Rose Jackson opened her eyes as the phone on the arm of her chair buzzed suddenly. She picked it up, but for a moment contemplated just letting it ring and resuming her nap. The warm spring sun shining through the sunroom windows was almost enough to make a human being purr. She turned the phone face up so she could see the display. Jennifer. All right then. Rose touched the screen.
“Hi sweetheart,” she said.
“Hi Mom,” Jennifer’s voice came over the line. Another voice chimed in from the background. “Hi Jennifer’s mom!” said Jennifer’s roommate Kendra.
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Are we going to call this meeting to order or what?” Brady Jackson leaned back in his chair and looked…
“Hi Kendra,” said Rose.
“Mom says hi Kendra,” said Jennifer, away from the phone, then put the phone back to her ear. “How are you Mom?” she asked.
“Fine, fine,” said Rose. “Just having a nap. Getting rested before grocery shopping.”
“Ugh,” said Jennifer. “I hate grocery shopping so much. And sorry for ruining your nap.”
“Don’t worry about it,” said Rose. “You’ve woken me up from way more important sleeps than this one in your lifetime.”
“I suppose that’s true,” said Jennifer. She paused. “Hey,” she said. “I have something very important to tell you. Is Dad there?”
“He’s in the study,” said Rose. “Should I call him?”
“Yes, you probably should,” said Jennifer.
Rose moved the phone away from her head, and heard Jennifer say something to Kendra which she couldn’t quite make out as she did so. “Andrew!” she called out. “Jennifer’s on the phone! She has something important to tell us!” It was a matter of moments before Andrew appeared from the study.
“This had better not be bad news,” he said.
“I’m going to put you on speaker,” said Rose into the phone. She touched the screen again and then placed the phone on the arm of her chair. “OK hon,” she said. “Go ahead.”
“Is Dad sitting down?” Jennifer’s voice came clearly across the line.
“I am now,” said Andrew, settling into the chair next to his wife. The two of them looked at each other and Rose gave him an “I don’t know if I should be worried or excited” kind of look. Andrew’s blank look was no help.
“OK, I don’t know exactly how to say this,” said Jennifer. She paused. Rose found it impossible to tell from her voice, whether her daughter was being serious or not. “OK,” said Jennifer again. “You know how Randy and Jackie’s first baby was a girl, and Brady and Amanda’s first baby is also a girl right?”
“Well yeeess, of course we know that,” said Rose.
There was a long silence and then suddenly… “My first baby is going to be a boy,” said Jennifer.
There was a shocked silence in the Jacksons’ sunroom. Andrew looked as if he was going to speak but nothing came out of his mouth. Rose stared at the phone — mouth open.
“Just let me say one more thing before you say anything,” said Jennifer, at length.
“OK.” Rose managed to force the word out of her mouth.
“April Fools!” said Jennifer. Her words were followed by gales of laughter from her and Kendra.
Andrew rested his forehead on his hand and shook his head. Rose picked up the phone and appeared to be looking for something to throw it at.
“Very funny,” she said at last, putting the phone down.
“I know!” said Jennifer. “Hilarious, right? I wish I could have seen your faces!”
“You really don’t want to see my face right now sweetie,” said Andrew, although there was a hint of a smile forming at the corners of his mouth. Jennifer’s laughter was infectious. “I thought we raised you better than that.”
“Nope,” said Jennifer.
“It wasn’t my idea!” Kendra called out from the background.
“Of course it wasn’t,” said Rose. “Your parents raised you right.” She shook her head. “I almost had a heart attack. Worst April Fools’ joke ever, Jenn,” she said.
“Agree to disagree,” said Jennifer. “It’s the only April Fools’ joke I’ve ever pulled so I thought I’d make it a memorable one.”
“I’ll never forget it I’m sure,” said Rose. “Try as I might.”
“Oh, hey,” said Jennifer. “Kendra is coming out to her parents’ place tomorrow. I thought if you guys weren’t busy I’d catch a ride and come have dinner with you. If I’m still welcome!”
“Of course,” said Rose.
“OK, see you tomorrow then. Bye!”
Rose and Andrew looked at each other.
“I’m going to kill her,” said Andrew.
“Not if I get to her first,” said Rose.
