New Beginnings...Cradle Time
Copyright © 1999 by SamPast

Chapter 2

The class started filing out, and Maggie thought, ohhh god, free at last, when she heard, "Margaret, will you please stay for a moment?"

Ohhh no, not the first day, ohmigod, Mommy and Daddy are going to KILL me, thought Maggie, as she waited. Some of her friends gave her sympathetic looks as they left, but Maggie felt her stomach falling to her shoes.

After everyone else had left, Mrs. Clarke asked Maggie to come closer. Scared, and shaking, Maggie did as she was told. "Look at me Margaret," Mrs. Clarke told her.

Maggie had problems making eye contact, but she finally did, and was surprised to see concern on Mrs. Clarke's face.

"Okay Margaret, it is just you and me now. I read your student folder, and I must say, you don't seem to be the same young lady your last teacher spoke of. You seemed to be far away today. Is that right?"

Maggie hung her head again, and barely whispered, "Yes ma'am".

"Tell me, is something different going on at home?" Mrs. Clarke asked, concerned.

Maggie didn't know what to say, and was silent for a long time. Mrs, Clarke gently put her hand under her chin, and when she lifted her face, she saw slow tears falling down Maggie's face.

The troubled look told Mrs. Clarke that something was definitely wrong, and she intended to find out what it was. She knew she had a reputation for being mean, but she was a champion of children, and couldn't stand seeing them unhappy or possibly being abused.

Not wanting to rush her, Mrs. Clarke told her, "Look, Margaret, I know this was your first day, and I also know that you don't know me all that well yet, but I think you will come to trust me, and I want you to come to me if you are unhappy about anything, okay?"

Maggie didn't have any idea what to say, so she nodded her head. "Is there anything you would like to tell me, dear?"

"No, ma'am", Maggie replied in a whisper.

"Okay, run along, but remember, I am here to help, okay?"

"Okay," Maggie replied and flew out of the room. She had been sooooo scared, but now she was confused. She wondered what Mrs. Clarke had really wanted her to tell her, but didn't know. Grownups were sure confusing these days. She really felt she had no one to talk to, and felt so lonely and afraid.

Maggie got home a few minutes before her mom, and gave a silent prayer that her mom wouldn't find out she had come home late. Hearing the door open, and Heather calling, Maggie went into the kitchen. Heather was slumped at the table, head resting in her arms. Maggie tried to go to her, and hug her, but Heather pushed her aside, and asked her not to touch her, as she didn't feel well.

Coming on top of the bad day she had already had, Maggie fled to her room, and slammed the door. Throwing herself on the bed, she sobbed and sobbed, but no one came in and she finally fell asleep.

"Wake up, Princess." Bob gently shook Maggie awake and told her it was time for dinner. Waking up slowly, she snuggled in her daddy's arms, and hoped he wouldn't push her away like her mom had done earlier. The hurt of that was still fresh, but she didn't say anything to her dad.

"So, tell me all about your first day in school," Bob tried.

"Not much to tell, Daddy. I got Mrs. Clarke for a teacher, and everyone said how mean she is, but I think she can be nice," Maggie declared.

"That's nice, sweetie. Well come along, and let's have dinner, okay?" Bob asked, holding out his hand for Maggie to take.

She took it and said, "Sure, Daddy."

Once again, she felt put off somehow, as if she weren't really important. During dinner, the conversation was all about Heather, her day at college, the baby, doctors' reports, etc, and neither of her parents paid her much attention at all. During dessert, Bob asked Maggie if she would like to go spend the weekend with her cousins, Jennifer and Robin, who were identical twins.

Maggie perked right up, and said, "Ohh boy, would I!"

Maggie didn't think the weekend would EVER come, but it did, and on Friday evening, she kept asking her dad how soon they would be leaving. He finally got annoyed enough to turn her over his thigh, give her a few quick swats, and tell her to calm down, or she wasn't going to go at all.

"Am I clear, young lady?" he asked, annoyed.

Rubbing her bottom, she answered, "Yes, sir, crystal clear."

"GOOD!"

Knowing how anxious she was, Bob did speed it up a bit, and finally they were ready to leave.

"What about Mommy?"

Bob said, "She is going to rest, sweetie. You know how tired she gets."

"Ohh, okay, I guess," Maggie said. Then she added, "Will she be okay?"

