Sunday 1 Dec, 2019

Bobbie got up early. June texted and asked if Maddy wanted to go to Sunday School. She offered to pick her up and take her for lunch after too. Bobbie agreed. She didn’t really go to church but she was excited for Maddy. Maddy was excited too. Bobbie asked her if she had been to Sunday school before. Maddy didn’t seem to understand but was happy to go anyway. Bobbie knew she would be well behaved. Maddy seemed to get very quiet and still when she was unsure of herself.

“Here they are Maddy, I’ll see you after lunch. Have fun.” Bobbie waved as they pulled out of the driveway. She turned, locked the elevator and headed down to Johnny’s place.

He was in the yard. “Hey Bobbie, where’s the kid?”

“June took her to get her religion on.”

Really? That’s nice I remember going to church and then of course choir and playing the organ. Maybe they are not all great memories but I wouldn’t change anything.”

“That’s good Johnny. From what you have said, that is where your difficult father was the happiest.

“Indeed. Anyway, remember at the market yesterday? Trixie brought her camera man and introduced us. I want to hire him to help me make my “Santa’s workshop” commercial.”

“Oh, it’s a commercial now, is it?”

“I guess it always was, I just didn’t know it. Chuck’s Uncle Toffer is a great Santa. I got the Santa suit from your mom and she helped me fix it up.”

“You were over at Mom’s? I need to call her.”

“Yes, she wants more time with Maddy. She called a lady named Georgia that apparently is Maddy’s great gramma too.”

“That’s right, she’s Peter’s mother. I haven’t seen her since his funeral She was very sad. It was a military affair a lot of pomp and circumstance.”

“Maybe she’ll find some happiness when she sees her grand daughter.”

“So, Johnny, why don’t you make me some coffee and tell me about this commercial.”

She got back to motel around noon and stopped by the restaurant. They were in the middle of brunch so she only stayed a moment. She took a little piece of cheesecake and went up the back entrance to her private elevator. It seemed quiet in the apartment without Maddy. She ate her cheesecake and decided she needed a proper dinner that night. Her phone dinged and it was Eddy inviting her and to dinner. She laughed to herself and replied yes.

She called George at his store. “Hi George I was hoping to pick up that load of lights this afternoon.”

“That would be great Bobbie. We close the store at 1 PM on Sundays so why don’t you drive around back to the loading dock and we’ll put them right into your car.”

She agreed and hung up.

She drove into the store parking lot and slowly backed up to the big doors and got out of her car.

“Hi George, Thanks for staying open for me.”

“No problem. I’m just cleaning up the back of the warehouse. I have some old Christmas decorations back there that I’m just going to donate so there might be something you can use for all your trees.”

“That’s cool, I’d love to have a look.”

Bobbie followed George into the warehouse and up some stairs into a cluttered attic. “So, we’ve always sold seasonal decorations. Here’s some that are a little too old or dinged up to sell.”

Her eyes went to a box of packages of balls. She looked closer. “Oh my, George. These balls are really covers that go over lights. They glow really well. My mom is crazy about decorating trees, she has different colour decorations every year. That’s my tradition too. Anyway, she had these gold plastic globes that fit over her lights and always wanted silver ones too. There is a case of silver ones right there. Can I take her a box?”

“Bobbie you can take the whole case; I can’t sell them.”

She ended up taking most of his old decorations. She was having the motel professionally decorated but the big market tree would be full of silvery blue glowing balls.  She hoped they’d be OK in the rain and snow. Her car was pretty weighed down with lights and decorations so she drove directly to the market. Luckily Chuck was there, He helped her unload all the lights and most of the decorations into the office.

She had just enough time to unload her own stuff and it was time to get Maddy. She drove to Charlies. Charlie was in the front yard cleaning up dead leaves. She got out of the car and he leaned on the rake. Bobbie smiled and waved her hand around a little. “It’s kind of late in the year for this. You should be getting the Christmas lights up on a nice day like this.”

