Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, someone else does. I'm just having fun. Also, this story is based loosely on characters and situations in The Growing Pains Movie...but I only saw the movie once and I don't remember the names of some of the minor characters and some of the other specifics, so I made them up. And now.....
A GROWING PAINS STORY
"Growing Up Is Hard To Do"
Chapter One
"This is great. This is so great. I'm so glad I thought of this, aren't you Maggie?"
I just sat there, and tried not to roll my eyes as I ate my toast. My dad could be so lame sometimes.
"Yes, Jason," my mom said in her typically patronizing way. I think sometimes she felt bad for my dad, seeing as he was the only one who didn't have a reason to leave the house on a regular basis. It was because he was a writer...he spent all of his time sitting in the den in front of his laptop writing mystery novels. It was a good paying gig, but it was lonely work, and sometimes he would cling a little too closely to my mom and Ben and I. For his newest act of desperation, my dad decided that since Mom was usually away at night attending city functions, and Ben worked nights, we needed one meal a day to spend together since no one was around for dinner. Thus, "mandatory breakfast". The rule was, everyone had to be up early enough to be able to sit down as a family and eat breakfast together before taking off to their respective schools and places of employment, or in dad's case, the den. My only complaint...why didn't Mike and Carol ever have to go through this kind of torture?
"Where's Ben? I have a surprise and I want him to be here for it."
I just sat, slumped rather, in my chair. My dad's surprises were always stupid. Let's see...there was the time he was so bored he made me drive into the city with him to show my sister Carol the straight A's on my report card. Then there was the time he bought a pinball machine for the living room. Ben loved it, but I thought my mom was going to throw him out of the house. Needless to say, I wasn't breathlessly awaiting his impending surprise.
"BEN!!!!"
Ben came trudging around the corner and into the kitchen, bleary eyed, with a backpack slung over his shoulder. I felt bad for Ben. After a series of dead end jobs and brushes with the law, he decided to get his life together. He went back to college, this time majoring in communications, and started working nights as a video store clerk. Having to get up a half hour early just to eat breakfast with his family wasn't helping his sleeping schedule. Ben sat down at the table and we flashed each other sympathetic looks.
"Okay," my dad took a folded envelope out of his pocket with an exaggerated flourish. "This came the other day but I wanted to save it for when we were all together." He paused for dramatic effect. "It's a letter from Luke."
"Oh, Jason, let me see!" Much to my dad's dismay, mom grabbed the envelope out of his grasp and tore it open. Sometimes I think mom forgot that Luke wasn't one of her own flesh and blood children. Ignoring the wounded look on dad's face, mom began to read the letter out loud:
"Dear Everyone,
Sorry I haven't had time to write recently, but I've been very busy. Thanks for the invitation to Carol's wedding last year. I really wished I could've gone, but my aunt was very ill and I couldn't leave her. I would've written to tell you but I didn't want you to worry about me during such a happy time in your lives."
Mom stopped reading long enough to press her hand against her chest. "Ohhhhhhhhhh....."
My dad was getting impatient. "Keep reading, Maggie."
Mom cleared her throat and continued...
"Please give Carol my best. As for me, things have been going great. This weekend I graduate from U Florida at Gainesville with a degree in History. That savings bond you gave me for college when I was fifteen really helped, and between that, help from my aunt and money I put aside working, I was able to make my dream come true, and for that I am eternally grateful."
Mom paused, ready to coo again, but dad cleared his throat. She looked down quickly and continued to read.
"As a graduation present, my aunt is giving me a roundtrip plane ticket to wherever I want to go. I've given it much thought, and after considering places such as California, Hawaii and London, I've decided that where I really want to go is Long Island."
Ben interrupted. "Why would he want to go to Long Island, he's already been here?"
I looked at Ben. "You really have no clue, do you?"
Ben gave me a dirty look. "Bite me."
"Ben! Chrissy! Can I finish?"
We were both silent.
"If you'll have me, I'd love to come see you all after I graduaaaaaaaaeeeeeeeeeeeeee................"
Mom jumped up from the table. "Luke's coming to visit!"
Dad, still brooding because Mon stole his thunder, rubbed his ear. "That's wonderful, Maggie, but I think you just broke the sound barrier with that squeal..."
"Oh, we have so much to do! Ben, we'll have to get a roll away bed to put in your room...I need to go to the grocery store..." Mom looked at her watch. "Oh! I have to go to work!"
As mom ran out the door, Ben stood up as well. "This is going to be great! I can't believe Luke's coming home!"
