Chap 9 The Argument

The next morning, Jeffrey jumped out of bed and woke Bogg.

"I feel fine, we can go out today, can't we?" he said excitedly.

Bogg smiled, "yeah, let's go down to the cafeteria and you can prove to me you're really okay."

So they found a breakfast buffet in the dining area and Jeffrey ate as though he was starving. As they were leaving, they met a large group of voyagers, which included Jennifer, Olivia, Stan, and Jane.

"It's nice to meet you Jeff," Jane said extending her hand. Phineas watched as they shook, trying to figure out why Jane would be so interested in Jeff.

"Don't forget me," said a friendly voice off to the side and Phineas turned and watched Tom Paine step from behind a nearby fence.

"Hey," Phineas greeted him.

"How ya doin Jeff?" Tom asked.

"Great!" Jeff answered enthusiastically.

"You taking care of him?" Tom moved his head, indicating Bogg.

"Yeah, he needs a lot of looking after," Jeff answered and they all laughed.

"Sailing competition's starting at the lake," Phineas told him.

"Ready to get beaten?"

"You wish!" Bogg joked.

"Yeah, Bogg can beat anybody in a sailing contest," Jeff added.

Phineas glanced at Tom, "see, it's as good as done."

"Yeah, right," Tom laughed as they climbed on board a bus with several others for the half-hour ride to the lake. The road was bumpy, and the conversation lively. Everyone was full of comments about the reunion activities and as they talked, Jeff and Phineas listened.

"Bogg, can I go riding with Stan?" Jeff asked excitedly after Stan mentioned the long trail ride.

Phineas paused, "I don't know," he said uncertainly. "How about after I do the sailing, we can both go."

"Aw come on Bogg," Jeff said, disappointment evident in his voice.

"We'll talk about it when we get there," Phineas answered. He wanted to talk to Jeff about this in private, and truth be told, he didn't know what his answer should be. It was only yesterday that Jeff had seemed so sick. He turned away from the kid and stared out the window, thinking.

"Yeah, come on Phineas," Stan began, "he'll be safe with me."

"He doesn't really trust anyone with Jeff, didn't you learn that yet?" Olivia added.

"Yeah Bogg," Jeff took up the argument, "you can trust Stan, he was second in your class."

Phineas looked at the kid with a flat expression, "I said we'd talk about it when we get there."

"Well, we're here," Stan announced, "come on, what're you so worried about?"

They climbed out of the bus and Phineas motioned Jeff off to the side so they could talk alone.

"Please Bogg, it'll be fine."

"You were pretty sick yesterday," Phineas told him.

"Look at me now," Jeff raised his voice, "do I look sick to you?"

Phineas sighed. "Why can't you go with me after the sailing competition."

Jeff's face fell, "you heard him, the long ride starts in less than an hour."

"It would be smarter to go for a short ride the day after you were so sick."

"I've been stuck inside practically since we got here, missing all the fun!" He paused and then said under his breath, "what do you know about being smart anyway."

"I'm plenty smart and don't you forget it," Phineas said, his anger flaring. There was a pause and Jeff looked away, embarrassed. "Fine!" Phineas finally said, "do whatever you want. Why did you even bother to ask me?"

Jeff hesitated, feeling guilty about what he'd said. Bogg had taken care of him since they arrived, it didn't seem right to be mad at him. "Look, I'm fine, really," he said in a much friendlier tone.

Phineas' temper ceased immediately too, but his resolve didn't. He continued in a quiet voice, "I don't want you going on that ride. Six hours is too long the day after you were sick." He crossed his arms over his chest and stood his ground.

"Ordering your partner around isn't in the agreement," Stan said as he approached. He was more than a little curious to see how Bogg handled this.

"Shut up Stan, this doesn't concern you."

"Yeah, it does, we need to head to the stables now, so Jeff, are you going or not?"

Jeff hesitated again, "yeah," he finally said.

"Jeff..."

"Look, I'm almost 13, I can go for a ride Bogg. If you were really my friend, you'd understand!" Jeff said angrily.

Phineas stared at him, feeling hurt. "Is that what you want? Me to be your friend?" His voice was angry again.

"I thought you already were."

Phineas set his jaw and turned and walked away angrily, his heart pounding.

"Okay, come on, I don't wanna be late," Stan said and he and Jeff started for the stables.

ooOoo

Phineas marched toward the lake angrily. "That kid's asking for it," he mumbled.

"Hey, wait up," Olivia's voice interrupted his thoughts. "You okay?"

Bogg glanced sideways as they walked together. "I guess everyone heard that," he said.

"Couldn't really help it after Stan joined in." She paused, "he wants to prove you're wrong you know."

"Who?"

"Stan, he wants to prove you're wrong."

"Wrong about what?" Phineas asked as they reached the lake and he checked in for the competition.

"That you're wrong about Jeff. He doesn't believe all the things you say he's done."

"Is Jeff safe with him?" Bogg asked immediately.

"Definitely. I'd be with them if I had any doubts. Stan's a great guy, he's just trying to prove you're wrong to voyage with a kid."

"Why does he care about what I do?"

She paused, as if weighing whether or not to speak. Finally, she began. "Stan accidentally picked up a kid who was meant to be a Voyager too."

"You're kidding, what happened?"

"He brought him to headquarters and refused to travel with him. The Tribunal wasn't too happy with him."

"So where's the kid?"

"Returned to an orphanage until he's old enough to start at the Academy."

"So he's trying to prove that I made a mistake by keeping Jeff with me? So he won't feel bad about deserting that kid?"

"Or so he won't be in so much trouble, one of the two," Olivia finished.

"Great, just what I need," Bogg said sarcastically. He took the number a judge was holding out to him and joined Tom and Jennifer at the lakeside where there were several small sailboats pulled up on shore.

"Come on, this'll keep your mind off of Jeff for awhile," Tom said and stepped into his boat as he pushed off from shore.

"After I beat you, I'll let you buy me lunch," Jennifer added playfully.

Phineas laughed and pulled an identical boat into the water. Jennifer would definitely keep his mind off of Jeffrey, for awhile anyway.

Tom was an excellent sailor, the best Phineas had ever met, and as they sailed, he realized Jennifer seemed just as good. He had sailed against Tom many times while at the Academy and had been looking forward to the competition. Now, with Jennifer keeping up with them too, he realized the day would be even more enjoyable.

The wind was stiff and excellent for sailing. The course was challenging and Phineas, Tom and Jennifer shouted both encouragement and good-natured barbs at each other as they sailed. Finally, they landed again on the beach, all three smiling. "You're still as good as ever," Bogg told Tom.

"You too. You were the only one who could ever give me a run for my money, until now that is." He acknowledged Jennifer with his hand. "Where in the world did you learn to sail like that?"

Jennifer laughed, "I grew up in Hawaii, this is nothing, you should see me on a surfboard!" she said confidently.

Phineas immediately pictured her in a bathing suit and coughed. "You could teach me any time," he said.

As they headed up the trail toward the stables, Jennifer spoke, "so how about that lunch?"

"Sure," Phineas said immediately and Tom chuckled to himself as he followed along. "It's too early for Jeff to be back anyway."

"There's a pub next to the stables," she answered, and the three of them walked together in that direction.