Elizabeth Burke slid her house key into the lock of her Brooklyn townhouse and opened the outer front door. She smiled to herself while thinking how good it was to be home. She had missed her young family this morning and wondered what they had all been up to while she was working hard at securing a very important client – something she was fairly confident had been achieved. Stepping inside the inner door the first thing she noticed was the absence of noise. With two boys now living in the house, the only time there was peace and quiet was long after they'd been sent to bed and the delta sleep cycle for both children had kicked in. Naturally, El had been expecting a couple of welcome home hugs, but sadly, none were forthcoming. Perhaps the boys had been sent out to the backyard to play with Satchmo? El could hear Peter in the kitchen, tinkering with the dishes and she could tell from the heavenly aroma of slow roasted smoky barbeque chicken waffling through the living room that she wouldn't be required to cook tonight. El stepped in the living room feeling overjoyed at not having to worry about feeding the hungry hordes – deciding what to cook was a chore in itself. Unfortunately, the joy was short lived, as her eyes settled on two little boys, sitting on dining chairs set up, once again, in the naughty chair position. She looked over at Mozzie and shook her head in disappointment, even though the older boy couldn't see her. He was facing the wall and appeared to be meditating. Mozzie may not have been watching, but Neal certainly was. He watched El's movements through the back of the chair and hid behind his hat once he realized his mom was glaring him. El continued on through to the kitchen to get the lowdown on what her naughty little moppets had done this time.
Peter was so happy to see his wife. Upon seeing her step through the kitchen door, he pulled her straight in to a hug and kissed her on the lips. "How did it all go, hon? You work your magic and secure the client?"
"Yes, I'm almost certain the Performing Arts of Brooklyn Centre will be Burke Premier Events newest client."
"That's fantastic El." Peter kissed his wife once more, proud of the fact that she was making a great success of her new business undertaking.
"So…" Elizabeth gave her husband a sympathetic grin. "Did our sons give you a hard time today or are you just enjoying a bit of coerced silent calm?"
"Can it be both?" Peter leaned down and rested his head on his wife's shoulder.
"Bad day?"
"Oh you have no idea."
"Yeah, actually I do." El laughed. "Nothing you could tell me would surprise me. I know exactly what our pair of mischievous rascals are capable of."
Peter laughed, "You'd think so wouldn't you."
El stepped over and poured herself a cup of coffee from the pot that appeared freshly boiled. She took a long sip and braced herself as she asked the inevitable, "What happened hon?"
Peter ran tired hands across his face. "Oh well, where do I start?"
"Did something happen here at home or did you need to pop out with the boys."
"Out." Peter considered, "Truth be told, the wheels fell off the wagon the minute I climbed into the driver's seat." He lifted the coffee cup out of El's hand and polished off her drink.
"Hey!" El scolded without any seriousness and poured herself a second cup. "I thought you'd take the easy road and have a morning at home."
"Yeah, afraid it wasn't that simple….I took the boys to visit the bureau."
"Really?" El raised her eyebrows.
"Really." Peter sounded exhausted as he leaned heavily against the kitchen bench.
El moved to stand beside her husband and rested her head against his shoulder. "Start at the beginning honey. Tell me what happened."
Peter took a deep breath and preceded to fill El in on the string of events that led to him being so mentally drained, he was unable to face dealing with the boys and their inappropriate behavior. Peter started with the fact that none of it would have happened had he paid even the slightest attention to El when she told him last week he'd need to take this morning off work to watch over the boys. He was wound-up enough to think perhaps he only had himself to blame.
M-O-P-P-E-T-S
Neal kept watch on the kitchen door expecting Peter to come out any minute to smack his bottom for being a naughty boy.
