A couple of days later at college after gym class. Nancy is getting dressed after showering unaware that the gossips saw her tattoo. They're getting dressed also and start talking.
"You know what they say about girls with tattoos." One of them begins.
"No what do they say?"
"That they're whores."
Nancy starts to boil with anger.
"Oh really what about girls with tattoos in private places, like a rose maybe."
Nancy gets up and into their faces. "What I do in my private life is none of your business and no one cares about what you two think about girls with tattoos, so save it!!"
One of them shoves her into the lockers. Nancy gets back up again.
"Do that again and you'll get hurt."
The gossip takes on her dare and soon a fight ensues. Moments later two of Susan's teammates come in and break it up. After the gossips have left one of them checks on Nancy.
"Susan is going to kill them when she sees your eye."
"So don't tell her this is my fight." Nancy puts on a pair of shades. "Hey thanks for showing up I was losing big time."
"Anytime kid."
Nancy goes to hangout in the cafeteria to cool down. Soon Mary joins her.
Mary sees Nancy's face is red. "Hey, what's wrong?"
"Nothing the lights are bright in here." Nancy tries to explain the sunglasses.
Mary leans over and takes the glasses. "Wow."
"Yeah wow is right, haven't had one of these since Junior High."
"What happened?"
Nancy tells her everything. "I know I promised you and David years ago that I wouldn't let my temper get the best of me that violence is never the answer, but sometimes..."
"It never solves anything."
"I know and how am I going to keep this from Dad and Abby? They'll just remove my shades like you did."
"Tell them the truth, It is better than trying to hide it.:" Mary advises.
"I don't know Mary."
"They won't bite your head off."
"I hope you're right." Later at home Tom pulls up just as Nancy is getting home from school. She still has her shades on. "Hi Dad." She rushes into the house.
"What was that about.?" Tom asks.
Mary walks by. "Dad, do me a favor and don't yell at her."
Elizabeth sees Nancy. "What's with the sunglasses?"
"Everything's really bright sis it's hurting my eyes."
She takes them off and prepares herself for the lecture she knows is coming.
Tom gasps. "Nancy what happened?"
"I took temporary leave of my senses." She tells him what happened.
"Oh Nancy...." Tom says. "You know fighting doesn't solve anything."
"I know but they pushed first, and I gave them a warning and then they
pushed again. What was I supposed to do? Just sit there and let them pulverize
me?"
Tom sighs. "I suppose not." Tom looks at her. "Do you need a doctor?"
"Nope, just an ice pack."
"Yeah I know." She kisses him for not yelling at her and goes inside into the kitchen. "Hi Abby." She gets an ice pack and puts some ice in it and then closes it and applies it to her eye.
"What happened to your eye?" Abby asks.
Nancy tells the story for the third time.
"You should just ignore them."
"I know, but at the time..."
"At the time has gotten you one good shiner."
"Sure has."
"Sure has." Nancy says wondering what's gotten into her lately first the tattoo and then the fight. "How was your day?" She asks trying to get the subject off of her.
"Quieter than yours. Has your father seen your eye?"
"Yes, and he was calm about it."
"He was?" Abby says, shocked.
"Uh huh, I guess the talk with Joannie has settled him down a little."
"Either that or he's starting a mid-life crisis."
"Yikes."
Meanwhile Tom goes into the living room to find his pen. He sees something sticking out from the sofa and picks it up. ~A beer can.~
He puts it in his pocket.
He goes into the kitchen. "Abby, when was the last time you vacuumed?"
"Tom, we just got back," Abby protests, thinking Tom is complaining about her housewifery. "I vacuumed before we left."
Nancy sees the beer can. ~Ooops, they didn't do a good job cleaning.~
"Just as thought, it seems we had a party here only we weren't invited." Tom says as he pulls out the beer can.
"I am going to kill two of your children."
"Well, invite me to the funeral." Tom jokes. "I have to drop my column
by at the paper. Can you
handle this?"
"Oh, I would be glad to."
"I won't be long." Tom says.
"Take your time, dear."
"Maybe you need to calm down before talking to them." Tom suggests after taking one look at her face.
"But I am calm, Tom," Abby says, too calmly.
