Well, we have at least two reasons to celebrate tonight, so....is everyone ready to begin our next story?
Mike: After the last one, I'm almost afraid to say yes.
Lauren: Yeah!
Peter: Me!
Micky: I am!
Davy: I'm ready.
(We begin at the Pad. Micky and Mike are playing the end of "Papa Gene's Blues" together for an audience of two - two babies in chairs, that is. When they're finished, they take a bow.)
Mike: (Grins) So, kids, what do you think?
*The babies clap with help from Micky.*
Micky: *Grins* They loved it!
Mike: Glad they do. (Sighs and sits down next to Shelly, letting her hold his finger) I can't believe I'm going to have a little cowgirl of my own in three months or so. Where has the time gone?
Micky: If you find out where the time went, let me know.
Mike: It's already June. Peter and Valerie are gettin' married next week, Davy got a part in a pirate musical, and I'm almost a dad.
Micky: *grins* Amazing, ain't it?
Mike: Yeah. (Sighs) I hope I can do as good with my girl as you do with Shelly. Em's been kinda moody lately. (Grins) More than usual.
Micky: *Chuckles* You'll do just fine, Mike.
Mike: (Takes Shelly on his knee) You're gonna have a little friend soon, Shelly, someone to share secrets with and play music with and do your hair and all that girl stuff with. (Sighs) I wish I knew more about kids.
Micky: Well...got any questions?
Mike: Yeah. I don't know anything about babies. How do you and Lauren do it? Even Em knows more than I do. She's only got three younger siblings.
Micky: *shrugs* Well, I had my younger sisters, but Lauren didn't. Just instincts, I guess. It isn't like I ever really paid attention on how to take care of my sisters when they were really little. I only knew enough to babysit.
Mike: I don't know enough for that! (Shelly grabs at his tie; Mike makes a face and pulls it away) Why you got to go and do that, little cowgirl? You've got plenty of toys!
(Shelly cries. Mike makes a face and starts patting her on the back.)
Micky: *chuckles* Shel likes to to grab stuff. Come on, Mike, you can quiet her, I know you can. *smirks*
Mike: Aw, come on, little cowgirl. Just calm down. You sound worse than Aunt Em when she's mad at me.
*Micky chuckles again.*
Mike: What does she want?
Micky: Let's see. She might be hungry, tired...need to be changed...
(He starts walking around with the baby, rocking her and making faces.)
Mike: You like Uncle Mike's faces, little cowgirl? (Crying) Guess not.
Micky: Ehh, she's not too big on my faces either.
Mike: Do you wanna eat? We could feed ya. She doesn't smell bad, so I don't think she needs to be changed.
Micky: *Nods, slight grin* That's a good sign.
Mike: Maybe you wanna play with your brother. (Sets her down in a crib) There. Mick, get little Mick. Maybe she just wants to pick on him.
Micky: Definitely possible... *brings little Mick over to the crib & sets him next to Shelly*
(They lean over and start playing with some blocks in the crib together.)
Mike: Guess she didn't want to be with Uncle Mike.
Micky: *Claps Mike's shoulder* She just wanted to play with her brother, man. Don't take offense. She likes to do that to me a lot, too.
Mike: (Smiles at Mick, then leans over the happily playing children in the crib) I envy you guys. You live in a nice home with two parents who love you. Your Uncle Mike didn't have that. He just had his mommy, and she had to work a lot. Uncle Mike sometimes had to live with Great Aunt Kate, or in nasty old houses and apartments in bad parts of Houston.
Micky: Just think, though, Mike, you can offer your kid two parents who love her... *glances around the pad; grins* And a nice house, too!
Mike: Yeah, someday, when we actually BUY the house. (Smiles vaguely) We're pretty close now. Should be able to afford it by the time the kid's born, maybe early fall.
Micky: See that?
Mike: (Looks at Micky sadly) Mick, I barely HAD a childhood. I was working the minute I could start picking up papers and cleaning out neighbors' weeds. We counted every penny we could get our hands on. I had practically no toys, unless Aunt Kate bought them or made them, and my clothes were hand-me-downs from my male cousins. (Mutters) Then Mom married my stepdad, and I spent five years trying to run away. :P
Micky: *Nods* I know that, Mike. Just imagine what you can give your kid that you didn't have.
