5. Chapter 4 (1/2)

-chapter four-

marcia's moving in day. finally, she'll get a room of her own; something she's been wanting since, forever. carol, jan and cindy are helping marcia get the room cleaned. carol's cleaning the windows, jan and cindy are sweeping and mopping the floors. marcia's prepping the place to paint.

carol: by the back window. that should do it. she wipes her hands together in a "finished" motion. all the windows are squeaky clean.

jan: puts down her mop. there. the floors are done.

cindy: what next?

marcia: looks around the room. i guess the next thing on our list is to paint.

jan: i think next on our list is to get our room rearranged.

carol: shooting jan a look. i'm sorry jan, but first things first. we need to get this room painted so your sister can move her stuff out. then you and cindy will be able to arrange your room the way you want it. cindy, can you get your dad and

others so we can get started?

cindy: should you be painting in your condition?

carol: i'm not. as soon as the guys get up here, i'm gonna take a nap.

cindy: all right. she leaves to find her dad and

others.

carol yawns and stretches. marcia notices her mother seems tired.

marcia: mom, why don't you go ahead and lie down? jan and i can manage things until the guys get here.

carol: i'm fine. i'll go lie down in a few minutes.

jan: looks at marcia and then her mother. in this case, i agree with marcia. you look tired.

carol: i'm fine. puts a hand on her hip. i wish everyone would quit fussing over me.

jan: it's not often that moms get extra attention, so take advantage of it…

marcia: …besides, when this little guy or girl gets here, you'll wish you could take a nap, so scoot! she makes sweeping gestures toward the door.

carol decides the girls are right, she is tired, and starts down the stairs. suddenly she and the girls hear a crash. they rush out of the room, down the hall and to the stairs. they find mike putting cindy on the couch. carol rushes down to her daughter's side. marcia and jan join peter, bobby and alice.

carol: what happened?

cindy: crying, holding her right arm, trying not to pass out from pain. i tripped down the stairs. i think my arm's

oken and my foot hurts!

carol: which one? she wipes the sweat off cindy's forehead.

cindy: my left. it hurts!

mike: i think we need to take you to the doctor.

carol: mike, before you say anything, i'm coming too.

mike: okay. he addresses the other four kids. you stay here and work on marcia's room. we shouldn't be gone more than a couple hours or so.

mike scoops cindy up; carol accompanies them to the station wagon. carol gets in the back seat and mike puts cindy next to her mother. alice and the other kids paint marcia's room.

mike, carol and cindy arrive at the hospital. mike parks the car underneath the drop-off canopy, and gets a wheelchair for cindy. he gets her out, puts her in the chair, pushes her to the entrance, and parks in a nearby space. then, he joins his wife and daughter. dr. porter happens to be on duty in the er. after about an hour's wait, they are escorted to a bay. a nurse begins assessing cindy's injuries.

nurse: what seems to be the problem?

cindy: i tripped down the stairs and my right arm and left foot hurt.

nurse: examines her foot first. it's

uised, but i don't think it's

oken. moves it around.

cindy: ow! she yelps and then hisses.

nurse: we'll get it x-rayed just in case. now, let's see that arm. she starts inspecting it.

cindy: that hurts!

nurse: it looks like you

oke it. we'll x-ray it too.

mike and the nurse help cindy into a wheelchair. a tech comes by and takes cindy to get x-rays done. although in pain, cindy manages to swoon over the good-looking young tech. mike and carol stifle their laughter and stay in the bay. carol rests her head on mike's shoulder and is about to fall asleep. suddenly, she sits up with a jolt.

mike: are you all right? he asks, concerned.

carol: puts her hand on her abdomen and laughs. the baby. he's kicking! here, feel. she places his hand over the baby.

mike: smiling. she's strong, just like her mother.

carol: i think he's gonna be a soccer player.

mike: what makes you say that?

carol: i didn't feel any of the girls as early as this one and this one's kicking the daylights out of my insides. she laughs. the baby continues to kick and roll. or, perhaps he'll be a gymnast.

