"Okay, usually I'd start out with how a car works, but you know that,
right?" Duncan asked as Richie settled himself in the driver's seat.
"Of course. I could disassemble and reassemble that engine in an hour tops," Richie bragged.
Duncan doubted it was true but continued. "The first thing you have to do is adjust all your mirrors so you can see all around your car with minimal movement."
"See around my car," Richie repeated happily. Who would have guessed he would learn to drive in a '55 Thunderbird.
"MY car that you are BORROWING," Duncan corrected. "If you mess it up, you're paying for it."
"Right," Richie nodded adjusting his side view mirror. "Can you move that one in a little?" he asked. "Perfect. Okay, now what?" he asked eagerly putting his hand out for the keys.
"Do you know how to work the blinkers?"
"Up right, down left," Richie mumbled to himself as he messed with the blinkers. "Got it," he declared. "Now can I start it?"
"Okay." Duncan handed him the keys. "Are you ready?"
"Uh-huh." Richie started the car.
"Okay, put your foot on the brake and shift it into drive," Duncan instructed. He had pulled the car around front so he could save backing up for another lesson. "Check for traffic. and take your foot off the brake and slowly pull out." Richie did as he was told. "Good job. Now speed up to match the traffic around you.not faster than them, match them."
"This.is so.cool!"
"Calm down and watch the road. Okay there's red light up there, start slowing down now. Richie, put your foot on the break. put your foot on the break. Stop!" Richie stopped just before running the light. "Remember what I told you about listening and following the rules?" Duncan asked. Richie nodded slowly. "So when I tell you to put your foot on the brake what are you going to do?"
"Put my foot on the break?" Richie offered.
"Exactly." Duncan looked up at the stoplight. "Let's try this listening thing again. When the light turns green count to three then go."
"Got'cha."
The light turned and Richie waited before leaving the intersection. "Good job," Duncan commented. "Think you're ready to change lanes?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, you're going to go left, put on your blinker."
"Left, down," Richie mumbled.
"Check your mirror; do you see a car?"
"No."
"Look behind you."
Richie glanced over his shoulder and to his surprise saw a little Civic coop just to his left. "Where did that guy come from?!"
"He was there. You can't fully trust your mirrors, you have to look yourself."
"So I noticed."
"Okay, he's slowing down for you now. Can you see him in your mirror?"
"Yeah."
"Look behind you again, can you go?"
"I think so."
Duncan nodded. "Then gently turn the wheel. and you just changed lanes. Why don't we try turning at the next light." Duncan talked Richie through making a left-hand turn and he executed it almost perfectly, except for hitting the curb.
"Sorry," Richie quickly apologized hoping Duncan wouldn't make him pull over; he was having too much fun driving.
"It happens," Duncan assured him. "Let's try it again at this light."
Duncan had Richie drive in circles until he got the hang of a left-hand turns then had him drive in circles in the opposite direction for a while making right-hand turns.
"Mac, I'm startin' to get dizzy," Richie complained.
"Do you want to stop?
"No! I just want to go in a straight line for awhile, that's all."
"Fair enough. Where do you want to go to lunch and you can take the long way there."
"I don't know," Richie shrugged.
"How about, Chuck's?" Duncan suggested. He knew that it was Richie's favorite burger joint.
Richie grinned. "Okay! um how do I get there from here?"
"You don't know?"
"I know how to get there on foot."
Duncan smiled. He forgot Richie walked everywhere and knew every short cut in the city.
"Turn right on sixth."
. . . . . .
"Don't tell Tessa," Duncan told him as they entered the fifties style diner. "But you can get whatever you want."
"So I can get a soda?" Richie asked hopefully; it had been months since he had been allowed sodas.
"I said whatever you want didn't I?"
Richie grinned broadly and shook his head. "Tessa's going to kill you if she finds out about this."
"Oh, so is she the only one who gets to spoil you?" Duncan asked.
"You just seem to like the punishment part more," Richie answered before thinking.