He rubbed his butt subconsciously, preempting how it would soon feel. It wasn't fair. Taking Satchmo to Daddy's work had been Mozzie's idea. It wasn't fair that he should be 'panked' too. Besides, he'd already been 'panked' for painting Satchmo. Now it was Mozzie's turn. Mozzie had wanted to sneak Satchmo into the FBI office so he could play with him while Daddy was in the meeting. Maybe he was worried for nothing. Neal swallowed hard and brushed at the edges of his eyes where tears were beginning to gather. He knew better. His daddy was very clear that Neal was old enough to make his own choices and Mozzie had not forced him to play along. More tears escaped his eyes and ran down his face. He was quite sure he'd be turned over his daddy's knees all too soon.
The youngster was surprised however when Elizabeth came out of the kitchen and called over her shoulder on the way to the stairs, "Mozzie, Neal, come with me please."
The little moppets gave each other curious shrugs and followed their mom up the stairs and into her bedroom. El sat down on the bed and pulled the boys in close, holding onto their wrists as she spoke. "I've been talking to your dad boys and I'm ever so disappointed."
The tears from Neal's eyes began to flow freely with that one simple declaration.
"Can you tell me why Mommy is disappointed?"
Neal nodded, "Cawse Moz an I wewr nawty."
"Yes you were Neal." In fact El had been shocked when Peter informed her of what her two little angels had gotten up to, despite her assuring him that there was nothing they could do to surprise her anymore. "And what did you do that was naughty, Mozzie?"
"I took Satchmo into Peter's office." Unlike his younger brother, Mozzie didn't appear to be too remorseful for his actions.
"And you asked your father first?"
"No." The older boy looked everywhere except at his mom.
"So why didn't he stop you when he saw you bringing puppy in the car?"
Mozzie shrugged.
"That's not an answer young man."
"Maybe I uh, hid Satch from him."
"I see…and what about getting out of the car and getting up to the office?"
"Same again."
"Same again what?"
"I tricked Peter." Mozzie whispered, finally beginning to realize he was in deep trouble.
"And what about you young man?" El directed the question at Neal. "Did you help?"
"Yesss Mommy." The little boy rubbed at his eyes.
El sighed deeply and released the boys' hands. "Mozzie, what you did today, tricking Peter, hiding Satchmo, misleading Agent Goldberg and almost ruining Daddy's very important presentation, was very deceitful and I am very unhappy with your behavior. Your father and I expect more of you and I don't want a repeat performance of this day ever again. Am I clear Mozzie?"
The young boy adjusted his glasses to hide his shame, "Yes ma'am."
"Okay then." El took a deep breath. She hated this part but owed it to Peter regardless. This whole parenting thing could be so wearing at times. On occasions like this, it was just what the doctor ordered to be able to pass on the next shift to the parent who hadn't spent the day facing the testing challenges their children presented continually throughout the day. "Neal, I want you to go and wait for me in your room please." The littlest moppet practically ran out of the room, more than happy to comply. "And Mozzie, I want you to get my hairbrush off the dresser, please."
"Y-your h-hairbrush?" Mozzie's eyebrows lifted high into his hairline. "Why?"
"You know why, Mozzie. What did I tell you the last time you conned Peter and I?"
"I…I don't remember?" The boy was grasping at straws.
"So now I can add lying to the list because young man, you don't ever forget anything."
"Hold on." Mozzie held up his hand panicking. He didn't need any additional transgressions added to his already extensive list. "I remember Elizabeth….I just wasn't thinking clearly."
"Well, what did I tell you?"
The boy reluctantly admitted, "You said the next time I tried to con you or execute a scam you would take your hairbrush to my behind."
Satisfied, El nodded her head in the direction of the dresser.
"Eeeeeeliiiizzzabeth," Mozzie whined.
"Now Mozzie." El's tone meant the discussion was over.
"Yes ma'am." The boy dragged his feet across to the dresser and retrieved the brush. He couldn't believe the turn of events. When he realized it would be Elizabeth taking him in hand for his behavior he was quite relieved. Elizabeth's spankings, while far from being simple love taps, were not the same degree of sting that Peter's large hand delivered. He walked back ever so slowly and handed the offending implement to his mom. "Elizabeth I'm going to be on my best behavior from now on. This really isn't necessary."
