Chapter V "Everybody Loves Roger"

Running.
Running from something or someone.
Running towards something or someone.
Running just to leave your problems behind or in the worst case scenario other people’s problems.
Clear your mind; get some fresh air; stretch your legs; get some exercise; just get on moving.
Now that Roger had a dog he had taken on his old routine of waking up early and going out for a run around the neighborhood. Domino had proved himself he was the best dog Roger could have ever had, he was giving his owner a run for his money, or his run actually.
Roger didn’t smoke and had a good condition but he was having a hard time catching up with his dog. Still Domino would ran off and come back, most of the times with an item from someone else that had also decided to start the day the healthy way.
In order to be a part of the big cosmic cliché after their run Roger and Domino headed to the park where Roger would throw a ball and his dog would run after it and bring it back. Roger was pleased to see that when Domino had something to bring back he will stay out of other people’s stuff.
“Ok now, this is going to be a curve ball you got it? won’t be easy to catch.” Roger was teasing Domino before throwing the ball, which made him a lot more anxious about the ball jumping and bouncing around waiting for the ball to go off.
And he was off.
The dog was fast but Roger had thrown the ball farther and harder he was even impressed with himself.
Domino wasn’t coming back.
At first Roger felt a little proud about his strength, maybe he had beat his dog finally. But after two minutes Roger started to worry and ran off to look for his friend.
It didn’t took Roger too much to find him and he was pleased to see that Domino was alright, even better too bad that couldn’t be said for Grace Aldrin’s favorite blue sweatshirt.
If you where to choose just one word to describe Grace that word would be: cool.
Grace worked as chef in a restaurant downtown called Ramekers, owned by a forty year old man from the Netherlands; it was a good place to work, the pay was good, the reputation of the restaurant was good and Grace was good at doing it, still she had always dream on opening her own bakery shop.
But right now Grace had some bigger worries in her mind because her favorite blue sweatshirt, which she liked to wear when she went out for a run in the park, was held captive in a young and hyper Dalmatian’s mouth she had just met ten seconds ago.
Domino wasn’t moving, he had Grace’s sweatshirt on his mouth and was staring right into her eyes waiting for her to launch and make his run.
“Easy Cujo, no one is launching on you, tackle you and take my lucky sweatshirt off you.” She was moving very slowly, trying not to make any subtle moves that would make the dog ran off.
Domino was paying a lot of attention to any sudden moves on him.
Roger found the two of them staring at each other like if they were on some kind of old Wild West duel.
“Ok don’t make any subtle moves, he likes that.” Roger felt like a hostage negotiator and try to both parties walk out of this unharmed.
“Who are you?”
“My name is Roger and the one holding your sweatshirt is my dog.”
“This is your dog?” Later on Grace would ask herself why would this piece of information had shocked her so much, because as she said it she turned to look at Roger and used a higher tone than the one she should have used that made Domino ran off whit the sweatshirt.
“FAQ later now run for him or we’ll never catch him.”
“Isn’t that part of the game? If we run after him he will keep running and never give it back?”
“Not with him, running after him enables him to stop and chew it off part by part.”
Grace and Roger ran after Domino, together, side by side, from different angles but no matter how the plan it Domino was faster and sneakier.
Roger figured out the best way to get Domino to release the sweatshirt would be to exchange it for something else, he also knew that would be easy.
Thankfully and rarely just when both Grace and Roger were about to give up a squirrel made the wrong choice of coming down from a tree to what it thought would be a peaceful outing, little did it knew Domino had spotted it and now was on the run after it.
So the sweatshirt was free, the squirrel once again up in the tree and Domino barking and jumping under it.
The sweatshirt wasn’t ruined, just very chewed and may just needed a good wash.
“Is it ruined? Ready-for-the-trash ruined or just send-it-to-the-dry-cleaning-ruined?”
“More of the second one, I’m sorry he is new and apparently he wants to be the Winona of the family; again I’m so sorry.”
“It’s ok, I do like dogs and I do like mi sweatshirt it will survive it’s been trough worse.”
“Glad to hear that, or no; I’m sorry.”
“I’m Grace BTW, Grace Aldrin and you are Roger right? Roger Summers?”
“Right and he is Domino.” The dog was back.
“I’ll call him Cujo for the time being if that is ok with you.” Domino didn’t seem to mind, he was walking with them now, sweatshirt and squirrel all forgotten by now.
“No problem, he deserves it; So how scared I must be that you know who I am?” He wasn’t really scared but you can never know
“Not much I think, we have some people in common.” Some people do keep track on whom they know and where.
“Really? Wow I think I’m not done apologizing to you yet, sorry, I don’t remember you.” There is so much someone can apologize for in a short period of time, after a few of those people stop believing you.
