Fergal, Calista and Austin all grew up into young adults.
Hallie brought Lance, Lola and Lacie round for a picnic meal with the family in our garden but poor Bronson was ill and therefore spent the day at his dads instead. Calista married her boyfriend Gussie Bell and they moved into a house with Fergal and Austin. I went round later in the day to help Calista furnish the place and make it look nicer than before.
My mum invited me round hers for a party after the three moved out which was nice, and I met the next challenge father, Vince Calhoin. Bradly Turner was also there, and I was ashamed to say that I had a little crush on him. I wasn't allowed to get attached to any of the fathers.
Wednesday went first, aging into a beautiful girl with thick red hair bouncing on her shoulders. She became quite a girly girl which surprised me as she'd always been the tomboy.
Next was Fester, aging up wonderfully and with an aptitude for everything.
Gomez next. Gomez was the only one of the quads not really fussed on his appearance. He liked the longer hair and normally just threw on any old outfit as long as it smelt okay. I often heard Wednesday trying to get him wearing much nicer clothes but Gomez didn't care.
And last, but not least, Pugsley. Pugsley was all about keeping fit. He loved the gym and for his birthday got a bar in order to do chin ups to increase his muscles. The girls loved him and he was always fighting them off at school.
And just like that; the good day was over. Wed, Pugs and Gomez were busy in their bedrooms getting ready for school and Fester was downstairs fixing the dishwasher as he'd already got ready for school. There was a loud bang and the entire house shook. Wednesday, being closest, ran into the kitchen to find Fester laying on the floor. He'd died of electrocution.
"MUM. MUUUUM. COME QUICK. MUUUM HELP."
I ran as fast as I could, but there was nothing I could do but watch the Grim Reaper carry my son away. We all stood there, numb for a second, Wednesday and I were sobbing.
I couldn't believe that he was really gone. I'd barely known him. The kids suggested we have the memorial that day and although it seemed a bit soon I agreed and let them set it up. They set up and invited lots of family and friends over, telling them to all wear bright clothes because Fester was a bright happy person in life.
As if to show this, during the party, Wednesday had pulled out the rodeo bull ride from the basement and was having fun on it.
"I don't understand how you can enjoy yourself when your brother is dead."
"Gomez. Fester was a happy person, always the life of the party. He wouldn't want us moping around, being sad the entire time. If he was here, he'd be on this, encouraging us to stop being sad and to have a go."
"I have to agree with Wedz here Gomez. Fester would have wanted this."
Calista came, heavily pregnant with her little girl.
Zane rode the rodeo bull the entire party, agreeing with the kids that Fester would have wanted it.
Fergal didn't really speak to anybody, just gazed out the window.
Calista placed her hand on my shoulder when I asked about him and spoke softly.
"He was fond of Fester. They were best friends... He's just a bit numb."
Aislinn, Caden, Hallie and Sookie also didn't seem to know what to do apart from stand in corners, looking at their feet.
Whereas Kaylum plonked himself on the floor in front of the TV and played a game.
Poor Wednesday spent most of the night crying her eyes out in the bathroom.
I went to the graveyard that evening to place Fester at his final place of rest. The kids had offered to come with me, but I just wanted to do it alone for some reason. Once there, I signed the paperwork needed to place his grave down and the manager of the graveyard left me to say my goodbyes. I began crying, unable to read the short speech I'd written for Fester's 18th, which he would now never hear.
Suddenly, strong arms were around me and I was sobbing and wiping my snot all over someone's shoulder.
He kissed my head and whispered softly into my ear a lullaby. I knew instantly that it was Bradly. He stuck around with me for a little bit, paying his respects to Fester before apologizing and leaving.
I was about to leave when I saw the bushes move.
"Hello?"
I called out into the darkness, not in the mood to be mugged right now. I was in the state of mind where I would hand over my purse and ask them to leave the photo of the kids I'd taken just before Fester died. The last photo I had of him.
Nobody answered but a dog ran happily out of the bushes straight up to me, nuzzling against my legs. I couldn't believe my eyes. This dog wasn't... alive. It was a ghost of a dog. Did that mean?
The dog happily chased some other animals around the graveyard and I stood by Fester's grave and pulled out my guitar.
I wasn't sure what I was expecting to happen. Most likely nothing and for a long time, nothing did happen. And then, just as it started to get light, I sensed movement and a whisper, nothing more.
The whisper said "Mama."
I didn't dare turn around for fear that he was in my imagination and would disappear, but out the corner of my eye I could see Fester, glowing yellow with electricity running through his transparent body standing there. One tear was running down his cheek, but he was smiling.
Just as I finished the song, Fester vanished into thin air and I looked around for him but couldn't find him anywhere. I was beginning to give up when a pain in my abdomen told me I was in labour. I rushed myself to the hospital as Vince wasn't keen on home births... or in a graveyard apparently and wanted 'good medical care'.
Welcome to the world; Baby 18
Kim Moon
and Baby 19
Meg Moon
Calista and Gussie had their daughter, a little girl they named Michell pronounced (Mish-elle) which was a name that was passed down in Gussie's family.
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