Robin Wants Attention-Part
4
By SamPast
Copyright © 1999
After dinner, I took my
bath and put on my pajamas. I was laying on my bed
when there was a knock on the door. Jennifer got up and opened the door, to
Daddy.
"Hi, Daddy," Jenn
said and gave him a big hug. Daddy hugged and kissed her back.
Then he looked at me.
"What, no hug? No kiss?" he asked.
"I thought you would
be mad at me," I said.
Daddy came over and put his
arms out for a hug. I hesitated, then got up and hugged him. He kissed me on
the forehead.
"I think you and me
and Mommy need to talk downstairs, right now," he said. I just nodded, then followed him out of the room.
I didn't say a word as I
followed Daddy to the living room. Mommy was already sitting there waiting for
us. Daddy sat down on the couch, and I sat in between them. Even though we were
all sitting next to each other, they could still both look at me, because it
was one of those circular couches and I was sitting right in the middle. I felt
like the monkey, in the game, Monkey in the Middle. I waited for either Mommy
or Daddy to speak first. I didn't have to wait for too long.
"Robin,
why don't you tell us what's going on? Daddy asked.
"What do you mean,
Daddy?" I asked innocently.
Daddy was already losing
patience, "Robin, don't play games with us. You were spanked twice just
today, and have been getting into a lot of trouble the past few weeks. It seems
ever since we moved to the house, you have been in trouble. This isn't like
you. And Mommy and I want to know what's going on. And we want to know right
now!"
"I don't know,
Daddy," I said. I looked at Daddy. He didn't seem like he was believing me. "Really, I don't know what's the matter with me."
Mommy turned me to face
her. She looked right into my eyes and said, "Robin, you know we love you,
don't you?"
I know that was supposed to
be one of those questions that you don't really answer, but I thought about it
anyway. Yeah, I guess I knew they loved me, somewhat anyway. I don't really know
what was wrong with me.
"Yes," I said
softly.
Mommy looked at Daddy and
then continued, "We only punish you because we want you to learn the
difference between right and wrong. We do it because we love you and care about
you."
Daddy added, "We're trying
to help you make the right choices, Robin. When you make a bad choice, one that
leads to trouble, you must be punished. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Daddy, yes,
Mommy," I said.
Daddy said, "Well,
young lady, what do you have to say for yourself about your behavior at school
today? That was very unlike you to disrupt the class and be disrespectful to
your teacher."
"I know, and I'm
sorry, I won't do it again," I sobbed. I was already feeling bad, and they
were making me feel more guilty.
"I'm afraid 'I'm
sorry' isn't enough to explain your actions, Robin. We want to know why you
acted the way you did."
"I, um, I was mad,
Daddy," I said, hoping I wouldn't have to elaborate.
"Mad at who, Robin?" Mommy asked.
"Mr. Fried said I was
mad at the world, but I was just mad at Daddy because he spanked me, and mad at
Jennifer for telling on me. And I guess I was mad at myself for getting into
trouble in the first place." There, I finally said it. Man, I was
exhausted. Today had been a never-ending day.
Daddy picked me up and sat
me on his lap. "I understand, that, Robin, really
I do, but that doesn't explain why you disrupted the class."
"But, Daddy, my butt
hurt and I didn't want to sit down!" I shouted.
Mommy warned, "Robin!
Watch your tone!"
"I'm sorry," I
whispered. I was afraid to open my mouth again.
Mommy looked at Daddy. It
seemed like they might be ready to give up.
"Okay, Robin,"
Daddy said, "I guess that explains your behavior in school today. I want
you to promise me you will never act like that again. If you do, you will be
spanked again, do you understand?"
I nodded.
Then Daddy continued,
"Now that we got that resolved, let's backtrack to this morning and
yesterday morning, why did you wet your bed purposely and then lie about it?"
I thought to myself. This
was the time, I thought, I could just tell them how I feel. I could say that
sometimes I hate being a twin. That I hate sharing so much
with Jennifer, including my parents. How I'm jealous of the baby. I
could say that I wanted more attention. But I didn't. I guess I wasn't ready to
tell all.
All I said was, "I
don't know, Daddy, I guess I just wanted to stay home from school. I thought it
would be a good way to do it."
Daddy and Mommy looked at
each other again. I think they thought there was more to it. There was, of
course, but they didn't know that.
Daddy said, "Well,
Robin, I hope you understand now, that what you did was very wrong. And I hope
it never happens again."
"It won't, Daddy, I
promise. I promise, Mommy," I vowed.
Mommy said, "Okay,
Robin, go upstairs and brush your teeth and get into bed. We'll be up in two
minutes to tuck you in. It's late."
I did what I was told. I
didn't want any more trouble today.
(to be continued...)