--Chapter Twenty-Six--
A/N--Christmas is here in the Brady household. Like I did in the Christmas Eve segment, I'm inserting some of my family Christmas traditions. This chapter may have multiple segments, but it's the last chapter in this story. I've been working on the sequel, titled, "The Bradys." I hope you'll check it out. It's a bit darker, but it somewhat follows proposed canon had the TV series "The Bradys" been allowed to continue and it also incorporates all the spin-offs from the classic series with the exception of the variety hour as it's not considered canon. I am considering doing a prequel to the classic series (and this story) and also going through the spring semester of 1974-1975 school year through Marcia's graduation (tentatively titled "Welcome Aboard Part 2"). With all that said and done, happy reading!
Christmas is here. It is right around five in the morning and all is quiet. Not a Brady is stirring. All are asleep, snug in their beds. A baby cries out. Two exhausted parents awaken. A second baby cries out. Mike and Carol open their eyes and look at each other sleepily before tending to their youngest.
Mike: Morning. He yawns.
Carol: Merry Christmas, darling. She caresses the side of his face. I'll get Ryan.
Mike: Okay, I'll get Carolyn.
The couple gets up, pick up the babies and check their diapers. Carol gets Ryan situated.
Carol: I'm ready for her.
Mike: Just getting her all situated. He sticks himself with a pin. Ouch!
Carol: Stick yourself?
Mike: Passing the baby to her mother. Yeah. I almost forgot how sharp those things are. He fans his finger.
Carol: Chuckles. When Marcia was a baby, I stuck myself so many times, I developed calluses on my fingers.
She gets Carolyn situated.
Meanwhile, two young Bradys tiptoe down the stairs to the tree. They spot their stockings and hold them in their laps.
Cindy: Should we open them?
Bobby: Let's wait until everyone else gets here.
Cindy: Giggles. I feel like a kid.
Bobby: Yeah, me too.
Jan and Peter tiptoe down the stairs.
Cindy: Remember our first Christmas all together?
Bobby: Yeah. We all thought Christmas would be ruined because mom lost her voice.
Jan: But Cindy knew she'd get it back.
They join their brother and sister by the tree.
Peter: Where's mine?
Jan: Pete, you're as bad as Bobby and Cindy.
Peter: Yours is over here.
Jan: She claps her hands. Ooh! Hand it over!
Cindy: Where's Marcia and Greg? I figured they'd be down here by now.
Jan: Rolls her eyes. They're too grown up for uh, kid's stuff.
Bobby: Gags. Yeah. Whatever.
Peter: What time is it anyway?
Bobby: Five thirty.
They hear the babies crying.
Peter: It sounds like mom and dad are up.
Bobby: Wonder when they'll come down?
Suddenly they hear a voice.
Mike: What are you guys doing up?
Bobby: Just checkin' out our loot.
Mike: Go back to bed.
Cindy: All right.
Peter: Aww, but it's tradition.
Mike: Somewhat firm. Go.
The kids do as they're told.
Mike goes back into the bedroom and smiles.
Carol: Lemme guess. We had four young Bradys eagerly waiting to dive into their stockings.
Mike: Precisely.
Carol: A wry smile spreads across her face. I know what stocking I'd like to dive into.
Mike: Gets on the bed and kisses his wife on the cheek. Merry Christmas, Mrs. Brady.
Carol: Merry Christmas, Mr. Brady. Looks down at her two youngest. I can't believe we've got two babies for Christmas. Oh Mike, they're so beautiful.
Mike: Just like their mother. He kisses her on the cheek.
The twins finish up and Mike takes Ryan and Carol takes Carolyn. After the infants burp, they fall asleep. Mike and Carol put them in their respective cradles and go back to sleep.
A few hours later, four young Bradys tiptoe down the staircase and sit by the tree. The tree glistens as the rising sun sparkles off the tinsel.
Cindy: What is it about Christmas that brings out the kid in me?
Bobby: Brings out the kid in you? Aren't you still a kid?
Cindy: Oh, ha ha.
Jan: I think it's the wonder of seeing the tree with all the presents and stockings under it. We don't know what's under the tree…
Peter: Interrupting. Presents!
Jan: Annoyed. …as I was saying, we don't know what's IN the presents and so there's a mystery not yet revealed. And then the fun of opening the gifts and seeing what's in them….
Peter: Wow Jan, what profundity!
Bobby: I thought the fun of Christmas was the wrapping paper ball fight.
Jan: Okay, that too!
Marcia descends the stairs.
Marcia: Hey you guys. What are you doing?
Bobby: Playing pinochle. What does it look like?
Marcia: Wow, such sarcasm at an early hour.
Bobby: It's a gift.
Marcia: Right. Uh huh.
Greg comes from the kitchen.
Greg: Hey you guys. Don't you know it's early?
