The Birthday -- part 4
Tom walks in. "Why the smiles?"
"Oh, um..." Abby stammers. "You wouldn't want to know."
"That bad?" Tom asks.
"Horrible." V jokes.
"Well, you might think so."
"I'm totally confused, but what else is new."
"Nothing at all, dear," Abby laughs.
Tom mocks them "Ha Ha."
V starts laughing.
"He's laughing now..." Abby says to V.
"But will he be later?"
"Ok you two, I can see the joke is on me. So I will make my exit."
"No, stay," Abby says. "I've been keeping V from her packing, anyway."
"You are still leaving?" Tom asks.
V nods.
"Its not because we gave you the keys to the car back is it?" Tom worries.
"No of course not."
Tom sighs in relief. "Good."
When Joannie comes home she finds David nursing a beer and looking pretty
horrible.
"Who is she?" Joannie asks.
"A very nice girl who I love very much, who didn't deserve to get yelled
at this morning."
"Love? I didn't know you even had a steady girlfriend."
"I don't." He tells her what happened.
"When are you going over to apologize?"
"I don't want to go alone." He admits.
"Want me to go and hold your hand?"
He nods. "Please."
"OK."
"Thank you." He gets ready to go.
Joannie also does.
Soon they're on the way to the house. Once they get there they find
Nancy studying in her room after talking with Nicholas and Abby and eating
some dinner. David sees the scared look on her face and cringes.
"It's ok we're not here to lynch you."
"Chicken over here wants to talk to you," Joannie says.
"What's up?" She asks.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you earlier."
"You had every right too, I almost ruined your plans."
"Plans you didn't know about at the time, and no I didn't have a right too."
He says to her. "You were only trying to help Nicholas, and I shouldn't
get mad at you if you don't go about it perfectly."
"I'm sorry I ruined your plans." She says to Joannie and David.
"You didn't ruin anything sweetheart." He gives her a hug.
"Can I get a hug, too?" Joannie asks them.
"Yes, get over here." Nancy says.
Joannie complies.
Both David and Nancy hug her.
A little while later David breaks it to him about the notebook their dad
told him about earlier.
Nancy sighs. "So there's nothing?"
"Fraid not."
"There goes our great hopes."
"Yeah." Nancy says.
David looks at them both and makes a decision. "Nancy you still hungry?"
"A little."
"Joannie are you hungry?" He asks.
"You buying?"
"Yep."
"Then I'm hungry."
"Good, Nancy pack your insulin we're going out."
"Ok," she smiles and puts a syringe and a couple of vials in her purse.
She then checks her makeup, hair, and clothes. "I'm ready."
"So my stew wasn't good enough?" Elizabeth asks as she walks in the
kitchen.
"Your stew was great, but I'm still hungry." Nancy says.
"So are you coming with us or not?" David asks Elizabeth.
"Where to?"
"We don't know yet." He confesses.
"OK, but I better go tell Dad and Abby we are going."
"Ok."
Elizabeth tells them."Ok,lets go."
They leave and find a restaurant all of them will like.
Wednesday, Nancy and Tom are in the waiting room waiting for her name to
be called. When Nancy shows her a magazine typical of being in Max's
office. One
of them comedy magazines.
Tom laughs.
So does she. Soon her name is called and they go in there. They
take her weight, temperature, blood pressure and then her blood sugar levels.
"Hmm, 150 is better than it was the last time you were checked so you're
doing good but it needs to go down to at least under 130. How bout
we make that the goal?"
"And how do I accomplish that goal?" Nancy tells the nurse what she's already
done.
"The doctor will be able to answer all your questions he'll be with you soon."
She says and leaves the room. They then wait for Dr. Max to come in.
He soon enters.
"I hope you're ready to lose again this weekend." He says to Tom.
"Not with my pineapple shirt, you don't stand a chance."
"In your dreams old friend." Max jokes and looks over Nancy's chart. "This
looks a lot better than it did when you were in a coma." He tells her.
"Thanks, but the nurse says I'm not there yet."
"No, but you will get there. You might need to gradually increase the
amount you exercise and I'd like you to see the dietician again." He
writes the referral.
"Thanks Dr. Max."
"Anytime kid, now do either of you have any questions." He asks after they
go over a few more things.
"Um yeah." She looks at her dad.
