New Beginnings-chapter 10

By Sampast and Huggedlots
Copyright © 1999, All rights reserved.
 

The next morning, Maggie got up feeling really anxious. Her bottom felt okay, but her stomach was doing flip flops about the upcoming meeting with her parents and Frankie's. Who would say what? Would her parents be mad at her? Would she get into trouble?

She heard her mom calling her to breakfast, and felt she would throw up if she ate a thing! Sitting down at the table, she just pushed her food around. Bob noticed her pale face, and what she was doing, and asked what was wrong.

"Nothing, Daddy," Maggie replied gloomily.

Bob frowned. "Don't tell me nothing, Magpie, spit it out."

"My stomach hurts, Daddy," she explained.

"Are you sick, Magpie, or just nervous?" he asked.

Maggie said, "Nervous I guess, Daddy."

"Is there anything you want to tell us BEFORE we go, Magpie? I really don't want any more surprises, okay?"

Maggie thought hard, and couldn't think of anything. "Nope Daddy, I can't think of a thing."

"Okay, sweets, I know you are nervous, but I want you to try to eat some toast. It will really help your tummy feel better, trust me. When I am nervous, I get lots of stomach acid and that can hurt a lot, so I eat toast, and it helps absorb the acid," Bob explained.

Maggie wasn't sure she quite understood all that, but decided it was easier to nibble than ask.

Half an hour later, Maggie stood in the office with her parents. Frankie and his parents arrived just a few moments later, and they were ushered into the principal's office. Mrs. Haley asked every one to sit down, and Maggie sat between her mom and dad, holding her daddy's hand.

Frankie sat down and looked over at her with a disdainful look. He had already gotten the lecture of how gentlemen treat young ladies, and was angry enough to spit. The principal told everyone that she hoped that they could all discuss the situation calmly and come to a resolution that would work for everyone.

"First," she said, "I would like to hear from Maggie, how this whole thing got started."

Maggie began to tell her what had happened on the first day of school, but as she got to the part about Frankie teasing her and her friends, he interrupted and called her a big fat LIAR. Everyone was shocked, and Frankie's parents told him to sit down and keep quiet. His dad's tone was so stern, that he quickly did as he was told.

Maggie was scared, that no matter what was said or resolved in the principal's office, that Frankie would make her life miserable, if he could. She wished with all her heart that they had just let her handle things her way.

"Go on, Maggie," Mrs. Haley prompted her. Bob could feel her shaking, and felt really sorry for her. He squeezed her hand for courage, and gently told her, "Maggie, I am proud of you, and I would like you to continue, please."

Drawing a deep shuddering breath, Maggie continued to tell about the altercation between herself and the girls, and Frankie and the boys, and how every day last week, during recess, Frankie would call her names, and that it had gotten worse. She also told everyone that she had called him names, too, that she didn't know how else to handle it.

Mrs. Haley asked her if she had challenged Frankie to a fist fight. "No Mrs. Haley, I did not. I used my words, and stood up to him. No one should be pushed around by a bully. I could have used my fists, but I did that in my last school and got into a lot of trouble. I know I shouldn't do that, but I did tell Frankie that I could, if I wanted to."

Maggie looked so serious, that Mrs. Haley had a hard time not smiling, and keeping a neutral look on her face. "Is there anything else you want to share Maggie?"

"Yes ma'am, I came to this school and had hoped to fit in and make friends. I don't want Frankie or anyone else to hate me," Maggie concluded.

"Thank you Maggie. Okay, Frankie, it is your turn. What would you like to tell us about what happened that day?"

Frankie looked around and pointed a finger at Maggie. "This is all HER fault. She wanted to fit in, so she picked a fight with ME, and decided to try to push her way into our group. She is just a show off, trying to get attention, and when she pushed, I pushed back."

Mrs. Haley said, "I see, Frankie. Anything else you would like to say?" "No."

"Okay, I would like the two of you to wait outside while I talk to your parents." After watching the two walk out to the outer office, Mrs. Haley turned to both sets of parents and asked if they had anything they would like to say.

Bob said, "Look, I know that our Maggie can be outspoken, and she won't back up from a challenge, but normally she doesn't start them either."

Frankie's dad looked at Bob, and said, "Look, I raised my kid to never hit girls, but he doesn't have to take crap from your kid either!"

