Friends who get in trouble together get spanked together... This was the lesson that Archie Andrews was learning with his best friend Jughead Jones. The two boys had done everything together since they were in preschool, and had a certain knack for mischief. Jughead and Archie knew everything about each other... including when the other one got in trouble. The boys might be embarrassed if Betty or Reggie found out when they got in trouble, but there were no secrets between the two of them.
Both children grew up in strict homes, where spanking was the primary form a discipline. Archie knew that Jughead's most hated punishment was standing in the corner, and Jughead knew that Archie's most hated punishment was getting spanked with the "spankin spoon."
The boys just started First Grade last week, and hadn't quite grasped the rule "trouble at school will mean trouble at home." Both Archie and Jughead were good kids, and never got a note sent home last year. Neither child fully understand the meaning of the phrase "Trouble at home means trouble at school," until there third note sent home that year. The boys had the same teacher this year. There were 4 students to a table. Their table had Archie, Jughead, Betty Cooper and Josie MaCoy. The boys kept talking during the lesson on the first day. There teacher, Ms. Kay, gave the boys 3 warnings before sending them out to the hallway. She told them that because it was the first day of school they wouldn't be punished, but if they continued to talk while she talked there would be consequences, and there seats would be moved. Ms. Kay also told the boys she was sending a note home to their parents that had to be signed.
Archie's Home
Mary met Archie at the bus stop. Archie ran up to her and hugged her. "Mommy!" He yelled.
"Little Archie, Come inside, lets get a snack." Mary said. Mary made Archie a plate of celery sticks and peanut butter.
"What did you do at school today Archie?" Mary asked.
"I can't remember." Archie said focusing on his snack.
Mary opened Archie's new batman backpack to look at his papers. Among some coloring pages and miscellaneous worksheets Mary found the note from Ms. Kay. "Archie." Mary said suddenly. When Archie looked up she said, "What is this?"
Archie's eyes got wide looking at the slip of paper. He had forgotten about it. "I don't know." He lied.
"Archie you will be in more trouble for lying." Mary said sternly. "What is this?"
"It's a note... cuz I was talking to Jughead." Archie admitted.
"It's the first day of school and you are already in trouble. I don't want this to become a habit young man. No TV tonight." Mary said sharply.
"Mommy... please no. I promise I'll be good. I want to watch cartoons." Archie whined.
"I said no." Mary said sharply.
"I HATE YOU, YOU'RE THE WORST MOMMY EVER." Archie cried as he ran up the stairs.
Mary followed him. "ARCHIE ANDREWS YOU GET DOWN HERE THIS ISTANT."
Archie didn't listen. Mary went upstairs, grabbed Archie's upperarm, and led him downstairs to a corner. "You stand here for 5 minutes, no talking young man."
After Archie's timeout he apologised to his mother, and they had a calm rest of the night.
Jughead's Home
Jughead got off the bus, and went into the trailer. "Mom, I'm home." He called through the doorway.
"Hey baby, how was school today?" Gladys called to her son.
"Okay." Jughead said handing his mom his disciplinary paper. "You have to sign this." Jughead went outside to play.
Gladys read and signed the slip, then she called Jughead inside. "Jughead did you get in trouble at school today for talking." Gladys asked.
"Yes." Jughead mumbled.
"Okay, you cannot play outside tonight." Gladys said.
Jughead started crying. "That's not fair."
"Stop crying Jughead unless you want me to give you something to cry about." Gladys said sternly.
Jughead dried his tears. Gladys made dinner while Jughead colored.
The boys had a calm next two days at school, and they had no more trouble until Thursday. On Thursday the boys were talking during reading. "Archie, Jughead. This is your only warning. Anymore talking and I will separate you." Ms. Kay warned. Archie and Jughead did okay for a few hours, until after recess. Archie and Jughead were goofing off together.
"Archie, switch seats with Kevin." Ms. Kay instructed. Archie moved to the table with Ethel Muggs, Midge Klump, and Dilton Doyle. The rest of the day passed without incident, but Ms. Kay still sent notes home to the Jones and Andrews families.
Archie's Home
When Archie got off the bus Mary could tell something was wrong. Archie appeared sad. "What's wrong little Archie?" Mary asked him.
"I don't get to sit by Jughead anymore." Archie whined.
"Did everyone's seats get moved?" Mary asked.
