Change of Scenery-chapter 1
by SamPast and Huggedlots
Copyright (c) 1999

(see index for disclaimers)

Nine-year-old Maggie was sitting at the kitchen table, writing to her friends, Robin and Jennifer Clemente. She had been gone at a ranch all summer, (which is where she met them) and they had been writing back and forth since then.

There was only one week until school started, and she was NOT looking forward to it at all. After the long lazy days at the ranch, she hated the fact that school was upon her, and that they were back living with her grandmother.

After she and her mom met the Clementes, her life had really changed. Her mom was so different, and she was afraid that now that they were home again, her mother would slip back into her old patterns and start drinking again, going out nights, and forgetting about her again. Her mother had quit her old job when she decided to spend the rest of the summer at the ranch, and had been busy reading the want ads, and worrying about money.

Just as she finished her note to the twins, her mother, Heather, came in and told her she had a surprise for her. "What, Mom?" she asked.

"Never you mind, young lady, scoot up, get dressed, throw a few things into a bag and be down again in 10 minutes, got it?" Maggie looked up surprised but ran upstairs to quickly change from p.j.s to shorts and a tee shirt. Heather yelled up the steps to bring a bathing suit too.

"Okay, Mom." Maggie was bursting with questions, but Heather wouldn't answer any of them. They got into the car and headed onto the freeway. Heather put on some favorite tapes and they sang for about two hours stopping once for a break.

After they pulled onto the Long Island Expressway, Maggie looked up at Heather with a big smile and question on her face. "Mom?"

"Just a few more minutes, baby," Heather said. When Maggie saw the sign that said Merrick on it, she couldn't contain herself. She knew now that they were headed to see Robin and Jennifer.

"Ohhh Mom, you are the best, really and truly." Maggie exclaimed.

Heather was pretty proud of herself, and indeed had missed Lisa and Charlie herself. They pulled up to a large apartment building. Heather looked up. She knew the twins lived on the fourth floor. She had written them so many letters that summer.

They got into the elevator and went up. They knocked on the door to apartment 4D. Charlie opened the door and was surprised to see Heather and Maggie. She just flung herself into his arms.

"Ohhh, Uncle Charlie, I have missed you!" He picked her up, and hugged her hard against his chest. "Where are the twins, Uncle Charlie?"

"They're down in the pool. Did you bring your bathing suit?" he asked. When Maggie nodded, he said, "Well, let's go surprise them."

"You mean they didn't know I was coming?" Maggie giggled.

"Nope, go put your bathing suit on and I'll bring you down there. Aunt Lisa will be happy to see you, too," Charlie said.

While Maggie was changing, Heather and Charlie embraced. "It's so good to see you again, Charlie. You really helped me change my life around," Heather stated.

Charlie brought Maggie down to the apartment complex pool. Maggie ran to the chaise lounges where she saw the twins and Lisa and yelled, "Surprise!"

Jenn and Robin started to squeal, and ran over to give Maggie wet hugs. They were all laughing and talking at once, as Lisa, Charlie, and Heather stood nearby smiling at them.

"Let's sit down," Charlie said, "Girls, why don't you go back in the pool?" All three girls ran and dove right in. All the adults laughed. Heather was still standing.

"Heather, sit down," said Charlie. "Yes Sir," Heather replied with a grin. Charlie playfully swatted her bottom as she sat down. "You are still a brat, I see, young lady."

Heather laughed and moved out of arms length. She was not about to forget the spanking Charlie had given her about five weeks before.

"Soo, fill us in. How are things with you?" he asked.

"Well, you know I quit my job, right? Well, what you don't know is that I found an apartment here in Merrick and Maggie is signed up to go to school on Monday. She doesn't know yet. I used the last of my savings for a deposit on the apartment, so I hope your offer still stands to help me find a job, Charlie." Heather was beaming.

