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Intervention

12/3/2024

Grace hung her coat by the back door. She was trudging toward the living room when a hand lashed out and pulled her into the garage. “Hey!”

“Ronny’s going to be late and Dad still has Christmas sale hours. I need your help.” Josh said.

“With what? I don’t know how to do any of this nonsense. Just wait until after dinner.” She pulled free and rubbed her arm.

“It’s easy.” He picked up a bell. “You snap this part into here. When the music plays, the receiver on here moves and it rings the bell in sync with the music.”

“If it’s easy, go ahead and do it.”

“It will be easier if there’s two of us.”

“Why?”

“Because I’ve got to hook up all those bells.” He pointed at the shelf behind her.

She turned around to find a wall stocked with bells of all sizes. “Josh, why?” She pulled a lawn chair from a hook on the wall. “I’m doing these little ones.”

“Great, great. Thanks, Gracie.”

She set up the chair and stacked a pile of bells on one side and the remote controlled stands on the other. “Why can’t Mom do this? She’s all gung ho about this nonsense.”

“She already started making dinner. Don’t you want to eat?” He grabbed an armful of medium-sized bells.

“I heard of singing for your supper, but this is ridiculous.”

He took a seat at the big picnic table that was serving as a project bench. “So, you and Leo, huh?”

“Yeah, just like you and Mike.” She unboxed a bell and snapped it into the clip on the remote controlled armature.

“Being in the city is making you mean.” He snapped a bell into place and set it aside.

“I’m just tired.” She affixed another bell and placed it in her lap. “I don’t hear you denying it.”

“There is no Mike and me. That’s ridiculous.”

“Uh-huh. So, who do you have an eye for?”

“Eyes? Plenty. Heart? Nobody. Hand me those.”

She gave him a pile of completed pieces from her lap. “Aren’t you getting a bit long in the tooth for playing the field? You’re going to turn into an old maid or something.”

“Guys don’t turn into old maids.” He snapped another bell into place. “We become distinguished gentlemen and tasty little gold diggers take us on as sugar daddies.”

“Well, there goes my appetite.” She yawned as she snapped another bell into place. “Wouldn’t mind a cup of coffee or something.”

He reached under the table and passed her a Thermos. “Coffee ought to still be warm.”

“You’re my favorite brother.”

He smirked and shook his head. “So, what’s your deal?”

“My deal?” She unscrewed the lid.

“You’re tossing old maid at me and Emma’s on the nest. What’s up with you?”

She unscrewed the inner lid and poured coffee into the outer lid. “Za zdrowie!” She gulped it down before restoring the lids and passing it back to him.

“Right back at you.” He smiled as he snapped another bell into place.

“I don’t know. I want to be a psychiatrist. I’ve got to finish school and move on to med school. After that, there’s residency and whatever else.”

“So, no time for romance?”

“I didn’t say that. I’m sure there are plenty of happily married psychiatrists out there.”

“How about this one?”

“Dr. Hu? She’s got a picture of her dogs on her desk.”

“And that one from the city?”

“Dr. Wisler has a lot on her plate.”

“Uh-huh.” He affixed another bell. “So, the only nieces or nephews I get to spoil are Emma’s kids?”

“I don’t know, Josh. I can’t think about that right now.”

“No? So, that little trip to the Zavijava…”

“He was being nice, so I was nice back. It was just a Gingerbread Latte and half a cookie.”

“Sure, sure.” He got up to get more bells from the shelf. He turned and itched his head. “Seriously, though. Who swoops on a chick at Confession?”

She flung a bell at his head. “I did not hatch from an egg.”

“Force of habit.” He laughed as he caught it. “Answer the question.”

She shrugged. “He was there. I was there.” Her brows furrowed. ‘Yeah, what kind of guy swoops on somebody at Confession? That’s kind of messed up.’

“Ah, now it registers.” Josh smiled and gathered some bells.

“What? Nothing registered. I’m getting a cramp from all these stupid bells.”

“You’re almost done. Suck it up, sister dear. Offer it up to the poor souls in Purgatory.”

“Ah, I see.” She massaged her hand.

“I’m almost afraid to ask.”

“You’re planning to go to Seminary and take the cloth.” She wagged and clenched her aching hand. “Father Josh. Sounds alright, but Dad would be heartbroken to see the Chmielewski name go extinct.”

“Forget psychiatry. You ought to be a comedian.” He piled his bells on the table.

“Oh, good. You’re home.” Leo’s mom waited for him to hang his coat before she dragged him to the kitchen. “Taste this.”

He took a spoon from the drawer and dipped it into the pot. “Chili?”

“Turkey chili.” She smiled and waited for him to taste it.

He blew, tasted and rinsed off his spoon. “That’s marvelous. Is that for supper?”

“No, we’re having it tomorrow. I won’t have time to prepare anything, so I made it today.”

“Lovely. What’s on for tonight?” He dried his spoon and slid it back into the drawer.

“I’ve got a meatloaf in the oven. Should be done shortly if you’d like to go freshen up.”

“I’m fine.”

“I’m sure that’s what Grace thinks.” She stirred the chili.

“Sorry, what?”

“Leonard, I have eyes and I have spies.”

“Isn’t it against the Mother’s Code to reveal sources and methods? I thought you were supposed to allow me to believe you’re a psychic.”

“Hmm, I gave up on that after Joseph learned to speak. That boy has x-ray glasses against dissembling.”

