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Raising kids was a fulfilling experience. A relationship where both parties learned from each other and built upon each other’s character. Jack found he loved being a daddy. He liked Ennis’ kids.
But of course, it wasn’t all sunshine. When he first met the girls they’d had a stomach bug. They were messy, crying, and difficult. Kids that young tended to be difficult even when they weren’t sick. The girls exhibited behavioral problems when they were grieving their mother. They fought with each other sometimes and screamed when they thought things weren’t fair. They demanded what they wanted, and if they didn’t get it they would cry to get it.
These were all things to be expected of children so young. Jack never held it against them, of course not. Even when he was frustrated with them. It was all part of being a parent.
But as they got older things would change. The behavioral problems would shift as they got bigger. Of course they’d be more in control of their emotions, but they’d also be in more control of themselves. They’d push boundaries and sneak out to get drunk and make dumb mistakes. Nothing like that so far, of course. But Jack was dreading the day one of the girls was caught drinking or stealing the truck to go somewhere.
Lately they had been facing more strange behavior from Alma. Ennis came home from work every day to his children crowded against the doorway. Reaching up to be lifted into his arms. Happy to see him after a day away from him. It was one of the highlights of his day. Even when his back was sore from work, he’d still lift them up to get their “welcome home” kisses.
Lately Jenny had given him his welcome home kisses, but Alma had been missing. Jenny was at the door, waiting and happy to see him. Alma was in her room, laying on her bed looking unhappy.
“What’s wrong, little darlin’?” He asked.
She would climb into his arms then and burst into bitter tears, unable or unwilling to tell him what was wrong no matter how much he asked.
She’d also been treating Jenny rough lately. Snapping at her little sister, refusing to play with her when she got home from school, and yanking on her hair. This made Jenny run to Ennis, of course, crying about her mean sister. Ennis yelled at Alma about the treatment of her little sister, which just made her cry. Then he had two crying kids and no real solutions. The behavior just continued the next day. Alma lashing out at her little sister whenever she felt like it.
Jack noticed other strange things. He was home earlier than Ennis was, so he was first to see them. Alma always came home with tangled hair. Sometimes the ribbons Jack had put in just that morning were missing. She was more sensitive when he brushed the knots out, crying when the brush snagged.
Ennis figured she was just playing a bit too rough on the playground. He hadn’t had long hair as a boy. But he had the shirt on his back. When his mama was alive she would berate him for the state of his clothes. Mud caked on his shoes. Grass stains in his shorts and shirt. Tears in the fabric she had to mend. They couldn’t afford new shirts all the time. He didn’t even notice it at the time he was playing. Only when his mama pointed out what a mess he was. Wouldn’t let him come in the house and track dirt over the clean floors until he stripped himself bare and hosed down outside. Kids were energetic little creatures. They played and got messed up. He didn’t see any reason to be concerned.
“Is it about yer mama again?” Ennis asked one day.
“No.” Alma said dismally.
Ennis furrowed his brow. “What then?”
She shook her head silently. Whatever it was going on with her, she wouldn’t say.
That led him to the day he was called into the school. He’d been working on the Davis ranch when Bob called him into the main house for a phone call.
“Del Mar!” Bob Davis called over the fields. “The school’s callin’ about yer girl!”
Ennis looked up from the feed he’d been throwing. Worry roiled in his stomach. Convinced that Junior had been hurt somehow, he raced across the ranch to grab the phone from Bob’s hand.
“Hello?” He said urgently.
“I presume this is Mr. Del Mar speaking?” Said the stern, feminine voice of a secretary.
“The very same.” Ennis confirmed.
“Well, this is Maisie Dots, the school secretary. I’m calling about a behavioral problem with your daughter. We’d like to call you in to talk to the principal.” Maisie said. “Is it possible for you to come in?”
Ennis had conflicting feelings about the news. Relief that Alma wasn’t in any danger. Shock that she was in trouble. And worry, new, redirected. Worried that she was having emotional trouble again over her mama and acting out in school. He always figured it might be an on and off issue.
He lowered the phone and put his hand over the receiver. “Can I go to my daughter’s school?” He asked Bob.
“Don’t make no difference to me.” Bob said. “Get your ass back here tomorrow then. Bright and early.”
Ennis nodded. He uncovered the receiver. “I’ll be in right away, ma’am.”
“Alright. Bye then.” Miss Dots hung up the phone leaving Ennis to get in his truck and drive to the school.
