𝑷𝑳𝑨𝒀 𝑫𝑨𝑻𝑬 - Steven Hyde

fifty two

52|KITCHEN TALK

Marigold sat at the breakfast table spooning ice cream into her mouth, ignoring the glares Jackie kept sending her way, desperate for her to acknowledge them. She knew that she should have kept her anger in line, not them either of them see how hurt she truly was but she also knew the girl needed to be taken down a peg or two.

"And here I am ecstatic, and Red comes home babbling about his precious Corvette." Kitty ranted to the group around the table, shoveling chocolate ice cream in her mouth to sooth her anger. "Well, I'll tell you something. I may be the one who is pregnant, but I did not get that way by myself. He's the one who wouldn't go to sleep."

"You know, Mrs. Forman, there are other ways of dealing with that." Jackie said, using her knowledge from Cosmopolitan. "I mean, have you tried telling him you like him as a friend?"

"You're carrying Reds baby." Donna gestured widely, taking a more demanding approach on how Kitty should deal with the situation. "He should be kissing your ass. God!"

"Why are men such jerks?" Goldie added, agreeing with Donna.

"Yeah, tell me?" The ginger girl turned her attention to Eric who awkwardly sat at the table just wanting to eat ice cream.

"I just came here for the ice cream, so I'm just gonna make mine and go." Eric lifted up his empty bowl, not wanting to join the girls conversation.

"Men plant their seed and think their work is done, but women have a being growing inside of us the size of a wine jug. It's gotta come out somehow." Kitty continued to ramble to the girls and Eric. "Oh, oh, oh, it's like that nature show, you know, where the snake eats an antelope in one bite, and you're thinking, "impossible". And then it unhinges it's jaw, and in it goes. Well, giving birth is just like that, only the other direction. And I need your father there, holding my hand and telling me it's okay, because I can't swallow an antelope alone."

"No, you can't, and no woman should have to." Eric agreed, becoming emotional as he happily ate his ice cream to calm himself down. "That bastard."

"You're starting to understand." Goldie smiled proudly at her cousin, sitting back in her chair as she finished her bowl of ice cream. "But you don't need to worry, Aunt Kitty. Uncle Red will come around eventually and you also have me."

"Thank you, dear." Kitty reached across the table to hold Goldie's hand, squeezing it gratefully.

~•~

Marigold leaned out her bedroom window, enjoying the peaceful night sky as a cigarette lay lazily between her lips. Her eyes were glued to Hyde, watching him show off some tricks as he threw the basketball into the hoop.

"Can I have one?" Hyde called up to her, gesturing to the packet of cigarettes in her hold.

"What's the magic word?" She teased him, dangling the packet out the window above him.

"Boobies." He said proudly, grinning to himself as she snorted in response. He stared up at her warmly, happy to see she was acting her usual joyful self.

"Well done." She chuckled, throwing the packet towards him. He pulled his lighter from his pocket, happily about to light the end of the cigarette as Jackie walked towards him, making a comment about hating the smell.

Marigold scoffed quietly, watching as he tucked the cigarette and lighter in his pocket for Jackie. She quickly finished her one, putting it out on her windowsill before moving away, not wanting to witness anymore of the pair.

She was pulled away from her quiet moment by a loud commotion coming from the kitchen. Sighing with annoyance, Goldie stalked down the stairs, shocked to find Kelso eating pudding with a sad expression.

"What happened?" She questioned, glancing between the three with confusion.

"Kelso caught Hyde and Jackie making out in the driveway." Eric explained, leaning against the counter as she stood beside him. "Then he broke the kitchen door."

"Ah, just the usual then." Goldie nodded along, leaning her head on her cousin's shoulder as she watched Donna try to cheer the angry boy up. "Did he fall apart?"

"He ran into the screen door." He looked down at her with a raised brow. "I think that explains enough."

"Yeah, you're right."