NB: Cradle Time-chapter 10 (M/f, F/f, M/f)
Copyright © 2000

by SamPast and Huggedlots

 

Maggie loved helping to take care of baby Joshua. She would get up early with Heather and help change him. Then after school, she would rush home to help Heather take care of him. It was so much fun.

Both Bob and Heather were amazed in Maggie's attitude. They thought for sure she would be jealous or feel threatened by the baby, but she seemed to be the opposite. They both hoped it would last.

Of course, what they didn't know was that Maggie was neglecting her homework and her studies in favor of taking care of her brother. In her mind, Joshua was her responsibility and Heather just played a part. It would be a while before Bob and Heather caught on to what was taking place.

Meanwhile, over at Charlie's place, they were all getting ready for their big event. Lisa was already two weeks overdue, and everyone was cranky and on edge. Lisa's doctor had told them that it was normal for a woman to deliver late in her first pregnancy. But still, it made both Charlie and Lisa very nervous.

The twins were doing okay. Jennifer wasn't as jealous as she was at the beginning. It helped that her cousin, Maggie, was telling her every day how wonderful it was to have a little baby around the house. Jennifer, though, wasn't so sure she would enjoy taking care of a baby, like Maggie did.

Robin and Jennifer would be ten soon. Charlie couldn't believe that his little girls were going into their double digits. It was incredible to him that they were born almost ten years before. He wished their natural mother, Marcia, could see how wonderful they had turned out. "Not that they were always so wonderful," Charlie thought to himself. It seemed like almost every day they were in some kind of trouble.

Jennifer woke up one morning with a fantastic idea. She turned over and whispered, "Robin? You up?"

"Hmmm?" Robin said, still groggy.

"I have this great idea," Jenn replied.

At this, Robin sat right up. "Oh, no, not one of your great ideas, Jennifer. I'm too tired to get into trouble."

"This won't get us into trouble, Robin. Just listen," Jenn said.
So Robin listened to Jenn's latest plan.

"What are you, crazy? You want to switch places? I don't think so!" Robin cried.

"Why not? It'll be fun," Jenn said, already thinking about how to put her plan into action.

"We did that once before and we got into a lot of trouble," Robin pointed out.

Jenn looked point blank at Robin. "Yeah, but that was a long time ago. Besides, that was so one of us could get something. This time, it'll totally be for fun. Come on, Robin, put some excitement into your life."

"We have enough excitement, Jenn. Mommy's gonna have the baby any day now. That'll be exciting," Robin voiced.

"Yeah, but this'll be cool, too. Come on, Robin, do it for me?" Jenn pleaded.

Robin thought it was a bad idea, but against her better judgment, she agreed to it. "I know I'm going to regret this," she said half aloud.

The girls went into the kitchen wearing identical hairstyles, both completely different than their own.

"Oh, don't you girls look cute!" Lisa said.

Charlie looked up from the newspaper, and smiled. "Yes, you do. Trying out some new hairstyles?"

"Uh, yeah!" Robin answered nervously.

Jenn went over, though, and gave Charlie a big hug and a kiss. He pulled her onto his lap and hugged her tight. Jenn giggled. Robin wondered how her sister could stay so calm. She was nervous as a clam and knew she was going to regret this day.

Charlie dropped the girls off at school on his way to work. They were standing by the flagpole waiting for the bell to ring. Robin began having second thoughts.

She turned to Jenn, "You know, I don't know about this. Maybe it's not such a good idea!"

"Oh, hogwash!" Jenn complained. "Hey, there's Caren!"

Robin turned to see her best friend, Caren, coming toward them. She lifted her hand up and waved. But then Jennifer took her completely by surprise and hooked her own arm into Caren's and said, "Come on, let's go to class!"

Jenn left Robin standing dumbfounded at the flagpole as the bell rang. She didn't know what to do. Caren turned and waved back at Robin. "Bye, Jennifer, see you at recess!"

Robin said, "Oh, man!" to herself and headed to Jennifer's class. She went in and sat down at Jennifer's desk, and stayed quiet. Some of the other girls started talking to her, and Robin tried to catch on to what they were saying, but all she kept thinking about was how much trouble they would be in if their little plan backfired.

