𝑬𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝑴í𝒂 | ᴮᵒʸ ᴹᵉᵉᵗˢ ᵂᵒʳˡᵈ

16: Mommy Dearest

"Once I wished I was a duck, as mostly ducks have lots of luck. They swim around all day in a pool and mostly never have to go to school." The boy on TV said.

"Beaver, I think that's very, very cute." His mother replied.

"Hey, Beav, you still think you'll get a prize for that?" His older brother asked. "Sure, Wally. I'm the only kid in the third grade who wrote a poem." The kid responded. The scene ended, and Mr. Feeny spoke.

"So, how do you feel Ward and June handled their family problem?" He asked.

"They were too perfect." Shawn said.

"Unrealistic." I said.

"Too TV." Cory said.

"I agree with you, Mr. Matthews." Mr. Feeny said, walking over to Cory. "That's not like you." Cory replied. "In fact, you brought me to today's assignment." "That's like you." Mr. Feeny walked to the front of the class. "Back in the prehistoric 1950s when cleavers strode the earth, the U.S. census indicated that a model American family had a mother, a father, and two children."

"Leftovers." Cory called out. "What are you talking about, Mr. Matthews?" "Well, last year in fifth grade, we divided up into families and solved problems. It's sixth grade now, Mr. Feeny. Families are yesterday's news."

"Very well. This year, I shall let you form into urban gangs." "Cool." "Each gang will have a mother, a father, and two children." "You just love dangling that little string of hope in front of us and yanking it away, don't you?" Cory asked. "I had a cat." Mr. Feeny replied.

"I bet it hung itself." Shawn said. Mr. Feeny wrote on the board. "In this assignment. Each participant will help the other to become... an ideal family member. For instance, Mr. Hunter and Mr. Minkus will be paired as brothers."

They both smacked their foreheads. "Oh, no." Shawn muttered. "Trust me. You are going to enjoy this. I know I shall. Now, each of you will write a profile of a model brother. Then each of you must become that brother." Minkus laughed.

"You mean Shawn has to act exactly like I want him to?" Minkus asked. "That's correct, Mr. Minkus." Cory turned around to Shawn. "You're gonna be Minkus' brother. Nerd-o-rama." Cory turned back around. "I'd hate to be the guy who had them for sons." "Funny you should say that, Mr. Matthews, or as I like to call you... Dad."

I covered my mouth with both hands to hide my laughter. "He's gonna be my father?" Minkus asked. "Yes!" Cory exclaimed. "And Miss Lawrence, you're mother." "No!" Cory said.

The bell rang, dismissing us all from class. Mr. Feeny walked to his desk, and I turned to Shawn and Cory. "I'll catch up with you guys." I said. They left, and I walked over to Mr. Feeny.

"Mr. Feeny, is it okay if I skip out on this project?" "This project isn't exactly optional, Miss Flores." "Well, I don't really like the idea of a modern American family." "And why is that?" "Because I don't have one." Mr. Feeny sighed.

"How about we give Mr. Hunter, Mr. Matthews, Miss Lawrence, and Mr. Minkus' group– an aunt?" "A cool aunt?" "As long as you do the project, you could be grandma for all I care." I smiled. "Thanks, Mr. Feeny." "You're welcome, Miss Flores."

I ran out to the hall to Shawn and Cory. "Guess who's group gets a cool aunt?" I said. "Come on, Adriana-Camila, you know I'm bad at guessing." Shawn said. "It's you guys!" I said. "Really?" Cory asked. "Yeah, I asked Mr. Feeny and he agreed! Which is surprising but still."

"Great! Cool aunt Adriana-Camila." Shawn replied with a smirk. "No, a cool aunt has a shorter name... Cool aunt A.C." I said with a smile.

♥