 

All of a sudden, Maggie became very concerned, like there was something they weren't telling her.

"Yes, Mommy just needs a lot of sleep right now. Peace and quiet are just what she needs," Bob explained.

Maggie mulled that over, and started thinking that they really wanted to be rid of her for the weekend. Maybe she was too noisy, or a bother, maybe they really didn't want her at all anymore; just the baby.

All sorts of thoughts ran through her head as they drove to her cousins' house. Bob wondered why she was so quiet, and tried to get her into a conversation, but after fifteen minutes of one word answers he gave up.

That night, after lights out, Maggie asked her cousins what they would think if their mom became pregnant.

"Why? Do you know something we don't know?" Jennifer asked.

"No, I was just wondering, what you would think," Maggie replied.

"It would be okay. Why? What's up?" Robin asked.

Maggie said, "I don't know, just asking I guess."

"No you're not," Jenn replied, "come on, tell us, what's up?"

Maggie started to cry and the twins got worried. When Maggie's sobs got worse and they couldn't calm her down, Robin decided it was time to get their dad. Maggie didn't see or hear her leave the room; she was too far gone to know much of anything.

Robin ran into the den and said, "Daddy, come quick."

"What's the matter, sweetie? Why are you up?" Worried, Charlie asked if someone was hurt.

"No, Daddy, but Maggie is crying sooo hard. We can't stop her, and we don't know what's wrong, so I decided to come get you.”

Charlie rubbed Robin's head and said, "Good girl, sweetie. Come on, let's see if Maggie will talk to me."

Robin followed her daddy back to her room. Charlie saw that his niece was quite hysterical. Scooping her up, he held her in his arms. He had a real soft spot for this little lady, and he hated seeing her so upset. He sat and rocked her until she finally felt his love, and quieted down some.

"Okay, Jenn, Robin, get back under the covers and get some rest."

"Yes, Daddy," they both replied, eyes wide, wondering what was up with Maggie.

Charlie picked Maggie up and carried her out to the den. Sitting on the couch, he held her close in his lap, and asked her if she was ready to talk. Maggie wanted desperately to spill out her heart, and fears to him, but she just didn't know where to start, so she shook her head no.

Not wanting to leave it there, Charlie kept pushing, but Maggie had put the walls up, and he finally realized she would have to talk to him when SHE was ready, not when HE was. Charlie rocked her until she fell asleep, no more enlightened than before. Carrying her back to bed, he gently kissed her forehead, and hoped that he could find out whatever was causing her to be so miserable by the end of the weekend.

~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning, the twins let Maggie sleep late. They knew she had had a rough time the night before. They were surprised to see their daddy in the kitchen when they got up.

Robin went to Charlie and hugged him. "What are you doing home, Daddy?" she asked.

"I'm not working today," he answered.

Jenn's eyes got wide. Her father worked every Saturday, mostly, and sometimes on Sundays, too. He was a manager of a local supermarket, Foodtown. The twins had gone to work with him sometimes, and it had been really fun.

"How come?" Jenn asked.

Charlie went over to his little girls, and leaned down to them, and said,

"Because I took off to be with you two and Maggie."

"You did?"

They all turned around and saw Maggie, standing in the doorway, all sleepy-eyed. Charlie nodded, and said, "Yes, I did. Tomorrow, too."

Maggie came over to her uncle and said, "You mean you took off from work because I was coming here?" she asked, bewildered.

Charlie said, "Why are you so surprised, honey? I love when you come to visit. I wanted to spend some time with you."

"You do?" Maggie asked. She was not used to this, at this point. Here she was thinking she had become a burden to her parents, and now she was confused.

"I think Maggie's still asleep, Daddy," said Robin.

"Maybe," Charlie said, laughing. "How 'bout we go wake Mommy and have a nice big family breakfast?"

"Can we have sausage?" Robin asked.

"Yeah, and pancakes?" Jenn added.

Charlie smiled and said, "Sure, we'll have both." Then he turned to Maggie, "Anything special you want, sweetie?"

Maggie was still so surprised, she didn't know how to answer her uncle. Finally, she just shook her head no. Charlie was stunned, but didn't say anything. He went in to rouse Lisa and then got breakfast started.

