4 Announcements

One

Amy Duncan waltzed into the kitchen. Her husband, Bob, was sat at the counter reading the paper and drinking a black coffee. He looked up when Amy entered. 'Hey sweetie' he murmured, absorbed in a story about giant termites.

'Bob…' '

What?'

'Guess what…'

Bob sighed. Oh goodie, another guessing game. 'You got a perfect outfit for Saturday?'

'I'm pregnant!'

'Oh my… Really?'

'Yes!'

'You sure? Those tests can be a bit dodgy'

'I'm sure! The doctor checked it! Bob, we're gonna have a baby!'

Bob swung Amy into his arms…as long as the baby wasn't smelly and didn't steal his things he would be happy.

Two 'PJ' called a tired looking Amy Duncan. 'PJ… come into the kitchen…'

'Why?' a little voice from the living room asked.

'I have to tell you something very important' There was silence. Then little two year old PJ Duncan ran into the kitchen, his blonde hair sticky from who knows what.

'Yes mommy?'

Amy smiled at her son, then at her husband. 'I'm going to have another baby!'

Bob grinned. 'Isn't that great PJ?'

PJ frowned. 'Is it a girl or a boy?' he asked.

'We don't know yet' PJ scrunched up his nose.

'Ok… as long as they are not smelly and they don't steal my things'

And with that he ran back to his TV programme.

Three

Amy poked her head through the kitchen hatch. She could see 5 year old PJ watching TV with his 3 year old sister, Teddy, colouring a fairy at his feet. Amy grasped Bob's hand tightly and together they stepped into the living room.

'Kids' she whispered. Teddy's head snapped right up but PJ was glued to the TV. Amy reached for the remote and the screen went black.

'Aw' he whined, but looked at Amy.

'I'm gonna have another baby!'

Teddy clapped her hands in glee. 'Oh yay! Is it a boy or a girl?'

'We don't know yet'

PJ groaned. 'But we already have Teddy…' Grumbling, he switched the TV back on.

Amy turned to her daughter, who had paused in putting her crayon back in the tub. Teddy scrunched up her nose.

'Mommy?'

'Yes Teddy'

'What if the baby is smelly and it steals my things?'

Four

'FAMILY MEETING' screeched Amy at the top of her lungs. Bob, her husband was already sat down at the coffee table so she sat next to him. Teddy, now 14, entered and sat in the armchair, followed by PJ, now 16, who stayed standing. 5 minutes later 10 year old Gabe came rushing into the room.

'Thank you for your punctuality Gabe' smiled Amy sarcastically. 'Anyway… kids guess what!'

'You got a job on TV?' asked Teddy.

'Ooo- ooo- you – um- You're getting married?' guessed PJ. Everybody looked at him. 'What?'

Gabe rolled his eyes. 'Just tell us mum'

'I'm pregnant!'

Teddy clapped her hands. 'Boy or girl?'

'I don't know' Bob

butted in 'Um, honey don't you think you're a little… old to have another kid? It was 10 years since you had Gabe'

'Don't be silly Bob, the doctor says that if I stay healthy for the duration of the pregnancy the baby will be fine. So what you all think?'

'Wonderful' said Bob

'Fantastic!' squealed Teddy

'Um… yay another kid?' PJ said, raising his eyebrows.

Everybody turned to Gabe. He had been unusually quiet during this conversation.

'Gabe… what do you think honey?' Gabe had scrunched up his nose.

'I don't want a baby. They might be smelly and they will steal my things!' And he stormed upstairs.