"No just mine." Archie said, suddenly looking guilty.
"And why was your seat moved if no one else's was young man?" Mary asked, sounding angry for the first time.
Archie shrugged his shoulders.
Mary and Archie walked into the house. They sat at the kitchen table.
"Archie, Did your teacher write another note?" Marry asked. Archie nodded. Mary exstended her hand. "Give me your folder." Archie handed his mother his folder. "This says that she gave you a warning before moving your seat, and that you were talking during class. Is this true?" Archie nodded. "You are in big trouble young man." Mary scolded as she signed the slip. "You can march upstairs right now, and get your game boy and your MP3 player. You are grounded." Archie started crying. Mary snapped her fingers and pointed toward the stairs. "GO!" She yelled. Archie crossed his arms and stomped his foot. Mary grabbed Archie's arm, and gave him a SWAT "NOW!" She yelled. The swat startled the boy into action. Archie ran upstairs and threw himself on his bed. He pouted for a few minutes before grabbing is MP3 player and game boy descending the steps. Archie reluctantly handed his electronics to his mother. "Sit on the steps Archie. You are in timeout." Archie sat at the bottom of the steps, his head on his knees and cried for the next 6 minutes, when Mary told him his timeout was over, and he could get up. "Archie you lost your game boy, MP3, and TV privileges for one week. If you get any more notes sent home you will be in deep trouble. The next time you get a note sent home you will get a spanking. Do you understand?". Archie nodded. "Good, now go wash your hands, and I'll make you a snack." Archie climbed into his mother's lap, who comforted him.
Jughead's home
On the bus ride home Jughead decided that he was going to hide the note from his parents until tomorrow morning. He thought that if he waited right before school his parents wouldn't have time to punish him. Jughead didn't say anything about the slip until the following day at breakfast.
"Mommy, will you sign this?" Jughead asked. Gladys read the slip, then passed it to FP. FP spoke after reading the disciplinary slip.
"Why did you wait until now to show us this?" FP wasn't yelling, but his voice was loud.
"I didn't wanna get in trouble." Jughead whispered.
"And you thought by waiting you would get in less trouble? Boy, you were sadly mistaken. You would have gotten in trouble for talking in class, but now your also in trouble for not giving us the note yesterday... Because you didn't give us the paper yesterday, I am going to bust your butt. Now, go stand in the corner. You're in timeout."
"FP, He is going to miss the bus." Gladys said.
"I'll drive him... it took a lot to get him into Riverdale Elementary. We live in South Side school district. If he keeps this behavior up, he might not be able to stay at Riverdale." FP said to his wife.
After 6 minutes, that felt like an eternity to Jughead FP said, "Come here Boy." Jughead turned to see his father sitting in a kitchen chair holding a thin wooden paddle. (The kind with the ball on the end. FP had removed the ball and the staple) Jughead walked slowly and deliberately to his father. "Bend over Boy." FP instructed, Jughead obeyed. "You are getting 3 wacks." FP told him before raising the paddle and delivering it 3 times on his son's butt. CRACK TWHAP WACK. Jughead was crying and trying to rub the sting from his bottom. "Sit down Boy." FP ordered Jughead, an he obeyed. "Jug, you are grounded for the weekend. You have to behave at school son... The next time you get in trouble at school you are going to get the belt." Jughead's jaw dropped. He had never been spanked with a belt before. "Now go brush your teeth, and get in the truck. I don't want you to be late for school."
School
Jughead and Archie didn't talk to each other until recuss. Archie told Jughead how his MP3 player and Gameboy got taken away. Jughead told Archie about waiting until today to tell his parents, and how that was a mistake because he got spanked. Both boys confided in each other the trouble they would be in if another note was sent home, and vowed to help each other stay out of trouble. This was short lived. It lasted until after lunch time. The boys kept getting up to talk to each other. Ms. Kay had put the boys in a time out. This had no effect on their behavior. When the boys continued to act up, and get out of there seats to talk to each other, Ms. Kay had no choice, but to send the boys to the office. The Principal, Mr. Weatherbee, (who's son ended up being the boy's high school principal) made the boys call there parents on speakerphone. Archie went first. There was no answer at home, so Mr Weatherbee called Andrews Construction. Fred answered the phone.
"Andrews Construction, this is Fred Andrews speaking." Fred said into the phone.
