Too Equal For My Taste

Chapter 8: President Baker

Sarah spent the week talking very infrequently to Elliot. Elliot spent more time hanging out with Jake and Mike. This act told Sarah all she needed to know. After few days, without talking to him at all, she gave up on Elliot, and concluded she should start dating new people when she went back to school. Elliot didn't know her decision, and no one told him. This meant Elliot was oblivious to what Sarah was thinking.

Jake thought it would be best for him to find out himself. Neither he nor Mike was about to be the bearer of bad news or fight with Sarah for being so. So they continued talking to Elliot normally, or at least Jake did. As for Mike, instead of hanging out with Jake, he started talking with Nigel and Kyle, since they were the ones closer to his own age. Still, he was bored always talking to them.

Mike couldn't wait till he got back to school. Then he could talk to kids his own age, and have his own friends over like Jake usually did. But every year, Mike talked to many different kids, and none of them were his type. They were all into other stuff, and Mike didn't see any desire to hang out with them. But he kept being optimistic every summer.

Mike was keeping a secret eye on Ken. Ken might've had his own base where he could spy everything, but from his own window, Mike could see into the Murtaugh backyard almost 100 percent. Within a few more days, he was able to use a satellite eavesdropper he got for his birthday. So far though, he could not pin anything on Ken, and he had to be careful, because he might be spotted. As a matter of fact, he used the eavesdropper very rarely.

The rivalry was newly ignited once again. As for the rivalry between the two families, well, this time, the rivalry wasn't as intense, as Mike always thought to himself and as Serina always thought happily. Anyone would support a friendly family competition. Before they could open warfare against each other, they had to get organized. Every team, whether it was basketball, baseball, soccer, football, or even bowling and racing; had to have a leader who'd organize. They agreed on a friendly competition between them to start the first weekend after school starts. Since there was a week to go until then, the Bakers decided to give themselves a leader.

None of the Bakers were about to have Tom as coach, or captain this time, or he'd turn it into a more competitive match. The same went for the Murtaugh's, and both families gathered in their own respective living rooms.

For the Bakers, it was a simple vote. Four put their candidacy forth, and they all voted. The ones who sought the captaincy were Henry, Sarah, Mark, and Mike. The four got together, and argued with each other over the whole thing.

Sarah had the weakest point however, and everyone voted her candidacy out. "Because you're soft, just 'cause you're a girl?" Mike laughed. "You always considered yourself a tomboy. Shut up!"

"Mike, you can't talk," Mark said calmly, but Mike struck back. "At least I know how to deal with trouble," Mike said at Mark angrily.

"Only by fights," Mark said back at him.

"There, I rest my case," Mike said happily, sitting back.

"You're both too young, you don't know half as much as"- Henry started.

"It doesn't matter!" Mark and Mike both said in unison.

Henry sat back, defeated, and left Mark and Mike to bicker over who would be better.

You don't get it do you," Mark told Mike. "It's not about knowing how to deal with trouble, it's"-

"Yeah, what is it?" Mike challenged. "Why not tell me?"

"It's being smart," Mark argued.

"Pathetic," Mike said to himself.

"And in case you don't know, I happen to be older, proving smartness," Mark said triumphantly.

"Oh, then I guess you can let Henry back in, and we step aside," Mike told him angrily. "Think about that, Mr. 'It doesn't matter.'"

Kate then stepped in, "I knew this was a bad idea. You two, you've had enough, let the family decide."

"Yeah," Tom said, standing up. "Ok, whoever wants to vote for Henry put your hand up." Literally nobody put their hand up.

"Mike?"

Those who didn't vote for Henry all put their hands up in favor of Mike, making the vote unanimous.

"It's unanimous," Kate said happily. She patted a triumphant Mike on the shoulder, "Mike is our captain. I just hope we voted because we believe on him, and because he's cooler."

Mike sniffed happily. "Ok and my first act is gonna be kicking Mark out of the family."

"Don't push it," Kate said warningly.

"Worth a try," Mike muttered.

As for the Murtaugh's, things were a bit different. They didn't vote at all. Jimmy picked the one who'd be captain, and he picked Calvin, simply because he was older. All Murtaugh's had to accept, no matter what. There were quite a few against the decision, except Serina, who whole heartedly agreed with Jimmy.

A/N: The captaincy for the Bakers was all chance. I did not decide it. I actually flipped a hell lot of coins to decide the obvious decision. For the Murtaugh's, it was my choice. Heh. Isn't that nice? Many happenings in this story is gonna be based on chance, so I'll have fun writing too. Anyway, that's the organization, and now… Let the games begin!