Brian Ottomas Ch. 24 It's Raining Kids Pt. 2

Raine's home-schooled art lessons were coming along nicely. She longed to be able to do the kind of paintings her mother and Willow did, but knew that would take time.

When Heath and Willow were eating some leftovers as a snack the next day he said,

"Jamie was asking about you the last time I was over there."

He was referring to his girlfriend Maddie's twin brother.

Willow ignored his remark and asked,

"Want to jam after we eat?"

"Willow. He's a nice guy and I think he really likes you. He's just kind of quiet and a little shy."

"Why are you telling me this? He's a junior, I'm only a freshman. He's too old for me and Momma said I shouldn't think about dating until I'm 15. Besides, I don't want a shy boy."

"Oh, really? You prefer to hang out with your friend Angelo? You really need someone who's laid back and mature, not a kid who likes to sneak out at night and take you with him. Besides, once Jamie gets to know you he talks all the time," then he added in parental tones, "I worry about ya, kid, and he'd be a steadying influence. You'd be safe with Jamie."

"Oh, poo!," Willow huffed, "Angelo is a friend and that's all. You're just trying to sound like you're an adult or something and, anyway, I don't want to be 'steadied'. And I don't want to be 'safe'; I want to have fun. Things are never dull when I'm with Angelo"

"We could double-date," Heath coaxed, "Maddie and I would be there to kind of break the ice and if we did that I know Momma would let you go."

"Wow," Willow smirked, "Maddie must really be on you about this."

Heath frowned since that really was part of the reason he was urging Willow so hard.

"We-ell," she dragged out the word, looking off as if pondering hard. Then she said as though making a magnanimous gesture, "I'll...think about it."

"Oh, just let me know when you're done thinking," Heath said dryly.

"Okay," she said in a perky voice, pretending not to hear his intended sarcasm, "I'll get back to you on that."

Raine was the youngest in the family and Brian always said she was well-rounded she was not only a daddy's girl, but also a mommy's girl. She always came over to hug her daddy before he left to go to Club Dante which he still owned and operated and which had recently become a restaurant that featured karaoke instead of a country-rock bar.

The change to a full service restaurant was with the idea of expanding out, but it had been hard for Brian to make the decision to drop the idea of a live band and feature the karaoke instead. He was a long-time musician and even though he rarely played at his club any more, he sympathized with his house band. But they'd started with just a karaoke night and soon it was their busiest night.  Karaoke was popular and practically no expense compared to a band. Commercially and financially it was the best idea.

He'd found a good chef and they came up with a fairly large menu that emphasized casual dining for the smallish groups of people who usually showed up to do karaoke. Sandwiches and wraps, both hot and cold, enormous old-fashioned burgers, salads, both large and small and various side items like cheese fries, baked mac and cheese casserole, sweet potato fries, homemade barbeque beans, Old Bay fries and hand-battered onion rings were available. A couple of Brian's mothers best recipes were included; Mo Jo Chicken Sandwiches, Muffuletta To Die For and Pastrami Heaven on a Roll proved very popular.

The fare was not sophisticated but all the food was fresh and homemade; nothing frozen, nothing canned. Even though the bar served any kind of mixed drink, beer and wine, Brian had delicious non-alcoholic fresh fruit coolers available year round along with the usual soft drinks and tea. Peanut Butter cake and Peach Cobbler were the most popular desserts.

MoJo Chicken Sandwich:
Marinated pulled chicken, pineapple,  honey mustard, mayo, hot peppers, shredded lettuce and melted Swiss on grilled flatbread

Pastrami Heaven on a Roll:
Black peppercorn pastrami, turkey breast, cheddar cheese, tomato, sliced yellow onion, deli mustard and herb mayo on a toasted kaiser roll.

Muffuletta To Die For:
Served on a crusty top roll with layers of baked ham, provolone cheese, Genoa-style salami and Swiss cheese, topped with a zesty olive salad. Served with kettle chips.