"Uh...huh." Tom says. ~My poor kids.~ Tom thinks before leaving.
Nancy escapes upstairs to her room but not before warning Tommy and Elizabeth. She then puts on her headphones and loses herself in the music.
"How could you be so stupid?" Elizabeth asks.
"Me?" Tommy says. "You were cleaning up the living room too."
Meanwhile in Mary's bedroom she cracks open a book unaware of what is about to transpire.
Sam runs upstairs and nudges Nicholas' door open and then hides under the bed.
Nicholas tries to lure Sam from under the bed with a treat, but he isn't biting.
Tommy and Elizabeth continue to argue when Abby appears.
"Hello, Tommy, Elizabeth," Abby smiles sweetly. "I'd like to have a word with the two of you."
Tommy and Elizabeth stop in their tracks. "We can explain." They say in unison.
"I'm sure you can," Abby says, with a 'this had better be good' look on her face.
"We weren't the only ones at the party, Mary, Susan and Nicholas...." Tommy starts to say before Elizabeth elbows him in the ribs.
~Way to go baby brother, bringing Nicholas into it.~ Elizabeth thinks.
"Nicholas was at your party. With beer," Abby fumes.
"No, David came by and saw the party so he took Nicholas home with him." Elizabeth explains.
"Besides it wasn't just our party." Tommy reminds her of Mary and Susan's involvement.
"I'll deal with Susan and Mary later," Abby says. "So despite what happened a few weeks ago you two had a party with beer and your own brother had to leave because there was so much of it around?"
"No, we just want you to be aware it was a joint party and their wasn't that much beer around." Elizabeth explains. "We only had a couple of beers."
"Only a couple. Just how many beers were you supposed to be having while we were gone?"
Tommy sighs. "Zero."
"Uh huh. And who were the two people who promised me they'd learned their lessons about parties with more beer than is allowed?"
Tommy and Elizabeth just look at each other and know they have been hunged. "We did." Liz says quietly
Abby nods. "So--you had a party without permission, had beer there, Nicholas had to leave with David because of it, you tried--badly--to cover it up, lied to me, abused my trust..."
"I guess saying we are sorry isn't going to be enough." Elizabeth says
"I guess not."
"So how long are we slaves for?" Tommy grimaces.
"Slavery obviously taught you nothing."
~What could be worse.~ Tommy thinks.
"So then what?" Elizabeth asks.
"Nothing," Abby says.
"Nothing?" Tommy asks. "It must be a trick."
"No trick."
"That's it?" Tommy says.
"Slavery didn't teach you two anything and your doing the laundry isn't going to earn my trust back."
~Oh, no. The guilt trip.~ Tommy thinks.
"We didn't mean any harm." Elizabeth says.
"No? Just what did you mean then?"
Elizabeth looks at Tommy for some help.
"We didn't do it to hurt you." Tommy says. "It was just a spur of a moment thing....and I know this isn't helping our case any." Tommy sighs.
"Well, spur of the moment, what do you suggest we do about it?"
"Forgive us?" Elizabeth begs.
"This time, and the next time and the next time?"
"So what do you want us to do?" Tommy asks. "and don't say nothing, cause it sounds like you have given up on us or something."
"Maybe I have."
Tears start to trickle down Elizabeth face. "Don't say that."
"Why not? I'm obviously not getting through to you. The two of you think this is some big joke? 'Oh, just let her rant and someone open another six pack'?"
"We messed up." Tommy says. "Even baseball players gets three strikes. We will do anything you want us to do and we won't complain. Just let us at bat one more time."
Elizabeth nods.
"Last chance?"
"Please." they say.
"So what do you suggest for a punishment?"
"C'mon Abby, that's like asking a condemned man how he wants to die." Tommy says getting a little upset.
Elizabeth hurries and wades in and says. "What Tommy means is that, whatever you decide will be fine. Right Tommy?"
"Right." Tommy says.
"The condemned man is the one who asked for a reprieve," Abby points out. "So I'm asking him what he thinks a fair alternative punishment would be."
Tommy sighs. "I guess we can be slaves again."
"If that's what you want," Abby says.
"No, its not what we want. But what else is there that will meet your satisfaction?"
"Make me an offer."
"Grounding?" Elizabeth says.
