Showdown

Part 36

Mrs. Peterson looks at Dave confused.

Mrs. Peterson: What do you mean by that, sweetheart?

Jing-Mei: Dave, go get washed up for dinner.

Dave limps towards the bathroom but finds the door locked. He starts pounding on it until the boys finally let him in.

Mrs. Peterson: What's he talking about, his last trip for his last birthday?

Jing-Mei: Dr. Casin examined him today and he says that the medicine Dave is taking for his heart is helping to keep him alive but it can only do so much. His heart is weakening and if he doesn't have that transplant soon, there's a good chance he won't be around to see his new baby come into the world.

Mrs. Peterson: Oh god, my poor baby.

Jing-Mei: So, Dr. Casin said that it was up to Dave if he wanted to chance taking this trip. As far as getting on any rides there, as long as they aren't too scary or thrilling, he should be okay. If Dave has another heart attack then even a new heart won't save his life. Of course Dave said he wanted to go, but I was still against it.

Mrs. Peterson: What changed your mind?

Jing-Mei: Dave became preoccupied with a tv show that was on in the waiting area, so Dr. Casin took me aside and advised me to let him go on the trip, because it may be the last family vacation we have all together. Dr. Casin said that professionally speaking he wouldn't recommend the trip but personally and off the record, if this is really what he wanted for his birthday, then give it to him. He said our boys, as well as myself, needed to build up all the memories with Dave that we could because if a heart didn't soon become available or the medicine didn't kick in and start strengthening his heart than we wouldn't have him around much longer.

Mrs. Peterson: I don't even want to think about that. That would tear this lovely little family apart. Did Dr. Casin explain that to Dave as well?

Jing-Mei: No, we decided not to say anything to Dave about Dr. Casin's prognosis but I think deep down Dave knows that he's dying. Just from how tired and out of breath he gets all the time, not even considering the pain he must be in.

Mrs. Peterson: It must be excruciating but you'd never know it from the way he is around here.

Rusty comes running out of the bathroom with Antonio on his back and heading for the dinner table while Dave limps behind him.

Rusty: Beat you, papa.

Antonio: Da...ddy lo...ose.

Dave: Yyyou had sstart head. Get yyou nnext time.

Mrs. Peterson(whispering to Jing-Mei) He has such a good time with his boys that he doesn't want them or us to know just how much pain he's in. God, if anything happens to him it will crush them.

Mrs. Peterson and Jing-Mei walk into the kitchen to get dinner.

Jing-Mei: It's hard to believe that a few months ago, Dave wouldn't have laid a finger on his children out of fear of hurting them and now he holds them, kisses them and hugs them all the time. He's being the kind of father to them that I always hoped he would be, that I knew he could be. He's gotten very attached to them and they bonded with him. We just can't lose him now.

As Jing-Mei and Mrs. Peterson get the pot holders and start lifting the pots off the stove top, they hear a banging noise.

Dave, Rusty, Antonio(banging their forks up and down on the table) Food...food...food

Jing-Mei: I believe that's their way of telling us they're hungry.

Mrs. Peterson: Let's go.

The ladies set the pots down on the table and Jing-Mei dishes the food out while Mrs. Peterson takes care of the two furry little beggars on the floor.

Antonio: Bye...woofies.

That weekend, Rusty and Mrs. Peterson stayed in and cleaned Rusty's room up, while Dave and Jing-Mei took Antonio out to get him a big boy bed. Rusty moved all his toys over to one side leaving plenty of space for his little brother to get settled.

At the furniture store, the salesman showed them all different kinds of beds for little boys. Jing-Mei placed Antonio in each one to make sure that it was the right size. Every bed she put him in, he cried about except one. It was a small race car shaped bed.

Salesman: Your little boy seems to like this one. Should I write up the order?

Dave: Yes.

Jing-Mei: No.

Salesman: There seems to some disagreement here. Why don't you talk it over and I'll be back.

Jing-Mei: That won't be necessary. Could you show us something else?

Dave: Hhe llikes tthis bbed. Iii llike this bed.

Salesman: This is the latest in little boy furniture. If it's the price, I'm sure we can come up with a fair agreement.

Jing-Mei: The price has nothing to do with it. We have another little boy at home and if we bring this bed home for Antonio, then Rusty will flip. I don't want to start a war. Now, I'm sure there is something else here that Antonio will like.

