Chapter 31: Family Upbringings!

ONE MONTH LATER!

The Chipmunks, The Chipettes, and Dave gathered together in order to help Eleanor and Theodore prepare for their grand opening of their very first day in the restaurant business. Simon and Jeanette helped out with the paper work, while their kids took orders on where to set up the utensils and napkins on the tables as well as sweeping the floor and other tiny work assigned. Dave and Alvin took care of some last minute carpentry work with shelves in the kitchen, and displays in the dinning sections. Theodore and Eleanor were cooking some of pre-cooked entrées for the grand opening. While everyone was busy doing something, Brittany was busy filing her fingernails.

As Eleanor came out with a tray sandwiches for all the hard working helpers she noticed her sister sitting on the side not doing any work at all. Fuming she walked up to Brittany, and places her hands on her hips. "Brittany, I'm sure you can help a little around here?"

"Heelloo! I'm pregnant here." Brittany explained as she pointed to her still very flat belly.

"Oh, Brittany!" Eleanor said as she waved her hands up in the air in defeat. There was no reasoning with her whenever she is like this.

"Brittany. You are only one month in your trimester period. I'm sure a little work around here is not going to hurt you, or the baby." Jeanette pointed out.

"Fine." Brittany huffed in annoyance as she got out of her chair. "What do you need me to do, Eleanor?"

"How about washing the dishes?" Eleanor suggested.

"Dishes? No way, and get 'dish-pan hands'?" Brittany protested as she held out her soft clean hands.

"Brittany!!" Both Ellie and Jeanette warned in unison. That was Jeanette heard Simon snicker. Simon looked up and saw anger on his wife's face. He was certain she did not approve of his behaviour; with what he thought was funny.

"What? Don't look at me that way, she's your sister!" He quickly defended himself. Jeanette sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Come on now, Brittany. There aren't much dishes and it is the least I would ask of you." Eleanor pleaded.

"Harrumph, the things I do for family." Brittany huffed as she made her way to the kitchen.

Everyone else simply shook his or her heads knowing that Brittany would most likely never change.

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THE NEXT DAY!

Simon walked into a coffee shop. He looked around until he noticed his brother, Alvin waving at him. As Simon walked up to the table where Alvin happens to be sitting, he suspected that this meeting is not just a casual get-together.

"Hi Simon. Thanks for meeting me on short notice." Alvin said.

Simon detected a stress in brothers tone, "This better be quick, Alvin. I'm on lunch break." Simon reminded him

"Yeah, yeah." Alvin waved the comment off. "Simon I am in need for some advice here." He said making it sound that his life is going through a tougher time then anyone else could ever imagine.

Simon lets out a long sigh of annoyance. "I knew it." He griped. "It was only a matter of time when this would come up."

"Very funny. I'm having a breakdown here, and you're cracking jokes." Alvin growled.

"Ok, I'm sorry. So, what's eating you, Alvin?" Simon asked as he took a seat right across for his brother.

"Brittany. She's starting to act nuts."

"Alvin, it's called hormones. All pregnant women go through them at this stage up until after giving birth."

"Really?" Alvin innocently responded as if he had never heard this information before.

Simon placed a hand over his eyes and shook his head. A headache is starting to form.

"Hold that thought Alvin, I think I need to get some coffee." He told his brother taking the opportunity of knowing where he is.

Simon got up and headed towards the counter, and placed his order for a medium coffee before paying and grabbed his coffee; he headed to another table, for some cream and sugar for his coffee before rejoining Alvin at the table. As soon as he sits down, he takes a sip from his cup. With his eyes closed, Simon savours the flavour in his mouth before slowly swallowing it. He opened his eyes and looked at his brother ready to listen and give advice.

"Now, where were we?" Simon asks.

"We were talking about Brittany, and her crazy attitude lately." Alvin responded slightly annoyed.

"Oh, right." Simon says as he puts the cup down on the table. "Look, Alvin. You are going to show an incredible amount of patience's during the next 7 - 8 months. Brittany will most likely go through major mood swings."

"And that is suppose to be different from how she usually is?" Alvin snapped.

"Alvin I'm not going to sugar-coat this. However Brittany acts now, will only triple in the months to come."

His brother suddenly appears sick. Alvin begins to regret ever wanting to be married and having kids. If becoming a parent means to suffer huge and dangerous mood swings from Brittany, then he doesn't want to become apart of it. "Ooooh, this is just great." Alvin sighs before hiding his face down on the table with his arms wrapped over.

Simon suddenly felt sympathy for his brother. He remembered how difficult it was at times when dealing with Jeanette's mood swings.

"Ok, Alvin. Here is what you can do..."

Alvin's ears perked up and leaning his head forward to listen carefully to what Simon is about to say.

"Always complement her on her appearance, even if it isn't at it's best." Simon began. "Try noticing her if she is wearing a new dress, or has done anything different with her hair."

"Ok." Alvin nodded hanging on to every word Simon was saying.

Simon took another sip from his coffee cup before continuing. "Oh, and when all else fails, try bringing her some flowers. If complements and flowers don't work, try offering her food, such as, ice cream, or any other food items that she would most likely crave."

"Sure, I can do that."

