Freddy had dropped out of high school his freshmen year. After the death of his foster father he got a job as a custodian at the local high school. That's where he met his wife Loretta. They hadn't even been married for a year when she gave birth to a daughter name Katherine. It seemed that Freddy loved Loretta but the truth was he really didn't. In fact, he found himself constantly wondering why he had married her. All she ever did was nag him. He have left her a long time ago if it hadn't been for Katherine.

"Freddy.." Loretta whined.

Freddy groaned "now what?"

"When are you are you going to get a better paying job?" She asked for what seemed to be the millionth time.

"What's wrong with the job I have?" Freddy replied with a frown.

"It's a dead beat job and it'll get you no where in life." Loretta replied.

"Loretta your starting to get on my nerves. I'm sick of your constant whining. I have had it with your continuous complaining that I don't provide the things that you want. I provide the things that we need and that should be enough. That dead end job as you call it provides the money to pay for the roof over our heads, it provides the money to pay our bills and for our basic necessities such as food and clothing. We can discuss this later. If I don't get going I'm going to be late for work." Freddy replied.

Freddy frowned Loretta was really starting to get on his nerves lately. All she ever did was complain and call their daughter names. It was starting to become clear to Freddy that Loretta was jealous of their little girl. Though he didn't understand why. Maybe it was because she was a spoiled brat and didn't like having to share him. One day Loretta seemed especially irritated with his little angel. "Hold still you stupid little brat!" She had growled at Katherine. When Katherine continued to squirm Freddy heard a sound that made his blood boil. "I said stay still! Maybe this will teach you to do as your told!" Loretta growled spanking Katherine's behind.

How dare she lay a hand on his little angel! "Loretta!" He growled angrily and Loretta swallowed in fear. "Don't you ever let me catch you laying a hand on our daughter again! You know how I feel about physical punishment! Or would you prefer I forget my feelings concerning it and start smacking you around every time you screw up? Is that what you want?" Freddy growled and Loretta shook
her head.

"N....nnn no." She stuttered the fear in her eyes evident. She had never seen Freddy so angry before and it terrified her.

"I didn't think so. I'll be late for work but I'll take Katherine to her nursery school. I don't trust you around her anymore." Freddy replied.
Freddy sighed as he dropped Katherine off at her nursery school. He still couldn't believe that he had caught Loretta spanking Katherine. Shaking it off Freddy proceeded to the high school.

"Your late." His Boss said as he clocked in at ten after seven.

"I'm sorry. My wife and I had a fight this morning and I had to drop our baby at nursery school. It won't happen again." Freddy replied.

"See that it doesn't." His Boss replied walking away.

Freddy frowned he hated that stuck up snob of a boss of his. Always acting like he was better then him. Later that afternoon  Freddy sighed as he sat and eat his lunch watching the junior and seniors chit chatting their lives away. That's when he saw her a beautiful young lady sitting all alone. He frowned as he watched Loretta and a few of her friends walk up to the young lady and start harassing her. Now it was one thing for her to berate him but he wasn't about to allow her to bully someone else. Closing his lunchbox he rose and started to where the girls were located.

"Oh look, if it isn't Crystal the crybaby." Loretta scoffed.

"Your pathetic. I can't believe you bailed on our sleepover. What was your problem?"

"Oh that's right the big baby was homesick." One of the other girls laughed.

"I wasn't homesick." Crystal replied quietly.

"Then why did you call your mommy?"'

"Wait let me guess, you were uncomfortable with our smoking, drinking and talking about our sex lives. OMG Crystal your such a straightedge. It really is pathetic." One of the other girls mocked but Crystal just sat there and said nothing.

"I heard that her mother was killed by a drunk diver that night. All because she wanted to go home." One of the girls laughed.

"Is it true? Is your mother dead because of you?" Loretta asked with a smirk.

"Just leave me alone." Crystal muttered quietly trying to fight back tears.

"Awe. Is the big baby going to cry?"

"Loretta! We need to talk!" Freddy growled walking over to them a frown on his face as he grabbed ahold of Loretta's arm. Loretta hated it when Freddy talked to her when she was at school. It was embarrassing.

She turned and faced Freddy and scoffed. "What do you want janitor?"

"Oooh looks like we are going to get a treat. It's not every day that you get to see a lovers spat." One of Loretta's friends laughed.

"We need to talk! Now!" Freddy growled.

"Let go of me! There is nothing to talk about now leave me alone!" Loretta replied trying to pry her arm out of Freddy's grasp. However Freddy only tightened his grip on her and raised his hand as if to strike her.

