Wendy�s bed. �I know you don�t think it is fair, but I happen to think it is. Monday morning you can eat breakfast with Ricky, that is, if his father doesn�t have other plans.� Wendy was really angry with Mark, and she wouldn�t look at him. She kept her head buried in her pillow in hopes that he would leave. A couple of minutes later, she heard the door open and close. When Jessica returned, Wendy told her what their father had done. Jessica understood why Wendy was upset, but she felt anything was better than a spanking. She thought Wendy got lucky, and shouldn�t complain. Wendy spent the rest of the evening in her room. Mark brought her supper to her, but she wouldn�t talk to him. He made no mention of the silent treatment she was giving him. He remembered being angry with his father a time or two growing up, so he knew it would pass. At eight thirty, Wendy went to the bathroom and took a quick shower. She dressed in her pajamas, and crawled into bed with the book she had gotten from the library. Maybe it would help her get her mind off of her troubles, and the unfairness of her punishment. |