Chapter Eighteen

It's A Girl

 

 

Jessica and William are preparing for a new addition to the family. This little one should be born right about the time Gene is old enough to go to school. William is hoping that this one will have his green eyes, all the other kids, except Evelyn, has Jessica's eyes. It didn't matter if they had a boy or a girl; although it mattered a lot to Sydney. Sydney had a vested interest in the new baby and hoped that this one would be a girl. If it was a girl she was going to get her own, her Dad said so. She could barely wait for the baby to be born. She was trying to encourage her parents to find out now if it's a girl but for some reason they want to be surprised.

While her parents prepared for the new baby, Sydney learned to swim and could be found most evenings swimming in their pool.

Sydney, honey, have you done your homework?" Jessica asked.

"Yeah mom, it's all done."

"Including your required reading?" Jessica inquired.

"Not yet but I'll do it right before I go to bed."

"No you'll do it now." Jessica told her.

Sydney got out of the pool grumbling about how unfair it was. She joined Robert on the couch in the living room. He was already engrossed in his book and barely noticed her sit down beside him. Sydney silently thought to herself that Robert had probably been there for hours with his nose in a book. You would think his eyes would fall out with all the reading he does. Maybe she could have him read her books and just tell her the important stuff so she could pretend she read them. Now that's a good idea, as long as he doesn't louse it up and get her in trouble.

 

Every night William and Jessica would read to each of the kids a bedtime story.  Every once in a while one of the kids would get two stories as sometimes they doubled up but the kids didn't mind. William especially enjoyed reading to his kids and watching them fall asleep each night. It was his favorite time he spent with them and something he was going to cherish long after they grew too old to want him to read to them.

Gene was growing and becoming a very active toddler. Due to Jessica's pregnancy she hadn't felt up to running after a toddler. William spent a lot of time with Gene, keeping him occupied and teaching how to talk and teaching him the basics of music with help of the xylophone. They invested in a walker that they felt was the best invention ever, it kept Gene occupied, kept him contained and he learned to walk while he was in it. 

Robert and Evelyn played outside once their homework was done for the day. They especially liked playing on the teeter totter and the tree house. They discussed what they wanted to become when they grew up. Robert was still undecided but Evelyn wants to become a famous photographer or maybe a model. She thought with her unique looks she would become the most famous model in history. Robert just nodded in agreement thinking that Evelyn was becoming the little snob since everyone oohed and awed over her at school. 

If they weren't able to go outside, they would play chess together. With Evelyn's alien intelligence and Robert being a genius they were evenly matched and one game of chess could take hours.

Casey did his own thing. Currently that thing is baking and selling his backed goods to the neighbors. He's gotten really good at baking but he isn't sure if he want's to become a famous chef like his Dad or be the business manager of a restaurant.

Sydney is still adamant she is going to be a world famous artist. She has gotten quite good at painting and she pained a master piece she called the Dragon Slayer. The picture hangs proudly on the wall in the family room. She has talent beyond her years.

It was soon Gene's birthday and they had just a small group over to celebrate. Everyone had fun playing in the pool and dancing. Gene was moving into Robert and Casey's room as the baby was due any day. William thought it would be best to have all the boys in one room instead of expecting Gene to share a room with the baby.

The baby was born a few days later, a healthy baby girl they named Beverly. Sydney was ecstatic, she was finally going to have her own room. She was extremely upset when William told her she would have to wait until Beverly was before she would have her own room. She wanted to throw a fit but she knew that would accomplish nothing but get her in trouble.