How It's Going to Be

Tony scrambled up quickly and begged, "Dad, no, please don't say anything until you've thought about it more because..."

Jethro held his hand up. "Don't speak at all! I want your mouth closed!"

He waited for Tony to obey, then continued, "You will not return to Ohio State until you have at least a solid B grade point average, and not one day before then. Until that happens, you will no longer be given any independence, since you have a genuine problem handling it. You are moving back home and you will be attending Community College."

Tony threw his head back dramatically and groaned. He felt like he had been slapped. His dad couldn't do this to him!

Jethro ignored his response and continued. "Furthermore, since you have an obvious problem distinguishing between your personal priorities and your personal fun, you have lost your car and your phone, as well."

Tony couldn't help it then, and despite instructions, blurted out tragically, "Dad, please, no- you can't do this to me!"

Jethro responded, "I most certainly can, and I am. Son, you are eighteen years old, and not eight. There is absolutely no reason we should be in your room discussing your academic performance, or lack of academic performance, when you are a freshman in college! It is both discouraging and disappointing to me that you have chosen to conduct yourself as a child, rather than as an adult, in the past few months. I had thought I could trust you to go off to school and actually tend to business. So, until I see you prove yourself as being capable of acting in your own best interests, I will be acting in your best interests for you."

Jethro held out his hand expectantly but Tony's response was to disregard him and start arguing angrily.

His lip crept out to a pout, and he tried to diminish the severity of the issue. "Dad, this is just wrong! You are going to kill me with no car and no phone, plus leaving all my friends at Ohio State. Can't you just think about what you're saying? How about another punishment, please? I'm not saying I didn't screw up, I just want you to think about it when you're not mad. I love Ohio State, and you know that, Dad!"

Jethro ignored his son's outburst. "I'm waiting."

He looked pointedly at the teen, and Tony moved off the bed with a huff, pulled his keys from his pocket and grabbed his phone off his desk.

He dropped both in the outstretched hand, and questioned, as sarcastically as he could, "Ok, there- are you happy now, Dad?"

"That's the second time, Anthony. If you make one more smart remark or fail to drop that attitude you've developed, you are going go to bed tonight after a painful encounter with my belt. Is that clear?"

Tony absorbed the threat. Realizing he was just compounding the Ohio State problem, he backed off, "Yes sir, I've got it."

Jethro nodded, and spoke. "Now, I wasn't finished. There is no longer a car in the picture for you and you will no longer have a phone. In addition, you are restricted to this house unless you are physically sitting in a classroom. No friends, no going out, and no entertainment- that is going to be the mantra until all of those grades are where I want to see them."

Tony didn't respond for several long seconds, then he finally asked, "Just how long is that going to last, Dad?"

"Conceivably you could do that in one semester, but it might take two if you don't get a full class schedule in January."

Tony accepted that news like a death sentence and exploded. "Dad, you are already punishing me big time by making me come home. Taking away every thing else is just wrong! I'm eighteen years old, Dad, and it's not fair to keep just adding one restriction after another."

Tony groaned miserably, "Please, please, Dad, I really don't deserve all of this..."

Jethro interrupted irritably, "No, the punishment is standing as I just spelled it out to you, effective immediately. It is irrelevant to me whether you think the punishment is palatable or unfair. Now, are you clear on what your restrictions are, and what I expect from this point?"

Tony's head flew up and he looked at Jethro with horror. "Dad, Mexico- we're going to Mexico, remember?"

"I am well aware of that. I just bought the tickets this afternoon and phoned Abuela with the details."

"So, the punishment's not until after, Dad, after we get back to the States? Right?"

"Again, let me repeat that your grounding begins immediately."

"Dad, no! Please don't do this to me in Mexico, while we're on vacation and at Christmas! I won't be able to participate in any of the festival activities, or..."

Jethro held his finger to his lips. "Don't keep going, Son. I know exactly what attractions and events are available in Mexico. This is not a punishment you can follow at your convenience, when it is least unpleasant to you. I said it starts tonight, and that is exactly what I meant. You will still be grounded in Mexico the duration of the visit."

Tony's head was spinning and he yelled angrily, "How about then I just quit school altogether and get a job- then none of this restriction- until I bring up my grades- is even an issue! We won't even have to have this conversation!"

Jethro narrowed his gaze and answered, "That disrespect and yelling just made three." He pointed towards the bed with one hand while he started unbuckling his belt with the other. Tony realized he'd gone too far by raising his voice, plus compounding it with the really disrespectful tone, and tried to diffuse the situation.