Chapter 5 – JT's Temper Tantrum

By Friday of the week that Jack was gone in October, Elizabeth was so ready for him to be home. She hoped that he was able to catch the Saturday night train. JT's behavior hadn't gotten any better during the week. He had even gotten in trouble in school because he didn't want to listen. So when Elizabeth had to head into town after school on Friday, JT was not happy to have to go along. He just wanted to play with his toys. He had snuck some of his Mounties into his pocket and had been caught with them during school, which prompted Elizabeth to take them from him, causing a meltdown.

They had just rounded the corner and were headed to the mercantile when JT pulled away from Elizabeth, turned and stomped his feet and yelled.

"I want my Montees!" JT yelled at the top of his lungs.

"Not until you can listen." Elizabeth said. "Both Daddy and I have told you they don't go to school."

JT stomped his feet again, crossed his arms and refused to move. Elizabeth stopped and sighed. She knew that people were watching her to see how she would handle it, but she was so angry that she just wanted to spank JT right there and drag him to the mercantile with her. What she didn't know was that Nathan and Bill were on the porch of the office and saw everything. There was a part of Nathan that wanted to go help.

"Jack Thomas." Elizabeth said in a very stern voice.

"NO!" JT yelled. "I … WANT … DADDY!"

Elizabeth took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. She set her basket down and knelt down to JT's level. She put her hands on his shoulders.

"Jack Thomas." Elizabeth said. "You will not get your Mounties back until you learn to listen. You will also be going to be early tonight and there will be no riding Sprite with Daddy this weekend. You can't act like this every time that Daddy has to leave for a few days. You are almost five years old and going to be a big brother soon."

"I don't want to be a big bruder." JT yelled.

He then pushed Elizabeth back and took off running in the opposite direction. Bill immediately headed for Elizabeth to make sure she was okay, while Nathan went after JT. He figured the boy was headed to the livery so went straight there, cutting through the grass between a couple of buildings. Faith and Molly had beat Bill to Elizabeth. They had heard the yelling like other people and had stepped outside to see what was going on. Faith insisted on taking Elizabeth to the infirmary to make sure she and the baby were both okay. Bill picked up her basket and said he would get the list of items needed at the mercantile. Then he would go help with JT. Elizabeth gave Bill a small smile.

"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "I don't know what has gotten into the boy. He has never acted like this."

"Well." Bill said. "He has had a lot of changes. He is going to be a big brother, so there might be some jealousy and I am sure having Jack gone is not helping. Let me and Nathan handle it. When you are done with Faith, why don't you head home and I will bring supper from the cafe when I bring JT back."

"Thank you, Bill." Elizabeth said. "Can you maybe try and reach Jack. I need him here."

"I think that would be best." Faith said, giving Jack a knowing look as Elizabeth winced in pain.

"I will see what I can do." Bill said.

Faith and Molly took Elizabeth to the infirmary. Bill headed to the mercantile. He gave the list to Ned who started to gather things, while Florence put him through to Union City. He let Jack know what was going on and then Bill spoke to O'Reilly who said he would have Jack on the next train. What they had left, Jack could finish at home. Bill thanked the man and hung up the phone. Before turning around, Bill took a moment and prayed for strength.

…..

Nathan was right, he found JT huffing and puffing in the middle of the livery.

"Hey there little man." Nathan greeted like nothing had happened.

JT turned to look at Nathan and that was when Nathan saw the tears. He immediately repressed the urge to gather the boy up in his arms and comfort him. He needed to get across how serious his behavior was.

"I mad." JT said, stomping his little foot for emphasis.

Nathan walked over to a hay bale and sat down.

"Why don't you come sit and tell me what is going on." Nathan said.

JT stood there for a moment debating, before going over to Nathan who helped him up onto the bale of hay. Once he got JT settled, Nathan leaned back and looked at JT.

"I hate Mama." JT said, crossing his arms across his chest again.

