Chapter 2 The One With The Sonogram At The End
The day begins like any other with the gang sitting around in Central Perk café discussing a weird but important topic and this time it happens to be the importance of kissing in a good relationship.
Chandler compares kissing to the opening act of the stand-up comedian, which the audience must sit through before Pink Floyd comes out. Ross mentions that men do not hate the comedian, it is just not why they bought the ticket.
"Well. Guys I have to disagree with Ross and Chandler, What I think is, it is like a comedian connecting with the audience and vice versa. So, after the show ends, you get as many claps as you want." I said while continuing the metaphorical theme.
Rachel also makes the point that "Yeah, and a word of advice, Bring back the comedian. Otherwise, you're going to find yourself… sitting at home listening to the album alone." While high-fiving Monica later.
"Hot damn," I commented while looking at Ross and Chandler.
While the metaphor is going on, Joey is completely stumped at this point, unsure whether we are still talking about sex or not. Who ask me to confirm, and I nodded at his.
In the afternoon, we all are sitting on the sofa in Monica's apartment, Monica frantically cleans the apartment in time for the arrival of our parents.
"Are you through with that? Thanks" said Monica while taking a glass from joey's hand, who was just drinking it just now.
"Yeah, sorry, the swallowing slowed me down." Said joey a little sarcastically.
"Whose little ball of paper is this?" Asked Monica While looking at the table where she saw a ball of paper.
Chandler hearing this got a little scared because it was, he who made the ball with that paper and made sarcastic humor.
Phoebe tried to say something but after seeing Monica's eyes she kept quiet not only her, as I was also keeping quiet, as a guy who has lived with Monica most of my life, I know how she is, I never, I say never get in her way of cleaning.
Before she used to stress eat and became Fa—I mean mature, but now whenever she is under stress she cleans or makes food. Why is she stressed about cleaning? Because our parents are coming. Well, let's not talk about that, it's a long story.
"Calm down, sis, look Phoebe is getting scared" on my word, she made a scared face.
"Yeah, calm down. You don't see Ross and Ryan getting all chaotic and twirly every time they come." Joey tries to water the flame, but he mistakenly added oil instead.
"That's because, as far as my parents are concerned, Ross can do no wrong. You see, he's the prince. Apparently, they had some big ceremony before I was born." Monica said back while still cleaning and arranging the room.
"Ok, but what about Ryan? He seems cool and calm." Joey again asked.
"Well, Ryan is different, he was already mature when we were first joining high school. Before we graduated from high school, he already started his online game business and making money, he is like a Lone Wolf in the house. Also, he does not care about what other people think about him, so why he is calm and collected? And if our parents compare us with Ryan, then we will seem like a loser, so no comparing me with Ryan." Monica said while looking at her brother who was walking around the house.
"Ew, ew, ew." Suddenly chandler said.
"What?" I asked as I was near him and then again Monica asked.
"Ugly Naked Guy got a Thigh master." Said chandler, and we all begin looking at the guy through the window.
"EW" "EW" "EW" "EW" was our only reaction.
Soon, Rachel came from her room and looks for her engagement ring so that she can give it back to Barry. When she started searching, the whole house nearly made a mess after Monica clean it. So, Monica asked no Order us to help her find it while not trashing her place.
Soon later, she then realizes that she has lost it in Monica's lasagna.
Monica can't bring herself to destroy the dish to retrieve the ring.
"Boys? We are going in." Said Chandler.
"Yeah, we are," soon Chandler, Joey, Me, and Phoebe volunteered to do it.
Soon, A stunned Ross arrives and tells us about Carol and the baby.
"Carol's pregnant." Ross delivered a freaking mind bomb.
"Wait!!! What?" was my reaction after hearing what my brother said. "I am an uncle now. I am too young for this." Again, after a few pauses.
"Oh, I found it" Phoebe then finds Rachel's engagement ring in the lasagna, so Joey helps himself to the rest.
After the talk with Ross alongside the gang whether if he wants to be involved or not.
A few hours later, Jack and Judy Geller, aka our parents, arrived.
"Good evening, Mom and Dad" I welcomed them and hugged them both.
"Oh, my cute Ryan, are you settling in, tell me if you need money or anything," Mom said after hugging me.
"Na, mom, you know, I don't need it."
"You have grown up champ, tell me have you made any girlfriends till now or not?" Dad said.
"Of course, dad, you know me" we high five and all.
Our mom and dad, treat us with care and all, but not all see it that way. Monica thinks mom treats Ross like a prince or something, but she is worried because Ross had always been the mama's boy and Monica is the daddy's little girl.
My, mom, and dad worried about me, but not too much as my other brother and sister. Because I had shown them ever since high school that I am independent. I did not need money for my parents for college or university, I made my own money by making some games and also getting a hefty amount from it.
And throughout the conversation, it soon becomes clear how they favor Ross over Monica. Judy aka Mom is catty and critical towards Monica and everything she does, whereas Jack aka dad is gentler, but quite blunt, making the point that Monica was "chubby and had no friends" when she was a child.
Pushed to the edge, Monica forces Ross to admit Carol's situation to their parents.
"What, this is the first time, I am hearing this? Oh my god!" Monica and Ross look at me weirdly, but soon it happens.
Instead of interrogating Ross, Judy turns to Monica and accusingly asks her, "And you knew about this?"
Then Ross and Monica look at me, ok, when you live more than 15 years of your life with them, you get to know how they work and react. Hence, the reaction from my brothers and sister.
After all that happens, tomorrow morning, at the central café.
"Your folks are really that bad, huh?" asked joey.
"You have no idea!" I added.
"Well, you know, these people are pros. They know what they're doing. They take their time. And at the end, they get the job done." Ross said.
"Boy, I know they say that you can't change your parents. Boy, if you could, I'd want yours two." Said Monica while looking at Ross and me.
"Ha, ok, then be my guest," I replied to Monica.
"Must pee" said Ross after smiling at what Monica said and went to pee.
Soon we talked a little and went out, forgetting Ross in the café with Rachel.
Tomorrow morning, Ross went to meet Carol and Susan aka Now Carol's girlfriend at the OB/GYN clinic.
After Ross came back from the OB/GYN clinic, we get to watch a tape of the sonogram on Monica and Rachel's TV.
"Well, isn't that amazing?" Asked Ross excited.
Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe come up with a variety of strange resemblances.
"Monica? Ryan? What do you think?" Ross came toward us and asked.
"Mm-hm." Was only Monica's reaction.
Monica wells up at the thought of being an aunt.
"Ryan? How about you?" Ross looks at me and asked.
"Ah, well, I don't know, there is this giddy feeling inside my stomach, I-I think I am nervous and excited. I hope, when that baby grows up, I get up to be a proud uncle of the kid," said I hugged Ross. And congratulated him.
Rachel is on the phone with Mindy and congratulates her on her relationship with Barry. She hangs up, but not before shouting down the phone, "If everything works out, and you guys end up getting married and having kids and everything, I just hope they have his old hairline and your old nose!"
"Ok, that was a cheap shot, but I feel so much better now!"