“I know your sister, Emma, we met in college had some classes together until I graduated two years ago.” Emma was a popular girl keeping track of all of her friends it was no easy task.
“She is in Europe now, she just graduated.” And she would be for at least the next three months
“Good for her, I remember her saying she wanted to do a European back packing experience tour trip.”
“Is that how she called it?”
“Exact words.”
“Anyone else we have in common?”
“Your friend Alex.”If Roger ever had a nickel for every girl he knew thanks to Alex he would be the one giving away nickels to people saying they deserve nickels for their very common situations.
“Ouch, that probably didn’t end well.”
“It didn’t but not for me, he and my roommate were dating.”
“Alex doesn’t date, I mean not with the ING at the end.” No he didn’t.
“That’s what I told her; anyway in a nutshell she didn’t took it very well and kind of became her stalker.”
“Your roommate is Nosy Mindy?” How small was the world right now.
“Exactly and now after the court order she is also in therapy with a Dr. Weathers.”
“My friend Greg works with him!” Very small world.
“Small world.”
“And now you and my dog are mortal nemesises, nemesis? Is that how it’s called?”
“Nemesis and we don’t worry we will work through it.”
“You know since you are now part of the gang, and in order to help your relationship with Domino there is going to be a party this Friday in my house.”
“Occasion?”
“It’s my birthday actually.”
“26 on August 26th, cool that should be some kind of good luck charm don’t you think?”
“I could use a little luck or charm right now.”
“So is it like a date?” Grace felt a little uncomfortable asking it but better now than later, because she wasn’t interested in that right about now.
“Oh no, no; Not at all. Don’t get offended but I’m just starting with the dog.” Grace didn’t really felt offended to hear this actually she even did understood what Roger meant about just starting with the dog.
“Gotcha, I’m on my third ficus, not looking for anything serious but something would be good.” She had done a couple and then some more bad decisions herself.
“Maybe I can fix you up then.” Roger still felt bad about her sweatshirt and was trying to make it up to her.
“Really? Are we that kind of friends now? Because if we are I know someone perfectly suitable for you.” She didn’t say it but the girl in question was perfectly suitable for him because she was a little easy.
“Is that right? So after just fifteen minutes of conversation you know what kind of girl I need.”
“It’s been very reveling fifteen minutes and I’m a quick study.”
“Fine you bring her to the party and I’ll have someone ready for you.” Roger wasn’t going to be the only one doing the charity work in here; this was now a challenge and will soon be a bet.
“So now you think you can fix me up? What if I don’t like him.”
“What if I don’t like her?” One on one.
“Oh but you will.” Grace was very confident about her matching powers.
“Care to make it interesting?” Now he was talking.
“More interesting than meeting someone in the park but first have that someone’s crazy dog eat you lucky sweatshirt and then argue on whom is the best matchmaker? I’m in.”
“The person who not only likes the date chosen for him being myself or for her being yourself but also goes on another date after it wins.” Roger had sound very lawyer just now.
“How many bases allowed per date? Do more bases count into extra points?” Grace had a reputation to always be one step ahead of people.
“That is between you, what your mother told you, what your high school coach told you and what your priest scared you about.”
“Coach Simmons was more of a cautionary tale getting knocked up by the principal, big year my senior year; so and what does the big winner wins?”
“We’ll think of that later.” They’ll never will.
“Fine shake it on dude, you are going down, you won’t see what hit you; you’ll be blown away with the girl I’ll get you.”
“Did you just felt like a pimp when you said that?”
“A little bit yeah.” Still she was very proud of herself right now.
They laughed and kept on walking until it came to Domino’s attention that there was a wandering cat without paying attention. The dog went after it and Roger after him.
“Oh god, GTG see ya on Friday.” Roger ran off.
“See ya and don’t forget my man…Got to stop doing that.”
Jill Loayza had spent most of her life worrying about everyone else but her. Seventy four years that she started taking care of her mother after her dad failed on living; six brothers and sisters feed everyday and put to school.
A husband that lost more jobs than he actually manage to get; four sons, one dumber than the other, and three daughters. Grandchild, some of them not conceived in wedlock, nieces, nephews, sons and daughters in law any kind of being that ended up in Jill’s path ended up in Jill’s help list.
But now Jill lived alone, well she did had a dog which she had saved from the animal shelter the day she organized a fund raiser in their behalf and went to deliver the money she had raised for them.
Randall, a Siberian husky, had been the perfect dog for Jill because he had been a very healthy dog and he had given Jill the chance to take care of herself since day one.
Still Jill worried and that was the day she had decided to take her beloved dog to a complete check up with no one else than renowned Dr. Rose Doyle.
