Peerless Dylan
Tony and his long time best friend in Washington, Dylan Sasser, had made each other's acquaintance in their once- upon- a- time toddler days.
Thus, the two young men had forged that robust bond long term friends achieve when they have banked hundreds of experiences together and have learned each other's strengths, weaknesses, and idiosyncrasies.
At times as small boys Dylan and Tony behaved themselves together and even appeared cherubic.
At others, however, they landed into worlds of trouble with their creative, but oh- so- wrong escapades.
As pre- schoolers Tony and Dylan spotted a lighter, managed to activate it, and nearly burned down a neighbor's garage. Luckily an adult passing by spied the flames while out walking his dogs and managed to extinguish the fire.
Along with Daisy Sandler, the little boys attended Moppet Academy.
In elementary school the two mastered the subtleties of Witholding Evidence by imitating the class disruptor, Noah, landing into a heap of trouble, and then attempting to hide the bad behavior notes sent home by their teacher.
As the years progressed the two counseled each other as they confronted life's moments. At times Tony proved the voice of reason but at others Dylan volunteered guidance. For instance, though Dylan truly sympathized with Tony's outrage when Tony had to cart around his cousin Malcolm Dylan still urged him to just relax and allow Malcolm to join them.
Dylan and Tony brought down the wrath of Dylan's folks and Jethro more than once during their memorable high school tenure.
At fourteen they learned firsthand what Judge and Jury really meant when they lied themselves into a college party.
Tobias Fornell, Jethro's friend and an colleague with the FBI, discovered them there.
Two years later the boys sneaked off to Baltimore with their girlfriends. There they ran into NCIS Director Leon Vance and his wife.
Maria and Jethro tended to look out for Dylan just as Nancy and Michael Sasser, Dylan's folks, checked on Tony throughout the years.
Tony recalled one lazy summer afternoon when he and Dylan sprawled across the living room furniture enjoying the chilled breathing of the air conditioning. As rising juniors exactly eight days remained before they confronted their first day of eleventh grade together.
Just the day before Tony had flown home from Campeche where he had spent the initial weeks of his summer vacation.
Thus, Dylan updated Tony on how he and the Sassers had navigated his own summer. "So my mom and dad kept bickering back and forth about whose parents to visit first. Mama claimed Grandmama and Granddaddy had begged for us to get there around the fourth of July so that everyone could enjoy the fireworks at the fairgrounds and the…."
"Hold on," Tony interrupted, tossing a small nerf ball from one hand to another. "Tell me again where they live in Georgia."
"Savannah. Anyhow, Daddy claimed we had already committed at our last visit to see my MeeMaw and PawPaw then…"
Tony held out his palm.
Dylan sighed dramatically. "Comanche, Oklahoma, Tony, and I've told you this before. Snap to attention."
"Right." Tony glanced out of the window as Mr. Martin, their neighborhood postal carrier, shoved several envelopes into the mailbox. Tony knew from experience that Dylan considered the background of any story just as important as the story itself.
He might as well relax.
Dylan evolved from good family stock. His dad's military career had given Dylan and his older brother a bit of a nomadic existence prior to Washington, but once Mike Sasser's assignment led to the Pentagon the family had stayed put.
A couple of minutes later Tony jerked to attention. He realized guiltily that his mind had wandered while Dylan had continued to narrate his summer saga.
Finally his guest concluded, "I thought divorce, but of course that didn't happen."
"Glad to hear that," Tony responded, genuinely thankful. Nancy and Michael had formed a strong family unit with their boys, loving but strict, and Tony had spent countless hours in their home over the years.
They made a great couple.
"Every national park and historical landmark en route to both sets- I saw 'em all. Again." Dylan grinned. "Course they worked in several attractions just to appease yours truly and muzzle the elder brother."
Tony changed to a serious subject. "Have you really thought about what to do after college, Dylan? I mean in six years the powers to be will throw us into the workforce whether we even want to go. Just consider those ramifications. How can we possibly handle living by ourselves where we have to pay for our own selves?"
"Yeah, like electricity and stuff."
"Exactly," Tony nodded. "What if I change my mind about sports and decide on a career like accounting or something just as crazy?"
"Could we survive?" Dylan questioned hypothetically. He selected a throw pillow beside him on the couch and absent mindedly spun it by one fabric corner. "Count me confused. No matter how much the folks keep talking about buckling down with academics and my bright future I only desire to live on the fringe of society as a glorified bum."
Tony sputtered a sardonic laugh. "Make room for me on your street corner."
Dylan's words proved a bit prophetic, sadly.