"What about raising her other meds?" Tom tells him what has been going on.
"I'd like you to go and see the doctor you saw last time when they raised
them if he's available. I'll go and check for you." Max says and goes
to make some phone calls. Soon he returns. "He wants to talk
to you before he even thinks about raising or changing your medication.
He can see you today at the hospital."
"Will I have to be admitted."
"I don't know."
"It'll be ok Nancy, I'll go with you." Tom says.
"I know." She manages a smile and soon they're on the way but not before
Tom and Max trade jabs with each other.
Later at the hospital. The doctor talks to Nancy alone first and then
to Tom.
"I want to try increasing her meds a little bit before I consider changing
them. Which means we'll need to keep her here under observation for
phsycial and mental effects."
Tom sighs. "Is that really necessary?"
He tells him the physical stuff they monitor for. "For the monitoring
we should know in a few hours if she'll be fine. And be able to tell
about the depression the minimum 4 hours and the maximum 48 hours, so yes
it is necessary." The doctor says. "There's a chance she'll be
able to go home tonight."
"Does Nancy know?"
"Yes, and it took awhile to convince her, but I believe I got through to
her."
"May I see her?"
"Sure," he takes her to Nancy.
He follows him.
He gives them some time alone.
"Two days." Nancy mouths to her dad.
"Huh?"
"Didn't the doctor tell you that 2 days is a possibility?"
"Yes, but he also said I might be able to take you home tonight. ~Please
let that be the case.~
"I sure hope so." She says. "Either way I'm going ahead and going in voluntarily."
"Good, I better go call the house."
She nods.
Tom gives her a hug and goes off in search of a phone.
He dials the house.
Mary answers the phone. "Hello."
"Hi Mary, is Abby there?"
"Yeah hold on." She goes upstairs and knocks on the bedroom door.
~Grand central Station. Exactly what I was hoping for.~ "Come in."
Mary walks in. "Hi Dad's on the phone."
"Oh. Thanks." Abby reaches for the phone.
"No problem, " Once she's sure that Abby's got Tom on the phone she
hangs up the other phone.
"Abby?" Tom asks as he hears the other phone being picked up.
"Tom? How is she?" Abby asks.
Tom tells her everything. "I might be here awhile, so tell Elizabeth not
to wait dinner for me. How are you feeling?"
"OK. I've been resting."
"Thats good, anyone been bugging you?"
"No, they've all been perfect angels."
Tom laughs."Yeah right, and the moon is made of green cheese."
"No, really. My going away must have scared them or something. It's kind
of spooky."
"Too quiet for you?"
"A little. It gets me nervous."
"Then go see what every one is up too."
"I will soon. You'd better get back to Nancy."
"Yeah befote she makes a jail break." he jokes
"Don't let her do that," Abby says seriously.
"Honey, I won't it was a joke." he tells her.
"Oh. OK."
"Just rest. I'll call you later."
"I'll be here, waiting and going out of my mind with boredom."
~At least Harry will approve.~ Tom thinks."I love you, bye."
"Love you, too," Abby says before she hangs up.
Meanwhile, while waiting for her dad, Nancy considers changing her mind for
a fleeting moment but only for a moment.
Elizabeth is downstairs starting dinner when Tommy and Nicholas start running
thru the kitchen chasing each other and sam. "Will you two be quiet."
she says not soon enough before they knock over some kitchen chairs. "You
guys do you want Abby to go back to Pasadena, because if you do, you are
doing a very good job.
"We are always noise." Tommy states.
"That's the problem." Elizabeth says.
"I don't follow you." Tommy says.
Elizabeth sighs. "Harry made me promise that I would make sure Abby
rest, why do you think I've been cooking and doing the cleaning since I've
got home."
"I thought it was part of her boot camp." Tommy jokes.
"It's not funny Tommy."
Nicholas quietly slips away unnoticed and goes upstairs and knocks on Abby's
door.
"Come in."
"Hi." he says
"Hi. I was hoping someone would come visit."
"Sorry about the noise downstairs, you aren't going back to Pasadena are
you?"
"Not if I can help it."
"Good."
"I missed you too much."
"We missed you too."
"You did?"
He nods.
"I'm glad. I mean, I'm not glad you had to miss me, but it's nice to know
that you did."
"May I sit with you for awhile, that is if I won't keep you from resting."
"I'd love the company."
