SF Chapter 86: First Day II
After they finished breakfast, Daniel called everyone over. "Come on, let's go."
"But we still have time," Haley commented after checking the clock.
"Yeah, but I'm still going to Dad's house," he replied.
Daniel walked up to Alex, who had gone back to grab her things, and started singing near her ear. ♫♪ I got a pocket, got a pocketful of sunshine... ♫♪
She groaned. "Dani! Not this again!" Then she ran after him while he escaped laughing.
Claire suddenly remembered something. "Haley, honey, don't forget the driving instructor is picking you up from school."
"Can't he pick me up someplace else?" Haley stopped to look at herself in the mirror again.
"I don't want kids at school thinking I'm dating a 40-year-old driving instructor who's not even cute."
Claire just let out a deep sigh after hearing that, and seeing that Alex was still chasing Daniel around and Luke was somehow still eating cereal.
[Claire Commentary]
"Getting everybody out of the house in the morning can be really tough. Especially on the first day of school," Claire remarked while sitting on the couch.
"From the minute we get up at 7:00 until we drop them off at school, it's go, go, go."
She glanced around before admitting, "There are some crazy moms who get emotional about the first day of school because their kids won't be in the house anymore."
"I couldn't be more opposite," she confessed. "Finally having a quiet day with the house all to myself sounds like paradise."
[Commentary Ends]
After Claire finally managed to restore order and shove all the kids out of the house, she sat down and picked up a book to read peacefully.
But she quickly noticed Phil standing very close to her.
"Whatcha reading there? A... book?" he asked.
"Yeah. I've been meaning to get to it for a while."
"Oh, it's got a map at the beginning. I like it when books do that," he continued, trying to make conversation.
"Uh-huh."
Seeing that he was still standing there, she asked, "Don't you have an open house this morning?"
"I rescheduled. Thought you might like some company." Phil smiled.
[Phil Commentary]
"Well, the first day of school can be tough for stay-at-home moms," Phil commented while sitting at the kitchen table.
He explained, "Now, you have to understand - the kids are gone, the nest is empty, and they feel rudderless."
"A lot of guys wouldn't even notice. But I'm not a lot of guys. I listen with my mind, and if you pay attention, women will tell you what they want by telling you the opposite of what they want."
He concluded, "Like the other day, Claire was saying, 'You have to move your car. There's no space in the garage for both our cars.' And what she was really saying was, you know... I should probably get a sports car."
[Commentary Ends]
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"So you're buying another sports car?" Haley asked Dani while sitting in the front seat of the Porsche.
"Yep. Dad and I are going to buy a Lambo today," he confirmed.
"Uncle Dan, can I get a ride in your new car?" Luke asked from the back seat.
Alex kept reading beside her brother, showing absolutely no interest in the conversation.
"You can, Luke. But a Lambo only has two seats. So if I have to give you guys a ride again, two of you will have to go with my bodyguards," Dani replied to his nephew while glancing at the rearview mirror.
Right behind them was a black car with his two bodyguards driving in it.
"Oh my God." Haley stared at her uncle with wide eyes. "You could lend me this car once I get my license," she said coyly.
"No way!" he immediately denied. "You would kill both of us. First you'd kill yourself driving this, then sis would kill me."
She gasped in outrage.
[Dani, Claire and Phil commentary]
Claire commented while sitting between her husband and her brother. "Haley just got her learner's permit. We've been taking turns driving with her." She pointed at the three of them.
"It is a nightmare!" Dani remarked right after. "Haley almost crashed into a pole, and we were driving in a empty parking lot!"
"I was driving with her when somehow I realized we had ended up inside a park," Phil added with his own story.
"And she barely listens to instructions," Claire added as well. "Makes you realize we're all just hanging by a thread," she concluded while grabbing her husband's and brother's hands.
[Commentary ends]
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After dropping the three kids off at their respective schools, Daniel headed to his father's house.
Jay and Gloria were in the kitchen.
"I can't believe my little boy is going into fifth grade. He used to hold my finger with his tiny hand and look at me with those big eyes," Gloria said emotionally, sounding a little melancholic.
"Oh, mi niño pequeño, Jay." She rested her head on his shoulder.
"Yep, they grow up," Jay replied nonchalantly.
[Gloria commentary]
"The first day of school is always so difficult," the Latina woman remarked while sitting at the kitchen counter.
"Having your kid taken away for the whole day... I don't think there is a single sane mother who is happy about that," she said confidently.
[Commentary ends]
"Hey Dad, Mommy Gloria," Daniel greeted excitedly. "Today's the day!"
Gloria went to hug him while Jay nodded. "I'm going to drop Manny off at school, and then we'll go."
"Come on, Manny, let's get going!" he yelled.
Manny appeared a moment later. "How's my hair?"
"Hold on. What are you wearing there?" Jay stared at Manny, who was wearing a strange blanket-looking thing over his body.
"That looks like an old Christmas tree skirt," he remarked with his usual sarcasm.
"It's a traditional Colombian poncho. I want my new classmates to know I'm proud of my heritage," the boy retorted.
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