After spending weeks helping athletes and their siblings, Pablo saved up some money. The Thursday before quiz bowl-State, his parents announce him the following:
"Because you spent more time tutoring athletes than you used to, we now realize that's the price you pay for qualifying for the HSNCT, two months from now. However, we never saw a quiz bowl game, so we're going to support the VAs at State!" Pablo's dad tells him.
"I am not going to play at State this year. However, since LSMSA hosts State, I may as well visit NSU at Natchitoches during the prelims of State!" Pablo explains to him what the plan is for State. "And maybe even meet other quiz bowl teammates than Audrey..."
I hope that they will understand what quiz bowl really is about. They asked me to see the season through. For most teams playing, State represents the end of the season. For us, however, the HSNCT is what we work towards. The usual suspects of the Louisiana quiz bowl circuit are going to be there: Caddo Magnet, Benjamin-Franklin, to name those who are confirmed to attend the HSNCT, Pablo reflects on what to expect for the rest of the quiz bowl season. However, I think people won't ask for help as much until finals time.
"Tomorrow night, you must sleep early because we leave early for Natchitoches!" Pablo's mom warns him.
"I slept over at my teammates' homes on Friday nights before tournaments! They let me sleep at midnight or even later!" Pablo retorts, reminded of his sleepovers at Audrey and Nadine prior to ESA Cade Cane Classic and LQBA Fall Invitational South respectively.
"I guess you're lucky that your quiz bowler teammates are actually responsible students! Then again, I expected nothing less, knowing how... top-heavy quiz bowl teams tend to lean!" Pablo's dad tells him. "More mature, and, of course, smarter; that's why I allowed you to sleep at your quiz bowl teammates' homes before tournaments more readily than I would have let you sleep at your football teammates' after football games!"
"One more thing: we would want, Audrey and I, to eat our own things, without you, at lunch!" Pablo warns his parents.
Not sure Audrey would want to eat Chinese; for some reason, it would remind her far too much of the bad memories of her playing basketball, Pablo then starts researching what restaurants he could get takeout around NSU's campus or, if time permits, eating in-room as opposed to takeout.
"I don't expect the visit of NSU to last the whole tournament..." Pablo's dad sighs. "We might watch a prelim game if we have time"
"As my teammates playing told me, what we will need our own in the game room most will be for the playoff rounds. Lilina isn't playing either, but she feels a visit is in order, too"
"Lilina... she's in ninth grade, correct? She's a little young to visit a college campus!" Pablo's mom points out.
"Yes. She might be a little young for college visits, but she's one of the best ninth graders in the state's quiz bowling world. Also, she brought George in tow"
Once this conversation ends, he glances at the restaurants around NSU where he could take Audrey at lunch break, and then compiles a list to forward her, while remaining mindful of not eating Chinese food. Which makes Chef Wok not viable.
He finally gets started reading the book Audrey gave him for Valentine's Day. About four girls whose parents knew each other for years and shares a used pair of jeans that somehow fit all four despite not being the same size.
An hour or so later, he starts getting puzzled by what he's reading. Why is it that it even appeared in a quiz bowl tournament to begin with? It might be a book about friendship, with leads my age, and some romance in it, but my least favorite pairing is definitely Lena x Kostos. I understand that any difference in lifestyle between then and now might be the result of its time of release, however. Maybe I could give it to the school or parish library; hopefully it should bring joy to someone else, Pablo struggles to contain his disgust for the book, chalking up its presence in a bonus at LQBA Winter Invitational South to an editing artifact.
YOU ARE READING
Can't Stop the Questions
RomancePablo, a sophomore playing tight end for Venomous Agendas High, plays the best football game of his life, but as the season comes to a close, his coaches tell him he can't rely on football to go to college, forcing him to buckle down on academics fo...
