Second Chances: Never Too Old To Learn
When Chrystal Austin overhears a plot by the parent of one of her students to eliminate the competition for the school pep squad, Steve and Jaime Austin enlist the help of Rick and A.J. Simon to protect not only the students, but their daughter.
(As always, the characters of Simon & Simon/Six Million Dollar Man/Bionic Woman are owned by Universal Pictures. No money is being made on them and the original characters belong to me and are mine-no you can't have them!)
"There, I think that'll hold."
Rick Simon put down his hammer, and wiped sweat from his forehead as he proudly surveyed a newly finished window frame. From the inside, his son Robbie swept up wood shavings then dumped them into a can resting outside the window. Next to him Jaime Austin finished installing curtain rods by "power" drilling screws into the brackets.
"Nice work, guys. All we have to do is give it one more coat of paint and install the wiring, and we can move in." Steve Austin added, grinning as he put down his own tools, then reached through the window and took his wife's drill from her.
"Thanks, Steve. I think I'm ready to call it a day." She sighed, then followed Robbie out of the building and shut the door.
The four of them stood in silence for a moment, admiring the neat little cabin complete with porch and a small garden. A shiny silver vent whirled on the roof in the September breeze; already cooling the interior while the exterior was finished.
"Would any of our workers like a nice cold drink?"
At once Rick and Steve turned, as Laurie Simon and Chrystal Austin came towards them holding bottles of beer and soda, followed by Robin Simon with a picnic basket. Robbie at once came out to help put out the contents of the container, earning his sister's teasing about "hollow stomachs".
"Now that's what I call a bonus." Rick snickered, taking his wife's hand and giving her a kiss, as Steve gave his daughter a hug. "I'm glad you came, Chrissie. All ready for school to start?"
"Just about; I could use Mom to help go over my lesson plan tonight before I turn it in tomorrow." The young teacher replied, handing her parents each a drink.
"I think I can handle that." Jaime smiled at her daughter. "I can't believe you're starting your second year at Crested Ridge, does it feel any different this time?"
"No, because it's all new students in everything but my homeroom group. I'm hoping they'll be as willing to learn as last year's classes." Chrystal said hopefully. At that Laurie turned around.
"If you like, Chrissy, I'll come and do a week like last year, maybe each day a different time period in Grandmother Kasey's and Grandfather Gene's life?"
"That would be great-I love being able to give them that kind of living history!" the younger Austin enthused.
"Thank you, buddy, just for that I'll make breakfast for you guys manana!" Steve exclaimed, and Rick laughed.
"Well, if my wife's stories bring that kind of response….maybe I ought to ask her to speak every week." He teased.
Amid the catcalls and ragging, Rick was pleased to see how happy the Austins were to see their daughter doing well. It had been hard pulling up stakes in Ojai, but having them all there helped make it worthwhile.
After the impromptu party, Rick and A.J. and Steve decided to try to finish the cabin before Jaime's birthday, so they could properly "christen" it with a family get-together.
As a result, the three men often ended their work with fishing poles in the creek and plenty of stories of how big the fish were that got away.
A few weeks after the school year started, Rick went to pick A.J. up to see one of the kids ball games, only to find Steve and Jaime Austin waiting for him.
"Hey, guys, what's up?" he asked, feeling slightly uneasy as to why his friends were there on a week day.
"Nothing much, 'cept I was thinking of going with you two, until we spoke with Chrystal…seems there's a little problem starting at the school.". Steve explained. "I was hoping, maybe you and A.J. could stop by and see her?"
"Sure, pal. Although, I'm surprised, I thought Crested Ridge was a quiet place." Rick mused. "Fill me in on the problem and that way we can figure out what to do."
Jaime looked at her husband, then sighed. "I'm glad you and A.J. are available. Chrystal was in her classroom yesterday afternoon when she heard two parents complaining about their daughter's chances in making the pep squad. She didn't think anything about it until one of the fathers told the other he could "arrange" to make the top two girls drop out. When she went to see who the speakers were, all she saw was the backs of two men walking away, and two of the mothers of her new students."
A.J. leaned forward, a concerned look on his face. "She didn't say anything, did she?"
"When she opened the door, the two women looked startled, then said hello to her. She didn't know whether they were involved, so she made some small talk then went back to her classroom. I'm just glad she told us when she came home."
"And I'm glad you came to us. Why don't we get some lunch then we can go over to the school. Ceci's game isn't until 3pm, so we'll meet you at the ball field." Rick suggested.
"That'll work, thanks, guys." Steve said, relieved.
