CH. 10 Church and Siblings
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Andy rolled over in her bed and glanced at the clock, it read 7:30 and Andy yawned, thank God it was a Sunday and a sleep in day she thought to herself.
Moments later and she was again fast asleep. "Andy," Linda whispered, "it's time to get up and get ready for church." Andy moaned and rolled back over not
even bothering to open her eyes. "No thanks," she replied her head buried beneath her pillow. "Come on Andy, you know it's one of the rules, besides I want
everyone at church to meet you" Linda said before moving on to Sean's bedroom. Jack was already downstairs with Danny eating breakfast when Linda
followed closely by a half asleep Sean entered the kitchen. "Where's Andy," Danny asked noticing she wasn't with them? Linda sighed, "I woke her up, I
thought she was already down here." Linda mentioned preparing to head back up the stairs. "I'll go," Danny volunteered. "I'm an expert at getting unruly
children out of bed." Danny pushed his chair back and started for the stairs remembering helping out with his younger siblings countless times, especially Joe
and Jamie.
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Assessing a room was the first thing Danny did before entering a room, it was his training and cautiousness that made him do it, and it saved his life countless
of times. He had nothing to fear in this particular room, however it did not make him cease the ritual. Instead of looking for danger or a means of escape
however, this time he searched for a means of waking his daughter. There were curtains covering the windows that he could open and allow sunlight to fill the
room, yet that was too expected. He could pull her bedspread off of her, and then there was a glass of water siting on the nightstand next to her bed. So many
options he thought to himself, before deciding on just one. Her pillow Danny noticed was on top of her head, and in one swift motion Danny pulled it off and
tossed it to the floor. He consider smacking here with it but decided on a softer approach considering it was her first Sunday morning as a member of his family.
Andy moaned and Danny bent down closer to her level. "Wake up Andy," Danny nudged her. "I repeat my previous phrase from only moments ago," Andy
moaned, "No thanks." "I don't think so kid, now get up, you've got 10 seconds," Danny answered not taking no for an answer, especially not from one of his
own children. "Ugh," Andy protested. "I'm not kidding Andy come on," Danny nudged her again, "you need to get some breakfast." Andy managed to sit up and
Danny added, "now isn't that better?" Andy shook her head no and Danny smiled. "You'll feel better once you start moving," Danny assured her before heading
for the door. Andy fell back onto the bed and Danny called, "I saw that."
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Later that morning after breakfast, Andy found herself starring into her closet, clueless on what to wear to church. She had never been to church in her life, and
she was a little nervous about starting now. "What you doing," Jack asked sticking his head in her room? "I'm clueless on what to wear," she looked over at
him, "how about a little help," she glanced at him hopeful? "Never done this before," Jack noticed, moving to stand in front of her closet. "How about this," he
asked grabbing the first thing he saw? "A t-shirt," Andy looked at him surprised, "really Jack." Jack shrugged his shoulders, "what do you expect, I'm a guy?"
Andy laughed, "Are you really going to use that excuse." Jack smiled, and then tried a different approach. "Okay how about those new navy blue dress pants
mom bought you yesterday." "We have a winner," Andy said without even taking the time to think about it, just thrilled she was done. "What's up," Sean asked
taking a seat on the bed next to his brother? "I was helping," Jack said proudly. "Helping with what," Sean asked? "Picking out church clothes," Jack answered.
