VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, [7], 8, 9, 10 ]



[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 08:14:47 07/10/13 Wed
Author: Nettie
Subject: Life Goes On (Lily Series) Chapter 28

Disclaimer: Just playing.

AN: Well, here we go again. The last instalment of this saga was posted late 2011 and, at that time, I had 2/3 of this next instalment already written. As you would be aware, life took a new and exciting turn for me and time has not been a friend of mine.

There will be six chapters in this instalment. This one, is called 'A Summer Retrospective' and I wrote it in a different format as a way of breaking from the previous instalments of Mother's Day and Aftermath which were very intense and emotional. Following the retrospective will be 5 chapters under the sub-title of Moving on. In due course, these chapters will be added to the 'Life Goes On' story on fanfiction.net.

Summer: A retrospective (by the kids)

My Summer by Lily MacKenzie Rabb

Summer was a blast and I’m really sad I’m back at school. I had the best time ever and Mrs Barrington wants me to write about it, which is great.

Once school broke up we had a few weeks at home just doing farm stuff and Memories of Mom stuff and all the usual kind of things. Then mom, grandma, Jessie and me went to New York to see Jessie’s specialist, Dr Baker. Grandma took me to Rockefeller Center while they had the appointment and Jessie had the injections. The view from up there is amazing. I saw all of Manhattan and even New Jersey.

Then me and grandma went for a walk along 5th Avenue and to the Apple Store...I really, really, really wanted to go to FAO Schwartz but grandma said it wouldn’t be fair to go without Jessie, so we’d go the next day.

When we got back to our hotel which was the Marriot and also on 5th Avenue, mom and Jessie were already there and Jessie was asleep which I thought was strange because it wasn’t even six but mom said it had been a tough day for Jessie.
The next day, Jessie was still really tired and mom thought she might be sick so she rang Dr Baker and he got her to go back to the hospital and it turned out that there was a problem with the stuff they injected in her and it made her sick but they were able to fix it all and everything’s much better now.

We got to go to FAO Schwartz two days later and grandma bought us lots and lots and things for the other kids as well. Jessie got a teddy bear and Boggle and I got a stuffed horse that looks like Peppi and a jigsaw puzzle.
We only went back to the farm for a few days and then mom, dad, me, Jessie and Rosie went to DC so we could stay with the Roberts. Mom and dad only stayed overnight but us girls stayed for three weeks...well, me and Jessie stayed three weeks, Rosie went home early. She was being a cry baby.
Auntie Harriet, Jessie, Nikki and me did lots and lots together. Auntie Harriet had set up our beds in the study so Jessie wouldn’t have to go up and down the stairs and they had a full bathroom downstairs so it was good. It was the one they had made when Uncle Bud first came home after he lost his leg. He and Jessie got on really well and had lots of chats about wheelchairs and walking frames and other stuff and they both ended up crying a few times...so Rosie wasn’t the only cry baby.

We got to go out to lots of places...we went to lots of Smithsonian places and while I had been before it was when I was younger so it seemed a bit different now that I’m 11. I love the Air and Space Museum we even went there twice. I love the displays and IMAX. I know dad loves all the aircrafts but I love all the space things. One day, I am going to be an astronaut and go into space. I think it will be the best feeling ever.

Then came the best part of the vacation, well, of the DC part of the vacation, and that was when we had the 4th of July. We all went to the Uncle Sam Jam, even AJ who was home on leave. Gee, he looked so old in his uniform I nearly called him ‘sir’. At the Uncle Sam Jam there were lots of music and entertainment and all this yummy food that Auntie Harriet brought with us. Then, at night, there were the fireworks and they were big and loud and bright and I loved them and so did Jessie. Rosie started crying and didn’t stop until dad came to pick her up two days later.

Auntie Harriet took Jessie and me out a few days while Nikki was out with her school friends. We used to be really good friends but she’s different now. Mom says it’s because she’s growing up and she has different interests to me now...I think it’s because she’s just into boys and kissing and all that stuff.

When our time was up, Auntie Harriet and Michael took us back to the farm and they stayed two days. Nikki didn’t want to come and so she stayed home with Jimmy. As much as I loved being in DC I loved being back with mom and dad and the others too.

Mom made me and Jess our favourite foods because she missed us lots. Dad took us up in Sarah twice and it was so cool. He says when I’m older I can do lessons like he’s going to do with Aidan and I can get my licence. He says one day I can fly fighter jets if I want to. I want to fly the space shuttle.

When grandma and grandpa got back from San Diego with the boys, their new house arrived and we spent days watching them put it together and settle it into its place and then watched the guys come and make the little garden and then the furniture trucks bring in their new stuff. It was so cool to see their house come together and it was even better to know that they are going to stay here all the time except for their vacations west.

