NB: Cradle Time-chapter 4 (M/f)
Copyright © 1999

by SamPast and Huggedlots
 

 

Bob and Heather thought Maggie was better. For a few weeks, things were okay again. Heather was not snapping at Maggie, and Bob was trying to watch for signs of trouble, from Maggie. Of course, he didn't know that Maggie was not doing her school work.

 
Maggie realized her parents had changed again, but wasn't sure she could trust it. So she kept her eyes and ears on alert at all times. In class, she daydreamed, and at home, she watched her mother. All the time. Heather would smile at Maggie, from across the room, thinking her daughter was doing homework. But she wasn't.

Maggie was so concerned over Heather's pregnancy and her health in general, that she could not concentrate on anything. Mrs. Clarke became even more concerned. She sent notices home with Maggie for Bob and Heather to sign. But Maggie never gave them to her parents.

Some she threw away; some she forged her mother's signature. Maggie had done that long before her daddy was around. She knew her mother's signature better than her own.

 

In the meantime, Heather was having her own problems. She knew she couldn't take out her frustrations on Maggie, so she kept them inside. They interfered with her own schoolwork. She was late to her classes because of her morning sickness, which hadn't died down. In fact, she felt nauseous all the time. Heather didn't remember it being this bad when she was pregnant with Maggie ten years before.

She knew her grades were suffering. She knew she should tell Bob, but she just couldn't. He had told her to take the semester off, but she insisted she could handle it. Heather did not want to admit defeat. She told herself she could pursue it, if only the nausea would go away.

Her professors told her that her grades were suffering; she was already on academic probation. If she couldn't bring her grades up, she would have to take a leave of absence. Then Bob would really be disappointed in her. Heather told herself she had to go on.

One Monday morning, when Maggie arrived in school, Mrs. Clarke said, "Okay, boys and girls, I hope you enjoyed the book over the weekend. I'm going to give you a surprise vocabulary test on the words you were supposed to look up."

Maggie looked at her teacher in awe. She thought she denoted a smile on her teacher's face. She couldn't believe it. Not only hadn't she looked up the vocabulary words, she hadn't even read the book. And it wasn't such a long book, either. Maggie had just been too lazy and too upset to read.

After school, Mrs. Clarke sat staring at the quizzes. She could not believe that Margaret Clemente had gotten a zero. Most of the answers weren't even filled in, and it was multiple choice. She mulled it over for a while and then picked up the phone, and dialed Bob at work.

When Bob came to the phone, he was surprised to hear that it was Maggie's teacher. "Yes, Mrs. Clarke, how nice to hear from you. Is there a problem?"

"Mr. Clemente, you've gotten my notes, haven't you? There has been no progress in your daughter's work."

"Excuse me? Notes? What notes?"

Mrs. Clarke sighed. "Mr. Clemente, would it be possible for you to come to the school right now?"

"Of course. I'll be there right away, Mrs. Clarke," Bob replied.

Bob frowned, and thought all the way from the University to the elementary school, trying hard to stay calm, and listen. Twenty minutes later, Bob sat in shock, as he listened to all that Mrs. Clarke had to tell him. Maggie had been inattentive, had failed several quizzes lately, and had not been turning in her homework.
He assured Mrs. Clarke that he had NOT seen her notes, and although it was possible that Mrs. Clemente had seen and signed them, he felt reasonably sure that she had not, which left only one conclusion. Mrs. Clarke showed him the notes, and although they LOOKED like Heathers signature, he still thought somehow it just wasn't.

It was definitely NOT like Heather to hide things like this from him. "Well, don't worry, Mrs. Clarke, we will certainly get to the bottom of this."

Seeing his anger, Mrs. Clarke gently asked him if anything could be going on at home, to cause Maggie to be so inattentive. Bob's anger left in a heartbeat, as he saw the concern in Mrs. Clarke's face, and almost heard his brother's voice telling him that all was not well with his daughter.

Sighing, he told Mrs. Clarke, that indeed all was NOT well at home. Maggie had a lot of fears surrounding her mom's pregnancy, not only because of how she herself would then be viewed within the family, but also because Heather had been unwell so far throughout the pregnancy.