Sean looked at the two puzzled. "I've never been to church before," Andy enlightened him. "How did you manage that," Sean asked immediately? "Sean!" Jack
corrected his brother. "What," Sean raised his hands in defense. "I just never lived with anyone who went, and when you are in an orphanage, church isn't
even an option." "Boy, are you lucky," Sean said it again. "Sean!" Jack slapped him. "Hey, at least I'm being honest," Sean tried to make the best of the
comment. "If mom heard you say that," Jack got on to him, "you wouldn't be able to sit comfortable in church." "Thanks for the warning big brother, but lucky for
me she's not in here," Sean smiled innocently. "Hey, I've got an idea," Andy said turning away from the closet, blue pants and tan dress shirt in hand. "What,"
Sean was curious? "How about we make a pact," Andy suggested. "What kind of pact," Jack asked his eyebrows squinted together? "A sibling pact," Andy
enlightened the two boys. "What's that," Sean looked confused? "It means we don't tell mom, dad or any of the other Reagan's, when the other sibling does
something wrong." "Yah I'm still confused," Sean hinted. Andy sighed, "it means that if Jack gets into trouble at school and I find out about it, I'm not going to
run and tell mom and dad about it, and neither will you," she implied the you, in a bit louder of a tone. "Kind of like the fifth amendment, yet different" Jack
reminded him. "Yah I guess so," Andy looked confused, she didn't have any idea what the fifth amendment was, or any of the other amendments for that
matter. "It means we won't get in trouble for the same offense twice," Jack enlightened her, trying to remember the same thing his grandpa told him. "I need to
remember that one," Andy had a wide grin plastered across her face. "Anyway," Jack interrupted her. "It sounds like a good idea to me." "Yeah me too," Sean
agreed. "Great, it looks like this sibling thing is going to work out pretty good," Andy smiled. The three talked a bit more until Danny stopped by the open door,
"neither one of you is ready for church," Danny said seriously, trying to keep his voice low? "I've made progress," Andy admitted holding her dress shirt up.
"Good for you but that isn't going to keep your mother from going after you," Danny eyed his three children. "He's got a point," Jack added. "You bet I have a
point, I'm trying to save your butts, now get ready," Danny ushered the boys out of the room. Closing the door behind him Andy heard Danny call to her
brother. "And Sean where a tie." "Dad," Sean complained. Andy smiled, this new family of hers certainly had a way with words, and Jack was right, there was
never a dull moment.
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Danny pulled into the parking lot of the church and Andy followed her family towards the front door of the church where she could see the remaining of the
Reagan's waiting for them. "Good morning," Frank greeted them, looking over his family. "Morning Dad," Danny replied. "Shall we go in," Henry nodded at the
church. The family strolled single file down the aisle until Henry stopped alongside the third pew. The Reagan's single handedly filled two pews and Andy
silently fell into place between her Uncle Jaimie and Cousin. About thirty minutes into the service, Andy couldn't help but start wiggling. Sitting in a place where
she had to be completely still and quiet for a period of time was a totally new experience for her. She felt a tap on her right shoulder and Andy knew it was her
mother, Andy glanced behind her and Linda shook her head no. Andy straightened and turned her attention back to the front. She could see her brother Sean
yawning aloud and her Grandpa place an arm over his shoulder. Jack shifted and looked up at his Uncle Jamie, "how much longer," Jack mumbled? "Just a little
longer buddy," Jamie whispered to the boy on his left. Linda shook her head and whispered to her husband, "maybe we shouldn't have let them stay up so late
last night." "I think they are just restless," Danny mouthed, "and their anxious to get to Dads house so they can play basketball ball again," he added. "Hope
so," she nodded, "because all three of them in one service is ridiculous."
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"Jack give me the ball," Sean tried pulling the ball from his big brother, later that afternoon after family dinner. "No, I had it first," Jack argued. "But it's my turn,"
Sean tried taking the ball again. "Sean I'm serious," Jack shoved him to the ground. "Jack," Sean got up and jerked the ball away. "Oh great," Andy stood from
where she and Nicki sat in the back yard relaxing. "What's the matter," Nicki was confused, on what brought on the sudden outburst from her cousin. "Jack and
Sean are fighting," Andy was aggravated. "So," Nicki still didn't see the problem, "it's not the first time." "Well I have to go break them up," Andy tried
explaining. "Why, they're not your kids?" Nicki was quick to say. "Because I'm the oldest and it's expected," Andy enlightened. "That doesn't sound like
something Aunt Linda and Uncle Danny would say," Nicki looked confused. "When did they say that?" "Technically they didn't, but I just assumed that it was
expected," Andy explained. "They expect you to keep an eye on them yes, but they don't expect you to be the parents, and always keep them out of trouble."
