After Soldiers Bridge
It is a first season story about Duncan & Richie and of course Tessa.
Warning / Spanking of a teenager in some chapters
On Monday morning, Duncan woke the boy shortly before eight o'clock. Richie grumbled a bit as always but 15 minutes later he appeared at breakfast.
His mood improved somewhat when he saw that it was truly scrumptious, and all he liked was being served.
Huh, Mac this breakfast surpassed everyone I ever had.
Then help yourself, Duncan advised.
Tessa entered the kitchen greeted them and sat down. Duncan handed her a cup of coffee and Richie his chocolate milk.
"Thank you, Duncan is a delicious breakfast."
"You're welcome."
"We take you to the airport later."
"No Duncan, I take a taxi. I do not like to say good bye at the airport and you know it."
Richie wondered about this comment. He would have loved to visit the airport.
"Okay, then we open the store. I will order a taxi for nine o'clock."
"Yes, thank you my darling."
Duncan disappeared in his office.
"Richie, try to be a good boy and don't give Duncan a hard time."
"Oh, I think he will give me a hard time not the other way around Tessa," Richie said.
"Richie, we love you and therefore we want only the best for you," Tessa told him.
"Huh, I think I will miss you Tessa."
"Richie, I for my part know that I will miss you. It is a shame that you and Duncan are not able to come with me. You would like France and my family."
"Well, I'm a ward of the state Washington. It is not possible for me to travel."
Duncan entered the kitchen and said; "Maybe next year we can visit your family."
"Yes, maybe," Tessa retorted.
The three enjoyed the breakfast. Soon after, Tessa had to leave. She kissed Richie on the cheek and told him he should be a good boy.
Then she said goodbye to Duncan and got into the taxi.
"Come on Richie, we open the store. The two worked all day in a quiet way."
By the late afternoon Duncan let Richie in charge of the store. He wanted to prepare dinner.
Shortly before closing time Duncan heard that someone had step into the store and he was curious and wanted to observe Richie.
It was John who had entered the store.
"Hi, Rich, how are you?"
"Hi John, I am fine."
"I worried a little about you. Your foster father dealt not exactly squeamish with you the other night. Did he beat you up black and blue?"
"No, I do not think that Mac would do that. He has promised me not to beat me up."
"But yesterday I had to stand for two hours in a damn corner, but I survived."
"A silly punishment, if you ask me. But at least you're okay," John told him.
"Huh, I think that won't be all. I'm sure he has another idea. He just had no time to let me know about it. I already have house arrest because of our little party last week. Mac was not thrilled as Powell brought me home."
"Yes, my parents were not at all thrilled to see Powell at their door step again and my father gave me a spanking with his belt. I still feel it when I sit down."
"Huh, I also got a spanking but he only used his hand and fortunately it did not hurt for long."
"Do you like it here?"
"Actually, yes, but I have to get used to it. Basically, Mac and Tessa are friendly and attentive but also very strict if I don't live up to their expectations."
"Richie, it's kind of a weird combination."
"I am still uncertain and I am not able to classify them. I just wait and see in the worst case I run away. At least I have a roof over my head, a nice room and enough to eat. That is sufficient for the moment."
"Yes, you're right", said John.
Duncan had heard enough and went into the store. The two boys were a little startled.
"Hello, who do we have here," Duncan welcomed the boy.
"Huh, Mac, this is my friend John and this is my foster father Duncan Macleod," Richie attempted to rescue the situation.
"Good evening, John."
"Good evening, Mr. Macleod, I hope I do not bother you. I just wanted to see if Richie is fine."
"No, you do not bother me, quite the contrary. I think it's always good to take care of his friends. But I don't like it, when you bring Richie in difficulties with your ideas.
Just that we are clear on this matter. Richie has a long criminal record and has to be careful. Each additional conflict with Powell or the police, stupid, criminal or illegal actions could lead for him to a stay in the juvenile hall."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know. It was a stupid idea to borrow the car. It wasn't my intention to get Richie into trouble and I'm sorry that I have threatened you Mr. Macleod."