Meadow now began to work with Brian as the restaurant hostess. Brian hired another woman to hostess on the weekends, though. He'd begun to take Saturdays off, leaving the restaurant in the hands of his assistant manager. Meadow had been begging him to take a little more time,

"The kids are growing up, Brian; Heath goes off to University this fall and Brook and Willow are right behind him, Rocky will be having his birthday. You don't want to miss these last moments of their childhood; we don't want to miss them. And the twins will be glad for any extra time you can give them."

"You're right, sweetheart," he had agreed.

"Besides," Meadow grinned, "it gets really crazy around here on the weekends with every kid in Pleasantview plus our own six monsters. I really need your support."

So Brian had moved in an assistant manager who'd been recommended by his older brother, Dylan, and who soon proved he was more than up to the job. In fact, after a while Brian thought it might be possible to take a day off during the week from time to time.

The three oldest babysat with the three youngest the evenings their parents worked. They actually liked each others company most of the time, besides when their parents were absent things were more relaxed than ever. Rocky thought it was cool that his older sisters and brother didn't really care if he jumped on the furniture, but they DID insist on choosing what would be on TV and on the kids finishing their homework first.

 Saturday morning Brook and Willow came outside to where their father was trimming the bushes--the job was never done--and asked if they could throw a party that afternoon.

Brian laughed,

"You mean all the kids who drop by and congregate here every weekend don't constitute a party?"

"Daddy. We're serious," Willow chided him, "We mean a real party where they all come at once because we invited them."

"How many?"

Brook looked at Willow and Willow nudged her.

"It's just people who have been over here other times...um...Maddie, of course, and her brother Jamie, Angelo, Karen and Kirstie Burb and Christopher Cooke. Only six. Plus Heath and us," Brook said.

Brian sighed and wiped the sweat starting to appear on his brow,

"Well, it's okay with me; but you'll have to convince your mother."

They rushed off to confront Meadow fully prepared to beg and grovel, but Meadow easily agreed saying,

"I'll grill the burgers, but you girls will have to set up cold drinks and snacks and clean up after the party."

"We will! We will!"

"There's another big bag of chips in the cupboard by the stove, Daddy just bought Coke and Sprite, I think it's still on the counter, and you know where the plastic cups and paper plates are."

Ecstatic, the girls rushed off to follow her orders and call their friends.

The three younger kids were fishing at the little pond out front so they wouldn't be a problem. As soon as their guests arrived Brook took Jamie Candeloro with her to the pool. Kirstie jumped in a moment later. Heath had asked Brook to try to get Jamie and Willow together but Willow stayed out on the front porch playing "Don't Wake the Llama" with Karen and Angelo. Heath and his girl, Maddie, played Mah Jong on the other end of the front porch.

It was getting really hot and, rather than fighting for room in the pool, Raine, Rocky and North turned on the water wiggler.

As evening fell Meadow served up cheeseburgers for everyone including Brian and "the littles" as Brook and Willow referred to Rocky, North and Raine.

 In the background L to R: Angelo, Heath, Karen Burb and Maddie

In the foreground L. to R.: Brook, Jamie, Christopher Cooke and Kirstie Burb

 L. to R.: Rocky, North and Raine

 Background: Brian and "The Littles"

Table on the right L to R: Kirstie, Jamie, Christopher and Brook

Table on the left L. to R: Karen, Maddie, Angelo and Heath

 Meadow, Brian and Willow

The party was a success and the girls gladly cleared the tables after saying goodbye to their guests. Heath took a garbage bag and policed up the yard where paper napkins and empty plastic cups had blown off the tables.

"We should have parties more often," Brook told Willow, "But we need to ask Momma way ahead next time."

"Yeah, maybe we could have some theme parties."

"But what kind of theme?"

"I dunno. Hmm, like maybe a 4th of July party and we could have sparklers and Daddy could get fireworks--" Brook contemplated.

"We're going to Grandma's for 4th of July, remember?" Brook sounded letdown.

Willow was not deterred in the least,

"Don't worry; I'll think of something. Maybe we'll have a labor day picnic or...fall is coming, maybe a harvest theme or there's always Halloween. The point is; we're good at this; we can be our own party planners."

