Regarding this episode, I understand that what the twins did was wrong and that Clark and Lois needed to be firm with them and hand out discipline/punishment, but I personally feel it wasn't completely handled in the best way possible in that they seemed to look more at the crime itself than the reason behind the crime instead of being a bit more understanding.
Plus I don't think the police should've arrested Sarah and Jordan though I'm glad they were let off with a warning.
And so this is a bit of a reworking in which the firmness and discipline still remain but Clark and Lois are also compassionate leaning and a bit more understanding along with an expanded element consisting of John Henry considering his silent reaction to the truancy plus some other very small tweaks.
Disclaimer: I don't own "Superman & Lois" or its characters and dialogue.
Jordan and Sarah were currently standing on the bridge kissing, the world around them fading as they relished in this tender yet passionate moment between themselves. Sarah on her part was also feeling deeply touched to have such a loving and caring boyfriend in her life and a welcome distraction to the recent craziness surrounding her and her family's lives.
All of a sudden, they heard a female voice calling out to them.
"Jordan, Sarah, could you both come up here?" the voice called, startling and pulling them away from their embrace. Looking upwards they saw that the voice belonged to a female police officer and one her and her parents knew well and she with her partner were standing next to their police cruiser. Knowing they didn't have a choice, they sighed and acquiesced
Once they'd reached where the officers were, the female officer spoke with them.
"Did the two not realize that you were both trespassing on private property?" the woman questioned them.
Jordan and Sarah looked at her and each other, eyes wide.
"Trespassing?" Jordan questioned in surprise, starting to feel nervous and wondering how much trouble he was currently in.
"But that can't be. My parents and sister with me have been visiting this area for vacation and family time for ages. This makes no sense," a bewildered Sarah protested.
The officer shrugged, now a bit surprised and confused herself.
"I don't know what to tell you Sarah. Either you guys didn't know for whatever reason or more than likely someone purchased this property since then. But either way it's private property, or became that way recently, and therefore neither of you can be here," she explained and then looked at them closely.
"Aren't you both supposed to be in school anyway and shall I assume you guys skipped?" she asked them with her eyebrows furrowed.
The two youths looked away nervously.
"Um, yeah, though it was my fault and I…" Jordan began, not wanting his girlfriend to be in trouble when she quickly interrupted him.
"No officer, it was my fault. I was being bullied in school. Nothing horrible or too serious but almost everyone was giving me dirty looks and whispering some very mean stuff about me," Sarah explained emotionally. "And many of them were also aggressively shoving against me and even roughly bumping their shoulders against mine. I wasn't feeling safe didn't feel like I could remain in that sort of environment. Plus the ostracism made me feel claustrophobic as though the walls were closing around me. Jordan came with me to support me."
The officer's eyes widened in surprise and pity.
"I am so sorry you were going through that and none of that should've happened. School is supposed to be a safe environment and there's no excuse for what you were put here. And I'm also going to look into this. Plus unlike much of the rest of the town I, my partner here, and a few others on the force don't blame your parents for the quiet alien invasion that happened to our beloved town and we're strongly against you guys feeling so much heat and for something that wasn't your parents fault. You guys were as much victims as all of us were," she replied compassionately, shaking her head while giving her a look of pity.
"However you're both going to have to come with me," she added, leaving them both surprised and worried.
"Are you going to arrest us?" Jordan answered with trepidation.
The officer shook her head and gave them both a small smile.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to arrest either of you. You both acted in ignorance and while ignorance of the law is no excuse, I think we can make an exception in this case since the two of you acted in innocence and even your parents didn't know, Sarah," she reassured them. "Plus neither of you were breaking any other laws and truancy is not a crime around here, you were obviously not committing any public indecency, and plus you're both very well behaved and respectable youths from what I've observed and unlike other youths and truants across the nation, you both were thankfully not doing anything crazy like drugs, drunkenness, and desecration of public property.
"And I have no problem with you guys kissing either. You both make a very cute couple, I was a teenager once and happen to be a fan of young love and especially one as new as yours, and I'm not your parents and therefore it's not up to me to put in place rules regarding your parents love lives. That's for your parents to do and it's certainly not my place to tell you what's quite enough in regards to the length of time you guys were making out. Though I would advise you both not to rush into anything you're most certainly not ready for and especially if you're not prepared for the consequences but instead control your hormones instead of letting them control you.
