Part 2: Tuesday
"What do you think?" Doug asked. He and Carol were in their room getting ready for the day.
"I guess I would like to know how the girls feel about it before I make a decision," Carol told him. "Where did this come from anyway?"
"It has just been floating around in the back of my mind for a few years. I think this is as good as time as any to start fostering kids again. Tess and Kate are older, and Meg doesn't need us much as she used to," he explained.
"Talk to the girls," Carol told him before leaving the room.
Across the hall, Tess pulled her hair back away form her face. She was standing in front of the mirror trying to make herself look more mature. Nothing seemed to work.
"Tess, hurry up. We are going to be late, and I do not feel like serving detention this week," Kate told her sister.
Tess pulled her hair back into a bun. It would have to do.
"What is with your hair?" Kate asked.
"I'm trying to look mature. Does it look that bad?" Tess questioned.
"No, I was just wondering," Kate replied. "And Tess before I forget, I wanted to tell you that you aren't like all your stuck-up friends. You're doing the right thing."
"Thanks," Tess told her. Having Kate admit Tess was doing the right thing gave her just the added confidence she needed to tell the cheerleading coach that Tessa Rose should have to spot on the cheer team.
Doug dropped Tess and Kate off at school as usual although normally Kate was the last one out of the car. Today Tess looked pained. Doug gave her a reassuring smile as she closed the car door.
Tess had hard time paying attention in class that day. She was in her own world. She tried to run over the conversation in her head. At the end of the day, she walked to the locker room. The coach was standing near the door. Tess felt as if she were walking the longest few feet of her live.
"Miss Acker, I need to speak with you," Tess said trying to keep her voice from shaking.
The coach led Tess into an empty athletic office.
Tess took a deep breath before she began to say, "I want to tell you that I think Tessa should have my spot on the team."
A strange look came across Miss Acker's face, "Tess, I don't know what to say. I thought you wanted to be on the team?" she asked.
"I did. I mean I do, but not if I didn't deserve it," Tess said calmly.
"You are showing an extreme amount of integrity by coming forward like this, and you are showing maturity beyond your age. However, I have spoken with the Athletic Director, and he has agreed to give us the funding to purchase another uniform," the coach explained.
"What does that mean?" Tess asked.
"You and Tessa are both on the team," Miss Acker replied.
Tess grinned.
"You better hurry. I make anyone who is late run extra laps," Miss Acker told her.
Tess turned and hurried to change into practice clothes.
Back at the Ross', Meg opened the medicine cabinet trying to find a band aid. The box was empty. "Kate, there aren't any," she yelled.
"Go check in Mom and Dad's bathroom," Kate told her.
Meg made her way up the stairs and into her parents bathroom. She opened the top cabinet and shoveled the contents around. She did the same with the second one. After a few minutes, Kate appeared and helped Meg in her search for a band-aid. Meg's hand landed on something small, and she pulled it out.
"Kate, what is this?" Meg asked her sister.
Kate grabbed the item and read the label. "It's a condom," Kate replied shoving it back in the cabinet.
"What is it for?" Meg questioned.
"Uhh," Kate stalled, "I'm not really sure ask Mom."
Meg shrugged and made a mental note to ask Carol when she came home.
"Meg, could you get the lettuce out of the refrigerator?" Carol asked as she was preparing dinner later that evening.
Meg retrieved the lettuce and remembered her question from earlier. "What do you use a condom for?" she asked.
"Well," Carol began, "I helps when a couple doesn't want to have a baby. Why are you asking this?"
"Kate and I were trying to find a band-aid today, and we found one in your bathroom," Meg explained.
"I see, and did you ever find the bandages?" Carol questioned.
"No, there wasn't even an empty box in your bathroom," Meg replied.
"That is strange. I just bought some last week at the store," Carol thought out loud.
Kate walked into the room and grabbed a box of crackers.
"Kate, dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes," Carol told her.
"I'm hungry now," Kate answered.
