One strange little chapter ... that's my story and I'm sticking to it! Read on ... please.
......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
CHAPTER NINE: HOW OLD ARE BABIES WHEN THEY SAY THEIR FIRST WORDS?
3 Days Til' Christmas
As a new day was dawning on the Goren's, babies Tracy, Haley and John began singing that familiar morning song called … " We're awake, hungry … we've pooped and we're wet." It climbed all the way to number two on the top forty … well one and two depending on the morning.
"Bobby, it's your turn." She pushes him to get out of bed.
"Forget it. You took advantage of me all night … I'm older than you and you're closer." He pushes her back.
"Bobby!"
"Ally!"
"Dada."
They both bolt upright in bed and look at each other.
"Did you hear what I heard?"
"No way did we hear that!"
"Get the book … you know … that book … the first five year book!" Bobby say excitedly.
Alex is reading … she keeps turning pages … and pages … and pages.
"Well, come on what does it say?"
"It says that most babies say, mama and dada around the end of their first year Bobby. We couldn't have heard that … no way!"
"Dada."
"There it is again!"
"Oh my God! Another fucking genius!" Alex falls back on the bed and feigns fainting.
Bobby jumps off the bed and runs into the babies room … he sneaks in to see which baby is saying Dada. Alex tiptoes in behind him.
"Which one Bobby, she starts tugging on his t-shirt. Which one, which one!"
"I don't know … shh."
"Dada."
Simultaneously … "John!"
John jumps and starts screeching. Bobby runs to him and lifts him up.
"Dada's right here little buddy."
"Don't patronize him Bobby … tell him MC squared or something."
Bobby rolls his eyes … he decides to play. He sits down and cradles John in his arms.
"John Robert Goren, it's time you learned the facts of life, E equals energy, M equals mass and C equals the speed of light in a vacuum."
"Very funny Bobby."
"He said Dada Alex … not "hey Dad … could ya change my diaper and get me a Bud dude … I'm parched!"
"It's too early for a Bud, Bobby."
"That's what you got out of that?"
"You're up … I'm going back to bed … teach our genius son to solve a case while your changing him will ya?"
"Ah … which case?"
"The case of the missing Christmas presents."
"What?"
"I have to go shopping or Santa won't be climbing down our chimney this year."
Alex went back to sleep for a little while and Bobby played with the triplets on the floor. He tried to get John to say Mama but no go. He planned on working on that for Christmas … he thought the MC squared stuff was a little over his head but maybe Mama was manageable.
The triplets fell back to sleep and Bobby crept back into bed. He wrapped his arms around Alex and fell back to sleep.
"Mama!"
They both bolt upright … again.
"It worked!"
"Mama."
"Bobby, he said Mama!"
Alex goes running into the babies room and sure enough John is awake and saying Mama. She starts to cry. Bobby walks in behind her and puts his arms around her and brings his mouth down to meet her ear.
"Do you want me to teach him the Gettysburg Address?"
She elbows him in the ribs … again.
"At six weeks old, they're just suppose to cry … this is not right … this is weird."
He turns her around to face him.
"Look at me Alex … do you remember who you married?"
"No Bobby … I mean yeah but … I think we should take him to the Doctors."
"Because he can talk … what kind of disease is that? Ab incunabulis talkulotis."
"There are times that I really really hate you."
"Why?"
She starts laughing.
"Because I want to be upset and you're making me laugh … you big jerk"
"Honey, there's nothing to be upset about … he said two words … to him … they were just sounds. We're making more out of this than there is. Go take a shower and go do your shopping. Call Liz and do lunch … I'll take care of the trips … go."
Alex takes her shower and heads out to do her shopping … her one stop shopping … Lewis's.
"Hey, Detective Alex, right on time … I just took delivery of Bobby's present."
"Where is it?"
"In the back garage, I didn't want anybody to see it. I had Bobby run the VIN on it. It's all set … one owner. You don't get any sweeter than that on a vintage work of art like this."
He takes her out back and removes the cloth car cover from the 1970 Shadow Gray Chevelle SS. Alex gasped … it was mint. Alex had some savings put aside and her parents also chipped in … Bobby had the best and worst year of his life. This Christmas was going to be his best ever … she didn't want it to be about material things but this car was a dream and their life together was a dream come true. It was registered in Bobby's name and had a vanity plate on it. Simply stated … TRIPS. Lewis and Bobby always said if they had a chance, they would collect classic cars. Bobby now had two. Lewis had many over the years … he would fix them up, get sick of them and sell them … then move on to the next one. Bobby got attached to things and never let them go … Alex took comfort in the way Lewis explained their differences. She stood there with her hand covering her mouth and a tear escaped her eye …
"He's gonna be so pissed at the money we spent on this Lew … so pissed."
"You know what sucks about this Alex … he puts his arm around her shoulder … It's like getting a bike for Christmas … it's winter time and you love that bike but you can't ride it … the snow and all. Same thing here … he'll forgive you once he drives it … so that will be sometime in the spring of 2009."
"Gee, thanks for that Lewis."
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Christmas Eve brings back Jimmy and Angie and Little John finds Jimmy Hoffa ... kidding:) Thanks for reading!