And once again, we've arrived back at the Hannon house for the start of round 14! Last round was unexpectedly busy for the Hannon family. Having just given birth to her first son Shark, Tetra had found herself pregnant again with what turned out to be a set of twins-betts and Clam. Luckily, dad Mikel had yet to take a job so he became a stay at home dad, although by the end of the week the stress of caring for three toddlers at once seemed to be getting to him. Sadly, Tetra's mother Alyssa passed away from old age as well.
Hi, Mikel.
Mikel: Huh? Who said that?
Just me.
Mikel: Oh, right...sorry, I'm still a little sleep deprived.
Gee, I wonder why....
At least it's about to get a little easier, right?
Mikel?
Mikel: Oh, sure, Terry...we'll take them all down with us!
Mikel? Um, are you OK?
Mikel: Huh? Oh, yes, of course. I was just having a conversation with my friend Terry...
Terry the table?
Mikel: Yes.
Right...um, say, shouldn't you get started on Shark's birthday cake?
Mikel: Oh, you're right! I want to get this birthday over as quickly as I can!
Happy birthday, dear Shark...
Great...social butterfly...
Wait, how'd we get into the dining room?
Tetra: Oh, something just wasn't going right in the kitchen. We had to start over. That table is just too small.
Mikel: Hey, I'll thank you to leave my friends out of this!
Tetra: What?
All right! One down, two to go...
Betta: Mama! Don't go!
Tetra: Honey, I have to go to work. You keep an eye on Daddy, ok? Be a good girl for me...um, mysterious voice?
Yeah?
Tetra: You mind...keeping an eye on Daddy too?
He still talking to his...friends?
Tetra: Yes. Evidently our bed is named Balthazar. I'm starting to get worried.
I'm sure it's just the stress of being at home with the kids. It'll probably ease up once they all grow.
Tetra: I hope so. It's so strange. Most of the time he's an amazing dad-he dotes on them like nothing I've ever seen. But then suddenly, he goes to this other place. His emotions all change, he starts telling stories out loud to nobody...and then he just snaps back as if nothing happened.
Well, he seems functional enough today...
Mikel: Huh? What was that?
Oh, nothing. Looks like you've got a few projects around here today.
Mikel: Yeah. You know, with all the improvements Tetra's family made to this place since they moved in, they've still never fixed the pipes. It seems like every day we have a flood around here.
Nice job, Tetra.
Tetra: Thanks! How were things here?
Fine. Other than the broken bathroom fixtures.
Tetra: Phew!
Mikel: No, I keep telling you...it's my sweater vest! No, I bought it from the nice man down by the docks. I went there to see the ships come in and...
Mikel?
Mikel: Oh, hi. Can I help you?
Just...wondering who you were talking to.
Mikel: Oh...you know...
No, actually, I don't.
Mikel: Man, buddy, you sure must have played hard today. You are super messy!
Mikel: You ready? Here comes Super Girl!
Wow, I see what Tetra means...hey, wait a minute...where's Shark?
Oh, there you are. Looks like Tetra made good on her promise to get a waterslide when the kids got bigger.
Shark: It'll be more fun when the twins grow up too, then we can all try out tricks! But I'll still be better because I had more time to practice.
Clam: Daddy! I had a bad dream!
Mikel: Aww, buddy...come here. It's alright. Say, do you want to come downstairs and have a snack? I promise I won't tell Mommy if you don't...
All right! Time to get these toddler years over with. (And hopefully ease up the stress on Mikel.)
Happy birthday, dear Betta...
A neat artist...that should be interesting.
Still a cutie, though.
Happy birthday, dear Clam...
At least these make sense together.
And he even got his dad's curly hair.
Clam: Betta! I think something's under my bed!
Betta: Keep it down, would you? I'm trying to do my homework.
Clam: But...we haven't gone to school yet!
Betta: Well, I found some of Shark's. I just want to make sure I'm ready.
Betta: Thanks for making us pancakes for our first day of school, Dad.
Mikel: Of course, sweetheart. But you know, you should really thank my friend Steve too...
Betta: Steve?
Mikel: Steve the stove. He really did most of the work.
Betta: Daddy, you're so silly.
So, they're all off at school?
Tetra: Yes!
Mikel: Finally!
Tetra: Oh, honey...I hope you know I didn't really mean for you to have to do so much of the grunt work when they were little.
Mikel: Oh, I didn't mind...besides, I had lots of company. Right, guys?
Tetra: Right....company...
Mikel: Alright, Clam. It's safe! The bed is fully monster-proof now.
So...does Clam's bed have a name?
Mikel: What? No. Why?
Well, it's just that you seem to have a knack for...naming furniture.
Mikel: Oh...yeah. It's the strangest thing, but for some reason certain things just...speak to me, you know? Or I just suddenly feel...different, even though nothing's happening to cause it. It's happened since I was a kid. Used to happen more, actually. I knew the personality of every desk in my 4th grade class. Now it's just every once in awhile.
Did you tell Tetra about it when you two first started going out?
Mikel: Well, not really. It's kind of hard to describe without making myself sound completely out of it. And I knew Tetra wanted a family, and I really didn't want to scare her off by making it sound like I'd be...not good for that. But really, it only happens now and then and even when it does I can still take care of things pretty well.
Well, I can't argue with that point.
Hey, Grandpa Aiden's back helping out from the beyond again!
Mikel: So I said, we attack at dawn, Captain! And then...
