The House is Going to be Loud Now
Saturday morning was spent with Carrie taking two more exams after having picked up Collette from Ivy’s. Maxwell and Joy were amusing themselves by eating, and Maxwell was thoroughly enjoying chasing about a brightly colored rope in the foyer. There was also another jar of chocolate rocks which Ivy had saved for them from Colorado. Each rock was small and uniquely shaped and colored like a river rock, and was solid chocolate.
There had also been news of Bing having filled out seventeen job applications, and finally having been hired at a McDonald’s toward Boone’s Crossing. However, it was only later that he realized he had written his Social Security number incorrectly on all the other applications. Poor Bing began his new job that week and hadn’t even been trained on what to do. He followed written instructions on how to fix Big Macs. It was grunt-work to be sure, a good deal of elbow grease and fast-flipping burgers. However, they all thought he would benefit from the experience.
Meanwhile, Collette read on of Captain Nemo in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, of his combing the seas for sunken treasure ships, of violets and honey hives inside volcanic craters, of vast pearl fisheries and brilliant subterranean coral shores…
Meanwhile, Rose got back from her two weeks of 5-Day Club Training in Kansas City.
“OLeif! Collette! Everybody, I’m home!”
She stalked in with all her gear and dumped it on the floor. Immediately the cats sleeping in the recliner were picked up and promptly squished.
“I love you! I miss you!” She smushed her face into their fluffiness. “Ahhhhh…. It’s good to be back.”
Meanwhile, Joe had also returned. After taking a long relaxing bath, he began to unpack and then unloaded an entire backpack of potato chips onto the living room floor.
“Holy cow!” Francis surveyed the wealth in wonder. “Rich! Rich!”
Meanwhile, Carrie was moaning about the house.
“Carrie, what are you doing?” Dad called from the computer.
“Trying to put back the pieces of my broken life,” she replied.
Dad did not comment on this. Meanwhile, Linnea, stuffing potato chips into her mouth asked:
“Collette, aren’t you glad to have Rose back?”
“Yeah,” Collette replied. “Why? Aren’t you?”
“Oh, yes.” Linnea continued to munch. “The house is gong to be loud now.”
Carrie walked back through the living room.
“If I think about the rest of the school year, I’m going to croak.” She dramatized.
She walked by and swatted Rose on the bum with a maniacal laugh.
“Hey!” Rose cried.
Then she pulled out an important-looking document from her travel bag.
“Look at my diploma of recognition from camp. I never got a diploma before, except for when I went with Trooper through dog classes.”
She paraded off to show Mom.
“Do you guys think this outfit is too fancy for the concert tonight?” Carrie walked in.
She was wearing a new Kelly green tank with lace around the top, jeans, her green flip-flops, and a magnificent pair of metallic green swinging earrings, hanging long like string beans.
“Hey, cool earrings!” OLeif exclaimed. “They’re like trees hanging upside down.”
“Oh, men have such a lovely way of putting things,” Mom laughed.
And soon it was off to the show.