Mike: (Softly) Everything. I'm going to give that girl everything I can. Em wants to, too. A mother AND father who love her, a place to come home to that isn't about to be taken from her because her parents can't pay the rent, family and friends who will care for her. I...I just hope I can.
Micky: *Places a hand on Mike's shoulder* You CAN do it, Mike, I know you can.
(Mike strokes Shelly's head, then little Mick's.)
Mike: (Turns to Micky) I wish I knew how. I don't know about playin' with toys, or what to buy her, or how to make her happy.
Micky: *Sighs* Just go by your gut, Mike. You'll know what to do for her. *grins* I could always give you a set of Lincoln Logs or something to give you some practice with toys.
Mike: All my toys are big kids' toys, like the MonkeeMobile.
Micky: *Nods* I'll get you some Hot Wheels, too.
Mike: (Smiles at the pair now playing with stuffed animals and babbling to each other) You two are lucky to have each other. Uncle Mike doesn't have any brothers or sisters. (Grins) Well, except for your daddy and Uncle Peter and Uncle Davy. (Sighs) Sometimes, I wish I could be a kid. A real kid, not one who had to worry about where his and Mommy's dinner was coming from or listen to Mommy and her latest boyfriend argue downstairs or live with Aunt Kate and his cousins until they could find another shack to go back to. (Shakes his head) It's a nice dream, but I just...can't. I'm responsible. I'm the one who's in charge of everything. (Smiles faintly) Except cooking. I never did learn to cook. Mom and I lived off TV dinners and Aunt Kate's cookin'. I wouldn't even know how to go to the grocery store, like Em and Lauren are doin' now.
Micky: I think I could get you some pointers on cooking. I'm getting pretty darn good, you know. *grins*
Mike: (Grins back) The way you eat, you'd have to. Lauren can't cook fast enough to keep up with that stomach!
Micky: I resemble that remark! *Shrugs* We take turns cooking.
Mike: And you haven't burned down the kitchen yet?
Micky: ONE lousy fire the first time I tried, and I'll never live it down! *smirks* We keep a fire extinguisher handy, but I can keep the flame where it's supposed to be.
(Mike chuckles)
Micky: *Shrugs* Lauren won't let me try camp fire cooking, though.
Mike: Gee, I wonder why? You blow things up with a chemistry set! I wouldn't go within five miles of you cooking on an open fire!
Micky: Hey! I AM keeping my explosions contained now, at least.
Mike: Or there wouldn't be anything left of your house.
*Micky sticks his tongue out.*
(Little Micky swipes at their block tower, knocking it down. Shelly makes a face and cries again.)
Mike: Now, why'd you go and do that, boy? You got your sister upset again!
Micky: *Shakes his head* And that's what HE likes to do.
Mike: Well, he got Shelly upset. (He puts a block in Shelly's lap and starts piling them on top of each other, but Little Mick just knocks them down again, giggling) Oh, man, Mick!
Micky: Chip off the old block...literally.
Mike: Yeah, you BOTH get annoyin'. (Tickles Shelly, who is now giggling with her brother) Right, Shel? Your daddy's a great guy, but he can be mighty silly sometimes.
Micky: Silly, huh? *makes a face, waggling his fingers, with his thumbs to his ears*
Mike: (Smiles) Like that. Ain't he somethin', Shel?
(The twins have abandoned their blocks and are starting to make their way to the edges of the crib, Little Mick first.)
Mike: Hey, I don't think you kiddies are supposed to be engineering a jail break at your ages.
Micky: *Laughs* I think they just got bored with the blocks.
(Little Micky tries to get out. Shelly decides she'd rather play with a stuffed cat instead.)
Mike: Man, Mick, your kid takes after you. Always makin' trouble. Even his sister's got enough sense to give up./P>
Micky: Shel takes after Lauren. Let's see what he tries to do.
Mike: Aren't you worried? Mick might hurt himself.
(Little Mick tries to get out, falls, starts to wail, then tries again.)
Micky: *Chuckles* See? He's fine. I've watched him do this. He'll keep trying until he gets tired of it.
(Little Mick tries again and wails again.)
Mike: (Moves away from the crib) Man, that boy can scream! I thought YOU were loud!
(Shelly throws in her voice for good measure.)
Micky: I think Shel just showed you, Mike. They've BOTH got a set of pipes on them.
Mike: (Makes a face) Is there any way you can turn them off?