mike: or a cheerleader. she's amazing. he looks at his wife. you're amazing. we're gonna have a baby. finally accepting his impending fatherhood.

carol: yes. she's smiling.

mike: i love you.

carol: i love you.

they pull each other into a long full-mouthed kiss. suddenly, they're interrupted by the tech wheeling cindy back into the bay.

carol: hi honey! how's your arm and foot feeling?

cindy: still hurts.

carol: i'm sorry, sweetheart. we'll get you home soon enough and then you can rest.

dr. porter comes in shortly thereafter.

dr. porter: hi cindy, mr. and mrs.

ady. well, let's look at these x-rays. she puts them on the light board. well, your foot's not

oken. it's probably a bad sprain.

the trio sighs in relief. the doctor continues.

dr. porter: but yes, your arm is

oken. so, i'll have that cute tech come back and cast it.

cindy: okay.

dr. porter: you'll need to wear the cast for about six weeks and stay off that foot for about two weeks.

cindy: how will i get around?

dr. porter: we'll get you a wheelchair to use.

mike: don't worry. we'll make sure you can get around.

cindy: okay.

dr. porter: turns her attention to carol. carol, how are you feeling?

carol: fine. the baby's wide awake and kicking the daylights out of my insides.

dr. porter: sounds like an active little one. the women smile, and dr. porter gets the tech.

tech: hi again!

cindy: hi. she grins really big.

tech: i've got a boot for your ankle and some casting material for your arm. what colour do you want, white, blue, or pink?

cindy: can i have pink and white stripe, like a candy cane? if not, i'll take blue.

tech: candy cane it is.

mike: are you sure, cindy? you'll have to wear it like that for six weeks.

cindy: i'm sure.

the tech sets and casts her arm, gives her a choice of slings (she chooses blue), and puts her foot in a boot.

tech: i'd give you a set of crutches, but it doesn't look like you'll be able to use them. dr. porter's ordered a wheelchair. you'll be able to use this one. he refers to the chair she's been using. let me help you off the table and into the chair.

he and mike help her down and get her situated. mike, carol and cindy leave the bay. mike wheels cindy to the curb, gets the car, helps her in and they drive home.

meanwhile, back in marcia's room, the painting's almost complete. alice opted out of painting so she could fix dinner. the kids wonder when they'll get back from the er.

bobby: i wonder what's taking them so long?

jan: getting x-rays of two limbs takes some time. plus, there's probably some cute doctor on duty today and she's getting all dreamy on him. kinda like you, marcia. remember, doctor vogel? doctor stanley vogel?

marcia: blushing. how could i have been so stupid then?

peter: it's easy for you. cracking up. tell me more about this…doctor stanley vogel.

marcia: glaring. never mind!

bobby: changing the subject. hey pete, i bet you never thought your room would be painted purple. it's so girly!

peter: oh, stop it.

jan: guys, just paint. she's exasperated. the sooner we get this done, the sooner we can leave her royal highness to her palace.

marcia: jan, what's gotten into you? why are you suddenly so down on me? you and i had been such good friends, so i thought.

jan: never mind. looking out the window, she spots the station wagon pulling into the driveway. they're back.

mike sets up the wheelchair, helps cindy into the chair, and pushes her into the house. carol follows. the kids race down to the kitchen and greet their sister.

alice is in the kitchen, fixing pizza for dinner. she sees the car pull up and begins setting the table. the kids enter the kitchen and she puts them to work.

alice: marcia, get out the plates, jan, the glasses. peter, bobby, get the salad, dressings,

eadsticks and put 'em on, would ya?

the kids comply. mike, carol and cindy enter the house.

mike: we're home!

mike wheels cindy into the kitchen. the kids crowd around her and bombard her with questions.

jan: how's your arm and foot?

bobby: hey, your cast looks like a candy cane! pretty neat!

peter: does your arm itch?

marcia: cindy, never mind these kids. i'm just glad you're home.

carol: kids, please, give her some room.

cindy: i'm fine, mom.

alice: pizza's ready! come and get it! cindy, welcome home! she sets the pizzas on the table and the kids follow.