Chapter 7: Dog, Bird, Mals troubles
Gil took a deep breath in and looked at his wayward son who was still ranting about anything and everything. He was throwing a tantrum fit for a four-year-old and while Mal's hands were thrown in the air Gil walked forward grabbing his waist. Malcolm squawked like a child as he felt the stinging swat across his backside. He was tilted forward secured in Gils's arm as he stared at the gray cobblestone and tears stung at his eyes. He let out a whimper after the third swat, "Please Pappa! Please." He screamed out. Gil landed one last stinging swat and stood Malcolm up immediately looking him in the face. Mal's face was bright red and splotchy. Only a single tear rolled down his left cheek, but he sniffled back snot.
"You, Malcolm James, are in so much trouble." He quietly scolded. Gil noticed a couple of people stopped to stare at the scene unfolding, but he also noticed an older couple nodding in approval. He never wanted to embarrass his son, but he knew when Mal started a tantrum this was the best way to get his attention. Gil knew those were love taps compared to when they got home, "Pappa, people, people, are looking." Mal whined out. Gil rubbed his right shoulder, "The way you behaved kid, I can't tell if they are staring because of your behavior a second ago or because I swatted you? You are going to pull yourself together for a minute then we're going home. I am so upset with you that when we get there, I want you to go stand in the corner. Not a single word when we get home, but you'll stand there until I say so. Understand?"
"But, Pappi! I'm sohhhry!" Mal began crying and Gil took a deep breath sighing. His kid was good about making him feel guilty for punishing him, but he heard Dr. Gabrielle's voice in his head. He needed to follow through with punishments and he kept gently rubbing Malcolm's shoulder. "I know you are Malcolm, but that doesn't excuse the way you've acted. We will talk more at home about this but right now, we're walking there." He sighed. People began to walk around them again and Mal wiped his eyes sniffling in. He began walking slightly ahead of Gil and looked back a few times. Gil couldn't help but laugh as his kid seemed like a kicked puppy at this moment. The kid gave his best pouty eyes and Gil made a mental note, no more sugar while Mal was staying with him. Eventually following the gray cobblestones, they made it back home.
Malcolm was on his best behavior and went straight to the corner when they returned home. Gil hung up his jacket and noticed Malcolm hadn't even taken his off. He went straight to the corner without removing it, and Gil smiled. At least those swats got his attention and adjusted his behavior. Gil tried to decide what punishment to give Mal but worried that spanking him wasn't working anymore. It used to be when Mal got a spanking he was remorseful and at least learned his lesson. It was rare that Mal would get in trouble for the same issue right away after a spanking, but he just had spanked him for a tantrum. Gil knew the belt was the furthest he was willing to go with the kid, there'd be no switches from a birch tree. He laughed to himself at the absurd idea and felt his phone vibrating.
He looked down seeing it was Jess and forwarded her call for now. He looked at Mal starting to fidget after the first five minutes and he walked towards him. "Turn around Malcolm." Mal turned around tears streaming down his face and he was sure those swats reignited the sting from his earlier spanking. "I can't even begin to explain how disappointed I am in your behavior." Malcolm stuttered out, "But Pappi!" Gil threw up his hand, "Not another word Malcolm! Unless you want to go grab my belt and then the talking stops and your punishment begins." Gils's voice was dead calm with a hard edge to it. He knew he was bluffing, but Malcolm started crying harder and shook slightly. Gil felt a wall of guilt hit him, he didn't want to scare his kid, but he was angry.
"Hush Malcolm, please go hang up your jacket and come back to this exact spot." Mal walked away and this gave Gil time to take a few deep breaths in. He wasn't sure what to do and debated calling Jackie, but he knew she was busy at the teacher's conference. Gil sat on the soft couch and when Mal returned he patted the seat next to him. Mal reluctantly sat down and whimpered a little because he was still sore from his spanking and swats today. Gil felt that pang of guilt and put his arm around the kid.
Mal cuddled next to Gil, "Listen, kid, your behavior today has been pretty awful, the way you talked to Mami and then your tantrum about the dog. I thought we were having a nice time at the river." He kissed Mal's forehead, "I know Papa but, I just feel like whenever I talk, I'm not heard. It frustrates me, I know other kids who have dogs and they're normal. They have normal families, with dogs and a Mom and Dad." Mal's voice was a whisper and Gil sighed. He knew what Mal was saying made sense and knew where his kid was coming from. Gil gave Malcolm's shoulder a squeeze, "Okay, and what happened with Mami? Why'd you yell at her?" Gils's voice was stern, he didn't like when Mal disrespected adults, especially his wife because he was still a kid.
