Transition Plan Chapter 132 - School Days Part 8
Two days after telling their friends
Jeanne was examining the day's mail upon their arrival home after classes, "Uh, oh. Jack. Look at this."
He examined the official-looking letter skeptically, "A formal request for a meeting with the Chancellor. In three days. We had one of these two years ago. It did not go well then."
Jeanne agreed, "That really is odd. I don't understand this. The Chancellor's been remarkably silent about our pregnancy. He knows our phone number."
"I thought he was OK with us getting pregnant our last year," Jack wondered.
"He was. Remember? He said so. His wife and I had a very uplifting woman-to-woman discussion over tea about the responsibilities of it. Word's out all over campus with that article. Maybe having the baby before we graduate changed things."
"Let's hope not, Jeannie."
She worried, "Oh goodness, Jack. We can't have come this far only to have something awful happen if he's changed his mind."
Jack held her reassuringly by the shoulders, "I know, dear. We'll be prepared. But let's not borrow trouble. Perhaps it's a mistake or a misunderstanding. The Chancellor is a busy man. He's got bigger things to worry about than our baby."
She snickered, "Yeah… it could just be my raging hormones 'going paranoid'."
He held her tighter, "How about letting them rage a little closer to me, sweetheart?"
She matched his look of desire, "Well… OK. I think I can do this now without throwing up on you."
"You're such a romantic French woman, Jeannie."
They laughed and she plopped happily into his lap on the sofa. It was a rare moment of not being nauseated for Jeanne and they hadn't had relations for days, so she wasn't going to make him wait. She didn't want to wait either.
Three days later
They were dreading this day as they climbed the stairs of the Administration Building.
Jeanne sighed heavily, "Are you ready Jack? It seems we've been here before."
"I know, Jeannie. I have never been more ready. If he jumps on us about being pregnant, he's going to get an earful. The nerve – letting us go ahead only to object when it is far too late. We can't go back now. Our academic records are exemplary, our leadership of the MSA is impeccable, and we've made a lasting change on the University that makes us the most inclusive student environment of almost any college in the world. The only difference is that we're having a baby."
"With all that, I… I just don't understand. It just seems so… out of character for the Chancellor."
"Well, dear. He's always warned us about the power and pressure of alumni. Maybe someone with a lot of money finally had enough 'reform'. Maybe the 'mysterious power' behind Hopkins has resurfaced?"
Jeanne suggested, "Perhaps your dad can talk to whoever is angry? He's got such power and influence all over Scotland. People respect him everywhere."
Jack shook his head, "No sweetheart. We have to fight our own fights. We're 'big kids' now."
They reached the Chancellor's reception area.
The smiling secretary who knew them well greeted them as if nothing was amiss. "Hi Jack and Jeanne. Congratulations! You're looking particularly beautiful today, young lady. How's that baby doing? Now that you're back to school, we need to do tea and compare notes. Go right in… the Chancellor is expecting you."
Adrienne was in her early 30s, seven months pregnant with her second child, and affectionately known as the 'mother hen' for the MSA as one of the younger professional University mentors helping the young couples in addition to the Chancellor and his wife. She and her husband, a biology professor, were very easy to relate to.
"Uh… why thank you, Adrienne," answered Jeanne.
The twosome gave each other very confused looks. Her happiness was a paradox with the Chancellor's major concerns. They entered, but his office was empty. They had waited nervously for the Chancellor side-by-side in these chairs before. It brought back painful memories from a confrontation a long time ago, and they never thought they'd have cross words with the Chancellor again. Both stared at Jack's ancestor's portrait above them.
"What would you do, Great Great Grandpa?" Jack asked rhetorically.
She squeezed his hand and they continued to wait.
The Chancellor entered and closed the door. He looked very grim, and sat behind his desk chair without so much as any kind of congratulations, "Good day, Viscount and Lady Clayton."
He hadn't called them by anything other than their first names since the end of the crisis with Professor Hopkins.
Both squirmed uncomfortably, and Jack answered for them, "Good day sir."
He spoke seriously but politely, "It's come to my attention that you, Lady Jeanne, are going to have a baby."
She stated proudly, "Yes sir. That is true. You'll remember at the end of spring term we agreed that was all right with you."
"While that is correct, and I congratulate you on this, it further appears that you'll bear your child while you are still undergraduates, according to our student newspaper account."