"He's not coming home, Ben, he doesn't even live here." I stood and gathered my books for school, trying to form a picture in my head of the Luke I remembered from when I was a child. The picture was fuzzy.
"You probably don't remember, but he was like a brother to me! Yeah! This is so great!" He grabbed his stuff. "C'mon, Chris, I'll drop you off."
I followed Ben out the door, still trying to remember. You're right Ben, I thought to myself. I don't.
Being a student at Dewey High and being a Seaver at the same time is something I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy. Let's see, where do I begin. My oldest brother, Mike, was Principal Dewitt's worst nightmare. I've heard rumors that at one time the old coot even had a restraining order against him. Then there was my sister Carol, little miss genius. The pride of the Seaver family. And Ben...well, let's just say he's had his share of problems. Just when Mr. Dewitt finally thought he'd run out of Seaver children to torture him, along came me. I've managed to keep him guessing though. It's fun. I have to admit, today was one of my better days.
"Christine," Dewitt was sitting behind his desk, looking about as old as the antique itself. "Do you remember what I told you the last time you were caught smoking in the girls room?"
"I believe your exact words were Not even Mike has ever sunk this low."
Dewitt shuddered at the mention of my brother's name. "No, after that."
"I can't seem to remember," I lied.
"I told you the next time it happened, you'd be suspended."
I looked at him expectantly.
"You're suspended."
"Ok, but what about the science fair tomorrow?"
"What?"
"You know, the big science fair...Dewey wins a first place ribbon and we get a grant from the state...the one I won last year with my radio-controlled robot fish? I entered again this year. My project is..." I waved my hand for emphasis, "a solar powered camera. My brother even used it to shoot a scene for the video he's working on in college."
Mr. Dewitt shifted uncomfortably, and I wasn't sure if it was because of my reference to Ben or because he knew I had him cornered. "You didn't let me finish. You're suspended for one day. You'll be able to do the science fair tomorrow."
"Okay," I cheerfully replied.
"I'm going to have to call your parents to pick you up, and to discuss what happened..." He began to pick up the phone on his desk.
"Oh, they're not home, they went to pick someone up at the airport. They won't be back until late."
"Well, I have to call someone. Who else is there?" Dewitt held his finger over the keypad, poised to dial a number.
"The only person available to pick me up is my brother...Mike." I tried not to smirk too noticeably.
Dewitt hung up the phone, defeated. "Never mind. Go back to class."
"Sure, Mr. Dewitt." I picked up my belongings and left the office. Once outside the door, I stopped abruptly and said to myself, "Oops, did I say Mike was the only one available to pick me up? My bad. I meant Kate."
When I got home that afternoon, my parents were still gone. But I wasn't alone. The Caravan and the Lincoln in the driveway said it all. My brother, my sister, and their families were here. I braced myself and headed through the door.
"Auntie Chrissy's home!!!!!"
Walking into my living room was like walking into Armageddon, only louder. Mike and Stewart, Carol's husband, were in the living room trying to get a fire going in the fireplace. Stewart's son Jonathan was sitting quietly on the couch amidst a sea of commotion, but his face lit up when he saw me. He stood and tried to make his way over to me, but not before five other children bombarded me and almost knocked me to the floor. I hugged and kissed each one of them in turn. "Hi Charlotte, hi Caitlyn, hi Jeremy, hi Mia, hi Mark, hi Hannah." They all turned and headed outside though the kitchen to play on the playground equipment that my parents bought just for them, leaving Jonathan standing alone in front of me.
"Hello Aunt Christine," he held out his hand and I took it.
"You know, " I said as I led him over to the couch, "you can call me Chrissy. I've been your aunt for six months, I think you can relax a little, Johnny."
"I know, I just forget." Johnny held onto my hand and remained quiet until Mike and Stewart went into the kitchen to find Kate and Carol. Then he snuggled nearer to me. "I'm worried, Christine."
I turned and looked at him. Jonathan was about eight years old, but much like his stepmother years ago, he was mature beyond his age. I think it had something to do with his mother dying when he was very young. And although he was very close to his father, and even closer than anyone could ever have dreamed possible to Carol, he somehow singled me out as his favorite, his confidante. And so I was happy to oblige. I looked at him closely. "Why are you worried?"
He looked down, ashamed. "The baby," he murmured.