Nicholas gets on the bed.
"Hey, Nicholas, could I ask a favor? Or two?"
"Sure.."
"Know any stories?"
"No, but I can tell you what happened on last nights Wonder Frog."
"Good, because I missed it."
Nicholas tells her about Wonder Frog.
Meanwhile in the kitchen the smoke alarm goes off, Elizabeth forgot about
the chicken she left in the oven.
Tommy rushes in and takes it out and puts it in the sink and runs cold water
over it.
Elizabeth starts to cry.
Tommy gives her a hug. "I never like your chicken anyway." he jokes
to make her feel better.
Elizabeth stops crying. "Now what do we do?"
"There's always Pizza."
"Was that the smoke alarm?" Abby asks Nicholas.
"I think so."
"Let's go check it out."
"I can go. You stay here." Nicholas says worried that she wont rest.
"Nicholas, if there's a fire I'll just have to go downstairs anyway," Abby
says, getting up and into her robe.
He sighs "OK."
They head down into the kitchen. "What happened here?" Abby asks.
"Abby, I'm sorry. I burnt dinner." Liz says trying to hide the tears.
Abby notices them anyway. "What were you making?"
"Baked Chicken."
"Can I tell you three a secret? And you'll never tell anyone?" Abby whispers.
All three of them look at each other and nod supiciously.
"I know I make it all the time, but I really can't stand chicken. Let's get
a pizza, OK?"
They smile. "I'll go order it." Tommy says.
"Abby, go back to bed. When it arrives I'll bring it to you." Elizabeth says.
"Thanks. I really appreciate the way you're taking care of me."
"I am just sorry, you had to come down in the first place."
"I can handle a little exercise. Maybe I should just stay down here for a
while as long as I'm already here."
"Are you sure?" Liz worries.
Tommy gets off the phone. "It'll be here in thirty minutes."
"I'll rest on the couch in the living room and you all can keep me entertained."
"With what,my singing?" Tommy dead pans.
"It could be Mary's."
Nicholas laughs.
Abby leads them into the living room.
"We can play monopoly." Tommy suggests.
"I want the car," Abby is quick to say.
"Cute." Tommy says. "I'll take the hat,"
"Dog." Nicholas says,
"I guess I'll take the thimble." Liz sighs.
"If you want the car..." Abby offers.
"No..it'll be heartbreaking." Tommy admits.
"True, but let Elizabeth speak for herself."
"I'll keep the thimble."
"Thanks," Abby says.
Tom goes back to Nancy. "Hi."
"Hi."
"Abby told me to take care of you so how about we past the time with cards?"
he pulls out a deck he borrowed from the game room.
"Ok, what do you want to play?"
"Poker? I have to get in shape."
"Sure." She says.
Tom deals the cards, using pennies as chips.
"No dimes or nickels?"
Tom laughs. "That sure of yourself, eh?"
"Of course." She manages a smile.
"OK." Tom says as he pulls out his dimes,nickels and quarters."
Nancy smiles and pulls out her own change.
They play cards each winning a few hands.
"Dad I'm getting hungry."
"Will they let me bring in take out?"
"I don't know."
"I'll go check, don't go anywhere."
"I won't." She says.
Tom finds her doctor and asks.
"Yes, it'll help her sanity."
"Any results yet?"
"Physically there's no problem. I'll come by and do a mental eval after she's
eaten."
"OK, I'll go order her orange chicken then,"
"That might not be a good idea."
"Huh? Why not?"
"A good amount of sugar goes into the sauce of that. She might want
to wait for a cheating day for that."
Tom moans."I could have killed my daughter." he flops in a chair nearby.
He sits down beside him. "Don't be so hard on yourself it's going to take
awhile to adjust. Maybe you should talk to the dietician too."
"I think I will." Tom says."Until then, what do I order her?"
"Anything that doesn't have a lot of sauce in it."
"Which would be....." Tom asks not having a clue.
"A sandwhich, maybe some chicken." He names a few things.
~I'll never get used to this.~ Tom thinks. "OK, thanks."
He nods.
Tom goes and gets her and himself some chicken and salad.
Nancy waits for his return.
"Room service."
She smiles. "Dad, are you moonlighting?"
"Have to pay the extra bills somehow."he jokes.
She laughs.
He serves her dinner.
They finish eating and soon the doc comes in to do the eval.
