Note: Vic Rankin (Losing Streak) and Hutch's lifeguard experience (The Las Vegas Strangler) are mentioned. Watching these episodes isn't required to understand this story though.

Chapter 2: Breaking the News

Monday, January 8th, 1962

I couldn't concentrate on any of my classes. I was too busy thinking about what had happened in the principal's office that morning. Why me? How? I was still confused. I wasn't sure why I was valedictorian. Surely someone else had higher grades than me. I'd studied hard, but I didn't think I'd had studied that hard.

When lunchtime rolled around, Jack was at our usual table in the corner. I sat down across from him and emptied the contents of the lunch I'd packed.

"Hey, Hutch! Want a carrot?" he greeted me. Jack hated carrots, but somehow always ended up with at least one in his lunch. I nodded and took it from him, just like I had almost every day for going on four years.

"Thanks. How's your first day back going?"

"Great! I've decided who I'm asking to the prom," Jack declared.

"It's January. Prom isn't until April."

"So? I'm a planner, Hutch. I know what I want and what I want is to take Heather to Senior Prom."

"Good for you." I took a bite out of my apple and wondered if I should tell Jack about my eventful morning.

"How are things with you and Susan?"Jack asked. I had been out with her a couple of times now and Jack wouldn't leave me alone about it.

"Things are going fine, I guess. She's nice and she's not one of your rejects," I responded. I refused to date anyone Jack had been out with. The girls he went for weren't exactly my type.

"You guess? What's that supposed to mean? Have you and her not-"

"Jack, stop! I don't wanna talk about it!" I interrupted. I didn't want to talk about girls when I had this valedictorian thing hanging over me. I have to tell him. Now.

"Fine, I'll take that as a no. Figures," he mumbled. I ignored the insult. "What's got you in such a mood?"

"I got called to the principal's office this morning, Jack."

"What'd ya' do now? Violate the dress code?" he teased.

"Nothing! I didn't get in trouble."

"So, what's the big deal?" Jack asked as he took a long sip of his drink.

"I'm valedictorian." There! I said it! Done! He choked and nearly spit out his Coke.

"What?!You gotta be kidding!" He laughed.

"I'm not. Principal Nicholson said it was me." Jack's face turned serious as he quickly gathered his things and stood up.

"How about that? See ya later, Hutch," Jack spat as he walked off.

I could tell he was disappointed. I knew being valedictorian was his dream. I felt bad that I had taken it away from him. What am I supposed to do, though? It's not like I wanted to be valedictorian. I sighed as I bit into my sandwich. This was going to be an interesting day.

After school, I walked outside and looked around for Jack. I spotted him leaning against the hood of his car, talking to Heather. I waved. I knew I was in his line of vision, but he ignored me. Guess I'm walking home, I thought, pulling my coat tighter around me. Kirsten's car was in the shop, so I'd let her borrow mine to go to college. The high school was closer to home and I'd figured I could get a ride with Jack. I had figured wrong. I dug my hat out of my bag and pulled it on. The hat was suitable for in the car, but not walking home in the cold. My ears would probably be freezing by the time I got home anyway. Duluth winters were brutal. I thought about how I would break the news to my family as I trudged through the snow.

I'd finally made it home and inside when I heard someone in the kitchen. I looked at my watch. It was too early for anyone to be home. I took off my boots and carefully opened the kitchen door. Kirsten was stirring a bowl of something.

"Kirsten! You're home early!" I exclaimed.

"Yep, class let out early. You look cold. Did you walk here?" I nodded and shivered. "You should have called, Ken. I've been home since 2:30, I could have picked you up. Want some hot chocolate?" She set down the bowl and grabbed two mugs from the cabinet.

"Sure, thanks. What's in the bowl?"

"Brownies. Be a good boy and stir 'em for me would ya? The oven will be ready in just a minute." I obeyed.

"Double chocolate? What's the occasion?"

"Do I need an occasion to make brownies?" Kirsten paused her hot chocolate making to hand me the brownie pan.

"I suppose not, but I have something kinda brownie worthy," I told her as I scooped the batter into the pan.

"Oh?"

"Turns out I'm this year's valedictorian."

"Really?! That's amazing, Kenny!" I smiled, glad Kirsten was reacting better than Jack had.

"Yeah, it's wild. I still don't believe it!" I slid the pan into the oven and accepted my mug from her.

"Who knew you had it in ya, half-pint? My little brother, valedictorian!" She smiled and patted my shoulder.

