Whew! Okay FINALLY here you are, chapter fourteen. I had a tiny bit of writer's block, but it's all good now!
It was the day for the winter talent show, the principal called down students to the auditorium by grades. All the acts were there five minutes before the principal called down kids. Alex saw lots of kids with instruments like the piano, trumpet , saxophone and a ninth grader with an electric guitar.
Surprising enough, Alex wasn't nervous. She was perfectly calm. Alex took out Greg's song he wrote for her and read it over once more to make sure she had it down. A staff member who was one of the women in charge of the talent show walked up to Alex.
"You're the sixth act," she said and walked off.
Greg was the first one there he waved to Alex and she waved back. Sure enough, he had the video camera.
"You ready kiddo?" Greg asked walking toward Alex.
"Yep, I'm the sixth one up," Alex replied.
"Far out, I'll get my camera ready then," he said with a smile, "you nervous?"
Alex shook her head. "Not really," she said.
Then 7th, 8th and 9th graders began to swarm into the auditorium.
"Well, I better go take my seat if I want to get a good shot of you," said Greg.
Jan, Marcia and Peter found Greg and sat next to him before other kids could take the seat.
"So what act is she do you know?" Peter asked Greg.
"I think she said she was 6th," Greg replied.
Carol rushed in next to Marcia. "Sorry I'm late guys!" she whispered.
"It's okay Mom," said Greg. "it's only the first act."
"Yeah," added Peter. "Alex is the 6th act."
"She's new to Fillmore but has a lot of musical talent," a female teacher announced on the microphone. "she came all the way from New York here's Alex Brady on her guitar."
The crowd clapped as Alex walked up on the stage. Greg had his camera ready and began to film. Alex began to play, she played the best she had ever played surprising all she knew even Greg, Jan, Carol, Marcia and Peter.
"Wow," Jan whispered in amazement.
"Here you go folks," Greg said quietly to the camera. "my little cousin bringing my song to life."
"She really has great talent," Carol whispered to Marcia.
At the end of Alex's act the whole crowd roared with clapping and cheers. She grinned and waved to the audience. She walked down the steps and took a seat next to Jan.
"Oh Alex! I'm so proud of you!" Carol shouted with joy.
"You were terrific!" said Jan.
"Fantastic!" added Peter.
"Great job kiddo, I'm really proud," Greg said.
"Best act," Marcia said with a smile.
"Thanks you guys," said Alex.
"I wish your Uncle Mike were here," said Carol. "you know, we should go home and have a celebration!"
"Yeah!" Jan and Peter shouted at once.
"Like a party!" added Peter.
"Oh," Alex said modestly, "you guys don't have to do that."
"Sure we do!" said Greg, "you were the best act, you deserve a party!"
"We'll throw it for you tomorrow," Carol said cheerfully.
When everyone got home Greg was setting up the film for when his dad and little brother and sister come home because when Cindy and Bobby come home they're going to say "Put in the film!" and "We want to see how Alex did!"
Alice and Carol were in the kitchen and Alice was already making a cake for Alex's party.
"This is going to be so wonderful," Carol said cheerfully. "Too bad her parents can't be here to-" just that moment the phone began to ring. "Well if that's them Alice, I will slap myself," Carol said walking over to the phone.
"Maybe they have ESP," Alice joked.
"Hello?" Carol asked and paused for a moment. "yes, this is Mrs. Brady," she paused again. "oh my goodness, yes, I'll be right there!" she hung up real quickly and scurried around the kitchen.
"What is it Mrs. Brady?" asked Alice.
"Oh Alice, Mike is in the hospital he got into a car wreck they don't know how serious could you watch the kids for me please?" Carol asked.
"Can do, Mrs. Brady," replied Alice.
"Oh, and don't tell them where I went, there's no use in scaring them it might not be that bad," Carol said trying to calm herself down.
"Sure thing Mrs. Brady, and it's probably not too bad," Alice said trying also trying to calm Carol down and herself down.
At the hospital Carol rushed into the emergency room and she rushed to the front desk.
"Hello, I'm Carol Brady," Carol said nervously. "I'm here to see my husband, Mike Brady I got a phone call saying he was in a car wreck."
"I'm sorry Mrs. Brady, I have no information on him currently, but I'm sure the doctor will see you shortly," said the woman at the desk.
In Carol's surprise it was short, within five minutes or so the doctor came out to the emergency room.
"Mrs. Brady," the doctor said walking up to Carol.
She sat up from her seat. "Yes?" she asked anxiously.
"Mr. Brady is doing fine," the doctor said.
Carol then sighed with relief.
"It wasn't too serious lucky for him," the doctor said, "I can't speak for the driver he collided into."
"What happened, doctor?" Carol asked.
"A man, Sam Smith to be exact, crashed into your husband on a road fairly close to here," the doctor began, "Sam appeared to be drunk and lost total control of the car and collided right into Mike's car. Lucky for Mike, the angle of the blow was minor damage to your husband."
"Oh thank goodness!" Carol said with relief, "but what about Mr. Smith, how is he?"
"I'm not exactly sure, Mrs. Brady," the doctor replied, "we have another doctor working with him, the last I heard was he was in serious condition. But as for Mike, he is in good condition he just suffered from a broken leg and a fractured rib, he should be good to go home by tomorrow."
"Can I see him?" asked Carol.
the doctor smiled. "I see no reason why not," he said, "He's in room 243."
Carol entered the room and Mike sat up in his bed with his leg in a cast stacked up on top of several pillows and crutches by his bedside. He was watching the television. Carol looked at him and was about ready to cry. Mike spotted Carol and smiled.
"My best surprise of the day," he said, "are you my new nurse?"
"I will be for the next few months," Carol replied with a smile, "how are you?"
"I feel surprisingly well," he replied, "rhis is one heck of a Christmas present."
Carol laughed and her face then turned serious. "I don't know if it's the best time to joke," Carol said, "the man who hit you is in serious condition."
"I know, and I'm terribly sorry for the guy," Mike began, "but this goes to show that this what you get for drunk driving, not only hurting yourself but hurting others."
Carol walked over and wrapped her arms around Mikes shoulder and laying her head up against his. "I'm just glad you're okay," she said, "I better call Alice she's probably worried sick."
She went to a pay phone and called the house. Back at the house Alice sat next to the phone biting her nails waiting for Carol to call.
"Mrs. Brady?" she asked anxiously.
"Yes, hello Alice," said Carol.
"How is he?" asked Alice.
"He is doing fine, he has a broken leg and fractured rib, but fine."
"Oh what a relief Mrs. Brady!"
"And the best part is, he gets to come home tomorrow for Alex's party!"
"Even more great news!"
"So go ahead a keep working on the cake, I'll tell the kids when I come home."