"Well, Mr. Clemente, from what you are telling me, it seems that little Maggie really could use some help. Not necessarily academically, because I know she is a good student, and can do the work, but someone who she can really talk to. Now, I don't mean to imply that she cant talk to her parents, but I am recommending that maybe she needs some professional help."

"Professional help?" Bob was stunned. Sure, he knew things weren't right, but professional help? "Well, I umm, well, we arrr, will have to think about that. Thank you for your time, Mrs. Clarke." With that, Bob made a hasty exit. Mrs. Clarke stared after him, and decided she might just have to take things into hand herself.

Bob walked into the door and found Maggie covering her mom with a blanket. Heather was fast asleep on the couch, school books and papers piled up on the coffee table.
"Hi, Daddy, you sure are home early," Maggie said as she smiled up at him. "I am just taking care of Mommy for a bit. She was pretty tired after school."

Bob took in the scene, and wondered how many afternoons, Maggie was busy "taking care" of Heather, and not attending to her homework. Sitting in his chair, Bob called Maggie over and pulled her onto his lap.

"Tell me, Magpie, what have you done this afternoon since school?"

"Well, let's see, Daddy, I cleaned up the kitchen, and made Mommy tea and toast, and then I dusted and took out something from the freezer for dinner, and then I was just getting out that blanket when you got home. Why, Daddy?"

"Well Magpie, you sure have been a busy little girl, haven't you?"

Maggie smiled up, thinking her Daddy was pleased with her, and was surprised to see him frowning. "Are you angry at me, Daddy?"

"Oh no, sweetie, I am not mad about you taking care of your Mommy so well. But, tell me sweetie, how much of your homework have you done?"

"Ohh, that's all done, Daddy."

"Really, Maggs? Okay, go get it and show me. We can go over it together."

Maggie started to panic, knowing she had lied to her Daddy. "Well, umm, I had some reading to do, Daddy, and I did that at school, and then ummm, maybe I should check my assignment book and make sure I have done it all."

Maggie tried to jump off Bob's lap, but he had none of it. Lifting her chin up, he said, "Maggie, is it important to always tell the truth?"

Maggie heard his stern Daddy voice, and knew she was in big trouble. "Yes, Sir."

Maggie tried to look down, but Bob had a tight grip on her chin, so she had to look at him. "Tell me then, Magpie, who has been signing the notes that Mrs. Clarke has been sending home?"

 
Maggie turned pale, and silent, not at all sure what to do. "I want an answer, young lady, and I want it NOW!"

"Well, I, I, I," she began. Maggie just couldn't say it. Even in her mind it sounded awful. She knew what she had been doing was wrong. "Mommy is sooo sick all the time, and you are so worried, that I didn't want to worry either of you more than you already are," Maggie said, and paused. "And Daddy, I signed them myself." The last she said almost in a whisper.

"Maggie, you know that answer isn't good enough. I want you to tell me WHY you are doing so poorly in school, and WHY you can't seem to concentrate, sweetie."

Slow silent tears slid down her face, and he felt her pulling away from him. He wanted just the opposite, but he didn't know how to do that. How could he get through to her, while also letting her know that what she did was wrong? He suddenly wished he had called Charlie before he came home.

"Maggie," Bob sighed.

"Yes, Daddy?"

"I love you, sweetheart, with all my heart, and that is never, ever going to change. Do you have that?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Do you really? Maggie?"

Maggie wasn't sure what her Daddy wanted from her. Why didn't he just spank her and get it over with? "I know what I did was wrong, Daddy, and I know you are going to punish me."

"Maggie, life isn't just about doing something wrong, and being punished. Not when you don't really clear the air. Sweetheart, it is just as important for us both to understand WHY you are doing what you are, and find out how we can fix it, as it is just to punish. Do you understand?"

"No, Sir," Maggie said quietly.

Well, at least she was being honest, Bob thought. He sighed. "Okay, let me try again. What do you think about in class all the time, Magpie?"

Maggie shrugged her shoulders, not sure what to tell him. "That is NOT acceptable, Maggie. Try again."

Maggie was silent for several minutes, and Bob didn't want to rush her. He tried rubbing her back, and soothing her, waiting for her to open up.