"That's certainly a load off my mind," Andy sighed falling back onto the blanket she and Nicki had spread out. "And Pop made it sound like living in this family
was going to be tough, this is a breeze." Nicki chuckled, "yeah go with that feeling while you can because it certainly won't last," Nicki mentioned seeing her
Uncle Danny come across the yard. "Hey you two, don't you hear that, he gestured in the boy's direction." "Who doesn't," Andy picked her head up. "Throw
something at them or something like that for me next time please, you two." "Sure thing," Nicki looked up at the sure to be coming rain storm. After Danny
walked away to see to the boys Nicki glanced at her cousin, "it's great being the older kids isn't it." Andy scoffed, "you know I was going to go break them up
before he came out here, but no you just had to stop me." Nicki shrugged, "it was just a friendly joke." "You know something with friends like you, who needs
enemies," Andy looked at her menacingly. "Oh come on it was just a joke," Nicki pleaded. "Yah well you probably just got me knee deep in trouble," Andy was
serious. "No, Uncle Danny isn't like that, one thing you can count on with him, is once he's said something, it isn't likely he'll repeat it." "Well I hope your right
because here he comes," Andy noticed him ushering the boys towards the house. "You two want to get in the house before it starts raining and you get
soaked." "Can we stay out till it actually starts," Andy asked leaning back? "Sure, but don't tell your mother I said yes," Danny added walking past them. "Told
you," Nicki sighed as the door closed behind Danny. "So you were right this time, but what about next time." "There won't be a next time," Nicki interrupted.
"And I can tell you one thing that's truth in this family." "Should I believe you," Andy asked with a raised brow. "What choice do you have? Besides what I'm
saying is straight truth," Nicki explained. "Okay fine, what do you got," Andy still wasn't sure if she should believe her or not. "What you said earlier was right,
the Reagan's take care of one another. I'm not sure when it got started or so important, but I think it had something to do with years ago when Pop became
the Police Commissioner and Grandpa was a Detective, and according to stories I've heard when Mom and Uncle Danny were growing up, things had to become
rather rigid," Nicki explained. "Needless to say we pretty much have to walk the straight and narrow, because to be honest with you, I'm not too good with
that," Andy admitted. Nicki chuckled, "and for some strange reason I believe you. And trust me mom and Uncle Danny certainly didn't either. I also feel that I
should add, that our lives remain interesting at all times." "I'm starting to gather that," Andy felt the first drop of rain. Andy looked up into the dark brooding
sky, "doesn't look like it's going to let up." "Yah and we better get inside before we get a few brooding looks from Aunt Linda," Nicki added. "I haven't seen any
of those yet, but I have received the Danny Reagan glare." "Ooh," Nicki stood up to fold the blanket, "those looks are legendary." "I found that out," Andy
enlightened her. "Anything else interesting happen in your, new life with the Reagan's," Nicki pretended to put the last part of the phrase in quotation marks.
Andy squished her eyebrows together as she went over the last few days in her mind. "For one Linda is serious about getting up and being ready for church."
Nicki smiled, "you figured that one out rather quick, and it only took you one Sunday." "I have to admit, that there was no option." "Welcome to the family,"
Nicki squealed patting her back, "very seldom do we have a choice on anything." "I'm gathering that one too," Andy nodded and school and Danny is a great
example. "I take it you don't want to go," Nicki asked? "That would be correct," Andy nodded, "but Dad already said I don't have a choice and not to say
another word about it." Nicki chuckled, "Uncle Danny certainly has a way with words." "Few and to the point," Andy dumbed it down. "Exactly," Nicki shined.
"You two want to come in, before you catch pneumonia!" Jamie called into the yard at his nieces. "Do we have too," Andy sounded innocent? "Another option is
a Doctor visit and Shots," Jamie enlightened them. "No thank you," both girls ran to him in a hurry.
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Once inside and settled on the floor of the nice warm house with mugs of hot chocolate Nicki looked at her cousin questioning. "So you don't like shots either,"
"Does anybody," Andy looked at her seriously. "You have a point," Nicki agreed. "What you two talking about?" Jamie stretched out onto the couch. "Shots,"
Nicki looked at him over her shoulder. Jamie chuckled, "so what I said made you think?" "Yes, and it's terrible," Andy added. "It's the last day of spring break, I
should be giving my brain a break." "I don't think it'll explode if you use it on spring break Andy," Danny shoved Jamie's feet off the couch so he could sit down.
