CHAPTER 11 MEET THE PARENTS
Dan's alarm woke him up the next morning. He was surprised he had gotten to sleep with all his nerves. The beginning of the day went pretty normal. He, Cody and Jess went to classes and meals together. They talked about the game a lot. After 8th hour Cody went off to find and talk to his sisters. Dan went back to the room, alone, and showered for the pre-game banquet. When he got out of the shower, he tied the towel around his waist, as usual, and brushed his teeth. He was surprised to here a knock on the door. He opened the door a little and saw one of Cody's blue eyes looking back at him.
"Don't come out," Cody whispered through the crack in the door.
"Why?" Dan asked.
"Just put some clothes on before you come out."
"One problem," Dan hissed back. "I don't have any clothes in here."
"I'll grab you clothes," Cody said. "You're going to where what you showed me the other day, right?"
"Yeah."
The door closed and it was silent for a minute before Cody came back. He slipped Dan's clothes through the crack in the door. They had to open the door a little wider to do so and when they did, Dan saw through the crack, a woman standing in the dorm room. As soon as his clothes were through Dan slammed the door shut. God I hope she didn't see me, he thought. He figured the woman was Cody's mother, (he had seen her in pictures before), coming to visit him in his room before the pre-game, Season Opener/Home Opener banquet.
Dan quickly finished brushing his teeth. He dried himself off and flew into his clothes. The banquet required semi-nice dress so he was wearing jeans, a white button-down shirt, and the jacket that normally went with his black suit.
Once he had cleaned the bathroom he opened the door and came out. The woman he had seen before was sitting on Cody's bed looking around at the room. She was kind of short, from what Dan could tell, with bleach blonde hair like Cody's, except hers went down to her waist. She had a warm, but stern face, and Cody's blue eyes. It seemed every single child in the Linstrum family had features just like her.
Dan would've have guessed the man sitting at Cody's desk was Cody's father if he hadn't seen him in pictures before. He was tall, stiff-looking man, with many wrinkles in his face. He had gray hair that was turning white and dark eyes. None of the Linstrum kids looked anything like him, (Dan had seen all of Cody's sisters in pictures before and/or around campus). From what Cody had told him, his father was the money maker. He was the judge in their large town, and he made the most of all the people in town. He made more than Dan's parents. That's why Cody and his sisters were spoiled, but not to spoiled. Cody's mom made sure they didn't get too much. Cody had told Dan that his mom wore the pants in the house, even though she was only a stay-at-home mom.
"Hi," Dan said slightly nervously as he waved at them.
"Hello," Cody's dad said back in a crackly voice. "Judge Robert Linstrum." He stood up and held his hand out to Dan. Dan shook it as he said, "Dan Rattison."
"You don't have to give him the formal name," said Cody who had been going through his wardrobe. "He's just my roommate."
"Quiet, Cody," said Cody's mom. "Alice," she said sweetly as she stood up and held her hand out to Dan. Dan shook it.
"Look at you," she said as she examined Dan and shook her head. "You look like skin and bones. You come down this summer and I'll fill you in."
"Mom," Cody said pleadingly as his face flushed. Dan smiled.
"Quiet," Alice snapped at Cody. She turned back to Dan. "You're welcome at our house anytime."
"Thank you," Dan said. He thought going to Virginia with Cody would be fun, but that was far off.
"Are your parents coming, young man," Cody's dad asked stiffly.
"Yeah," Dan answered quite casually, (at least compared to how he normally acts around stiff people).
"You're playing in the game, right?" asked Alice.
"Yep," Dan said. When he looked over at Cody he saw that he had hung his head.
"Well at least we'll get to see someone playing and not just filling water bottles," she snapped at Cody. It was silent for a minute. A knock on the door saved them from anymore anger boiling.
Dan answered the door. It was Jess.
"Hey," she said as she walked in. She was dressed in jeans also, and a button down shirt, but hers was black with a red tank-top under it. She had only buttoned the two middle buttons of her button down shirt so you could see the red shirt.