Robin was a wreck all morning. She knew Jennifer's teacher was shocked at how quiet "Jennifer" was being. But she couldn't help it. She was afraid she would say something stupid, or something that didn't sound like something Jenn would say.

Meanwhile, Jennifer was having a ball in Robin's class. Mrs. Nausbaum was shocked to hear "Robin" talking so much. She had to scold her several times for talking. At one point, Mr. Levine came into the room to speak with her. Jennifer looked at her uncle and hoped against hope that he wouldn't know it was really her.

Mrs. Nausbaum said, "Oh, Mr. Levine, I don't know what has gotten into Robin today. But she, Erin, and Sandy cannot keep their mouths shut."

"Well, perhaps, some detention at lunchtime would help them!" Mr. Levine told Mrs. Nausbaum. He turned to the three girls. "I will see you three at lunch today, in my office."

Erin and Sandy were shocked. They had never had detention before. Jennifer didn't let it get to her. She got it all the time. What was one more day?

Of course, she couldn't have known that her daddy, Charlie, would stop by to see Jack on his lunch break. Jennifer was sitting in the office, with Sandy and Erin, writing "I will not talk in class" 100 times when Charlie came into the room. She just hoped no one called her "Robin" while she was in there. Then she would be safe.

Charlie saw her but did not say a word. He told Jack what he had come to say, and the two men walked out of the office together. Jennifer sighed a sigh of relief. It was okay, she told herself. Daddy would just think she had gotten detention again.

After school, Jennifer met Robin by the flagpole. Robin ran right over to her sister. "Oh my god! Jennifer, where were you at lunchtime? I was a wreck. I didn't think I was going to make it through the day!"

"But you did, sis. Calm down!" Jennifer reassured her.

They started walking home. Robin said, "But where were you at recess? I looked and looked for you. I didn't ask Caren because I was afraid she'd know it was really me."

Jenn said, "Well, if you had asked her, she would have told you, that me, Sandy and Erin were in detention for talking."

"Detention? Jennifer! You got me in trouble?!" Robin shouted at her sister.

"Oh, calm down, Robin, it's no big deal. I get detention all the time!" Jennifer said.

"Yeah, but not when you're pretending to be me. Oh, what if Uncle Jack tells Mommy and Daddy?"

"Daddy didn't say anything when he saw me!" Jennifer insisted.

Robin stopped dead in her tracks then. They were about a block from the apartment. "What? Daddy saw you! Oh my god, Jenn!"

Jennifer was amused. "Oh, don't worry about it. I'm sure Daddy just thought it was typical Jenn getting detention for talking again…same old, same old."

Robin smacked Jenn then. "I'm never doing one of your stupid ideas again, Jennifer. And if I do get in trouble for this, I'm blaming it all on you!" And with that, she stormed into the building, and got into the elevator. She didn't even wait for Jennifer.

Up in the apartment, Robin told her mom that the kids at school thought she would look nice with earrings. "Can I get my ears pierced, Mommy?" she asked.

"We'll have to see, hon. Maybe for your birthday. Definitely not until after the baby's born," she said.

"When is the baby going to be born, Mommy?" Jennifer asked.

"Well, I was there yesterday and he said any day now. We just have to wait."

"Waiting is so hard, though," Robin commented.

"Yes, honey, it is," Lisa said.

Just then the phone rang. Lisa picked it up and chatted with her sister, Joan. She put her hand over the receiver and told the girls to start on their homework.

Later, at dinner, the family was having quiet conversation. Robin avoided looking at Jenn. She was still so mad at her. Then Lisa said something that rocked her world.

"Robin! Aren't you going to tell your father what happened at school today?"

Robin looked at her mom. She wasn't sure what she was talking about. Then she said, "Oh, yeah, the girls at school said I'd look great with earrings. Can I get my ears pierced, Daddy?"

Lisa frowned. "Robin, I told you we'd see about that. I meant, about being in detention at lunch today."

Robin looked at her mother. "H-how did you know about that, Mommy?"

"Joan told me. Jack told her. I must say I'm a little surprised, Robin," Lisa said.

