Drew and Michelle sat across from each other at the kitchen table after the kids went to school. “I guess I need to go see a doctor,” Michelle finally said.
“I agree,” Drew nodded.
Michelle put her head in her hands, “I wish you wouldn’t leave this decision up to me. This is your baby as much as it is mine.”
The one person in Drew’s life that he could talk to about almost anything had always been Michelle. She understood the Mafia, and she understood him. However, suddenly he couldn’t bring himself to tell her how he was feeling about the baby, mainly because he wasn’t sure what he was feeling. “It’s your body.”
“Yeah, but if this baby is born, it will mean equal work for both of us,” Michelle said, “Not just me. God, it hasn’t even been that long since I got off heroin, I can barely cope with that and this god forsaken place, let alone a baby.”
“You told me once that you didn’t want to have a child with me because of the way I discipline,” Drew said.
Michelle had changed, but she still didn’t embrace Drew’s harsh methods of discipline. “I don’t think I could bear to watch my child punished with the belt or paddle.”
Drew wondered if that meant she didn’t view the kids living with them as her kids. “I would never intentionally hurt our child, but I can’t guarantee I won’t spank him or her if they turn out anything like Alex or Maddie.” Drew said.
“Maybe it will be a boy who is just like you,” Michelle suggested.
Drew groaned, “Then I’ll for sure be using the belt.” He could see from the look on her face that she didn’t appreciate his humor.
“I don’t know what to do,” Michelle said and the tears began to roll down her face. He reached over and pulled her into his arms. “Tell me what to do,” she sobbed.
“I can’t tell you what to do Mitch,” he said quietly and he got a far off look in his eyes. “When I was working for my father, I murdered a lot of people,” he sighed. “Maybe this is my chance to bring some life into the world for a change, but at the same time, I fear it could be a bad thing to bring a child into this world, and besides that, I think I make a rather shitty father.”
Michelle tightened her grasp on him. “You’re one hell of a good father.”
“I spend too much time telling myself not to lose control,” Drew sighed. “I don’t know if I can raise Maddie, let alone start from scratch with a brand new baby. I’m tired of teenagers shouting at me about how much they hate me.”
“But you know they don’t hate you,” Michelle said. “Maddie might think she hates you right now, but it’s only because she’s confused and angry. Her mother rejected her, and she’s afraid you will too.”
“Maybe I will,” Drew said. “Maybe I will send her back to Natty, because I’m not sure I’m a better choice. Maddie might be better off in foster care.”
Michelle pulled away from him and looked up at him sternly. “Don’t you dare say that,” she poked his chest with her finger. “You’re a much better choice for Maddie than foster care and you know it. You are her flesh and blood. I know she’s tough, but you’ll get through to her.”
“I smacked her bottom rather hard with that paddle,” Drew said with regret. “I let my anger build for a couple of weeks, and that wasn’t good.”
“She deserved to be punished,” Michelle said. “She behaved like a brat for such a long time, and you gave her lectures and plenty of chances to change. She didn’t respond to anything else. I noticed yesterday when you told her to get her winter clothes on or you would use your belt, she moved rather fast. She’s a lot like Alex. They only respond to a firm approach.”
“Alex is doing much better,” Drew sighed. “The problem is, I went to hell and back with Alex, and I don’t know if I can do it all over again with Maddie.”
“You’re going to have to,” Michelle said.
Drew realized how much he loved his wife and he placed his hand on Michelle’s stomach and thought about the embryo inside of her. “I don’t want to go through hell with this child.”
Michelle put her hand over his. “You won’t have to, because we won’t let this one become as damaged as the other four.”
“Do you want me to find a doctor for you?” He asked. “I don’t think we should rely on the accuracy of a home pregnancy test.”
“Do I look helpless for God’s sake?” Michelle asked, and she stood up and pulled out the phone book, searching for a doctor. “I can find my own doctor thanks.”
Drew smiled and reached down to pet the dog who was sitting nearby. “I married a strong willed woman, Jasper,” he scratched the dog behind the ears. “Thank God.”
Michelle thumbed through the phone directory. “God, I would have to get pregnant when we live in the wilderness. God only knows what sort of medical facilities they have around here.”