"And back to the subject of arresting you but I happen to have great respect for your respective sets of parents, Clark and Lana especially, and it would not be fair to any of them for their respective children to be arrested and dragged all the way to the police station and then to call them to pick you up there. Or even to bring such great embarrassment to your families and especially for your mom Sarah due to what she's wrongfully being put through and considering how much they've been affected by recent happenings. None of them or you deserve to have more added to your plates and so I'll both be letting you off with a warning," she explained to them with a soft smile but then added firmly,
"However you'll still have to come with me since neither of you can just skip school and actions do have consequences. Plus you can't just skip your education, and even though I personally think you guys deserve a long break after everything, and therefore cannot in good conscience just let you go and without telling your parents. But the bullying at school still needs to be addressed Sarah though what you should've done was call your parents and see if they were willing to pull you out a bit earlier. And so I'll be taking you both straight home instead of to the station since unlike some of my fellow officers, my partner here and I don't believe in public humiliation over your current actions, and will let your parents handle the matter privately and if anyone outside of your immediate families were to ask, I was only escorting you home since you guys lost your way and needed a lift. And now having said all of that, please come with me."
Sarah and Jordan were relieved that they were not being arrested and that the cop speaking with them was such a kind and understanding one but were now feeling apprehensive that they'd still have to face the music. Though they could not admit they both did not screw up. And so they calmly entered the cruiser and the officer dropped them both off, first Sarah and then Jordan, explaining to their mothers both the situation but assuring them they weren't arrested. Lois was furious and promptly sent Jordan to his room while Lana was mostly disappointed though she had a suspicion as to why her daughter might've skipped school in regards to possible bullying and she would be doing something about it.
Speaking of Jordan, but it wasn't only him and Sarah who ditched but it turned out his brother Jonathan had also done so, a female student enticing him and him wanting a distraction from the craziness his family and the town had gone through. Though it turned out she was manipulating him and so he left not wanting any part of it.
Lois was mainly angry due to a disagreement with Clark while also juggling journalistic honesty with her fellow reporter and new friend Chrissy vs needing to protect her family and therefore her nerves were already frazzled. Same as Clark's in regards to the severe disagreement he was currently having with his wife and therefore hearing their sons skipped school just increased their already existing anger.
That evening however and when they'd both cooled down and also settled their disagreement and Lois's own issues, they sat their sons down on the sofa to decide on the appropriate punishment but first they wanted to hear what they'd have to say for themselves so they could have a comprehensive understanding of the situation and the reason behind the crime instead of only focusing on the crime itself.
"Alright boys, I'd like to hear an explanation as to why you thought your actions today were a smart idea. I already know why in regards to you Jonathan but now I want to know your reasons Jordan," Clark questioned firmly yet gently. After a brief moment of silence Jordan began.
"Sarah was being bullied at school. The other students were giving her ugly looks, saying really bad stuff about her and her family, and even shoving against her and bumping her very hard. It was pretty bad dad. There was no way she could stay there and like she told the officer earlier she didn't feel safe, and especially being ostracized. And she just wanted to get out of there," he explained to his parents.
"And you decided to accompany her as a good supportive boyfriend," Clark sighed in understanding while Jordan quietly nodded.
"It wasn't just that though," he added. "With the Kryptonian version of invasion of the body snatchers, almost losing you three times dad and then you turning bad plus almost losing my brother twice…"
"Well one of those instances was actually my fault so..." Jonathan interrupted and gestured while Jordan continued on.
"It's just that like my brother here I wanted to escape from it all and enjoy some real peace. I'm sorry dad, mom," he concluded emotionally.
Clark sighed, while Lois, although still a bit angry, nodded in understanding.
"Listen boys. I understand why you both did what you did and especially Sarah's reasons as well. School is supposed to be a safe environment and she should not have had to go through that and plus it's inexcusable over what she and her parents are being put through. And I'll admit it was good of you Jordan to make sure she was alright and to be there for her," Clark began while shaking his head over what had happened with Sarah.
"And I understand you also wanting a distraction from everything Jonathan and I'm sorry that girl was only using you and hopefully it will teach you to be careful as to whom you associate with and I'm proud of you for walking away instead of submitting to her manipulations.
"Your mother and I have also been talking and we're starting to realize that we were not sensitive enough to your emotions at that moment and instead sent you back to school way too soon and especially so soon after all the two of you were out through and that you probably deserved a break. In fact I agree with the officer that this whole town deserved a break. And so we'd both like to apologize to you for not taking all of those things into consideration."
The twins nodded in gratitude towards their parents while Lois nodded back as well with a brief smile before her face turned stern as did Clark's.
"However, and while we understand why you did and acknowledge we both made a mistake here, it still doesn't make your actions completely alright and so we're not letting either of off without consequences," Lois added firmly. "In fact but do you have any idea how much trouble you're in you can't just skip school!"
"Look guys you've been through a lot. You want to blow off some steam I get it but there are rules. And you do not disrespect your teachers by ignoring the work they put into your classes!" Clark added just as firmly and with a look towards them that brokered no argument.
"We're sorry," Jonathan apologized though not seriously enough while rolling his eyes.
"Really sorry," Jordan added while actually having the decency to look a bit abashed.
Neither parent was impressed however and especially at Jonathan's apology and Lois gave them both the put out look as if to say "Excuse me?!"
