That's when Wally drifted off into space. I kept talking about his only child. Wally was starting to have a memory about him before my time. He knew this was something Dad had told him when he got at an older age so this was why it was a memory he had from time to time.
Flashback:
At age five, Wally was eating dinner with our parents, Dad and Mom one Thursday night.
"Ward, Wally, I have some news to share with you," Mom said.
"What's that, June?" Dad asked.
"Ward, I'm pregnant again," Mom announced.
"When did you find that out?" Dad asked.
"I went to the doctor today. He told me I am two months pregnant."
She looked at Wally.
"That means you will have a younger brother or sister soon," she told him.
Wally didn't like what he heard. He liked being an only child. That's when he asked to leave the table without finishing the rest of that night's supper.
"Not until you finish eating the rest of your meal," Dad said.
"My tummy hurts," Wally said.
Mom looked at Wally, who was rubbing his stomach.
"Let him go, Ward. You're excused," Mom told Wally.
So he left the table and went to his bedroom. He couldn't believe the news he had just heard. He opened the door to his room and decided to lie on his bed. So he did.
Downstairs, Mom and Dad finished eating dinner and started dessert.
"Ward, I'm worried about Wally."
"What's wrong with him? He looks normal to me," Dad said.
"He's not, Ward. Have you noticed the changes in Wally recently?" Mom asked.
"What changes?"
"Well, in the past month I thought I heard him crying during the night in the past month. Have you heard it?" Mom asked.
"No, I haven't."
"I have. I have no idea what made him do that. It didn't sound like a nightmare to me either. I have to talk to Wally's teacher tomorrow too," Mom said.
"You know what I found in Wally's bedroom yesterday?" Dad asked.
"What did you find?"
"I found candy wrappings on the floor. I saw about thirty candy wrappings on the floor that should have been in the wastebasket instead."
"Maybe that's what is making his stomach hurt. I wonder how Wally got all that candy in the first place," Mom said.
"I have no idea. I wouldn't worry about it."
"Should I call the doctor and have him look at Wally?" she asked.
"Could that wait until tomorrow?" Dad asked.
"No."
He agreed they call the doctor immediately and ask if he could make a house call right away. The doctor asked who was sick. Dad told him he had to look at Wally.
"He was healthy last time I saw him," the doctor said.
"This time he's not. June and I have no idea what could be wrong," Dad said.
"I'll be over, Mr. Cleaver," the doctor said and hung up.
"What did the doctor say, Ward?"
"He's on his way over to look at Wally."
"I hope it's nothing serious," she said worriedly.
"We don't know yet, June."
The doorbell rang and it was the doctor. The doctor asked what had gone on with Wally lately and Mom and Dad told him what they knew.
"I would like to take a look at Wally myself," the doctor said.
That's when he asked where Wally was.
"In his bedroom," Mom said as the three headed up the stairs.
After Mom knocked on the door and let them in, they found Wally in his bed under the covers. Mom and Dad watched as the doctor looked Wally over.
"You're right, Mrs. Cleaver. There is something wrong with him."
"Do you know what it is?" Dad asked.
"To me it looks like depression, Mr. Cleaver. You can take him to my office for a diagnosis tomorrow."
"NO!" Mom said.
She couldn't believe what she had just heard.
"I will want to do some tests on him while I make the diagnosis if that's alright with you," the doctor said to Dad and Mom.
Before answering, Dad looked at Mom.
"Let him do the tests, June. It'll do good to find out what is wrong with Wally. Then we will decide on medicine later," Dad told her.
"I guess you're right, Ward. I will take Wally there first thing in the morning," Mom said.
"Then I shall expect you at eight o'clock. Wally does look like he's gained some weight," the doctor said.
Dad and Mom looked at each other again.
"I didn't notice any change, did you, Ward?"
"No, I didn't, June."
Both Dad and Mom walked the doctor to the door.
"Since you're two months pregnant, Mrs. Cleaver, would you like to find out if it's a boy or girl?" the doctor asked.
Dad and Mom looked at each other a third time.
"What do you think, Ward?"
"That's up to you," Dad said.
"I think we'll be surprised on this one, thank you," she told him.
That's when the doctor left.
"Are you sure you don't want to find out?" Dad asked.
"I'm sure. I remember we did the same thing when I was pregnant with Wally. We found out about him if he was a boy or girl, but I would like it as a surprise this time."
"All right," Dad said.
The next day, Mom and Wally were at the doctor's office before eight that morning. Mom had decided to keep Wally out of school that day so he could go in for his tests. While Wally was in for his tests, Mom went to see his teacher during the lunch hour.
"Mrs. Cleaver, there is a change in Wally in the past month," the teacher said.
"What is the change?" Mom asked.
The teacher knew about Wally being out of school that day.
"Wally hasn't been paying attention in the past month. I notice he sleeps the day when I teach and when I call his name he won't answer. I also hear he has stolen candy from other children," the teacher said.
"We spoke with the doctor last night. He thinks Wally has depression and would be diagnosed today," Mom told the teacher.
"Maybe that's why he never answers me in class. I'm sure you and Mr. Cleaver will have this figured out," the teacher said.
After the talk with the teacher, Mom went back home. She didn't hear from the doctor again until hours later.
"Well, Mrs. Cleaver, the tests do read depression. We won't worry about medication now because he is a bit young for the stuff we use to treat depression. We might wait a couple more years to start him on drugs," the doctor said.
Mom couldn't believe at an age like Wally's her child was with an illness. She didn't want this to happen but it did. She knew things like this ran in families but didn't want this family next.
End Flashback
Wally heard the car park. That made him stop thinking about the past.
"Are you okay, Wally? You were quiet for a while," I said.
"I'm fine. What was that you were saying?" Wally asked.
"Then you and Lindsey should be having some time together when she comes here to find out you have depression. Even Lumpy is here so we can have the talk at once," I told him.
Wally did think it made sense to have both Lumpy and Lindsey here for the talk at the same time so that way the talk wouldn't have to be kept being repeated.
The two of us walked into the two - story house and found my wife, Olivia in the kitchen at the stove.
"Hi, honey," I said as the two of us kissed.
"Hi, Beaver, Wally. Lindsey's here."
"She is? Great. Sorry I couldn't pick her up," I said.
"She understood. She knew you were living here, Wally," Olivia said.
"She knows because I tell her," I told my wife.
That's when I asked where Lindsey was.
"She's staying at the Marriott for time being. She said you told her about some talk," Olivia said.
"Yeah, that's right. She never knew about Wally having depression so we're going to get together with her, Eddie, and Lumpy."
That surprised Olivia, all right.
"What is Lumpy doing back in America? Shouldn't he be in Africa?" Olivia asked.
"You would think, but he's here because back when Wally had depression, Lumpy never knew about it. I guess Eddie somehow thought now was a good time to tell Lumpy."
"I wonder how Lumpy feels about being told so many years later instead of when you were kids," Olivia said.
"I don't know. I didn't talk to him so I can't tell you what Lumpy thought," I said.
The two of us were silent.
"I'll call Lindsey tonight and see if I can try to get her and Wally together on the phone and see what happens," I said.
"That might not be a bad idea. You could give it a shot unless you want to wait until the talk with Lindsey and Lumpy," Olivia told me.
"I want to try it first and then see what gives at the talk," I said.
Note: I found this story from Ao3 and I forgot all about this one. I did have it up once here, but I decided to try again this time. Hope you like it.