Junior Year Box Set

“First of all, I’m dating Mona. IF we break up, I’ll let you know. Second, I’d be willing to date a non-cheerleader without a problem. Finally, it’s up to you if you want to be a cheerleader. They’d pick you without a problem. You’re athletic, cute, and I’ve seen you dance. If you want, I can put in a good word with the head cheerleader. She might be willing to listen to me if I suggested someone,” I offered.

“Oh, I didn’t know about you and Mona,” Brit said, her voice trailing off.

“She asked me out last night, so there was no reason you’d know.”

Of course, there was the announcement she’d made on social media. I had gotten a few text messages about it already. I had been worried about Pam’s reaction, but she sent me a congratulatory message, confirming we were just friends in her eyes. To be honest, I didn’t really consider Mona and me as a couple. I looked at it as an arrangement where we both benefited. Brit was a perfect example. While I would normally be flattered and really into her, it was too soon after Tami left me again for me to want to get serious with someone.

“Thanks for not letting me make a fool out of myself. Your friends were right, you’re a nice guy,” Brit said and closed the door.

◊◊◊

“You keep that scary cat out of my house,” Dad told me when I got home.

“Blame Duke! He let her in. I was the good son who took her back outside,” I explained.

Whack!

“Ow!” I complained, rubbing the back of my head where Mom hit me as she entered the room.

“What did I tell you about letting that cat in my house?” Mom asked.

I pointed at Duke, and he just wagged his tail. I suddenly realized my parents were scared of my little Precious. I rubbed my hands together.

Whack!

“Don’t even think it, Buster,” Dad said with a satisfied smile on his face.

“All right!” I said in surrender.

“What are you cooking us for breakfast?” Mom asked.

I knew better than to argue at this point and made omelets to order. I would bet that I’d get hit more at home today than I did on the football field.

◊◊◊

Our new locker room was in the Lincoln Field House. I was impressed by the size of the lockers each of us had. Everything looked shiny and new. Of course, by the end of the day, it would smell a lot different. Coach had arranged it so players were roughly put together by position. I smiled when I saw Mike waiting for me. His locker was next to mine since he’d be my backup this year. I had just put my duffle bag away when someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around and suddenly was looking at my twin. Mike and I looked at each other, and the guy smiled at me.

“David Dawson, it’s good to finally meet you. I’m your uncle, Phil Prince.”

I stared at the poor kid, who broke out into a big smile. I got a closer look at him, and he was obviously younger than me and not as big. I would guess him to be five-eleven, and maybe 170. I had a million questions going through my head. Did Phil have any brothers and sisters? Did he know of any other aunts and uncles I might have out there? Uncle John had alluded to there being more than one indiscretion by my grandpa. Why was I just now meeting him? Why did he show up here and for practice today? He couldn’t have been from here, because our town was too small for a dead ringer like Phil to be running around town and no one mention it. What did Phil expect from me and my family?

Mike nudged me, and I snapped out of it.

“I’m sorry, you took me by surprise. There’s no mistaking the Dawson resemblance. If you’re my uncle, I take it your dad was Davey Dawson,” I said.

“Yes, he was my dad.”

“Okay, I had no idea,” I said, unsure how to handle this. “Could we get a picture so I can send it to my dad and uncle?”

“Sure!” Phil said.

I reached into my locker, grabbed my cell phone, and had Mike take a picture of the both of us. I sent a text to my dad and uncle. I didn’t want them to find out about this from anyone else.

“Move it! I expect everyone to be on the football field in five minutes,” Moose told us.

“Call me ‘Prince,’ all my friends do. I can’t wait to tell my mom that I finally met you. Maybe we can get together after practice,” Phil said.

“Yeah, I’d like that,” I said.

As we walked out, everyone looked at Phil and me. I saw Roc Pearson, the formerly homeschooled guy I’d run across yesterday. I was glad he and his sister would go to public school this year. I waved at him, and he came over. Roc had three guys with him. Two of them looked like mountains, and the other was a skinny kid.

“My man, I see you worked it out to be able to play,” I said, giving him a fist bump.

“I didn’t know you had a little brother,” Roc said.

“Actually, I just met him. This is Phil, my uncle,” I said.