"Hello, Mr. Andrews, this is Principal Weatherbee with Riverdale Elementary. I'm here with your son Archie who has something to tell you." Mr. Weatherbee said.
"Okay, Archie, what's going on?" Fred asked.
"I have to call you, and tell you that I got in trouble." Archie told his father. Fred could tell his son had been crying even over the phone.
"And why did you get in trouble?" Fred was usually a patient man, but Archie had already gotten in so much trouble this week.
"Cuz I kept getting out of my seat, and I was talking to Jughead." Archie exsplained.
"Archie... you are in big trouble son. We will talk about this more when I get home from work. Let me talk to Mr. Weatherbee."
Fred asked Mr. Weatherbee if he needed to speak to FP as well. Mr. Weatherbee said he did, and Fred radioed FP to come in while Mr. Weatherbee sent Archie out of his office, and pulled Jughead back into his office. It was Jughead's turn to tell his father what had happened.
"Mr. Jones, I have Forsythe here with me. He has something he needs to tell you." Mr. Weatherbee told FP.
"Dad, Mr. Weatherbee said I have to tell you that I got in trouble."
"Go on Boy." FP said.
"Me and Archie got in trouble for talking and not staying in our seats." Jughead admitted.
"Boy... we just talked about this, this morning. You are in big trouble. When you get home you tell your mother about this. You understand me boy?" FP said.
"Yes sir." Jughead mumbled
"What!? I can't understand you when you mumble." FP bellowed.
"Yes sir, Jughead said a little more audibly
Archie's Home
When Archie got off the bus Fred was there waiting him. Fred had left work early to be home when Archie got home. Archie was scared, not of his father, but of being punished. He knew he was in more trouble now than what he could ever remember being in before. Without saying anything Fred led Archie to the kitchen. Fred gestured at the table, indicating that Archie should sit down. Fred walked over to the junk drawer in the kitchen, open it, and pulled out a palastic serving spoon, that had never once been used for cooking. Fred sat down and said, "Come here Archie."
The boy didn't move.
"Archie, I'm not playin with you... get over here now." Fred said sternly.
The boy still didn't move. He was avoiding his father's eyes. Fred smacked the table with the spankin spoon. "ONE... TWO... TWO AND A HALF... THEERRR. Archie jumped up and walked over to his father. He didn't want his father to get to three. Fred pulled the boy over his lap. "Why are you getting this spanking." Fred asked. It was important that Archie understand why he was in trouble.
"Cuz I got in trouble at school." Archie said.
"Yeah Arch... three times this week. It is time for you to learn. Trouble at school means trouble at home." Fred lectured. Then Fred picked up the dreaded spanking spoon to spank Archie with. From the first SWAT tears leaked out of Archie's face. Fred picked up the spoon and it found its target nine more times. SMACK WACK CRACK, WACK WACK SMACK, CRACK WHAP TWAP. Archie was kicking his legs, and Fred had grabbed his son's hands to keep them from their attempts to block the spanking.
Fred helped Archie to his feet. Archie hands immediately went to his aching bottom. "Archie go sit on the steps." Fred set a timer for 6 minutes... one minute per age. Once the timer had gone off Archie was still sobbing. Fred bent down next to his son. "Archie... your timeout is over. Whenever you are ready to talk, go into the kitchen, okay?" Archie nodded his understanding.
After several minutes Archie stood up and went into the kitchen. "I'm thirsty." He told his father.
"Sit down, I'll get you something to drink." Fred responded. He pulled a Capri Sun out of the refrigerator gave it the his son.
"Archie we need to talk about what happened at school today." Fred said to his son.
"I'm sorry Daddy." Archie responded.
"Are you sorry because you're sorry, or are you sorry because you got spanked?" Fred asked.
Archie put his head down on the table. He started to cry again... "I don't wanna talk about this anymore." Archie complained.
"Okay," Fred said to Archie... "That's your choice son." Fred lead Archie back to the stairs. "You can sit here in timeout until you do want to talk about it, and if you get up while you still don't want to talk about, then I'll spank your little butt."
Archie set on the steps crying. He hated being in trouble. Fred came back every five or so minutes. "Are you ready to talk about it Archie?" He asked for the third time.
"NO!" Archie yelled.
"Okay, then you can continue to sit in timeout." Fred told him, as he walked away. Archie started crying again. He didn't want to talk to his dad about getting in trouble, but he also hated sitting in time out.
