1950s: A new house, a new party and a new war
As the new decade begin, Betty and Thomas are mostly wrapped up in their little family, and Betty's since they're still visiting. Betty's mother helps with the new baby, and with the cleaning of the house.
Betty loves her family and loves having them around, but by time they are ready to leave, both she and Thomas is ready to be on their own too.
Instead it's grandma Lauren who has a hard time saying goodbye to her grandson.
Betty and Thomas, however, are enjoying the peace and quiet and time alone with their son.
Josephine and Nash, meanwhile, has not even met their new grandson. It's not that Josephine doesn't want to, she's dying to, but Nash has persuaded her to wait until the Ellis-family goes home. "How many people do you think they can cope with at the same time." Josephine huffs but does as her husband suggests.
And it's not like she haven't got things to do, because with the new year, Nash has declared that they're moving again. Josephine isn't sure how she feels about it, but for once they're moving to something bigger. A house in a fairly new development area, still owned by the Landgraabs, but more suitable to Nash's position than the small apartment. So as the new decade begins, Josephine finds herself packing up the house once more.
But when the moving day comes, she cannot deny that the area looks nice.
Their new neighbors come and introduce themselves before they even settle into the house.
And once the movers has arrived with their things, and put them in the places she guides them to, Josephine has to admit that it's better than before.
But then, finally, Josephine gets word that the Ellis-family has left, and that she can finally meet the grandson she's been longing for, so with Nash at work, Barbara at school and Arthur at the draft-office to register as he waits for the semester to start at Foxbury, Josephine heads over to Betty and Thomas's place to meet her new grandson.
It's love at first sight! Baby Michael is adorable, and quickly get attached to his grandma. Josephine doesn't say it, but she loves that her grandson has his father's (and therefore his grandfather's) red hair. Josephine spends the rest of her afternoon cuddling her grandson and talking to his parents, before it's time to return home. Barbara will be home from school, Nash will be home from work, and Josephine needs to get dinner on the table.
Back home, Barbara is enjoying her new room. Much bigger than her old one, it most of all features a record player of her own! Barbara loves it and can dance before it for hours, while listening to music that her father hates.
At the dinner table, Arthur and Nash discusses politics, economics and Arthur's favourite subject, technology, but when Nash turns to his daughter most conversations ends up in arguments about horrible music, boys and curfews. Barbs dreads the day her brother will move off to college, and she will be left alone with her parents.
At school, things are better. Yes the classes are boring, and the teachers stupid, but Barbs has her friends, and there are so many cute boys in class. The talk of the corridors revolve around music, the latest movies, and prom! Barbara so wants to go, but so far dad is saying no. It's so unfair! Especially since Doug already asked her to go (and she's said yes, because she is NOT letting dad ruin her life!)
After dinner she heads out to the Dust Bowl to meet her friends. She has a curfew at ten, but time flies when you're having fun. She tries to sneak in a bit after midnight. The house is dead quiet, the lights off, maybe she's in luck?
But of course she isn't! Dad has waited up for her all evening, in the dark, to catch her sneaking in. She gets an earful as he yells at her before sending her straight to bed.
The next day it's Hazel and Grace's birthday. Josephine wants it at the house, but Grace and Hazel have their own idea. They're hosting their birthday party at the Solar Flare, with drinks, music and dancing. Josephine isn't pleased, but she does love seeing her family so she won't complain.
In Grace, Barbs find an ally. "Of course she should go to her prom! It's a once in a lifetime event!" she tells their parents. "Besides, it's at these things you find a husband to marry," she adds, knowing that's all her mother will need.
"There isn't any time to get her a dress, so there is no need to nag," Nash says firmly, thinking he's won the argument.
"No problem, she can just borrow mine." And with that it's settled. Barbara is delighted, she loves her sister's dress, and even though she's certain dad hates it, he's out of arguments. Besides, he knows he'll never win an argument with mum thinking she'll lose out of marriage if she isn't allowed to go. For mum, nothing is more important than seeing her married. The sooner the better.
Betty loves her family and loves having them around, but by time they are ready to leave, both she and Thomas is ready to be on their own too.
Instead it's grandma Lauren who has a hard time saying goodbye to her grandson.
Betty and Thomas, however, are enjoying the peace and quiet and time alone with their son.
Josephine and Nash, meanwhile, has not even met their new grandson. It's not that Josephine doesn't want to, she's dying to, but Nash has persuaded her to wait until the Ellis-family goes home. "How many people do you think they can cope with at the same time." Josephine huffs but does as her husband suggests.
