Chapter 10: Hours Before The Competition
Vinny is at football practice helping Tom out. Jake walks home from school thinking about the deal between himself and Vinny. He walks in the house and sees Sarah watching TV in the living room. "Hey, what are you watching?" Jake asked. "Nothing, I'm just flipping through the channels." Sarah answered. "So, why do we hate Vinny?" Jake asked suddenly. Sarah turned off the TV and just stared at Jake. "We hate him because he's a jerk and hehates us." Sarah replied. "I know that. Why else do you hate him?" Jake asked. "He is trying to come between us and Lorraine. He wants to break this family apart." Sarah said. "What about Bud?" Jake asked. "Nora is in charge in that relationship, Bud is a wimp." Sarah explained. "Vinny is also a wimp." Jake told her. "No, Vinny is strong headed and will not settle until he gets what he wants." Sarah said. "That's why we're going to break him." Jake said. "Now, you see where I'm going with this." Sarah told him. Jake goes upstairs after hearing this and has to think for like two minutes about selling Sarah out to Vinny and going to the competition or keeping quiet and not going to the competition. He decides to tell Vinny. 'I can't believe I'm doing this.' Jake thought to himself as he called Vinny after he got home from football practice.
"Hi Vinny, it's Jake. I know why Sarah hates you so much." Jake started. Jake tells Vinny everything. Jake goes to bed and is tossing and turning all night because of what he did to Sarah.
It's Saturday the day of the competition and Jake only got four hours of sleep the night before. "God Jake, you look terrible." Mike told him at breakfast. "I didn't get enough sleep last night." Jake explained. "I can't believe you're going to miss the skateboard competition today." Sarah said. "It is?" Jake asked. "You've only been training for that since like last year." Sarah told him. "Too bad you're grounded." Mike said. "It's all Vinny's fault." Sarah said. "Here, we go again." Mike said as he left the table. "So, what are you doing today since you can't go to the competition?" Sarah asked. "Nothing, you know hang out here with you." Jake answered nervously. "Jake are you all right?" Sarah asked him. "I'm fine. I'll see you later." Jake said as he went upstairs to get his skate gear to meet Vinny at his house. Jake comes downstairs with his skateboard in his backpack with all his gear and goes to walk out the door. "Hold it. Where do you think you're going?" Kate asked him. "Vinny's house." Jake said. "Why?" Kate asked. "He's going to help me with my Italian homework." Jake answered as his palms were sweating because he just lied to his mother. "Have fun at the competition Jake." Kate told him. "How did you find out?" Jake asked. "Lorraine." Kate replied. "How did she?" Jake asked. "Vinny told her. Don't worry I won't tell your dad. You only have to take the trash out for the next two weeks." Kate explained. "Two weeks?" Jake asked. "Would you rather be grounded for an entire month?" Kate asked him. "I'll take out the trash for the next two weeks." Jake said as he walked out the door.
Jake goes to Vinny's house and walks into his house. "Don't you knock?" Vinny asked him. "Why?" Jake replied. "It's what civilized people do." Vinny said. "Very funny. Are you ready to go?" Jake asked. "Get in the car and we'll be on our way." Vinny stated. They get into Vinny's car. "Why did you tell Lorraine about today?" Jake asked. "She's my wife and she said that I could invite my Aunt Marie, Uncle Frank, my cousins and their family for Christmas." Vinny told him. "She has you whipped." Jake said laughing. "I don't think so. If I was whipped my Barone relatives wouldn't be coming for Christmas." Vinny said.