Family Can Come As If By Magic
Chapter 20
When Sofia started her punishment about 2 weeks ago, she never realized that it wasn't easy, being grounded as she was only allow to go to school and straight home, do lines, homework and stay up in her room until dinner and went back to her room to ready for an early bedtime.
When she told Athena what was happening and the girl was sympathetic, trying to cheer Sofia up as best as she could.
Cedric was still interally torned as he saw how his punishment was affecting Sofia, but he knew that she would be unhappy about it and he as the parent had to enforce it or it would be all for nothing.
They both hard time of it as Cedric grew to miss having his daughter help him with potions and missed having her greet him everyday in his workshop when she got home from school.
But instead, Cedric has Sofia doing different lines for an hour each week after she got home from school the in hopes of getting the message to sink in and impress upon her the seriousness of her actions.
The first week, Sofia had to write "Stealing is against the law and I will be label a thief if caught." until Sofia had repeating in her head all time.
The second was no different, only the lines changed and that when it hit home for Sofia.
"I want you write, "I will not steal potions and consume them carelessly and endanger my health." for the full hour and then afterwards you are to do any homework from school until dinner and if you don't have any, you are to go up to your room until dinner."
Sofia just nods in understanding as she picks up the pencil and starts to write the lines, by the half way mark her hand started to cramp, but she pushed on as she want to get this done.
When the hour was up Sofia's hand ached and she was trying very hard not to cry as the message started to hit her and how she could have died as a result of her reckless behavior.
"The hour is up, do you have any homework?" Cedric came in and saw that Sofia had done a small stack of lines and was massaging her hand and decided to give her some rubbing cream to ease her pain.
"Give me your hand, please." Sofia gave Cedric her hand as the man took out a tin of rubbing cream to ease the cramped muscles out of his robe pocket.
"If your hand starts to hurt please take a small break, I will not care if you do only five pages, I only want you to understand what I am trying to teach you, not hurt yourself because of some time limit."
Sofia was silent as her Papa's warm hands gently rubbed the sore spot in her hand.
"I am truly sorry, Papa, I understand that I could have died or got in serious trouble, all because I did not want relive what happen to me."
Cedric said nothing as he finished rubbing in the cream and put the tin back in his robe pocket and pulls her close to give her a hug.
"I know that you are sorry and I am glad that you got the message, but the punishment still stands and I will say that you are doing well under this punishment, I am proud of you."
Sofia smiles brightly for the first time in felt like weeks as her Papa was proud of her for taking this punishment gracefully.
"Do you have any homework to do?"
Sofia smile dimmed as she shakes her head sadly as she look down at her lap.
"How about instead of staying your room until dinner, we take out the old checker board and play a few rounds." Cedric said smiling as he saw Sofia look up in surprise.
"Really!" Sofia was so happy to play checkers with her Papa.
"Go on and get it I will be in the living room waiting."
After getting the game, Sofia makes her way to the living room, where her Papa was sitting at a small table waiting for her.
They both set up the game and started to play and before they both knew it, it was dinner time.
"Well, I can say with confidence that I will never be able to beat you at checkers anytime soon."
Cedric said teasingly as he lost his last checker once more.
Sofia smiles at her Papa knowing he would let her win sometimes and just let him think she was unaware.
"Put the game away and wash up, it's time for dinner."
"Yes Papa." Sofia gets up and puts the game away and goes to wash up for dinner.
Tonights dinner was one of Sofia's favorites, beef stew with carrots and potatoes and freshly baked biscuits.
After eating in silent, Sofia quietly excuses herself, but before she could leave she was stopped by Cedric.
"Once you are dressed in your nightclothes, come back and we can read or just cuggle up on the couch while I read to you or we could always play a game of cards."
The once glum expression on Sofia was replaced by joy as she quickly runs up to her room, threw on her purple pajamas and slippers, before making her way back to the living room.
Cedric knew that he might be bending the rules alittle, but it was worth it to see his little girl smile once more as she snuggles into his side as he reads one of her favorite books, until she falls asleep and her Papa was not far behind and quickly puts the book aside and grabs a large thick throw over blanket, before laying down with Sofia on his chest and covers them both up and is asleep in no time.