New Beginnings-chapter 14
By Sampast and Huggedlots
Copyright © 1999, All rights reserved.

The following Sunday morning, Bob was up early as usual. He went out to get the paper, and some hot bagels and coffee. When he returned, Maggie was hunched over the kitchen counter, furiously scribbling in a notebook.

Bob went to the kitchen and put down the paper and the food. He went over to his daughter, man, that sounded good, he thought to himself. The papers were all signed, and they were just waiting for the documents to arrive.

He kissed Maggie on the top of her head. "Hey, sweetie, what're you doing up this early?"

"Hi, Daddy, I'm very busy," Maggie announced.

"What'cha doing?" Bob asked, leaning over to take a peek at Maggie's notebook.

Maggie announced, "I'm making out my birthday list!"

"Oh, I see," Bob said. "Is it going to cost me a fortune?"

Maggie was confused. Then she realized what her daddy thought. "No, this isn't a list of presents I want. This is a list of people I'm inviting to the party. See?" She held the list out to him.

Bob scanned the list. Most of the names he recognized as being girls in Maggie's class, and then of course, Robin, and Jenn.

"Fifteen girls? Maggie, that's an awful lot of kids," Bob warned.

"But Daddy," Maggie whined, "I have to invited every girl in my class, or it wouldn't be fair!"

"Maggie, no whining!" Bob warned.

"But, Daddy!" Maggie whined. "You don't understand!"

"I understand that someone is going to have a very sore bottom in a minute if she doesn't stop whining," Bob warned again. "I think, little girl, that you need to go back to bed for at least another hour," he said, taking her hand, and helping her down off the stool. "Come on!"

Maggie let Bob lead her back to her bedroom. She did feel sleepy, actually. She had woken up a little before and knew she had to start making the list. Heather had told her she needed to know how many kids before they made the final arrangements for the party.

There was still one problem. Maggie was having difficulty deciding whether to have her party at Discovery Zone or somewhere else. Mommy had told her to make a list of how many kids would be invited.

Bob tucked Maggie back in to bed. He kissed her cheek and said, "I'll see you again soon. Sleep well, sweetie." Maggie was asleep again before Bob even closed the door.

Heather woke up and wandered into the kitchen. Bob was sitting at the table, reading the paper, and drinking the last of his coffee.

"Hi, hon," Heather said.

"Good morning, sweets. Did you sleep well?" Bob asked.

"Mm-hmm," Heather said. "I need coffee. Where's Maggs?"

Bob brought his wife her coffee, and a pumpernickel bagel with a thin layer of cream cheese, just the way she liked it. She thanked him and bit into the delicious bagel; yum, it was still warm.

"I put her back to bed. She was very whiny and cranky," Bob said. Then he took her notebook and placed it in front of Heather. "And look at this."

Heather looked at the list of fifteen girls' names and blinked. "Fifteen? What does she think, we're made of money? Do you know how much that place, DZ, wants per child?" Heather remarked.

"DZ? Did we decide we're definitely having the party there?" Bob asked.

Heather shook her head. "Well, no, not definite. But that was the direction our darling daughter was leaning in."

"Well," Bob began, "I think we need to lead her to choose something different, don't you?"

Just then, Maggie walked into the kitchen. She still looked sleepy.

"Hey, sleepyhead, feeling better?" Bob asked.

Maggie went right to her daddy and let him pull her into his lap. She put her head on his shoulder and rested it there. She put her arms around his neck and held on for dear life.

"Hey, there, what's the matter?" Bob asked, concerned.

"I had a bad dream," Maggie said.

"Oh, I'm sorry, baby, what was it about? You want to talk about it?" Bob asked.

Maggie shook her head back and forth. She just kept holding onto Bob and resting her head on his shoulder. She felt so safe in her daddy's arms. She didn't need to talk about the dream; she just needed him to hold her tight.

They stayed that way for a little while. Then Maggie lifted her head and said, "I'm hungry."

