Rugrats No More
Chapter 10: As time goes by.
(Jonathan's Twentieth Birthday)
"Great Party!" a business associate cried happily, "you really know how to treat your son Mr. Jacobs," he said with great approval.
"He is my one and only one after all," Mr. Jacobs reminded him, "and he'll always get the best that I have to offer," he added proudly.
"Especially with the one-year student exchange program he's going to be in once he starts his second year of University," his b. associate continued, "where will he be attending again?" he asked.
"Yale," Mr. Jacobs responded, "one of the best Universities in America," he said with a smile.
"Good for you," his b. associate said happily, patted Mr. Jacobs on the shoulder, and went to another part of the ballroom to talk with someone else.
Mr. Jacobs sighed and watched his son and Emma dance on the dance floor. They were waltzing to Elton John's 'That's Why they call it the Blues'. He didn't think that was an appropriate song to waltz to personally but Jonathan insisted on it and he soon succumbed to his son's request. He remembered that it was practically three years and a half from the day that Jonathan had proposed to Emma and how today was now a year since Jonathan finally married Emma like he always wanted.
"Dad (Remember that in some marriages the wife will call their husbands parents Mom orand Dad. Doesn't mean that they're RELATED)!" Emma cried excitedly and Mr. Jacobs saw Emma running towards him excitedly the moment the song ended, "this party is great!" she squealed and hugged him, "Jonathan's ecstatic!"
"Even though my enthusiasm isn't anything near to yours," Jonathan said from behind his wife as he stood smiling, "is this party for you or me?" he asked and Emma giggled and turned to kiss him on the cheek.
"Remember that it's also our wedding anniversary," Emma reminded him with a whisper in his ear, "we did marry on your nineteenth birthday last year," she pointed out.
"I remember," Jonathan said dismissively, "how could I forget?" he asked with a grin and kissed Emma lightly on the lips, "I have the best wife and son in the world," he whispered to her as he smiled, "God's been smiling down on me these past few years," he said and kissed Emma on the nose.
"He's been smiling on all of us," Mr. Jacobs added, "are you going to America along with Jonathan?" he asked.
"No," Emma said with a smile, "Timothy and I are staying here in Rome," she told him, "Jonathan will visit us in the holidays and will return as soon as his student exchange is over," she said simply.
"I had hoped to get an exchange to Australia," Jonathan explained, "but there was an overflow and they placed me in my third choice of America since Japan was already over booked with exchanges," he stated, "but I promise not to mingle too much," he said more seriously giving his father a meaningful look.
"I agree," Mr. Jacobs said formally, "it's nearly nine," he said changing the subject, "remember that at nine-thirty we stop celebrating your birthday and start the anniversary party," he said with a sly smile.
"Saving the best for last," Jonathan said and smiled at Emma who immediately blushed, "In another three months we'll be celebrating your birthday," he reminded Emma, "me being born August the 2nd and you November the 7th," he said, "a match made in heaven," he said and kissed her on the cheek.
"Your mother went to check on Timothy an hour ago," Mr. Jacobs said suddenly, "she still hasn't returned."
"She loves that little boy so," Emma said happily, "if I didn't know her I'd swear she was trying to steal him," she declared and they all laughed.
"I think it's about time we check on him as well," Jonathan stated, "he keeps teasing Emma about being a child like him because she's not eighteen yet," he recalled and Mr. Jacobs laughed with him as Emma pouted.
"I'll be eighteen this November," Emma spoke up proudly, "and no one can call me a child then," she said firmly, "I'll be a legal adult," she said and nodded her head for emphasis.
"Newly Legal adults don't usually have a child who's already four years old," Mr. Jacobs reminded her and Emma stuck out her tongue at him, "I'm just kidding," he said and Emma laughed since she knew he really was.
"We'll be back soon father," Jonathan said formally with a smile, "bye until then," he said and shook his father's hand then Emma hugged Mr. Jacobs and then they both left to check on their son.
