The Bradys
Chapter One
A/N-This story takes place in the spring of 1992, two years after the Bradys series aired. It is a sequel to "Welcome Aboard." The twins are 17 at this time, as their birthdays are in December. Mike is still a councilman and Carol, in real estate. The kids' occupations are the same as they were in the Bradys TV show. Bobby is still a functional paraplegic. The Logans now have their own house and Wally is gainfully employed. Jessica Logan is 10 (but was skipped up a grade), Mickey is 9. Kevin Brady is 9. Patty Covington is 7.
I'm not going to do strict episode rewrites of the Brady Brides, Brady Christmas, or the Bradys. Instead, I'll include (with minor changes to fit the twins in) dialogue from these series whenever it's necessary (or it would be a mammoth story!). Other than that, I'll change emphasis here and there, but maintain the integrity of those series. As you might be able to tell, this story will have flashbacks.
Happy reading!
Mike Brady is lying unconscious in intensive care. Machines surround him, beeping and buzzing. A respirator is breathing for him. Carol is sitting at the bedside, holding her beloved's hand. Nurses and patient care techs come in, check the various machines and silently leave.
Carol: Worried. Oh Mike. Please wake up. I don't know what we'd do without you. The doctor said the helicopter pilot didn't make it. Frustrated. What were you doing up there? I mean, risking your life surveying the earthquake damage?! Didn't you think about the fact that we still have two kids at home? Crying. I love you so much. Please wake up.
Cindy walks in and sees her mother just about draped over her husband.
Cindy: Mom?
Carol: Startled. Cindy. I didn't hear you come in.
Cindy: Stands by her mom and looks at her dad. A tear escapes her eye. He looks so fragile. He's always been so strong and larger than life. Now, he looks so vulnerable.
Carol: I know. I can't believe this is happening! He's just gotta make it. I don't know what I'd do if he doesn't. We've got two kids at home.
Cindy: But you've also got the six of us and we'll help. We made it when we lost daddy and at that time you had three little girls at home. Ryan and Carolyn are almost grown.
Carol: I know, but they still depend on your dad and me. Changes the subject a bit. Should you be standing?
Cindy: Mom, I'm fine. I'm not an invalid.
Carol: Cindy, you're days away from your due date. Gary would have my head if I didn't offer you a seat.
Cindy: You didn't like being coddled when you were pregnant with the twins and neither do I.
Carol: I know, but…
Cindy: Interrupting. Mom, I'm not a baby anymore. You've always treated me like a baby. Before you interrupt, I love you mom, but I'm all grown up. I'm married with two step kids and twins on the way.
Carol: Smiles a weak smile. You're right. And although you've not been the youngest for seventeen years, I still think of you as my baby girl. You, Marcia, Jan, and Carolyn are all my baby girls, and Ryan is my baby boy.
Marcia enters the room.
Marcia: Cindy, we're going to grab lunch. You ready?
Cindy: Yeah. She stands up. Mom, do you wanna come?
Carol: No, I don't wanna leave your father.
Marcia: Okay. Do you want us to bring you anything?
Carol: I'm not hungry.
Cindy: Mom, you need something.
Carol: Surprise me then.
Greg enters the room. He finds the three women by the bedside.
Greg: You ready?
Marcia: Yeah. She leans over and kisses her dad on the cheek. Bye dad, we'll be back soon.
Greg: See you later, dad.
Cindy: Bye daddy. I love you.
The three Brady kids leave their mom alone with their dad. Carol sits back down.
Carol: Where has the time gone? I remember when we took Cindy to college. I was a basket case. Do you remember?
Her mind goes back to 1981:
Mike unlocks the front door and Carol enters the house, sad. Mike picks up the suitcases and prepares to enter the house. Absentmindedly, she closes the door and turns on the lights. Mike rings the bell.
Carol: Coming!
She answers the door to reveal Mike. She is shocked that she accidentally locked him out.
Carol: Mike, I'm sorry!
Mike: Mind if I come in?
Carol: Mike, I don't know what's wrong with me!
Mike enters the house and Carol closes the door behind him. They make their way across the living room and up the stairs.
Mike: You're still in a funk. You haven't said five words since we dropped Cindy off at college.
Carol: I did too! I said six words, "Cindy's not our little baby anymore!" Mike, it's just so hard to accept! Cindy in college?
Mike: Chuckles. Well hun, you've gotta face that Cindy is eighteen years old, all grown up. All six of the older kids are.
Carol: Yeah. Now we've just got two kids left at home and they're gonna be all grown up and gone before we know it.
Mike: Hey, if you're this worked up now, what's it gonna be like when the twins go off to college?
Carol: Sad. Don't rush them! They're nearly six. They've just started first grade!
Mike: You've gotta look on the bright side, we've got some time to ourselves. What about that cruise we've wanted to take? Let's take it! We can start enjoying a brand new life, with just us and the twins.
Carol: Cheering up a bit. You're right!
Mike: Sure I am!