"I'm sorry but that didn't sound like you were trying to be convincing enough to us and especially from you Jonathan. And either way but it's not us the two of you should be apologizing to but to your teachers and I hope you'll do so tomorrow," Clark responded annoyed and then added in no uncertain terms.
The brothers nodded in response while swallowing a bit.
"We will. I promise," Jordan replied followed by a "What he said" from his brother, sounding a lot more convincing and to which their parents also nodded in response, satisfied.
"Thank you. And now things are finally calming down so when you're done being grounded, you guys can go back to being normal teenagers, and, believe me small towns are actually a lot of fun," Clark assured them. "Oh, and we'll also be making a call to the parents of the girl who contributed towards causing you to think ditching school was a smart idea Jonathan."
"Oh, that's actually not necessary dad," Jonathan quickly began before his mother interjected.
"Actually it's very necessary since there are rules like your father said and they apply to everyone and I'm sure she's on that list as well. And it would be both highly unfair and not right towards both the two of you and Sarah if you three were the only ones to receive all of the discipline or punishment, depending upon how Sarah's own parents deal with her, while that other girl were to go off scot free and especially as the instigator of your truancy Jonathan although that does not diminish your own guilt here," Lois told him firmly.
"And not to mention that she used and manipulated you and absolutely no one, and I mean no one, gets to use and manipulate either of my sons and get away with it. No one. So yeah, we will be calling her parents and ensuring she receives the necessary accountability."
Not having anything else to say in response, Jonathan sighed and acquiesced to his mother's words.
Clark then added something else.
"Listen boys, but if either of you ever need a break from school while over there for the foreseeable future and as you process everything, please don't hesitate to call either your mom or myself and we'll be there to listen and will decide, based upon your words, if you need to be pulled out for the day. But no more truancy for that type of behavior will not be tolerated," he reassured them both gently and then added firmly.
A soft chorus of "Yes dad" was heard from both young men. At that moment John Henry entered the room, having stayed back for a bit until the Kent had finished their discussion with their sons and heard most of what was said, and asked them if he could get some water from the fridge for himself which they allowed. Before he moved to the kitchen though, he turned and also addressed the brothers.
"You know, but you should both be grateful that you're not my sons otherwise you would not have liked what I'd have done with you for truancy and particularly if it was for a reason other than why the two of you with Sarah did it in this situation," he told them seriously, causing them to look nervous.
"However and from what I heard I also understand why the two of you did what you did and can admit if it was for the same reason if you guys were my sons, I would be understanding about it just as your parents were here and probably handle it in the same way. And I'd also like to apologize to you both for my significantly major role in the near trauma you were put through considering that I tried to take your father away from you twice due to my anger and blindness along with almost being forced to do so a third time.
"So take all of today's events as a lesson learned and know that running away from your problems is not the way to go," he finished with a small smile while Clark and Lois nodded in full agreement with their new friend and the brothers acknowledged his words and promised to make better decisions in the future.
After which he left, got his water, and then bid everyone good night which they returned followed by Lois instructing her sons to go to bed and reminding them that while their father and herself were still disappointed in them over that day's actions and reminding them at the current, but brief in this case considering the extenuating circumstances, grounding still stood, they still loved them and would not stop doing so.
Their sons then removed themselves from the couch and they each took turns embracing the latter youths, Lois pressing a kiss to Jordan's forehead, after which the sons headed upstairs to bed. Lois then moved and sat on Clark's lap and the cuddled, satisfied with how they'd handled their sons discipline while Lois was amused over Clark's telling them that small towns were a lot of fun.
They were also true to their word about contacting the parents of the young woman who'd enticed Jonathan to skip school and her parents also grounded her while she had it longer than the Kent sons and Sarah did.
Sadly Clark's words about things settling down proved to be untrue, through no fault of his own though, as Morgan Edge aka Tal Rho returned as the mighty Eradicator and moved against the world once more while targeting the twins more directly, leaving their parents highly distraught and with tears in their eyes, not knowing what they were going to do. Though that problem, just like every other problem, was decisively dealt with and Edge was defeated once and for all, allowing the Lane-Kent and Lang-Kushing families to take a much needed vacation to rest and recuperate from all that happened and then move forward in the next chapters of their lives.
The End
A/N And there you have it. Firmness yet gentleness. Necessary laying down the law and punishment but with compassion and more understanding mixed in, and expanded with John Henry's perspective while also ensuring accountability for the young woman who enticed Jonathan and especially since she was manipulating him and it would not have been fair if the Kent twins with Sarah were the only ones who got it while she'd gotten nothing.
As for how John Henry and if his sons being truants had nothing to do with outside traumatization, his military level discipline might've caused him to be much harder on them than the Kents either here or in canon and he'd probably have grounded them for a longer period. My imagination and opinion though.
Have a great day.