Rembrandt Street - Chapter 4

The Surprise

Mrs. Willobee finished cleaning up and walked to the private study through the living room. She and Mr. Willobee had a private bath in their room. Their bedroom was at the front of the house off the living room. Cathy and Megan shared the middle room across from the bathroom and as previously mentioned the rear bedroom off the kitchen was shared by Margret and E’beth.

The private study may once have been used as a small nursery. It was now primarily used by Mr. Willobee. Mrs. Willobee would enter this room many times looking lovingly at her husband's things as if he were part of them.  The study contained an open archway joining it to the front of the living room. On three of the walls fit shelves of books from floor to ceiling. The bookcase was cherry wood and had been Mr. Willobee’s pride and joy. It had in its center a large executive mahogany desk and chair. On the front of the desk was a ledge with four thin hidden drawers and room for two chairs to be tucked under.

On the top of the desk were a flexible extended-arm florescent light, a black boxed telephone, a rosy colored porcelain tray which held the days mail, a matching jar to hold pencils and pens, and a yellow legal pad with a pen across its top. The desk drawer to the left contained a spring loaded shelve which would fold under the desk and on it was a beautiful black typewriter that would extend to the proper writing position when released to do so. On the left side of the room was a large wide lateral file tucked between the books for University papers and for household papers. On the right side of the room was a narrow door also tucked between the books. It was originally called a water closet and contained a simple toilet and sink.

Mrs. Willobee picked up the mail and was sorting through the envelopes when she heard the sounds on the steps and talking. She put down the mail and greeted at the door Mr. Willobee and E’beth. They were all met by Cathy and Megan. It was always a joyous occasion when Mr. Willobee came home. He put down a medium size package and gave his wife a kiss and a hug. Then in turn gave each of his daughters the same. The girls squealed in delight as he teased them with whisker burns. He was a tall handsome man with black glasses who carried a brown leather brief case.

E’beth hugged her mother and laughed with her sisters. She was a pretty girl who was 14 years old with a bobbed haircut, simple clothing and an infectious smile. She worked after school as her father’s aid answering phones, filing papers, greeting guests, correcting some of the keyed papers and doing errands.

The package that was laid down didn’t go without notice. Megan wanted to know, "Is this the surprise Daddy?"

Cathy added, "Can we open it?"

E’beth was pleading "Please, let them see it Daddy?" Mr. Willobee knew he had a full audience which made him chuckle and act playfully.

He said, "Maybe we should take our coats off first. My what’s that terrific smell coming from the kitchen?"

Mrs. Willobee said, "Robert, Theresa’s made a fine roast that is now warming in the oven. Let me take your coat for you. E’beth, can I take your coat too?"

Mr. Willobee said, "Fine, thank you dear. Maybe we should all go toward the kitchen."

The girls squealed, "Will you bring the package?"

They pulled on his arms until Mr. Willobee said, "I might need these arms to carry the package. It is fragile."

Cathy guessed, "Is it china?"

"No, it’s not that!" exclaimed E’beth. "Just wait and see! It will make you so happy!" Mr. Willobee picked up the package and allowed the women to escort him to the kitchen.Mrs. Willobee had gone in front of them with the coats. They found Theresa putting on her coat toleave.

Cathy said, "Oh Theresa, you’ve just got to stay. We’re going to open the package."

Theresa rested her purse on the counter and said, "Just for a moment. I’ve got to be on my way."

Theresa knew what was in the package, but was eager to see the girl’s expressions.

Mr. Willobee turned the head chair away from the table and sat down. He placed the box on the floor. The girls gathered around the box and Megan pleaded, "Open it daddy, please?"

Mr. Williams untied the ribbon which decoratively enwrapped it with gift spirit. He teased, "Now I want you to be careful ..." The three girls eyes were steadily trained on the box. The box was opened and the girls shrieked in excitement.

"Oh Daddy, they’re beautiful!" Cathy exclaimed

"Are they for me?" asked Megan

"We have to share!" announced E’beth

Mr. Willobee reached into the box and brought out with his two hands two tiny black kittens who had been lying curled together, in the box on a rumpled blanket. They had had the most adorable faces and enough charm to melt butter.

"Oh Daddy, do you think? Are they ours? Can we keep them?" cried Cathy in glee more outstanding than normal.

"Can we? Can we? Can we?" added her little sister.

"They’re ours, they really are!" answered E’beth for her father.

"Ohhhh!" the other two girls said in unison.

Megan began to cry. Mr. Willobee placed the two matching black kitties on the floor. Scooped up Megan and asked, "Oh no Princess, "Why are you crying?"

Megan wrapped her arms around her Daddy’s neck and with tears falling down her cheek said, "Oh Daddy! I’ve never been happier in my whole entire life! I love you!"

Mr. Willobee hugged his daughter and carefully placed her back on the floor. The kitties blinked their tiny eyes with sleepiness. One of them started to preen himself with his tiny pink tongue and the other tip-toed to where Megan’s feet were and sniffed her shoes. "Look Daddy! The kitty likes me! Mama do you see?"

The kitties had each a bow attached to their neck. One was blue and the other was pink. E’beth assured her sisters that the blue was the boy kitty and the pink was the girl kitty. She said that the kitties were brother and sister and they were six weeks old.