Charlie looked at the twins. "Gee, that's odd. Because when I stopped by to see Jack at lunchtime today, I saw Jennifer in detention."

Lisa looked at both girls. "Well, how is that possible? Jack told Joan that Robin and her friends got detention for too much talking."

Robin looked daggers at Jennifer. Then she burst into tears. "It's all Jennifer's fault. It was her idea!" she cried.

Through tears, the whole story came out. Charlie and Lisa were furious. "Bring your plates to the sink and go to your room. Your mother and I need to talk!" Charlie boomed.

The girls did as he said. Robin threw herself on her bed and continued to cry. Jenn tried to apologize to Robin, but she didn't want to hear it. "Just go away, Jenn!"

Charlie and Lisa knocked on their door about twenty minutes later. They walked in and each sat down on one of the twins' beds. "Girls, I am very disappointed in this behavior," their father began. "You know, it may have been cute when you were younger, but you're older now and you should know better. We trust you to be responsible."

Lisa nodded in agreement. "Girls, people can only trust what they can see. I know it's neat that you two look so much alike, but doing what you did can only lead to big trouble. Do you understand that?"

Robin nodded. So did Jennifer. Both girls were in shock that their parents were so calm about the whole thing. They expected them to be shouting. It kind of scared the twins, actually.

"You're both going to be punished, and . . ."  The girls looked up at their dad, but it was their mom who finished his statement.

"And you're both going to have to go to school tomorrow and explain to Uncle Jack and both your teachers what you did," Lisa said.

"Oh, MOMMY! Do we have to?" Jennifer whined.

Charlie stood up then and reached for Jenn's hand. "Yes, you do. And I suggest you keep that whine out of your voice, young lady, or I'll take out the soap for your mouth, as well. Now, come with me, Jennifer Lynn."

Jenn stood up and took her daddy's hand. "Yes, sir," was all she said.

When the two of them left the room, Robin just stared at her mother. "I'm sorry, Mommy. I didn't wanna do it."

"Then why did you, little girl?" Lisa asked.

"Jennifer made me, Mommy!"

"Oh, come on, Robin, your sister can't make you do anything. You had to have agreed to it."

Robin thought, and then said, "Well, I guess I did, Mommy, but I wasn't happy about it."

"Well, then I suggest next time you stick to what you believe in. But right now, young lady, you're getting a spanking. Come over here."

Robin got up and went right to her mother's side. She knew better than to argue. It would have been difficult for Lisa to pull Robin over her humongous lap, so she had Robin lay down on her bed, propped up by pillows. She had already pulled her pants and panties down and took them right off. After her spanking, Robin would be getting ready for bed anyhow.

Lisa leaned over Robin and started spanking her with her own mother's oval hairbrush. It had been a while since Robin had gotten a hairbrush spanking and now she knew why she had tried to avoid them. They hurt ten times more than a hand spanking.

 
Lisa didn't lecture her, because she felt that they had talked it out enough. She just kept smacking that hairbrush over Robin's bottom until it turned from white to pink to bright red.

Robin was crying real hard. "Ow, Mommy, stop! Pleeeease! I'm sorry. I won't do it again, I won't!"

Finally, mostly because the exertion had exhausted her, Lisa stopped. She put the hairbrush down and began rubbing Robin's bottom.

Robin sat up and hugged Lisa tight. "I'm sorry, Mommy!"

"Okay, there, there, it's all over now. Daddy and I know you won't do this again, will you?"

Robin shook her head and Lisa smiled. "Okay, sweetie, go get ready for bed now. Daddy and I will come tuck you in, in a little while."

Meanwhile, in the master bedroom, Jennifer was standing by Charlie's side. "Do you understand why you're getting this spanking, young lady?" he asked her.

"Yes, Daddy, because Robin and I switched places and we shouldn't have done that," Jennifer said.

"And why shouldn't you have done that?" he asked.

"Because people can only believe what they see. And it wasn't nice of us to trick them."