"Yes sir. That is true also."
The Chancellor leaned up in his desk on his elbows, "It seems you violated our agreement. This is once again a very serious matter when it comes to the policies of the University. We keep pushing the envelope further and further. Our other married student couples waited long enough to have their babies after graduation. You should have too."
It seemed unreasonable to both Jack and Jeanne that you could allow married couples to be part of the student population and not expect them to have babies – accidentally or on purpose – during the course of their academic careers. There were no 100% reliable ways to prevent that from happening in the 1920s. The discipline they showed until now, as well as their peers, was remarkable.
Jack tried to be polite and reasonable, reminding the Chancellor that he permitted them this, "Yes sir. Thank you, sir. We can explain, sir. We tried our best, Chancellor. It seems our baby wants to come earlier than any of us planned and agreed to."
Jeanne was very proud of Jack's restraint. She could tell that Jack wanted to unload on the Chancellor. She did too. What was she going to do? She couldn't just cross her legs and hold the baby in until after graduation. She was really glad Jack was doing the talking. She could feel her world famous temper start to flare. So could Jack. The connection was strong this morning, and they hadn't even felt it kick in until now.
"I think it's a matter so serious we need to talk to Dean of Students," stated the Chancellor with no emotion.
Jack objected, "But, sir… if I may…"
The Chancellor held his palm out to stop Jack and advised, "Hold your arguments, please, Viscount Clayton. The Dean is in my study. You can voice your concerns with him. And the Dean of the Management School."
"Oh dear," fretted Jeanne under her breath. This was a complete set up for disciplinary action.
Jeanne was very concerned that this was going to be a really short senior year if they were to be expelled, and no other University would take them before the baby came. Neither Jack nor Jeanne might finish their education, which would be a huge disappointment to them and to their parents. She was under enough physical stress. She didn't need the mental stress as well.
They both thought that maybe they should have waited or been far more careful, but they both circled back to their pleasant springtime conversation with the Chancellor and his wife about wanting to conceive.
Jeanne reflected to herself, "It was so nice then. What happened?"
"If you will follow me, please," the Chancellor ordered.
"All right," Jack said with resignation, but steeled himself for the upcoming argument and he thought with pursed lips, "'Korak the Killer' and his 'Mangani girl' mate aren't going down without a fight."
Jeanne could feel his resolve, and Jack knew he wasn't going to kill anything but a couple thousand words in a hard debate with the Dean and Chancellor.
They walked across the hall, but stopped at the reception desk.
The old man asked, "Adrienne, are they ready?"
The secretary said very seriously from her desk, "Yes sir. Just as you ordered. Everyone is here."
Jeanne could not read the young woman's feelings and she wouldn't look at Jeanne. She got up from her desk to follow the three to the huge doors to the study. The Chancellor invited, "After you, Viscount."
Jack almost gave the double-crossing Chancellor an earful. He and Jeanne held hands and he opened the door. Jack and Jeanne were faced by the Dean of Students.
But he was smiling. And so were a huge crowd of other people behind him. The room was filled with dozens of ecstatic students and professors.
"Surprise!" they all shouted in unison. Confetti and streamers flew through the air and party horns tooted. There was a huge sign across the bookshelves saying:
"Congratulations Jeanne and Jack and baby!"
Gwendolyn, the Chancellor's wife, was standing right next to the Dean of Students, and she reached out and hugged both of them heartily. Jeanne had often admitted to Jack that the kind, elderly woman was like having a real human grandmother. Adrienne rushed in and hugged Jeanne too, at least as well as her baby bump allowed. Jeanne reflected that she'd have one of her own soon.
Jack and Jeanne surveyed the room after those hugs and were in total shock. They just looked at each other, not with trepidation and anger, but with elation. It was a surprise party for them. The Chancellor had played a very elaborate and rather disconcerting practical joke on them, but their moods changed instantly. Reflexively, Jeanne started to giggle and bounce and Jack's frown changed to a smile.
They both looked at the Chancellor. He was sporting a wide grin, shrugged like a small child being caught with his hand in a cookie jar, shook Jack's hand, and kissed the top of Jeanne's hand like a proper gentleman, "Shall we do this right, this time? My sincere congratulations to you, Lady Jeanne, and to you also Viscount Jack, on your first pregnancy."
