--Chapter Seven--
A/N—Moving forward a couple months (the beginning of June).
The alarm sounds in the girls' bedroom. Marcia reaches over and turns it off.
Jan: Finally! The last day of school.
Marcia: Yeah, my last day of Junior High. This fall, I'll be a freshman at Westdale High School. Finally!
Cindy: I'm just glad to get out of Miss Buchanan's class.
Jan: Why? I thought you liked Miss Buchanan?
Cindy: No, not really. She's okay, but I just didn't like her too much.
Marcia: Well, we'd better get up before mom and dad get on our case.
They get up and get ready for school.
The alarm sounds in the boys' room. Greg reaches over and turns it off.
Bobby: Finally! In just a few hours time, it'll be summer vacation.
Peter: I can hardly wait.
Greg: Why?
Bobby: No school, duh!
Peter: No homework!
Greg: Yeah.
The boys turn over in their beds and fall back asleep. Suddenly, they hear a knock on the door.
Mike: Boys, get up!
Bobby: Protesting. Aww!
Mike: Now!
The boys reluctantly get up and get ready for school.
Mike goes back into the bedroom and sees his wife in bed.
Mike: Honey? Are you getting up?
Carol: No. She rolls over and buries herself in the covers.
Mike: So, you're gonna stay in bed all day?
Carol doesn't answer.
Mike: Pulls the covers off his wife. I'm tired of this, Carol!
Carol: Pulls the covers back up. Well, too bad.
Mike: Hurt and upset. Paige is gone! Staying in bed all day won't bring him back.
Carol: Sits up and glares at her husband. I know Paige is gone! I was pregnant with her! I should still be pregnant with him! I should be nearly five months pregnant by now!
Mike: I know.
Carol: Is on the verge of tears. I carried him for about ten weeks and I killed her!
Mike: You didn't kill him! Paige just died. That's all!
Carol: You don't understand!
Mike: Frustrated. Then explain it to me!
Carol sits and glares at her husband.
Mike: Pleading. I love you. I hate seeing you like this. Sits on the bed beside her and takes her hands in his. Tell me. What can I do? What-can-I-do? I wanna help you.
Carol wrestles her hands out of his.
Mike: Gets up, grabs a house dress out of her closet and tosses it on the bed. Brood all you want. It's the kids' last day of school today and I expect you to come down and eat breakfast with them. They need their mother.
He storms out of the room and doesn't notice that Marcia, Greg and Jan are on the other side of the door.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the door, the kids are on the way down to breakfast when they hear their parents get in another heated argument.
Greg: Great. They're at it again.
Marcia: Yeah.
Jan: When are they gonna stop?
Marcia: Beats me.
Peter, Bobby and Cindy come out of their rooms and see their brother and sisters listening at the door. They can hear their parents shouting.
Peter: Again?!
Cindy: You guys listening to mommy and daddy fight again?
Bobby: Why are they always fighting?
Greg: Mom's still upset about losing the baby.
Cindy: Then why would that make them fight? Is daddy mad at mommy?
Marcia: Sorta. He's tired of mom being sad and staying in bed all day.
Jan: Trying to listen. Shh!
Greg: Hey Pete, take these two down for breakfast. We'll be down in a minute.
Peter: Protesting. Why do I always have to take 'em?
Greg: Just do it!
Peter: C'mon. He corrals the two youngest and takes them to the kitchen.
Jan: Get back quick! Dad's coming!
The trio jumps back so they wouldn't be noticed when their dad comes through the door.
In the kitchen. Alice serves Peter, Bobby and Cindy breakfast. Mike walks into the kitchen.
Alice: Morning. Is Mrs. Brady joining us?
Mike: Exasperated. I don't know. I just can't seem to get through to her.
Alice: Trying to diffuse the situation. She'll come around.
Mike: I certainly hope so. Changes the subject and addresses the kids. Where are your brother and sisters?
Peter: They're still getting ready for school.
Mike: Looks at his watch. If they don't hurry up, they'll be late.
As if on cue, the other three come into the kitchen.
Alice: Morning!
Jan: Solemn. Hi.
Alice: Figures out they probably heard another fight, but tries to lighten the mood. Hey, it's the last day of school.
Bobby: Yeah! No more teachers! No more homework.
Peter: Get to sleep in.
Marcia: My last day of Junior High. Hooray! I'm ready to get out of there.
Greg: Snickers. Knowing your luck, they'll decide to put ninth grade back at Fillmore.
Marcia: Don't even go there!
Greg: Well, they've been talkin' about it.
Marcia: Oh, just shut up.
Mike: Stopping the situation. Kids, cool it!
Carol enters the kitchen as the kids finish up their breakfast. Silently, she hands out their lunches and kisses them on the cheek as they head off to school. After the kids leave, Carol sits at the table.
