Passageway
Chapter 18
Lee had come back after Amanda left and yawned stating, "Okay, Guys. I'm gonna take a shower and change and when I come out, we can decide on dinner. How's your homework coming?"
Phillip shrugged replying, "My history's okay, but it's boring. Why do we need to know about the Sistine Chapel anyway?"
Lee chuckled answering, "Ah well, because teachers wanna know if you're paying attention. So if you're done the chapter she wants you to read, then read the chapter before and after that so you don't get surprised on a pop quiz someday."
Jamie smiled and responded, "Good thing I like to read then."
Phillip shook his head and sighed commenting, "Braggart."
Lee laughed and pointed to them both remarking, "C'mon, finish up so we can relax later, all right?"
He left and the boys went back to studying.
Later as Lee was finishing his shower he thought he heard a bump or crash and quickly got out throwing on his clothes and made it to the living room in time to see both boys on the couch looking guilty and then he looked at the window which was broken and he also heard a car alarm going off!
He sighed deeply and asked urgently, "Okay, Fellas. What happened? And don't lie to me. Go."
Phillip swallowed, "Well we got done our homework and we were just messing around a little, and we found your baseball and we were just tossing it back and forth but Jamie didn't catch it the last time and it went through the window. We're-we're sorry, Lee. We won't do it again."
Lee nodded and swallowed commented as he grabbed his keys, "Stay right there and don't move a muscle. Do you hear me?! I'll be right back!"
He left silently cursing at himself for thinking this system would go well! When he got downstairs to the lobby he said to the doorman, "Pete? Could you do me a huge favor and go up to my place and keep an eye on my two stepsons for a minute? I lost something in the parking lot."
A neighbor Paul Stevens then met Lee outside and remarked angrily turning off his car alarm, "Hey, Stetson! I found a baseball in my car! It seemed to come from your window! Now, I know you're not dumb enough to do something like that but I saw your two boys looking through the broken glass! Let me show you what they did to my new car!"
Lee shook his head as he went with Paul and looked at the shattered windshield and groaned stating, "I'm really sorry, Paul. I'll make sure they pay for all the damages-"
Just then a police car pulled up and the officer got out saying, "Mr. Stevens? We got a disturbance call. Everything all right?"
Paul fumed and then sighed looking at Lee. Shaking his head he commented, "Yeah. I'm sorry I wasted your time, Officer. I thought my new car had been vandalized but-but it was just an accident. Everything's fine now. Or it will be."
The officer nodded slowly and remarked, "All right. Just glad no one was hurt is all. Have a good evening..."
The officer got in the squad car and drove off. Paul then went inside his car and reached for the baseball and wiped off what he could of the mess and handed it back to Lee responding, "A Ty Cobb ball, huh? Boy I'd keep that under lock and key from now on, you know?"
Lee swallowed hard and nodded answering, "Yeah, thanks. Let me know the estimate of the damage and I'll write you a check-"
Paul shook his head replying, "So your kids get off scot free, right?"
Lee groaned and answered, "Oh, no! They'll be paying me back for a long time, believe me!"
Paul hesitantly shook Lee's hand chuckling as he remarked, "Good to know. Sorry I blew up like that, but-"
Lee put up a hand responding, "Hey, don't worry. I know how I feel about my car and it isn't even that new anymore. I'm sorry and I'll have the boys apologize as well. It won't happen again."
They parted and Lee went back to the apartment doing a slow burn thinking, So much for my system!
When he came back in the boys were still on the couch and Jamie stated, "We're really sorry, Lee."
Lee ignored him for a moment and remarked to Pete, "Thanks a lot for keeping tabs on them. Sorry to keep you waiting."
Pete shrugged and commented, "It's okay. They're good kids. Don't be too hard on them, huh?"
Lee sighed and nodded answering slowly, "Yeah. Have a good night, Pete."
Pete left and Phillip asked, "What do you want us to do, Lee? We'll do it-"
Lee laughed and shrugged commenting, "Sure you will. You're damn right you will! I'm getting an estimate for this window and the neighbor's car windshield and when I've paid for those you two are going to pay me back and trust me you'll be in debt for a long, long time."
He then went to the phone and dialed Amanda. When she answered he replied, "Um, I need to see you when you can come over. We need to have a discussion with the boys. Yeah, there's been a slight mishap involving my Ty Cobb ball and two broken windows-one of them being a new car windshield. Okay, I'll see you shortly."
Hanging up he sat down in the chair near the couch and sighed stating, "Fellas, I believe you know right from wrong by now given your ages. Do you know what a family heirloom is?"
Jamie swallowed, "Uh, is it like Great Grandma's silver?"
Lee nodded as he reached into his pocket and pulled out the baseball putting it on the coffee table and responded, "Yeah. Along with this. My late father got this autographed baseball from Ty Cobb himself. I know that name doesn't mean anything to you but you must have heard of him at least. Anyway, he left it to me and it means a great deal. So next time you have an urge to pick up something here, please ask me. You know, you're lucky no one got hurt out there."
About twenty minutes later the doorbell rang. Lee got up to answer it and found not only Amanda at the door, but Paul Stevens.
He let them both in and Amanda asked crisply, "Boys, don't you have something to say to Mr. Stevens here?"
Phillip and Jamie got up nodding and went to him answering, "We're sorry, Mr. Stevens. It won't happen again."
Paul nodded slowly seeing the contriteness in their faces and cleared his throat replying, "All right, Boys. I'm glad you realize the seriousness of the situation and that no one was hurt, right?"
Both Phillip and Jamie nodded and answered, "Yes, Sir."
Paul nodded and stated, "Thanks, Lee. Amanda, goodnight."
Amanda closed the door behind him and Phillip remarked, "We're sorry, Mom-"
Amanda firmly shook her head and responded, "Go sit down! I'm so disappointed in you both right now. Do you realize what could've happened to any of Lee's neighbors?"
Lee answered somberly, "I think they understand now, Honey."
Amanda nodded and commented, "Okay. How about you, then?"
Lee was baffled and retorted, "Me? I wasn't the one who-"
Amanda replied, "No but you knew it was priceless and yet, you left it for them to fool around with so you're in part to blame for this also."
Lee grumbled, "Fine! So what now?"
Amanda sighed as she sat between the boys on the couch and shrugged stating, "I dunno. Do we abort this system of yours or do you think you can try it again the right way?"
Lee looked at the boys and asked, "What do you think, Guys? Can we do this or do you wanna go home now?"
Phillip and Jamie looked at each other and then Phillip remarked, "We can do this. We can still play video games and other stuff, right?"
Lee nodded and replied, "Sure. But from now on you check with me so stuff like this doesn't happen again, okay?"
The boys nodded and answered, "Got it."
Lee looked at his watch and commented, "All right. Why don't you guys head to the kitchen and look at the takeout menus I have in the drawer by the sink and we'll pick something for dinner, okay?"
They nodded and got up but Amanda stopped them and stated, "C'mere and give me a hug. I still love you but you make me crazy, you know?"
Phillip smiled as they hugged and he nodded responding, "We know, Mom. We know."
As they left the room Amanda sighed and got up getting her purse and Lee stopped her querying, "Hey. Don't I rate a hug?"
Amanda stated, "Yeah, I guess. They aren't in the hospital, thank goodness."
Lee pulled her gently to him and remarked, "Honey, I swear it'll be okay for the rest of the week, all right? Promise."
They kissed gently and Amanda answered, "I'm holding you to that."
She left and Lee shook his head as he sat on the couch. Whew, he thought. Guess I don't know what I'm doing sometimes...
TBC