"Your trying my patience Loretta! I am your husband and you will not talk to me with such disrespect or so help me I won't hesitate to put you in your place." Freddy replied raising his hand as if to strike her but then he changed his mind. "That was a warning Loretta the next time my hand flys it will meet it's mark. I don't ever want to catch you bullying another student again do you understand?" Freddy replied the anger in his eyes causing Loretta to tremble.

Loretta's friends gasped in shock. Freddy had never threatened to hit Loretta before. "You can't talk to her like that! Let go of her this instant!"

"Yeah just who do you think you are?" Her friends said angrily but they backed up when they saw the murderous glare a snarl curling his lips.

Loretta frowned. "Is that what this is about? Don't tell me you've got feelings for that freak?" Loretta replied with a scoff.

"You know how I feel about bullies Loretta. Don't let me catching you bullying anyone again or you won't like the consequences."

"How dare you talk to me like that!" Loretta replied with a frown turning to leave but Freddy grabbed her wrist.

"I am your husband. You will treat me with the proper respect!"

"I am treating you with all the respect that you deserve now clean this mess up janitor." Crystal replied purposefully dumping her juice and lunch tray all over the ground. "Don't ever talk to me again. If you so much as look in my direction I will have you fired. That would be a shame wouldn't it? To loose your precious job?" Loretta replied with a smirk.

Freddy frowned but decided that now wasn't the time to loose his temper. "Don't try to blackmail me Loretta and don't try my patience. You don't known what I am capable of doing when I'm angry." Freddy warned.

"Whatever!" Loretta replied rolling her eyes as she walked off with her friends to her next class. "Can you believe him? How dare he even talk to me as if we are on the same level. He's the hired help I am student here. Unlike him I'll be able to get a good job when I graduate."

"Didn't he like drop out of school?"

"Yes." Loretta replied shaking her head.

"No wonder he can only get a job as a janitor." One one of her friends laughed as they headed to class.

"You should file a complaint with the principal. That would teach him a lesson."

"I don't want to get him fired..." Loretta replied glancing back toward Freddy who she noticed was still gazing in her direction a frown on his face. Turing back to her friends she giggled "alright I'll do it."

Freddy frowned. He didn't like the influence these girls were having on her. He didn't want her hanging out with them anymore. He'd have to discuss it with her when they got home tonight. "Mr. Kruger to office please. Paging Mr. Kruger to the office." Came a voice over the loud speaker and Freddy sighed.

"Now what?" He muttered in frustration. "You paged me sir?" Freddy asked peeking into the Principal's office.

"Yes. Please have a seat Mr. Kruger." The principal replied motioning to a chair directly across from the Principal's desk. "It has come to my attention that you had an altercation with one of the students today."

"Oh you mean that altercation with my wife Loretta and her friends this afternoon?"

"From what I understand it was more then just an altercation. Is it true that you threatened her?"

"I simply told her if I caught her bullying another student that she would regret it. She knows that I meant nothing by it." Freddy replied.

"Be that as it may I can't have you going around threatening my students. Even if you did do it for the right reason. I'm afraid I'm going to have to let you go."

"Sir I need this job. How will I be able to provide for my wife and baby?"

"I am truly sorry. There is nothing I can do. School policy is clear when it comes to altercations with students. You have been an excellent employee and I'd be happy to write you a letter of recommendation." The principal replied. "I'm sure a young man like yourself will be able to find work quickly. Again I am truly sorry about this."

Freddy shrugged "you have to do what you have to do." With that Freddy turned and walked out of the school. "Dam it Loretta!" Freddy growled as he reached his car and slammed his fist on the door. How did she expect him to provide for them now that she had gotten him fired?

During study hall Loretta's friends smiled "Loretta, why did you start dating that looser anyway?"

"I wanted to make my parents upset. They really didn't like him. In fact they flat out forbid me to date him. You know me, I always want what I'm told I can't have. Then I accidentally got pregnant with the little brat and so then I had no choice but to marry him. Otherwise I'd have broken it off long ago." Loretta replied with a sigh.

"I know of a way that you can rid yourself of him and the unwanted little brat."

"Really?"

"He threatened you today. We all saw and heard it. You could file a domestic abuse claim against him."

"I don't know. I mean getting him fired is one thing but accusing him of abuse? I couldn't do that to him."

"It's not an accusation Loretta it's the truth. He verbally threatened you today. We all heard him. He needs to be taken down a peg and reminded of his place."

"I don't know..." Loretta replied hesitantly. "He's never actually hit me. In fact, today was the first day he's ever threatened too. He was right we were being really cruel to Crystal."

"Seriously? Your siding with him? You really need to get your priorities straight Loretta. I mean look at the way you are dressed. It is so last season. Ever since you married that looser you haven't been the same. We miss the old you. You need to wake up or do you want to be a social outcasts like Crystal?"

Loretta's eyes went wide in shock. "Of course not."