Tom steps aside.
After he's done. "You can take her home now."
Tom smiles. "That's great new, thank you doctor."
"Yes thank you." Nancy says and gets ready to go home.
"You're welcome." The doc says.
"Ready honey?" Tom asks Nancy
"You bet I am." She says.
Tom drives her home.
"Hey everyone." Nancy says when they get home.
"Hi," Liz says."How did it go?" she asks as she rolls the dice on the monopoly
board.
"Pretty good," She says. "Who's winning?"
"The one with car." she sighs Pointing to Abby. "There's Pizza in the kitchen
if you want some."
"Hey the one with the car always wins, nice choice Abby." Nancy says. "Is
there anything with the pizza that says how much sugar is in the sauce?"
"Uh no, but we did get vegetarian for Susan, if she ever comes home." Liz
states. "Just scrape off the sauce."
"Good idea, but I'll try something else before I go through all of
that." She calls up the pizza place and finds out how much is in it and
winds up scraping off the sauce anyway.
"Sorry." Elizabeth tells her.
"Not your fault, besides maybe when my levels are down to what they want
them out it won't even be an issue anymore."
"That'll be great."
"Yeah it will be."
While everyone is still playing monopoly the phone rings. Nancy answers it.
"You're going to kill me." Noah says.
"Why would I do a fool thing like that?" She asks.
"Because we can't go skiing this weekend. It fell through."
~But I wanted a couple nights alone with him.~ "Well there is this football
game going on this weekend."
"Yes I'll play, I'm really sorry honey."
"It's ok." She says. They talk a little while longer and then hang up with
each other. "Noah's playing Saturday." She says.
"Great!." Tom says ~The Maxwells will be doing the barbeque this year after
we win.~
"And I'm playing too." She says to him.
Tom goes pale."I thought we discussed this."
"We did, but you heard Dr. Max, I need more exercise, and the game will be
great exercise, I'll be careful."
"But what if you get hit hard."
"And what if I get up from this chair when it comes time, trip over the coffee
table leg and break my neck." She tries to make a point.
"Abby....." he turns too for help.
"The risks aren't exactly equal," Abby points out.
"What do you mean?" Nancy asks her.
"The table isn't trying to tackle you."
"Beside's Nancy it's someone else's turn to get hurt." Mary says morbidly.
"You're not even funny Mary." She then looks at Abby. "You have
a good point."
"Yes, but will you listen to it?" Abby wonders.
She sighs. "Yes, I'll listen and find other ways to exercise."
"There';s always cheerleading?" Tom suggest.
She smiles. "Ok, I'll be your cheerleader."
Abby leans over and whispers to Tom, "She can be the family's. I'll be yours."
Tom blushes. "Good, I am glad thats settled."
"That's good Dad." Nancy says wondering why he's blushing.
"I think i'll grab some of that pizza." Tom says.
"I'll get you some," Abby says.
'I'lll get it Abby." Elizabeth says.
"Elizabeth, sit down. You're not my personal maid," Abby says. "Give yourself
a break."
"But..you should be resting."
"Will you two both sit down, I have two legs. I can get it myself." Tom states
as he kisses his wife.
"You know," Abby says to Elizabeth, "that's an idea. Let him wait on me hand
and foot."
"But what about when he's at work?"
"I'll fend for myself. After all, you'll be in school."
"Huh?" But I was told to take care of you.
"You are planning to go back to school, aren't you?"
"Yeah, when you got better."
"What about if I promise to sleep the whole time you're gone?" Abby offers,
seeing there's no reasoning with Elizabeth. ~What's gotten into her?~
Elizabeth sighs.
"Elizabeth?" Abby presses. "Don't you want to go back to school?"
"Yes, but your parents made me promise that I would take care of you." she
blurts out.
"They didn't mean all day every day."
"That's what you think." she says.
"Tell you what. You worry about your father and me, and we'll worry about
my parents."
"When you put it that way, I am being silly aren't I?"
"No sillier than your father gets."
"Hey, what was the crack about." he says.
"Nothing, dear," Abby laughs.
"Uh huh." he pretends to be upset.
"So i'll go back to school Monday then." Liz states.
"Good."
"So are we going to play or not?" Nicholas asks.
"We're playing, we're playing," Abby says.
Elizabeth chuckles and rolls the dice.
