New Beginnings
Chapter 44
Parties and Sleepovers
Alex, if you'll excuse me, I really need to go get this grain off of me. I won't be long. Just make yourself comfortable." Rob tells his friend.
"Alex, there's fresh bread and butter on the stove if you want something to eat. There's jam in the pantry on the top shelf. I keep it up high or the boys will get into it. The milk is in the well house or you can pump some water to drink." Claire says walking out from the little boy's bedroom.
"Thanks Claire. I'm not hungry. I had lunch at the hotel. They let me have a sandwich and milk if I'm working during lunch. I'll just sit and rest if you don't mind. I've been cleaning today and I'm beat."
"Who beat you?" Alyssa asks, standing beside Claire. "What did you do wrong?"
"No one beat me, Alyssa. I meant I'm really tired from working." Alex explains to the little girl frowning at him.
"My other Papa beat Aaron, and me too sometimes. We didn't do anything real bad either. Our new Papa doesn't beat us."
"That's good to hear, Alyssa. No one beats me so don't worry about me, alright?" Alex reassures the child.
"Okay. Uncle Mitch is your new Papa and he doesn't beat anyone so don't worry."
"Thanks. I won't." Alex says trying not to laugh as he catches Claire hiding her smile behind her hand.
Coming into the front room just in time to hear the last of this conversation, Rob has to choke back a laugh at Alyssa's statement to Alex. Feeling some better now that the grain is washed off, he looks out the window to check the children. "There's something happening in the chicken coop, Claire. The chickens are all aflutter. I'm going to go check." He calls to his sister.
Walking up to the chicken coop, he has to blink several times to be sure he is seeing correctly. It seems there are three chickens who have somehow lost half their wing feathers. Upon closer inspection he sees feathers on the ground. Thinking an animal has somehow gotten hold of the chickens, he looks for tracks by the coop. Just as he's closing the gate, the boys run past whooping like Indians. Glancing at them, Rob sees all three are wearing feathered headbands.
"BOYS! COME HERE IMMEDIATELY!"
"Ben, where did you get those feathers?" Rob asks as soon as the three obey his roared command. He knows asking Ben is the quickest way to a truthful answer as he hasn't begun to cover up for misdeeds the way George does.
"George said to pull them off the chickens. They could grow some more so we did."
"That was wrong and you know it! You mess with the chickens and they stop laying! All three of you go inside, find a corner and stay there until I say you may leave it. GO!" Rob says pointing to the house.
"I don't know why you're so grumpy today, Rob. We're just playing War Parties. Indians had lots of war parties." George explains.
"Go... Find... A... Corner... George!" Rob answers glaring at his young brother. "I'm coming in just a minute, MOVE!"
Coming inside, George goes straight to Claire instead of a corner.
"Claire! Rob's being mean. We just wanted to play War Parties and he made us come inside. We need cakes and cookies for our party and lemonade to drink too. I don't know if Indians had cake at their parties but I want some. Will you make us some?"
Hearing this as he comes in the door, Rob growls "George Allen Cord, what you must want is a red bottom! Get in that corner now or so help me, I'm going to tan your backside right here!"
"Rob! What is it? Why are you upset with the boys?" Claire asks as George scurries into the corner.
"Come outside and I'll show you." Rob answers, before telling George "Do not even think of moving from that corner!"
"I'll watch the monsters for you, Rob." Alex says while grinning at his furious friend.
After showing Claire the chickens and what the boys did, Rob follows her back inside. Smiling a little to himself as he does so.
"GEORGE, Come Here!" Claire calls as soon as she gets into the kitchen.
"Rob said I can't move, Claire." George calls back not liking the tone of her voice and finding the corner much safer.
"You may come to Claire, George." Rob tells him.
"Yes, Claire? You wanted me?" George asks politely as he reaches his very angry sister.
"Did you pluck feathers off my laying hens?"
"Yes."
"What happens to laying hens when someone or something disturbs them? Tell me." Claire demands, hands on hips and glaring.
"They stop laying eggs. We didn't bother all of them though, just three. They can grow back the feathers. They don't need them to fly anyway." George replies anxiously.
Alex has to leave the room to keep from laughing at George's reply. "I'll leave you two to sort this out and check on the other little Indians." he tells Claire and Rob as he walks out of the kitchen.
