Big Words & Contracts

Sigh.

He kept going about watching hockey.

Louder Sigh.

He raised the volume without turning away.

Smack!

A tightly rolled sock hit the side of his head.

"What is your problem?" He asked the girl folding laundry on the couch next to him.

"I don't really want to talk with you about it."

He looked back to the t.v.

"But since you asked, and you're the only one home…" She pushing the laundry basket aside.

This time he sighed realizing he should have never taken the bait.

"As you know the show did very well. In fact did I tell you we even received nearly a full page review in the Times? The reporter said I was-"

"Yes, four times. Now can you get to the point before the last quarter starts?" He asked motioning to the now muted game in front of them.

She rolled her eyes. "Well I just got a call from Mr. Bernard offering me an extension on my contract… for another year."

She paused for a response, but continued when all she received was a blank stare. "If I took it I'd have to defer for another year, and I've already missed a year. What If I lose my spot at Queens and never get it back? What I get too old to go and have the college experience? But on the other hand what if I stay with the show and I land an ever bigger job? It could be my big break! But is that worth sacrificing my education? What should I do?"

She was panting by the time he finished and he was leaning away from her in his chair afraid she may combust at any moment. "Has it ever occurred to you that you need to stop ruminating stuff so much?"

Now she had the blank expression. "I thought you outgrew making up words Derek."

He smiled smugly. "Okay first, I'll never outgrow making up awesome words. Need I remind you of the awesomeness of Derekus? And second ruminating is a real word, I learned it in my lit class, it means overanalyzing. So quit ruminating so I can go back to watching my game."

Her face paled."Oh God, it's happening."

"What's happening?"

She motioned between them. "This! You've been at Queens getting smarter while I'm in New York dancing my knowledge away!"

Before he could respond she flew off the couch and up the stairs, panic struck look on her face.

From his place in the chair Derek saw were this was going and an evil smirk formed as he came up with a plan.

…

The next morning…

"Could you please pass the milk Liz?"

Derek walked up behind her quietly in the kitchen. "Don't you mean would?"

She laughed nervously. "That's what I said- would. So would you please pass the milk Liz?"

He shook his head. "No you didn't, did she Liz?"

Lizzie looked at them in amusement and shook her head no.

Casey stood from the island. "On second thought, I'm not that hungry."

Derek smirked as she fled the room once more.

"What was that about?" Liz asked.

Derek reached for the bowl of cereal Casey had left behind and shrugged his shoulders. "Don't know. Don't care."

…

The rest of the day Derek spend looking up words online no normal person would ever know and finding ways to casually slip them into conversation with Casey.

To Casey's great displeasure they were all real (she Googled every one) and none she knew.

By bedtime she had had it.

He spoke loudly on his way to the bathroom. "Man am I enervated!"

She bolted from her computer chair into the hallway in time to cut him off at the bathroom door.

"Enervated: to be or feel drained of energy! Ha!" She yelled in his face while poking his chest.

He looked at her like she was crazy; secretly surprised it had taken so long for her to know one of the words. "Thanks captain crazy, but I already knew that. Quit being so obstreperous, people are sleeping."

The gloating smile was wiped off her face. She stomped away and slammed her door closed.

Derek smiled confidently."It shouldn't be long now."

The following day Casey called a family meeting and announced she would be turning down the contract and instead going to Queens.

Derek was the first to respond. "Keen move keener."

She rolled her eyes. "I dunno Der, seems like lately the only keener around here is you. How do you spell photosynthesis again?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "If you really want to know, ask Google. It worked for me."

A light snapped on in Casey's head. "Vous êtes tellement morts."

Chuckling he asked. "What's that supposed to mean? I don't speak loser."

Slowly walking across the room Casey answered. "Oh don't worry I'll show you."

Ed turned to Liz. "What did she say?"

Lizzie laughed. "I believe it was French for run."

Derek heard her made for the stairs; Casey's hot on his tails. "Der-ek!"