"Without friends coming by to party," Abby adds.
Tommy and Elizabeth nod.
"How long?"
"A week?" Tommy replies
"Two," Abby counters.
Tommy and Elizabeth nod in agreement.
~There goes my date for Friday night.~ Elizabeth thinks.
"OK, then--subject to your father's approval."
"Fine can we go now?"
"To your rooms, yes."
Both Tommy and Elizabeth go to their rooms but not before running into Mary in the hallway. They give her one of those if looks could look and continue on walking.
~What's with them?~ She goes downstairs. "Hi Abby."
"Hi, Mary," Abby says. "You and I need to talk, but I've got to get off to school. Can we talk tomorrow?"
"Sure."
"Good."
Mary goes upstairs to Elizabeth's room. "What's going on?"
Elizabeth says "Like you care."
"Now Elizabeth that's not fair. If I didn't care I wouldn't be in here right now."
Elizabeth tells her about the beer can and how Abby came down hard on her and Tommy.
"Oh no." Mary sits down beside her. "I'll go to Abby and take all of the blame."
"Thanks, but it won't do any good." Elizabeth says. "The fact that we were in the same room with beer made us guilty."
"Does she know that you and Tommy were drinking?"
"Yes." Liz says. "We figured we better not lie to her. She also knows about David taking Nicholas to his place."
"I hope you told her that you and Tommy weren't the only ones responsible."
"We did." she says. "Sorry for tattling."
"It's ok kid."
"So what are you going to do?"
"Warn Susan, and then talk to Abby tomorrow."
"Good luck."
"Thanks."
Currently at College. David is there to pick Susan and Joannie up. He's busy staring at college women. When his sisters approach him.
"Hey, David" Susan says "Thanks for picking us up."
"No problem, so where do you ladies want to go?" He asks.
"I just need a ride home." Susan says "Joannie?"
"I have to get to the Rep, but I can make my own way there," Joannie says.
"Ok, but call if you need a ride home."
"Sure."
David takes Susan home.
"Thanks for the ride David." Susan says
"Hey no problem."
When Susan comes in. Mary gets her alone and tells her what's going on.
"That's not fair that Tommy and Elizabeth has to take all the blame." Susan says
"Oh they don't. Abby plans on talking to me tomorrow and probably you also."
"Oh, great." Susan replies
"Hey will survive it. We've survived it countless times with mom and dad."
"I remember." Susan says
Later that night at the lake.
"Is something wrong?" Nancy asks Noah.
"I don't know you tell me. First you get a tattoo and then you get a black eye."
Her face clouds over. "So is this the part where you say you don't want to see me anymore." Nancy asks used to this routine.
He starts laughing. She glares at him and walks away so he goes after her. "Nancy don't be ridiculous the last thing in the world I want to do is break up with you. I'm just concerned is all." He calms her down. "Have you been taking your medication?"
"Yes, why do you ask that?"
"It's not like you to pick fights."
"I didn't pick a fight they started it."
"And you let them goad you."
"I never said I was perfect, and I thought you loved that about me."
"I do."
"Then why are we having this conversation?"
"Well you're the one who wants to spend Saturday Night with your sisters this weekend instead of with me." He pouts.
"Oh come on don't tell me your jealous of my sisters."
"You live with them why do you have to go out with them too. You should be with me Saturday night."
"Well this Saturday Night I'll be with them."
"Fine be that way!!"
"Fine I will!!" She walks away and he goes after her again.
"Let me give you a ride home."
"You can't there's not enough room in the car for the three of us."
"For the three of us?"
"Yes you, me, and your ego."
He grabs her and kisses her. She tries to push him off at first but then she gives in and kisses him back. They wind up falling down in the grass. Moments later they come up for air.
"Not here." Nancy says.
"Why not here?" He continues to kiss her. "It's perfect it's near the lake and the moon is out."
"Do you have a blanket in your trunk?"
"Well no."
"Then not here."
"We can use my cousin's condo. What time do you have to be home?"
"In two hours." They leave for the condo and Noah finally gets to the see the tattoo.
~Ok it's not as bad as I thought it would be.~ He thinks after she gets into bed and he soon joins her there.
She holds him back.
"What?" He nibbles on her earlobe.