"Then end your relationship with that looser once and for all." Loretta sighed and nodded. Her friends were right. She had changed and it wasn't for the better.

As promised right after school her friend's helped her play the part of abused wife. She now had a black eye curtesy of her friend's expert makeup skills. After taking a few pictures they made their way to the police station. "Ive changed my mind. I can't do this."

"I knew that she'd back out." One of her friends whispered.

"Then we will have to do this for her. For her own good." One of the other girls replied.

"Ok. Your right. You don't have to do this. I know, let's all go to the mall. We have a few small errands to run so we will meet you there ok Loretta?" Her friend replied and Loretta nodded. Once she was out of sight her friends rushed into the station.

"Girls what brings you here?" Crystal's father asked as they entered the station.

"We'd like to file a report of spousal abuse on behalf of our friend Loretta."

"That is a serious accusation to make. Is there a reason your friend hasn't come forward to make this charge herself?"

"I think she suffers from what does my father call it? Oh yes, battered wife syndrome."

"I see. Do you have any proof to substantiate this charge?"

"Yes sir we do. We took picture of the abuse this afternoon. Today during our lunch period her husband grabbed her arm/ wrist roughy leaving a bruise. He also verbally threatened her and when we saw her again later she had this." One of the girls replied showing the officer a picture of Loretta's fake black eye.

Upon looking at the pictures the officer frowned. "Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We shall conduct an investigation immediately. I just have one question, what is the name of your friend's spouse?" The Deputy asked.

"His name is Freddy Kruger sir." Upon hearing this Crystal peeked her head out of the conference room.

"Daddy?"

"Yes Crystal?"

"Those girls are lying. I was their this afternoon Freddy never laid a hand on Loretta and he certainly didn't threaten her. I don't know what they are trying to pull by filing this accusation but I can assure you that they are false."

"Pictures don't lie honey." Her father replied as he stacked the photographs together.

"I don't know how she got those but I know that they aren't from Freddy." Crystal replied.

"Why are you so certain that those girls are lying?"

"They are bullies. They made a game out of seeing how many students they can trick the teachers into giving detention. A few weeks ago they had a fight with one of the other girls and the next day after an anonymous tip the principal searched the girl's locker finding drugs. She was immediately suspended. The girls stood nearby laughing while she was escorted off school property. Freddy caught them bullying another student and he warned them that if if caught them bullying another student again he'd make sure they received the proper punishment. True to his word he informed the teacher of their actions and they received detention. They didn't like that. I heard them swear they'd make him pay. I know
Freddy, he wouldn't do what they are accusing him of."

"It sounds like you have a crush on Mr. Kruger. How old is he anyway?"

"He's older then me but only by two years or so."

"Shouldn't he be in school not working as a custodian?"

"He was forced to drop out a few years ago by his foster father and I guess he felt like he wouldn't be welcomed back." Crystal replied.

"I see. Unfortunately, I have no choice but to investigate this charge. It will result in him loosing custody of his daughter and some serious jail time should the accusations prove true." Her father replied.

"How could she do this to him? Wasn't getting him fired by lying about his behavior today not enough for her? She really doesn't deserve to have a loving husband like Freddy. She's a horrible person."

Her father chuckled "your jealous."

"Jealous Of Loretta? No way! I just don't understand what Freddy sees in her is all. She is a bully and she takes advantage of him. It's just not right." Crystal replied with a frown.

Meanwhile back at the house on Elm street Freddy frowned as he looked at the clock. Where was Loretta? She should have been home by now. Freddy had just placed Katherine in her high chair and was about to give Katherine her bottle when the doorbell rang. "I'll be right there." Freddy replied picking Katherine up and carrying her in his arms. Despite that it was only for a minute he refused to leave his precious baby alone for a second. Upon opening the door Freddy came face to face with two officers. "Can I help you?"

"Sir. May we come in?"

"Of course officers may I ask what this is about?"

"Sir would you mind putting down the baby?" One of the officers replied not answering his question.

"Why? What is going on?"

"Sir just put the baby down." The officer replied.

"Officers what is this about?" Freddy asked placing Katherine in her nearby playpen. Who immediately started to wail.

"Sir is this your wife?" The officer asked handing him a picture of Crystal.

"Yes. Is she in some kind of trouble? What did she do now?" Freddy asked in frustration.

"Sir have you and your wife had any fights recently?"

"I don't see why that is any concern of yours. My wife and I love each other very much. Would someone please tell me what's going on?Freddy demanded angrily as he watched the officer pick Katherine up out of her playpen.

"Where do you think your going with her?' Get your hands off my daughter!"