During breakfast, the twins chattered on about school, their friends, and Uncle Jack. He was their uncle, and also the school's principal, although no one at school knew that. Maggie tried to follow the conversation, but she was so wrapped up in her own thoughts. At one point, she dropped her fork. It clattered to the floor, getting maple syrup everywhere.
She froze.

 

Charlie started to get up, but Maggie jumped up, and said, "No, it's okay, I'll get it. I'll clean it up. Really. You won't even be able to tell it's sticky when I'm done."

Maggie flew around, grabbing the sponge, and cleaning up the syrup. Charlie and Lisa watched in utter shock. They saw the fear in Maggie's eyes and wondered what was going on.

"There, see, I told you. You can't even tell there was syrup there," Maggie said.

Lisa nodded. "Yes, sweetie, you did a very good job cleaning up. But don't worry, it's okay. I would have gotten it."

Maggie stared at her aunt. She was so confused. At home, if that had happened, Heather would have said something like, "Oh for crying out loud, Maggie, look at the mess you made." She might even have smacked Maggie and sent her to her room. But Aunt Lisa and Uncle Charlie didn't say anything; they kept right on eating.

Maggie started to relax again. She was just getting into the twins' description of this mean girl at school, Lorraine Grimm, when Maggie knocked over her glass. Milk spilled across the table, and started dripping down onto the floor.

Maggie jumped, and cried. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I'll get the sponge. I'll clean it up."

This time, Charlie and Lisa jumped into action. Lisa went and got the sponge and started cleaning up the milk, while Charlie went to Maggie. He lifted her out of her seat before the milk could get on her. He held her to him and said, "Maggie, it's all right." He sat down in his own seat with her on his lap. "Honey, it's only milk, it's okay."

Maggie was crying. Charlie held her tight. Robin and Jennifer just stared at their cousin. They could not figure out what was wrong with her.

Charlie shushed Maggie. "Shh, shh, it's all right. Come on, now, tell me what's wrong."

Lisa came back to the table after wringing out the sponge and said, "Yeah, don't tell us you're crying over spilled milk."

Everyone laughed. "Oh, Mommy, that was bad," Robin said, giggling.

Even Maggie chuckled. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm just clumsy," Maggie said, jokingly.

Charlie reassured her. "Nah, you're not clumsy. It was just an accident. Happens all the time." And to prove his point, he nudged his glass of milk over, and watched as it spilled across the table. "Oooops," he said.

Lisa smiled at Charlie and then pretended to frown. "Char-lie!"

"What, dear? Accidents do happen," Charlie said, laughing.

Maggie finally loosened. Here, she was okay. Her aunt and uncle were not as intense as her parents had been the past several weeks. Here she could relax. Maggie, who was still sitting in Charlie's lap, threw her arms around his neck and said, "I love you, Uncle Charlie."

Charlie was taken aback by the sudden change in Maggie's demeanor. When he had overcome his surprise, he held her tight and said, "I love you, too, Maggie."

Charlie turned her around and let her finish her breakfast on his lap. "So, what should we do today, girls? It's pretty nice out. Do you want to do something outside?"

Robin and Jennifer looked at each other. "Could we go to Adventureland, Daddy?" Jenn asked.

Charlie looked at Lisa. She nodded. "Sure, we can. Would you like that, Maggie?"

Maggie nodded. She had never been there, but Robin and Jennifer had told her all about it. It was a little amusement park. They had big rides and kiddie rides, and lots of games. There was also a place to play miniature golf.

"Okay, then it's settled. You three go wash and brush, and get dressed. We'll clean up out here, and then get ready. All right?"

"Okay, Daddy," Robin and Jenn said. "All right," Maggie said. The three of them ran into the twins' room to get dressed.

Lisa and Charlie started clearing the dishes. Lisa asked, "What do you suppose that was all about?"

"I don't know," Charlie answered, and told his wife about the night before.

"Something's going on with that little girl. We just need to find out what it is."

"Hmmm," Lisa said. "I have a feeling we'll get to the bottom of it by the end of this weekend."

"I hope you're right, Lisa. Bob didn't say anything about Maggie being so emotional. I wonder if he's aware of it," Charlie mused.

When they got to the amusement park, Charlie sat the girls down on a bench and said, "Okay, now, I know I don't have to tell you this, but I'm going to anyway. I don't want to hear that you weren't warned."

