Following Mickey's recommendations, Jack and Jennifer were selling off their furniture, and some those possessions that would bring in some money. To this end an over zealous Jack was running around the apartment, attaching price ages to everything he saw.

Jennifer entered the room, "Jack, do you realize that everything in this house has a price tag on it?"

"That's because we have a big sale tomorrow and we have to be ready for it."

Jennifer noticed that in Jack's zealousness he even put a tag on her toothbrush, "toothbrush is for sale?"

"Look you are a big celebrity in this town. People will pay big bucks for this."

Referring to her pregnancy she tried to change the topic to a less gloomy subject, "Right, you know what, let's talk about something happier than this sale and money, alright."

Jack's reaction to the pregnancy had caused some tensions between them. He felt miserable about not being able to be as happy as Jennifer was, and it hurt him that this was hurting Jennifer. However, with their present situation, he just could not react and feel as she wanted. "How could we talk about something happy? I mean.... look.... we are selling off everything lock, stock and barrel. I mean when the baby comes there'll be no place for it to sit, let alone lie down or whatever it is, babies do. I'm not saying that.... I'm not saying that I'm not happy about this. That's not what I want you to think."

"Then what is it Jack?"

"It's the timing! I mean look at the timing here. We're being booted out of our penthouse."

"It's not like we don't have someplace to go Jack."

"We are bringing a new life into this crazy world and I feel responsible."

"You? we are responsible."

"The key word is responsibility. I'm not going to nickel and dime this kid."

"I'm not asking you to do that."

"That's good because I'm not going to be happy until I get some money back in my pockets and get the paper up and running. Period!" Even though Jack was able to use the money they were able to recover and to use that to pay off the bank, the paper still needed more funds than they had to keep it running. There was the distinct possibility that he still could lose the paper.

A short time later, Jack has finished putting tags on things. He then puts a sticker on his chest, "no offer refused." "Alright ladies and gentlemen, no offer refused. We'll take any offer. Going, going.... gone," he called out.

Not knowing what she means "Who will be here any minute?"

"My grandma and grandpa, Uncle Mickey and Aunt Maggie."

"You invited your family over tonight?"

"I have to tell them about the baby sooner or later don't you think?"

"I vote for later."

"Look, alright, this is some of the best news of my life and I want to share it with them. I think you can understand that. At least they'll be happy."

"Oh they'll be happy alright. I can see your Uncle Mickey right now just grinning for ear to ear as he witnesses me having to sell.... everything out from under you.... both of you. There will be no family charity, you understand that. There is a way out of this. I'm going to find it, not them."

Jack prepared to leave, being around when Jennifer told her family was too much for him -- especially with his guilt about losing all their money. "Jack, what are you.... where are you going?"

"I'm going to work."

"Right now, at this hour?"

"You know how much colleges cost? Every year it goes up and up and up. What if the kid wants to go to Med School? What am I going to tell him? Or tell her?"

"My family is coming over!"

Jack walked into another room, Jennifer called to him, "Oh Jack."

Some time later, Alice, Tom, Mickey, and Maggie had arrived, and were now drinking tea with Jennifer. Jack was in the bedroom getting ready for work. "Ah would anyone like some more tea, Grandma, Grandpa?"

"No thank you dear."

"Am I the only one who's getting the impression that there's a stalling tactic in practice here."

Tom spoke, "Jennifer you did call us together for some reason, didn't you?"

"Nervous, "Well yes...."

Jack emerged from their bedroom, ready to go off to work. He hoped that he could sneak out unnoticed, but Jennifer saw him, "Jack, there you are. Come here, look who's here. My family."

"Oh, hello Mr. and Mrs. Horton, Mr. and Mrs. Horton."

"Jack."

"Well, feel free to browse. Jennifer will give you the best prices. In the meantime I have to go out and make the world safe for journalism."

"Jack I'm so sorry it's come to this for you."

"We're all sorry Jack."