Bob stood her up and sat her down in one of the other chairs. He said, "Well, I have a cinnamon-raisin bagel with butter with your name on it. How does that sound?"

Maggie nodded, and said, "Yeah."

Bob brought Maggie the bagel, and some orange juice. He loved this. It was a nice, Sunday morning, just the family; it reminded him of his family when he was growing up. Which got him thinking to birthday parties when he was a kid.

"Uh, Maggs?" Bob said.

"Yes, Daddy?" Maggie asked, her mouth full of bagel.

"Maggie, don't talk with your mouth full!" Heather admonished. She was frowning.

"Sorry," Maggie said, as soon as she swallowed. "Yes, Daddy?"

"You know, when I was a little boy. When it was my birthday, or Uncle Charlie's, we would have it at home. There was no place like Discovery Zone or anything. We just had the kids over at the house, and we played games and had lunch and cake. You could do something like that," he suggested.

"You mean, here?" Maggie asked, bewildered.

"Yes, here, where did you think?" Bob asked.

"I don't know. What would we do? It sounds so boring," Maggie admitted.

Heather said, "And Bob, fifteen girls here? Doesn't that seem like a bit much?"

"Why? It's April. The weather is nice. They can be outside for a part of it," he began. "And they'll play games and have lunch, and birthday cake, open presents. They won't be here for that long, Heather."

"But what would we do?" Maggie asked, with a note of whining in her voice.

Bob just looked at her and frowned.

"Sorry, Daddy," Maggie said.

"How about an art project?" Heather asked. "I remember when I was about eight, I went to a birthday party at my friend, Jane's house, and we made some kind of artsy thing. It was a lot of fun."

"Hmmm, that sounds interesting," Maggie said, thinking about it. "Do you remember what you made, Mom?"

"No," Heather said, laughing. "But Grandma might. Or we could just think of something everyone would like. We should ask Robin or Aunt Lisa. They could probably give us some ideas."

"Yeah! Robin could! She loves arts and crafts! Can I go call her right now?" Maggie asked.

Bob and Heather laughed. "Sure, honey," Heather said.

After speaking to Robin, it was decided that Maggie would have her party at the house. It would be Saturday, April 17, the day of her actual birthday. Then on Sunday, the relatives were coming over to celebrate Maggie's birthday. It would be a real birthday weekend.

That week at school, Maggie gave all the girls in her class invitations to her birthday party. She was so excited. Most of the girls said they could come, but one girl made a face when Maggie handed her the invitation. It was Lorraine. Lorraine was such a sour puss. She was never happy about anything.

"What kind of a party is this?" Lorraine sneered. "An arts and crafts party?" she laughed.

But no one laughed with her. They all thought it was neat. Maggie was doing something original. Most kids had their parties at Chuckie Cheese, McDonald's or Discovery Zone. This one would be cool.

By the end of the week before the party, Maggie had gotten all her RSVP's. Everyone was coming, except for this girl, Tracey, who was out with the chicken pox. Even Lorraine was coming, but she sneered, "What are we making anyway?"

"You'll have to wait to see for yourself," Maggie announced. She was so excited for her party. She wasn't going to let Lorraine or anyone else spoil it. She had never had a big birthday party before, and this one was going to be very special.

Not only was this the first party she'd had with all her friends, but it was the first one she'd had with a complete family. The legal papers had come in the mail the day before. Maggie was officially a Clemente, and Bob was legally her daddy. She was the happiest little girl in the world!

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

Three days before the big birthday event, Maggie and Heather were sitting at the kitchen table making lists of all that had to be done. Heather told Maggie that she thought they should serve hotdogs, chips, and that she would bake her a birthday cake, and serve ice cream with it.

"But Mom," Maggie started to whine, "I really wanted to serve pizza. Hot dogs are, well, they just are, little kid party food."