Aha. I had wondered when this was going to start. Much to her dismay, a month after her wedding Carol discovered she was pregnant. I found the situation pretty amusing, seeing as just months earlier Carol was a Wall Street lawyer with no intention of even so much as marrying...then suddenly she was married with one child and another on the way. However, surprising to all of us, Carol embraced the idea whole-heartedly. She decreased her caseload at work, and started spending much more time with mom and Kate, discussing things like drapes and diapers. Carol Seaver-Marquette had done a complete one-eighty.
"What exactly about this baby worries you?" I pulled Johnny up onto my lap and cuddled him.
"What if she keeps having them?"
I was confused. "Huh?"
"Like Uncle Michael and Aunt Kate. Look at all the kids they have. And they're all so loud! Don't get me wrong, I love my cousins, but it's so hard to think or concentrate when they're here, being so noisy."
I was starting to understand, although I thought the situation was kind of funny. "Johnny, I honestly don't think you have anything to worry about. I've known my sister a very long time, and I'm shocked enough that she's having a baby at all. The idea of Carol with five kids is just...it's not gonna happen."
"Did you ever think, when you were little, that Uncle Mike would have five kids?"
I always thought Mike would end up in jail...or possibly deported. "Um...no, not really. But Mike and Carol are very different people."
Johnny rolled his eyes. "You're telling me."
I smiled. "But people can surprise you, Johnny. And you know what? Even if your dad and Carol have TEN kids, they'll still love you every bit as much and you'll love your brothers and sisters, even if they are noisy. I promise."
Just then, I heard Mike from the kitchen. "So, Carol, I see your gaining weight again...what's the matter, the Alpo diet not working for you?"
Johnny looked up at me. "Do you love your brothers and sister?"
I squeezed him. "Most of the time."
Ben got home before my parents did, which surprised me. His boss at World O'Video let him off early due to Luke's pending arrival. Mike and Kate's kids were starting to get tired and cranky, so Kate brought them home after Ben promised Mike he'd give him a ride home later. Carol and Johnny fell asleep in the living room. Mike, Stewart, Ben and I were playing a rousing game of Yahtzee at the kitchen table when finally, around 8:30, the front door opened.
"Kids! We're home!" Mom yelled out, before noticing her sleeping daughter and grandson on the couch. "Oops. Shhhhhh."
Mike and Ben jumped out of their chairs, nearly knocking them over, and ran out to the living room. Stewart and I just looked at each other. Amid a chorus of "Luke!!!!!" and "Mike! Ben!" I shook the little cup and dumped out the dice. I began to write down my score.
"Don't you want to go see Luke?" Stewart asked.
"I don't really know him." I stopped and thought about it for a second. "I mean, I don't even really remember what he looks like. Well, except that he had blond hair."
"How old were you the last time you saw him?"
"Eight...Johnny's age, actually. It seems so long ago."
"And you don't remember anything? Anything at all??"
"Well...I remember drawing him a picture. It was for his birthday I think. I drew a house, and my mom, dad, Mike, Carol, Ben, me...and Luke."
"You must've really liked him a lot to go to all that trouble."
I thought about it for a second, before I realized that Stewart was right. He was always right. I smiled. "No wonder Carol likes you so much."
Stewart stretched back in his chair. "Just doing my job." We stood up. "C'mon, lets go check this guy out."
I stood in the doorway between the living room and the kitchen, watching the scene unfold before me like a family reunion. The boys - Mike, Ben and Luke - were going crazy...hugging, laughing, trying to fit years worth of stories into single sentences. My parents were trying to quiet them down. "Boys! You're going to wake up Carol and Jonathan!"
"Too late." Yawning, Carol rose from the couch, her slightly protruding stomach and motherly glow surprising Luke.
"Carol!" He went over to her. "You're pregnant!" He grabbed her and hugged her, taking care not to press against her stomach.
"I know!" Carol was laughing, obviously happy to see Luke.
My parents, brothers, sister, and Luke continued their celebration until after a minute or two Luke looked around and asked, "Where's Chrissy?"
Suddenly, they all looked around, Ben mumbling "She was just here a minute ago..."
My dad saw me in the doorway and urged me into the living room. "Chrissy, come say hi to Luke."
"Jason, she may not really remember him, it was a long time ago."
Luke looked up, and our eyes met. Suddenly a rush of memories came back to me...I remember him now! I remember how he used to play tea party and Barbies with me without me even having to ask! I remember how he used to get after Ben when he teased me! And I remember how much I cried when he left to go live with his father.
"Chrissy?" Luke seemed shocked to see me, but then, I looked a lot different than I did all those years ago. Luke seemed different too. Older, obviously, and his hair was shorter. "Is that really you?"