Mike: Glad you could join us.
Alice: Would you like some breakfast?
Carol: Quietly. I guess so.
Alice serves her a plate and a glass of orange juice. Mike finishes his breakfast, clears his plate, and starts to leave.
Mike: I've got meetings all day, so I won't be home until late.
Alice: Will you be home for dinner?
Mike: I don't know. How's this. I'll call you if I'm not gonna be home.
Alice: All right.
Mike: Kisses his wife. I'll see you later. I love you.
Carol doesn't speak. Mike throws his hands up in resignation and leaves.
Mike is eating lunch at a restaurant with his mother.
Mrs. Brady: How's Carol?
Mike: Sighs and picks at his food with his fork. His eyes are downcast. I don't know, mom. She's still not herself. She puts on a brave face for me and the kids, but I know that she's still hurting. And this morning, we got into another one of our arguments.
Mrs. Brady: It takes awhile to get over something like this, son.
Mike: I know, but she's so withdrawn. She just mopes around the house, wearing her bathrobe. About the only time I saw her even close to her old self was when she wrote that article for Tomorrow's Woman Magazine. She was so alive then. She was my Carol.
Mrs. Brady: She still is.
Mike: Mom, I just don't know what to do to help her snap out of this. Sometimes I just want to take her by the shoulders and shout, "STOP!"
Mrs. Brady: She may just need some time.
Mike: True, but I just want to do something. Sometimes I just don't think I can take it anymore.
Mrs. Brady: Have you thought about maybe taking her on a trip, to get away for awhile?
Mike: Has an a ha moment. That's perfect! I think getting her "outta Dodge" is a great idea.
Mrs. Brady: Is there any place in particular she's wanted to go?
Mike: She's always wanted to go to the Grand Canyon.
Mrs. Brady: Why don't you take her then?
Mike: Excited. I think I will! We could either fly out and stay at one of the resorts, or we could drive and stay at one of the campsites. Thinks further. I wonder if she'd enjoy camping at the bottom of the canyon?
Mrs. Brady: I don't know. You'll have to ask her, but those sound like lovely ideas. If you'd like someone to stay with the kids, we'd be happy to stay with them.
Mike: Contemplates further. Perhaps I'll make it a family vacation.
Mrs. Brady: I thought this was a trip to get Carol away from everything?
Mike: Well, yes, but I think it would do the family a world of good to get out of the house. Losing Paige has affected us all.
Mrs. Brady: How are the children?
Mike: Jan and Cindy talk about it every now and then. Peter and Bobby seem to be bouncing back. However, Greg and Marcia aren't bouncing back as much.
Mrs. Brady: How so?
Mike: Both of them are moody and have really bad attitudes.
Mrs. Brady: That's called being a teenager.
Mike: I know. I remember I yanked yours and dad's chain a time or two, but this goes beyond that.
Mrs. Brady: Curious. How so?
Mike: Even though they've said they're not, I know they're still smoking. Their clothes smell like ash trays. They're mouthing off, and I really don't know what to do.
Mrs. Brady: It's been, what, two months since Carol lost the baby?
Mike: Yeah.
Mrs. Brady: They weren't really crazy about the baby, were they?
Mike: No, they weren't.
Mrs. Brady: Well, give them time. Of course, stay on them about the cigarettes and mouthing off, but give them time. They'll come around.
Mike: I suppose you're right. I still think the vacation will do a world of good for all of us.
Mrs. Brady: I think so too.
They finish up their lunch and Mike goes back to the office.
The kids start coming home from school. Carol's on the couch in the living room reading a book. Marcia storms into the house, slamming the front door.
Carol: How was your day?
Marcia: Angry. I can't believe it!
Carol: Sits up, concerned. What's wrong?
Marcia: Stomps her foot. OOOH, I'M JUST SO ANGRY!
Carol: Come, sit down. Now, what's going on?
Marcia: Sits down and takes a note from her book. They're putting ninth grade back at Junior High! It's not fair!
Carol: Oh honey, I'm so sorry!
Marcia: It's just not fair! Greg got to go to high school in the ninth grade! Why do I have to wait another year because I'm younger! Greg gets to do everything!
Carol: Stern. Now, I understand why you're angry, but blaming Greg isn't the answer. He didn't make the school system hold back the ninth grade.
Marcia: Annoyed. Yeah, but he's been bustin' my chops about it.
Carol: Your father and I will talk to him about it.
Marcia: But I was supposed to go to orientation this summer! I don't want to be in Junior High next year! I was supposed to be in high school!
Carol: I'm sorry, but I can't help that.
Marcia: Gets up and storms off. This is so bogus!
Carol: Marcia!
Greg comes homes home shortly after Marcia storms off.
Greg: Hey.
Carol: How was your day?
Greg: It was all right. Glad that the year's over, though.