"That's actually why I ended up walking home," I admitted.

"What do you mean?" Kirsten's face wrinkled in confusion, a dent forming in between her eyebrows.

"Jack really wanted to be valedictorian. He was set on it. Had his speech all planned and everything. When I told him he got mad. He blew me off after school too." I sighed and sipped my hot chocolate.

"Why should he be mad at you?"

"I don't know. Jack is...well, Jack. You know how he is."

"He's not used to things not working out for him, I suppose." Kirsten speculated. I nodded in agreement. Kirsten got people. She always seemed to see both sides of any issue. That's why I hadn't waited to tell her my news with the rest of my family.

"Should I apologize?"

"Why? You didn't do anything wrong. I'd talk to him though if I were you. Explain things. Jack is your best friend. He'll cool off and get over it."

"You're probably right."

"I usually am. It's because of my two extra years of life experience," Kirsten teased as she placed her mug in the sink.

"Oh, yeah right!" I walked over to rinse out my mug and nudged her with my hip. She hit the stream of water with her hand, flinging it onto my shirt. I tried to grab her but she was too fast. She ran around the table, using it as a barrier. I faked right, hoping Kirsten would fall for it. Unfortunately, she was wise to my tricks after eighteen years of living in the same household. She grabbed me from behind and started tickling me. I fell to the floor and tried to defend myself. I almost had her pinned when the kitchen door opened. We both scrambled off one another. I tried to stand up, but my foot caught on a chair leg. I fell on Kirsten, returning us to a tangle of arms and legs on the floor.

"What's going on?" our mother questioned. She stepped over us to put the groceries away.

"Kirsten started it!"

"Kenny's a liar!"

"I don't care who started it, get off the floor before I trip over you." Kirsten and I obeyed. Our mother tolerated some horseplay, but we knew when to quit.

"Sorry," we mumbled in unison.

"Will both of you children set the table for me?" Mom asked, handing Kirsten a stack of plates. I grabbed a handful of silverware and set about my task.

An hour and a half later, we were all at the table for supper. Dad was telling us about some new machine they had at work. I tried to listen as I made a fort with my mashed potatoes. I waited for a break in the conversation so I could tell my parents the news.

"Anything interesting happen at school today?" Kirsten asked, obviously setting me up. I glared at her.

"Not much. I did find out I'm the valedictorian though," I said, trying to sound casual. Mom's face lit up.

"Kenneth, that's wonderful!"

"Good job, son," Dad said, slapping me on the back.

"Thanks." I stared down at my mashed potato fort, unsure what to say next.

"Your father and I are so proud of you!" Mom exclaimed, coming around the table to give me a hug. I smiled. I usually hated attention, but it felt good to be praised.

"Turns out half-pint isn't such a half-wit after all!" Kirsten offered.

I shot her a look as I demolished my mashed potatoes. At least three out of four people I told are happy for me, I thought. Kirsten's right. I should talk to Jack. Tonight.

At 9:36 PM I found myself on Jack's front porch. I knocked on the door. I couldn't let the day end without at least trying to patch things up. I shivered as I waited for someone to answer my knock. The Mitchell's staff had gone home hours ago. Finally, his mom opened the massive door.

"Ken! Nice to see you!"

"Nice to see you too, Mrs. Mitchell. Jack here?"

"Yes, he's upstairs in his room. May I take your coat?" Mrs. Mitchell was one of those people who dripped sophistication. She always seemed organized and put together. I nodded and handed her my coat. I made my way upstairs to find Jack. He was in his room flipping through a magazine about cars. I knocked on the door frame.

"Hey, Jack." I hoped he'd cooled off.

"What are you doing here?" He hadn't.

"I...uh...Look, I don't know why you're mad at me!" I said without thinking. I hadn't intended to start coming off as defensive.

"Hutch, you know exactly why!" He threw the magazine on his bedside table.

"Because I happened to be valedictorian?" I asked, genuinely confused.

"You knew I wanted that title!"

"I didn't know I even had a chance at it! I barely got a B in math last year!" I tried to explain.

"I don't care about your B, Hutch!"

"What was I supposed to do, Jack? Make sure my grades were all lower than yours? Play hooky on test day? I didn't ask for this! They just told me! If I could abdicate the high school valedictorian throne, I would!"

"Really?" Jack asked. He seemed skeptical now, rather than mad. That was a good sign.

