Auntie's Surprise - 5.19

*** Previously in the Fuller Family: An Autumn festival brings the family holidays to a start. Rosetta has a peek at what a ghosts life could be like if they decided to stick around after death. The kids filled their bellies in a pie eating contest before carving pumpkins and going out trick or treating on Spooky Night. Temperatures are dropping fast as winter approaches, bringing more holidays with it.

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I've been working on the upstairs den. Finally put up some shelving for all of our family photos. We've got a million of them I swear - and I love every one. Though I have to say, my favorite is the recent Halloween shot of all four kids in their costumes. I did notice though that David seems to be the one taking most of the pictures... he's not in any of them! I'll have to remedy that.

Rylan is finally entering his teen years. His birthday is this Monday. We're not having a big party for him, apparently no one from school could come. That's okay though, I don't think he's big on crowds much. Kinda like myself at that age.

The family gathered around in the kitchen to celebrate Rylan's birthday. His mom and dad stood behind him and cheered for him as he blew out his candles. His wish had been to acquire, at some point in his teen years, a guitar. He'd not seen a guitar box shaped gift among his birthday presents and so assumed that there wasn't one here. Not to be discouraged, he promised himself he'd save any money he came by, until one could be purchased.

Rylan happily and proudly made a presentation of himself entering his new age group. Rosetta watched as all of her children, lovingly referred to as her 'band of moppets', and her husband grab slices of cake and sit down to enjoy them. Afterward, the birthday boy opened his gifts which included a new cell phone. A few of the other things were items to add to his phone for personalizing, new clothes, and a new small TV set for his room. After helping bring Rylan's new things upstairs, the other three kids of the family played some video games in the den while he set up his room.

All the children were allowed to stay up a little later this night, in order to burn off the sugar high that comes after ingesting so much icing. Rylan spent much of his time trying on his new outfits, or trying to hook the new television up to the cable. Brenna went off to play with her doll while Caylin and Dayna played hide and seek until bedtime.

The next few days went by smoothly. Rylan adjusted well to high school even though the didn't know anyone in his classes yet. The girls were doing good in school as well, though did miss seeing their brother in the halls between periods or on breaks. David went to the park each day and earned tips with his free performances.

One day, just after work, Rosetta dropped by her best friends house. Sonia had married Steve and a few months later they moved into a new house closer to town. It had been quite a while since the two ladies had gotten together. When Rosetta knocked on the door no on answered. Slightly disappointed, she pulled out her phone and called her friend as she walked away. It rang only two times before Rosetta looked up to hail a cab and saw Sonia clambering out of one. Rosetta smiled, ended the call and slipped her phone into her pocket.

Sonia gained her footing and, upon standing, noticed Rosetta waving to her from her own yard. Happily she waved back. Also in that moment Sonia realized that she hadn't seen her friend in a very long time. She didn't even know about the pregnancy.

"Wow!" Rosetta said, "You and Steve have been busy I see."

Sonia smiled and the two of them embraced. "Yes, I can't believe I haven't talked to you in so long. I'm actually not that far from the due date. We know it's a boy, we've named him Nicholas. Come on inside and we'll catch up."

"Actually I need to get home, have to cook a quick dinner. I just wanted to drop by for a second. I'm so glad to see you though, and very happy to see that you're having a baby! You will call me won't you? When the time comes?"

Sonia laughed and said that she would call. The two hugged again and Rosetta left for home.

It was not even a full month when Rosetta got that call. Sonia had told her to come over whenever, she and her new babe had been home for a day and night. Rosetta told her she'd be over in a few minutes, seeing as how she wasn't busy.

Rosetta pulled up to Sonia's house and sunk into shin deep snow when she climbed out of the car. The temperature had been dropping all week. By the end of it there was snow flurries. The previous night had enough snowfall for school to be canceled this day. Sonia opened the door just before Rosetta got to it and was ushered inside.

Sonia talked her friends ear off as she walked them both up the stairs to see her son. Rosetta smiled and let her talk, enjoying the new baby fever. Hearing about Sonia's infant forced memories to be recalled from her own mind and brought about fresh smiles. She remembered all the things Sonia talked about fondly, but was actually thankful that those times were in the past and moving into new and undiscovered territories.

Rosetta held Nicholas and cuddled with him while Sonia watched and talked. She wondered if her friend would have more after this one. Thoughts about when she had decided to have another rang through her mind and she chuckled at the memory of ending up with three more instead of just one. What a surprise there.

Back at home, Brenna, Rylan and their father sat at the table together talking and eating a small lunch of macaroni and cheese.

"So it must kind of suck to have your birthday so close to Snowflake day." David said to his son. "I mean, you get all these presents in one month sure, but you basically have to wait a whole year to get any presents!"

Brenna laughed as she left her seat, taking her bowl and setting it in the sink. She announced that she was going to her room to play when she left.

Rylan laughed too. "Yeah I can see what you mean. I guess you'll just have to fit some kind of gift giving holiday for me somewhere in the middle, huh?"

It was Davids turn to laugh. "Yeaaahh. I wouldn't expect that one kid. Speaking of gifts, what do you think your mom would want for the holidays?"

"Probably a guitar."

David's eyes narrowed in his sons direction. "Ya think? You really want one don't you?" He laughed again before giving a window of hope. "We'll see."

Rylan sighed a little and rolled his eyes. He picked up his bowl and set it in the sink before leaving the kitchen. On his way out he looked back and said, "Honestly the only thing I think mom would want is garden immune to winter. Since she's really missing her plants. I don't think she likes that she has to stop gardening during the cold season."

David nodded. At first he blew that thought off, but it as he cleaned the kitchen it crept back. While loading the dishwasher he found himself making plans to give her exactly that. His son had shared the perfect gift idea, and probably didn't even realize it.

.....To be continued.