Nancy finishes eating and watches to see who wins.
"Where is Susan anyway?" Tom asks.
"I don't know." Mary says.
Tom looks at his watch. "Hmmm. When she comes home I want to talk to her."
After a few minutes Susan comes into the kitchen. "Hey everyone.
What's for
dinner?"
"Pizza."
"Susan, where have you been?" Tom asks as he shoves the pizza box near her.
"At the library." Susan says getting a slice of pizza.
"The library closed over an hour ago."
"We went out for coffee afterwards."
"You're a little late, don't you think?"
"I didn't think I was. What time is it anyways?"
"Late enough to call next time, ok?"
"Okay. I'll try to remember to call next time."
"So was he cute?" Tom asks.
"Very cute."
"Figures." Tom says.
Nancy stifles back a laugh at her father's reaction.
Tom shakes his head.
Nancy smiles at him and looks over at Abby wondering how she's doing.
Abby pats Tom's hand.
He squeezes her hand and yawns "Nicholas isn't it pass your bedtime?"
Nicholas sighs.
"Come on, Nicholas, up to bed," Abby says.
"But the game isn't over."
~Tom, help me out here.~
"Just leave it like it is and you can finish tomorrow."
Tommy and Elizabeth gives mock yawns "Good idea Dad, I'm beat." Elizabeth
says.
"Yeah right." Nicholas says and pouts on his way upstairs.
"Should I follow him up?" Abby whispers to Tom.
"Up to you." Tom says.
Abby gives him a kiss. "I'll be back, I hope."
"I'll be in our room, I am tired." he says and looks at his other kids. "Don't
you tink you all need to go to bed too?"
Elizabeth and Tommy nod.
"Nancy?"
"Goodnight." She says and goes up to bed.
"Goodnight." Tom says.
Elizabeth and Tommy follow her up.
Elizabeth gets ready for bed. "I'm glad they didn't keep you overnight."
she says to Nancy.
"Thank you." Nancy says.
"I guess I'll start school Monday." she sighs.
"I'm sorry." Nancy says sympathetically. "School is the pits."
"At least you are in college and can take the courses you want."
~At least you can do whatever you want and have certain people still associate
with you.~ She decides not to voice the thought aloud but to let it
go. "And when you get in college you can take the courses you want."
"I guess."
"Or you can always drop out of high school you're old enough." She says.
"But your options would be very limited."
Elizabeth laughs. "Very limited from six feet under."
Nancy laughs also. "I remember when David try to drop out of high school.
I think mom got more upset than dad did if that was possible."
"Really?"
Nancy nods
"Well she was right."
"That's for sure." Nancy yawns.
Elizabeth yawns in return. "Must be contagious." she turns out the
light. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight." Nancy falls asleep.
Abby heads upstairs after Nicholas.
He's in his room getting on his pajamas.
Abby knocks on the door.
"Come in." he says
Abby walks in and sits on Nicholas's bed.
"I hate being the youngest."
"Everyone else got sent to bed, too. Even me."
"They did?"
Abby nods. "Scout's honor."
"Oh."
"Besides, there are advantages to being the youngest."
"There are?"
"Ask your brothers and sisters; I'll bet most of them are envious of you."
Tommy walks in "Envious of what?"
"Of youngest kids."
Tommy nods. "Absolutely, easier chores plus they get away with murder." he
jokes.
"See?" Abby tells Nicholas.
Nicholas nods. "Do you feel like telling me a story?"
"Always," Abby answers.
Nicholas smiles.
Tommy groans.
"Why don't you pick the story, Tommy," Abby suggests.
"The story I want to hear, you'd shoot me."
"I don't think I want to know that you know those kinds of stories."
Tommy is about to say something when Nicholas speakes up.
"How about Tom Sawyer." Nicholas intervenes
"OK," Abby agrees.
~Terrific.~ Tommy puts on his earphone and listens to his radio.
Abby begins reading:
"'Tom!'
"No answer.
"'Tom!'
"No answer.
"'What's gone with that boy, I wonder? You Tom!'
"No answer."
Nicholas is soon asleep.
Tom runs out of his room "Whats wrong?"
Abby finishes tucking Nicholas in. "What do you mean what's wrong?"
"I heard my name beimg called,"
"Not yours," Abby says, holding up the book.
