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…So, Leighanne, Baylee, and I went to the mall today. We planned on doing some last minute Christmas shopping. After an hour, of roaming the mall, we bumped into Nick. Leighanne said she was going to look at shoes…go figure. I watched her take a hold of Baylee’s hand, and walk away. Okay…does that, typically, mean that she is going to watch him? I thought it did, so I went into Game Stop with Nick.

After a half hour, Nick and I headed to find Leighanne and Baylee, so that we could all get something to eat. We stroll into a store and find Leighanne trying on shoes, but I didn’t see Bay. I asked her where he was and she said that she thought I was watching him! This terribly confused me!

Nick and I rushed out of the store and began the search for him. I didn’t see any mall security anywhere and I, definitely, couldn’t hear him crying or anything. Both of us were panicked, BIG time! Suddenly, I heard someone shouting my name. Spinning around, I saw a 20-something woman walking our way. Holding onto her finger was my son! It turns out that she was a fan and recognized him, immediately. She was trying to find security, when she spotted us.

Thank goodness for a caring fan! Baylee wasn’t even crying! So…I asked her to join us, for lunch. At first, she refused but I gave her my goofy grin…oh yeah, I can still make ‘em melt! At any rate, I finally convinced her that buying her lunch was the least I could do. We tracked down my wife and all went to eat.

Guess what…

NICK’S GOT A DATE!!! They really hit it off and he asked her to see a movie tomorrow night. She was hesitant, at first, but that Carter smirk…I tell ya, it’s as deadly as my goofy grin! Poor girl didn’t stand a chance!

So, all in all, Baylee is just fine and Nick scored a date. Sure, the whole thing scared me out of my mind, but it all turned out okay. Baylee is NEVER going shoe shopping, with his mom again, I can tell you that much!


“My mother lost me…shoe shopping?!?!?! That’s depressing!” I shook my head, closing the journal, with a chuckle. I gently set it on the night table, before pulling off my shirt. I finished getting ready for bed. It was late and it had been a long day.

Being a brat really takes a lot out of a guy! I hated to admit it, but Morgan was right, about everything. Is it me, or is she one of those abnormally mature people? I mean, I know she’s super smart, and everything, but…I dunno…she seems so much more level headed than me and Sean. Maybe it’s just a chick thing.

After a restless night’s sleep, I awoke to a knock on the door. I groaned loudly. It was Sunday and I wanted to sleep in. Reluctantly, I rolled out of bed and swung open the door.

“Guess what?!?” Mason rushed, into my room.

“What, Mase?”

“Nick talked to my dad, yesterday!” He was absolutely beaming. I knew there was more to the story, but wasn’t sure if I was going to be as excited about it, as he was.

“Yeah? And?”

“You know that Spring Break is coming soon…”

“Uhuh…” I sat down, on the edge of my bed. Looking up at him, I waved for him to continue.

“Nick also talked to my Grandma.” I raised an eyebrow, watching him clap his hands. This must be something big. “Nick is going to start going to dad’s counseling sessions and stuff…”

“Where are you going with this, Mason, and are you planning to get there anytime today?” I was starting to get anxious. Even my little cousin can build the suspense, I guess.

“Well, we’re going to keep up with our visits, too. Then…guess what?!?!”

“Not a clue.”

“Nick is taking you, me and my dad all out, to spend Spring Break on, the Littrell family farm!!! The whole family helps to keep it running and, now, we’ll get to help, too!” He was practically squealing!

“WHAT?!?!?” I jumped to my feet, looking him dead in the eyes. All I could picture was myself, in overalls and missing a front tooth! I don’t want to chase chickens and milk cows…just…eew!

“Yeah! They think it will be great for dad. The counselor lady says that it’s still too soon for dad to go back to his normal responsibilities, or whatever, but this will allow him to be around family and it will help him with his rehabilitation!” He jumped around, spitting out a word that, I’m not sure he even understood. Honestly, I was not really pleased, over this.

“NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICK!!!!!” I screamed, barreling past Mason. Like Mason said, staying on the family farm meant helping with the family farm. I didn’t want to spend my Spring Break in a corn field!

