Fleetwood Mac-Part III of Fritz Series

Growing Pains

Exactly two weeks before we embark on our marathon European tour, Sara's teacher calls the house to invite Stevie and I to a parent teacher conference. Stevie's excited, at the last one we learned that Sara was on the A honor roll, and she was eligible to be enrolled in the gifted program. Which we promptly did, and where she's done nothing but get A's and glowing reviews from her teachers in every class. Robin is watching the kids for us and hand in hand Stevie and I are sitting in the head teacher's office waiting for her to arrive and give us a progress report on our little girl.

"It's so scary to think next year she'll be in middle school..." it's scarier to think we won't see her for four months. It gets harder and harder for me to leave the kids each time we tour. But we need the money, or shall I say Mick needs the money and we're being forced to work off his debt. Financially we're in better shape than Christine and John. Chris was dating Brian Wilson, who is a notorious shopper and an extravagant partier. But he happened to do all that partying and shopping on her dime. Mick is Mick. And John is terrible with money so he left everything to his best friend Mick. And Mick is Mick.

Contractually Stevie and I owe the venues and the record company about two million bucks total, which we could pay off and not go on this lunatic tour if we wanted. But after Bella Donna, the ticket sales for our Mirage tour have gone through the roof and we'd be pretty stupid to leave that much revenue on the table. Jokingly Stevie seems to be enjoying her status as the bread winner in the family. She now officially makes more money than me. Honestly I don't care either way, money's nice but I've always been more into the music aspect of the music business. I'd be happy if we never made a penny more than we did as Buckingham Nicks.

"I don't really remember middle school, that's where I met Javi and the guys but I didn't start playing with them until High School. Before that I would just listen to records and play the guitar parts by ear" back when nothing but music and guitar where on my mind, then I turned fifteen and started noticing girls. Then it was about sixty percent guitar, forty percent girls. Then I turned sixteen and started noticing girls a lot more and it was about fifty fifty. Then I met Sandra and guitar took over again. Then Stevie, and well...

"You and your guitars, sometimes I think you love them more than me" bumping my shoulder Stevie snuggles a bit closer while we wait "Well-" pretending to think for a second I pause. Stevie gasps in fake surprise smacking my arm "Ow-okay, okay, I love you more than my guitars babe" she snuggles to me again "Damn right you do" saving my smart ass comment I peck her cheek and she turns so I can get the other, then her lips. Lingering I move her hair aside with one eye on the door "You know what else I love more than my guitars?" she leans closer "What"

Nuzzling her earlobe I close my eyes whispering exactly what I love more than my guitars to her. I can feel her skin heat up under my lips, her body shaking with giggles at my bedroom talk. Just as I'm about to suggest a few things for us to do in the front seat of the Mustang after we leave, the door open. Stevie lets out another giggle moving away and sitting up in "parent mode". Still grinning I throw my arm over the back of her chair as Sara's teacher walks in.

She's young looking, twentyish with thick brown hair and a gray sweater like a librarian would wear. She's tall though, and her skirt reaches well below her knees in a conservative fashion. Smiling warmly at us she takes a seat adjusting her glasses and folding her hands in front of her "It's always so good to talk to you Mr. and Mrs. Buckingham. Sara is such a joy to teach" beaming Stevie leans against my shoulder adjusting one side of her shawl and perking up in motherly pride. I'm proud of Sara too, she's always been sweet and well behaved in school with only one or two minor incidents. Her grades are outstanding, she loves volunteering and working with groups and she's beyond gifted as a music student. And what's more, she can actually read music. She may shame me into learning how to do it myself.