Chapter 9 – Ringing in the New Year
Carlisle:
It's been about a week now since I dealt with my four daughters and their little energy shot experiments. Things have been going quite smoothly and that has me worried. Leah, Jake and Seth are back in school now with the holidays behind us. We have been hit with a cold spell here in Forks, but it doesn't bother us or the wolves. I have been working my regular shifts at the hospital. I brought my lab coat home to be washed as I have two of them and this one is soiled. Esme takes care of that, she likes making me look nice.
"Esme, can you please wash my lab coat? It needs a bath as you can tell," I said holding it up to her.
"Oh my, what happened?" Esme asked grabbing the soiled lab coat from me.
"A kid spilled his drink on it and then yanked on it with his dirty hands," I explained.
"So what happened to "Dr. Spank" as you're known at the hospital," Jake asked laughing.
"He was little and was squirming around. He didn't mean it," I said to Jake.
"Yeah, how come that excuse doesn't work with us?" Jake asked pushing it.
"You're not 2 years old, although you act like it at times," I said to him grinning.
"Always with the digs," Jake said. "We never get a break."
"Why should you?" I said to him.
"I think I'll try one of those energy shots," Jake said goading me.
"Go ahead, Jake. Try it," I enticed him.
"Uh…no…I think that wasn't the best thing to throw out there," Jake said making himself scarce.
"Little snot!" I called after him.
Upstairs:
Jacob:
"What are you running from warthog?" Rosalie asked as I passed by the sitting room with my sibs in it.
"Man, that was close," I said.
"What did you do now?" Leah asked.
"Hey, I was just having a conversation with Dad and he said some kid messed his lab coat up and wanted mom to wash it. I just asked him whatever happened to Dr. Spank? Remember, you guys told us about last Christmas with that Jessica chick," Jake said.
"How would you like to meet Dad Spank?" A voice said from behind me.
"He's standing right behind me, isn't he?" I asked all my sibs. They all had a look on their faces and shook their heads yes.
"Oh I've met him several times. In fact, we're old pals," I said turning around and now coming face to face with my slightly perturbed father. We were toe to toe. "Oops, kinda in my space, if you know what I mean, Dad," I said to him.
"I'll get in your space," Dad said turning me and landing a slight smack to my rear.
"Hey, I was just teasing. Man, we need to put a bell around his neck," I said.
"You'd like that," Dad said as he walked off.
"You would too if you were your son!" I yelled after him. Dad was walking down the hall and stopped, stood still, and shook his head. "Hey, don't shake your head at me, old man," I called after him. Dad turned and flashed toward me.
"Whoa, see ya," I said as I ran down the hall.
"You better run, mister," Dad called after me.
After a short while, I got the nerve to come back up and go by my siblings. Sticking my head in the room, I asked if it was safe.
"Is the coast clear?" I asked them.
"Yes, lucky for you," Edward said. Me, Emmett and Jazz are going to go out searching for big game animals. You and Seth stay away from where we're going so you don't scare them away.
"Well, you better keep Pickle Puss over there away from there too," I said pointing at Rosalie and laughing. Edward and Jazz laughed as Rosalie fired a pillow at me.
"Stop throwing pillows," Dad said standing in the doorway.
"AAHH! Dad, stop coming up on us like that," I said holding my chest. "I didn't throw it, Rose Hips did."
"Stop it before something gets broken." Dad said walking out.
"Man, he's like a magnet," I said shaking my head. "When's his next shift at the hospital?"
"Tomorrow, you skunk," Rosalie said.
"I'm telling you, we need to hang a bell around him," I said again. (Then I started to think, which is dangerous, I know!)
"What is turning the wheels in your head, varmint?" Rosalie asked.
"I was just thinking, didn't Dad bring his Lab coat home for Mom to wash?" I asked my sibs.
"Yes, why?" Alice asked.
"What do you say, we sew some bells in his lab coat?" I suggested to my band of tricksters.
"Hey, that would be funny! We could all use a laugh since we all got in trouble earlier," Bella said.
"Not me! I'm staying out of this and you guys better not do it either," Edward said.
"Me either, count me out," Jasper said getting up and walking out. "Ali girl, you better not do this!"
