I was proud of Yuri when he refused to see Selma, a picture about Martin Luther King’s march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, which led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He explained if he was going to spend good money on a practice date, he wanted to enjoy the movie. Yuri told us if it was a ‘real’ date, he’d let the girl pick. I had a big smile on my face when we got to see Taken 3. For an old guy, Liam Neeson kicked butt.
Before the movie, both Tracy and Peggy held my hands. Yuri just shook his head at me.
“You know, if you’d sprung for popcorn, you might be getting some loving, too,” I teased him.
“Don’t bother. Your making me watch this action crap ruined those ideas,” Tracy complained.
I tickled her. Tracy jumped.
“Okay, okay, I really wanted to see this, too,” she confessed.
“So, girls torture us with a chick flick for what reason?” Yuri asked.
“Don’t knock it, it puts them in the mood,” I suggested.
He thought about it for a moment, and then looked at me and nodded like I’d given him sage advice. The real reason guys agreed to go to a chick flick was because they were wusses. They didn’t want to potentially upset their date by being honest about what they wanted to see. I might go to a romantic comedy, but would refuse to go to a movie which compared itself to The Notebook. I didn’t need a teary-eyed girl on my hands.
Tami had tricked me into seeing it on DVD. I wasn’t sure who the bigger girl was after watching it. I still contend I have allergies, and that’s why my eyes watered. I wouldn’t fall into that trap again.
After the movie, we took Yuri home. Tracy wanted to go to my place to see my new puppy. He wasn’t much fun because it was past his bedtime. I put him back into his crate and he seemed happy. Peggy and Tracy led me to the bedroom where we made out a little bit.
I woke up to hear my mom talking.
“I found them. They’re asleep in David’s bed. No, they’re fully clothed. Okay, I’ll make sure she’s home first thing in the morning,” Mom said. I heard her dial another number and a similar conversation took place.
We’d forgotten to call the girls’ parents to let them know where they were. I would hear about it tomorrow. When Mom left, I woke up the girls and told them what happened. I got undressed, they both joined me under the covers, and we went back to sleep.
Chapter 3 – Making a Movie
Saturday January 10
I woke the girls early. I planned to get doughnuts as a peace offering. I took a shower and then the girls each took a turn. I had to chuckle when I realized they both had clothes here. I wasn’t laughing so much when Peggy showed Tracy where my good t-shirts were. Tracy picked out one that I really liked, and they both were shocked when I made her put it back. I found one that I knew she’d like. Alan had gotten it for me. It said, ‘Fuck You! You Fucking Fuck!’ I wasn’t brave enough to wear it. I could just hear Kendal complain if a picture of me in that t-shirt got out. Tracy thought it was funny as hell.
We went to the bakery and I let the girls pick out a half-dozen doughnuts each. I knew if I sent a full dozen home, the moms would be all over me about getting them fat. Greg and Angie were coming over with Kyle and Mac today, so I got two dozen for my house. I figured Angie and Greg would take a dozen home with them. I made sure there were plenty of chocolate doughnuts. When Angie was pregnant with Kyle, she craved chocolate.
Tracy made us go in with her. Tom and Mary were drinking coffee. I handed Mary the doughnuts.
“I see you finally decided to bring my daughter home,” Tom said.
“I figured if she was going to have to do the walk of shame, I should be here for the fun,” I shot back.
“You’re not helping,” Tracy complained.
“I need to get this one home before they send out a search party,” I said as I nodded towards Peggy.
“Why don’t you bring your mom and dad over for brunch next Sunday?” Mary asked.
“I think they’d like to come,” I said.
“Peggy, you and your family are invited, too,” Mary said.
“I’ll have my mom call you. I need to get going,” she said as she grabbed my hand and pulled me to the door.
When we got to Peggy’s, she made the call that I should just drop her off. I wasn’t one of her dad’s favorites. She gave me a kiss and told me she’d see me in school on Monday. She and her family were going to her grandparents’ for the weekend.
I had brought Duke with me. I didn’t think it was such a good idea to let him loose on Mom and Dad this morning. He had curled up on the floor in the back of the Jeep. I’d grabbed his blanket from his crate and put it back there; he seemed to know what it was for.
I got home in time to see Greg and Angie pull up. I got Duke out and the doughnuts.
“What did you do?” Angie accused me.
“Peggy and Tracy fell asleep last night and Mom had to field angry-parent calls.”
“Did you get me chocolate ones?”
“Of course, I did.”
We’d all gone in and I’d put the doughnuts on the table. Mom and Dad already had coffee, so I poured cups for Greg and Angie. I got glasses of milk for myself, Kyle and Mac, and made bacon and eggs. I tried to stay on my high-protein diet, but I admit I had a doughnut or three. I’d gotten Boston creams, so that was never a question, because they were the best doughnuts ever made.
Mom got busy being a grandma, so she left me alone. Dad gave me a look that said I wasn’t going to skate free. I made a point to make extra bacon for Greg and Mom, otherwise they’d steal mine. I figured I better get it over with.
“Mom, I’m sorry you had to talk to Peggy’s and Tracy’s parents last night. I was really planning on taking them home before their curfews.”
“They were okay when I talked to them. Just be more careful in the future,” Mom said.
Greg, Angie and Dad’s heads snapped around. Who was this woman and what had she done with my mother? Greg started to say something, but I threw a doughnut at his head. Mom gave me a dirty look, then turned on Greg.
“David’s been acting more like an adult lately. I figured that until he does something stupid, which we all know he will, I’ll treat him like one,” Mom said.
Oh, crap! She planned to give me enough rope to hang myself. Dad began to chuckle when he saw me go white as a ghost.
“Dead man walking,” Angie mumbled as she patted my hand.
I hurried up and ate before I could give Mom a reason to jump on me. Kyle and Mac were on the floor while they played with Duke. I had to remind Duke they were just babies when Mac tried to rip the hair off his back. He yelped, so I figured they’d work it out. Angie and Greg were on the floor to keep an eye on the three of them.
I HAD RESERVED THREE of the batting cages and two of the indoor mounds at State. I’d invited everyone from the baseball team to come out if they wanted. When I got there, Wolf, Jim and Jeff were batting. Justin and Bert were pitching to Mike and Tim. Bill, Trevor and Jake awaited their turns to bat.
I was surprised to see Coach Fog helping the guys at the batting cage. Rusty Fog was a pitcher from St. John’s, and Coach Fog was his dad. I’d knocked out Rusty when he beaned Wolf last spring. Coach Fog was an assistant coach at State. I nodded to him as I went over to watch the pitchers.
I’d asked Mr. Yamamura to come coach me and he’d agreed to help. I talked Bill into helping me stretch and do some long tosses. Right on time, Mr. Yamamura showed up.
“Thank you for coming,” I said and then introduced him to everyone.