by Lari Smythe
* * *
"Hey guys." I said as Jason and Alex came out of the school. "You hurt?"
"Nah," Alex replied, "just sore."
"You sore too?" I asked Jason.
"You kiddin'?" Alex cut in. "Coach is takin' it easy on ol' Hollywood here."
Jason punched Alex in the arm.
"Dang dude, take it easy."
"What are you doing here anyway?" Jason asked me.
"It's a surprise." I slipped my arm under his.
"I doubt it." Alex laughed and then puckered up and made kissing noises.
Jason grabbed at him, but Alex ran. Jason pulled away from me and stayed right on Alex's heels as they weaved in and out around the poles that supported the awning over the bus loading area. From the slowness of their pace, it was obvious they were both exhausted. Jason finally gave up and Alex jogged over to his mom's car.
"Later," Alex yelled as he slipped onto the passenger's seat. "Hey, Mom."
"Yeah, later." Jason waved as they drove off.
"So," I said, as Jason walked back, "Coach taking it easy on you, huh."
"Not really, we just spent some of practice going over the playbook. It's a real different kind of offense that depends on me making last minute decisions on the field."
"Kind of hard for me to wrap my head around that."
"Well, think of it like this. Coach sends in a play from the sidelines and I call it in the huddle. Then, as we lineup, the other team sets their defense for what they think we're going to do based on the way we lineup."
"Okay, so far."
"When I see what defense they lineup in, then I can change the play. It's called an audible."
"How does the rest of the team know what you change it to?"
"Exactly. We have codes I call, but not everyone gets them all the time. Twice today, I threw the ball right to the defensive player because the receiver and I weren't on the same page."
"Guess that makes you look bad."
"Nah, it's not that. It's just a lot to remember and I have to decide in a split second. So, you said something about a surprise?"
"Yep, you're coming with me."
"What about my mom's car?" He looked out into the parking lot. "Guess you took care of that already. I don't suppose I need to call Mom."
"Nope. You want to get something to eat first?"
"You mind?"
"Not at all."
We walked out to Melanie's truck. Jason threw his stuff in the bed and then climbed in the passenger's side.
"Sure you don't want to drive? It's three on the tree—something different."
"Nah, I'm bushed. Maybe some other time."
"Suit yourself." I climbed in and then we headed for the closest fast food place.
Jason ordered enough for the both of us and ate it all of course. Once he was finished, we headed to the construction site. I was on pins and needles with anticipation as I turned off the main road.
"I see they got the electricity installed," Jason said, obviously noticing the fresh ridge of dirt where the trench had been filled in.
"Yep." We cleared the field and started up into the woods.
"Looks like they're still here," Jason said, pointing to the vehicle parked directly at the end of the driveway.
As I pulled to a stop, my family jumped out from behind the vehicle.
"Surprise!" they all yelled in unison.
"You kiddin' me?" Jason gawked.
"It's used, just like you said, and four wheel drive. Come on, you have to check it out." We both got out of the truck and walked toward Jason's new—to him—Land Rover.
"Green is perfect, and a tan interior," he said, running his had down the fender and then peering in the window.
"Leather," I added.
Jason looked up at my family. "I don't know what to say. Thank you seems so inadequate, it's totally over the top."
"Over the top?" Elizabeth puzzled.
"He likes it Mom."
They all smiled.
"Crank it up," Tink said.
"I had Tink check it over and make a few upgrades."
"Upgrades to a Rover?" Jason gawked as if that were impossible.
"Crank it up," Tink repeated.
Jason climbed in and started the engine. It roared to life with a sound very similar to my old Malibu. He gunned the engine a few times. "That is freakin' awesome!" He turned it off and then ran over to Tink and gave him a spontaneous, but awkward hug. "Thanks man."
Tink smiled and then winked at me. "Oh," he said, "you'll excuse me for a few minutes?"
"Sure," Jason said.
Tink ran off past the remnants of the garage and into the woods. A short time later a familiar rumble turned into the driveway.
I spun around to look. "Oh my God!"
Tink was driving a 1966 Malibu up the driveway. He gunned the engine and pulled in head-to-head facing Jason's Rover.
"They match," Jason said.
"Right down to the tan, leather interior," Tink said as he climbed out.
I sprang into Tink's arms and then kissed him. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."
"Well, it's not the same one and I didn't do the work, but I figured you couldn't wait till the garage was finished."
"Did you know about this?" I looked back at the rest of my family. They just smiled. I dropped down out of Tink's arms and turned toward Jason. "What do you think, twins?"
"Boy are we going to attract some attention at school with these." The smiles from my family faded. "In a good way," Jason added.
"It'll be fine, guys," I reassured them. I turned back to Jason. "Your mom has the name of the place where we got it. You two can decide how you want to title it, her name or yours, whatever you decide, it's yours."
"So Mom knows about it too?"
"She hasn't seen it, but I made sure it was okay with her first."
"Mind if we go show her—unless you have something for me to do, sir." Jason added.
"You kids go and have some fun." Benjamin said. "The house can wait until tomorrow."
"Thanks," both Jason and I said.
"I'll follow you," I said, "that way you won't have to bring me home or make excuses with your mom for how I got home."
"Thanks again, guys." Jason waved to my family and then climbed in behind the wheel.
"See ya." I waved as I followed Jason down the driveway.
