The Miranda MacArthur Story

chapter 7

Dr. Sanban had Miranda sit up on the seat while Jen sat in a wooden chair and the doctor was on her stool.

"Alright, Mrs. MacArthur, what seems to be the problem?" Dr. Sanban queried.

"Oh, it's nothing, really, I'm just curious about Miranda," Jen explained. "You see, as you remember, I'm the daughter of John and Miranda."

"How could I forget?" Dr. Sanban put a hand to her chest. "And you're wondering if she has any powers?"

"Yes," Jen nodded. "She's been around for seven years now, Brick and I haven't seen anything in her, even when we would let my brother babysit her. So, could you maybe test her to see if she has anything in her blood?"

"Of course, Mrs. MacArthur, I'll have to run a few tests for her just to make sure for you all." Dr. Sanban clarified, adjusting her glasses.

Miranda looked a little nervous, but she allowed this to be done. She had to be given several X-Rays, a running check, a physical of sorts, and many other legal experiments. The girl had to admit, this was very strenuous and hard, but it had to be done. She did several exercises as well, even more than in gym class.

Jen was outside the testing room, pacing back and forth as other people were waiting to be taken care of. It felt eternal for her, having her daughter go through this. She just wish Brick were here to give her a big, warm hug and tell her everything was going to be okay. She had even been nibbling on her freshly nail polish painted nails, she was so worried about her little girl. Finally, after what felt like forever, Dr. Sanban came out with the results on Miranda.

"Well, how is she?" Jen asked, very nervous.

Dr. Sanban came close to the mother and whispered an answer to her. 

"You mean...?" Jen blinked, a little worried.

"Yes, Mrs. MacArthur, tell her when you're ready, but don't wait too late or too soon." Dr. Sanban advised.

"Yes, ma'am, Brick and I have always been honest with her." Jen agreed with her daughter's doctor.

"Tell her when you can, I wouldn't rush into it so quickly," Dr. Sanban quietly advised. "Did you know Amy and Samey McAuley are actually HIM's daughters?"

Jen was taken aback.

"Yes, they are," Dr. Sanban continued. "Their mother Bryn told them on their sixteenth birthday and once she told them, their powers broke out and they had to compete for the throne of Hell."

"Whoa... Thank you so much, Kuki... Oops, I mean, Dr. Sanban."

"No problem," Dr. Sanban smiled, then bent down to Miranda's height giving her a Rainbow Monkey plush dolly dressed like a doctor with an apple on its head. "Here, take this Apple A Day Rainbow Monkey as a little gift from us to the hospital."

Miranda smiled and took it, what little girl could resist one? "Oh, thank you, Dr. Sanban!"

Dr. Sanban smiled and saw Jen and Miranda out as she had other patients to see.

"That wasn't so bad, now was it, hon?" Jen asked as she was now taking them home.

"It was nice, Mom," Miranda said, hugging her new doll. "So... What was the deal with that? Am I sick?"

"No, dear, I just wanted to see if you were healthy enough to still go to school and it looks to me that you can."

"Oh, okay, Mom."

Jen decided to wait until maybe tomorrow to tell Miranda about her hidden powers and abilities that would only come out in emergency, but they shouldn't come out very often. She kept driving until they were safe at home and she pulled up into her driveway, then saw in surprise there was another car there. Jen shrugged, then took Miranda's hand to take her inside and both girls opened the door and saw a big surprise.

Miranda gasped and smiled instantly. "Daddy!" She ran towards him.

Brick smiled, bending down and picking up his little girl. "Hey, my little soldier! Have you been takin' good care of Mom while I've been gone?"

"Uh-huh," Miranda said once she was back on the floor, then quickly saluted. "I mean... Sir, yes, sir!"

"That's what I like to hear!" Brick beamed down to her. "Now, why don't you wash up for dinner?"

"Yes, Daddy!" Miranda saluted again, then went upstairs to the bathroom.

Brick smiled as she went up, then looked back to Jen. "I missed you all so much."

"I missed you so much," Jen wrapped her arms around his neck. "I feel like I haven't seen you in ten years."

"That's how I felt when I was away," Brick stroked her hair with a suave smile. "Ya didn't remarry, did you?"

"I would never!" Jen pulled back with a laugh, then showed her shining wedding ring. 

"Where were you two?" Brick asked. "I brought back a bunch of pizza's, I wanted to surprise you... Luckily I still had MY key."

"Oh, we had a doctor's appointment after school."

"School?" 

"Yes, Miranda told me she wanted to go to school with her friends, so I let her go... She got sent to the principal's office, but I don't think it was her fault."

"It happens," Brick scoffed, rolling his eyes. "It's a rule, if you're the new kid in school, you're automatically in trouble."

"I see," Jen narrowed her eyes, folding her arms. "I'm proud of her though for overcoming obstacles though without me there... The house seems more lonely though while she's gone, but I'm happy for her."

"You ever try looking for a job?" Brick put his arm around her. "You worked in a mall when you were sixteen with your friends."

"That's true, but that was a teenage phase, I need to find a real job," Jen remembered. "June's a police officer, Double D's a doctor like Kuki Sanban, Jamie sells cars, Mike was a high school gym teacher, Dee Dee's a ballet instructor, and Ed works in his own machine shop..."

"Why don't you ask your friends if they know anything?" Brick suggested. "We haven't seen them since the baby shower and wedding."

"I guess I could give it a try," Jen rubbed her arm nervously about working since Miranda is public schooled now. "What if I can't do it though?"

"Can't?" Brick looked at her. "Never say you 'can't' unless you try first."

Jen smiled a little at him. "I'll try in a week, see how school works for Miranda so far."

"That's my girl." Brick playfully hit her shoulder.

"Yeah!" Jen laughed, doing the same, though it seemed to hurt Brick actually. "Oh, my gosh, are you okay?"

Brick rubbed his shoulder, laughing. "You should be the cadet."

Jen smiled, rolling her blue eyes.

Miranda came back downstairs. "I'm here now... What's for dinner?"

"Our favorite meat lover's pizza." Brick showed the several stacks of pizza boxes he had brought for the family.

"Oh, Brick, you didn't have to, I don't mind cooking..." Jen folded her arms, but wasn't mad.

"I wanted to, you deserve a night-off for cooking for seven years." Brick took her hands with a smile.