The salesman showed the Maluccis other beds and finally they found one that satisfied Antonio.

Salesman: I am so glad we were able to accommodate you. You'll get many years of use out of this convertible bed. It goes from a small sleeper for your toddler to a larger size for your pre-teen. And this bar across here will ensure that the little guy doesn't fall out. And you'll be able to use it for your next baby, provided it's a boy.

Jing-Mei: We don't know yet and aren't going to find out until it gets here. So, when can you deliver this?

Salesman: Let me check my itinerary. If I put the order in today, you will probably have in about two weeks.

Jing-Mei: That'll work. We are going away next week so we should be back before it gets there. How much extra will it cost to have someone put it together?

Salesman: Let me see.

Dave: Ii do it.

Jing-Mei: Dave, it's an awfully big job. You have your therapy and training to think about too.

Dave: Mmy sson's bbed. I put it t'geter.

Salesman: If you'd like to let him try to put it together, I would be glad to leave you our number in case he needs help.

Jing-Mei: Well, I did say that fixing up the nursery was going to be your responsibility, so I guess getting this one settled into his new digs is part of it. Alright, we'll give it a shot only if you promise you'll let me call for help if it becomes too much for you.

Dave: I ppromise.

Dave raises his right hand but behind his back he's keeping his fingers crossed.

Jing-Mei, Dave and Antonio arrive home. They are greeted by Rusty and Mrs. Peterson. Rusty starts staring at the packages in Jing-Mei's arms.

Mrs. Peterson: You guys were gone so long, I thought you forgot about us.

Jing-Mei: We would never do that. We were going to stop by and pick out some paint for the nursery but we were at the furniture so long that it was getting late. We'll do it tomorrow. Rusty, how's my big boy?

Rusty: Fine, did you bring me anything?

Jing-Mei: I missed you too, dear and as a matter of fact, we did.

The door bell rings as Jing-Mei hands Rusty his package. She answers it as Rusty rips the bag open to find bedsheets covered in race cars.

Rusty: Cool.

Mrs. Peterson: Nice to see it doesn't take much to make you happy. Why don't we go put them on your bed right now. Come on Dave, you can help.

Mrs. Peterson, the boys and Dave head off into Rusty's room as Jing-Mei comes into the living room with Larry.

Jing-Mei: I wasn't expecting you here today, but I'm glad you showed up. I could use your help, if you don't mind.

Larry: I know how anxious Dave is about walking and building up his left side that I thought since I wasn't doing anything, I could come over and we could get in a little extra therapy since he's going to miss a week of it when you go away.

What did you need me to do?

Jing-Mei leads Larry into the nursery.

Jing-Mei: I had Mrs. Peterson empty out Antonio's bureau but I wasn't too sure how I was going to move it into Rusty's room, the crib either.

Larry: Say no more.

Larry moves first the baby's dresser, then his crib.

Larry: Is this okay?

Jing-Mei: Yes, that'll do just fine. He'll have to sleep in that for a little while longer until his bed arrives.

Larry: If you don't need me for anything else...

Jing-Mei: No, by all means, go to work.

Dave starts to limp out of Rusty's room with Larry lending some support when a voice stops them and everyone else in the room from behind.

Antonio: Ggo...ppotty.

All four adults smile at each other. Jing-Mei rushes over to Antonio.

Jing-Mei: You have go potty, sweetie.

Antonio: Pot..pot.ty.

Dave: Ii ttaught hhim that. He not gonna gget wwet mme again.

Mrs. Peterson: You did real good, Dave. I'm impressed.

Jing-Mei: So am I but I had better hurry and get him in there before we have a major catastrophe here.

Rusty(pinching his nose closed tightly) Yeah, hurry up before he starts stinking up my room.

Mrs. Peterson: Get use to it, big guy.

Saturday morning and Jing-Mei and Dave were at the paint store. They were undecided about just how they wanted the new nursery to look. They already decided on yellow paint but they were having a tough time figuring out the perfect theme for the room. It had to be unisex. They had gone through dozens of sample books but the designs were either for a boy or a girl and not both. Trucks. sports, flowers or anything pink was definitely out. On their third trip through the books, Dave spotted something that he liked.

Dave: Tthis is it.

Jing-Mei: Are you sure, maybe we should look through them one more tim...

Dave(slamming his hand on the book)I SSSAID TTHIS OONE!!!

Everyone in the store turned and stared at them. Jing-Mei's face was beat red.