Micky: *Shakes his head* Sorry, Mike, sometimes, you just gotta let them wail.
Mike: Oh, man! (Turns grumpily away) There goes my hearin'.
*Micky chuckles.*
Mike: Man, how can they DO that?
Micky: *dull glare* You can seriously ask that?
Mike: Doesn't it hurt their throats?
Micky: No. They aren't talking yet, so they gotta "voice their opinions" some other way.
Mike: Can't they do it quietly? (Rolls his eyes) No, they can't. (Grins faintly) They're your kids.
Micky: You're finally realizing that. *Sighs* You're worrying too much, Mike. Just let them be kids. They'll be okay.
Mike: I don't know how. I don't know what it's like to BE a kid.
Micky: *Sighs; rolls his eyes* Just let them be.
Mike: (Starts to rub Shelly's back; she does quiet down a little) Shh, there, little cowgirl. Don't need to wake up the whole neighborhood. Might bring Grandpa Babbitt over here squakin' cause he thinks there's animals in the house or somethin'.
Micky: *Gives little Mick a noogie; the boy laughs* You're just practicing your howling, aren't ya?
Mike: Oh, great, a mini-werewolf.
Micky: Sure. Why not?
Mike: You're bad enough...and I hope I never turn into a REAL wolf around Babbitt. We'd have fun explaining THAT.
Micky: That would be pretty tough.
Mike: (Pulls away when Shelly tries for his tie again) Cut that out! My tie ain't toys! (Finally takes it off)
Micky: *Shakes his head* Shel just likes to grab stuff. Kids like to touch things. *shrugs*
Mike: Well, could she not touch something that's around my neck?
Micky: She doesn't know what'll happen if she gives it a yank.
Mike: Uncle Mike's gonna not be able to sing tomorrow at the Club Fairview, THAT'S what's gonna happen. (Rubs the little girl's head) Can't hurt Uncle Mike's throat there, cowgirl. He's gotta sing tomorrow.
Micky: Here, Shel... *reaches into a back pocket and pulls out a bandanna* Here, pull on this, NOT Uncle Mike's tie. *gives Shelly the bandanna*
(Shelly takes it and starts chewing on it. Her brother now plays with the stuffed cat, pulling at its tail.)
Mike: Man, I hope he doesn't do that to Onyx.
Micky: No, he doesn't. Onyx can take care of himself.
Mike: How is the cat doin', anyway? Still growin' like a weed?
Micky: *Nods* Oh, yeah. He oughta be full grown in a few more months. By then, these three'll be chasing each other around the house.
Mike: Bet you're lookin' forward to it.
Micky: Of course! I'm gonna join in.
(Mike sighs and picks up Black Beauty. He sits on the bandstand, looking out the window.)
Mike: I wonder...(He starts playing a random tune, just some notes.) I wonder what it would be like to be a kid again.
Micky: You keep saying that, Mike.
Mike: (Shrugs) Guess watchin' the little guys has me thinkin' about it.
Micky: That's okay. Watch them, and you will know what it's like to be a kid.
Mike: They just seem so...carefree. Happy. Like they don't have a care in the world.
Micky: Because they really don't.
Mike: Can't remember the last time I didn't have a care in the world. (Frowns) Wonder if we ought to practice again. Peter should be out of his teaching class soon, and Davy will be back from the theater soon, too.
Micky: Or we could have a little more fun with the kids.
Mike: I'd love to have more fun with the kids. They're cute. I just...well, we can't always fool around.
Micky: We can practice when the others get back. *waves it off*
(The kids are now playing with a plastic dump truck in the crib. Little Mick tries to put the cat in the back of the truck, but it's too big.)
Mike: Yeah, well, we have a show to do tomorrow, and didn't you say you and Davy say you'd talked to some Hollywood buddies of yours and found some new songs for us?
Micky: *Nods* Yeah, but what's a few more minutes of playing with the kids?
Mike: Em's gonna be home soon, too, and she'll wanna make dinner, and Peter will have things to work on.
(Shelly giggles as her brother puts the stuffed cat on top of the dump truck.)
Micky: We'll have a chance to rehearse together later. *chuckles at the kids* Get a load of that.
Mike: (Grins) Cute. Guess he figures the cat can drive.
Micky: Well... *makes cat noises* this cat can!