Carol: Oh?
Greg: You know, summer vacation, no studying. Life is good.
Carol: Speaking of "life is good," I need to talk to you.
Greg: Curious. Oh?
Carol: Yeah. Have a seat.
Greg: Unsure. Okay.
Carol: Marcia said you'd been making jokes about ninth grade being put back in Junior High.
Greg: Tries to stifle a chuckle. Aww, man. I was just kidding.
Carol: Well, she wasn't laughing and the school system decided to put back the ninth grade.
Greg: Feeling guilty. Oh. I'm sorry.
Carol: You need to tell her that.
Greg: Sure.
Greg goes up to Marcia's room and knocks on the door. Marcia is lying on her bed crying.
Greg: Can I come in?
Marcia: NO! GO AWAY!
Greg: Opens the door and walks in. Hey.
Marcia: Gets up and tries to shove him out of the room. I SAID, GET OUT!
Greg: No.
Marcia: GET OUT!
Greg: I just wanted to say I'm sorry.
Marcia: I DON'T CARE!
Greg: Physically restrains his sister and sits her on the bed. Look, I wanted to say I'm sorry for bustin' your chops about not getting to go to Westdale next year.
Marcia: Sneers. I bet you are!
Greg: I am.
Marcia: Brushes him off. Whatever.
Greg: Sits beside her on the bed. No, I am. I shouldn't have said that stuff. I know you wanted to go to Westdale next year.
Marcia: Frustrated. It's just not fair. You got to go to Westdale as a ninth grader. Why do I have to wait until I'm in tenth grade?
Greg: I dunno.
Marcia: I'm just so angry!
Greg: I know.
Jan and Cindy bust through the door, startling Greg and Marcia out of their argument.
Jan: Yess! School's out!
Cindy: Yeah! No more second grade. Finally, I'll be out of the baby hall at school.
Marcia: Would you mind?
Jan: No, I wouldn't mind, your highness! I'm sick of your high and mighty attitude. I'm glad you'll be at Westdale next year. Then, I'll get a break from Marcia Brady the Great.
Marcia: Yelling at the top of her lungs. FOR YOUR INFORMATION, I WON'T BE GOING TO WESTDALE NEXT YEAR! THEY'RE KEEPING THE NINTH GRADE AT FILLMORE!
Jan: Well, excuuuuuse me for living!
Marcia: JUST SHUT UP! LEAVE ME ALONE!
Carol hears the commotion, goes up the stairs, and into the girls' room.
Carol: Girls, what on earth is going on?
Jan: Marcia's just being a pain in the NECK! She storms off, then re-enters the room, grabbing Cindy by the wrist. C'mon Cindy. We know where we're not wanted.
The girls leave the room and head down to the kitchen for some cookies and milk. Greg sneaks away as well.
Marcia: I just wish people would leave me alone!
Carol: I know you're angry, but you can't treat your brothers and sisters like that.
Marcia: Angry. Well you do!
Carol: Surprised. What?
Marcia: You do. You treat dad like that. You're always yelling at him or ignoring him. Studies her clothing. I think this is the first time, or just about the first time, I've seen you in something other than a nightgown and robe.
Carol: Remorseful. I didn't realize....
Marcia: That's right. You didn't realize. You were too wrapped up in yourself not to realize what it was doing to us.
Carol: Getting parental. I think that's enough.
Marcia: No it isn't, mother! You keep going on saying, "I was pregnant with Paige," or "I should still be carrying Paige." We know that! Paige was our brother or sister and was dad's child too. You weren't the only one who lost Paige.
Carol: It's different when you miscarry. I hope you never have to find out.
Marcia: Okay, it's different. No, we don't know what it was like to be pregnant and then lose the child before he or she got to be born, but still, even though you had the miscarriage, we all lost Paige.
Carol: Realizes her daughter is right. Oh, I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry I hurt you.
Marcia: I know you are. I think dad needs to hear it. You've really been giving him grief.
Carol: You're right. I will.
Jan and Cindy are outside their door, and the boys are outside the pocket door in the bathroom. Carol figures out they've got spectators.
Carol: Kids, come in.
The kids do as requested.
Carol: Sit down. I want to tell you I'm sorry. I've hurt you guys. Even though Paige was my child, Paige was your brother or sister and I forgot that.
Cindy: We understand.
Peter: Yeah, we understand.
Bobby: Me too.
Jan: Not me!
Greg: Me either!
Peter: What?
Greg: I'm sorry mom, but I'm not letting you off the hook that easily.
Jan: You hurt us. You and dad may not think that we heard you two fighting, but we've heard every one of your fights.
Carol is shocked.
Greg: You think that just because you fight in your bedroom, we don't hear you.
Peter: But we do.
Jan: And we're tired of it.
Bobby: Yeah!
