Ch 2

Charlie woke up from his post-spanking nap and realised that he didn't even feel the sting anymore. But boy did he feel angry. Angry at his father for hitting him, Charlie never understood how hitting children was justifiable especially as a way to make them what you want, he never saw adults hitting each other when someone made them mad. He felt angry at his mom for being sick and hence not at home. He missed her and really wanted to be with her. The image of Don flashed in front of his eyes. He wanted to feel angry with him too but he just couldn't. So he pulled up his phone and texted Don, "Level 8. Can we visit soon?" The brothers had developed several codes to enable Charlie to communicate without having to say it all and Don always understood.

Alan walked into Charlie's room at that moment and folded his hands across his chest, "I sent you in here to nap, not to play on your phone." And he stretched his hand out. Charlie wanted to say - 'when have you ever known me to play on my phone' or 'this is important' or even 'leave me alone' but he remembered the spanking from earlier and put his phone into his father's hand, harder than strictly necessary.

"What would you like for a snack, son? How do PBJ sandwiches sound?" One would expect Charlie to hate such a messy food but since it was Don's favourite, it became Charlie's favourite too. "I'm not hungry, may I get back to my punishment, sir?" Alan knew that Charlie must be hungry by now, especially after a spanking and nap. He also knew that Charlie was refusing the snack out of anger along with wanting to hurt his father. The psychiatrists had said that when Charlie was younger, his brain picked up and acted on patterns so quickly that he would hardly register what he was doing as he said or did things to get his way and so they should try very hard not to take things personally. But as Charlie grew up, more and more of his actions would be rational, deliberated but even then, especially when he is stressed or emotional, he would fall back on automated responses. But no matter the source, Alan felt hurt. "Alright, Charlie. But consider a PBJ sandwich a part of your punishment. You may choose to eat it at any point of its duration."

"Good job making me hate things I love" Charlie couldn't help mumbling as he walked out of his room. Alan inhaled deeply and decided to pretend that he did not hear. Just then Charlie's phone in his hand started to vibrate. He saw that it was Don and answered.

"Hey Chuck. I'm so proud of you for telling me that you're missing mom. I am too. I'm sorry it been this long since the last visit. What do you say to a visit tomorrow?"

"Donny, it's me." Alan sighed. It felt like he was always doing the perfectly wrong thing.

"Oh hi dad, why do you have Charlie's phone?"

"I'm keeping it while he writes his lines. He's upset about Margaret?"

"Among other things if he is having to write lines. You realise that he has an eidetic memory right?"

"And still he forgets to tell me when he is going out. He left the library for 4 hours the day before yesterday and not a squeak about it to me. I only found out because I had to go into the library while dropping him off today and the librarian tried to make small talk."

"Did you even ask him where he went?"

"Don, do not take that tone with me. I don't need to justify any of my actions to you. But for the record, yes, I did. I didn't even confront him. Asked him nicely, giving him the benefit of the doubt and he just continued to lie, through his teeth, to my face. Can you believe it?"

"You always make that feel like the best option," Don mumbled.

"What was that? You want to come home and try that again, son?" Alan's tone automatically turned stern.

Don growled in frustration, then sighed. "Dad, you realise that I can choose to never come back home again? If you can even call it that, without mom. And your behaviour sometimes really doesn't make me want to come back."

"Don there is a right way to speak to your father."

"Sure, 10 minute conversations on holidays."

"Don," Alan growled. The father and son were way too alike, even if neither of them believed that.

"May I take Charlie to visit mom tomorrow?"

Alan wanted to say no because of the way Charlie had behaved today but then he realised Margaret wasn't a treat or a reward, she was the boys' mother. "Of course. May I join you?"

"Ask Charlie. I'm okay if he's okay."

"Okay, I will. Thanks Don."

Before Alan was able to ask Don how he was doing, Don quipped, " Okay Dad I got to go but parting advice, next time do not answer the kid's phone. Not cool." Alan was about to remind Don how he paid for Charlie's phone

and thus owned it but Don had disconnected.

Alan walked into the living room to see Charlie sitting at table writing his punishment lines. Alan decided to approach with a peace offering and went into the kitchen to make that PBJ sandwich.

He placed the sandwich on the table and pulled out the chair next to Charlie. Charlie ignored him and the sandwich and continued writing. Alan decided that directly asking to join them for the visit would be a sure no and so tried to take a roundabout way.

"You're missing Margaret, Charlie? Want to visit?"

He did not expect the explosion and given how quick it was, he had to shake his head to be sure that it had actually happened. Charlie had gotten up for the table flung his arms in the air with an "how could you read my messages? That is such a violation. But it's you so of course. I should have expected it, my bad" and just as quickly he sat down and continued writing, 'A lie of omission is still a lie"

Alan tried to put his hand on Charlie's, "Kiddo, I didn't read your messages. Don called, I spoke to him."

Charlie raised an eyebrow, "On what is my phone? Or rather is supposed to be my phone?"

"Yes, Charles. I'm sure you remember who pays for that phone. And mind your tone."

Charlie breathed hard, in and out. Shook his head and kept writing.

"Talk to me Charlie. Would you like to visit your mom? We can all go tomorrow."

"No thank you, sir."

Alan sighed, "what if Don takes you?"

It looked like Charlie was going to say no but without looking up from his lines he said, "yes, please, I'd like that."

"Okay then you and Don can go." Charlie just kept writing. Alan sighed wondering if sacrificing a family visit was worth it of his kid was still not even going to look at him.