"They aren't going to lay for us for several days because of your actions! You know better! You are going to get a spanking for this, George. I've told you, Rob has told you and I know Pa has told you to leave the chickens alone! Go to your room." Claire tells her open mouthed little brother.
"CLAIRE, NOOOOO." George whines pitifully, throwing in a tear filled look.
The look doesn't work as his sister turns him and points. "Go, one of us will be there in a minute."
As George closes his door, Claire turns to Rob "Will you do it? I don't think I can be gentle with him after seeing my chickens."
"What was that you said about the boys not getting into trouble while I bathed?" Rob teases.
"Okay, I admit I was wrong. Since you caught him, will you punish him?" Claire asks.
"I will. What about Ben and Aaron? They were in on this too. It was George's idea, though."
"I think the corner time will be enough for them, don't you? They didn't necessarily know about not bothering the chickens. I know Ben has forgotten, Aaron may just not know." Claire answers.
"One young Chief Red Bottom coming up." Rob says walking off to deal with his little brother.
Alyssa can't help but giggle at that. She's been listening the whole time and finds it funny.
"Claire, Papa will spank Aaron when I tell him about the chickens. You don't have to." she tells her friend.
"We'll let him decide what to do when he gets home. Thank you, Alyssa."
Walking into the front room, Alyssa goes up to Aaron in the corner.
"You're in trouble Aaron. Papa said to behave and mind what you were told. It's only the first day and you're already in the corner. I'm telling Papa about you pulling feathers off Claire's chickens! You'll get your bottom burned just like George!" She adds the last as they hear swats coming from the boy's room.
"I know you'll tell. You're a tell tale, Alyssa! I don't care if you do!" Aaron answers turning around to stick his tongue out at her.
"Hey Now! What's with the tongue, young man?" Mitch scolds having come in at Aaron's end of the conversation. "Well mannered children don't talk back or stick out their tongues. What mischief have you boys been into now?" he asks, hearing the sound of a spanking.
"Uncle Mitch, the coffee's hot if you want some. I'll tell you about it while the boys finish their corner time. How's Daisy doing?" Claire calls from the kitchen.
"Hot coffee sounds good. Come Alex, sit with me and tell me about your day." Mitch answers walking out of the room.
"Claire, I think the pony is fine. She just seemed to have eaten too much. Matthew is helping her empty her stomach. She got into some alfalfa hay from somewhere. Didn't Ethan say that hay wasn't good for Shetland Ponies?"
"Yes sir. It makes their bellies swell up. I wonder how she got some. We don't feed it to them, just the other horses." Claire answers.
"There was a little in her stall so I'm guessing she ate it. Matthew can explain better when he comes in. Now what's going on with the boys?"
Coming in from George's room leading George, Rob answers. "They plucked feathers off three of Claire's chickens to make war bonnets. What do you have to say to Claire, George?"
"I'm sorry, Claire. I won't bother your chickens again. Rob spanked me bare! It burns!" George answers sniffling.
"Go back into your room, George while Aaron and Ben finish their corner time." Rob instructs his brother.
After George is out of the room, Mitch scolds "Rob! You shouldn't have spanked him, it wasn't your responsibility to punish him. "
Irritated by the scolding, Rob answers back angrily "You're wrong! It is my responsibility when Pa isn't here. He deserved a spanking and he got one. I'm in charge when Pa isn't here."
"At times that may be true, young man. Right now Matthew and I are in charge. You will do as we tell you and you will watch the way you speak to me. Now, come to the barn." Mitch replies forcefully.
Seeing Rob's wide eyed expression, Mitch, realizing what he's thinking says "I want you to look at the hay and tell me if it's the kind you usually have, Rob."
"Yes Sir." Rob replies with a quiet sigh of relief. For a time, he thought he was about to catch it from Mitch.
"How's the horse now, Matthew?" Mitch asks walking into the barn.
"She seems to be better. Hello, Rob. Can you tell if the hay is the kind you keep here?" Matthew answers.
"We do have some, but we never feed it to the ponies. I don't know how she got into it unless she got into another stall."
"It was in her stall and she ate it, from what I have discovered. I managed to make her empty her stomach and it wasn't pleasant. I'd prefer not to do that again so lets clear the barn of that kind of hay. If the other horses need it, we can feed it to them outside. One horse with a bloated stomach is all I can handle." Matthew tells him.
Later that night after supper, the children settle in around the fireplace to play games. Ben and Aaron have a checkers game going while George watches and waits to play the winner. Joseph is enjoying a discussion on the best fishing bait with Matthew while Mitch is listening in. Rob and Claire are doing the clean up chores.
