New Beginnings...chapter 15
By Sampast and Huggedlots
Copyright © 1999, All
rights reserved.
The next morning Maggie
woke up and ran immediately to see Skippybird. Making
sure he had plenty of water and food, she slipped out the bottom of the cage,
and put in fresh newspaper. All done, she ran back to get dressed, trying her
best to show her mom and dad how responsible she could be.
When she came out again,
Bob was in the kitchen making breakfast, and Maggie smelled bacon and eggs
frying and was immediately starved.
"Wow, Daddy, that
smells good," she said as she walked in and hugged Bob.
"Thanks, baby, you
look pretty spiffy today in your new clothes. Umm, let's see, yup, new hair
ribbons, and a beautiful smile to go with them, too."
"And, guess what,
Daddy?"
"What Magpie?"
Bob smiled down at her.
"I fed and watered and
cleaned Skippybird's cage already. BEFORE
I even got dressed!" Maggie beamed.
"well, well, I am
impressed, Magpie."
"Daddy, can I ask you
something?"
"Sure sweetie,
what?"
"Can I bring Skippybird to school for show and tell on Friday, pleasssssssse????"
"Well, I am not sure,
hon. Let me talk to Mommy about it and get back to you on that, okay?"
"Okay, Daddy, but I
really, really, ohhhh really want to." Looking
quickly up at Bob, she told him, "but I am NOT whining, Sir, really."
"Glad to hear
it," Bob laughed down at her. "Now, set the table, and let's have
some breakfast."
Bob poured a cup of coffee
to take to his still sleepy wife. She sure was NOT a morning person, he told
himself. Walking down the hallway, he was even surprised that she was in the
shower. This was early for her. Leaving the coffee on the counter, he yelled
good morning, and headed back to the kitchen.
Maggie had set the table,
and was only waiting for Bob to put the food on their plates.
"Wasn't it a wonderful
party, Daddy?"
"Yes, sweetie, the
best."
Maggie ran to him and gave
him a huge hug. She was soo happy with her life; she
couldn't even begin to imagine what it would be like if they didn't have him.
"Daddy? Promise me you'll never leave me."
Maggie was hugging him soo hard that Bob wondered
what was up.
"Hey you," he
said pulling her up into his arms, "what gives?"
"Oh nothing, I just
was thinking I couldn't bear it if anything ever happened to you, that's all."
Maggie looked so serious
that Bob knew better than to tease her, and his heart felt full looking into
her eyes. "Honey, I love you and your mom, and nothing is ever going to
make me go away, okay? I am yours forever and ever, all right?"
Maggie seemed to need extra
reassurance, but Bob didn't know what else to say to her, so he just held her
tight, and kissed her head again and again. Bob wished he knew what to do to
make her more secure, but he realized that with her history, only time would do
that.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later that day at school,
all of Maggie's friends told her what a great time they had had at her party.
She couldn't wait to tell them about Skippybird.
"Wow, you are sooo lucky!" they said over and over.
"Can I come
over?"
"Can I?"
"No, me first!"
Maggie was overwhelmed and
didn't know what to do. "Well, I can ask my mom, and see if you can come
over later in the week, okay?"
"Well, Maggie, which
of us are you gonna ask first, huh?"
Maggie was saved from an
answer by the bell. Whew, she thought, what WAS she gonna
do? Walking back to class, she had a thought. She whispered to Julia, her bestest friend, that SHE, of course would be first, but
that she was going to bring Skippybird to show and
tell, and then everyone could see him all at once.
Julia smiled at her,
slipped her arm into Maggie's and they went back to class. By second recess the
word had spread about her bringing Skippybird on
Friday, and Maggie began to worry, because she didn't have permission from her
parents yet. Oh well, she would think of something.
Over dinner that night,
Maggie told her mom and dad all about her day, and told them that everyone was sooo excited about Skippybird
that her teacher ASKED HER to bring him in on Friday. With that announcement,
she figured they couldn't say NO. She knew it was a fib, but figured she
couldn't possibly get caught, and what else would she do about all the girls?
This seemed the best way to handle it, or so she convinced herself.
At school the next day, she
told her teacher that she had a surprise for show and tell on Friday that she
was very excited about, and that her parents had given permission for.
"Well dear, then
that's just fine. I will put you on the list for Friday," Ms. Brennan
said.
~~~~~~~~~~~
By Friday, Maggie was soo excited she could barely stand it. Her mom drove her to
school, and Maggie held Skippybird's cage on her lap.
The bird chattered all the way there. When they got to school, Maggie hopped
out, and Heather asked if she needed help getting to her class.
"Ohhh no, Mommy, I'm just fine, really." She sure didn't want her mom and her
teacher talking to each other. Waving at her, she saw Julia and called her
over, and the two took Skippybird to class.
Ms. Brennan's eyes opened
wide when she saw the bird in Maggie's hand. "Well, well, you did not TELL
me it was an animal, Maggie. Ohhh no, we can't have
him here all day. He will talk, and distract the class. Tell you what, you can
go first, and then your mom or dad can come pick him up."