"Oh don't be silly, Jasper. Daddy can take a joke," Alice said waving her hand at him.
"We could sew some bells from Alice's Christmas decorations in the hems of his lab coat," Rosalie suggested.
"What, you're actually going to go along with this?" I asked Miss Stuck Up.
"Well, it sounds harmless enough," Rosalie said.
"Yeah, that would be funny. He won't know where the bells are when he hears them," Leah added.
"Yes he will. Vampire hearing is pretty good and we can zero in on anything," Rosalie said.
"Well, not at first," Leah stated.
"He usually puts his coat on here at home when Mom washes it for him, so it will happen here at home. We can all be down in the kitchen when he puts his lab coat on," Alice suggested.
"That would be great! He has another one at the hospital, this one just got dirty from some kid today," Rosalie said. "Little brat!"
"Yeah, like you're an angel, she-devil," I fired at her.
"Look who's talking, Tasmanian Devil in the flesh," Rosalie said.
"Someone has to go get his lab coat," Bella said.
"Well, it can't be me. Why would I go into the laundry room," I put to them.
"He's right, he doesn't even know how to use the washer or dryer," Rosalie said. "Helpless animal."
"Oh kiss my tail, pickle puss," I said to her.
"I'll go see if it's washed and bring it up here. Alice, you go get some bells from your decorations. Leah and Bella can help sew them in the hems," Rosalie said.
"You going to help Seth?" I asked him.
"I'm not sure yet. I can't sew," Seth answered.
"What about you, Prank Boy? You going to help?" I asked Emmett.
"Of course! I can't miss out on a great prank like that. That's great, Pops walking and jingling! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!" Emmett laughed.
"Shut up Emmett. Not so loud. Dad will think you're in the energy shots," I said to him.
"Uh oh, never thought of that. Was it that loud?" Emmett asked.
"YES! It echoed in the room, doofus!" I said to him.
"Well, it was funny. Can't you see Pops walking around with that jingling sound, driving him crazy! We should really stay out of the kitchen and watch from a distance. That way it would be funnier and he wouldn't know who did it," Emmett said.
"For once, you're making sense. That's what we'll do. That will be great," I said.
It wasn't long and Rosalie came up with Dad's lab coat. Mom had washed it and it was all clean waiting for him to slip it on in the morning. Alice came back with the bells. She had small and a little bigger size bells. Bella came with the sewing kit. The girls got to work ripping the seams and choosing the bells to sew in the seams. They even put some in the seams of the pockets and around the collar. They put them everywhere. When they held the lab coat up, it make soft jingling sounds. They weren't real loud, but you could hear them. I slipped it on and walked around the room imitating him.
"Yes, my good man, I'm Dr. Carlisle Cullen, the proud father of Jacob Black Cullen. Oh yes, that boy just adds sunshine to my every day!" I said strutting around the room.
"Oh brother, what a ham!" Rosalie said.
"Hey, shut up wilted Rose, it's my acting scene. Yes, well, what can I do for you today? What, you put motor oil on your salad instead of olive oil? Well, I'd say that you're in a slick situation. Ha ha ha ha!" I spewed out. They all laughed at my imitation of Dad.
"Ha ha ha, can't you just see Dad when he puts that lab coat on tomorrow and walks for the first time," Emmett said laughing and slapping his leg.
"He'll have a fit and be all upset because he might be late! Imagine, a doctor being late! Who doesn't wait when you go to hospital," Alice added.
"Just so he puts the coat on here and not at the hospital. That won't be good," Leah stated.
"You would have to throw a wrench in our fun, Leah," I said to her. She's always the one that ruins your fun.
"So where are we going to meet and what time so we can watch the fun," Leah asked.
"What time does Dad leave for the hospital?" Emmett asked.
"About 7:30 a.m. We can be down here in the living room, he won't know why we are down here," Bella said.
"Yeah, that should work. Okay, 7:30 a.m. in the living room. Make sure I'm up because I wouldn't want to miss this," I said.
"Oh we'll make sure you're up, animal cracker," Rosalie said.
"Ha ha, finally a bell on Dad so we know when he's coming. I'm such a genius!" I bragged on myself.