Jing-Mei: Dave, lower your voice. You're making a scene. I just thought that...

Dave: MY PPROJUCT, MY DECISION!!

Dave starts coughing so much that he's unable to catch his breath. Jing-Mei pulls out one of his inhalers and after a few puffs, his coughing fit subsides.

Jing-Mei: Alright, dear. If you are so determined to have this design in the nursery, we'll do it.

Dave: Ii mman and Ii sspoken.

Jing-Mei: Whatever you say that makes you happy, sweetheart.

Dave stares at the design of the border he picked out for the nursery. He points at a picture on the border.

Dave: Tthat Rrazzal, tthat Llucky.

Jing-Mei looks at it more closely.

Jing-Mei: That does kinda look like them, now that you mention it.

Dave: Yyou nno llike Ddavey's iidea.

Jing-Mei: Yes, I do. I think a border with dogs on it is a fine idea. We should have thought of it sooner. Maybe, we can find some other decorations with dogs on them for the room too.

Dave and Jing-Mei enter the house to see Rusty on the floor with the dogs both sitting down in front of him being lectured.

Rusty: Now, when we go to Disney World, you two no chase Mickey and Donald around or they won't let us back in to play again. You can play with Pluto and Goofy there. They dogs just like you guys.

Jing-Mei: Hold it, sir. The dogs are not coming with us to Florida.

Dave: Why nnot? They gonna mmiss my bbirthday pparty.

Both Dave and Rusty look at her with disappointed faces.

Jing-Mei: Sorry you guys, but the hotel doesn't allow dogs and neither does DisneyWorld.

Rusty: They not just dogs, they family.

Jing-Mei: I know but the people at the hotel don't understand that. Besides, they are going somewhere too.

Dave(panic stricken)Where you ttaking mmy ddoggies at?

Jing-Mei: Calm down, I made arrangements for Larry to take the dogs. He has a big backyard where they can run around and play.

Dave: Tthey sstill mmissing mmy pparty.

Jing-Mei: No they won't. When we come home, we'll get a big birthday cake for you and lots of ice cream they can share in, well, at least in the cake anyway. I'm still not sure about giving them ice cream.

That seemed to satisfy the two Malucci men. Rusty turned back around to the dogs.

Rusty: Don't worry. I bring you something back.

Jing-Mei: Dave, why don't you show the boys the border you picked out for the nursery?

Dave limped into the dining room and both boys and dogs followed him. Jing-Mei set the border on the table and the boys' eyes sparkled when they saw it.

Dave: Ttold you Cchin, they llike it.

Sunday morning and Mrs. Peterson had a brunch date with Mr. Santini while Jing-Mei had another appointment with her doctor.

Jing-Mei: Okay guys, I'm going to leave you here alone. Dave, keep an eye on them. You know the more I think about it, I should wait until Mrs. Peterson gets back.

Dave: Wwe ffine by our...sselves.

Jing-Mei: I know and I trust you will take excellent care of them but...alright, I'll be at the hospital up in OB/GYN if you need me. The phone number is on the refrigerator door and so is my pager number.

Rusty: We paint now, papa.

Jing-Mei: Uh, I don't think that such a great idea, guys. We can paint when I come home later.

Dave: Mmy jjob...you ssaid Cchin.

Jing-Mei: I did say that, didn't I. Alright, go for it. Please be careful. I won't be long.

Dave: Bye.

Jing-Mei: Geez Dave, could you rush me any faster.

Jing-Mei kisses the boys and Dave and heads out, hoping that she's not making a mistake about leaving Dave alone with the boys.

She arrives at the hospital and takes a shortcut through the ER. She runs into Carter coming out of the suture room.

Carter: Thought you were taking a leave of absence for awhile?

Jing-Mei: I am but I still have to come see my doctor regularly, especially now that I'm getting this close to delivering.

Carter: You're not so close, you're only in your what...sixth month.

Jing-Mei: True, but with me being high risk, Dr. Evans wants me to come in for a checkup weekly.

The two head for the elevator.

Jing-Mei: I think today she just wants to make sure that it's alright for me to travel to Florida next week.

Carter: That's right. Going to DisneyWorld. You want the OB/GYN floor?