If Duncan was hurt by the comment he didn't let it show. "Someone has to keep you in line," he jabbed as they chose a booth. He had been expecting to get a comment like that sooner or later from the boy. At least it didn't really seem to bother Richie that Duncan was the punisher.
"Are you two ready?" the waiter asked. Duncan looked at Richie who nodded with a slightly mischievous grin.
"Go ahead, Rich," Duncan prompted.
"Bacon cheeseburger, medium rare," he started. "Mayo and mustard, no ketchup, extra pickles, curly fries and onion rings. And Dr. Pepper to drink." He smiled at Duncan, obviously pleased with his order.
"You?"
"Burger, well done, mustard, no onions, and a side salad with ranch. Water to drink," Duncan ordered. "Are you planning on eating at the game?" he asked one the waiter left.
"Can I?" The thought had never occurred to Richie.
"I have a feeling we'll be there for dinner. The game doesn't start until four. I thought you'd want the complete experience."
"Cool!" That seemed to be Richie's word for the day. They talked about Richie's driving during lunch. Duncan pointed out one good point for everything that needed improvement, keeping in mind Richie had a fragile ego.
"But you really surprised me, I thought there would be a lot more panicked moments with you behind the wheel," Duncan finished.
"You really think I did okay?"
"Have I ever lied to you?"
Richie made a face. "Last time I answered the question you tried to spank me."
"I got my point across didn't I?"
"I guess," he shrugged looking down.
"Hey, Rich, not to ruin the evening, but maybe you should start thinking about going to see Karen again. I know last time you didn't get the best news.but she can help you. It's entirely up to you, but Tess and I think it's a good idea."
"Can we change the subject?" Richie asked awkwardly dunking a fry into some ranch dressing.
"I shouldn't have brought it up," Duncan admitted. "Maybe you could drive to school Monday," he offered.
"I can?" Richie asked perking up again.
"Sure, and I'll even pick you up so you can drive home, too."
"Cool!"
"But if I end up picking you up after detention, deal's off."
Richie nodded. "Seems reasonable."
"So are you ready? I thought you might like to have a look around the arena before the game started."
Richie quickly ate the last onion ring and finished his soda. "Let's go!"
. . . . . .
"Mac, this is awesome!" Richie exclaimed for the fifth time as he all but skipped across the arena parking lot.
"Do I need to get a leash?" Duncan asked. Richie's behavior reminded him of an overzealous puppy.
Richie grinned at him and forced himself to calm down. "Thanks, Mac, this is."
"Awesome? Cool?"
"Uh-huh."
They got their tickets four rows from the court just to the left of the home bench.
"Do you mind if I go look around?" Richie asked squirming in his seat.
"Sure go for it, just be careful and be back before the game starts."
"Yes, Dad," Richie grumbled with a crooked grin and a wink.
"Joel," Duncan returned. Richie looked at him and just laughed.
"You are weird."
Duncan waited a few minutes then got up to follow him. To anyone else the teen would have been lost in the sea of red and black Seacouver Sharks attire. Duncan utilized the fact that he could feel Richie, but Richie couldn't feel him to follow the boy to the souvenir shop. He watched the boy look around at all the shirts, hats, mugs, key chains, little basketballs and stare for a good five minutes at the team jerseys. When Richie glanced at his watch and turned to leave Duncan went to a refreshment stand to get some drinks to have an excuse if Richie beat him back to the seats. As it turned out the boy either got distracted or lost because Duncan beat him by a couple minutes.
"Have fun?" he asked as Richie sat next to him.
"This place is huge!"
"So are the drinks. You like Dr. Pepper, right?" Duncan asked handing Richie a large cup.
"Thanks."
"So where all did you go?"
"I just walked around and checked everything out."
They made small talk for a couple minutes before Richie ended up in the middle of a friendly debate with a father and son pair as to who was the best player on the Sharks. Richie won after citing random statistical facts about his favorite, Zivney, and reminding the guy next to him of all his favorite player's faults. A few minutes after that the game started and Richie was gone. He yelled at the players which play they should run, cheered them on when they did well, and encouraged them when they messed up. The word fanatic seemed to have been invented to describe Richie. After the first quarter Duncan sent Richie to get hotdogs so he could ask the father that was sitting on Richie's right, the man who lost the argument, a few questions. After the second quarter Duncan made an excuse about having to go to the bathroom and left. Nearly half an hour later he returned to find Richie once again completely absorbed in the game. Not until Duncan dropped a bag in his lap did Richie notice his return.
