Author's Note: I apologize in advance if I'm very inaccurate with the happenings at Tommy's big brother big sister class. Because I'm the baby of the family, I never went to one, so have no clue what they really do at them. Thus, I am making up what I think goes on at them as I go along, so just letting you know in advance, to any readers who have actually attended one of those classes. And, enough of my jibber jabber, let's get on with the next chapter, as we continue to explore Peter's story, Brotherly Preparedness!
Chapter 23, Brotherly Preparedness, Part 2, The Big Brother Big Sister Class
Peter unpaused the video and continued his story.
Peter POV
A few months have passed since we all got the news that Tommy was going to be a big brother. Things were changing for Tommy, but he didn't mind in the least. He found all of these changes, to be a new adventure, like when he got his big boy bed. He loved how it made him feel all grown up, and, he could forego having to use a screwdriver in the middle of the night just to break free and go on adventures. And as for Angelica, she more or less, ignored us, as she watched TV and played with all of the Cynthia merchandise her parents continued to spoil her with on a day-to-day basis. But then came the most interesting day of my entire life.
Didi was six months pregnant, and when she called me on this particular morning, she told me she wanted to ask a favor of me, but she felt better, asking me in person. By this time, she knew she would be having a baby girl, and she and Stu wanted to name it Trixi, after Stu's late mom, and Tommy's paternal grandmother, who he never had the pleasure of meeting because she was very sick when he was born, and died when Tommy was only 9-months-old. Nonetheless, I looked forward to going to spend another day with my best friends in the whole wide world, the Rugrats, as they prepared to make room for Tommy's new sister. I got there, to find several painters at the house, and some of the upstairs windows, in particular, the ones overlooking Tommy's room, covered up with huge sheets.
"What's going on?" I asked as I got inside the house, after Didi let me in the door, looking very pregnant.
"We're getting the nursery painted, it's a special treat to make it extra special for the new baby." Didi replied, as she led me over to the couch.
"Con flabbid, why do I have to go to grandparent class? I already know how to be a good grandparent, don't I Scout." Said Lou, as he patted Tommy on the head, making Tommy giggle.
"Because Pop, you're always falling asleep in front of the TV and letting the kids run wild. It's time you learn how to be a proper grandparent." Explained Stu.
Just then, Lou and Stu walked into the living room from the kitchen, and brought Tommy over to me. I took Tommy from Lou's arms and put him in my lap.
"Hey there." I said.
"Hi Peter." Said Tommy with a smile.
Just then, Didi walked into the room.
"Oh Peter, I'm glad you're here." Said Didi.
"It's always a pleasure coming to spend time here with all of you." I replied with a smile.
"Listen, Peter, we need a favor." Said Didi, taking a seat next to me on the couch.
"Really? What is it?" I asked.
"Well, with pop going off to grandparent class, at the same time Stu and I have Lamar's Breezing and parenting class, is Tommy's big brother big sister class. Do you think you could accompany Tommy to the class? It will be his first one." Said Didi.
"I'd be honored to take Tommy to big brother big sister class. I'm a big brother, went to them twice, once before Maddie was born, and again before Edward was born, and, they're quite fascinating!" I replied.
"Thank you, you're a life savor." Said Didi, patting me on the shoulder.
Later on that day, Chuckie, Phil and Lil all came over to play.
"Guess what guys." Said Tommy excitedly to the other rugrats.
"What?" They all asked in unison.
"I'm going to big brother big sister school tomorrow." Said Tommy.
"Wow, there's really a school where you learn how to be a big brother?" Asked Phil.
"But me and Phillip never went to anything like that." Added Lil.
"That's because you're too dumb to go to big brother big sister school. Tommy's going so they can pass him off, to the jungle where he'll go live with garillas like Carman." Explained Angelica, who came in and overheard their conversation at this point.
"Angelica, it's Tarzan, and Tommy isn't going off to live with garillas. Oh and, I'll let this one slide, but you screw up one more time, and the bet is off." I said.