Heather looked over at her with narrowed eyes. "What exactly do you think you sound like when you WHINE at me like that, young lady?"

Maggie was excited, but also tense, wanting her party to be perfect. "Mom, you just don't understand anything," and having said that, she ran from the room and slammed the door to her bedroom.

Heather, mad at this point, ran after her, and found the door locked. "Open this door this instant!" she yelled through the locked door.

"I WON'T! I WON'T!" Maggie shouted back.

Heather could hear her crying, but felt absolutely no sympathy. "Just wait till your dad gets home, young lady." With that, Heather stomped off to her own bedroom.

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

Several hours later, both girls still in their respective bedrooms, Bob walked into a very quiet house. Thinking they were both out, he was really suprised when he walked into his bedroom to change clothes and found Heather curled up reading a book.

"Hey you," he said with a smile, "what's up?" Looking over at the storm brewing on her face, Bob knew that something was wrong. "Come on sweetie, talk to me," he told her as he drew her into his strong arms.

"Oh babe, it's just that Maggie threw a temper tantrum, then locked herself in her room, and won't open the door," Heather explained.

"She what? How long ago did she do that?" Bob asked.

"Ohh, right after school actually," Heather said fliply.

"Hon, that was three hours ago. Why didn't you handle it?"

"I tried, but she wouldn't open the door, and I decided to let her stay in there and stew until YOU got home."

"Excuse me? You what?"

Heather saw the look on Bob's face, and knew that he was NOT pleased with her decision.

"I thought we decided that I would not always be the heavy here, didn't we?" Bob asked. "She misbehaves for YOU, and then you tell her to wait for me? How fair is that?"

"Well, she listens to you, and not to me anymore," Heather whined to him.

"For one thing, you will stop that whining immediately. Is that clear?" Bob stated.

"Ohh crystal, Sir."

"Do Not use that sarcastic tone for another thing. What is going on here anyway?" I can understand Maggie being uptight, and excited about her party, but you? What is YOUR excuse?" Bob was absolutely furious.

"Well I, umm, you see, but I, SIGHHHHH, I don't know," Heather admitted.

Bob frowned. "Well, think about it, while I go deal with OUR daughter."

Bob walked slowly down the hall, shaking his head. Knocking on Maggie's door, he called for her to open it up. Not getting an answer, he knocked louder and called to her to open it up, "RIGHT NOW!"

A sleepy Maggie opened the door, and told him, "Sorry, Daddy, I fell asleep."

"Okay, kitten, I understand." Picking her up, he sat down on her bed with her in his lap. Maggie immediately cuddled on his shoulder, seeking love, and acceptance. "Okay, can you tell me what happened today, Magpie?"

"Mommy just doesn't understand ANYTHING, Daddy," Maggie exclaimed.

"Like what?"

"Well, only little kid parties serve hot dogs. I asked her really nicely if we could have pizza, and she threw a fit," Maggie said.

"Ohhh, is that why you ran to your room, slammed your door, and locked it?"

"I couldn't talk to her, Daddy. She wouldn't listen. It all has to be her way, and it is MY party. You said so, didn't you mean it? Besides, pizza can be delivered, and no one has to cook, so isn't it easier anyway?" Maggie asked.

"Is pizza that important to you, sweetie?" Bob asked.

"Yes, Daddy, it is."

"Tell me why, and not just 'cause it is kid food, okay?"

Maggie wrinkled her forehead trying to find the right words. "Daddy, I like it at my new school, I am starting to fit in, but if I don't have a successful party, then I won't anymore."

Bob smiled. "Magpie, people need to like you for who YOU are, not for what you wear, or serve, or have. Do you understand that at all?"

"Well, yeah, I do, but I so want to be popular. Daddy, do you realize I have been in three elementary schools already? Most of the kids I know at school have NEVER been to anywhere else. They have known each other since kindergarten, or even preschool. None of them have parents who aren't their, what is that word, Daddy?"

"Biological, hon."

