The Brady Eight: Just Starting Out
A Welcome Aboard Sequel
Chapter 53
A/N—The football stats I'm using are true. They're from a game in 2015, but I decided to use them for the homecoming game.
It's Homecoming. Jan is in her room, dressing for the game. Carol knocks on the door.
Jan: Come in!
Carol: Opens the door and sees her daughter, all dressed up. You look beautiful.
Jan: Thanks. Struggles to get her necklace on.
Carol: Here, let me help. Claps her necklace. There.
Jan: Can you help me with my hair? I can't quite get it to lay right.
Carol: Sure. Fixes Jan's hair. How's this?
Jan: I like it! Thanks!
Bobby: Knocks on the door. Jan, Billy, Beth, Brad, and Shelley are here.
Jan: I'll be right down.
Carol joins her husband downstairs and greets the others.
Mike: Whispers. Are you okay? You look pale.
Carol: Dismisses. I'm fine.
Jan descends the stairs.
Billy: You look beautiful. He kisses her cheek.
Bobby takes pictures and the three couples leave for the game.
At the Game.
Westdale is playing Fremont. Cindy gathers her squad. Jan, Beth and Shelley join the rest of the homecoming court nominees. Peter joins his archery team. The rest of the Bradys see Greg and Nora saving spots for them. They flag their family down.
Greg: Mom, Dad! Up here.
Mike: Holding Ryan's hand. Let me pick you up. These steps are big.
Ryan: I do it! I big boy!
Mike: Chuckles. Okay. Hold my hand.
Carol holds Carolyn's hand as they join Greg and Nora.
Nora: Studies Carol. Are you okay?
Carol: Confused. Yes, why?
Nora: You look pale.
Carol: Sits and puts Carolyn in her lap. I'm fine. Just a little tired.
Soon, Alice and Sam join the family. Carolyn waves to Sam.
Sam: Hiya, cutie!
Carolyn: Speaks and signs. Sam! Crawls onto his lap and hugs him.
Sam: Speaks and signs. How are you?
Carolyn: Sam!
The pre-game show is heating up. The announcer starts the show.
Announcer: Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Westdale High School Homecoming, Nineteen seventy-six! Tonight, the mighty Westdale Cyclones plays the Fremont Bearcats.
Thunderous applause erupts as he continues.
Announcer: At half-time, we crown the Homecoming Court, including crowning this year's Homecoming Queen. We welcome back Nineteen seventy-five Homecoming Queen Donna Jones, to crown this year's queen. As tradition dictates, Donna leads off the parade. In the car behind her, we have this year's senior nominees, Jan Brady, Dawn Frank, and Beth Gonzales. .
Bobby: There's Jan!
Mike: Go Jan!
Carol: Oh, my baby girl! She's growing up so fast!
Nora: Her dress is absolutely gorgeous! She is stunning! Marcia, did you make it?
Marcia: I added the sequined cord, but no, I didn't make it.
Nora: It's gorgeous.
Alice whistles.
Announcer: Next, we have this year's junior nominees, Shelley Jenkins, Theresa Fields, and Charlene York. Behind them are this year's freshman nominees, Martha Pope, Sylvia Perry, and Deanna Tripp. ...And now, we welcome Fillmore Junior High's Varsity Cheerleading Squad, captained by Cindy Brady and Millicent Duncan, and Fillmore's Junior Varsity Cheerleading Squad, captained by Gina Oleson and Eve Kendall.
Cindy, Millicent, Gina and Eve: Let's go Cyclones!
Announcer: Next, we've got the class floats, and team floats and kool kars... Coming up, is the Cyclone Archery Team, with Peter Brady, team captain.
Bobby: Hey wow! There's Peter!
Mike: Atta boy, Pete!
Soon, it's time to announce the members of each team. The president of Westdale's student council delivers the invocation, then the announcer introduces Freemont's team. The Westdale and Fillmore cheerleading squads gather into two lines, with each school's squad holding banners through which the team will run.
Announcer: Here's the moment we've been waiting for! Introducing the 1976 Westdale Cylcone Varsity Football team!
The crowd cheers as the percussion line of the marching band begins to play. Greg and Bobby take pictures. As the announcer introduces each member of the football team, they run through the make-shift tunnel and burst through both banners. The cheerleaders run behind the football team, and take their places on the track.
Halftime!
It's halftime. Westdale has a sizeable lead over Freemont. The crowd's a buzz with excitement. The band performs their halftime show. Then, the high school squads and junior high combined squad performs their halftime routines. Cindy counts them off.
Cindy: "Let's Go, Cyclones" on my count! Five, Six, Seven, Eight! Let's go, Cyclones!