"Of course it does, Heather. I already talked to the Manager at Foodtown, and although there are no openings at my store, there is one in Levittown. That's not too far a drive, and it's a big store with room for promotions. You will have to go speak to the manager there of course, but the job is yours if you want it," Charlie stated.

"Oh, I do, Charlie, and thank you," Heather said.

"This sure is a big decision, isn't it, Heather?" Lisa asked her.

"Yes, I know it is, but I have to get away from my mother and quickly. I have only been home a few days, and I already see the old patterns again. I have to be the adult in Maggie's life. I have worked hard for the past five weeks and I know we are on the right track, but my mother interferes with everything, and contradicts whatever I say to her. I won't have that. Not anymore. I didn't realize how defeated I felt as a parent around her," Heather replied.

"Well, good for you," Charlie said. "Now, what are your plans about moving?" "Well, if it is okay, I can go home and pack and be back by Friday. I'll meet with the manager at Levittown on Monday. Hopefully, he'll like me and hire me. If not, I'll find something else. My mind is pretty much made up about moving here. We need a change of scenery," Heather said.

"That sounds great. Do you want Maggie to stay here with us, or do you need her help?" Lisa asked.

"I don't know, that is a really kind offer. But you don't have too much room here, I'd hate to impose. Although, it probably would go faster to pack without her."

"We insist," Charlie stated.

Heather said, "But, do you think the shock will be too much for her?"

Charlie thought a moment and said, "Well, how about I bring her back next Friday? I can switch my days off, and help you load the U-haul, and bring your stuff here. That way, she can see her friends, and her grandmother, and do whatever else she needs to. She can always go back for visits, of course. It's not like you are moving across the country.

"I know, I just don't want her to feel I made this decision without her. You know?" Heather asked.

"Well, stop worrying. Let's call the girls and tell them. Okay? I'm sure they'll all be thrilled," Charlie added.

Heather was nervous, but Charlie gave her a hug for courage. They went to the edge of the pool. "Okay, little fish, come on out of the pool, we want to talk to the three of you."

They all look at each other, wondering if they are in trouble. Charlie saw their look and laughed. "Nooo, girls, no one is in trouble. Come on out, it's safe."

The girls climbed out and grabbed towels, and Heather went over to help dry Maggie off. Looking at how close they were, Charlie smiled, and noticed the huge difference in both of them.

"First of all," Charlie said, regarding Heather and Maggie, "let me tell you how proud of both of you I am." Heather and Maggie both smiled at him.

"Okay, Heather has some news to share, girls," Lisa said.

"What, Mom?" "What, Heather?" they all asked together.

"Well," Heather took a deep breath and looked at Maggie, and said, "Honey, we are moving."

Maggie looked confused and said, "Where to?"

"Well, actually," drawing it out . . . "about two blocks from here."

"Really, truly? OHHHH, MOMMY, that is awesome!" Maggie threw herself into Heather's arms for a second, and then started dancing around with Jenn and Robin.

"OH my gosh, we'll be neighbors. Can you believe it? Wait a minute, why couldn't you get an apartment for us right here in their building?" Maggie asked. All the adults looked at her. "Just kidding, Mom," she said.

All three girls were uncontainable. "I guess you don't have to worry about your news, Heather," Lisa laughed.

"Wow, I guess not," Heather agreed.

"Will I go to the same school as the twins, Mom, will I?" Maggie was now bursting with questions.

"Slow down, hon, and we will answer everything. Uncle Charlie is going to help me get a job. I found the apartment through a Realtor, and we will see it in about an hour, and if we like it, we can move in next Friday," Heather explained.

"Ohh, Mom, I am sure we will just LOVE it," Maggie said.

"Well, if we do, then yes, you will be at the same school as Robin and Jenn. Also, if you want to, your aunt and uncle have offered for you to spend the week here with them, while I go back to Monticello and pack everything up and take care of some loose ends," Heather said.