“Do you think we should tell the kids about the baby?” Drew asked.
Michelle glared at him. “We better not breath a word about this to them until we decide what to do.”
Drew whispered in the dog’s ear, “See what I mean, Jasper? Strong willed.”
***
Joey sat through school, unable to pay attention. His mind kept drifting back to the previous night when he held Alex in his arms and kissed her. His dick became stiff and he squirmed uncomfortably in his seat. He hated that he couldn’t control getting a hard-on. It happened constantly. He attempted to focus on the teacher and calm himself down, but it was rather difficult. He had extra high school credits to earn, and he had to work extra hard keeping up with his regular classes and completing the additional classes online to catch up. He hated it. He was prohibited from video games and Drew had taken his comic book collection away because he had stolen a comic book from a store in the mall, causing Michelle a great deal of grief. Joey felt Drew was being fair, but it still made things difficult.
Lizzie often daydreamed during class. She leaned over her notebook, doodling designs on the blank pages of her notebook, and wrote Jasper’s name several different ways, and then she drew dog pictures all over her notebook. She knew she was going to be in big trouble when the time came to answer for her grades, but all she could think about was Jasper, their new dog, and she couldn’t wait to get home and play with him.
Alex was distracted for entirely different reasons. She took notice of a boy in her science class named Barrett. He was athletic and played football and he wasn’t her usual type. She sat behind him, and every time she looked up and saw his broad shoulders and sandy brown hair, she wondered what it would be like to sneak between the buildings as he pinned her against the wall and felt her breasts. She still liked Joey, but she couldn’t help fantasizing about Barrett. Joey was becoming more like a brother to her, and although she enjoyed kissing Joey, she was finding herself increasingly attracted to some of the boys in school. Most of them, gave her appreciative looks, which were difficult for her to ignore. She was no longer the rebel, she had become the prom queen.
Maddie sat in the corner of each of her classes, and did everything she could to isolate herself from the other students. Two of her new friends, Travis and Gil, were in some of her classes with her, but they were often absent. She wanted to be absent with them, but her sore bottom kept her from it. She had endured the paddling Drew administered, but the thought of getting another one was not enticing. She knew her Uncle was not bluffing, and that he wouldn’t hesitate to give her another paddling if she disobeyed. On one hand, Drew had saved her from foster care, but on the other hand, he was not easy to live with. He was strict, and she feared him.
Gil cornered Maddie after school. “I can’t believe your uncle showed up at the building yesterday. That was wild.” Gil said. “What’s the deal with him? He seemed rather pissed off. Are you grounded?”
“Yeah,” Maddie answered. “I’m grounded. My Uncle is a jerk.”
“He rides a Harley,” Gil said with raised eyebrows. “He can’t be all bad.”
Maddie didn’t want to have this conversation. “He’s a badass motherfucker and I hate him,” she said and quickly walked away.
Maddie rode the school bus home, and although she had threatened to report Drew for abuse, she didn’t. She was too scared to say anything about it to anyone, especially a teacher or the principal. Deep down she knew she deserved to be punished for what she had done.
The kids sat in silence on the bus ride home. They lived further away from the school than most of their peers, and the bus ride was an hour long. The bus left the school at 3 p.m. and arrived at their driveway near 4 p.m.
Drew was outside working when they arrived, and the dog was with him. Jasper ran to greet the kids, and Lizzie swept him up in her arms and hugged him. “Oh Jasper,” she sighed, “It’s so good to see you.”
“My turn,” Joey informed her and Lizzie handed Jasper to Joey and he licked Joey’s face. Alex scratched Jasper’s neck with a smile, but Maddie ignored the dog and everyone else and stomped inside the house. Drew called after her, “Time to groom Guthrie, Maddie.”
Maddie rolled her eyes, went to her room, and flung herself down on the bed. Michelle was in the kitchen and she walked to Maddie’s door and slowly opened it. “Is everything OK?” Michelle asked.
“No,” Maddie said sullenly. “I wish I was dead.”
Drew stormed into Maddie’s room before she and Michelle could continue their conversation. “Come on,” Drew said and he took Maddie by the arm and pulled her up to her feet. He smacked her bottom with his hand. “When I tell you it’s time to tend to the horse, I mean it.”