The squad sets up for their dance routine. "You Should Be Dancing" is cued up as the girls move into position. The routine is flawless and Cindy couldn't be more pleased. Bobby films the routine on his Super 8. Carol grips her husband's hand, in worry and amazement.
Nora: Amazed. Wow! Look at her go!
The bases and spotters set the flyers for their basket tosses and up they go!
Greg: Whispers. Good job!
Carol: Wide-eyed. Oh, Mike!
The routine concludes with Cindy and Gina doing their tumbling run. Just like the previous year, it's a roundoff, followed by a series of back handsprings, ending with a full-twisting layout. The girls nail it and Cindy gives a small fist pump. The girls nail it and Cindy gives a small fist pump. The crowd roars with thunderous applause.
Carol: She did it!
Alice: Way to go, Cindy! She whistles.
Sam laughs and gives his wife a peck on the cheek. The squad leaves the field and it's time for the crowning of the new Homecoming Court.
Carol: Mike, it's time! She squeezes her husband's arm. She's almost giddy with excitement. Go Jan!
Announcer: It's time for the crowning of the Nineteen seventy-six Homecoming Court. In tenth grade, we have Sylvia Perry, escorted by David McAvoy. She is the daughter of Gary and Lillian Perry; Martha Pope, escorted by Brian Hillhouse. She is the daughter of Shefbourne and Tonya Pope; Deanna Tripp, escorted by Chuck Henley. She is the daughter of Darrel and Ruth Tripp. In eleventh grade, we have Theresa Fields, escorted by James Puckett. She is the daughter of Simon and Suzanne Fields; Shelley Jenkins, escorted by Peter Brady. She is the daughter of Spencer and Lucille Jenkins. Charlene York, escorted by Daniel Nothnagel. She is the daughter of Tim and Darlene York. In twelfth grade, we have Jan Brady, who is escorted by Billy Garst. She is the daughter of Michael and Carol Brady. Dawn Frank, escorted by Brian Hughes. She is the daughter of Charles and Malinda Frank, and Beth Gonzales, escorted by Brad Sherwood. She is the daughter of Eduardo and Gabriela Gonzales.
Carol just about can't control her excitement.
Announcer: Here are the nominees for Homecoming Court, nineteen seventy-six. And now, to crown the Nineteen seventy-six Homecoming Queen is Donna Jones.
The crowd breaks out in applause. Carol hangs on to Mike. Greg and Bobby take pictures and movies on the Super 8.
Carol: Oh Mike, Jan's just gotta win!
Shelley and Jan look at each other with excitement, and send good vibes each other's way.
Mike: Carol, loosen your grip. You're hurting me.
Carol: Sorry.
Donna takes the field. Jan and Shelley are getting very nervous.
Announcer: For Freshman Princess, the winner is Deanna Tripp.
Donna crowns Deanna, and the announcer continues. Shelley becomes increasingly nervous.
Announcer: For Junior Princess, the winner is Shelley Jenkins.
Cindy: Way to go, Shelley!
The Fillmore Varsity Cheerleaders cheer with excitement for their former captain.
Announcer: And for Senior Princess, the winner is Beth Gonzales.
As Donna crowns Beth, Jan gives a silent cheer.
Announcer: And now, the moment you have been waiting for, our nineteen seventy-six homecoming queen is Jan Brady!
Carol: Squeals. Mike, our baby won!
Marcia: Yeah, Jan!
Nora: Greg, she won!
Greg takes pictures as Bobby films. Jan, speechless, steps forward and Donna crowns her. She tries to fight back tears of joy.
Announcer: Here is your Homecoming Court for nineteen seventy-six!The crowd cheers as Jan gets in the lead convertible and waves. Here is her Court. The crowd cheers as Beth, Shelley and Deanna get in the second car. Give a cheer for Homecoming Court, Nineteen seventy-six! The cars circle the track and the girls wave to the crowd.
Carol: Tears of joy are rolling down her cheeks. Mike, she looks so happy!
Bobby: Yeah Jan!
Nora: This is so neat! I'm so happy for her.
Greg: Me too.
The game winds down with a Westdale victory. Marcia makes her way over to her sister to congratulate her.
Marcia: Embraces her sister. Congratulations, sis!
Jan: Thanks!
Marcia: I'm so happy for you!
Billy walks over to the sisters and kisses her on the cheek. Jan giggles.
Billy: Congratulations!
Shelley, Peter, Beth and Brad join them. The girls give each other a celebratory hug.
Shelley: Congratulations!
Jan: You too!
Beth: Congratulations, Jan! You deserve it!
Jan: Thanks. Congratulations, too!
The Bradys find the newest Homecoming royalty. Carol hugs her daughter.
Carol: Congratulations!
