Dinner for Four: Sixth Grade Edition
Gerald checked the clock repeatedly during Mr. Simmon's last lecture of the day. It was Friday, and all that was on the young Johanssen's mind was spending the whole of Saturday with his girlfriend Phoebe. They had worked out their schedules and put aside a whole day together. Morning, breakfast at Big Al's Café, Afternoon, walk in the park with a picnic lunch, Evening, dinner at the new Steakhouse that just opened followed by a movie. It was perfect.
Phoebe was thinking about this too, in between taking careful notes of course, and she hoped everything would go as smoothly as possible.
The bell then rang, and the class excitedly got their backpacks together.
"Hey Gerald!" Arnold said as he approached his best friend's desk, "How 'bout we go and play the new Goblin Raiders game? I got it for my birthday!"
"Oh, Arnold, I'm sorry, but I got to get ready for tomorrow." Gerald said, a little disappointed. He really wanted to play that game, but Phoebe came first.
"Oh? Tomorrow? What's happening tomorrow?" Arnold asked.
Gerald snapped his gaze from his backpack up to his football-headed friend. He had completely forgotten to let him know!
"Oh, man. I thought I told you. I'm spending the whole day with Phoebe tomorrow." Gerald pointed.
Arnold looked toward Phoebe, who was talking to Helga, then back at Gerald and smirked, "Oh, I see. The whole day?"
"Hey," Gerald said with a slight blush on his cheeks, "you and Helga spent a whole weekend in France, I can spend a day with Phoebe."
Arnold nodded, "Alright, alright. That's great Gerald! I'll let you get to it." He patted his friend's arm and walked out toward his locker.
Gerald shook his head with a smile and walked towards Phoebe.
"It's been alright." Helga said in her conversation with Phoebe, "Bathroom schedule's a little difficult to get used to but it's nice to have hot water!"
"Good afternoon, ladies," Gerald greeted with a bow, "may I just say you two look radiant today, but especially you madam Phoebe."
Phoebe giggled and held out her hand, "Why thank you Sir Gerald."
Helga rolled her eyes, "Eh, I'll leave your two love birds to it."
"Thank you, Helga, and Arnold's waiting by his locker." Gerald said.
Helga nodded as she left.
"I'm so excited for tomorrow, we're gonna have so much fun!" Gerald said.
Phoebe nodded, "I'm sure of it. I always have fun when you're around!"
Gerald blushed a bit, "Shall I walk you home?" He offered her his arm.
"Such a gentleman." Phoebe blushed as they walked out.
Meanwhile, at the back of the classroom, Sid and Eugene were also packing up to leave.
"So Sid," Eugene began, "I was wondering, if you'd maybe like to hangout tomorrow?"
Sid stopped and looked at Eugene, "Um…like…like a date day?"
"Oh, gosh, if you'd like to call it that…yeah…a date day." Eugene blushed.
Sid swallowed nervously, "I…yeah…if…if you'd like."
"Great! I'll stop by your house around ten tomorrow, is that okay?" Eugene asked.
Sid nodded, "Sounds fine!"
Eugene smiled as he walked out the room, then turned back and waved bye at Sid, who returned the gesture.
Sid then looked down at his backpack, "Boy howdy, how to do this?"
"You gotta sweep him off his feet." Rhonda said next to him.
Sid jumped in his seat, "Rhonda! Where did you…"
"So, going on a date with the school's resident jinx. Pretty bold of you." Rhonda smirked.
"Well…Eugene's just clumsy is all…he's not…that bad…besides, we already went on a date, and it was a lot of fun." Sid said, blushing.
Rhonda's smirk deepened, "Oh? And what was this 'date'?"
"We…went to the arcade." Sid said.
There was a beat, "That's it?"
"Yeah! What's wrong with the arcade?!" Sid asked.
"Well, it's loud, there's distractions, and competition isn't the best way to make a connection." Rhonda counted off on her fingers.
Sid blinked. Thinking back, he didn't think he and Eugene talked that much the whole time they were there.