"Okay, that thing, and have a daddy who wasn't there when they were born. I am different, in a lot of ways, and I hate it sometimes. Why is having pizza such a big deal? Is it too expensive? Is that why Mommy got upset?"

"Well, it would cost a lot more, Magpie. But to be honest, I think it had more to do with YOUR attitude than the cost of the pizza, but I'm not sure," Bob stated.

"Are you mad at me, Daddy?"

"Well, young lady, I do not like to come home to find you and your mom at odds, with both of you in separate bedrooms, mad at each other," he declared.

"I am sorry, Daddy, I know you are both trying to throw me a good party, and I do appreciate it, but pleassssse can I have pizza, please?????"

"Okay, I will talk to your mom and see. No promises though, Okay?"

"Okay, Daddy, you are the best!" Maggie exclaimed.

"Hmm, I am not sure you will think so in a minute, young lady."

"Why, Daddy?"

"Because, young lady, we still have some whining to deal with, as well as slamming doors, and refusing to open for your mom when you were asked to. Is that acceptable in this house?" Bob queried.

"Umm, no, Daddy."

"And, what happens to young ladies who do those kinds of behaviors here?"

"They get spanked, but pleeeeease Daddy, don't spank me, please? I will apologize to Mommy," Maggie begged.

"Yes, you will, after your spanking. Now, no more arguing," Bob said.

With that, he lifted her from his lap, and quickly pulled her over his knee. She was only wearing a tee shirt, so he pulled that up, pushed her panties down, and quickly started warming her bottom, first one cheek, then the other. He didn't spank her really hard, just enough to make her bottom pink, and deliver the message.

When he saw her squirming, and knew the heat had built a bit, he started his lecture. "Are you ready to stop whining?" SWAT "Yes Sir." "Do you know what you did today that was naughty?" SWAT "Yes Sir." "Will you be locking your door again to keep your mom out?" SWAT SWAT. "No Sir."

Bob delivered about ten more hard swats to her sit spot, and stopped. He stood her up, pulled her panties back up, and hugged her tight.

"Okay, little one. I don't want to have to spank you again before your party. IS that clear?" Bob asked.

"Crystal, Daddy." Smiling up at him through her tears, Bob knew that he had made his point.


Holding out his hand, he took Maggie's and they walked down to his bedroom. Pushing her ahead of him, Maggie walked up to Heather and told her she was sorry for whining, slamming her door, and locking her out.

Heather was still mad, and acted surly and almost refused her apology until she heard Bob clearing his throat. "Okay, sweetie, we will let this go."

Heather hugged Maggie, and Bob came to hug them both. "Soo, what's for dinner?" he asked.

Heather had been so busy being mad, that she completely forgot to start dinner. "Well," she blushed as she looked up at Bob, "I was going to make a meatloaf, but I, umm, forgot to get it in the oven. How about some soup and sandwiches?"

Bob couldn't believe she forgot something like dinner, but agreed to the meal knowing that he and his beautiful wife were going to have to "discuss" all this later that night.



Dinner was a pretty quiet meal, and soon after, Bob took Maggie in to give her a bath, read to her, and finally got her to sleep at 9 pm. Having finished the dishes, Heather was back in the bedroom reading again.

"Okay, young lady, you have some explaining to do," Bob requested.

"I do?" Heather looked up at him all innocent.

Bob laughed at her attempt and asked her if she really thought that was going to work.

"Well, no, but it sure was worth a try, wasn't it?"

Bob said, "Not really, so start talking."

"Well, I just got upset with Maggie for being such a prima donna," Heather began.

"Well, did you listen to her reasons for wanting the pizza?"

"Well, yes I did, but they were silly."

"Silly? Why were they silly?"

"Well, hot dogs are NOT baby food, and besides pizza costs way too much."

"Did you tell her we couldn't afford it?"

"Well, no," Heather admitted.

"Did you tell her that maybe we could compromise or suggest that she make another suggestion?"