Jing-Mei: Uh no, I need to get to the pharmacy. I have to refill my prenatal vitamin script and I have a bunch of Dave's prescriptions that need to be filled. That's going to take awhile so I'll pick them up after my appointment. That's where Dave wants to go for his birthday and I think the boys would enjoy it, too. I'll do whatever it takes to make Dave happy, so if this is what he wants for his birthday, then that's what he's going to get.

Carter: How's he doing?

Jing-Mei: Okay, he's walking around more. He's still needs a walker and leg brace for support, but he's coming along.

Carter: Yeah, I saw him here last week. He looks as though he's doing very well...physically, but how's he really doing?

Jing-Mei: His heart is weakening and if they don't find a new one for him soon...

Carter realizes Jing-Mei is getting upset and holds her in his arms.

Carter: They will. Everyone here in the ER is on a hunt for one.

Jing-Mei: I feel so bad that someone else has to die, but I don't want to lose him either. Our family is finally coming together.

Carter: I'm a little surprise that Dave didn't come with you today for your appointment.

Jing-Mei: I left him home to babysit and to paint the new nursery.

Carter: Malucci painting...that can't be good.

Jing-Mei: Now John, Dave isn't the big klutz that he led us to believe. He can handle this job. I think it will be good for him, give him a sense of accomplishment and if, god forbid, he isn't here when I have the baby at least the nursery is one way he will be remembered---his final gift to our new baby This is my floor.

Carter: Are you going to be alright?

Jing-Mei nods.

Carter: Try not to worry about Dave. We are going do everything we can for him.

Jing-Mei mouths the words "thank you" back to Carter as the elevator doors shut. She heads to the pharmacy and puts the prescriptions in, then off to her appointment.

Back home, Rusty and Antonio place a drop cloth on the floor--as per Dave's instructions. Dave opens up a paint can, some brushes and a roller. Rusty sticks his brush right in the paint.

Dave: Nno Ruzzy, sstir ppaint ffirst. Wwait, wwindow open.

Rusty opens up a window and Dave hands him a wooden stick to mix the paint. While Rusty mixes the paint, Dave gives them instructions on how to paint.

Dave: Ii think we go straight ddown and up. Not 'cross or circles. Yyou llittle ones do bottom, I ddo ttop.

Rusty: How that, papa?

Dave: Ggood, mmen get you brushes.

The boys each grab a brush and Dave uses the roller. They start on the wall furthest from the door. They would paint a little and stand back and look at it, admiring their good job. Antonio, would occasionally slap the paint on the wall in all sorts of designs causing it to smear. They took small breaks and then got right back to work. It took over 90 minutes but they had their first wall done, when Antonio started gasping for air, panicking Dave and Rusty.

Dave: An...ton..io, not 'gain. I bad. Ii sscrew uup.

Rusty: It's his asthma. I get his oxgen.

Rusty runs into his room and returns, dragging a small oxygen tank behind him. Dave takes hold of the youngest Malucci in his arms and places the mask over his face. He holds it there until Antonio's breathing regularly.

Dave: Come you gguys, yyou ggo pplay in other rroom. Nno mmore ppaint ffor yyou.

Rusty: 'Tonio's sick, I not. I want to paint.

Dave: Nneed you wwatch baby ffor while, tthen yyou ccome iin ppaint and Ii wwatch baby, ookay.

Rusty: Okay, good.

Dave held the baby in his arms while he wheeled himself into the other room. Rusty followed and set up his video game. The dogs sat down beside them and watched as Dave set Antonio on the floor and securely strapped the mask on his face.

Dave: Rruzzy, Iii bbe tthere in. Yyou ccome gget mme if problem.

Dave went back in to paint for awhile. Realizing how quiet it was in the other room after an hour, he went back in to see Antonio asleep on the floor and Rusty and the dogs watching tv. Dave checked Antonio to see if he was okay. He carried him into Rusty's room and placed him back into his crib. He put the intercom on and then went into the living room.

Dave: Ruzzy's turn paint. I mmake ffood.

Rusty jumped to his feet and he headed into the nursery with the dogs behind him, while Dave tried his hand at making sandwiches for them again.

Dave carried a tray of sandwiches out from the kitchen when the front door opened up. Mrs. Peterson entered.

Mrs. Peterson: Hi guys, what have you been up to?

Dave: Mommy hhome ttime in for lunch.

Mrs. Peterson walks over and gives Dave a kiss on the head as she checks out the sandwiches.

Dave: Mommy wwant oone.

Mrs. Peterson: What kind do we have here?