He graduated from high school in good standing and then after Taking Stock opted to attend community college. Dylan infused little effort into any coursework there, not because he found the material hard or because of laziness but Dylan genuinely lacked any motivation to undertake or to complete a degree.
His parents grew impatient with his nonchalance.
He avoided worrying about the future too much.
Thankfully, in his sophomore year Dylan happened to read a bulletin board notice requesting volunteer tutors and aides at the local Boys and Girls Club of America in Washington. Something about the notice resonated with him, and Dylan caught a bus to the Boys and Girls Club that very afternoon.
Once introduced to the organization and its mission of empowering youngsters through inclusion and mentorship within a safe haven Dylan u- turned his life both personally and academically. That Boys and Girls Club and Dylan's devotion to its principles and to the kids involved fueled an epiphany.
Dylan had finally found his calling- he would use his talents to positively change the world for kids.
He resonated with young people and they listened to him, and for the first time in his life Dylan recognized that what he could offer society had both a place and considerable value.
So Dylan Sasser returned to his college courses with a revamped perspective. Fascinated with historical sites and events from his preschool days, he altered his college path and majored in History. Once he graduated with his Bachelor's he enrolled in a Master's Program in Education and upon its completion, entered a doctoral program in Education Administration and Leadership.
Dylan's first salaried position entailed coaching basketball and teaching American History at a private Catholic school. He transferred two years later to an inner city Washington, D. C. high school. There he laid his foundation for an administrative position, serving in several leadership roles as he coached and taught World History.
Tony had shadowed his friend for one entire school day the year before. Dylan had invited Tony to speak to his classes about the role of Law Enforcement throughout history, part of a unit Dylan had conceptualized to link real life careers with their historical basis. The previous week Dr. Mallard had entertained Dylan's students with the role of medical professionals throughout history.
On Tony's day, he and Tony seized the opportunity to chat during lunch.
It impressed Tony that even at Dylan's young age Tony could observe the respect Dylan's colleagues and students held for him. That particular school's students confronted myriad obstacles in their outside school life- poverty, crime in the neighborhoods, high teen pregnancy rates- that tended to fight against their academic success.
For many, the school environment provided the only Sanctuary in their adolescent existence.
Dylan settled his tray on the table and signaled Tony. "Give me a sec, ok?"
Tony watched curiously as Dylan approached two young men near the cafeteria's main entrance. A small group of students had begun to walk toward them with interest and Tony guessed that the pair had begun the verbal sparring that precipitated a physical altercation.
Dylan maneuvered himself between the boys and separated them by slinging an arm around the shoulders of each young man. He spoke earnestly and Tony watched as the combatants visibly calmed while absorbing his words. Dylan finished by offering some observation that made both boys laugh then watched, satisfied, as the two students high fived each other.
At five feet, ten inches, Dylan towered over some in the group of bystanders but a few students also towered over him.
"Good job, Man," Tony complimented sincerely when Dylan rejoined him. "You have some talent."
Dylan's expression reflected a touch of sadness. "Most of these kids have no learned skills to navigate differences other than by using their fists. I want to change that for them and introduce them to alternative ways to solve problems."
Tony bit into a yeast roll. "Looks like you succeeded there."
"That time," Dylan agreed. "But the change must be systemic. A dream of mine involves faculty and administration collaborating on ways and means to teach our students responses to situations which avoid violence and stress behavior management. Then I want us to teach, and to drill those skills into these kids, and stress the importance of the skills by enforcing the new ways of handling things every single day."
Tony queried soberly, "How do you plan to accomplish that? I think it's brilliant, but do you have the ability and clout to do that?"
"Not as a teacher, no. I can change my own classroom, but this violence disrupts the learning environment and looms bigger than my classroom. Unfortunately, teachers across this country historically wield little power even though they know firsthand the conditions in the country's classrooms. Those who work in states with unions have some pull, but teachers really remain voiceless to the head honchos. So I need power, or more power than I have now. Earning a doctorate will pave the way to work in an administrative leadership position and will guarantee people see me and hear me in education."
"So, your aim goes to a principalship?"
Dylan stabbed several peas onto his fork's tines. "Eventually, yes. Then I'll navigate to a district level position and maybe one day to a state or national position. The higher the rank the more possibility I'll have to enact change."
Tony started laughing. "How ironic that this Dylan- the Dylan I have known post infancy- aspires to the rank of the very authority figure you and I tried to avoid all of our school careers."
"I know, seems crazy," Dylan conceded with a grin. "We acted badly enough to earn some clout with our peers. However, we generally knew where to stop to avoid a trip to the principal."
