While Norman, Elaine and Prescott were getting settled in, Meadow focused on her garden. But the seasons quickly turned and before she knew it, the ground had frozen and everything was dormant. To occupy her time, she bought a sculpting station and started teaching herself to sculpt with various media.
Of course, it wasn’t long before she started feeling sick in the mornings. and noticed her clothes didn’t fit quite right. She went to Hudson and told him the good news. Hudson was thrilled! He hadn’t told Meadow how much he had wanted to have a baby since she had been working so hard on her garden and sculpting. but he couldn’t have been happier. Meadow was only a little concerned about one thing.
“Hudson, you know how hard I’ve been working on my sculptures.” she said
“Of course, your work is amazing dear!” he exclaimed.
“Well, the art commissioner down at City Hall told me if I bring in just a few more ice sculptures, he can teach me how to make ice sculptures that won’t melt. What if I don’t get it done in time before the baby comes? You know after he or she is here, I won’t have as much time, and what if he forgets about me or decides to teach someone else?” Meadow explained to Hudson with a furrowed brow.
“How can they make ice that doesn’t melt?” Hudson asked.
“They have a special compound they mix up and you dust it on the ice when you’re done, look, that’s not the point Hudson. I don’t know how it works or I’d know it already wouldn’t I?”
“Good point” he said. “Okay, you leave it to me. I will make sure you finish your sculptures no matter what!”
“And just how exactly are you going to do that?” she said, throwing her hands on her hips. “You know this baby will be here before we know it, and I really wanted to be able to make you a forever ice sculpture before your next birthday!”
“Just leave it to me.” He said. “You, get back to work little missy!” He grinned, and kissed her, then ran out of the room.
Meadow shrugged, and fired up the chainsaw. Hudson had already accomplished so many things she never thought possible, so if anyone could keep a promise like that, it was him.
—–
Hudson ran off to the spare room where they had moved in the alchemy station and gem-u-cut machine. He flipped the pages of the ancient book. Norman had spent way more time in here, but how hard could it be? He found the potion he was looking for, and lit the fire under the cauldron. He skimmed the ingredients list, and pulled out the labelled jars from the cabinet. He watched as the liquid bubbling in the pot changed color with each ingredient he tossed in. He added the last one, and leaned over the cauldron.
BOOM!
The potion exploded in a steamy poof. Hudson was blown across the room.
Well, that wasn’t quite what I was expecting he thought. He peered into the cast iron pot and saw a black gooey tar in the bottom. The potion he was aiming for was bright red and light. He shook his head and started cleaning up the alchemy station.
I’ll ask Norman for help tomorrow. I guess I wasn’t quite ready to attempt making my own elixirs. Is it me or does it seem really dry in here?
Hudson finished scrubbing out the pot and put everything away, and headed for bed. Meadow was already asleep – which was probably a good thing, because if she had seen Hudson at that moment, she probably would have fainted when he shot his tongue out and grabbed a fly mid-air before climbing into bed.
—–
Hudson got out of bed the next morning and groggily stumbled to the dresser to get changed. That’s when he noticed his reflection in the mirror. Thankfully, they had all seen it happen to Norman a few weeks ago and knew there was a cure for the toad-head. Norman was happy to mix up the cure, and presented it to Hudson that afternoon, just in time for him to get to work without anyone else seeing his affliction.
“Norman, do you think I could trouble you for another favor? I was trying to make some Invigorating Elixirs for Meadow so she can get more work done on her sculpting.” Hudson said. “Do you think you could show me what I did wrong?”
When Hudson got home from work, Norman had mixed up a huge batch of the potion and left it in the cabinet for Hudson. He took them over to Meadow, who immediately downed a few and got back to work on her latest work of art.
With the help of the elixirs, Meadow finished her 25th ice sculpture, and was granted the ability to make fantastic ice sculptures that would never melt.
And it was just in time.
—–
Hudson got home from work at the same time as his very pregnant wife returned from city hall.
“Hudson I did it! I can make non-melting ice sculptures now!” she exclaimed.
“That’s amazing honey! I knew you could do it! I can’t wait to see what you choose as your first one.”
“Well, I was thinking we could do one of you!” she said.
“How about tomorrow?” He asked. “I had a really long day at work”.
“Okay” she said, and they started walking to the bedroom.
“On second thought, we might be a little busy tomorrow” she groaned, grabbing her belly.
“Ahhhh!!! What do we do? What do we do?” Hudson yelled, jumping up and down. Elaine and Norman heard the ruckus and came running in.
“Oh my god Hudson, calm down. You don’t need to do anything” She said with a sigh.
“Oh. Well… in that case, I’m going to bed. I’m super tired.”
“Seriously?” she said, glaring at Hudson.
“Yeah, you got this.”
Meadow rolled her eyes, but wasn’t able to stay upset for long.
Welcome, Hadley Phoenix.
Hadley was born with
Loner and
Loves the Outdoors, and her favorites are Kid's Music, Eggrolls and Blue.