Dave: Jjjelly and ppeanut butter and ketup, ccheese and ham and mmaynaise.

Mrs. Peterson: Ham and cheese sounds good but I think we should save the peanut butter, jelly and ketchup ones for Jing-Mei. Where is she anywhere?

Dave: Bbaby doctor. Ruzzy, Llunch!!

Mrs. Peterson takes her jacket off and puts her purse down when she and Dave hear a loud bang from in the other way. Antonio wakes up crying.

Mrs. Peterson: Go see what that was, Dave. I'll get the baby.

They separate and Dave heads into the nursery to find Rusty and Lucky covered in yellow paint.

Dave: Wwhat yyou ddo, Ruzzy?

Rusty: I drop paint on me, Lucky started laughing at me so I wanted to see what he looked like yellow.

Dave shook his head and ushered the two into the dining room where they met up with Mrs. Peterson and a crying Antonio. Antonio's cries stopped immediately and turned to laughter when he seen his big brother and little puppy.

Mrs. Peterson: What on earth?

Dave: Rruzzy tturn ppuppy into hot ddoggie with mmustard.

Mrs. Peterson: That will never do. Rusty, go into the bathroom and wash up and take Lucky with you. Dave, you take Antonio and feed...

Mrs. Peterson sees Dave's eyes tearing up and bends down to look him in the eyes.

Mrs. Peterson: What is it, sweetie?

Dave(crying) Cchin, ggonna kkill mme. Ii mmess up again. Ii bbig sscrew up. Sshe llet ssit mme wwith bboys and I mess up.

Mrs. Peterson: No, she won't. (pause) Look, take Antonio and feed him. I'll get Rusty all cleaned up and then we can start working on Lucky. We'll have this place spic and span before she gets back. She never has to know. It'll be our little secret, alright.

Dave nods and reaches for Antonio. While the two of them start their lunch, Mrs. Peterson begins dousing Rusty with some turpentine she placed on a rag.

Mrs. Peterson: There, that should take off most of the paint. Now, get into the tub and we'll get the rest of you clean.

Rusty runs the water in the bathtub, as Mrs. Peterson uses the turpentine on the squirming puppy.

Twenty minutes later, and Rusty is all cleaned up and sitting in the dining room eating his sandwich when Mrs. Peterson comes in chasing Lucky.

Mrs. Peterson: Get back here.

Dave: You sstay, Rruzzy. Wwatch bbaby.

Dave wheels after Lucky and grabs him by the scruff of his neck and lifts him into his lap. He takes him back into the bathtub and places him in the tub. While he holds him still, Mrs. Peterson soaps him up and then scrubs him and finally rinses and dries him.

Dave: Nnice jjob, mmom...

Dave starts having a coughing fit. Mrs. Peterson taps his back gently until the spell passes.

Mrs. Peterson: Are you alright?

Dave: Tthat hhappens llot llately. Ii sstill going Disney World.

Mrs. Peterson: Of course, we are.

The two head for the dining room while the thought that Dave may not be able to make the trip and if he does, will he be able to make the one back home, runs through Mrs. Peterson's head.

Lunch is over and Mrs. Peterson is cleaning off the table, while the boys watch tv. Jing-Mei enters the house and sees her family laughing and playing on the floor in front of her.

Jing-Mei: Well, the house is still in one piece. That's a good sign. Everything went alright then, Dave?

Dave: Jjust ffine. Nno pproblems.

Jing-Mei: Great. How'd the painting go?

Rusty: Almost done.

Jing-Mei: Really. That's quick. Let me take a look.

She heads for the nursery, while her family follows behind her.

Dave: Wwhat yyou think? Ggood, huh.

Jing-Mei sees that part of the upper ceiling isn't done and that there are some circles and streaks down on the bottom.

Antonio: Ii help, mama.

Jing-Mei: I see that. Well, I have to say for one afternoon, you didn't do bad. At least you kept the paint in here and off of yourselves. Now, I can eat with a good conscious that I was right in leaving you alone with the kids, Dave. Everything went alright.

As Jing-Mei was leaving the nursery, she noticed Rascal's foot. It had a piece of the border wrapped around it, giving her the impression that today's events didn't go as smoothly as they had her believing. She wanted to get upset but couldn't. Finally, a typical childhood moment in her sons' lives and Dave was there to share in it. Her heart took a picture that she would hold onto for the rest of her life.

To be continued. Please read and review.