"I am sure that you don't mean that." Nathan said. "But tell me why you think that."

"She took my Montee toys." JT said.

"Well." Nathan said. "Were you playing with them when she asked you not to?"

JT huffed a couple of times.

"Maybe." JT said, softly.

"Did you maybe take them to school and then you weren't listening." Nathan said.

JT nodded his head.

"Well, then." Nathan said. "I would have taken them away as well."

JT scrunched up his face at Nathan.

"Jack Thomas." Nathan said. "I have taken Allie's things away when she doesn't listen. It is what parents do when you don't listen. I didn't like school when I was your age either, but my mother would take my toys away when I didn't listen as well. I learned that there was a time for toys and there was a time for school books. It might not always be fun, but didn't you say you want to be a Mountie like your Daddy someday?"

"Yeah." JT said, a smile finally coming to his face.

"Good." Nathan said. "Then you need to pay attention in school and listen. You need to learn as much as you can so that you will be a good Mountie. If you don't do well in school and learn how to listen you will never be a Mountie."

"I will try." JT said.

"That is all anyone is asking." Nathan said. "We know that you are still young and there will be times that you struggle to listen, but you need to stop and try to remember why. Now, let's talk about you yelling at your Mama in the street."

"You heard that?" JT asked quietly.

"I not only heard." Nathan said. "But I saw you push your Mama down as well."

JT cautiously looked at Nathan. As much as he tried to look a bit stern, but also tried to show that he cared about the boy.

"You can't do that." Nathan said. "You could have hurt your mother or the baby."

JT stuck out his lower lip and it started to quiver.

"I don't want to be a bruder." JT cried.

That was when Nathan picked up JT and put him on his lap.

"Why don't you want to be a big brother?" Nathan asked, as he tried to comfort the boy.

"Don't know." JT said.

"I am sure that is not true." Nathan said. "I promise I won't get mad, but you need to be able to tell me so I can try to help you."

JT snuggled into Nathan's chest and continued to cry. Nathan just held him hoping the child would open up to him. He thought he might know what was bothering the boy, but wanted to hear it from him.

"What if Mama and Daddy don't love me after the baby comes?" JT finally cried.

Nathan turned JT in his lap and lifted his chin so that he could look the boy in the eyes.

"I know that your parents love you very much." Nathan said. "Just because they have another baby, doesn't mean that they will love you any less. That is not how it works. Love grows, it doesn't get divided."

JT wiped his eyes and looked at Nathan.

"Can I come live with you and Mrs Nafan and Awee?" JT asked.

"No." Nathan said. "Because then your Mama and Daddy would miss you. Also then who would teach the new baby how to stack blocks and play Mounties when they get older? Who will read to the baby while your Mama is making supper.?"

JT thought about it for a bit and was considering things. That was when Bill walked in.

"JT." Bill said. "You need to say sorry to your mother. I spoke to your Daddy and he is not happy that you acted like you did."

JT's lip started to quiver again.

"See, they don't love me." JT cried.

Bill and Nathan looked at each other. They both tried to reassure the boy that wasn't the case, but he just kept crying. Finally Nathan looked up when he heard a throat clearing.

"Allie." Nathan said.

"Can I speak to him?" Allie asked.

Nathan nodded.

Nathan moved JT to the hay bale and stood up. He gave Allie a hug.

"I will be back at the office." Nathan said. "Please come there when you are done."

"Okay." Allie said.

"I will take JT." Bill said. "I already told Elizabeth that I would bring him home with some supper."

Nathan nodded to Bill and then walked out of the livery.

…..

Once they got to the infirmary, Faith helped Elizabeth up on the table. She carefully took Elizabeth vitals and checked for injuries. Molly had taken Elizabeth's hand and stood on the other side.

