Chapter 8
Gonzo sat quietly at the top of the stairs as he watched Janice complete her daily exercises. It was unsettling to both of them to be in the empty boarding house waiting for Camilla.
“Like, do you rully think she’s going to come?” Janice had asked Floyd before the rest of the gang had departed.
“I hope so babe. Maybe she was disconcerted by all of us last time.”
Janice put down her stretch bands and looked at the clock. With a sigh she eased into a chair and looked up at Gonzo. “So, like how long do we give her?”
“She’s not late yet.”
“I know, I’m just like rully, rully nervous. She probably still blames me.”
Gonzo’s eyes opened a little wider as the rest of his face fell in an agonizing puzzled look. “Blames you? I’m the one… Why would? What?”
Janice looked back up at Gonzo with tears streaming down her face. “You just don’t know about the remainder of that afternoon. Like I was just so…”
Gonzo came down the stairs and sat across from Janice on the couch. “You had no part of…”
“I was so reckless,” she sobbed.
“No, you had no control… You didn’t do it. If anything it was my fault.”
“But you rully trusted me. I promised you that nothing would happen and I let you down.”
“Janice, you did more than we asked you to.”
“Are you so sure about that Gonzo? Did you ever hear the details?”
6 ½ months pregnant – 26 2/7 weeks pregnant
“Here-a is zee ceke-a fur zee cheeckee, Juneece-a, und blooe-a veurdu. Bork Bork Bork!” Chef proclaimed proudly pointing at the bootie shaped cake that was tap dancing in the left over icing.
“Well, it sure ain't holding any of us hostage, yet. That’s a better start than usual.” Rowlf replied as he chased his fiancé through the kitchen to see what she had bought.
“Rizzo? Rizzo!” Fozzie’s voice sounded desperate as he searched for the rat. “Rizzo, I don’t understand!”
“Man, I can’t explain this to him again,” Rizzo whispered as he ducked into the pantry to hide.
Kermit walked into the fray and smiled. This was going to be one wonderful surprise baby shower for their friends. And if all went according to plan, there was also going to be another event to celebrate at the party. Kermit wasn’t going to hold his breath though; Floyd had been known not to follow through in asking Janice to marry him before because he believed “you don’t mess with the good stuff.”
Gonzo, Floyd, Camilla, and Janice stood waiting for the ferry to Staten Island so that they could split ways for the afternoon – Janice and Camilla catching up on baby things as they toured and shpped and Gonzo and Floyd just enjoying the time out together. They were happily oblivious to the rest of the group running amuck in baby shower plans back at the boarding house.
“You girls behave now,” Gonzo stated light-heartedly as he patted Janice’s ever bulging belly.
“Yeah, babe, don’t be leavin’ me for some other rocker. I’m liking the way things are between us.”
Camilla leaned over to Janice and clucked something private that dissolved the girls into giggles.
“Oh well, Floyd, I guess we just have to let this pair devastate the men of this town alone. Behave you two and we’ll meet you back at the boarding house!” Gonzo called out as they walked aboard the ferry.
Janice and Camilla took their seat where they could see the statue approaching. “Like, I can’t believe that we’ve been so close and never come out here before.”
“I know,” Camilla started to sign but was distracted by a speed boat across the water. Shaking off an unnerving feeling she turned back to Janice, “I’m so excited though. We really haven’t had a chance to spend time alone together since you said yes.”
“Rully, who knew that we would all be so excited by your baby?”
“You and I both know that this will always be our baby.”
“Oh Camilla,” Janice started this time cutting herself off as she was distracted by the speed boat that was quickly coming closer to the ferry. “Camilla, I think that we should move. Now!”
That was all Janice had time to say before the sound of crunching metal and wood filled the air. Panic took over as Janice ran to grab a life vest and slapped it onto Camilla to keep her from sliding underwater. Camilla reached for Janice as another passenger grabbed Janice’s shoulders pushing her underwater. Camilla fought to get Janice back up from under the water but her stature as a chicken kept her pushed around and unable to find where Janice had disappeared to.
Coast Guard boats were quickly arriving on the scene. Rescue swimmers were already in the water, calming those they could and looking for who may be trapped underneath. Camilla was plucked into one of their boats but was quickly sedated to protect herself from being injured more than they were. Just before she slipped under from the tranquilizer she managed to cluck out “Jan… baby.”
Floyd and Gonzo were amazed at how quickly the afternoon passed. They had learned that they had much more in common than they ever thought and were sharing memories from the early days of the Muppet Show as they walked back into the boarding house. Floyd stopped short as they got inside and held up his hand. “Something’s wrong here buddy.”
“I’ve never known it to be this quiet, have you?” Gonzo asked as they made their way to the living room.
The walked in to find the group staring intently at them. The tv was tuned to a news station at a low volume with scenes of a horrible boating accident. Miss Piggy was the first to break the silence.
“Oh, moi was so worried. Thank heavens that you all were not on that ferry!”
“It would have been nice if you had called to let us know you were okay. Some of these folks here were worried,” Rizzo said walking off in a huff.
“What’s happening?” Floyd spoke the words quicker than usual for him, showing that he was staring to get worried.
“Surely you’re not making Janice and Camilla carry in the spoils of their shopping spree?” Wanda asked trying to remind them of their manners.
“It’s hard to carry bags that when we weren’t shopping with them.” Gonzo stated starting to get a very sick feeling in his stomach.
“Chickee?” The chef piped up starting to feel panic spread around the room.
“Janice and Camilla haven’t gotten here yet?” Gonzo asked.
The room erupted in pandemonium as the fears of the Muppets that had been watching the footage of the boating accident were confirmed. Camilla was the only chicken on board that day. Floyd grabbed Gonzo and dragged him through the arms, legs, and torsos of the wailing clenching group as he sought out Kermit and Scooter who were disappearing into the kitchen.
“Hey, green stuff! Green stuff I’m talking to you!” Floyd burst into the kitchen confusion evident in his eyes.
“Floyd, Gonzo” Kermit started quietly. Scooter dashed around the room gathering water to heat, coffee beans and other comfort foods for the group. As Scooter started the water he pushed Gonzo and Floyd into chairs and Kermit continued. “Did you guys go with the girls to the statue?”
“No, we were giving them time alone.” Gonzo started, “Kermit, what’s going on?”
“What time did you last see them?” Scooter piped up still holding out hope that it was not their friends they had recognized in the footage.
“I don’t know. I guess about three.” Floyd quickly looked from side to side at Kermit and Scooter.
Scooter jumped up and grabbed the keys to the Electric Mayhem bus and Kermit started pushing them towards the door. “We’ll tell you on the way to the hospital,” was all Kermit could manage to get out as even he started to panic.
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