"Oh, Daddy, more rules?" Jenn asked.

Lisa turned to Jennifer and said, "If you're going to start the day by whining, we'll go right home, missy."

Charlie continued, "You must stay with us at all times. You must hold someone's hand, even if it's each other's. And you must tell us if you're going anywhere. Do you understand?"

Both Maggie and Robin nodded.

"Hold hands? Daddy, we're in fourth grade. What if we run into people we know?" Jennifer whined.

"Jennifer!" That was from Lisa. She pulled Jennifer up from the bench and took her aside. She turned her around and slapped her bottom hard. "I told you if you whine, that we will go right home. Now, knock it off."

Jenn rubbed her bottom. "OW, Mommy." She looked around. She hoped no one had seen that. "That hurt."

"Well, maybe that will be a reminder to you to stop it. Now, are you going to behave yourself?" Lisa asked.

"Yes, Mommy," Jenn said.

"Good." They walked back over to where Charlie was sitting with Maggie and Robin. Lisa gently pushed Jenn back onto the bench. "Now, listen."
"I don't want to have to keep reminding you three of these rules. This is a big place, and I don't want anyone getting lost. Do you understand?" Charlie asked.

"Yes, Daddy," Robin said.

"Okay, Uncle Charlie," Maggie said.

They all turned to Jennifer. "Well?" Charlie asked.

"Okay, Daddy," Jenn said, careful to keep the whine out of her voice.

They started out in the kiddie park. Robin wanted to go on some of the rides. She didn't like the big ones. They went on the swings, and Robin actually enjoyed it. She didn't think she would.

When they got off, Robin went up to her parents and said, "That was fun."

Lisa smiled. "I'm glad you liked it, sweetie."

"Yes, I'm proud of you for trying it," Charlie said.

Next they went on the mini roller coaster, and the teacups.

"Ugh, I feel sick," Maggie said. "I forgot how dizzy I get on those."
Jenn and Robin just laughed at her.

Charlie and Lisa had decided to get each of them the bracelet. It cost more than buying individual tickets, but this way they could go on any ride. They knew they'd want to go on lots of rides, so that seemed to be the best way all around.

"Ooooh, bumper cars, can we go?" Jenn asked.

Charlie looked to see where Jenn was pointing. "Okay, but that's not in the kiddie part. You have to be a certain height. Let's walk over there and see."

They were tall enough, so the three of them went on. Afterwards, Robin laughed about how Maggie had tried to bump her three times, and Jenn had done it twice. They were having a great time, and Charlie was amazed they had managed to stay out of trouble. He said as much to Lisa.

"So far. We'll see how long this lasts," she laughed. Charlie laughed too. Whenever the three of them were together, they always got into some kind of trouble.

They went into the restaurant for lunch. It was just like Nathan's. All three girls had sodas, hot dogs and fries. And while Lisa and Charlie finished up their lunch, they gave each girl a dollar and let them go play in the arcade.

"And don't wander off," Charlie told them.

"Stay together," Lisa called after them.

The three of them waved back and ran into the arcade. "What are the odds they'll stay together?" Lisa asked her husband.

Charlie pretended to think. "Ummm, three to one." They both laughed. But they both got a good surprise, when they went into the arcade. All three girls were together. Jenn and Maggie were playing Pacman, while Robin was playing Ms. Pacman, at the machine right next to it.

Lisa and Charlie went over and watched. When the game was over, Lisa asked, "Are these our girls?"

Charlie looked them over. "I don't know. They look like our girls. But it can't be them."

Robin laughed and said, "Why not, Daddy?"

"Because our girls would have separated and wandered off by now," Charlie said, jokingly.

"Oh, Daddy!" Jenn said. "We're being good."

"Yeah, can't you just be happy?" Maggie asked.

"Of course, we were just teasing you. Come on, girls, what's next?"

"I want to check out some of the bigger rides," Jenn said.

"Yeah, me too," agreed Maggie.

"Not me. But I'll play some games. They have those cool games up that way," Robin said.

"Yeah, that cost a dollar or two, and you never win," Jenn said.

"Or you win a stupid little stuffed animal, that looks like a mop," laughed Maggie.

Robin laughed, too. "Yeah, but it's fun."

So they headed up to the big part of the park. Jenn and Maggie looked around. They saw the swings. Not the ones in the kiddie part, but the big swings.

