Penny Peabody

"Wait, uh, Mom, before you leave, I wanted to ask if I could borrow the station wagon tomorrow?" Betty asked

"Why?" Her mother responded

"FP's getting released from jail.!So, Jughead and I, we're gonna pick him up and treat him to Pop's."

"They're letting FP out?" Alice asked her daughter.

"And you're gonna hear it eventually, so, it might as well be from me. Don't freak out, Jughead is a Serpent now, officially." Betty informed her mother.

Alice was not going to let the kids borrow the station wagon, but she agreed to take the kids to pick up FP. When FP came out Jughead hugged him, excited to see his father.

The four of them went to Pop's, where FP told them he joined AA, and was retiring from the serpents. The kids wanted to send FP go out with a bang. They decided to have a retirement party for FP at the Whyte Worm. The night of the party even Alice attended.

FP stood on stage to give his retirement speech. "I've been in and out of the Serpents since I was younger than my son. And it's been a wild ride. Good times, bad times, but through it all, the Serpents stuck by my side, while most other people turned their backs on me. My own family included. Now, the letter of the law says that I can't be here in the Serpent den. That I can't associate with my friends. My real family. My blood. But I've been thinking about that. And it'll be a cold day in hell before a snake lets a pig tell him what to do. Northside wants me outta this gang? Well, they better bring a coffin because FP Jones isn't retiring! I am not going gently into the night! I'm here to stay! So, bring the fire!"

Jughead couldn't believe what he was hearing. This can't be happening, his dad couldn't be serious. He didn't expect this. When FP finished his speech he walked over to his son.

"What happened to retiring?" Jughead asked, worry in his voice.

FP pulled Jughead into a hug, whispering in his ear, to not be overheard. "I know about the Snake Charmer. And the delivery you did and the debt you owe her." FP told Jughead. Jughead stood there listening, in shock. "It was the one thing, son. The one thing I asked you not to do." FP lectured

Jughead's eyes filled with tears he wouldn't let fall. "I can fix this. Let me just talk to her." Jughead said filled with anxiety. He hated that he disappointed his Father.

"No. I'm in, you're out. Penny's my problem now." FP told Jughead sternly, doing whatever needed to be done to protect his son.

FP stopped hugging his son, and held Jughead's face. Making eye contact with his son "You broke my heart, Jughead." FP said before kissing Jughead's forehead.

As FP was pulled away by the crowd Jughead stood there upset and shocked.

The next morning Jughead was standing in the kitchen trying to talk to his father about what had happened. Jughead was still overcome with guilt. Jughead kept thinking he had to fix this. How could he have ruined his dad's one chance to really change, to go straight.

"Dad, I was thinking about our Penny problem." Jughead tried to talk to his father

FP told Jughead it was his problem now, not Jugheads. Jughead reminded his father that it was he, that was caught on camera delivering drugs, not his father. Tall Boy entered the trailer carrying duffel bags. FP told Tall Boy to toss them into a corner.

"What's in the bags, Tall Boy?" Jughead asked as soon as Tall Boy entered the trailer.

"What did I just say?" FP yelled at Jughead. "Don't make me get the belt boy. Mind your damn business and get to school." Jughead left the trailer quickly. It wasn't wise to push FP's patience any further than he already had. Jughead didn't say anything as he left, his father didn't give empty threats, and Jughead was keen to avoid getting a spanking.

Today was a half day at school. Jughead met Toni, Fangs, and Sweet Pea along with the other serpents at the Whyte Worm. They were working on toys for tots. FP Jones walked into the building, surprised to see Jughead there.

"Why the hell are you not in school?" FP asked his son.

"It's a half-day before break." Jughead exsplained.

"Well, in that case, you can hold down the fort here, Jug." FP told him.

"Or I could come with you guys." Jughead suggested."

"Nice try. The answer's no."

"Dad, I know what the snake charmer has you doing. Let me pull my weight, let me help." Jughead said wanting more than anything to clean up his mess.

"Excuse me guys, I need to have a private word with my son" FP said to the group of Serpents standing nearest. Jughead was hoping that "private word" didn't mean what he thought it did. FP led Jughead outside, behind the Worm.

"Boy, how many times do I have to tell you? Penny is my problem, not yours." FP said sternly. Jughead didn't respond. "Boy, I'm doing this because I love you." FP said while unbuckling his belt. Jughead eyed the belt nervously. "Jug, turn around and put your hands on the wall." FP instructed. Jughead slowly turned and did what he was told. One, Jughead silently counted. Two, tears were already falling. Three, four, five, Jughead winced. Six "Last one Jug." Seven. FP threaded his belt as Jughead turned to face his father. FP pulled his crying son in for a hug. "I gotta go Jug, But we will talk about this when I get home. I did this because I love you, and I'll do anything to keep you safe, including busting your ass." Jughead wiped the tears away from his face, and when he had stopped crying he headed home.