Kelly's Journey Continues

Chapter 25

Dotty greeted Kelly as she got off the school bus a few days later and asked, "Would you like some milk and cookies after your hard day at school?"

Kelly beamed, "You bet! Are Mommy and Daddy home yet?"

As they came into the house Dotty shook her head and stated, "No. They were going to come home early but then had an errand to run. But don't worry, Darling. They'll be home soon, all right? Now, we'll have milk and cookies and then you can start on your homework-"

Kelly sighed commenting, "The boys fibbed to me again."

Dotty was puzzled and remarked, "About what, Dear?"

Kelly responded, "They said you never make them do homework."

Dotty sighed and answered quickly, "That's not true, Honey. You must do your homework so that the teacher knows you've been paying attention in class, okay?"

Satisfied, Kelly got a plate out and grabbed cookies out of the jar.

Dotty saw how many she had and replied taking some back, "Oh, no. You can't spoil your dinner. Let's save a few for tomorrow, hmm?"

Kelly groaned and went to pour her milk querying, "Grandma, how come you let us have all the milk we want but not cookies?"

Dotty chuckled answering, "Well Sweetie, milk is good for you because it helps you grow up strong. Cookies are all right once in a while but they're really just a treat in moderation. Do you know what that means?"

Kelly shook her head and Dotty remarked, "Moderation with anything is small doses."

Kelly then nodded and shrugged stating, "Oh, so cookies are junk food like chips are?"

Dotty nodded and replied, "Exactly. You're getting to be a very smart young lady. Now, how about tackling that homework so you can have some down time before bed, hmm?"

Kelly commented, "Okay."

Phillip and Jamie came into the house just then and were passing a basketball back and forth to each other and greeted Dotty and Kelly.

Just as Jamie was about to pass the ball back to Phillip Dotty grabbed it and shook her head answering, "Uh-uh! Not in the house. Do your homework and then take this ball outside, please."

Phillip grabbed it from Dotty responding as he took a cookie from the jar and passed one to Jamie, "We did ours on the bus, Grandma. We're gonna head to the park, okay?"

Kelly jumped up replying, "I wanna go!"

Phillip shook his head and commented, "Sorry, Squirt. Our friends are waiting. We'll see you at dinner, all right?"

The boys kissed Dotty and left leaving Kelly to retort, "Boy! I can't wait to be older!"

She got her books and stomped out of the room and pouted, "Boys are dumb and I don't wanna eat with them!"

She ran upstairs just as Lee and Amanda came in the front door.

As they heard a bedroom door slam Amanda sighed and stated to Dotty, "We just saw the boys going down the street with some friends. What's going on?"

Dotty put her hand up in greeting and responded, "That was Kelly who was shut out of joining her brothers at playing basketball with them."

Amanda looked to her husband and remarked crisply, "Oh, really? Something you taught them no doubt?"

Lee shook his head and commented, "Oh, c'mon! I never told them she couldn't play with them! But she is a bit young right now and-"

Amanda huffed angrily, " Wrong answer! Ooh! Men!"

She marched upstairs and knocked on Kelly's door stating, "C'mon, Kelly! You and me are going to the park!"

Kelly sighed responding, "No. You're just teasing, Mommy."

Amanda shook her head and came in taking her by the hand and replied, "I'll help you with your homework later. Right now, we're going to join your brothers at the park and we're going to play basketball."

Kelly looked at her mother wide eyed and remarked, "We are?"

Amanda nodded happily at her commenting, "We certainly are. And what's more, we're going to wipe the floor with them."

Kelly jumped up and down excitedly answering, "Oh, boy! I can't wait!"

They giggled together as they came down the stairs and Amanda put Kelly's jacket on.

Lee crooked a finger at Amanda and clearing his throat queried, "May I see you in the kitchen, please?"

Amanda shook her head stating, "No, sorry. We have a basketball date. Mother, we will be home in time for dinner because it won't take long to clean their clocks."

Lee looked at Dotty when the girls left and he responded, "What just happened here?"

Dotty chuckled and remarked, "I believe she just gave you what for. Now, are you going to take that lying down or are you going after her while I get dinner ready?"

Lee half smiled and swallowed hard answering, "I think you know me well enough by now in that I never back away from a challenge, Dotty. See you at dinner."

Dotty giggled as Lee kissed her cheek and left.

Dotty went back to the kitchen thinking, One of these days I will be done raising children...