"What's this?" Richie asked.
"A birthday present," Duncan explained. "Open it."
Richie gave Duncan a 'what have you done this time' look and reached into the bag. "Holy crap!" He held up the brand new Sharks jersey.
"I overheard your conversation earlier. Ziveny's your man, right?"
"Thanks, Mac!"
"Put it on." Richie slid it over his head and looked down at it. His new jersey seemed to be the perfect addition to his current outfit. "Now you look like a fan." Duncan reached over and swatted at the bill of Richie's hat. "Happy Birthday."
Richie grinned shyly. "Thanks, Mac, this is really cool."
"There's more." Duncan produced another. Richie reached in a pulled out glass box with a mini basketball inside. "It's autographed," he explained turning the box in the boy's hands so he could see all the signatures. "I thought you'd like it." Richie tried to think of something to say, but was stumped. Nobody had done anything like this for him before.
"This thing is real expensive. Geese, Mac."
"It's not everyday my boy turns seventeen," Duncan answered quietly.
"Well, technically," Richie started. "This was my second seve-"
"Don't 'technically' me. You know what I mean. This was your first birthday with us; and we missed it because of me. I just want to make it up to you."
"You don't owe me anything, Mac."
"Just shut up and watch the game, huh?" Duncan laughed. His day of bonding had done the trick. Richie was willing to open up to him, just as he was willing to open up to Tessa.
By the time the game finished, they fought the traffic out of the arena parking lot, and got home it was well on its way to one in the morning and Richie was yawning despite his caffeine and sugar induced energy.
"Well, you look like you had a good time," Tessa commented turning off the old romance movie she was watching.
"Tessa, it was so cool! First Mac let me drive for almost an hour, then we went to Chuck's, then we went to the game and I got to look around and there were these really nice people next to us. Our seats were practically in the middle of the court! And we won! And Mac got me this jersey and a ball autographed by the entire team." Richie rambled quickly almost to the point of un-understandable-ness shoving the ball into Tessa's hands.
"So I see," she laughed. "He gave you lots of sugar, too, didn't he?"
"Not a whole lot."
"More than you can handle," she assured him. "So you had fun, right?"
"He sure did," Duncan answered. "He's been grinning all day. How was your evening?"
"I pampered myself."
"Maybe next weekend I'll pamper you," Duncan offered nuzzling her neck. "Unless of course Richie begs me to take him to another game."
Richie grinned. "I'd never beg, but I'm always willing to go."
"Speaking of going, you should go to bed," Tessa told him. "You've had a long day and you have homework tomorrow."
"Do I have to?"
"Yes," Duncan told him. "If you make this difficult, we can't do this anymore."
"Okay, night guys." Richie turned to his room.
"You spoiled him," Tessa accused wagging her finger at Duncan.
"I admit it, I can't say no to him."
"See, now you know my problem. It's going to be hard for you to punish him now, isn't it?"
"I have a new tool," Duncan admitted. "Now that he has a taste for driving, I can suspend lessons for a couple days when he gets in trouble. It should be a little easier on all of us."
"Do you always have a second motive?"
"Only with him."
"Hey, Mac?" Richie asked appearing in the doorway in his pajamas. "About what we were talking about at lunch. I'll do it."
"Are you sure, Rich? Do you want more time to think about it?"
"I had already been thinking about it before. I'll do it."
"Okay, we'll set up an appointment," Duncan told him giving Richie a slight nod. "Go get some sleep, if you can."
"An appointment with Karen?" Tessa asked once Richie's door closed.
"Yeah," Duncan smiled. "I told him to think about it. I wasn't expecting an answer this soon."
"I'll call her in the morning." Tessa gave Duncan a kiss. "How much soda did you give him?"
