25. Chapter 17 Continued (1/2)

--chapter seventeen continued--

greg arrives at the

ady house and spots his

others and cindy playing basketball.

peter: hey greg. care for a little two on two?

greg: okay, me and cindy against you two clowns.

bobby: you're on,

o.

cindy: we can take 'em.

bobby: so, who gets the ball first?

peter: how 'bout letting our spelling experts determine who gets the ball?

greg: sure. whoever spells "guerdon" correctly wins the toss.

peter: okay bobby, spell.

bobby: concentrating really hard. g-e-r-d-o-n.

cindy: wrong!

bobby: okay, miss speller! spell it!

cindy: all right. g-u-e-r-d-o-n.

greg: cindy's correct.

peter: sorry, little

other.

bobby: spell "autochthonous."

cindy: a-u-t-o-c-h-t-o-n-o-u-s.

bobby: nope, "a-u-t-o-c-h-t-h-o-n-o-u-s."

cindy: how 'bout "hydrophyte?"

bobby: only if you can spell "vouchsafe."

cindy: macerate.

bobby: shalloon.

greg: children!

peter: c'mon. let's play. greg and cindy have the ball.

greg: c'mon, cindy. we can do it.

the kids play a hard game of basketball. mike and mr.

ady come outside.

mr.

ady: hiya kids!

peter: hey grandpa!

mr.

ady: hey pete. how's that new girlfriend of yours?

peter: she's great.

mr.

ady: greg, a college man. how's it going?

greg: it's good. i'm still not sure if i wanna do pre-med or music. i'm leaning toward pre-med with a minor in music.

mr.

ady: heard you have a steady too.

greg: her name's nora. she's studying to be a nurse.

mr.

ady: i said hi already to one spelling champ. how's my other spelling champ and top-notch cheerleader?

cindy: i'm good, grandpa.

mr.

ady: so, who's winning?

bobby: they're skunkin' us.

mr.

ady: care for three on three? mike, you game?

mike: sure.

mr.

ady: i'll be on greg's team. mike, take peter's team.

mike: you're on, dad.

cindy: yeah, grandpa. we'll bake these turkeys.

bobby: aww dad, you're not gonna stand there and take that, are ya?

mike: we'll show these grade schoolers who's boss.

mr.

ady: you're on, son.

cindy and the guys continue their game. greg's team wins 21-12. cindy throws the final basket, which happens to be a three-pointer.

greg: wow, little sis, you've got the moves on the court too.

cindy: thanks.

mike: now, go get cleaned up and say hello to your grandmother. sam and your other grandparents should be here shortly.

the kids do as they're told.

mr.

ady: that was some game.

mike: yeah, those kids nearly wore me out.

mr.

ady: let's go see what the ladies are into.

mike: i wonder how carol's back is doing?

mr.

ady: you're really concerned about her.

mike: yes, i am. it's been a long time since i was an expectant father. with greg and peter, it was somewhat easy. sue and i were really young and a bit naive. when bobby was born, sue was sick and then she died a few years later.

mr.

ady: i know that really hurt you.

mike: it did.

mr.

ady: carol's pregnancy has been relatively uncomplicated, hasn't it?

mike: yeah this one has been, but sometimes i can't help but worry a bit. after all, we're both in our forties and having a baby. plus, we lost the other baby.

mr.

ady: ah, you'll be fine. carol's healthy and she's had kids before. the baby will be here before you know it.

mike can't help but grin from ear to ear. they go inside.

sam has arrived with a ham.

alice: sam!

sam: heya, alice. how's my little lamb chop?

alice: just fine.

sam: i

ought a ham. i got to thinkin' the turkey may not be enough, so we might enjoy a ham as well. it's a honey roasted ham.

alice: aww sam, how lovely. it'll go just perfectly with dinner.

sam: and these are for you. he pulls out a bouquet of red roses.

alice: roses!! oh sam! she wraps him in a tight em

ace and kisses him.

meanwhile, the doorbell rings.

cindy: i'll get it.

she opens the door to reveal mr. and mrs. tyler.

cindy: grandma, grandpa!

mrs. tyler: hi, cindy!

mr. tyler: hi, kiddo. how are you?

cindy: i'm fine.

mike: hi mom, dad. how was your trip back east?

mrs. tyler: oh, it was great! new england is gorgeous in the fall.

mr. tyler: good to see you, mike. they shake hands and mr. tyler pulls him into a light hug. boys, can you go to the car and

ing in the dishes for dinner and then the thing under the sheet in the trunk? leave the sheet over it though. oh, and i've got a package in there too.

the boys do as instructed. mike helps carol off the couch. she gets off balance when she stands up and mike steadies her.

mike: almost whispering. you okay?

carol: out of

eath. yeah. she winces a bit as she regains her balance.

mike: your back still?

carol: quickly nods and then regains her composure. she sees her mother. mom!

mrs. tyler: carol honey, how are you? she em

aces her daughter.

carol: ready to have this baby.

mrs. tyler: i bet you are, sweetheart.

carol: sees her dad. hi daddy!

mr. tyler: hi kitten. he kisses her on the cheek. how are you feeling?

carol: fine. i'm more than ready to have this baby, but i'm hanging in there.

the boys return with the object under the sheet and a package.

mrs. tyler: mike, carol, why don't you sit over here so you can open your gifts?

carol: aww mom, you shouldn't have. smiling.

mike helps carol in the rocking chair. he sits in the easy chair next to her.

mr. tyler: open this first. it's from mary and roger.

the couple opens the package and reveals a pastel rainbow coloured crocheted afghan, a couple layettes, two pairs of crocheted booties and an envelope. carol opens the envelope. it's a certificate for a pair of personalized baby shoes.

carol: holding up the afghan and booties. oh mom, they're beautiful! mary made these?

mrs. tyler: mary made the afghan but christine made the booties.

marcia: maybe i should ask aunt mary if she'd teach me to crochet. the afghan's gorgeous.

mrs.

ady: who's christine?

carol: she's my niece. she's a year younger than jan.

mr. tyler: greg, help me

ing this over to your folks.

they

ing the veiled item over. mike and carol eagerly open it and reveal a cradle and blanket set.

carol: her eyes

ighten. dad! you refinished it! it's beautiful!

mike: henry, you did a great job on it.

mrs.

ady: martha, the blanket's gorgeous.

carol: lovingly touches it. i used this for each of my girls, and now i'll get to use it for my son. a tear escapes. mom, dad, thank you!

bobby: what's the story on the cradle?

carol: dad made this when mom was pregnant with me.

jan: i remember looking at cindy sleeping in it and thinking how cute she was when she was asleep. half-apologetically. sorry, cindy, but when you were a newborn, i was quite the jealous older sister.

marcia: i'll say!

carol: never mind that. giggles a bit. now, we'll have one for the bedroom and one for down here. i suspect there will be many a night when i'll be walking my baby down here.

the family admires the cradle and then

eaks off into groups.

alice: girls, can you help get the finishing touches on dinner? it should be ready in about an hour.

mike: guys, we need the tables and chairs set up.

the kids do as directed.

mrs. tyler: i know you've got the nursery set up.

carol: would you like to see it? i know you're dying to.

mrs.