She hands him a condom. "We're both way too young to be parents."
Afterwards while she's resting in his arms.
"Marry me."
"No we're too young."
"Someday then?"
"Maybe."
"What do you mean maybe?"
"I mean maybe, not yes, not no, maybe."
"But I love you."
"I love you too, but the answer is still maybe."
Two hours later at the Bradford's after Noah has dropped her off. Nancy
walks in very grateful that it's quiet and goes into the kitchen for a
late night snack and to think about Noah. A smile slowly spreads on her
face when she thinks about him. She doesn't even notice that someone
else has entered the kitchen.
"Hi." Tom replies and looks at his watch. "I see you made it home in time."
Nancy jumps a little. "Oh hi Dad I didn't hear you come in. Did I miss all the excitement around here?"
"If you mean World War III, yes." Tom jokes. "You OK? You look funny."
"I'm ok Dad. Just in love." She sighs.
"So soon?" Tom asks sadly. "Are you sure?"
"Very sure, he asked me to marry him, and I said maybe someday."
Tom starts to choke on his milk. "Marriage???"
"Dad, maybe in the far off future."
"How about 20 years?"
Nancy laughs. "Dad I'm not waiting that long to get married."
"19 years?" Tom jokes
She continues to laugh. "Getting warmer."
"Speaking of warm, I wonder if Abby has cooled off any." Tom says. "I just got home not too long before you did."
"When I left things weren't very pleasant around here. "Sam was even hiding under Nicholas' bed."
"Uh oh." Tom says. "That can't be good."
"Yeah." She starts to feel nauseous from the black eyes. "Dad can I stay home tomorrow?"
"Why?"
"I suddenly don't feel too good."
"Well,. lets decide that in the morning, OK?"
"Ok."
Tom goes upstairs and quietly crawls into bed.
"Well, look what the cat dragged in," Abby says.
"I feel liked I had been dragged." Tom sighs. "It's no fun having to write a new column when they don't like the first one."
"What? Why didn't they like it?"
"It seems I wrote the same column two years ago." Tom replies. "Do you know how depressing that is knowing you are repeating yourself?"
"With variations, I hope," Abby says. "But life is just patterns and variations."
"Yeah." Tom says and thinks of Nancy and tells Abby about Noah proposing.
"All ready? It's a little soon, isn't it?"
"My thoughts exactly." he says.
"Then again, she did learn about quick engagements honestly. You always did tell them to follow you."
"She's barely 19 years old." Tom voice rises.
"Oh, well, that's not too young to get married."
"It is in my book." Tom replies.
"I wasn't much older when I married Frank," Abby points out.
"That's different...Nancy is..." Tom starts to say and thinks better of it.
"Is?"
"My daughter." Tom says as he pulls the covers over his head.
"I am definitely not your daughter," Abby laughs and pulls the covers off Tom. "So you don't approve of marrying young?"
"No." he says.
"How old were you and Joan when you got married?"
"That's different." Tom reiterates.
"Because you're not your own daughter, right?"
"Right." Tom says. "Speaking of Daughters or sons for that matter. How did it go tonight?"
"Fairly well," Abby says. "They grounded themselves. But I still have to talk to Mary and Susan about their part in this party, unless you want to."
"Grounded themselves? Talk about reverse psychology." Tom says. "No, you can talk to them."
"Thanks."
"I mean you handled it this far." Tom says. "If you rather not....."
No, no, I'll do it."
"We better get some sleep." Tom says and kisses her.
"Good night."
"Good night." Tom says before dozing off.
Nancy finishes eating and also goes to bed.
When she wakes up her eye feels better and she no longer feels sick so she tries to beat the morning rush to the shower with no luck. She gets behind Joannie who is behind Tommy who is behind Susan. Elizabeth is already in the bathroom.
"Can any of you be bought for your place in line?" She asks.
"No" Susan says "Wait your turn like the rest of us."
"How much are you willing to pay?" Tommy asks
"A dollar is all I have left."
"Forget it." Tommy says "I am enough trouble as is. I don't need more."
"And how will that get you in trouble?"
"By being late for school." Tommy says.
"Oh ok."
"How's your eye?" Tommy asks.