"How long did the date last?" Rhonda asked.
Sid looked down, "…An hour?"
"An hour?!" Rhonda exclaimed.
"I got nervous! People kept…looking at us…and I told Eugene I wasn't feeling well…" Sid said.
Rhonda shook her head, "Sid, Sid, Sid, you poor, poor lonesome disaster. So you're going from an hour long date where you don't talk to each other, to spending all day together."
Sid nodded, "What do I do?"
Rhonda shrugged, "My advice would be to stay busy. You do have a habit of putting your foot in your mouth. I know! The date places are going to be filled with couples going out tomorrow. Just follow their lead and copy them."
Sid lit up a bit, "Thanks Rhonda! Wait, why are you helping me?"
Rhonda sighed, "Oh, you know me. I can't see a walking disaster without trying to fix it."
"Thanks! I think." Sid said as he grabbed his backpack and ran out the door.
Rhonda sighed as she looked over as Harold left the classroom. Her smile quickly left her face.
0o0
After a restless night, Sid walked toward Eugene's place. He still had no idea what he was doing with Eugene. Rhonda's advice to improvise was great for fighting off the nervousness of having to plan, but a new fear arose. What if he couldn't think of anything?
That's when Gerald came around the corner and bumped into Sid.
"Whoa! Hey Sid! You alright?" Gerald asked as he got up from the ground.
"Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Where are you running to?" Sid asked.
Gerald chuckled and blushed a bit, "Oh, I'm just gonna pick up Phoebe, we're doing a 'date-day' thing."
Sid smiled, "Oh, that's funny. I'm doing…" Sid stopped himself. Was he ready to tell someone other than Arnold and Stinky? He figured Rhonda and Harold already knew, so half of their friend group already knew about Sid's attraction. But saying it to someone else was a big step.
"Doing what?" Gerald asked.
Sid blinked back to reality, "Oh, um, nothing. I'm just spending the day with someone too. As a friend! Completely platonic. No romance at all. None here!"
"Oh cool! Well, I better go get Phoebe. The breakfast specials at Big Al's don't last forever!" Gerald then ran off.
Sid looked in the direction Gerald was heading, "Big Al's huh? That's not a bad idea."
0o0
Gerald ran up the stairs of Phoebe's house and rang the doorbell.
Phoebe quickly answered. Gerald smiled at her. She was wearing one of her usual outfits but wore her hair down and put on a little makeup. Gerald felt his heartbeat speed up a bit.
"Wow, you look beautiful." Gerald said to her thoughtlessly.
Phoebe smiled and blushed, "So do you."
They stood their with half-lidded eyes and small grins for what felt like an eternity.
"Keep that door open much longer and we'll get ants in here!" Phoebe's father yelled from across the house.
Phoebe blinked back to reality, "Right, sorry dad!"
"Have fun!" Phoebe's dad ordered.
"Bye!" Phoebe said as she closed the door.
"Right! So, breakfast!" Gerald smiled at her, offering his arm.
Phoebe took it, and the two walked to the diner. Their conversation was light, mostly reminiscing about funny events, or which part of the day they were most excited for.
Approaching the diner from the opposite way, Eugene and Sid were mostly silent, broken by the occasional statement from Eugene.
"Beautiful day, huh?" Eugene observed.
Sid looked up at the sky, "Yeah, puffy clouds too."
Eugene looked at Sid and smiled. Sid had his hands locked together and was nervously picking at his thumbs. Eugene thought he needed some reassurance. So, he slipped his left arm in the crook of Sid's right arm and smiled at him.
Sid blinked at Eugene with a startled expression, "Oh, um…yeah. We can…walk like this."
Sid looked ahead and saw Mr. Green walking their way. Sid quickly looked down, not meeting his gaze. Eugene, however, waved at him and smiled.
"Good morning, Mr. Green!" Eugene said warmly.
"Good morning, Eugene, Sid! Enjoy your day!" Mr. Green said as he walked by.
Eugene nodded as they passed. Sid only brought his left arm up for a single wave.
