Part Two
New Year's Day at the King House
Lee had arrived at the house bright
and early, surprised to hear Phillip already on the phone with his girlfriend.
Even though he wasn't a breakfast person, Lee managed to eat a few pancakes
with fresh maple syrup.
While he was eating, Jamie explained
the ritual of New Years Day. "Phillip usually turns the TV onto some college bowl football game,
while Mom, Grandma, and I play Scrabble. You can do whichever you want. After
the football's over, Mom orders us a couple of pizzas, and then we play several
games of Monopoly and Pictionary."
As Lee helped clean up after
breakfast, he thought about how he would have reacted if someone had told him
four years ago that he would be spending New Years Day with Amanda's family,
watching TV and playing board games. 'Let's face it, Stetson, you would have
laughed at them.' He was glad that Lee Stetson was gone, and treasured whatever
time he could spend with his family.
Later on, Lee and Phillip sat on the
sofa watching the Rose Bowl the others played their fourth round of Scrabble.
While Jamie and Amanda were still intent on the game, Dotty's eyes had begun to
stray to the football game. Lee glanced at her, and noticed that she wasn't
interested in the actual game, but in the players.
"Mother," Amanda said,
"it's your turn."
"That's nice, Amanda,"
Dotty replied, not turning away from the television screen.
Jamie decided to try to get his
grandmother's attention, "Grandma, Mom and I would really like to finish
this game before next year. Could you, please, at least, take your turn?"
"Sure, Jamie," Dotty said
as she joined Phillip and Lee on the sofa. Lee swallowed a chuckle, and joined
Amanda and Jamie at the Scrabble table.
"I'll finish for her. Does this
happen every year?"
"Yep," Jamie said.
"She always gets interested in the men playing football, but she doesn't
like the game itself."
The doorbell interrupted any further
discussion of his grandmother's viewing habits.
"Amanda, what was that
noise?"
"That's the doorbell,
Mother." Amanda rolled her eyes at her mother's attraction the men on the
television.
"I'll get it," Jamie said,
racing to the door to open it. "Mr. Morales, what are you doing
here?" He was astounded to see one of his teachers doing at his house, on
New Year's Day.
"Can I come in?" the
Arlington Heights Middle School teacher asked. Jamie nodded, and allowed him entrance. In his hand, he held a manila
envelope. By this time, Dotty and Phillip's attention had shifted from the
football game, toward their visitor. It was unusual for one of Jamie's teachers
to visit.
"Good afternoon, folks. Sorry
to interrupt, but yesterday I received a letter from the 'Young Writers of
Virginia' essay contest. I didn't know what plans you had for New Years Eve, so
I decide to wait until today to give Jamie the news. I tried to call, but the
line was busy."
Amanda looked at her older son.
"Phillip, did you hang up the phone after you finished talking to
Linda?"
"I think so." Phillip
answered. Seeing his mother's look, he went to check. As he reseated the
handset that had been set down backwards, he mumbled an apology.
"No harm done," Mr.
Morales said. He pulled out a letter from the envelope and handed it to Jamie.
"Why don't you read this?"
Jamie took the letter and read it to
everyone.
Dear Mr. Morales:
We are pleased to inform you that two of
the students in your Advanced Language Arts class have placed in our eighth
annual 'Young Writers of Virginia' essay contest. James King and Angela Davis
have placed first and second, respectively. A third Arlington student, Ramona
Jones, has placed third. Although it is short notice, the awards ceremony will
be held on Tuesday, January 5 at 6:30 P.M., at Arlington Heights Middle School.
As our first place winner, James will be expected to present his essay aloud.
All of our winners are encouraged to invite family and friends to attend the
ceremony. Congratulations to you and your students.
Sincerely,
Donna Moore
President of the Young Writers of
Virginia
"Sweetheart, I'm so proud of
you," Amanda said as she walked over to hug her son.
"Way to go," Phillip told
his brother.
"I didn't know that we had such
a talented writer in our family," Dotty gushed.