"You never know D," Andy pointed at him. It's Dad or Danny, kid," Danny threw a piece of popcorn at her. "Oohh popcorn," Andy moved closer to the couch and
grabbed a handful out of Danny's bowl. "Speaking of knowledge," Jamie sat up. "When does Andy start school?" Andy moaned, "and my day was going so
well." "Probably sometime this week," Danny answered. "Linda called, and we're on call back, so hopefully they will let us know something tomorrow." "I sure
hope not," Andy mumbled. Danny tapped her shoulder, "what did I say earlier, about not another word about school?" "I don't know, I try to suppress certain
memories, that can cause heart ache," Andy replied never missing a beat. Jamie laughed out loud and Danny slapped him, "you're not helping Harvard." "Awe,"
Andy pretended to cover her ears. "You mean I've been talking and getting along with a college graduate," Andy looked disgusted. Anyone who would have
come into the room at that particular moment would have had a difficult time trying to differentiate between who was more shocked, Danny or Andy, Danny if
not winning was running a close second. Danny cleared his throat, "listen Andy that was rude and there was no call in talking to your uncle like that. Needless
to say I think you should apologize." Andy didn't say a word and remained unmoving, simply staring at him. Danny sighed, "alright let me put it another way,
you've got two options, either you can apologize or you can experience your first Reagan punishment, the choice is yours, but I would recommend the first."
Danny paused, allowing her time to think, while Nicki nudged her cousin. "Apologize Andy, trust me," Nicki warned. "Nicki," Danny said sharply. "Sorry Uncle
Danny," Nicki fell silent aside from the instant apology. Andy wasn't completely sure what Danny meant, yet his tone of voice certainly made Nicki comply in a
moment's notice. One thing was for sure Andy thought, she had been called many things in her life but stupid was never one of them, and standing up against
Danny at this particular time certainly didn't seem like a genius move. "I'm sorry Uncle Jamie," Andy decided on the first. "You know I always knew you were
smart," Danny patted her back, "good choice." "Why thank you," Andy took the popcorn bowl away from him. Danny frowned and glanced at his brother,
"remind me to bring two bowls next time." "I'll make some more," Jamie volunteered. "You can pick out the movie." Danny stood in front of his father's DVD
shelf, most of them were westerns for the most part along with a few military movies mixed in. "What you feel like watching little brother," Danny hollered.
"Doesn't matter," Jamie hollered back. "You are a big help," Danny muttered. "We'll help," Andy and Nicki volunteered jumping up. "Looks like we have just
about every John Wayne known to man," Danny noticed. "What else we got?"
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Jamie asked coming into the room with a couple extra bowls of popcorn and cold drinks. "Dances with wolves," Nicki brought up. "That one's kind of long,"
Danny remembered. "How about this one," Andy pulled out another one and handed it to Danny? "Apollo 13," Danny read aloud. "Sounds good to me," Jamie
relaxed propping his feet up on the coffee table. Danny worked on turning the movie on while Nicki and Andy got comfortable on the couch next to Jamie barely
leaving enough room for Danny. They were about half way through the movie when Jamie glanced at Andy. "Have you ever seen this before," Jamie looked over
Nicki to talk to Andy who had her head leaning on Danny's shoulder, and eyes staring intently at the screen. "No," Andy shook her head. "At the foster home
Blake was the only one who got to watch TV, and all he watched was stupid stuff, that made no sense." Jamie nodded, "I take it this one is better?" "Much
better," Andy agreed. "This ones at least interesting." "Well you know it's based on a true story," Jamie started, "and something you learn about in social
studies at school." Andy looked at least half intrigued and added," guess I shouldn't have fallen asleep in class that day." Jamie chuckled, "don't worry you'll
get a chance to hear about it again, history repeats itself." "Remind me to stay awake that day," Andy was serious. "I don't think you'll have any trouble
staying awake at your new school," Danny said pointedly. Andy glanced at him curiously and Danny continued, "you will be going to a catholic school, and
your teachers are liable to smack your desk with their rulers. And trust me, it'll certainly make you pay attention," he glanced at his brother, "I speak from
experience." "Can we get back to the movie now," Nicki asked annoyed glancing up at her two uncles. "Yes we can get back to the movie," Danny threw a
piece of popcorn at her. "Thank you," Nicki settled back onto the couch, "I hate it when people talk during the movie." "But I'm not thru talking to Uncle Jamie
about the Apollo 13 mission." "Did they make it back Uncle Jamie?" Andy was curious. "Just watch the movie Andy and we will talk about it later," Jamie smiled
at her. Danny glanced over the girls heads at his brother, "thank you," he mouthed.
