Alan kept an eye on all the kids, to make sure everyone stayed safe and kept out of trouble.
Hugh received presents from the other kids such as a toys R Us gift card, a computer game, and a hula hoop.
Alan gave Hugh a digital camera
"So you can take pictures for your mother," he told the boy.
"Where is your mom?" one of the guests, a tall boy, asked.
"Jail," Hugh admitted.
"Why?"
"Let's open the next present," Amita said loudly and emphatically. Don, due to work, came only right then, with a large present. Happily, and with curiosity, Hugh opened it: inside the box was a remote controlled plane.
"Thank you Uncle Don!" the boy grinned.
"Turn it on!" a red haired boy suggested.
"Not here," Amita said. "There' s one more present. From your father and me." Hugh opened it to see a skateboard.
"Cool!" he said, liking it.
"You'll need to wear your helmet and pads," Amita warned.
"Okay! Thank you Dad and Amita!"
Then, it was time for the cake. Eventually, one by one, the guests left, and the presents were gathered up.
"This was the best birthday ever!" Hugh exclaimed.
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Since the next day was Sunday, Hugh tried out the remote controlled plane. With Charlie's help, he read the directions, and got batteries for the toy. In the backyard, father and son took it for a test flight, which went well until Hugh crashed the plane into a window.
"Sorry," the boy apologized
"Don't sweat it."
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In April, there was 'Take your Child to Work Day'. Don finally convinced the boy to come with him to work. When they got through security and got into the elevator, Hugh saw a familiar face in a t-shirt, and a goatee being lead by two agents in business dress.
"Hey little guy!" he greeted the boy . "How's your mom?"
"In jail," the boy pouted.
"You two know each other?" Don asked.
"He was gonna marry my mom, but then he didn't," Hugh explained. "Are you going to jail too?"
"Not if I can help it. Tell you mom I said hi," he and the agents got out a floor sooner than Don and Hugh. Soon, the two were in Don's large office, which he acquired as a result of his promotion to Special Agent in Charge. Don gave him a quick tour of it, and then explained what the FBI did in between people coming in for various reasons, be it questions, or updates on a case. Hugh sat quietly. Finally, uncle and nephew could return to the tour.
Don showed the boy various sections and introduced him to a couple of agents and some FBI techs as well.
For lunch, the two went to a Chinese restaurant.
"Enjoying yourself, little buddy?"
"Yeah."
"See, the FBI isn't so bad." Don sipped some hot and sour soup.
"What about my mom?"
"Those agents were just doing their jobs," Don said.
"Why did they take my mom away?"
"I don't know, little buddy, I'd have to see her file."
"The mean lady said that my mom did stuff she shouldn't. "
Just then, their meals came, allowing Don to change the subject.
"Have you had chow fun?"
"Yeah. I like it."
"Glad to hear it." Don served the boy some.
After lunch, the tour was finished up, and Amita picked the boy up.
"Thanks!" Hugh told his uncle before leaving.
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That night at dinner, Hugh told Charlie, Amita, and Alan, "I want a mouse that glows."
" You're too young for pets," Amita said. "Besides, they're only sold to scientists."
"But you guys said that you were scientists," the boy argued.
"Yes, but not the kind who need glowing mice," Charlie said. "Where did you hear about them, anyway?"
"A kid from school showed a picture for show and tell."
"Anyway," Amita said. "Even if your father and I wanted to, we couldn't buy you a glowing mouse because they are not sold to be pets, but for research or study."
"They look cool," Hugh sighed in disappointment.
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Before they all knew it, June came around. Hugh earned Bs and Cs on his report card.
"Not bad, but you could do better," Charlie told him, after giving him money for the Bs.
"Yes you can," Amita agreed.
"This summer, I'm going to prepare homework for you to do," Charlie announced.
"Why? It's summer." The boy frowned.
"To keep your mind fresh, and help you get better grades next year," Charlie told him.
"What about Disney World?" Hugh asked.
"You'll have a break from your lessons then," Amita replied, "But you'll need to bring a book."
"Okay. Can I borrow fifty dollars?"
"Why?" Charlie asked, puzzled.
"For my lemonade stand," the boy explained. "I'm making two kinds of lemonade."
"Why two kinds?" Amita asked.
"One with splenda, the other with sugar," the boy said. "I did it like that last year. Mom suggested it."
"Fifty dollars is a lot of money for some lemons, sugar, and splenda," Amita said.
"I need to get organic lemons."
"Why?"
"So I can charge more money."
"But organic lemons cost more money," Charlie countered. "And people aren't going to be willing to pay a lot for lemonade."
"I'm gonna get them at Farmers Market," the boy said.
"Look, Amita and I'll get you the supplies, and you can reimburse us if you make enough. Deal?" Charlie suggested.
"Okay."
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So, Hugh spent the mornings of each weekday of summer vacation doing some homework Charlie made for him, and the afternoons, selling his lemonade. Some neighbors kindly bought the lemonade. He saw his mother twice a month.
"What are you working on?" Amita asked, looking over Charlie's shoulder as he typed computer commons on his laptop.
"A computer game to help him learn his multiplication table. It'll be a car race, where he has to press the right answer to make it go. "
"What about the project for the CBI?"
"I just finished it."
"Can I see it?"
"Sure." Charlie showed her the calculations.
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The next morning, Charlie gave Hugh a multiplication table he got from the internet.
"Memorize this," he told the boy. "And read that book."
"Okay."
Amita worked on a new computer program that could detect plagiarism in essays. There were some out there already, but she hoped to make a better one and to patent and sell this product to high schools, colleges, and universities . Charlie focused on his convergence theory, while Hugh dutifully did his 'homework'.
After a lunch of grilled sandwiches made by Charlie, Hugh set up his lemonade stand, putting up the sign and setting the two pitchers on the little table.
After a while, a man in a dark shirt came, carrying a clipboard.
"Do you have a permit?" he asked, after showing his identificiation, that was from the Health department
"No. I'm just a kid," Hugh said.
"The rules apply to everybody. Where are your parents?"
"My dad and stepmom are inside."
"I'd like to talk to them."
"Okay." Hugh, reluctantly lead the man to the house. Once inside, the boy called, "Dad! Amita! some man wants to talk to you."
"How can I help you?" Charlie came to the door.
"Your son is selling lemonade without a permit." the man said after showing his identification.
"But he's a kid, and he's selling lemonade." Charlie looked confused.
"Rules apply to everybody," the man repeated. "I'll just give you a warning this time but next time there'll be a health citation." With that, he left.
"I'm gonna talk to the Pasadena Health department," Charlie promised the boy. "This is going too far."
"In the meantime, take down your lemonade stand, at least until we can resolve this," Amita advised Hugh.
"Okay..." Hugh, with annoyance, went to take it down.
TBC