Brook nodded, she knew Willow--and she WOULD think of something. Hopefully nothing that would get them in trouble....

Next update: The Brothers Everhart Ch. 21 Undead and Unhappy Part 1

Brian Ottomas Ch. 24 It's Raining Kids Pt. 1

Brian and Meadow's house was a busy, noisy place most days and overflowed with activity and children of all ages. After school you would hear one or more kids playing the guitar, keyboard or drums in the music studio or out on the front porch, the TV or video games would be going full-blast. Often music poured from the various radios and CD players, in the kids' rooms. Between their dog, Elvis, barking to go out or barking to come in and kids heading out to the yard or trooping inside the screen door slammed all day. Meadow or Brook would have the sewing machine humming, and over all that people laughed, droned and yelled. On the wide porch there were usually kids playing Don't Wake the Llama or Mah Jong. Small children usually congregated in the upstairs playroom or outside on the playground.

Somehow the Ottomas family home had become a mecca for all the Pleasantview kids, even thought it was the farthest away from the center of town (except for the Cullen house buried in the trees and halfway up the mountain).

At suppertime the meal often spread across the long dining room table and over to the kitchen island because anywhere from one to four additional kids had been invited to stay.

Randy Hanzlik was a frequent guest at the house; he was in the same class as Rocky and they loved to play cops and robbers. The living room was especially good for this since there was a big over-stuffed sofa, two over-stuffed love seats and an over-stuffed armchair. All made for soft landings when one had been shot to death.

Their preoccupation with a life of crime meant that little North could have the video games all  to himself which was fine with him.

Raine and her friends, like Oona, still preferred the playroom and happily left the living room to the boys . When the weather was nice, of course, they played outdoors.

Brian still worked on keeping the spacious yard up between gardener visits and dog duties were divided between Meadow and Heath most of the time.

Following Heath's example Brook was learning to cook. But with so many people in the family and usually a couple guests Meadow made supper with her, grilling chicken outside while Brook made salmon or pork chops inside. The meals tended to be served with a different main course at each end of the table and the kids were used to seeing a big spread in between with plenty of vegetable offerings and fruit for dessert.

 

With the kids all in school, Meadow could now occasionally have a leisurely afternoon shopping and one of her favorite places was the Westbrook Candle & Gift Shoppe in Bluewater Village.

Elvis, while a huge scary looking dog if you didn't know better, was actually so laid back and friendly that even the gardener couldn't resist him. The usually tight lipped and grumpy woman was often seen petting and talking to him.

He loved to snooze in the sun especially when his family was out and about in the yard.

Brian was teaching his youngest son, North, to fish in their tiny pond. They usually threw the fish back. Meadow said they probably had the most tender-mouthed fish in the county and they should give the poor things a break and go fish at the park.

North had also expressed interest in learning the guitar and keyboard and was hinting that the family should get a real piano. There wasn't much more room left in the house though and certainly none in the music studio so it was unlikely his "hints" would prove successful. However his father was all for teaching him some other instruments.

Rocky used to love to play in the toilet and create watery mayhem as a toddler. Although he now stayed away from the toilet, thank goodness, when the sink recently overflowed he managed to stomp in the puddles for a while before he ran off to tell big brother Heath there was a slight problem.

"How long did you play in this?" Heath demanded when he went to the sink, wrench in hand.

"Huh?" Rocky hedged with an innocent look on his face.

"Your socks and shoes are soaked, squirt. How dumb do you think I am? Now the water has spread across the whole floor. Guess who's gonna mop it up?"

"Willow?"

Heath had to laugh,

"Negatory. You are gonna mop it up as soon as I'm done so don't go anywhere."

Heath started banging on the faucet while Rocky watched. Ordinarily he looked up to his brother but sometimes he was as bossy as Daddy and Momma. Oh, well, next year he'd have his birthday and then they would all have to give him respect. He went to go get the mop and bucket, his shoes squishing with every step.

