I strum the wheel and smile.
It's Friday.
And I'm happy.
Here I am, at the boys school waiting for them to come out.
Then I'll pick up Corey.
After that, we run home, allow the boys to get on their practice gear and go to practice.
It's a good day.
It's also report card day. All the kids except Olivia get their mid semester grades today.
They give them the report cards at school, and they have to bring them home, a parent has to sign them and they have to be back no later than a week later.
If they don't get back, they call home.
But that'll never be an issue with us.
All the kids grades are fine.
The only one I'm remotely worried about is Sydney. She has that issue in Sikowitz, and that's one of her A classes.
She usually gets A's in everything but Cinema Theory (Which she has hated from the start of the year), Math and Biology.
She's smart, but really has to work to get those B's. It wouldn't be hard for those to turn into C's.
There is always 4 or 5 nights a month that she stays up most of the night studying for one of those classes. Cat and I give her the whole kitchen table, and relent on our "No sugar or caffeine after dessert" rule for her.
Multiple times she's stayed up all night, and when I get up the next morning, there she is, scribbling something down with a cup of coffee nearby.
She got a 3.45 GPA in the fall semester, so it's not that big of an issue. But since most everyone on the outside just sees her as a smart girl, we all see how hard she works to get that title.
Kevin and Corey are both all A students. Objectively, they're smarter than Syd. But neither of them have ever had to study really. Especially Corey.
But he's in second grade, so that's not a surprise.
Suddenly the doors fly open and Matt and Kevin hop in.
"Hey guys!" I say, starting the car.
"Hey Dad."
"Hey Uncle Robbie."
"How's it going guys? Happy Friday."
Kevin let out a "WOO HOO!"
"Thank goodness." Matt sighed.
"Long week?"
"Yeah." He slumped in the back.
"I just want to get to practice." Kevin said.
"Excited?" I ask.
"You know it!" Matt cheered.
They're giving him a position change, which has made him very happy.
He said he hated playing catcher last year, and only did it because the coach made him.
Charming.
"Awesome." I smile, pulling into Corey's parking lot.
The moment I stop Corey comes tearing out, backpack bouncing away.
"YAYYYYYYYYYYY!" He cheered ad he hopped in the car.
"Someone is happy." I say as he buckles up.
Next stop: Home.
"Hi daddy!"
"Hey bud. How are you?" I smile.
"It was great! We played basketball in gym!"
"And how'd that go?"
"I made a basket on the big hoop!"
Kevin and Matt cheer as I say "Alright! Good job man."
Matt gave him a high five, and Corey beamed.
"So I guess it was a good day?"
"Awesome!" He piped up.
"Everybody get their report cards?"
"Yep!" They all say.
"Everything good?"
"Yep!" They all say again.
"That's what I like to hear." I smile, pulling into our neighborhood.
Kevin and the boys get into a debate about who is better at baseball between two of the big stars, Bryce Harper or Mike Trout.
I assume no relation to our own Austin Harper.
The boys run into the house and upstairs to change, giving Cat a hug and their report cards on the way.
"Hey! No running up the stairs guys!" I nag after them.
"Sorry!"
I grumble and walk into the kitchen, where my beautiful wife is.
"I'm back."
"Hi!" She chimed, tearing open a report card.
I walk to the fridge and pull out the milk.
I don't know why, I just want some.
"Any big news?" I ask.
"Nope…just watched TV and exercised. Nothing exciting."
"Exercising can be exciting in the right light." I tease.
…
I glance at her, and she's boring a hole into the paper.
Before I can come over to look, she folds it up and looks at the other one.
"Can I—"
"SHH!"
Ok.
She suddenly hands me the one she briefly looked at, then handed me the other one.
Corey's.
A.
A.
A.
A.
A.
Plus Exceeds Expectations for behavior. Which is the best you can get.
Corey's a pretty simple kid.
Which means Kevin…did something.
I wait for a moment, then just as I move towards Cat the front door opens to a beaming Sydney.
"Hey! How was rehearsals?"
She ran right into a hug and said "EEEPPP!"
She's holding her report card.
"Can I see?" I ask.
She vigorously nodded as I opened it.
History: A
Math: A
Cinematic Theory & History: A
English: A
Biology: A
Stage Performance: A
Geography: A
…
I look up from the paper beaming.