"That's quite alright, really. Don't worry. We'll get it all back and more. In the meantime, I'm learning to enjoy of well meaning pity. Excuse me." Jack was becoming more and more uncomfortable. He was trying to do all he could to get out of there before Jennifer told them that she was pregnant.

Jennifer knew that Jack was trying to get away and she wanted him to be there when she told them the news. "Jack I haven't even told them yet," she said trying to get him to wait.

For Jack that was his cue to leave, "I've got to go," he said desperately.

"Told us what for heaven's sake?" A curious Tom asked.

Alice wanted to know as well, "Yes, please Jennifer, what's going on?"

Jack tried to rush out the door. But it was too late.

It was now or never, "I'm pregnant!" Jennifer answered.

Jack was not able to make his escape. He froze. And watched as Jennifer's family congratulated her and were happy for her.

Maggie was taken aback and asked, "What?"

Thrilled, "I said I'm pregnant. I'm going to have a baby. Jack and I are going to have a baby."

Shocked yet thrilled for her Tom replied, "Good lord."

Alice hugged Jennifer, "Jennifer darling, it's wonderful."

Maggie agreed, "Oh that's fantastic."

Jack could not escape the Horton's enthusiasm, Mickey grabbed Jack's arm. Jack was not too pleased, he had always been uncertain about Mickey's impression of him; he always felt that Mickey did not think he was worthy of Jennifer. But Mickey was genuinely pleased for him, "Jack, you son of a gun, that's terrific."

Simling at his granddaughter, "My darling, wonderful, wonderful."

"Thank you Grandpa."

Tom gave Jennifer a big hug. She looked across at Jack Jack gave her a half smile. Despite his fears, he was happy for her; his deep love for her were mirrored in his eyes. After pausing for a few moments watching Jennifer and her family, Jack left for work.

A short time later everyone was preparing to leave. Tom spoke to Mickey, "I'm going to walk you downstairs Mickey. There's a couple of things I want to talk to you about."

Speaking to Tom, "Sure, dad." Before walking out with Tom he stopped and said goodbye to Jennifer, "Jennifer, hey great news."

"Thank you Uncle Mickey, thank you."

"Ah, yea," Replied Mickey.

Before leaving with Tom and Mickey, Maggie stopped to talk with Jennifer, "And remember, next week I'm going to take you baby shopping and buy you some pretty things."

"Well I'll be there. Thank you Aunt Maggie Well you know this is just the beginning, just the beginning. Our luck is turning around. I can feel it."

Everyone had left except for Alice. She remained behind because she wanted to talk with Jennifer. Her usual intuitive self told her that something was bothering Jennifer.

"So, happy for me?" Jennifer asked her.

"You know I am. For you and Jack. I just said the magic word didn't I?" Alice could tell that Jack was having difficulty accepting the news.

"Yeah, I'm worried about him," confiding her her grandmother, who was always a wealth of information and support.

"Well it's this sale, all the debts." replied Alice.

"Yeah he's just concentrating so hard on this because he doesn't want to face the big problem. He's scared of this baby."

"Jennifer, all expectant fathers are afraid," trying to relived her precious granddaughter's fears.

"Really?"

"Even your grandfather and your father. Darling, he'll come round, you'll see." "Yeah," Jennifer was hopeful, yet still worried that he would not.

"No I was just.... just sitting up here in the half dark just kind of resting my eyes. This is kind of like dreaming anyway."

"Come on," she took his arm and lead him to the couch. She sat him down next, sat next to him, and then turned off the projector. Replying to his last remark, "Old pictures can do that," she said to him.

Speaking with a bit of wistfulness and sadness, "Huh, huh...." Jack paused for an instant, and then continued speaking dreamily, "Once upon a time, long ago, far away.... it kind of seemed like.... like someone else."

"You know there is nothing wrong with the life that you've got Jack."

"Yeah. Especially this part of it," Jack took her hand.

"Everybody is really excited for us about the baby," she told him.

"I'm looking forward to being excited myself."

"Do you have any idea when that will be?"