"Magpie, do you worry about something?"

Maggie slowly shook her head yes.

"Can you tell me what?"

Instead of answering, Maggie hid her face in his sweater, and he could feel her trembling and crying.

"Shhhh, little one. It is okay, really, just talk to Daddy, please?"

Finally calming down, Maggie wiped her eyes on the handkerchief that Bob handed her, and took a deep breath. "I worry about Mommy, Daddy, I just can't seem to help it!"

"Ahhh, okay, what in particular are you worried about, sweetie?"

”She is sooo sick all the time, and she can't eat, and throws up EVERY morning, yuckkkkk, and I hear her. She can't even sip the tea I make in the mornings. And, she is soo tired all the time; she sleeps a lot. I just want to be here and take care of her. What if I am at school, and something happens? What if she needs me, and I am not here?" Maggie cried.

Bob finally felt the light go on. For so many years, Heather and Maggie really had only each other. Even living with her grandmother, Maggie felt SHE had to be the caretaker in the relationship, and old habits died hard.

Bob kept stroking her back, and kissing the top of her head. "Okay, sweetie, I want you to listen to me, all right?"

"Yes, Daddy."

"Your mom is having a hard time with this pregnancy. I am not going to treat you like a baby, or lie to you. BUT, she is going to get better; the doctor tells us that she will be much better in the second trimester, which will start in about 2 - 3 weeks."

Seeing her puzzled look, Bob told her what a trimester was, how many weeks a pregnancy took, and how a lot of women had problems like Heather's the first three months.

"You know what, Maggie? I think it would be a good idea for you to come with us next week to see and talk to Mommy's doctor. Would that help you understand more?"

"Ohhh yes, Daddy, it really would," Maggie said happily.

 
"Okay, I want you to keep a list of all of your questions during the next four days, and then when we see the doctor, I will make sure that you have time to ask them all. Okay?" Bob asked.

Maggie threw her arms around her daddy's neck, and told him, "You are the best, Daddy. Thanks."

Bob held her and wished he didn't have to do what he was about to, but knew it was necessary. Taking a deep breath, he pulled her back and made her look at him again. "Okay, now young lady, we need to talk about school."

Bob hated seeing her little face fall, but knew he couldn't just let all of this pass. Bob stood her in front of him, and asked her, "All right, tell me what you did that was wrong, Margaret Ann."

Bob really had to steel himself for this, and knew he had to let Maggie know he was serious. Maggie hated this part with a passion, but knew she couldn't get out of it.

"Well, I haven't been paying attention in school, I haven't turned in my homework because I haven't been doing all of it, and I signed Mommy's name on the notes that Mrs. Clarke sent home."
Even to Maggie, that sounded awful.

Bob sighed. "Anything else?"

"No, Sir," Maggie said, putting her head down. Hearing it, it sounded pretty bad.

Bob picked her head up and looked at her. "Well, young lady, is it acceptable NOT to do homework?"

"No, Sir."

"Is it acceptable NOT to pay attention in class? Even if you are worried?"

"No, Sir."

 
"What are you SUPPOSED to do if something is bothering you?"

Maggie looked up at her daddy. "I should talk to you or Mommy."

"Yes, or another adult who can help you. Right?"

"Right, Sir."

"Even your teacher," Bob suggested. "Now, last but certainly not the least, why did you even THINK you could get away with signing Mommy's name?"

Maggie just shrugged her shoulders, and Bob didn't have the heart to keep lecturing.

"All right, young lady, go to your room, and put on your nightgown."

Maggie just stood there, frozen.

"NOW, young lady!" and with that, Bob smacked her bottom, which sent her into motion. "When you have done that, I will expect you to be in the corner, thinking about what you have done, and what you could have done. Clear?"

"Crystal, Sir." Rubbing her bottom, Maggie fled to her room.

Bob decided to make her wait a bit, while he got himself mentally prepared to spank her. Being a father sure wasn't easy, he reminded himself.

Bob walked over to Heather to give her a kiss on her head, and accidentally knocked her Psychology book to the floor. Bending down to pick it up, he saw a probation letter fall out of her book.