Angelica nodded in agreement with me.
"Why is my grandpa not happy then?" Tommy asked.
"I don't know Tommy, maybe another monster gotted into his matress." Said Chuckie.
"I don't think so." I replied.
The following day, I went to the Pickles' home to pick up Tommy for his big brother big sister class, only to find Lou, still in his pajamas.
"You ok Lou?" I asked, as I walked through the living room to head towards the backyard where Tommy was.
"No, I'm sick." Replied Lou.
"This wouldn't be an excuse to get out of going to grandparent class, would it?" I replied.
"Maybe?" Lou said sarcastically.
"Well too bad Pop, you're going, and you'd better get dressed, Didi and I need to leave for Lamars in ten minutes." Said Stu, who came up from the basement into the living room at this point.
"What you working on now Stu?" I asked.
"My latest and greatest invention, the reptar wagon, the ultimate means of toddler transportation, the perfect children's toy." Explained Stu.
"Wow! Sounds wonderful! I look forward to seeing it when it's finished!" I said excitedly.
"Oh, and where's Tommy?" I asked.
"He's out in the backyard." Replied Didi, who had managed to woddle her way into the living room at this point.
I headed out to the backyard, to find Tommy, sitting next to the tree.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"I'm waiting by the tree, in hopes my little sister will fall out. Angelica says babies come from trees." Said Tommy.
"Now don't be silly Tommy, your little sister isn't going to come out of the tree." I said.
"She isn't?" Tommy asked.
"Nope, as usual, Angelica made that up, but no worries, you'll learn all about where they really come from when we go to big brother big sister class. You ready to go?" I asked.
"Yeah Peter, let's go!" Said Tommy, who stood up from where he was sitting, and the two of us, headed off confidently towards Stu and Didi's car, as they would be driving all of us to the hospital for our different classes.
We got to the hospital, and once we managed to drag Lou to where his grandparent class would be meeting, Tommy and I told Stu and Didi goodbye, and went off in search of his big brother big sister class. A little while later, we found it, and a lovely nurse with black hair, greeted us.
"Welcome to big brother big sister class. I'm Tina. Who are you?" Tina asked.
"I'm king Peter Albany of the Confederacy, and I am accompanying my good friend, Tommy Pickles, to this class. He's going to be a big brother, for the very first time!" I explained.
"Well Tommy, you're going to have lots of fun here today." Said Tina, as Tommy smiled up at her.
"Why don't you two go take a seat on the circle, and we'll get started." Said Tina.
We went and took seats on the circle, which was lined with little squares with different pictures on them. Tommy sat down on the one remaining square that had Reptar's picture on it, while I found a wooden chair to sit in, and moved it over next to Tommy. A few minutes later, Tina got us all to quiet down, and began the class.
"Good morning boys and girls, my name is Tina, and welcome to big brother big sister class. Why don't we go around the room, and introduce ourselves." Explained Tina.
Everybody went around and introduced themselves, and when it got to our turn, I spoke up on Tommy's behalf, since he couldn't talk to grown ups.
"I am King Peter Albany of the Confederacy, and this here is Tommy Pickles, who's about to be a big brother to a little sister." I said.
"Well it's great to see you all here this morning. Now, let me statrt out by saying that this is a very exciting time for all of you, but it can also be a difficult one too. You see, your family is getting bigger, as you're about to gain another member of the family. You won't be mommy and daddy's only child anymore. You're going to have to learn and share with your mommy and daddy, just like you share toys with your friends at daycare or the park. You may need to help mommy out, since she's going to be very busy with your new baby brother or sister, and you'll have to learn to share the attention of mommy and daddy, but always remember, that love, doesn't shrink, it only grows, as new family members like your little brothers and sisters, come into the family!" Explained Tina, as she walked around the circle.
A few minutes later, she got out some baby dolls, that were designed, to be like new born babies. Their heads, were too big for their bodies.