Suddenly I felt really choked up. I ran across the living room and into Luke waiting arms.
A GROWING PAINS STORY
"Growing Up Is Hard To Do"
Chapter One
"This is great. This is so great. I'm so glad I thought of this, aren't you Maggie?"
I just sat there, and tried not to roll my eyes as I ate my toast. My dad could be so lame sometimes.
"Yes, Jason," my mom said in her typically patronizing way. I think sometimes she felt bad for my dad, seeing as he was the only one who didn't have a reason to leave the house on a regular basis. It was because he was a writer...he spent all of his time sitting in the den in front of his laptop writing mystery novels. It was a good paying gig, but it was lonely work, and sometimes he would cling a little too closely to my mom and Ben and I. For his newest act of desperation, my dad decided that since Mom was usually away at night attending city functions, and Ben worked nights, we needed one meal a day to spend together since no one was around for dinner. Thus, "mandatory breakfast". The rule was, everyone had to be up early enough to be able to sit down as a family and eat breakfast together before taking off to their respective schools and places of employment, or in dad's case, the den. My only complaint...why didn't Mike and Carol ever have to go through this kind of torture?
"Where's Ben? I have a surprise and I want him to be here for it."
I just sat, slumped rather, in my chair. My dad's surprises were always stupid. Let's see...there was the time he was so bored he made me drive into the city with him to show my sister Carol the straight A's on my report card. Then there was the time he bought a pinball machine for the living room. Ben loved it, but I thought my mom was going to throw him out of the house. Needless to say, I wasn't breathlessly awaiting his impending surprise.
"BEN!!!!"
Ben came trudging around the corner and into the kitchen, bleary eyed, with a backpack slung over his shoulder. I felt bad for Ben. After a series of dead end jobs and brushes with the law, he decided to get his life together. He went back to college, this time majoring in communications, and started working nights as a video store clerk. Having to get up a half hour early just to eat breakfast with his family wasn't helping his sleeping schedule. Ben sat down at the table and we flashed each other sympathetic looks.
"Okay," my dad took a folded envelope out of his pocket with an exaggerated flourish. "This came the other day but I wanted to save it for when we were all together." He paused for dramatic effect. "It's a letter from Luke."
"Oh, Jason, let me see!" Much to my dad's dismay, mom grabbed the envelope out of his grasp and tore it open. Sometimes I think mom forgot that Luke wasn't one of her own flesh and blood children. Ignoring the wounded look on dad's face, mom began to read the letter out loud:
"Dear Everyone,
Sorry I haven't had time to write recently, but I've been very busy. Thanks for the invitation to Carol's wedding last year. I really wished I could've gone, but my aunt was very ill and I couldn't leave her. I would've written to tell you but I didn't want you to worry about me during such a happy time in your lives."
Mom stopped reading long enough to press her hand against her chest. "Ohhhhhhhhhh....."
My dad was getting impatient. "Keep reading, Maggie."
Mom cleared her throat and continued...
"Please give Carol my best. As for me, things have been going great. This weekend I graduate from U Florida at Gainesville with a degree in History. That savings bond you gave me for college when I was fifteen really helped, and between that, help from my aunt and money I put aside working, I was able to make my dream come true, and for that I am eternally grateful."
Mom paused, ready to coo again, but dad cleared his throat. She looked down quickly and continued to read.
"As a graduation present, my aunt is giving me a roundtrip plane ticket to wherever I want to go. I've given it much thought, and after considering places such as California, Hawaii and London, I've decided that where I really want to go is Long Island."
Ben interrupted. "Why would he want to go to Long Island, he's already been here?"
I looked at Ben. "You really have no clue, do you?"
Ben gave me a dirty look. "Bite me."
"Ben! Chrissy! Can I finish?"
We were both silent.
"If you'll have me, I'd love to come see you all after I graduaaaaaaaaeeeeeeeeeeeeee................"
Mom jumped up from the table. "Luke's coming to visit!"
Dad, still brooding because Mon stole his thunder, rubbed his ear. "That's wonderful, Maggie, but I think you just broke the sound barrier with that squeal..."
"Oh, we have so much to do! Ben, we'll have to get a roll away bed to put in your room...I need to go to the grocery store..." Mom looked at her watch. "Oh! I have to go to work!"
As mom ran out the door, Ben stood up as well. "This is going to be great! I can't believe Luke's coming home!"
"He's not coming home, Ben, he doesn't even live here." I stood and gathered my books for school, trying to form a picture in my head of the Luke I remembered from when I was a child. The picture was fuzzy.
