September 19, 1975
"C'mon, we gotta tell everyone," I said frantically as I slipped my arms through my cardigan and picked up KJ from his spot on the couch.
"It's weird bein' the first to know for once," Keith said as he turned off the lights in the house, "It'll be easier to call everyone from the hospital."
We had gotten a phone call around twelve in the afternoon from Soda. He said that Candy and him were at the hospital. He was all anxious and excited and could barely explain why they were there, at least in an understandable way. Being the first ones to be called was exciting but it was also nerve-wracking due to the fact that the responsibility of calling everyone is then placed on your shoulders. It wasn't so bad, but Candy had a large family, so that would've made it difficult. When we asked over the phone about it, Soda said that we only had to call her parents and that they would tell everyone the next day.
Keith and I decided that we'd call everyone form the hospital. That way, we could use two phones at the same time instead of only one house number, so then we could get to everyone quicker and easier.
It took about ten minutes to get to the hospital. When we got there, we went straight to the payphones right outside the front entrance doors. Keith would be calling Darry and Marilyn, Ponyboy and Cherry, and Steve and Evie. I would be calling Danny and Sandy and Candy's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ramos.
Ponyboy and Cherry had managed a long distance relationship very well. By now, they were back at the University of Tulsa. Ponyboy was able to graduate a bit early cause of the class schedule he chose to take and the fact that he got all his college credits and even more than he needed to graduate. Cherry was graduating the upcoming year due to the fact that she was working toward her doctorate, considering she was aiming to be a pediatrician instead of her original plan to become a full time cosmetologist. She had still gotten her diploma for that, but she decided after that to become a doctor.
"It really is weird to be the first ones, huh?" I asked a bit restlessly as we got into the elevator.
Keith nodded and looked at KJ, who was asleep on my shoulder since it was the time he'd usually be taking a nap. "I think I speak for all of us here," he said, "It sure is more tiring than it seems."
"I can agree with that."
"You doin' ok?" he asked me unsurely.
"Yeah, I'm fine. And you can't ask that when we're with everyone, so remember that. I'll tell you if I'm not ok."
"So we're still not telling them all yet, right?"
I shook my head. "Not yet," I answered, "In at least a week or two. Cause by then, everything will be calm."
He nodded in understanding. "So the only people who know is the doctor, my mom, Keilah, me and you?" he asked and I nodded.
The elevator bell rang and the doors opened on the floor we were told Candy was on. We asked one of the nurses at the nurse's station where her room was and which number room she was in. She told us the room number and how to get there. We thanked her quickly and then went in the direction she told us in search of the number room she had told us.
As we turned the corner of the hallway, we saw Soda talking with a doctor. By the time we got to the room, the doctor had walked away and Soda stood waiting for us. "Hey," Keith greeted when we reached Soda.
"Everything goin' alright?" I asked quietly so I didn't wake up KJ, who was still asleep on my shoulder.
"Yeah, yeah, she's fine," Soda answered, "I mean, as fine as she can be right now, ya know? Anyway, you guys called everyone? And her parents?"
I nodded. "Everyone has been called and they all said that they'll be here soon."
Ten minutes later, everyone started coming in. The first to come was Mr. and Mrs. Ramos, which didn't shock me at all since they're Candy's parents. Five minutes later, Dandy and Marilyn came with Mariah and DT. Another five minutes later, Steve and Evie came running down the corridor to the room. Another five minutes passed, and Ponyboy and Cherry came around the corner of the hallway. The last to arrive was Danny and Sandy with Lucy, who was now seven years old.
As everyone arrived, I felt myself start to feel sick. I knew it was from running around and getting stressed out about calling everyone. I walked over to Keith and handed him KJ- who had just woken up recently- over to him. He gave me a weird look. "You alright?" he asked worriedly, "You look kinda pale."
I nodded a bit. "Uh, yeah," I answered quickly, "I just have to use the bathroom, that's all." I raised my eyebrows a bit and he nodded knowingly.
Five minutes later, I heard the bathroom door open as I washed my hands. I cleared my throat to try and regain my composure before looking over my shoulder and saw Marilyn with Mariah and DT. I finished washing my hand and smiled at her and she did the same. She helped Mariah up on the bench in the bathroom and laid DT down on the changing table. "Hey," she smiled, "Are you feelin' alright?"
I quickly nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. Why?" I asked.
"Cause the color still hasn't fully returned to your face, that's why."
I felt my heart start to beat a little faster, hoping maybe that would help my face get its color back quicker. "Oh, that's just cause we were runnin' around to get here and call all of you guys."