"After your baby brother or sister comes home from the hospital, this is what they're going to look like." Explained Tina, holding up the newborn baby looking doll.
"Would any of you like to try holding the baby?" Tina asked.
Tommy and I along with all of the other kids, crowded around Tina, as we each had a turn, holding the baby. When it got to us, she had Tommy sit down in a chair, and showed him the proper way to hold the baby.
"Now Tommy, you put one hand under its head, and the other, under its back." Said Tina, as she positioned Tommy's hands.
I couldn't help but notice, that Tommy, wasn't having any fun anymore.
"Something wrong?" I asked.
"This isn't my little sister, it's just a dumb old doll like Angelica's Cynthia. And why are we sitting around here? Aren't we at the hopcickle? Isn't this where Tina said babies come from?" Tommy asked.
"Yes, they do, but…" I started to say before Tommy cut me off.
"Then let's go find her." Said Tommy, as he headed for the door.
I knew we were in trouble, and this, could not turn out good.
"Tommy! Come back!" I shouted, but it was too late, Tommy, had escaped the room.
"Something wrong?" Tina asked.
"I've gotta go chase after Tommy, he's escaped, in search of his little sister." I replied.
"Really? Our little brothers and sisters are here at the hopcickle?" A kid with black hair wearing a blue dress said, who had sat down at the arts and craft table, where the kids could make presents to give to their new baby brothers and sisters.
"We should have gone with him. Find the bald headed kid in the diapers." Said a boy with red hair, who was eyeing a wall full of pictures of young children with their new baby brothers and sisters, that parents would submit to the big brother big sister school after the kids who participated in the class, received their younger siblings, and had their first pictures taken with them, placed up on the wall, for all future brothers and sisters to see.
"Uh oh." I thought to myself, as the other children escaped from the big brother big sister class, running through the halls of the hospital, looking for Tommy, who they thought would lead them to their brothers and sisters. I knew deep down they would get to nothing, and I only hoped to find them before it was too late.
The other toddlers had caught up to Tommy, who was trying to figure out where to start looking.
"We're coming with you." Shouted the boy with red hair.
"Yeah we wanna find our baby brothers and sisters too." Added the black haired girl in a blue dress.
"Well ok then, follow me." Said Tommy, as he walked into another room.
"Hey that's my grandpa." Said Tommy, as he peered towards the back of the room, filled with elderly people.
"Now future grandparents, there are several things you should know about your new grand child. This pamphlet will explain everything you need to know, like, during the first six months of development, the baby should sleep on their back, to prevent SIDS, better known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and remember that you're the grandparents. You should consult with the parents, your children, allowing them to make the decisions about what their child is and isn't allowed to do. This can be hard, having to step down as parents, but you'll be so attracted to those little bundles of joy, you'll just want to hug them, and love them, and spend your retirement pension on clothes and toys for the young sprout." Explained an elderly lady at the front of the room, who was reading through the pamphlet to the grandparents as she spoke.
Tommy's grandpa however, was asleep for this entire lecture.
"Guys, I don't think our baby brothers and sisters are gonna be in here. Let's look somewhere's else." Said Tommy, as he and the other kids from the class, left the grandparent class, to go in search of their future siblings.
Tommy had picked up speed, until he ran into a cart filled with food for patients. Kirston was there, doing candy stripe duties, when she recognized Tommy, who had landed on the cart.
"Oh my gosh, that's Tommy!" Shouted Kirston.
"You know this child?" Tina asked, as she had caught up with us.
"Yes, his mother brought him into our class as a learning aid to change diapers." Replied Kirston.
Unnoticed by anybody, the cart had continued down the hall, bumping into walls, causing food to fall off and fly everywhere, as the other toddlers had made their way up to the cart, and was pushing Tommy, and two other toddlers, who had joined him on the cart, down the hall.