"Chancellor! How wonderful!" Jeanne exclaimed. She threw public protocol to the winds and hugged the elderly gentlemen. It wasn't their first hug, but everything before was in private.
"Lady Jeanne!" the Chancellor exclaimed and sputtered, and quickly apologized, "I'm sorry to have led you on and fretted you like that. But all your friends asked me to purposely mislead you. Knowing you, you were about to let me have it. I could tell, Jack."
Jack was really embarrassed now, "Well sir. I… um… was. I'm sorry."
The Chancellor noted with a grin, "Jack, your debate Professor advised me to never take you on in an argument. So I planned a party instead of a disciplinary hearing."
Gwendolyn interjected, "You big old liar. This was the young peoples' idea!"
All four laughed. And they looked around. Everyone was anxious for the Chancellor to end his lengthy personal congratulations and let them celebrate with everyone else.
"I won't keep you. It's not as good a party you'd throw, Lady Jeanne, but it's the best we can do to say, 'congratulations'. The women call this a 'baby shower' but I still don't understand the term. There's no babies and no shower anywhere."
Gwendolyn chastised her husband, "You old fuddy duddy, just go with it."
"My wife: the 70 year old college party girl."
She pecked her husband on the cheek.
Jeanne once again thought how cute the Chancellor and his wife were after a lifetime together and prayed she and Jack be having as much fun at 70 as the older couple seemed to.
With that prompt, the applause and celebration erupted again. Jack and Jeanne were very excited that this celebration was all for them and their baby. They both blushed and were truly happy, even though neither of them sought the attention.
After having received everyone's well wishes, Jack and Jeanne had one quiet moment to sip some fruit punch, while Edith gathered the other women together around the main conference table to present Jeanne with her gifts. That was going to take awhile. There was a huge mound of presents.
"Isn't this wonderful, Jack?"Jeanne whispered to her husband as they were escorted to the lectern in the study. He agreed.
The room got quiet for both of them to respond to all the attention. They wouldn't drop their hand grip on each other.
Jeanne was ecstatic but stammered, "This is… is just so amazing… and sweet. We… we… don't know what to say."
Bruce blurted, "A situation we have never witnessed in our lives."
Everyone laughed. It was true.
Say 'thank you', Edith teased.
"Thank you all so much. This is all so… so unexpected. But very thoughtful of you. We really haven't started shopping for the baby yet. It's still very new for us, too."
With those simple, appreciative words, the big party for Jack and Jeanne and their baby got started in earnest. The women all presented Jeanne with a ton of nice gifts and even a few amusing and embarrassing ones. Jack, Bruce, and the male professors all congregated together at a smaller table, but watched somewhat in self-defense. This was a woman's world right now.
Quietly, while Jeanne opened her presents and the women made a big fuss over her, the Chancellor apologized again to Jack for his very terse attitude and any anxiety about the formal call for inquiry caused the couple, "Sorry about this elaborate practical joke, my dear boy. There was no other way to surprise you tonight without you getting suspicious other than by me being very serious. I hope I didn't worry you too much. It was frankly hard to subject you to all of that."
Jack thought, "You could have fooled us."
But he said, "Well, I guess we deserved it, Goodness knows how many jokes we've played on all of our friends over the years."
Bruce interjected before the Chancellor could reply, "I'm still trying to get even for that giant slush ball in my face two years ago. This was so worth it to see your faces."
Jack just grinned, and considered a new plan for revenge on his friend.
After the last present was given to Jeanne, the Chancellor got up, tapped his drinking glass from the lectern in the library. It got quiet in a hurry. Everyone was anxious to hear what the Chancellor had to say.
He used a well-worn opening line, "I suppose you're all wondering why I called you all here."
Snickers abounded from professors, spouses, and the students, because of the banner and all the decorations being about babies. He looked up at the sign, and said, "Oh! I guess you do know," which drew more laughter.
Gwen was pretty proud of her husband's dry humor. People who really knew Henry understood he wasn't stodgy and gruff around the students that were his life. He just looked that way.
He began his presentation, "As we all know, Viscount Jack and Lady Jeanne Clayton are a very special young couple who are not only excellent students, but leaders on campus who've brought us through an enormous journey on social reform at the University to bring education to all manner of students. This is their last year with us."