Answering her, "Ah, I don't know. Maybe when I can finally figure our a way to give you and me and," Jack looked down at her stomach, and continued "whoever, the kind of life that you should have. But I will.... I will do that." He paused, then continued, I promise.

They sat side-by-side, together but apart. Jack felt terrible, he so desperately wanted to be happy for himself and especially for her. Jennifer continued to be worried about Jack's reaction to the baby.

 

It was the day of the Deveraux sale, outside a storm was brewing. Jennifer was gazing into a mirror that was for sale, distracted by her reflection which to her looked very pregnant.

Jack walked into the room, "The weather couldn't be any better for today. The wind is quite literally howling in the doorstep. Not that we have a doorstep. But if we had one it would be howling along with the wolf." He finally noticed her, she now was smiling at herself, "What are you smiling about?, he asked; he could not understand how this of all days that she could be happy. "Today's our Waterloo. We're going to lose hearth and home today."

She could not be as pessimistic as he, she called him over towards her, "Come here Jack, look at this."

"Look at what?" Jack asked.

Look in the mirror, what do you see? She answered.

Jack did as she asked. He stared at the mirror, "Oh my gosh, would you look at that." Jennifer laughed, she thought Jack was reacting to her figure. However, Jack ran up to the mirror, "Wait a minute." He then polished of a spot on the mirror.

Wait.... what are you doing? Jennifer asked.

"I.... what do you think I'm doing? I'm wiping off the smudge. How do you expect anybody to buy this if it's all dirty."

"Jack, I'm not talking about the smudge. I'm talking about this," she showed him her stomach.

Jack could not figure out what she meant, "This, what?"

She pointed to her stomach, "This. This is the baby. It's starting to show a little bit, don't you think?"

Jack noticed that she was rather large, "It's a little soon don't you think?"

"Well a lot of women, they start to show right away. Like my friend Lynn at the station. She's started to show as soon as she found out she was pregnant."

That worried him, "Isn't she the one who had that 18 pounder or something like that?

"No, but it was 11 pounds," she corrected him. He's two years old now, he's big but--"

"Big, big. How tall is he, six foot six? We can't afford to have a baby that big Jennifer," That news made him even more worried.

"We're not going to have a huge baby. It'll just be a large baby."

"Large babies eat alot, alright."

"Well mother's milk is free."

"Yeah, mother's milk is free, yes. I hope you plan on nursing for the next decade. If you're not, we have to start thinking about things like food bills. I mean I hope this kid likes hot dogs and macaroni and cheese because that's all it's going to get."

"Well that's all most kids eat anyway."

"Well that's good with the exception of the fact that he's a Deveraux and he'll probably have a penchant for paté foie gras."

Jennifer took Jack's hand, "Come on, come over here would you?"

Jack continued, "What, paté foie gars is a very...."

"I know," she answered

"....nutritious food."

Jennifer wrapped his arms around her and put his hands on her stomach, "Look in the mirror, what do you see? " Jack did not know what she was getting at. Jennifer looked into the mirror, I see a very lucky couple and you know why they're so lucky?"

"Why," he asked.

"Because they have it all. They have love...."

At that moment, as if a sign, the mirror fell, and the glass shattered. Jack looked at in shock. Jack was superstitious, and he saw this as a bad omen. Jennifer gasped and Jack replied, "They have it all right, They have it all alright. They have seven years of bad luck." Jack then began to clean up the shards of broken glass. "Will you look, will you just look at this," Jack muttered.

"It's just a mirror Jack."

"What do you mean, just a mirror? It's just seven years bad luck, that's what it is."

Jennifer thought he was being foolish, she was very optimistic for their future, "Oh I don't believe in that. That's silly.

"Well you better start believing it. Look at this, this is one of our more expensive items. We won't be getting any money from this, will we? No siree Bob, of course then again we won't get many money from anything as long as nobody shows up. Half an hour into the sale and nobody shows up. No customers."

Trying to be optimistic Jennifer replied, "The wind storm is probably holding a lot of them back.

"That's right. What did I say, bad luck. We're probably going to have to just get everything together and pay someone to cart it away."

