Chapter 21

By Pippie

(Jordan's POV)

Let me tell you something. Jack has always been the "first twin". He was born first, he spoke actual words first, he walked first, and his name comes first alphabetically so the teachers call it before mine during roll call. But I finally did something first for a change and I have to admit that it feels great. Before Jack even had a chance to even get started with his girl, I got a girlfriend. This has been the best winter ever.

Her name is Cho and she and her family moved from Japan to America three years ago. During those three years they lived in Connecticut, Maine, New York, and Rhode Island before moving here two months ago. She's been teaching me Japanese, and I've been teaching her American sign language. And I have to tell you it has been the longest, most frustrating, hilarious experience ever. When you're mostly deaf don't try to learn a difficult language like Japanese, and when you're from Japan or any other non-English speaking country, don't try to learn sign language from a mostly deaf guy unless you have to best patients ever like Cho and I have.

We weren't together during the New Year celebration so I went over to her house to spend the day wither her and her parents. They treated me to a special traditional Japanese tea party which was so cool. We even sat on the floor in these robes in front of a small table while we had tea and sushi.

Cho's mom gave me the strangest look when I singed one of the few things that Cho had learned so far. She thought I flashed a gang sign. I tried to explain to her what I had said to Cho, but she doesn't speak much English so Cho had to translate. The funny thing is, Cho accidentally translated the wrong word and then apparently her mom thought I swore at her daughter. Cho laughed and re-translated and then her mom calmed down and apologized for what she wound up calling me. It's a good thing I haven't learned, yet, what I was called.

Right before tea was over I got a text message from Jack that nearly caused me to shit my pants. He texted, saying that Kayla had an asthma attack and was rushed to the hospital. Then he texted me back saying that he was kidding about the asthma attack, but she did split her knee open and almost needed stitches. I had to leave the room so I could call Jack and cuss him out. I was so pissed at that point because I couldn't believe Jack would have been that immature to joke about something like our little sister being rushed to the hospital.

After I calmed down I went back to finish my tea. I then thanked, the best that I could, Cho's parents for inviting me over and apologized for the disturbance that Jack caused. Cho walked with me over to the door and gave me a kiss goodbye before her dad drove me home. On the way home I thought about ways I was going to kill Jack.

(Jack's POV)

I know that was real mean of me to do, but I don't care. I just wish I could have seen Jordan's reaction. Why did I do it? Well let's see, I was bored, he was gone, I couldn't get Quinn on the phone, and then I heard Kayla fall and scream her little head off, and the idea just came to me. I guess I'm just mean spirited like Bam. Perhaps a little more mean spirited sometimes. Plus I was finally getting Jordan back for the mean prank he pulled on me a couple weeks ago.

Jordan has been spending a lot of time with his new girlfriend and, well, I'd never admit this out loud but I sort of miss him. And I suppose I'm a little jealous. Here I am still trying, and have been trying since around Thanksgiving, to get this girl, Quinn, to go out with me, and then Jordan barely does anything and wins Cho over. He says I've just been trying too hard. Whatever. I'm not trying too hard, he and I just have different techniques. And it's too late for me to give up on mine and try his. Especially since I still don't know what he did to get Cho. It's frustrating sometimes. Maybe I should ask Chris for pointers. Ha yeah right. I just want to go out with Quinn, not go to bed with her. There's plenty of time for that.

Dusti came into the room, holding Kayla's hand, and brought her over to her toys. Kayla looked so pathetic, still snuffling and pouting over her accident, that no one would be able to help melting over her cuteness. Dusti sat out a few toys and Kayla sat down to play. I went over to them and patted Kayla on the head before playing with some of her dark curls, turning them into little springs. She looked up at me and pointed to her knee that now had a Big Bird bandage on it.

"Boo boo, Jack." She pouted

"Aw I know. You got really hurt didn't you?" I kissed the top of her head

Jordan walked through the door looking angrier than Vito during one of his many freak-outs that Bam caused. I tried not to laugh at him as he came up to me. He looked like he was about to start yelling or hitting me or maybe both when Kayla got up and walked over to him and hugged his leg. She looked up and him the same way she had looked at me a minute earlier and pouted as she pointed to her knee.

"Boo boo Jordan!"

He looked at her and his whole mood changed instantly. That two-year-old girl has magic powers I swear.

"Aww you poor thing." Jordan bent down to her level and looked at her knee "Right there?"

"Yup. Boo boo on my knee."

"Aww…" He kissed her knee and gave her a hug

"Daddy gave me Big Bird." She pointed to the bandage

"Oh yeah he did. That's real cool, Kay."

Kayla walked back over to her toys and sat down to play. Dusti looked at Jordan and smiled as she both signed and spoke to him.

"So how was meeting Cho's parents?"

"Oh it went great until her mom thought I swore at Cho when I was signing."

We all laughed over that.

"Hey, um," I half signed "I'm really sorry about that prank I pulled on you."

"No you're not." He signed back and rolled his eyes

"You're right. Dad told me I had to apologize when you got home."

He rolled his eyes again and shook his head. I thought right then that I would apologize for real later. But for now, Jordan, Dusti and I sat down to play with Kayla. After a little bit Jordan and I got up and went to our room to look at some footage I shot from the day before. He even started to forgive me a little. Man it sure is going to be strange once we go back to school. Hopefully by then I'll be able to finally win Quinn over. That way I won't have to be so mean to my brother.