Mikel!
Mikel: Huh?
Listen, I love a good attack at dawn story as much as the next disembodied voice, but maybe you should pay attention to the grill?
What are you up to, Betta?
Betta: Talking to my new friend...
Where?
Betta: Right here!
The horse is your new friend?
Betta: Sure. Dad is friends with the table and the stove. Why not?
Mikel: What's that, Chester?
Tetra: I'm afraid to ask...who's Chester, dear?
Mikel: The china cabinet...
Tetra: Ok, that's enough. Look, Mikel...I was willing to look the other way on this when the kids were little because I knew being at home with three toddlers at once would make anyone a little odd. But this is getting out of control!
Mikel: What?
Tetra: This...talking to inanimate objects thing! The stove, the table, the cabinet...they're furniture! Not your friends!
Mikel: But...
Tetra: No, Mikel, listen! You need help. You know, the kids are old enough to start picking up on this...
Mikel: So what if they are? Tetra, I'll admit that sometimes I have...odd moments.
Tetra: That's putting it mildly.
Mikel: But let me ask you this. When you came home from work, weren't the kids always fed, and bathed, and asleep?
Tetra: Well, yes...
Mikel: And who made the first day of school breakfast for the twins?
Tetra: You...but...
Mikel: No! No buts. Just because I see the world in a different way that you don't always understand doesn't mean I can't take care of my family. You of all people should know that!
Tetra: I do know that...
Mikel: Really? Do you?
I think I'll hang out with the kids in the backyard for awhile...much less tense out here.
Oh, there you are Shark. I've barely seen you this week. Who's your friend?
Shark: Um...this is Hayley. She's new in my class.
You made a new friend too?
Betta: Yeah, this is Aldora.
Something tells me this house is going to be a very popular play date destination....
Shark: Mom, why were you and Dad fighting?
Tetra: We weren't fighting, honey. We were...discussing.
Clam: Are you going to get divorced?
Tetra: No, of course not.
Betta: Silly, how can they get divorced if they aren't even married?
Tetra: Wait...how did you guys know that?
Clam: Why aren't you and Dad married? Don't you love each other?
Tetra: Of course we do. We were going to get married, but then I found out I was having a baby...
Clam: Hear that, Shark? It's all your fault.
Tetra: It is not. Things just...kind of got away from us...
Ha...I guess that waterslide isn't only fun for the living. Though I wonder how Larry got so good at it.
Tetra: Mikel, honey, I need to talk to you...I'm sorry about the other day. You're right. I don't know what it's like to...see things the way you do. But Mikel, I love you. And I know you love me, and the kids, and there's nobody else I could ever imagine spending my life with. Mikel...will you marry me? Finally?
I take it he said yes. Been awhile since we've had a wedding around here.
Wait...this isn't the park.
Tetra: We decided to do the wedding in the city.
Mikel: Although, it technically still is a park. Wow, I forgot how big of a family you have, honey.
So did I.
Tetra: Thanks so much for coming, guys!
Mackerel: Wouldn't have missed it!
Alright, guess it's about time to get this show on the road...
What's everybody looking at?
Tetra: The fireworks!
Oh, I see...
Aww, they even have ones that are heart shaped!
Betta: They're so pretty, Mommy!
Tetra: I know!
Betta: This is fun! I think every Mommy and Daddy should let their kids come to their wedding!
Trout: I'm so happy for you guys! I just wish Mom could have been here...
Tetra: I know. I wish I hadn't waited so long...
Mackerel: Congratulations, little sister.
Tetra: Thanks. Maybe you two will finally seal the deal next?
Mackerel: Maybe...
Hey, look who found a piano!
Betta: Look! I can almost play a whole song!
Where did the cake come from?
Mikel: I baked it.
You baked your own wedding cake?
Mikel: Sure. I figured why spend money on a caterer, right?
(sigh) Oh, dear...
Marlin: What?
Do me a favor, guys. When I get to each of your houses, please remind me that you all need new formal outfits? This looks like a scene from a bad mobster movie. And seriously, what is up with you guys and hats?
Tetra: I saw the pictures Jamaica posted-all the kids are so big now!
Salmon: Yup. Almost out of the house, all of 'em. Happened so fast.
Tetra: Tell me about it. So how are things at the...was it the museum? Or wait-was it the pharmacy? Or the lab...
Salmon: They're...they're all good.
Betta: Guess what? I made $15 playing the piano.
Clam: That's only because the only people here are your uncles. They have to say it's good even if it's bad.
Betta: That's not true! You liked my playing, right Uncle Salmon?
Salmon: Um...I sure did! That...song is my favorite song.
Betta: Which one?
Salmon: Um...all of them!
You know, you'd think Salmon would have at least become a better liar by now...
Shark: I think your playing was good!
Betta: Thanks, Shark!
Well, as much fun as this family reunion is, it's about time for me to be moving on to the next house. I'll see you guys next round!
A Message From the Mysterious Voice: And Round 14 begins. Mikel's really starting to grow on me. He has the "insane" trait, which is one that I would probably never choose on my own, and apparently it manifests itself by him talking to household objects. He really is an amazing stay-at-home dad, though. I'm glad that I was finally able to get Tetra and Mikel married-I didn't realize that I hadn't even gotten them engaged before Shark was born. The wedding venue in San Myshuno is really nice! (Though, you can tell how many weddings I throw based on how awful everybody's formal outfits were.)