"You probably don't remember, but he was like a brother to me! Yeah! This is so great!" He grabbed his stuff. "C'mon, Chris, I'll drop you off."
I followed Ben out the door, still trying to remember. You're right Ben, I thought to myself. I don't.
Being a student at Dewey High and being a Seaver at the same time is something I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy. Let's see, where do I begin. My oldest brother, Mike, was Principal Dewitt's worst nightmare. I've heard rumors that at one time the old coot even had a restraining order against him. Then there was my sister Carol, little miss genius. The pride of the Seaver family. And Ben...well, let's just say he's had his share of problems. Just when Mr. Dewitt finally thought he'd run out of Seaver children to torture him, along came me. I've managed to keep him guessing though. It's fun. I have to admit, today was one of my better days.
"Christine," Dewitt was sitting behind his desk, looking about as old as the antique itself. "Do you remember what I told you the last time you were caught smoking in the girls room?"
"I believe your exact words were Not even Mike has ever sunk this low."
Dewitt shuddered at the mention of my brother's name. "No, after that."
"I can't seem to remember," I lied.
"I told you the next time it happened, you'd be suspended."
I looked at him expectantly.
"You're suspended."
"Ok, but what about the science fair tomorrow?"
"What?"
"You know, the big science fair...Dewey wins a first place ribbon and we get a grant from the state...the one I won last year with my radio-controlled robot fish? I entered again this year. My project is..." I waved my hand for emphasis, "a solar powered camera. My brother even used it to shoot a scene for the video he's working on in college."
Mr. Dewitt shifted uncomfortably, and I wasn't sure if it was because of my reference to Ben or because he knew I had him cornered. "You didn't let me finish. You're suspended for one day. You'll be able to do the science fair tomorrow."
"Okay," I cheerfully replied.
"I'm going to have to call your parents to pick you up, and to discuss what happened..." He began to pick up the phone on his desk.
"Oh, they're not home, they went to pick someone up at the airport. They won't be back until late."
"Well, I have to call someone. Who else is there?" Dewitt held his finger over the keypad, poised to dial a number.
"The only person available to pick me up is my brother...Mike." I tried not to smirk too noticeably.
Dewitt hung up the phone, defeated. "Never mind. Go back to class."
"Sure, Mr. Dewitt." I picked up my belongings and left the office. Once outside the door, I stopped abruptly and said to myself, "Oops, did I say Mike was the only one available to pick me up? My bad. I meant Kate."
When I got home that afternoon, my parents were still gone. But I wasn't alone. The Caravan and the Lincoln in the driveway said it all. My brother, my sister, and their families were here. I braced myself and headed through the door.
"Auntie Chrissy's home!!!!!"
Walking into my living room was like walking into Armageddon, only louder. Mike and Stewart, Carol's husband, were in the living room trying to get a fire going in the fireplace. Stewart's son Jonathan was sitting quietly on the couch amidst a sea of commotion, but his face lit up when he saw me. He stood and tried to make his way over to me, but not before five other children bombarded me and almost knocked me to the floor. I hugged and kissed each one of them in turn. "Hi Charlotte, hi Caitlyn, hi Jeremy, hi Mia, hi Mark, hi Hannah." They all turned and headed outside though the kitchen to play on the playground equipment that my parents bought just for them, leaving Jonathan standing alone in front of me.
"Hello Aunt Christine," he held out his hand and I took it.
"You know, " I said as I led him over to the couch, "you can call me Chrissy. I've been your aunt for six months, I think you can relax a little, Johnny."
"I know, I just forget." Johnny held onto my hand and remained quiet until Mike and Stewart went into the kitchen to find Kate and Carol. Then he snuggled nearer to me. "I'm worried, Christine."
I turned and looked at him. Jonathan was about eight years old, but much like his stepmother years ago, he was mature beyond his age. I think it had something to do with his mother dying when he was very young. And although he was very close to his father, and even closer than anyone could ever have dreamed possible to Carol, he somehow singled me out as his favorite, his confidante. And so I was happy to oblige. I looked at him closely. "Why are you worried?"
He looked down, ashamed. "The baby," he murmured.
Aha. I had wondered when this was going to start. Much to her dismay, a month after her wedding Carol discovered she was pregnant. I found the situation pretty amusing, seeing as just months earlier Carol was a Wall Street lawyer with no intention of even so much as marrying...then suddenly she was married with one child and another on the way. However, surprising to all of us, Carol embraced the idea whole-heartedly. She decreased her caseload at work, and started spending much more time with mom and Kate, discussing things like drapes and diapers. Carol Seaver-Marquette had done a complete one-eighty.
