A little conversation with Jojo's friends on the way to school will be a constant good thing for him and to talk about dads.

Chapter 2: School Dread

Several minutes later, Jojo got his stuff together and headed out the door to go to school. He saw his mom on the door with his lunch bag and he said, "See ya, mom."

"Hey, before you go..."

Sally turns around and touches her cheekbone asking for Jojo for a 'have a good day' kiss. He sighs and ends up kissing her cheek anyway, then she gave him his lunch bag and said, "Have a good day, sweetie."

"Okay."

As he left the house, Jojo started walking the way to school by himself. While walking, he started thinking about the mayoral talent show occuring. It felt as if his dad wanted him to have another one of his mayor dreams. It was getting on his nerves, to say the least. It just seems as though that he couldn't stand to hear it over and over and over again. It was eating him from the inside, like he's been carrying this thing many years.

He sighed frustratedly and wanted to keep his mind off it with school.

"Hey, Jojo!"

He turns around and sees Marcus behind him. He said, "Hey, Marcus."

"How are you, buddy?"

"Just fine."

"Having another one of these mornings where you wish you could've stayed in bed?"

"Most likely."

"I have the same feeling as well when I was Whereville and I still feel the same way here."

"We still have this common ground of our personalities."

"How so?"

"Well, we both dread waking up every morning to go to school because we have to. It's like we're being programmed or something like that."

Jojo chuckled softly and said, "You and me both."

"Next to writing and singing songs, dealing with fathers that are so...."

"Lame and goofy."

"Yeah, that's right."

"Often times, I asked myself 'why have I ever had a dad in the first place? He's just so uncool.'"

"I wish my dad was normal."

"I wish my dad was normal, too."

"Hey, guys!"

They both turned around and saw Cody and Mike rolling by with their skateboards. They went airborne over both Jojo and Marcus and they stopped in front of them. They took off their helmets and both asked, "What's up?"

"You guys skateboard?" asked Marcus.

"Yep. We've been skateboarding for five and a half years." Mike said.

"How'd you manage to go along with it?"

"Well, Alex used to be a champion of skateboarding until he died." Cody said.

"He used to teach you guys everything?" asked Jojo.

"Yeah, he did."

"It's been almost a year."

"Somehow it does seem like a year to me."

"So, what are you doing Saturday, Jojo?" asked Marcus.

Jojo sighs and said, "My dad asked me to attend this crappy mayoral talent show to participate."

"Sounds kinda boring." Cody said.

"I'm cool with talent shows, but not when it involves my dad being the mayor and all."

"Why couldn't you just say 'no'?" asked Mike.

"I took a look in his eyes and knew that this was his 'it would mean everything in the world to me if you did this for me' look."

"Can you show me what it looks like?" asked Marcus.

Jojo made his big-eyed look with the pouty lips and looked somber and often sad-eyed look. Marcus shuddered in disgust and said, "I know that look. My dad always gave me that look."

"He did?"

"Yeah. I hated that look."

"It seems as though one of you guys are psychic." said Cody.

"Get real."

"It seems as though he's doing that because he thinks the position of being mayor is for me and I don't think that's a possibility. Sometimes, I wish my father was completely normal like everyone else."

"Dude, so do I. Most fathers try to act cool when they know that they're not." Marcus said.

All four of them kept talking until they got to Whoville High School and while they entered inside, to their surprise, half of the students were looking at the bulletin board. They looked at each other and wondered what the fuss is all about. They walked in the boad and read:

'Don't forget! Mayoral Talent Show on Saturday Night 6:30. Guest Speaker and Host of the entire show: Mayor Ned McDodd.'

Jojo groaned heavily and felt like the poster was a huge slap in the face for him that his father's event was posted in the school. Cody looked at Jojo and asked, "I bet that was embarassing, right?"

"If my dad was nominated for lamest dad of the year, he would take home the gold." Jojo answered.

"I'm sure it's not that big of a deal." Mike said.

"It is to me."

"Hey, boys."

All four of them turned around and saw Misty and Caitlyn walked past the hallways. All of them said, "Morning."

"Hello." Misty said.

"So, have you seen the poster on the bulletin board?" asked Cailtyn.

"Yeah, we have. Jojo isn't taking it too well." Marcus said.

"How?"

Marcus didn't want to answer that question, but both girls already knew anyway. Caitlyn asked Jojo, "Are you embarassed?"

"My dad is so lame. Often times, I ask myself why is my dad trying to be cool?"

"Most dads are, but we see it as just stupid."

"I agree completely. One time, my dad tried to be all hip-hop and did a stupid breakdancing move where he puts his hands on the floor, twirls his body around and then, broke a muscle after that. It was so stupid." Misty said.

"I bet it was messed up."

"Oh, yeah."

"My dad is always the one that embarasses the crap out of me, simply because he wants me to be mayor."

Jojo sighs heavily and walks away without another word. All of them were looking at him and Marcus said, "Father angst. I get that sometimes a lot as well."

Father angst. Should be a new word of dealing with dads who don't seem to understand their kids. This next chapter will totally leave you on the edge of your seat!