 

Opening it, he read that she was in serious jeopardy of being expelled for poor academic performance. Further it stated that she had already been on academic probation, and that unless she pulled her grades up, they would have no choice but to ask her to either take a leave of absence or be expelled.

Bob looked at the date on the letter, and saw that it was about two weeks old. "Hmm, wonder how long SHE was planning to hide THAT from me," he thought to himself. Bob decided to put that out of his mind for the moment, so he could deal with Maggie.

Maggie heard her Daddy's footsteps as he walked towards her room. It felt both like an eternity, and just a heartbeat before she heard him sit on her bed, and call her over.

"All right, we have already talked about why you are getting this spanking. Is there anything else you would like to tell me?"

"No, Sir."

"Okay then, let's do this." He quickly pulled her over his knees, lifted her nightgown, and was surprised that she wasn't wearing any panties. He rubbed her bottom, and asked her, "Maggie, do you know how much I love you?"

"Yes, Daddy, I know that you do."

"Good." With that, he began to spank, first one cheek and then the other, soft at first, and then harder, until Maggie's bottom was turning pink and she felt the heat being turned up a notch.
Bob spanked steadily, and started his lecture. "Maggie, {SMACK!}, do you know {SMACK!} how important {SMACK!} Education is?" {SMACK!}

"Ouch, yes Sir."

"Do you know {SMACK!} {SMACK!} that I will not {SMACK!} {SMACK!} tolerate you lying?" {SMACK!} {SMACK!}

"Owww, Yes, Sir."

"If Mrs. Clarke gives you a note, {SMACK!}, what are you going {SMACK!} to do {SMACK!} in the future?" {SMACK!} {SMACK!}

"Tell you, or mommy," Maggie cried. She knew she was getting a good hard spanking.

"Good girl. Now, {SMACK!}, are you {SMACK!}, going to {SMACK!} pay attention {SMACK!} in school?" {SMACK!} {SMACK!}.

"Ouchhh, Daddy, please, it hurts."

"Spankings {SMACK!} are supposed {SMACK!} to hurt, {SMACK!}, young lady." {SMACK!} {SMACK!} {SMACK!}.

"Ouchhh, Daddy. I will, I will."

"You will, {SMACK!} what?" {SMACK!}.

"Pay attention, I promise, I promise."

"And, {SMACK!}, if you have a problem, {SMACK!}, what are you {SMACK!} to do?" {SMACK!}.

"Talk to an adult. Please Daddy!!!!"

Bob finished her spanking with five hard smacks all in the same place. Her bottom was a fiery red by the time he finished, and he knew she had learned her lesson. Maggie laid sobbing over his knee. Pulling her up carefully into his lap, Bob rubbed her back, and sore bottom, and told her, "Shhhh, it's all over now, sweetheart, you are forgiven."

Maggie threw her arms around her Daddy's neck, and sobbed into his shoulder. "I am soo sorry, Daddy. I really am!"

"I know you are, sweetheart. But neither Mommy nor I can help you if you don't tell us what is wrong. Now can we?" Bob asked, gently.

"No, Daddy."

Bob held and kissed her head, and rubbed her back until she quieted. "Okay, little one, why don't you take a nap until dinner?"

Bob pulled down the covers, and laid her on her tummy. Covering her lightly, he kissed her once more, and told her how much he loved her.

And then left her to sleep. Walking back into the living room, he wondered just how he should deal with Heather.

Bob sat at the kitchen table, grading papers, and pausing every so often to gaze out the window and contemplate how to deal with his wife. He glanced over and saw her pale face, her hair spread out over the pillow, and felt such an overwhelming feeling of love wash over him, he got choked up.

Over and over he thought of how he should deal with her: her stubborn pride, as well as her errant ways. He knew that he shouldn't just confront her, as he would have if she weren't pregnant. Her emotions were very fragile these days, along with her body from being so sick all the time, and yet, he knew she needed to be put on the right path.

Loving and protecting were HIS job, damn it, and he just HAD to do it. Realizing that it was getting late, he put his papers away, and started making dinner. Maggie had put out chop meat to defrost, and he decided that a meatloaf would be good.