In the last few weeks we spent lots of time on our Memories of Mom shop - library thing. All the paper work was done and grandpa said we were open for business. We got more people making donations than buying stuff but that’s okay because it’s better to give than get. We put together a box for one family, mom and grandpa say we have to respect people’s privacy and not use their names outside the farm, and grandpa, Jessie and me got to deliver it. It was for a dad and his two kids and it was mainly toys, clothes and school stuff for the kids and he cried...so then Jessie cried and I cried but they were happy tears.

The man said thank you like a hundred times and then he tried to give grandpa some money but grandpa spoke to him really quietly and the man put his wallet away. I asked grandpa what he said to the man but he just shook his head and told me it was ‘secret men’s business’. Whatever it was, the other man had hugged grandpa lots before we left.

Then came the best part of my vacation, my birthday! I turned 11 and got so spoilt. I got the things I really wanted and the best dinner which grandma made and the same Ultimate Chocolate Cake she made for Aidan when it was his birthday and I got to do what I wanted for the day. And, do you know what that was? For my birthday, I wanted a camera so I could take lots of family photos and I wanted us to have a proper family photo taken so we did. We got Mr Anderson to come from next door and he took a photo of my family and dad, mom, grandma and grandpa were standing up and then Colin and Mattie were sort of kneeling and Kenzie was standing between the two of them and Jessie and me and the twins were sitting on the ground and Frankie was sitting between my legs and Aidan was sort of kneeling beside Jess.
It’s the best photo because it has all of us. I know I have complained that there are now so many people around all the time and sometimes it’s hard to get away from people when you want to but I look at that photo and I wouldn’t change it. I love them all and they are all my family and I’m really lucky to have them.

Then, after the best part of the vacation came the worst, mom making us do all the back to school stuff. You know new books, haircuts, back to early nights all that stuff. Oh well, summer vacation can’t last forever but grandma keeps reminding me it’s only nine months and it will be back.

What I did over summer...

By Jessie Murphy

There were three best things of the summer and I don’t really know if any one thing was better than the other so I’m including them all.

First there was me...well, not me but my stuff. Auntie Mac, grandma, Lily and I went to New York because I had my hospital appointment with Dr Baker and he said I was doing really, really well and he said my muscles were much better than he expected and, best of all, I could start using a k-walker. He made up a schedule that I’d have to follow and said I’d have to see Donna, my physiotherapist, more than usual to make sure I was doing it right.

I was so excited because I want to walk so badly. I can furniture walk much better these days, you know, lean on furniture and people’s legs and move a little bit at a time but it would be a million times better to be able to walk on my own. I remember at Christmas telling mom I’d go in a marathon with her and I’d like to do that, I really would. I’m going to try really, really hard to be able to do a marathon next year but I’m not going to tell anyone...so please you don’t either.

Anyway, I don’t really remember much else about New York because I got really sick after my injections and slept lots of it. I do remember grandma taking us to FAO Schwartz and I got a teddy bear and Boggle. I’m really good at Boggle and can beat Lily most of the time and I can even beat Aidan too. He’s really grumpy when I do...he doesn’t like being beaten by his little sister. I think it’s really funny.
Not long after I got home from DC I got my walker and Donna says I should only use it for a little bit each day but I’m using it heaps more. Auntie Mac tells me not to overdo it and grandpa tells me to slow down...he’s really funny my grandpa.

The next best thing about the summer was going to DC and staying with Auntie Harriet and Uncle Bud. Lily, Rosie and I all went and we did lots of things. I hadn’t been to DC before but Lily used to live there and she was all ‘oh, I remember this’ and ‘oh, I remember that’. It got annoying after awhile but I didn’t say anything.

We went to the zoo and it was amazing. I’ve never been to anywhere like it. I loved, loved, loved the pandas. They look so cute and cuddly and I really, really, really wanted to be able to go into their enclosure and just give one a hug but Auntie Harriet said no. Instead, she bought me a toy one and a tee with a big panda face on the front and it’s totally cute and I wear it bed nearly every night.

We went to the Uncle Sam Jam for the 4th of July and it was so much fun. I loved the fireworks, they were amazing and I wanted them to last forever. Rosie cried and cried. I think they hurt her ears. Uncle Harm came to get her on the 6th when she was still upset. He gave her lots of hugs and kisses and she stopped crying there and then.

One of the best parts of being at the Roberts’ was talking to Uncle Bud. He lost a leg in Afghanistan and he has a fake one. He had to have lots of surgeries and physical therapy, just like I do. He said he got sick of hospitals and doctors and nurses and needles and I knew exactly what he meant. He was saying how hard it was to get around at the start and how sometimes people looked at you differently when you were in a wheelchair or using crutches. He says he gets sad about it at times and I guess it’s different for him because he used to be able to do everything until he lost his leg but I don’t get sad, after all, I never had use of my legs so I don’t know what it’s like to be able to do something and then not be able to. I’m just happy I’m going to get to walk.

