Chapter 7
A/N—I don't condone this, but this is the way discipline was often handled in schools. No flames, please.
As news about Keith's arrest spreads across San Pueblo, school becomes a nightmare for the Partridge kids. Not only has Laurie been harassed, so have the younger kids. Tracy, in tears, enters her bedroom. She drapes herself over her bed and cries. Laurie walks in and sees her sister.
Laurie: (Touching Tracy's shoulder) Tracy?
Tracy sniffs, but doesn't speak.
Laurie: (Sits on the bed, stroking her sister's hair) Tracy? Tell me what's wrong.
Tracy: (Sits up, sniffing, wiping her nose with the neck of her shirt) My teacher...
Laurie: (Grunts, as she shifts on the bed; her abdomen hindering her movements) Your teacher? Tell me.
Tracy: She... she... Mrs. Crabapple (starts between sniffs) paddled me.
Laurie: (Shocked) What?
Tracy: Clarence Tillman started picking on me. He... he... he said Keith is a killer... he killed Lester. I told him to stop, but he wouldn't... He got the other kids to pick on me too.
Laurie's face falls.
Tracy: So... so I punched him in the nose.
Laurie tries to stifle a giggle, but fails. She regroups: So, why did your teacher paddle you?
Tracy: She saw me punch him.
Laurie: Did you tell your teacher what Clarence did?
Tracy: Yes. He got a paddling too.
Laurie: (Half smile) Well, that's good... I guess.
Tracy: (Sighs) Don't tell mom.
Laurie: She needs to know.
Tracy: No, don't. She'll worry.
Laurie: Didn't your teacher write a note for mom to sign?
Tracy: No.
Danny: (Knocks on the partially opened door) Can I come in?
Tracy: Yeah.
Danny: (Closes the door behind him) I agree with Tracy. (Hands her an ice pack, a glass of water, and a couple aspirin) Here, you'll need this.
Tracy: Thanks. (Sits on the pack and takes the pills) How did you know?
Danny: I saw you walk up the stairs when you got home. I know that walk. Remember, you're talking to the guy who's survived paddlings from most of my teachers and also Principal McGuffin. (Rubs his hindquarters) He packs a swing... especially his board with the holes in it. He calls it "Big Bob."
Tracy: (Winces) Ooh!
Danny: Yeah. (Changes the subject back) Anyway, mom doesn't need to know. She's got a lot to worry about right now, with Keith and you.
Laurie: (Against her better judgment) Oh, all right. Tracy, some people are gonna be mean. You can't go around punching people.
Tracy: (Cheers up) It was worth it.
Laurie: (Confused) Huh?
Tracy: (Smiles at Danny) I only got a paddling. He got a paddling AND a bloody nose! I popped him right in the nose and blood started gushing like crazy.
Danny: How did your teacher find out?
Tracy: I had his blood all over my knuckles.
Danny: (Impressed) Good job, sis! I betcha he'll leave you alone now.
Laurie: (Admonishing) Maybe so, but that's really not the way to handle things. Next time, tell your teacher.
Danny: (Moans) And make her into a narc? No way!
They hear a car drive up.
Danny: That must be mom.
Tracy: Don't you say anything, Laurie.
Laurie: (Sighs) Okay, I won't. Do you have any homework?
Tracy: I did it during recess. She took our recess away from us too. (Yawns) I'm tired. I just wanna take a nap before dinner.
Danny: Good thinking. Just keep the ice pack on and you'll feel better by then.
Tracy crawls into bed. Laurie adjusts her covers.
Danny: I've got some homework, so I'll see you later, Slugger!
Tracy giggles.
Laurie: (Kisses her sister on the cheek) I'll fend off mom for you.
Shirley: (Calling as she climbs the stairs) Tracy Mae Partridge!
Danny: Too late.
Shirley: (Enters the girls' room) Tracy Mae Partridge, when I took Chris to the doctor this afternoon, guess who I ran into? Diane Tillman and her son Clarence.
Danny and Laurie shrink back and quietly leave the room.
Danny: (Mouths) Good luck!
Shirley: He had a bloody nose, and do you know how he got that bloody nose?
Tracy sits up, remaining silent.
Shirley: Imagine my shock when she said that you gave him that bloody nose. I was like, "Surely not my Tracy. She doesn't have a violent bone in her body." But when I stopped by the school to pick up Chris's homework, guess who I ran into? Mrs. Crabapple, who said my little girl punched Clarence in the nose. Oh, by the way, his nose is broken.
Tracy: (Cries) Did she tell you WHY I punched him? (Hitch in her voice) Clarence started picking on me. He... he... he said Keith is a killer... he killed Lester. I told him to stop, but he wouldn't... He got the other kids to pick on me too. So, I punched him.
Shirley: (Sits on the bed by her daughter and sighs, pained) Oh, Tracy. (Embraces her daughter, tears raining onto the girl's head) I wish I could take this away from you, your brothers and your sister, but I can't. People can be mean sometimes...
Tracy: (Interrupts) Laurie already lectured me about it.
Shirley: (Ends the embrace, holding her daughter's cheeks in her hands) Tomorrow, I want you to apologize to Clarence.
Tracy: (Protesting) MOM! He's the one who called me names and called Keith a killer.
Shirley: You broke his nose. That's not the way we handle things like this.
Tracy: (Scowls) I won't do it. I won't apologize to him!
Shirley: (Glaring) Apologize or you'll be grounded for a week. No TV, no dessert, no friends, and extra chores this weekend.
Tracy: Like I've got any friends anymore! They all hate me! They say I'm the sister of a murderer! (Cries harder) Don't make me apologize.
Shirley: (Looks up and sighs) Okay, I'll give you a choice. You can apologize to him, or you can be grounded for a week. You'll have to miss Mary Sue's birthday party.
Tracy: Mary Sue uninvited me. She said she didn't want the sister of a murderer at her birthday party. I'd rather be grounded than apologize.
Shirley: (Gives up) Fine. Starting now, you're grounded for a week. That means no TV, no dessert, no friends (gets choked up), and I'll have a list of chores for you this weekend.
Tracy: Fine.
Shirley: (Softer) I'm sorry you got into the fight, and that you got a paddling.
Tracy: (Sighs) It's okay. Danny got me some aspirin and an ice pack. It doesn't hurt so much now.
Shirley: (Gives a small smile, grateful for her middle son's compassion) Good. Now, do you have any homework?
Tracy: Did it during recess.
Shirley: Okay.
Tracy: I wanna take a nap until dinner. I'm tired.
Shirley: All right. (Tucks her daughter in and kisses her on the cheek) I love you.
Tracy: I know. I love you too.
Shirley: Get some rest and later, we'll talk about better ways to handle people who pick on you.
Tracy: (Closing her eyes) 'kay.
Shirley closes the door, goes to her bedroom, sits on the bed, and cries.
-End of Chapter 7-