When Lee arrived at the park and pulled in Jamie ran over to him stating, "Quick, Lee. You gotta stop Mom. She's acting really weird around our friends."

But Lee got out of the car and shaking his head responded, "Really? That's interesting. But I'm just here to play basketball with my daughter."

He left Jamie's side and yelled, "Hi, Kelly. Let's play some ball. Do you know how to play Horse?"

Kelly shook her head and Lee came over to hug her gently and shrugged commenting, "It's okay. Daddy will teach you..."

As Lee was showing Kelly how to play Phillip's and Jamie's friends came over to them and one remarked to Phillip, "What's the big idea? It was just supposed to be us playing. Did you ask your whole family to invade our space?"

Lee overhearing this came over stating, "You're Jake Scott, aren't you? You're in Phillip's biology class?"

The boy gulped and answered slowly, "Yes, Sir."

Lee lightly asked, "How's your homework coming?"

Jake shrugged and sheepishly commented, "Okay, I guess. I was gonna do it later after our game here. Why?"

Lee narrowed his eyes at Phillip and Jamie answering, "Well. These two know that homework comes before anything else when they get home. Right, Guys?"

Phillip and Jamie guiltily eyed one another and sighed knowing they were finished here before they even started!

They nodded and remarked, "Yes, Sir. We're going home now."

Amanda shook her head and commented, "Good answer. And from now on, I'm going to have Grandma check your books when you get home from school. Do you understand me?"

Jamie groaned and responded, "Yeah, we get it. Man!"

Lee stated firmly, "Watch the tone, Ace. Get going."

As all the boys plus their two left the park Kelly whispered to Amanda, "Mommy, what about mine?"

Amanda bent down to her and asided, "It's just spelling. You're fine and I'm helping you when we're through here."

Lee eyed the two suspiciously and asked, "Now what are you two whispering about?"

Amanda winked at her and clearing her throat remarked, "Nothing, Sweetheart. You were going to show Kelly how to play Horse?"

Lee nodded slowly as he eyed his wife warily and stated, "Uh, yeah. C'mere, Sweetie."

Kelly came over and Lee continued, "Now. You know how to dribble, right?"

Kelly scoffed and giggled responding, "Sure, Daddy."

Taking the ball she dribbled around Lee and threw the ball up toward the net where it bounced off the baseboard instead!

Amanda went to get the ball and began dribbling answering, "Good try, Honey. But let me show you some moves here."

As Amanda dribbled around Lee and Kelly she was about to jump up with the ball when Lee grabbed her, making her lose the ball!

Amanda queried bewilderedly looking at Lee as he held her, "What was that for?"

Lee growled, "Did you forget you have a baby in there?"

Amanda sighed and responded, "The doctor said exercise is good for the baby-"

Lee shook his head and retorted, "Not this kind, Kareem! I think we're done here-"

Kelly yelled making her parents jump slightly asking, "Hey! What about me? You were gonna play Horse! Let's do it already!"

Lee sighed and looking at Amanda brought her over to the bench nearby and remarked, "I'd feel a lot better if you would just stay put here. Please?"

Amanda shrugged realizing Lee wouldn't let up until she gave in and commented, "Fine. You win."

Lee made it a short lesson and the three headed home where Kelly announced as she greeted Dotty and the boys, "I made two baskets with Horse!"

The three congratulated her on her accomplishment and then Lee answered, "All right. Why don't you get washed up for dinner and then afterwards, you can do your homework-"

The boys immediately pounced and stated to Lee, "Hey! No fair! You said-"

Amanda sighed and asked Dotty, "Are they done with their homework now?"

Dotty smiled and nodded commenting, "Just before you three got home."

Amanda responded to the boys, "Kelly only has spelling tonight. You two had a lot more because you're in higher grades and Lee and Kelly had some father daughter time to catch up on, all right?"

The boys nodded and Lee cleared his throat answering, "Okay... Since apparently I was bamboozled by your mother Kelly I'm gonna let this slide but from now on everyone with homework does it when they get home from school, capice'?"

Everyone nodded and Kelly hugged Lee stating as she smiled, "I don't care, Daddy. We had fun today, right?"

Lee kissed the top of her head remarking, "We sure did, Sweetheart."

Later as the family enjoyed their dinner and talked about their day Amanda looked around the table and realized how truly blessed they were to have one another and that it could only get better from here.

The errand she and Lee were on earlier was to find a new home and they were set on one in Rockville finally but they had yet to tell the family, unsure of what their reaction would be...

TBC