by Twila

Feedback is always welcome: twila@e-scribblers.com.

Copyright © 2008 by Twila. All Rights Reserved.

---

“You okay?” Megan whispered shortly after Lizzie and her momma had returned.

“Yeah. Why?”

“Are you in trouble when we get home?”

Lizzie looked at her in concern. “I don’t think so. She just said I would be if I did it again.” Lizzie thought for a moment before asking. “What would she have done if it had been you?”

“Spanked me,” Megan said decisively.

“What?” Lizzie exclaimed, surprised.

“Shhh,” Andy warned the girls and sent a stern glare to both of them. She made a mental note to have a little chat with both of them when they got home.

“She spanks you? You’re ten,” Lizzie said, softly, not wanting her momma to hear her.

“Doesn’t matter how old I am,” Megan said.

Lizzie just stared at her, then at Andy. Didn’t matter how old she was? Did that go for me too? Lizzie was lost in her thoughts after that.

After church, they went to lunch at a restaurant and then home. After changing clothes, Katie and Bryan were settled down for naps and Molly, Megan and Lizzie joined their mom’s in the living room. Lizzie was very surprised when they had an open discussion about the service. Lizzie got to hear the others opinions on what the pastor had said and was allowed to voice her own without fear of rebuke. After their discussions, Molly was allowed to pick out a movie.

“Lizzie. Megan. I’d like to talk to you two in the study,” Andy said, getting up and heading that way.

Megan looked at Lizzie, a little afraid. Lizzie just looked back in confusion, but didn’t like the look on Megan’s face.

“Go on, girls,” Allie shooed the girls out of the living room and turned to help Molly get settled.

Megan led the way and tentatively knocked on the study door before obeying the command to ‘come in’.”

“Come sit down, girls,” Andy rose from her desk chair and went to stand in front of her desk, facing the chairs that sat there. The girls were soon seated in front of her. Megan looked nervous. Lizzie looked confused.

“I was disappointed by both of your behaviors in church today,” Andy started, watching both girls as she spoke. Megan started squirming in her seat, a characteristics she tended to display when being lectured. Lizzie looked angry and Andy watched her to see what she’d do or say. “I would have thought you two were old enough to sit in church without causing a scene. Whispering is one thing, but only at a minimum. Megan, you know better.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Megan acknowledged the reprimand softly, staring at her hands in her lap. Looking at her momma made her more nervous.

“It was my fault,” Lizzie said angrily. “Lay off her.” She heard Megan gasp beside her and looked up at Andy. She visibly swallowed at the icy glare on her face.

Andy leaned over to be closer to Lizzie’s face. “That was rude, young lady, not to mention disrespectful. I believe we had a talk about that today, didn’t we?”

Lizzie nodded, her anger dissipating at the stern glare and tone of her momma’s voice. Anyone else and she’d have been angrier. How does she do that?

“Unt-uh,” Andy softly corrected her.

“Yes, ma’am,” Lizzie whispered.

“Thank you.” Andy paused, standing back up. “I know there are things you two may want to discuss, but it needs to wait until after church. A question here or there is okay, but only in a whisper. Clear?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Megan said.

Lizzie reluctantly copied her.

“Megan, you may go,” Andy told her and watched Lizzie’s head shoot up again. Andy waited until Megan closed the door behind her to address Lizzie again. “I believe that essay would be beneficial for you. You can go to your room and write me a five hundred word essay on why it’s important to show respect to your elders.”

Lizzie stared at her with her mouth open. No way! But she knew by the determined look on her momma’s face that she wasn’t getting out of it. She huffed and stood up.

“Lizzie?” Andy warned.

“Yes, ma’am,” Lizzie said through clenched teeth trying to reign in her temper.

“Do you need that attitude adjusted, young lady?”

Lizzie shot a look at Andy and quickly stepped around her chair. “No, ma’am,” she replied, all attitude gone.

Andy smiled at her. “Good girl. I want that essay by dinner time.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Come here,” Andy said, opening her arms. She watched as Lizzie stepped back farther at her words, staring at her and then as Andy opened her arms, she slowly walked forward. Andy closed her arms around her, hugging her tight. “I don’t like the attitude or mouth, baby. You need to work on watching it, okay?” she scolded Lizzie gently in her ear.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Continued in Part 7

Feed the Scribbler: twila@e-scribblers.com.