Chapter 49 – More Tommy Backlash

Tommy wasn't happy about doing the dishes, but his didn't voice his complains loud enough for his grandmother to hear. Tommy rinsed the dishes and filled the dishwasher. He then looked at the large stack of dishes that he had to wash.

"Seriously." Tommy muttered.

"Is there a problem?" Gran asked walking by.

"I don't understand why you don't have people who do this." Tommy said. "I mean it isn't like you can't afford it."

Elizabeth looked at Gran and knew that she wasn't happy with what Tommy had just said. For a moment, she wondered if she should leave. Just then Jack walked back into the kitchen area with two large baskets of laundry. He set them down on one of the bar stools at the end of the bar and was going to start folding he laundry when he looked between the three people in the kitchen. He could see that his grandmother was counting quietly to herself and he wondered what happened. Jack looked to Elizabeth who shook her head and motioned to Tommy. Jack rolled his neck and shoulders and let out a harsh breath. He didn't want to step in, but he also wasn't going to allow Tommy to hurt anyone there. Jack wasn't sure what Tommy would do if he was pushed. He had been known to lash out at servants in the past.

"Gran." Jack said.

"Yes." Gran said looking at him.

"I assume that you want these folded." Jack said. "I put the last load in the dryer."

"Thank you." Gran said. "Yes, if you could please fold the towels and sheets."

"No problem." Jack said. "Want me to help Tommy with the dishes first?"

"No." Gran said. "He can wash and dry the dishes by himself. He needs to learn."

Tommy huffed.

"Ma never makes me do this." Tommy whined. "Oh that's right because we have people who actually get paid to do it for us."

"And that is part of why you are spoiled." Jack said. "Despite having people who could do it, I have been doing my own laundry as much as possible for years. I have also been the person who has kept my room clean. What are you going to do what you go off to school?"

"Obviously, I will have servants." Tommy said. "Besides it isn't like I can't afford it."

"But, technically." Charlotte said walking back into the kitchen. "You can't afford it."

"What do you mean?" Tommy snapped.

"Well." Charlotte said. "The only money you have right now, it money that your father and I give you."

"But I get my trust fund and a vehicle on my birthday." Tommy said. "Like JP did."

"No." Charlotte said. "We allowed JP limited access to his trust fund on his sixteenth birthday because he had shown us that he was responsible. He still couldn't spend over two hundred dollars without the approval of your father or myself. As far as the vehicle. Again, JP had shown he was responsible enough to have one. JP spent weeks researching vehicles and after looking at a number of them, JP and your father agreed on one that was acceptable to both of them. The money was taken out of JP's investment earnings he had gotten over the previous year of working with his father and a financial advisor picking and tracking stocks that they invested for JP. So technically, JP paid for his own vehicle with plenty left over to get some upgrades that he wanted like the color and stereo system. JP also pays a portion of the insurance on his Jeep.

You on the other hand have shown no interest in the business other then spending the profits. Your father has tried to get you involved knowing that you would want your own vehicle, but you have fought or ignored him the entire time, so he has agreed that you will not get a vehicle of any kind when you turn sixteen. Your father and I are talking about if you are even responsible enough to get your license. You are far from showing us you are responsible enough to be allowed access to your trust, even in a limited capacity. As far as having servants at school that is a definite no."

"But JP will." Tommy whined.

"Actually, I won't." Jack said. "I will be sharing an apartment with Lee and Doug in a building that I technically own. But we will be responsible for day to day cleaning in the apartment, as well as our own laundry. Because we will be full time college students, we will continue to have the cleaning service come in no more then once a week. They will also continue to stock the food and other necessities as needed. However, having already spoken to them, they expect us to keep up with the dishes, laundry and garbage. So no, I will not have servants there to pick up after me when I am in college."

"That is not fair." Tommy huffed.

Elizabeth had been standing back watching everything that was going on. She had enough and took a step closer to Jack, spun and faced Tommy as he continued to huff at the others.

"No what is not fair." Elizabeth said her tone icy as her stare that bore into Tommy. "Is the way that you treat people. You have two parents that love you. Grandparents that love you and open their home to you. Yet, you treat people like you are better them just because your parents and grandparents have money. You have been rude to me. You have been rude to Nathan and practically everyone else that we have come across. If I would have ever spoken to my parents the way that you have spoken to your mother and grandparents, I wouldn't be alive right now. You are the worst kind of spoiled brat that there is because you have learned nothing while being given everything."

Tommy stood there slack-jawed staring at Elizabeth. He couldn't believe that she had spoken to him like that. No one had spoken to him like that ever.

"You aren't going to just let her speak to me that way." Tommy said glaring at his mother.

"Yes." Charlotte said. "I couldn't have said it any better myself. She is right. And I am sorry for the role that I have played in allowing you to be spoiled. But now that I have seen things in a different light, it ends now."

"I am calling Dad." Tommy huffed. "Give me my phone."

"NO!" Charlotte said with a raised yet stern voice.

Everyone stopped and just looked at Charlotte. Everyone standing in the kitchen hadn't heard Charlotte raise her voice to anyone before or at least not in a long time. Charlotte focused her gaze on Tommy and held it there. She has a stern look on her face and her hands were on her hips. When she spoke again, her voice had an icy sharp tone to it.

"I have spoken to your father." Charlotte said. "He is in total agreement with your punishment. He should be here by supper time tomorrow. Tonight he is busy with a couple of clients. He was heading to meet them for a late supper when we spoke. Your phone is not going to be returned until you can show some responsibility and definitely not before we return to the city. I also informed your father to pick a school for you for this fall."

"We will see about that." Tommy huffed and threw the dishrag at Jack as he walked by.

Tommy didn't get far as Nathan had overheard the last bit of the conversation as he came from the library and grabbed Tommy as he went by.