“Agreed, but what’s this about Grace?”

“Really. Setting up coffee dates at Confession. What manner of godless heathen have I given birth to?” She slipped her oven mitt off and hung it on a cabinet knob.

“Mom, it was just coffee. We had a chance encounter, and I invited her to share a last bit of Yuletide frivolity before Advent began.”

“For goodness’ sake, let that be the end of it. Your father was rather put out about it.”

“He was? Why?”

“You’ve been spending a bit too much time being neighborly. He said you practically picked her car up out of the yard.”

“She was keeping me up with that racket. I only went to solve the problem so I could go back to sleep.”

“Christopher told me you were gawking at her like a lovesick puppy when she got home on Thursday.”

“Chris is the master of overstatement. I was bemused by her decision to turf the Jones’s yard in search of a parking spot. Nothing more.”

“Very well. I don’t think you should hang your hat there. Elka tells me she has little interest in returning to Pine Hollow once she begins med school.”

“Med school?”

“She wants to be a psychiatrist like her idol, Dr. Wisler.”

“I think that’s admirable. Mental health is a dreadfully underserved societal stressor.”

His mother studied him. “Of course, dear. I agree it’s admirable.”

“I’m not hanging my hat anywhere, Mom. It was just coffee. As you say, she’s only home for the holidays.”

“And then she’s away to Empire City and that wretched asylum.” She shuddered.

“Just so.” He nodded. “You know what? I’m going to go upstairs and check for messages. Please notify me when supper is ready.”

She turned to the oven. “You have eleven minutes. Once you’ve checked, please rouse Christopher and Joseph. Your father should be home momentarily.”

“I shall.” He kissed her on the cheek and dashed upstairs. ‘Exactly. Why should I hang my hat on someone hell-bent on moving away? I’m certainly not moving to Empire City so she can spend all her time with supervillains and chaos mutants.’

He unlocked his laptop and scanned various channels for messages. He made note of a few changes to his scheduled work and established a queue of replies to send after supper.

As promised, he knocked at his brothers’ doors and headed downstairs to take his place at the dining room table. He found his father seated at the head of the table, scanning a tablet.

“Hi, Leo. I hear there’s meatloaf tonight.”

“I’m simply Pavlovian about it.”

“Hear, hear.” He locked his tablet and set it aside. “I’m curious as to the sides.”

“Sadly, I have no secrets to divulge on that front. It will be a surprise to me as well.”

“Whatever it is, it will be delicious. I’m sure.”

Chris took a seat across from Leo. “Quite so. Mom is fully deserving of some Michelin Stars.”

“I concur wholeheartedly.” Joe said, taking his seat next to Leo.

“Perhaps I should help her bring the dishes out.” Leo rose from his seat.

Chris rose. “A capital idea. I’ll join you.”

Their mother was approaching with the meatloaf on a serving dish. “Christopher, there is a tureen of parsley potatoes. Leonard, please bring the bowl of mixed vegetables.”

“Yes, Mother.” They replied in stereo.

Leo smiled at his brother as he picked up the bowl of vegetables with hot pads. “Chip the glasses and crack the plates.”

Chris smiled and said, “That’s what Mary Murray hates.”

They joined in the refrain as they returned to the dining room. “That’s what Mary Murray hates. So carefully, carefully with the plates.”

“Such a pair of hooligans.” She smiled as she unfurled her napkin. “Joseph, I believe it is your turn to lead us in saying grace.”

“Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.”

“John won’t be able to join us this evening for our Light Fight preparations.” Dad said. “Leo, it falls to you to serve in his stead.”

“I thought Joe was still working out the code for the new animatronics.”

Joe pushed his glasses up. “True, but there is still unpacking and sorting to be done.”

“Very well, but I have some correspondence to attend to after supper. Can we wait until seven to begin our work?”

“Certainly, Leo. I appreciate your diligence and your team spirit. Good man.”

“Joan is taking the kids to Maslov’s on Friday for St. Nicholas Day. Are any of you free to join us?” Mom asked.

“I would love to, but I have meetings scheduled. What time is she going? Perhaps I can move some things.” Dad said with a smile.

“I believe she intended to pick Jim up from kindergarten and be at the store by noon.”

“I won’t be able to make it.” Joe said. “I have a meeting with the welders.”

“It sounds like fun, but I’m committed to a meeting with Mr. Webb and the homeowners.” Chris said.

“I have a block open between eleven and two.” Leo said. “Count me in.”

“That’s wonderful. Do try to make an opening, dear. They’re only little once.”

“I shall try. Are they going to get their Santa pictures taken?”

“Yes.” She smiled. “Joan has selected the most delightful little outfits.”

Dad smiled as he sipped his tea. “So, tell me.”

They all turned.

“Who’s next?”

“Who’s next for what, Dad?” Leo asked.

“Who’s giving me some more lovely grandchildren?”

Joe held his hands up in surrender and shook his head.

“I’ve got to find a girl in order for that to work.” Chris resumed working on his dinner.

“He stole my answer.” Leo pointed at his brother before tucking into his meatloaf.

“This is how civilization falls, gentlemen. Careers are a great foundation, but what’s it all for if you don’t have children?”

“As it stands, Stanisław is looking to catch up.” Mom sliced a potato.

“Truly? What do you know that I don’t?”

“Emma had that glow at Mass yesterday. There’s no hiding it.”