Abbeys Final

Reference :

the Brady Bunch sitcom,Sherwood Schwartz from 1979

The house was at peace; Jan was tucked away studying diligently in her room. Alice was preparing the usual supper, pork chops… apple sauce. Mr and Mrs Brady were nowhere to be seen. Jan was the daughter of Carol. A widowed woman newly wed to Mike Brady, also a widow. Mike was a highly successful architect, one in which allowed is wallet to rule his life. It wasn't unusual for Jan and Alice to have the house to themselves. Mike had no children of his own, so from the moment Carol and Jan had moved into his 3 floor town house, Alice, the live in house keeper was hired and took on all household duties as Carol was whisked away in style by Mike. They ate out basically every night and 

Jan developed to be somewhat of an outcast. Jan was often made fun of for her mind wandering ways, she was continuously caught with her head in the clouds. She found herself daydreaming day to day of the luxury life would be if she just had a few siblings.

“Oh Alice, why do I have to be an only child! Why couldn't I of just had a sister, or even a brother.” Jan protested. “I’m going to have a huge family when I’m older! I’m going to have 3 girls and 3 boys, it’ll be a dream! My children will never feel alone.”

“Well Jan you will have very happy family, go wash up for supper now.” Alice responded.

Jan had caught a glimpse of Mr and Mrs Summers next-door settling down for the evening with their 3 kids Greg, Marcia and Cindy. In her eyes, that was perfection, a truly happy family! They had family to take vacations with and siblings to enter talent shows with. Jan immensely envied what they had.

“Oh Mike” Carol whispered “what an outstanding evening, you sure know how to spoil a girl.”

“Well you deserve the best Honey.” Mike smugly replied.

“Um Hello? Mom I thought you were picking me up after school? We were supposed to go shopping; I need a new dress for this weekends dance!”

“Oh Jan, just let it go would you? Mike had a surprise evening arranged, what do you want me to do?” Carol said.

“Don’t blame your mother Jan, it’s my fault, here buy yourself something nice.” Mike patronizingly interrupted whilst handing over a $100 note.

“Mike Mike Mike! Do I even exist” Jan mumbled as she stormed to her room.

Carol and Mike shared a look as they smirked at their dramatic teen over reacting as always.

On the surface the Brady’s portray as an immaculate cheerful modern day family. But the sense of peace very rarely lasted. Mike and Carol lived their lush lifestyle whilst Jan struggled day to day all alone. Jan never had many friends. Marcia, Greg and Cindy from next-door were the closest companions she had ever really had.

After her infuriating evening Jan woke up that crisp summer morning feeling empowered. She had decided something that night, she wasn’t going to moan about dreaming of the what ifs. She wasn’t going to accept Mikes charity, she was going to make her own dress for the dance that night and she was going to go, even if that meant going at it alone.

Alice was away for the weekend, and Mike and Carol were typically not about.

“Perfect” Jan proclaimed with a sigh of relief. Set up outside Jan happily sat alone, needle and thread and an old dress she had worn to the previous year’s dance, as well as an old cardigan that no longer fit her.  

“Good Morning Jan! What are you doing over there?” Asked Mrs Summers over the fence.

“Oh, hi! I’m making myself a dress, for the dance tonight you know.” Jan proudly replied.

“Well. You better come over here then, it’s going to take you all week with that needle and thread, come on and I can help you with my machine.”

Jan was ecstatic, quickly bundling up her belongings she ran next door.

Together they spent all morning perfecting Jan’s recycled dress, Mrs Summers had plenty of beautiful fabric spare to contribute to their master piece. Within just a few short hours they had done it! Jan had a beautifully handmade dress ready for the dance tonight hours before time.

Jan stayed at the Summer’s all day, played with little Cindy and helped Marcia prepare lunch.

“Well I guess I should get home now, the dance is only in a couple of hours and I need to get ready in time to walk.” Jan announced.

“We can’t have that!” Marcia claimed. “Why don’t you come with Greg and I?”

“That would be wonderful… if you’re sure I’m not overstaying my welcome,” Said Jan.

The entire day felt like a dream, Jan couldn't have been happier. Mrs Summers braided her and Marcia’s hair for the dance and Jan felt truly included. Together she Marcia and Greg all headed out to the dance, it was the most perfect day Jan had ever had. The dance was so much fun and she really felt as if she belonged. The summers had taught her what family was.

Returning home Jan was apprehensive, she didn't know what Carol was going to say, she was gone all day and evening without explanation! “Is she going to be mad? Worried? What will she say!”

Quietly opening the door Carol looked shocked.

“Wow Jan you found a dress did you?” Mike proudly stated “No need to thank me, was my pleasure I am glad to help.”

“Had fun did you Jan?” Carol asked.

“Yep” Jan politely replied, slightly confused as to what Mike was on about, forgetting about his pitiful attempt at helping her find a dress by throwing money at her, and slightly offended that Carol wasn't concerned, but not bothered all that much at all.

Jan put herself to bed that night with an uncontrollable smile. She was overjoyed. Although she never felt at home with Carol and Mike, she always knew there was a place right for her nearby, and that one day she was able to make her children feel the way in which the Summer’s family taught her to feel.