Chapter 11

Once the boys were quiet again and happily playing with their toys in the play pen, Jaylah and Ana set about finding something for them, and their young charges to eat. Ana was digging around in the refrigerator when the phone rang.

"Ten bucks says that's Mark or Roger calling to check up." Jaylah called from the living room.

"I'll take that bet." Ana called back and picked up the phone. "Hello, Davis residence."

"Hey Lady." came Collins' voice. "What's up?"

"Hi Uncle Collins. Me and Jaylah are babysitting Andrew and Angelo but other than that nothing much is going on." Ana responded.

"Your dads at work?"

"No they went out on a date." Ana told him. "So did Aunt Mimi and Uncle Darren. So what's up with you? How are things at NYU?"

"As well as can be expected when I'm teaching post juvenile delinquents." Collins replied. "You're ten times smarter than most of my students. That's why I'm calling actually. I wanted to see if you and Jaylah wanted to come and sit in on one of my classes sometime. Bring that boyfriend of yours too, I heard he was smart."

"Okay one, Aunt Maureen talks way too much." Ana said settling the phone between her ear and shoulder as she slid a pan of leftover lasagna into the oven. "And two, I would love to come sit in your class Uncle Collins. I'm sure Arty and Jay would too. But of course I'll have to ask your best friends first."

Collins chuckled. "Let me tell you what you say to them. Tell Mark that this is a wonderful opportunity for you not to end up like Roger was at your age. He'll take care of the rest."

"Can do Uncle Collins." Ana replied with a laugh. "I'd better go. Jaylah's been alone with the boys for too long. Sometimes when she gets annoyed that Aunt Maureen starts to come out of her. I'll call you once I've talked to Dad and Daddy." She hung up, turned the oven on and walked back out into the living room. "You so owe me ten bucks." she told Jaylah. "That was Uncle Collins on the phone."

"Darn it." Jay said and handed over the money. "What did he want?"

"He invited you, me, and Arty to come sit in one of his classes at NYU." Ana answered.

"Ooh college boys here I come." Jaylah said happily. "My mothers will let me go, no problem. What about you?"

"They'll let me go." Ana replied. "It should be really fun."

Then her thoughts were interrupted by her little brother. "Ana!" he called. "Ana, hungy!"

"Hmm. I wonder what that could mean." Jaylah joked. Then Angelo took up the cry. "Hungy! Hungy! Hungy!"

"Understand now?" Ana asked and went into the kitchen to check on the lasagna. She and Jaylah cut up the food so the boys could eat it and ate some themselves. After they had eaten, Angelo and Andrew promptly fell asleep and then the girls got started on their homework for the weekend.

After about an hour Jaylah looked up in disgust. "Why are we so boring?" she asked. "Back in the old days our parents were out there in the city doing stuff and fighting for their lives. All we do is sit around here and do homework."

Ana put down her pencil and looked at her friend. "Actually our parents did a lot of sitting around in the old days. But when we go to Uncle Collins' class we'll have a chance to see what it's like in the big city."

Jaylah sighed and to back to work. "It's just a shame is all." she said. "Two hot teenage girls like us need to be exposed to the world before we're too old to get our kicks."

"Whatever you say Jaylah." Ana replied and turned on the television. It wasn't long before they heard the sound of a car driving up outside and Mark and Roger arguing as they walked up the driveway.

Jaylah gave another disgusted look as she checked her watch. "Back before seven." she said disappointedly. "Mark and Roger act like a couple of old people."

"Leave them alone." Ana reproved. "They're cute." The door opened and Mark and Roger entered, still arguing.

"I just want to know how you didn't see that that waitress was flirting with you. There's no way that you can be that dense." Roger was saying.

"I wasn't paying her any attention." Mark replied. "I don't even like girls anymore. So what if she was flirting with me? I wasn't flirting back."

"But you didn't stop the flirting from occurring and therefore you are just as much to blame."

"I didn't stop it because I never knew it had started." Mark cried in exasperation. He hugged Roger and then kissed him gently on the lips. "How could I pay her any attention when I was out on a date with a hottie like you?"

Roger rolled his eyes, but wrapped his arms around Mark's neck and kissed him back. Then he looked at his daughter. "Hey Ana. How did everything go?"

Before she could even answer Jay jumped in. "It was incredible Roger. You should have seen it. The boys started crying really loud and I was like 'what are we going to do?' And Ana was like 'hold on just watch the boys, I've got an idea.' So she ran upstairs and came back with her guitar. Then she played that song and the boys just stopped crying and screaming. It was awesome." she said in a jumbled rush.

Roger shook his head. "What miracle song did you play Ana?" he wanted to know.

"It wasn't a miracle." Ana said with a blush. "I just played Your Eyes and they calmed down."

"That's my girl." Roger said back proudly. He released Mark and plopped down on the couch.

"Uncle Collins' called." Ana began. "He said hi and that he wants me, Jay, and Arty to come sit in on one of his classes sometime soon. Would that be okay?"

"Of course it would." Mark answered. "As screwball as Collins can be sometimes, he's an excellent teacher and you will learn a lot from being in his class for even just one day. You all can go up there next Monday."

Roger nodded. "It sounds like it'll be fun for Ana and Arty, but Jaylah is Maureen's kid. Will she even know what Collins is talking about?" he joked.

Jay rolled her eyes and gathered up her stuff. "Really funny Roger." she said sarcastically. "You only make fun of me and my Mom because you love us. Now I have to go. Try not to miss me." She waved at them and let herself out of the door.

A few minutes after she left Mimi and Darren came to pick up Angelo. Once all the guests had left, Ana put Andrew to bed and then sat down on the couch with her parents.

"Soon our Ana will be going off to college herself." Mark said wistfully. "My God we are getting old."

"Don't worry you guys. When I go off to college you'll still have Andrew to keep you young. Plus your friends will always be there for you."

Roger sighed. "It's a miracle we've stayed alive as long as we have." he said. "I've decided that if I make it to old age, I'll be happy."