“I take it, Mason went up there and told you everything, even after I told him not to?” Nick lifted his eyes, from the newspaper, as I came rushing into the kitchen.

“I don’t want to spend break, on the farm! Wasn’t I going to get a say, in this?”

“Sit. I’ll explain…”

Okay, so a long story, short. The people, at the rehab center, think it would help Kevin to have time around family. The family’s support is supposed to help him, with his recovery. From what Nick said, when they found out about the family’s farm, they decided that it would be a great place for him to “get away” from the normal pressures of life…or whatever. Basically, I have no choice. Dig out the blue jean overalls, and look out cows, ‘cuz here I come! Yippy…freakin’…skippy!

Thank the heavens; I have about a month, before this happens. Maybe if I complain enough…then again, I know what everyone (mainly Morgan) is going to say, “Stop being selfish, Baylee. This is to help Kevin with his sobriety.” Blah, blah, stinkin’ blah!

I was supposed to be grounded, but Nick made an exception later that night, and took us out for karaoke and pizza. It was a school night, and we couldn’t stay out too late, but it would get my mind off the whole farm thing. AJ, Mason, Sean, Morgan, Nick and I all filed into the building. Finding a booth, in the back, we all sat and ordered our food. It didn’t take long for Nick, and AJ, to get up and sing a song. The song was almost over, but our laughter wasn’t.

“Who let the dogs out?” Nick sang loudly, as the song.

“WOOF!...WOOF! WOOF!...WOOF! WOOF!” AJ barked, into the microphone. The four, of us kids, were in tears from laughing so hard.

“Who let the dogs out?” Nick was enjoying this song, a little, too much!

“WOOF!...WOOF! WOOF!...WOOF! WOOF!” AJ was leaning over our table, and we barked along with him. The ending notes trailed off, and they rejoined the table. We, quickly, ate our food. Now, it was my turn. Grabbing Sean’s arm, I dragged him to the stage. I cleared my throat, and prepared to sing. I snickered, as I heard the opening notes. Time to be ridiculously, over dramatic!

“O baby, baby!”

“How was I supposed to know?” Sean dramatically sang the words, to the crowd.

“O baby, baby, I shouldn’t have let you gooooo!”

“Show me,” we chimed together, both terribly off key, “how you want it tooooo beeee.”

“Tell me babyyyy,” Sean fought to hold back his laughter. “ ‘cuz I need to knoooow now…”

“…what we’ve got!” I shook my shoulders, just like the singer…what was her name? It doesn’t matter. Anyways, we barely made it through the song. I just about lost it, when Nick shot Pepsi, out his nose!

Mason ended up singing the guy’s song, ‘Just Want You to Know’ and completely nailed it! Now, Morgan was approaching the stage. Our food was gone, and once she was done, we would be heading home. I must admit, I was in a MUCH better mood.

“I kissed a girl, and I liked it!” My jaw dropped, as Morgan belted out the song. AJ, just about, choked on his iced tea and started coughing. “The taste of her cherry Chapstick!”

“I had no idea!” Sean whispered, with a chuckle.

“I kissed a girl, just to try it!” She shimmied around, making those girly innocent looks. “I hope my boy…friend don’t mind it!” Slinking her shoulders around, she touched a finger, to her lips. “It felt so wrong…it felt so right…it don’t mean…I’m in…love to…night.”

“Me, either,” I finally responded, to Sean’s comment. I was stunned, to say the least, at how much she got into it! I mean, obviously, she know the song and…liked it…okay, I’m creeped out! After the song ended, we all stood. Morgan walked up to us, and we headed out to the cars.

I looked at Morgan funny, as we climbed into the back. I still hadn’t told her and Sean about the spring break trip, to the farm. I knew Sean would be out to visit his mom that week, but, Morgan…well…she would probably spend her break reading, now. Everyone else was still pretty hyper, but my mind had drifted off.

I was happy to get back home and crawl into bed. Once I was there, I buried my head into my pillow and waited for sleep to come.
Chapter End Notes:
None of the lyrics are mine...all rights belong to those who wrote and sing them...not to me!