"Well, no."

"So, what you did was sink down to a nine- year-old level to argue with her, and in doing that, you let HER win, didn't you?" Bob asked, becoming angry.

"Well, I didn't see it that way at all," Heather replied.

"Ohh, and how did YOU see it?" he asked.

"Well, I , umm, see I ahhh, I don't know," she admitted.

Heather started to realize with a sinking feeling where this conversation was going, and didn't like it. "Okay, Bob, I admit, I could have handled it better and I didn't, but it is no big deal."

Bob was shaking his head. "The big deal, hon, is you acting like a child, and letting a simple situation get out of hand. How are you going to deal with the teen years? Believe me, I hear it only gets worse." He sighed. "Now, what happens when YOU act like a child?"

Looking down, and twisting the bedspread in her hands, Heather quietly replied, "You treat me like one."

"And, what does that mean when I feel you are a naughty little girl?"

"You spank me."

"Okay, hon, come here." Seeing that she was having problems with obeying, he told her sternly, "RIGHT NOW!"

With that, Heather jumped up, and went to him. Pointing at the ground, he indicated that she should kneel in front of him, and he put his finger under her chin so she had to look up at him.

"Tell me, why are you being punished?"

"Because, I whined, I abdicated my responsibilities today, I allowed the situation to get out of hand, and I forgot to make dinner."

"Anything else?"

"I acted like a child."

"Thank you. Now, stand up," he ordered.

Bob gave her his hand to help pull her up, and stood her on his right side, and quickly pulled her over his knees. Pulling down her sweat pants and panties, he began to spank her with steady spanks, alternating cheeks, and going up one side and then down the other.

He peppered her bottom, and then delivered some sharp swats to her thighs. Heather started to yelp, and moan as the heat built, and Bob continued until her bottom and thighs were a nice, red color. Finally stopping, deciding she has had enough, he pulled her into his lap, and cuddled her as she cried on his shoulder.

"I am sorry I continue to disappoint you, Sir," Heather said.

"You do not disappoint me, sweetheart. Sometimes your actions do. YOU are cherished, and always will be, no matter what, is that clear?" Bob asked.

"Crystal, Sir," she said as she smiled up at him. Tenderly, Bob laid her back on the bed, and the moans quickly turned to ones of pleasure.

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

Finally the day of the party arrived. Maggie was so excited that she was literally bouncing off the walls. Bob caught her on the rebound and sat her on the couch.

"Margarent Anne! I know you are excited about your party, but you MUST calm down. Do you understand me?" Bob barked.

"Yes, sir. I can't help it, though. I've never had a party like this. And I'm just so excited. I want everything to be perfect," Maggie explained.

Bob sat down next to his daughter and took her hand. "I know you do, sweetie, and everything will be. But you still need to calm down. I really don't want to spank you before your party. Do you understand me?"

Maggie looked up and saw the serious expression on her daddy's face, and said, "Yes, sir."

"Okay, good. Now, why don't you and I go outside and see if Mommy has everything set up, okay?"

"Okay," Maggie said, taking Bob's hand and letting him lead her into the backyard.

There, Maggie saw the picnic table all set up. There was a plastic tablecloth on it, and sixteen plates, and sixteen cups. They had flowers on them. Maggie didn't want to get the Raggedy Anne or the Cabbage Patch ones. She didn't want anyone to think she was a baby. There were plastic forks and napkins set up, too.

Then, Maggie and Bob saw the buckets. There were six buckets in all. Each bucket had colored dye in them. There were two yellows, two blues, and two reds. Pretty soon, the kids would be there and see what the big surprise project was. Maggie had been so thrilled about it, ever since Robin had suggested it.

Pretty soon, the doorbell rang. Maggie ran to open it. It was a delivery person. Maggie didn't know what to do. Bob came to the door and signed for the flowers. He looked at the card and made a surprised face. He handed them to Maggie.