It wasn't easy trying to convince Marilyn that I was alright. Considering she was the oldest- at least of the girls- and she knew how we all were from being around us all for so long. When we were teenagers, Darry was the adult over all of us and who we all went to. Once we had all gotten comfortable with Marilyn, that made life easier for the girls so then it wouldn't be as awkward saying if something was wrong. Cause of this, she had gained knowledge about how we were with certain things rather quickly. It had been that way since about 1967 or 1968.
Not to mention that fact that I'm not always the best liar with certain things.
I left the bathroom with Marilyn, who seemed to slightly believe that I was alright. As we walked, she held DT in her arms and I held Mariah's hand. By then, thankfully, all the color had come back to my face. When we got back to everyone, Mariah ran to Darry as fast as she possibly could and giggled as he picked her up. I smiled and went over to Keith and KJ, who was sitting in a chair playing with his stuffed bear that he'd been hugging when he was sleeping.
I had actually made a stuffed teddy bear, can you believe that? I had asked Mrs. Mathews for help since I didn't really know how to sew, and she had helped me with the cutouts and stuff like that- but we made him a bear. It wasn't too big, but it wasn't small either. The only reason it looked huge when KJ held it was because he was still pretty small. It was a gift for his third birthday, and he hadn't let it out of his grasp since, except for when he went to preschool- where he'd left it in the car so he wouldn't get messed up at school. He named the bear 'Teddy'.
As I walked over to Keith, he mouthed, "You ok?"
I gave a weak smile and nodded as I sat down in one of the chairs, picking up KJ and placing him down on my lap. "Yeah, I'm fine," I answered, then whispered, "But Marilyn was suspicious."
"Are you sick, Mama?" KJ asked when he heard my words.
I smiled at him. "No, baby, I'm not sick." He smiled, nodded, then went back to his bear.
The rest of us stood around in the hallway and talked, trying to remain patient. Once three o'clock hit, we all took turns going to the hospital cafeteria. Keith and I went with KJ at the same time as Danny and Sandy went with Lucy, and Darry and Marilyn went with Mariah and Dt.
The whole time we were in the cafeteria, Marilyn kept trying to sneak outta me whether or not something was wrong with me; it wasn't in a mean way, more a concerned way. The only way I was able to get around her questions was either when someone else at the table started a new conversation, or when KJ needed something. I'd be lying if I said that I didn't nearly crack once or twice- but somehow, I didn't say a word.
Another hour and a half later, nurses were coming in and out of Candy's room. The doctor came out and I hid my face, cause apparently, it was the same doctor who confirmed to me that I was pregnant, and I didn't want her to say anything. After about five minutes, all the nurses left and one told us all that we could all see Candy by two's. Of course, her parents went first; Keith, me and KJ went last.
When we walked inside the room, Candy held a little blue bundle in her arms, and Soda held a similar bundle but it was pink. "Hey," I said in a quiet and happy tone as we walked in.
"How's everyone in here?" Keith asked in an equal tone.
"Tired," Candy chuckled gently, "But otherwise, we're all great."
"We've been told one boy and one girl. Is that true?"
Soda nodded. "Patrick Michael Curtis and Elizabeth Michaela Curtis," he smiled, "Patrick's older by three minutes."
"Two babies?" KJ asked, copying everyone's quiet voices.
I chuckled and nodded. "There were two babies in Aunt Candy's tummy."
"Just like there's a baby in your mommy's tummy," Candy said to KJ, holding back a smile.
Keith and I exchanged looks, both of us slightly wide eyed. "How'd you know that? We didn't tell anyone yet."
"Your doctor let it slip." Soda shrugged innocently.
"The doctor saw you and asked if we knew you and if we were friends. When I said yeah, she told us." Candy smiled hopefully.
Keith and I looked at each other again with unsure looks. "Alright," I sighed, "Just please don't tell anyone yet, ok? We were gonna wait till next week."
"Ok." Both Soda and Candy nodded, but then Soda smirked a bit, "On one condition?"
Keith gave a questioning look. "What is it?"
"You two be Patrick and Elizabeth's godparents." Candy held back a chuckle.
"Fine," I chuckled, "I have no problem with that."
"I'd say that's fair," Keith chuckled.
Candy smiled victoriously as Soda said, "Good. Now get over here and see them."
"Me too?" KJ asked hopefully.
We all chuckled quietly as his question. "Yes, KJ. You too."
These chapters are so mushy oh my gahd. But the next chapter brings disaster…. *evil laugh*…
Actually, it's gonna be kinda sad. Then the couple after that are kinda sad too if everything goes according to plan.
I won't be updating before Valentine's Day and Galentine's Day (if you watch "Parks and Recreation", you know what that is) so- HAPPY GALENTINE'S DAY AND HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
Anyway, I have nothing to say- so hope you enjoyed the chapter and peace from all the hippies of the world! =^-^=