"Have some fruit," Carol said.
Kate put the crackers back and took an orange out of the fruit bowl.
"Kate, did you ever find out what happened to the bandages?" Carol asked.
"Oh, yeah. Tess took them all. What is she using them for is beyond me," Kate stated.
Kate went up to her room, and fifteen minutes later Tess came down to model her cheerleading uniform.
"I thought you were going to talk to the coach?" Carol questioned.
"I did, but they worked it out so Tessa and I can both be on the team," Tess explained.
"Dad is home," Meg called from the other room.
"Hello, my lovelies," Doug said as walked into the kitchen carrying Meg like an oversized baby.
"You're going to throw your back out doing that," Carol warned.
"Tempting, but I'm sure the hospital wouldn't let me go on disability," he replied. "Where is Kate?"
"Upstairs, listening to her depressing moaning music," Tess told him.
"Could you go get her? I have something I want to talk to all of you about," Doug said.
Tess found Kate sitting on the bathroom counter. Kate was examining the new purple ends of her hair.
"Mom is going to freak," Tess told her twin.
"She'll get over it," Kate responded.
"Nice thinking, but you may want to wear a hat or something," Tess stated. "Come here."
Kate followed Tess into Tess' room. Tess dug into her closet and pulled out a black ski hat. She tucked Kate's hair under it.
"Does it look like I'm trying to hide something?" Kate asked.
"Just wear the hat all the time. They won't question it. They'll think you are trying out some new freak style or something," Tess said smiling.
"Thanks," Kate told her as they walked downstairs.
"Have a seat," Doug told them. He looked up and asked, "Kate, are you cold?"
"No, not really," she answered.
"What is with the hat?" he questioned.
"I don't know. I like how it looks," Kate mumbled.
"I like your hair. I want to see it," Carol said trying to take the hat off.
"Mom, stop," Kate complained. She pulled the hat down over her ears.
"All right, let's get this meeting started," Tess announced.
"Well, do remember when we used to take in foster kids?" Doug asked the girls.
"Like that one kid that didn't speak English?" Tess questioned. "Yeah, we remember."
"What would do you think if we had another kid stay here?" Doug asked.
"Mom, didn't work before. Who is going to take care of it?" Kate asked.
"He or she can have the same babysitter as Meg," Carol replied.
"And their going to be sharing a room with Meg too," Tess said under her breath.
"All right," Carol said with slight irritation in her voice. "I know what you two think. Meg, do you have anything to say?"
"Why are you doing this?" Meg asked. "Aren't we good enough for you?"
"That isn't it at all. We have a wonderful family, and we could help a child," Carol explained.
Meg thought for a moment and said, "I still don't really understand."
"We're just thinking about. Nothing more," Doug told them. "How much longer until dinner?"
"A few minutes," Carol replied.
"Enough time for a tickle attack," he said before advancing on Meg.
"Help, somebody!" Meg shrieked.
"Sorry, shorty, you're on your own," Kate said.
"I have to change," Tess told her sister.
"Daddy, stop!" Meg begged between bouts of laughter.
"All right," he said throwing up his hands. "Go wash your hands, and I'll call a truce."
Meg ran down the hall to the bathroom.
Kate sat at the table picking at the table clothes.
"Doug, you need to be more careful about where you keep the prophylactics," Carol told him. "Kate and Meg came across one in our bathroom this afternoon."
"What did you tell them?" Doug asked in a near whisper.
"Well, Meg asked me about it, and I explained what it was for. I'm not sure about Kate," Carol said loud enough for Kate to hear.
"I'm fine other than the emotional scares I am going to carry with me until I'm forty," Kate told them.
"Oh, is that all?" Carol laughed as she said this.
Note from Banana Belle
Thank you for the wonderful reviews. I wasn't sure about this story, and your words gave me a little extra confidence. I normally write stories I want to read but are missing or uncommon in the fan fiction world. Thanks again, keep reading, and I'll keep writing.