“Ya Ya, I’ve been busy, OK? I’ll get the lights up next weekend. Likely in driving, freezing rain and wind. The kids are down for a nap. We’re all heading over to Eddy’s when they get up. Eddy said you guys are coming too. Apparently, Johnny’s coming too. He wants to talk about hiring the kids to do some acting in a commercial he’s shooting. Niko is pretty sure she’s going to be an actress and this is her big break. I’ll just finish up here and will see you inside in a minute.”

Bobbie went in the front door and kicked off her boots and went into the living room. June was laying on the couch with her hand over her eyes. Bobbie sat down and tried to quietly look at her phone.

“Hi Bobbie, I’m not sleeping, I’m just resting while the kids nap. Niko is already at Eddy’s.”

“I’m sorry I disturbed you dear. How are you feeling these days?”

June sat up. “I’m feeling good. I get tired a little more easily and I’m always hungry and am gaining weight and feeling fat.”

Bobbie laughed. “It sounds like everything is normal. You’re not fat by any definition.”

Charlie came in the back door just as the girls were making their way downstairs. He picked up Suzy and swung her in a half circle. Maddy watched intently. Charlie put Suzy down. “Do want a me to give you a little swirl Maddy?”

Maddy shook her head and backed away.

Charlie grabbed his heart dramatically. “Ouch; rejection. I don’t hold a grudge though. Do you girls want hot chocolate?

June perked up. “Can I have hot chocolate too Charlie.”

“I’ll make lots. Mom, can you come over and make a snack while I make the hot chocolate.”

Bobbie went over and Charlie opened his freezer. “We had to buy a bunch of cookie dough from Clay and Wally. They were fundraising.”

Bobbie nodded. “I got some too; I like the peanut butter ones. I’ll turn on the oven”

They drank hot chocolate, ate peanut butter cookies and left for Eddies around 4 PM.

Johnny was already there when they arrived. Bobbie noted that Eddy had his Christmas Lights up already. Charlie looked over at her. “Don’t say anything Mom.”

Bobbie laughed. “I can send Drey over to help you on your next afternoon off. You can’t kill yourself when you are expecting a baby so soon.”

They all went in, got their coats and boots off and met Johnny in the big living room. He had a flip chart.

“Johnny how did you get this all prepared so fast?”

“I had it all done. I just picked up the large format prints at the printing place on the way over. The studio has agreed to let us use one of their production sets to make our commercial. I made a list of the stuff we’ll need for the set and a list of the actors and their parts.”

Niko raised her hand. “Do I get to say something?”

Johnny frowned. “I don’t have anyone scripted. You can ad lib if you want.”

“What’s ad lib mean?”

Wally raised his hand. “Say what you want.”

Bobbie laughed. “Johnny maybe you can think about it more and give them some guidelines.”

“I can have a rehearsal tomorrow after school. I’ll get Drey to bring the bus for ya.”

Johnny told the kids more about the story and they practised for a while and then Eddy came in and called everyone to dinner.  He had a big tray of roast beef and big bowls of mashed potatoes and carrots and peas.

“This looks good Eddie.”

“Thanks, Mark had some extra beef this morning so I bought it from him but we got the veggies all ready.”

Bobbie got Maddy’s supper ready first. Then she got her own and carried the plates over to the table. Maddy was sitting on a booster seat. Bobbie was glad to see that she didn’t need the high chair. It was still best at the island but she could get a booster for the dining room. She’s have to get 2, one for Suzy who was sitting beside Charlie; on another booster seat.

After dinner Maddy and Suzy ran up to Bobbie. “Can Maddy stay with tonight?” Asked Suzy breathlessly.”

“Haven’t you girls seen enough of each other today? Maddy, I’d like you to come home tonight and Fossie misses you too. I have a little something to give when we get home.”

Maddy leaned on Bobbie’s knee. “What is it?”

“You’ll see when we get home dear.”

Charlie helped Bobbie with her coat. “Mom did you used to blatantly bribe us to get us to come home when we were kids.”

Bobbie laughed. “Bribery is a valid tool of parenting but I really do have something for her; I get a nice picture of her mother and put it in a frame. I want to give it to her and talk a bit about her.”

“That’s important for her, Mom. I’d like to have a picture of Ella too. Well, good night and good luck.”