"That's right. Good girl!" Charlie said, as he leaned over and pulled Jenn's pants and panties down. He made her step out of them as well. She wouldn't be needing them any longer tonight.
He pulled her over his lap and started to hand spank her. Jenn knew that this must be just a warm up. He spanked hard, but she knew this couldn't be it. Charlie began spanking and lecturing Jenn as he smacked her bottom.

"You must {Smack} not {Smack} try to deceive {Smack} people ever again. {Smack} Do you {Smack} understand me?" he asked. {Smack} {Smack}

"OWWWW, yes, Dadddy, I won't, I won't," Jenn cried.

"Good," Charlie said, and reached for the hairbrush that he had waiting on the night table.

Jennifer hadn't seen it but when it rained down on her bottom, she jumped a little. Charlie held her firmly in place.

"I am very {whack!} disappointed {whack!} that you would do {whack!} this at all. But then {whack!} on top of what you did, {whack!} you got your sister {whack!} in trouble with her teacher {whack!} and with the principal {whack!} of the school. {whack!} That was very naughty, {whack!} young lady!" {whack!} {whack!} {whack!}

"OWWWW, DADDDDDY!" Jenn screamed. "I'm sorrrrrrry!"

Jenn was crying very hard by now. Charlie looked at his little girl's bottom and saw that it was crimson. He felt that she had had enough and he put the hairbrush down. He pulled her to a standing position and hugged her close to him, rubbing her back and bottom and soothing her.

"Okay, it's all over, shhhhh, that's my good girl!" he said.

Jenn just cried into her daddy's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Daddy. I'm sorry; we won't do it again. I promise."

"I hope not, Jennifer," Charlie said. Then he held her tight and rubbed and caressed and soothed her until she was calm again.
Both girls slept on their stomachs that night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning, when Jennifer woke up, she didn't feel very well. She went into her parents' bedroom and gently shook her daddy awake. She whispered, "I don't feel well, Daddy."

Charlie sat up and looked at her. "What's wrong, baby?" he asked, feeling her forehead. It was warm, but not very hot.

 
"My tummy hurts. It feels funny," she said.

"Did you use the bathroom?" Charlie asked.

 
Jenn nodded. "I didn't have to go, Daddy. It just hurts."

Charlie stood up then and grabbed his robe. He took Jennifer's hand and led her out of the room. Lisa had hardly gotten any sleep the night before, and he didn't want to wake her.

He went into the bathroom and took the jar of Vaseline out and the rectal thermometer. He brought Jennifer into the den and told her to lie on the couch. "Let me see if you have a temperature, Jenn."

Jenn saw the dreaded thermometer and shook her head. "Oh, no, Daddy, pleeeease!"

"Jennifer. Lay down! I'm only trying to help you."

"Yes, Daddy," she said, though she was very unhappy.

Charlie pulled Jenn's pajama bottoms down and lubed up her anus and inserted the thermometer. He waited a few minutes and took it out. Jenn sighed. She hated the squishy feeling. He quickly wiped off her bottom and told her to pull up her pants and sit up, which she did.

He looked at the thermometer. 100.1°. "Well, you do have a slight fever, baby. I guess you can't be at school today." Charlie sighed. He didn't want Lisa to have to take care of Jenn all day. He guessed he would have to call in sick as well.

"But…" he began. Jenn looked up. "I will bring you to school when I drop Robin off, because you must still make your apologies to Uncle Jack, your teacher, and Robin's teacher. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Daddy," Jenn said.

Charlie had been sure that Jennifer was faking this stomach-ache, just to get out of making the apologies. But he knew that thermometers did not lie.

Lisa was still sleeping when Charlie brought Robin and Jennifer to school that morning. They stopped first at Jack's office. He was shocked to hear what the girls had done.

He looked at them disappointedly. "Girls, I'm very surprised that you would do such a thing," he said.

"It isn't the first time," Charlie said, reminding Jack about them switching places for the eye exam in first grade, "but it will be the last. Right, girls?"

He looked at his daughters then and they both shook their heads. "Yes, Daddy," they both said.

"Come now, we have to find Mrs. Nausbaum and Mrs. Turner."

"Wait, why don't I page them so Jennifer doesn't have to walk all around the school?" Jack suggested. Charlie agreed that was a good idea.