"Jess!" Alice yelled as she ran over to Jess and squeezed her until her eyes started bulging. Jess hugged her back, (not quite as hard, though).
"It's good to see you too," Jess said.
When Alice released Jess, Judge Robert, walked over to her and patted her on the back.
"My courtroom has been quiet with you gone."
Jess grinned.
"We'd better get ready to go," Cody interrupted. "The banquet starts in 45 minutes."
"Is John here?" Alice asked as she picked up her purse.
"Not yet," Jess answered. "He's going to be a little late. Where are you're parents, Dan?"
"I have to pick them up at the gate," Dan answered.
Dan followed Jess, Cody, and his parents until they were outside of the dorm. Dan went to the front gate while the others went to the rec. building. He didn't have to wait long for his parents. They pulled up in a yellow taxi about two minutes after he sat down at the gate.
"Dan!" his mother screamed as soon as she was out of the car. She ran towards him and threw her arms around him. "I've missed you so much!"
If Dan had been feeling bitter and teenage-like, he probably would have said, (or at least thought) "If you were gonna miss me so much then why did you send me to this school in the first place." But Dan felt great lately. Actually, ever since he had come to this school he had been very positive.
"Yeah, I guess I missed you too," Dan said as he gave his mother a little pat on the back.
"Well, you seem a lot better since the last time I talked to you," said his mother grinning. "Finally got that stick out of your butt."
She liked to make jokes like this with Dan. Anything he threw at her she always managed to throw back at some time or other. Dan's mother was quite young looking. Her hair and face were very similar to Abbey's, just older and wiser. Dan actually looked up to his mom a lot. She was very smart. She had never said or done anything wrong as long as Dan had known.
Dan grinned at his mothers joke. He looked over his mothers shoulder. His dad was unloading the trunk of the cab. There was not much. Just two simple duffel bags, (they were only staying for one night). He tipped the cab driver and he drove away. Dan's father looked at Dan.
"You never got in trouble in public school," he said. "Now we put you in private school for a month and look what you've gotten in to."
Dan's father usually joked quite a bit, but not with Dan. Ever since he declared that Dan had grown up, he almost never joked with Dan. When he did joke with him they were not nice jokes. He was also very stiff with him. Dan missed his old dad.
Dan mother stepped out of the way of Dan and his father. They looked at each other for a minute. Dan saw water quivering at the edge of his father's eyes. Dan's father had never cried, even when he was a fun dad.
"You're father missed you twice as much as I did," Dan's mother whispered in his ear. Dan had never been away from his parents for more than 5 days, (soccer camp).
Dan looked at his father for a second. No matter how much he wanted to, Dan's father would not let the tear in his eye fall. He was too tough for that. Dan took few steps towards his father. His father went the rest of the way. He threw his arms around his son. Dan hugged him back, (he couldn't help but think, there's a lot of hugging going on today). After a moment of silence they pulled apart. Dan's father looked at him.
"I'm sorry I've been such an ass to you," he said. "I was in such a hurry to have you grow up. Then when you did, I didn't want you to anymore."
"It's alright, Dad," said Dan. "I forgive you. I think we'd better get going, though. The banquet doesn't start for another forty minutes, but there's no harm in being early. There are some people I want you to meet, anyway."
"O.k.," said Dan's mother happily. Dan's mother and father followed him to the rec. building. Dan's father had his arm around his son's shoulders as Dan told him about all the things happened this year. At the beginning, he was careful to call Jess, his "other friend." At the end, though, he forgot and got carried away and accidentally slipped Jess's name. His mom's sharp ears caught it in a second.
"Jess," Dan's mom said suspiciously, "as in Jessica, as in a girl."
Dan's face was the deepest shade of red it had ever been in his life. "Yes," he whispered under his breath.
"Wait-a-go, Dan," said Dan's father slapping his son's back. "Here a month and you've already got yourself a girlfriend."
"She's not my girlfriend," Dan defended.
"Sure," Dan's father said sarcastically.
"Really-"
"I think you're too young to have a girlfriend, Dan," his mother said nervously.
