Well, Here's chapter 10 for ya. Now we are starting with the Rhoda episodes but it will be done a little differently then on the show, because Suzannah will factor in. Hope you like it. Please Read and review! Thanks!
Several months later, Rhoda had finally decided to use her vacation time during the two weeks of Suzannah's spring vacation. They would leave the Saturday before spring break started and come the Sunday before Suzannah would start back to school once spring vacation was over. Suzannah was packing her Suitcase. She was very excited to see Grandma Ida, Grandpa Marty and Aunt Brenda. However, She noticed that her Aunt Rho didn't seem to share her enthusiasm. Finally she went into her Aunt's room. Rhoda was packing(and unpacking and repacking) her suitcase. Suzanna went over to her aunt and laid a hand on her shoulder.
"Aunt Rho? Everything alright? I've never seen you this stressed before." Rhoda sighed and looked up at her niece,
"Ah, I'm fine, kiddo. It's just that my mother tends to make me crazy. And I can tell just from the phone conversations with my sister that she's starting to do to Brenda what she used to do to me when I lived there. Only now, it's worse. Ever since your father and your Aunt Debbie died, she's gotten more controlling, and with me being here and Bren being right there in New York, Poor Brenda's catching the brunt of it." Suzannah looked slightly confused.
"But, we've been to New York twice since I've been here and you weren't THIS wigged out!" Rhoda gave a chuckle and said,
"Ah, but the first time was just for the weekend and as for the second, Ma didn't speak for almost the entire time and I was too worried and scared to be stressed. Besides, have you forgotten what happened the weekend of your Aunt Debbie's wedding? And that was with Mary there to referee." Suzannah gave a sheepish grin and said,
"Oh. Right." She'd forgotten about how Grandma Ida had nearly ruined her aunt's wedding by trying to downplay it "for Rhoda's sake". Rhoda gave her niece a knowing look and nod, then went back to packing. A few seconds later, Suzannah spoke up again.
"It probably won't be so bad. We'll at least get to see Aunt Brenda. She's great!. Besides, it's only for spring vacation. Then it will all be over and we'll be back home in Minneapolis." Rhoda gave her niece an unsure smile and a hug.
"Thanks,Sweetheart. Now you better get back to packing. Mary will be ready to take us to the airport soon. Have you said goodbye to Bess yet?" Suzannah nodded.
"Last night. Her family left early this morning for France." Suzannah went to finish her packing and Mary came by about an hour later.
At the airport Mary let Suzannah and Rhoda out while she found a place to park.
Once in line, a man in a suit came up behind Rhoda and said,
"Let me go ahead of you,ok? I gotta make the flight to New York and I'm late." Rhoda shot an exasperated look at her niece.
"Hey! We're all going to New York and we're ALL late.", she said to the man.
"Yeah? Well,I'm in first class." the man tried. Rhoda and Suzannah looked at him with disdain.
"Listen ,Mr. On this flight, there is no class. In EVERY sense of the word." Rhoda said. Suzannah gave a short nod of agreement. Before anymore could be said, Mary came rushing up.
"Mary! What took you so long?", Rhoda asked her friend.
"Ah,well I couldn't find a parking space. Is it ok to park in a white zone?"
"Only if you're delivering Milk." Rhoda quipped, causing Suzannah to giggle." Mary got in line with Rhoda and Suzi. Causing the rude man to get even more annoyed.
"Hey, uh, the line starts back here."
"Oh,no. I'm not going to New York. I'm just seeing my friend off. It's ok.", said Mary, as polite as ever. The man turned to the man behind him and said,
"This is why the airports are so crowded." Suzannah rolled her eyes and said,
"Oh,brother." Rhoda nodded and said,
"Oh yes. this vacation is starting off with a bang."
"Oh will you stop 're going to have a wonderful time, I just know it.
Yeah. said that last year Mary, when I went to the Grand Canyon. Five thousand dollars down the tube and when I got there, the mules were closed."
"Really?", Suzannah asked, incredulously. Rhoda nodded.
"It was a few months before you came. That was the last time I went on vacation with the exception of that ski weekend we went on few weeks after you came."
"But Rhoda, you're going to New York, New York. It'sYour town. And with Thirteen Million people, your bound to meet someone nice." The rude man nudged her and said,
Move it will ya!" Mary looked at Rhoda and added,
"Once you get there." Rhoda and Suzannah laughed and then a voice said,
"Excuse me, Miss?"
