Author Note:...nothing spectacular happens but I like to call it a moving along chapter

Chapter 07 – Nursing Kitty

T7S

Jackie was the first up and actually knew how to percolate coffee. She got a pot started for Red and looked for Kitty's recipe book. Maybe that pancake recipe was in there – if not, everyone was having hard boiled eggs for breakfast! (She had since lost her trepidation to anything that came out of a chicken's butt) Besides, eggs were easy. Perhaps Mrs. Forman would like some toast with her eggs.

Red pushed through the swinging door and was greeted with the smell of coffee, "Good morning Jackie. I'm guessing you slept well in Laurie's room?"

The brunette turned from the stove and smiled, "It was better than the front seat of my car!" She quipped and then added, 'I seriously have to disinfect the room though….there's no telling what kind of disease is lying around. I mean, I have to be sanitary for Mrs. Forman." Jackie quickly averted the glare that was headed her way.

A yawning, stretching Eric Forman staggered through the doors, "Seriously, hard boiled eggs for breakfast?"

Jackie looked at him with narrowed eyes, "If you have the recipe for pancakes, be my guest. I'm cooking what I know. I saw some bologna in the fridge. Make a sandwich."

Red stepped between the bickering duo. "Children…you both have job interviews today. Eric, eat and go fill out the application for that city job."

"Oh yeah…so I can scrape dead dogs from the highway." He deadpanned.

Jackie smirked, "Maybe you'd rather be the guy that has to catch a growling Rottweiler? Get a snarling kitty cat out of a tree? Oh! I forgot, you like to run over cats."

"Ha ha." Eric replied reaching for a coffee cup. "I think I'll be quite handy with a shovel. At least I won't be listening to you telling the ambulances where all the car crashes and heart attacks are….oh, sorry dad."

Red glared but sat down at the table drinking his coffee. He tapped his fingers on the table. "I'm getting a bell."

Jackie and Eric turned, "What?"

His brow furrowed. "This is a big house and if one of you are in the basement and Kitty falls, how are you going to hear her? What if she needs something?"

Eric didn't like the idea of his mom playing with bells – she'd be ringing the damn thing all day. "Dad….what about a walkie-talkie? We could carry it with us on our….shift…or whatever you call it."

Red grinned, "You know Eric, you are not entirely a dumbass sometimes. I think I have a set out in the garage. Jackie honey, can you get some food and coffee upstairs? I think she's going to wake up real soon."

Jackie walked past Eric and uttered, "They are walkie-talkies, not some Star Trek communicators – remember that!"

-o-

Kitty tried to push herself into a sitting position but it hurt too much. Most of the pain was radiating down her left hip and into her leg and she couldn't help but groan. The bedroom door opened up and Kitty glanced to see it was Jackie with a tray of food. She tried to wave away the young girl, "Ahahaha….honey, I'm not hungry." She fell back against the pillows.

Who was she kidding? That dinner last night was abysmal at best and the coffee smelled pretty good. "Jackie? Sweetie, why don't you just set that tray over there? I need some help sitting up. This mattress is too soft."

Jackie placed the breakfast tray on the dresser and stepped over to the queen sized bed. She remembered the pamphlet saying to be slow and careful so Jackie eased one of Red's pillows under Kitty's back. In the elevated position it was easier to help Mrs. Forman sit up. Kitty patted Jackie's cheek.

"Thank you dear. I think Red is afraid of breaking me."

Jackie set the breakfast tray over Kitty's lap and set about selecting an outfit for the day. It had to be something easy to get on and not too complicated for bathroom related matters. That particular task made her tiny nostrils flare but some day she would have a baby and poop was poop!

"I brought you some of those pain meds and a heating pad. I figured you'd want to eat and then clean up. Mr. Forman will help you get downstairs and we'll get you fixed up on the couch."

Kitty sipped the coffee and was surprised that it wasn't bitter like Jackie's attitude on most days! "Well that is very sweet of you. What did you pull out of my closet?"

Jackie smiled at her find. "I know it's winter time but a dress is easy and you don't have to mess with any zippers or buttons."

"How thoughtful!" Kitty exclaimed. Perhaps Red was right – she did need a girl to help her with these things. Jackie shrugged, "Mr. Forman is getting you a walkie-talkie so you can keep in touch with me or Eric if you need help."

Kitty lifted a brow, "Don't tell me that was Red's idea. I can see my husband suggesting something dumbass like a cowbell."

Snickering, Jackie covered her smile. "Oh…um….no…no cowbells were mentioned at all!"

Kitty cut into her hardboiled egg and made a toast/egg sandwich. "Honey, if you can get one of those chairs up here and put it in the tub, it will be easier for me to shower. I need something to lean on…or sit on depending on this bum leg of mine."

"Okay, I'll be back!" Jackie smiled and skipped from the room thinking, "This can't be too hard!" She saw Eric coming up the stair and made an exaggerated show of sticking her foot out for him to trip on. He stepped over her foot and replied, "Ha-ha. I thought we moved past the attempted murdered conversation."

She smirked, "Just checking. You're mom is fine but needs the shower in about 20 minutes so hurry up."

Eric rolled his eyes, "Yeah boss…whatever."