"Better." ~I hope the gossips don't want a rematch.~
"Good." Tommy says
Elizabeth comes out of the bathroom. "Next."
"About time." Susan says heading into the bathroom
Later that day at school. Nancy is about to enter a hallway when the gossips block her way.
"You're in my way." She says flatly.
"What are you going to do about it Bradford? Your sisters are no where in sight and neither are their friends."
Someone walks by so they eventually let her pass. They continue to hound her all day, so finally having had enough Nancy leaves for the day and heads for the mall. Her mind is pondering the situation when she bumps into someone.
"Sorry." Nancy says and helps him pick up his things. Her eye catches one of the pamphlets.
"Excuse me." the guy thinks ~Wow, what a beauty.~
"That's OK."
"So are you looking for models?"
"Yeah, how did you know?"
Nancy hands him one of his pamphlets back.
He chuckles. "Oh yeah, those." he says. "My name is Brad Jackson."
"Nancy Bradford." ~It's not his fault that his name is Brad.~ Nancy thinks while remembering Brad Maxwell.
"Are you a model?" he asks.
"Not officially but it is something I have looked into before."
"Well, except for your black eye; you are pretty enough to be a model." he says.
"Oh this it won't be there forever you know."
"Oh I know." he replies. "So would you be interested"
"I'd be very interested." She says.
"Good." He hands her one of his business cards. "Call me when that eye heals and we will talk."
"Will do, it was nice meeting you." Nancy says before going home. She decides to hold off on telling her family for at least an hour.
One hour later she finds Tom in his study.
"Dad we need to talk."
Tom takes one look at her. "You didn't get into another fight did you?"
"No, I ignored them today." ~And their threats.~ "But I did get offered a modeling job." She shows him the card.
"What kind of modeling?"
She hands him one of the pamphlets. "Just modeling the latest fashions. No nude shots or anything. He seems like a nice guy. If you want you can go with me to meet him."
"Before we do anything, I am going to do a little checking on this Brad Jackson."
"That won't take long will it?"
"It will take as long as it takes." Tom voice rises.
"Ok." ~Please don't let it take forever.~
Tom calls the research department and asks them to check out the Brad Jackson Modeling Company.
They say they'll work on it and call with the information or an update.
Later they call back. "Well Dad what did they say?" Nancy asks eagerly.
"I can't believe it, but he is on the up and up."
"Cool." She smiles. "So when do we go and meet him?"
"As soon as you make an appt."
Nancy makes the phone call and after awhile she hangs up. "Is Friday at noon good for you Dad?"
"Of what year?" Tom jokes.
"Dad please, don't do that to me."
"OK, calm down. Friday is fine."
She gives him a hug. "Thanks Dad." ~I'll wait to see what the working hours are before I mention leaving school.~
"You are welcome. Do you mind if I bring a date?"
"I don't mind at all. I like your date she's a very nice lady."
"Yeah she is, just don't tell Abby." Tom whispers.
"Dad you're terrible." Nancy laughs.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome." She goes upstairs to her room and ponders how she's going to get out of going to school for the rest of the week.
The next morning. Nancy awakens before anyone else and plugs in a heating
pad she then wraps it around a thermometer. When she's sure that everyone
is awake she unplugs the heating pad and stashes it. She then puts the
thermometer in her mouth and starts moaning which awakens
Elizabeth.
"Nancy...Nancy, you OK?"
"My throat and my stomach." She pretends. "Will you get Dad or Abby?"
"Yeah." Elizabeth says and goes knocks on their door.
"Who is it?" Tom asks.
"Elizabeth, Nancy is sick."
Tom looks at Abby to make sure she is dressed. "Come in."
Nancy waits for one of them to come in hoping the thermometer doesn't cool off by then.
Tom goes into Nancy's room "What's going on?"
"My throat, and stomach. I think the thermometer is ready to come out."
Tom takes a look at the thermometer. "I see now where Nicholas gets his ideas from."
"What do you mean?"
"Nancy this thermometer is 120 degrees."
Nancy cringes. "Oh."
Tom shakes his head. "I am surprised at you, pulling a trick like that. Now what's going on?"
"I don't feel like going today."
"Well, you are not sick. So you have to go."
"Fine, can I have some privacy so I can get ready."