Jan: Thanks!
Ryan: Shiny Cwown! Tries to grab Jan's crown.
Jan: Chuckles. It's shiny, isn't it?
Ryan: I hold Jan!
Ryan tries to get his sister to take him, but Carol holds him.
Carol: Not right now, sweetheart.
Ryan: Jan! Jan!
Jan: Holds her hands out. C'mere, little man.
Ryan: Puts the crown on his head. I cwown!
Bobby snaps a picture of Jan and Ryan.
Carol: Now, give it back to Jan.
Ryan: Puts the crown on his sister's head. Cwown, Jan!
Jan: Thank you, Ryan.
Mike: Holding a sleeping Carolyn. Congratulations, Jan.
Cindy joins her family and congratulates Shelley and Jan.
Shelley: That routine was FABULOUS!
Cindy: Thanks! This year, I thought a scaled-back approach would be best.
Shelley: Sometimes simple is better, and it looked really good.
Cindy: Congratulations to you too! She congratulates Jan. Congratulations, Jan! What a night!
Jan: Thanks, and your routine was super!
Cindy: Thanks!
Mike, Carol, Bobby, Cindy and the twins head home. The twins fall asleep as soon as Mike puts the car in motion. Bobby and Cindy are asleep once they pull up in the driveway.
Mike: We're back home.
Carol: Breathes a sigh of relief. I'm beat. Feels a wave of nausea travel through her body, but she's able to hide it. After we get the kids to bed, I'm heading to bed myself.
Mike: Me too.
Bobby and Cindy, still groggy, stumble out of the car, up the stairs, and fall into bed. Mike unbuckles and lifts a sleeping Ryan out of his car seat. Carol does the same with Carolyn. They put the kids to bed, and get ready for bed themselves.
Carol: I'm so happy for Jan.
Mike: Me too.
Carol: And Cindy, the routine looked great.
Mike: I agree with Shelley that sometimes simple is better.
Carol: Turns pale and shivers, sitting on the bed. Ugh.
Mike: Concerned. Sits on the bed beside her, putting his hands on her shoulders. Honey, are you okay?
Carol: I just don't feel good.
Mike: Panics. How long?
Carol: Since before the game.
Mike: Shocked. Carol, do we need to go to the hospital?
Carol: Matter of fact. If I'm losing the baby, there's really no point in going. The doctor can't do anything.
Mike: Alarmed. Do you think you're losing the baby?
Carol: Sad. I'm not sure.
Mike: Strokes her hair and softly kisses her cheek. I love you.
Carol: Puts his hand on her abdomen, resting her hand over his. I love you too.
At the Homecoming Dance.
The mood is festive after the game. Westdale beats Freemont, each with record-breaking scores: 107-90. Westdale running back Joseph Brown finished the game with 722 rushing yards on 30 carries (that's 24 yards-per-carry), and 10 touchdowns. Brown broke the state single-game rushing record. In a losing effort, Freemont quarterback Matt Miller passed for 741 yards and ten touchdowns, setting a new state passing record. Seth Davis, the student body president, announces the homecoming court.
Seth: Introducing the 1976 Homecoming Court! Freshman Princess, Deanna Tripp and her escort Chuck Henley. Junior Princess, Shelley Jenkins and her escort Peter Brady. Senior Princess, Beth Gonzales and her escort Brad Sherwood.
The three couple enter the dance floor, in the order they were called.
Seth: And now, our 1976 Homecoming Queen, Jan Brady and her escort Billy Garst!
She enters surrounded with thunderous applause.
Seth: Jan and Billy will start the first dance.
Billy twirls Jan on the dance floor, and the three other couples join them. After the first song, the dance floor is open to all the attendees. As the dance ends, Shelley and Peter leave the gym and go outside to talk.
Shelley: Dancing with Peter. Thanks for escorting me.
Peter: You're welcome.
Shelley: I've had a good time.
Peter: Gives a small smile. Same here. Swallows. Can I ask you a question?
Shelley: Unsure. Sure.
Peter: What happened with you and Lucas?
Shelley: Rolls her eyes. Brooke Williams happened.
Peter: Oh?
Shelley: Disgusted. Yeah. I went on vacation at the end of July and she moved in.
Peter: I understand.
Shelley: Well, she can have him.
They stare into each other's eyes. Peter moves in and places a soft kiss on her lips. Shelley wraps her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss. Unbeknownst to the couple, Jan, Billy, Beth and Brad witness their kiss.
Jan: Shocked. Mouths to the others. Let's go back in the gym and pretend we didn't just see what we just saw.
The three readily agree. Peter and Shelley deepen their kiss, unaware they've been seen.
-End of Chapter 53-