(The twins giggle.)
Mike: (Grins) Daddy thinks he's REALLY a panther again.
Micky: They like it when Daddy makes cat noises.
Mike: (Starts playing again) How would you like to hear Uncle Mike make wolf noises?
(Mike howls softly, so Babbit won't hear.)
Micky: *Laughs* That was good, Mike.
Mike: Well, if anyone should know how to howl, it's Papa Wolf.
Micky: I have a pretty good howl.
Mike: (Stands) I have some stuff I need to rehearse, too, and I'm working tomorrow, so I'd better head off early tonight. (Shakes his head) Mick, the last time YOU howled here, Babbitt came over here poundin' on the door, demandin' to know where the dog was.
Micky: That's how I know I'm GOOD! *pauses* Oh, come on, Mike, hang out with me and the kids until the others get back. You keep saying you'd like to know how it feels to be a kid again, so why not give it a try?
Mike: I want to, but we have things to do...
Micky: *Also stands* What's a few minutes?
Mike: Mick, I'd love to be a kid again, to be like those kids, but I've got responsibilities, things to do.
Micky: *Rolls his eyes; lets out a frustrated sigh* You wanna be a kid again, but you don't wanna be. *makes a face* Huh? Mike, it's just a few minutes!
Mike: Look, it's a nice thought. (Sighs) All right, Mick, just a few minutes more, but when the girls come home, we practice. I'd love to be a kid and play all day, but a father and the leader of a band can't do that.
Micky: *Quirks an eyebrow* He can't, huh?
Mike: Not ALL day, anyway. I have a child to help support soon, not to mention my career. And then, there's Em...
Micky: You don't have to be serious all the time, Mike. *grins* I'm not!
Mike: I'm not, either. I just...have things I have to do.
Micky: You know, I think the first thing you have to do IS learn how to be a kid!
Mike: How about after dinner?
Micky: *Shakes his head* No, right now!
Mike: Well, how do you propose I do that? (Puts Black Beauty down and crosses his arms)
Micky: Like this. *Concentrates on Mike.*
Mike: (Frowns) Micky, what in the WORLD are you DOIN'?
*As Micky concentrates, a dark blue light surrounds Mike, enveloping him. When it clears, a four year old stands in Mike's place.*
Micky: *Grins* Hey, it worked!
(The door open as the child, now clad in a yellow Oxford shirt five times too big for him, looks around in fear. Emma and Lauren come in, both carrying groceries. Emma's pregnancy is definately showing now. She's not as big as Lauren was when she was pregnant with the twins, but still pretty big.)
Emma: Hey, guys, kids, we're...(frowns at the group in the living room and puts down her groceries)..home.
Lauren: What the...
Little Mike: (Looks around) Where am I? Where's Mommy?
Emma: Who's the kid?
Micky: Mike. *grins*
Emma: (Eyes widen) WHAT?
Lauren: You didn't, Mick...
Little Mike: (Nods shyly) That's m'name.
Micky: *Nods* I did!
Emma: Micky, I don't know how you did this, but change him back!
Little Mike: Change who back?
Emma: You, honey.
Micky: No way! He said he wanted to learn how to be a kid again, so he's gonna learn!
Little Mike: (Looks at Emma with a shy smile) You're pretty.
Lauren: Mick, you can't leave Mike like that!
Emma: (To Little Mike) Thank you, honey. (To Micky) Mick, he's cute, but he's my husband! Change him back!
Micky: *Shakes his head* No can do.
Little Mike: Change me into WHAT?
Emma: Micky, I can't be married to a little boy!
Lauren: Mick, change him back!
Little Mike: Are you married? My mommy's not married. Daddy went away.
Emma: Oh, man...
Micky: I'm trying to teach him a lesson here! He practically ASKED me to do this!
Emma: (Puts her hand on the little boy's shoulder) Yeah, I'm married, honey, but he's...not here right now.
Lauren: *Eyes narrow* Micky...
Little Mike: Is he in the army? My daddy went to the army.
Micky: He stays as is. *crosses his arms defiantly*
Emma: (sits next to Little Mike, brushing his black hair out of his face) Oh, honey...
Little Mike: (Joins her) Why you cryin', lady?
Emma: I...miss someone, that's all.
Lauren: *Slugs Micky's arm and hisses* Lookit what you did!
