Braden's Engagement

After school, generally, the kids had jobs that they needed to go to; Braden had a weekend job with Cadet Reserve Officer Training Program, so his week-day afternoons were pretty much freed up. So he spent some time with his girlfriend, Greta over at the diner. And since he was a cadet officer who, if he chose to pursue the military career, would end up being an officer once he finished university, he needed to keep a A average if not honour-roll. There was a "military school" in town, which Jerad went to and there were exercises on the weekend which cadet officers like Braden had to oversee.

Yasunobu, or Grandpa, as the kids called him, did do some cooking periodically.

Greta was quite the looker as Braden was smitten over her, head over heels. The two of them spent a lot of time together, at school as well as after-school.

It certainly made Haruo feel his age creeping up on him.

Alanna certainly smirked to see her older brother so awkward around girls, but well, it seemed that Greta didn't mind. But Alanna hoped that Greta would be the woman that was loyal to her brother.

...and Abacadabra got his jollies from lying on the dryer. I guess, laundry bear gnomes. Who can tell what they're thinking?

With Sven having been flattened by a meteor, his innards fried by lightning bolts, well, the Johanssons were getting calls from collection agents and well, Haruo and River out of the goodness of their hearts made room yet again for Elsa and Greta and they moved in. Homework was a headache for Greta, but well, she tackled it head-on.

Braden knew that Greta was the ONE, so he conversed with her and well, she certainly was amenable to his charms.

They had been shy around each other at school, but well, his parents had made it clear that the Johanssons were protected under their roof, so he decided to make his play and see if she was receptive.

Oh, yes, she was...

Well, in for a penny; in for a pound... Braden thought as he got down on one knee as Greta's eyes widened.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a felt-covered box, which he had been keeping, ever since he had been in RCOTP. Flipping the lid open, he turned the box to Greta whose mouth had dropped open in shock.

Would she agree? "Will you consent to being my wife?" Braden asked. Yes, they were still in high-school, but it wouldn't be long before Braden became a young adult and what could be more appropriate than to know that they were betrothed for the rest of their lives? Greta nodded, speechless, and then threw her arms around Braden, only able to say, "Yes...Yes..." repeatedly.

The revelation that Braden was now engaged to Greta resulted in a very quiet breakfast table that morning as River, Susan, Haruo and Yasunobu contemplated the swift passage of their lives. Yasunobu and Susan realized just how fleeting life was in the fact that their lives were nearly at an end. River and Haruo realized the encroaching old-age creeping up on them. Certainly they still had some years left to go, but nothing stopped the impending age and eventual resolution of their lives in the grave.