Three's a Crowd

12) Captain's Orders

It was mid afternoon in Queen's, the summer sun was shining brightly, and the heat was at a moderate 78 degrees. However, not everyone was outside enjoying the beautiful weather. Inside the community center, Peter and Michelle were playing games with the kids again. The theme of the day was jump ropes, so any game that involved jumping and hopping in over a rope was fair game. One of the games they played was "Jump the Brook," which is a game where the space between two ropes increases after every turn. The players are eliminated if they touch the ropes or step in the space between; the last player standing wins. Other games included hopscotch for the kids that didn't feel confident with their jump roping skills, Simon Says with jump ropes, and as a finale, a double dutch showcase. The two teens spun the ropes nicely, allowing the kids to showcase their skills and have fun. They hoped to achieve as much fun for the kids as possible, as the following day would be the start of the school year for everyone in the New York area.

The last night of summer is always a big one. It's a night filled with a lot of dread, but a lot of excitement as well. The thoughts of new adventures and memories to make glimmered in their most sentimental eyes, but the worry of new challenges and new people also made them nervous of what to expect. Peter, Michelle, and Ned all knew this, so they thought it would be best to have a movie night at Peter's apartment later that night. They didn't know what movie to watch, so they arranged to each bring a movie they thought would be good for everyone to watch. Then, they would decide that night. Peter and Michelle were very excited for it, but still, they had to make sure their work with the kids was done first.

The center is an essential place for kids during the school year. At this time of the year, it donates new backpacks and supplies to kids from families that are financially incapable of buying their own. As kids came and went through the gym, Frank would stand in the gym office with a clipboard and line-up of new backpacks to handout. Anytime he wasn't handing them out, he would look out into the gym, watching his daughter and Peter smiling and enjoying the fun with the kids. He smiled, particularly at Peter, seeing how attentive and engaged he was with the kids. In his mind, he was thinking about he made the right choice about the thing he was going to speak with him about after.

When it came to five o'clock, the kids were sent home with their new school supplies and beaming smiles on their faces. They said goodbye to Peter and MJ, some even hugging them, and went off to start a new school year. Peter and MJ started picking up the equipment that was spread out through out the gym, just as Frank came out to help them. "Great job, guys!" he complimented, "way to finish the summer strong!"

"I don't think we've ever had that many kids before" Peter said, accounting for the sixty to seventy kids that came through. It was definitely an increase from the usual ten or fifteen they usually get on a normal day. "The last day of the summer is always the craziest" MJ commented. "Has been ever since we started here" Frank added. Peter answered with an amazed expression, his eyebrows raised high and his lips forming a face of enthusiasm. "Wow, that's crazy! It was really fun though."

"When you're done putting everything away Peter, do you mind speaking with me in the office?" Frank asked. "No, not at all" Peter answered respectfully. "Great" Frank replied and went back to the office.

"Should I be worried about that?" Peter turned to MJ, as they put the last couple things in the supply bucket. She didn't answer but did try to hide a mischievous little grin. "What?" Peter asked out of curiosity.

"I'm not going to say a word" is what she said, while pretending to lock her mouth with a key. She took the bucket and dragged it to the supply closet, while Peter took the long and dreadful walk to the office. He wondered if he was about to be told that he needed to spend less time her because it was distracting MJ, or if it was that he had been given the job. Or if it wasn't about work at all, and it was something personal. Maybe something about him or MJ that he wanted to share. He didn't know what to expect.