Little Mike: Don't feel so bad, Miss! I miss my mommy, too.
Micky: *Disses back* I'm NOT changing him back!
Emma: I miss...a friend. A very good friend. (Puts her arm around the little boy and hugs him)
Lauren: *Mutters* Feel like I'm talking to a brick wall.
Little Mike: (After Emma lets go of him) Hey, I'm hungry. Do we have anything to eat?
*Micky sticks his tongue out at Lauren.*
Emma: (Nods, sniffling) Yes. We just went to the store.
Emma: Well, what do you like to eat?
Little Mike: Hamburgers! We don't have them much. Mommy just usually puts in a TV dinner.
Emma: Well, I don't know what your mother feeds you, but I believe in feeding children REAL food.
Little Mike: It sure looked real to me!
*Micky chuckles. Lauren slugs his arm again.*
Emma: (Shakes her head) No. I mean, I make REAL hamburgers, out of meat from the store, with pickles and lettuce and everything.
Little Mike: Oh boy!
Emma: But first, we're going to have to get you something to wear other than that shirt.
Little Mike: I am sorta cold...
Emma: (Sighs) I guess you two wouldn't have anything sized for a 4-year-old boy.
Lauren: *Shakes her head* No.
Micky: *Sighs* I think Mom still has some of my old clothes in the attic...
Emma: I wonder if the stores are still open?
Little Mike: A store? We could really go to a store? Mommy doesn't go to stores much. She doesn't have much money. All the money pays for our house.
Lauren: If you're going to the store, take Mick and show him what it's like to take a four year old shopping. *makes a face at Micky*
*Micky makes a face.*
Emma: (Grins) Better yet...why doesn't Mick take Mike shopping? I have to start dinner.
Lauren: *Grins* Yeah.
Little Mike: You'd take me shopping, Mister? (Turns to Micky with a big grin)
Micky: Okay, fine! I'll take the...*grins* rugrat to the store.
(Little Mike jumps up and down, almost tripping over his shirt in the process.)
(Peter walks in at this point, carrying a bag of books. He looks at the little boy jumping up and down and smiles.)
Peter: Hi, guys! Who's our visitor?
Lauren: Apparently, that's Mike.
Little Mike: My name's Mike, Mister. Mommy sometimes calls me Bobby, but I don't like that. It's a baby name.
Peter: (Eyes widen) He's...that's...but how...
Emma: Ask Mick.
Micky: *Gets elbowed in the gut by Lauren* Geez...
Micky: He wanted to know what it was like to be a kid again, so I helped him. :P
Peter: You turned him INTO a kid?
Little Mike: Of course I'm a kid!
Micky: Yes.
Emma: (Grins) Yup, you're Mike, all right.
Little Mike: Who else would I be?
Peter: Oh, man! (Sweeps the little boy into his arms) Mike, are you ok? Did it hurt?
Little Mike: I'm ok. I miss my Mommy, though.
Peter: But you're...Mike Nesmith.
Emma: (Sighs) He's Mike Nesmith when he was four.
*Lauren smacks the back of Micky's head. He makes another face at her.*
Peter: Do you have any toys?
Little Mike: I have some old blocks I got from my cousins Jack and Lewis.
Peter: (Shows Mike the babies in the crib; they're sleeping now) Maybe you can play with Aunt Lauren and Uncle Micky's babies when they wake up. :)
Little Mike: How come they ain't up now?
Emma: They're babies. They need more sleep than we do.
Little Mike: They're awfully small, ain't they?
Emma: They were even smaller when they were born.
Little Mike: How old are they?
Lauren: Fifteen months.
Little Mike: How much is that?
Emma: A year and three months old.
Little Mike: They really ARE little! They're littler than me!
Peter: (Looks at the half-naked boy) Maybe we need to get you some clothes.
Emma: Why don't you and Micky take him shopping? We'll cook up dinner here.
Little Mike: Mister Micky is gonna take me to a real store!
Peter: Haven't you ever been in a store before?
Little Mike: Not one of the big ones with all the fancy stuff! Mommy says they cost too much money.
Lauren: Mike, make sure that Mister Micky spends A LOT on you. *makes a face at Micky, which he returns*
Little Mike: A lot? More than a quarter?
Emma: More than a hundred quarters.
*Micky rolls his eyes.*
Peter: We're gonna need a lot of quarters then. ;)
Little Mike: Let's go! I wanna go NOW!