"Sir Your under arrest for suspected spousal abuse. Due to the seriousness of this charge your guardianship over this child has been terminated. Your daughter will be placed in protective custody until this investigation is over. You have the right to remain silent anything you say and do can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney if you can not afford an attorney one will be provided for you by the state."

Just as they were placing Freddy in the back of the police car Loretta walked up to the house. "Freddy? What is going on? Why are you arresting my husband?" Her friends snickered.

"We told you we had a surprise for you." Her friend replied with an evil smile.

"What have you done?" Loretta demanded as she watched the cruiser drive away.

"We did you a favor and filled a domestic abuse claim against that bum. Now your free from both of them. Oh you don't have to thank us it was our pleasure."

"I told you that I didn't want this. How could you go behind my back like this? I thought you were my friends." Loretta replied with a frown.

"Hello. We are. We saved you from a life of misery didn't we?" Her friend replied semi sarcastically.

"No what you've done is destroy my family!" Loretta replied with a frown.

"Oh don't be such a drama queen Loretta. You said yourself that you wanted to be rid of the two of them and now you are. You should show us a little gratitude."

"Gratitude? You ruined my life and you expect me to be grateful? Get out! I don't want to ever see or talk to you again!" Loretta replied slapping the girl across the face.

"Well excuse me!" Her ex-best friend replied. "Come on girls let's go get manicures and leave the drama queen alone."

Back at the police station Freddy was being led to the jail cells. "Let's go!" The officer replied shoving Freddy towards the jail cells. "We've a special place for wife beaters like you."

"What have we here?" One of the prisoner's asked with a smile. "Fresh meat. So, what is he in for warden?"

"Spousal abuse possible child abuse." The officer replied. The prisoner in the cell frowned.

"So, you like to beat up on helpless women and children huh? Do you think that makes you a man?" The prisoner demanded grabbing Freddy by the collar. Again Freddy didn't reply. "Well perhaps you need to be taught a lesson."

Once her friends were gone the gravity the situation plagued her mind. Her husband was under arrest for abuse and her daughter was now a ward of the state. How dare her friend's do this! This was her family her friends were messing with. She wasn't about to loose them without a fight. Freddy had been right all along. How could she have been so stupid?" These girls were never her friends. With that she rushed back into to the police station. "I want the charges of spousal abuse against Freddy Kruger dropped."

"I'm afraid I can't do that ma'am."

"This was all a cruel prank. Freddy loves me he'd never hurt me or our daughter." Loretta replied.

"Ma'am your suffering from what is currently known as battered wife syndrome. It's a horrible cycle of continuous abuse."

"What part of this was a cruel prank don't you understand? I want the charges dropped now!

"What seems to be the problem here?" The Deputy asked as he approached the desk.

"I want the charges against my husband dropped. This officer of yours seems to think he's some sort of doctor claiming I have BWS. Well I don't! I tried explaining to him that this was a cruel prank pulled by my ex best friends but he refuses to listen."

"We have eye witness who have testified that they saw him abuse you and their is the matter the black eye, bruised wrist. These are all signs of abuse." The officer replied.

The police chief's new deputy frowned. He hated it when teenagers pulled stunts like this. "Release Mr. Kruger immediately and locate where they took his daughter." A few minutes later a bruised Freddy walked down the hall way. "I am truly sorry about this Mr. Kruger."

"I'm sure you are." Freddy replied. "Now where is daughter?"

"I'm afraid that I have some bad news... It seems that your daughter has been adopted."

"What? When? By who?"

"I am truly sorry. The records have been sealed. I'm afraid that there isn't anything I can do."

When they were out side Loretta tried to apologize but Freddy didn't want to hear it. "Freddy I..."

Freddy held up his hand and pointer finger and shook his head. "Don't. Because of you, I lost my job and now I've lost my daughter. You've taken everything from me. Loretta. Are you happy now?"

"I never wanted this to happen." Loretta replied quietly looking down at the ground in shame.

"What did you think would happen when you filed that false report Loretta? That you could just change your mind and take it back? That they'd release me and we'd be a family again?This isn't one of your storybooks! This is the real world! Things don't work that way! There are consequences for your actions but you and your friends didn't think about that did you? Our daughter is gone and it's all your fault!" Freddy replied brushing past Loretta and into the house.

"Freddy please I didn't file that report. When I found out what those girls did I rushed straight here to set things right."

"What girls?"

"Brandy and the others. They thought it would be funny."

"Yeah well does it look like I'm laughing? I warned you that those girls were not your friends. As usual you just didn't listen. I want you out of my house! Pack your things and get out!" Freddy growled.

"Freddy please. Please don't do this. We can get Katherine back I know we can. If we hire a lawyer..."

"Where do you expect us to get the funds to pay for a lawyer? You got me fired remember? We can't afford an attorney!"