Popping that into the oven, with potatoes, he quickly mixed a salad, and put it in the refrigerator. Tiptoeing down the hallway, he peeked into his daughter's room, to see Maggie fast asleep, clutching her teddy bear, with her thumb in her mouth. He wondered, and silently laughed, if she would still be sucking her thumb on her wedding night.

Coming back into the living room, he gently shook Heather awake. Heather slowly opened her eyes, and looked up into his loving eyes.

"Hi, sleepyhead," he greeted her.

Lazily, Heather stretched, and finally wound her arms around his neck, and pulled him down for a kiss. Bob savored her kisses for several minutes, before remembering what he was supposed to be doing.

Mentally shaking himself, he sat down on the couch, and brought Heather to sit on his lap. Heather nuzzled his neck, putting her head on his shoulder. Ahhhh but that felt good. Bob wondered briefly, if Heather knew what he wanted to talk about and was trying to distract him.

DAMN, but it was working. In a moment they would be naked, in bed, and all his good intentions would be out the window. Once again, he took a deep breath, and put his hand under her chin.

"Okay, little one, we need to talk."

"We do?" Heather asked.

"Yes, young lady, we DO!"

Hearing that tone, Heather got nervous. There were so many things that tone could mean, and she got nervous. Bob felt her tensing up, and knew he had to handle this delicately.

"Look, little one, I know how much you want to make me proud, and I am, really, really proud of you. But when I agreed to let you go back to college this term, I didn't think you were going to be so sick, and drained." Bob paused, wanting this to sound sincere.

"And I have decided that I want you to take better care of yourself, and stop trying to do too many things at once. School will wait." Heather started to say something, but Bob cut her off. "I know what you want to say, that you feel you can do it, but this time, young lady, I am putting my foot down. No arguments, no discussion. DO YOU HEAR ME?"

Heather had never been so relieved in her life, but wondered if she should just give in, or fight a bit, for pride's sake. Pride won out. "But Bob, you know how much I want an education. What if I am too tired and busy AFTER the baby is born? Shouldn't I take all the credits I can now?"

Bob had to bite his inside lip to keep from smiling, and telling her that he knew what game she was playing. It was written all over her face, and reflected in her impish eyes.

"NO, young lady, I have made a decision and it is FINAL. IS THAT CLEAR?" Heather had to smile to herself. "Crystal, Sir."
Snuggling back into his shoulder, she whispered, "I love you soo much, Bob. Don't ever stop caring."

"I won't, baby. I promise. I will always love you, with all of my heart, my soul, my being."

Wanting to carry her off to their bedroom, but knowing that he had to wait, and tell her about Maggie, he once again struggled to get composed. After quickly filling her in, he told her that they both had to reassure Maggie that it was OK for her to be a kid, and not mother her mom.

Heather wasn't sure what to do, but knew that she HAD to be a better mom for Maggie. Bob said, "Okay, go wake her up, and I will check on dinner." "Dinner?" Heather asked, surprised.

"Yes, sleeping beauty, I made it while you rested," laughed Bob.

Heather said, "Mmmm, smells kinda good."

"Kinda?" Bob playfully smacked her bottom. Pretending to be hurt, Heather pouted up at him, and said, "HEY."

"Hey??? Hey???" The two of them started to tease and flick towels at one another, when suddenly they looked up and saw Maggie, shyly smiling at them.

"Are you feeling okay, Mommy?"

Heather said, "Yes, darling, I am. Come here."

Maggie flew into her mother's arms, and Heather held her and stroked her hair murmuring just how much she loved her, and appreciated her taking care of her.

"But, guess what, Maggs?"

"What, Mommy?"

"Well, Daddy has decided that he doesn't want me to go to school this semester. So I am going to be home when you get here, and hopefully not as tired all the time."

Frowning at first, and then smiling a bit, Maggie told her parents, "You know, I think NOT going to school is a great idea! Let's stay home together, Mommy."

Maggie was giggling, and Bob felt relieved seeing the impish look on her face.

"Ohhhh No, Magpie, YOU are going to go to school, pay attention, and grow up to be anything you want to be. GOT IT?" Bob said, mock sternly.

"Got it, Daddy," Maggie giggled. Bob tossed her high into the air, and loved listening to her squeal.

"Okay, everyone, dinner is now served!”

 

to be continued...

 

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