"Ohh,
I am sorry Ms. Brennan, but my dad is teaching and my mom just left for class.
Neither of them can come until after school," Maggie declared. She knew
she was lying again, but decided she was in too deep to stop now.
Ms. Brennan frowned.
"Well, we will cover him, and hopefully get through the day, but I am
afraid that if it gets to be too much, I will have to call one of your parents,
is that clear, Margaret?"
"Yes ma'am."
Whew, that was close, Maggie thought.
Maggie sat in the back of
the class with the bird cage next to her, covered with a cloth. Skippybird was pretty good during the morning until recess,
and then everyone crowded around him, and she took the cover off.
Skippybird squawked up a storm and the girls loved
it. "Sing for me," they crooned to him. There was soo
much going on that Skippybird started getting really
upset.
"Okay, that's enough, get back!" Maggie told them all.
"Hey, who are you to
push me?" Jilly said.
Defiantly, Maggie said,
"I wasn't pushing, I just need everyone to back up a bit."
"Oh yeahhhh?" Jilly responded.
Jilly was a pushy little girl who liked to get
into fights. Before anyone knew what had happened, Jilly
grabbed Maggie around the neck and started pulling her hair.
"Heyyy! Stop that, stop!" Maggie yelled.
Julia, wanting to protect
her, jumped in, but then Crystal pushed her, and suddenly everyone was yelling
and pushing, and someone knocked the bird cage over, and the door opened. Skippybird was loose, and flying around, when Ms. Brennan,
hearing the commotion, came running from next door where she was doing some
copying.
"WHAT IS ALL
THIS?" she yelled.
Hearing her authoritative
voice, everyone stopped immediately, and it was then that Maggie saw that Skippybird was loose.
"Ohhh
no!" she wailed, "My bird is loose. Julia, help me!"
Julia and Maggie crooned to
Skippybird, and finally he landed on Maggie's finger
and she was able to coax him back into his cage.
"WHAT a close call
that was!" Maggie commented.
"Good thing no one had
an open window," added Julia.
Maggie was shaking with
fright, and started to cry. Julia hugged her, and told the teacher that it was Jilly's fault. Jilly looked
defiantly at Julia, and told her to shut up.
"My, my, that is
unacceptable language, young lady. Go at once to the principal's office." Jilly just stood there until Ms. Brennan said,
"NOW!!!!!" She then turned to the rest of the class. "Okay, now,
you will all sit in your seats. You are all on detention for this recess and
the afternoon one, and will each write me a 200 word essay on why fighting is
wrong. Then you will take them home, and have your parents sign them and bring
them back, letter perfect, on Monday. IS THAT CLEAR?"
Twenty two voices said,
"Yes Ma'am." They all scurried to their seats, and Maggie was called
to the front of the room.
"Margaret, this is an
example of why I don't like live animals in my classroom. But it was still no
excuse for WHAT happened today. I am glad your bird is okay, but I think it
would be best to call one of your parents to pick him up."
Hanging her head, she
dutifully said, "Yes, ma'am," and headed for the office. She knew she
was going to be in major trouble and didn't know which parent to call. She
decided that her mom was less likely to go ballistic so she tried calling the
house. Heather picked it up on the second ring, and
Maggie told her that Skippybird was being loud, and
that her teacher asked if she could pick him up now.
"Sure sweetie, I will
be right there," Heather replied.
"Okay, Mom, I will
meet you in front of school, okay? That way you don't have to park or
anything."
Heather sensed there was
more to this story than Maggie was telling her. Some sixth sense that mothers
have that knows when a child is telling only half the truth.
Driving to the school,
there was Maggie and Skippybird right in front, as
advertised, but Maggie looked really upset.
"WHAT is it, sweetie?
Did something upset you?" Heather asked, concerned when she saw her
daughter's face.
"Oh Mommy,"
Maggie said, and started to cry. All of a sudden the whole story came pouring
out, but mostly all Heather got was a jumble of words and "I'm sorries", and something about almost losing Skippybird. She patted her back, and held her until the
sobbing subsided a little, and then asked her to start at the top.
Maggie drew a deep breath,
and told her everything again.
"Okay, sweetie, I
understand, I think, and we will talk about it later, after school, but right
now the important thing is that you are going to be okay. Skippybird
is fine, and you need to calm down and get back to class, okay?"
"Are you very mad at
me, Mommy?" Maggie asked in a quiet voice.
"Well, sweetie, you
lied to me and Daddy, and got into trouble at school, WHAT do you think?"
"I think I am in big
trouble, huh?"
"I think you know the
answer to that, young lady, but as I said, we will deal with it later. Now, you
need to pull it together, and get back to class," Heather said sternly.
"I really am sorry,
Mommy."
"I know you are,
sweetie."
