Junior Year Box Set

“I figured you would be involved in that. You and Angie did a wonderful job on my apartment,” I said to remind her that I appreciated what they’d done for me.

“I would have her talk to your mom and you,” Dad said. “If her design doesn’t work, I think you were happy with what the architect suggested.”

“We could ask Mrs. Wesleyan to advise us. She has great taste,” I suggested.

“Let me handle it. I’ll tell Cindy she can give it a shot. I’ll also talk to Abigail and see if she wants to work with Cindy or would rather put something together herself,” Mom said.

“Why don’t you put it out to bid? That way, design firms can create presentations for the project,” Dad suggested.

“I would rather work with someone I know. If neither of them makes Mom happy, we can go that route,” I said.

We wrapped up and returned to the hotel so I could spend time with Coby and Little David.

◊◊◊

I was pulled from baseball practice to talk to Jeff. I smiled when my mom and Cassidy brought in the tiger cubs. They wore dog collars and were on leashes. They’d been bathed and had pink ribbons in their hair. I was surprised when they didn’t try to remove them. I knew that Duke wouldn’t have stood for that.

‘Rah.’ ‘Rah.’ The two cubs ‘roared’ back and forth to announce their presence.

Baseball practice stopped when my teammates heard them. I picked one of them up and saw there was a name tag on the collar. This one was named Carol, after my mom. I checked the other one, and its name was Cassidy. I knew better than to challenge that.

Jeff and his film crew appeared and began filming us as we loved-up the cubs.

“Back to practice,” Coach Kingwood ordered my teammates.

I did ten minutes with Jeff. I admit that the cubs stole the show. They were wiggle-butts and wanted to play. When I put them down, they were soon rolling around and chasing each other.

“I need to find them a home. I want them to go somewhere that’ll be good for them,” I shared.

◊◊◊

Our game today was against Honduras and was being played at Ciudad Deportiva. The difference between this stadium and the one we’d played at last night was stark. In the street out in front, there was a big stack of discarded car tires. The park itself had seen better days. I was glad we had all the security, or I might have been worried about my family in the stands.

I think baseball fans in the area knew about the stadium’s shortcomings and decided to stay away. There were only our friends and family and a handful of Honduran fans in the stands.

The game wasn’t exciting at all. I hit a home run to lead off, and we pushed across another run in the first to take a 2–0 lead. In the second inning, we put 12 on them. By the end of the fifth, we were up 23–1. Everyone seemed to come out of their hitting slump. They called the game at the end of the fifth. I think if they had let it go seven, we would have scored another ten or more runs. The team as a whole batted at a .647 clip for the game.

It did give Coach Kingwood a chance to play everyone.

◊◊◊

I was happy when tonight’s guest was Halle.

She gave me a quick kiss and then led me to the couch so we could catch up.

“Rumor has it that Busch Gardens is going to take your tigers,” she told me.

“I hadn’t heard that,” I admitted.

“They played your clip with the cubs on the news, and it went national. Busch Gardens contacted the reporter you work with, and he got them in touch with your dad.”

“That’s a relief. I’m sure they’ll take good care of the cubs. They’re set up for this.”

“I still can’t believe you bought them. I didn’t believe it until I saw you trying to convince your mom that you should keep them.”

“That didn’t go very well,” I admitted.

“This will be for the best. I heard you named the tigers after your mom and Cassidy,” Halle said.

“Actually, they named them. I just didn’t object.”

“Smart man.”

“Is there any news about the movies?” I asked.

“Not yet. Saul thinks I’ll get the one you and my mom are worried about.”

“Watch him. I think sometimes he’s more interested in a paycheck than what’s best for you.”

“Mom’s keeping an eye on everything,” Halle assured me.

“Are you really planning on going back to LA?” I asked.

“Why? Would you miss me?” she asked.

“Do you even have to ask that? Of course I would miss you.”

“If I go back to LA for a movie, are you going to pull me from consideration as your girlfriend?”

“No,” I said as I shook my head. “I’d just wait until you came back.”

“What if I stayed in LA?” she asked.

“Would you want us to be together if you were there?” I asked.

“I think we could make the long-distance thing work. You realize that next summer and fall, you’ll be doing movies all over the world. Do you plan to dump whomever you pick?”

I hadn’t really considered that.

“Honey, it’s okay. I understand what a time issue we’ll face if we’re doing movies. 18-hour days for months at a time. If we’re on location, it could be anywhere. If anyone would understand what it takes, it’s us. That’s why I think we’re perfect for each other.