Miss. Funny how they can tell, isn't it. Rhoda said before turned and handed over her bag to be , she turned back to Mary and Suzannah.
"Girls, in about ten seconds that man is going to know every intimate detail of my life. Because it's all there."
"Mmm hmm.",Mary replied. Suzannah added,
"Eww. That's creepy." The man handed Rhoda back her bag and said,
"Ok Rhoda, just step through the metal detector."
"Rhoda?", said Rhoda nervously. The security gaurd looked embarrassed.
"Oh, I must have read it on your pills." Rhoda just moved through the detector and when she didn't buzz she turned back and said,
"Hey, Mare, I'm clean." Next Suzannah was checked and went on through without any problems. The security guard said to Mary,
"Go on through." Mary did so and set off a loud beep.
"Excuse me, Miss?" Mary looked around before saying,
"Who,me?" The guard nodded and said,
"Yes. You. Now could you step over here, please?" Mary did so and beeped again.
"Can I see your purse ,ma'am?" Mary handed over her purse and the rude man rolled his eyes and said,
"She's gonna make me miss my flight." He turned to the man behind him and repeated,
"She's gonna make us miss our flight." Suzannah had had enough. She turned to the rude man and snapped,
"Aww, knock it off! It's not all about you, ya know!" Rhoda's eyes widened at how rude her niece could be, but then the man turned to her and said,
"Hey, Lady, can't you teach that kid of yours some respect? First, you and your friend make me late and apparently you can't even control your kid!"
"Hey, my kid knows how to show respect just fine. To those who deserve it!" Mary quickly spoke up before a fight could break out.
"Rhoda, You're late and I'm being searched. Maybe we should just all say goodby here."
"Alright, kid thanks for the lift." Rhoda tried to get to Mary for a hug but was stopped by the guard.
"Ah, ah, ah. You can't hug." They all looked at him incredulously.
"She beeped!", he added, defensively." They all stared at him, confused.
"You can wave though.", he added.
"Oh,good.", said Rhoda. She and Suzannah waved at Mary and Rhoda said,
"Bye,Mare,Thanks!" Suzannah added,
"Bye Aunt Mary. See you in two weeks." Mary waved back and Suzannah and Rhoda headed off to board the plane.
When Suzannah and Rhoda arrived at Brenda's apartment Building, they had to wait for the sad excuse for a doorman who insisted on buzzing Brenda to check it out with her. They both rolled there eyes, as they heard him say into the intercom.
"This is Carlton, you know, your doorman?"
"Yes, Carlton, what do ya want?",came Brenda's reply."
"Well, there's a lady and a child down here who say they're your sister and niece, but they don't look anything like you."
"Don't remind me. Send them on up."
"Ok. But I'm not responsible." A few minutes later, the two visitors made it up to Brenda's floor. Brenda opened the door before they got there and called out,
"Rhoda, Suzi? Over here!"
"Brenda? Oh There you are!", Rhoda called back. Soon she and Suzannah were carrying their suitcases into the apartment. Rhoda and Suzannah looked around the tiny apartment and Rhoda said
"It's a great place! Aww. Why'd you do all this? You put up a sign, balloons, everything."
Brenda hugged them both tight and said,
"I can't believe you two are really here!"
"Aunt Bren It's great to see you!"
"Aww. You too. You both look gorgeous!"
"Ah, so tell me everything I want to hear it all. What's going on in your life?", rhoda asked.
"Ah, same ol' thing. Mother problem, weight problem, date problem."
Hey, That's terrific! You don't have a job problem!"
"Hey That's right! I just got promoted at the bank! I'm a teller."
"Hey,There ya go. That's terrific!".Rhoda replied giving her sister's arm a squeeze
"Aunt Brenda,that's wonderful!", Suzannah said, giving her aunt a hug.
"Yeah. And the best part about being a teller is your legs don't show."
" Why do I get the feeling that I'm looking in an old mirror. Take it from someone who went through it and survived. It will get better."
"Really?"
"Oh, yeah. I promise.", Rhoda assured her sister.
"So what going on in your life?"
"ah, well. Let's see where to start.…. um,nothing."