"I'm going to fold the lab coat up nicely and sneak it back down in the laundry room. That way it is there and Mom won't miss it. I'll tell her I did a load of towels or something and folded the lab coat for Dad. That will explain why it's not hanging on the hanger," Rosalie said. She left to take the lab coat down.
The Next Morning 7:30 a.m.
It was Saturday and we were off from school. Rosalie and Emmett were in their room and came out to wake me up. Leah and Bella were coming down the hall along with Alice trailing behind. They all came into my room. There I was having a nice dream running as a wolf through the woods and suddenly I was in a waterfall. I woke up to see water being poured on my face and a blond ghoul looking at me through the water.
"Wake up little beaver," Rosalie said dousing me with water.
"Hey, I don't need your help with a shower, misfit," I said to her getting up.
"Come on, we have to get downstairs," Rosalie said dragging me out of bed dripping wet.
"I'm coming, I'm coming," I said trailing after them.
We came downstairs and quietly sat down in the living room. All of us were waiting for Dad to come down the stairs. Mom was in the kitchen making breakfast and humming and was listening to music. We were waiting anxiously for Dad to come walking down the steps to greet Mom put his lab coat on and go to work. Yep, Mr. Jingles was going to have a surprise when he comes down. After a bit, Mom came out of the kitchen.
"Oh, I didn't know you were all down here. Jake and Leah, I haven't made breakfast yet, but all I have to do is put it on, I have everything ready. I didn't think any of you would be up this early since it's Saturday," Mom said to us.
"That's okay Mom, did Dad leave yet?" Leah asked.
"Oh yes, he left about 45 minutes ago," Mom said.
We all looked at each other and then looked back at Mom. She was standing there smiling at us. He must not be upset with us, since Mom doesn't look upset.
"Dad left already? Why so early?" Rosalie asked.
"He had a meeting this morning and they are having some kind of party tomorrow for kids to come and get their flu shots if they haven't had them already. They are trying to make it fun for the kids to have activities and crafts and not be afraid to get their shots. Anyone can bring their kids, and some of the children in the children's ward, who are not terribly sick, are going to be there also," Mom explained.
"Oh, did he remember his lab coat? I folded it for him last night," Rosalie said.
"Oh that's why it was off the hanger. Yes, he just took it with him and said he would wait to put it on after their meeting," Mom said.
"Oh, uh good, just so he didn't forget it," Rosalie said to cover up for her questions.
"I'll go make breakfast. Are waffles okay?" Mom asked.
"Sure, Mom, that's fine," Leah said.
"Oh great, now what are we going to do? Dad's going to kill us when he gets home," Bella said.
"Maybe he won't notice," Emmett said.
"Won't notice jingling sounds all around him every time he moves or raises his arms? No, brilliant, he won't notice," I said shaking my head at Emmett. "Two words, buttercup: Vampire Hearing. The 2 worst words in my life!"
"Yeah, man Pops is going to tan your ass good, Wolf bro," Emmett said shaking his head.
"Not just mine, you too," I said to him.
"All of us, we sewed the bells in and are just as guilty," Bella said.
"Oh crap! Wouldn't you know mongoose's plan would backfire on us," Rosalie said.
"Daddy's going to be upset," Alice said worriedly.
At the Hospital:
Carlisle:
Arriving at the hospital, I went in and carried my clean lab coat in. I went immediately to my office and put my things down. My colleague, Mark Jansen, stuck his head in my door.
"Hi Carlisle, I hope you don't mind, but I borrowed your lab coat. I spilled coffee all over the front of mine this morning and my other one is at home. Hope you don't mind. I covered your name with my name tag," Mark said.
"Ha ha, sounds like a pretty shaky start to the day," I said laughing at him. "No problem, I just brought mine back today."
I grabbed my lab coat and carried it, still folded, while I walked down the hall with Mark. We got up to the nurse's station and were talking about the patients and the meeting we were about to have.
"So, how do you think our flu shots are going to go tomorrow? Think we can keep the children entertained and keep them happy so they don't think of getting a shot?" I asked him.
"Oh, they'll be fine until we come at them with the shots, at least we will take them away from the others to administer the injections," Mark said.