"Straight A's…"
She squealed and tackled me into another hug.
"Congratulations. I'm so proud of you Sydney."
She held onto me tight as Cat turned around with a even face.
She silently swapped report cards.
Instead of going for her own with her mom, she read…
…
WHAT?
Science: C (A for classroom behavior)
Gym: C (A for behavior)
History: A
Math: C (D for behavior)
Music: B
Study Hall: D (U for behavior)
WHAT?!
I can feel myself nearly blow a gasket as I stare at the grades.
Particularly the behavior grades.
E is what Cat and I expect. You should be on your best behavior for school.
A is if you talk too much or slack off, etc. Easily correctable.
D is below average, and being a distraction
U means that he's been to the office for behavior or is skipping out of class.
Sydney is staring at the paper in disbelief.
"U…I've never seen U before…" She said quietly.
She joked years ago that they put it on there to scare you.
We all thought it'd be impossible to get.
Apparently not.
Cat smiled at Cat and turned to me.
"After his practice. We'll talk to him."
"We might do more than talk." I tell her.
"I…I don't get how you can get a D in study hall. It's just about showing up and being quiet and working. Easy A!" Sydney said.
Cat gives her a light disapproving look, letting her know she's right, but her opinion isn't welcome right now.
"We'll talk about it. And congratulations. I love you. You earned those grades." Cat beamed.
Sydney hugged her mom as all the boys came stampeding downstairs.
"We ready?" I rhetorically ask, as they race to the garage to grab their stuff.
"Later." I tell the girls.
"Bye Daddy." Sydney smiled.
The boys race to the door and I hop in.
Their discussion about Harper v. Trout still hasn't abated. If anything, Corey keeps mentioning this "Gonzalez" guy that is making the guys think a little.
Way to go Corey!
"Have a good time guys! I'll pick you up at 6!" I say as they all pile out.
The sound of the slamming doors is my reply.
Oh well.
I pull back onto the road home and consider kicking on the radio, but decide against it.
Kevin…
Come on man.
I can't rip him to shreds, this is the first time he's messed up at school. Or anywhere really.
This is the second time the kids have really messed up period. And the first was with Sikowitz.
"New text message." The car says to me.
"Voice text!" I reply.
…
"Hey, Syd wants to talk to you about something when you get back. She won't tell me. Trying to not worry. Will be folding laundry when you get home. Love, Cat."
Ok.
A few minutes later I pull into the driveway and hop inside the house and go right to Sydney's room.
"Knock Knock." I knock on the door and say quietly.
Sydney, who is on her phone looked up.
"Hey Daddy. Come on in."
I walk in and sit on the edge of her bed.
Her room is pretty clean, which usually isn't the case.
"So your mom texted me, saying you want to talk to me about something?"
"Mhmm." She nodded, and reached for an envelope. "Somebody came to school and gave me that."
She's already opened it.
"Dear Ms. Williams,
On behalf of the entire staff here at Republic Records, we would like to congratulate you on your quality audition tape. Our talent staff is very interested in signing you and would like you and a parent/guardian to come to our corporate headquarters Friday, April 1st.
We look forward to seeing you there,
Justin Schmitt
CEO of Universal Republic Records."
I laugh quietly and smile.
She did it.
"Sydney…" I smile.
She squealed and tackled me into a hug.
Unfortunately I was at the end of the bed, and her force sent us both off the bed.
WHACK!
Oww.
At least I didn't hit anything. I fell in the doorway.
"Oh, I'm sorry daddy!" She said, scrambling off me.
I pick myself up and lift her into a hug.
"Congratulations. You wanna tell your mom? It'll make her…everything."
She giggled and nodded. "Can she come up here?"
I nod. "I'll get her up here."
"Uhm…also dad?"
I turn in the doorway to look at her.
"I…Austin kinda already knows."
I smile. "That's cool. You texted him I guess?"
She shook her head.
"No, they pulled me out of class, and he came with me. The guy they sent to deliver it to me didn't like it, but oh well."
I smile. "Sounds good. I'll get your mother."
"Thanks daddy!"
YES!
YES, YES YES!
I can't hold back my smile as I walk downstairs to the laundry room.