"Just a couple. really big ones."
"Of course. I could disassemble and reassemble that engine in an hour tops," Richie bragged.
Duncan doubted it was true but continued. "The first thing you have to do is adjust all your mirrors so you can see all around your car with minimal movement."
"See around my car," Richie repeated happily. Who would have guessed he would learn to drive in a '55 Thunderbird.
"MY car that you are BORROWING," Duncan corrected. "If you mess it up, you're paying for it."
"Right," Richie nodded adjusting his side view mirror. "Can you move that one in a little?" he asked. "Perfect. Okay, now what?" he asked eagerly putting his hand out for the keys.
"Do you know how to work the blinkers?"
"Up right, down left," Richie mumbled to himself as he messed with the blinkers. "Got it," he declared. "Now can I start it?"
"Okay." Duncan handed him the keys. "Are you ready?"
"Uh-huh." Richie started the car.
"Okay, put your foot on the brake and shift it into drive," Duncan instructed. He had pulled the car around front so he could save backing up for another lesson. "Check for traffic. and take your foot off the brake and slowly pull out." Richie did as he was told. "Good job. Now speed up to match the traffic around you.not faster than them, match them."
"This.is so.cool!"
"Calm down and watch the road. Okay there's red light up there, start slowing down now. Richie, put your foot on the break. put your foot on the break. Stop!" Richie stopped just before running the light. "Remember what I told you about listening and following the rules?" Duncan asked. Richie nodded slowly. "So when I tell you to put your foot on the brake what are you going to do?"
"Put my foot on the break?" Richie offered.
"Exactly." Duncan looked up at the stoplight. "Let's try this listening thing again. When the light turns green count to three then go."
"Got'cha."
The light turned and Richie waited before leaving the intersection. "Good job," Duncan commented. "Think you're ready to change lanes?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, you're going to go left, put on your blinker."
"Left, down," Richie mumbled.
"Check your mirror; do you see a car?"
"No."
"Look behind you."
Richie glanced over his shoulder and to his surprise saw a little Civic coop just to his left. "Where did that guy come from?!"
"He was there. You can't fully trust your mirrors, you have to look yourself."
"So I noticed."
"Okay, he's slowing down for you now. Can you see him in your mirror?"
"Yeah."
"Look behind you again, can you go?"
"I think so."
Duncan nodded. "Then gently turn the wheel. and you just changed lanes. Why don't we try turning at the next light." Duncan talked Richie through making a left-hand turn and he executed it almost perfectly, except for hitting the curb.
"Sorry," Richie quickly apologized hoping Duncan wouldn't make him pull over; he was having too much fun driving.
"It happens," Duncan assured him. "Let's try it again at this light."
Duncan had Richie drive in circles until he got the hang of a left-hand turns then had him drive in circles in the opposite direction for a while making right-hand turns.
"Mac, I'm startin' to get dizzy," Richie complained.
"Do you want to stop?
"No! I just want to go in a straight line for awhile, that's all."
"Fair enough. Where do you want to go to lunch and you can take the long way there."
"I don't know," Richie shrugged.
"How about, Chuck's?" Duncan suggested. He knew that it was Richie's favorite burger joint.
Richie grinned. "Okay! um how do I get there from here?"
"You don't know?"
"I know how to get there on foot."
Duncan smiled. He forgot Richie walked everywhere and knew every short cut in the city.
"Turn right on sixth."
. . . . . .
"Don't tell Tessa," Duncan told him as they entered the fifties style diner. "But you can get whatever you want."
"So I can get a soda?" Richie asked hopefully; it had been months since he had been allowed sodas.
"I said whatever you want didn't I?"
Richie grinned broadly and shook his head. "Tessa's going to kill you if she finds out about this."
"Oh, so is she the only one who gets to spoil you?" Duncan asked.
"You just seem to like the punishment part more," Richie answered before thinking.
If Duncan was hurt by the comment he didn't let it show. "Someone has to keep you in line," he jabbed as they chose a booth. He had been expecting to get a comment like that sooner or later from the boy. At least it didn't really seem to bother Richie that Duncan was the punisher.
