Smoke Signals

live #3

[chapter features Austin's mom ((underlined)) and dad ((italics))]

"So, Carter. Tell us about yourself."

"Well, um. I've got a 3.5 GPA, I skate, I play basketball, uh, what else...,"

"Oh! Carter plays drums!"

"Is that so?"

"That's awesome, you should jam with me sometime,"

"You play?"

"Got a drum kit in the garage."

"That's amazing! I'd be honoured."

"Great."

"So, Carter, do we know your parents?"

"Mm. Small town, we probably do."

"No, I doubt it. My mom practically lives in the hospital now, she hasn't moved an inch for the past few weeks. My dad, you probably know him, he's a mechanic."

"Is your mother Susan-Lynn?"

"You know her?"

"Yeah. We used to have coffee together, but I never knew she had another son."

"Yeah, she did."

"And your dad owns the garage downtown then?"

"Yes, Jumpstart Auto,"

"Great name."

"Great service! I know your dad, he's a good man."

"Yeah."

"How'd you two meet?"

"Huh?" "Sorry?"

"Actually, weren't you two close a long time ago?"

"Yeah, you two and-,"

"Jim." "Jim."

"Yeah, that was a long time ago."

"Very."

"What happened?"

"I guess you could call it bad blood."

"I couldn't agree more."

"But it's all good now, I assume?"

"Yeah."

"It's dried clean."

"That's lovely."

"It truly is."

"You two going to the Sk8 D8?"

"Y-,"

"Dad! Did I tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"They postponed it!"

"I told you!"

"Yeah, you were right! It's three weeks away now."

"Weather, huh? Too bad."

"You two already had dates lined up then, huh?"

"Yeah." "Yep."

"Lucky girls."

"Lucky boys, more like."

"Shoot, I had no idea."

"Hmm?"

"Austin, why didn't you tell us?"

"Tell you what?"

"Tell us that you tw-,"

"Mom!"

"Oh, isn't that adorable? That's adorab-,"

"Mom, please."

"It is adorable."

"Dad!"

"I love your family."

"Gotta love your in-laws."

"GUYS, PLEASE!"