There was a round of friendly boo's and disappointment over that reality.
"Our fair University is the envy of many others, I must say, who are just now modeling a similar plan of acceptance of married students while we forge forward to the next step. They are not blessed with trailblazing students like our Jack and Jeanne, however."
There was enthusiastic applause and an outright whoop. The pair blushed.
The Chancellor continued, "Nearly three years ago we started an experiment in having married students. Many of you in this room are a testament to how successful that experiment - now standard practice - has become."
There were nearly 20 married couples now, and almost all of them were in the room.
"Enrolling married students was the first step. Of course there are natural consequences that result from married students. Infants don't care what semester it is. Children come on their own time, though parents have some control over this matter."
There were a lot of snickers, and the Clayton's blushed harder. Their zest for each other was no secret to their closest friends.
"In this case, we've learned recently that our very first married students are now expecting themselves - after years of restraint from their personal needs to support our University – and have been an excellent example to all of us of dedication to their studies before anything else. Since this is their final year, we talked last spring about them starting to raise a family, and Gwendolyn and I wholeheartedly supported them. Raising a family is somewhat an inexact science, as everyone knows, and because of God's blessings, it seems their baby will be part of our esteemed student body before they graduate."
Everyone enjoyed the wry humor of that and cheered them.
"While my dearest Gwendolyn and I have never been blessed by children, every student here has been like our children. Because of all of you and the other students, we feel young at heart, especially because of the influence and personalities of these two dear young people. The Clayton's always make all of us think out of the box, especially myself. It's been my and my dear wife's pleasure to remain your MSA advisors at your behest."
Jack and Jeanne stood humbled and held hands tighter to very enthusiastic clapping.
"So here we are on the verge of more social reform for the changing needs our student population. Not only by necessity by new conditions because of their pregnancy – which I expressly told them was fine - but because it is the right thing to do."
"Thank you, Chancellor," Jeanne said humbly.
"I am going to ask them as Co-Presidents of the MSA to take the next steps with me and the rest of the faculty for the care of pregnant students and students who may become mothers like Lady Jeanne. I would like to embark on a multiple phase plan we shall call: 'Community Caring of Children'. This plan is the result many hours of discussion of needs and ideas with you students and with the faculty. Students who will become mothers in this esteemed University will never feel like they have to withdraw just because they are mothers. We have several academic departments directly involved in granting degrees in the care of children, and we will use them as a laboratory in caring for the mothers-to-be and the children of students. Like no other institution before."
There was anticipatory applause.
"So here are the things we are prepared to do. Starting now. The Heads of the Medical and Nursing Schools, Home Economics, and Child Psychology Departments and I have decided that we will all provide educators to help – especially those educators with specialties in care of children and obstetrics - to counsel pregnant married students as well as new mothers with children as a part of their studies. At the clinic, we will provide medical care and develop an experimental program that will have students and educators look after young women's children while they go to class. In this manner no student mother or mother to be ever has to miss a class or think they must drop out. We will need volunteers – students - to help, and call upon the MSA to be partners in this every step of the way. To formalize the process, we will have intern positions for college credit."
Jack and Jeanne gave a vigorous affirmative nod of their heads. This was a comprehensive plan, well beyond anything they had discussed or suggested. All the women in the MSA were prepared to be babysitters for each others' children and be a support group for each other, should any of them become pregnant while students. These provisions were much more extensive.
The most promising aspect of the program was that it would give students with the desire to have degrees in the care of children, and medical specialties in pediatrics, gynecology, and obstetrics a wealth of direct, daily experience taking care of expectant mothers, new mothers, and infants and small children. Time spent with expectant mothers and their children would count directly as lab and class credit.
There was more applause and a hearty 'whoo hoo' from one of Jeanne's nursing student friends who'd married her beau over the summer.
"Professional care of children is not a new idea. Some may know that care of children originated in France in the mid 1800s for working class women involved in industrial jobs. Everyone knows that Lady Clayton is French. So we have come full circle. To my knowledge, this is the first time in an academic environment that we know of caring for children."
Jeanne blushed. Every time she opened her mouth everyone knew she was French, but her accented Gaelic and English was one of the most charming things about her.
"Since Viscount and Lady Clayton are expecting their first child, they will be our first laboratory 'test subjects' - a study I think everyone will enjoy."