The third thing that was really good about summer vacation was being back home and working in the hangar with grandpa and Auntie Mac. We got a whole lot of donations while we were in DC and Lily and me spent lots of time sorting it all out. We put together a box of stuff for a family and when we gave it to the dad he started to cry. He had been finding things tough and was just so happy to get stuff for his kids to start school with. When he cried, I cried. I was remembering how mom cried when Auntie Mac and Uncle Harm and the others first did nice stuff for us. It makes you feel really happy inside when someone does something nice for you when you don’t expect it. It makes you feel loved and important and that you can achieve anything.

The man wanted to pay but grandpa said something to him we couldn’t hear and the man cried some more before putting his wallet away. Grandpa wouldn’t say what he said but I think I know. I think he told the man to pay it forward. Pay it forward means to do something nice for others when you get the chance. It’s what mom used to always say we had to do when good things happened to us. It’s one of the reasons I really wanted to do the charity shop – library thingy. I want to give to others and make them happy, the way other people have given to me.

Summer Vacation

By Aidan Murphy

Last summer was like nothing I’d ever experienced. I was looking forward to it because Uncle Harm was going to take me up in the Stearman for flying lessons and I thought that would be the highlight of the vacation. However, while it was pretty amazing it wasn’t the best thing.

My grandparents, well, you know they’re not actually my grandparents, just like Harm and Mac aren’t my uncle and aunt, but I think of them that way, took me and Harry, who’s like my little brother...it’s all a bit mixed up, isn’t it? I think of all the kids as brothers and sisters, whereas only Jessie is my real sister. I live with Mattie and Colin but I think of them as siblings rather than parents. I could explain it all but that’s for another composition. Whoever they are to me is not who they are genetically but it doesn’t matter as I spent ten years with my biological grandparents who didn’t love me one one hundredth that these people do.

Anyway, back to the best thing about summer and that was the whole San Diego trip. At first I was a little hesitant. I wasn’t sure what it would be like to have Harry around all the time, he’s five, and can be a pain at times but he was really cool. We hung out together and played ball a lot. We got to go swimming in the ocean and grandpa got this guy, Marty, to give us surfing lessons. It was so very, very cool.

They live in this great big house, well, they live here on the farm now but they still go back there for vacations and believe me, they need lots of breaks from all us kids. Anyway, the house is just as you’d expect it would be for old people. They have lots of photos of Uncle Harm and Auntie Mac and the kids and lots of his stuff from when he was little. Harry looks a lot like him when he was younger.
Grandma and grandpa took us to SeaWorld, the Zoo, Balboa Park, Coronado and everywhere really. I know they spent lots on us and I didn’t want them too. They do so much and I don’t want them to think I want more and more from them. Grandpa was a big businessman before he retired and he says he worked hard for his money and now he’s going to enjoy spending it. He also said a lot about stocks and bonds and said he’d explain it all to me and help me start a portfolio. I don’t know what that means but it sounds good.

We got to talking about colleges and I haven’t really thought about it since I moved here from New York. I never really expected that I’d be going, grandfather always said the only way I was getting there is through a full scholarship, he wasn’t paying a dime. Grandpa asked me what I really wanted to do with myself. I honestly don’t know. My life has changed so much since coming to Bellevue for Thanksgiving last November, I am just getting used to being the new me and don’t want to look too far ahead. However, I did tell grandpa that I might consider a military career or one as a pilot. He just laughed and said Harm would be proud. I hope so.

Anyway, everything in San Diego was fantastic until Harry got a bit upset and was missing his mom and dad although I think he was missing Rosie more. He was okay until grandma told him that Rosie was home from DC. I really felt bad for the little guy. I have never had a close relationship with anyone and to hear him crying himself to sleep whimpering for his twin was just so sad. When I told grandpa the next day he just nodded, he’d heard Harry himself.

It was me who asked to go back a few days earlier. I wanted the trip to have lots of good memories for everyone and it wasn’t happening for Harry. We didn’t tell anyone we were coming back early and got back to Bellevue late at night. You should have seen Harry’s face light up when I took him into his parents’ bedroom and he saw Rosie in their bed. You’d have thought it was Christmas morning. My mom was the only one ever that happy to see me. One day, I hope someone is that happy to see me again.

Summer

Rose MacKenzie Rabb's point of view.

Jessie, Lily and me went to DC to stay with Auntie Harriet and Uncle Bud. I’m named after Uncle Bud and Harry is named after Auntie Harriet. I don’t know why they named a boy after a girl and a girl after a boy but sometimes my parents do funny things.