"We…um…we should be getting close now." Sid said, looking at Eugene with a blush.
Eugene blinked at him, "Um…Sid…if this is making you uncomfortable, we don't have to…"
"Ah! There it is!" Sid pointed to the Café, "Let's go!"
Sid released Eugene's arm and ran toward the café. Eugene blinked, but ran after him, almost falling over a crack in the side-walk, but he didn't.
"Weird, usually, I would've…" Eugene wondered as he entered the café.
Gerald and Phoebe had just finished ordering their breakfast when Sid and Eugene entered.
Gerald looked at Sid with a perplexed expression as Sid and Eugene sat at a table off to the side.
"Huh, that's odd." Gerald said.
"What is?" Phoebe asked.
"Oh, it's just…when Sid said he was spending the day with a friend I assumed it was Stinky. He and Eugene don't usually hang alone." Gerald said.
Phoebe shrugged, "Maybe they got closer over break or something?"
"Yeah, must be." Gerald said. He was about to change the topic when their food arrived.
"Thank you, Fred!" Phoebe smiled.
"No problem." The teenage waiter responded.
Gerald began digging into his food, "How do you like it?"
Phoebe chuckled, "I haven't even taken a bite yet."
"Oh, right. Sorry." Gerald said with a smile and a blush.
Sid was sitting across the restaurant, trying to overhear the conversations of the couples around them. If he could talk to Eugene like they talk to each other, then he'll be able to come off as charming as he wants to.
"So, Eugene, how's…."
Sid listened to a couple next to them.
"The stock market is going great. Everything's going up, up, up!" He heard a man say.
"How's the stock market been treating you?" Sid asked.
Eugene blinked, "Oh…um…I don't know. I don't have stock. Though my parents got me a savings bond when I was born…"
Sid nodded, not really listening as he was too busy listening to other people.
"So, Thursday, the servers at work went down, and I had to spend all of Friday trying to reboot them." A lady next to them said.
"…so when that bank failed they had to transfer it to another bank, so my savings bond hasn't really grown like it should've." Eugene finished saying.
Sid looked at him and nodded, "You know what I hate? When the…servers…go down…with the flu?"
Eugene blinked, "What?"
Sid cleared his throat, "You know, when you're at a restaurant and…the…plague breaks out?"
Eugene looked confused, "Does that…happen often?"
"Apparently. It took out that whole woman's…I mean…I had to spend all of Friday rebooting them." Sid said without thinking.
"Rebooting? We were in class on Friday. Sid, what are you talking about?" Eugene said.
"Ummmm…" Sid looked terrified as he felt the awkwardness rise.
"Excuse me waiter, these eggs are too cold, could I get them switched?" A different customer said.
"Eggs!" Sid shouted.
The café went quiet and looked at Sid.
Eugene smiled at everyone, and the customers went back to their conversations.
"Um…okay…we can get eggs." Eugene said calmly.
"Oh. Good. I'm glad. I like eggs." Sid felt his cheeks burn hot. Any hotter and all he need were planets to orbit him, then he'd be the sun.
"I like eggs too!" Eugene smiled.
Gerald kept his eyes on Sid, "He's acting so weird."
Phoebe chuckled, "Don't worry about him, today's our day."
Gerald smiled, "Yep! So, after breakfast, little walk in the park? The swans should be in the pond today."
"Sounds lovely." Phoebe said.
Sid was listening into this conversation too.
"Hey, you like birds?" Sid asked.
Eugene raised an eyebrow.
0o0
The pond at the park was lovely this time of year. The swans had had their babies and they were out swimming. People stood on the bridge over the pond and on the walkways admiring them.
Gerald and Phoebe laughed as they tossed tiny breadcrumbs to the newborn Swans.
"They're so cute Gerald! Swans are my favorite!" Phoebe smiled.
Gerald smiled at her, then looked across the pond and saw Sid and Eugene again. They were smiling at each other, and Sid looked more at ease than he did at the café. Sid was throwing breadcrumbs at the swans just as they were.
