The Brady Eight: Just Starting Out
A Welcome Aboard Sequel
Chapter 30
The weekend of the art show
It's the day of the Citywide Art Show. Jan and Peter, along with their parents and twin brother and sister, are in the kitchen eating breakfast. Cindy is asleep in her bedroom. As Carol feeds Ryan his cereal, she looks around for Bobby, but he is not in the kitchen.
Carol: Where's Bobby?
Jan: I didn't see him when I got up.
Carolyn is finished with her cereal.
Mike: I'll get her changed and check in on Bobby. Pauses. No, I won't take Carolyn in there if he's sick.
Carol: All right.
Mike, with Carolyn in tow, makes his way to Bobby's room. He knocks on the door.
Mike: Bobby?
Bobby: In bed with the covers up to his neck. What?
Mike: You getting ready for school?
Bobby: Mumbles. I don't feel so great.
Mike sighs. Jan walks down the hall.
Jan: Mouths. Bobby?
Mike nods, as Jan takes Carolyn.
Mike: Opens Bobby's door. Feel feverish?
Bobby: Coughs. Yes, and I feel achy all over.
Mike takes his temperature and sees that he, too, is running a fever.
Bobby: The flu?
Mike: Yes. You get some rest and I'll call the school.
Bobby: What about mine and Cindy's homework?
Mike: I'll have Peter or Jan swing by your school and get it.
Bobby: 'kay.
He drifts to sleep as Mike updates Carol. Ryan's finishing his cereal.
Mike: Bobby's down for the count.
Carol: Face falls. The flu?
Mike: Yes.
Carol: Oh no. Two down, how many to go?
Peter enters the kitchen from his suite.
Peter: To go, where?
Mike: Bobby has the flu.
Peter: Wrinkles his nose. Then, I'll go bunk at Greg and Hank's.
Mike: Would you or Jan pick up Bobby and Cindy's homework?
Jan: Enters the kitchen with Carolyn. She's all changed and happy now.
Mike: Receives his youngest daughter. Thanks, Jan.
Jan: Bobby have the flu too?
Mike: Yes.
Jan: We'll get Bobby and Cindy's homework on our way home from school. Pauses. Oh! My art show's tonight!
Carol: We'll figure something out. Don't worry about a thing.
Peter and Jan leave for school. Carol lifts Ryan from his high chair.
Mike: I'm working from home today, so I can help.
Carol: Thanks. She looks at her twins. I don't know how we'll be able to keep these two from coming down with it.
Mike: Well, we'll do our best and if they come down with it, we'll deal.
Later that day
Carol is changing Carolyn's diaper in the living room. Ryan is playing with his dump truck and making raspberries. She spies him out of the corner of her eye and laughs.
Carol: Your brother sure loves his truck.
Carolyn tries to roll over to grab her doll.
Carol: Wait a minute, kiddo. Let's get this messy diaper off you first.
As Carol changes Carolyn's diaper, Ryan crawls up the brick steps and is about to climb up the staircase. She looks up and sees her son spitting raspberries and rocking back and forth at the edge of the stairs.
Carol: Ryan, no!
Leaving a diaperless Carolyn, Carol dashes and retrieves her son.
Carol: Mike! Mike! Would you come here, please?
Mike: Races out of the den. What's wrong?
Carol: Still shaken, holding Ryan. Speedy Gonzales here tried to crawl up the stairs.
Carolyn takes this opportunity to crawl toward the kitchen. Mike sees her out of the corner of his eye, and retrieves her.
Mike: Come back here, sweetheart.
Carol: We need to get the gates out of the garage. Studies Carolyn. Oh! I hadn't finished changing her.
Mike changes his daughter into a clean diaper and then studies the staircase.
Mike: I'll need to install a gate all the way across the top landing, but I'm not sure how to install one at the bottom of the stairs. Mulls it over. I may get a clear barrier to put on the sides of the stairs and on the landing, so that there will be something to anchor the bottom baby gate. I can go to the hardware shop tomorrow and get them to cut some pieces for me. I'll get them installed by the end of the weekend.
Carol: Sighs in relief. Then, we won't have to worry about these little ones trying to climb the stairs. She looks at the bricked stairs. What about over here?
Mike: I don't think we'll be able to put a gate up here. There's nothing to anchor it to.
Carol: But Mike, what if they try to walk or crawl up and down it? After all, it's brick.
Mike: Carol, we can't protect them from every bump and bruise. You've had three babies before these two.
Carol: Yes, but we didn't have stairs. You didn't either when the older boys were babies.
Mike: We can't gate everything.
Carol looks down and away.
Mike: Look, they'll be fine. With six older brothers and sisters and the two of us chasing after them, they'll be fine.
Carol: You're right. She looks at her watch. Oh! I need to fix some chicken soup for the kids.
Mike: I've gotta get back to my work. We can set up the playpen in my den. Then, I'll be available to help during lunch if you need me.
