Everyone was excited over Carol’s announcement. Liz pulled her over between her and Clara, and both mothers were hugging her, tears streaming down their faces. “OH, SWEETIE!!! We’re SO proud o’ ya’! How far did he say ya were?” Carol looked at her Mom. “Doc said, best he can tell, he had me go up fer an ultrasound, I’m right around 2, maybe 3 months along. He said that, right now, it’s not much bigger than my two fists put together. He tole me that he can get a heartbeat, USUALLY, at 8 or 9 weeks, so he will know more in a few days. He tried, but all he could hear was mine. He said it was thumpin’ like a bass drum in a rock band. He thought he could hear sumpthin’, but wasn’t sure. I gotta go back ta see ‘im on Friday, at 9 in th’ mornin’. He tole me ta take it easy before I came in, sa MY HEART ain’t thumpin’ sa loud, an’ ‘e will know fer sure. He wants another ultrasound at th’ same time, too. IT’LL tell us if it’s a boy or a girl, MAYBE!!!.

Betty asked her, “What do YOU hope it is?” Carol pondered the question. “One way, I hope it’s another girl, but PART o’ me wants a boy. I don’t care, as long as it’s healthy. I think Davey would like a boy, but, right now, I wouldn’t swear to it. He has so much fun with Sarah, that I just DON’T KNOW.” ALL I know, FOR SURE, Is that, if it’s a boy, HE’S gonna be David Alan Campbell, III. He’s JUNIOR, already, so this’n will be the THIRD!!! If not, he’ll be Mortimer James Campbell. Davey loved Grandpa Mort as much as any of us did. He almost couldn’t sit through his funeral, when he died. Same with Grandma Sarah. I knew Davey loved ’em both, but never realized how MUCH!”

William pulled up to join them. After he had been hugged and kissed by all the others, he looked around at them. “What the HEY!!! Is here something going on I haven’t been told about?” Carol stepped over in front of him, wrapping HER arms around him, and giving him another kiss. “YES, there is UNCLE WILLIAM!!! I’m in a family way, AGAIN!!! Davey an’ me are gonna have number 2!” William gave her another kiss. “CONGRATS, SIS!!! HAVE YA’ TOLE DAVE, YET?’ Carol shook her head at him. “NOT YET! I’ll tell im’ in a little bit. I just found out the day before yesterday.”

William hugged and kissed her, again. “Speaking of that, has anybody been monitoring a radio this morning?” None had. “There’s a storm brewing over southwest o’ us. Weatherman says its a lollapaloozer! Hail, winds over 70, torrential rain, and possible tornadoes. They’re tellin’ everyone ta take cover, and button down the hatches. It’s, right now, about 60 or 70 miles southwest of us, and movin’ at 25 ta 30 miles an hour. They say we’ve got an hour or two ta get ready for it.” We need ta tell th’ guys.”