A bell rang through the cafeteria and Dylan consulted his watch. "Eat quickly," he ordered Tony. "We only have five minutes left for lunch."
They devoted their attention to finishing their meals until they heard the second bell ring. Dylan signaled Tony to follow and they grabbed their trays and left them at the cleaning station by the exit door.
"Planning to keep that fuzzy wuzzy beard?" Tony needled, slinging an arm over his friend's shoulders.
Dylan rubbed the blondish brown hair on his chin thoughtfully and frowned, "Anything disturbing you about it?"
"Yep," Tony confirmed, "scraggly."
"I just started growing it deliberately," Dylan defended, his determined green eyes narrowing at Tony's mocking tone. "I look far more mature and scholarly this way."
"Ok," Tony patted his arm. "Calm down there Grizzly Sasser. Just remember to eat carefully so you keep all your crumbs off the mangy fur puff."
Dylan smirked, "I sense jealousy because your face lacks character and mine features plenty. Ladies love this he- man look."
"Really, then why have you no steady female companionship? Unless you met some hottie here at school you've kept secret, the last I heard you still lead a solitary, bearded, single life."
Dylan observed, "Pot calling the kettle black, there, bald face." They approached an intersection and Dylan added, "The single life has some advantages, and we need to enjoy our freedom now before growing up and locking ourselves into spouces and families."
Tony considered the remark. Who could believe that the Dylan and Tony who had grown up together had managed to graduate from college, enter the work force, and contemplate families? "Ok, but still you might be single because of that mess on your chin," Tony couldn't resist another comment.
Dylan inclined his head to the right and Tony followed him down the History hall and into Dylan's classroom.
As Dylan readied himself for the next onslaught of students Tony strolled around the classroom and admired the bulletin boards and posters reflecting great moments in the world's history. On one wall Dylan had secured a calendar and Tony noted with a smile that Dylan had filled the days not with birthdays of his students, but with those of famous historical figures.
Tony segued from his recollection of Dylan's classroom decorations to regard the decorations from his own twenty ninth birthday and his party guests.
"Dylan turned twenty nine as well?" Veronica questioned, brushing cake crumbs from the chair cushion.
Tony nodded affirmatively and made a sweeping motion with his hands to indicate all of her. "You really look extra pretty tonight, Veronica. That dress brings out all of the hazel highlights in your eyes."
Veronica blew him a kiss as thanks.
"Still thin, though," Tia sighed regretfully. "Since her childhood she remains, uhm puny." Scowling, she amended, "No, wrong English word."
"Petite," Jackson supplied. "Veronica has always been small."
"Si," Tia confirmed and added with a giggle, "while her mama stays round and plump!"
Maria pointed at herself, "I, too, remain plump."
Tony leaned over and kissed her. "And beautiful, Abuela mia."
"You sisters share commonalities like your dark hair and hazel eyes and you both stand the same height," Lorenzo commented about his mother and aunt. "Though Tia, your eyes have more brown in them."
"Very true," Tony acknowledged. He grabbed Maria's hand and extended it for the others to admire. "Plus, my grandmother has the longest, most graceful fingers I have ever seen."
His audience agreed with him and Maria patted his leg. "Dylan will make a fine principal. Thank you for sharing his progress."
"I hope he will switch to administration at his current school long enough to initiate some productive changes," Tony admitted. "After that, though, Dylan needs to transition to the District office in order to extend his reach and vision. Who knows, perhaps one day he will serve education at the national level."
Lorenzo's brown eyes filled with teasing and he commented dryly, "Thank goodness at least one of you matured. It relieves my mind."
"Of course it would comfort you, party pooper," Tony rejoined. "You burst into life with a serious expression all over your face and a list of goals to tackle at once."
Tony and Veronica started chuckling and Veronica contributed gleefully, "Lorenzo even drove his tricycle responsibly. Remember you said he explained to you he couldn't drive it in the grass, Mama, because it might destroy the plants?"
"At three years old," Tia shrugged her shoulders in bewilderment.
Lorenzo thrust out his palm and ordered Tony and Veronica, "Enough, you nuisances. Tonight we need not celebrate my exemplary behavior but must stretch to honor the Bambino primo's newfound devotion to maturity instead."
"Ok, so Tony, go ahead and update us on someone else now that you finished discussing Dylan," Jackson's blue eyes twinkled.
"Will do, but let me think," Tony leaned forward to rest his forearms on his thighs. "Whose revised biography will engage all of you next, my wonderful birthday audience?"