"Does Grandma know yet, Mom?" Maggie asked a little fearfully.

"No, sweetie, that is one of the, ahh, loose ends I have to take care of." Heather replied.

Maggie looked thoughtful, knowing her mom and grandmother were going to argue about this. Heather, knowing what was going on in her mind quietly tells her, "Honey, I can handle it, I promise."

Robin and Jennifer weren't sure what was happening but started telling Maggie, "Ohhh please Maggie, stay here with us. PLEASE?"

"Okay, okay, I will," Maggie laughed. "May we go back in the pool now Uncle Charlie?"

"Sure, go for it," he answered.

Heather let out a big sigh of relief. "I didn't bring enough clothes for her to spend a whole week here!"

"That's okay, she's about the same size as the girls," Lisa replied.

The girls happily spent a little more time in the pool. Then Maggie and Heather went to look at the apartment. They both loved it.

The afternoon went too quickly, and after dinner, Heather was ready to leave. Taking Maggie aside, she told her how much she loved her, and that she was to follow all the rules, and that if she disobeyed, she knew what would happen.

"I know, Mom. I will be good, I promise," Maggie said, meaning every word.

"I will call every night, and if anything is bothering you, I want you to tell your aunt or uncle, okay?" Heather asked, hugging her. She didn't want to let go.

"Mommy, I will be fine, really I will. I love the idea of moving, honest. I have always wanted us to have a place of our own. And I love the apartment you found, really," Maggie said honestly. Heather gave her one last hug, said goodbye to everyone and headed off.

The next morning, Charlie left for work, and Lisa went downstairs with the girls to the playground. The twins started introducing Maggie to their friends and telling her all about their school. About an hour later, Lisa called to them that they needed to get going. After doing some errands, they finally got home for lunch.

"Okay, girls, now I want you to go to your room and rest," Lisa said.

"Do we have to?" Robin whined.

"No whining, young lady, March!" Lisa turned her toward her room and swatted her bottom. The other two girls decided they better not protest.

"I will be down in the laundry room. I don't want you to open the door to anyone. You stay in your room. Okay?" Lisa asked. All three girls nodded.Once in their room, with Maggie laying on Jennifer's bed with Jennifer, Robin stated, "I hate this rest thing. For goodness sakes, we are too old for this." They knew they had about an hour before Lisa would check on them.

"Hmmm, anybody tired?" Robin asked.

"Nope," they both replied.

"Well then, what can we do?" Robin asked as she looked around the room. Jennifer saw the look on Robin's face and knew it was trouble.

"Robin, what is going through your head?" Jennifer asked.

"Wellll, Mommy is downstairs, right?" Robin asked rhetorically.

"Uh Huh," Jenn replied.

Well, how about we sneak to her room and get some nail polish and do our nails and feet?" Robin asked.

Jennifer sighed. She didn't think that was such a bad idea, and volunteered to do the sneaking. Maggie was a little nervous and asked, "Umm, do you two do this thing often?"

"Well, not often," replied Robin.

"Ummm, what if you get caught?" Maggie asked tentatively.

"Well, the trick is NOT to get caught. Jenn should have no problem. Mommy will be down in the laundry room for a while," Robin explained.

Jennifer was back in a flash and quietly closed the door to their room. The girls spent a very content hour and forgot to watch the time.

Suddenly Lisa opened the door expecting to find three sleeping girls. "What are you doing?" Lisa asked.

Robin tried to put the nail polish behind her and it spilled all over the bed. Maggie realized she was sitting in something wet and jumped up.

"Ohhh No!" Lisa said, "this will never come out. Where did you get that nail polish?"

"Umm, we borrowed it, Mommy," Jenn said.

"Borrowing means asking, and I don't remember any of you asking to use it. So, that makes it stealing. That is first. Secondly, you were told to rest. Did you?" Lisa asked angrily.

"No, Mommy," Jenn replied.