Lee didn't quite know what to say to
his stepson. He got up from the couch, and walked over to where Amanda and
Jamie stood. "Congratulations." It seemed inadequate, but as he saw the
look in Jamie's eyes, he realized that maybe it wasn't.
Mr. Morales removed a piece of paper
from the envelope and handed it to Amanda. "Mrs. King, here is the other
information you'll need. I'll leave you to celebrate."
"Thanks for stopping by,"
Amanda told him as she walked Mr. Morales to the door. "Happy New
Year."
"Happy New Year to you all as
well," he told them as he left the house.
"Wow, I can't believe it. I'm
going to call Dad." Jamie went to the phone and began to dial Joe.
When Jamie was finished talking, he
turned to his mother. "He said he could make it to the ceremony,
Mom."
Amanda smiled. "I'm really glad
he'll be able to make it, Sweetheart." She looked at the clock. "Oh, my gosh, I forgot about dinner!"
"Why don't we all go out for
pizza to celebrate instead of ordering in?" Dotty suggested.
"I'll buy," Lee
volunteered, and Amanda smiled.
"Um, can I invite Angela and
her dad to join us?" Jamie wanted to know.
"I guess so," Amanda
replied, slightly puzzled, as Jamie went upstairs to make his call.
Dotty asked, "Why didn't he
call her from here?"
"I don't know, Mother,"
Amanda responded. "I don't remember hearing him ever mention Angela's name
before. Phillip?"
"They're friends. I don't know
why he didn't mention it." Could his brother have a girlfriend? Who'd have
thought? Phillip mused. "I'm going to my room to change before we leave
for the pizza place."
"Why wouldn't he want us to
know that he's friends with Angela Davis?" Dotty wanted to know.
"I don't know, but I'm glad
we're going to meet her," Amanda said.
A couple of minutes later, Jamie
returned to the family room wearing his coat with Phillip in tow. "I told
them to meet us at Georgio's Pizza Parlor in thirty minutes."
"Let's go," Amanda said,
and they left the house.
**SMK**SMK**SMK**
New Year's Day at the Agency was
hectic. Doctor Smyth was out of town, and Billy Melrose was filling in for him,
while Francine Desmond was filling in for Billy. Francine was at the end of her
rope: she really needed Lee and Amanda to come in, but there was no answer at
Lee's apartment, and the phone at Amanda's house had been busy all day.
Francine sighed. 'Operation Beat It'
was in jeopardy before it even began. The operation was designed to shut down
the newest in American-based terrorist groups. Earlier in the day, an Agency
source had informed Francine that the terrorist group found out about the top
secret operation and that they wanted all the details about it. Francine was
now in search of answers and wanted the best, Lee and Amanda, to find them.
Francine picked up the phone to call
Billy. "Billy, do you know what Lee and Amanda are doing today?"
On the other end of the line, Billy
was grateful that Lee and Amanda hadn't informed him of their plans."
Francine, I have no idea what Lee and Amanda are doing today. They're on the
last day of their vacation. You're going to have to wait until tomorrow."
Receiving Billy's negative reply,
Francine moaned, "I really need someone good to work on this 'Beat It'
situation."
"Why don't you see if Beeman
and Fred Fielder are available?"
"Billy, I don't want Fred
Fielder and Beeman! I need Lee and Amanda."
"Then you're just going to have
to wait until tomorrow."
Francine made a face. "Okay,
I'll wait until tomorrow." She slammed down the phone in frustration, then
muttered to herself, "But I won't like it."
**SMK**SMK**SMK**
At Georgio's Pizza Parlor, Amanda,
Lee, and their family sat in a large booth as they waited for Angela and her
dad.
"Why didn't you ever mention
Angela Davis before?" Amanda asked looking at Jamie.
"Mom, it's a long story,"
Jamie answered. His tone hinted that he didn't want to discuss it further.
"We have plenty of time before
Angela and her dad show up," Amanda pursued. "So explain."
Jamie took a deep breath and began.