Mal looked down into his lap and wrung his hands together, "Mami wouldn't listen to me and, I, I got mad. I just wanted to explain Papa that you spankked me. That, that she should forgive me cuz I'd been punished." Mal stuttered, then looked up, his crystal blue eyes looking at Gil's for understanding. Gil had a stern gaze back because even though Malcolm's explanation made sense, he wasn't happy with his kids' reaction to both situations. "Listen, kid, I need to ask you something, you can be honest. Why if you know a tantrum and being disrespectful will get you a spanking every time would you do it anyway?"
Mal's eyes got large, and he looked back into his lap, "I, just, lose control of my emotions and I'm not thinking of the consequences you know? I'm just, in the moment and I promise though, after, I am sorry." Gil knew that Mal couldn't take another spanking today, so he decided a few swats at bedtime as a reminder to behave would be fine. "Listen, I believe you, but I just can't let you act the way you have today without punishment. You know how the house rules, tell me what's the one on tantrums?" Mal began wrung his hands together again and Gil gently put his hand over his trying to calm his nerves. "Mami says tantrums are because I'm being spoiled, and that spoiled children grow up to be selfish."
Gil nodded his head, yes and Mal looked at Gil sadly, "So when I throw a tantrum, I sometimes get grounded, and if I throw a big one, like today, I get a spanking." Mal whispered out. This had been a rule when Malcolm's tantrums became so bad that he'd make Jess cry. He'd just throw things and yell, just out of control. "Mal, if you're serious about wanting to maybe get into law enforcement you need to learn how to keep your anger in check. I know you want to be "normal" but there's no such thing kid, I promise, and you need to appreciate what you do have."
Gil looked at Malcolm, "Go to your room and I want you to put everything you enjoy, like your books and telescope in my room. You're losing them for the week, and you may keep one book to read at a time. You're only allowed to watch television out here if I say you can, and you're grounded." Malcolm groaned and rolled his eyes at Gil. "But that's not fair!" Malcolm stood up huffing and Gil had the urge to swat the boy but resisted. "Go do as I've asked and drop the attitude, Malcolm James. After the last couple of days of bad decisions, you need to think when you act. Also, we will be doing bedtime spankings for the next few nights to remind you to start the days with a better attitude." Gil used his Dad voice and Malcolm knew he shouldn't say anything. So, he walked to his room and slammed the door as hard as he could. He looked around and began throwing all his clothes out of his drawers on the ground and threw his books against the walls.
He felt anger inside of himself and after he collapsed in the middle of the pile of clothes, he had thrown he cried. He cried for the unfairness of kids thinking he was creepy and thinking he was a serial killer like his Father. He wanted to be normal, he wanted his old life back before his father was known as the surgeon. To Malcolm, he was just Dad and life felt simpler then. He heard a knock at his door, and he just sobbed harder looking around his destroyed room. He threw his hands up over his eyes and deep guttural sobs escaped. He heard the door creak open, "Oh kid."
Gil saw Malcolm and he felt his heartbreak instantly. He looked around the room and the destruction his kid caused, and he wasn't even mad. He felt sick, like a wave of sorrow hit him and he crouched down in front of Malcolm. "Hey kid," he put his hands on Mals slowly peeling them away from his face. He saw Mal's blue eyes, and his eyes were slightly swollen from crying and his face was splotchy. Mal's eyes got large, and he looked panicked, "I'm sorry Gil! I'm sorry, I, I can pick up everything, please don't punish me." Gil sighed saddened because he would never punish his kid for his feelings, even if he expressed them by destroying a few things.
"Awe kid, shhh, you're not in trouble. It's okay, I know the last few days have been hard, but we'll get through it. You, Mami, and Mom okay, but tomorrow we're going to see Dr. Gabrielle, I think this might be too big for us. We might need help with all these confusing feelings." Mal nodded his head agreeing, "She'll know what to do because she's a Doctor Gil." Gil shook his head yes, "Yeah kiddo she will, now how about let's get your room cleaned up and I'll help." Gil smiled and he managed to get a small smile back from Mal. Gil couldn't punish his kid, not until he knew what was going on with him and he'd join in his session with Dr. Gabrielle.