Adjusting to Changes (LITB fanfic)

[TheHappyBurgerMeister]

INTRO: This story takes place when Wally and Beaver are grown up and have children of their own. June is a widow now since Ward's death a few years back, but now is starting to "date" a nice man named Bob (I should think of a better name!). Wally is married to Mary Ellen Rogers and have 2 children Kelly (13) and Kevin (8). Beaver has 2 sons from his first marriage Kip (15) and Oliver (13). Beaver now is married to his second wife Caroline, who has no children of her and is 6 years younger than the Beaver. They recently celebrated their one year anniversary together. Now onto the story:

Scene One: Wally, Mary Ellen and the kids at the dinner table.

KEVIN: Dad, I have my science fair tomorrow at school. You're coming to see me, right?
WALLY: Yeah, I promise you I'll make it, Kev, but you know I can't do this all the time. You're lucky tomorrow is a Friday and that's the least busiest day for me. It's not an easy job working at a law firm.
MARY ELLEN: Next time you do a science fair project, Kevin, try not to use anything with the word "Slime" or "Putty" in it. Don't get me wrong, sweetie, it's a great project but I may just end up having to get the carpet professionally cleaned from that stain!
KEVIN: Mom, it was your idea in the first place to suggest I do it in my room. I could've done it in the basement if Kelly wasn't down their playing spin the bottle with her friends.
KELLY: Shut up, jerk!
WALLY: Hey, kids! Stop it, right now! We learned our lesson and next time around we'll make some adjustments.
The family continued to eat their dinner and discussed plans for the next few days. Kevin seemed to do most of the talking at the dinner table and this made Kelly upset because her parents seemed to pay more attention to him than her. Well, I guess all 13 year old girls think that of their younger brother. Wally told the Kelly that after he went to Kevin's school for the science fair he'd pick her up at her school. Kelly nodded her head reluctantly because to her it was uncool to be seen with her parents after school.
WALLY: Kelly, make sure you're there out in front of school at 3 when I get there. I really don't want to wait for 20 minutes while you're inside talking to you're friends.
KELLY: Well, what about all the times that I had to wait for you while you finished up work at the office!
MARY ELLEN: Kelly, your father's job is very important to us. If he didn't have it there would be no roof over your head or
KELLY: Yeah, or food on my plate! I hear you mom.


Scene Two: Beaver and Caroline getting ready for bed. Kip and Oliver studying in their rooms

Caroline walks into the bedroom while Beaver is just finishing up taking out his contacts (yeah, he has contacts in this story) in the bathroom.

CAROLINE [talking through the bathroom door]: Beaver, I feel terrible. I try to ask if the boys need any help with their schoolwork and they just ignore me or mumble. I still don't feel like we're connecting very well.
BEAVER: We're all trying to get used to the idea of our new family. They were so used to their mother for years and they were very fond of the idea when we got married. Caroline, they're teenage boy! They'll get over this. It's just phase.
CAROLINE: I knew I wanted to have kids some day, but I never knew I'd one day have to start raising 2 step sons starting when they are teens!
BEAVER: We'll worry about this tomorrow when we talk to the boys together. We've had a long day.
CAROLINE: I guess you're right. Sleep will help me out.

4 hours later......

OLIVER: Dad! Dad! Wake up!
Oliver shook the Beaver in his bed to try and wake him up, but he was sound asleep.
CAROLINE: Oliver, what is it? Your father is sleeping.
OLIVER: How do you know what I need?
CAROLINE: Well- Well, I can try. Remember this is new to me.
OLIVER: Waking up in the middle of the night?
CAROLINE: No, being a mother.
OLIVER [rolling his eyes]: I know. I was being sarcastic. I need to use the thermometer and I can't find the one my brother and I use. Can I use the one in your bathroom.
CAROLINE: Yeah sure, do you have a fever?
OLIVER: I don't know. Why do you think I need the thermometer. I really do feel sick, though.
CAROLINE: It's in the medicine cabinet on the top shelf. Help yourself.

Beaver was sleeping the whole time. He had always been a very sound sleeper. Oliver headed into the bathroom to help himself with the termometer. His temp. read 99.4%. He took some ibuprofen and headed back to bed. Except when he left the bathroom he accidently slammed the door really hard waking the Beaver up.

BEAVER: Hey, what was that?!
CAROLINE: It's just Oliver. He came in here about 5 minutes ago saying he wasn't feeling well and needed to take his temp. I told him he would use the thermometer we use. You were sleeping the whole time.
BEAVER: Oh, don't tell me there's another flu going around. It seemed like we all just were sick and now the cycle is starting up again.
CAROLINE: Well, all he said he had was a fever. I'm not sure if he had any stomach pains. We'll ask him in the morning.

The next morning....

BEAVER: Olllivvveeerrr!!! Time to get up! You have to leave for school in 20 minutes.
KIP: Dad, I don't know if he'll be up to going to school today. He heard him wake up several times in the middle of the night and I think he may have vomited once, too.
BEAVER: Kip, I'm eating now! Well, I'll have to go check on him. Wait a second, where's Caroline? She's has to move her car out of the driveway so I can take the other car to work and then get the oil changed.
KIP: I haven't seen her yet. I think she's still in bed. Dad, I have to go now. Sorry I can't help you....BYE!
BEAVER: Bye, Kip!