"Hey, you're back. What'd she say? And why are you smiling?" Cat immediately asked in sucession.
"Come. Sydney has an announcement."
"About?"
"Well…remember those dreams, and how they've all come true?"
Her eyes immediately widened.
She's been freaking out about them. A couple of weeks ago we realized my first dream came to fruition and I didn't even notice.
I'm asleep at the wheel.
I smile. "I assume you remember the secret I've held for her?"
Cat gasped.
Then ran upstairs.
She got the hint.
I race after her to Sydney's room.
"So what's going on?" Cat smiled once I got there.
"I got a letter at school today Mom."
Cat looked confused and looked at me.
"A letter?"
Sydney pulled it off her bedside table and extended it to her.
Cat opened it and started to read.
I smile at Sydney happily.
…
…
She's at the end of the page.
No facial expressio—
Are her hands shaking?
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" She screamed, then hugged Sydney.
I laugh and smile.
Sydney happily hugged her back.
"Oh my gosh…when'd you do all this?"
"Those dates I went on last week? They…weren't actually dates." Sydney admitted.
Cat immediately turned to me.
"You were in on this?"
"Somebody had to make the call. She asked me to keep it quiet while she figured it out."
Cat turned to Sydney.
"You could have told me. I could have helped…or something!"
"I…I know mom. I…just wanted to get an unbiased opinion about my talent. I didn't want to get it handed to me."
Tears flew into Cat's eyes.
Sydney suddenly grabbed her mom and hugged her.
"Mommy…don't cry please. I don't mean it bad. I just wanted to be treated normal."
"I…I understand." Cat croaked out.
I sit on the edge of Sydney's bed and hug Cat too.
"Did they give you an evaluation score?" Cat asked.
"Yup. 4 of 5 stars." Sydney said.
"Nice." I smile.
"That's what I got. Justin said that it was as bad a judge for y actual talent they've ever made." Cat said.
Sydney looked confused.
"Why?"
"They now have me as a 5 star."
"Oh." Syd and I both say.
"So…now what?" Cat asked.
"Uhm…the guy said he'd tell the board who I am, because I did it under a pseudonym. But I was thinking you could come with me to sign the contract." Sydney smiled at her mom.
Cat immediately started crying again but hugged Sydney.
Sydney smiled and hugged her back.
"I'd love to sweetheart. I'll definitely be there." Cat croaked out. "Can I tell everyone?"
Sydney nodded. "Please. Just make sure news doesn't get out. Just keep it to immediately family."
"Can we included Beck and Jade and everyone there?" I ask.
"That's what I meant. Immediate family." Syd replied.
Cat and I smile.
"Do you have your audition tape?" Cat asked.
She bent down and grabbed her purse, then came up with a flash drive and handed it to her mom.
"Can…can I hear it?"
Sydney nodded happily.
"Let's go!" I say.
(1 ½ hours later.)
WOW
Wow wow wow.
I didn't know she took Ellie there too.
She and Syd covered Cat and Jade's classic "Give It Up." And killed it.
RIP Give It Up. RIP.
She also covered Kelly Clarkson, a few of Jade's singles, and a few of Cat's singles.
Add it all up, and it's one hell of an audition tape.
"You know, they might know you're my daughter before they are told. I think our voices are similar." Cat smiled.
"She has a bit more…I don't know how to say it."
"Pizazz?" Cat asked me.
"I was going to say she has a little Katy Perry in her. That little bit of flair." I say.
Cat shrugged. "Same thing."
Sydney turned back to Cat.
"You agree with him?"
"Totally. It's there alright." Cat beamed.
For the thousandth time Sydney hugged her mom.
"Do you guys mind if I meet up with Austin? He wanted to know how you guys reacted." She smiled.
"Go." Cat said. "Dinner is at 8."
"Sounds good." I add on.
"OOH! Ask if he wants to come. He's welcome to." Cat smiled.
"He is?' Sydney asked, barely smiling.
"Yeah. Maybe this time he'll be loose enough to actually talk to me." Cat joked.
I laugh, but Sydney frowned.
"He's idolized you all his life mom. It's just weird to him that you're…normal."
Cat and I both give her an odd look.
"Whatever. I'll be back." Sydney hopped up.
"Be safe!" I nag.
"I will!" Sydney said, grabbing her keys.