"I'm afraid it is Mozzie." El reached out and pulled the boy across her lap, tugging down his shorts and underwear in the process.
"Elizabeth, can't we make a deal!" Mozzie was beyond desperate.
"Nope. Negotiations are over." El lifted her arm and brought down the brush with a sound whack. It wasn't necessary to swing particularly hard, the mere thought of it being used on his backside was enough to make Mozzie wince in apprehension of subsequent smacks.
"Yeowww! Negotiations? What negotiations?"
Whack!
"Owwww! Elizabeth. If I thought we were negotiating I would have tried a different tact!"
Whack!
"Nooooooo! Please, I'm sure we can work something out!"
Whack!
"Eeeeeeelizabeth! Stoooooop!" Mozzie tried to shift his butt out of the firing line but El held him firmly in place.
Whack!
"Owwwwww! I'm sorrrrrry!"
Whack!
Mozzie gave up and lay defeated over his mother's lap. He began to sob and cried out between the tears, "I-I'm s-sorry, E-Elizabeth. I-I'm s-sorry."
El put the brush down on the bed and patted the boy gently on his back. After giving him a few moments to settle, she reached down and pulled his pants back into place before gently guiding him up off her lap to once again stand before her.
"I'm sorry Elizabeth." The young boy lifted his glasses and wiped his face on his shirt sleeve.
"I know sweetie. I know you didn't mean to cause all that trouble today. But you have to be more thoughtful than you were."
"I will be." Mozzie looked down at the carpet, uncomfortable with looking El in the eye.
Elizabeth lifted his chin so they could make eye contact. "Now, for the next week young man, you are going to be unpacking and packing the dishwasher, setting the table and clearing the dinner dishes."
Mozzie nodded, even though he wondered what chores that would leave for Neal, he didn't voice his concern.
"You will also be entirely responsible for Satchmo. You will need to make sure he has water at all times, feed him each morning and night, bath him when he needs it and…" Mozzie wasn't sure but he was almost certain he saw a twinkle in Elizabeth's eye as she delivered the rest of the sentence…"your responsibilities will also include picking up the dog poo in the yard."
"Nnnnnnnnno Way!" Elizabeth was well aware the smell of the dog poo almost made him barf every time he got near it!
"Yes way young man." El replied casually as she made her way to the bedroom door.
"Can't you just…" Mozzie called out after her, "I don't know, can't you just whack me a couple more times with the brush and we'll call it even!"
El rolled her eyes and turned to her eldest, "If that's what you'd prefer Mozzie?" She made a move to head back towards the bed when the boy held up his hand.
"Ah, no, it's okay. On second thoughts I think it may be good for me to take complete responsibility for Satchmo."
"That's what I thought Mozzie." El chuckled as she headed out of the room to take care of her other mischievous moppet.
M-O-P-P-E-T-S
El found the boy lying under his comforter, wrapped around Sunny. She sat down on the bed, careful to avoid sitting on any little limbs that may be hiding under the covers. "Sunny," she addressed the cuddly friend, "I need to have a chat with Neal now. Do you mind giving us a minute?"
"Yesss I dow. I'm berry comfee."
"Well," El extracted the toy and put it on the bedside table. "I won't be long and then you can climb back under the covers if you want to."
Neal gave his mom sad puppy dog eyes, "Aw oo gonna pank me wit da bwush too?"
"No sweetie."
The little boy gave his mom a grateful smile.
"But I am going to spank you nevertheless."
The smile dropped. "Bu Mommy, I daid I wad sowwy."
"I know little one, and I believe you but you were very naughty today and you know that if you do something naughty like that you are going to get a spanking."
"Bu I dowt wan one." Neal pulled the comforter over his head and hoped no one would find him.
El shook her head and yanked back the covers revealing one sad little moppet with tears spilling from the corners of his eyes. She took a deep breath and pulled the youngster up and over her lap, baring his little butt in one swift movement.