Phoebe looked at Gerald and followed his ga ze to Sid and Eugene.
Phoebe chuckled, "They look like they're having fun."
Gerald nodded, "Yeah. It's just odd. They never hang out."
Phoebe smiled and rolled her eyes, "Don't worry about them. Let's enjoy our day. In a little while we'll have our picnic."
Gerald nodded, then went wide eyed, "Oh no! I left the basket at home!"
Phoebe blinked, "Uh oh. Oh well. We can just…"
"Don't worry Phebs, I'll run home, grab the basket, then be right back!" Gerald said as he ran off.
"But…okay." Phoebe said softly.
Sid and Eugene continued throwing bread from a loaf Sid was holding.
"They're very cute aren't they?" Sid observed.
"Yeah, they really are!" Eugene said. He then looked up and saw, "Hey, look, it's Phoebe."
Sid looked over as well, "Hey, how about that? She must've wanted to see the swans too."
"Should we invite her over?" Eugene asked.
"No, she's with Gerald right now. I think they want some alone time." Sid said.
Eugene looked around, "Where is Gerald?"
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe he went to the bathroom or something?" Sid suggested.
"Probably." Eugene said, then looked at his hand and saw he hand no bread left, "Wow, those birds are hungry."
"Yeah, they really are. Need some more?" Sid offered the bread to Eugene.
"Oh, sure." Eugene said. As he reached however, he put more weight on the rail that he and Sid were leaning against. The rusted base failed. With a clank, a bang, a yell, and a splash, Sid and Eugene went into the water.
Sid and Eugene were quick to rise to the surface.
"Are you okay…Eugene?" Sid asked between coughs.
Eugene, coughing as well, answered, "I'm okay."
Sid then saw all the babies go for the big loaf of bread that was dropped in the water…and the mama swan, who was not too happy about how close Sid and Eugene were to her chicks.
"Uh oh." Sid said as the mama swan swam at them fast.
"Quick get out!" Eugene yelled as the two swam for the shore.
That didn't stop the mama swan. As they ran off from the shore, the mama swan ran after them, charging.
Then, something completely unexpected happened. Eugene grabbed the swan by the neck and shoved her back. The mama quickly turned around and returned to the pond.
Sid's eyes widened as he starred at Eugene, "That was…incredible!"
"Oh gosh, it was nothing!" Eugene responded, "It's not my first time being chased by a bird. I took classes."
Sid chuckled, "Wow. That's so…wow."
Eugene shivered as a cold wind blew in, as did Sid.
"Um…how 'bout we go back to my place and dry off?" Sid asked, "I live right over there."
Eugene nodded, "Good idea."
Phoebe was about to run over and check on Sid and Eugene, but they ran off in the opposite direction, just as Gerald returned with the basket.
"Sorry about that, did I miss anything?" Gerald asked.
Phoebe smiled at him and chuckled, "Just some bird madness."
0o0
Sid and Eugene walked into Sid's place quietly.
"Um…I'll grab some dry clothes for us. I'll change in the bathroom; you can change in my room." Sid said nervously, "Sorry about the mess, I wasn't expecting company."
"That's okay, I don't mind." Eugene smiled.
"Hey! Who's there!" Sid's dad, Ray, called out from the living room.
"It's just me dad." Sid responded.
"I know that, but who're you with?" Ray asked as he walked toward Sid's door.
"It's just one of my classmates Eugene." Sid explained.
Ray reached the open door and was surprised at the wet appearance of the two boys.
"You know, you're supposed to wear a swimsuit if you're planning on swimming." Ray said.
"Um…we weren't planning on it." Sid said.
"The railing broke by the pond in the park and we fell in." Eugene explained.
Ray blinked, then laughed, "Okay, you boys get changed so you can get out of here. It's your mother and I's date night, and I need to get ready!"
Ray then ran for the bathroom.
"Wait, how long are you gonna be in there?" Sid asked.
"Probably awhile! Gotta get my hair just right!" Ray said.