Edith exclaimed sincerely, "I want to hold their baby first!"
Greenly interrupted, "I beg to differ with you about that, dear friend."
That drew a lot of laughter. Most everyone knew how close these female classmates were.
The Chancellor reverted to a serious, but still light hearted tone, "I'm expecting that a number of you may take advantage of this. But I would remind you all that we are supposed to concentrate on our studies, dear students. That's all I have. Thank you, and enjoy the evening."
There was general laughter over that. Two other couples knew they were pregnant too and were tremendously relieved they could approach the Chancellor, Jack, and Jeanne to disclose that fact soon.
The program was unprecedented among other colleges with married students. In all of those other universities, it was left to the students to get their own families, babysitters, or nannies to take care of their children - an expensive proposition at best.
There was a lot of positive discussion following the Chancellor's speech, as the Deans in the party explained their ideas further with the students.
Jack and Jeanne cornered the Chancellor and his wife, who were preparing to depart. Jeanne gushed with appreciation, "Thank you. For this. For everything, Chancellor."
"You're welcome, Jeanne."
She hugged him a second time. Gwendolyn just smiled, "Still attracted to beautiful women I see dear."
Henry grinned, "Just two. You, my dear, and Lady Jeanne, who could be our daughter."
"I think she'd like that. And the darling little baby she'll have will want you to be 'honorary grandpa'."
"That would be just fine with me, Chancellor," Jeanne beamed.
The party extended for some time, and it took Jack, Bruce, Hazel, Greenly, and Edith to carry everything back to the flat. It was very late when they got to the apartment building. They all just crashed overnight in the Clayton's flat. They all wanted to be close.
The end of the first trimester. After the OBGYN appointment.
Jeanne had a pensive look upon her arrival home.
Jack was anxious for the latest doctor's report, "How was everything?"
Jeanne suppressed a smile, "Well Jack. Something new has happened."
He stood in anxiety, "Is our baby all right?"
She grasped his shoulders and smiled, "Yes, cheri. Perfect health."
"What then? What's wrong, dear?"
She took his hands, and placed one on top of her rounded belly.
She gave him a beautiful smile, "Nothing's wrong dear. Something's even more wonderful than before."
He was about to burst with anticipation, "What then? Gahhh! Tell me, wife!"
She chuckled, took a very deep breath, looked Jack directly in the eyes, and stated carefully, "The doctor found another heart beat in there. Another strong heart beat."
"A second heart beat?" Jack could not believe his ears and the words he was saying.
"Umm-hmm," she shook her head up and down affirmatively, biting her lip regarding how her husband would react. They never once talked about this subject.
It took a little while for it all to sink in then a huge grin spread across Jack's face, to Jeanne's tremendous relief, calming her instantly. He grabbed her by the shoulders firmly. He looked at her belly and then at her.
"Ohmigosh, cherie. Two babies? We're having twins?"
He picked her up effortlessly without thinking and twirled her over his head, causing her squeal in delight, but demanded in Mangani, "Korak! Put me down this instant!"
He got a horrible worried look, and put her gently on her feet, and answered her in the simian tongue, "I'm so sorry, Jeannie. I could have hurt… uh… all of you."
She patted her not-so-little baby bump which was another clue she had twins, "They're both very well protected in there dear. I'm more worried about you. I'm not small and I'm carrying all this new baby weight. We could have hurt you."
Jack was still in happy astonishment in French, "Incroyable, Jeannie. Deux!"
In French she answered him, "Yes dear, it seems we have another 'Porter pregnancy'."
He had a million questions, "Any idea if they're identical or fraternal?"
She just said quietly, "The doctor can't tell. He just said it's mostly up to family history."
"Well there's centuries of boy and girl fraternal twins' portraits hanging on the walls Grandpa Porter's mansion."
"Well, Jack dear, we'll just have to see what happens then. There isn't any history of twins in the Jacot lines."
They laughed and hugged for some time, and they cuddled together silently.
Jack was still totally enjoying the surprise of having twins, "This is just amazing. But sweetheart, you'll never get any sleep."
She smirked, "Well you too dear. We are in this together."
"But it will be so worth it all. Goodness you are such a blessing to me, Mangani girl."
"And you to me. I was worried about your reaction. First we're 'early' and now we have 'twice the fun'."