"He didn't mean what he said." Molly said. "Kids get upset and don't know how to express themselves so they lash out. It will get better. I was about JT's age when my brother was born. I was upset and hated him because he took so much of my mother's time and attention. I lashed out like JT just did, only it was my two year old sister. She didn't understand and would just cry. Between the two of them needing so much attention and care, I was feeling pretty left out. It was only when my grandmother sat me down and explained as the oldest, it was my responsibility to be the helper and watch after the little ones did it change. My father and mother also made a point of spending time with me after the other two were sleeping. It took a few months but things got easier."

"Molly is right." Faith said. "There have been a lot of changes in the last year for JT. First it was Lucas and the wedding, then it was Jack coming back. Followed by him getting hurt. Then it was the back and Jack had to do over the summer and into the fall. In addition, JT started school. Now you are adding another baby. That is a lot for a four year old in a year."

Elizabeth just looked at Faith.

"I am not saying that gives him a right to act like that." Faith said. "But I can see why he did."

Faith then helped Elizabeth sit up.

"I guess I didn't think about it like that." Elizabeth said.

"That is also understandable." Molly said. "There have been a lot of changes for you as well."

"Everything looks good." Faith said. "But you might be sore. I want you to call or come back if you have continued pain of any kind."

"Okay." Elizabeth said. "What about JT?"

"Talk to Jack." Faith said. "Talk to Bill. But you all need to stress that he can push you like that. You also need to not get stressed. It isn't good for you or the baby."

"Maybe see if Bill can spend some time with JT when Jack has to be gone." Molly said.

Elizabeth nodded and then reached for Faith to help her down.

"I heard Bill set your basket inside the door." Faith said. "Go home, make a cup of tea and take it easy."

"Okay." Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth walked to the door, picked up her basket and left. She wasn't surprised that Abigail was there waiting for her.

…..

Allie sat down and wrapped her arm around JT.

"That wasn't nice to push your Mom." Allie said.

"She took my Montees and wouldn't give them back." JT said, emphatically.

"And you were playing with them while she was trying to teach a lesson." Allie said. "I know she said you can't have them at school."

"No fair!" JT huffed, crossing his arms.

"Her classroom, her rules." Allie said. "Just like the other kids can't have their toys in class, neither can you. I mean I would love to bring my spinning tops or my carved horse, but I know that Mrs Thornton will take them away and then tell my dad. If that happens, it will be a long time before I get them back. Dad would probably even make me do extra chores."

"Really." JT said.

"Yes." Allie said. "But even if that were to happen, I know that Dad still loves me so much. He just wants what is best for me. Just like your Mom wants what is best for you. It must be hard for her. She has to treat you like all the other students, even though we all know that you aren't like everyone else."

"What do you mean?" JT asked

"She is also your Mom." Allie said. "But in the classroom, she can't show favorites. If she lets you play with your toys, how will the other boys feel? They might get jealous and then not like you anymore. Then you wouldn't have anyone to play with at recess. Do you see what I am trying to tell you?"

JT nodded his head.

"Now." Allie said. "You don't like it when Aaron or Sarah push you, so do you think it was nice to push your Mom?"

"I guess not." JT said.

"The same with yelling at her." Allie said. "I think you need to say sorry. Just because you are mad, you can do those things."

"Okay." JT said, sadly. "I still hate the baby."

"Why?" Allie asked. "You are going to be a great big brother."

"No!" JT said, raising his voice again.

Bill walked over.

"The baby won't be here for a while." Bill said. "For now, you heard your mother. No riding this weekend and bed early tonight. Now, let's go over to the cafe and get supper ready to take to your Mom."

"No cookies, either." Allie said. "So don't even ask. When I am in trouble, Dad doesn't let me have dessert. He says it to remind me next time I think about doing something."

"Fine." JT said.

Bill held out his hand and JT took it.

"Allie." Bill said. "Go check in with your Dad and thanks for the help."

"You are welcome." Allie said. "I will. I need to ask him something, but it might have to wait."

…..