Della paced from the fireplace to the kitchen in circles, her metal leg squeaking with each step. "I just don't understand what more I can do. He won't budge."

Scrooge looked over the report cards that Donald had neatly laid out on the table. "My goodness. He graduated with high honors for good reason." He shuffled through the old report cards. "Didn't any of his teachers encourage him towards a college?"

Donald bobbed his head. "All of them. But since he turned sixteen, none of it seems to matter anymore. It's just clothes and girls, clothes and girls."

Scrooge chuckled. "I find that hard to believe. Huey is a model student and he's always searched for knowledge." His accent bounced. "He cannae stop for no reason."

Della rubbed her face. "I feel like it's my fault. All the years he was with Donald, he loved learning and couldn't get enough of it. Now that I'm here, it's different."

Scrooge shook his head. "I'm sure that's not the case. Let me talk with the boy and see if we cannae get to the bottom of this."

"Good luck." Donald scratched the feathers at the back of his head as he opened the door to the garage. "Huey! Get down here. Your Uncle Scrooge is here to see you."

Huey slid down the ladder and dragged himself into the house, ignoring both his mom and uncle. "Heya, Unca Scrooge!" He hopped onto the couch, maintaining eye contact with his great uncle.

Uncle Scrooge raised a fluffy eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest. "Ah, Huey. Have ya done something new with ya hair?"

Huey smirked and combed it back with his fingers. He had stuck with the baseball cap until a year ago and now he felt like he was getting the hang of styling his feathers just right.. Getting rid of it was the best decision he had ever made. Girls were actually wanting his attention now. "Yeah, I thought I'd try something new. Do you like it?"

"Well, it's certainly different."

Huey glanced towards the garage where Louie and Dewey were pulling his mom and uncle aside. Louie better hurry and get those keys.

"Ahem, anyways." Uncle Scrooge folded his hands on his stomach and leaned back on the couch, his eyes never wavering from watching Huey's every move, every expression. "I'm sure ya can guess why your mom and uncle called me."

Huey huffed a sigh, digging his elbow into the worn armrest. "College."

Uncle Scrooge leaned over, setting his arms on his knees and pressing his fingertips together. "What's going on, lad?"

Huey shrugged. "Nothing. I'm just not interested."

Uncle Scrooge narrowed his gaze before picking up the stack of report cards and shuffling through them. "Your Uncle Donald showed me these from the last few semesters along with your credentials.. Lad, even Harvard would take ya in a heartbeat."

Huey opened his mouth only to close it again when Scrooge continued.

"And don't go telling me that you don't care about your grades." He dropped the stack back onto the coffee table. "Those report cards tell me the truth. Ya never stopped caring."

Huey watched the stack of cards scatter across the table. Uncle Scrooge wasn't wrong. Those grades did matter to him. But, in the grand scheme of things, they sorta felt pointless. "I still enjoy learning and think it's important. That hasn't changed," he mumbled.

"Then what has, lad?" His great uncle leaned against his cane as he sat on the edge of the couch. "Is it a girl?"

Huey scoffed. "I wish." He stared off into space, picturing a cute girl with a ponytail, glasses, and fiery attitude. No girl in particular but he sure wished she was real. She'd be a better excuse than anything he had to tell his uncle.

"We just want to know why ya don't want to pursue this. You'd make a fine archeologist. You have the tenacity and the mind for it and you know you'd have a job with me as soon as you graduated."

Huey turned his focus to the grape jelly stain on the floor from a mishap with Louie's PB&J two months ago. Uncle D still hadn't managed to get the carpet cleaner out.

"If it's money ya're worried about, I told your uncle I would pay for it. I don't normally give hand-outs but ya'd be… well, more of an investment."

Huey could hear the kind smile in his great uncle's voice but it didn't change anything. They act like everything's the same as it was. Well, it's not. I'm not the same. His fingers dug into the upholstery. I'm not.

When Huey didn't respond, Scrooge continued. "I hear Dewey wants to fly for McDuck Enterprises when he graduates flight school. I think I could arrange for ya two to go on some wild adventures together."

Huey finally met eyes with his uncle again. "And Louie?"

Uncle Scrooge shook his head a little and adjusted his glasses at the end of his bill. "He has some progress to make yet but he reminds me of myself at that age. Your mother has asked me to take him under my wing and keep an eye on him. He'll be interning with me after the summer and we'll try to encourage better uses for his… err… talents."

Huey's heart sank. So, Louie will be babysat for the rest of the year at a desk and he won't have Dewey or me to keep him company. He balled his fists. A slow boil began in the pit of his stomach. I guess they really are figuring out how to cart us each off to our futures.

"Come on, lad, ya need to get out of Duckburg."

The boil bubbled higher.

"Ya need to see some more of the world." His Scottish drawl tightened Huey's shoulders. "Ya need to study and use that brain of yours for the good of everyone. Not here flipping burgers!"

The Duke of Making a Mess began to seep his way through Huey's fiery veins as every word his great uncle said pushed in on him like crushing a can.

"Think of all the treasures you could uncover!"

The heat in his stomach crawled all the way up Huey's neck until he couldn't hold back the Duke any longer. He jumped to his feet. "Would you just forget it!" He yelled.

The whole house grew silent. He huffed breaths and squeezed his eyes shut to avoid seeing the old duck's disappointment. "Look, I appreciate you coming, Uncle Scrooge, but I'm not ready. I'm NOT leaving! I'm not going off to college! No matter what you say, I'm not going anywhere!" He threw his hands out. "I'd rather just stay in Duckburg, cook burgers. Is that so bad?"

"But, lad-"

"It is my life!" Steam burst out his ears. "Let me live it!" He pressed his palms to his temples to try and calm the Duke down.

"Hubert Angus!"

Huey winced at the sound of his full name being called at the top of Uncle Donald's ear-piercing voice. Oh great! If I don't go now, the Duke will take over and face Uncle Donald, and then who knows what I'll say! He ran for the front door.

"Lad!" Scrooge got up from the couch to go after him.

Huey spun around to see both of his uncles and his mom staring him down. Uncle Scrooge looked confused, his mom looked hurt, and Uncle Donald was madder than a busted nest of hornets. He shook his head, frantic. "No, no… no. I can't. You don't get it. My heart's not in it anymore, guys."

Tears burned behind his eyes. He rushed out the front door and ran around the side of the house. What have I done? He swallowed between shaky breaths. I just told the adventure king of the family off. Uncle Scrooge! He sank into the grass and hugged his knees. What's wrong with me? A few tears slid down his cheeks. He groaned and wiped them away, hoping that his brothers wouldn't come looking for him.