"Well everyone, I'm calling it a night and heading to bed. Matthew, you are in charge of throwing these horrible children in their beds tonight. Feel free to use torture if needed especially on Alexander, here. He's one hard to manage child." Mitch teases ruffling the boy's hair.
"Uncle Mitch! We aren't horrible!" the younger children protest as Alex just grins at his guardian.
"Good night, Uncle Mitch. I put fresh sheets on Pa's bed for you." Claire answers smiling.
"Well, I think bed sounds good to me too. Let's go young ones, I'll even tell you a bedtime story if you get in bed before I can count to ten. ONE... TWO..." Matthew announces a little while later. As the younger children make a dash for the boy's room Matthew says "Thank you Joseph, for allowing me to use your room. It would be awkward to share a bed with Mitch. Besides, I hear he snores!"
"You're welcome Uncle Matt. I don't mind staying with Rob and Alex. We'll spread pallets on the floor and sleep like we do camping out." Joseph answers laughing.
As this arrangement is new to Rob, he swaps a glance at Alex. Both are wondering how they are going to slip out later if Joseph is in the room too.
"Well kids, it's time for you to turn in also. I'll go tell the little ones a story and settle them. Are we all finished bedding the animals for the night? Is there anything else to do outside?" Matt asks.
"No, we're all done with the chores and I've already put the bars in place on both doors." Rob answers.
"Sleep well, Uncle Matthew. We'll see you in the morning." Claire tells him standing to give him a kiss on his cheek.
"Hmm, kisses. It's been a long time since I had a pretty young lady give me a good night kiss. Goodnight everyone."
Three hours later, Rob quietly reaches over to shake Alex awake. Motioning to be quiet, he slowly walks over to the window and raises it. As Alex tiptoes to the window carrying his boots, the two boys hear Joseph whisper "Where are you going?"
"Nowhere you need to worry about. Go to sleep." Rob whispers back sternly.
"No, either let me come or I'll wake up Uncle Matt! You get to choose!" Joseph replies forcefully but still whispering.
"Grab your boots and coat and let's go, quietly!" Rob answers, glaring at his brother.
Once outside and behind the barn, Joseph asks "Where are we going anyway?"
"Just keep quiet and follow. You wanted to come so come on. I don't want any complaining later, either!" Rob answers angrily.
Nodding Joseph moves to the side next to Alex and away from his angry brother. He wouldn't put it past Rob to swat him for insisting on coming.
When the boys turn up the hill towards the mine, Joseph asks in amazement "Are we going to the mine?"
"Yes. Now when we get up there you stay as far away from the entrance to the mine as possible. You go near that entrance and I'll wallop your backside right there! You hear me, Joseph?" Rob replies.
"I'm not eight, Rob. I know not to play around the mine. We're not even supposed to be on this side of town much less at the mine. I hope you have a plan to get us home without being found out. I don't want to face Pa if we are caught out here!"
"If you were so worried why'd you come?"
"You didn't tell me where you were going, remember? I just wanted to be with my older brother some. You're never home."
As they reach the top of the hill, they see a small fire with a group of boys sitting around it.
"You made it! Rob, Alex, this is Mike, Bill and you know my brother Donnie. Hello, Joseph. I didn't know you were coming." Dan greets the boys.
"I had no choice. It was either let him come or we'd have to stay home." Rob answers with a scowl at Joseph.
"That's fine. We have enough to share. Find a seat and join in." Dan replies. As the three boys settle in by the fire, one of the older boys passes a bottle of something over to Alex.
"Here Alex,enjoy."
Wide eyed but knowing to keep quiet, Joseph watches as Alex takes a long drink from the bottle. As the bottle is passed from one boy to the next each takes a long drink. Suddenly finding himself holding the bottle, Joseph hesitates. He doesn't know whether to pass it on or do as the others did.
"Go on Joseph, take a taste. I already have and it's manly!" Donnie, the boy younger than him says.
With a side glance at Rob, Joseph follows the boy's advice and takes a long drink. Feeling as if he just swallowed fire, he sputters and coughs until tears are running down his face.
"Quite a kick to it, right Joseph?" Dan asks, laughing at the boy's sputtering.
"Maybe you'll do better with a smoke. Here have one." another boy says passing a newly rolled cigarette to Joseph.