"But you barely have any hair!" Sid responded, starting to panic a bit.
"All the more reason!" Ray said as he shut the door.
Sid gulped, "Um…I don't know how comfortable you'd be with…um…"
Eugene chuckled, "I'll change in that corner, you take that one."
Sid looked and nodded as he shut his door, "Okay."
Sid got his clothes together and, since they were both near the same size, there were no problems.
"Okay," Sid said after he was dressed, "you ready?"
"Yep!" Eugene responded.
Sid turned and faced Eugene. Sid gave him one of his standard outfits, jeans and a white T-shirt. However, his hair dried flatter than it normally would, making him look similar to when he 'went bad' two years ago.
Sid chuckled at that memory.
"What? Do I look bad?" Eugene looked down at himself.
"No! No! You look very handsome. I was just thinking of when you went bad a few years ago." Sid chuckled.
"Oh, yeah. That was awful." Eugene cringed at that memory, but then, his eyes went wide, "Wait…what did you call me?"
"Oh, nothing, I just said you looked…" Sid's eyes widened when he realized what he just said as well, "Oh, um…I said you looked…handsome."
Eugene blushed, "Gosh…that's what I thought…"
Sid blushed and looked down at the floor, "I'm sorry, I just blurted it out. I wasn't thinking, but…it is true."
Eugene smiled at him, "Thank you. And…you look very handsome too."
Sid chuckled, "Even with the smell of pond water?"
Eugene laughed, "I said look not smell."
Sid laughed as well, "Sorry I've been so weird today. I just…never done this before. I don't really know what to do."
Eugene nodded, "That's okay. I don't either. Maybe we can learn together?"
Sid nodded and smiled, "Together."
"So, you want something to eat? Breakfast was a while ago and I'm hungry!" Eugene exclaimed.
"You're a European country? I didn't know that!" Sid joked.
Eugene chuckled and rolled his eyes.
"How about that new steakhouse? They're having an opening weekend special! Buy one meal, get one free!"
"Sounds great! Steak sounds amazing!" Eugene said.
Sid nodded, "Though, maybe I should cut your steak, I don't trust knives around you."
Eugene rolled his eyes, "Hey, you're just as much a klutz as me!"
Sid chuckled, "That is objectively not true."
0o0
Meanwhile, Gerald and Phoebe were enjoying their picnic.
"And for your main course madam, a lovely ham and cheese panini." Gerald presented.
Phoebe blinked, "Gerald! How did you make all this?!"
"I'm a man of many talents. That and I went through twenty trial sandwiches before I got it right. Mom wasn't happy." Gerald explained with a chuckle.
Phoebe returned the chuckle, "Well, it looks delicious."
Gerald nodded and he took his own sandwich out.
Gerald then looked at Phoebe, "Don't you think its weird that of all the people in our friend group to hang out with, Sid chose Eugene?"
Phoebe let out a sigh, "You seem pretty invested in this."
"I just don't get it!" Gerald exclaimed, "He could be hanging with Harold, or Stinky, or Arnold, or even Rhonda, but Eugene?!"
"I thought you liked Eugene." Phoebe put her sandwich down on her plate and crossed her arms.
"He's fine, but he and Sid are so different. Eugene likes musicals and breaking out into song and…going to the hospital? I can't think of a third one. And Sid doesn't like any of that."
"He enjoyed when we went to the opera on that field trip." Phoebe pointed out.
"I guess." Gerald agreed, "But…it's just so…random?"
"Gerald." Phoebe started, "You're letting this drive you crazy. Why does it matter so much to you?"
Gerald blinked, "Well…they are my friends…Sid is one of my oldest friends. I just…don't want him to get his heart broken."
Phoebe looked at him a puzzled expression, "Why would he get his heartbroken?"
"Cause he's clearly on a date." Gerald explained.
Phoebe blinked, "Oh. How do you know?"
"Earlier today he bumped into me and told me he was going on a 'not romantic, platonic, day out' with a 'friend'." Gerald said with accompanying air quotes.