What worried Jill the most was that there was nothing wrong with her dog; she had the need to help and to figure out how to help her dog.
This was too bad for both Rose and Randall because one of them had to be the one doing the examination and the other one was the one being examined.
“Are you sure there is no another test or exam you can run on him, I assure you he eats funny always starting from one side on the bowl and so on.”
“That is normal Mrs. Loayza I assure you.” If Rose were paying attention to Jill she would be very annoyed but since her mind had other things to bother her with she was just passing through with what the old woman was telling her.
“I’m just so worried about him, poor thing looks so strong but I can detect weakness and ill in those around me.” Rose fear she could be too close to Mrs. Loayza to make her start worrying about her.
Jill was about to suggest another thing to check on her dog when Shelia walked in unannounced like she always used to; she was about to announce that Rose’s next appointment had been canceled which would have given Jill an extra hour to ask for more unnecessary examinations on her dog; luckily Randall had decided it was time to go and just as Shelia had opened the door he pulled Jill out of there and right to the front desk, even he knew they had to pay for all the time spent in the clinic.
“I can honestly say this is the happiest I’ve been to see you.” Rose was beyond glad Shelia had opened the door to let Jill be dragged out by Randall.
“You know me, right time and right moment.”
“I do know you and this could be the start of a beautiful new patron behavior.”
“I didn’t knock so shall I add it to the new behavior?” Shelia liked and knew how to push the exact buttons to sound smart but not rude to other people.
“Did barging in unannounced had any reason?”But Rose did knew how to cut Shelia’s rudeness
“Next appointment canceled so you have a free hour, want to go get some drinks?”
“It’s four o’ clock.”
“Ok no more than ten.” Shelia should be the one working for Sarah and Eli for Rose; that made more sense.
“Maybe some other time, actually I could use this hour in a more productive way.” Rose had said that last part more to herself than t Shelia. She had still too many things floating in her head bothering her, messing with her thoughts and confusing her even more.
“Is that something dirty?” Shelia had a weird mind.
“I’ll see you in an hour.” Rose took her coat and went out of the animal clinic and right into next door where Greg worked.
Greg as usual was not busy, working online on some social website and by working he was playing in his own virtual farm on said social website.
“Hey.” Greg was very relaxed.
“I need to talk.” Rose was not.
“Sure what’s up?” Greg was still very calm.
“Not as a friend but as a patient; so no what’s up and informalities of that matter and not in the kind of patient you see everyday I’m not broken or crazy.” Rose was not.
“I just loose a bet with your brother you know?” Greg was having fun with this.
“He betting on my mental health is not surprising to me, anyway are you up to it?” Again Rose was not.
“So you are my patient now?” Greg was now paying attention.
“Yes, so I’m granted the holly patient confidentiality out of jail free card right?” The what now?
“Rose who did you kill?”
“Are you in or are you not?” How could Greg not be in? Rose was making this sound very crazy at first but now it had became very interesting and Greg was intrigued.
“I’m in M, so we are not friends right now?” Greg liked the James Bond reference, although Rose didn’t sound anything like Judi Dench right now.
“No, from now on you can only think of me as a patient.”
“But we will be friends after it right?”
“Not if you don’t start psyching me right this moment.”
“Ok, let’s get to it; please tell me what is going on and how does that make you feel.” Psych 101.
Silence.
Rose took a breath.
She took a moment and then she started talking.
“I don’t like cold weather.” Ok Random.
“We live in Seattle.”
“I don’t like cold, or the sea and for that matter I don’t like boats.”
“I thought you didn’t liked heights and going to the dentist.”
“Those are fears, and that is something a friend knows so focus.”
Even when Rose had started the conversation in a very vague and confusing way Greg was paying a lot of attention and was very intrigued on where this was going.
Rose started to explain and to make some sense.
She talked to Greg about Matt, how the met, their first date and how after three months into the relationship he was shipped off to a boat overseas, and now it had been more than six months after it and the relationship was still going on but not the feelings.
She was confused because Matt was a good guy, fun guy and from a good family, he was the kind of guy Rose would see herself end up with but sadly he was geographically undesirable for her.
She then pointed out on how she was also a catch, she was smart, fun, charming, beautiful and then started to exaggerate all of her many pros; she had them but honestly she couldn’t sing, even thou she thought she did.
After it she said she deserve someone that would correspond her, someone that had all the pros and some cons, she was realistic, but she wouldn’t let geography rule her life and avoid her to have the chance to a healthy relationship.
Basically she was saying, “I can’t settle and I deserve someone who will be here for me.” And she wasn’t been selfish to feel that, we are all entitled to someone we can come home to at the end of the day.