Mrs. Haley turned to him, and said, "I am not sure that your attitude, Mr. Gellette, is very helpful."

"Well, here is my take on this. Lets get the kids to shake hands, call a truce, and let it go. I need to get to work, and I don't see us getting anywhere," Mr. Gellette blurted.

Privately, Mrs. Haley felt the same way. "Okay, Mr. and Mrs. Clemente, do you agree that we should ask the children to shake hands, and call a truce?"

Heather spoke up for the first time. "Yes, I agree that at this point in time, that is probably the best thing we can do. BUT, I would like to make sure that they are watched on the playground, and if intervention is needed by an adult, that it happens quickly, and that we are notified."

Mrs. Haley nodded. "Well, I agree that that is a good idea. Anyone else have a comment? No? Good."

Getting up, Mrs. Haley went to open her door, and saw that the kids were on opposite sides of the office. Bringing them back in, she told them what had been discussed. "Okay, now we want you both to shake hands and call a truce. From now on, there will be NO verbal interchanges, NO hurtful words, NO name calling. IF there is, there will be serious consequences. Is that understood by both of you?"

"Yes ma'am," Maggie said, and put out her hand. Frankie looked at her and her hand, and shook his head. "I am NOT gonna shake her hand."

He put his hands behind his back. "Yes, you will son. And you can do it on your own, or after we have a little "discussion". Now that is your choice. Which is it gonna be?" his father told him in no uncertain terms.

Maggie almost felt sorry for him, for she knew full well what his dad meant by a discussion. Frankie turned back, and reluctantly gave her his hand and withdrew it as fast as he could.

"Okay, the bell is about to ring, you may both go to your classrooms," Mrs. Haley told the children.

Frankie stormed out of the office without saying a word to anyone. Maggie went back and clung to Bob's hand. Leaning down he asked her, "What's wrong, Magpie?"

Maggie looked up at her daddy and said, "I am scared, Daddy."

Bob thanked Mrs. Haley for seeing them, and then lead her outside. "Okay, talk to us, hon."

Maggie cried, "He is NOT gonna keep his promise, Daddy. I don't want to get into trouble."

Bob took Maggie by the shoulders and said, "Okay, first of all, we want you to stay away from him. If you see him on the playground, you and Julia should go somewhere else. If he follows you, tell a ground duty teacher, okay?"

Maggie looked pale but said she would.



Bob and Heather left her, but both had heavy hearts. "It is hard to be a parent, isn't it?" Bob asked Heather. "It sure is, honey, but I love you, and I love the way you handle Maggie. You are doing a super job!"

Maggie walked to her class, and had just rounded the corner of the hallway, when Frankie stuck a foot out and tripped her. "Hey, what are you doing?" she asked.

Frankie uttered, "Look, YOU got me into trouble, kid, and I am NEVER EVER going to let you forget it. Somehow, someway, I intend to get even. You got it, kid?"

"Like I told YOU, punk. You may be a boy, but I am NOT afraid of YOU. Sooo, take a flying leap!" Maggie hissed back. With that, Maggie pushed him out of her way, and went to class. Neither of them had seen Mrs. Haley or knew that she had watched the interchange.

"What a tough cookie," Mrs. Haley thought to herself.

Luckily, they were not in the same class, so Maggie didn't have to worry about him except for recess times. That afternoon, Maggie was trying to stay away, but somehow the ball from the soccer game kept winding up at her table. Julia kept tossing it back to the boys but Maggie was starting to get annoyed.

"Look," Julia told her, "let's go to the library and get away from those creeps."

"Are we allowed?" Maggie asked.

"Yeah, sure," Julia explained.

"Okay, good idea." Maggie started to pick up her books, when all of a sudden they were knocked out of her hands. Whirling around, angry now, she saw Frankie standing with the boys, all of whom were laughing at her. They all did high fives, and laughed at how Frankie's shot had landed JUST RIGHT.

Maggie was soo frustrated that she lost her head, and went running over, and before Frankie knew what happened, she slammed into him, and started pummeling him. A huge crowd started to gather chanting "FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!"

Maggie landed a few good ones to Frankie, but he did an upper cut and gave her a black eye. Maggie, in pain, didn't give up, but went on after him, and managed a few more significant blows, before the teachers pulled them apart.

