GEN IV: Chapter 29

The morning Adelaide decided to start potty training David, she sat in the chair watching him until he woke up. She picked him up and immediately carried him downstairs to his own little potty.

"Now you aren't going anywhere mister, until you do your business." She told him in a firm yet gentle voice. "I mean it. No breakfast until you go pee-pee."

Even though he didn't understand the language completely, David got some words, like "no","breakfast" and "pee-pee". Still not quite sure of what his mother wanted from him, he sat there for a full five minutes before actually using the potty. When he did, Adelaide jumped up and down and cheered for him, so that he knew that is what she wanted him to do. She let him out of the bathroom and told him that she'd be right there, then turned to wash her hands. 

As soon as she turned the handle for the hot water, water sprayed everywhere, but mostly at her face. She fought it as best she could trying to turn it off. When there was no water assaulting her, she wiped her face and said "Darnit! What the heck was that!?"

Cautiously she tried the faucet again, to find that it was working without a problem. 'Hmmm' she thought. Dripping wet, she left the bathroom and carried David to his highchair for breakfast. Jennifer was in the dining room as well, so Adelaide left the baby and went upstairs to get dried off. 

Jennifer was happy to watch David for a bit, while Adelaide got cleaned up. She picked him up after wiping the cereal off his face and tickled him. Then the two of them went outside to read a book. Jennifer was determined to have David like books as much as she did.

David thoroughly delighted in his first reading experience. Of course he paid no attention to the words on the page, but the pictures were just so colorful and entertaining. Also, the strange voices that his Aunt Jenn made were thrilling him too. 

Logan woke up in another bad mood on this particular morning, though hadn't had as bad of a day as the last time. No broken toilets, or dishes plagued him this time. Only that relentless attitude. While he was playing chess in the family room, he couldn't figure out what move to make next. He got very irritated and smacked some pieces all the way across the room, growling angrily as he did so. He mumbled to himself about 'chess being the stupidest game in existence' before getting up to find something else to do. 

Brian was out in town when he noticed a big gathering in front of City Hall. Dylan was among the people flocking there, so he came up and talked to him.

"What's going on here?" He asked his brother.

"Well, word got around about a string of crimes at the local Art Gallery. The people of Sunset Valley don't think they the police are doing anything about it. So they're out here yelling 'stop the crime, stop the insanity" like that's actually going to work." Dylan shrugged. "I'm not here for that, I was just passing by, on my way to eat. Hey, do you want to join me?"

"Sure, yeah. I'd love a burger right now. Addy's a vegetarian, so I don't get many of those at home." Brian said, laughing heartily. Dylan joined in the laughter as they started toward the Diner down the road. 

At home, Logan had figured some video games might keep him happy and occupied. Adelaide was nearby with David, just playing and talking to him. The sun was just starting to go down, so Adelaide had gotten the toddler into his pajamas and was getting ready to put him down.

Logan took advantage of Adelaid's absence when she went upstairs with the baby. Video games were not satisfying his temper, once again he found himself sneaking out of this house - this time because he was actually grounded - to find something more entertaining to occupy his mind.

He rode his bike down the street and looked for the perfect house. Originally he was planning a little game of 'ding-dong-ditch, but once he noticed a pile of dog excrement on the side walk, that game plan changed. He happened to have a brown paper bag and a lighter in his pocket, so he scooped up the poop into the bag and carried it to the closest house. He snuck up the porch and put the bag in front of the door, then lit it on fire. Of course, he had to see what was going to happen so he ran down the steps and just around the corner to wait and watch the action.

After about two minutes, the man in the house seemed to smell something strange and cam out to investigate. Naturally he found the flaming bag and his instinct was to stomp out the fire. The unsuspecting victim soon found out that there was crap in that bag and it was warm and squishy from the fire, and now it was all over his shoe and his porch.

"OH! Damn kids!" The man looked around attempting to spot the culprit.

Logan was so close by it wasn't funny, but just tucked around the corner so the guy didn't see him in the dark. Logan chuckled, barely containing his laughter as he watched the guy try scraping his shoe clean, then giving up and just taking it off so he could go back inside.

When the coast was clear, Logan headed back for home. 'Now that was fun!' Logan thought as he came through the front door.

He found Jennifer in his face within seconds of walking in the house.

Logan listened to her discipline him for a moment before voicing his own opinion.

"You better not tell them I went out, I mean jeeze Jenn, you're my sister. Siblings are supposed to stick together in that war against parents. Are you changing sides on me, just cause your "all grown up"?" He demanded to know.

Jennifer couldn't help but laugh. "I'm not going to say anything, I just mean that you better start being more careful if you don't want more severe punishment. I mean really!"