"You think I wanna make a speech in front of all those people? Come on, you know me better than that!" I waited for him to answer, my hands on my hips. I felt like a mother scolding her immature child. Jack was being ridiculous.

"All right, fine! It's not your fault you're smarter than me!" Jack replied, a faint hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"Are we good then?" I asked, daring him to keep arguing. He nodded, not taking the bait. I internally sighed with relief. I sat down next to him on the bed.

"Thanks for coming over, Hutch. Sorry I got so mad at you. I know you didn't mean to beat me out of anything. I dunno what came over me."

"You were disappointed. I mean, you did already have your speech written." Jack laughed at my teasing.

"I guess I tend to count my chickens before they hatch, huh?"

That's the understatement of the year. "You sure do," I agreed.

"But you don't count them even after they hatch."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked.

"You don't plan. You just wait for life to happen to you. Then, when it does, it's like you're shocked or something," he elaborated. I thought it over for a second before I said anything. Jack wasn't trying to insult me. He was making an observation, expressing an abstract thought. I had got through to him in our study sessions after all.

"I do. I should herd my chickens more often."

"Hutch. What?" Jack was confused.

"Gather my thoughts, make decisions, do something with the cards I've been dealt, that sort of thing." I hoped my point was coming across. Jack still looked confused. I sighed. Jack was my best friend, but sometimes I felt like he didn't really get me at all.

"I thought we were talking about chickens? Anyway, since you're here, how about you and Susan?" Jack inquired grinning devilishly.

"I don't want to discuss it." I tried not to smile. I really liked Susan, but I didn't want Jack to know that yet.

"You like her, don't you?" Jack looked me in the eye. I kept silent. "Have you even kissed her yet?"

"We've only gone out twice!" I felt myself blush.

"You haven't? Boy, what are you doing?"

"Not making out with Susan," I mumbled. Jack frowned.

"If I were you I'd-"

"Well, you aren't. Night, Jack!" I interrupted, standing up to leave before he had the chance to make me even more uncomfortable. It had been a long day and I was in no mood for Jack to criticize my love life.

I let myself out into the cold. I got in my car and turned on the heater. It didn't help much. Kirsten had informed me it had quit on her this morning. Now, it only worked occasionally. It finally got halfway bearable when I got home. Dad had been on my case to get my car checked over before winter, but I hadn't listened. I was beginning to think he'd been on to something.

Saturday, February 10th, 1962

Valentine's Day was fast approaching, which meant that Jack was even more girl crazy than usual. He pestered me endlessly about my plans with Susan for the holiday. I hadn't told him anything, which annoyed him greatly. We were in my living room listening to records when he tried once again to drag the information out of me.

"You are going to take her out, aren't you? Dinner? A movie?"

"Jack, you are interrupting the music."

"It's jazz, it was made to be interrupted! Now what are you gonna do? It's four days away!"

"It's not just jazz! It's Vic Rankin! Now shut up and listen!" I laid back on the couch and tried to focus on the music.

"Vic Rankin would probably tell his friend where he was taking his girl for Valentine's Day," Jack grumbled. I sat up and looked over at him. He was slumped in a chair pretending to read the newspaper.

"You really want to know?" I knew he did. Jack hated not being in the know just as much as I loved keeping him in the dark. He nodded. "All right, I'll tell you. I don't have plans because I'm not taking her out."

"You're kidding. Did you guys break up?" Jack sat up straighter.

"Nope. I'm just not taking her out for Valentine's Day."

"Why not?" He leaned forward.

"Why should I? We've only been going out for a couple months. Besides, I refuse to participate in Valentine's Day." Jack rolled his eyes.

"Don't tell me this is one of those things you've researched!" he complained.

"It is! Our society has strayed far from the original concept of St. Valentine's Day. What used to be a feast in honor of a martyr is now an excuse for cheap marketing and commercialism preying on folks' sentiments for a quick profit," I explained as Jack groaned and buried his head in a pillow.

"Who cares? Girls dig it! Do you want to die alone, Ken?"

"I hardly think it will come to that just because I don't celebrate some holiday."

"Yeah, Hutch! Maybe Susan won't dump you because you didn't do anything for Valentine's Day. She'll dump you because she got tired of your lectures about why you didn't do anything for Valentine's Day!"

"I doubt that. Anyone thinking critically can see that the foundational basis-"

"Shut up, Professor Hutchinson! You're interrupting the jazz!" he butted in. It was my turn to roll my eyes.