"And third of all, you have spilled my polish all over your bed," Lisa said, beyond annoyed. The girls realized that they were in big trouble.

"I am sorry, Aunt Lisa," Maggie replied.

"Me too, Mommy!" both twins said.

"Well, not as sorry as you are going to be. I'm too angry to deal with you now. You are all to stay in this room until dinnertime, and then you will tell your father what you have done, and we will deal with it then. Is that clear?" With that said, Lisa grabbed the stained bedspread and left the room.

Jennifer pouted. "You and your ideas, Robin. I thought I was the one that always got us in trouble. You are catching up, sis."

Maggie stood rooted to the spot. "What is your dad going to do to us?"

Robin said, "Well, probably lecture us, and if we are all lucky we will be grounded for a day or two, and have to apologize to Mommy and do extra chores."

Maggie then asked, "And if we aren't? Lucky, I mean?" Maggie knew the answer but asked anyway.

Jennifer said, "Well, if Daddy is not in a realllly good mood, all of us are in for spankings tonight."

The rest of the afternoon passed slowly and quickly depending on the way one looked at it. Finally they heard Charlie's voice in the kitchen, but none of them moved. They heard Lisa talking to him, and then his slow steps coming toward their bedroom.

Maggie was turning white, and was really scared. Charlie walked in and said hi to them, and hugged each in turn. Lisa joined them in the room. The girls could tell that she was still angry.

"Okay, who wants to start explaining, girls?" Charlie asked.

"Well, Daddy, I will," Robin said, "it was my idea. I am sorry, Daddy, Mommy, really, I am."

"Well, we went along with it, Uncle Charlie, Aunt Lisa, so it isn't all Robin's fault," Maggie said.

"Umm, I was the one that actually took Mommy's polish, Daddy. We are too old for naps, and we weren't tired at all, and I guess we just picked the wrong thing to do," Jennifer admitted.

"Yes, you did, girls. First of all, you didn't borrow, did you?" he asked.

The girls looked at Lisa. "No sir," all three replied.

Charlie continued, "Borrowing means first of all asking permission, and secondly putting it back as it was. Did you do that?"

"No sir."

So using Mommy's nail polish was stealing it, wasn't it?" Hearing that for the second time really sunk in. "We don't steal. Do we girls?" "No sir," they all repeated.

Maggie burst into tears at this point, and Charlie stopped his lecture to hug her. Maggie buried her head in his shoulder and said, "I am soo sorry, Uncle Charlie, please don't send me home."

Realizing what was bothering her, Charlie told her that he had no intention of sending her home, but that she WAS going to be punished.

"I know, Uncle Charlie, I just don't want you to send me home," Maggie replied.

Charlie conferenced with Lisa. They decided she would take Jennifer into their bedroom, while he dealt with Robin and Maggie in here.

"Let's go, Jennifer," Lisa said taking her by the hand. Lisa led her into their bedroom. She said to Jennifer, "I don't ever want to catch you using my things without permission ever again. Do I make myself clear, young lady?"

"Yes, Mommy, I'm sorry," Jennifer sobbed.

Lisa sat down on Charlie's dressing chair. She pulled Jenn's shorts and panties down and pulled her over her lap. Her spankings were always very hard, thought Jennifer to herself. She always spanked in the middle of her bottom, and also in the sitting down spot. Before long, Jennifer was reduced to hysterical sobs.

Meanwhile, back in the girls' room, Charlie decided to punish Maggie first because he knew she was the most upset.

"Okay, Maggie, come here," Charlie ordered.

Maggie went and stood next to Charlie. He was sitting on Jennifer's desk chair. He put her between his legs and asked her what she had done wrong. She calmed down, and in detail, confessed her crimes. Charlie tried not to smile at her earnest little face. He had really come to love this little imp and thought of her as a real "niece".

"And, what do little girls get who misbehave, young lady?"

"They get spanked, Uncle Charlie," Maggie replied.