A few minutes later they both found themselves back in Mrs. Haley's office, waiting to be seen. After looking at both of them, she told Frankie to wait in her office, and sent Maggie to see the nurse. Her eye was swelling and she wanted her checked out.

Mrs. Haley asked her assistant to call both sets of parents, and ask them to come back immediately. She got hold of Bob and Heather first, and they agreed to come right over, but calling the Gellettes, she couldn't get anyone at home. She then called Mr. Gellette at work, and he angrily agreed to come.

Bob and Heather took a look at Maggie, and were shocked at how beat and bruised she was. Bob was furious, and asked in a very tight voice what had happened. Maggie burst into tears at that point, after being soooo brave, thinking her dad was terribly angry at her. Heather sat down next to her, and pulled her into her lap, holding the ice pack back on her eye.

Frankie, meantime, was telling Mrs. Haley how it was all Maggie's fault. Mrs. Haley told him to wait back in the outer office, and she asked her assistant to gather all of the children near enough to have seen what happened and have them brought in.

She first questioned Julia, who told her what had happened, about Frankie calling them names, and hitting Maggie again and again with the ball, and then knocking her books out of her hands when they tried to leave. Then Roger came in, and told a totally different story, of how Maggie and Julia were yelling at them, and how the ball just accidentally and only once landed near them, and Maggie told them to come get it if they wanted it. Since Roger and Julia were both best friends of Maggie and Frankie, Mrs. Haley decided to keep investigating. As she questioned both boys and girls, she began to see that Julia's version was a lot closer to the truth.

Mr. Gellette came walking in about an hour after he was called, having to get someone to cover for him, and he was not at all happy. He glared at Frankie, who was sitting alone on a bench outside the principal's office and knocked on her door. He went in alone, and Mrs. Haley told him that Frankie was suspended for two days, and that after investigating the incident, found that he held the majority of the blame.

"What about that girl?" Mr. Gellette asked angrily.

Mrs. Haley responded, "She will also be suspended, Mr. Gellette. I will not tolerate fighting here on school grounds, but something has to be done. You need to reinforce that if this happens again there will be more serious consequences."

Walking out, he grabbed Frankie by the arm, and told him that he was going to be one sorry boy.

Bob and Heather came back in with Maggie. Mrs. Haley told them that although she felt that Maggie had been provoked, that another solution was going to have to be found.

"I am soo sorry Mrs. Haley, for letting you and everyone else down. I just couldn't take it anymore. I tried, I really did." At that, Maggie burst into sobs again.

Mrs. Haley replied, "I am sure you did, sweetie, but the fact remains that YOU ran into him which began the physical fight. You could have walked away."

Maggie looked at her, and said, "Great, and then what happens next time and the time after that? What do I do?"

Sighing, Mrs. Haley looked at her, and said, "You know, I know this is difficult for you, Maggie, but if you look as if it doesn't bother you, he will leave you alone. He gets his power out of YOUR reaction. Can you understand that?"

"You mean, do nothing? And what, wait until he hurts me more than this?" Maggie pointed to her eye, and said, "Ohh yeah, that'll work."

"Margaret Anne! You will be respectful. Is that clear?" Bob shouted, astounded that Maggie would talk back to her principal.

"Yes Sir." Looking down, Maggie felt the weight of the world.

"Well, you are on a two day suspension, Maggie. I will have your work sent home to you. You may leave now, and I hope you will think about what I said," Mrs. Haley explained.

The ride back home was silent. Heather took Maggie into her room, and took off all her clothes to examine if there were any other bruises. There were several forming, on her chest, and rib cage. Frankie had done quite a job. Heather gave Maggie two aspirins and put her down for a nap.

"How much trouble am I in, Mom?" Maggie asked quietly.

"I am disappointed in you, Maggie, but your dad and I will have to discuss this, and decide how to handle things. I want you to rest now, and when you wake up we will all talk some more about this," Heather said. She then gave Maggie a big hug, and closed the blinds so she could rest.

Back in the living room, Bob was pacing. "I wanted to wipe the floor with that kid. How could he hurt our little girl?" He was soo angry he couldn't seem to calm down.

Heather queried, "Well, Dear, the question is, what do we do about Maggie?"