And it's not like she haven't got things to do, because with the new year, Nash has declared that they're moving again. Josephine isn't sure how she feels about it, but for once they're moving to something bigger. A house in a fairly new development area, still owned by the Landgraabs, but more suitable to Nash's position than the small apartment. So as the new decade begins, Josephine finds herself packing up the house once more.
But when the moving day comes, she cannot deny that the area looks nice.
Their new neighbors come and introduce themselves before they even settle into the house.
And once the movers has arrived with their things, and put them in the places she guides them to, Josephine has to admit that it's better than before.
But then, finally, Josephine gets word that the Ellis-family has left, and that she can finally meet the grandson she's been longing for, so with Nash at work, Barbara at school and Arthur at the draft-office to register as he waits for the semester to start at Foxbury, Josephine heads over to Betty and Thomas's place to meet her new grandson.
It's love at first sight! Baby Michael is adorable, and quickly get attached to his grandma. Josephine doesn't say it, but she loves that her grandson has his father's (and therefore his grandfather's) red hair. Josephine spends the rest of her afternoon cuddling her grandson and talking to his parents, before it's time to return home. Barbara will be home from school, Nash will be home from work, and Josephine needs to get dinner on the table.
Back home, Barbara is enjoying her new room. Much bigger than her old one, it most of all features a record player of her own! Barbara loves it and can dance before it for hours, while listening to music that her father hates.
At the dinner table, Arthur and Nash discusses politics, economics and Arthur's favourite subject, technology, but when Nash turns to his daughter most conversations ends up in arguments about horrible music, boys and curfews. Barbs dreads the day her brother will move off to college, and she will be left alone with her parents.
At school, things are better. Yes the classes are boring, and the teachers stupid, but Barbs has her friends, and there are so many cute boys in class. The talk of the corridors revolve around music, the latest movies, and prom! Barbara so wants to go, but so far dad is saying no. It's so unfair! Especially since Doug already asked her to go (and she's said yes, because she is NOT letting dad ruin her life!)
After dinner she heads out to the Dust Bowl to meet her friends. She has a curfew at ten, but time flies when you're having fun. She tries to sneak in a bit after midnight. The house is dead quiet, the lights off, maybe she's in luck?
But of course she isn't! Dad has waited up for her all evening, in the dark, to catch her sneaking in. She gets an earful as he yells at her before sending her straight to bed.
The next day it's Hazel and Grace's birthday. Josephine wants it at the house, but Grace and Hazel have their own idea. They're hosting their birthday party at the Solar Flare, with drinks, music and dancing. Josephine isn't pleased, but she does love seeing her family so she won't complain.
In Grace, Barbs find an ally. "Of course she should go to her prom! It's a once in a lifetime event!" she tells their parents. "Besides, it's at these things you find a husband to marry," she adds, knowing that's all her mother will need.
"There isn't any time to get her a dress, so there is no need to nag," Nash says firmly, thinking he's won the argument.
"No problem, she can just borrow mine." And with that it's settled. Barbara is delighted, she loves her sister's dress, and even though she's certain dad hates it, he's out of arguments. Besides, he knows he'll never win an argument with mum thinking she'll lose out of marriage if she isn't allowed to go. For mum, nothing is more important than seeing her married. The sooner the better.
When it's time for cake, Barbara cheers more than anyone as first Grace then Hazel blows out their candles.
But while the girls are blowing out candles, and celebrating their birthday, and getting Barbara permission to go to prom, North Korea crosses the border in a coordinated general attack at several strategic points along the 38th parallel. In an instant, life is changed for the family, even if no one knows it at this point.
It's only later, when the letter arrives for Arthur, that the true meaning dawns on them. Instead of an acceptance letter from Foxbury, Arthur gets a draft letter from the government. The draft lottery has chosen him, and as he's not yet a student, nor responsible for the support of anyone or medically unfit, there is nothing to do but to report for duty. For the second time, Josephine and Nash sees a son go off to war and there is nothing to do but hope he'll return.
But while the girls are blowing out candles, and celebrating their birthday, and getting Barbara permission to go to prom, North Korea crosses the border in a coordinated general attack at several strategic points along the 38th parallel. In an instant, life is changed for the family, even if no one knows it at this point.
It's only later, when the letter arrives for Arthur, that the true meaning dawns on them. Instead of an acceptance letter from Foxbury, Arthur gets a draft letter from the government. The draft lottery has chosen him, and as he's not yet a student, nor responsible for the support of anyone or medically unfit, there is nothing to do but to report for duty. For the second time, Josephine and Nash sees a son go off to war and there is nothing to do but hope he'll return.
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