Before I Say I Do
Chapter Six: "Stormbringer".
The next day, Jackie and Hyde got up a bit later, and decided to take some time to do things without their friends. They figured that, with the antics of the previous day, maybe they should try and do a thing or two on their own. Maybe they'd get more done that way, since they wouldn't have to deal with the antics of the two man children, and a mother who randomly showed up and decided to be involved.
"I could call Mrs. Forman," Jackie offered as she buttoned up her choice blouse for the day.
Hyde gave an unsure look. "I don't know, Jackie," he said and cleared his throat a bit, "Maybe I should do it. I don't want her to think it was all your idea."
"We could both tell her then. Call her and we both talk to her."
"I guess that'll work. But know this- in all the years I lived in the same house as Mrs. Forman, I realized that she doesn't take news like this too well."
-/-/-
"I'll get it!" Kitty called from her spot at the kitchen counter as she rushed over to the phone on the wall. Once she picked up the phone, she gave a cheerful, "Good morning! Forman residence."
Kitty had been in an even happier mood ever since a wedding had begun to be planned. Weddings were always such a happy occasion, and she was so excited to be getting involved in her surrogate son's wedding. What made it even better was the fact that it meant that both of her precious boys were going to be married! And so such good girls like Donna and Jackie! And, not to mention the fact that them being married meant there being a greater chance of her becoming a grandmother sooner!
"Hi, Mrs. Forman, it's Jackie," she heard in Jackie's voice form the other end.
"Oh, hello, Jackie," Kitty gushed, "Where're you and Steven? Everyone's here at the house waiting for you two to get here."
There was a brief pause from the other end of the phone. "Well, you see, Mrs. Forman… Steven and I decided we'd just do things on our own today."
Kitty's smile flipped into a frown and her eyebrows furrowed together in confusion at the young bride's words. "What?" Her voice had lost all of its original perkiness, and they were now treading on broken thin ice.
"Mrs. Forman," Hyde's voice came over, "We just wanna look over everything we both found yesterday with all of you."
"So we all will be with you two today?" Her voice was hopeful.
"No. No, Mrs. Forman. It's just gonna be me and Steven today."
"What?" Kitty repeated, her voice lost of hope and now showing signs of anger, "But everyone's here. We're all waiting for you two."
"Well, you all could still go," Jackie tried to say cheerfully, "We just won't be with you."
"But we're a wedding party. And a wedding party isn't a wedding aprty without the bride and groom, damnit!"
-/-/-
The same group that had been in the Forman house the day before now all sat in the living room, rather than in the kitchen. The group all sat watchng the small television set as it played a rerun of Mork and Mindy. It was an episode from the first season of the series, and it was a good one- though, most of the people in the room in the room enjoyed the show and series the whole time, they would say that all the episodes were good ones. The only person who wasn't currently enjoying one of the many wacky adventures and antics of the alien who's name rhymed with his home planet was the female head of the house, who stood in the next room behind the swinging door that connected the kitchen and the living room of the Forman house.
"You know what I love about Mork and Mindy?" Kelso asked, grinning like a child, "How Mindy let Mork just move in with her. Didn't even know the guy. Just found him and his egg, and lets him live with her. That's sexy."
"Michael," Brooke scolded.
"No, for real, Brooke! I mean, sure, we did it the first time we met, but it took me a while just to get you to really go out with me."
"Maybe Mindy is a whore," Fez suggested innocently.
Both Brooke and Kelso looked over at their foreign friend, the young mother quickly covering the ears of their young daughter with her hands, making the little girl jump a bit in surprise. "Fez!" Brooke yelled in a scolding tone, a little more severe this time, "Don't say that in front of Betsy! And you too, Michael!"
Kelso looked at his girlfriend and the mother of his child, a questioning look on his face. "What'd I do?"
"You talked about you and Brooke doing it in front of Betsy," Eric answered absentmindedly, not moving or twitching; Kelso let out a noise of betrayal.
Now Donna looked at Eric. "While I'm proud of you for finding what's wrong," she offered, "Don't say what he did in front of Betsy!"
Betsy turned to face her mother and father, her ears still covered. "I can't hear the TV, Mommy," she complained innocently.
"Are we ok to uncover Betsy's ears now?" Brooke asked, her "serious mother" tone obvious to those around her.
Bob raised his hand slightly. "Can I say something before you do that?" he asked, almost afraid to speak.
Brooke looked to Red. "Should I let him?"
Red looked up suddenly from his paper and shrugged, "Sure. Why not."
Brooke looked back to Bob. "Go ahead."
Bob smirked slightly. "Mindy's hot."
Fez nodded and smiled. "Amen, brother," he agreed.
The young mother gave one last look around the room before uncovering her daughter's ears, and pulling the child onto her lap. There were no other sounds that bounced off any surface in the room, with the exception of Robin Williams' voice, as well as Pam Dawber's, and the laughter from the TV audience, as well as the laughter of those in the room watching the show. It was a nice and enjoyable moment for all those in the room- even for the one in the room who always seemed to be irritated by one thing, or person, or another.
At least, that's how it was until they heard a familiar voice yell from the next room over.
"But we're a wedding party. And a wedding party isn't a wedding party without the bride and groom, damnit!" the familiar voice yelled.
All of those in the living room of the Forman house all looked suddenly in the direction of the kitchen. The voice belonged to Kitty Forman, the female head of the Forman house. They all knew she was on the phone, but they didn't quite know who she was speaking to- more like yelling at- on the other end. Although, after her little outburst that rang through their ears, they all had a bit of an idea of who she was speaking with.
"Who's Grandma Kitty talkin' to, Mommy?" Betsy Kelso asked, turning around to look at her mother again.
"I don't know, sweetheart," Brooke answered gently, "But I think it's Aunt Jackie and Uncle Steven."
"Did she say a bad word?"
"Uh… no, sweetie. But don't say what she said either way, ok?"
All those in the Forman living room then exchanged looks of concern and confusion- and even fear- with one another. They all thought back to Kitty Forman's menopause years, all of them suddenly filled with fear and nervous and afraid of what might happen next. Red and Eric exchanged look, both of them looking like a deer caught in the headlights. "Oh no," Eric mumbled, looking up at the ceiling, then down at the carpet.
"What's the matter?" Bob asked hesitantly.
Red shook his head, bringing him back to reality. "What?" he questioned, "Sorry. I just had a flashback…"
Donna gave her father-in-law a sympathetic look. "A war flashback, Mr. Forman?" she asked, her tone of voice matching the look on her face.
Red shook his head. "No, not a war flashback. A flashback to when Kitty had menopause."
Everyone looked around at one another again, and shivered slightly at the memories of that dark time in the Forman house.
Red took a deep breath and stood up from his chair slowly, clearing his throat nervously. He slowly headed toward the kitchen door that connected the kitchen and living room. "I'm going in," he said bravely, "And Eric? If I don't come back in here in five minutes- bring a bottle of wine in from the bar." After the youngest Forman nodded, Red took another deep breath, pushed the kitchen door open, and entered into the kitchen- or right now, what was known as "the eye of the storm".
"What an American hero," Eric said honestly, his tone full of heart and admiration for his father.
Poor Red.
This last part was kinda fun to write actually. This is the first time writing this story that I had no doubt that this is something that would've happened in the show. Actually, this whole chapter was this way. I like this chapter- no, I love this chapter. And I love Mork and Mindy. It's one of my favorite shows, and since I have it that this story takes place in 1982, it was just finishing up that year I believe. and it was a popular show, so it works, I think.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Next update should be in two to four weeks, no more no less. Peace from all the hippies of the world. =^-^=