Two of a Kind

Ella aka Jake the math genius

"I don't quite understand if Jake didn't fight or write a bad grade why are you calling me?" Jay called his son's class teacher.

"Mr. Halstead, Jake wrote a A in math. You don't want to explain to me that he was gifted over the summer and has a A in all subjects."

"You accuse him of cheating?" Jay asked horrified.

"I just consider all the options," she said, "On the other hand, I can only report positively about your son at the moment."

"That is positive. Maybe he finally realized how important school is," Jay ended his call. Hailey looked at him in astonishment. She heard every single word.

"Jake wrote a A?" She asked in amazement. How often did she try to explain math and how often he came home with a F.

"The summer camp was worth every penny," said Jay, "He can cook, write good grades, can behave," he said.

"And is vegetarian," Hailey added, "There's a new water slide park near Chicago. We should do something together. Just the three of us. "

Jay really liked the idea. For a long time he never went on an excursion with his son.

Jay returned home immediately after work, where he saw his son sitting on the floor. Books, notes and pens spread out in front of him. It was a rare sight, if not the first sight. Jake never learned on his own will. But that wasn't the strange thing about it. Jay saw the order in the living room. A look through the crack of the door to the kitchen confirmed that even this place was clean. How long has Jake been keeping order? The boy was the Chaos King of Chicago.

Jay sat down next to him on the living room floor and picked up a note. Amazingly, this script was legible.

"What are you doing?" Jay asked curiously.

"Write a learning slip. Tuesday I'm writing a history exam," Ella didn't look up from her note.

"Oh okay," said Jay, quickly changing the subject, "Shall we go to the new water slide park at the weekend?"

Ella looked at her father in surprise. Water slide park? That sounded like a lot of fun! "Yeah, sure!", Ella was happy before she realized that she couldn't go there. She is not a boy! She can't go to the swimming pool! Her lie would be noticed at the latest! "But I can't!" she said, looking down at her notes, "I have to learn. It's going so well at school right now."

"Hey, you don't have to study all weekend because of me. I know I have often reproached you for learning harder, but that was definitely not what I meant."

"Aren't you asking for A's at all?" Ella wondered.

"Yes, no, so yes, I'm happy if you even bring home a one, but the other grades are also good."

"Deal," grinned Ella. She was surprised that her father did not ask for extraordinary performance. Even if she didn't learn, she wouldn't take F home. The lessons are sufficient for at least a C.

"So what do you say about my suggestion? Hailey is coming too."

Ella considered this. She loved Hailey very much. She is a great woman and she was really happy for her dad and brother. They were truly like a wonderful little family.

"Maybe we can go to the water slide park for my birthday?" Ella asked. The day before she would switch with her brother, and Jake will be happy.

"Yeah, sure."

Ella wondered if Jake would ever hug his dad. Probably earlier when he was little. She also wondered why he didn't call him Dad. She never liked calling her father Jay.

Reluctantly, she leaned over to her father, wrapped her arms around him, and pressed her face to his chest. Jay looked at his son totally overwhelmed by the loving gesture.

"I love you," Ella whispered audibly for Jay, who raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"I love you too, my son," he said softly.

After a while, she parted from the hug, "Can we invite Hailey? Movie night and eating pizza?" Ella asked.

Jay nodded enthusiastically and headed for the kitchen to call Hailey and then pizza service. Ella took advantage of the moment and typed her brother an SMS.

Ella: Why don't you call him dad?

Jake: Why not? Jay is his name.

Ella: I'm serious! How many times have you hugged Dad and told him you loved him?

Jake: I don't know, maybe kindergarten?

Ella: Did something happen between you?

Jake: I think I often disappoint Jay. I am not a model child like you. I am bad at school, can only cause chaos and has therefore often had arguments with him.

Ella: So you've estranged yourself from him? Wait, can you only cause chaos? They don't touch anything in my room anymore, understand ?!

Ella didn't get an answer. Her brother made so much nonsense, whether wanted or not, that the relationship with their father suffered. She has to change this.

Less than an hour later, both Hailey and the pizza were there. They were sitting on the couch eating pizza and watching a funny family comedy.