Carol receives Carolyn and balances the twins in her arms as Mike sets up the playpen in his den. Mike lifts Ryan out of Carol's arms. They set the kids down and retrieve a few toys.
Mike: There! All set.
Carol: Kisses her husband on the cheek. Thanks.
Ryan stands up, with his arms out toward his mother, and begins whimpering.
Mike: Go on. He'll be fine.
Carol fixes the soup, ladles some in two bowls, pours two glasses of Sprite and puts a handfull of crackers on the tray. She stacks the trays and carries them upstairs, stopping by Bobby's room first. She can hear him coughing.
Carol: How are you feeling?
Bobby: Coughing. I feel awful.
Carol: Feeling his forehead. You feel like you've got a fever. Sets the trays on the desk. Here, let me take your temperature. I'll take Cindy's tray to her and be right back.
Bobby nods, as Carol carries a tray into Cindy's room.
Carol: I've got your lunch. How are you feeling?
Cindy: Coughing. I... I... I can't breathe. She begins wheezing.
Carol: Cradles her daughter and rubs her back. Oh, Cindy.
Cindy continues to cough and wheeze.
Carol: Lemme get the vaporizer. Sets it up. Breathe over this for a few. I'm gonna check on Bobby.
She goes back into Bobby's room and takes out the thermometer.
Carol: 101. How's your breathing.
Bobby: Coughs. Hurts, but okay.
Carol: No wheezing?
He coughs and shakes his head no.
Carol: Sighs with relief. Good. Go ahead and eat your lunch.
She checks on Cindy, who is still breathing over the vaporizer.
Carol: Breathing easier?
Cindy nods and struggles to talk, which puts her into another wheezing spell.
Carol: Don't talk. Just breathe.
Soon, Cindy starts to breathe easier.
Carol: Try to eat your soup, 'kay? Don't talk.
Cindy nods.
Carol: I'll be back.
Carol goes into the den, and knocks quietly on the side of the threshold. Mike is working on a draft. The twins are sleeping in the playpen.
Carol: Smiles at the babies. When did they fall asleep?
Mike: About ten minutes ago. How are Bobby and Cindy?
Carol: Bobby's running a fever of 101. He's coughing, but not wheezing. Cindy's wheezing, and I wasn't able to get her temperature taken.
Mike: Do we need to call Dr. Porter?
Carol: It may not be a bad idea.
Mike: I'll call.
Carol: Okay. I'll get the twins' lunch together and then feed them.
Mike: I'll join you after I call.
Afternoon
Jan and Peter return home from school. Ryan and Carolyn are asleep in the nursery. Carol's finishing up a load of laundry, and Mike is working on a draft for work.
Jan: Entering the kitchen. Mom, we're home.
Carol: Exits the laundry room. Hi kids. How was your day?
Peter: Nothing special. We got Bobby and Cindy's homework.
Carol: Great! Thanks.
Jan: How are Bobby and Cindy feeling?
Carol: Not so good. Sighs. You feel okay, don't you?
Jan: I feel fine.
Peter: Me too.
Carol: No cough? No congestion?
Jan: No.
Carol: No aches? No fever?
Peter: No.
Jan: Teasing. You want us to get sick?
Carol: Of course not. I'm just checking. That's all.
Jan: Cheeky. Okay. Just checking.
The phone rings and Carol answers it. Jan and Peter go to their respective rooms.
Carol: Hello, Brady residence.
Greg: Hi, mom.
Carol: Hi Greg. How are you?
Greg: Just fine. I was calling to see when Nora and I need to meet you guys for the art show.
Carol: Mike and the kids will meet you at seven. Bobby's also down with the flu, so I'm going to stay home with the kids.
Mike: Walks into the kitchen. No, you're going. I'll stay home with them.
Carol: Turns to her husband. Shh.
Greg: Do you need me and Nora to stay with them?
Carol: No, we don't want you exposed to the flu. You've got finals next week.
Greg: We can help, if you want.
Carol: Thanks, but no.
Greg: Okay. If you change your mind, let me know.
They hang up the phone.
Mike: I'll stay with them. You need to go.
Carol: Mike.
Peter: Enters the kitchen. Mom, dad, I'll stay with them.
Carol: Peter, you don't have to.
Peter: Mom, Jan really wants you and Dad to go. I don't know what her painting is, but she really needs for you to be there.
Mike: You'd really stay with them?
Peter: Yes. Jan and I were talking, and we knew someone would need to stay with Cindy, so you and Dad could go.
Carol: Thank you.
Mike: We really appreciate it.
At the Art Show
Mike, Carol, Jan and the twins enter the building. They see Greg, Nora and Marcia at the front entrance.
Marcia: Hi! Looks around. Where's Peter and Bobby?
Mike: Bobby's got the flu, so Peter stayed home to see after Bobby and Cindy.
Marcia: Ugh!