Then Rose in a very hesitating way started to talk about how she had met someone else, how she was started to have certain feelings for that someone else and how guilty she was feeling about it because Matt was still over there saving the planet and she was here just thinking of herself.
Rose didn’t want to feel like the bad guy about her situation, but she deserved someone available and the will be there for her sometimes being selfish
After a while Greg was still confused about the whole don’t-like-the-sea-nor-the-cold rant that Rose had started talking about, forcing him to ask her to explain it and forcing her to tell her friend that Matt had asked her to come live with him in the boat.
“Wow.” All Greg could think of saying without sounding like a friend, which had been Rose’s request.
“So what do you think?” Rose was now giving Greg a chance to talk.
“Well…How does that make you feel?”
“Screw the non friend agreement, talk to me what do you think?”
“You have to talk to Matt before anything.”
“Anything? Anything been?”
“Anything been this James fella.”
“That could be tricky, since he is so far away and getting in touch with him is sometimes difficult.”
“You deserve a good relationship and someone that can take care of you but Matt deserves to know the truth and to have a clean cut he is a good guy, also this James fella deserves someone that is available and free of other commitments.”
“So you don’t think I’m awful?”
“No, I think you where just lonely; we all get that from time to time.”
Rose smiled, no more need to be said or to hug each other or anything. Rose left Greg to his virtual farm game and step outside to head back to the animal clinic when suddenly she bumped into someone, this happen to her very often.
“Oh I’m so sorry mister.” She wasn’t looking whom she had bumped into.
“Not a problem at all Rose.” Of course, if Rose was going to bump into someone, anyone in the whole city it had to be the guy she was having a crush on right now while still haven’t ended her on going relationship, relationship which she had denied to the bumped person in question.
“James! Wow what a surprise to find you here.”
“I suppose getting stuck in another elevator would be hard to accomplish so I’ll take this very pleasant surprise very glad.”
“Glad to see you too.” In a very precious moments moment the both smiled and felt very glad with the sudden turn on events.
“Are you doing something right now?”
“I don’t know, should I?”
“How would you feel of coming to lunch with me.”
“I think I would feel very pleased with that arrangement but let’s go to lunch and see how it turns out.”
“Was that a yes? I can never tell with you Americans and your quick conversations and witty remarks.”
Again a conversation sealed with a smile, Rose and James left together to get lunch.
The whole gang liked to get together for lunch, dinner or just hang out but lately getting everyone together at the same time and the same place had proven to be a very difficult task.
Roger had a new job and dog that kept him most of the time in the office writing his column or chasing Domino and apologizing to people for whatever the dog had taken from them.
Rose and Alex’s jobs kept them busy because they deal everyday with animals and rock stars, rock stars that sometimes behave like Rose’s patients; so their schedules could change without a warning and keep them occupied for a lot of time and some other times they left the two of them with some free time.
The only ones that had a lot more of free time where Greg and Sarah; she was her own boss and Greg’s boss hardly ever noticed if Greg was there.
But now Greg was dating Millie, who was keeping him occupied and taking home made food for him to his office; he was happy with the arrangement and taking things slow, little did he knew that Millie had other plans in her head.
Luckily for Sarah, whom had a free afternoon, Alex had no appointments or dates for today so they both went out to get something to eat.
Luckily for Alex, who was feeling guilty for bringing Frank’s drug problems to Roger, Sarah was an excellent birthday gift shopper and that was very handy because Roger’s birthday was coming up and Alex wanted to buy something really cool and special because of the whole your-brother-is-on-drugs situation.
“So why are you interested in gifter of the year?” Sarah was glad to spent some time with Alex but still she was intrigued by Alex’s request to help him buy Roger’s present, which he had never done before.
“I just think that 26 is a very big deal.” It wasn’t, but Alex couldn’t tell Sarah what was going on.
“Laptop? Lap dance? A giant pez dispenser?”
“We are buying for him not for me.”
“I still don’t get why the sudden urge to buy him something really special and not honor our long time tradition of the crappy gift that we will give him today and he will re gift it to us in Christmas and so on.”
“Maybe I’m trying to get my awesome gift back in Christmas don’t you think?”
“Good plan, rather than buy something for yourself right now, right here…well maybe not right here, why are at in this store?” None of them had noticed that they had entered a Bed, Bath and Beyond store when clearly a Barnes and Novels would have been a better choice for buying a gift for Roger.
“We were talking, we were walking I don’t know.” Alex looked as disoriented as Sarah until someone else caught his eye, red hair, perky, size 2 and judging the way she dressed and how she laughed anyone could have tell this girl was easy.
“Alex, hello? You still here? Or are you… oh I see.”