"Now, knowing mom, she will want to come and help during the last couple of weeks before Brittany is ready to give birth. She will insist in staying for a couple of months afterwards just to make sure that both of you are ready to handle caring for baby on your own." Simon paused to take sip from his cup and sorted out his thoughts, "Now, this is where it can get tricky. You remember when the triplets were born and how mom and Jeanette acted with each other?"

"Er, sort of."

"Well, I remember clearly. In fact, there were times where I ended up being in the middle of their arguments at times. Not a fun experience. But getting to the point. My mistake was trying to ignore the situation and placing most of my focus on work."

"So what do you suggest I do in this situation?" Alvin showed a hint of nervousness.

"Well, try to distract them somehow. Also, spend more time with the baby. That helps you to build a bond and feel more comfortable being alone together with him or her. It will help, especially as they start getting older."

"I see."

"Oh, and Alvin..." Simon starts saying with a slight smirk.

"Yea, Simon?"

"When the child is about 5 years old, and you hear the toilet flushing, along with the words 'oh uh' right after it...it's already too late." He says with a grin.

"Very funny, Simon." Alvin said with a flustered tone. "So I used a little too much toilet paper before I flushed when I was five...your still trying to hold that against me?"

Simon broke out in laughter.

"I'm surprised you still remember that." Alvin shook his head.

"What can I say, there were some pretty unforgettable things you did, Alvin." Simon chuckles heartily before he finishes the last sip of his coffee.

"Ha, ha, ha. You are such a riot." Alvin grumbles with a slouch.

Simon suddenly felt bad for starting to tease him about his toddler years. He sat up giving Alvin a serious and sincere look.

"Alvin, you're going to be alright. Just try not to let the little things get in your way of what you really care about." He tells him as he gets up from his seat. "I have to get going, unfortunately, but if you still want to talk more about this, just give me a call, ok."

"Ok. Thanks Simon." After Simon left the coffee shop, Alvin sat there, pondering more of what was just said to him. Trying to think of a way to handle the situation.

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FOUR MONTHS LATER!

Brittany glared at her fast growing belly in the mirror for the past hour today. Her self-esteem was quickly becoming very low. Often she wondered if her original figure would really return after giving birth. Also she wondered if her husband would still find her attractive if her figure did not return to normal. All of this troubled her more then she realized. She knew it was the moods she was having, but it wasn't helping her at all.

She heard the front door open before it closed. Brittany was finding her appearance to be too ugly for her to go out and greet her husband who was now home.

"Hi, I'm home!" Alvin's voice called out. When there was no answer, Alvin decided to walk to the only room where Brittany might be, the bedroom. He was carrying a nice bouquet of flowers and smiled warmly when he saw his wife admiring herself in the mirror.

"Hey, how's my big girl?" He innocently chirped.

"BIG? You think I'm fat...don't you?" Brittany bellowed in tears.

Alvin takes one look at his now very upset wife then at the bouquet of flowers before drawing them behind his back. "Oooh, kay! We are feeling a little down today, aren't we?"

"A little? Try a lot!"

"How come?"

"Well...isn't it obvious?" Brittany then addressed her now wide waist to Alvin. Alvin couldn't help but to smile at her. "What is so funny? You think I'm fat, don't you?"

"N-n-n-now Brittany, I did not say that."

"Yes you did. When you came in. You said 'How's my BIG girl.'" She spat tearfully.

Alvin smiled, embarrassedly. He regretted saying that in the first place. That is when he remembered the flowers behind his back.

"Flowers?" He squeaked in hopes that the beauty of the roses would distract her from her troubled appearance. Alvin's attempt to cheer up his wife was only met with a disappointing frown on Brittany's face.

"You think flowers will make me feel better? Flowers are not going to make this big, fat, ugly body go away!"

Alvin swallowed a huge lump in his throat. He mentally pondered if Simon had to go through this with Jeanette. Quickly he tries to remember some of the advice that his brother gave him a few months ago. Alvin raised his left arm and rubbed beads of sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

"I don't think you are fat, or ugly, Brittany." He quickly stated.

"You don't?" Brittany said as she wiped away a few tears from her face.

"I think you're gorgeous no matter what you look like."

"You do?" She sniffed.

"Of course I do. And you'll see, your body will bounce right back to it's natural form in no time."

"You think so?" Brittany said with a hint of a smile.

"Yeah! And I bet when our children come to the world, we will be better parents the Simon and Jeanette." Alvin added with a wink.

Brittany giggled. She always liked the idea that she could do things better then anyone else.

"Yeah." She said, agreeing with Alvin. That was when she finally accepted the flowers and sniffed them with affection.

"Oh, hey...my mom is coming next month and she said she is going to stay with us and help us out...especially for the last couple of weeks when you won't be able to do much around here."

"What's that suppose to mean?" Brittany's happy mood suddenly went sour. "Are you saying that I'm lazy and won't be able to pull my weight around?"

"I did not say that." Alvin was beginning to wonder if he should even say anything if this was going to be her reaction all the time. "I'm just saying, mom was there when she was helping out Simon and Jeanette when the kids were born, and she would be here to help us out too." When Brittany's mood wasn't changing, he quickly thought of another advice Simon gave him. "Do you want to go get some ice cream?" He said jerking his thumb towards the door.

Brittany thought about it and thought about her hungry tummy and agreed to that suggestion. "Ok, sounds great." She grinned. They both got their coats on and put the flowers in watered vase then left for the ice cream parlour.