"Are you two ready?" the waiter asked. Duncan looked at Richie who nodded with a slightly mischievous grin.
"Go ahead, Rich," Duncan prompted.
"Bacon cheeseburger, medium rare," he started. "Mayo and mustard, no ketchup, extra pickles, curly fries and onion rings. And Dr. Pepper to drink." He smiled at Duncan, obviously pleased with his order.
"You?"
"Burger, well done, mustard, no onions, and a side salad with ranch. Water to drink," Duncan ordered. "Are you planning on eating at the game?" he asked one the waiter left.
"Can I?" The thought had never occurred to Richie.
"I have a feeling we'll be there for dinner. The game doesn't start until four. I thought you'd want the complete experience."
"Cool!" That seemed to be Richie's word for the day. They talked about Richie's driving during lunch. Duncan pointed out one good point for everything that needed improvement, keeping in mind Richie had a fragile ego.
"But you really surprised me, I thought there would be a lot more panicked moments with you behind the wheel," Duncan finished.
"You really think I did okay?"
"Have I ever lied to you?"
Richie made a face. "Last time I answered the question you tried to spank me."
"I got my point across didn't I?"
"I guess," he shrugged looking down.
"Hey, Rich, not to ruin the evening, but maybe you should start thinking about going to see Karen again. I know last time you didn't get the best news.but she can help you. It's entirely up to you, but Tess and I think it's a good idea."
"Can we change the subject?" Richie asked awkwardly dunking a fry into some ranch dressing.
"I shouldn't have brought it up," Duncan admitted. "Maybe you could drive to school Monday," he offered.
"I can?" Richie asked perking up again.
"Sure, and I'll even pick you up so you can drive home, too."
"Cool!"
"But if I end up picking you up after detention, deal's off."
Richie nodded. "Seems reasonable."
"So are you ready? I thought you might like to have a look around the arena before the game started."
Richie quickly ate the last onion ring and finished his soda. "Let's go!"
. . . . . .
"Mac, this is awesome!" Richie exclaimed for the fifth time as he all but skipped across the arena parking lot.
"Do I need to get a leash?" Duncan asked. Richie's behavior reminded him of an overzealous puppy.
Richie grinned at him and forced himself to calm down. "Thanks, Mac, this is."
"Awesome? Cool?"
"Uh-huh."
They got their tickets four rows from the court just to the left of the home bench.
"Do you mind if I go look around?" Richie asked squirming in his seat.
"Sure go for it, just be careful and be back before the game starts."
"Yes, Dad," Richie grumbled with a crooked grin and a wink.
"Joel," Duncan returned. Richie looked at him and just laughed.
"You are weird."
Duncan waited a few minutes then got up to follow him. To anyone else the teen would have been lost in the sea of red and black Seacouver Sharks attire. Duncan utilized the fact that he could feel Richie, but Richie couldn't feel him to follow the boy to the souvenir shop. He watched the boy look around at all the shirts, hats, mugs, key chains, little basketballs and stare for a good five minutes at the team jerseys. When Richie glanced at his watch and turned to leave Duncan went to a refreshment stand to get some drinks to have an excuse if Richie beat him back to the seats. As it turned out the boy either got distracted or lost because Duncan beat him by a couple minutes.
"Have fun?" he asked as Richie sat next to him.
"This place is huge!"
"So are the drinks. You like Dr. Pepper, right?" Duncan asked handing Richie a large cup.
"Thanks."
"So where all did you go?"
"I just walked around and checked everything out."
They made small talk for a couple minutes before Richie ended up in the middle of a friendly debate with a father and son pair as to who was the best player on the Sharks. Richie won after citing random statistical facts about his favorite, Zivney, and reminding the guy next to him of all his favorite player's faults. A few minutes after that the game started and Richie was gone. He yelled at the players which play they should run, cheered them on when they did well, and encouraged them when they messed up. The word fanatic seemed to have been invented to describe Richie. After the first quarter Duncan sent Richie to get hotdogs so he could ask the father that was sitting on Richie's right, the man who lost the argument, a few questions. After the second quarter Duncan made an excuse about having to go to the bathroom and left. Nearly half an hour later he returned to find Richie once again completely absorbed in the game. Not until Duncan dropped a bag in his lap did Richie notice his return.