I loved being with Auntie Harriet she is the best cook ever. She makes yummy cookies and lets me help.
We went to lots of good places and the July 4th thingy and there was lots of food and music and fireworks. I don’t like fireworks. They’re loud and hurt my ears. I started to cry and cry and Uncle Bud cuddled me and kissed me but I kept crying. Auntie Harriet cuddled me and kissed me but I kept crying and the day after the next day daddy came! I love my daddy very, very, very much and when he cuddled and kissed me I stopped crying.

Daddy took me home and I cried again when I saw mommy. I missed her so much. I don’t think I’m going to go away from home ever, ever again. It was better being at home than with Auntie Harriet except Harry wasn’t there. I miss Harry when he’s not there. I miss him lots. We’re two peas in a pod and we’re meant to be together.

The first night I was home I slept in my own bed with Misty and Kermit. They’re so cute and fluffy and they missed me lots but on the next night I slept with mommy and daddy. I told them I wanted Harry to come home but mommy said he would be away another five days. Five days! That’s forever! I wanted Kermit and Misty to come and sleep with me in their bed but daddy so no and he said it loudly and three times so I think he meant it.

The next day mommy and me and Frankie and Kenzie went to Charlesville and had a special lunch but that didn’t stop me missing Harry. That night, mommy put me straight into her bed but I couldn’t really sleep so she stayed there with me and hugged me until I got sleepy. And then the best thing happened...the door opened and Aidan brought Harry in. I was so, so excited and jumped up and down on the bed and Harry jumped too. I love Harry.

Summer

Harrison MacKenzie Rabb's point of view.

Grandma and grandpa took Aidan and me to their other house in San Diego. It’s a long, long way away and you have to fly there and back. Grandpa said we’d do all sorts of cool things and we did. My grandpa is awesome. We went to SeaWorld and he got us to go see the dolphins and we saw one called Bug and she was cute. We got to feed her and touch her and she felt rubbery like a boiled egg. Grandma took lots of photos and I have one on my wall now.

And we went to the zoo and did lots and lots of walking and ended up taking the chair lift a few times. Grandpa says it was because I have little legs, I think it’s because he’s old, so’s Grandma. Aidan and me got to go to surfing school and I can stand up on a surfboard. Marty said I was pretty good. I wish I could surf all the time but there are no waves on the farm.

I missed everyone lots and lots while I was with grandma and grandpa but I was being brave about it until grandma said Rosie went home early. Then I wanted to go home too. I missed Rosie so much...more than I missed Kermit.
Grandpa said we could go home early and surprise them. I love my grandpa.

Now, Rosie and me are at big school and even in the same class. That makes me very happy. I don’t like being too far away from her even if she is a girl and the boys tease me. She’s my sister, my twin and family’s everything. That’s what my mommy and daddy say.

Summer

Franklin MacKenzie Rabb's point of view.

I don’t know what this is all about. One day there were lots of people around and the next day there was only mommy, daddy and me. Mommy said the others went on vacation. I don’t know what a vacation is. I don’t know why they got one and I didn’t but I don’t care. I don’t want to go anywhere if it’s not with my mommy and daddy.

Mommy and me got to do lots of things sometimes just with us, other times with Kenzie and daddy. Daddy says Mattie and Colin needed some kid free time and so Kenzie slept over here lots. Mommy says Mattie and Colin needed some adult time but daddy told her not to say that when I could hear. I don’t know what that means either so it doesn’t matter.

I was really happy when everyone came home again. I missed them...mostly. I do like it when it’s just mommy and me.
Now they’re at school again all day, every day and it’s quiet here, too quiet. Every afternoon I watch for the bus to come and when I see it I am allowed run down to the kids and then Aidan piggybacks me home or Jessie lets me sit on her lap and wheels me. It’s my favourite time of day.

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]



Replies:

[> Once again a great read and wonderful description of the Rabbs and extended family, i.e. the Roberts. Love that little Frankie got to have his say too. Awaiting the next! -- JoyZ, 11:09:08 07/10/13 Wed [1]


[ Edit | View ]
[> Wonderful summer vacations but everyone happy to be home So happy to see this story continue Nettie -- Beth, 12:41:15 07/10/13 Wed [1]

love to you and Miss Molly


[ Edit | View ]

[> so happy to see this story continuing Nettie -- Bev uk, 14:22:01 07/10/13 Wed [1]


[ Edit | View ]
[> A fun way to catch up -- Shazam, 00:10:55 07/11/13 Thu [1]


[ Edit | View ]



[ Contact Forum Admin ]

Forum timezone: GMT-5
VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
Before posting please read our privacy policy.
VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.