"Let go of me!" Tommy yelled.

Nathan didn't say anything, but moved to bring Tommy back toward the kitchen when Tommy tired to kick him. Nathan's training kicked in and he took Tommy to the floor and pinned him down so he couldn't move.

"Let me go!" Tommy yelled even louder.

"When you calm down." Nathan said in a very calm manner.

Tommy continued to scream and try to get out of Nathan's grip. The yelling brought James from the library. As he entered the kitchen area, he took in the scene in front of him. He looked to his wife and daughter for an explanation, but they appeared to be too stunned to speak at the moment. James looked to Jack who had his arm around Elizabeth who looked to be crying. Finally, James looked to Nathan.

"I will explain in a moment." Nathan said.

"Understood." James said.

James walked over to his wife and pulled her into a hug. He also looked to his daughter who seemed to regain her composure.

"Nathan you can let him up." Charlotte said.

"I will when he calms down." Nathan said. "I am afraid he is going to try to hurt me or someone else still. He has still tried to kick me while I have been holding him."

"Thomas Andrew." Charlotte said sharply. "You want to get up, you need calm down. If Nathan lets you up and you try anything, no one is going to stop him from taking you to the floor again."

Tommy didn't say anything.

"Tommy." James said in a commanding voice. "You answer your mother right now."

"Fine!" Tommy huffed as he relaxed against the floor.

Nathan moved off of Tommy and then helped him to his feet but didn't let go of him. Tommy glared at him.

"I believe you owe everyone here an apology." Nathan said. "Also I believe you were told to do the dishes."

Tommy tried to pull away from Nathan as he huffed. Nathan just held his grip on him, but kept them both on their feet.

"I am waiting." Nathan said.

"I am not apologizing to you." Tommy sneared.

"Fine have it your way." Nathan said has he marched Tommy back over to the sink.

Nathan motioned to James, who nodded and moved over to the side with Gran.

"Sorry." Nathan whispered.

"Nothing to be sorry for." Gran said. "Unfortunately, he had it coming."

"It may not be my place." Nathan said. "But there may be a way to show Tommy that you are completely serious."

"Char." James said motioning for her to join them.

Charlotte walked over to the small group as Jack and Elizabeth went back to folding the laundry.

"Are you okay?" Charlotte asked putting a hand on Nathan's arm.

"That was nothing." Nathan said. "I am fine."

"You were saying something." Gran said.

"Aw, yes." Nathan said. "If you want to show Tommy you are serious, I think I might know a way. My parents did this to my sister and I went we were younger. We had been fighting and acting like spoiled brats for days and my parents had had enough. Granted we were younger then Tommy, but it got the point across."

"I am listening." Charlotte said.

"My parents." Nathan said. "Well, they removed everything from our rooms. They left the mattress on the floor with a sheet and single blanket. No pillow and nothing else. When it was time for bed, we were handed pajamas. No say in what we wore. The next morning we were given jeans and plain tee-shirt to wear. Since we weren't going anywhere, socks and shoes were not needed. We were told that if we wanted anything else, including more then plain oatmeal for breakfast we had to earn it back. We were given a list of chores, each with a point value. It would take fifty points to earn a pillow back. One hundred points to earn a tee-shirt of our choosing. You get the point. You could also lose points for fighting or having a continued attitude after a single warning. It took a solid month, but my sister and I earned everything back. All our parents had to do from then on was threaten to remove our stuff. My sister and I knew how much work it was to get it back and we were determined not to lose it again."

"What do you think, Char?" James asked.

"It is your house." Charlotte said.

"Yes." Gran said. "But he is your son."

"Let's do it." Charlotte said. "We will leave him a mattress with a sheet and blanket. A plain pair of shorts and an undershirt for tonight. We will pull a plain outfit for tomorrow with with socks since he will be working."

The group talked about a few more things before they came to an agreement. Charlotte closed her eyes and let out a harsh breath. She knew that it wouldn't be easy, but she also realized that it needed to be done.

"Since we have already assigned him to clean the tack." James said. "I will assign a low point total for each piece and we can come up with a list of other chores if he wants to earn things back."

"Sounds good to me." Charlotte said. "Dad, Nathan, can you handle removing everything."

"We should have no problem." James said. "I would like JP to help."

"Okay." Gran said. "Char, Elizabeth and I will stay up here with Tommy. When he is done with the dishes, he can help fold the laundry."

"Let's go." James said.

The four stepped back. Gran and Charlotte went back to the kitchen.

"JP." James said. "Please come with Nathan and I. We need your help with a project."

"Can I come?" Tommy asked.

"No." James said. "You have dishes to finish and when you are done with that, you are to help your mother and grandmother. I don't want to hear another word from you. I suggest you don't push me. Because right now … well, you don't want to know what I think right now."

Tommy didn't say anything, but glared at James. James didn't let it bother him, but turned with Jack and Nathan on his heel. As they went downstairs, they explained to Jack what they were doing. He looked at his grandfather with wide eyes.

"Problem?" James asked.

"No, no problem." Jack said. "Just surprised. Tommy has never had to face any real consequences until today."

"Well." James said. "Then this is long overdue. I was thinking we could put all the stuff from Tommy's room into the storage area down here, since it has a lock on it."

"Good plan." Jack said. "Let's go. I don't want to leave Elizabeth alone up there with Tommy for too long."

"She is not alone." Nathan said. "And your mother is in agreement with this. She also feels it is long overdue."

It didn't take long to remove everything from Tommy's room and put it into the storage area. Jack pulled a pair of shorts and an undershirt for Tommy and left them on his mattress. He also pulled a pair of jeans and a plain tee-shirt and took them to his room to give Tommy in the morning.