"They're for you, sweetheart," Bob said.

"Flowers? For me?" Maggie took them from her daddy and sat down on the couch to read the card. After opening the envelope and reading the card, Maggie smiled. They were from her ex-arch enemy, and now good friend/older "brother", Frankie.

The card had read, "Sorry I can't be there today, but I am thinking about you. Hope you have a great birthday. See you at school on Monday. Frankie. By the way, don't tell anyone I sent a girl flowers."

Maggie was smiling as she brought the flowers into the kitchen and asked Heather to put them in a vase. Then she went to her bedroom to put the card away.

"Maggs?"

"Yeah, Mom?" Maggie asked, coming back out of her room.

"Aren't you going to tell us who the flowers were from?" Heather asked.

Maggie looked at her parents and said, "Just a good friend, at school, who couldn't make it to the party."

Bob's eyebrows shot up. He looked at Heather. Maggie had invited fifteen girls to the party, and all fifteen were coming. Hmmmmm! he thought.

Before everyone knew it, the guests started to arrive. Maggie opened the door and let all the girls in. No one was dressed up too fancy, for Maggie had told them there was going to be a messy project, and they wouldn't want to get their clothes dirty. Maggie, herself, was wearing a little sundress, and sandals.

They really lucked out with the weather that day. It was a beautiful seventy-one degrees, which was rare on Long Island, in April. But hey, they weren't complaining. Most of the kids were wearing shorts or skirts.

Heather took all the presents and put them in a pile on the dining room table. After most of the kids got there, Maggie showed them around. It was 11:30 before Lisa came with the twins. She was staying to help with the party. Charlie had to work.

The girls ran around, and looked at Maggie's things, and ate chips and stuff. Finally, at 12:00, Heather told them lunch was ready. They all went out to the backyard where the table was set so nicely. Maggie had compromised on the pizza issue, and Heather had made pasta with meatballs. Actually, it had been Lisa's idea. That is what she always served at the twins' birthday parties.

After lunch, all the girls wanted to know what the project was going to be. Maggie looked over at Robin, and then beamed. "We're making tie-dye shirts!"

"Tie-dye? What's that?" one little girl asked.

"C'mon, I'll show you. Maggie went to her room and came out with a tie-dyed shirt she had bought at a fair, once. She showed all the girls and their mouths dropped open at the sight.

Julia exclaimed, "Wow! That's so cool. We're going to do that?"

"Yep!" Maggie said.

"How?" another friend asked.

"Oh, it's easy!" Robin chimed in. "C'mon, I'll show you what to do!"

Lisa laughed. "That's my girl! The little arts and crafts expert."

Heather and Bob began passing out the over-sized Hanes undershirts that they had purchased at the local army/navy store. Robin showed the girls how to twist them around and put the rubberbands on.

"You have to put them on real tight, or it won't work," she explained.

All the girls watched Robin and then tried to do their own. Robin revealed the different ways the patterns would come out. If you started at the center, it would be circles. If you folded it like a fan, it would come out in stripes.

The girls couldn't wait to dip them in the buckets of dye. As they put the rubberbands on their shirts, Bob filled the buckets with water. Then Robin explained why there were only three colors.

"I learned this in art class," she said. "If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. If you mix blue and yellow, you get green. If you mix red and blue, you get purple. Now, you do it like this."

Everyone watched as Robin dipped part of her shirt in the yellow dye. Lisa was so proud of the way Robin took over and became the instructor. Bob and Heather were pretty proud of her, too.

After dipping half the shirt in yellow, Robin dipped an end in blue. The children watched as the part where the blue and yellow met, turned to green and they all screamed in delight. They couldn't wait to do their own.

In awhile, all the girls had dipped their shirts in the different colors. They looked wonderful already and they hadn't taken the rubber bands off.

"Okay, now this is the hard part," Robin said. "You have to take off all the rubberbands."

