Too Equal For My Taste

Chapter 2: A Surprising Re-unison

Usually, after competing harshly and tensely, people tend to get a bit closer as friends. This was what happened after the Bakers moved back to Midland. Charlie stayed at home for the rest of the school year before packing and moving up to the lake at the beginning of the summer. With Nora married and Lorraine away, the Bakers were no longer twelve, but nine.

It was fun while it lasted. As Jake and Mike looked back on the Labor Day weekend they spent with the Murtaugh's at the lake, it was actually kind of fun. Both dads were obsessed about competing, and turned everything into a competition. Races were one thing to compete in, but to compete in campfire songs was really taking it far.

Looking back at it was funny, and they often got laughs when looking back. Mike had often spent time with Jake and Elliot in skateboarding, at least before Elliot started hanging out with Sarah more and dating her. Jake and Mike were then put aside, and they started hanging out together instead. The two were always the closest of the Bakers, especially when Sarah started spending more time with her boyfriend.

The school year ended, and the summer went on. As the summer began, Jimmy Murtaugh took Becky, Elliot, Kenneth, Lisa and Robin and visited the Bakers for a week.

Now, the summer was drawing to a close. Only one thing was going to brighten up the school year which was to start in the next week. Very soon, the Monday before the next school Monday, the doorbell rang.

The family was tired that particular day. It was very hot, and it made everyone in the house drowsy. Mike wasn't in the mood for a drowsy day, because he had an Animal Science project to work on over the summer. The boy had to frequently ask Mark for help.

Tom walked to the door tiredly, and opened it. There, standing on the porch, was Jimmy Murtaugh. Tom stood for a bit, and then gaped. Behind Jimmy were all eight of his kids.

Calvin waved casually at Tom as Jimmy held out his hand, his graying hair waving in the wind. Tom shook it uncertainly. "Hello my old friend," Jimmy said happily. "Well, we're back."

"What're you"-

"Calvin here got an apartment over here in Chicago," Jimmy explained simply. "We weren't going to come immediately, but we started considering it when Daniel was accepted into the University of Chicago. We decided to move a bit closer and we knew that we had friends in the neighborhood."

Tom opened his mouth to respond, but down the stairs hurried Kate Baker, blond hair newly tied in ponytails on each side. "Oh my God, Jimmy! What're you doing"-

"We'll talk about it," Jimmy interrupted. "Come Tom, show me around this place. It'll take a while to get used to it after the lake."

Tom walked out with Tom. Kate, surprised beyond belief, nonetheless let the eight kids come inside and surprise the ones upstairs who were getting themselves ready for a long year.

Calvin, Anne, and Daniel had retreated back to walk with their dad, because they had nothing to do with the younger ones. They came for one reason and one reason only. The one reason that was not confirmed, but they surely hoped.

Elliot led the younger kids upstairs with Kate, who knocked on Jake's door first. Elliot edged forward to meet Jake Baker, and the door opened slowly. Jake's eyes widened as they fell on Elliot first, and then on Kenneth, Lisa, Robin, and Anne.

"Wassup?" Elliot said, clapping his hand. Jake clasped it uncertainly.

"We're staying here for the year," Elliot said. "Take me to Sarah," Elliot asked Jake.

"Sure, but let's get Mike first," Jake proposed.

Elliot ran away with Jake to where Mike was. Mike had moved into Jake's room, but was hanging in Mark's room that day to get help on an animal project he had to do for the summer. Kenneth was behind them, meaning to lure Mark into more mischief. Becky, Lisa, and Robin were left to find the rest of the kids alone.

Jake knocked on Mike and Mark's door, and it opened. Mark jumped in surprise, "Elliot, Kenneth!"

Kenneth smiled at Mark, and looked over at Mike. That was when it had happened. Mike and Kenneth stared at each other. They didn't speak. They just stared for at least half a minute, absent of any smile or any trace of friendship. After what seemed like a minute, Kenneth nodded at him. He did the same to Mark, but more happily and actively to Mark.

Pretty soon, Kenneth ran away with Mark, and Mike and Jake were walking on either side of Elliot, getting filled in on what happened. "I really don't know what got my dad all hyped about moving here. Calvin seems to be all for it, but I don't know about mom. She seems pissed about it. Moving from one big house to a small county like this. It was real coincidence that there was a house here. Who lived there before?"

"A friend of ours, Dylan," Jake answered shortly.

"But his parents didn't like us," Mike added. "We'll see you in school though."

"Probably," Elliot shrugged. "Our dad has to enroll us quickly though. When does school start?"

"Next week," Mike replied.

"That sucks!" Elliot said, really put down and annoyed.

"What's up with Calvin?" Jake asked. "He's still with you?"

"Yeah, he got an apartment here in Chicago for a bit," Elliot replied. "We were about to think about moving up here when Daniel came down and announced he was accepted in the University of Chicago. So, our dad remembered there were friends in Chicago, packed up, and dragged us over here."

"Well, in our family, Nora, Charlie, and Lorraine are out," Jake said to Elliot.

"From twelve kids to nine, huh?" Elliot smirked. "You're near our number now."

Jake laughed as the three made their way outside. Jake grabbed his skateboard, and Mike took his and the two rode off in the opposite directions of their parents. Neither noticed that Sarah was left alone in her room, completely unaware of the new arrival.