At the end of the first nine weeks, report cards came out and Karen was freaking. She had all B’s and C’s with one exception, she got an F in Algebra. I told her not to feel so badly, I had one B, three C’s and two D’s and it was the worst report card I had ever received. I wasn’t expecting Karen’s response. “I don’t know what you’re so worried about Carla, remember, you’re immune from spankings. If you even get chewed out and put on restriction, I’ll be surprised.” She looked at me and I could clearly see the fear in her eyes when she confided, “Carla, I’m really in for it. I’m scared to death. I never got an F before. The one time I got a D, she spanked me till I was wishing I were dead. I don’t even want to go home. What am I going to do? - How could I be so stupid?”
When we got to the house, Jennifer was already there. Karen and I could not believe our ears when the little brain announced she had pulled it off. Straight A’s with an A- in History. She was dancing around the room shaking the damn thing in our faces. As soon as she saw our report cards, she lost it on Karen’s F. “Mi-God Karen, she is going to kill you. I’ll bet you get it with the strip.” Of course when I asked what the strip was, I was again told it was not of my concern. When I asked about my fate, Jennifer responded with disgust, “If they really get tough with you, you might get sent to your room without supper.” Dad got home before Ms. Kilpatrick. He was really disappointed with my report car. He looked at Karen’s and told her she should be ashamed of herself. He explained to both of us that his help was available any time either of us could use it. For Karen’s sake he added that algebra was one of his strengths. Moving on to Jennifer and following a quick review of her impressive report card, he told her he was really proud of her and gave her a big hug. He then returned his attention to me. After some serious thought and weighing of options, Dad decided that I was to be grounded for the next nine weeks. “These D’s are unacceptable Carla. I know you can do better than that. You’re grounded until these sorry grades come up. I expect you to come straight home from school, and as soon as you come through that door – you will go to your room. You will study, and when you need it, I expect you to ask for help. You will only leave your room to go to the bathroom – do I make myself clear?” I responded that I understood, apologized for letting him down and gave my word that he would see a vast improvement on my next report card.
Just as I turned to go to my room, Ms. Kilpatrick came in from the garage. She looked around the room and instantly knew something was wrong. “Okay girls, lets have the report cards.” Jennifer was quick to produce hers and within a few seconds, she was receiving all kinds of praise, a big hug and a kiss on her forehead. Handing the card back to Jennifer, for some reason she skipped Karen and turned to me. “Lets see it Carla. I know you haven’t been studying – I’ll bet its bad. Is it? Come on – lets have it” I slowly crossed the room, retrieved the document from my Dad and with out looking up, turned and placed it into Ms. Kilpatrick’s extended hand. She looked at the card and then shaking her head in disbelief, she looked right at me. “What do you have to say for yourself Carla? This is one of the worst report cards I have ever seen.” She waited for me to provide something that we both knew did not exist – a reasonable explanation.
Her angry eyes really frightened me but did not prepare me for what was coming next. I felt the floor fall out from under me when she spoke again. “Two D’s – that’s disgraceful and I won’t have it. Okay Carla, you got yourself a spanking coming for this one young lady. Get your butt on into my bedroom and wait for me.” I was scared to death. She was going to really do it. “I’m going to get a spanking! Mi-God what am I going to do?” I thought as I considered my options. Looking around, I noticed that Jennifer looked pleased as peaches and even Karen, in as much trouble as she was in, showed delight at her mom’s surprise announcement. As I was looking at Dad, Ms. Kilpatrick’s angry voice repeated her previous order. “Carla, I told you to do something and I expect you to obey me without question. Now go to my room and wait for the spanking you have coming. Are you going to go on your own or do I need to take you there?”
Not wanting to be hauled to the bedroom the way I had seen Jennifer taken to the bathroom in Van Horn, I was already on my way when Dad finally spoke up. “Alice, you know my feelings on spanking. I have already talked to Carla about her grades and she is being grounded.”
Ms. Kilpatrick jerked her head around and looked right at my Dad. “Talked to her? Grounded her? What a joke. She is on the verge of flunking out of school and you think it’s time for talking and grounding. Okay, fine. She is your daughter – not mine. I can tell you one thing, if she were mine, and she brought this report card home, I would take enough hide off her butt to craft a new lampshade!” Thinking of her own predicament, I knew poor Karen was distressed to hear this colorfully descriptive declaration of intent.
Dad quickly ended the scene when he took the report card from Ms. Kilpatrick, “Well, she is not your daughter Alice – She’s mine - and she is grounded. Okay, get to your room and get after those books Carla. I know you are going to keep your word to me. We won’t have any more grades like that – will we?”
“No Daddy, I’m going to do better.” As I turned and walked towards the hall, I started to cry. Hearing Ms. Kilpatrick say, “She is not my daughter” had really hurt me. I wanted to be her daughter. I needed to be her daughter – I was desperate for her love.
