The following fall, school started again. Doug did well, and kept up with his band.

"Dad" he asked one day, at dinner "Can I finally go to a 'No Face Value Concert'?

"When you're seventeen"

"But they could break up by then." he whined.

"Are there rumors about it?" Don asked to make a point.

"No."

"Then don't worry about it."

Doug groaned.

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At school, Doug struggled with Math, but managed with Aaron's help.

"....so that's how you find X" Aaron told him over the phone one October evening

"I wish I could skip Math" Doug muttered.

"It's required for college." Aaron reminded him.

"I know..."

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Doug, at fifteen, got himself a girlfriend, Amanda. They often did homework together. When Robin wasn't looking, the girl offered him an ADD pill.

"Want one?" she asked.

"My Dad said that I can't expect pills to solve my problems."

"It's just one. It'll help you study even better."

"No thanks."

"Your loss. Anyway, Ana's having a party next week. Wanna come?"

"Will her parents be there? I can't go otherwise." Doug warned.

"Yeah!"

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As it turned out during the party, which took place in a mansion in a small city call San Marino, parental supervision consisted of Ana's drunken mother giving a slurred welcome and retreating to her room.

Loud music played, at the pool area, and people swam, danced, or ate. Amanda and Doug ate some hot dogs.

"Wanna joint?" Bob, a classmate offered.

"No thanks...." Doug said, but Amanda accepted. She took a puff.

"You smoke that stuff?"

"My sis let me smoke it once or twice. It relaxes me." Amanda answered, returning the joint to Bob.

Doug remembered what his father told him during an important talk "As you get older,people will be offering you stuff to smoke, inject, and drink. It may seem cool, but will end up bringing you problems if you take them up on their offer."

"Let's get some punch"

Valentine's Day was around the corner, Doug asked Don what he should get for Amanda.

"I'm thinkin' flowers, some candy she likes" Don replied after some thinking.

"What about a gift card?" Doug asked.

"Doesn't sound very romantic, ya know?" Don said.

"I wanna take her out to dinner, but its so expensive." Doug complained.

"Tell ya what, Robin, Maggie and I will go out, and you can make her something here at the house." Don offered, trusting Doug.

"Really Dad?"

"I'll show you an easy pasta plate you can make." Don promised.

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Valentine's day came, Don and Robin went out, while Maggie stayed with Alan, leaving Doug alone, to make the romantic dinner.

After the teen couple ate, they watched a chick flick that Doug had rented.

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Before Don knew it, it was time to teach Doug how to drive. After the teenager got his permit, Don tried to teach him.

"Stop! You're going too fast!" were the types of exclamations Doug would receive.

"Maybe I should get lessons from a driving school. That's what Amanda is doing." Doug suggested, during the second lesson.

"Too expensive. Let's try this again."

Eventually, it fell to a more patient Robin to teach him. Thanks to her, he passed the behind the wheel test during the first try. While happy, he resented being sent to do errands.

"That's the price you pay." Don said once, and added. "Robin, and I gotta pay more in insurance because of you."

"Why?"

"It's more expensive to insure young men." Don explained. "Now go to the store, and get what's on the list."

"Yes Dad."

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In a hurry, Doug went to the first parking he saw, little noticing that it was a handicapped spot. He got the goods, and upon returning to the car, saw the ticket.

"Damn!" he shouted, and read it. "How could I miss that this was a handicapped spot?" With dread, he called his girlfriend.

"I gotta ticket. Could you lend me some money, so I could pay it without my Dad knowing?"

"How much?"

Doug told her.

"I'm sorry babe, but I don't even have half that in my bank account."

"No Worries." Doug soon hung up the phone, and went home.

"Dad...I got ticket." Doug admitted.

"What?"

"I parked in a handicapped spot." Doug handed it to him.

"Why? The handicaps spots are marked in blue! You can't miss it!" Don scolded. "You were rushing weren't you?"

"Kinda." Doug admitted.

"Why?"

"To get back to my book."

"Your rush is costing me money." Don said. "There will be no using the car for two weeks."

"But Dad!"

"No buts!" Don shut Doug down. "I don't care what you had planned. You'll have to take the bus."

"Yes Dad."

"Let's unload the groceries."

"Okay."

TBC