Chapter 3
Team Rico
"Jackson, I got here as fast as I could. What's the word bro?"
"How does Team Rico grab you Coop?"
"Well, I was hoping for something like, The Beach Kings."
"Just be glad my boss is sponsoring us."
"Do we get uniforms?"
"Yep. But they have to fit with Rico's color scheme."
"Anything else I need to know?"
Cooper and Jackson jump as a whistle is blown in their ears. Jackson clears his ear with his finger as he turns to Cooper.
"Yeah, Rico's our equipment manger." Snared Jackson.
"Okay you two, practice Saturday at 8 am." Rico ordered.
"Then there will be no Team Rico, Rico." Jackson said trying to control his voice.
"And why not?" Rico asked.
"Because we won't be able to register. That's why." Cooper answered.
"We'll let you know when practices are Rico." Jackson informed him.
"Okay but don't forget."
"We don't" Jackson and Cooper replied together.
After getting rid of Rico, Jackson and Cooper put their heads together to plan out the next steps for Team Rico.
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Saturday, Jackson picked up Cooper at his house and together they went to the parks department to register for the league.
"You sure you have the check J-man?"
"Yes Coop. Relax. Tell you what. The check is in the glove box. If it well make you feel better, why don't you hold it."
"No, that's okay J-man."
They got to the parks department at 10 am and waited in line with the other players who wanted to enter. At the main desk, they where given a stack of papers to fill out. Moving to a set of tables set up for this purpose, Cooper and Jackson divided the papers between themselves and got to work. Twenty minutes later, they were back in line to turn in the papers.
"Okay, everything looks to be in order here. Now this is your physical form to be filled out by your doctor and this is your parents consent form. These need to be turn in here by Thursday before 5 pm or your not in the league." "Okay got it." Jackson replied. They took their forms and head out to the car. They drove to Rico's for lunch.
"Do you want to find a pick up game or go look for uniforms?" Jackson asked.
"Uniforms I think. I want to make sure I pass the physical before I hurt myself." Coop laughed.
"Very funny Coop. Okay, we'll head to the mall after this" So they finished their lunches and headed to the mall.
"Well we can pick yellow or green." Jackson started. "What if we go with yellow tank tops and green shorts?"
"Sounds good to me." Cooper replied. "What about logos?"
"Rico's dad gave me two iron-on logos. They're like the ones on the t-shirts I wear. He gave me money to have them put on along with our names on back. Oh yeah, we also have to put Team Rico around the front logo."
"Sounds good. Can we get some v-balls and other stuff too?"
"I think he gave me enough to get a few things as long as we don't go over board and watch what we get."
"Great! Let's go and do something I love to do."
"What's that Coop?"
"Spend someone else's money." Cooper laughed.
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Jackson got home around 4pm, tired but happy with the days events.
"So how was your day Jackson?" Robbie asked.
"One of the best! Here is the consent form you need to sign for me. Plus here is the physical form that I have to have the doctor fill out."
"Okay, I guess you have to call the doctor and set up an appointment for yourself."
"Check out our uniforms dad, and all this stuff we got to get started with. Pretty cool?"
"Well if you do as well in beach volleyball as you do with court volleyball, then I better start making shelf space for all those trophies you're going to be winning."
"Oh yea, dad!" Jackson start to take the equipment up to his room with visions of girls in swimming suits throwing themselves at the champ.
"Hey dad, where's Miles?" Jackson asked when he came back down stairs.
"After she spent the night at Lilly's house, Oliver join them in the morning and they want mini-golfing. They should be getting back anytime now."
"How is Miles doing?"
"Well it seems Lilly's idea worked for now. When I talked to her on the phone, she was very upbeat. Said something about an idea she had for the new album she wanted to talk to me about when she got home."
"Excited about the album, that is a good sign." Jackson sat down at the table and watched his father for awhile before getting up the courage to asked a question he been thinking about for awhile.
"Ah…dad…hmmm… you know it's going to be three years since mom died. And we haven't been back to the see her since we came out here. Do you think a trip back home might help Miles?"
"I don't know Jackson. I've been thinking about it myself lately. More so, now that Miley is missing mom again. But the only problem is the album."
"How so dad?"
"I was going over the budget yesterday and if we don't get Miley recorded in the next ten days, we are going to be pushing the break even point back by six months. Not to mention what the record company has to say about the release date and about the up coming concert tour for the album."
"Why can't they wait?"
"Because they based this quarter earnings on this album and they are chaffing at the bit to get it out."
"That's not very fair to Miles."
"I know. Sometimes they forget that she only a 14 year girl who lost a mom she loved very dearly. But right now, it seems her friends have done the trick. Lets hope it will get her through the next ten days."