Ty Generica and Skylar Scott dropped by one afternoon and they and Brook and Willow ended up playing backgammon. Ty was giving Brook lovestruck glances but it was no use. She was friendly but nothing more because most of her attention and effort was into qualifying for University. She was thinking of going into design. She was sixteen and a junior so she had a while to go, but school and an eventual career still occupied her mind a lot. She liked male attention she just preferred to keep it casual. Brook knew what she wanted and was determined to fulfill her dreams.

Willow, on the other hand, changed direction every other week thinking perhaps she'd be a vet, or a model or actress. Lately she'd decided she would go to art school and become an artist, specifically painting.

"I can understand wanting to pursue that, Punkin, and your mother and I both think you're quite good," Brian told her, "But it's an unsteady profession for the most part; remember you want to be able to support yourself. You've been saying you want to have an apartment by the time you're 21."

"Oh, but I don't need anything big or expensive; I'll be so busy at work and going out. Just as long as there's a bed, a bathroom and a hot plate, I'll be fine, Daddy. I can just eat out a lot at diners and Bill's Snappy Service and fix ramen noodles on the hot plate," she dismissed breezily.

"A minimalist, huh?" Brian couldn't help smiling, "Well, you have plenty of time to decide. You may feel completely different by the time you graduate."

Nodding vaguely, Willow went in the living room and flopped down gracelessly on the love seat. Brook, who had been listening rather than watching TV, now sat down daintily on the adjacent love seat. She learned toward Willow and hissed,

"Really, Willow! Why do you say stuff like that? Endless ramen and cheeseburgers?"

"Sounds good to me," Willow replied stubbornly.

"Well, how are you going to paint if you have this dinky little one-room dump, probably with only one tiny window?"

"So I'll go to the park to paint!" she tossed off, "Besides, I have to go to art school first. I'll figure out something; you have to suffer for your art to be good."

Brook rolled her eyes, but her tone was a bit kinder,

"You're so infantile. I thought you wanted to be a vet."

"I did, but then I realized I'd have to go to school for forever. Anyway, I don't like to make plans and sink them in concrete like you. I might change my mind next year."

"Ha! You'll change your mind next week," Brook muttered darkly, "You're so random."

"Why are you giving me grief about this? Just worry about yourself, Miss-Hospital-Corners."

The girls glared at each other and went to their separate corners...

Next blog update: Brian Ottomas Ch. 24 It's Raining Kids Pt. 2

Brian Ottomas Ch. 23 Vacation in Paradise Part 2

When the Ottomas family got to the Twikkii Boardwalk the first thing they did was hit the refreshing surf.

Heath wanted to learn the fire dance and, the others stood around cheering him on. This large family was nothing if not supportive of each other.

 
Brian and meadow stretched out on the lounge chairs provided on the beach. There was a breeze and it brought the smell of the salt and the sea. The seagulls crying punctuated the sound of the lulling surf.

"Ah, relaxation at last," Brian remarked, "I always think it takes at least 24 hours to leave everyday cares behind and slow down the pace when we come to Twikkii."

"So by tonight we should really be in a tropical mood," Meadow teased, "Wanna fool around after the kids are asleep tonight?"

Brian laid his head back, closed his eyes while a smug smile played around his mouth,

"Yes, ma'am."

Brook had come in from the water and was working on her tan while little Raine began building a sandcastle.

Evening at the boardwalk meant time for eating Luau Ribs and Pineapple Surprise and playing pinball.

It was early, early the next morning when Raine stood silently beside her parents' bed, waiting for them to wake up. Every so often she cleared her throat noisily and, when they barely moved, she coughed loud and long.

"Our wake-up call," Brian said wryly to Meadow as he sat up then headed downstairs to shower.

Brook told her mom and Willow she was going to have a protein drink for breakfast so she could pig out the rest of the day. The teenagers had decided to forego the day's activities and stick around the house then take the car and find their own adventures checking out the nightlife on the island.

Brian and Meadow were taking the three youngest across the street to South Beach where the pirate ship awaited.

As soon as they arrived Rocky, Raine and North took the stairs to the ship while Brian and Meadow went swimming nearby.

Raine climbed up to the crow's nest while North had a little swordplay with the pirate dummy and Rocky pretended to man the wheel.

