The Brady Eight: Just Starting Out
A Welcome Aboard Sequel
Chapter 54
The next morning. The sun shines through the window, awakening Mike and Carol out of their slumber. Carol rolls over and moans.
Mike: Smiles. Morning.
Carol: Morning.
Mike: How are you feeling?
Carol: Yawns and stretches. Better, I think.
Mike: You think?
Carol: Places her hand on her abdomen. I don't feel queasy anymore.
Mike: Places his hand on hers. I'm glad. Gets serious. How's the baby? You don't think you've lost the baby?
Carol: Shifts a bit. I don't think so. Feels acid in the back of the throat; dashes out of bed. 'Scuze me.
She covers her mouth, runs to the toilet and empties her stomach contents.
Mike: Climbs out of bed. Carol, are you okay?
Carol: Rinses her mouth. Ugh. Even after five pregnancies, I don't think I'll ever get used to morning sickness.
Mike: Puts his arms around her waist. Just as long as you and the baby are healthy.
They hear two little ones running down the hallway. The couple laughs.
Carol: Speaking of babies, two of them are up.
Ryan: Through the door, trying to turn the knob. Momeee, Daddeeee! Momeeee, Daddeeee!
Mike: Surprised. How did they get out of their cribs?
Carol: Walking to the door. Guess we'll need to convert their beds into toddler beds.
Mike: I'll have Peter and Bobby help me.
Carol: Peter's working today. Opens the door, speaks and signs. Good morning!
Carolyn: Raises her hands up. Mommy!
Ryan: Runs into the room. Daaaaaddeeeee!
Mike: Lifts his son into his arms. Good morning, Ry! Ready for breakfast?
Ryan: F'ssst!
Carol: Are you ready for breakfast?
The couple starts out of their room.
Mike: When do we want to tell the kids?
Jan: Walking past. Tell us what?
Carol: Eyes widen. Never mind.
Carolyn: Giggles and signs. Hi, Ann!
Jan: Hi, Carolyn.
Carol: Feels acid build up at the back of her throat. Can you take her?
Jan: Sure. Holds her hands out, signing. C'mere, Carolyn.
Jan carries Carolyn to the kitchen. Mike tries not to show his concern, as he carries Ryan to the kitchen and fixes the twins' breakfast. Carol heaves into the toilet. After she rinses her mouth, she glances at the bed, afraid that she'll see a stain. Reluctantly, she pulls the covers back and breathes a sigh of relief when there's no stain.
Carol: Hand over her baby. Well, I guess you're still there. I know I wasn't thrilled when I found out you were here, but I do love you. Let mommy get used to the idea, okay?
Cindy knocks on the door, startling Carol out of her thoughts.
Carol: Startles, and drops her hand. Oh!
Cindy: Can I go over to Millicent's house? We're going to go over a couple new routines.
Carol: Sure.
Carol goes down to the kitchen and sees Mike, Peter, Jan, and the twins eating breakfast.
Mike: Good morning. Embracing his wife, ending in a passionate kiss.
Carol: Smiles. Morning.
Jan: You okay, mom? You looked a little green earlier.
Carol: I am, thanks.
Peter: Clears his plate, rinsing it in the sink. I'm out. Shift starts in thirty.
Mike: To Jan. What are your plans today?
Jan: Billy and I are going to the movies.
Carol: What are you seeing?
Jan: High Velocity. Beth said it was great.
Billy knocks on the sliding glass door. Jan opens it.
Billy: Kisses her on the cheek. You ready?
Jan: I'll be back after lunch.
Carol: Have fun!
Jan leaves. Mike tries to see if Bobby and Cindy are around. When he doesn't see them, he continues, concerned.
Mike: How are you?
Carol: Smiles. The baby and I are just fine.
Mike: That's a relief. Gives her a peck on the lips. We're gonna have a baby.
Cindy: WHAT? Enters the kitchen.
Mike and Carol realize their secret's out.
Ryan: Giggles. Baby! Hee hee hee!
Mike: Stammers. M... mor... morning, C... Ci... Cin... Cindy.
Cindy: Mom? You're having a baby?
Bobby: Enters the kitchen. Who's having a baby?
Cindy: Apparently, mom is.
Bobby: Mom?