All the girls found a place to sit down and one by one, pulled off the rubberbands. As they unraveled or unfolded their shirts, they showed the rest what had happened. Before they knew it, there were sixteen beautifully decorated tie-dye shirs.

All were different. All were beautiful. The girls couldn't believe they had created them, themselves. Always thinking like a mother, Lisa went around and labeled each shirt with the child's name, on the tag.

"Oh, I would never have thought to do that," Heather told her sister in law. "You're so practical."

Bob and Heather had bought so many shirts, that there was enough for each of them to do another. They had also bought socks. The girls had a wonderful time tie-dying everything in sight.

Finally, when everything that used to be white, was multi-colored, Heather said, "How 'bout some cake?"

"Yeah!" the girls chimed.

After cake, the girls ran around outside, careful not to go near the woods. While they played, the three adults cleaned up the tie-dye and cake mess. At 2:00, they all went in and watched Maggie open up her presents. The party would be ending at 2:30. She got games, and books, and clothes, and was so excited and happy about each gift, that she hugged each friend, in turn.

By 3:00, all the kids had left, except Robin and Jennifer. If they were good, Bob told them they could sleep over. Maggie went up to her parents and said, "Mommy, Daddy, thank you! That was the best birthday party I've ever had!"

"I'm glad, sweetie," Bob said, hugging her.

Heather agreed. "And it went very well, too. Everyone was well behaved, and there were no fights."

Lisa said, "Yeah, at my girls' parties, there's always a fight."

"That's not true, Mommy," Robin whined.

All the adults, and Maggie and Jennifer shot Robin a look. "What?" she said.

"No whining," they all said, and Robin smiled. "Sorry," she said.

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

The twins were allowed to sleep over, despite Robin's whining. They had behaved very well the entire day, and did not seem too tired. Charlie came by for dinner, and then he and Lisa went off, glad to have an evening to themselves.

Robin, Jennifer, and Maggie were allowed to stay up and watch a video. They had all had baths and were dressed in their pajamas. Finally, the movie ended, and Bob told all three of them to brush their teeth and get ready for bed.

They knew better than to argue, and did as they were told. Jennifer put on her pantsies and got into bed, with Robin and Maggie. Maggie had a trundle bed, which pulled out next to her bed, but it was like one big bed.

Heather and Bob tucked them in and kissed them goodnight. Bob reminded them, "Nana and Grampsie are coming tomorrow, so I don't want any cranky pusses. Go right to sleep, got it?"

"Yes, Daddy!" "Yes, Uncle Bob!" "Okay, Uncle Bob!"

Bob smiled and closed the door to Maggie's room, leaving a nightlight on in the hall, in case one of them had to get up.

The girls talked softly for a few minutes. They didn't want to push things with Bob, though, and made sure he wouldn't hear them.

"That was a great party, Maggie," whispered Jenn.

"Yeah, I had so much fun. And all your friends are really nice," Robin said.

"I'm glad you liked them. They were so glad to finally meet you two. I always talk about you, at school," Maggie said, smiling. "That was the best party I've ever had."

Robin and Jenn laughed, for as soon as Maggie said that, she was asleep. They talked quietly for a few more minutes, and then fell asleep, as well.

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

The next morning, Jennifer, was up first, as usual. She went into the kitchen and climbed into her uncle's lap. Bob was sitting at the table, drinking coffee, and reading the paper. As usual.

"Hi, baby. Sleep well?" he asked. Jenn just nodded. She was still a little sleepy.

Bob cuddled with her, until the rest of the gang woke up. He made everyone pancakes. After breakfast, the girls got dressed and went outside to play. It was another gorgeous day out.

"Stay away from the woods!" warned Bob.

Instinctively, the girls put their hands to their backsides, remembering the day they hadn't listened, and called out, "We will!"

Close to 12:00, Bob and Heather gathered up the girls to get them ready. "Nana and Grampsie will be here any minute," they explained. Charlie and Lisa arrived first and the twins were glad to see them.

