Before anybody knew it summer was almost gone and it was the final day of the program. The final day was a big celebration and all the parents, siblings, grandparents, and other relatives were invited to attend. The sports programs held games. The arts programs offered shows, recitals, and mini film festival. The educational programs invited students to give a presentation of what they had learned. Tony would be pretty busy with his basketball team but agreed to visit each child's program. Maggie almost had to bail due to Austin having a cold and Jack feeling under the weather. Thankfully Claire and Jake's old baby-sitter was free for Austin and Jack rallied at the last minute.
School started back the following week. Which meant it was Niles Hoffman's last day at The Burger Joint. Claire was sad to see him go but his parents were only letting him do a summer job. Hank and Amanda's replacement Brittany would be staying on as long as they kept their grades up. Claire had the same deal. Once she started at Georgetown. It was getting near the end of morning shift and they were comfortably between the breakfast and lunch rushes. Brittany and Hank were in the janitor's closet breaking the "Dating Rule". Though Claire didn't really consider making out when they were board a relationship. Niles entered the break-room where Claire was finishing off her coffee. He wasn't waddling like he was at the start of the summer and he had started bringing his lunch. Rather than gorging on Big Mac's as he once had.
"Claire can I talk to you?" Niles asked.
"What's up?" Claire asked.
"I am leaving after today. So we won't be co-workers anymore. Which means we don't have to follow the relationship rule anymore. Which means we can well go out." Niles explained.
"Are you asking me out?" Claire asked.
"I know I am fat and ugly. I don't know what I was thinking." Niles apologized.
"No it's not that. I just haven't been asked out before. My parents only let me start dating this year and I graduated two years early. Even if I had been able to date everybody would have turned me down. I am the teacher's pet." Claire explained.
"What are you saying?" Niles asked.
"I am saying I will go out with you. How about we go to Cafe Atomic after we get out?" Claire offered.
"I would like that." Niles agreed.
Charlie's school did not start back for another two weeks. So the Martin's were making a trip to Florida to see their grandparents. Meaning it was also Annalyse's last day. At least the last day of a regular job. Though they liked her well and said they would call her for weekend and evening sitting jobs. The job was hard. Especially now that Claudia was walking but she was really going to miss the kids.
"Why are you leaving?" Charlie asked.
"I am not leaving. You guys are going out of town and I am starting school." Annalyse explained.
"I only go to school until one thirty." Charlie replied.
"I get out at two but I have to go at six forty five." Annalyse explained.
"I go in a nine thirty." Charlie replied.
"I am still going to baby sit just not every day. Your mom would need help if you are in school during the day." Annalyse explained.
"Shawn and Spencer are going to school too and Claudia is going to daycare." Charlie announced.
"I can't believe they are three and Claudia will be one next month." Annalyse commented.
"I turn five on November twenty-fourth and one forty five in the morning." Charlie announced.
"Are you having a party?" Annalyse asked.
"Iron-man!" Charlie cried.
"He's changed his mind fifty times and that's just since the twins birthday in July." Wanda laughed.
Jake was disappointed when he saw the piece Bertha chose to feature. It was not his self portrait or his clay sculpture. It was his photography project. Photography was never his strong suit and this was worse. He had to take a nature portrait but completely forgot. So he shot a picture of a squirrel, as he leaned out the car door in the "Burger Joint" drive thru. It was blurry it it was not the cardinal he was aiming for. To make things worse Bertha's boyfriend was at the show.
"Why did you pick this?" Jake demanded the one minute Bertha was not hanging off of Denton.
"This is the best thing you did." Bertha explained.
"No it's not! It's terrible! I took it last minute and it's not even what I wanted!" Jake cried.
"Jacob this piece is special because it is true art. True art is not perfection. It is what comes from the heart. It the flaws and the mistakes that are great." Bertha explained.
"Denton never makes mistakes." Jake scoffed.
"And that's the other thing. Jake I am almost thirty. I am an old lady. Go after somebody who won't go to jail for dating you. That girl Dana seems to like you and she gets your references." Bertha explained.
"OK maybe I was being weird and creepy but do you think I can make it as an artist?" Jake asked.
"I think you need to do your best in school and work hard. Because the odds of making it big in arts and entertainment is fairly slim but you are a great artist. You may never be featured in The New York Museum of Art or The Louvre, but as long as you have passion. You have made it as an artist. Never forget that." Bertha explained.
"I won't" Jake promised.
Tali wished that her parents could go to the farm and see Filly. She also wished that she could buy Filly as her own. She had tried to raise the money but the Stilton's wanted two thousand dollars. That was a good deal for a horse but it was more than a seven year old had.
"Hey kid I got ya something." Jethro announced as he entered the room.
"Where are my parents? Are they coming?" Tali asked.
"They are but they are watching the inning Jack's game. They will be done soon and then they will hear your speech. After that they will go see Jake's art." Jethro explained.
"OK. So what did you get me?" Tali asked.
"Well I talked to your parents after you asked me for two thousand dollars. So it's kosher but I am proud to tell you that Filly is now your horse." Jethro explained.
"But we can't afford stable fees." Tali sighed.
"Well it just happens the stable where I keep Sig gives huge discounts to veterans and active duty members. They also have stable space. I rented the stable next to Sig's and will pay the fees. You just have to do the chores and keep your grades up. Filly is still to small for a little girl to ride but I can teach you how to ride Sig. He's an old man like me and a gentle ride." Jethro explained.
"You mean it?!" Tali cried.
"Of course I do but you have to keep up your end of the bargain. I am not expecting honor roll but you are a smart girl. So I am expecting a C average. Also I will pick you up in the afternoon and take you to the stable and your getting up early Saturday mornings. I'll help you at first but once you get the hang of it Filly's stall is your responsibility. Oh and one more thing. Your parents were supposed to tell you about the horse. So when they tell you act surprised." Jethro explained.
"Of course, Grandpa Gibbs." Tali vowed.
The softball game was only four innings. That way parents would have plenty of time to attend siblings activities. Jack leaned against the wall of the dugout. Wishing he had stayed home. He was feeling pretty bad. He had felt OK after sleeping that extra hour but was soon exhausted again. To make things worse he had tripped coming down the stairs and scraped his knee.
"Jack you're bleeding!" Cadence cried.
"I fell down, remember?" Jack reminded.
"Yeah but that was a long time ago. It should have stopped by now. You look really pale too. I think you should go see my Aunt." Cadence replied.
"I'm OK" Jack lied.
Tony and Maggie sat in the center of the stands. Maggie was pretty obvious now but they were still keeping things hush-hush. They were waiting until they had the results back. They would not terminate unless there child had a fatal illness or if it Maggie's life were at risk, but they wanted to "give all the news" at once. The National Anthem began to play and the crowd rose. An awkward boy loudly cried for everybody to stand for the anthem and the Anthem paused so the crowd could laugh. Soon the song began again and then the game was in full swing. Jack sat out the first two innings but had to fill in the third. He kind of lagged to the plate. The pitcher wound up and Jack raised his bat. He swung and the ball made contact. The ball was soaring through the air and Jack was running around the bases. He was kind of dragging and that was strange. Jack had been fast as long as he could move. He was just shy of second base when he collapsed. A hush fell over the crowd and Tony could not remember the last time he moved so fast.
"Call 911!" Tony demanded.
"I already did!" Coach Harris called back.
A/N: Will Jack be OK? New chapter will be up soon. Thanks for reading and please review.