Carol: Sighs. We were going to tell you kids as a group, but yes, I'm due in mid-May.
Cindy: Excited. Oh my gosh, wow!
Ryan: Wow!
Carol: Your dad and I want to tell the rest of the kids, and no, you can't tell your friends yet.
Bobby: Hurries through his breakfast. I'm going to Geordi's house.
Bobby and Cindy finish breakfast, clear their plates and leave.
Mike: Sighs. Sorry.
Carol: Laughs. It's okay. We know it's going to get increasingly harder to get all our kids together in one place.
Mike: I guess we can tell Peter and Jan tonight, but what about Greg and Marcia?
Carolyn: Signs: Done!
Carol: You finished, Carolyn?
Carolyn: Signs: Done!
Carol: Lifts her daughter out of her high chair. Marcia's coming over after lunch, so I'll tell her then.
Mike: I'll tell Greg.
Ryan: Want out!
Mike: Let's get you cleaned up and then we can play.
The twins' naptime
The twins have been fed their lunch and Mike and Carol settle them down for their nap. Mike chooses "Green Eggs and Ham" to read. Carol sits in a rocker with Ryan, and Mike, with Carolyn, as he reads and signs:
I am Sam
I am Sam
Sam I am
That Sam-I-am
That Sam-I-am!
I do not like
that Sam-I-am
Do you like
green eggs and ham
I do not like them,
Sam-I-am.
I do not like
green eggs and ham.
Would you like them
Here or there?
I would not like them
here or there.
I would not like them
anywhere.
I do not like
green eggs and ham.
I do not like them,
Sam-I-am
Ryan falls asleep.
Would you like them
in a house?
Would you like them
with a mouse?
I do not like them
in a house.
I do not like them
with a mouse.
I do not like them
here or there.
I do not like them
anywhere.
I do not like green eggs and ham.
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.
Would you eat them
in a box?
Would you eat them
with a fox?
Not in a box.
Not with a fox.
Not in a house.
Not with a mouse.
I would not eat them here or there.
I would not eat them anywhere.
I would not eat green eggs and ham.
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.
Carolyn falls asleep. Mike and Carol kiss their kids, lay them in their cribs, and shut the door behind them.
Mike: When Peter and Bobby get back, we'll work on transforming the cribs into toddler beds.
Carol: Smiles, hand resting on her abdomen. And to think, we'll get to do this with one more.
Mike: Hand resting over hers. I can't wait to meet this little guy or girl.
The doorbell rings.
Carol: That's Marcia. Answers the door, revealing Marcia. Hi! Why didn't you come in through the sliding glass doors?
The women embrace, then sit on the living room couch.
Marcia: They were locked.
Mike: Confused. They may be stuck. We were having trouble with the kitchen door. I'll check both of them out.
Carol and Marcia talk in the living room while Mike works on the doors.
Marcia: Do you know where either my flapper costume or yours is? You know, the ones we wore for the 1920s party. I want to wear it for a Halloween party I'm going to.
Carol: I think they're in the closet in the garage.
Marcia: And, I'm participating in a fashion show at the end of the semester.
Carol: Excited. Oh, really!
Marcia: Yes. I'm helping some of the Junior and Senior fashion majors in their show. I'm also wondering if you, Jan and Cindy would like to model some of the clothes? Shows her mother some of the designs. I think this one would be perfect for you. Points out a blue sheath dress.
Carol: It's lovely, but it wouldn't fit me.
Marcia: Confused. What do you mean?
Carol: I'll be nearly four months pregnant by then.
Marcia: Surprised. Really? I thought you and dad were done.
Carol: Chuckles. So did we.
Marcia: How are you feeling?
Carol: I feel fine. Surprisingly, I haven't had any morning sickness until this morning.
Marcia: That's good, I guess. She begins drawing a maternity sheath dress. How 'bout this one?
Carol: I like it!
As they continued talking, Jan returns home.
Marcia: Hi, Jan! She explains about the fashion show. ...and I was wondering if you and Cindy would like to model some of the clothes.
Jan: Sure. Sounds fun.
Marcia shows her some of the ideas she had for Jan and Cindy.
Jan: Admires a flowered pattern tank top and jeans. This would be perfect for Cindy.