Maddie yanked her arm free of his grasp. “I hate you.”
Drew nodded. “I know you do. Now, get out to the barn right this second, or I guarantee you will hate me even more.”
Maddie stomped outside and Drew followed. He passed Michelle on his way out. “She’s not a very cheerful sort.”
Drew kissed Michelle on the cheek. “No, she isn’t.”
When Drew got out to the barn, Maddie was waiting, and he showed her the grooming tools for the horse and began to teach her how to use them. “I’m not doing this.” Maddie said.
“Yes, you are,” Drew informed her.
“No, I’m not,” Maddie said.
“You are going to do it,” Drew said sternly. “You can either get started right now, or you can pull down your britches and bend over that wooden rail over there, and take a whipping until you agree to do it. Should I take off by belt?”
Maddie glared at him. “That’s child abuse.”
“So you say,” Drew said. “Now what’s it going to be?”
Maddie slowly picked up the horse brush and looked at him. He showed her how to brush the horse and use the other grooming tools. Maddie glared at him. “How long will this take?”
“About an hour,” Drew said. “I’ve got some things to take care of, and if I come back in an hour and you haven’t done a full hour's worth of work, you’ll be bending over that wooden rail.”
Maddie stiffened. “My mom had no idea what a jerk you were or she would have never sent me here.”
Drew laughed. “Your mom knows very well what sort of jerk I am. She’s my sister. I’ll make sure and buy you an untraceable cell phone soon so that you can call and ask her yourself.”
“I will.” Maddie glared at him and then she turned away and began to brush the horse. When Drew was gone, Maddie began to take comfort in what she was doing. Guthrie was a gentle horse, and appreciative of her attention. She paused and hugged him, feeling his strong body. She felt homesick and alone, and her bottom hurt. Tears fell down her face and she sniffed as she continued to brush the horse.
Michelle sat at the kitchen table and helped Lizzie with her homework. Michelle seemed to feel better in the afternoon.
“Mom?” Lizzie looked up at Michelle as they worked on her homework.
“What is it?” Michelle responded.
“I think I’m going to be in big trouble,” Lizzie said. “I’m way behind in school.”
Michelle’s forehead wrinkled. “How can that be, I’ve been helping you Lizzie?”
Lizzie put her arms around Michelle’s neck and hugged her. “They sent home the mid-term grade reports yesterday and dad is going to kill me when he sees mine.”
“Oh Lizzie,” Michelle patted her back. “Are you putting forth your best effort?”
“No,” Lizzie confessed and her eyes fell to the floor. “I’m not trying. I don’t want to try.”
Michelle smoothed Lizzie’s hair and tenderly kissed her forehead. “Well don’t panic sweetheart. Let’s see what happens when the grades arrive. For one thing, you need a real tutor. I can’t help you the way you need.”
Lizzie hugged Michelle, and wished she never had to let go.
Alex was upstairs in her bedroom working on her homework and so was Joey. Both of them had fallen into a routine that was comfortable for them, and they worked on their homework daily, sharing the downstairs computer when they needed to do research or write a paper. Drew didn’t trust Joey with his own computer, and when he realized Alex was spending most of her time playing games and chatting online instead of studying, he took her computer away too. Lizzie was restricted from everything, including the television, and it drove her insane. Drew was determined that all of the children would do well in school.
When Drew returned to the barn, Maddie was finished grooming Guthrie, and Drew was grateful she had not given up. After they fed the horse, Drew sent Maddie inside the house to have dinner and do her homework. “Thanks for grooming Guthrie,” Drew said to her, but Maddie ignored him.
As they sat around the kitchen table, Michelle was struggling with her nausea. She had almost made up her mind that there was no way she could have the baby, not with her chaotic life and four teenagers.
***
Drew gave the kids a ride to school the next morning so he could talk to the Principal. Michelle had confided in him about Lizzie’s concerns and he wanted to find a tutor for her. The Principal’s name was Luke Decker, and he had been a school administrator for nearly fifteen years. Drew had to wait outside his office, which irritated Drew.
