Fred Andrews had walked into the kitchen to find his son sitting in there, apparently waiting for him. "What's going on, son? Is it your break-up with Veronica?" Fred asked Archie.
"No, Dad, it's not," Archie sighed. "I've been thinking. Maybe college isn't for me. Maybe I can try working with you in the construction company again."
"Well, there's no shame in hard work, son, but where's this coming from?" Fred asked thinking of a time when Archie wanted nothing more than to go to college for music.
"After the crap I've seen these last few months, I just wanna get out of my head. Work with my hands. Try to make peace with things." Archie told his father.
"Well, if you're serious about it, you better get your butt in gear. Shift starts in about an hour." Fred said, thinking about how he used this company when he was a kid to cope with the death of his father. Maybe this would help Archie cope?
"I better get going then," Archie said to his father.
Fred handed a helmet to his son as Archie ran out the door.
Archie was excited to be at work, breaking rocks. Anything to get his mind off reality. He kept working, even when Vic called for everyone to take a break. He needed to keep working. Vic blew his whistle again. "When I say stop, you stop." He yelled at Archie.
"Back off! I don't need a break." Archie yelled back pushing Vic.
"You don't want to do this, kid. I got you by about 100 pounds." Vic knew Archie had a rough year, and was trying to reason with the boy. Archie pushes Vic again. "That's it! I don't care if you are Fred's kid, you're off my crew!" Vic yelled.
"The hell I am!" Archie screamed as he stormed off the construction site.
The Next Day
It was early the next morning. Surely Vic didn't mean what he said. He also didn't think his dad knew what had happened. Archie got dressed for the job sight and made his way downstairs. He picked his construction helmet up in the kitchen and headed for the door.
"Oh, no, no. You're not going to the jobsite today, not after you picked a fight yesterday." Fred told his teenaged son as he took the helmet from him.
"I was only trying to do my job," Archie said defensively, "it wasn't my fault, and then Vic."
"Vic?" Fred interrupted. "Vic who has worked for me for a very long time?" Fred paused looking sternly at Archie. - "Who knows what he is doing." Fred questioned.
Archie realized his father was not taking his side in the matter, and If his dad wasn't on his side then Archie had no interest in talking to him. "Fine, whatever." Archie yelled standing to leave the room.
"Oh, no, no, we're not done here, young man." Fred lectured why grabbing his son by the arm. "You want to explain to me how I found this in your bedroom?" He asked. Archie rolled his eyes. Fred continued to lecture him. "What, you think you're the first kid that's ever taken a drink in high school? No. This does not solve your problems." Fred was on the verge of yelling.
Archie stood to leave. "This is rediculous." He yelled. Fred grabbed his son's arm again. SWAT SWAT SWAT. Three hard swats landed on Archie's backside. Archie gasped in shock. He did not expect a spanking, he didn't expect to be disciplined at all actually. He had been through too much. Kids that had been in juvie, or attacked by bears, or branded don't come back and get spanked for drinking. The only person he knew who had been spanked after juvie is Jughead, But Jughead was 10 at the time, and FP spanked Jughead for lighting the matches in the first place. (Jughead had spent some time in Juvenile Detention after accidentally setting fire to a classroom in 4th grade). Archie was 16 years old though, not 10. After everything he had been through... All that he had seen and done, he was an adult, not a little kid.
Archie could here his father unbuckling his belt. "Bend over Archie," Fred told him as he slid his belt though the loops of his jeans.
Archie turned to face his father. He couldn't be serious right now. "There is no way in hell I am going to let you spank me right now." Archie yelled.
Fred grabbed Archie by the ear and lead him over to the kitchen table. "Ow OUCH dad, stop." Archie protested. When Fred let go of Archie's ear Archie began to massage his ear lobe. Fred pulled out a chair from the kitchen table, then he pulled his son over his lap. Fred laid the belt down and started spanking Archie with his hand. SMACK SMACK SMACK SWAT SMACK SMACK. "Dad. What Are You Doing? Stop It!" The teen whined.
"No Archie. I will not tolerate drinking or disrespect. You are getting this spanking." SWAT SMACK SMACK. Archie moved is hand back to try to coved his butt. "ARCHIE." His father warned. Archie moved his hand. Tears were threatening to spill out of his eyes. Fred picked up his belt and doubled it over. TWAP... one Archie thought CRACK two WHAP. Archie winced in pain. WHAP WHAP. Archie was willing it to stop. SMACK SMACK SMACK. Six, seven, eight, he thought as he started crying. WHAP WHAP. Fred threw his belt down onto the floor, and helped Archie stand up.
"I'm outta here." Archie yelled at his father while swiping angry tears from his face.
"Fine, take a walk, Archie. Clear your head." Fred yelled, and "While you're out there, -THINK ABOUT HOW YOU NEED TO SHAPE UP!"
Archie slammed the door on his way out. His son would be back, with any luck he would bring home a new attitude with him. Fred began to pace. How the hell was he going to get his kid through this? He loved Archie more than life itself. How can he take the pain away? Seeing Archie hurt made him hurt.