"Apology accepted. Want to join us for dinner?" Duncan asked.
Both boys looked at him in surprise.
"Oh, yes why not, thank you Mr. Macleod."
"Well, Richie close the store and then you might go to your room. I call you when dinner is ready."
"John inform your parents, I'll bring you home afterwards. A phone you can find over there."
He left the two teenagers alone and went back to the kitchen.
"Oh, he is not as bad as I thought," John remarked.
"No, he is sometimes pretty cool," Richie confirmed.
Richie closed the store and took out the daily receipts of the cash register. He put the money counted on Duncan's desk with a brief note. Meanwhile John had called his mother and told her that he did not come home for dinner and that Mr. Macleod would bring him home later this evening.
"Come on John, we go to my room."
"Oh, you really have a nice room but it still looks more like a guestroom. Yes, but I was sick for a while. They have allowed me to change what I want."
John closed the door.
"Huh, John, I open the door again. Since yesterday Mac doesn't allow me to close the door."
"Why?"
"I do not know. He wanted to explain it but he was too busy yesterday and today. His girlfriend needed to leave us for some weeks. Her Grandmother had a stroke and she flew to Paris this morning."
"Then you are alone with Macleod," John asked.
"Yes, for the next few weeks."
"Are you coming back to our school after the summer holidays?"
"No, I will visit the St. Mary's High School just around the corner."
"But St. Mary's is quite expensive."
"Yes, but Mac wants it like that and it is no issue for him."
"Hey, I have to go to the bathroom."
"No problem, just go through that door."
"Oh, you have a private bathroom really cool."
Twenty minutes later, the dinner was ready. Duncan wanted to inform the boys. He noted that Richie's door was open and was satisfied.
"Hi guys, dinner is ready."
"Oh well I'm starving, come on John."
The dinner was good as always and Richie felt comfortable. Shortly after eight o'clock they brought John home and were half hour later back home.
"Mac I have counted the daily receipts and placed the money on your desk."
"Thank you Richie. I'll put it quickly into the vault. Go into the living room, we have a lot to discuss."
Shortly thereafter he joined Richie.
"Mac may I ask you something?"
"Yes, sure."
Why did you invite John for dinner?"
"Richie, friends are very important. Especially those, who are interested how you're doing, but as I said, you have to be careful. No further mischief, no stupid ideas, criminal or illegal activities with John and your other friends otherwise you end this friendships. Understood!"
"Yes, Mac I understand."
"Okay, now we should talk about Saturday night and the resulting consequences for you."
"Mac, I'm really sorry, can we please just forget it."
"Oh, no, my lad, certainly not you have to learn something from it."
"Remember you were not at the meeting point as requested and you lied to me. For that you received your punishment yesterday.
You have been drinking alcohol and wanted to steal a car and drive with it.
This time you are under a really strict house arrest and your pocket money is stopped until further notice.
That means now you are in your room. Unless you are working at the store or you executing assigned tasks in the household.
You will write sentences. So that you stay focussed and learn something from your errors.
Absolutely no television, no radio, no internet, no music, no phone calls, no meetings with your friends or other activities.
Then you endangered your life and your freedom once again.
We decided to restrict your freedom accordingly.
When you are in your room the door remains open until further notice.
During your house arrest, you stand up just before seven o'clock in the morning.
After seven o'clock you will receive a lesson in Yoga or Tai Chi. Maybe you learn to perform some kata's.
No later than nine o'clock in the evening you're in your bed.
The house arrest will last until mid September, including the weekends.
We expect you to take these guidelines seriously and follow them strictly and without a murmur otherwise you risk that we extend the house arrest until mid-October."
"Oh, no, these are a couple of weeks. This is definitely too strict."
"That is your opinion Richie."