"Come on, Annie, give him a break, he's 14."
"Exactly," said Dan's mom. "That is way too young to date."
"All the kids are dating at his age these days," Dan's father defended.
"And if all the kids his age were jumping off cliffs, would you let him do it?" (She had to throw the cliff thing in didn't she, Dan thought.)
"SHE'S NOT MY GIRLFRIEND!" Dan yelled finally getting the attention of his parents. "She's just a friend. I swear."
Dan's mother sighed a, somewhat, sigh of relief. "Alright, I believe you. Just please, if you do start dating, please be careful."
"You make it sound like the kids gonna have sex if he starts dating," Dan's father said.
"That's so gross, Dad. Please stop."
The three of them were finally at the rec. building. Dan led them up the stairs and down the hall to the center of the building. It was in the shape of circle. It contained the concession stands and tables for fundraisers and other sponsors who were trying to sell stuff, (they weren't here today, though, because there was no game in the building). Dan led them to a door that led out of the concession area and into room that had comfy chairs and couches everywhere. In the back there was a small kitchen where food was being made at the moment.
"There's my little girl," Dan's father said as he hugged Abbey who had been waiting here for Dan and his parents. Dan's mother hugged Abbey as Dan looked around for Cody and Jess. He saw them sitting on a couch in the middle of the room. Cody's parents were sitting on the couch next to them. Dan walked over to them.
"Hey, guys," he said.
"Hey, Dan," Jess answered.
Dan's parents and Abbey followed Dan over to his friends.
"Hello," Dan's mom said. "I'm Ann, Dan's mom."
"Cody," Cody said as he stood up to shake Ann's hand. He turned to Dan's father.
"James," Dan's father said as he shook Cody's hand. Cody nodded at him.
Jess stood up next. "Jessica Payton." she shook both James' and Ann's hand.
"Jessica," said Ann examining Jess. Apparently, Jess passed the look down test because Ann looked satisfied and asked Jess, "So, why are you here? Do you have a brother in soccer?"
"I have a brother but he's not in soccer. I play soccer with Dan. I'm the captain."
"Captain?" James repeated surprised. "Of the boy's team?"
"Yessir," she said smiling. Dan loved how nothing they said or how they said it affected her. She was still stubborn, proud, and strong.
"Good for you," said Ann patting Jess on the back. "I too believe that girls can so anything guys can do." (Dan saw his mom shoot a glare at his father when she said that.)
"Thanks."
The adults introduced themselves and talked for a minute. Dan and Cody talked too, (about their parents), but Jess didn't say much and kept looking at the door.
"He'll get here, Jess," said Cody. "He wouldn't miss this for the world."
"Yeah, I know," she said. "But I wish he'd get here soon."
They talked for a little longer, (Jess joined in), but after a couple minutes they were interrupted by a deep voice.
"Has anyone seen the captain of this team? I was supposed to meet her 20 minutes ago but, being the ass I am, I was late."
"Dad!" Jess said jumping up and throwing her arms around a tall, muscular man, with longer brown hair that was still and inch off his shoulders. He had a five-o'-clock shadow and soft blue eyes. Jess finally let go of him and Dan saw he was wearing a white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and jeans. No coat. This surprised Dan because it was quite cool outside.
"Dad, this Dan," Jess introduced. She pointed to each one as she said their name. "Dan, this is my father, John Biebe."
"It's nice to meet you, sir," Dan said as he shook John's hand.
"Nice to meet you, too," John answered, nicely. He turned back to Jess. "Sorry I'm so late, sweetie. You'd think it's about time I fix that God forsaken truck."
"You always gotta blame the truck, don't you?" Jess mocked as she shook her head. John smiled. After that he went over to talk with the parents. He got about two words in when Coach interrupted him.
"Excuse me, folks. Could I have your attention?"
The room went silent.
"Thank you." He made a speech about how it looked to be a promising year and how excited he was to have his old players back on the team and his new players on the team. He introduced Jess as the captain, (which aroused some whispers), and then finished by saying he wanted to meet the new parents and that they should enjoy the food.