…
"SLAM!" Goes the door.
I turn to Cat.
"What about Kevin?"
"When you pick him up, just tell him that we're both upset, and that he's expected to pick his grades up to their normal level by the end of the year." Cat said.
"Uhm…I don't think that's possible." I tell her.
His grades are atrocious!
"Shoot for the moon. If you miss you're among the stars."
I groan and hang my head.
"I had that coming to me."
Cat giggled and hugged me.
"You knew she wanted to try music all this time?"
I nod.
"In the dream she said she wanted an anonymous audition so she could be judged fairly. That's all I knew. Today was a total surprise."
Cat smiled and squeezed me again.
"I'm glad you didn't tell me. This is the best day ever."
"She's just worried about failing you. She wants you to be happy, but is still worried about what you'll think if she decides not to do it anymore." I say.
"I don't care. She's completely fine. All I want is for her to tell me."
"I know. But I don't think she'll stop."
Cat smiled.
"I don't either. That was an amazing audition tape." I say.
She nodded. "Way better than mine."
"I'm loading it onto my pearPod."
"Me too. I'll get it onto our files so you can just download it." Cat said, pulling the flash out of her laptop.
I check the time. "5:30. I better go."
Cat quickly kissed me and smiled. "Love you. See you later."
"Bye. Love you more."
"That's not possible!"
I poke my head out from the doorway I just walked thru.
"Do I have to prove it later?"
Cat blushed and giggled.
Then nodded.
"Ok then. I will."
Cat giggled again and waved me off.
"Go. Before I change my mind about you leaving."
I smile and walk out.
I immediately regret not uploading the tape to my phone right away, and find myself singing the various verses all the way until I park.
I'm thirsty.
I know vending machines are close.
I lock up the car and start walking.
From where I am, I can see the chaos of both practices unfolding.
PWING!
But right now I'm closer to the high school section.
PWING!
…
PWING!
Whoever that is can seriously hit.
PWING!
Hmm…
I want Raderade.
I swipe my credit card, then tap the screen for Red Raderade.
I hear my phone go off as the drink is dispensed.
I open it and take a chug while unlckig my phone.
"Daddy. Turn around." –Sydney.
Huh?
I turn and see—
PWING!
Sydney near the batting cages.
Next to the guy who is crushing the ball.
PWING!
She waved for me to come over, so I slip my phone in and alk over.
"Uhh…hi?" I say.
PWING!
"Hey. How are you?" She smiled, hugging me.
I nervously hug her back, since we are in public. "Why are you here?"
PWING!
"Austin is practicing."
PWING!
"Hi sir! I'm almost done, then I can turn—"
PWING!
"No rush!" I say, half laughing.
Sydney said "So…yeah. Have you talked to Kevin yet?"
I shake my head, then pull out my phone to text him and Matt.
"By the high school cages. Please grab Corey and come please." I send off.
"We will. Your mom wanted me to invite—"
PWING!
"For dinner!" I say.
Sydney laughed. "Him?"
She pointed to Austin.
He's in shorts and a athletic tee, a Deka one.
PWING!
"Yeah." I say.
Sydney smiled.
PWING!
Then the machine made an odd sound, and Austin backed out of the batter's box.
He turned and smiled. "Sorry about that. You caught me in the middle of my session."
"It's all good. You're good!" I say.
"Thanks."
"It would be if they pitched to him." Sydney grumbled.
"They don't pitch to you?" I ask.
Austin shook his head.
"He hasn't gotten to swing all season. 8 at bats, 8 intentional walks." Sydney frowned.
"Well that's no fun." I say.
"You're telling me. I'm just working on a tan and fielding practice."
"Fielding practice?" I ask.
"Our third baseman got hit by a line drive in the wrist. So he's done for the year. I played 3rd a long time ago, so I'm taking his place."
I nod.
"Hey, Mom wanted to invite you for dinner. Can you come?" Sydney smiled at him.
"Yeah. My parents are still out of town for that convention, so I'd love to."
Then he turned to me. "Thanks for inviting me."
"No problem. I'm blanking on what we're having though."
Sydney laughed and Austin sarcastically said "Uh oh."
"It'll be good." Sydney said.
"Daddy!"
A small boy ran into my leg, and I turn and see Corey hugging me.