"That's right." With that he pulled down her shorts and underwear, and quickly put her over his knee. He spanked her lightly at first until her bottom turned pink, and then slightly harder until she was sobbing over his lap. Standing her up, he hugged her tight until she settled down.

She kept telling him over and over how sorry she was, and he assured her she was forgiven and very loved. Pulling up her panties, he laid her on Jennifer's bed, and told her to rest.

He turned to Robin, who was laying on her bed, softly crying. "Come here, little ring leader. I am really surprised at you, Robin," Charlie said. "Whatever possessed you to think that your idea was okay?"

"I don't know, Daddy. I'm sorry," Robin sobbed.

"Not as sorry as you are going to be in a moment, young lady." Charlie pulled down her shorts and panties, and quickly put her over his knee. He began spanking harder than he had Maggie, and Robin was quickly reduced to tears.

Charlie then started lecturing her with each swat. "You will not SWAT, ever SWAT, steal SWAT, anything SWAT, ever SWAT, ever SWAT, again SWAT, IS THAT SWAT, clear? SWAT SWAT, young SWAT, lady? SWAT."

Robin was crying so hard, she was having trouble saying yes sir, no sir to Charlie's questions. He gave her 10 more hard swats before letting her up. Robin started dancing around, holding her very red bottom.

Charlie gathered her into his arms, and told her, "I love you, honey, and I want you to grow up knowing right from wrong. Stealing is wrong, always, understand?"

"Yes, Daddy. I'm sorry," Robin cried.

"I know, sweetie, and you are forgiven, but I don't ever want to have this conversation with you again, understand?" "Yes Sir."

"All right, go lay on your bed. We're going to have dinner in a few minutes. I'll come back and get you both when it's ready."

Charlie kissed Lisa when he went to the kitchen. "How's dinner coming? Anything I can help with?"

"No, oh, honey, that was so hard for you, how are we going to get through this week, with three of them?" Lisa asked.

"Well, we'll just have to make sure we don't have a repeat performance," Charlie exclaimed. Yeah, right, wishful thinking.

Lisa said, "Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes. Can you ask Jennifer to come set the table?"

Charlie sent Jennifer to the kitchen and went to check on his other girls. Charlie went back to the twins' bedroom. He kissed Robin and told her to go help her sister set the table. He noticed that Maggie was sucking her thumb, fast asleep. His heart went out to her again, and he gently woke her up.

"Come on, sweetheart, it's almost dinner time," Charlie explained.

"I'm not hungry, Uncle Charlie."

"Go wash up now, and come eat something anyway, young lady," Charlie said. "May I go to bed, please?" Maggie was whining, and Charlie couldn't understand why.

"You will stop whining immediately, young lady, and tell me what is wrong. You are forgiven, sweetie, is that what's bothering you?" Charlie's voice softened.

"Aunt Lisa is going to be soo mad at me, I can't face her, and I don't want to have to tell my mom about today. She is going to be sooo mad at me," Maggie burst into tears again.

Charlie held her and said that Aunt Lisa knew she had been punished and will be fine with her, and that since she HAS been punished, maybe if this was the ONLY time it happened, she can skip telling her mom about it.

Maggie beamed and said, "Uncle Charlie, I love you." Then she grabbed onto his neck for dear life.

"Okay, go wash up for dinner." "Yes Sir."

Everyone sat down for dinner; some more comfortably than others. Since Robin got the hardest spanking, she squirmed through most of dinner. Everyone tactfully ignored her discomfort, but dinner was a pretty quiet affair.

At the end, Charlie said, "Okay, this incident is finished. Who wants to go out for ice cream?"

Lisa frowned at him, but Charlie knew the girls needed to feel forgiven. They all jumped up at once, and went to put on shoes. Charlie knew that the week might be a tough one, but hoped that he might have a few days off before he had to spank them all again.

                                        to be continued...

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