Sighing, Bob told Heather that although he hated to do it, he felt they had to punish Maggie for not following the rules that had just been set for her.

"I agree, but she is bruised from eye to ribs!" Heather stated.

Bob asked, "What do you think we should do, sweetie?"

"I don't know, Bob. But spanking her when she is beat up seems abusive. Let's let her sleep, and then talk to her. After that, we will decide," Heather declared.

"Abusive? Is that what you think spanking is, Heather?" Bob asked angrily.

"Well, I, I don't know," Heather replied.

Bob decided to ignore her "I don't know" answer and proceeded with, "Honey, before you met Charlie, what did you think of spanking?"

"Think of it? Well, I didn't. I don't know," Heather said defensively.

"Were you ever spanked as a child, Heather?" Bob asked.

"No. My parents grounded me, that's about it," Heather explained.

Bob thought. "Well, Charlie and I grew up with very strict discipline. I'm sure you're aware of that! Anyway, he and I grew up to respect our parents and others. We liked how they instilled values in us, and learned to differentiate right from wrong. I know that's why he disciplines the twins the same way."

"Yeah, and I think it's great. He disciplines them with a lot of love and caring. I was so grateful to him for showing me how to do that with Maggie," Heather commented.

"Yet, you made that comment that spanking Maggie while she was beat up would be abusive, why?" Bob asked her.

Heather didn't answer. She realized she was backed into a corner, and didn't know how to respond.

Instead Bob spoke, "Because you think of spanking as hitting?"

"In a way, I guess," Heather said, unsure of herself. She started to shake.

"Honey, what's wrong? I didn't mean to upset you," Bob uttered.

"I don't know, I guess. Well, I just don't know what to think, I'm confused," Heather said.

Bob said, "C'mere, hon." Heather went to sit with Bob on the couch. He pulled her into his lap and held her.

"All right, let's change the subject for now. I don't want you to be all upset all day. We'll talk more about this later. But, in a little while, our daughter will be waking up, and we need a plan of action. What do you think of this? Charlie has a friend, Darren. Do you know him?" Bob asked.

"Stephens? You mean, Jack's brother-in-law?" Heather asked, unsure where the conversation was leading.

"Yeah, well, Darren was spanked as a child, too. But his parents, also had him write letters after he had misbehaved. They kept them in a file. In fact, I believe Darren has started doing that with his daughter, although she can't write yet. What do you think, if we ask Maggie to write a letter?" Bob asked.

"A letter? About what? I don't understand," Heather replied.

"Well, she would write a letter to us, explaining what she did wrong, and why it was wrong, and what she thinks should happen," he said.

"So, we're letting her design her own punishment?" Heather asked, bewildered.

"Well, not exactly. But, it would be good to have a record of what she does wrong, so if she behaves incorrectly again, we can show her what she learned last time. Maybe it will help her to improve. What do you think?" Bob asked.

"Hey, anything's worth a try. I don't think she'll like it, though," Heather remarked.

"Nobody ever likes anything associated with discipline, hon. I also think we should ground her. No friends over, no tv, no phone calls. I want her to know we are very seriously disappointed in her, going against the rules that were set down for her today," Bob announced.

"I agree. Of course, we are going to be dealing with this, very unhappily, I might add," Heather sighed.

"Well, I guess that's part of being a parent, huh?" Bob asked.

"Yeah," Heather sighed, leaning closer to Bob. He noticed she was still shaking slightly.

"Hon, what's wrong? You seem very stressed today," Bob noted.

"Well, you know that letter I got from my mom yesterday? She sent me Mark's address. I don't know what to do with it. I'm scared," Heather told her husband.

"What are you scared of, hon? That's great news. Now we can send the papers to him! Once he's signed them, the adoption process will go so much more smoothly," Bob acknowledged.

"Yeah, smoothly," Heather mimicked. "I'm afraid, Bob, that Mark won't want to sign the papers. I'm afraid that he'll want Maggie, or want to do something to hurt me," Heather admitted.

"Oh, hon, why haven't you told me about your fears? I'm sorry," Bob said patiently. "Come on, he hasn't seen her, in what? Seven years? He can't want anything to do with her now. I mean, oh, that didn't come out right, but you know what I meant!"