Wednesday, February 14th, 1962

Valentine's Day was here, and I hadn't seen Jack all day. Heather seemed to be absent as well. I didn't have to be a detective to figure out the correlation. Susan had joined me at my usual table for lunch.

"Got any plans tonight, Ken?" Susan asked, clearly hinting. She had been hinting all week.

"I have to fix the heater on my car," I replied. It was true. I planned to read my car's manual and try to figure it out myself. It was also an excuse not to address today's significance.

"It's Valentine's Day," she tried again.

"I know. It's supposed to be cold tomorrow, so I want to get it fixed tonight." I felt bad about disappointing her, but I had to stick to my principles. She frowned. "Tell you what, we'll go see a movie this weekend. Just you and me." I smiled in an attempt to sweeten the deal. Please say yes!

"Okay, but if you postpone me for that beater of yours again, we're going to talk about it!" she warned me.

"Yes, ma'am!"

That evening I was reading through my car's manual and paperwork in my room. So far, I had learned quite a bit. I learned what type of engine I had, what color the seat fabric was advertised as, and that my car had about six expired warranties. I had voided three of those myself. Apparently, car maintenance was something I didn't care to make time for. I had bought my car used with the money I'd earned from lifeguarding. It was too old to be current and not old enough to be a classic. It was a car though and it was mine. That was good enough.

After an hour of searching for anything related to the heater that made sense, I decided to give up and ask Dad. I walked down the hall and was about to go downstairs when I overheard my parents talking. I stopped at the top of the stairs and listened.

"I'm worried about Ken," my mom said.

"Why? Did something happen?" my dad asked.

"No, I'm just concerned about his valedictorian speech. Every time I ask him about it, he avoids the question."

"He probably hasn't even thought about it yet. You know how Ken procrastinates."

Dad wasn't wrong. I had avoided thinking about my speech. I should probably think about that soon.I also did tend to procrastinate on things I wasn't passionate about.

"That's not what I mean. He still has a few months to think about it. What I'm saying is that I'm worried about how he'll do. He's a smart boy, but public speaking has never been his strength," she explained.

"Jack is good at speeches, he'll help Ken. He'll do fine."

I wouldn't count on me doing fine if I were you, Dad.

"Ken is still shy though." I could hear the concern in her voice. While it was true that Jack had helped push me to be more outgoing, I still wasn't comfortable speaking publicly. Or even privately in some scenarios.

"He's going to have to get over that if he wants to go anywhere in this world."

Get over it? Yeah right! As if that were possible!

"Jack has been good for him. He used to be worse before Jack came around."

Worse? Am I that bad? Does my mother think there's something wrong with me? I leaned my head against the wall. I didn't want to hear this.

"I'm more concerned with his lack of decision on colleges. All he's done is get information. He needs to apply and decide where he's going in the fall," Dad said.

"Yes, he does. Maybe you should talk to him about that."

"I intend to. He also needs to pick a major. He seems to be at a standstill on that too."

"He's interested in a lot of things. He's probably having trouble narrowing it down to one."

"So was I when I was his age, but engineering stood out. Surely, he has a favorite," Dad stated. The truth was I didn't. I liked the idea of a few different things, but none of them were an obvious choice. I didn't want to settle for something I'd end up hating. I regretted eavesdropping, but I couldn't pull myself away.

"I'm sure he must, even if he hasn't decided yet. I agree that he needs some encouragement."

Encouragement? More like pressure! As if I didn't have enough already with school and this stupid speech! Not to mention Susan! Or Jack, he's always bugging me about one thing or another! Do they really think I'm some pathetic slacker who can't make a decision? What if I am? Clearly I'm on my way!

I wanted to go downstairs and give my parents a piece of my mind. I wanted to tell them to stay out of my business and leave me alone. I was too young to make these kinds of decisions. I didn't want to concern myself with the future. I wanted to storm out of the house and run until my lungs gave out. I wished I was eight-years-old again, my biggest worry being what Nancy, Kirsten, and I were going to play. But it was too cold to run, and I wasn't eight years old anymore. I was eighteen and it was time to be an adult.

I silently walked back to my room and parked myself on the floor. I reached under the bed and pulled out the box I'd shoved all my information from colleges into weeks ago. I set it on my desk on top of the car paperwork and promised myself tomorrow would be the day. The day I would apply for college. I didn't need encouragement from anyone. I needed to make progress and I needed to do it on my own terms.