"Tom Sawyer?" He whispers. "You do a good 'Aunt Polly' imitation." he jokes.
"Gee, thanks. Wanna come paint my fence?"
Tom laughs. "I think we have whipped cream in the fridge."
"Now you're talking," Abby smiles at him.
"I love you Mrs. Bradford."
"Oh, yeah? You planning to do anything about it?"
"After you." he leads her to the room.
Abby laughs and pulls him into their bedroom.
Tom shuts the door.
Nancy goes over to Joannie and David's and stays far away from the
railing as she knocks on the door to see if Joannie is home. She gives up
knocking when no one answers and heads on home.
She finds Noah waiting for her.
"Hey you want to get out of here for the rest of the day?"
She smiles. "What do you have in mind?"
He smiles back and shows her a hotel key. "I'll have you back before
your curfew I promise."
She goes inside, leaves a note saying she's on a date with Noah. Packs the
necessary supplies in her purse and then she leaves with him.
A little while before her curfew is to end he drives her home and spends
a little bit of time kissing her before she goes in for the night.
She then goes into the kitchen.
Joannie is in there, making a sundae. "David's got lousy taste in ice cream."
"Please tell he that he's not stuck on vanilla."
"Well, if you don't mind me lying..."
She laughs. "Hey I've been wanting to talk you."
"Well, talk away."
"Has there been any word yet on the show for those kids?"
"Father Trinelli's trying to get some professional talent. He thinks that
will bring in more money. Ever hear of Joey Allen?"
She shakes her head no. "What does he do?"
Joannie shrugs. "Want to help me find out?"
"Sure." She says.
"So where do we start?"
"Well are there any publications that list local professional talent?"
"Yeah, but he wasn't listed. Maybe he's not local."
"Hmm." She thinks it over.
Joannie looks at her hopefully.
She gets a pen and a pad of paper and gets out the phone book and turns to
the yellow pages and starts with the listing of agents. "I know it seems
like more work to write them down but the pad is less bulky than the phone
book."
"We're going to call all those?"
"Yes, we're going to call all of these. One of them might know a quicker
way to find this guy."
"While you're calling...."
"Yes."
"Ask them if they need a fabulous young actress."
"Ok." She says and starts dialing.
Joannie takes up making the list where Nancy left off.
Halfway through the calls. Nancy takes a break and makes a sandwich.
"So far." She says while she's fixing it. "No one is sure what he does
and five of them are looking for promising young actresses, but they want
you to call them so they can get more information. I circled them for
you."
"Thanks. Anything has to be better than peddling Egg Foo Young."
"No problem," She then starts eating. "I forgot, how hungry N....."
She stops herself when she realises she's saying it out loud.
"How hungry what?"
Nancy checks around and makes sure no else can hear and whispers it in Joannie's
ear.
"You didn't."
"We did."
"All of the fun of being married without the bills, huh?"
"Joannie, Noah isn't the first guy I've been with, and besides it's
not like we're not going to get marrried anyway."
"Aren't you supposed to settle down a little when you get engaged?"
"Joannie, it's a very long engagement."
"Even so."
"Hmm, looks like Joannie sounds like Dad."
"Sometimes he's right."
Nancy thinks it over for awhile while she's making the rest of the phone
calls. "I'll think on it." She tells Joannie when she's done.
"Good."
"You do know him....Nancy writes down some information, thank you."
She hangs up with the person she talked to. "Mr. Allen is a comedian."
"That's good. No one in this family can tell a joke, anyway."
Nancy gives her the contact information.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
"Think I should get Father Trinelli to call? It's hard to say no to a priest."
"Definetly."
"You ought to come back with me to the home sometime."
"Name the day and I'll be there. Maybe we could even bring Sam by."
"Yeah. I'll bet the kids would like that."
"Consider it a done deal then." She takes a sip of her drink. "So how are
things going with you?"
"OK," Joannie says brightly.
"Just ok?"
"Well...."
"You can tell me."
"I haven't been able to find an apartment and I think David and I are driving
each other crazy."
"I'm sorry Joannie, hey there is one solution."
"What?"
"Move back home."
"No way."
"Then the only other solution is to get a roommate or two."
"Which is almost as bad as being home."
"Joannie, being an actress is almost like being your corporation right?
A lot of the major actors and actresses out there are known by their name
and they have their big houses, employees. Trust me I am getting somewhere
with this."