“Yeah you are right I have already done way too much for him, I deserve some time off to blow up some steam.” Alex wasn’t telling this to Sarah as much as he was telling it to himself; he had been out of his game since the whole Frank-pumping-pills situation started.
“Never said that but I agree go on happy humping.”
Alex went off and Sarah picked up something that Roger wouldn’t find useful at all but that his time he couldn’t re gift, not after Domino had its way with it anyway.
Friday came and Roger was officially 26, not a milestone but since he was the oldest one in the gang it was kind of a big deal. Now living with his best friend and next to his other two best friends a new tradition was born where Rose had arrange birthday breakfast, they always had breakfast together but this time there where presents and a balloon tied to Roger’s chair.
He didn’t expect a lot of fuzz at work, and he was right not too because Mrs. Belle wasn’t very keen on anything not news related; still Roger did got some happy birthdays, few best wishes and a lot what time is the party? He had became more popular now that he was part of the news paper and his column was growing in readers, apparently Roger had a lot to say and people liked his two cents.
It could be the fact that it was his birthday, that Mrs. Belle was really liking the work Roger was doing (obviously she wouldn’t say so in those words) or a combination of them both but he was leaving the office not only early but with a “don’t forget you work tomorrow so don’t kill all your neurons tonight, congratulations” from Mrs. Belle.
Roger headed to his parents house, he had promised to stop by for a family meal Max would be there, Frank and Ethel where coming, Emma was calling and since Risa had lost the last poker game to Roger’s mom she was on cooking duty for the next two weeks.
Roger was welcomed at the door by his younger brother Max whose first thing to say to him was “How’s the dog?” and then proceeded to congratulate him.
The house had a smell that anyone whom had not lived under Emily Summer’s cooking would have found weird, but for Roger his mom’s cooking reminded him of home, Risa was on cooking duty this weeks but since this was a special occasion for Emily she had decided to step in and make something up.
The odd thing was the banner that was hanging over the dining room, it was odd because it didn’t read “Congratulations Rog” but instead it read “Congrats Max”. That was even weird for his parents.
“Hey mom.” Roger knew he would get an explanation soon, no need to rush things.
“26 and going, don’t feel bad that at your age Vincent Van Gogh was heading to be a missionary to the mines of Borinage you do what you can.”
“How can I forget mom you tell me so every year, and he did so when he was 25, you already used that one.”
“Sony boy!” Maybe Roger’s dad would be more excited about his second son’s birthday.
“Hey dad, how are the fish.”
“Marvelous, but have you heard the big news?”
“Of how 26 years ago I was born.”
“News son, the idea off a new is that its new; happy birthday also but you are 26 now so not much new there, although I still remember when you where little and how you like to ran in the backyard across the water sprinkles and down the street chasing cars, melts my heart.”
“Be still in my heart dad, be still and I think that was Pepper.”
“Don’t be so hard on your dad, you know how things changing makes him happy and you know how your dad’s happiness retributes me into more happiness.”
“Gross mom! I guess I’m the first 26 year old whom got a heart attack from his parents as a present.”
“Rog I think I can and should explain, I told them last night about me changing schools.”Max was supposed to become a lawyer but in a last minute change of heart he decided to became a chef instead.
“And we couldn’t be happier.” Both parents replied.
“Hence your name in the banner.”
“We wanted your brother’s news to be celebrated by the whole family.” This had been Roger’s dad idea so he was very proud of it.
“And what better occasion to celebrate with the family than my birthday.” He wasn’t mad, this was his family.
“I even cook even though I won poker night.”
“I told you cooking days are not transferable, so today you helped.” Risa said from the kitchen.
“Still we didn’t forgot about you son, we got you presents and got Max’s favorite cake that you also like.” Logan Summers was a dad with a big heart, he always wanted to make his sons and daughter feel special and loved; he was over caring and over loving, never an C- had been under appreciated by him.
“Thanks dad and thanks mom, I really am also proud of Max I guess he will be the one cooking around here for a while.”
“He can start right away!” Again Risa from the kitchen.
They moved to the living room so Roger would open his gifts, one from Max, one from his dad, one from his mom, one from Risa and a package Emma had sent a few weeks ago anticipating the postal service wouldn’t get it on time.
The presents were not wrapped, they never had been, not in anyone’s birthday, Christmas, mother’s day, father’s day, Van Gogh’s birthday (which Roger’s mom liked to celebrate) never; Emily was against the idea of buying paper that is meant to be ripped and tossed the garbage.
Instead the books, clothes and gift certificate where under sheets and napkin, for the gift certificate, so that way those could be used latter.
Roger was about to undercover the first one when both the doorbell and the telephone rang.