Finally, Principal Decker emerged from his inner sanctum. “What can I do for you, Mr. Jackson?” Luke Decker showed Drew inside his office. Drew looked around the walls of the office at all of the plaques and school memorabilia. At least there was no large wooden paddle hanging anywhere in sight, similar to the one Drew’s high school principal had hanging in his office.
“I need a tutor for my daughter, Lizzie,” Drew explained. “She is getting further and further behind in school.”
“And you think I can manufacture a tutor out of thin air?” Principal Decker asked. “I told you a few weeks ago that tutors are almost impossible to find here.”
Drew was expecting his response. “You know nearly every family in this community,” Drew said. “There has to be someone that would be willing to tutor a teenager for a decent amount of money.”
Luke Decker leaned back in his chair and sized up Drew. Drew represented everything Luke Decker loathed, leather jackets, entitlement, and disrespect for authority. “I’ve already had this discussion with you, Mr. Jackson. This community has limited resources.”
Drew gritted his teeth. “I know there’s someone in this town who can help me, now who is it?” He was not about to back down until he had a name.
Luke Decker’s ultimate goal was to help children, so after some consideration, he temporarily swallowed his pride and wrote some names and numbers on a piece of paper. “You can try contacting these people to see if they would be willing to tutor your daughter, but if they aren’t, I don’t know what else to tell you.”
“Thanks,” Drew nodded appreciatively and took the paper. He left the Principal’s office as soon as he could.
***
After Drew left the school, he drove over to the old rundown mechanic shop he had purchased at the same time he had purchased the ranch. He had only visited the shop a few times. It had stood vacant for over seven years. He purchased it initially because he had a strong desire to go back to doing what he loved, repairing cars. Plus, he was concerned he might need to earn some money.
It was cold inside the garage, and although he had recently thought about selling it, he ultimately decided it was something he needed. This was going to be his sanctuary. He needed a place to go where he could be alone and work with his hands. It was time to start fixing up the garage. He spent several hours visiting the local utility companies to arrange for the electricity, water, and heat, to be connected. He didn’t care if he made much money repairing cars; he simply needed to do something he loved.
He also reasoned that being a small business owner was not a bad way to try fitting in better in town. He was learning that small towns were difficult to infiltrate. As he looked at the empty garage, he thought about the old mechanic shop in the city. He had spent many satisfied hours in that shop and he loved the challenge of fixing cars. It wasn’t going to be easy to get an inventory of parts and supplies, and get his business going, but he relished the challenge. There were a couple of other mechanic shops around the area, and Drew knew they would not be happy with the competition. That wasn’t his problem.
When Drew arrived home, the mid-term grade reports were in the mail. Alex was doing well in school, and he decided he would reward her by allowing her to have her computer back. Joey was doing OK, but he was still way behind in high school credits. Drew was not comfortable returning his computer to him, but he decided it wouldn’t hurt for Joey to have his comic books back as a small reward. When Drew opened Lizzie’s report card he breathed a heavy sigh. She was failing three classes, and she had borderline grades in the rest of her classes.
He looked at the envelope that held Madison’s mid-term report and he didn’t dare open it. He waited a short time and finally worked up the nerve to see how she was doing, and it was worse than he expected. She had straight F’s. He closed his eyes. He showed the letters to Michelle.
“What are you going to do?” Michelle asked. She was relieved that this problem fell on Drew’s shoulders and not hers.
“I’ll have a talk with each of the kids about their grades,” Drew said. “Obviously, there needs to be some changes for Lizzie and Maddie.” He took out the paper the principal had given him with the names and numbers of possible tutors for Lizzie. He handed it to Michelle. “Would you mind calling to ask if any of these people would be willing to tutor Lizzie? Offer them top dollar if you have to.”
Michelle nodded, and took the paper from him. It was the least she could do.
Lizzie was worried as they walked home from where the bus dropped them off. She sauntered slowly up the driveway behind the other three. She knew Drew was going to be angry with her when he saw her grades, and she dreaded the consequences.
Drew had been organizing an office on the other side of the entrance to the living room. He set up a couple of computers and desks, and he kept his important papers in a steel safe. He was in his office working when the children arrived home from school.
“Hey, Dad,” Alex waved at him on her way toward the stairs.