Cindy: It's nine o'clock. It's not early.
Peter: Plus, mom and dad will be down here any minute.
Jan: C'mom Greg, dispense with the parental routine.
Bobby: When are mom and dad gonna get down here?
Cindy: Growing a bit impatient, aren't we?
As if on cue, Mike and Carol carry the twins down the stairs. The kids glace up and see them.
Kids: Merry Christmas!
Carol: Merry Christmas.
Mike: Merry Christmas. I see six kids eager to dive into their presents. Mike sits in the easy chair with Ryan.
Carol: Sitting in the rocker with Carolyn. Go ahead and dig in.
The kids dive into the presents and stockings. Greg and Bobby take turns taking pictures.
Mike: Can one of you hand me that small box over there? Greg, be sure to get a picture.
Marcia: This one? She holds up a blue box with a white ribbon.
Mike: Yeah, that's the one.
She hands it to her father, who presents it to his wife. Carol opens it and just about squeals with delight. It's a silver ring with eight different coloured stones.
Carol: It's a mother's ring! She admires the ring. How in the world did you manage to fit all eight stones in there?
Mike: It wasn't easy. One or two more kids and we would've had to get two rings.
Carol: I think we're done. Can you put it on my finger?
Mike puts it on her finger and she admires it.
Cindy: It's beautiful!
Marcia: Here, these are for the twins. She hands two packages to her parents.
They open the gifts to reveal a blanket for each of them.
Carol: Marcia, they're exquisite.
Marcia: Thanks.
Cindy: Bobby, this one's for you. He hands her a box.
Bobby: Opens it. A lava lamp! And it's blue! Thanks! Gives Cindy a box. Oh, and this one's for you.
Cindy: A mood ring and necklace set! I love it!
Jan gets up.
Mike: Where are you going?
Jan: I'll be right back. She goes up to her room and grabs two packages. She yells from the top of the stairs. Need some help here.
Greg: On my way. He helps Jan carry the packages down the stairs.
Jan: Cindy, this one's for you.
Cindy opens the package to reveal a painting of Tiger and Fluffy as angels.
Cindy: Jan, it's great! Thanks! I love it!
She hugs her sister's neck.
Jan: Mom, dad, this one's for you.
Carol: Peter, can you take Carolyn?
Mike: Bobby, can you take Ryan?
The boys do as asked. Mike and Carol open up the package and reveal Jan's prize-winning painting.
Carol: Jan! It's gorgeous! She admires it. You've got both babies in it!
Jan: Uh huh.
Carol: Is this the painting you entered in the art show?
Jan: Yes it is.
Mike: It looks just like a photograph.
The Bradys finish opening their gifts. Peter crumples up a piece of wrapping paper and chucks it at Bobby's head.
Bobby: Crumples up a piece. You're gonna get it, mister! He chucks it at Peter.
Peter: Hey, watch it. I've got my sister here.
Carol: If you're gonna bean each other with paper wads, give me my baby.
Peter passes Carolyn to their mother and then throws a wad at Marcia. Marcia throws one at Cindy, who in turn, throws one at Greg.
Greg: Passes Ryan to their father. Here dad. He aims at Cindy, but hits Jan instead.
Jan: A bit rusty with the throwing arm?
Greg: Looks innocent. Can I help it if my sister ducked?
Jan throws one at Peter who also ducked. Instead, it hits Carol straight on the top of her head.
Carol: Gives a mock evil eye. This means war. She throws one at Jan, then catches one thrown at her. All right, Mike.
Mike grins and dodges the wrapping paper ball thrown his way. It hits Marcia.
Marcia: You've got it, brother. She throws it at Peter and hits him in the back of the head.
Peter: Hey, it wasn't me.
Soon, everyone's throwing wrapping paper wads at each other in all-out post Christmas present festivities paper wad fight. Alice walks into the living room and is hit by a run-by paper wad.
Alice: Merry, umm, Christmas.
Carol: Looks a little guilty. Merry Christmas, Alice.
Kids: Merry Christmas.
Alice: Breakfast is ready.
Mike: Thanks. How's Sam?
Alice: He's great.
As if on cue, Sam enters the living room.
Sam: Heya folks. Merry Christmas.
Everyone: Uhh, Merry Christmas?
Sam: I just came over and brought bacon and sausage.
Carol: Thank you, Sam.
Alice: Well, we've got eggs, bacon, sausage balls, and pancakes all ready.
The Bradys, Alice and Sam gather around the breakfast table. Carolyn and Ryan are placed in their baby swings. Mike leads the family in prayer.
Mike: Join hands and pray with me.
Thank you Lord for the fellowship around this table, for the good friends, for the hearts of love that manifested themselves through hands that prepared this wonderful feast. Bless us as we eat and bless us as we fellowship. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
--Chapter Twenty-Six Continues--