"I know what you meant. I'm just scared, Bob. What if this is opening a can of worms that I've had buried all this time? I know he's happy in his new life, but you never know," Heather pondered.

"Well, I think we should send him the papers and see what happens. He might surprise us," Bob suggested.

Just then, Maggie came out of her room. "Mommy, Daddy? My eye hurts," she said.

Bob put his hand on Heather's arm, and said, "We'll continue this conversation later. Come on!" He pulled her to her feet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maggie's eye looked worse than before, and looking at it, Bob wanted to call the doctor.

Heather said, "Honey, she will be all right, really, it looks worse than it is. There is no blood seeping, and she isn't having blurred vision nor is she dizzy. Those are all good signs. Let's put another cold cloth on, and sit with her."

Bob nodded. "You're right, hon."

Heather and Bob sat on either side of Maggie. She cradled her head on Bob and Heather kept ringing out the cloths to keep them cold.

"Daddy?"

"Yes, Magpie?"

"Am I in big trouble with you and mom?" Maggie asked.

Bob hesitated, then said, "Well sweetheart, let me ask you something, do you think what you did was right?"

Maggie sighed. "No Sir, I know it wasn't. I guess I just lost my temper."

"Okay, let's rethink this. Now, when Frankie started taunting you, what SHOULD you have done?" Bob asked.

Sighing again, Maggie said, "I should have left the table with Julia then."

"Right. What did you choose to do instead?"

"I stayed, trying to show him I wasn't going to let him get to me." Then Maggie's voice went an octave up. "I was trying to ignore him, like Mrs. Haley said I should. He just wouldn't stop, Daddy."

Maggie started to cry, and Bob held her for a moment.

"Hey now, let's not have the tears; its not good for your sore eye, you know."

"But Daddy, it's not fair, it just ISN'T!" Maggie wailed.

Bob frowned. "Now, no whining, young lady. Understood?"

"Yes sir." Maggie subsided into snuffles. "Are you going to spank me, Daddy?" Maggie asked him in almost a whisper, while her head was on his shoulder.

Bob looked over to Heather, who shook her head silently at him.

He began, "No sweetheart, I am not. That doesn't mean that there is no punishment here. This is something serious, and we had to go to school twice in one day. Tell me, what do YOU think your punishment should be?"

"HUH?" Maggie asked him, not believing she heard him right.

"You heard me, Magpie, what do you think Mommy and I should do to punish you?"

Maggie was still shocked. "I don't know, Daddy. No one has ever asked me that before."

"Well, we are asking now. We want you to learn something, and there are more ways to learning than a spanking. We think your body has taken quite enough for now, and it doesn't need a sore bottom to go with the black eye," Bob said and smiled down at his little daughter's head, and stroked her hair.

Maggie crawled even further into her daddy's lap and wondered what to say. She put her finger on her chin and thought. "I guess I should be grounded for the two days I am suspended, Daddy."

"Well, two days is a start. I was thinking more like two weeks," Bob said.

"Two WEEKS?" Maggie asked.

Heather jumped in. "Yes, two weeks. One week for each time we had to come to your school today." Heather looked pointedly at Maggie. Maggie looked down.

Bob put his finger under Maggie's chin so that she was looking at him. Then he asked, "What does being grounded mean to you, Maggie?"

"Well, no TV, no phone calls, no going outside to play with anyone," Maggie suggested.

Bob said, "Okay, so, what are you going to do with all that time?"

"I don't know, read I guess, catch up with my homework?"

"Good idea, hon, but what do you think might help you understand about not hitting anymore, or losing your temper?" Bob asked.

"Umm, I don't know, Daddy. What?" Maggie wondered aloud.

"Well, I think that while you are home for the next two days, I would like you to write an essay, and tell us about how you feel about fighting, and how you are going to change your behavior so that this kind of thing will not happen again. I want it letter perfect, in your best writing, spelling and punctuation checked. Is that clear, young lady?" Bob commanded.

"Yes Sir."

"And for the rest of the time you're grounded. I'm sure Daddy and I will find extra chores for you to do around here," Heather explained.

"Yes, Mommy," Maggie said. Then sighing, Maggie smiled up at Bob. "Daddy?"

"What?"

"Now I understand what some of my friends meant about it being hard to have a teacher for a dad!" Maggie expressed.