Giving her a last big hug,
she sent her back to class. Sighing, knowing how hard it was going to be for
her to concentrate, her heart went out to her little girl. It was something she
herself could picture doing, but she knew Bob was going to take a dim view of
all this when he got home. He was a real stickler for telling the truth. Well,
he did tell her HE didn't want to always be the heavy, so she would deal with
Maggie herself.
When Heather picked Maggie
up after school, her heart melted again, looking at the woebegone face. But she
also knew that the sooner they got this straightened out the better. Maggie was
pretty quiet in the car going home, so Heather chatted, and told her about her
day.
Maggie ran in and checked
on Skippybird first, to make sure he was okay, then
went back into the kitchen where her mom was making her a snack.
"Umm,
Mommy? I am not really hungry."
"Okay, sit down, Maggs."
Maggie sat down, and stared
at the table. "Look at me, Maggs." Maggie
reluctantly looked up at her mom. "Now, tell me WHAT you did that was
wrong today."
Maggie hated this part, A
LOT. She took a deep breath and told her mom everything she felt she had done wrong
and even to her it sounded pretty bad, definitely a spankable
offense.
"All right, Maggie, I
know you know that lying is wrong, and you lied to a whole lot of people. You
also put your bird in jeopardy, and showed that you can be pretty irresponsible,
not thinking through consequences of your actions, right?"
"Yes, Mommy, I didn't
think it all the way through at all, I guess."
"YOU GUESS?"
Heather asked, startled.
"No, Mommy, I
know," Maggie admitted.
"Okay, Maggs, go
into my room and bring me the wooden hairbrush."
"The hairbrush,
Mommy??? PLEASE NOOOOO!"
"Are you going to
argue with me, or do WHAT you are told?" Heather questioned.
Knowing there was no reprieve, Maggie went to do as she was told, came back and
gave it to her mom. Her mom had turned her chair away from the table and
motioned Maggie over to her right side. Quickly, Heather pulled down her pants
and panties, and pulled her over her knees until her head was almost on the
floor, and her legs were straight out. She quickly brought her palm down on her
cheek and began to spank her, quickly bringing her cheeks from white to pink.
When she felt she had had a
good warmup, she reached for the brush, and upped the
ante, the way Charlie, and Bob had taught her. Knowing
from her own experiences just how much the brush hurt, she went easy on Maggie,
but hard enough to make her point.
"Soo,
young lady, SWAT, are you SWAT, going to SWAT SWAT, lie SWAT to us SWAT, again? SWAT SWAT."
"Nooooooo,
I am sooo sorry, pleassssse
no more, Mommy, pleaseeeeeee??????"
"Have SWAT, you SWAT,
learned SWAT, your SWAT, lesson? SWAT SWAT SWAT."
"Yes, Mommy, I have,
really, truly I have!!!!!!!"
Heather delivered two final
swats to her very red and penitent daughter, and let her up. Maggie quickly
danced the dance of the well spanked, and Heather let her for a few moments
before ordering her to stand in the corner, and think about her day, and how it
could have been avoided.
"Hands
on your head now, and NO rubbing. Got it?"
"Yes, Mommy," sniffed
Maggie.
Heather let her stand there
for five minutes, and then called her over to her. Hugging her hard, she told
her all was forgiven. Maggie cried hard on her shoulder, telling her again and
again how sorry she was.
"I know you are, Maggs, I know," Heather stated.
"Are you going to tell
Daddy?"
"No, Maggs, I am not."
Maggie breathed a sigh of
relief, until her mom said, "YOU ARE."
"WHAT???? I have to
tell Daddy? But he will spank me again, Mommy. PLEASEEEEE, can't this be a
secret between us?" Maggie begged.
"No, Maggs it can't. And, although I think your father will
lecture you, I doubt he will spank you again. Now off to your room and get your
homework done," Heather commanded.
~~~~~~~~~~
Maggie went to her room,
and found it too painful to sit on her chair, so she put a pillow on it for
comfort. She was just about done with her homework,
and extra assignments when she heard her dad's key in the door. Pretty soon she
heard a knock at her door.
"Come in, Daddy."
"Well, how's my little
Magpie?" Bob asked.
Looking up at him with big
sad eyes, she told him that she was in trouble. Then she hung her head again.
Coming over to her, Bob swept her up in his arms, noticing the pillow she was
sitting on, and put her on his lap on her bed.
"Sooo,
tell me WHAT happened, baby."
Maggie took a deep breath
and told him the story again, ending with her punishment from her mom.
"Well, seems you have
had quite a day, little one."
"Are you very mad at
me, Daddy?"
"Well, I am
disappointed in your choices, Magpie, and I hope you will consider your bottom
when you have this kind of decision to make in the future. But you are forgiven
and I am not going to punish you any further," Bob told her.
Realizing she had been
holding her breath, Maggie let out a big sigh, and snuggled on her daddy's
shoulder.
Later that night, someone
else was snuggling on his shoulder, and he was kissing her forehead. Bob told
Heather how proud he was of her for handling the situation. Heather beamed with
his compliment, and soon purred with contentment, as his lips found hers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~THE END, FOR
NOW~~~~~~~~~~~
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