"OK, where?"
"I want to make an investment in your career. With the settlement from
the car accident last spring I can give you enough to get you started."
"No, Nancy. That's your money."
"But you're my sister."
"That's why I'm saying no."
She concedes, "is there anything I can do to help?"
"Listening helps."
"Instead of trying to solve the problem, I get it." She says
Joannie smiles at her.
Nancy smiles back. "I do hope it all works out."
"Thanks."
"Anytime."
"Want some?" Joannie offers her the ice cream.
"I can't, but thank you."
~Stupid~ Joannie thinks of herself. "Sorry. Force of habit."
"It's all right, I guess it's something we all have to get used to."
"It'll take some time, but we'll do it."
"Yep, but in the meantime, if we see each other ask me again on Monday."
"Will do."
"Hey do you want anything to drink?"
"No, I really should be getting back to David's before he calls the cavalry
out."
"Do you need a ride or do you have his van with you?"
"I have the van/ Why else do you think he'd want me back?"
"I have the van/ Why else do you think he'd want me back?"
Joannie nods and goes to wash her bowl.
"I'm going to study for bit then head up to bed. Drive carefully Joannie."
"I will."
Nancy goes upstairs to her and Elizabeth's room.
"Hey." Liz says
"Hey, how was your day?"
"Fine, yours?"
"It was pretty good, and does fine mean I'd rather not talk about it or that
it was really good?"
Elizabeth laughs. "It was fine,nothing exciting. just hanged out around
here."
Nancy opens up one of her books and then puts it back down again. "I
don't this place can be lively when everyone is home."
"Huh?"
"What I meant to say is this place can be lively when everyone is home."
"Yeah, I know."
Nancy tries again to make herself study but can't.
Thursday morning Nancy is getting some coffee and breakfast before the rest
of the
family wakes up when the phone rings.
"Hello."
"Do you have Prince Albert in a can?"
"No we let him out." Nancy answers.
The caller doesn't know what to say so they hang up so does she. "Real
orignal of them not."
Mary walks in. "Who was that?"
"Some guy with a Prince Albert fixation."
"Why you up so early and already showered?"
"I woke up early and did some of the exercises that Susan scheduled for me."
Suddenly she's hit with dizzyness and starts feeling wierd. "Uh Mary."
"What are you symptoms?" She tells her, Mary gets some insulin in here,
and has her eat a cookie. A little while later. "You ok now?"
She nods. "But I really should have done the insulin myself."
"Only when you're alone and that happens. If someone else is here it's better
if they do it, ten to one we'd be more alert. Did you eat anything
right after exercising?"
"No, I thought I had enough time to shower afterwards, apparently not."
"Don't sweat it, you're still getting used to everything."
After a moment of silence. "Mary I really appreciate all you've been
doing but when's the last time you went out and did something for yourself?"
"I am doing something for myself, I'm practicing on you."
"I mean something fun."
"This is fun." She counters.
"When's the last time you went on a date?"
"Nancy, if I wasn't practicing on you I'd just be studying anyway.
At least this way I get some hands on experience."
"Ok." Nancy concedes but still worries.
After eating she goes looking for Tom or Abby.
Tom is outside working on the yard.
Nancy finds him. "Hi Dad you're out here awful early."
"Best time of day."
"Yeah I guess so it's a lot cooler. Hey I think I can save us some money
on the flu shot I'm supposed to get. The college is giving them for
two dollars in a couple of weeks."
"That's nice, but we can get free with our insurance."
"Oh I didn't know that." She says.
"Yeah, its nice." he says. "Why are you up so early?"
"I wanted to get my exercise done early, do you need any help out here?"
"Hmmm..yeah, can you handle a rake?"
"Yep, but you only have me for an hour, have to do the school thing today."
''Me too, work."
Nancy starts raking. "How's Abby doing?"
Tom shrugs. "I havent spoken to her this morning yet."
"And you?"
"I'm ok, how about you?"
"I'm all right." She continues raking.
"I don't think we will ever get all these leaves up."
"Then why are we raking them? A lot of people just let them be and
let nature take it's course."
"I guess."
She finishes her raking and then heads off to school. "See you later Dad."
"OK honey, have a good day." Tom says. ~Nancy's right, let nature take
its course.~ he gives up on the raking and goes inside.
Part 5