"NO. Joseph pass it by! We can't be going home smelling of smoke." Rob speaks up with a stern stare at his brother.
"I'm passing this time, fellas. Thanks for the opportunity." Joseph replies as he passes the cigarette on to Donnie.
Back at the Cord Ranch, the men are awakened by a child screaming "No! Leave me 'lone! Go'way! PAPA!"
Rushing into the boy's room, Mitch finds Aaron sitting up in bed in tears as the other two try to comfort him.
"What's wrong Aaron? Bad dream?" Mitch asks picking the child up and settling him on his lap.
"Yessss, our first Pa was chasing me, he had the whip. He was gonna beat me for bothering the chickens." Aaron tells him in between sobs.
"Your first Pa is gone forever, son. You don't need to be afraid any more. Since we're all awake, let's go make some hot milk and have some cookies too." Mitch says carrying the boy as Ben and George follow.
Finding Claire and Alyssa already in the kitchen, Mitch says "Well, it seems we're having a midnight party."
"What's going on, Mitch?" Matthew asks sleepily as he walks in a few minutes later.
"We're having a nightmare party, Matt. Round up the older boys and join us."
"Sounds interesting. I'll go get them. Save some of those cookies for me, Benjamin Cookie Monster!" Matt play scolds causing Ben to giggle.
Opening the door to the older boys room, Matt sees all three of them sound asleep. Returning to the kitchen, he says "I don't know how they can sleep through it but they did. They are dead to the world. "
"Hmm, yes, it seems they would have heard and come to see what was happening." Mitch answers.
"They're DEAD?" Ben asks as the youngsters all look at Matthew fearfully.
"No, it just means they are sound asleep. They're still alive, children." Matt answers with a regretful look at Mitch who is shaking his head at him.
In Rob's room, two boys are busy undressing after their quick dive into bed. The boys came in just as Aaron was yelling. Now eating the peppermint sticks Rob bought at the mercantile earlier to get the whiskey smell off their breath, they collapse in bed.
"Should we go out there?" Alex whispers.
"No, Joseph is pretty far gone and we'd have to answer questions as to why. Let's sleep and hopefully he'll be alright tomorrow. If not, we're in some kind of trouble! Help me get him undressed. I'm thankful he passed out before we got here. We couldn't sneak in with him singing."
"I'm not sure I can ever hear "Bringing In The Sheaves" again without feeling guilty. Why did you let him drink six times? I wouldn't have." Alex asks.
"He wanted to go and be a part of the group so I let him. He'll have to suffer for it tomorrow and maybe he won't drink so much next time. I'm not feeling all that wonderful myself. My stomach keeps jumping around. How about you?"
"About the same. The candy is helping." Alex whispers back.
The following day, Joseph wakes feeling quite ill. His stomach is heaving and he barely makes it to the W.C. before it empties. Flushed, bleary eyed and staggering he enters the kitchen.
"Good Morning, Joseph. You must have been tired last night to sleep so hard." Mitch greets him from the table where he's sipping coffee. The other children have eaten and have begun the morning chores. Mitch has been waiting for Joseph. The older boys were very pale, quiet, withdrawn and didn't seem to like the look of their breakfasts earlier. Suspicious, Mitch waits for Joseph's reactions to food.
"UMMHmm, tiwerd. Hungwry." Joseph mutters grabbing the bread and butter from the table.
"Well, we saved some sausages and I can whip up some eggs." Mitch tells him placing the cold greasy sausages in front of the boy.
"AHHH, No. No shawshiges! Sick!" Joseph says making another dash for the W.C.
Following, Mitch finds Joseph heaving over the commode. "What's going on, son? Do you need to see Dr. Amy?" At the boy's frantic shake of his head, Mitch says "Tell me the truth, Joseph. How much did you drink?"
"I don' know. One bottle six, seven times. It came to me." Joseph whispers before gagging again, too sick to realize what he just admitted.
"Where was this and who gave you this drink?"
"Up to Mine. Dan's friends. Rob, Alex too."
"Alex was there and Rob? At the Mine, last night?" Mitch questions sternly.
"Y's'r. Sick! Headhurshts! Stomashfires! Unca Mitch." Joseph whimpers as tears run down his face. The look he received a minute ago has him worried about getting his bottom on fire also.
"You finish here and head back to bed. I'll bring you something to help your stomach. You and I will discuss this incident later, young man!" Mitch tells the tearful child.