The Riverton school was only a few minutes away from his job. Things in Riverton weren’t that far away from one another. The community was tightly packed together. Schools, shops, apartments and the church were all in the same few blocks. It was the sprawling ranches that took up most of the real estate. They had a small suburban type area. Nice houses with lawns and white picket fences. That’s where well off business owners like Monroe lived. That and the small trailer park at the edge, where the land wasn’t good for farming. Bob Davis happened to be closer to town, a ranch right near the park. That made it a short drive from work to school. Ennis pulled the key from the ignition. The gravel parking lot crunched under his boots as he stepped out.
The office was just inside, on the other side of a wooden door with a glass window. Through the window he could see his daughter. She was slumped in a chair inside the principal’s office. Her little fingers gripped the seat of her chair. Her shoulders drawn up against her ears. With her back to him he couldn’t see her face, but he could see the ribbons Jack put in her hair that morning. A woman who he presumed to be Miss Dots waved him in when she saw him.
“Mr. Duncan is waiting for you.” She said, pointing over her shoulder towards the principal’s office.
Ennis frowned, stepping into the waiting door. Mr. Duncan was a man Ennis disliked. He was passionate in church and he had what Ennis considered to be all the wrong views. About God and marriage and yes, children.
Alma looked up at him with big, wet eyes. He frowned at the state of her hair. Messy again. He couldn't see from the doorway, but her pigtails were tangled. The ribbons were nearly sliding off the ends. No wonder Jack was having so much trouble with the tangles. It was practically mangled. Ennis brushed a wisp of loose hair out of her face. It was stuck to her cheeks in the tracks of her tears. His concern only grew at the sight of her.
“Mr. Del Mar.” Mr. Duncan greeted. “Take a seat.”
He did as he was directed. He noticed other chairs next to him. Three of them. Two chairs over from Ennis sat a little boy. Blond hair cropped close to his head, a dusty striped shirt, and a visible bruise on his face.
Ah. He saw the problem.
“I hope you don’t mind waiting. The boy’s parents are on their way.”
“This is a lot of effort you’re putting into a schoolyard scuffle.” Ennis said. “Why couldn’t the teacher handle it?”
“All physical altercations are brought before the parents of the children involved.” Mr. Duncan said. “This is a serious offense, Mr. Del Mar. Bullying is one thing. But assault is another matter.”
“God’s sake.” Ennis scoffed. “They’re kids.”
“Kids today, adults tomorrow. It’s your job to raise them responsibly.” Ennis grit his teeth. He resented that implication.
The boy’s parents entered at that moment. Ennis knew them. Everyone knew everyone in towns like this, but he didn’t know them well. They closed the door behind them and sat next to their son with twin scowls on their faces.
“Now that everyone is present we can begin.” Mr. Duncan said. “We had a behavioral problem today. As I understand it Alma Del Mar took it upon herself to strike Jerry Junior in the schoolyard today.”
Ennis felt his annoyance at Duncan grow quickly. “Well what caused this? Alma don’t just hit for no reason.”
“She’s crazy!” Jerry Junior yelled, glaring across his parents to Alma.
“Daddy he’s so mean!” Alma shouted over him. “He’s been pulling my hair for a week!”
His eyes went to the disheveled pigtails hanging against his daughter’s neck. He turned to the principal angrily. “What have you done about this?”
“There’s nothing to be concerned about.” Mr. Duncan said dismissively. “Some pigtail pulling isn't a problem. You know how little boys get a girl’s attention.”
“No I don’t.” Ennis said venomously. He did remember punching a fifth grade boy when he was in third grade because he was pulling a girl’s skirt. He kept his head down in school. Didn’t bother nobody unless they bothered him or pissed him off. There was no reason in his mind for a snotty brat to harass his daughter.
The little snot was leaning forward again, sticking his tongue out at his daughter. “Enough.” Ennis glared at the kid. The little boy had the sense to shrink back, cowed by Ennis’ size and obvious irritation with his behavior.
His parents didn’t take kindly to that. Jerry Senior snarled at Ennis. “Stop that. Look at my boy’s face, Del Mar. You’re going to have to reign in your girl.”
“My girl?” Ennis growled. “You gonna let your boy get away with treating my daughter like this? Look at her hair. She’s been coming home like this for a week. Takes Jack twenty minutes to get the knots out. This ain’t normal.”
Alma was crying silently, looking down at her shoes. Ennis’ heart hurt for his daughter.
Jerry Senior scoffed. “You know how boys are.”