"Archie... come sit down in the kitchen please. We need to talk son." Fred said, and Archie obeyed.
"Archie... the amount you have been getting in trouble at school is unacceptable, and there will be consequences for your actions young man. Whenever you get in trouble at school, you will be punished at home as well. Understand?" Fred lectured.
Archie nodded. "I'm sorry Daddy, and not just cuz you spanked me with the spankin spoon. I'm sorry I got in trouble at school." Archie told his father.
"Son, I don't expect you to be perfect, but I do expect you to try to behave." Fred told Archie.
Archie wasn't perfect, and still occasionally got in trouble, but was much better behaved the rest of the year.
Jughead's home
When Jughead got home his mother was there with his baby sister, Jellybean.
"Mommy, I need to talk to you." Jughead exsplained.
"Can it wait Jug? I'm feeding your sister." Gladys told her son. Jughead nodded. Jughead threw himself on the couch and pouted.
"Quit pouting Jughead." Gladys said to him warningly.
"I ain't pouting." Jughead said as he wiped tears from his face, and crossed his arms.
Gladys realized something was wrong. "Let me put your sister down, then we can talk." Gladys put Jellybean in her crib, and gave Jellybean her bottle.
Gladys sat next to her son, put her arm around him, and hugged him. "What's going on Jughead."
"Daddy is going to whoop me." Jughead sobbed
"What makes you say that?" Gladys asked.
"Cuz me and Archie got in trouble, Mr. Weatherbee made me call daddy, and tell him." Jughead cried.
"Forsythe Pendleton Jones the third!" Gladys yelled. "You mean to tell me that after everything... After the spanking your father gave you this morning, you went to school today, and still got in trouble?"
Jughead forced himself to look up. He saw the stern look in his mother's eye, and looked back down, tears still falling.
"Jughead... your father is going to ware you out. You best be Savin those tears son." Gladys lectured.
This only made Jughead cry harder. "I know... and I'm sorry." Jughead wailed. "Mommy... please don't let Daddy whip me. I'm really really sorry."
"Me too Jughead, but you have to learn that there are consequences for your actions." Gladys told him. "When you do something wrong, you get punished so you don't do it again. Your father and I don't like punishing you Jughead, we have to. You have to understand right from wrong, and that actions have consequences." She lectured.
Jughead continued to cry. "But I don't like consequences."
Gladys has to repress the urge to laugh at Jughead. "We will talk about this more when your father gets home." "Come here Juggie." She said with her arms outstretched. Jughead climbed into his mother's lap, and laid his head on her chest. Gladys rocked him as though he were a toddler.
Jughead got up when he heard his father's truck pull up. Jughead was standing in the living room when his father walked in. "Did you tell Mom?" FP asked Jughead.
Jughead nodded.
"Good, now go stand in timeout for a little bit." FP instructed his son.
Jughead stood in the corner, dreading his upcoming punishment. After 6 minutes FP pulled out a kitchen chair and said, "Come here Boy." Jughead came. FP got down onto his knee. "What did I say to you this morning after I whipped you." FP asked.
"That next time you would use your belt." Jughead mumbled indistinctly.
"What?! I can't understand you when you mumble boy." FP said.
"That the next time I got in trouble at school you would whoop me with your belt." Jughead responded.
"And belt you is exactly what I plan to do." FP said sitting down. "Come here Boy. Let's get this over with." FP pulled Jughead over his lap and gave Jughead a warmup with his hand. SWAT SWAT CRACK WACK. Jughead was teary eyed, but not full on crying. FP helped Jughead stand up, then he stood up. "Bend over the table Boy." FP said as he slid his belt through his jeans. Jughead didn't bend over. CRACK. FP snapped the belt. Jughead jumped at the noise. "I said bend over." FP repeated, and Jughead complied. TWAP SMACK CRACK. FP gave Jughead 3 quick swats. Jughead was crying, and trying desperately to rub the sting out of his bottom. "Go stand in time out." FP instructed Jughead. After 6 minutes FP said, "you can come out now son." Jughead ran out the corner, and embraced his father. Jughead sat next to his father and laid his head on his chest until he fell asleep. Once Jughead fell asleep FP moved Jughead to the only bedroom in the trailer, and let him take a nap until dinner time.