“I’ll get that.” Roger’s parents said and both of them went to see who was knocking or calling.
Emily said hello and Logan said welcome.
Emma was at the phone and at the door Ethel and Frank.
“Hey Max your mom call earlier and told us the news congratulations!” Ethel had been part of the family for quite some time now, she knew how things worked in this house.
“Thanks I appreciate it.”
“No wrapping paper, your mom said; happy birthday Rog.”
“Thanks but today is really about Max, where’s Frank?” Roger thought that since both Ethel and Frank where there and where ok then maybe Alex was overreacting a bit, which was a gesture he appreciated from his friend.
“Ask and shall receive little bro.” Roger was now sure there was nothing wrong with his brother, he looked liked he always did; nothing bad with him at all. Frank gave his brother a hug.
“I’m the little bro, should say so in the banner.” Max was getting way too much attention, from what the banner intended.
“So is everyone here?” Roger’s dad was holding a bottle of champagne and giving away glasses for everyone.
“Almost, wait for us.” Emily came back with the phone now in speaker so Emma could be a part of it also. “Say hi to your sister.”
“Hi Emma.”
“Hey everyone congratulations Max, this just cost me five bucks so can get to it.”
“Ok does everyone have a glass.”
“Not me, drinks are bought by people who can afford it, I in the other hand decided to spent my money in this conversation.” No need to say Emma was a bit of a brat.
“Everyone raise your glass.” Said roger’s dad and they all did. “Son your entire family is gather here to congratulate you and wish you all the luck in the world, to assure you that you have our support and constant care, Max this is your day congratulations.” They all raised theirs glasses and took a zip, everyone except someone.
“Even me whose birthday is today.”
“Ok I’m off, bye everyone.” Emma hung up.
“I’ll drink to that.” Said Frank.
“Ethel, you didn’t drink.”
“Way to be a snitch mom.” Said Frank.
“Pregnant women are not supposed to be drinking.” In an unconventional family news were also delivered in an unconventional way, Ethel took Franks hand and gave the family the news.
Roger’s dad went directly towards Frank hugged him and lift him up, while everyone else congratulated and hugged Ethel.
“I think Max will have to share this day with the two of you.” Logan said as his wife went to get Ethel something more appropriate for her to drink.
“And if anyone is worried I’m totally fine with that.” Roger actually was, he was going to be an uncle no better present he could have got.
Ethel was four months pregnant, due in January, and they had been engaged for 6 months now; they hadn’t shared the news because a doctor had told them this was a risky pregnancy so they decided to wait until the second trimester.
The whole family ate, talked and celebrated Max, Ethel, and Frank there was no other way Roger could have wished to celebrate his birthday with his family.
Max and Roger left their parents house early, saying they had to do a lot of work in the house before the party, Roger assured his brother that Rose was probably doing it so right now little did he knew Rose was still out on with James.
Before getting home Roger had to pick up Ted, the guy from his office that he had invited for Grace to lose the bet.
Sadly Roger will come to know that he was not the best matchmaker, but more on that later.
Roger parked the car, the three of them step out of the car and walked towards the house where they could clearly hear Domino barking from the backyard.
He thought he would find the furniture arranged, the pool table ready, the food and drinks all settled ready for the party all thanks to Rose’s hard work but all Roger found was a message in his answering machine.
“Hey Rog I’ll be a little late but I’ll get as soon as I can to the house and I’m bringing a friend, so I’ll see you later; it would be cool to hear this and be there at the same time xoxo.” But she wasn’t there so all the work would fall on Roger, Max and Ted’s shoulders.
“So we are supposed to get everything ready for tonight?” Max had already let Domino into the house, sat down on the couch and found something to eat.
“I guess so, but now wait a minute we can’t do it because I don’t know where all the things are, Greg has a very meticulous system and Rose always like to set things ready, oh well what can we do then?” Neither Max nor Roger wanted to get the stuff for the party.
“Greg does strike me as that kind of guy so want to open up a bottle of tequila and start things early.” From the four brothers Max was the one that always had the best ideas.
“I wouldn’t want to upset Greg’s order or Rose’s need to control everything, so it’s better if we just keep out of the way until they arrive.”
“Great where’s the tequila and, hey where is that other dude?”
They realized they were sitting alone in the living room, Max, Roger and the dog; Roger thought Ted would be admiring the pool table, people often did when they came to visit, but no Ted was not there.
Suddenly there was some noise coming from the kitchen.
“There is some noise coming from the kitchen.” Still Roger didn’t got up, he just pointed at the kitchen.
“Some noise? What noise? I didn’t heard anything.” Either way Max never paid attention when he was eating.
“I don’t know a bam, a clang, a wosh and probably a pow.”
