Chapter 34: Coal Digger
"So what happened?" I asked, standing behind Manny and Luke since only two chairs were left for the parents.
The principal explained, "Apparently there was some name-calling and pushing on the playground," then added, "By the time a teacher separated them, Luke was sitting on Manny's chest."
"Luke, that's not like you," Jay scolded.
Noticing Jay's familiarity with the other boy, the principal intervened. "Wait a minute, you're Luke's father?"
"Grandfather," Jay corrected.
"So Manny's father is-" the principal tried to piece it together.
"Javier. Crazy guy. That's where he gets his spark," Gloria replied, settling beside Manny.
"Alright, and you're-" the principal looked at Luke.
"He's our son," Claire pointed to herself and Phil. "I'm his daughter," she clarified, nodding toward Jay.
The man blinked, now staring at Manny. "So you're-"
"His uncle," Manny answered, facing Luke.
"Stop saying that, or I'll sit on your chest again," Luke grumbled, annoyed.
Claire looked incredulous and pulled Luke closer. "Wait a second! Is that what this was all about?"
"He keeps calling me his nephew!" Luke complained.
"You are my nephew!" Manny shot back immediately.
Before Luke could argue again, I smacked both their heads. "Alright, you two dunderheads, enough. Stop fighting over silly things," I continued. "Now make peace, and we can go to that new ice cream shop that just opened - everything's on me."
They exchanged quick glances before smiling and shaking hands.
"Niiice! There's a flavor I really wanted-" Phil blurted, halfway out of his seat.
"Phil! Jake!" Claire barked.
"Come on, Aunt Claire, they already made up," I replied, crouching next to the boys and whispering, "Now, remember what I taught you."
Both turned toward the principal. "We're sorry and won't do it again," they spoke in unison.
As someone who used to visit home group (orphanage) frequently - and still do every week at West LA - I knew how to handle children.
The principal looked taken aback, then smiled faintly. "Alright, you can go, but I still need to talk to the parents."
I nodded and turned to Jay. "Pass me your key, Jay," I asked as I handed him the Ferrari key -since it only had two seats.
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After taking the boys out for ice cream and driving around the city, I went back home.
When I walked in, everyone had already arrived. "Hi, Alex."
"Hello, Jake," she greeted with a small wave.
I hadn't interacted with her much yet. Along with Cam and Mitchell, Alex was one of the few family members I'd barely spoken to.
She'd probably be the most shocked when she found out how smart I actually am.
"First and goal to go for the Illini," the TV announcer called as the game was going on.
I sat down in the armchair while Alex sat beside Jay, saying, "I like football. Haley hates it, which is weird because it's all boys… and there's no reading required."
She kept going, "Do you know she spends at least forty-five minutes every morning doing her hair? And sometimes-" until Jay finally covered her mouth to shut her up.
Then Cam came in singing, "♪ Let's go, Illini! Let's go! Right now! ♪" His face was painted half blue and half orange.
"Oh, looks like I gotta watch the game with Dick Butkus," Jay remarked.
"Dad! Dad, come on," Mitchell protested, offended. "That's offensive!"
"Mitchell, he's one of the greatest linebackers to ever play for Illinois," I turned to him. "His parents, though… not a great name choice."
"And one of my personal heroes," Cam added proudly, pointing at himself.
"And his name is Butt-kiss?" Mitchell exclaimed, astonished. "All right. Dad, I thought you were being homophobic. I'm sorry," he murmured awkwardly.
"We've got all night," Jay replied unfazed. "You are joining us here?" he added, raising a brow.
"He's been studying up," Cam revealed.
"I gotta tell ya, I'm a little worried about C.J. Hightower," Mitchell began. "Right? With the bad ankle? I'm wondering how he's gonna run his corner routes."
"Hightower's out," Jay informed.
"What?" Cam blinked.
"Oh. Then who's gonna run the corner routes?" Mitchell questioned, trying to keep the talk going.
"Certainly not Billings," I quipped, making Cam and Jay laugh.
"That's low, Jake," Cam said, still laughing, then turned to explain to Mitchell, "Billings is in jail."
"I put 500 dollars on the Illini to make the next touchdown," I mentioned, glancing at my phone.
"Oh, Jesus, Jake. You bet on Illinois?" Jay asked, exasperated.
"I didn't hear you complain when I used the prize from the last game to buy that Glenfiddich 30-Year - and that was against a rival team too," I retorted.
I only bet for fun since the results were different from what I remembered. My accuracy rate hovered around sixty percent - not bad at all.
"Good call!" Cam exclaimed, and explained the team's next moves "Double tight end -it's gonna be a quarterback roll-out to the left."
Jay shook his head. "They're gonna run it."
"Trust me, he's got the slot," Cam predicted.
"In the end zone! Touchdown!" the announcer shouted from the TV, with Cam echoing his excitement.
"Yes!" I shouted, slapping Cam's palm in a high five. "Hey, Cam, pick a place for the family to eat next week - I just made two grand on that bet."
"Lucky guess," Jay grumbled.
Mitchell, sitting beside Jay, murmured, "Maybe they, uh, should've considered blitzing."
"Blitzing wouldn't have helped them. Get outta here," Jay muttered again.
Mitchell ended up standing and leaving, and I did the same since the girls had just arrived.
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