Nora: Bends down and addresses the twins. Hi kiddos! How are you, sweethearts?
Ryan and Carolyn smile and laugh.
Nora: You two look like you're feeling good.
Carol: So far, so good. We're keeping our fingers crossed.
The Bradys make their way to the gallery where Jan's painting is located.
Carol: Gasps. Jan, it's beautiful!
Jan: Looks beside the painting. I can't believe it! I won... again!
Mike: Congratulations! I'm very proud of you.
Marcia: Studies the painting close up. Jan, the detail is exquisite!
Nora: How did you get that fine detail?
Jan: It wasn't easy.
Her painting is a family tree. Each part of the tree are names, constructed so if one looks from a distance, the painting just looks like a tree (on a hill, with green grass, blue sky, a few white clouds, and a sun shining down), but when one looks up close, the names are very clear. The tree depicts all four sides of the family: Mike, Carol, Sue and Roy's. The Brady kids' great-grandparents are the roots, each set of grandparents make up the tree, each of the parents and aunts and uncles make up the branches, and the kids and cousins are the leaves. Carol studies the painting and sees Paige's name.
Carol: You included Paige.
Jan: Of course.
The Show Official makes his way to Jan and her family. The press accompany the official and photograph Jan with her painting.
Official: Congratulations on winning Best in Show!
Jan: Thanks!
Official: The Regional competition will be in January. For winning Best in Show a second time, you'll receive a scholarship for free room and board to go with the scholarship to the State college of your choice you won last year.
Jan: Thanks!
Official: Well again, congratulations.
The Official and press leave to congratulate the second and third prize winners.
Marcia: Excitedly embracing her sister. I'm so happy for you!
Jan: Thanks! I can't believe it!
The Bradys decide to see the other paintings and stop at the second and third place winners. Jan is delighted to see that her new friend, Beth Gonzales, took second place. Beth's painting is of Mule Ears Spring at Big Bend National Park in Texas.
Jan: Hugs her friend. Congratulations, Beth! Your painting's great!
Beth: So is yours! I'm so happy for you! Meet my family. Jan, these are my folks, Eduardo and Gabriela, my brothers Carlos, Rene and Diego, and my sisters Marisela and Liliana.
Jan: Nice to meet you.
Gabriela: And you, too!
Jan introduces her family. The Bradys and Gonzaleses go to Haskell's together and celebrate the girls winning.
At Haskell's
The Bradys and Gonzaleses order ice cream and drinks and find a table.
Eduardo: Notices the mural. Jan, did you paint the mural?
Jan: I did.
Beth: I love it!
Mr. Haskell: She did a great job on it. A lot of people rave about it.
Eduardo: It's very good.
Beth: Last year, I painted a mural at my uncle's restaurant in Texas. I'll have to show you pictures of it.
Jan: Absolutely!
Beth: My uncle's restaurant is the best. I miss their tortillas. Their tortilliaria is famous in West Texas. They even sell their tortillas in the grocery store. He's my mom's brother, so you'll have to come over and try my mom's.
Gabriela: We'd like to have you and your family over for New Year's Eve.
Carol: Sure! That would be lovely.
The families visit and Carol notices the twins have fallen asleep.
Carol: We've got to get these little ones to bed.
Gabriela: It's so good to meet you.
Carol: Please call me and let me know what I can bring.
Back at the Brady house
Mike, Carol, Jan and the twins arrive home. Peter is watching TV in the living room. Mike is carrying Ryan and Carol, Carolyn.
Carol: How are Bobby and Cindy?
Peter: They're asleep. I opened a can of chicken noodle soup for them.
Jan: Mom, do you want me to take Carolyn?
Carol: Thanks, but no. I'll put her down in a few.
Jan: 'Kay. I'm going to bed.
Mike: Okay. Congratulations.
Peter: You won?
Jan: Beaming. I did.
Peter: That's great!
Carol: Her painting is lovely.
Jan: Anyway, good night!
Jan goes to bed.
Carol: Cindy still wheezing?
Peter: If she is, she didn't when I checked on them. I refilled her vaporizer, so she may be okay. They were still running a fever.
Mike: Thanks for staying with them. We appreciate it.
Peter: No sweat. Yawns. I'm beat.
He goes to bed and Mike and Carol put the twins to bed. Then, they check on Bobby and Cindy and see that they're still asleep. After refilling Cindy's vaporizer, they get ready for bed.
Carol: What a night! I'm so proud of Jan!
Mike: Two years in a row. I know she's on Cloud Nine.
Carol: And her painting is beautiful! The detail is so intricate and what a neat concept.
Mike: It is. I'm glad she's found her niche.
Carol: Chuckles. She was so worried she wouldn't. It's nice to see her blossom like this. Pauses. It makes me wonder what the twins will get into when they're older.
Mike: Gives her a quick peck. Me too.
They give each other one last kiss and quickly fall asleep.
-End of Chapter 30-