“So Batman is fighting bad guys in the kitchen.”
“Or Ted is messing with Greg’s system, let’s go do some damage control.”
“Is he a dangerous guy?”
“I don’t know he is just a guy from work.”
“So why is he here?”
“I didn’t want to lose a bet.”
“Make sense, let’s go.”
The three of them, the dog included, walked into the kitchen not knowing what to expect, neither of them really knew this guy. They didn’t expect to see Ted in an apron making some muss or dip or something, anyway he had taken out all the things they would need for later on.
“Hey guys don’t worry I got everything under control.” Ted had everything under control, the only job left to do was rearrange the furniture in the living room, take away the breakables and set the table with the booze, the food and pretty much everything else.
“So what can we do to help?” Roger felt a little guilty but if the guy wanted to help how could he stop him.
“Dude shush we are off the hook.” Max said in an undertone.
“Don’t worry guys seriously I have a system.”
“Serial killers also have a system.” Again in an undertone.
“Ok so we will be in there drinking this.” Roger said as he took the nearest bottle he could reach.
“Cool, you guys want me to fix you up something to eat?”
“Yes please.” Five seconds ago Max thought this guy was a serial killer but now he was offering food so he was ok now.
“You cook Ted?”
“Yeah I do, nothing fancy but I can handle myself in the kitchen, why you ask?”
“Because I’m on my way to win a bet, so we’ll get out of your way you to this and anything you need you might find here.”
“That’s cool, take some lemons for that tequila.”
“You are a good man Ed.” Again Max didn’t pay much attention, not at all, leaving the kitchen and heading to the living room.
“It’s Ted, Ted, Max hey don’t go it’s Ted not Ed; I’m sorry Ted so you got it all under control here?”
“Yeah don’t sweat it I can handle it.”
“Great then I’ll be back here and if you need anything my friend Rose will be here any minute now.”
Roger left Ted to handle things and returned to the living room where Max had already set the balls for the pool table and the tequila shots.
Greg was the first one to arrive and he was not alone, Millie was with him. She was wrapped to Greg’s arm like if she was a little kid grabbing her favorite teddy bear when the teddy bear it’s suffocating.
Millie had knit a sweater for Roger, it didn’t had a big letter R in the middle because that would be ridiculous, but still it was the ugliest sweater Roger had ever seen, not even Domino would want to eat it.
“Spoiler alert, look for a matching scarf under your tree in Christmas.” She was perky and weird.
“Oh boy I don’t think I will be in the good list this year.”
Max laughed at his brother and Millie went straight to the kitchen to get as she was calling it things-up-rolling-and-ready-to mingle which Ted was already working on, there was not much work to be done but maybe they would do some dishes or clean up around so neither Roger nor Greg said a thing.
Eli, Sandra and Shelia car pooled together with Justin, he was the one in charge to bring the music, speakers and his roommate Owen who was a DJ; Sandra and Shelia where bringing friends that no one else would know in the party, essential guests.
People started to arrive along with them Sarah and what looked like to be her date.
“Happy Birthday Rog I expect this back in Christmas.” Sarah had bought him something that would be jumping from friend to friend until Domino had its way with it.
“Thanks but I think this year you will be getting a sweater and maybe a scarf.”
“Boy you scare me.” Sarah was excited about it, no way Roger was getting her a good present for Christmas.
“So you must be Chase.” Oops Wrong.
“Brendan actually.” The new guy, or for the time being guy wasn’t the kind of guy that liked to be confused with another dude he was a little paranoid about it.
“Oh I thought.” Roger was confused and he suddenly realized that maybe there was a guy named Chase that probably wasn’t the ideal match for Sarah so she had to get a new one, hence Brendan.
“Yeah no that is probably because Wednesdays are the days we get together and watch TV by just flip through the channels and never really watch anything, until suddenly we stepped with Nothing But Trouble.” Sarah rambling was her SOS signal.
“Nothing But Trouble?” Sarah’s rambling was also used to distract people and it was working on Brendan, he wasn’t the sharpest guy.
“Chevy Chase!” Roger was very able to keep up with was Sarah was talking about.
“Nothing But Trouble, horror comedy form 1991we are big fans from Chevy Chase but not fans of the Chevy part of his name so we call him Chase and that’s why probably Roger still has the Chase stuck in his head you know how they get at this age, he could you get me something to drink, something strong, pink and with and umbrella, I believe Donna Reid is in the kitchen she will be happy to fix it up.
“Coming right up.”
“Thanks, and thank you, good thing you know your Chevy Chase.”
“How about yours?”
“Me I love Nothing But Trouble gave me nightmares for a long time.”
“I was talking about the other Chase, the one you were seeing.”