"Nooooooo Mommy. Pwease, nooooooo!"
El brought her hand down and smacked the little boy's behind.
"Ow!" Neal began to howl and yelp and squirm and scream as each spank was delivered – ten in all – leaving the little white butt painted temporarily red.
El readjusted the youngster's pants and lifted him onto her knees. He sniffled and sobbed and blew his nose on his mommy's blouse and before El could stop him, he'd jumped off her lap and went running out of the room calling out, Dadda, Dadda!"
"Oh Neal," El shook her head and smiled. "What are we going to do with you?"
"Dadda! Dadda!" The little boy found his daddy sitting on the couch and leapt into his arms.
"Hey, calm down. What's up kiddo?" Like he didn't know!
"Mommy panked me!' Neal buried his head in the crook of his father's arm and cried out a fresh set of tears.
"Mommy spanked you? What for bud?"
"Forw…" The youngster lifted his eyes and considered if he should continue. "Forw being nawty, Dadda."
Peter gave him a pointed look.
"I sowwy dadda. I sowwy I wad nawty forw oo."
Peter gave his little boy a tight squeeze. "It's all fine now kiddo. Just don't do it again okay?"
"Okay Dadda." Neal adjusted himself on his father's lap and began playing with his tie. "Bu can I come to da office wit oo eber again?"
"Of course Buddy. But next time I'll take you when I don't have an important meeting on."
"Good ibea Dadda. An net time we leab Satch at home."
"Even better idea, kiddo. I know you didn't see too much today, so what do you think you want to have a look at next time I take you."
Neal scratched his hands through his curly dark hair, deep in thought.
"Maybe you want to see how I take fingerprints?"
Neal considered, "Mabeee."
"Or perhaps you'd like me to show you in our surveillance van?"
The little boy turned his nose up at that one.
"Okay then kiddo, you tell me. What do you want to see?"
Neal crossed his arms and made a firm decision. "I wan ta see all da picherws of da pepol on da wall."
"The pictures of people?" Peter frowned, not sure what Neal was talking about.
"He's talking about the Ten Most Wanted Posters; he could see them from your office." Mozzie came down the stairs and snuggled up to his father on the couch. "Sorry about today, Peter. I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble."
Peter reached down and squeezed the boy's hand. "It's okay son. Thank you for apologizing."
Mozzie looked up and smiled, happy that it was all behind him – except of course for the issue of the dog poo!
"Now, Neal, what's so good about seeing the 'pictures of the people'?"
"I wike them." The little boy's tone indicated he thought the answer was obvious.
Peter couldn't understand the appeal. But then again, there was lots to young Neal he was yet to figure out. "Why kiddo? What's so great about those pictures?"
The little moppet rolled his eyes. Sometimes his dadda could be so 'wustrwating.' "Tose pepol mut be bery imporwant Dadda. One day I wan my picherw up therw too."
Mozzie laughed and ran off to the kitchen to set the table, muttering something as he went about self-fulfilling prophecies.
Peter just groaned and tapped the little boy's forehead. "Neal my boy, you do not what your photo up there. Trust me."
"Yeah I do Dadda. One day I wiwl. Oo see." And with that determined statement, he gave his Daddy a big sloppy kiss on his cheek and ran off to find Satchmo.
Peter leaned back into the couch and sighed contently. Out of everything that had happened throughout the day, the thing that stood out in his mind the most was his conversation with Agent Kent. The older man had certainly left a lasting impression and Peter wasn't going to ignore what was indeed invaluable advice. He would treasure every moment with his boys, whether good or bad and he'd accept the challenges they laid at his feet to be just as valid and important as the ones he laid at theirs. Peter pushed himself up off the couch with the intention of assisting Mozzie with setting the table but for some reason he found himself heading out the back door to track down his youngest. A delayed alarm had set off in his brain and suddenly he had an urgent need to talk to Neal about that crazy idea he just put forward about wanting his picture on the wall at Bureau. Something that was never ever going to happen! Peter would make sure of that!