"Hey, I'd love to be doing nothing if I looked as thin as you doing it."
"Well, it doesn't come easy. I mean,Brenda, one bite of a Sarah Lee anything and I inflate like a rubber raft.", Rhoda said. the two sisters laughed Suzannah rolled her eyes and grinned.
"Aunt Rho. That is Not true." Brenda and Rhoda turned .
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, kiddo, but it is kinda true."
"Sarah Lee." Sighed Brenda, "Are you familiar with their frozen cheesecake?"
"Ah! An old friend." the two women and teenager laughed.
"So, Suzi, What's going on in your life?",Brenda asked her niece when they'd all settled down.
"Well, eighth grade graduation is coming up in June. I'm in the school play again, too. This year they're doing Snow White."
"Are you playing Snow White." Suzannah smiled Shyly and said softly,
"Yes."
"Suzi,that fantastic! Maybe I could actually get off to come see you in the play."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I will have had that Job for eight months by then. I think I could get a day or so off."
"I'd love that!", Suzannah said as she hugged her aunt.
"Well, why don't I show you two the rest of the place.", leading them across the room she began,
"This is my kitchen." Before she could say anymore, There was a knock at the door.
"Who is it?", asked Brenda. When a voice answered,
"It's only me!", they all knew who it was.
"Are ya ready for Ma?", Brenda asked her sister.
"Yeah. Sure. It will be a new experience. I've never experienced Ma with Jet Lag. A least when I had time to experience it. The last time there was too much else going on to feel it and the time before it was too rushed. The adrenaline from all the excitement kept me going and then I was home before it had time to kick in." Suzannah gave her a funny look
"Maybe we should just let her in, Aunt Rho. What you just said made absolutely no sense. I think the Jet Lag has gone to your brain." Rhoda and Brenda laughed and then Brenda opened the door. Ida rushed in and straight to her daughter.
"Rhoda!" Rhoda hugged her mother and said,
"Ma!" Then as Ida pulled away she looked at her daughter and said,
"So how come you aren't wearing a bra?"
Ma,I'm thirty-three."
"All the more reason. If you were ten you wouldn't need one."
"Ma! There's a young person in the room!",Rhoda said pointing to Suzannah who was watching, wide-eyed. She guessed that the last time they had seen each other, her grandmother had been too busy to think about such things, because she didn't remember her being like this before. Ida looked at her granddaughter and said,
"At that age I hope SHE'S wearing a bra." Suzannah turned tomato red and Rhoda said
"Ma!"
"Alright,alright. Brenda I'm really worried about you. It's bad enough you live in this neighborhood but now you have a drunk sleeping in your lobby. You should tell the doorman."
"Ma,That IS the doorman.",Brenda said. Ida put her arms around Brenda and Rhoda and said,
"Well, anyway, I'm glad to be spending time with my two girls, Rhoda Faye." She stepped over to Suzannah and added,
"And my lovely granddaughter, Suzannah Faye."
"Ma, I've always wondered something. If you like the name Faye so much. Why didn't you just name one of us Faye?"
"Oh, I didn't like it THAT much.", Ida retorted. Then she started trying to convince Rhoda and Suzannah to come to a catered party to see the rest of the family.
"You can let me know later. Just make sure it's in time for me to cancel the caterers." While she was still talking, the phone rang. Brenda went to answer it.
"Hello?… Hey Rhoda? it's some guy for you."
Who knows I'm here?",said Rhoda taking the phone from her sister. They all listened while she talked with someone named Stephen Schlosburg, who aparently wanted to take her out on a date. Rhoda said she wouldn't go out with him unless he told her exactly who gave him the number. All of a sudden Ida snatched the phone away.
"You'll like him. He's got long hair." Then she talked to Stephen for a few minutes and arranged the date. When she got off the phone she turned to her daughter and said,
"He'll be here at 7:30."
"It's a good thing for you that Suzi and I didn't go to Acapolca for our vacation. Otherwise you'd have to pay Stephen Schlosburg's airfare.", Rhoda joked. Then they all talked for awhile until Rhoda had to get ready for the date that Ida tricked her into.
Well there's chapter 10 for ya. The Site's being stubborn again so I had to devide. because of that, the next chapter will be really short. Again ALL reviews are MUCH appreciated and helpful! Please don't forget! Thanks!