"Oooh, look, let's go on them!" she shouted, excited.

"Yeah," Maggie agreed. "Come on, Robin."

Robin looked up. These swings were much higher than the ones in the kiddie part. "Um, I don't think so. They look scary."

Jenn said, "Aww, come on, Robin, it's fun. You didn't want to go on the other swings, and you loved them."

Maggie said, "Yeah, come with us."

Robin didn't know what to do. On one hand, she wanted to go with them. Jennifer was right; she hadn't wanted to go on the little swings, but had loved them. On the other hand, she was a fraidy cat, and she knew it.

"No, I don't think so," said Robin. "I'll sit this one out."

Maggie looked at Jenn and Jenn looked at Maggie. They both grabbed Robin's hands and ran toward the ride. "COME ON!" they shouted.
Before Robin could protest, she was being helped onto one of the swings.

 

Charlie and Lisa waved from behind the gate. They were amazed in the transformation of Robin. She never liked the big rides.

It was scary, but a little bit fun. Robin felt her stomach buckle under a few times. She was scared. She felt a little bit exhilarated, but mostly upset. She started to cry; she wanted off. But the ride kept going on and on. From Charlie and Lisa's viewpoint, they couldn't tell that Robin was crying.

When the ride stopped and she was unbuckled, Robin ran right into her daddy's arms. She was crying pretty hard by then.

"Hey, what's the matter?" Charlie asked, picking Robin up and holding her. "You okay, lovey?"

Robin held tight to her daddy's neck. She had been really scared up in that ride. Lisa stood by and rubbed her daughter's back. "It's okay, Robin, it's only a ride."

Charlie and Lisa sat on the nearest bench, with Charlie pulling Robin into his lap. He continued to soothe and comfort her, when Jenn and Maggie ran up.

"Hey, what happened?" Jenn asked.

"Yeah, what's the matter with Robin?" Maggie asked.

Lisa said, "She just got scared on that ride."

"Why?" Jenn asked.

Robin turned around and spat at Jennifer, "I told you I didn't want to go on! You pulled me on."

Jenn looked stunned. She didn't mean to make Robin cry. "HEY! If you didn't want to go on, you should have just said something."

"I DID! I TOLD YOU I WAS GOING TO SIT THIS ONE OUT, BUT YOU PULLED ME ON ANYWAY!" Robin shouted.

"Now, now, there will be no shouting, Robin," Charlie warned, putting his hand on her back.

"But Daddy, she did. They both did," Robin sobbed into her daddy's chest.

Charlie looked over Robin's head at Jennifer and Maggie. "Is that true?"

Jenn looked at Maggie and Maggie nodded. "Uh, yeah, I guess so. But we thought she was just being, I don't know."

"Silly." Jenn finished for Maggie and Maggie nodded again.

Lisa spoke up. "It's not silly to be afraid of a ride. If Robin didn't want to go, you should have respected her wishes."

"Yes, you two know better than that," Charlie scolded, softly.

"Are we in trouble, Daddy?" Jenn asked.

Charlie looked at Lisa. She looked at her watch. "Well, maybe you two should have a little time-out."

Charlie nodded. "Yes, good idea, honey. You two sit down right here, for twenty minutes."

"Twenty minutes? But Daddy, that's too long!" Jenn protested.

He looked at her. "Do you want to make it a half hour?"

"No, sir."

"Good, then sit. Robin, what would you like to do?" Charlie asked.

Robin looked around. She pointed to the games. "Okay, let's go."

Lisa said to the girls. "I suggest you two don't move. We'll be right over there." Lisa pointed out a game, not thirty feet away.

When the twenty minutes were over, Robin ran over to them and said, "Mommy and Daddy said you could get up now."

Jenn stood up. "Thanks. Look, Robin, I'm sorry we pulled you on the ride."

"Yeah," Maggie said. "We didn't mean to make you upset."

Robin thought and said, "Yeah, that's okay. Hey, look what I won." She showed them two small fuzzy somethings, that sort of looked like a duck and a rabbit.

"Cool," Jenn said. She looked around. "Where's Mommy and Daddy?"
Robin pointed. "They're in that candy shop. They said to meet them there."

"Okay, let's go," Jenn said to Maggie. "Maggs?"