Grabbing my lab coat, I held it up and let it unfold. I heard bells ringing and looked all around. It was so noisy in there, it was hard to hear. There were kids screaming in the waiting room also. I opened my coat and began putting it on and heard bells again.
"Did anyone hear bells?" I asked.
"Yeah, what was that?" Mark asked.
"Oh, it's probably those kids over there, they've been messing with all the toys we have laid out for them," Marcie the nurse said.
"I guess so," I said and began walking to get the next chart. Reaching for a chart, I heard the bells again.
There it goes again, did you hear that?" I asked everyone around me.
"Yeah, sounded close," Mark said.
"Hmm, oh well, let's see who we have next," I said looking at the chart and calling a name out. "Clifford Gunthrie," I said aloud. A woman and her little boy who was about 5 came walking up. "This way, please," I said showing them to an exam table. As I raised my hand, I heard the bells loudly that time.
"Did you ring?" Little Clifford asked.
"I'm not sure," I said looking perplexed and then I reached down to pick him up and put him on the exam table and it was me that was ringing. "What in the world," I said now shaking my arms and jingling like Santa Claus.
"Ha ha! Mommy, it's Dr. Jingles!" Clifford said loudly. He then screeched with delight which now got everyone's attention and the whole waiting room was looking at us. "Do it again! Do it again!" Clifford shouted now reaching out and shaking my lab coat.
"Don't touch the doctor's coat like that Cliffy," Mrs. Gunthrie said pulling his hand off my coat.
"NOOOOOOOO! I want to jingle him," Clifford said reaching for me.
"Hey, I want Dr. Jingle too," a little girl screamed in the waiting room.
At that time, Mark Jansen came over laughing. He grabbed my arms and shook me and I was ringing out like the liberty bell. Everyone was laughing.
"Looks like someone decided to dress up your lab coat," Mark said laughing.
"Yes, don't look so happy!" I said to Mark.
"Oh Dr. Cullen, I bet one of your kids did this as a joke," Marcie said coming over covering her mouth laughing at my situation.
"Yes, I know just who the little culprit is! He's been saying I need a bell on so they know when I am coming," I said shaking my head.
"Ring the doctor, ring the doctor," the little girl shouted to Clifford. He happily shook my coat again and squealed with delight.
"Penny Wilson!" Mark called out. The little girl and her mother got up and began walking toward Mark.
"NOO! No! I want Dr. Jingle," Penny cried to her mother.
"We have to take the Doctor who called us," her mother said to her.
Penny was having none of that. She broke free from her mother's grip and ran over and latched onto me and began pulling my lab coat again making me ring out like the a school bell.
"Why of course you can have Dr. Jingle," Mark said to little Penny laughing.
"Gee, thanks Mark," I said giving him a look.
"No, thank your teen who made you an instant hit with the kiddies," Mark said laughing.
"Just wait till I get home. I'm going to ring his bell," I said to those around me who took great delight in my misfortune.
"If you think it's bad today, just wait until tomorrow when we have the flu shot party for the kids. You know, Dr. Cullen, news travels fast," Marcie said snickering.
"I'm not wearing this tomorrow," I said to her now beginning to peel little Penny off my legs. She had adhered herself to me.
"But you have too, you can't disappoint the kiddies," Mark said now chuckling uncontrollably.
"I can have my kids do the same to your lab coat, you know, Mark," I said wryly to him.
"Oh no, one Dr. Jingle is enough for this hospital," Mark said laughing and now calling out an adult's name. "Have fun, Carlisle, your patients are eagerly waiting for you to call them," Mark said motioning toward the waiting room.
When I looked at the waiting room, all the children and their parents were staring at me with wide bright eyes beaming with excitement.
"Oh no," I murmured under my breath.
"I wanna wing the docdoor! I wanna wing the docdoor, mommy," A little girl was shouting and pointing toward me.
"Looks like you're a hit, Dr. Cullen," Marcie said laughing.
"Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring!" Penny said as she latched onto my legs again and was shaking me. My coat was ringing each time she shook me.
"Jacob Cullen, when I get home," I said aloud.