Mr. Willobee stood up and stretched he gave Mrs. Willobee a hug then excused himself. He returned with a couple of small packages he’d left in the hall. He shut the revolving kitchen door and he took out a large plastic tray and filled it with sand. Mr. Willobee placed the sand box in the mud room and he filled another small dish for water. And, he filled a small dish with small pellets of kitty food which he softened with a little milk. He placed these dishes in back of the counter, on the floor out of regular foot traffic. Lastly, he encouraged the girls to lead the kitties to where the dishes were. The kitties were much too excited to eat the food, but they sniffed it appreciatively.

Theresa said how happy she was to see these two extra bundles of joy in the house. She then reminded the family to have a wonderful weekend and she said her goodbyes. Each of the three girls stood up to give their goodbye hugs. Mrs. Willobee followed Theresato the front door. She paid Theresa for the week and wished that she also had a lovely weekend. She gave Theresa a hug and said good night and thank you.

Mrs. Willobee rejoined her family in the kitchen and reminded everyone it was time to eat and hands should be washed. Mr. Willobee said that the kitties should have a chance to get used to the kitchen on their own. It took a few moments before everyone was able to leave the kitties’ view and wash their hands. After everyone had been seated Mrs. Willobee served the hot dinner. Cathy poured the milk and E’beth made and toasted the bread. Megan had to be reminded not to be sitting upside down in her chair still trying to watch the kitties. After all the plates were filled and Megan's meat cut for her, Mrs. Willobee asked if the kitties had been named yet.

Mr. Willobee had started to speak, but E’beth was much quicker. "Daddy said that they were given at birth the names of Gus and Gertrude"

Cathy laughed, "Those are funny old names."

Mr. Willobee said, "He had gotten the kitties from one of his student’s family who had taken great care of the kitties and had named them after their grandparents whom they loved.

"They’re not funny old names Cathy!" exclaimed Megan. She then giggled, "Look, Gertrude is eating! Gus must not be as hungry."

"Maybe they’re taking turns." said Cathy.

Mrs. Willobee said, "All right, then it is settled their names are Gus and Gertrude. Those are fine names for two very lovely matching kitties."

For the rest of the conversation, the family talked about their day. Cathy announced that she and Sarah would be writing an entry for the school’s newsletter. Megan reported that Priscilla and Dolly had a fight, but they were better now. E’beth stated, That she’d met someone new at the office,a student who had made her laugh. Mr. Willobee told his family that he was being considered for the new department head for the Universities Psychology Department.

Mrs. Willobee said, "Oh Robert! That is wonderful news!" Cathy and E’beth cheered for their father.

Meganwondered why her daddy would need a new head and stated, "But Daddy, I like your head the way it is!"

Mrs. Willobee got up to fill the potato bowl and stopped to hug Megan. "No, no dear. That’s just a figure of speech.”

E’beth added quickly, "The school is thinking of making Daddy one of the big bosses!"

Mr. Willobee laughed, "Well, now that’s almost right, but not such a BIG boss!  Mr. Willobee asked, "Kathryn, how did your day go at the Center?"

Mrs. Willobee said, "It was wonderful. A new patient had come in and had to be reassured that it was going to be ok. So I sat with her."

"Mommy?" asked Cathy "Does the new one talk?"

"Some" said Mrs. Willobee, but then added. "It is more like the new patient makes sounds and points to things that she wants or wants to show us."

"Neat" said Cathy "And she’s just in time for the holiday celebrations!"

There was a sound of the front door opening. The Willobee’s oldest daughter had arrived home.  She made a quick assent to the kitchen and upon opening the door asked, "Why is the kitchen door shut?"

She was surprised when her sister’s yelled out, "Look, look Margret! We have two kitties!" She was quickly filled in on many of the details. Then she paused to laugh, "My, they sure are small!" She looked then at her mother with warm and loving eyes. I’m so sorry I’m late Mama, Phil brought me home.

Margret was 18 and had started her first year in the University where her father taught. She had been excited because there had been an evening lecture given for her English class. She had also been excited because the love of her life had gone with her and had driven her home. She claimed to have the most interesting time and began to share with her family the story of the author she’d just met and about the book the author had written of a girl who met with some obstacles. She said she didn’t want to mention them at the table.

Mrs. Willobee stood up to retrieve Margret’s plate warming in the oven. She said, "This sounds wonderful dear! I can tell you are really excited!" Then she asked, "Will you be staying over for dinner Phil?"

Phil was a handsome young man with an ear turned toward business management. Although, he was a senior at the same University as Margret, they had met three years prior through church.  He now wore a college letter coat and prided himself on manners. "No ma’am. Thank you. I just wanted to make sure Margret got home safely." Margret couldn’t help from reaching out to touch his arm. Phil swooped her up in a hug and asked, "I’ll pick you up at 10 am for the library?"

Margret laughed and giggled and said, "Sure Phil, Right on time!" Phil said his goodbyes to the family giving Mrs. Willobee a kiss on the cheek and tweaking the nose of Megan. Megan giggled and warned, "But don’t step on Gus or Gertrude!"