23. Chapter 16 (1/2)

--chapter sixteen--

a/n—thanksgiving's around the corner. carol's 8 months (34 weeks) along.

it's the week of thanksgiving and the kids have been counting down the days 'till they get a

eak. alice and mike are going over the grocery list for thanksgiving dinner.

alice: so, are your folks coming over for thanksgiving?

mike: yes, they and carol's parents are.

alice: so, with me and sam, that makes fourteen of us.

mike: i'll get the extra tables out of the garage and have the boys clean them up.

alice: marcia's wanting to fix the dessert. she's thinking of chocolate mousse cake. how do you think that'll sit with carol?

mike: i think it'll be fine. chocolate seems to be one of the few things that don't upset her stomach nowadays.

alice: how's she feeling?

mike: she's sleeping a lot. i know she's got to be really tired by now.

alice: don't be surprised if you have a new bundle of joy by the end of the week. she notices that mike looks a bit nervous. what is it, mr.

ady?

mike: it's all happening so fast.

alice: it'll be fine. soon, you'll have a beautiful new baby to love on.

mike is smiling. he's excited about the new baby.

alice: let's see, along with turkey and dressing, we'll have cranberries, sweet potato casserole, green beans, corn and salad.

mike: that sounds good.

alice: on the dressing, do you want me to include sage or not?

mike: with.

alice: grabs her purse and the grocery list. well, i'm off to the store.

mike: do you need a lift?

alice: no, i'm getting everything but the turkey. sam's

inging one over tomorrow.

mike: oh, okay. takes some cash out of his wallet. this should cover it.

alice leaves. the kids come through the kitchen, ready for

eakfast.

bobby: where's mom?

mike: she's still in bed.

jan: is she okay?

mike: yeah. she's just needing extra rest.

bobby: does that mean the baby's coming soon?

mike: it looks like it.

the kids get excited.

cindy: oh, wow!

marcia: is there anything you need us to do?

mike: after school this week, i'd like you to help alice get this house cleaned up. your grandparents and sam are joining us for thanksgiving dinner, so we'll need to get this house cleaned from top to bottom.

peter: i'll get the lawn mowed and the bushes trimmed.

bobby: just be sure to wear a padded suit so you won't get sliced and diced again.

peter: oh, ha ha.

mike: okay. get your lunches and go off to school.

the kids do as instructed.

mike checks on his wife. carol's in bed asleep. he studies her form. she is lying on her side, one hand rests on her abdomen and the other is cradled around a pillow. the covers are tucked just under her abdomen. mike slips in bed with her, puts his arm around her shoulder, and holds her close. carol opens her eyes.

carol: mike.

mike: hi, honey. how are you?

carol: don't touch.

mike: withdraws his hand. oh, i'm sorry.

carol: it's okay. i'm just not feeling well.

mike: do you need anything?

carol: no, i just wanna go back to sleep, okay?

mike: okay. i'm working at home today, so if you need me, i'll be in my den.

she closes her eyes and doesn't acknowledge him. mike leans down to kiss her.

carol: don't.

mike raises back up and leaves the room. carol goes back to sleep.

at westdale high school. jan's in art class and is awaiting her grade on her latest project. it's a painting of her family, including carol holding the baby in a soft green blanket. she plans to present it to her parents for christmas.

teacher: i've got your grades on your project. some of you need a little more work, but the majority of you did a pretty good job. one of you had a spectacular painting and i'm entering it into the city-wide art contest held at the university. the winner of this honour is jan

ady.

jan's face lights up. her friends try to suppress their squeals of delight too.

teacher: congratulations, jan!

jan: thank you!

teacher: your painting is just lovely. she shows the painting to the class.

the bell rings. jan stays behind a bit to talk with her teacher.

jan: thank you for thinking my painting is good enough to be entered in the contest.

teacher: well, it is. i showed it to the art professor at the university and he agreed that it is absolutely splendid. you should be proud of yourself.

jan: i am. just one thing. it's supposed to be a christmas present for the folks.

teacher: i'll do my part. the winning painting will be featured in the newspaper, will win one hundred dollars and be entered into the regional contest. i think you've got a good chance of going to regional. oh and some of the paintings and other projects will be featured in the contest programs. do you not want me to enter your painting? i can withdraw it if you'd like.

jan: no, that's okay. enter the painting. when is the contest?

teacher: the weekend after thanksgiving.

jan: smiling. perfect!

teacher: why is that?

jan: oh, nothing. thanks for entering me.

teacher: you're welcome.

jan heads to her locker. marcia meets her there.

marcia: what took you so long? dad wants us home.

jan: only one of the coolest things in the world just happened.

marcia: what?

jan: you know that painting i was working on for mom and dad?

marcia: uh huh.

jan: well, not only did it get the highest grade in the class, it's been entered in the city-wide art contest next week!

marcia: face

ightens. oh jan, that's wonderful!

jan: and my art teacher thinks it could win and go to the regional art contest!

marcia: wow! that's cool! wait 'till you tell mom and dad.

jan: i can't. remember, the painting's supposed to be their christmas present.

marcia: okay. grinning. still, that's absolutely neat!

jan: yeah.

marcia: we'll have to get out of the house and see the exhibit.

the girls meet peter at the car and they go home. unbeknownst to the girls, peter heard part of the conversation.

marcia, jan and peter walk into the kitchen. alice is starting dinner.

marcia: how's mom?

alice: your dad had to take her to the hospital.

jan: i guess that means the baby's on his way!

the girls smile. they turn around and see their parents. carol looks tired.

alice: another false alarm?

carol nods without a word. mike silently guides his wife through the kitchen to their bedroom.

jan: aww, man. another false alarm.

peter: what is it, the third or fourth false alarm?

alice: three.

marcia: down. looks toward the living room. poor mom.

just then bobby and cindy come barreling into the kitchen.

bobby: guess what!!

alice: trying to lower the noise level. what?

bobby: i got first place in the seventh grade spelling bee!

cindy: and i got first in the sixth grade too!

alice: when's the school bee?

bobby: the monday before we get out for christmas.