Chapter Five
Disclaimer: I do not own Drake & Josh (Sorry normally I'd think of something funny for a disclaimer, but my brain is dead so you're just going to get serious!)
"So Drake, when did you start feeling bad?" Josh asked.
"Uhh, duh, when I woke up in a fifty year old body, when just yesterday I was seventeen!" Drake said sarcastically.
"Okay I can see where your son gets his charm."
"Mindy…" Josh cautioned.
"Drake, tell us what's on your mind right now." Mindy said.
"Well, for one thing I feel like my life has turned out to be a disappointment. How is it that, at my age, I'm still living at home with a stinky job, a crappy car, a disrespectful kid, I mean, I was gonna be a success! Instead, I'm a success at divorcing, and that's about it, that I can see!"
"And how does that make you feel?" Mindy asked.
"Like a failure. I feel like I've been cursed! I mean, how else could this have happened?"
"So you mean somebody else is to blame for this?"
"Well, I don't mean that, but I would have never chosen this life. Look at me, I'm bald! And not by choice, I might add."
"Do you feel our choices affect our outcome?" Mindy questioned.
"I guess."
"So, did you choose to get married eight times?"
"Well, yes, but…"
"Did you choose to get fired from your jobs?"
"Well of course not!"
"No? but did you choose to come in late to work or not show up?"
"Well, that's not fair!"
"Yes it is, because by your choices you inevitably knew the outcome. If you don't go to work, you don't have a job. If you don't have a job, you don't have money for food. And if you don't have food, you're hungry. It's all a pyramid we control. We must understand that our life is determined by our choices, not those around us. Look at Josh, for instance. He's become a success. Not because of luck, but because of determination and respect for others, something you need too learn. And because of respect for himself. Really, how much respect do you have for yourself by getting married eight times? How much respect do you have for your son? Let's say you were seventeen yesterday. Where the choices you were making at that age leading you to this life?"
"I don't know. But it's something I'd better think about. I'm really tired now. This being fifty is wearing me out. I'm going to go up to my room to rest for a little bit. I'll be down in a little while. I hope you guys are still here. And thanks, Mindy. I needed to hear what you said."
Drake went up to his room.
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Drake sat down next to Allison. She started telling him about all the things she liked to do. Then, like a typical ten year old, she stopped talking in mid-sentence, hopped up, and stated she was in need of junk. But not before giving him a hug.
Man, she is a good kid, Drake thought, Mindy and Josh really have done a good job. How did I end up here? Really, what did Josh do differently? Maybe Mindy's right. I wasn't making choices to help me succeed. I was just having fun. But sometimes you must grow up, and make choices to get you on the path to a happy future. If I could do it again, or from this point on. I'm not going to take people for granted. If I had the chance again, I would focus on getting to know the right girl, not all of them. I'm going to be more serious with my work. Life can be fun, but it doesn't mean everything has to be funny. I'll really try to do my best to remember that.
Allison hopped back into the room with a bag of cheese balls.
"Hey, Uncle Drake, let's watch that old show you like to watch all the time. It's so goofy it's funny."
"Yeah that would be fun." Drake turned on the TV and began playing an episode of Drew & Jerry. After about twenty minutes, he nodded off.