"What's over there? Where that pirate is?" Maggie asked.

The twins looked. Robin said, "Oh, that's where the miniature golf course is. You wanna ask if we can play?"

"How much is it? Can we use our bracelets?" Maggie asked.

"I don't know," Jenn answered, honestly. "Usually, we go there separate. We don't usually come here and go there. I don't know how much it is."

"Let's go ask," Maggie said.

"Okay, come on, Robin, let's go," Jenn called.

Robin thought for a moment. Should they really go? Robin thought maybe she should tell her parents where they were going. She ran to the candy shop.

"Mommy, Daddy, can we go see how much the mini golf costs?"

Charlie looked at his watch. "I'm not sure we'll have time for a whole round of golf, Robin."

"But can we just see?"

"Okay, but then come right back here."

"Okay." Robin ran outside. "HEY, WAIT UP!" she called after her sister and cousin.

There was a long line at the mini golf area. The girls couldn't even see the sign with the price from over the fence, where they were standing.

"Let's get a closer look," Maggie said.

The twins walked with Maggie closer to the giant pirate that they had seen from far away. The sign read $5.00 per game.

"Wow, five dollars. That's a lot," Maggie observed.

"Yeah, it is. Let's ask if we can use the bracelets," Jenn said.

"Okay."

The three of them waited on the line. There was only one person selling tickets, and the line was pretty long.

Meanwhile, Charlie bought Lisa some malted milk balls and some gummy bears for the girls. They walked outside and waited. They looked towards the mini golf area.

"You think they're still over there?" Charlie asked Lisa.

"They better be, and they better be together," Lisa answered.
Charlie and Lisa walked over there. The girls had just gotten off the line.

"It costs five dollars, Daddy. That's a lot, huh?" Robin asked.

Jenn and Maggie looked up. It just dawned on them that Charlie and Lisa hadn't known where they were, and they wondered if they were in trouble.

"How'd you find us, Daddy?" Jenn asked.

Charlie looked at Jennifer and said, "Because you're sister was smart enough to come tell us where you were going, Jennifer Lynn."

"Oh," Jenn said, smiling. "Then I guess we're not in trouble."

"No, not this time."

"Phew!" Maggie said.

Lisa said, "You just narrowly missed being in trouble. You really shouldn't have come over here by yourselves."

"But Mommy, I came and told you," Robin said.

"Yes," Lisa answered, "and that was good. I was just warning your sister and cousin."

Charlie looked at his watch again. "Girls, it's getting pretty late. You probably have time for a couple more rides and then we should get going."

"Okay, let's go try the bumper boats," Jenn suggested.

"Yeah, I like those!" Robin said.

Maggie was quiet on the walk over to the boats. She had started thinking about Heather again, and had gotten pretty worried. What if her parents really were keeping something from her?

They stood by the boats. Charlie and Lisa were talking quietly.

"Yeah, I just feel so bad for her. I've never experienced morning sickness, obviously, but she sounded like she was really in the ringer," Lisa said.

"Yes, she did. I hope the doctor is able to find out what's wrong with Heather. I'm really worried about her," Charlie said.

Hearing her mother's name, Maggie's ears perked up. She heard what her uncle said, but not what Lisa had said. Maggie started getting very scared that something was definitely wrong with her mother. Maggie looked around. She saw lots of mothers with young children, and babies in strollers. Maggie was getting very edgy. She practically couldn't stand still. Suddenly, she wanted to speak to Heather right away.

"Girls, we're going to sit over on that bench over there. Find us when the ride is over, okay?" Charlie asked.

"Okay, Daddy," Jenn answered.

Robin and Jenn were so busy watching the other kids on the bumper boats, that they didn't notice Maggie walk away. Then Jenn turned around to whisper something to Maggie and she was gone.

"Hey, Robin, where's Maggie?"

Robin turned around. "I don't know. She was right behind me a second ago. Maybe she went to tell Mommy and Daddy something."

Jenn looked toward the bench. She saw Charlie but not Lisa. "Oh, well, Mommy's not there either. Maybe they went to the bathroom."

"Well, she should've told us she was going. Gee, now I know how Mommy and Daddy always feel," Robin expressed.

Jenn nudged her. "You're silly, Robin."

Soon the line moved, and it was their turn to enter the ride. Jenn turned around and looked again for Maggie. "You think we should wait for her, Robin?"

