“Actually, I did but couldn’t really tell much because of the horns and mustache someone had penned over her picture,” Audrey complained.
“I hear she’s a fright of a teacher,” Mia said.
“That means she’s a good teacher,” Audrey assured her. “So, have you met her?”
“No. I’m not allowed to until they have made up their minds whether they are serious or not.”
“I’m surprised.”
“Well, I’m not, especially after the nickname Ted gave them.”
“What name?”
“Well, you know how people combine their names, like Brangelina which is Brad and Angelina…”
“Yes. Orion and I tried that and came up with Ordrey or Audrion. Both sound like appliance manufacturers.”
“Well with Rand and Cid, you could have Cind, but no, my husband comes up with Rancid.”
“Ouch.”
“Yup. He says it, and I was caught off guard and laughed my behind off. And now, I’m banned from meeting Rand Templeton.”
“Rancid,” Audrey said and grinned. “It’s a good one. Wait until I tell Orion.”
“Fortunately for us, Cid only pouted a little. He’s cooking gumbo for all of us. I’ve already made the corn muffins. And I believe you’re supposed to bring the dessert.”
“Yes,” Audrey said with her eyes twinkling. “I have a surprise for us all.”
“Come on, tell me.”
“No, you have to wait just like the others.”
“I’m intrigued,” Mia said.
The downstairs of the farmhouse was full of people. The little guys dominated the floor of the room with the bushel basket full of stuffed dinosaurs Glenda brought with her to entertain the young children. She pulled one out of the basket, and Brian gave the proper name for it. Glenda would make a face and give it a silly name, making the little guys laugh. Baby laughs were contagious. Soon everyone was in a relaxed mood.
PEEPs had just finished filming a haunt, and the group decided it was time to celebrate. Burt and Mike were really pleased with the professionalism the group showed for a change. Mia started off a bit stiff on camera but warmed up once Mike started teasing her. Audrey had the research done before they started, and the techs had no problems with filming the old haunted monastery.
“Going into this, I thought that ghost monks might be too placid, not very entertaining,” Mia commented. “They stood there watching us, wrapped in those brown robes. I started to worry that they had taken a vow of silence, but after Mike broke that bottle of wine and they started chasing him, I knew we had ourselves a haunt.”
“Just where were you when I was cornered in the bell tower?” Mike asked. “The bells were deafening.”
“She was ringing the bell,” Ted tattled.
“It was Murphy’s turn to follow you, and you know how much I love steps,” Mia said, looking at her nails.
Mike shook his head. “I may never get rid of the tinnitus.”
“Oh, it can’t be as bad as having to listen to two tone-deaf women sing hymns in the chapel,” Cid said. “It was horrible. Even Jake quit for the day.”
“I thought the idea was to prod the ghosts into doing something,” Mia said. “Besides, Audrey’s and my rendition of the “Hallelujah” chorus will never be forgotten.”
“Don’t worry, I dropped the audio after the screeching began,” Ted said.
Dieter and Mark walked in carrying some chairs from upstairs.
“I guess that’s my cue to serve the gumbo,” Cid said.
The dinner talk progressed to other happy things. The babes were fed and burped and carried upstairs to bed. Brian was given permission to watch hockey with the older boys in the aerie as long as he didn’t repeat any of the words he lip-read.
When the boys left the farmhouse, Audrey commented, “Brian has become very amenable.”
“That a polite way of saying the brat has left the building,” Ted said, picking up the gumbo bowls.
“Well, he was rather, um, bratty,” Mia admitted. “The summer working with my father, combined with his romp on the island with Ed, has taught him some manners and how to choose his words more carefully.”
“How so?” Orion asked, interested.
“Well, he told Ed that fishing was a simpleton’s task,” Ted said. “So, Ed took him fishing, telling him that they couldn’t return until Brian had bested him in the amount they caught. The gist was that Brian had assumed, incorrectly, that it wasn’t a sport that involved skill.”
“I don’t care if I ever eat another lake perch again,” Mia admitted. “They came home with a boat full. Neither fisherman would relent. But Brian did learn to think first before calling Ed a simpleton.”
“He still talks a lot,” Ted said.
“That’s the pot calling the kettle black,” Mike commented.
Ted ignored him. Mia had warned Ted that Mike was in a mood and not to fall for any of his traps.
“I think everyone goes through phases,” Glenda said. “Even we adults. I remember a few things about each of you that you’ve changed.”
“Mia’s language,” Burt said. “When we first met, I was shocked.”
“You weren’t raised by wolves like I was,” Mia said. “You’d be surprised what cuss words a wolf can come up with.”
“Having children changed you, didn’t it?” Audrey said. “It did me.”
“That and the threat of Murphy’s bar of soap,” Mia said, winking at the ghost who stood in the corner observing the gathering.
“I would not want to piss off that ghost,” Mike said. “In the beginning, I was friendly, and he gave me hell.”
“You were too friendly. That’s why he gave you hell,” Mia said.
“No better man,” Burt said. “I’d like to raise what’s left in my glass to Stephen Murphy.”
“Here, here!” Mike said.
Mia clicked her glass with everyone within reach. Her stomach growled loudly. “Oh my, my dessert stomach needs filling,” she explained.
“Mia, you only have one stomach,” Cid