When the teachers were assembled in Jack's office, Robin and Jennifer confessed to their respective teachers what they had done. Both teachers actually found the tale quite amusing, but managed to keep straight faces. They discussed it together and came up with the solution of keeping the girls after, for detention, starting when Jennifer was able to return to school.

 
The teachers left then, to prepare for their classes. Robin stayed with Jack until the bell rang, and Charlie brought Jennifer home. Lisa was still sleeping, and Charlie sent Jennifer back to bed.

Later in the day, at recess, one of Robin's new-found friends stopped her on the playground. "So, Robin, or is it Jennifer?" she asked. Robin had told one or two people what she and Jenn had done, and news traveled fast. The whole fourth grade knew it, by lunchtime.

Robin just laughed it off. "Yeah?" she asked.

Gillian said, "Well, were you serious yesterday about wanting your ears pierced?"

Robin nodded. "Yeah, I do, but my mom said I had to wait till my birthday."

"Why wait?" Gillian said, flippantly, "When you can have it done today, right now, in fact."

"What do you mean?" Robin asked, confused.

Gillian pulled from behind her a large plastic bag she was carrying. "Look. It's an ear piercing kit. I got it from my sister. I can pierce your ears right now."

"Right now? Isn't it dangerous?" Robin asked, a little unsure about this.

Gillian shook her head and said, "NO! I do it all the time. All my friends have their ears pierced now. Really! Come on, let's go to the girls' bathroom and I'll do it for you, before the bell rings."

Robin was unsure about it, but she really wanted it done, so she agreed to go with Gillian. They snuck into the school when the playground aides weren't looking and ran for the bathroom downstairs near the lunchroom. No one would be there, as everyone was outside now.

It didn't hurt as much as Robin thought it might. And when she looked in the mirror, and pulled her hair back, she liked what she saw. "Oh, they're beautiful. Thank you, Gillian."

Gillian smiled. "You're welcome. Enjoy!"

Robin smiled, too. "I'm going to wear them all afternoon, but then when I get home, I'll take them out, so my parents don't see."

Gillian looked at her then. "Oh, no, Robin, you can't take them out."

"Why not?" she asked.

"You have to leave them in for six weeks, so the holes don't close."

"Six weeks? Oh, no!" she said aloud. To herself, she said, "I'm dead."

Back at home, Jennifer was coloring and watching television. She had vomited a few times, but now her stomach seemed to have settled. Charlie had made her soup for lunch, and she had been able to keep it down. Jenn was feeling much better.

Too bad Lisa couldn't say the same thing. She was feeling just awful. Charlie didn't know what to do for her. Luckily, Joan stopped by to see Lisa. She hadn't known that Charlie was home with her, and Jennifer. But Charlie was glad to see Joan. He felt completely useless.

Joan thought Lisa could use a warm bath, so she ran one for her sister. Charlie was glad someone else was taking care of things. He went into the den to check on Jennifer.

"How're you feeling, baby?" he asked.

"Better, Daddy. Look at the picture I made for Mommy. I hope she's better soon," Jenn said, holding up her picture.

"Oh, it's beautiful, baby," Charlie said. "I'm sure Mommy will love it."

Just then they both jumped as Lisa let out a scream. Charlie told Jennifer to stay put as he ran into his bedroom. "What happened? What is it?" he asked.

Joan came out of the bathroom, smiling. "Lisa's water just broke. I think we need to get to the hospital."

"Now?" Charlie asked. "OH, my god!"

He had to sit down. But not for long. Joan urged him up. "Come on now, get yourself together. You've been through this before."
She was smiling as Charlie went to get Lisa. He took her hand and led her toward the front door. Jennifer came into the kitchen then and watched her parents. She started to cry.

Lisa said, "Don't cry, baby. Mommy's all right."

Jenn sniffled, and nodded, "Okay, Mommy."

Charlie went to Jennifer then and picked her up and hugged her tight. "You stay with Aunt Joan. I will call later and tell you the news. Okay?"