"What do you think?" Doug asked. He and Carol were in their room getting ready for the day.
"I guess I would like to know how the girls feel about it before I make a decision," Carol told him. "Where did this come from anyway?"
"It has just been floating around in the back of my mind for a few years. I think this is as good as time as any to start fostering kids again. Tess and Kate are older, and Meg doesn't need us much as she used to," he explained.
"Talk to the girls," Carol told him before leaving the room.
Across the hall, Tess pulled her hair back away form her face. She was standing in front of the mirror trying to make herself look more mature. Nothing seemed to work.
"Tess, hurry up. We are going to be late, and I do not feel like serving detention this week," Kate told her sister.
Tess pulled her hair back into a bun. It would have to do.
"What is with your hair?" Kate asked.
"I'm trying to look mature. Does it look that bad?" Tess questioned.
"No, I was just wondering," Kate replied. "And Tess before I forget, I wanted to tell you that you aren't like all your stuck-up friends. You're doing the right thing."
"Thanks," Tess told her. Having Kate admit Tess was doing the right thing gave her just the added confidence she needed to tell the cheerleading coach that Tessa Rose should have to spot on the cheer team.
Doug dropped Tess and Kate off at school as usual although normally Kate was the last one out of the car. Today Tess looked pained. Doug gave her a reassuring smile as she closed the car door.
Tess had hard time paying attention in class that day. She was in her own world. She tried to run over the conversation in her head. At the end of the day, she walked to the locker room. The coach was standing near the door. Tess felt as if she were walking the longest few feet of her live.
"Miss Acker, I need to speak with you," Tess said trying to keep her voice from shaking.
The coach led Tess into an empty athletic office.
Tess took a deep breath before she began to say, "I want to tell you that I think Tessa should have my spot on the team."
A strange look came across Miss Acker's face, "Tess, I don't know what to say. I thought you wanted to be on the team?" she asked.
"I did. I mean I do, but not if I didn't deserve it," Tess said calmly.
"You are showing an extreme amount of integrity by coming forward like this, and you are showing maturity beyond your age. However, I have spoken with the Athletic Director, and he has agreed to give us the funding to purchase another uniform," the coach explained.
"What does that mean?" Tess asked.
"You and Tessa are both on the team," Miss Acker replied.
Tess grinned.
"You better hurry. I make anyone who is late run extra laps," Miss Acker told her.
Tess turned and hurried to change into practice clothes.
Back at the Ross', Meg opened the medicine cabinet trying to find a band aid. The box was empty. "Kate, there aren't any," she yelled.
"Go check in Mom and Dad's bathroom," Kate told her.
Meg made her way up the stairs and into her parents bathroom. She opened the top cabinet and shoveled the contents around. She did the same with the second one. After a few minutes, Kate appeared and helped Meg in her search for a band-aid. Meg's hand landed on something small, and she pulled it out.
"Kate, what is this?" Meg asked her sister.
Kate grabbed the item and read the label. "It's a condom," Kate replied shoving it back in the cabinet.
"What is it for?" Meg questioned.
"Uhh," Kate stalled, "I'm not really sure ask Mom."
Meg shrugged and made a mental note to ask Carol when she came home.
"Meg, could you get the lettuce out of the refrigerator?" Carol asked as she was preparing dinner later that evening.
Meg retrieved the lettuce and remembered her question from earlier. "What do you use a condom for?" she asked.
"Well," Carol began, "I helps when a couple doesn't want to have a baby. Why are you asking this?"
"Kate and I were trying to find a band-aid today, and we found one in your bathroom," Meg explained.
"I see, and did you ever find the bandages?" Carol questioned.
"No, there wasn't even an empty box in your bathroom," Meg replied.
"That is strange. I just bought some last week at the store," Carol thought out loud.
Kate walked into the room and grabbed a box of crackers.
"Kate, dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes," Carol told her.
"I'm hungry now," Kate answered.
