Chapter 7

The next morning, Carol tossed and turned in bed before opening her eyes. She could see some sunlight flooding in through the master bedroom window and figured that it was time to get up. Mike needed to get up as well if he didn't want to be late for work.

Carol sat up in bed and gently shook her husband's shoulders. "Mike? Mike?"

The man groaned and turned to one side before rubbing his eyes and sitting up. Mike then looked tiredly at his wife. "What is it, honey?"

"We'd better get up soon," Carol said. "We need to make sure the kids go to school, and you need to be ready for work."

Mike sat up in bed, stared out the window, and sighed. "You're right, Carol. I think that we both overslept a little. Maybe this whole meteorite business or whatever is making us lose sleep."

Carol stretched her arms and then got out of bed. She went to the closet to pick out clothes to wear for the day – only to realize that Mike hadn't yet gotten out of bed.

"Mike? You are getting up, aren't you?" Carol asked in concern.

The architect groaned as he turned to his other side. "Yeah, yeah, I'll be up in a few minutes."

While Carol turned her attention back to the closet, Mike grabbed Carol's pillow and put it over his head. Before he knew it, he felt cold, slender hands gently shaking his head.

"Mike? Mike?" Carol's voice cut through his head.

Mike flailed his arms and sat up as quickly as he could. "Okay, okay, I'm up! I'm up!" he cried. At last, Mike got out of bed and limped to the closet to pick out his own clothes. He looked back at Carol – who was wearing a light green pantsuit.

"Mike, are you sure that you're feeling okay?" Carol asked.

Mike took a black suit out of the closet and walked toward the bed. "I'm fine, honey – just tired." He then opened a dresser drawer and pulled out a blue necktie. "To be honest, though, I really don't feel like working today. It would be nice if we could just sleep in and have more time to ourselves."

Carol shrugged. "Well, why not take the day off? Just call Mr. Phillips."

Mike nodded. "I think I'll do just that," he said – a smile starting to creep across his face as he carried the blue necktie back to the dresser.

Carol smiled herself. "I think a day off really would be good for both of us."

"It sure would!" Mike agreed enthusiastically as he carried his suit back to the closet.

"AFTER we make sure the kids go to school…" Carol groaned – staring at the floor.

Several hours later, Mike opened his eyes and smiled. The bright sunlight that filled the blue room already made him feel better. He turned to one side in bed and was happy to see that Carol was in bed with him. He thought about checking to see if she was awake but decided against it. He hadn't liked being disturbed, and he was sure that Carol wouldn't like that herself. Mike turned back to his other side, closed his eyes, and sighed in content.

Then, he felt the bed moving. "Mike?" a voice cut through his head.

Mike quickly sat up in bed and faced his wife. He was surprised to see that she was awake. "Well, good morning, Sleeping Beauty!" greeted Mike – pulling Carol in for a hug and kiss.

Carol smiled. "Well, you sure sound like you're in a better mood!"

"I am, honey!" Mike said – staring deeply at Carol. "And might I add that you look beautiful – as great as the day we got married!"

"Oh, Mike!" Carol playfully scoffed with a wave of her right hand. She pulled her husband in for another kiss – and then stared longingly at him. "But you…you look magnificent!"

Mike grinned and blushed a little. "Aww, thanks, honey." He then stared at Carol and grabbed something behind her neck. It was curled strands of blonde hair. "Carol…are you growing your hair with a flip again? I can't believe I never noticed!"

"No, Mike, that's a hair extension," explained Carol. "I put it in just after the kids left for school. I've started to miss that hairstyle, so in time, unless I change my mind, I'll grow it out again."

"You did look beautiful with that flip," Mike said. "But you look beautiful with any hairstyle!" The architect then pulled his wife in for another hug and kiss.

Mike then pulled away from Carol. "Hey, I've got an idea!" he said with a grin. Mike got up, grabbed a comb from the dresser, and started combing his hair.

"Mike, what are you doing?" Carol asked.

"I'm trying to straighten my hair!" Mike said – laughing a little. "Now that you've changed your hairstyle, I want to change mine!"

Carol herself laughed. "You know what, Mike? Assuming it's not too late, why don't we go out for lunch?"

Mike put down his comb, walked back over to Carol, and looked her in the eyes. "That," Mike said with a big grin, "is a lovely idea!" He then pulled his wife in for a big, long kiss.

Later that day, the Brady kids came home from school and found their parents sitting together on the sofa. Mike had his arm around Carol, and it seemed like they were both looking at something shiny.

"Hey, Mom. Hey, Dad," Peter said as he walked down the brick steps and stood next to the sofa. "What are you guys up to?"

Mike and Carol turned to Peter – smiling as they held up the silver platter that had the kids' names engraved.

"Oh yeah, the silver platter! I remember when we sung and danced to try to get that for you!" Peter smiled.

"We all do," Marcia said as she walked down the brick steps and stood next to Peter. Then, her eyes popped out at the sight of her parents. "Hey, you guys look great! I love what you did to your hair!"

"Thanks, Marcia!" Carol beamed. "Your father and I felt like changing our hairstyles."

Mike then raised a finger and stood up. "You know, I also have an interesting idea. This might sound a little strange, but hear me out." Everyone looked at Mike. "Why don't we all do square dancing again?"

The Brady kids looked at each with big smiles on their faces. "That would be fun!" Marcia said.

"Let's do it, then!" Carol said – standing up.

"I sure hope us old folks can," Mike said – laughing a little. The other Bradys laughed as well.

About fifteen minutes later, the Bradys and Alice were standing together – having formed a circle in the living room. The two green armchairs had been moved closer to the stairs to make more room for dancing. The coffee table, on which a record player now sat, had also been moved closer to the fireplace. Greg stood by the coffee table – waiting to play appropriate music.

"Okay, is everyone ready?" Greg asked. The others indicated that they were ready. "Okay, here we go." Greg turned on the record player, and upbeat music began to play. Immediately, to the tune of the music, the Bradys and Alice clapped their hands and jumped forward and backward. They then cheered, held hands, and skipped around in a circle. Each person then grabbed a partner and spun each other around before skipping around the room in a circle again. At last, the music came to an end, and Greg walked over to turn off the record player.

"That was sure fun, wasn't it, kids?" Carol asked. The kids all enthusiastically agreed.

"Why don't we do it again?" Bobby suggested. The kids started chattering and looking at their parents in anticipation.

"I don't know, kids," Carol said. "On one of the last times we square danced in the living room, Pappy was pooped."

Mike then started jumping up and down – causing some of the others to laugh their heads off. "Oh, I don't know, honey. Maybe Pappy's not pooped after all! What do you say we do it one more time?"

Carol smiled. "That's a wonderful idea, Pappy!" The housewife turned her attention to the kids. "Well, you heard him – let's do it again!"

The kids chattered happily as they formed a circle again. Greg then turned on the record player once more and joined his family in square dancing.

Later that night, Mike and Carol stared at each other while in bed. Carol smiled and said, "Mike, your decision to take the day off was a great one." She then pulled him in for a hug, and with that, the two of them shared a kiss.