“That was when it got scary,” I said and paused for dramatic effect. “The canoe shot deeper into the woods, and we had just hit warp speed when we hit another tree head-on. Mom sort of flew over me, and I grabbed her before she could tumble into the water. The universe must have wanted to balance its karma because Greg smashed into the tree and got a bloody nose. Dad had been thrown from his seat and piled onto me.
“The canoe didn’t catch a tree, but it whipped around in the current, and we were now heading backward through the Jungle of Death. We slammed against I don’t know how many trees before we shot out the other side. Dad grabbed his paddle and got us out of the current.
“Dad made Greg get in the middle with Mom, and let me take over with the lead paddle position, as he should’ve in the first place. When we got back to the park, and out of the canoe, we could see the damage. It looked like the canoe had been in a car wreck. The nose had crumpled from the direct hits. The sides looked like a piñata that a bunch of ten-year-olds had pounded with a baseball bat but just couldn’t seem to break.
“When Mom got out, she informed everyone that that was the last time she would ever set foot in that thing again,” I said.
“Was everyone okay?” Mrs. Pearson asked.
“Yeah, but there’s more to the story. It seems the bicyclists got worried when they saw a screaming family of four shoot into the woods. When we got home, we were the lead story on the Channel 3 News. Rescue workers were out looking for our bodies. Dad called and straightened it out,” I said.
“So, you were in the news at a young age,” Mr. Pearson stated.
“Yep, I was a legend in my own mind even back then.”
Roc had finally joined us. They say girls take forever to get ready. They had nothing on Roc.
◊◊◊
Paul picked everyone up, and we drove to the Thunderbird for dinner. Zoe and I were seated at a quiet table by ourselves. It seemed the JV cheerleaders were all there with dates, and everyone pulled tables together.
I was happy to see it was both Italian beef and prime rib night. The T-bird made a killer Italian beef with sausage sandwich. Zoe picked the prime rib, so I got the sandwich. They also had an appetizer sampler platter with fried mushrooms, onion rings, jalapeno poppers, and potato skins. All of which was probably off my diet, but then again, how often did I get actual bar food?
We’d just gotten our appetizer when Roc came and sat down with us, looking worried.
“Zoe, I forgot my wallet.”
“Sucks to be you,” Zoe said and winked at me.
Only an older sibling can torment you like that. I sat back and tried not to grin.
“Come on, I know Mom gives you emergency money. Let me borrow enough to pay for at least Piper’s dinner,” he begged.
“What’s she getting?” Zoe asked.
“I don’t know. Whatever she wants, I guess,” Roc said.
“I think she has him wrapped around her little finger,” I offered and was rewarded with a glare from Roc.
“How much was that Kid’s Meal on the menu?” she asked me.
“Like five dollars,” I said.
“I think he needs to learn to be more responsible,” Zoe opined.
“David, can I borrow some money?” Roc asked.
“I’d be glad to lend you some, but Piper isn’t my date.”
“Oh, she’d like to be,” he mumbled.
“What did you say?” Zoe asked as she raised her eyebrows.
“Yep, he needs to learn a lesson,” I agreed.
“You know I have the money. I’ll pay you back when I get home,” Roc said.
“I’m not sure we want money,” I said.
“When did this become ‘we’?” Roc asked.
“When I hauled your sorry butt here and had to listen to you for the last few minutes while I’m on my date,” I said with a straight face.
“What do we want him to do for us?” Zoe asked me.
“I personally would like to get a few get-out-of-jail-free cards,” I suggested.
“He was a little tattletale when he was younger, but he’s been pretty good since I caught him …”
“Zoe! Remember, I know about …”
“Roc, careful,” Zoe warned.
“Well, that solves that dilemma,” I said with a smile.
“You do something to my sister, and I’ll become Cassidy’s slave-boy and have her kick your ass,” Roc warned.
I would bet she’d do it to have her own personal slave. Maybe we should try something else.
“I’m at a loss,” I admitted.
“I could do your chores for a month,” Roc offered.
“That won’t work. I pay Wolf to do mine,” I said, being deliberately dense.
“I would do them for free,” he said.
Wolf had just come in, so I sent him a text to come over.
“I thought you were on a date. What’s her little brother doing on it?” Wolf asked.
“My point exactly,” I said, raising my eyebrows. “It seems young Mr. Pearson forgot his wallet and needs money to pay for tonight. I offered to give it to him if he’d do something for me. He said he would do the chores I pay you for, for free.”
“That won’t work. I do need some help with some things. Your mom wants all the storm windows taken out, and the screens put in. I’ll also need to prepare the garden and flower beds. I could hire him on at your going rate and make short work of it,” Wolf said.
“That work for you?” I asked Roc.