"What's this?" Richie asked.
"A birthday present," Duncan explained. "Open it."
Richie gave Duncan a 'what have you done this time' look and reached into the bag. "Holy crap!" He held up the brand new Sharks jersey.
"I overheard your conversation earlier. Ziveny's your man, right?"
"Thanks, Mac!"
"Put it on." Richie slid it over his head and looked down at it. His new jersey seemed to be the perfect addition to his current outfit. "Now you look like a fan." Duncan reached over and swatted at the bill of Richie's hat. "Happy Birthday."
Richie grinned shyly. "Thanks, Mac, this is really cool."
"There's more." Duncan produced another. Richie reached in a pulled out glass box with a mini basketball inside. "It's autographed," he explained turning the box in the boy's hands so he could see all the signatures. "I thought you'd like it." Richie tried to think of something to say, but was stumped. Nobody had done anything like this for him before.
"This thing is real expensive. Geese, Mac."
"It's not everyday my boy turns seventeen," Duncan answered quietly.
"Well, technically," Richie started. "This was my second seve-"
"Don't 'technically' me. You know what I mean. This was your first birthday with us; and we missed it because of me. I just want to make it up to you."
"You don't owe me anything, Mac."
"Just shut up and watch the game, huh?" Duncan laughed. His day of bonding had done the trick. Richie was willing to open up to him, just as he was willing to open up to Tessa.
By the time the game finished, they fought the traffic out of the arena parking lot, and got home it was well on its way to one in the morning and Richie was yawning despite his caffeine and sugar induced energy.
"Well, you look like you had a good time," Tessa commented turning off the old romance movie she was watching.
"Tessa, it was so cool! First Mac let me drive for almost an hour, then we went to Chuck's, then we went to the game and I got to look around and there were these really nice people next to us. Our seats were practically in the middle of the court! And we won! And Mac got me this jersey and a ball autographed by the entire team." Richie rambled quickly almost to the point of un-understandable-ness shoving the ball into Tessa's hands.
"So I see," she laughed. "He gave you lots of sugar, too, didn't he?"
"Not a whole lot."
"More than you can handle," she assured him. "So you had fun, right?"
"He sure did," Duncan answered. "He's been grinning all day. How was your evening?"
"I pampered myself."
"Maybe next weekend I'll pamper you," Duncan offered nuzzling her neck. "Unless of course Richie begs me to take him to another game."
Richie grinned. "I'd never beg, but I'm always willing to go."
"Speaking of going, you should go to bed," Tessa told him. "You've had a long day and you have homework tomorrow."
"Do I have to?"
"Yes," Duncan told him. "If you make this difficult, we can't do this anymore."
"Okay, night guys." Richie turned to his room.
"You spoiled him," Tessa accused wagging her finger at Duncan.
"I admit it, I can't say no to him."
"See, now you know my problem. It's going to be hard for you to punish him now, isn't it?"
"I have a new tool," Duncan admitted. "Now that he has a taste for driving, I can suspend lessons for a couple days when he gets in trouble. It should be a little easier on all of us."
"Do you always have a second motive?"
"Only with him."
"Hey, Mac?" Richie asked appearing in the doorway in his pajamas. "About what we were talking about at lunch. I'll do it."
"Are you sure, Rich? Do you want more time to think about it?"
"I had already been thinking about it before. I'll do it."
"Okay, we'll set up an appointment," Duncan told him giving Richie a slight nod. "Go get some sleep, if you can."
"An appointment with Karen?" Tessa asked once Richie's door closed.
"Yeah," Duncan smiled. "I told him to think about it. I wasn't expecting an answer this soon."
"I'll call her in the morning." Tessa gave Duncan a kiss. "How much soda did you give him?"
"Just a couple. really big ones."