Carol: We can go away weekends more than we used to. We won't be pulled in this direction or that direction all the time with just two kids at home. She starts up the stairs quickly. Oh Mike, it'll be wonderful. She stops on a stair and looks at her husband.
Mike: Yes, it will.
Carol: It'll be great!
Mike: Terrific!
Carol: Smiling. Oh Mike.
Her face changes and she is sad. She begins crying, descends a couple stairs, and hugs her husband. Mike embraces his wife.
Mike: Oh, honey.
They stand there in an embrace. Then, they call Mr. and Mrs. Tyler to check on the twins and to let them know they arrived back at home safely.
Carol returns to the present.
Carol: Oh Mike, what a whirlwind time! First, we send Cindy off to college, and then Jan and Philip announce their engagement. Boy did we blow that one! I'm surprised she forgave us! Then before we know it, Marcia brings in Wally. You sure didn't like him at first, but he's seemed to have grown on you. Although they only knew each other a week before they decided to get married, he's really good for her. Coordinating that wedding! What a task! The girls couldn't decide on a theme to the wedding. Modern? Traditional? And then getting the rest of the kids there? What a feat! I'm still sorry Nora wasn't able to make it. Then, Ryan and Carolyn were so cute as Jan's ring bearer and flower girl. Still, the kids' reactions, especially to Marcia getting married were priceless!
She goes back to 1981. This time, she's talking to the kids about the wedding.
Carol just about skips into the real estate office, greeting co-workers along the way to her desk.
Carol: Good morning, Mary! Hi, Betty, Lee! Mr. Richards, congratulate me!
Mr. Richards: Congratulations! You just sold your first house!
The crew applauds.
Carol: She begins dialing the phone and laughs. Better than that!
Mr. Richards: Oh, two houses!
The crew applauds.
Carol: No, two daughters!
Mr. Richards: Shocked and in a bit of disbelief. You sold your two daughters?
Meanwhile at Greg's hospital:
Overhead: Paging Doctor Brady, Doctor Greg Brady.
Receptionist: Oh, Doctor Brady, there's a phone call for you.
Greg walks to the nurses' station and takes the phone from the receptionist.
Greg: Thanks Marie. This is Doctor Brady.
Carol: Hello Greg!
Greg: Mom! Anything wrong?
Carol: Oh nothing's wrong. I just had such wonderful news, I just had to call.
Greg: Looks at his watch. You're lucky you caught me. I was just about to make rounds.
Carol: How would you like to come to a double wedding?
Greg: Great! As long as it's not mine.
Carol: Marcia and Jan are both getting married at the same time.
Greg: Fantastic!
Carol: I know how busy you are Greg, but it wouldn't be the same if their big brother wasn't there.
Greg: I'll manage somehow, mom. The first wedding of the Bradys. I remember Marcia's first date. I wanna know all about him, who the guys are, when it's gonna be.
Carol: Marcia's fiancé is Wally Logan. She just met him and they decided to get married after only seven days. Well, you know Phillip. He and Jan have been thinking about it for some time…
Maria: Doctor Brady, they need you in X-ray right away.
Greg hands her the phone and rushes off without telling his mother goodbye. Carol keeps talking.
Carol: …Well, they decided to get together and have a double wedding!
Maria: Fantastico! Congratulations! That is…buenas suerte!
Carol: Confused. Thank you!
Carol calls Peter next. He is manning the air force base parking lot guardhouse. He's waving jeeps through and then lowers the gate arm.
Peter: Mom, this is embarrassing! I enlist in the air force for awhile before I decide what to do with the rest of my life, a seemingly mature decision, and over the P.A., all the guys hear, "Airman Brady, your mommy's calling!" Mom, gimme a break!
Carol: I'm sorry Peter, but this is important.
Peter: Important?
Carol: Marcia and Jan are getting married, in a double ceremony, to two great guys.
Peter: Nah, no come on, really? So Phil finally popped the question, but Marcia doesn't even have a boyfriend. Who is she marrying?
A horn honks and he waves it off.
Carol: His name is Wally Logan. It was a whirlwind romance. We hardly know him ourselves.
Peter: Mom, that is terrific!
The horn honks repeatedly. Peter looks over to see the general get out of the vehicle.
Peter: Flustered and salutes with phone in hand. My sisters are getting married, sir.
The general returns the salute, gets back in the jeep, and Peter lets them through. Carol continues to talk.
Carol: Peter?
Peter: Oh okay mom, I'm back. When's the wedding?
Carol: We don't know exactly. There's so many friends and relatives to consider.
Peter: Okay. When you work it out, let me know so I can get leave arranged for me, all right?
Carol: Salutes with the phone. Roger!
Carol calls Bobby next. He descends the dormitory stairs and gets the public phone. A couple guys clad only in towels, snap towels at each other and run down the hall.
Bobby: Hello? Hey, cool it guys, will ya? Returns to his conversation. Yeah? Marcia and Jan, both of them?
Carol: Right Bobby, and naturally we want you at the wedding.
Bobby: Well, when is it?
Carol: Soon, but we don't know exactly.
Bobby: Well, it doesn't matter. I'll be there, unless I drop out of college, sign a big league contract, and make it to the World Series all in the next month.