"Jacob? Isn't he one of the Quileute's you adopted? He must be a good seamstress to sew all those bells in your lab coat. It looks like they are in most of the seams on your cuffs, and around the bottom of the lab coat," Marcie said examining my lab coat.
"I never thought of that. Jake wouldn't be able to sew these bells in all these seams, so that means, uh huh, we also have Bella, Rosalie, Alice and Leah who would be able to do this. This also has Emmett written all over it," I said now realizing it wasn't just Jacob.
"I wouldn't want to be one of them when you get home tonight," Marcie said snickering.
"Dr. Jingle, ring, ring, ring, ring," Clifford yelled now grabbing both lapels of my coat and shaking me.
That's when the entire waiting room of kids joined in yelling it all together: "Ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring!"
This is going to be one long day…
Home that evening:
"Oh man, Dad should be home any minute now. I bet he is not going to be happy," Jake said nervously.
"What do you think? He had to be ringing all over the hospital today. I'm sure we're all in for it," Bella said.
"Why are you in for it?" Seth asked.
"Because we sewed the bells in the seams, Dad will know Jake was not alone in this," Bella answered.
"Yikes, you guys are all in for it," Seth said. "I'm glad I didn't get involved in this."
"That's right Seth, don't go along with their ideas. It will only land you in trouble," Edward said.
"Thanks for your support, Edward," Bella said to him.
"I told you not to do it," Edward said.
"Yes, we both told all you not to get involved. Now you're all going to have to answer to Papa," Jasper said.
"I'm just now able to sit without any discomfort. Now I'm sure Dad will warm us up again, Leah said looking worried.
"Daddy's going to be upset with all of us and we just got out of trouble with him," Alice said looking unhappy. "You and your stupid idea, Jake."
"It figures we'd get suckered into one of his brainstorms," Rosalie said with disgust.
"Hey, no one put a gun to your head, chickweed!" Jake said back to Rosalie. "I just said we need to put a bell on him, you guys decided to sew the bells in. You're all a bunch of dead ringers! Ha ha ha ha! Even when in trouble, I still can throw them out there," Jake said proudly.
"Ha ha ha ha, that was a good one, wolf bro. For whom the bell tolls? It tolls for thee," Emmett said pointing at Jake and the girls.
"It tolls for you too, idiot," Jasper said to Emmett. "You were part of this also."
"Yeah, Dad's going to ring your bell too," Jake said to Emmett.
"You make it sound so a-ppeal-ing, get it, peal like a bell," Emmett said laughing.
"Dad could be his own ring-tone," Jake said laughing.
"Mom can just have him stand there and shake when it's dinner time," Leah added. Everyone was laughing.
"What are you children laughing at in here," Mom said coming into the living room.
At that moment, we heard Dad pull in the garage. We all looked at one another in nervous anticipation. Mom, seeing the look on all our faces, now knew something was wrong.
"What did you children do?" Mom asked.
We heard the car door close and then heard Dad walking in the garage. With our sensitive hearing attuned to the garage, we could hear every sound as if we were out there. He was walking to the door to the kitchen and we could hear him jingle with every step he took. We all looked at one another. The door opened and Dad stepped into the house and closed the kitchen door. He then walked forward into the living room. Every step he took, he jingled. It was hard to hold back our laughter, even though we knew we were in for it. Mom just looked at Dad and began grinning and tried to hold back a laugh.
Dad now was standing in the living room but did not come right up to us, he just stood there in his lab coat and was looking at each of us individually who he thought was in on this little joke. Every step he took, he would jingle. It was hilarious. We could barely hold it in. Even Jasper, Edward and Seth were having a hard time not laughing. Dad then crossed his arms over his chest.
"Ching, jingle, jingle, ching, jingle, jingle, ching," one arm and then the other sounded off. He just stood there glaring at us. We were doing our best not to laugh, but it was so funny seeing him standing there tinkling and glaring. Finally, he spoke to us.
"Do you have an idea what my day has been like?" Dad said still piercing us with that glare. Every time he made even the slightest move, he jingled.
"Let me think for a minute," Jake said. "Nope, nothing rings a bell!"
"JACOB CULLEN!"
To be Continued…
Last chapter is next!
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