1950s: Christmas holidays and a whole lot of ankle biters.
In the Hurley-household, Grace feels as if she's ready to pop. Restless, she walks around the house doing little and sleeping much. Her sister comes by at times, as does her father from time to time - mostly to complain about her other sister and her insistence of living with men she is not married to. "Two of them are our cousins," Grace points out. "Surely they'll protect her and her reputation."
On a rare day, when she's not feeling so much like a whale and when her mother is staying with the kids for a few hours, she and Betty find the time to go to the salon together. Betty tries on new hairstyles, "something more practical," she says. "And away from the children's hands." Grace gets a well needed foot massage, and a manicure and gets her hair done in her usual style. It's not a big deal, but it feels like it. She is so ready to give birth soon.
When she returns home, it is to find out that David has been promoted. Her happiness is slightly short lived, however, when she sees his new working ours. "You'll be gone all night!" she exclaims.
"Yes, but I'll be here much more during the day. To take care of you and our son!"
"You don't know that it's a son, what if it's a girl."
"Oh I just know it's going to be a boy," David answers, before running off to his next shift. Annoyed, Grace hopes they'll have a girl.
At Betty and Thomas's house, Carl is making up for lost time. No sooner was he sitting until he was also crawling and dancing, and now the little boy is never where you last put him down. With Susan now an infant too, Carl gets to move in with his elder brother, and the nursery is given a refresh to fit their new baby girl. At the end of the night, they're usually so tired that they barely have the energy to watch and discuss the news. The McCarthy army-hearings barely registers, the division in Vietnam is nothing they discuss. The Brown vs Board of Education on the other hand does catch their attention, as Michael is set to start school after the holidays.
Anna is very much for the decision, saying it's "about time" to desegregate the schools, while Nash, affected by his traditional, southern, upbringing is equally opposed, saying there is nothing wrong with the system as it is. Separate but equal, what's wrong with that? Thomas is torn. On the one hand he can see the flaws in his father's reasoning, as everyone knows there is nothing equal about the system, but on a personal level he cannot but worry what this will mean for Michael's schooling. Will his school be worse of because of it? Will students with poorer backgrounds, with less academic merit, take too much of the school's resources, or force schools to lower their standards? In this, Betty calms him down, saying they can always hire a tutor or even homeschool him if it comes to that.
As Christmas, and therefore Michaels birthday, is hurling closer, Betty does her best to tend to her young. Carl is learning to eat proper food, and now that he can move about explores everything in his way. Susan thrives on her bottle formula, and is growing fast. So far she's a sweet and sensitive child. But far too soon it's Christmas eve, and Michaels´s birthday. The entire family is invited for the party, and Thomas has decorated the tree. Betty can't believe her little boy is ready to start school after the holidays!!
The party is a success, but Grace is uncomfortable throughout, and by the time they get home, it's clear to her that the baby is coming. That night, on Christmas Day itself, baby Kenneth is born. A boy, just like David wanted and hoped for.
This year, it's Alice that holds Christmas. This is always an appreciated event, as Cora's cooking is superb and both Alice and Cora knows how to throw a party. With Kenneth being born just hours before the party, Grace and David stay at home with their baby boy, but the rest of the family crowds into the house. Susan is put to bed in an adjacent room, to keep her safe from the noise, but Carl happily crawls around the floor exploring everything in this new place, especially the dog who he follows around while the rest of the family enjoys Turkey and drinks and presents and conversation and dancing.
On a rare day, when she's not feeling so much like a whale and when her mother is staying with the kids for a few hours, she and Betty find the time to go to the salon together. Betty tries on new hairstyles, "something more practical," she says. "And away from the children's hands." Grace gets a well needed foot massage, and a manicure and gets her hair done in her usual style. It's not a big deal, but it feels like it. She is so ready to give birth soon.
When she returns home, it is to find out that David has been promoted. Her happiness is slightly short lived, however, when she sees his new working ours. "You'll be gone all night!" she exclaims.
"Yes, but I'll be here much more during the day. To take care of you and our son!"
"You don't know that it's a son, what if it's a girl."
"Oh I just know it's going to be a boy," David answers, before running off to his next shift. Annoyed, Grace hopes they'll have a girl.
At Betty and Thomas's house, Carl is making up for lost time. No sooner was he sitting until he was also crawling and dancing, and now the little boy is never where you last put him down. With Susan now an infant too, Carl gets to move in with his elder brother, and the nursery is given a refresh to fit their new baby girl. At the end of the night, they're usually so tired that they barely have the energy to watch and discuss the news. The McCarthy army-hearings barely registers, the division in Vietnam is nothing they discuss. The Brown vs Board of Education on the other hand does catch their attention, as Michael is set to start school after the holidays.
Anna is very much for the decision, saying it's "about time" to desegregate the schools, while Nash, affected by his traditional, southern, upbringing is equally opposed, saying there is nothing wrong with the system as it is. Separate but equal, what's wrong with that? Thomas is torn. On the one hand he can see the flaws in his father's reasoning, as everyone knows there is nothing equal about the system, but on a personal level he cannot but worry what this will mean for Michael's schooling. Will his school be worse of because of it? Will students with poorer backgrounds, with less academic merit, take too much of the school's resources, or force schools to lower their standards? In this, Betty calms him down, saying they can always hire a tutor or even homeschool him if it comes to that.
As Christmas, and therefore Michaels birthday, is hurling closer, Betty does her best to tend to her young. Carl is learning to eat proper food, and now that he can move about explores everything in his way. Susan thrives on her bottle formula, and is growing fast. So far she's a sweet and sensitive child. But far too soon it's Christmas eve, and Michaels´s birthday. The entire family is invited for the party, and Thomas has decorated the tree. Betty can't believe her little boy is ready to start school after the holidays!!
The party is a success, but Grace is uncomfortable throughout, and by the time they get home, it's clear to her that the baby is coming. That night, on Christmas Day itself, baby Kenneth is born. A boy, just like David wanted and hoped for.
This year, it's Alice that holds Christmas. This is always an appreciated event, as Cora's cooking is superb and both Alice and Cora knows how to throw a party. With Kenneth being born just hours before the party, Grace and David stay at home with their baby boy, but the rest of the family crowds into the house. Susan is put to bed in an adjacent room, to keep her safe from the noise, but Carl happily crawls around the floor exploring everything in this new place, especially the dog who he follows around while the rest of the family enjoys Turkey and drinks and presents and conversation and dancing.
By the time the party is over it's already late, and it's tired but happy family members that set out for the long drive home from Del Sol Valley. Tomorrow they can visit Grace and David and meet baby Kenneth, and then it's time to ring in the New Year.
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