“Why do you people keep saying that?” Ennis said. “Nothin’ excuses that boy’s behavior. He’s old enough to know better. I don’t see nothing wrong with my daughter givin’ him the right consequences to his actions.”
Jerry’s wife, Mrs. Penny gave Ennis a withering look. Ennis wasn’t daunted by her. Stared her right down. “Your girl bruised my son’s face.” She said. She clutched her little boy to her chest protectively. Ennis had to reign in his impulse to roll his eyes at the gesture. “If she had a problem she should have gone to the teacher.”
“Great lot of good that does.” Ennis muttered. If the principal’s attitude was anything to go by he doubted the teacher was going to do anything about Jerry Junior’s behavior. He turned back on his daughter. “You go to the teacher about this?”
“Only a hundred times!” Alma cried. “She just said to ignore him!”
“Well there you have it.” Mr. Duncan said. “Bullies only want a reaction. If you don’t give them one they’ll leave you alone.”
Ennis nearly saw red. His fists shook on his lap. “How’s she supposed to ignore her hair bein’ yanked on?!” He yelled, standing up.
Jerry Senior stood up right after him, like he was expecting a fight. Ennis was seriously considering it. The only way left to knock some sense into them seemed to be the physical way.
“Sit down!” Mr. Duncan shouted. “Mr. Del Mar, your daughter is going to have a two day suspension from school! This is the first offense, so I’ll give her another chance. Suspension starts tomorrow. She can come back to school on Friday. You can take her home now.”
“What about him?” Ennis asked.
“Go home Mr. Del Mar.”
He stood his ground. “Not until I’m sure he’s got a punishment for hurting my daughter.”
“Well you’ll have to go home disappointed then.” Jerry Senior had the nerve to say.
Ennis turned away from him quickly. If he looked at him again he was seriously going to hit him. He held out his hand for his daughter to take. “Come on, little darlin’.”
She took his hand timidly. He led her out of the office and out of the school. They were going straight home. Jack would be home soon with Jenny anyway. Then he could take the knots out of her hair and she could unwind from the day she’d had.
Alma looked miserable. Her face red and puffy from crying, hair still a tangled mess. Her little hands were tight fists around her skirt. She looked sad and scared and unsure.
“Talk to me, baby.” He said, back to his normal quiet voice.
She seemed unsure. “Are you mad?” She asked timidly.
“No baby.” He promised. “Not for that. You did nothing wrong.”
The truck was silent after that. The dirt road rumbled under their tires. Her little fists twisted in her skirt. Jack was going to be ironing out those wrinkles. Or maybe he would, while Jack sorted the terrible mess of her hair.
There was only one thing left to say. At least for Ennis there was. “That was a real good hit.” He lightly ruffled her unkempt hair. “You’re a tough little girl.”
Alma brightened a little at her father’s pride. And Ennis got to see her smile again.
He was relieved.
Jack was seething.
“That little dick.” He said. “You know, I’m going to fuckin’ kick his ass. How old is he?”
“Five.” Ennis said. “And a half.”
Jack waved. “I’d definitely win against a five year old.”
Ennis smiled. “I’m sure you would. But you wouldn’t win against the cops.”
Jack huffed. Frustrated. He’d spent the last half hour pulling the tangles out of Junior’s hair again while Ennis and Alma told him what happened. He was, of course, pissed. He gave Alma a kiss on her sore scalp and a strawberry candy to suck on for being a good girl. Now he was indulging in a beer, ranting out the boy who had the audacity to bully their little girl.
“No wonder she didn’t tell us.” Jack grouched. “Those fuckers did nothing . Bastards.”
Ennis frowned. “Yeah. Gotta do something about that.”
“We can still beat the kid.” He offered.
Ennis shook his head. “Nah. The cops would just toss us in jail for it. Then that little brat can pull her hair with nobody to stop him.”
Jack scowled. Ennis took a beer from the fridge and gratified himself with a deep swig. Nothing like a cold beer to get inspiration flowing.
“Hmm.” Ennis grumbled. “She could hit him herself. She already did it.”
“Yeah. Then that principal is just gonna suspend her again.” Jack pointed out. “Or expel her. Maybe we should kick his ass instead.”
“I’m considering it.” He took another drink.
Jack’s face lit up. “Wait. No. He’s only responsible for what happens on school grounds. She can kick his ass outside the school yard and nobody can do a damn thing about it. Not Duncan and not that fuck Jerry Senior.”