Carol: Laughing. Oh Bobby, goodbye. She dials Cindy next.
Cindy's in her sorority house.
Cindy: Marcia and Jan getting married in the same day? Oh mom, a double wedding! Fabulous!
Carol: Laughing. How does that make you feel, Cindy?
Cindy: Like an old maid.
Carol: Well, you just stay single for awhile.
Cindy: Cheeky. Well, there is this guy…
Carol: Getting parental. Cindy.
Cindy: Kidding mom! Just kidding! What's Wally like?
Carol: Well, he's just as nice a guy as Phillip, but they're as different as they can be.
Cindy: What does he look like?
Carol: Oh he's cute and adorable. You'll be able to recognize him. He'll be the one marrying Marcia.
Carol returns to the present. She looks at Mike. He is unresponsive.
Carol: Oh Mike.
She cries herself to sleep. Carolyn comes in and taps her mom on the shoulder. Carol opens her eyes and looks around. Carolyn waves.
Carol: Signs to her daughter. Oh, you're back.
Carolyn: Signs back to her mother. Yeah. We just got back. We brought you a burger from the Burger Barn. Is that okay?
Carol: Yeah, sure.
Carolyn: Has the doctor come by yet?
Carol: No, not yet. I've just been sitting here thinking.
Carolyn: About what?
Carol: Remember when Marcia and Jan got married?
Carolyn: Yeah. I was so surprised when Marcia and Jan asked me to be the flower girl.
Carol: Oh?
The women go back to 1981.
Carolyn is swinging on the swing set. Marcia and Jan come outside. Carolyn sees them, jumps out of the swing, runs toward them and leaps into Jan's arms.
Jan: Signs. Hi kiddo!
Carolyn: Signs back. Hi Jan!
Marcia: Signs. Aren't you gonna give your oldest sister a hug?
Carolyn: Sure! She leans over so Marcia can give her a hug.
Jan: Sets her down. How's First grade?
Carolyn: I like it okay. I wish Ryan was in my class. My teacher's nice enough, but she doesn't know how to sign.
Marcia: Who's your teacher?
Carolyn: Mrs. McCool. Ryan has Miss Watkins. I like Mrs. McCool. Ryan doesn't like Miss Watkins. He says she's weird.
Jan: Don't you have a special helper that signs to you?
Carolyn: Yeah, her name's Mindy. She's nice, but I wish I were like the other kids.
Jan: Oh?
Carolyn: Nobody else has a signer. Everyone else can talk good like mommy, daddy, you guys, Ryan, and everyone. I wish I could talk good. Gets a little sad.
Marcia: Tries to cheer her sister up. So, what do you like to do in first grade?
Carolyn: I like to paint. Mommy says that I paint good like you, Jan.
Jan: Smiles at the admiration. Well, you'll just have to paint me a picture.
Carolyn: Okay, I will.
Marcia: I want one too. And I know you can write your name. Will you write your name on it?
Carolyn: Okay.
Jan: Changes the subject. You know me and Phillip are getting married.
Carolyn: Yeah, I like him. He's funny.
Jan: Confused. How so?
Carolyn: He doesn't get any of our jokes. He just looks at us funny.
Jan: Oh, I see!
Marcia: Well, what do you think of Wally?
Carolyn: Oh, he's all right.
Marcia: Just all right?
Carolyn: It's just hard to know what he's saying with that moustache covering his mouth. It's icky. Furrows her brow.
Marcia: Giggles. Well, I may have to ask him to shave it off.
Jan: Looking at Marcia and then signing to Carolyn. Anyway, how would you like to be my flower girl when me and Philip and Marcia and Wally get married.
Carolyn: Will I get to wear a pretty dress?
Marcia: Sure! Would you like me to make it?
Carolyn: Really excited. Yeah! And can I have a pretty basket with flowers in it?
Jan: Of course! So, whaddya say?
Carolyn: Yeah!
Carolyn sees their mother in the kitchen. She runs in to tell her mother the news.
Carolyn: Signs to her mother. Mommy! Marcia and Jan want me to be the flower girl!
Carol: Signs back. That's great, honey!
Carolyn: Excited. Yeah, and Marcia's gonna make me a pretty dress and I'm gonna have a pretty basket with flowers in it.
Carol: You know, that's a big job. You'll have to stand with Cindy up there.
Carolyn: I know. I'm in first grade. I can do it!
Carol: Laughs. I know you can. Get washed up for dinner, okay?
Carolyn runs off and washes up.
The women return to the present.
Carolyn: Daddy's just gotta wake up. Is he gonna wake up?
Carol: I hope so, baby.
Carolyn puts her head on her mother's shoulder. Carol strokes her face. They sit in silence. The doctor makes his appearance. Carol startles.
Doctor: Where's the rest of your family?
Carol: They're out in the waiting room, I suppose.
Carolyn nods.
Doctor: We need to talk about your husband's condition. I'll have the nurse gather you into the family room.
-End of Chapter One-
A/N-Yes, Carolyn's deaf.
