Premier chapter 2
Part 4 of the Marathon
ANs in part 1
"This was a really great idea," DJ told Grace and Kaitlyn who were sitting on the blanket next to the one he was sharing with Joan, Avery and Angie. "I love hearing everybody's answers."
"When I go back to school I'm gonna tell everybody in my class about your movie when we have show and tell," Joan said.
"Who next?" Angie asked.
Grace pointed at the screen and Angie's eyes lit up when she saw the faces of two of her favorite people.
"Ready?" Kaitlyn asked Cody and Jess.
Cody nodded and Jess laughed. "I'm weirdly nervous," she said. "Why am I nervous?"
"No reason to be nervous," Grace said. "It's going to be fun."
"Okay, shoot," Jess said.
"First question," Kaitlyn said. "If you weren't working in your current job, what would you be doing instead?"
"Hmm …" Cody said, looking down as he thought.
"That's actually kind of hard," Jess said, "I mean, we haven't been in our jobs all that long. I think I'd still like to be doing something with kids. I love working with them."
"And you're so good at it," Cody added.
"Thanks," Jess said, pecking his cheek, "but that doesn't get you out of answering the question."
He laughed. "You didn't give a very specific answer."
"Shhh," she said with a mischievous look. "I was hoping no one would notice."
"Ohh, we noticed, but we'll give it to you," Grace said, laughing. "Cody?"
"I'd still like to be in a position that helps people, you know," he said. He looked over at Jess. "Maybe I'd be a social worker, or work for a non-profit or something like that. I know that's not super specific either, but I do really like my job."
"Then you'll like this next question," Grace said. "What's the best thing about your job?"
Cody smiled, but looked at Jess to go first. "Go on," she said, nudging him.
"I love having a positive impact on people's lives," he said. "Sometimes it seems like things move really slowly in government, but when a bill is finally signed or an initiative starts to show results, it makes those days where it feels like there couldn't possibly be another meeting worth it."
"That's so awesome," Kaitlyn said, beaming proudly at her brother.
"Jess?" Grace prompted.
"I like seeing the small successes my students have. When one of them tells me they actually studied for a test, or made the decision to walk away from an argument that could have turned into a fight. It's not so much that they listened to some advice I gave them or whatever, but that they see it as something to be proud of and share with me."
"The fact that they tell you those things shows how much they trust you and value your opinion," Cody said sincerely.
"It totally does," Grace agreed.
"Next question," Kaitlyn said. "What's your favorite thing to do to unwind?"
"I like to take a shower after I get home from work," Cody said.
"After he grabs something to eat, of course," Jess added with a grin.
"What about you, Jess?"
"A good book and a cup of tea is lovely," she said. "I didn't really like tea so much before but after being in London for a semester, it definitely grew on me."
Cody glanced at her. "Are you going to tell the other thing you do to unwind?"
She mock-shoved him, laughing. "Well, now I kind of have to, don't I?"
"Yes!" Kaitlyn said, giggling.
"I move the coffee table out of the way and hula hoop in the middle of the apartment," Jess said.
"Really?" Grace asked, surprised.
"Yeah, I've loved it since I was a kid and I know I should have probably moved on to yoga or something by now, but … I don't know." She shrugged. "I just zone out and clear my mind while I'm hula hooping."
"It's pretty amazing," Cody said. "She'll go for like a half hour straight."
Jess waved a hand. "Pfft, that's nothing, the world record is 100 hours."
"Whoa!" Kaitlyn said.
Grace grinned. "I love that you know that." She glanced down at her list of questions. "What characteristics do you most admire in other people?"
"Kindness, thoughtfulness, honesty," Jess said.
Cody nodded. "Honesty, loyalty … someone with convictions. Putting other people first."
"Sounds like quite a few people we know," Grace said with a knowing smile.
"Including you, Cody," Kaitlyn added sincerely.
"Ahh," he said, shaking his head and looking down. "I mean, that's how I try to live my life."
"You do," Jess said, squeezing his hand as Kaitlyn and Grace nodded.
"And on the opposite end of the spectrum, what characteristics do you most deplore in other people?" Grace asked.
"Selfishness, pettiness, dishonesty," Jess said. "Pretty much the opposite of what I admire."
"Yeah," Cody agreed. "Dishonesty, being irresponsible, neglecting responsibilities, blaming other people when you do something wrong …"
Kaitlyn looked down, knowing exactly why her brother despised those particular characteristics.
Grace bit her lip, glancing at the two Allens, clearly debating whether or not to ask the next question.
Kaitlyn noticed her hesitation and took the initiative. "If you could change one thing about your life, past or present, what would it be?"
Jess glanced at Cody before answering. "I'm really fortunate to be able to say I don't think I'd change anything," she said. "I have two wonderful, supportive parents who I actually like as well as love, an awesome sister, the best boyfriend I could ever imagine," she said, smiling at Cody, "great friends, an amazing extended family, a job I love … I really don't have anything I want to change. But I know not everyone is as lucky."