Ennis thought about it. “Well. There’s an idea.”
“You teach her.” He said. “Father-daughter experience. Besides, I never got punched so hard as I did by you. Nearly knocked me out.”
Ennis smiled at the memory. It was strange to think of such a memory with fondness. He felt like shit at the time, leaving Jack sooner than he wanted to. He felt raw and vulnerable and vulnerability was channeled into aggression. And Jack hit him by accident and when he was holding his face with that soft look of concern Ennis just felt so angry. Angry at how he felt with Jack and what they’d done to each other. So he punched him in the face. Now look where they were. Laughing at the memory.
“It was a good punch.” Ennis agreed.
He kissed Jack on the cheek. Right where he remembered the bruise being as he looked at him. Trying to memorize his face for what he thought was going to be the last time he’d ever see Jack. He’d teach her tomorrow.
The next day Alma went to Miss Mary Brown’s with Jenny. Because Jack and Ennis still had to work. Ennis thought all day about his daughter. What he was going to teach her. How he was going to. He didn’t think much about hitting assholes. He just did it. He recalled his dad teaching him a thing or two when he was a boy. One of the only things the old man taught him before he killed himself in that car on Dead Horse Road. He taught him how to punch, how to ride a horse, and he taught him to fear being a queer. How did the old man teach him?
First he’d have to teach her not to break her hand on impact. He’d made that mistake a few times. It hurt like a bitch to break your hand on a guy's face. It hurt worse when he beat your ass afterwards. He didn’t want that to happen to his little girl.
By the time he got home he had his lesson down. He was confident he had some basic principles to teach her. So he knocked on her bedroom door after dinner with that in mind.
She looked up when he entered. Tomorrow she was going back to school. He was not going to send her back defenseless.
“Darlin’.” Ennis started. “That little boy ain’t gonna stop bothering you. Cause the school isn’t going to stop him. His parents ain’t gonna stop him. He’s learned that he can get away with what he did. So you’re going to have to stop him.”
Alma nodded, unsure. “But how can I do that? I got in trouble just for hitting him once.”
“You’re right. And you can’t be getting in trouble all the time. That’ll encourage him to pull your hair and all it’s gonna do is make you suffer.” Ennis said. “But if you hit him off school grounds, there’s nothing the school can do about it. Because it wasn’t on their property. Understand?”
Alma nodded again, looking more sure as he talked. “So.” Ennis continued. “I’m gonna teach you how to throw a proper punch. This is one of the more important life skills. Because it ain’t just gonna be pigtail pulling all your life. Okay, darlin’? Boys are just gonna get worse and worse. So when boys stick their hands up your skirt or pull your hair, you just sock em in the face.”
Alma didn’t seem to follow what he was saying about boys. She would one day. And Ennis would make sure she was capable of kicking the ass of whatever man taught her that difficult life lesson.
“Alright. First of all, thumb has to be under the hand. If you have your thumb inside your fist and you throw a punch you’re going to break your thumb.” He demonstrated. She mirrored her father, showing him her fist. “Now. Remember to punch like this, at a cross. You need to hit with the knuckles, like this. You hit with your fingers yer gonna break em.”
He demonstrated slowly, throwing a punch so that she could see the motion. “Keep your arm in line with your shoulder. Then there’s the issue of where you hit. You hit that guy, Jerry Junior, right? Yeah. You hit him in the face. Well don’t do that. You could break your hand on his jaw. Aim for the neck. Usually people have fast enough reflexes that they’ll tilt down to protect themselves and you’ll hit em in the chin.”
“Now, this is important. Roll your hips into the punch. That gives you power and support. Put yer weight into this. You’ll knock him down. Then that little jerk is never going to bother you again. Send his ass home crying to his mama. One more thing. You know that old apple tree at school? By the fence.” Ennis asked.
Alma nodded. “Good girl. That’s the end of school property.” Ennis said. “Which means?”
“I can hit Jerry on the other side of it.” Alma said. “And send his ass home crying.”
Ennis grinned. “You got it.”
The next day Alma came home with blood on her sleeve. Jack frowned at the stain, it was mostly dry. It probably wouldn’t come out fully. “Where the hell did this come from?”
“Jerry Junior.” Alma said. Then she giggled. “He tripped and fell into the creek running away from me. I chased him down the street!”
Jack laughed. The stain didn’t come out of the shirt. He threw it away. It didn’t matter anyway. He couldn’t wait to see the look on Ennis’ face when she told him about her day.