"NO! N…O!"
"Wait a minute, honey….just calm down a minute…"
"What part of no do you …"
"HOLD IT, BOTH OF YOU!" Rick never thought he'd see the day when his mother could quail not only A.J. AND Linda, but her own husband.
But there it was, silence.
"And you, Richard..take that smirk off your face…You had better tell me who all and what all started this "I want to join the police academy" business." Cecilia added, fixing her oldest son with a long, hard stare.
Seated in his brother's easy chair, looking his mother in the eye was not the most relaxing thing he could be doing, but Rick figured it was going to get harder. Just then, a welcome voice sounded at the door.
"Mom…is everything all right?" At once everyone in the room turned towards the entry of A.J.'s condo, as Laurie Simon opened the screen door and came in.
"Yes, honey….I'm glad you're here." Oscar got up from the sofa first, and gave his daughter a hug. Over her father's shoulder, Laurie raised her eyebrows at Rick, and he made a silent "kiss" at her. "It's okay, sweetheart." He "told" her in his thoughts, and she smiled.
"So am I …traffic from the clinic was nasty." She sighed, returning Oscar's hug, then advancing to drop a kiss on Cecelia's cheek. She put a hand on both A.J. and Linda's shoulders, saying, "I've got a couple of strays with me, they're unloading the jeep. Do you want to tell me what's got Mom upset before they come in?"
"Strays? Oh, don't tell me…" A.J. got the same wry look his brother was wearing.
"Hey, Dad…Mom…we got a ride after all.." Ceci and Ricky huffed and puffed as Oscar held the door open for them. In their arms were grocery bags full of laundry, and Rick laughed as Linda pretended to hold her nose.
"Pee-you….take those dirty clothes to the laundry room before we're declared a health hazard, guys. Sis..you didn't have to stop for them…"
"Oh…I had to….it's not everyday we have a college graduate and a master's candidate coming home for the summer…" she grinned, plopping down next to Rick. He immediately put an arm around her as he said, "True….but where's the college sophomore…"
"Right here, Grandpa.." Andy came from the rear of the condo, hoisting a tray of glasses, followed by his cousins Robin and Melly with a pitcher of ice tea.
"Good…cause I think we'll have to have a little discussion about what you all have planned this summer." Cecelia announced firmly. At once Laurie looked at the set faces of her brother and sister-in-law, then nodded.
"I knew something was up….but there's no time like the present to hear what you .." she smiled at her grandson and nephews and nieces, "want to do with what you've learned."
Suddenly Rick felt the tension lessen in the room; he knew his wife had said the right words.
"Thank you, Grandma." Andy sat down in a chair opposite her, with a somber Ricky and Ceci joining their parents on the sofa.
"This is what I want to do…."
As Andy explained his desire to enter the Police Academy's summer program, Rick got a lump in his throat, seeing the same enthusiasm his son displayed at an older age.
"Wait a minute.." Rick fought down a smile as he realized what classes his grandson wanted to take. "You want to take Forensics in the Field, Community Relations and Photographic Evidence, right?"
"Yes, Grandpa….I figured those would line up with what science classes I already took this semester." Andy nodded. Rick let loose a contented grin.
"Well, I don't see why we couldn't add a CSI to our family resume, about time we had some real brains at Phoenix PD."
At that Cecilia and Oscar looked at each other, as A.J. began to laugh. "Oh, Rick, you take the cake….we thought Ricky had caught the bug from Ron for police work, then worked on Andy too."
"Well, if some adults in here wouldn't jump to conclusions.." Rick smirked, as Andy shook his head in confusion. "Wait a minute, Grammy…you thought I wanted to be a policeman?"
"Well, son, we started hearing about you going to the Police Academy, so we thought you'd want to follow in your dad's footsteps." Cecilia admitted, smiling as she stood up and hugged her great-grandson.
"No, Grammy….I know how hard Dad has to work, and I…well, I want to have a family someday and I really enjoyed working on Grandpa's cases when he and Uncle A.J. would let us." Andy explained, relieved. Laurie reached across and patted his shoulder.
"And we know you'll be making a difference for the victims when a crime happens, Andy. I'm very proud to have a scientist in the family."
"Thank you, Grandma…" Andy got red, then turned when Ceci added, "yeah, thanks for taking some of the heat off…." Suddenly she put a hand to her mouth, as if realizing she had spoken too soon. Ricky sighed.
"Nice going, Cec…uh, I think the laundry's ready for the dryer." He began, starting to edge out of the room.
"Not so fast, Ricky….we haven't heard what you're going to do now that grad school's done." Linda looked at her oldest son calmly as A.J. said, "Ceci, you told us you took a test last week; was it for grad school?"
The young girl gulped, then stood up straight. "No, Dad….I took the Police Academy entrance exam…Ron got us in."
"US?" Both Rick and A.J. echoed her as Cecilia sighed. Laurie was the first one to speak up, though.
"How did you and Ricky do? Did Ron give you the test results?"
Rick had to smile, as their niece and nephew's jaws dropped. Ricky was the first to recover, saying, "Auntie Laurie, how did you know?"
"Your Aunt Abby spilled when I asked why Ron called looking for you last week; she had no idea it was going to be a surprise for your parents." Laurie explained, a wry tone in her voice. "And also she told me it was something she knew you both wanted to do; Ron wanted to make sure he got you in before he signed out."
"Wait a minute…." Now it was Rick who was taken aback. "What did she mean, signed out?"
Laurie reached over and took his hand in hers. "Darling, I think Ron's going to retire, Abby says he's tired of the brass cutting into his budgets and the way security's been so lax.."
"Say no more, sweetheart.." Rick kissed her fingers, then looked at the others. "Ron's been up against the wall since Easter, especially with Glen being forced out and all. I knew he was frustrated…but maybe he'll be able to go out on his own terms now."
"Well, I hope so..but in the meantime he was so pleased to help you three get a chance…" Laurie continued, "Especially when he saw your scores. A.J., you and Linda have the 2 top scoring cadets in your family, and they each earned the chance to pick their own mentors."
"Mentors?" A.J. replied quizzically
"Yeah, Dad…..Since I want to specialize in security, Uncle Ron is going to try to pair me with his assistant Martin-he's supposed to be an expert." Ceci explained. Ricky added, "Mentors can keep you focused, and since I want to concentrate on self-defense, he's going to pair me with Sgt. Race, he's the training expert."
"Well…" A.J. let out a deep breath then looked at his children's faces as Linda softly asked, "Are you sure, Ceci, Ricky?"
"We are, Mom…and I promise we'll give our best everyday…." Ceci told her, as Ricky said, "And we won't take anything for granted, Mom….we'll have to work hard but I know we can do it."
For a moment there was silence, then A.J. finally nodded. "Okay, Ricky, Ceci…but only if you tell us the minute it's too rough….."
"I will, Dad….Promise, Dad" Both of the junior Simons frantically hugged their father and mother. Then Oscar spoke up.
"Well, if you're going to spend your summer studying, maybe I'd better give you the same training I gave your aunt." Cecilia gave him a dirty look until he qualified his offer with, "but only with your folks permission."
At that Ricky and Ceci let out a cheer, as Andy beamed and said, "Now I know we'll have a chance at the academy."