“Alex!” Drew called, and she stopped dead in her tracks. There was a familiar business tone in his voice, and she wondered what she had done wrong. She backed up and peeked inside Drew’s office. “What, Dad?”
“I want to tell you how proud I am of your grades,” Drew smiled and handed her the mid-term report. Alex grinned and ran around the desk to hug him. He kissed her forehead. “You can have your computer back, as long as your grades stay high like this.”
“Hell. Yes!” Alex wanted to do a dance of joy, but she refrained. “Can I have the computer right now?”
“After your homework is finished,” Drew snickered.
Next Drew talked to Joey about his progress, and rewarded him with the return of his comic books, telling him when more of his high school credits were completed, and if his current grades remained high, that he could eventually get his computer and computer games back. Joey was relieved.
Next it was Lizzie’s turn, and she hung back nervously near the door of his office. “C’mon Elizabeth,” he said quietly, and motioned for her to join him.
“I know my grades are bad, I’m trying to do better; I’m really trying.” She blurted.
“Close the door,” Drew instructed and she did. He then walked toward her and put one hand on her shoulder, and with his other hand, he lifted her chin and looked down into her eyes. “Are you really trying?”
Lizzie had always been a fantastic liar, but Drew was a genius at seeing through lies. She bit her lower lip. “I’ve been slacking,” she confessed quietly.
Drew nodded. “I know it’s a struggle for you, Lizzie,” he sighed, “but I also know you aren’t even trying.”
“You won’t make me take the dog back will you?” She was terrified.
“No,” Drew assured her. “I wouldn’t allow us to adopt an animal and then take it back the next day, but something needs to change Lizzie.”
“I’ll work harder,” Lizzie promised.
Drew was torn about punishing her, but he knew consistency was important. “I’m afraid you’ll have to be punished for slacking off. If I thought you were trying your best, I wouldn't punish you; but we both know you can do better.”
Lizzie swallowed. “Do you want me to go get the paddle?”
Drew unbuckled his belt. “No, bend over the back of the leather sofa and lift your skirt and pull down your panties.” He drew his belt through the loops of his pants.
Lizzie began to cry. She hated it when Drew spanked her. He doubled his belt and gave her five licks for every failing grade, which amounted to fifteen licks. She was wiggling in distress when he finished reddening her bottom and put his belt back on. “I want you to pay attention in class and try harder, do you understand?”
“Yes sir,” she sobbed and after she pulled up her panties, she fell against him and sobbed on his shoulder. He hated to punish her, but he knew it was necessary if she was going to learn to apply herself. He had to be strict with her, the same way he was with the others. After a few minutes, he kissed her on the forehead and sent her to her bedroom. Then he went searching for Maddie who was fidgeting nervously as she sat on her bed in her room. Drew slowly opened her bedroom door and looked at her. “We need to talk,” he said.
She had heard the smacks of the belt and was terrified. “Why?”
“C’mon,” Drew said. “The mid-term grade reports came in the mail today. Come with me and let’s take a look at how you did.”
Maddie’s legs shook as he led her to his office. “What’s the problem?” She asked nervously.
Drew handed her the mid-term report and she looked it over. “Oh,” she said softly.
“You’re failing every subject. I never see you bring home a book,” Drew said. “I never see you write a paper or do anything else school related. Do you think that might have something to do with all of these F’s?”
“If you spank me, I-I’ll kill myself,” Maddie said in desperation.
Drew wasn’t accustomed to someone threatening suicide, and it took him by surprise at first. “You would kill yourself because of a spanking?” He asked.
Maddie looked away. The way he said it, made her feel ridiculous. “I’ll kill myself,” she said. “No one wants me. You don’t want me. I heard you talking to Michelle the other night about how you wished you hadn’t brought me here.”
“You’ve been eavesdropping on conversations that are none of your business.” Drew grabbed her by the arms and looked sternly down into her eyes. “I do want you Maddie,” he said sternly. “I get frustrated, just like everyone else, and sometimes I say things I don’t really mean. I start thinking that maybe I’m not good enough to raise you because I’m tired and frustrated. Everyone gets that way sometimes, but you aren’t ever going anywhere. You’re stuck with me.”
Maddie began to cry a little, “You are just saying that. You don’t really want me.”