Getting a couple of glass canning jars full of tomatoes, Mitch begins to prepare his hangover cure. Tomatoes mixed with a touch of lemon and molasses mixed together soothes the stomach. Taking it in to Joseph, he waits for the boy to drink it. "Good, now sleep. I put a bucket here by the bed if you need it." Mitch tells him as he tucks the boy into Rob's bed.
Leaving Joseph asleep, Mitch goes to tell Matthew of what went on.
"I'll handle the punishments if you'll keep the rest of the children away from the woodshed and go look in on Joseph every now and again. He's asleep right now."
"They snuck out and were drinking? I'm amazed they got out without us hearing. Wait! You said, the woodshed. You're going to thrash them?"
"I'm going to see to it those boys think long and hard before choosing to drink and letting a young boy drink until he's too sick to even talk. Alex is my son now and Rob was left in my care. Ethan would have no qualms about my discipline so you don't need to either. They will live through it. I'm headed to town for a bit and then I'll deal with the boys. Don't mention anything to them or let on we know."
"I'll take care of things here." Matthew replies.
After visiting Daniel and Don's father, getting the names of the other boys involved, Mitch goes to visit those parents also. Finished with that chore, he stops in at the saloon.
"Deputy. What can I do for you?" The barkeep asks.
"I need a bottle of your strongest whiskey, Jim. I need to teach some boys the dangers of drinking. Do you have the one called Devil's Fire? I heard some men talking and they said it nearly burns your hair off."
"I do. It's very strong, Mitch. These boys you speak of, it's a bit much for a punishment, don't you think?" He asks.
"I'm not planning to have them drink much. I plan to set fire to their stomachs and with this it won't take but a few swallows. It's to prove a point, Jim."
"Very well, let me just pour some into another smaller bottle for you. This should do the trick."
"Alexander! Robert! Come with me!" Mitch says sternly causing the two boys to jump and spin around from the pasture fence. They have been admiring the new stallion Ethan is going to gentle for someone in town.
"What's going on Uncle Mitch?" Rob questions as he and Alex are led behind the woodshed.
"Sit!" Mitch commands pointing to two large stumps he pulled out of the woodshed.
"I know all about your little trip last night and have been in town informing your friend's parents of your drinking up at the Mine. Joseph is a very sick boy today because you two idiots allowed him to drink! I am very ashamed of both of you. I thought you were more mature than to pull this stunt! Both of you broke the law by drinking and you know not to be near the Paradise Mine."
As the two boys swap a look, he continues.
"Robert, I am going to let your Pa handle the main punishment. Alexander, you and I will discuss this incident more at home. For now, I have something for you both. I want you to do as you did last night and enjoy this." Mitch says handing the half full bottle of whiskey to Alex.
"I'd rather not have any sir." Alex says eying the bottle glumly. His stomach is rolling just looking at it.
"Drink up, Alexander and then pass it to Robert. That's an order!" Mitch tells him sternly.
The following day, Ethan and Chris return to find the oldest boys clearing brush from the back pasture fence.
"I see you have assigned some labor to Rob, Joseph and Alex. That can only mean they have been up to something. What did they do?" Ethan asks Mitch and Matthew after greeting Claire and the younger children.
"Did you have success finding the ones holding up the stage?" Matthew asks, sidestepping the question.
"They went up to the mine and were drinking, Papa." George announces gleefully.
"George, I was talking to Mitch and Matthew. Go inside children." Ethan replies before answering "No, we didn't. Whoever is doing this is not following a pattern and that makes our job even more difficult."
"Ethan, I'm going to head home. Thank you Mitch and Matt for letting the twins stay. Were there any problems?" Chris asks, stopping the twins.
"Nothing major. We'll see you Chris. Bye kids." Matthew answers watching Aaron smile at him.
"That's fine, Chris. I'll see you tomorrow." Ethan replies before looking at Mitch questioningly.
"It seems Rob, Alex and Joseph snuck out night before last, to the Mine for a get together. I've spoken to the parents of the other boys involved and punished our three."
"Was George correct in that they were drinking?"
"Yes, I made Rob and Alex drink whiskey until they were both too sick to do more than collapse in bed. They allowed Joseph to go and he reacted badly to the whiskey. He was one sick boy for a time. I don't think he'll look at drinking anything stronger than cider for a long time after this."
"Mitch, thank you for staying. I'm sorry the boys caused Alex to be involved."
