#estebanico

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Susie loves to come home and tell Papi all the things she learned that day, including the jokes. Not everyone truly appreciates a good elephant joke. She hates that she has to compete, not only with both sets of twins and Mommy, but with work and the phone. She wishes she were an only child like Estella - whose Dadick doesn't have a job! But of course Good Girls don't look at their little brothers and wish them out of existence. They play nice and are Very Kind to them. If she pretends hard enough to be a Good Girl, surely Susie will become one?

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"Sometimes I still feel sad about her." "I know, my sweet. I know."

"But Mary hated for people to be sad. The only thing we can do for the dead, she told me, is to be happy. Let me make you happy, Lucy."

"Wow, I'd be afraid to touch that!" "Mary wanted it to be used. What is a guitar that stands idle and unplayed? Only a hunk of wood and silence."

The MMMMC should be the best possible place to impress her, but there's that Casa fellow, distracting her, trying to cut him out! Billy happens to know he's got a wife and five children at home - he has no business here. If anybody's going to seduce Lucy, it'll be him, not some other slick jerk. 

"Let me take you home, my sweet! You look tired!"

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With the advance check in hand, the bills up-to-date, and George's term about to start, Eneida and Jovita go out to address the toy situation. The first stop is Kid Stuff, for a dollhouse, toy oven, and miscellaneous toys. Some things, however, can only be obtained at Townie Toys, and there's no disloyalty in going there.

"It's about time you got my oldest great-grandchild something to play with. She'll need someone to play with, too - any progress on the next one?" "Not yet, but I think soon we'll be able to afford it." "Afford? You already got all the stuff - second one's no expense to speak of!"

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The Casa twins keep Tosha too busy to think during the day. It's almost a relief to be in a trailer - the pressure to keep the place nice is so much less. Thank goodness Pigeon Hawkins came through with a rush order for toddler beds! The boys putting themselves down for naps is a small thing, but small things bring large relief.

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Stephen Casa is considerate, hard-working, loves small children, and prefers staying home to going out. Too bad these are the perfect traits Estebanico wants to see in his daughters, not his sons!

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Susie Casa tries to be extra good and perfect so everyone will love her. It’s hard work! She likes visiting Aunt Susana and Uncle David because they never make a fuss about anything. And it’s the only unit in the compound with no babies to steal her thunder. 

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Natasha gets her homework done at night, for once. Nobody knows what she has to look forward to. It's a secret, all hers. Something she doesn't have to share with anyone. Someday, Natasha knows, she'll have to come out to someone in the family besides Stephen. Mom will be fine with it. The littles won't understand and will take their cue from Papi. Papi and Abuelo...who knows? Maybe she’s underestimating them, but if she’s not, things could get ugly. And she's afraid she'll break Abuela's heart.

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Casa

And on to the first household in the next Emergency Compound. Dramatis Personae: Architect Estebanico Casa, his wife Tosha, twins Stephen and Natasha, child Susie, infant twins Mick and Thomas. They live in the green unit. Their best friends in the yellow unit, the Spitzigs, also have a new baby; and Jim Spitzig knows perfectly well it’s not his.

Estebanico has a craving to look in on baby Jamesina, but refrains. He’s almost sure she’s his, though with Bad News Bev all bets are off. Jim winks at Bev's little adventures; but he doesn't need to know any more than is good for him. And he doesn't want to know - it would be cruel to him and to Tosha to be obvious.

Estebanico loves Tosha. She’s a Good Woman. But once in awhile a man really needs a Bad Girl. And they don’t get Badder than Bev...

(Not shown: constant routing fits as everyone tried to go babymob Jamesina Spitzig!)