When his parents entered the back door with armfuls of grocery bags, Alex was grateful for the company.
"Mom! Dad! Just the people I want to see!"
Steven's eyebrows rose. "Well, it's nice to see you too, Alex."
"Ah, look, there's something I need to talk to you guys about."
"What is it?"
"In the living room."
Elyse nodded. "Okay, well, give us a few minutes to put these groceries away and then-."
Alex grabbed his sisters and pushed them toward the middle of the kitchen. "Jennifer and Mallory can do it."
As they began to protest, Alex took the bags of groceries from his parents and shoved them into the arms
of his sisters.
"Thanks a lot, Alex." Jennifer said.
"Okay then, I guess we're free to join you in the living room!" Elyse said. "Thanks, girls."
"Yeah. Thanks, girls." Steven echoed.
"Sure." Jennifer and Mallory replied in monotone unison.
Alex clapped his hands together. "Great!" He was hardly able to contain his excitement. His heart was
pounding and he began to pace the living room. His excitement increased when his parents entered the
living room and sat down on the sofa.
"Alex, what is this all about?"
"Mom, Dad… I need you to write a note to Andrew's teacher to get him out of school."
Elyse and Steven shot out of their chairs, speaking at once.
"No!"
"Absolutely not!"
"Mom, Dad, listen to me, please-."
"I'm not writing another note so that you and Andrew can stay home and watch the election results!"
Elyse said.
"Election? There won't be another election for another four years! Besides, Andrew was just a baby
during the last election so how could I possibly-"
"All right, well how about the time you took Andrew out of school so that you could stay home and watch
Wall Street Week?"
Alex scoffed. "I never-." But when he saw the looks on his parent's faces, he shrugged. "It was one
time!"
"Alex, what is this about?"
"Dad, the last thing I want to do is deprive Andy of an education, okay? And I'm only taking about one
day! Two at most."
"Alex, no!"
Alex's jaw dropped and he threw up his hands in mock surrender. "Fine. Have it your way. But you're
going to tell him, not me. I've already broken his heart once. I can't do it again."
The annoyed looks on their faces faded and they glanced at one another before returning their
attention to Alex.
"Honey, you haven't broken Andrew's heart." Elyse said. "He loves you! I've never seen a boy who
loves his brother more."
"I wish I loved my brother that much."
Elyse elbowed Steven in the side, causing him to wince.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"This isn't a contest, Steven! Now Alex, what's going on?"
Alex rose to his feet and began to pace the floor. "All right. Remember how upset Andy was that I forgot about the coin show because I went out with Lauren?"
Steven crossed his arms. "Unfortunately all too well."
"Me too, and I want to make it up to him, you know?"
"By taking him out of school?"
Alex sighed. "I know it's crazy, Mom, but there's a big coin show in Philadelphia this weekend and, well, I thought I'd take Andy."
"Oh I'm afraid Andy's too young to fly, honey."
"I wasn't thinking about flying, Mom. I'm gonna drive."
"To Philadelphia?" Steven shouted. "Alex, that's almost five hundred miles away!"
"Four hundred sixty eight point nine to be exact." Alex pointed out.
"Don't you think that's a little far to drive in one day?"
"That's the thing, Dad. See, I thought that we could make it a road trip. You know, we'd head out early, go to the coin show, and stay in a hotel-."
"Alex, Andrew is too little to appreciate a five star hotel right now, but perhaps when he's older."
"No, Mom. I have to do this now. And besides, we don't have to stay in a five star hotel. A four star will do just fine. Or-." He swallowed hard "…even a three star
hotel." The words made him shudder.
"Are you sure about this, Alex?"
"I've never been surer about anything, Dad."
"All right. Well, give your mother and me a few minutes to discuss this and then-."
"Great! I'll go and check on Andrew!" Alex headed for the stairs, but was stopped by his parents' protests.
"Wait a minute. We haven't made our decision, so don't say anything to Andrew until we let you know. I don't want you to get his hopes up."
Alex held up two fingers. "I swear I won't say a word. And if you need me, I'll be in my room."
Filled with hope and excitement for what could be, Alex ran up the stairs. But when he reached Andrew's room, he couldn't resist creeping inside. Andy lay on his
bed still sleeping soundly. Alex smiled and covered Andy with his blanket. When he reached the door he smiled. "I love you, Andy."