Cody looked at her and smiled softly, taking her hand. He turned back to Grace and Kaitlyn. "I know it would probably make sense for me to say I wish our father was not the man he was, or that Mom had kicked him out years before she did, but … if she had then I wouldn't have all my brothers and sisters and … everything we went though, well, it's made us who we are. And I think we're all pretty great."
Kaitlyn lunged forward, wrapping her arms around her brother. Jess let go of his hand so he could hug his sister back and instead put a gentle hand on both their arms in support.
"I think we're all pretty great, too," Kaitlyn said with a sniffle.
Grace wiped a tear as the siblings parted.
"Sorry," Kaitlyn said.
"No, no, don't apologize," Grace said immediately. "I think you're all pretty great, too."
"You are," Jess agreed. "But I still wish you hadn't gone through all that when you were young. I can't help it."
Kaitlyn and Cody both flashed grateful smiles to her.
"Well, we can't finish there," Kaitlyn said decisively. "I'm making an assistant director decision."
"Oh, no, there's no assistant about it," Grace said. "We're co-directors."
Kaitlyn beamed at the title. "Well, co-director decision, then. Plus, I really like this question."
"I think I know what you're going to ask," Grace said, grinning.
"Now you've got me curious … and a little nervous," Cody said. "What is it?"
"Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?"
"Oh jeez, I don't know," Jess said, looking at Cody, cringing. "Any ideas?"
"I was hoping you had one," he said, eyes wide.
"I have a suggestion," Kaitlyn said. "If my co-director agrees."
Grace giggled. "Unorthodox in an interview, but go for it."
"Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling."
"Oooh, yes!" Grace said immediately, high-fiving her.
Jess grinned. "I can live with that."
"They're from that movie you made me watch, right?" Cody asked Jess. "The Notepad?"
"Notebook," she said, rolling her eyes. She smiled broadly at Kaitlyn. "Perfect suggestion."
They all looked at Cody who shrugged with a resigned laugh. "Whatever you say."
"That was so romantic," Joan said dreamily.
Grace smiled, remembering how she used to say the exact same thing about Steve and Catherine.
Further back in the crowd Aaron looked at Mary with fear in his eyes. "Did she say romantic?"
Mary nodded.
He dropped his chin to his chest. "I thought we had more time."
She rubbed his arm soothingly and chuckled. "That was always a pipe dream."
On the screen, Avery smiled at Kaitlyn and Grace. "I'm all ready for my interview. Joan said I need to sit up straight and smile so I look good on camera."
"Look at that, she's like our coach," Grace said with a grin. "Since you're all ready and you look super nice in your new Hawaii t-shirt, let's start. What's your favorite color?" she asked.
"Red. It's a happy color and fire engines are red and so is my dad's car."
Kaitlyn smiled. "What about your favorite food?"
"Hmmm," he said as he made a thoughtful face. "My dad makes the best meatloaf ever but I love chicken nuggets too and my abuelo's Tinga de Pollo that him and Mom make. It's so good." He sat back a little, then leaned forward again. "Oh and Reese's peanut butter cups."
"High five," Grace said and offered her hand. "Can't forget the Reese's."
Kaitlyn chuckled. "What's your favorite subject in school?" she asked.
"Science. And math. I'm good at them, and I like them but I love art, and gym and music too."
"What do you want to be when you grow up?"
"I want to be an architect like my dad and I'll design and build animal shelters for free cause my mom is the best vet ever and we need to help homeless animals. Oh and I might play in a band cause I love music."
"Wooo!" Kaitlyn fist bumped him. "Animal lovers unite. That's so awesome you want to build shelters and help animals."
"Yeah, I go with Mom to volunteer at the shelters sometimes. She gives the animals check ups and shots before they find her forever homes, and while she's doing that I help Ms. Rodriguez in the shelter by playing with the dogs and cats to help socialize them."
Grace smiled. "That's so great. What's your favorite activity outside of school?"
"I love soccer. We got in the finals," Avery said with an excited nod. "And I love doing stuff with Joan and doing sleepovers with Grandma and Abuleo and my Nana and Grandpa, and family game night with Mom and Dad. And we love Disneyland, especially when we go with Joan and Uncle Aaron and Aunt Mary and everyone."
"And who's your best friend?" Grace asked.
"Joey Taylor. We have so much fun and he's in my class and on soccer with me. We play army guys and super heroes and we inline skate, too."
"What makes you laugh?" Grace asked.
Avery's eyes sparked with mirth. "When me and Joey tell jokes. And when me and Joan play against our parents on family night." He giggled. "Mom and Uncle Aaron are so funny when they're playing Scattergories cause they always pick the same ones and cancel each other out. They say 'great minds think alike.' "
"That does sound funny." Kaitlyn smiled. "That's our last question, you did great!" she assured the third grader. "Thanks for letting us interview you."
"You're welcome, it was fun. This is an awesome Christmas vacation!"
"That was great," DJ told Avery as the interview concluded. The two had become thick as thieves from the moment Avery arrived on the island. Steve and Catherine had even moved a cot into DJ's room in response to the boys' incessant requests for a sleepover.
"Thanks!" Avery said then pointed to the screen. "Look. My Grandma and Abuelo are next."