"Well we can always donate all of it," she said.

"Yeah, if we needed the deductions, which we don't."

"You shouldn't just give to charity for the tax write-off Jack."

"But we are a charity, don't you.... I can't believe I said that. I can't believe I said that. We have become one of them. One of those nameless, faceless, huddled masses just relying on the kindness of strangers, taking bread crumbs from people we don't even...."

"It is not like that Jack."

"Jennifer you don't understand. I grew up hearing about this sort of thing. Bed time stories, horror stories from Harper kept me up all night thinking about people. They had it one day, the next day it was all for sale. I used to think why, why did this happen? I mean why were they so stupid to lose their money? Now I know! I know it's because--"

Jennifer tried to reassure him, "Listen.... listen to me! There is nothing wrong with not having a lot of money."

Ever the pessimist, "Unless you want to eat."

"We are not going to starve. We are going to get through this, alright. Don't you remember, contra mundum?

"Right, right. You and me against the world. It's going to be you, me and the world's biggest baby."

"Alright, alright, it's a big baby Jack. Okay but this baby is going to have everything that he or she will ever need."

Just then the door bell rang, Jack looked towards the door, "Well it looks like the vultures have landed ready to pick the carcass clean."

"Alright, why don't you stay here and I'll get the door," Jennifer told him.

"Watch out for the beats."

"Relax. " She then opened the door. Outside was a woman, "Hi, come on in," Jennifer said to her.

"Oh am I at the right place?"

"Oh you sure are. You're our first customer," Jennifer replied.

The woman walked straight in and started looking around the place as if she owned it. Jack muttered, "Excuse me."

Just then Alice and Tom arrived, since the door was opened they walked in, "Jennifer. Oh darling," Alice said. Tom added, "Sweetheart."

"Hello, hello Grandpa. Come on in."

"We just thought we'd stop by and see how the sale was going," said Tom.

"Well I'm doing fine. Jack's taking it pretty hard."

Meanwhile the customer picked up Jack and Jennifer's jade plant. Jack did not like this, "Ah, I don't think you really want that."

The woman was determined, she wanted the plant, "Oh yes I do."

Not knowing what to do, "I think that....," He finally called for Jennifer "JENNIFER" He told the woman again, "I think that it's not for sale. Is it...." He shouted again for Jennifer, "JENNIFER!"

"It wouldn't be out if it wasn't for sale," the customer insisted.

"I think.... listen, you could get your own little Chia Pet.... or whatever it is you want but I think my wife would kill me if I let this go. "

Jennifer had been watching the scene, she finally thought it was time to interview, "I'm going to break this up, okay. Excuse me. Could I have that for one second, please," she told her grandparents.

Jack continued to struggle with the woman for the plant. Jennifer finally got the plant away from the woman. Jennifer, returned to talk to Tom and Alice, "Well I managed to save something from the auction block although it's not going to be enough. Not for Jack, anyway."

"How about I cover for you with Jack, while you handle the rest of the crowd that's coming in," Tom asked her. She thanked him, and accepted his help. Tom walked over to help Jack.

"How are you and baby doing?," Alice inquired.

"I'm fine."

"How's Jack handling it?"

"He's dealing with it. I mean I wish I could make it easier for him because he thinks that things are hopeless. I wish there was something that I could do to make him feel better." Jennifer paused a thought came to her, "Oh, I know."

"Evidently you just thought of something."

"Yes, you know what grandma. Why don't you just stay here please and sort of help them out with all this. I don't think a lot of people are going to come anyway cause I'm going to go do something."

"Alright, you go and do whatever you have to do."

"I will. Thanks." Jennifer ran out without saying goodbye to Jack.

Jack noticed this, "Doctor, keep an eye on this one for me, would you?" Tom nodded. Jack walked over to Alice. "Mrs. Horton, where did she go? She can't just leave me here like this."

"Well she's doing something she has to do."