After that, it was like a mad rush to the food line. Dan wouldn't have been surprised if these people had never seen food before. There was plenty to go around. He decided to wait until the rush was over before he went to get his food. While he was waiting, Coach came over.
"Hello, Dan," he said smiling.
"Coach," Dan said giving Coach a nod. He noticed Coach eyeing his parents. "Coach Shananon, these are my parents, James and Ann."
"Nice to meet you," said Coach as he shook each of Dan's parent's hands.
"You too," said James.
"Well, from what I see so far, your son looks to be very promising. I originally wasn't going to put him as one of my assistant captains, because I didn't think he could do it, but Jess here," he pointed to Jess, "convinced me to give him a chance. I'm very glad she did, too. He's improved phenomenally these past weeks."
Dan saw Jess stifling her grin.
"I have high hopes for Dan," Coach finished.
"Oh, come on Coach," Jess joked. "You know the only reason you like Dan is because he got the game winning goal in the scrimmage against St. Christopher's."
Dan grinned.
The rest of the banquet Dan's parents, Cody's parents, and Jess's dad talked, joked, and got to know each other. When the rush was over they went to get some food. When the banquet was over they headed back to the kids dorm room's to talk more and to see the rooms.
At 5:30, Dan, Jess, and Cody left and headed to the locker rooms. It was much quieter in the lockers rooms now, than it had been before their scrimmages. Dan knew it was mostly the new players who were quiet because they were so nervous, like himself. After he had put on his home game uniform he sat at his stall and waited for Coach to come in and give an extravagantly long game day speech. He wrung his hands nervously as he waited.
"You're gonna be fine," said Jess as she looked over at Dan. "You've played amazing in the scrimmages. You'll play amazing today."
"Yeah, but today's not a scrimmage," Dan said coldly, staring at his hands. "Today's the real deal."
"And if you keep thinking like that it's gonna screw up your game," Jess said in a strong voice that was unaffected by Dan's cold one. Dan looked up at her for a second. She had a look on her face that said; You know I'm right. Dan smiled and shook his head before turning back to his hands.
A minute later Coach came in. His speech was long and boring and made Dan even more nervous than he was before, (Coach made it sound like it was the end of the world if they lost).
"Alright boy's," he finished dramatically. "It's time."
All the boy's jumped and ran out of the locker room. Dan followed towards the back of the group. They ran out onto the field and began their warm up at their end. It was slowly getting late and the sun was sinking quickly.
At the other end of the field was Stonebrooke Boarding School wearing orange and black. The St. Mary's boys proudly wore the beautiful red, black, and white jerseys. Jess's jersey had a "C" on the chest. The assistant captains had an "A" on theirs. After the warm up, they all circled up around Jess.
"Alright, boys," Jess yelled to her team. "This is it. Let's go out there and show them what we got!"
"YEAH!" they all yelled back to her.
"Team on three," Jess screamed. "Ready, ONE, TWO, THREE."
"TEAM!"
They broke apart and the starters headed out on to the field. Dan ran out to his position as left wing. He looked at his opponent. He was a huge mountain of a boy with arm muscles twice the size of Dan's. This did not improve Dan's nerves.
The coin flip was in SBS's favor. The game started. Everything seemed silent to Dan. He blocked out all the noise around him. His movement was not by his own will. Suddenly the ball was at his feet. Sound came back to Dan's ears. He heard Jess yelling at him.
"The net, Dan! The net! Go to the net!"
Dan snapped entirely back to reality. He began to dribble the ball towards the net. Then, wall appeared in front of him. The mountain of a boy was dead center in front of him. Dan dodged to the right of him. The boy dropped his shoulder and stepped right into Dan. Dan flew through the air, limbs going every which way. He landed hard on the ground and did not get up. The referee blew the whistle. Jess ran over to Dan.
"Dan!" she shook him violently. "Dan! Get up!"
Dan's parents watched from the stands. His mom was on the verge of tears.
"Dan!"
