"Ping pong?" Trunks questioned.
"Yep. That's the only one left," Goten answered, "Could be worse."
"Can you imagine how Tousan's going to react when he finds out…" a smile formed on the young Saiya-jin's face, "Let's do it!"
"There's just one problem," Goten muttered, "I don't know how to play ping pong."
"Well you… uh… um…" Trunks stammered, "Come to think of it, neither do I."
* * *
In another Son household, things were peaceful. Gohan had just put his baby daughter, Pan, to bed and was trying to get back to the TV as quietly as possible, knowing that the slightest noise would awaken Pan.
The phone rang. Gohan cursed in both Japanese and English as he heard the all-too familiar crying of his daughter.
"This better not be a telemarketer…" Gohan muttered as he picked up the receiver, "Hello?"
"Hey, Niichan!" came the cheerful voice of Goten.
"Goten? What's up?"
"I was just wonderin' if you knew how to play ping pong?"
Gohan resisted the urge to kill his little brother. "No, I don't know how to play ping pong," Gohan replied icily as Pan's screaming increased in intensity, "Now, if you don't mind, I am going to calm down my daughter, who you woke up by wasting my time with pointless questions." Gohan hung up.
* * *
"Well, what did he say?" Trunks asked Goten as he replaced the receiver.
"He didn't know."
"Hey, Trunks," the voice of Goten's mother, Chi-Chi made both boys jump, "Would you like to stay for dinner?"
"Thanks, Ms Son," Trunks replied, grateful to avoid having to play Russian Roulette with Bulma's cooking.
"Hey, Kaasan," Goten got his mother's attention, "Do you know how to play ping pong."
A smile formed on Chi-Chi's face. "No, I don't know how to play ping pong," Chi-Chi paused, watching the disappointment on the boys' faces, "I know how to completely decimate my opponents in ping pong! In fact, when I was your age, I won a National Championship for ping-pong. Why do you ask?"
"We're gonna join the Ping Pong Club. Can you teach me and Trunks how to play?" Goten asked eagerly.
"I don't see why not," Chi-Chi agreed, "I think you'd both enjoy the sport."
* * *
With one approving parent, there were only two to go – Bulma and Vegeta. Trunks knew that his mother would support his decision, but he had a bad feeling about his father. Vegeta didn't really approve of anything the boy did – school, video games, getting a tattoo of a monkey on his butt…
"I'm home," Trunks called, his normally loud voice barely above a whisper.
"I was wondering when you'd show up," Bulma said, leaving the kitchen, "Have you given any more thought into picking a club yet?"
Vegeta joined his mate and son outside the kitchen. Trunks knew that he was just waiting for the opportunity to criticize any interest other than martial arts. He gulped.
"Well…" Vegeta prodded, his eyes narrowing. Although he would never admit it, Trunks was afraid of his father, whom he described to his shrink as 'a psychopathic Troll doll'.
"Uh… I've decided on… ping pong," Trunks stammered, his voice slowly getting smaller and smaller.
"Oh, that's wonderful, Trunks!" Bulma exclaimed, "Isn't that wonderful, Vegeta?"
Vegeta just grunted and stormed off towards the Gravity Chamber.