Scientist

"Oh, he's so getting kicked off," Carly said as the last contestant on America Sings performed.

"What? No way, Joe Parker is going all the way!" Sam exclaimed.

"Yeah, sure," Carly said, rolling her eyes. "Hey, when's Freddie getting home from work?"

"Not for another hour; he works late on Wednesdays," Sam replied. "You wanna order pizza? I'm too lazy to cook."

"Sure," Carly smiled. "I want pineapple on my part."

"That's disgusting," Sam grimaced. "Jason! Come here!"

Jason, Sam and Freddie's five-year old son, came running into the living room. "Yeah mommy?"

"I'm going to order pizza. What kind do you want?"

"Meat Supreme!" the boy cried happily. "Like you, mommy!"

"That's my boy!" Sam grinned high fiving her son.

"Momma, I need help on my homework," Jason said. "Can you help me?"

"Since when do kindergardners have homework?" Carly frowned.

"His teacher's a nut," Sam mumbled. "Okay, Jason, bring it here."

Sam quickly called in to order the pizza, and by the time she finished, Jason had returned with a worksheet and pencil.

"I can't read some of the words," Jason said, settling himself into his mother's lap.

"Alright," Sam said, taking the worksheet from him. "It says you're supposed to write about the career you want to have when you get older."

"What's a career?"

"It's a job," Sam explained. "Like, daddy has a career as a developer for the Pear Company."

"Ohhhh. And you and Aunt Carly have a career as T.V. ladies?"

"We write for the T.V.," Sam corrected him. "So, any idea what career you want to do?"

"I dunno…"

"You don't have to make a real decision. Just write something down so that whackjob teacher will give you credit."

"Sam!" Carly said, rolling her eyes.

"I know!" Jason exclaimed. "I want to be a scientist!"

"A scientist?" Sam repeated.

"Yeah! I love science. I always watch Phil Rye, the Science Fellow on T.V., and I always look at my Perioc Table before I go to sleep."

"You mean Periodic," Carly said, earning her a death glare from Sam.

"How do you spell 'scientist'?" Jason asked taking the paper back from his mother.

"Um, S-C-I-E-N-T-I-S-T," Sam said reluctantly.

"Thanks, mommy," Jason said happily, hopping off Sam's lap. "I'm going to go play with my chemistry set!"

"Aw, he's adorable," Carly smiled.

"Yeah, and Freddie's corrupted him," Sam sighed. "I swear, I'm going to kill that nub…"

Freddie unlocked the front door to his and Sam's home. "Sam?" he called, tossing his bag aside. "Oh, there you are."

"Yeah, here I am," Sam said putting down the piece of pie she was about to eat and began advancing on her husband.

"Um, did I do something?" Freddie asked, frowning. "Because whatever it is, I'm sorry."

"You," Sam said, whacking Freddie's head. "Have turned our son into a-a-I can't even say it!"

"I'm lost," Freddie said. "What's going on with Jason?"

"He had to write down what career he wanted when he got older today," Sam said. "And do you know what he picked? Scientist!"

"Really?" Freddie said happily. "Alright!"

"Ah! You've destroyed him!"

"Sam," Freddie laughed. "Don't you think you're over reacting?"

"No, I don't," she snapped. "My precious little baby boy is going to grow up to be…you!"

"Oh come on," Freddie said, rolling his eyes. "First of all, I am slightly offended. Second, Jason's way more like you than me. I mean do you see the way he eats? Plus you have to practically tear him away from the wrestling channel."

"Yeah, that's true," Sam nodded. "But still, you've been plotting to do this since before he was born, haven't you."

"Yes, Sam," Freddie said sarcastically. "While you were pregnant with him I secretly planned to mold him to my every desire."

"I knew it!"

"Okay," Freddie said, shaking his head. "Sam, is it really that big a deal if Jason likes science like me? I mean, I turned out okay."

"Ha!"

"What?" Freddie grinned. "You don't think I'm 'okay'?"

"Eh."

"Sam!"

"Fine, whatever," Sam exclaimed. "I guess it isn't that bad if Jason likes science like you. But I'm still taking him to those karate classes. If he's going to have your brain, he's at least going to have my fists."