Frank was a problem-solver. He couldn't not fix things. So when a situation was out of his hands, it really frustrated him. And when the situation was the idiot who had married his daughter and was now abandoning his wife and kid, it made him all shades of angry, disappointed and helpless. He sighed again as he stood outside Nicky's school waiting to pick her up as Erin was at a divorce settlement meeting with Jack. He knew that he was now going to be the closest thing to a father in Nicky's life and he wanted to complain about the unfairness of him having to take that role with his first and favorite granddaughter. He just wanted to spoil her rotten. But unfortunately a father's role is not just hugs and candy.
When the crowd of children seemed to have thinned significantly and Nicky had still not appeared, he decided to go in and check. He spotted the child immediately standing next to her teacher at the classroom door, looking mutinous. It reminded him of another young girl who wore the same look when she was in trouble and he wasn't sure if the memory made him want to laugh or cry.
He summoned all his courage and walked over to the pair. "Hello Ms?"
"White."
"Thank you. Hello, Ms White. I'm Frank Reagan, Nicky's grandfather and I'm here to pick her up today as her parents are busy. What seems to be the problem?"
"Hello commissioner, I understand that Nicky is dealing with a hard situation at home right now but her behaviour cannot go on. She has not just been extremely disruptive but she has been lashing out at other students."
"Lashing out how?" Frank's eyebrow went up, trying to catch the kid's eye who resolutely kept looking away.
"Only words, as far as I know. But you know as well as I do that words can cause a lot of damage, sometimes even more than sticks and stones."
"I completely agree Ms White. We had no idea that this was happening. I assure you it will be handled and you'll see a significant transformation in Nicky's behavior starting tomorrow. Right Nicky?"
When she did not respond, he prompted, "Nicky, please apologize."
"No, I didn't do anything wrong."
"Nicky, you're digging yourself in deeper."
"No."
Frank sighed but steeled himself. He really did not want to discipline his granddaughter but there was no option right now. It had to be done.
"May I use your classroom for a moment, Ms White?"
"Sure Commissioner."
Nicky could guess from the handful of occasions that she had got a swat or two from her grandfather about where this was going and so she struggled to not move into the classroom.
Once he was sure that they had some privacy, Frank let his hand fall in two hard swats across NIckys' bottom and she yelped. Danny's comment about his hands being war clubs sprung to his mind but he pushed it back. "Ready to apologise now or do I need to continue?"
"I hate you." That broke Frank's heart in more pieces than he could count but he continued, "Not what I asked."
When she did not respond, he sighed, "Okay then, we'll do this the hard way. Come here."
"No I'm sorry, I'll apologise."
If it was his kids, Frank would have absolutely given them more swats for refusing the first time but he just nodded and led her out to her teacher by her hand.
"Nicky?"
"I'm sorry Ms White."
"For…"
"For being disruptive in class."
"And…"
"And for saying things that the other kids interpreted to be hurtful"
Frank almost chuckled at his lawyer in the making but held firm. He wrapped up with, "You'll get a much more apologetic letter tomorrow morning, Ms White. Thanks again. You have a good day. I will deal with this."
"Thank you. Nicky is a really good kid, she just needs some guidance and support right now. You have a good day too."
Frank wanted to say that it was highly unlikely to be a good day since he now had to discipline his granddaughter but he just smiled and nodded as he led Nicky outside.
"Can you take me home, please?" Nicky said, staring resolutely at the seat in front of her.
Frank tried to keep his tone neutral as he said, "We are going home."
"My home or your home?"
"Well Pop and I live there full time but I'd like to believe it's all of your home too."
"Can you just take me to my house?"
"Your mom's not home right now."
"Then take me to Dad?"
"He isn't available either."
"But I want them."
"I understand, but we don't get all that we want." Frank hated saying that, especially to this child.
"Can we get ice cream?"
"Do you think your behaviour has earned you ice cream?"
"If I can't have my parents, I'd like to believe that I can at least get some ice cream for comfort."
"You are in trouble, young lady. There will be no treats today. When we get home, you will use the washroom if you need to and then go find a corner."
"But Grandpa, I don't want to stand in the corner and I'm hungry!" she whined.
"Fine you may have some celery and carrot sticks before going to the corner."
"But I want ice cream!"
"As I said before, we don't always get what we want."
"You're being mean. I don't like you anymore."
"That's enough disrespect, young lady. You already have a spanking coming, I'd strongly suggest you reign in that attitude before you make it worse."
Nicky floundered, "But.. but.. You can't do that!"
"I would have liked to leave your discipline to your parents but right now you are my responsibility and that means I am responsible for disciplining you too."
"But Dad never spanked me!"
"My house, my rules." Frank felt uncomfortable saying that but he knew he needed to establish expectations and consequences early.
"But I don't even want to go to your house!"
"Nicky enough. I've told you what is going to happen and that's my final word on the matter."
"No."
"Come again?"
"I said no."
"I don't know what has gotten into you but it stops right now."
"I don't know what has gotten into you! Why are you being like this?"
Frank saw that Nicky was about to get into a full blown tantrum and decided to stop it early. He indicated to the driver to bring the car to a halt at the side of the road and reached across to unhook Nicky's seat belt.
"What are you doing?"
"You've been asking for a spanking since I saw you today so that's what I'm going to give you. And this is just for your disrespect. We will be having another discussion at home about your behaviour at school."
"Nooo!"
Frank pulled her onto his lap easily and started smacking her, slow but hard. After three swats Nicky yelled, "Grandpa, stop!"
"Are you ready to behave?"
"What do you want me to do?"
"Just accept your punishment and be respectful."
"Yes sir." Nicky sighed and tears sprung to her eyes. On hearing that, Frank righted her and tried to pull her into a hug but she said quietly, "I'm not comfortable with you touching me right now."
He knew that these words were coming from the good-touch/bad-touch training and he really wanted to hug and comfort his granddaughter but he knew that he needed to respect her wish.
"Alright kiddo, but a hug would have done both of us some good."
"I'm sorry sir."
"Let's just get this over with"
"Yes sir."
Frank couldn't put his finger on it but something suddenly felt very off about his granddaughter.