Marcia: That's what I was thinking.
Carol: Oh, that's nice.
Jan: What about you, mom? I like this pant suit.
Carol: Reluctant. It is lovely, but it won't work.
Marcia looks at her mother, knowing.
Jan: What do you mean? It's perfect.
Carol: Well, it would be perfect, except that I'm eight weeks pregnant.
Jan's jaw immediately drops, rendering her speechless.
Carol: I'm due around graduation.
Jan: Is that what you and dad were talking about before breakfast... When you passed Carolyn over to me?
Carol: Yes. Swallowing a lump. How do you feel about it?
Jan: Still shocked. It'll take me a bit, but congratulations.
Meanwhile, in the family room.
Mike works on the sliding glass doors. Greg pulls up in the driveway and exits his car.
Greg: Hey dad!
Mike: Hi!
Greg: Door broken?
Mike: Yeah. Stuck. Marcia thought the door was locked, so I decided to take a look at both sliding doors.
Greg: Need some help?
Mike: Just about got this taken care of, but I will need some help converting the twins' beds into toddler beds after the twins wake up from their naps.
Greg: Sure, I can help.
Mike: Thanks. How's school?
Greg: This year's a beast.
Mike: How so?
Greg: My courses, except sign language, are kicking my tail. My grades are fine though.
Mike: That's good.
Greg: I've taken almost a break from the band.
Mike: Almost?
Greg: Yeah. We got another guy to fill in... Actually, he and I alternate performances. His schedule is almost as heinous as mine, so this works better for both of us.
Mike: Good thinking.
An hour later.
The twins are up from their naps and are playing with Carol, Marcia and Jan in the family room. Peter has come home from working a short shift at the pizza parlor.
Mike: Men, we need to get these cribs converted to toddler beds. I've got the toolbox.
Peter: Sure. Let me change out of my uniform and I'll meet you up there. He changes into more comfortable clothes and joins his father and older brother.
Greg: I thought you and mom were going to wait to convert the cribs until they turned two.
Peter: Chuckles. Which one climbed out of their crib?
Mike: Both of them.
Peter: Seriously!
Mike: They walked into our room this morning, and no one had gotten them up.
Greg: Hand me a Phillips.
Mike: One more thing I need to tell you guys.
Peter: Oh?
Mike: Your mother and I are expecting again... mid-May.
Greg: You're joking.
Peter: No way!
Mike: No, I'm not. She's eight weeks along.
Peter: Congratulations, Dad.
Mike: Thanks.
Peter: Where are you going to put the new baby, since the twins are in here?
Mike: Since you and Jan are graduating and leaving for college, we'll put Bobby in the suite, Cindy in the attic, Ryan in your old room, Carolyn in the girls' old room, and the baby in here.
The men continue working in silence.
Greg: Finishes up one bed. I think I got it.
Mike: Checks it out. Looks good.
Peter: This one's ready too.
Mike: Inspects it. Okay. Thanks, men. Think we've got a couple beds ready for two toddlers. Now, let's get the side rail on each.
That night.
Mike and Carol put the twins to bed, Mike holding a sleeping Carolyn and Carol, Ryan.
Mike: Lays Carolyn down and adjusts the rail. Good night, kiddo.
Carol: Lays Ryan down and adjusts the rail. Good night, sweetheart.
They kiss the twins and head to their room.
Mike: We'll see how long they stay in bed.
Carol: Chuckling. We may be up and down all night. Yawns. I'm beat.
Mike: You gonna be okay with this?
Carol: Grins. Better now than when this baby is bigger.
Mike: How did it go telling Marcia and Jan?
Carol: The girls were surprised.
Mike: I imagine so.
Carol: Marcia wants the older girls and I to participate in a fashion show.
Mike: Oh?
Carol: She's picked out a few outfits for each of us, and I had to tell her those wouldn't fit me because I'll be four months along by then. What about the guys?
Mike: Kisses her on the lips. They thought I was putting them on.
Carol: Giggles. Really?
Mike: Yes, really. Embraces his wife. I can't wait to meet this baby.
They hear a running sound outside the door.
Ryan: Mommy! Daddy!
Carol: Chuckling. Here we go. Round 1.
-End of Chapter 54-