Beaver went upstairs to check on Oliver and look for Caroline. She always seemed to wake up before anyone else in the house and it was weird for her to be in bed at this time.
BEAVER: Oliver, you ok?
OLIVER: Yeah, if you consider being up half the night puking your guts out and having a fever of almost 100 being fine, then yes I'm fine.
BEAVER: You just stay in bed and I'll have Caroline call the school office to let them know you're not coming today.

Beaver headed over to his and Caroline's bedroom and she wasn't there but he heard noise coming from their bathroom. Caroline was leaning over the sink and looked pale.
BEAVER: Honey! Are you ok? You don't look very good.
CAROLINE: I don't feel very well either. You're right, I think their is a flu going around and now 50% of our household has it!
BEAVER [ gently hugging Caroline]: Well, I guess I'll have to call the school myself if you aren't able to.
CAROLINE: Oliver is that bad?
BEAVER: Yeah, are you going to be ok with him alone?
CAROLINE: Yes, I'll make sure we both have plenty of liquids.
BEAVER: Good. I'll probably stop by during my break from work and check on things.

Beaver left for work for the day while Caroline and Oliver stayed at home and recuperated. (Does anyone know what Beaver did for a job on the NLITB? I can't remember.)

[junecleaver]

sounds cool so far!

[TheHappyBurgerMeister]

Scene Three: Wally is on his way to Kevin's school for the science fair.

WALLY[honking the car horn]: Come on, I'm late! This is ridiculous
Wally was stuck in traffic and he was already late for his son's science fair. Everyone was out at this time of day for their lunch breaks. Finally the cars started moving and off he went.

He pulled into the school parking lot and took the first available spot he saw ran into the school and headed towards the gym.

KEVIN: Dad! Over here!
Kevin waved his hands at his dad to get his attention and Wally went over to his son's display table.
KEVIN: The judges are about ready to give the prizes out. Where were you, dad?
WALLY: The traffic is horrible at this time of day. I'm glad I didn't miss you getting any awards.
KEVIN: Yeah, how do you know I'll get an award?
WALLY: You'll get something. I know it.
The school prinicipal went up the the microphone and podium to announce the awards.
PRINCIPAL: Testing 1,2,3... Can you all here me?
Everyone nodded.
PRINCIPAL: OK, now our first award for second runner up goes to..... Michelle Frame.
Michelle went up to take her ribbon while everyone applauded.
WALLY[whispering]: You still have a chance, Kev!
Kevin didn't answer him.
PRINCIPAL: Our next award is for first runner up and that is the second highest award given. Let's see who our judges picked....... Kevin Cleaver!
KEVIN: Me? Wow, thanks!
Kevin walked up to the principal to receive his ribbon.
WALLY: I'm proud of you son! You're very lucky to get this high of an award. Great job!
KEVIN: I thought you wanted me to get the grand prize. That'll for sure go to Anthony Powell. He's the smarted kid in the whole school. Maybe even the world. Still every year he manages to have living things in his project and they always live, unlike other kids.
WALLY: I don't care about what award Anthony Powell gets; I'm just happy you got this one.

Sure enough, Anthony Powell received the grand prize award. Not only was it a ribbon, but also a $50 gift certicate for a science supply store. Most kids didn't care about that, but somebody like Anthony Powell did.

WALLY: Kevin, I wish I could stay longer and chat but I have to get back to the office. There's a lot of work to be done. Next time hopefully you're mom can make it, too.
Friday was always the day that Mary Ellen took her mother to go grocery shopping and help her around the house. Her mother was getting older and couldn't do things by herself anymore.
KEVIN: I know you'll be happy when I show her this award.
WALLY: Of course she will. Bye, son!

Wally walked out of the gym smiling happily and greeting some people he knew. He was thinking about how he ever managed to raise such a great family and be successful. It was like something out of a movie. Kelly was now a teenager and acting how teenagers act, but to him it was normal. He got into his car outside and decided to take a different way back to the office, hoping that there'd be less traffic. In the town this area was considered the "other side of the tracks". Not really a bad area, just not very many people lived there.

He stopped at a stop sign and looked one way and then the other. He noticed some high school kids hanging out about a block up.

WALLY [to himself]: Don't those kids realize nowadays how important school his!
He shook his head and kept on driving coming nearer to the kids. As he got closer he could smell smoke.
WALLY: Hey, kids! Shouldn't you be in school? I don't think your parents would like you being here.
BOY #1: My mom doesn't care. She works all the time.
BOY #2: It's none of your business anyhow. Why do you care, mister?
GIRL [facing the other way]: Who is this guy, anyway?
She then turned around and Wally had a look of complete shock on his face.
WALLY: What is this??!! I can't believe you would do this, Kelly!
KELLY: Um, dad! Hi! I can explain.
WALLY: You better! Get into the car RIGHT NOW!

[junecleaver]

uh oh! kelly better watch herself!

[Leigh Ann]

That is very good, for your first fanfic.