After lunch, Rick and A.J. drove over to the recently updated high school, where they spotted Chrystal in her classroom window.
"There she is…wait a minute, her door's locked…" Rick twisted the handle, then knocked at the window, and heard a "who's there?" from inside.
"It's Uncle Rick and A.J., honey. Everything okay?"
A moment later the door was opened, and a relieved-looking Crystal was in the doorway.
"It is, now that you're here. I'm glad to see you guys." She smiled, giving the brothers each a hug.
"And we're glad to be here, come on, show us what you did with your classroom." A.J. said, seeing a couple of students hanging around.
Going inside the spacious room, Rick waited until she closed the door, then asked, "Has anyone mentioned or referred to what you heard yesterday?"
"No, though a couple of the girls asked me to come see them tryout tomorrow. I told them I would love to see how the auditions have changed since I was in Pep." Chrystal replied, sitting behind her desk. "After they left, I wondered if my being asked was a way of seeing if I knew anything, but Corrine and Shelly are students I had last year, and I think the parents I saw are new." She frowned. "Boy am I glad Mom and Dad talked to you, I've been debating whether to tell the new Principal or not…but if I don't….what if something happens?"
"Well, how about we hang around tomorrow while the tryouts are going on-you can point out who the parents are and see if you recognize any of the fathers." Rick offered, then a rap on the door brought them up short.
"Come in." Chrystal called, and a dark haired woman entered the room.
"Chrystal, I'm sorry to interrupt, but a student came to the offices saying they saw two strangers at your door, and since they didn't check in at the office…" she explained, eyeing the Simons.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Mitchell, these are friends of my parents, Rick and A.J. Simon, they're private investigators. I asked them to stop by as there was an incident yesterday, and I wanted their advice." The young teacher replied, turning and adding, "Mrs. Mitchell is the vice principal, I should have had you guys stop in at the office for a pass."
"I understand, my dear. I'm pleased to meet you gentlemen." She shook their hands, then frowned.
"What kind of incident?"
Rick saw Chrystal hesitate, and he nodded at her.
"Yesterday I was here in my room, filling out my attendance report, when I heard several parents talking outside. At first I didn't pay any attention, until I heard them complaining about the "competition" for the few spots available. That's when I heard a man say that he could arrange for the top two girls to "drop out". At first I thought that I had misunderstood, then the second man said, "you mean, you can persuade them to quit?" I got up to see who these guys were, and when I opened the door, all I saw was two women talking, and the backs of two men walking away."
Mrs. Mitchell, cleared her throat, then slowly sat down at one of the desks.
"Did ….did you recognize either of the men?"
"No, ma'am, and I didn't know the two women either, except that they are new to the school." Chrystal replied.
There was a moment of silence, then the vice principal looked at the three of them.
"I've heard of your work, gentlemen. I'm very glad Chrystal called you, for…well, if something was to happen, I wouldn't know what to do. Is there a chance you can come to the Pep tryouts, keep an eye out for trouble?"
Rick and A.J. looked at Chrystal, then A.J. spoke. "Mrs. Mitchell, we would be pleased to help out, but …..is there a reason someone would want to be on the squad that badly?"
The older woman shook her head. "I hope not, but you know children have a funny way of compensating for things that adults can't let go. Some parents make up for their own inadequacies by living their dreams through their children."
"That I understand…" A.J. gave a rueful grin at his brother, then grew serious again as Rick told Mrs. Mitchell, "A.J. and I will come a little early for the auditions, and in case anyone asks, we can say we're insurance representatives, making sure all the safety guidelines are being followed."
"That will be easy to explain, Mr. Simon, thank you." She replied, a relieved tone in her voice. "I can tell Mr. Chester, the principal, that I arranged your presence. If you arrive at 2:00 pm, before the school bell, I'll have your passes ready to pick up."
A bell went off, and immediately Mrs. Mitchell glanced at her watch.
"That's the maintenance bell, I have to go. Goodbye, gentleman, Chrystal…thank you for contacting them, my dear. I'll see you tomorrow morning at our staff meeting."
As the door closed behind the educator, Rick shook his head. "Something's off with her…I wonder…"
"She's worried about something, Uncle Rick….I've never seen her so nervous…maybe I shouldn't have said anything…." Chrystal started, then A.J. interrupted her.
"Don't second-guess yourself, Chrissie. You did the right thing. Why don't you ride home with us, save your folks the gas." He smiled.
"I will, thanks Uncle A.J….." she started, only to be stopped by the sound of breaking glass. As they all turned to look, a flaming object flew through the air, then landed on the linoleum floor and exploded.