"Hey! How are you?"
"Awesome! Hi daddy!" He bounced.
Behind him Kevin and Matt walked up.
"Hey guys." Austin waved.
Matt smiled and waved back, while Kevin just waved.
"Sissy! What are you doing here?" Corey ran for a hug.
"Talking to Austin. I saw daddy, so I called him over. And now you're here!" She smiled.
"Yay!"
"How fast is this going?" Kevin asked, as he and Matt waked up to the fence.
"Just now? About 70. But if I set it for off-speed it'll be slower."
"It has off-speed?" Matt asked.
"Yeah."
"Can I try?" Corey asked.
Austin frowned and bit his lip.
"I'd love to man, but the lowest speed is 50 miles an hour. It's way too fast."
Corey suddenly looked scared.
"Can we watch?" He squeaked.
"Sure. I need curveball practice." Austin smiled.
"What about us?" Kevin asked, for him and Matt.
"Sure. Matt, text your mom. And I need to talk to you for a second." I gesture Kevin to follow me.
I walk about 100 feet to some bleachers and sit down.
He looks nervous.
"So…everything is fine huh?" I say sarcastically.
He immediately looked at the ground.
"Kev…I'm not going to sugar coat it ok? I'm not happy. Neither is your mom. Is there something we can do? Someone we can talk to?"
He looked down and wiped his eyes.
"Kevin?" I ask quietly.
He doesn't cry.
Something is WRONG.
"…Only in study hall and gym."
"Can you tell me what's wrong?"
Tears suddenly came fast and furious, but he wiped them away
"I…no. Daddy. I'm sorry."
I gently put my hand on his shoulder.
"It's fine. I understand. Do you mind if we call your school Monday and set up conferences with those teachers?"
He shook his head. "Just…make sure nobody finds out."
He's getting bullied.
I think.
Why wouldn't he want anybody to know?
"Ok. I will buddy. Is that why the behavior stuff is so bad?"
He nodded. "Everything but history."
I smile. "Is that where the girl is?"
He went to the mall a while back and hung with "friends".
Cat and I just assumed it was his version of a date.
He nodded. "The A is for talking too much with her."
I chuckle and smile.
"That I understand."
"I'…I'm sorry about the other grades. I know you and mom are mad at me."
"Yeah, but if something is wrong we want to fix it man. Ok? You sure you don't want to tell me what's going on?"
He shook his head.
I don't think he can.
Whatever it is, it's bad.
"Listen, Kevin. Look at me ok?"
He blinked and looked up.
"I understand. I'll talk to your mom about this and get something set up. She won't be mad. If anything, she'll just pester you about getting you to talk."
"I…I can't."
"I know. I'll try to head her off. But promise me something ok? Two things." I say.
He nodded.
"One, promise that you'll work your butt off to get those grades as high as possible. And two, tell us if something is wrong ok? You're not alone."
He nodded and came to hug me.
"Will you be mad at Matt? He knows too."
I shake my head. "No man. You guys are fine. Just have fun here. Let me get you a drink, and then we'll walk back to your sister and bother ok?"
He nodded and hugged me.
"Love you man. Ok?"
"Love you too Daddy."
I smile, then let him go and walk back to the vending machines.
\I get four red Raderades, then walk back to the cages.
"Ok…for you." I hand it to Corey.
"You." I hand it to Matt.
Kevin already has his.
"And you." I hand it to Austin, who has just been talking to everyone.
"Thanks." He smiled.
"No prob. Now I'll let you all hang out here, just be back for dinner."
I see Sydney open her mouth and cut her off.
"You drive them home. All in the backseat."
"BUT DAD!" Corey and Kevin whine.
Austin quietly laughs to himself, then when the boys turn to stare at him, he takes a drink.
"No buts." I look at Sydney. "I won't give you my rant, you know what'll say." I smile.
"Be safe, wear your seatbelt, yeah, yeah, yeah." She smiled.
"I'll change, then come over." Austin said.
"You don't have to. You can just come right from here." I say.
"But I'll be all dirty."
I shrug. "She'll like it."
Suddenly Sydney and Austin went bright red.
The boys, all three looked confused.
"See you all at dinner." I smile, then hug Corey.
"Bye!" everybody waved.