Mr. Jacobs watched then walk out the ballroom and his heart swelled with joy and pride. But his heart also swelled with worry.
Jonathan had told me that his mother had lived in Canada. But he did tell me like his biological father they're both born American Citizens. I just hope that his mother stayed in Canada and that his biological father doesn't care about finding him anymore. Jonathan assured that he wouldn't since all he had wanted to do was get rid of him (Jonathan) to hide his (Tommy's) sin firm the world. But as a Father now I know how much a son, in fact a child means to me. Even if he's not my biological son, Jonathan means the world to me. If he means so much to me, how much would he mean to his father? Especially if he regrets his actions and wants to get his son back. Well I'm not going to give up Jonathan without a fight. In fact I'm not going to give him up at all. (Mr. Jacob's thoughts)
(Meanwhile at Samantha's Residence)
Chuck sat in his room fuming. He couldn't believe it. He had found out two years ago that his mother had been attacking Hillary partially because of their father. Their father had found out that their Mom had been getting 'advances' from their old gardener Mr. Linus Gerard a young 19 year old gardening expert before he (Chuck) was born. Even though Mom had just giggled and put up with Linus's flirtation, his father was insanely jealous and threatened to fire Linus. Mom protested because he was the best gardener that she had. But it was also rumored that they had become fast friends orand even more.
Then his father did something unthinkable. He bought up most of Mom's stock for her because he had promised to give it back to her for free when she nearly went out of business early in her hotel owning career. But Dad bought the stock then withheld it forcing Mom to fire Linus before she could get it back. But then he refused to give it back and forced her to do things for him threatening to sell the stock if she didn't. Linus told Uncle Dil about it and he forced Dad to give Mom back her stock threatening to tell the entire family what he'd done. But his father yet again did something outrageous. He sold half of her major stock to her top competitor and she couldn't get back that stock for five years and had to struggle to stay above other hotel chains until she did so.
Worse yet Hillary refused to believe that her father was capable of any wrong. Chuck used to believe that when his mother used to beat up Hillary for defending her father that his mother was just mean and vindictive. But now he theorized that Sam was right about them (the children) being the nearest source to vent her anger. His mother probably attacked Hillary so much because she saw Hillary as her enemy just like Chuckie was. But Hillary was an enemy who she could actually harm, unlike Chuckie who'd either have her arrested or beat her up himself.
Chuck didn't forgive or pardon his mother for what she did. But now he felt that he had a better understanding of why she did it. Also he realized that his father was a hypocrite and a liar. He knew that his mother were these and more but his father had always made him believe that he had never wronged Samantha and now that Chuck knew that was a lie he really didn't know which parent to trust. All he had left was Sam. Hillary was obstinate and refused to listen to him speak of anything Dad did wrong in the present or the past, nor did she want to hear the right that Mom had done at any point. All she cared about when it came to Mom was raining down curses and all that she cared about when it came to Dad was raining down praises. She was just plain close-minded refused to see the truth that Dad had his own sins and wrongs too. This made him even wonder how Dad really got custody of Hillary even though Hillary claimed that Dad did it by the 'fairest means possible'. He now knew that Hillary had cocooned herself into her own comfortable web of lies, denial and deceit. He just hoped that the same thing wouldn't happen to him.
At least Sam is open and honest. He may be bit too close and defensive of Mom but he at least allows both sides of the story to be heard even if it won't change his own convictions. (Chuck's thoughts)
"Hey," a voice said and Chuck looked up to see Sam, "how are you?" he asked as he stepped leisurely into his brother's room.
"Okay I guess," Chuck said rather unenthusiastically, "Sam," he said softly, "would you tell me something even if it would tear me apart?" he asked suddenly, "I mean even if it would scar me and destroy apart of me for life?" he asked and looked straight into his brother's eyes.