Phoebe quirked her eyebrow, "Maybe he was telling the truth?"
Gerald looked at her with a 'really?' expression.
"Yeah, probably not." Phoebe stated.
"It just…I've seen Arnold get his heartbroken and its awful. I don't want that to happen to another friend." Gerald explained.
Phoebe nodded, "That's very sweet Gerald, but it's not up to you. If Sid and Eugene want to do this, we have to let them. Then we'll be there to pick up the pieces if it falls apart."
Gerald nodded, "I just…why wouldn't he just tell me? He knows I wouldn't freak out if I knew he was…dating a guy, right?"
"Maybe he doesn't." Phoebe suggested, "I imagine it can be hard to tell people. Especially people you've known for a long time."
Gerald nodded, "Right. I guess."
Phoebe smiled, "Great, now let's AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Phoebe and Gerald stood up as ants were devouring their lunch!
Gerald watch as the entire picnic was consumed by a massive horde of ants. By the time they cleared out, only chunks of plastic tableware remained.
Gerald and Phoebe blinked in astonishment.
"You know my dad did warn us." Phoebe remembered.
"Wise guy." Gerald observed, "Wanna move up the steak dinner?"
"Alright." Phoebe said, as the two walked off without another word, looking a little traumatized.
0o0
Gerald and Phoebe walked into the steakhouse and were shocked at the amount of people inside. Turns out, that special deal was more popular than planned. It was then they saw Sid and Eugene, sitting on one of the waiting benches.
Sid looked up and smiled at Gerald, "Hey Gerald! You thought to come here to huh?"
"Yeah, like every other couple in town." Gerald observed.
"Yeah, we put our name in a few minutes ago. They're only sitting parties of three or more immediately. Everyone else will have to wait at least two hours."
"Two hours?! We should've tried to eat those ants." Gerald said to Phoebe, who nodded.
Sid looked at Eugene with confusion.
"Wait, I have an idea! Why don't we eat together?!" Eugene proposed.
"Then we could be seated immediately!" Phoebe agreed.
Gerald and Sid both looked unsure.
"I mean, if it's what you want Phoebe, but I thought you wanted today to be just us." Gerald commented.
"Yeah, and I'd hate to intrude on your date day." Sid said.
Then an announcement was made by the waiter at the podium, "The wait time for a two-seater table has been increased to four hours."
"I don't have a problem sitting together. You Sid?" Gerald asked.
"No problem at all." Sid replied.
The four then requested a four-seater table and were immediately seated.
The four enjoyed a great dinner and laughed in each other's company. By the end of the meal, each was satisfied with their respective, then combined date days.
Outside, the two couples separated.
"Thank you for saving us from that wait. We still would be in line if not for you." Gerald smiled.
Eugene and Sid chuckled, "Not a problem."
Gerald opened his arms and hugged Sid, whispering in his ear, "I hope your 'friend day' went alright."
Sid blinked, then smiled, "Yeah, it was great."
Gerald released the hug, gave one to Eugene, and Phoebe got her hugs, and the couples went off in separate directions.
Sid and Eugene walked and sang one of the songs from 'Carmen', Eugene knowing the lyrics, and Sid just humming along. They then came to Eugene's door.
"Gosh, today was great Sid, thank you." Eugene stated.
Sid chuckled, "I'm sorry again, I'm still…getting comfortable with all this."
Eugene smiled and nodded, "I am too, but we made great progress today! First date we didn't say anything, now we're singing together!"
Sid laughed, "Oh, one more thing. I know our friends call me Sid, but my family calls me Sidney."
"Yeah?" Eugene asked.
Sid looked down, then back up at Eugene, "I'd…I'd like it if you called me Sidney."
Eugene smiled a wide smile and hugged Sid tightly, "I'd like that! Thank you, Sidney!"
Sid let out a chuckle, "No problem."
When Eugene backed away from the hug, his eyes met Sid's. They started to inch closer, before their lips met.
It was a quick kiss. Short and sweet. Eugene looked like he had stars in his eyes and Sid looked like he was in a trance.
