As so often can happen in a fairy tale, or even in a dynasty story, life can sometimes sneak in and wreak havoc with the way things are supposed to go. Take our little motley crew for instance. Venkat, all dressed in gardener clothes, and working as a gardener when met, was supposed to be a happy, loves the outdoors, gardener type of a more mature age. Instead, he turned out to be a gloomy, "I hate to get my hands dirty", gardener type of a middle age. On this fine day, in a certain back yard in Willow Creek, we are met with the following........
"Dude, buck up!"
"I'm sorry, Kieran. I just a wretched person who led you astray. I know how these dynasty things are supposed to work and I guess I just wanted a nice, comfortable, life in a house. It's sad being all alone with no place except a park bench to lay your head down on. Gardening for you just seemed the easy way out. Only, I really, really, hate all the dirt and weeds and stuff."
"Man, you've been had! I told you you should have picked Eliza and me as live ins, but noooo, you just wanted to use our woodworking table instead."
"Bob, you aren't helping. Look Venkat, you've just got to pull yourself together, man. I mean, it's not so bad here now is it? Ok, it's not all that plush yet, but if we all work together....."
"I dunno, Kieran. It's just so, so.......sad."
"Look, big guy, maybe we can work something out. Like you garden part time, and write your books part time, and get to hang with us all the rest of the time. Waddya say? You might even find a few friendly ladies or two. Right? Get buffed up at the gym and who knows?"
"Yeah. Ok. You're right. I guess it's worth a little dirt under my fingernails. Thanks, Kieran. You cheered me up."
"There ya go. That's the way to handle it. I knew you could work it out. Say.....is that Dina yelling?"
*Bob shakes head and mutters in background* "Don't look at me. I'm a cook, not a lover."
As I was saying, life has a way of sneaking in and taking the best laid plans and turning them into.....well, is there really a polite way to express the thought? In this case, we must turn our attention to still another live in who was chosen and planned for one thing and one thing only. Our friend, Austin. Austin was met while Kieran was at camp. He wasn't the weird bear person, just another happy camper who was met while fishing. Of course, it was assumed he was a fisherman, and indeed he did say something about being employed as such. What he didn't say was that while it was his fun time passtime, it wasn't his life's goal to always be a fisherman. Still, as one of Kieran's closest friends, he did make a good effort at catching as many fish as possible, not that they had any place to keep them. His dream in life was to become a top notch scientist, perhaps make it all the way to the point where he and the rest of the family could actually visit another world. This came as quite a shock to the McCloud's, but being the loving folk they were, they allowed him to quit his fishing, (except on family outings and days off), and join a career of his own. Here we see our intrepid genius hard at work developing his very first piece of equipment......
"That's it Giz! You've almost got it. A little more over there to the left. No, you're other left......right! Sorry, I meant, "correct"."
Later, that same day......
"Man, I sure wish Giz could help me with this. I doubt I'll ever get this darned thing built. Still, if I can just ......."
Ah yes, life really does love to play with us, doesn't it? Perhaps it's just a huge cosmic joke, or perhaps just Mother Nature reasserting herself. No, the twists and turns of fortune did not stop with a man in a purple suit, a reluctant gardener, or a mad scientist. On this particular, sunny day............
"Oh no! What do I do? Where do we go? Water...that's it.....boiling water.....and suitcases......and......"
"Kieran you idiot! We are having this baby at home. I've got it all under control, honey. Watcher is here to help. Go for a jog or something. Ok? Deep breath now, Dina. You can do this girl. No problems here. And we're breathing and......I swear I'm having an elephant not just a baby. Are you sure this is necessary Watcher?"
You're doing fine, Dina. Be all over with soon and you can cuddle that darling little girl you're.....................there! See? Isn't she precious though?
"Oh, Watcher.......you're right. She is so very precious. My little Airyn."
"Ummmmm, uh oh. Uh.....SURPRISE!""Oh, Watcher!!! No wonder I was so huge! It must have been the strawberries. Two little angels. Airyn and Aislyn. They are my sweet little princesses. Wait till I tell Kieran!"
Yes, Fate and Mother Nature do indeed have a strange sense of humor. However, our little family took it all in stride. Who could not with two such darling babies? Kieran was completely over the moon with his two princesses. An auspicious start to his dynastic dreams and definitely something to work hard for.
Both parents took great delight in the girls, taking turns over who was to feed and comfort who, so that both girls knew they were completely loved by both parents unconditionally. They were so typically "goofy, adoring, parents" they were almost poster children for how parents look.
"Who's Daddy's little precious dream then? You are. Yes, you are. You're my little Aislyn. Did you know your name signifies a happy dream?"
:Ok, Pops, I got it. I'm special. So how come I don't get to be the heir again? Just sayin'. Ooops, sorry about that. Diaper time. I may be second birth but I'm number one at number two!:
: Heheheh. Wait till you see why I'm smilin'. I got a load of 'em just for you. Ok, I admit it. You're kinda cool. Yeah, I can like bein' here.:
"Here comes the nummy noms. Just for my little angel. Nice and warm and sweet. Have I said how much we love you today? "
"Babble, gurgle, coo" :Lemme at it big boy! I'm ready for those noms all right. Next time I get boob juice, right?:
"Such a serious little Aislyn girl. Do you already know how much lies ahead of you? Mommy and Daddy will be right here to help you and we'll always love you."
:'s ok, Moms. I got it. First born yadda yadda. Lub you too.:
"Oh, Watcher, we are so blessed. Thank you."
"You're welcome, although I wasn't the one who did the twins. That was all you, Kieran and Mother Nature. They are going to be quite the adventure for all of us."
On a not so surprising note, another member of our little family group was quite enthralled as well.
"Hey there, little bit. I'm your Uncle Don. You have any problems with the baby boys in the neighborhood you just let me know. I'll take care of it for you. You sure are a cutie, and I'm not going to let anything harm you or your sister. Got it?"
"goooo" :Man, he's a big one. Nice eyes. Wonder if he has any good lookin' sons I can meet when I grow up?:
"You did real well there, Dina. Sure makes me realize all I've missed out on with my boys."
"Yeah, like no sleep at night and poopy diapers. Seriously, Don. I do understand. You know, all you had to do was propose to one of them, BEFORE it got so rough."
"Ah, it's ok. More time for these two."
Now she was back in shape, it was time for Dina and Kieran to get busy on those parties they had to have. Not just for the dynasty thing, but because they were both in the culinary career. Yep, that's right. Two cooks and one kitchen, if you don't count the gym one. Kieran had decided to go with the mixologist branch so they could get a cool bar of their own, and sweet Dina decided she wanted to be the Master Chef. I tagged along and took some snap shots of their parties. Here's the Gold Medal Dinner party.............
Here's Kieran whipping up a garden salad. Don't remember which party it was but mostly the shot was to show how sweet Don's boys were. Cleaning up before the party really got rolling. Their moms sure are teaching them well.
And here's the Gold Medal House Party. Wise of them to recruit a Partihaus member into their club, eh? With this party gone gold, that was four parties accomplished already, Date, Wedding, House Party and Dinner Party. Not too many more to go!
Ok, nap time for this Watcher. Who knew writing could make you so sleepy?