"No," Sam responded honestly, "I'd lie and let it eat me inside out," he told Chuck, "let some other honest bloke tell you the truth," he said, "I'd take lying over destroying you any day," he said and sat beside Chuck.
"What about honesty is the best policy?" Chuck asked.
"I am my brother's keeper," Sam responded, "not his destroyer or mental unstablizer," he added unenthusiastically.
"So you wouldn't…." Chuck started to say but his brother shook his head.
"I'd leave it up to Mom and Dad to ruin your life and brain," Sam muttered and soon left the room.
Chuck wondered what his brother meant by that. But soon decided that he probably didn't want to know.
(3:00pm the following evening at Mr and Mrs. Pickles Residence)
"It's so great having you over," Mrs. Deedee Pickles said enthusiastically, "why couldn't Angelica make it?" she asked looking at Dru.
"She's sick," Dru responded coldly in a voice, which told her not to push it.
"Angelica's here?" Tommy asked in surprise and his wife along with Dru suddenly looked angry, "no one told me that," he stated.
"I could've sworn that I mentioned it to Kimi the day I knew of her return," Deedee said thoughtfully.
"It must've slipped my mind," Kimi said with disinterest, "how are you feeling Mr. Pickles?" she asked her husband's father as she tried to change the subject.
"Great," Stu responded happily, "strong as an ox," he added.
"Not as strong as me," Dru mutered.
"Am too," Stu threw back.
"Are not!" Dru cried.
"Am too!" Stu shouted back.
"Would everyone shut up!" an unexpected voice shouted over everyone else's, "Tommy Junior just came back down stairs," she added and the others turned to see the blind five year old looking around curiously despite not being able to really see anything behind his shades.
"Is something wrong?" Tommy Junior asked seriously.
"Of course not darling," Kimi said kindly giving Karrie a firm look, "go sit beside your sister," she said sweetly.
Karrie directed Tommy Jr. to his seat beside her. After getting him seated she sat in her chair.
"Tommy is in the fourth grade at his school," Karrie declared proudly, "he's probably going to graduate High School before he's a teenager," she added happily.
"You don't need school with your talents," Tommy Jr. spoke up, "you can out cook any Chef who'd dare take you on," he said firmly, "and any seamstress," he added.
"I want to be a Chef or a Fashion Designer when I grow up," Karrie stated, "what about you Tommy?"
"I want to rich," Tommy Jr. responded simply, "and run everything in the business world," he added.
"He's SO ambitious," Karrie said happily and finally paid everyone else at the table some attention, "he makes me so proud!" she cried, "and Mom and Dad to," she added.
"Let's eat," Kimi said uncomfortably as she had a ridiculously wide smile on her face, "how have YOUR grades been honey?" she asked with strained politeness as she now looked at Karrie.
"She's still failing Science and Math," Tommy Jr. stated.
Kimi's grin grew wider and her almost obvious crazed eyes glared at Karrie.
"Still failing Science and Math," Karrie said with a nod, "plus English, History and Social Studies," she continued, "it's not that I get bare passes or F's in those," she said to her panic stricken mother, "but Tommy Jr.'s grade plan says I'm pretty much failing," she added.
"Tommy is your grade advisor?" Dru asked almost incredulously.
"I've made her grades rise by 15," Tommy Jr. declared almost challengingly, "those advisors and teaching specialist barely made her grades rise by 2 over a three and a half years," he stated, "I think I'm doing a BETTER job," he said pointedly.
"Seems so," Deedee said with a laugh, "his father was just telling me how her grades had risen," she said and her son Tommy nodded.
"There's still room for improvement," Kimi muttered aloud.
"And improve she shall," Tommy Jr. countered then continued eating as Kimi suppressed an angry growl.
End of Chapter 10
Reggae: Anyone detect anything about Jonathan, Chuck, Sam, Karrie, Tommy Jr., Tommy, Kimi or Deedee? Please mention it as you review this chapter. Thank you and remember: R&R!