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Chapter 25
***The Next Day***
I drummed impatiently on my legs as I paced the length of the TV room. Kevin,
Howie, Nick, and AJ were all seated on the couch. Kevin was reading a novel,
Howie was searching a Chinese cookbook, and Nick and AJ were attempting to
watch a baseball game on TV. Brian had gone with Stacie and Deb to meet the
producer.
"Can't you sit still? You're distracting," Nick whined.
"Sorry," I said continuing to pace, "but I'm very excited and nervous right
now."
Howie looked over the edge of his cookbook. "What do you mean you're nervous?
You're not the one auditioning."
"I always get nervous for other people. I know it's weird, but that's just
the way I am," I replied still wearing the same path across the floor.
"If she's this nervous when she doesn't have to do anything I'd hate to see
her when she's the one in the hot seat," Kevin mumbled to Howie.
"I'm ten times worse then," I replied to the comment that wasn't directed
at me.
The next time I walked past the couch AJ grabbed my wrist. "Calm down Shorty,"
he said pulling me onto his lap. "Now sit still!"
I managed to sit still for all of 20 seconds before I began to swing my legs
impatiently. AJ put his hands on my knees and continued watching the baseball
game. Next I began to drum my fingers on my legs and wiggle my feet. "Ahh!
Let me get up! I can't sit still!" I burst trying to stand up.
"Oh no you don't!" AJ said grabbing my waist. Almost immediately I doubled
over with laughter. I am very ticklish. "Ah ha!" AJ exclaimed. "Hey Nick!
Wanna help?"
Nick and AJ pulled me back onto the couch tickling me the whole time. I thrashed
about wildly, eyes tearing because I was laughing so hard. Kevin and Howie
looked up from their books, shook their heads, and moved across the room
to the two chairs.
"Stop guys!" I choked.
"Not until you say uncle!" Nick teased.
"No!"
"OK then," AJ said as they tickled me more. By now I was laughing so hard
I was gasping for breath.
"OK! Uncle!" I shouted, out of breath. They both stopped as I sat up taking
a deep breath. As Nick laughed at my red, tearstained face I remembered Brian
telling me that Nick was ticklish as well.
I turned to AJ with a grin and asked silently, "Tickle Nick on 3?" AJ grinned
back. "One, two, three!" I counted in my head. Before Nick even knew what
was happening AJ and I bombarded him with tickling fingers.
"I give! I give!" Nick gasped after about two minutes. Laughing, the three
of us untangled ourselves.
"And now up to bat number 2, Derek Jeter, for the New York Yankees," the
guy on TV announced. I watched as Jeter came up to bat. I knew I should pay
attention because Deb would ask as soon as she came home how he did. Deb
is a huge Yankees fan and an even bigger Jeter fan.
I stared intently at the TV as Jeter got two strikes. "Come on! You can do
it!" I encouraged silently. I was totally absorbed in the game as I watched
the pitcher throw the ball and Derek Jeter hit a home run winning the game
for the Yankees.
As my attention wandered from the game, I sensed that Nick and AJ were plotting
something over my head (literally). I glanced up and saw AJ trying to tell
Nick something without speaking aloud. From the look on Nick's face, he obviously
couldn't lip read.
Pretending to be focused on the TV I watched AJ motion to Nick out of the
corner of my eye. When they both began to move towards me I shot off the
couch causing them to slam into each other.
I laughed as they looked at me in surprise. "How'd you know we were gonna
do that?" Nick questioned.
"Well, for one thing, I always know what AJ's thinking, and for another,
you don't catch on too quick." Nick stuck his tongue out at me, so I made
a face at him. I heard chuckles from across the room and realized that Kevin
and Howie had put aside their books and were watching our little scenario
unfold.
"What's so funny?" I asked, turning to face them.
"All of you. You're like little kids," Kevin said with laughter in his voice.
"Well, thank you Mr. Maturity," AJ said mockingly. "Us kids are gonna go
have some cookies and milk in the kitchen. Care to join us?"
"No, thanks," Howie replied.
"I'll wait until dinner," Kevin responded.
"OK, then let's go," Nick said. "I'm hungry."
"What else is new?" AJ asked sarcastically.
" You sound like Stacie," I giggled. "She's always hungry too!"
"Piggy back?" AJ offered me kneeling down. From my perch on AJ's back I put
my thumbs in my ears, wiggled my fingers, and stuck my tongue out at Kevin
as we went through the door. Kevin just shook his head and smiled. "You know
you love us!" I called back through the door.
As we passed the fridge AJ said, "Hey Shorty, while you're up there get the
cookies down." I pulled a bag of chocolate chip cookies off the top of the
refrigerator as AJ got the milk out of it. Nick was already standing at the
counter with three glasses. AJ put the milk down on the counter and I handed
the cookies to Nick (who I could actually look in the eye for a change) before
AJ crouched down so I could jump off. Then we each poured a glass of milk
and grabbed a handful of cookies (Nick's handful being the biggest, of course)
before sitting down at the island in the center of the kitchen.
***20 minutes later***
"Hey Shorty! Grab the basketball off the floor in the hall on your way down!"
AJ called to me from the front door. I grabbed the ball off the floor by
Brian's room and bounded down the stairs to meet AJ.
"Nick! We're waiting!" I called back up the stairs.
"OK, OK, I'm coming!" he said running down the stairs. We were on our way
out to play basketball at the park. Don't ask me what possessed me to agree
to play with them. I'd never have a chance! AJ is a foot taller than I am
and Nick is a foot and three inches taller!
We stepped out onto the porch and waited while AJ locked the door behind
us. Nick idly bounced the ball while I closed my eyes and felt the light
breeze coming through the trees.
When I opened my eyes I saw a car pulling into the driveway. They were back!
Brian, Stacie, and Deb all got out of the car, faces grim. This didn't look
good.
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