"Have some fruit," Carol said.
Kate put the crackers back and took an orange out of the fruit bowl.
"Kate, did you ever find out what happened to the bandages?" Carol asked.
"Oh, yeah. Tess took them all. What is she using them for is beyond me," Kate stated.
Kate went up to her room, and fifteen minutes later Tess came down to model her cheerleading uniform.
"I thought you were going to talk to the coach?" Carol questioned.
"I did, but they worked it out so Tessa and I can both be on the team," Tess explained.
"Dad is home," Meg called from the other room.
"Hello, my lovelies," Doug said as walked into the kitchen carrying Meg like an oversized baby.
"You're going to throw your back out doing that," Carol warned.
"Tempting, but I'm sure the hospital wouldn't let me go on disability," he replied. "Where is Kate?"
"Upstairs, listening to her depressing moaning music," Tess told him.
"Could you go get her? I have something I want to talk to all of you about," Doug said.
Tess found Kate sitting on the bathroom counter. Kate was examining the new purple ends of her hair.
"Mom is going to freak," Tess told her twin.
"She'll get over it," Kate responded.
"Nice thinking, but you may want to wear a hat or something," Tess stated. "Come here."
Kate followed Tess into Tess' room. Tess dug into her closet and pulled out a black ski hat. She tucked Kate's hair under it.
"Does it look like I'm trying to hide something?" Kate asked.
"Just wear the hat all the time. They won't question it. They'll think you are trying out some new freak style or something," Tess said smiling.
"Thanks," Kate told her as they walked downstairs.
"Have a seat," Doug told them. He looked up and asked, "Kate, are you cold?"
"No, not really," she answered.
"What is with the hat?" he questioned.
"I don't know. I like how it looks," Kate mumbled.
"I like your hair. I want to see it," Carol said trying to take the hat off.
"Mom, stop," Kate complained. She pulled the hat down over her ears.
"All right, let's get this meeting started," Tess announced.
"Well, do remember when we used to take in foster kids?" Doug asked the girls.
"Like that one kid that didn't speak English?" Tess questioned. "Yeah, we remember."
"What would do you think if we had another kid stay here?" Doug asked.
"Mom, didn't work before. Who is going to take care of it?" Kate asked.
"He or she can have the same babysitter as Meg," Carol replied.
"And their going to be sharing a room with Meg too," Tess said under her breath.
"All right," Carol said with slight irritation in her voice. "I know what you two think. Meg, do you have anything to say?"
"Why are you doing this?" Meg asked. "Aren't we good enough for you?"
"That isn't it at all. We have a wonderful family, and we could help a child," Carol explained.
Meg thought for a moment and said, "I still don't really understand."
"We're just thinking about. Nothing more," Doug told them. "How much longer until dinner?"
"A few minutes," Carol replied.
"Enough time for a tickle attack," he said before advancing on Meg.
"Help, somebody!" Meg shrieked.
"Sorry, shorty, you're on your own," Kate said.
"I have to change," Tess told her sister.
"Daddy, stop!" Meg begged between bouts of laughter.
"All right," he said throwing up his hands. "Go wash your hands, and I'll call a truce."
Meg ran down the hall to the bathroom.
Kate sat at the table picking at the table clothes.
"Doug, you need to be more careful about where you keep the prophylactics," Carol told him. "Kate and Meg came across one in our bathroom this afternoon."
"What did you tell them?" Doug asked in a near whisper.
"Well, Meg asked me about it, and I explained what it was for. I'm not sure about Kate," Carol said loud enough for Kate to hear.
"I'm fine other than the emotional scares I am going to carry with me until I'm forty," Kate told them.
"Oh, is that all?" Carol laughed as she said this.
Note from Banana Belle
Thank you for the wonderful reviews. I wasn't sure about this story, and your words gave me a little extra confidence. I normally write stories I want to read but are missing or uncommon in the fan fiction world. Thanks again, keep reading, and I'll keep writing.