"I and Tessa see it quite differently. We want you to feel the consequences."
"Can we negotiate, please?"
"What do you want to negotiate?"
"I write 100 sentences every day. Wake up time at eight o'clock in the morning and bedtime at ten o'clock in the evening. Yoga or Tai Chi in the evening, house arrest until the end of August that would be almost four weeks!
You change that and I do not mind if I get a spanking every week."
"Oh, interesting proposal. Unfortunately I cannot agree."
"Why not?"
"Richie it would be too easy."
"No, the spanking would compensate for it," Richie retorted.
"No, I do not think that a spanking would compensate for it," Duncan told him.
"Richard, the next few weeks are conducted as I have explained it and not otherwise.
I expect you to endure it without defying; no grumbling, no ranting, no complaining, no whining and so on or it goes into overtime till mid October.
Understood? "
"Huh, yes Sir I understand."
"But Mac why do you think a spanking would not compensate for it?"
"Well, the topic of spanking then.
You received last week a spanking, because I told you that I do it when necessary.
This does not mean that I have to do it. I told you that we are capable to think about something else to punish you.
The spanking has not really impressed you. It was a conscious and mild spanking. It was your first time with me. Be aware it can be very different.
However, your panic attack made me thinking.
When I received a spanking from my father I never was afraid of him. I had no panic attack. I trusted him absolutely. I was angry or ashamed and it was uncomfortable and I felt it for several days.
We know each other only a short time. You do not trust me or Tessa and that's okay.
Trust must be earned. That is the reason why we renounce a spanking at the moment.
A good punishment for us is, when it impresses or annoys you, it is even better when you hate it. Your punishment should help you to regret what you did and to learn from it."
"You tell me that you waive a spanking because I had a panic attacks and do not trust you. But I get a penalty that lasts for weeks and you take away all my freedom."
"Yes, that's right Richie, but I'm sure it would be extremely more unpleasant in the juvenile hall. You were just fourteen years old when you had to stay for a few weeks in the juvenile hall as a warning."
"Huh, you know that about me."
"Yes I do know it. And I will do everything in my power to ensure that it does not happen again."
"Even when I really must be strict with you I love you Richard and only want the best for you so does Tessa."
"Does she know about it?"
"Yes she knows we have no secrets."
Now Richie looked really depressed, vulnerable and ashamed.
Duncan moved from the chair to the sofa and sat down next to Richie.
"I know it was a hard and unpleasant time for you and then it got worse."
Duncan hugged Richie and gave him a kiss on the head. That was enough to break the dam and Richie started to cry. Duncan rubbed soothing circles into his back and reassured him gently with words.
When he had finally calmed down Richie had to go to bed.
Duncan was sad that he had to be so direct and hard with Richie but it was better that way. The next few weeks would not be easy but they had to endure them. He just hoped the boy would not make his own life more difficult. He hoped Richie would be able to tear himself together.
He decided to call Connor.
He heard, "hello Nash speaking."
"Hi, Connor."
"Hi Duncan, how are you."
"Good and you."
"I'm doing great Duncan but you are a liar."
"Why are you calling?"
"Tessa had to fly to Paris today for several weeks because her Grandmother had a stroke."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"How's Richie."
"He is a little troublemaker." Duncan told Conner the whole story.
"Duncan you really need to crack down hard on him. But I see you're on the right track. You need some help in the store. I will ask Rachel to visit you for some weeks and help you. Right now you have to concentrate on this boy."
"You're absolutely right. It would be helpful if Rachel could come. What about your store?"
"The next two weeks I'm in New York and then I fly with John for three weeks to Scotland. One of our staff members can take care of our store.
Then John and I come and visit you in Seacouver."
"Oh, what a great idea Connor."
"Duncan you hear from us tomorrow. I wish you a good night."
"Good night, Connor."
Duncan went to bed.
Thank you for reading, please review. Next chapter coming soon!