Jennifer gave him a last look before going upstairs to bed. Logan saw Brian appear in the doorway, looking straight at him with an odd expression on his face. Like he was trying to figure something out. Logan suspected that he was trying to determine whether he was coming back in the house again or not, and decided to follow Jennifer before his dad came to a conclusion.

Brian was on his way to the family room when he saw Logan by the front door. He was initially trying to figure out if Logan had just come inside, or was about to leave, but then David caught his attention in the crib next to him.

For some reason the toddler was still awake, so Brian went to get a book to read him to sleep. At first David refused the book, screaming and screaming. Brian put his hand on his son and whispered, "It's okay little man, shhhhh." The baby quieted and soon - very soon - David found himself unable to keep his eyes open. He plopped down on his butt, then fell backwards, fast asleep.

The next morning Jennifer told the family of the big decision she had made recently. Over breakfast she announced that she would be moving out.

"I've already got a house lined up for me. It's ready for me to move in now. So I'll be leaving today."

Brian gave her a sly smile. "You can't keep knowledge like that from a private investigator. I know all about the house. Honey, it's fully paid for already. Totally yours. I put the money down, I've been saving up for you. Just in case you did want to move."

Jennifer was nearly speechless. "Wow! Thanks dad! That's amazing. Thank you so much." She hugged him tightly before he said his goodbyes and left the room.

He didn't want her to see how sad he was that one of his babies was leaving the house. Not like he would never see her again, but it would be different here without her.

Jennifer made some calls to arrange a taxi to pick her up. She had been originally saving all the money she made to buy this house, but since - very graciously - her father bought the house for her, she could use that money to buy a new car. That was great news in itself.

Jennifer was very happy to be out on her own. Though admittedly, it would be a bit lonely until she met someone to spend her time with. Life would be different, but change is always good, and she couldn't wait to get started on building her own life.

Brian left Jennifer to find Adelaide and David out in the back yard. She was just putting him down and about to teach him how to walk when he joined them.

He watched as his second love put their baby on the ground, and helped him to his feet. On David's first try, he took three steps to reach his mommy's arms. He didn't want to be away from her warmth, since it was slightly cold outside he did the best he could to get back to her. His parents were thrilled with his accomplishment, Brian stood there clapping and cheering, while Adelaide tossed David in the air praising him.

David learned to walk quickly under these circumstances. He loved the praise, and all the attention from his mom and dad so much, that he would do anything to get it.

Adelaide normally spent a lot of her time hanging out with Jennifer, but now that Jenn was gone Addy spent more and more of her time David. They went for strolls around the neighbor hood, or sat in the house to play. David even followed her into the garden most days and watched her take care of the plants. If you were ever looking for one or the other of them, you would most likely find them together.

"Logan, you've been so depressed lately. I don't like to see you that way." Adelaide told him one afternoon after lunch.

"Well what do you expect, I can't even leave the house, I'm grounded remember?"

"Yes, I remember. I tell you what. I'll lift your restrictions. You can leave the house, but still no computer until your dad says so okay? Now, go do something spectacular, but behave." She said.

Logan's face lit up. "Really? I can go outside? Thank you! Now, since I've been grounded for so long, I don't have any plans. I know this might be a long shot to ask for, but would you teach me to drive, please?"

"Hmm." Adelaide considered his question. "Yeah, sure. We can do that, I'm not busy. Let's go."

So this was Logan's first driving lesson. He drove remarkably slow, and carefully, which impressed Adelaide. She was pretty sure that Logan was way more nervous than she was, and she tried to put him at ease, but did not want to distract him in anyway.

By the time they got back to the house, Logan was so stressed and shaky that the only thing he could do was sit on a couch and watch TV.

That night, as Adelaide went up the stairs to get ready for bed, she looked at Brian sitting on the floor with David. They were having some speech lessons.

"Brian. I'll be upstairs, getting in bed if you need me." She said.

Brian looked at her. Something in her voice made him instantly want to put David to bed. So, right after she disappeared up the stairs he picked up the baby and put him in his downstairs crib for the night, making sure to turn the monitor on so he could hear.

Brian walked into the bedroom and was pleasantly surprised to find Adelaide not under the blankets, but on top of them, wearing a new negligee. It was very effective.

She slid off the bed to give him a full view and stepped toward him slowly. She grabbed his hands and held them for only a second before he kissed her, a very slow and deep kiss reaching all the way to their core.

"It's been quite a while since we haven't had a baby in the room you know. A long time since it's been just us." Adelaide suggested.

Within minutes the two of them were on the bed, kissing and fondling each other.

It wasn't long before the new negligee was on the floor by the bedside, underneath Brian's own clothes. For a few hours, that night was filled with their lovemaking. For just the second time in their relationship.

To be continued...