Zing 2! : Family Problems

Chapter 1: First Birthday

"Calm down, Dracula." Elisabeth plopped down into her chair holding her now one year old child in her arms. "She's only one. I'm sure Martha will get her fangs." I still can't believe we named her after his first love.

Johnny, Mavis, Dennis, Frank, Eunice, Murray, Griffin, Wayne, Wanda, Lis, the twins, and Dracula were all siting in a big circle, some with gifts. Johnny was sitting between Mavis and Dracula. Dracula was standing on the left side of Lis in her big chair. Wanda was sitting on the couch beside the chair with Wayne and what seemed to be Griffin. They had moved the twins' chairs to make room for more, so the twins, Lizzy and Jack, were sitting on the floor beside the couch. Frank, Eunice, Murry and Dennis stood watching the children play.

"I can't believe Martha is a year old already!" Dennis smiled as he sat Jack back down with his powers for having failed to sit when he was told.

"Is this a beautiful baby girl or what?" Dracula lightly tussled his youngest daughter's hair. "Look at that white hair!" in a sing-song-y voice Dracula chimed, "I don't think it's going to stay white."

"Dad, I'm pretty sure it is going to..."

Dracula cut Mavis off in his sing-song-y voice. "I think I see some black roots..."

"Honey, I don't think..." Lis was cut off by Dracula who wasn't going to have it that one of his direct descendants might not be a vampire.

"I have vampire vision... I can see it..."

Lis shared a troubled look with Mavis. Your dad's going nuts!

Mavis got the hint and tried to intervene. "Okay. Please, you two, I don't think she wants to hear her parents arguing. Her hair doesn't matter, right?"

Dracula was as hard set as before. "Of course not. She's perfect whatever color-haired vampire she is."

Lis took care to be extra nice since Dracula was acting crazy. "What if she's not a vampire? She could be a witch like my mother."

Dracula, still sing-song-y, replied while looking into Martha's mouth. "I think her fangs are growing in... you have until you're five to get your vampire fangs."

Lis took caution. I've got to mention the school for witches some time! "Well, if she doesn't get her fangs, maybe she'd be better off growing up in a place with more witches... And I don't mean the maids..."

Dracula practically yelled, "Oh, that won't happen! She'll get her fangs!" Then, regaining his cool, said, "Isn't that right, little my little Martha?"

Lis sat Martha down on the floor in front of her and handed her a small broom shaped teething toy. Dracula handed her a small bat toy.

Johnny tried to break the tension between the two. "Okay! So, anyway... Lis have you seen your parents lately?"

"Not since about 5 years ago. Before that? Not since Dennis was five."

This seemed to confuse Mavis but Jonny appeared to understand what Lis had meant, although Elisabeth wasn't sure he really did.

Martha put the broom in her mouth making Lis smile. Dracula then handed Martha the bat that she had dropped, which causes Martha to take out the broom and put the bat into her mouth to his delight.

It was getting super awkward. To break the tension, in a cheery voice Mavis said, "Okay! Time for presents!"

Martha grabbed Elisabeth's robe and pulled herself up, the broom toy back in her mouth, and tried to walk across the circle.

Murray smiled and pulled out a large gold necklace. "Alright, let's do this girl up! Check out what I got her... bling! "

Wayne asked, "Wow, is it cursed?"

Murray smiled wider. "Super-cursed! Only the best. Straight from the crypt!"

"Uh, she's just starting to walk, so maybe it's heavier than..." Lis cut off because he was not listening.

Murray put the huge solid gold necklace on her. Martha wobbled and took half a step and fell, crying. Lis grabbed her as Murray frowned. "Okay! Okay! I'm sorry, Murray. I don't think she's got the balance for this yet. I'll give it to her another time." Lis put the necklace on her side table.

Murray didn't seem too happy about it but kept his cool. "Okay, alright, you're the mama."

Johnny tried again to ease the tension in the room. "Okay, anybody else?"

Frank and Eunice were somewhat reluctant to give their gift. Dracula unwrapped the little box.

Eunice said, "I hope it's acceptable..."

A small "my first guillotine" the perfect size for chopping off the heads of dolls was in the box. Frank demonstrates.

Dracula seemed excited. "A 'My First Guillotine'! Very educational! Well played, frank!"

Lis grabbed it just before Dracula could hand it to Martha. "You know, I made one of these once. I was a hundred and three. I used it to chop off the heads of the Barbie doll toys I was given. I ended up with a lot of doll heads... I still have some of them." Lis put the little guillotine up on the shelf. "Package says it's not for children under the age of two. She can have it next year."

"Over-protective much?" Mavis mumbled to Johnny.

"I can still hear you, Mavis." Lis rolled her eyes. She's one to talk. She baby proofed everything for her kid!

"Oh... sorry." Mavis reached behind her back and took out a stuffed bear. "I found it in a human shop. They said even babies love these." Mavis handed the bear to Martha.

"Thanks Mavis. It's perfect." At least she thought about her gift!

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Thanks for reading. this one is a little more challenging than my other stories so please be patient. If you have any ideas let me know. i could ALWAYS use some inspiration!