With that, she smiled, and Bob started to tickle her. "Oh you!" he said.

Heather remarked, "Okay, you two, let's not get over excited here, okay? I'm going to go start dinner. Who wants to help?"

"What are we having, Mommy?" Maggie asked.

 

 “Liver, spinach, and onions,” Bob said, trying not to smile.  Heather couldn’t even look at her husband.  Maggie’s face became distorted.

     

“Really?” she asked, frightened.

     

“No, not really.  Daddy’s teasing you.  We’re having spaghetti and meatballs,” Heather stated.

     

“In that case, I’ll help,” Maggie offered.

     

“Okay,” Heather laughed, “you can make the salad.”

~~~~~~~~~~

Later that evening, after putting Maggie to bed, Bob reached out his arms, and Heather walked straight into them. 

     

“Now, you and I have a conversation to finish, young lady,” Bob informed her.        

 

Heather looked up.  “We do? What’s that?”

     

Bob lightly pushed Heather away so that she could see him.  He put his hands on his hips.  “For one thing, I think a little discussion is in order about hiding things from me.”

     

“ME? What have I hidden from you?” Heather asked innocently. 

     

“Let’s go into the bedroom, so we can discuss this, shall we?” Bob suggested.           

 

Seeing the look in his eyes, Heather knew what was coming. "Discussing" things with Bob, usually meant a sore bottom for her.  Walking into the bedroom, Bob closed the door and turned to Heather.

 

“Well, what have you got to say for yourself?” Bob asked.

     

“About what, hon?”  Heather tried the innocent routine, not really thinking it would work. 

     

“Uh Huh, now you are avoiding the topic.  Guess that just added a little something, didn't it?” Bob scolded.

     

“Okay, okay, stop adding, Sir.  I lied to you at the courthouse about being tired last week.  I was scared and nervous about my ex.  I am terrified he will do something to mess this all up, and I don't want him near me or Maggie,” Heather said, trying not to whine. 

     

Bob nodded.  “Well, those are legitimate fears, but what have I told you again and again?”

     

“To share with you, all that I am thinking and feeling, otherwise we can’t help one another,” Heather confessed.  She felt about five years old.

     

Bob nodded.  “Right, now did you do that?”           “No, Sir.” 

     

“Did you come clean later?”                             “No, Sir.” 

     

“Did you confide in me when you got the letter?”     “No, Sir.” 

     

“So, you have been putting yourself through hell over all this, and were not willing to share your feelings, is that about right?” Bob asked. 

     

“I didn't think of it that way, sweetie.  I just wanted to process and think it through,” Heather admitted.

     

“And what did that get you?  Did it make you feel better?”     “No, Sir.”

     

“Did it help the situation?”                              “No, Sir.”

     

“Did it resolve ANYTHING?”                           “No, Sir.” 

 

Bob stated, “That's what I thought.  Come here, now.” 

     

Heather cried, “No Bob, please don't spank me.” 

     

“Okay, let me ask you one thing.  If you think you don't deserve it, I won’t spank you.  So, do you deserve this?” Bob queried.

     

“Oh Bob, don't ask me that,” blurted Heather.

     

“Well, I am.”

     

Sighing, Heather went over to Bob’s side, and laid herself over his lap. 

     

Bob smiled.  “Well, I guess you decided that you did, didn't you?” he asked as he rubbed her bottom.

     

“Yes, Sir, I guess I did,” Heather remarked. 

     

Still rubbing, Bob said, “Hon, do you trust me?” 

     

“Yes, Sir, I do, with all my heart,” Heather admitted.

     

“Then you have to share EVERYTHING WITH ME, is that clear?”  

 

“Yes Sir.”            

 

Bob raised his hand to reinforce his point and landed a gentle swat on her bottom.  Bob gently spanked Heather, repeating his lecture about trust, honesty, and togetherness.  He then lifted her up so he could undo her jeans and slide them off. 

     

He continued spanking, upping the ante a bit, and then slid her panties down, rubbing and talking to her.  Alternating cheeks, Bob turned her bottom from creamy white to pink, and to slightly red, before turning her over in his arms.  Bob began to kiss her soundly, and rolling her over onto her back, proceeded to show her just how much he loved her.

to be continued...

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