Cindy: Mommy, please stop fighting with daddy. It hurts me when you fight.
Carol: A tear escapes her eye. I'm so sorry you guys. I've hurt you and I can't take it back. Please forgive me. I never, ever wanted to hurt you.
Greg: Just like you and dad told Marcia and me about trust, it's going to take some time.
Carol: I understand. Now, can I speak with Greg and Marcia alone for a minute?
The younger four agree and leave the room.
Carol: Now, trust goes both ways. I know you two are still smoking and don't tell me you're not. I know you are. Your clothes smell like ash trays. As part of this trust deal, I want you two to stop smoking. Period. End of sentence.
Greg: Done.
Marcia: Yeah. Done.
Greg: It was stupid anyway.
Marcia: I don't know why we even tried it.
Carol: I have your word?
Greg and Marcia: Yes, ma'am.
Carol: Good.
Carol leaves the room, goes to her room. She puts on a clean blouse and slacks, and brushes her hair. Before leaving the room, she decides to put on a little lipstick and blush.
Later that afternoon, Mike is driving home. He is dreading coming home, afraid of how his wife is going to react. Is she going to be the sweet and loving Carol he married or is she going to be this sullen and depressed Carol he's been living with for the last couple months? He thinks to himself, "I wonder how she's gonna feel about a family vacation to the Grand Canyon? I think it'll do everyone a world of good. I feel like my family is falling apart. We need this vacation. Perhaps if we drive there and camp inside the canyon...oh, I dunno. I just hope I can get us some help or respite we need." He pulls up in the driveway and gets out of the car. He walks up to the sliding glass door and sees his wife lounging on the couch in the family room. He sighs, "Oh boy. One of those day. Might as well get this over with." He opens the door.
Mike: Hi honey. How are you?
Carol greets him with a smile.
Carol: Hi honey! I'm doing really good.
Mike: How was your day?
Carol sits up and motions for her husband to sit.
Mike: Curious. What's going on, honey?
Carol: Looks him in the eyes. Mike, I'm sorry.
Mike: For what?
Carol: I've hurt you. I've hurt our kids. Sighs. I've been so self-centered. I've been acting as if I'm the only one who lost Paige. I'm not. Paige is your child too. We lost our child. Tears roll down her face. Oh Mike! We lost OUR child!
She lets the tears flow. Mike sits there wondering what's going on. She continues.
Carol: I've not been fair to you or the kids. I've moped around and not let anyone comfort or support me. Instead, I've acted like I'm the only one that lost the baby. Yes, I miscarried, but we all lost the baby. I've shut you out. I've fought with you. She sighs. I have a wonderful husband and six beautiful children and I have lost sight of that. I love you and the kids and I don't want to lose you.
Mike: I love you too. I'm wondering...I hesitate to ask...but what brought this on?
Carol: Marcia.
Mike: Marcia?
Carol: Yes. She learned today that the school system decided to hold ninth grade at the Junior High level.
Mike: Poor kid. She was looking forward to going to Westdale.
Carol: She was. Anyway, she came home angry as you can imagine.
Mike: Yes.
Carol: Greg came home after that and after I talked to him, he decided to apologize for making jokes about it.
Mike: Let me guess. She let him have it.
Carol: She sure did. I confronted her about it and I talked to her and Greg about their smoking. She pointed out that I was doing the same thing to you and the kids that she was doing to Greg.
Mike: What's that?
Carol: Taking my anger out at the people who didn't deserve it. You didn't make me lose the baby.
Mike: And neither did you. You did nothing to make it happen either. It-just-did. He gently puts his hand on her cheek and brushes a tear away with his finger.
Carol: I know. I was just so angry and I just wanted to yell and scream, but nothing helped. At the end of the day, Paige was gone.
Mike: I think we need to get away. To get out of "Dodge," so to speak.
Carol: Oh?
Mike: I was just thinking. Instead of going to Mount Claymore for our annual camping trip, let's go to the Grand Canyon.
Carol: Gets excited. Really?
Mike: Yeah! I was thinking we could drive to the Canyon and spend a couple nights camping in the canyon.
Carol: Oh, that would be wonderful! Ah, just think about it! Camping under the stars, you and me....
Mike: Wraps his arm around her shoulders and pulls her close. We could have our own tent.
Carol: Mmm! That sounds nice.
Mike: And we could....
He whispers something in her ear, causing her to giggle.
Mike: So, you think that's a good idea?
Carol: Yeah! We could rent a camper too, which would save on hotel bills.
Mike: Exactly what I was thinking.
Carol: Oh Mike, it sounds so perfect.
Mike: Let's not tell the kids yet. Let's surprise them with the camper.
Carol: I agree.
Mike: Places a tender kiss on her lips. I love you.
Carol: I love you too.
She returns the kiss. He envelops her in an embrace.
--End of Chapter 7--