Micky: Pushy little guy, ain't he?
Peter: Well, he's Mike.
Little Mike: How come you guys don't think I'm Mike? Mommy says I'm Mike. So does Aunt Kate.
Peter: You just...remind us of someone else.
Little Mike: John Wayne? He's my hero!
Emma: (Chuckles) Sort of.
Lauren: Kinda... *elbows Micky again*
Emma: Why don't Uncle Peter and Uncle Micky go get some nice clothes for our little guest. (Smiles) Mike, you can help Aunt Lauren take care of the babies.
Little Mike: Really? I play with my cousins sometimes, but I don't have any sisters or brothers.
Lauren: Really!
Emma: You can't go into the store in just an Oxford shirt, I'm afraid.
Little Mike: Neat! (Peter puts him down, and he runs over to the crib to look at the babies) They've got stuff comin' out of their mouths!
Emma: Probably drooling. Babies do that.
Lauren: *Laughs* A lot, too. *smirks at Micky*
Micky: Sure, blame me.
Lauren: Well, Mick, you do tend to drool when you sleep.
Micky: Oh, man. Let's get going.
Little Mike: (Puts his hand on Little Micky) They're soft, like Aunt Kate's barn kitty.
Peter: Yeah. I hope the stores are still open. (He and Micky head out.)
Emma: (Sighs) Lauren, what are we going to do? I don't know anything about raising a four-year-old! (Puts her hand on her stomach) And what will I tell my kid? I'm raising her AND her father?
Lauren: *Sighs* We have to get Mick to change him back. I'm just not sure how to do that. Mike must've really ticked him off.
Emma: He's just worried about being a father, since he didn't have one. (Sighs) Or he was...
Lauren: That's understandable.
Little Mike: (Looks up at Emma) How come you have a big tummy, miss?
Emma: My name's Emma, honey. I have a big tummy because I'm going to have a baby.
Little Mike: You'll have a baby, too?
Emma: A girl baby.
Little Mike: Aw, can't it be a boy, so I can play with it?
Emma: Sorry, I can't choose if it's a boy or a girl.
Lauren: *Mutters* Hopefully you'll be you again by then...
Little Mike: (Looks up at the bandstand) Wow, you have a lot of neat instruments! Mommy says if I'm really good someday, I'll be able to play guitar, like all the cowboy singers on the radio! Maybe I'LL be on the radio someday! I love to sing along with the radio! Mommy says I have a nice voice, like Gene Autry.
Emma: (Smiles, but tears are forming) Maybe you will.
Lauren: *Frowns* Oh man...
Little Mike: Can we turn on the radio?
Emma: (Smiles) Sure! (Pulls a small radio onto the kitchen table and turns it on; it plays an instrumental song)
Little Mike: I don't know what kind of music that is, but it's nice. It's not like the music on the radio at home.
(Emma sighs and starts putting the burger patties on a skillet. She pulls out lettuce, tomatoes, onions, mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup, and pickles.)
Little Mike: Sure smells good! You're a good cook, Emma!
Emma: (Smiles) Thanks! (Starts wiping her eyes)
Little Mike: Why are you sad, Emma?
Emma: I'm...I miss someone.
Little Mike: Who?
Emma: A friend.
Little Mike: Did he leave and not come back?
Emma: (Gulps) Not exactly.
Little Mike: (Puts his arms around the pregnant woman as well as he can) Don't feel sad, Emma. I'll won't let no one hurt you.
Lauren: That's so sweet.
Little Mike: I'm not like my Daddy. He left and didn't come back, and Mommy gets mad or sad whenever I talk about him.
Emma: (Puts one hand on the little boy's head) No, you're not like your daddy. You're a better man than your daddy ever was.
*Lauren nods.*
Emma: Why don't you and Aunt Lauren set the table? Uncle Micky and Uncle Peter are going to be home with some new clothes for you soon.
Lauren: Come on, Mike, give me a hand.
Little Mike: Ok, Lauren. (He goes to the kitchen as Lauren starts taking out forks and knives.)
Emma: You know, as long as Micky is adamant on Mike staying a child, why doesn't he bring some other children over for him to play with?
Little Mike: Sometimes, I play with my cousins.
Lauren: That's a good idea, Em.