"GIRLS! NOW OR NEVER!" the guy yelled.

"Oh, okay," Jenn said, still looking over her shoulder.

"She'll find us, Jenn. Or we can always come on again," Robin said, as she ran to a blue bumper boat.

After the ride, the twins ran up to Charlie and Lisa and yelled, "BOO!"
Charlie laughed and started to tickle Jenn and Robin. They sat down with their parents on the bench. Charlie looked around. "Where's your cousin?"

Jenn was startled. "What do you mean? Isn't she here with you?"

Lisa said, "No. She was with you. On the ride."

"No, Mommy, she wasn't. We thought she came back here to you guys."

Charlie stood up and looked around. "Where could she be? She knows better than to wander off."

Everyone stood up and started calling Maggie's name and looking around. Lisa said, "This is ridiculous, we can't all look. Robin, Jennifer, you two sit here on this bench in case Maggie comes back here. Daddy and I will look for her."

"Okay, Mommy. Gee, I hope Maggie's all right," Robin said.

"Yeah, and if she is, she won't be soon. Daddy's really mad," Jenn added.
Robin nodded.

Charlie and Lisa searched all the big rides, but they did not see Maggie. They looked back toward the mini golf, but no Maggie. They also checked the kiddie area, but they still could not find her.

"Where could she be?" Charlie asked, for the fifth time.

"I don't know, honey. Let me check the ladies' room," Lisa suggested.

They went into the restaurant. No Maggie. Charlie checked the game room. No Maggie. Lisa checked the bathroom. No Maggie. When she came out of the ladies' room, she saw Maggie near the payphones.

"CHARLIE! OVER HERE!" she called to her husband.

"Maggie!" Lisa yelled.