"Gosh," Eugene began, "that was wonderful. Thank you, Sidney."
Sid blinked back to reality, "No, thank you Eugene."
Eugene smiled, "I'll see you Monday at school?"
"Look forward to it." Sid smiled.
Sid watched as Eugene returned inside his house, and he went home, with a bit of a skip in his step.
0o0
Gerald returned Phoebe home.
"I'm sorry today didn't go as planned." Gerald said.
"That's okay, it was a lot of fun. We can try again soon." Phoebe said.
"Oh? So, second date?" Gerald chuckled.
"We've been on many dates!" Phoebe giggled.
Gerald shifted his stance, "Do you think I could get a little peck on the cheek?"
Phoebe blushed a little, "Alright, close your eyes."
Gerald complied. Instead of feeling pressure on his cheek, he felt the pressure on his lips!
Gerald began to short circuit as Phoebe brought her hands to the side of his head.
This was a long kiss. A loooooooonnnnnnnng one!
Phoebe finally broke it with a deep breath, "Sorry, that's been building up for awhile."
"Efjdoidsodfopnot." Gerald spoke gibberish. It appeared his nervous system was fried.
"Gerald are you okay?" Phoebe asked concerned.
Gerald blinked, "Oh, you know me fine, I'll be babe."
Gerald then turned around and started walking home.
"Gerald! Your house is the other way!" Phoebe shouted.
"Oh yeah, sorry babe, I'm way I'll find the sure." Gerald spoke backwards as he turned home the right way.
0o0
Sid returned home and was surprised to find his parents at home, eating a pizza.
"Oh, hey guys, I thought tonight was date night." Sid said.
Ray grunted, "Yeah, it was supposed to be, but the steakhouse was full up! We couldn't get a table!"
"So," Sid's mother, Ava, began, "we decided to cut our loses, pick up a pizza, and have a night in."
Sid chuckled, "Yeah. I'll leave you two to it!"
"Just a moment." Ray said, "Sit down here, bud. There's something we want to talk to you about."
Sid blinked, "Okay."
Sid sat and looked at his parents.
"So, while we were at the steakhouse, we saw you with your other friends. You and that curly haired one, what was his name?" Ray asked.
Sid gulped a little, "Eugene."
"Eugene. Nice kid? Good guy?" Ray asked.
Sid nodded, "Yeah. He's great."
"Good, good." Ray nodded, "I just want you to know son. No matter what, we love you."
"No matter what." Ava repeated.
Sid blinked and looked down at the table, "How long have you known?"
"Remember that day you came home crying from Stinky's? His dad called and explained what happened. He wanted to make sure you were okay. Then I see you holding hands with Eugene at the steakhouse. I put two and two together." Ray explained.
Sid chuckled a little out of nervousness, "You're not mad?"
Ava stood up and walked over to Sid, kneeled, and hugged him, "Of course not sweetie. We love you. Everything about you."
Ray kneeled as well and joined the hug, "We'll always love you."
Sid felt tears in his eyes as he held his parents tightly, "Thank you."
Sid broke the hug and his parents went back to their spots, "Alright, now go play some video games or something, it's still our date night."
Sid chuckled and nodded as he went to his room.
"Oh, by the way." Ray spoke up, "If you bring Eugene over again that door stays open. There won't be any unmarried kissy-kissy in this house."
Sid blushed deeply, "Okay, just please never say that again!"
Ray laughed as Sid ran to his room.
Sid shut the door behind him as he chuckled to himself.
He then noticed his window was open and an envelope sat on the sill.
He opened up the envelope and found polaroid photos of Sid and Eugene from today, including one of them kissing twenty minutes ago. Sid's eyes went wide as he read the accompanying letter.
Dearest Sidney,
I believe my intentions are clear. If you don't want these photos to be shared to every student at P.S. 118 and Hillwood Middle, you'll pay up. Come to my office on Monday for details.
Yours sincerely,
Big Gino
Sid looked panicked. He began to hyperventilate. What to do?
What to do?