Junior Year Box Set

I stood up, and Halle quickly stood up and stepped in front of me. Rita blushed and promptly left the room. Halle broke into fits of giggles as I looked down and spied my problem. In my defense, any straight guy would have the same reaction if Halle thoroughly kissed them.

“You might have to help me with that,” I suggested.

Where do girls come up with those exasperated looks? It wasn’t as if I could magically make my boner go away. I readjusted myself so it wasn’t as obvious, and Halle led me out so I could leave.

On the ride home, Mom and Dad told me they were happy with Saul Gessler as my new agent.

◊◊◊

Chapter 5 – Dr. Love Saturday November 7

When I got up, I realized I didn’t have anything planned for today. I’d thought about another campus visit, but Mom had made it clear that I had to take her and Dad along if I did. Since I had a day to myself, I decided I would be a complete bum and lounge around in my sweats and watch football on TV. I took Duke outside and let him do his routine and have some time to harass Precious.

When I finally called him to go inside, I accidentally let the damned cat in with us. Of course, both Duke and Precious made a beeline for my parents’ bed. I thought I should just turn around, get in my car, and make myself scarce for the day.

“David!” Dad called.

I opened the kitchen drawer and put on oven mitts. While Precious seemed to take to me better now, there was always the chance she’d decide to take my hand off. When I entered my parents’ bedroom, Duke was lying next to Mom as she rubbed his ears. Dad was standing next to the bed with Precious eyeing him as her tail twitched. I reached for her, and she let out a yowl and popped the glove.

“Settle down,” I admonished her as I scooped her up.

She twisted in my grip, and now the claws and teeth were facing me. I did the only sensible thing: I tossed her to Dad. You know how when you drop a cat, it will land on its feet. Well, Precious twisted around and had her claws out as she flew at Dad. I think I discovered where I got my quick reactions, because Dad made this Matrix-like move where Neo dodges the bullets, and somehow Precious missed him. What Precious didn’t miss was the wall. I felt bad when she hit and fell to the floor. It seemed to daze her for a second, which gave me time to snatch her back up. I was not playing ‘find the kitty’ on my day off. This time I wasn’t as gentle since I didn’t want to have to toss her to Dad again. I doubt he would catch her anyway.

When I got to the back door, I figured out I had a problem: both my hands were full.

“Dad! I need someone to open the back door!” I called up the stairs.

“Help him get that damned cat out of my house,” Mom ordered him.

Dad came down and glared at me. I decided I’d better not threaten him with the kitty. When he opened the back door, Precious began to struggle, and I accidentally dropped her. Instead of running, she turned and hissed at us. My dad might actually have peed a little. I introduced the bottom of my shoe to her chest and edged her out the door so I could slam it. Great plan, but she sunk her claw into my ankle as a parting gift.

“For shit’s sake!” I cried as I jerked my foot back.

“Serves you right,” Dad said. He turned to go take his shower, saying, “You’re taking us to Granny’s for breakfast.”

I could do that. I opened the back door and saw Precious sitting in the driveway. She eyed me as I quickly skirted her and made my way to my apartment to take my own shower.

◊◊◊

Granny took care of us as usual. Her special of the day was country grits. I’d been told about this on my recruiting trip to Georgia and was eager to try it. There were spicy sausage pieces in it, and it was topped with two over-easy eggs. You mixed all of that together. It sounded a little sketchy, but it tasted great.

While we ate, Greg called Mom. He needed someone to watch Kyle, Mac, and Nate. He and Angie needed a day away from kids to work on their marriage. Somehow, I volunteered to be the good uncle and watch them.

When we got to Greg’s, Nate was crying, and Mac was in a timeout. Greg handed Nate to me.

“She knocked him down. He can now stand up if he gets a grip on the coffee table,” Greg explained.

“Unca David,” Kyle said as he reached his arms up.

I picked him up, and he began to tell me an involved story. I looked at Greg to figure out what he was talking about.

“They went to the petting zoo.”

By now Nate had stopped crying, so I handed him to his grandmother. Mac had served her time and wanted to be held as well. Kyle and Mac both tried to tell me all about what they had seen. I thought they might like to see horses. I handed them to Dad and called Zoe to ask if I could bring them out. Mom said Nate was too young, but she thought that Kyle and Mac would love it. So we drove home, I transferred their car seats to my jeep, and I took them to the Pearson farm.

Roc greeted me when I pulled up.

“I see you’re getting in some practice,” he teased me.