Emma: We could call Micky's mom and tell her that one of Mike's cousins has their kid over and Micky's sisters have someone new to abuse.
Lauren: I can do that.
Little Mike: Who are Micky's sisters?
Lauren: Coco, Debbie, and Gina. Three very rambunctious girls. :)
Little Mike: All girls?
Emma: But they play pretty rough.
Lauren: You're not kidding.
Little Mike: Would they play Cowboys and Indians? I wanna be John Wayne!
Emma: Bet they'd love to.
Lauren: Definitely.
(Peter and Micky walk in as Emma stirs a pot full of rice. The two carry shopping bags.)
Peter: Here you go, Mike! We got you all kinds of great stuff!
Little Mike: Oh boy (Runs over to the bags)
Lauren: Hey, Mick, why don't we invite your sisters over?
Peter: (Grins) That would be fun!
Micky: *Quirks an eyebrow* Okay, sure. I'll call Mom. *goes over to the phone, a curious look on his face*
(Little Mike tugs at the bags, trying to peek in)
Peter: (Scoops Little Mike and one of the bags into his arms) Ok, little man, we're going to get you dressed.
Little Mike: But I'm not a little man! I'm the man of the house! Mommy says so!
Peter: Well, ok, man of the house. We need to get you dressed.
(Peter takes the little boy into his room as Davy walks in.)
Davy: Boy, am I 'ungry. (Sniffs) And are those 'amburgahs I smell?
Lauren: Dave, your nose rivals Mick's.
Micky: *Hangs up* Mom's gonna drop the girls off. And I heard that comment.
Davy: (Chuckles) We stahted work on the first numbahs in the show today.
Emma: How's rehearsals coming, anyway?
Davy: They're goin' great, luv. This is a really good show, very professional. Might even 'ave a shot at Broadway. :)
Lauren: That's great!
Davy: I can't wait to open. Of course, I've only got a featured paht, but I'm workin' with some great people. The famous Jane Turner is in this show! She was one of the great stage actresses of the 20th century!
Emma: I don't think she's been in a hit in years.
Davy: Now, wait just a minute, luv, just cause she ain't done anythin' recently...
Emma: In five years...
Davy: She's been nothin' but professional with us, and she's a fine singah, too.
(Peter emerges holding Little Mike's hand. Little Mike wears a T-shirt, jeans, and a short string of beads)
Little Mike: You should see all the great stuff Uncle Peter and Uncle Micky bought me! They bought me pajamas, and shirts, and boots, and Uncle Peter gave me beads, like the necklaces my Mommy used to wear! They even bought me little cars!
(Davy's eyes widen.)
Davy: Who's he?
Little Mike: Who are you, Mister? You're little!
*Micky snickers.*
Lauren: That's Mike, Davy.
(Davy's mouth falls open.)
Davy: But...that CAN'T be Mike...
Lauren: Now, everyone glare at Micky...
Little Mike: Why does everyone think I ain't Mike?
Davy: Ok, Mick, wot did you do this time?
Micky: *Shrugs* Mike wanted to know what it felt like to be a kid again. I did just what he asked and turned him into a little kid.
Davy: But he's NOT a kid!
Micky: Picky, picky.
Emma: (Sighs) I understand. Mike's so scared about this baby coming. He wanted to know what it's like to be a kid, so he can take care of ours when she comes.
Lauren: Did we mention that Mick won't change him back?
Micky: See? I had good intentions...initially.
Davy: Why not? Did he get you mad again?
Little Mike: (Frowns, hiding behind Peter) Did I do something wrong?
Peter: (Shakes his head) No, Michael, it's not your fault.
Little Mike: Michael? Why you call me that?
Micky: He was annoying me about wanting to be like a kid again, and then he just wanted to rehearse again. I told him a few minutes playing with the twins wouldn't do any harm.
Peter: (Sighs) Because that's your name, and you always seemed like more of a Michael to me.
Emma: Well, I know the kids are cute, but he had a point. (Starts putting the meat on buns) Who's ready for burgers, rice, and broccoli?
Little Mike: I'll eat the burgers, but do I gotta eat the broccoli?
Emma: Yes, you do, young man. It's good for you.
Little Mike: That's what Mommy says./P>
Lauren: Or else you don't get dessert.
Little Mike: Aw! That's not fair! (He gets onto his chair anyway. Emma puts his plate in front of him)