Randi rang Teddy's doorbell.

"Hey Randi," he greeted her. He was wearing a dark blue suit and a light blue bow tie, "Laugh, and I'll kill you."

"What's the occasion?" Randi asked after restraining her original instinct to bust a gut.

"My mom's taking me up to see my dad. She's going to pick me up soon," Teddy explained. His eyes looked so sad that Randi just wanted to hug him, but she felt that wouldn't be very appropriate. "So...what do you want?"

"I wanna know if you want to come up to Astoria with me and the guys," Randi told him.

Teddy shrugged, "I don't know, I don't think they like me."

"They don't dislike you," Randi protested.

Teddy just shrugged again.

"You might meet a girl," Randi persuaded. She highly doubted that would happen, but she really wanted everyone to go.

A smile crept to Teddy's face, "You really think that's what I'm all about?"

"Of course not!" Randi gasped, "I know that's what you're all about."

Teddy laughed, "Oh, well in that case, count me in."

************************

Vern approached his mother who was sitting at the table sorting mail. "Mom," he said, "I need a favor. I never ever...ok, well, I hardly ask you for things, but I just need this one thing."

Billy walked in the kitchen and laughed at Vern's rambling. "Don't let him do it Ma, whatever it is," Billy joked as he grabbed the carton of orange juice and drank from it.

"Billy, don't drink straight from that!" Mrs. Tessio chided.

"Maaaa," Vern whined, "I'm begging you here!"

"What is it Vern?"

"Can I please borrow your car tonight?"

Mrs. Tessio let out a big belly laugh until she saw the look on Vern's face. "Oh dear Lord, you're serious! No Vern, of course not. You can't drive!"

"But the person I'm taking out can!" Vern objected.

"Oh can she?" Mrs. Tessio questioned, maternal instincts kicking in, "Just who is this girl?"

"Lorraine Duncan."

Billy spit out his orange juice. Mrs. Tessio and Vern both turned to stare at him. "Oh God," Billy coughed, "This uh, this juice is bad," he paused, "I'll clean it up I swear."

"Come on Mom, please?" Vern pleaded. He got on his knees and made the puppy dog face.

"I'm sorry," Mrs. Tessio shook her head, "I can't do that."

"She's gonna think I'm such a loser!" Vern whined.

"If she thinks you're a loser then she's daffy, cause you're great," Mrs. Tessio patted her youngest son on the head and got up. "You okay?" she waved her hand in front of Billy's face, who was sitting on the counter, stoic.

"What? Yeah," Billy shook himself, "I'm fine."

Mrs. Tessio went upstairs and Vern slunk defeatedly into the living room.

Billy grabbed the phone off the wall and dialed.

"Yeah?" a gruff voice answered.

"Ace, you are never gonna believe this..."

*****************************

"Colin, did you move my hairbrush?" Lorraine yelled from her room.

"Why would I touch your GROSS BRUSH?" Colin yelled from his own room.

"Because you're mad at me," Lorraine muttered, as she ran to Colin's room and banged on the door. "Colin! Open up!"

"No!" Colin yelled.

"COLIN MICHAEL OPEN YOUR DOOR!"

"No!"

"You're being such a brat!"

"You're ugly!"

"You're adopted!" Lorraine screamed and banged on the door one last time for good measure. She turned and stormed back into her own room.

There was a soft knock on the door. Lorraine knew it was her youngest brother, Rudy.

"Come in," Lorraine called as she frantically searched through her closet.

"I heard you yelling," Rudy poked his head in the door, "Is Colin really adopted?"

"Aw Rudy," Lorraine scooped up the six-year-old in her arms, "No, he's just as much a Duncan as you and me. He's just being monstrous 'cause I told Mama that he broke her Celtic vase."

"But why were you yelling?"

"'Cause I have a date and Colin took my brush and I need it and he won't open his door," Lorraine explained.

"I took your brush," Rudy admitted sheepishly. He pulled it from his back pocket covered in some sort of gross hair, "I brushed Lacey."

"The cat?" Lorraine asked incredulously.

Rudy nodded, "I tried to wash it, but it got kinda soapy and...worse. I'll buy you a new one."

Lorraine took a deep breath and forced a tight smile. "I'll b e fine," she said through clenched teeth, "Go help Mama with dinner." She ushered Rudy out the door. She grabbed a pillow off of her bed and screamed into it. Lorraine walked to Colin's room and knocked on the door.

"Col?" she asked, "Can I come in?"

"It's open," Colin said quietly.

"Colin," Lorraine stuck her head in the door similar to the way her little brother had just done to her. "Rudy took my brush. I'm sorry I said it was you. It's just that I really like this guy, and I want to look good, and-"

"Gross," Colin said simply.

Lorraine smiled gently, "Oh, you say that because you're thirteen. Just wait 'till you're fourteen. You'll be coming to me, asking advice on how to deal with girls."

"I doubt it," Colin said, turning the page of the book he was reading, "I think I'll be able to handle it." He glanced up. "Are you wearing that?"

Lorraine glanced down at her grey sweatpants and big purple shirt. "No, why?"

"You should wear that blue dress."

"The flowy one?"

"Yeah. Matches your eyes," Colin turned the page again.

"Thanks," Lorraine ruffled Colin's hair. "I love you kiddo."

"I know."

Lorraine went back into her room, and pulled the blue dress from her closet. "Hmmmm," she mumbled as she held it up against her. "I think that boy's right."

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