Music to my Ears

When Jackie had picked up her kids from Kitty's and got them home they had already had dinner so she was cooking for herself and Hyde from one of Kitty's recipes that was sub noted 'Put your man in a happy mood and he'll agree to almost everything.' Yes leave worrying about ERA to Donna, Kitty and I have to deal with Neanderthals when it comes to getting Red or Hyde to do anything outside their comfort zones.

As Hyde finished dinner he asked Jackie what she was trying to get him to agree to.

"OK, the whole gang got letters yesterday inviting the whole gang to form the committee for this years reunion dance and the Board agreed to fund the entire thing on the condition that they run the whole operation and they want you to handle the bands and music for the dance. Remember it has to reflect the music of our high school years across the board."

"So what your saying is that I would have to include Abba and Styx."

"Well I wouldn't go as far as Styx because as far as I can tell Eric was their entire fan base for Wisconsin, but yes you would have to include some Abba and Captain and Tennille especially for me."

"Well I can live with that if we can include WB for his contacts then I'm in."

"Donna wants to use the quadrangle at the Company for the dance and needs someone with contacts to build the stage etc, so yes, WB's contacts will be very useful. OK, that’s all decided and your in now lets go do what we always do after one of my special meals and treat my pregnant hormones to what they've been wanting all day. Sex."

At Kitty's the next morning Eric and Donna were talking to Kitty and Red about Donnas’ pregnancy and why it was forcing forward the rebuilding of Red and Kitty's old house.

"We're building a couple of pool houses for you and Bob to live in since you guys don't want to move to Florida."

"And miss my grandchildren growing up especially as your not having any more after this one."

Red goes "Snip, snip Eric."

"Oh God he's going to be saying that at all sorts of inappropriate times forever aren't you Red?"

"Isn't that what fathers are for. It's either that or my foot in your ass. So which do you prefer”?

"Neither, but either so long as it’s out of earshot of the kids."

"Until next week when the second batch all go off to kindergarten together that’s going to be difficult as there always a pair of underage ears around, isn't there Erin?

"What’s' snip snip Red?" asks Eric’s daughter who looks exactly like her mother appearing from around the fridge.

"Never mind that munchkin why aren't you with Luke er Lucas" said Kitty glancing at Donna.

"I'm thirsty" looking expectantly.

Red gets her a glass of water and she turns to go back to her friends "Remind me again as to when you guys and gals started stealing my beer."

"Why we never stole beer, found it maybe but never stole any."

"What about that night you asked for the Vista Cruiser."

Eric thinking fast said, "Kitty asked me to take the beer. Anyway how did you know we had the beer”?

"You threw the empties in the waste basket in the basement dumbass."

"How come you treat this whole bunch of kids better than me."

"They can all catch a baseball. Besides which, with what you and Donna have been teaching your kids they can beat me up. Its comforting to know that all your kids are more like Donna."

"Gee thanks dad."

At the Kelso's, Brooke was getting the kids breakfasts while Kelso made sure that they were dressed, there bags packed and that Betsy had her lunch money.

Betsy ran out the door to catch up with Bobby Foreman, Stephanie and Nichole Hyde to wait for the school bus.

"Michael, "you know that letter we got from the high school about the committee Donna got the board of PPP to fund this years dance and I want you to accept the post as well and act as the liaison between the Police Department and PPP's own security force to ensure everything goes well."

"Damn, that means I'll have to behave and not bring any fireworks."

"Or glue. I think that's the general idea. They all know how responsible you are when working. I mean you haven't even shot yourself or anyone else accidently"

"Yet."

"Donna phoned last night Fez and asked if we'd got an invite to join the High school reunion dance committee. She asked us to say yes as she's got PPP to fund everything as well as provide the venue. She said something about overseeing the catering but not to go too big on the candies."

"Hmm candy says Fez dreamily. I will think about it and tell Donna, Laurie. We'd better get the kids into the subby so that we can get them over to Kitty's"

A week later the whole gang plus Kitty and Red were proudly watching their second batch enroll in kindergarten.

"Never mind Kitty the third batch are all in the oven awaiting delivery in about eight months" Donna said to Kitty "and you will be overrun with babies again."

"Yes but how many. The whole town is in the baby pool with how many, whether theyre boys or girls, twins or triplets and who's going to deliver first and last."

"Wow the whole town, where do I get some of that action."

"They're not allowing any of you or your husbands in on the action. They say you might fix the results."

"As if we would or could. Right we'd better get off to the high school for the first meeting for the reunion dance."

The Principal Mr. Roberts said, "I expect your all wandering why on earth you six were chosen to form this years reunion committee? Well I'll tell you.

1. Your all still in town

2. You didn't belong to any of the hierarchical groupings though clearly most would have welcomed any of you.

3. Your all well off and our budget for the reunion was cut again this year.

4.Your permanent records say that you would be trouble but you've all grown up into excellent adults with responsibilities and roots in this town."

"Crap when did that happen?" said Hyde.

When you started to contribute to the community by opening businesses and you were the first in the class of 1978 to do so when you took over Grooves and made the business a success."

"Oh crap." Said Hyde holding his head. "I'll never live this down and I never saw it coming."

Donna said. "Yes Hyde you' become a model citizen and an upstanding pillar of society in Point Place, someone who has set an example for others to follow."

"Burn." shouts everybody.

"Right lets get down to business." said Donna. "At PPP's board meeting yesterday we agreed to covering the entire costs of the reunion dance and we also offering our quadrangle as the venue. Hyde has agreed to organize the musical side along with his father WB. The catering will be organized through Fez and Kelso will act as a liaison between Point Places finest and PPP's own security systems. Brooke will sort out the administrative side of things while Jackie will take care of the overall design along with Laurie. That will leave Eric and me free to ensure that everything runs smoothly and to settle any arguments. Any questions?"

The principal after a minute or so asked for nominations for chairman, corrected by Donna to chairperson.

Jackie nominated Donna and as there were no other nominations Donna was elected by acclamation.

Donna then set up a reporting system to keep the principal informed of progress and scheduled regular meetings to run in conjunction with PPP' weekly board meetings and adjourned the meeting.