Jack was certain that she ran out because she was overcome by having to move and the sale of their possessions, "No, no, no, you don't have to cover. I understand. She just couldn't stand to see her life reduced to a garage sale."

"Oh darling, actually it's not as bad--"

"No really, I'm telling you, I understand. After all the pain and the suffering, she doesn't want spectators.... well then again, it's really nothing to worry about. I mean we'll get out of this in no time."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm just.... listen, could you and the good doctor just mind the store for a minute. I have to do something myself," Jack ran out too leaving Alice and Tom alone to deal with the sale.

CHAPTER FIVE:THE PENTHOUSE LIVINGROOM.

Jack spent the day at the paper, trying to start on his goal of resurrecting the paper, and thus eventually becoming financially solvent again. After several hours he returned to the Penthouse. The livingroom was now empty except for the Jade plant. Jack looked around in shock, "What happened?" He asked Tom and Alice. They are surprised to see him. "Everything was sold?"

"You wouldn't believe it. Remember that woman who was here earlier?" Alice asked him.

"Flea Market Flossy?"

Tom continued, "Right, she went out and got her friends and came back and bought the lot."

"Well I wouldn't doubt it. Vultures like the probably haven't seen a deal since the Indians were fleeced out of Manhattan," Jack commented sarcastically.

Alice handed him a big wad of cash, "Oh, here's your money."

Jack was pleased at the amount, yet somewhat somber by the implications, for it was now official, "Oh thank you."

He replied somberly, as he wandered around the room. Tom and Alice felt terrible for him and Tom tried to be supportive and encourage him, "Jack, I'm sorry about what's happened to the two of you. But I know you, you'll bounce back."

In a daze,"Yes, yes, we will bounce back. I am.... I know we will."

"Hey, that's the spirit," Tom replied.

"Come on Tom, I think we better go."

Right, goodnight, Jack," said Tom.

Still in a daze Tom automatically bid them goodbye. Tom and Alice left; and Jack looked at the money they gave him. He became even more depressed.

 

A few minutes later Jennifer returned home carrying packages. "Jack, I.... oh.... hi. Well I guess everything's sold."

"And this is what we've got to show for it," he waved the wad of cash in front of her.

"So, do we have the place to ourselves?" Jennifer inquired.

"Till midnight at least." Jack was depressed that they only had such a short time left in what had been their home.

Jennifer had something planned for them -- for Jack. "Good, good. That's a perfect amount of time."Jack does not know what she is talking about, nor can he be happy with the present circumstances, "Perfect amount of time for what?"

Jennifer sat down on the floor and set out a table cloth, "For this," she answered.

"What are you.... what are you doing? I thought we sold that. What is--"

Jennifer looked into her bags, "Okay, let's see."

Jack continued to be confused,"What are you doing?"

Jennifer set up a spread of stuff on the floor she told him that she picked the things up using coupons. She then got out some matches and candles from a bag, and lit the candles.

Jack was unimpressed, "I'd rather not hear about coupons right now."

She tried to waylay his fears, "Look I know how upset you are about all this, alright. But it's going to be okay." She was determined to give him a special surprise. "Yes, yes, it will be okay."

Jack was bothered by the idea of them having to purchase things with coupons. He continued to look around at their empty apartment and to contemplate the implications. Despite how depressing the situation was he could not help but being pleased by how she was trying to make him feel better. Jack leaned towards her, " I tell you something, perhaps we should find another use for those lips than talking...." and with that kissed her on the lips, he continued, ".... about coupons." He kissed her again with greater passion.

They stood up, continuing to kiss. He then picked her up and groaned.

"Big baby!" Jennifer laughed.

"Oh it's an 18 pounder," Jack replied.

"You know Jack, I know it was hard for you today, I do. But you know what, try not to think of it like it's the end of the world. I mean try to think of it like this is a brand new life for us. A brand new life for us and our baby."

"I don't like the idea of starting out a brand new life.... like Duke. Broke, on the outs, soon to be fighting and drinking my way into oblivion. Who knows, maybe soon I'll be forcing you to put the baby up for adoption or something like that.