Maggie dropped the phone in surprise and whirled around to come face to face with a very angry Charlie and Lisa. They could tell she had been crying.
~~~~~~~
"Maggie, what are you doing?!" Lisa shouted.

Charlie and Lisa exchanged glances as Maggie crumbled to the floor crying hysterically.

"What is it, sweetheart?" Charlie asked her, "Tell me, please?"

Maggie just sat on the ground, crying, and shaking her head. Charlie scooped her up, and went over to a bench. Lisa whispered in his ear that she would go back and keep the girls occupied while he and Maggie talked. Charlie just sat and rocked her while she sobbed. Finally quieting to a hiccup once in awhile, Charlie again asked her to tell him what she was doing, and why she was so upset.

Maggie just laid in his arms, with her head on his shoulder, not saying a word. Charlie grew more and more concerned about the state of Maggie's mental health and finally lifted her to make her stand in front of him.

"Maggie, look at me," Charlie told her.

Maggie refused to look up, so Charlie lifted her chin, and saw the bleak hopelessness in her eyes. Softening, Charlie told her, "Sweetie, you can talk to me, I love you, and want to help. What is it?"

"It doesn't matter, Uncle Charlie. I am sorry I disobeyed the rules; go ahead and spank me."

"Maggie, I am NOT going to spank here, but you are in trouble, young lady. Why did you wander off like that?"

"It's not important, Uncle Charlie, I just did, and I know you will punish me. I don't care."

Maggie shrugged her shoulders, and Charlie felt totally bewildered. Maggie was shutting him totally out, and she was wrapped up in pain with a wall sooo high he didn't know how to bridge it.

"Come along, Maggs, we will talk about this more at home." Maggie took his hand, and walked with him back to the twins and Lisa.

They stopped for a quick bite of pizza on the way home. Nobody said much. The twins chattered on the ride home, but Maggie remained silent and withdrawn. Jenn leaned over and asked her cousin if she was okay, but Maggie didn't even seem to have heard her. She just stared out the window, lost in her own thoughts.

Back at home, Charlie sent the girls with Lisa to have baths and get ready for bed. It had been a long tiring day, and he needed to deal with Maggie.
"Come with me, Maggie," Charlie told her. "We have some things to discuss."

"Yes, Sir, I know," Maggie answered glumly.

In the den, Charlie sat on the couch, and drew Maggie between his knees. "Okay, I want you to tell me what you were doing at the park, Maggs."

Maggie was silent.

"No one can help you, Maggie, if you don't let them."
More silence.

"Okay, young lady," Charlie said with a sigh. "Tell me why you are in trouble."

"I disobeyed the rules, Sir, and I wandered off without telling anyone where I was going," Maggie finally answered.

"Do you have anything else you want to say for yourself?"

"No, Sir."

Charlie quickly pulled down her pants and underwear, and laid her over his lap. He didn't feel good about spanking her, but didn't know how else to reach her. From the first smack, he kept telling her how much he loved her. How he didn't want her to get lost, but most of all, he didn't want her lost inside herself.

Charlie spanked on and on, hoping for a reaction, but it wasn't until her bottom was crimson, and he was about to give up that he finally felt the dam burst, and Maggie began to cry.

"I am soo sorry, Uncle Charlie. I really am. I know I am in the way, and am a disappointment to you, just like I am to my parents."

Charlie was shocked, but didn't want her to stop, so he continued spanking her, gently, almost as a caress. "Go on, baby, I am listening."

Sobbing, Maggie asked if she could move in with him. Charlie stopped spanking. "Why baby? Your parents would miss you terribly."

"No, they won't, Uncle Charlie, they have each other, and with the new baby coming, they don't want me anymore. I am a nuisance, and I am in the way, and I make too much noise, and am too much trouble, and Mommy hates having me touch her anymore, and I just need to be here rather than there, and then Mommy will feel better. I just know she will."

Charlie kept rubbing her bottom, letting her spill it all out. He didn't notice that Lisa had come into the room, and had heard most of what Maggie had said. Lisa had tears running down her face, listening to the anguish in her niece's voice.

"Mommy is sick all the time now, and maybe if I am not around, she will get better and not die," wailed Maggie.

"Whoa, sweetie!" Charlie said at this statement. He lifted Maggie up and put her on his knee, careful not to let her burning bottom rub against his pants. "Look at me, sweetheart!"

Maggie wouldn't look, so Charlie mustered his authoritative, "NOW."

With that, Maggie's head popped up, and Charlie had to resist smiling. "Now, Maggs, please tell me why you think your mom is going to die?"

Maggie looked at her uncle, took a deep breath and began, "Well, she is always sick, and she said that this time being pregnant was much different and harder than when I was in her tummy, and I heard you and Aunt Lisa talking and you said you were worried, and Daddy is always telling me to be nicer to Mommy, and I called from the park, and nobody was home. I think she is in the hospital and nobody wants me to know! She is tired and irritable all the time, and I can't do anything right, and that's not like my MOMMY. She must be really sick!"

Charlie realized that Maggie was going to get hysterical again, if he didn't do something, but he wasn't sure what to do. Suddenly Lisa spoke up from the doorway, and moved closer so she could rub Maggie's back.

"Okay, let's start from the top, okay?"

Sitting down next to Charlie, Lisa rubbed her back, and took her chin in her hand, while she still had it on Charlie's shoulder.

"First of all, all women get grumpy and tired when they are pregnant. Growing a new life inside one's tummy takes a whole lot of energy. She is not dying, and we said we were worried, only because she is having such a hard time with the morning sickness, umm throwing up all the time."

"Secondly, your mommy and daddy love you so much that they would miss you terribly if you moved in with us, and as much as WE love you, and would love having you, we couldn't break their hearts. What I think, Maggs, is that you are feeling lots of stuff and that your mommy and daddy are not hearing you right now. But if you let Uncle Charlie and I help you, we will talk to them, and maybe things will be better for you. Okay?"

Maggie said okay, and with that fell asleep in her uncle's arms. Sighing again, Charlie took her into the twins' room, and laid her on her tummy, in bed, with just her t-shirt on. The twins were already asleep, so he tiptoed out the door.

Walking into the den, he shook his head at Lisa. "Thanks, I was at a loss with Maggie."

Lisa was pacing the room, and looking at Charlie said, "You know, I just want to shake the two of them. I am furious with them for not seeing what is happening with Maggie. Pregnant or NOT, they need to pay attention. Maybe Heather needs a wake up spanking to see what she is doing."

Charlie smiled at his little firebrand, lifted her off her feet, and headed to the bedroom. "No point wasting all this passion and energy, sweetheart."

Lisa smiled and wrapped her arms around him. "Tomorrow is time enough to decide how to handle this. Tonight is ours.”

 

to be continued...

 

to previous part                              to next part