"What exactly about this baby worries you?" I pulled Johnny up onto my lap and cuddled him.
"What if she keeps having them?"
I was confused. "Huh?"
"Like Uncle Michael and Aunt Kate. Look at all the kids they have. And they're all so loud! Don't get me wrong, I love my cousins, but it's so hard to think or concentrate when they're here, being so noisy."
I was starting to understand, although I thought the situation was kind of funny. "Johnny, I honestly don't think you have anything to worry about. I've known my sister a very long time, and I'm shocked enough that she's having a baby at all. The idea of Carol with five kids is just...it's not gonna happen."
"Did you ever think, when you were little, that Uncle Mike would have five kids?"
I always thought Mike would end up in jail...or possibly deported. "Um...no, not really. But Mike and Carol are very different people."
Johnny rolled his eyes. "You're telling me."
I smiled. "But people can surprise you, Johnny. And you know what? Even if your dad and Carol have TEN kids, they'll still love you every bit as much and you'll love your brothers and sisters, even if they are noisy. I promise."
Just then, I heard Mike from the kitchen. "So, Carol, I see your gaining weight again...what's the matter, the Alpo diet not working for you?"
Johnny looked up at me. "Do you love your brothers and sister?"
I squeezed him. "Most of the time."
Ben got home before my parents did, which surprised me. His boss at World O'Video let him off early due to Luke's pending arrival. Mike and Kate's kids were starting to get tired and cranky, so Kate brought them home after Ben promised Mike he'd give him a ride home later. Carol and Johnny fell asleep in the living room. Mike, Stewart, Ben and I were playing a rousing game of Yahtzee at the kitchen table when finally, around 8:30, the front door opened.
"Kids! We're home!" Mom yelled out, before noticing her sleeping daughter and grandson on the couch. "Oops. Shhhhhh."
Mike and Ben jumped out of their chairs, nearly knocking them over, and ran out to the living room. Stewart and I just looked at each other. Amid a chorus of "Luke!!!!!" and "Mike! Ben!" I shook the little cup and dumped out the dice. I began to write down my score.
"Don't you want to go see Luke?" Stewart asked.
"I don't really know him." I stopped and thought about it for a second. "I mean, I don't even really remember what he looks like. Well, except that he had blond hair."
"How old were you the last time you saw him?"
"Eight...Johnny's age, actually. It seems so long ago."
"And you don't remember anything? Anything at all??"
"Well...I remember drawing him a picture. It was for his birthday I think. I drew a house, and my mom, dad, Mike, Carol, Ben, me...and Luke."
"You must've really liked him a lot to go to all that trouble."
I thought about it for a second, before I realized that Stewart was right. He was always right. I smiled. "No wonder Carol likes you so much."
Stewart stretched back in his chair. "Just doing my job." We stood up. "C'mon, lets go check this guy out."
I stood in the doorway between the living room and the kitchen, watching the scene unfold before me like a family reunion. The boys - Mike, Ben and Luke - were going crazy...hugging, laughing, trying to fit years worth of stories into single sentences. My parents were trying to quiet them down. "Boys! You're going to wake up Carol and Jonathan!"
"Too late." Yawning, Carol rose from the couch, her slightly protruding stomach and motherly glow surprising Luke.
"Carol!" He went over to her. "You're pregnant!" He grabbed her and hugged her, taking care not to press against her stomach.
"I know!" Carol was laughing, obviously happy to see Luke.
My parents, brothers, sister, and Luke continued their celebration until after a minute or two Luke looked around and asked, "Where's Chrissy?"
Suddenly, they all looked around, Ben mumbling "She was just here a minute ago..."
My dad saw me in the doorway and urged me into the living room. "Chrissy, come say hi to Luke."
"Jason, she may not really remember him, it was a long time ago."
Luke looked up, and our eyes met. Suddenly a rush of memories came back to me...I remember him now! I remember how he used to play tea party and Barbies with me without me even having to ask! I remember how he used to get after Ben when he teased me! And I remember how much I cried when he left to go live with his father.
"Chrissy?" Luke seemed shocked to see me, but then, I looked a lot different than I did all those years ago. Luke seemed different too. Older, obviously, and his hair was shorter. "Is that really you?"
Suddenly I felt really choked up. I ran across the living room and into Luke waiting arms.