Jenn just nodded. Charlie put her down and she went over to Lisa and hugged and kissed her. Lisa smiled, but she was in pain. The contractions were pretty close together, and she did not want to have her baby in the kitchen. She urged Charlie to get moving.

After they left, Joan busily packed a bag for each of the twins. They locked up the apartment and headed for her house. The twins would stay there that night.

At school, Mr. Levine went to Mrs. Nausbaum's class and asked to speak to Robin. She made sure her hair was covering her ears as she went into the hall to speak with her uncle.

"Your mommy's at the hospital," he said.

"Really? Now?" Robin asked.

Uncle Jack nodded. "Yes, so you're coming home with me today. Come to my office when the bell rings. Okay?"

"Sure," Robin said. She actually sighed in relief that her parents would not see her ears that night. But she still did not know how she would hide something like this for six weeks.

She kept her ears covered most of the evening. Robin didn't even show Jennifer until later that night. They had already heard the good news that their mommy had a baby boy. His name was Stephen John. Jenn was glad it was a boy. They had enough girls in the family already. Aunt Joan was going to take them to see their brother the next day. They even got to miss school.

Robin was tucked into bed in Jody's room, while Jennifer, who was still sick, was in Joseph's room. They had moved Joseph to the den for the night. Robin crept out of bed and into Joseph's room. She woke Jennifer up.

Jenn sat up and said, "Robin? What's the matter?"

"I'm scared, Jenn."

"Why? Did you have a bad dream?"

"No," Robin said, shaking her head. "Look!" She lifted her hair from her ears, and showed Jennifer.

Jenn was wide awake now. "Are those real?" she asked.

Robin nodded. "Gillian did them for me at recess today. But Jenn, she said I gotta keep them in for six weeks."

Jennifer examined Robin's ears closely. It was pretty dark, but there was some light coming from the hall, and Aunt Joan had plugged in a night light for Jenn. "Robin, they're all red," she said.

"I know, and they hurt so much. I don't know what to do." She started to cry. Jennifer didn't know what to do either, so she just held Robin close to her. The girls fell asleep that way.

Later on, Joan and Jack went to check on all the kids. They saw Jody sleeping peacefully, but Robin's bed was empty. Upon checking on Jennifer, they saw both twins wrapped in each other's arms.

"Oh, isn't that cute?" Joan whispered. Jack had to agree that the girls looked adorable.

They tiptoed into the room to pull the blanket up around the girls. Joan saw the earrings, and gasped. "Jack, did you know Robin had her ears pierced?"

"No, I didn't," he said.

They crept back out, checked on Joseph, and turned in themselves. Joan couldn't wait to go visit her new nephew.

The next morning, Jennifer felt much better. "Yeah, because you probably gave whatever you had to me, during the night!" Robin said.

Jenn laughed. "You're the one that came in, Robin!" she joked. It was nice when the girls got along. Both Joan and Jack forgot to ask Robin about the earrings. Besides, she was trying her best to keep them covered.

After getting dressed and eating breakfast, Jack headed to work. He would have to see the baby later. Joan brought the girls to the hospital and they met Charlie in the lobby. He had stayed there pretty late, but then had gone home to shower and change and get a few hours' sleep. He was glad the girls were staying at the Levine's.

When Jenn saw Charlie, she called, "DADDDDY!" and ran to him. He picked her up and hugged her to him.

"How ya feeling, baby?" he asked. Jenn said she felt much better. Robin was hanging back. Charlie noticed, and said, "Robin, come here."

Robin walked slowly over to Charlie. She and Jenn had agreed that it would be best if she told her dad about her ears. Jennifer had gasped when she saw them that morning. They were all red, and there was something mushy coming out of them. It had really scared Robin. She was going to tell her aunt, but then she didn't.

"What's the matter, lovey?" Charlie asked Robin. Robin just started to cry. Charlie put Jennifer down and sat on one of the benches. He pulled Robin in front of him and looked at her. "Come on, tell Daddy."

Robin shook her head and put her head into his lap. She knew he was going to be so disappointed and angry. She didn't know how to tell him. Charlie comforted Robin for a few minutes, but he was at a loss as to what was wrong. He looked over to Joan for some help but she just shrugged.