"Angela and her dad moved here from Portland, Maine at the beginning of
the school year. We met on the first day of school. Our lockers are right next
to each other and we're in a lot of the same classes. We, um, we hit it off.
Suddenly looking anywhere, but at his mother, he said, "I trust her."
He was embarrassed. "I guess I was
afraid she'd be uncomfortable around a family like ours."
"What do you mean by a family
like ours?" Dotty asked.
"Women," Jamie answered
and Phillip snickered. "Angela's parents divorced when she was real
little. She hardly ever sees her mother, and she's not really that comfortable
with the whole mother thing. "Jamie looked to the front of the restaurant
and let out a sigh of relief. "Here they are."
Having spotted Jamie, Angela Davis
and her father walked toward the booth. Amanda took a close look and noticed
that Angela was tall for a twelve-year-old. She had dark brown hair and bright
blue eyes. Her father appeared to be in his mid thirties, with the same hair
and eye color as his daughter.
"Hey, everyone," Jamie
stood up, "This is Angela Davis and her father. Mr. Davis, Angela, this is my mom, my grandmother, Mrs. West, my
brother, Phillip, and my mom's boyfriend Mr. Stetson."
The adults shook hands and exchanged
pleasantries. They quickly progressed to a first name basis.
"It's nice to finally meet you
all," Angela said as she took a seat.
"Same here," Amanda told
her looking out of the corner of her eye at Jamie.
"Angela, how do you like
Arlington, so far?" Dotty asked. "I moved here myself when I was your
age."
"I love it here, Mrs.
West," she smiled.
"Moving here was the best decision
I've made in a while," Robert Davis said. "My Angie is happier here
than she was in Portland."
"So, Jamie," Angela said
in an attempt to move the focus away herself, "are you going to practice
reading your essay before Tuesday?"
"Guess I'll have to, huh? I'm
not really comfortable talking in front of a lot of people. You're a lot better
at it. Maybe you should have gotten first place?"
"Oh, Jamie, you'll do
fine." She looked around and noticed her dad in conversation with Jamie's
mother. Lowering her voice, she continued, "I'll be on stage with you, so
if you get nervous, just look at me."
"Okay, thanks." Jamie
looked up. "Hey, this pizza parlor has the neatest arcade." He turned
to his mother. "Mom, is it alright if we go into the arcade for a while?"
"Sure, Sweetheart," Amanda
told him. "Do you have any money?"
Jamie nodded. "All right! Let's
go!"
Once the threesome had left the
table, Dotty began. "Mr. Davis, if you don't mind me asking, why did you
move here in the first place?"
"Mother!" Amanda scolded.
"That's okay," Robert
Davis smiled. "And by the way, please, do call me Rob." He paused
before beginning his explanation. "Well, Angie was having problems in
school. The other kids wouldn't talk to her very much. Maybe it was because she
was the smartest girl in her class and they were jealous? I don't know. We also
had a situation where her mother would make plans to spend time with her, but
always canceled. Angie was disappointed
every time. Then I was offered a job here. My father lives here in Arlington,
and he offered to have us move in with him. The more I learned both about the
job and the schools, it seemed like a good fit." Robert glanced over
toward the arcade area and smiled. "I'm glad we did. Angie has new friends, sees her grandfather
everyday, and her mother talks to her on the phone more than she did while we
lived in the same city."
"Rob, why don't we check on the
kids, and you can tell me more about your father. Amanda, you and Lee order the
pizzas while we're gone." Dotty took
charge as she escorted Robert to the arcade.
"It's obvious that Rob loves
his daughter very much," Lee commented.
"Yeah," Amanda smiled.
"You know, it's eerie how similar Jamie and Angela's lives seem to
be."
As the waitress came over to take
their order, Mathers entered and sat in a nearby booth. Thanks to his high tech
miniature cufflink camera, he was able to take several surveillance photos of
Lee and Amanda, which he planned on adding to the collection he was
accumulating for his employers.
**SMK**SMK**SMK**