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"So what did you think of church," Jack asked later that night after lights out when he and Sean congregated in their sisters room. "It's kind of boring," Andy
admitted. "Finally someone who thinks as I do," Sean threw his hands up. "Really," Jack looked at him, "you are not helping." "Oh come on you know you feel
the same way," Sean urged his brother to admit it. "That's beside the point," Jack tried sitting taller. "No its not," Sean argued. "It's denying the truth," he
teased. "In the words of mom," Jack cleared his throat. "Church is supposed to be a place where you listen and then apply the sermon in someway to your
own a life." "Momma's boy," Sean wasn't about to give up the opportunity to annoy his brother. "I'm not a momma's boy," Jack tackled at him. Jack and Sean
rolled about the floor smacking into Andy's bed stand causing a ruckus. "Are you two out of your mind?" Andy tried getting their attention. Neither of the boys
made any attempt to stop and Andy finally smacked them with her pillow. Both boys stopped and looked up at her surprised. "You are going to wake up mom
and dad and then were all liable to get into trouble." "She's got a point," Jack stood and returned to his seat on Andy's bed, while Sean stretched out on the
floor. A door opened down the hall and panic struck the three kids. "What do we do," Jack piped up. "Get under the bed," Andy lit up. Sean rolled under the bed
and Jack crawled in behind him while Andy pulled her covers up over her. Seconds after Andy laid down, her bedroom door opened and Danny looked in.
Moments later and her bedroom door closed again. The Reagan kids waited a few moments until they heard their parent's bedroom door close again and Andy
picked her head up, "I think the coast is clear." Jack and Sean crawled out from under the bed and Sean sighed, "That was close." "Do you think he checked
your bedrooms too?" Andy looked concerned. "No doubt it," Jack replied. "He's very inquisitive." "Well then why didn't he say anything considering he saw your
beds?" A smile started to play across Sean's face, "because like any good Reagan kid who wants to avoid their parents wrath." Sean paused and Jack picked
up where his brother left off. "They make it look like they're in bed." Andy nodded, "very smart." Sean yawned and Andy looked at them. "We should probably
go to bed though, because if they come out again I doubt we will get away with it a second time." "You are probably right about that," Jack agreed. "But I'm
kind of thirsty now that we've done all this talking." "Me too," Andy nodded. "Maybe if were really quiet we can sneak downstairs and get a glass of water."
"That's a good idea," Jack agreed as the two boys followed her to the door. Andy stopped when she reached the door and looked both ways. The house was
dark and quiet and they decided to take a chance. What the three didn't know or see was Danny hiding in the shadows near the bathroom door. Not seeing
anyone, Andy and the boys proceeded out the door. Just after the three managed to take a few steps down the hall, Danny jumped out and grabbed them.
The kids yelled in terror and Danny flipped the hall light switch on. "Dad," they managed to relax when they saw him. "And just what may I ask are you three
doing up and out of bed after lights out," Danny asked his arms crossed over his chest. "Uhh," Jack starred at the ground realizing they were in trouble. "Well,"
Danny wanted an answer? "You see it all started when we still had a lot to talk about," Sean started. "Sean," Danny stopped him. "You know that isn't an
answer I'm looking for." "Yes Sir," Sean figured it best not to push it. "And just what is it, do you have to say for yourself?" Danny looked at his daughter. "We
weren't tired yet," Andy tried. Danny chuckled and shook his head. "It's alright I'm not mad, but you best start listening and be glad that your mother is in the
shower and that I caught you and not her, otherwise there really would be trouble." "We know," the three answered him seriously. "Good now get to bed," he
ordered. Neither of the children made any attempts to move and Danny just looked at them questioningly. "Can we get a glass of water," Andy asked carefully?
Danny smiled, "of course you can, just try to make it quick," he followed them down the stairs. "Dad," Andy looked at him questioningly? Danny looked at her
and Andy continued, "how did you know the boys weren't in bed?" Danny just laughed out loud and looked at her with no shame, "I invented the art of
concealment, and keeping things away from my parents was my number one priority." Danny paused and smiled, "they were great times."