Alex was in the middle of finishing up his own classwork or trying to as his mind was on Skippy's decision, when Mallory and Nick walked through the front door.
"Hey," Nick called out with his usual greeting.
"Alex we're home.
Are Mom, Dad, Jenn, and Andy back yet?" Mallory asked, as she placed her large amount of shopping bags on the floor.
Alex didn't answer.
Mallory leaned over towards Alex's ear and said,"Earth calling Alex."
Alex snapped out of his trance and looked to see Mallory and Nick.
"Hey when did you two come home?
I didn't hear you come in," said Alex.
"We just got hear a few moments ago," Nick answered.
"Yeah didn't you hear us walking in?" asked Mallory, who turned to Nick and said, "Talk about an airhead moment."
"Sorry you two I have a lot on my mind, said Alex, I got two term papers due tomorrow.
Plus, I have someone on my mind."
"Who's the lucky girl?" asked Nick.
"Skippy," Alex answered.
"Skippy?
You're thinking about Skippy?
Did he forget to pay or short you on the tutoring session?" asked Mallory.
"I'm serious, said Alex, Skippy just found out today by his cousin, who showed up that Skippy's "real" Mother needs a kidney transplant."
"So you think that's terrible?" asked Nick.
"Not the fact she's ill.
I mean it is a shame, but Skippy, without even thinking said he'll gladly give her one of his own."
"I think that's very nice of Skippy," said Mallory.
"Mallory, this woman gave Skippy.
She didn't want anything to do with him then and the same feeling applies for now.
You weren't there," said Alex, who was refering to the day Skippy tracked down his biological Mother who didn't want him back in her life, as she said it was too painful.

Just then, the front door opened.
Elyse, holding baby Andrew walked into the house, followed by Steven, who was pushing a stroller, and then Jennifer, carrying her softball equipment.
"Hi kids, we're home," said Elyse.
"Hey," Nick called.
"Oh hi," said Alex, as he was still focus on the situation with Skippy.
"Hi.
How did the game go?" asked Mallory.
"Don't asked," Jennifer answered with a sigh in her voice.
"Now Jennifer, you played a great game.
And just because your team's best batter was out, that doesn't make a difference," Steven pointed out.
"On all day's for his Grandma to have her 80th birthday party."
"Well go get washed up and change.
We're going out for pizza tonight," said Elyse.
"Looks like I'll be drowning my troubles in pepperoni and root beer," said Jennifer as she headed upstairs.
"Alex, did Skippy leave already?
We we're going to invite him to come along," said Elyse.
"How bout me?" asked Nick.
"And uh, you to Nick.
Must have slipped my mind."
"Skippy left early.
Something came up, said Alex, Actually Mom, Dad cane I talk to you two in private?"
"Of course Alex," Steven answered.
"Sure honey," said Elyse, who handed Andrew to Mallory and asked,"Mallory, do you mind changing Andrew while your Father and I talk to Alex?"
"Not at all," Mallory answered.
Mallory, took Andrew up the stairs, followed by Nick, who carried her shopping bags.

Elyse and Steven both took a seat on the couch.
"Is everything alright Alex?" asked Steven.
"Not really," Alex answered.
"Does this have to do with Skippy?" asked Elyse.
"Yes it does."
"Alex we had the chat about not losing your temper at Skippy if he shorted you," said Steven.
"This is more serious and it has nothing to do with money," said Alex.
"What is it then?" asked Elyse.
Alex took a deep breath and said,"Do you two remembered when I took Skippy to meet his biological Mother and the meeting didn't goes as Skippy had planned it?"
"Yes.
What happened, she wants to make contact now?" asked Steven.
"In way.
Her nephew came by the house, while you two were at Jennifer's ballgame, and I was here with Skippy tutoring him.
She had a terrible illness now her kidneys are failing, and Skippy wants to donate one of his own."

"Well Alex I'm not surprise, while Skippy does have a few short comings, he does have a good heart," said Elyse.
"Maybe his Mom realized that she's not sure how much time she has and wants to make it up," Steven added.
"Dad, she wants his kidney, not his time," said Alex.
"You know Alex, this reminds me of a friend I went to high School with Thomas Carmine.
He and his Dad never got along, because Thomas wanted to join the Peace Corps and his Dad wanted him to go into insurance selling with him.
Well one day, Thomas and his Father had a huge fight, Thomas left home, moved in with his older brother and went to do missionary work in Africa as soon as he graduated.
"What happened then?"
"While Thomas was in Ugunda, he got a letter from home saying that his Father had been diaginosed with cancer.
Thomas then went home and was going to say to his Father how he felt and that he was sorry for everything, but his Father died before he reached home.
The point of the story is Alex, while it was too late for Thomas and his Dad to change anything, it may not be too late for Skippy and his Mom."
"Plus Alex, we're not even sure if Skippy is going to do it.
It's not up to you to make the decision, but to Skippy and his family," said Elyse.
"Well, the nephew said he and his family all got tested for a match, but they weren't.
So what makes her and the rest of them so sure Skippy is a match," said Alex.
"Exactly," said Steven.
"But Alex, no matter what the out come is, as a friend you have to respect what Skippy decides to do," Elyse added.

Just then, Jennifer, Mallory, baby Andrew and Nick came back downstairs.
"You guys ready go?" asked Mallory, bouncing Andrew in her arms.
"Sure, said Steven, as he, Elyse and Alex got up and everyone headed out the door.