"Did you miss us?" Jenn asked.

"No," Charlie said, teasingly. Jenn didn't get it at first. "I'm just kidding, honey," he said. "Come here." Charlie picked Jenn up and hugged her. "We always miss you, when we're not with you, silly."

Fifteen minutes later, Rose and Harry Clemente appeared. "Sorry, we're a little late. There was some traffic on the expressway."

"Same old, same old," Bob expressed, referring to the horrendous traffic on the Long Island Expressway, daily.

Maggie hugged and kissed Nana and Grampsie. She was so glad to see them. She dragged Nana into her bedroom to show her all the things she had gotten for her birthday. Nana told Maggie she had a big surprise for her, as well.

"You do? What?" Maggie exclaimed.

"Well, it's out in the car. It's a bit big!" Nana stated.

"Uh-oh, Mom! What did you do?" Charlie asked.

Charlie looked at Bob and raised his eyebrows, wondering if Bob knew what their mother had been up to. Bob winked at Charlie. He knew exactly what their mother had done.

"Come on, I'll show you!" Nana said.

The whole family went out to the car. Nana reached in and pulled out a large bundle, covered with a sheet.

"What on earth, is it?" Charlie asked.

Heather and Bob stood back, holding hands. Actually, Heather was squeezing Bob's hand, hoping against hope, that they did the right thing, by allowing Rose to get Maggie this gift.

Nana carried the bundle to the house. Maggie followed, as did Robin, Jennifer, and everyone else. Maggie couldn't wait to see what was under the sheet. Then Nana said, "Ready?"

She looked at Maggie. Maggie was nodding her head up and down. "I'm ready, I'm ready, Nana! What is it?" She was so excited; she could hardly contain herself from exploding.

Nana pulled off the sheet, and there was a parakeet. He was in a cage, sitting on a perch.

"A bird! Oh, my god! He's mine?" Maggie asked, surprised.

"All yours!" Nana promised.

"Really? I can keep him?" Maggie looked to her parents. When they nodded, Maggie ran up to Nana and gave her a big hug. "Oh, Nana, thank you so much!" She turned to Grampsie and hugged him hard. "Thank you so much, Grampsie!"

"So, what're you going to call him, Maggie?" Grampsie asked.

Maggie thought for a minute. She looked around at her family's wondering faces and announced, "Skippybird!"

Everyone laughed.

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

Later, after everyone had left, and the apartment was quiet, Heather and Bob found Maggie in the den, talking to Skippybird. After a lengthy discussion, Maggie had finally agreed to keep the bird in the den. She had wanted him in her bedroom, but Heather had told her no.

Bob and Heather sat on the couch and asked Maggie to join them. "You're a very lucky, little girl," Bob told her.

"I know," Maggie said. "This is the best present I've ever gotten. I've never had a pet before."

"Yes, I know," Heather admitted weakly. "And you know, that with this bird, comes a lot of responsibility, don't you, Maggs?"

"I know, Mommy," Maggie admitted.

Bob took Maggie's hand and said, "What exactly does that mean, Magpie?"

Maggie turned so that she was facing both her parents. "It means I have to take care of him. Feed him and give him water, and play with him."

"And?" Bob asked.

"And what, Daddy?" she asked.

"And, clean up after him," Bob told her.

"Oh, yeah, I know that, Daddy. I will. I promise," Maggie said.

Heather said, "I hope so, Maggs, 'cause I don't want the responsibility to end up on my shoulders. Okay?"

"Okay, Mommy," Maggie said.

"And if we find you're not taking proper care of him, we'll have to give him away, got it?" Bob said sternly.

"Oh no! You won't have to do that, Daddy! I'm gonna take real good care of Skippybird. Don't worry! Okay?" Maggie exclaimed.

Bob laughed. His daughter sounded so sure of herself, he didn't doubt it at all. At least, for now.

to be continued...

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