Finally, Robin picked her head up and moved her hair so Charlie could see her ears. Charlie gasped, just as Jenn had done that morning. "Robin! What did you do?" he asked.

Through tears, Robin told her dad the whole story with Gillian and the ear piercing kit and about the six weeks. Charlie listened, but he was angry. He tried to stay calm, though.

"This was very irresponsible of you, Robin," he said. She nodded her head. "I know." He stood up then and took her by the hand.

 

"Well, come on, let's get a nurse to look at those ears."

While they were gone, Jenn filled Joan in on the whole story. "Ahh!" she said to herself, "that explains that."

Charlie found a nurse who could help them. She took the earrings out and cleaned the wounds. She told Charlie that Robin should let them heal before attempting to have it done again. She also cautioned Robin to let an experienced person do it. Robin just nodded.

After they thanked the nurse, they joined Jenn and Joan back in the waiting room. "I'm going to go see if you can see Mommy now. And Robin, I don't want you to bother her about your ears. You and I are going to have a little talk about this when we get home tonight."

"Yes, Daddy," Robin said. She knew what that "little talk" meant.
The girls were allowed to see Lisa very briefly. She had been in labor a long time the previous night and the nurses wanted her to rest. She would be going home the next day. Joan stayed to visit with Lisa while Charlie brought the girls to the nursery to see their baby brother.

Robin and Jenn oohed and ahhed over the tiny blue bundle that the nurse held up to the window for them. Since Jenn had been sick, they wouldn't allow the girls any close contact with the infant. They would see him when he came home.

The twins went home with Aunt Joan. Charlie was going to pick them up from the Levine's house after dinner. Dinner was a quiet affair. Joan had told Jack about the ear piercing kit and what Gillian had done. He was thinking he would have to have a talk with Gillian and possibly get her parents up at school.

When Charlie got there, Joan and Jack invited him in for coffee but he said he'd take a rain check. He drove the girls home and sent Jennifer to take a quick bath. "Robin, put your pajamas on and come to my room. We need to have that talk."

"Yes, Daddy," Robin answered solemnly. She knew that he would be talking and she would be crying. That's how these little talks usually ended up.

Slowly, Robin walked over to her daddy. He was sitting on his dressing chair, having also changed for bed already. Robin looked up at Charlie. He looked down at her.

"I'm very disappointed in you, little girl," he said.

"I know, Daddy, I'm sorry!" she said.

"Do you know why I'm going to spank you, Robin?"

Robin nodded. "Yes, because I let Gillian pierce my ears at school and they got boo boos."

"And also, young lady, because you completely defied your mother. What did she tell you about getting your ears pierced?"

Robin thought. "That I had to wait until after my birthday?"

"That's right. But you didn't. You went ahead and had it done now. By a little girl, and they got all infected. That was very irresponsible of you. You're almost ten now. And I expect more from you. Do you understand?"

Robin started to cry. "Yes, Daddy."

"I suggest you hold those tears, little girl. You're going to need them," Charlie said. And with that, he pulled her over his lap and started her spanking. He did not lecture while he spanked, which was unusual for him. But it was late and he was tired. And also because they had talked it out beforehand.

Charlie stopped when Robin was sobbing and her bottom was red. He knew at this point that she had enough. He put her on her feet again and held her close. "I'm sorry I had to do that, lovey. But you have to learn to take responsibility for your actions."

"I know, Daddy. I'm sorry you had to do that, too."

"I love you, Robin," Charlie said, and held her tight. Robin cried onto his chest and said, "I love you, too, Daddy."

Lisa and the baby came home the next day. Robin and Jennifer had spent the whole morning making a banner that said, "Welcome home, Mommy and Stephen." They were so excited.

Charlie had Robin wait until bedtime to tell Lisa about her ears. Lisa was unhappy that Robin had defied her, but glad that Charlie had punished her already. "I hope you learned a good lesson from this, Robin."

"I did, Mommy. I'm gonna listen to you from now on," she promised.

Lisa doubted it but it was nice to hear. Things sure were going to change in their little family. They all smiled down at little baby, Stephen. He was a real cutie.

The end.

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