T7S

The Ferris wheel was up and being safety tested while a city inspector checked off boxes for the requirements of the Carnival ride. Concession booths were up and the sounds of hammers and ringing nails filled the air. The scent of cotton candy and fresh hay wafted through the air as machines whirred and a farm floor was being set over the snow.

Jugglers on stilts were rehearsing and some of the local carnies were helping hang signs. The Man-eating Cheeseburger tent competed with the Bearded Lady's purple canvas. The little shack that held the two-headed chicken was butted up against the wall of mirrors. Beyond the non-motion attractions were the smaller but fierce roller coaster. A faded Tilt-a-Whirl sat like a gilded hat tipped on its side.

The inspector wandered the fairway towards the ticket booth which boasted features such as the Frogman who could guess your weight, the world's fattest corn dogs, a fortune teller and the very best prizes for the arcade games. Several hours later, Le Petit' Carnival was given the "okay" to advertise in Point Place and surrounding areas.

-o-

Eli popped into Serena's tent and wiped the sweat from his face. She had been looking into her brass mirror and trimming her sideburns when he startled her.

"TATIANAISGONGTOLOVEME!" He shouted excitedly. Serena wiped his sweat from her cheek. Eli always talked too loud and was unusually excited. Sensing something else was going on she held out her hand.

"How many pockets did you pick?"

Eli blushed and pulled out a brown leather wallet and a beaded coin purse. Serena shook her head, "All of them."

He reached into his vest pocket and deposited a fat worn leather wallet and a money clip with several twenty dollar bills onto the dressing table.

"You know this is wrong don't you?" Serena asked patiently.

Eli nodded and had the decency to look ashamed. "What would Tatiana think of you if she found out you broke your pickpocket promise?"

"SHEMIGHTGIVEMEABOILTOO." Eli said a little too loudly.

Serena nodded. "Yes. You remember when your cousin had that basketball size boil on the back of his neck? He was in a lot of pain wasn't he?"

Eli nodded. He may not be the brightest bulb in the family outlet but he knew better than to piss off the fortune teller! Using his softest voice, Eli said, "Can I have some of the money to buy her a pretty scarf?"

Serena shook her head. "No Eli. Not with stolen money. Work with your cousin Jack on the roller coaster and earn the right way. Tatiana would appreciate it more."

Eli wiped the sweat from his face with the sleeve of his shirt. "MANITSHOTINHERE!" Then in a flash he was gone. Meanwhile, Serena dropped the stolen wallets into an ammo box she kept under her table. At some point after the carnival was over, she would mail the wallets back to their owners. If the money happened to fall out in the meantime….oh well!

T7S

The shower was much easier with the chair and Jackie had found an old cane in the attic that seemed to help Kitty maneuver with less pain. She could lean her weight on the good leg and then take a step using the cane. Sure it was baby steps all the way but she didn't need that damned wheelchair so this was nice.

Kitty looked at herself in the mirror over the dresser. She certainly looked a sight better than New Year's Day morning…..was that only yesterday? Time certainly seems to fly! She brushed her hair into a flip and nodded to her young helper that she was ready to go downstairs.

Jackie felt a bit of pride that she could help an old lady take care of herself and that meant no more bathroom assistance. Yay! But, if Mrs. Forman needed her, Jackie would always wait outside the door to call an ambulance.

-o-

Eric took the afternoon shift after successfully applying for the position of Animal Control Officer. Funny title for a crap job but still, it was paying job and he had no money. As he was coming in the door, Jackie was serving Kitty a fried baloney sandwich and coffee. His mom seemed to be in good spirits. "Heard you might have got a fancy schmancy city job Eric."

He grinned, "That's me. Officer Eric Forman, Animal Control…I get my own truck and everything."

Jackie bit back a potential burn and smiled pleasantly. "Well, that's just wonderful Eric. After your mom finishes lunch, you'll need to get her settled on the sofa and give her some of other anti-inflammatory medicines. The hospital called and a nurse will be here at 3:30 to give your mom a shot."

Jackie was already shrugging on her coat and tucking her hair under a hat. Eric didn't know how to take care of his mother – she was usually the one that took care of him! "Where's Dad?"

Jackie wrapped a cashmere scarf around her neck and grabbed her handbag. "He's at Mr. Shelton's radiator shop. I think he found his part time job. Toodles!" With a flirty smile and a bounce in her step, Jackie was on the way to her interview.

Kitty placed a hand on her son's arm. "I'll try to be a good patient sweetie." Eric sat down across from the sorry looking sandwich. "Thanks mom and I'll try to be a better caretaker. I'm sorry I grossed out when you had to use the bathroom yesterday."

Kitty smiled, "That's okay Eric. The first time I changed your diaper, your father and I did the same thing. Ahahahahaha!" She smiled and pointed at a shelf over the stove. "Get my recipe book and let's find something that the three of you can cook without setting the house on fire."

Eric bit back a smile and just said, "I love you mom. I may not be the best kid but you are the best mom."

"Ah….Eric, despite what your father says, you are the best son. Look at you, going to Africa….getting a job….taking care of your mother? I couldn't ask for more."

"See? Right there! That's why I love you."

Kitty laughed again, "I know and I love you too."

T7S

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