"Alex made the choice and I will be discussing that choice strongly as soon as I get him home. If you don't mind, we'll take off now."
"Yes that's fine. Send Joseph and Robert inside when you get Alex. Matthew, would you take Claire and the younger boys to town this afternoon. I need time alone with Robert and Joseph."
"I'll be happy too. Let me go get them now."
Walking out to the back pasture, Mitch calls for the boys. "Boys, Alexander and I are leaving now that Ethan and Chris are back. I will see you soon. Your Pa requests your presence up at the house now. I wouldn't make him wait either, if I were you."
"Oh, God." Rob mutters, earning a reproachful look from Mitch and a worried glance from Joseph.
"I wouldn't be bothering God with this, Robert. This is all on you. Good luck boys. Let's go, Alexander." Mitch replies sternly.
"Rob? What's he going to do to us, you think?" Joseph asks nervously.
"I don't want to think about it. Let's just go get it over with. I only hope it doesn't involve drinking any more whiskey!"
At supper that evening Ben is the only one talking. He's busy filling in his Pa on what he missed.
"And Papa, did you hear we had hot milk and cookies late the first night? Aaron had a nightmare about his first Papa. Didya know George was bad? He scalped the chickens and Rob spanked him. He made Daisy have something Uncle Matt calls the vapors cause George fed her bad hay on purpose two times. Uncle Matt caught him at it and spanked him. Rob and Joseph snuck out and were drinking! I guess you whipped 'em since they're squirming on their chairs. Didya give em a whipping Papa? Alex said he thought Uncle Mitch might whip him. Uncle Mitch was some mad at them. He was scary."
"Ben, when did you decide to be the family reporter and where did all this chatter come from?" Ethan asks smiling slightly at the animated boy.
"I don' know when but I can talk good now. I don' forget as much anymore."
"That's for sure!" George whispers to Joseph.
"That's wonderful, son. Now George, what's this about you misbehaving? Did you do the things I just heard about? Did you hurt Daisy and the chickens?" Ethan asks his youngest.
"Yes sir. I already got spanked for it too. I wasn't trying to hurt Daisy. I just wanted to show Aaron how funny she sounds when she's all gassy." George answers, nervously biting his lip.
"Young man, you better not ever deliberately cause someone or something harm again. I ought to take the strap to your backside! Since you've been punished twice already we will go with being housebound for two weeks. Starting tomorrow, no going anywhere but school and church. Your life will be: outside chores, school, homework and your bedroom unless it's mealtime. Rob and Joseph will be keeping you company as they are housebound for one month."
The next afternoon with all three of his brothers confined to their rooms, Ben approaches Ethan in the barn.
"Is Daisy okay, Papa? She's not sick now is she?"
"She's going to be fine, son. Matthew did a good job of taking care of the problem. You look upset, son. What's wrong?"
"I have to go to school Monday, Claire said."
"That's true. You children start school on Monday. You've met Mrs. Brandenburg and said she was nice so what is worrying you?"
"Joseph got a whipping for bad grades at school. I 'member that. What if I can't 'member something and get a bad grade? Sometimes I can't 'member words and don't read really good right now. What if I make bad scores on my work?"
"Ahh, I see. Let's come sit on the hay bales and talk some about school." After waiting for Ben to find a comfortable spot, Ethan continues. "You are worried about how I might react if you make a bad grade. Is that it?"
"Uh Huh."
"Say, 'Yes Sir', Ben. Not Uh Huh."
"Yes Sir."
"Good boy. Well, let's see how do I put this? Son, I expect all of my children to do their very best in school. I want them listening, trying to do what is asked, and minding the school rules. What I punish you boys for is when you do not do as you are told. For example, Joseph was told to do some schoolwork and didn't do it. He received a whipping for not obeying the teacher and had to do extra work after he did the missed assignment. You see Ben, he deliberately chose to ignore the assignment. That's unacceptable behavior. As long as you do as your teacher asks and try to do your best, then I am satisfied. It's when you do not try or deliberately disobey that you get in trouble with me. You will be fine, son. Don't worry."
"What if the kids make fun of me for being slow at schoolwork now?"
"Then you tell the teacher and you tell me. Both of us will make sure no one is allowed to tease you. You are much better at reading than you were just two weeks ago. I think you'll do just fine, son. We'll keep working together and I know Mrs. Brandenburg will help you too. This is a new school year and a new start for everyone Ben."