"Never ever think that of me. We are indeed in this together forever. Especially during good times like this."
She agreed, but noted, "I know, I know. Sometimes the ever-fearful Meriem comes out in me. I can't help but still think sometimes that I can't have it as good as I do, or don't deserve the beautiful life I have with you."
"And I'm there to put Meriem back in her box every time that happens so that my dearest Jeanne will remember the real story."
"Consider her put back in her box, jungle stud," she teased.
"Jungle stud? That's new," he mused.
She stated confidently, "Well sure - you made two babies in me with one shot."
She'd not ever seen Jack prouder.
The next day at the cafe
Jeanne was waiting for her friends to arrive as usual. She had to change her usual seated spot at Table 17 because there was not enough room for her belly even at 3 months pregnant. A lot of things were changing but fortunately her appetite returned.
Greenly, Hazel, Edith and Bruce were having a normal conversation until Jack arrived and sat with them.
Edith was direct, "Jeanne, honey, it seems you're carrying that baby all out in front of you."
"Well it's getting a little crowded in there," she joked.
Hazel was more candid, "Well, you're only 3 months along now right? My sister was… well… she was much smaller."
Greenly scolded both of them, "Women all carry their babies differently. Be nice. She's beautiful."
"It's all right. But I can't be much smaller," Jeanne said with a leading tone.
Hazel picked up on it quickly, "That's not it, is it, Jeannie? I know you. You're a big teaser. You're bigger for a reason."
"Family heritage?" asked Greenly.
"In a way," she answered without revealing more.
"Omigod!" exclaimed Edith as the light of realization dawned.
"What?" Jeanne was having fun dragging this out with her friends.
"There's more than one baby, isn't there?" Edith asserted.
"Waiter, get that lady another tea," Jeanne gestured and smiled.
The squeals were even more excited, loud, and shrill than the original baby announcement. The three girls surrounded Jeanne in a group hug, being careful not to squeeze her bump too much.
Hazel couldn't help herself as she turned to Jeanne's husband, "Goodness sake, Jack, what are you packing down there?"
That sent everyone into immediate guffaws and Jack turned bright red. Hazel was always so direct about Jack's body.
"You poor girl…" Greenly worried.
"No. Don't worry. This is exactly what I want. Jack's family heritage is for wives to have twins. Everyone will be proud of me," Jeanne announced proudly.
Edith praised her friend, "Well Jeanne, we're sure glad everything has worked out so well, and that the Chancellor has worked with you to help all the students. The care program couldn't come at a better time."
"Why is that Edith?" Jeanne asked suspiciously.
Edith took her new husband's hand and stated, "Bruce and I have some news of our own, dear friend."
"Omigosh…" Jeanne realized.
The shriek of happiness from Jeanne in realization of Edith being pregnant too set Jack's teeth on edge. He looked with very pleasant shock at Bruce, "Wow, Bruce. Congrats to both of you. You guys got pregnant too?"
Bruce just smiled at his friend with great satisfaction, "I'm surprised, Jack. You think we wouldn't compete with you in making babies? We can't let you rich people get ahead of us commoners, now?"
In truth both Bruce and Edith were a little surprised how fast they got pregnant, thinking they were being careful.
Jack joked, "Oh? You want to compete with us, eh? So you have triplets in there, Edith?"
Edith rolled her eyes at Jack, and his comment caused Bruce's eyes to widen, so the man of science quickly quipped, "No my friend, we're pretty sure it's just one."
"One's enough, Jack," Edith replied, laughing, "That's plenty for my engineer hubby to handle. There's no equations for changing diapers."
Jack wasn't done teasing his friend, "I know Bruce. He'll figure out some way to make raising kids a science. Maybe he'll build you guys an automated diaper changing machine."
"Don't I wish…" Bruce grinned. But Jack could see his suggestion got his innovative friend thinking.
"Goodness. We're going to be pregnant together," Jeanne reflected.
"Yeah…" Edith replied happily.
"God help the University," quipped Greenly and they all had a good laugh together.
...
Author's Notes: I hope you all had fun with all the baby news and surprise party. The Chancellor's a cagey one, isn't he? So I thought I would be done with this story arc today, but perennial reader Sueanoi made a suggestion last week that will let me entertain you with next week's chapter! Thanks for that! :)