CHAPTER 9
PREVIOUSLY:
"Thanks, Smallville," a small smile on her face.
"Smallville? Why did you call me that?" looking at her a little puzzled.
"I don't know why I called you that. It just seems to fit you," shrugging her shoulders. "You don't like it?"
"I didn't say that," he says; getting a little defensive. "It took me by surprise."
"Well you don't have to get defensive," she quips.
"I'm not," a slight frown on his face.
"Whatever you say...Smallville," she says teasingly; walking away from him and going back into the house.
She sure is a handful; shaking his head and following her back in...
"I hate to break this up, but I really should be heading home now," Lois says at last.
"I understand," he replies.
She walks over to the coat rack to pick up her jacket.
"Let me help you with that," taking it from the rack and holding it out.
"You really are a gentleman, aren't you?" smiling at him just before she turns her back to him and extending her arms so he could slip it on.
"I try," smiling back at him.
"Don't forget your leftovers," walking over to the kitchen table and picking up a plastic container. "Courtesy of Clark Kent," still smiling.
"I'm going to save this for tomorrow when the girls are at my sister Lucy's apartment for the day," taking the container from him.
"So you have a day off from the Lane bunch, huh?" a twinkle in his eyes.
"You bet," buttoning her coat. "Chloe and I are having a 'girls only' outing tomorrow," pulling out her keys. "What about you? Big plans?" she asks him.
"Actually, I have an interview tomorrow afternoon in Metropolis," he says.
"On a Sunday?" looking curiously at him. "That's a bit unusual - isn't it?"
"Not for this place," shrugging his shoulders.
"So what's the name of the company?" she asks him.
"If you don't mind, I'd rather not say - just in case it doesn't work out."
"I understand completely," picking up her purse and walking over to the kitchen door. "But I'm sure it will and you'll tell me all about it," winking at him. Then she adds, "I start my new job on Monday and I'm really excited about it," opening the door.
"Lois?" taking a few steps toward her.
She pauses in the doorway and turns to look back at him. "Yes, Clark?"
"Good luck on your first day," a smile on his face.
"Thank you, Clark," returning the smile. "And good luck on your interview."
"You know..." taking a few more steps. "I was just wondering if you would like to have lunch on Monday...you know...to celebrate your first day at your new job?"
"That's really sweet, but Jimmy already promised to take me to lunch."
"Okay," he replies. "What about Tuesday?"
"Tuesdays no good," a slight frown on her face. "What about Wednesday?"
"Wednesday is fine with me," he says.
"I'll let you know what time we could meet - okay?".
"Sounds good to me," he says; the smile still on his face.
"See you then, Smallville," giving him a wink, then steps outside; closing the door behind her.
She is some woman, chuckling to himself as he climbs the staircase and walks over to one of the boys bedroom. He opens the door a crack and pokes his head inside. Good. They're sleeping. He tiptoes inside and gives both Peter and Bobby a soft kiss on the top of the head, then just as quietly steps back outside and carefully closes the door.
He goes back downstairs and cleans up both the kitchen and the living room. It only takes him a few seconds, then he heads back upstairs after shutting off the lights and making sure all the doors were locked. He opens his bedroom door and Shelby promptly runs inside and jumps up on the bed.
"Okay, Shelby," patting him on the head. "OFF the bed," he gently orders him. He promptly jumps off and sits down on the floor; giving Clark his sad puppy-dog eyes. Clark shakes his head with amusement; pulling the comforter down. "NOW you can..." his words trailing off as Shelby jumps back up and curls up at the foot of the bed. He sits down and is about to take his shoes off when he hears the kitchen door opening.
I wonder who that is, getting up from the bed and making his way downstairs.
"Hi Dad," Greg says; closing the door behind him.
"Hi," coming down to the bottom of the stairs. "I thought you had an outing with your boy scout troop?" sitting down on the bottom step.
"Our troop master got an emergency call from his wife and had to cut it short," dropping his knapsack on the floor and plopping down on one of the kitchen chairs.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Clark remarks. "I hope that everything is okay," he adds.
"Yeah," Greg replies. "Apparently Gabrielle was having stomach pains and had to be rushed to the hospital."
"That's his daughter - right?" Clark asks him.
"Right. But everyone calls her 'Gaby' for short."
"You're good friends with her - aren't you?"
"Ever since we met in first grade," a smile on his face.
"You like her?" Clark looking curiously at him.
"She's my friend. I enjoy talking with her. That's all," getting a little defensive.
"That's fine, Greg. There's absolutely nothing wrong with having a girl as just a friend. After all, I've been friends with your Aunt Chloe for years."
"It's funny you mentioned that," getting up from his chair and coming over to sit down next to his father. "Is it true that your first kiss was with Aunt Chloe?"
"That's true," smiling at the thought. "It was on her first day of school and she wanted to see the farm because she had never seen one. Then she suddenly kisses me and said that she knew I was thinking about it all day."
"Were you?" Greg asks him.
"Sure," Clark replies. "She was cute and smart and I enjoyed talking with her."
"So why did she kiss you?"
"She thought we should get it out of the way so that we could be friends." He looks over at his son. "What's with the 20 questions?"
"I was just curious," shrugging his shoulders.
"So since you're home now, this means..."
"I'll be home tomorrow," finishing Clark's sentence.
"I have an interview tomorrow afternoon, and I don't know if I can get a babysitter at the last minute. Unless..." pulling out his cell phone.
"Who are you calling?" Greg asks him.
"Your Uncle Jimmy," a smile on his face...
Later the next morning...
"I appreciate you being able to do this for me," Clark tells Jimmy.
"I don't mind at all," a big grin on his face. "I enjoy spending time with my Godson," putting his arm around Greg's shoulders and giving them a brief squeeze.
"I don't mind either," Greg remarks. "We always have fun."
"That's right," Jimmy remarks. "How would you feel if went out for lunch and then go over to the park to take some pictures?"
"That would be great," his face beaming.
"Sounds like a good plan to me," says Clark. "By the way, where are your kids?" Clark asks him.
"They're with Lois' sister Lucy and her boyfriend."
"Really?"
"Really," he says. "If you ask me, I think that Lucy's boyfriend is going to pop the question."
"You really think so?" looking curiously at Jimmy.
"I'm never wrong about these things. "I wasn't wrong about Oliver and Dinah now, was I?"
"Nope," Clark replies with a smile.
"So where are my other two Godsons?" Jimmy asks Clark.
"They're with their Aunt Nell today," Clark replies. Then he glances at his watch. "I really have to go," opening the door to the apartment. "Again, thanks a lot. I really do appreciate it."
"No problem, C.K." he replies; holding out his fist. "Now ring that bell," winking at Clark.
"You bet," smiling back at him as they tap their fists together.
A short time later...
Clark arrives in Metropolis and stops in front of the building. You can do this, Clark. He takes a deep breath and finally goes through the front doors. He enters the elevator and presses one of the buttons; the elevator doors closing. He leans against the back wall. There's nothing to be nervous about, Clark. You have the qualifications. You can do this job.
He takes another deep breath just as the elevator stops. The doors open and he steps outside. He turns to the left and begins to walk down the hallway; not stopping until he reaches the door that says 'Editor-in-Chief.' He hesitates a moment, then finally knocks a few times.
"Come on in," a voice replies.
Clark opens the door; his jaw dropping with astonishment. I don't believe it.
"Hello, Mr. Kent," a smile on his face.
"Mr. White?"
TO BE CONTINUED...