After he'd explored the ship Rocky wanted a dip in the ocean to cool off while his parents headed for the lounges to relax and keep an eye on him and the twins who were half asleep on their beach towels.

When the family returned in the afternoon Heath drove the girls to "The Deck" restaurant and night club but first, they had to do a little showing off at the pool there.

Nighttime at The Deck included dinner al fresco, dancing and Heath got a chance to take a turn at being the disc jockey.

At home Raine stayed close to Momma and Daddy on the deck outside their bedroom.

"Well, I guess we're the 'older generation' now," Meadow sighed, "How did that happen anyway?"

"Yeah, sweetheart, I don't know how we got so old so fast," Brian agreed with a crooked grin, "But having six kids probably had something to do with it."

The next morning was another day to just enjoy the yard and the pool. After his morning shower Heath practiced his moves in the bathroom mirror.

The week was going by quickly. Rocky and North played on the playground and Heath frequently dozed in the hammock.

"Every since he became a teenager that kid spends all his time at home either feeding his face or sacked out on the nearest couch or in this case the hammock," Brian remarked.
 
“He can be a slacker all right and definitely an eating machine,” Meadow laughed, “But he does do some of the cooking and helps with the dog and the twins so I think we can keep him.”

“Yeah, that’s so. And he’ll be heading to college soon. Better enjoy having him here while we can.”

“Oh, Brian, I don’t know if I can bear to let him go,” Meadow confessed wistfully.

“Sweetheart, you can’t keep him tied to your apron strings forever. It will be an adventure for him and he’ll learn more than is on the curriculum—just not too much more I hope.”

Brian enjoyed the pool while Meadow enjoyed watching him. After all these years they were still crazy about each other.

Raine was a water baby, almost always in the pool and sooner or later North joined her.

Brook and Willow worked on their tans and gossiped about the boys back home. Their hopes to meet some tanned and exotic beachboys were dwindling with each new day, hence the return of the interest in the local boys.

Later Willow tried her hand at raking the zen garden in the front yard while Raine, told by her mother to get out of the sun for a while, enjoyed the plethora of children’s books in the upstairs reading nook.

When Meadow realized North had managed to get burned in spite of her best efforts with a sun block she sent him and Rocky inside to play a game of Don't Wake the Llama. 

 
The sun went down and Brook came inside. After sunbathing too long she was overheated and a bit dehydrated so she hurled a couple of glasses of cold water from the kitchen sink down her parched throat and then went to the den to read one of the coffee table books there. It was on Hollywood stars of long ago and she loved old movies. 

Willow was reading a risque novel she'd been surprised and elated to find in the bookcase in the living room and hoped her mother would not notice the title. As far as Willow was concerned it was very educational and that would be her explanation if either of her parents noticed. 

Mealtimes for adults and teens tended to be whenever anyone got the notion, but Brian and Meadow always made sure that the three youngest got nutritional meals three times a day and healthy snacks in between, usually fresh fruit or raw vegetables.

On the last day there was a quick game of DWTL before Brian and Meadow took the three youngest to Paradise Park. Rocky, North and Raine had been psyched since the night before to hit the park.

The Ferris wheel and the old-fashioned carousel were the first point of interest for the kids. Brian even took a turn on the Ferris wheel with Rocky while Meadow sat on a park bench in front of the carousel where she could watch the twins who waved at her the whole time they were on the ride. Then she took them on a little hike around the park following the trail.

Meadow preferred the twins stick with her at the pool. They were not strong swimmers yet and she didn't want them in the pond. Brian took Rocky in the pond, though--he'd had lessons for the last three summers and with only one child to oversee Brian would be able to stick close by his side. 

 

That night Heath, Brook and Willow went to the mineral springs where they also enjoyed the sauna there.

Afterward they went to the shack to have supper where Brook and Heath ordered the Luau ribs again, but Willow wanted Pineapple Surprise.

When they got back to Sintara it was sadly time to leave Twikkii Island for Pleasantview and home. Their yearly wonderful island vacation was over.

Next blog update: Lalique Flynn Ch. 12 Worth Taking a Chance