"Thanks for making time to do this so soon after you arrived on the island," Grace said as she adjusted the camera to make sure Sue and Ramon Reyes were both centered in the shot.
"Our pleasure." Sue smiled. "Thanks for including us in your project."
"Of course we want to include you." Kaitlyn double checked her notes to make sure she was prepared for the interview. "You're part of our family."
"That's very sweet of you to say," Ramon told her.
"It's true." Kaitlin smiled sincerely. "Everyone talked so much about you when they got home from Disney World. I was super excited when I heard you were coming so I could get a chance to know you better."
"We look forward to getting to know you better too," Sue said. "Alyssa talks about you all the time. She says you have a lot of interesting ideas about ways to help shelter animals. That's a cause close to my heart so I can't wait to hear what you have to say."
Kaitlyn blushed. "Alyssa is the best. So is Aaron. You have great kids."
"I have to agree with you there," Ramon said proudly.
"Speaking of family," Kaitlyn said with a teasing tone, "Nonna is making dinner for everyone tonight so maybe we should get these questions asked before everyone else eats all the food."
"We're talking about Nonna," Grace said. "I guarantee you there's plenty of food. But I skipped lunch so getting this interview underway is probably a good idea."
"Turned out to be one of the best dinners I ever ate," Ramon said from his seat on the bench near the back of the crowd. "Cooked with love. Just like my abuela used to do it."
Nonna beamed at him. "You're very kind."
"First question," Grace's voice said from the screen. "If you weren't working in your current job what would you be doing instead?"
"I don't really know." Sue looked at her husband. "Do you?
"I've never really thought about it," Ramon replied.
"When I was little I had all the usual little girl career expectations like princess and ballerina." Sue chuckled. "But I settled on psychology as a career pretty early … before I even started college. My parents were always big on the positive effect talking about feelings and problems has on your mental health and I knew I wanted to help other people live a happier life by doing that too."
"I briefly toyed with the idea of going to medical school," Ramon said, "But I figured out pretty early on that wasn't my true calling. I realized that a healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body and being a psychologist was the best way I could help people achieve that. Then I met a very pretty girl in my first year psych classes and never looked back."
Suddenly a loud giggle erupted from near the front of the crowd and Joan called out, "That was my grandma. She was the pretty girl. They met in college. Abuelo thought she was cute but he was nervous to ask her out. Finally Grandma had to ask him. She says she was afraid if she didn't he might never do it."
Mary shook her head and chuckled. "There are no secrets with Joan around."
"So, what's the best thing about your job?" Grace's voice asked from the screen.
"Definitely helping people," Sue said as Ramon nodded in agreement. "Because the path to finding true happiness in your own life is to help others."
"That's exactly what Nonna always says." Grace smiled. "Next question. What's your favorite thing to do for fun?"
"Spend time with grandchildren," Sue and Ramon said simultaneously, then laughed.
"Jinx." Susan smiled. "You owe me a coke."
Ramon kissed her cheek. "Just add it to my tab."
"We like watching old movies," Susan said.
"And salsa dancing," Ramon added.
"But nothing is as good as spending time with our grandchildren." Sue beamed. "And that includes all the little ones in our large extended family."
Angie stood up and faced the crowd. "Abuelo taught us to count to ten in Spanish."
"You can show everybody later," Catherine chuckled. "For now let's finish watching the video."
"Ok." Angie plopped down happily beside her brother. "Will you count with me later, DJ?"
"Sure," he promised her. "After the movie."
"What's one thing you want your kids/grandkids/family to know?" Kaitlyn asked.
"That there is nothing in this world they could ever do that would make me not love them," Ramon said. "And that they can come to me with any problems at all and we'll figure out a way to work them through together."
"That I'm always on their side," Sue added. "And I will always tell them the truth. Even if it's not exactly what they want to hear. That I believe they can achieve whatever they set their minds to and that I'll be cheering them on every step of the way. And one other thing."
"What's that?" Grace asked.
"That spoiling the grandchildren is a grandmother's prerogative and I don't feel the tiniest bit guilty about it."
Grace and Kaitlyn giggled.
"What's a favorite childhood memory?" Grace asked.
"My father reading to us every night before bed," Sue said with a soft smile. "When Ramon and I had children of our own it filled my heart with such joy to watch him carry on that tradition. And now he reads to our grandchildren."
"Standing in Abuelita's kitchen watching her and my mother cook," Ramon said. "Watching them pass down recipes and family traditions. I can still smell the tortillas cooking on the stove."
"If you could change one thing about your life, past or present, what would it be?" Kaitlyn asked.
"I wouldn't change a thing," Ramon said with absolute conviction. "I'm a very lucky man."
"I wouldn't change anything either," Sue said. "Because even a little tweak might have changed where I am now and I wouldn't want to change that for the world."
"Thanks so much. That's all the questions," Grace said.
Avery stood and called to his grandparents, "You did really good! You sat up straight the whole time."
"Thank you, sweetheart," Sue said with a laugh. "Let's watch and see who's next."
# End thanks for reading
Stay tuned for part 5 of the marathon
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