"Guys! Stop!" I shouted, as I ran towards the toddlers, but it was too late. They were headed for the stair well, which I knew couldn't go well, as the cart started to bump down the stairs. The toddlers, screaming, and clutching on to one another for dear life.
Little did I know down that flight of stairs was where the lamars class was meeting, until a loud crash was heard, and I got to the bottom of the stairs, which were covered in soup and beverages, as a result of the food and drinks being spilled off of the cart, only to look up to see Stu, Didi, and several other pregnant moms and their husbands, staring at us.
"Oh my gosh, are you alright Tommy?" Didi said, as she picked up Tommy, who was crying, as he fell off the cart and bumped his head.
I caught up to them at this point, thankful Tommy was still alive. This in turn, caused the rest of big brother big sister class, and lamars class, to be canceled, as the parents went and had all of their kids checked out, while the janiters, got busy, cleaning up the food disaster that had occurred in the hall. Luckily, all Tommy had was a huge bump on his head, and no concussion. The doctor gave him some ice, and we headed back home, once Stu got Lou to wake up.
"Come on pop, it's time to go." Said Stu, shaking his father in the back of the grandparent class.
"Really? I can go home? Yipee!" Said Lou, jumping up excitedly and dashing out of that hospital, faster than a swarm of hornets.
"You really didn't like that class, did you?" I asked, as I was seated next to Lou in the car on the way back to the Pickles' home.
"In my day you didn't go to grandparent classes, you learned on the job. And my grandparents had to walk fifteen miles to our house, in the snow, with no shoes." Explained Lou.
"Oh, I see." I replied, turning in the other direction, noticing Tommy, with the ice on his head, looking pretty upset.
"Peter, didn't that lady say my baby sister would come from the hopcickle?" Tommy asked.
"It's hospital, and yes Tommy, she did." I replied.
"Then where is she?" Tommy asked.
"Oh Tommy, she's not here yet." I replied.
I could tell he was confused over this whole big brother big sister thing, and where the little sister came from, and there I was, trying to figure out how to explain it to him.
When we finally got back to his house, Didi put Tommy down for his nap, while I paced around the living room, trying to figure out the best way to explain to Tommy about where his little sister would come from. After a while, I got tired of pacing around, so went into the kitchen, only to find some sonogram pictures that Didi had received from her last checkup with the doctor on the table. Stu and Didi were also upstairs taking a nap, so I was left to my own devices, as I sat down at the kitchen table, and examined the pictures closely. It was then, that I noticed something.
End of Peter POV
At this point, Peter had paused the video.
"What did you notice Peter?" Tommy asked.
"Is Dil an alium after all?" Zack asked.
Before Peter could answer, the kids parents and Zack's aunt, had all entered the room.
"We're back." Said Didi, as she walked into the room.
"Did you guys have a good time at the up all night casino and resort?" Peter asked.
"We did, but we're exhausted, and just want to curl up and watch some TV." Said Stu.
"Well why don't you all join us, we're watching a video about what your lives were like before I met you all, and we're up to the section where I helped Tommy prepare to be a big brother. And Didi, come sit down next to me, as you got here, just in time." Said Peter, motioning Didi towards an empty place on the couch.
"What is it?" Didi asked.
"Sit down, I want to show you something." Said Peter.
"Show me what?" Didi asked.
"Didi, you know I'd never lie to you, but I think it's high time, I tell you a secret I've kept, for quite sometime now." Said Peter, as he unpaused the video, to continue his story.
And, what is Peter's secret that he's about to tell to Didi, after keeping it for over a year? We'll find out, in the next chapter, as Brotherly Preparedness, continues!
Author's Note: Now you guys may be thinking, did you make up the whole grandparent class thing? The answer to that question, is no, as my parents attended a grandparent class last year before my nephew Zack was born, and we're all familiar with moms attending lamars breezing classes, so I thought it would be interesting, to have Tommy's grandpa attend one of those classes, but not be all that interested into going to one, cuz, well, we know how he can be sometimes.