Senior Year Box Set

I thought about my long-winded speech earlier. Then how, in one sentence, Cassidy had motivated me to return to the dojo. I was such a ‘stupid boy.’ I should have just brought her to the team meeting and let her tell the team what would happen if they didn’t straighten up. She might even get better results after she made an example out of a few of them. I would have to keep that in mind for next time.

◊◊◊ Tuesday September 27

When I returned from my run, I saw that Paul was already here. Chuck hadn’t figured out that if he came early, my mom would feed him breakfast. Both Paul and Fritz seemed to take full advantage of the arrangement. I found Mom making stuffed French toast, one of my favorites.

“Morning,” she said as she handed me a plate. “What’s your plan for the day?”

“After football, I’m going to Granny’s West and help Tracy shoot her vlog. I’ll grab dinner there.”

“I’ll tell your dad. It’ll save me from having to cook.”

“Where is Dad, anyway?” I asked, not seeing him.

“Jack Mass wanted to talk to him and Caryn before they had to get to work. He stepped into the office to make the conference call.”

For a second, I thought I should be there, but I pushed that instinct away. If I wanted to normalize my life, I had to limit the time I spent dealing with business issues. I knew that meant I had to delegate more and now was the right time to start.

Duke came bounding down the stairs to let us know Peggy was coming down with the boys. I got up and met her on the second floor to help her carry down Coby and Little David. They’d become a handful. She handed me Coby, and somehow, I ended up with Little David as well.

When we got to the kitchen, I handed Coby to his grandma to put him in his high chair. Little David was busy telling me something, so I held him while I ate. I cut him some French toast pieces, and that was soon his whole focus.

“He’ll be bouncing off the walls by the time he gets to daycare,” Peggy warned.

“Better them than us,” I said as I stuffed bacon in my mouth.

“I have a cross-country meet this afternoon. Don’t forget that Angie’s picking up the boys from daycare, and you said you’d get them from her tonight,” Peggy told my mom.

Peggy had gotten a partial scholarship at State. She’d worked her way into the top five runners, so tonight was her first away meet. If she held onto the spot, she’d get a full scholarship for the spring semester.

Paul and I finished and left to pick up Brook.

“Honk to let her know we’re here,” I told Paul.

Paul honked the horn. I had a little grin because, apparently, Chuck hadn’t warned him. Ava stormed out the door with a wooden spoon in her hand.

“Stop her. It looks like she’s armed,” I suggested.

Paul turned around and glared at me. When she got to the door, I locked it. Ava’s glare was much scarier than Paul’s. My eyes went wide when he released the lock so she could open the door. What the hell was I paying him for?

“Young man, we talked about you honking your horn to pick up my daughter.”

“He did it,” I said, pointing at Paul.

Whack!

That stung. When Greg and I were younger, my mom had decided we both needed spankings. It’s still hard for me to believe we ever needed punishment, angels that we were, but somehow, we’d gotten into trouble. Greg was in middle school if I remember correctly. Mom hadn’t spanked us in a couple of years, meaning she had to be super-mad to take it that far. We usually got the ‘wait until your father gets home’ routine.

We both laughed when she used her hand, so she’d gotten a belt. That hadn’t hurt, either. I still can’t believe that we were dumb enough to laugh at her second attempt at punishment. If we’d acted like we were sorry, it might not have gone further. Mom stepped into the kitchen and came back with a wooden spoon. That made believers out of us. Since then, we’d never needed another spanking. All she had to do was pull the spoon out now, and we quickly fell into line.

Ava saw she had my full attention.

“Do I have your word that you will come to the door next time?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She backed out of the car, and by the look on her face, I decided I’d better go get Brook. Ava went into the house and closed the door in my face. I was about to knock when Paul honked. I guess I was wrong; he and Chuck had talked. Brook burst out the door.

I could hear Ava as she came to use her spoon on me. I raced Brook to the car because I figured it was every man for themself. We piled in and were all giggles. Paul had a satisfied look on his face. I vowed I would get even with him and Chuck.

◊◊◊

Dad had arranged for me to call Mr. Morris at lunchtime. After quickly eating, I found an empty classroom so I had some privacy. I was amused when he answered his phone.

“I’ve never gotten you when I called,” I said.

“It’s lunchtime. My secretary went out today with some of the other staff. It’s one of the guys’ birthday.”

“Did you want to go?” I asked.