Family Above All

31. Forever a Child

Pairing: Pearl/Annabelle (F/f) hand

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Gilbert Residence

Afternoon

Ric put the heavy school paddle on the kitchen table. Jenna gasped and picked it up.

"Oh, I think I felt this fella or one just like it on my behind before! Ouch," Jenna giggled, swinging the paddle a few times. "This will do better than that flimsy toy paddle from Bonnie's house."

"Yeah, Connors had this in his room," Ric reported. "He even said that a couple of other faculty members use his room to get their own kids in line when they are acting up at school."
"At school? Couldn't you get in trouble for that?" Jenna worried.

"Yeah, well, my conversation with Elena didn't go so well. I ended up whacking her sassy rear with my big ruler during my conference period. I think I did get through to her, but she wasn't happy with me," Ric lamented. He gave her some more details about the "conversation" he had with her in his classroom.

Jenna cracked open two beers for her and Ric and sat down.

"Well, then she ought to learn to behave herself," Jenna fumed. "Elena is a smart girl, she knows better than to justify cheating. But are you sure it's smart to spank her at school. What if someone walked in?"

"I had the door locked and the blinds shut. If you would have heard her mouthing off, you'd get it. Oh, and Connors said that Principal Weber has even whacked his kids a few times in his office. I guess he got fed up with them taking advantage of his position and offered faculty the same options. Just as long as we don't start going old school on the other kids, I think it will fly. So I don't think I could get in trouble, if my boss is okay with it," Ric shared. "Obviously, it's a last resort, but these kids really know how to push it. Let you said, they are smart."

"Yeah, I certainly did say that. They really know just how to push our buttons," Jenna said, taking a sip of her beer. "It's just that my sister Miranda was such a goody-goody. She hardly ever got in trouble. I just wonder what she would think of us spanking the kids. Grayson just had to look at them and they behaved. They were really good parents, Ric. If we can be half as good as them, I think we'll be okay."

Jenna closed her eyes and tried not to get upset thinking about her late sister and brother-in-law. Sometimes it still didn't seem real. But they were dead and Jenna and Ric had to do their best, even if they fell short at times.

Ric sighed, "I know it's hard, Jenna. But we've tried other punishments. Look, if the kids were grounded, we'd have a miserable weekend at the lake. We punish them again tonight and it's over. Then, we can move on."

"I agree," Jenna admitted finally. "But did you check in with Jeremy's teachers?"

Ric chugged half of his beer.

"Yup. Most said he's doing better, but still slacking. He draws in class and is missing some homework. But overall, they said he's capable, but just needs to apply himself more," Ric stated. "I got the missing work and he's going to do all of it, even if he doesn't get credit. If he's still struggling in bio, we can get him a tutor. Or pay Elena to help him more?"

"Yeah, that's a good idea," Jenna said. "But since we already had it out with them, can't we let this go?"

Ric shook his head, "Nope. They got spanked this morning for attitude and trying to lie through their teeth. I think they both still need a wake up call for the cheating and overall deceit. I mean, have you noticed any money missing before?"
Jenna shifted and finished her beer, trying not to burp.