Drew shook his head. “Listen to me young lady, and listen good,” he said sternly, “if I didn’t want you then you wouldn’t be here.”
Maddie shook her head. “Then why didn’t you take me with you the first time you visited my house? If you really wanted me, then you would not have waited so long.”
“I waited because I was serious about taking you and would not have taken you if I was not committed.” Drew said.
“I wish I was dead,” Maddie sobbed.
Drew grabbed her chin and tilted her head toward him, making her look him in the eyes. “Let’s get one thing straight young lady, if I EVER hear you say that you would be better off dead again, then you’ll think the punishment I am about to give you is nothing compared to what you’ll get, do you hear me?”
Maddie was speechless.
“Understand?” Drew asked sternly.
Maddie slowly nodded.
“You are a beautiful young lady, and you are the daughter of my only full sister. Unfortunately for you, you’re the grandchild of some very strong-willed people with lots of stubborn Italian blood running through their veins,” Drew said. “I know what that feels like, but if I ever hear you say you are going to kill yourself again, or that you would be better off dead, I’m going to whip you into next week.”
Maddie stiffened.
“You need to start realizing how priceless you are Maddie. While you’re here with me, I’m hoping that I can help you reach your potential. There will be no more talk of death, do you understand?” Drew asked.
Maddie nodded. “W-what are you going to do about my grades?”
“You know what I’m going to do,” Drew said and he pushed her over the back of the leather couch and instructed her to pull down her pants and panties. She was shaking, “No, please.” She begged.
“Failing grades are not the grades of a girl who is trying her best,” Drew said. “While you are under my roof you won’t be bringing home grades like this.”
“Don’t whip me,” She pleaded as Drew unbuckled his belt and slid it off.
“Hurry up and get your pants and panties down.” Drew said. “The rules were explained very clearly to you, and studying in school was part of those rules.”
Maddie nervously slid her pants and panties down, dancing around in anticipation of what was about to happen. She wished there was some way for her to get out of this.
Drew doubled his belt. “I gave Lizzie five licks for each F, so I’m giving you the same. Fair is fair.”
“No,” Maddie bawled. “I got seven F’s.”
“Yes,” Drew said. “So that’s thirty-five licks.”
“But you just paddled me the other day,” Maddie pleaded, “Wasn’t that punishment enough?”
“The paddling you got was for something else. This punishment is for your poor school performance. If you don’t like getting spanked, then I suggest you learn to do what is expected of you,” Drew said.
She cried as he whipped her bottom hard. As the last stripe fell across her tender flesh, she wondered if she was ever going to recover. Her bottom was sore and welted and Drew waited for her to pull up her pants and panties, and then he took her in his arms. “I’m sorry I had to do that, Maddie,” Drew said, “but you were warned. I want to see you become the girl I know you can be. If you don’t start bringing home your books every day and spending at least one hour per night doing homework, then you’ll get a spanking, unless you can prove to me that you don’t have any homework. I’m also going to talk to your teachers about you catching up. Parent and teacher conferences are next week.”
“No,” Maddie whined. “Don’t talk to my teachers.”
Drew looked at her with affection. “Your life is changing little Maddie. I know it’s difficult for you to accept, but you best start getting used to it. Sulking about it is only going to make it worse.”
Maddie rubbed her eyes and sobbed for a long time as Drew held her. Her bottom hurt, but instead of pushing him away as she usually did, she held onto him with a tight grip and let her tears flow. She sobbed because of the mother who had abandoned her, and the Uncle who was so strict. She sobbed because of the way she felt about herself, and about having to live in Montana. Drew was patient and caring with her, and he let her cry until she was finished. Then he gently lifted her in his arms, carried her to her bedroom, and laid her on her bed.
When she was alone, Maddie thought about Drew’s words. He told her that she was worth something, and that he wasn’t going to allow her to talk about killing herself. No one had ever talked to her the way her Uncle did, and although she had not been good enough for her mother, for the first time in a long time she had hope that her Uncle was not going to give up on her so easily. There was some comfort in that thought. She just wished he wouldn’t use the paddle and belt to punish her. She rolled over on her stomach and rubbed her sore bottom.
To Leave Feedback click here ----> Feedback
The Jacksons 3