“He was blah, no biggie I met Brendan like 5 minutes before I broke up with him but I don’t think he will last; hey shouldn’t Rose be here already?”
She should have but she wasn’t there yet, not just yet. Alex arrived before his sister and he was not alone; but he was not with the girl he had met in the store, that had run its course and now Alex was with said girl’s roommate, not the sharpest gal either.
All in all things were going swell and finally Grace arrived with Roger’s present.
“Roger Dalia, Dalia Roger.” Grace had invited her friend Dalia a wannabe fashion designer who thought she was the smartest person “you would ever get to met in this lifetime” as she liked to say it, truth she was dumb and you could ask her six year old niece.
“Hi, very nice to met you, I don’t quite understand what you are wearing but we can talk about it.” She acted like she had her own reality show.
“Wow well I just didn’t you know really think it trough I just picked the clothes and did the wearing of them.” Roger didn’t really knew how to answer to Dalia.
“So where is mine?” Grace to break the ice and to the rescue.
“Guy name Ted, probably in the kitchen.” The phone started to ring.
“I’ll get that and then I’ll catch up with you guys in a while.” Grace went off to look for Ted, she would find him rearranging the kitchen counter.
“I’d wish you good luck but I feel like I’ll need it more than you do.”
“I don’t know what all that was but I like it, let’s get something to drink and discuss it.” She was scary.
Roger would get to spend most of the night talking to Dalia about how Albert Einstein’s work would have been more well received if he had a better fashion sense, no need to say this girl was stupid and she wasn’t even blonde so she was working on it.
Roger would have think this was a waste of time, which it was, but at least he having a lousy time with Dalia meant he would win the bet, little did he knew that Grace wasn’t having such a good time with Ted; in a nutshell Dalia was easy and stupid and Ted was boring and lack of social abilities.
Both of them had such big egos and were so competitive to admit they were having a lousy time because it meant they were going to win, the price of the bet was still unclear but it was the principal of winning what really mattered.
Before coming in Rose made a quick stop at her house for a five minute makeover, she couldn’t keep James waiting in the living room for too long.
They were about to open the door to Greg and Roger’s house, Rose was very nervous she would have a lot of explaining to do and a lot of questions to answer.
“Ok before we go in there I have to warn you about the booze intake.”
“Oh don’t you worry, I’m meeting your friends for the first time I’ll be very moderate with the booze intake, don’t you worry dear.”
“Oh no on contraire, ride that pink elephant it is the only way you will live trough the intriguing and inquiring from my friends.”
Sarah was the first one to see Rose and James, the two of them saw each other with someone they had never seen before, Brendan and James, they said nothing but introductions and share a look that mostly said “We’ll talk about it later”.
Alex hadn’t seen his sister, because if he had things would have ended in a very different way than they way they were about to end.
Roger had managed to get away from dumb dull Dalia telling her it was his duty as the host to see and attend his guests, she bought it actually she was glad he was the kind of guy that would do so, too bad for her he wasn’t.
“A word.” Roger was having a lousy time with Dalai and for that he was glad, he was gloating and wanted to rub it on Grace’s face.
“A word indeed.” Too bad Ted wasn’t working for Grace either.
“So what were you thinking? She and I have nothing in common a chipmunk and I have more in common.” Funny thing was that he wasn’t angry or upset because this meant he had a chance of winning the bet.
“Really? I might not be on the run for miss match of the year but you my friend have been sent to the showers before the game even started.”
“Sports metaphor? Really?” Roger didn’t like them nor understand them.
“So we both suck, I really thought you two would hit it off or just hit that.”
“Is that why you choose her for me? Because she is easy.”
“It was an easy pick, so can you explain I’m-not-gonna-bother-learning-his-name?”
“Well it wasn’t as easy as it might look like; I had to do a full analysis on your likes on your face book page and then run those results on a machine and along came Ted, its more complicated than it sounds the systematic, statistics it’s all very complex.”
“You forgot to look up for someone and you invited a guy from work.”
“He cooks you know? Thought I might have got some luck for you when I found that.”
“Pathetic, but not just you but my attempts where not the brightest so let’s call it a draw shall we?”
“That we shall, hey who was it on the phone before?”
“No one, well someone but that someone didn’t answer or I couldn’t hear him or her.”
“Weird.”
“Weird it was.”
Doorbell.
“It’s open! Either those are Ethel and Frank or this is the first party of that poor shmuck.” Roger and Grace walked to the door, since it was obvious no one else would open it.
“And those are?”
“People that don’t know that you don’t ring the doorbell when you go to a party.”
“Ethel and Frank or Frethel as I will call them now.” Roger opened the door Ethel was standing there alone.
“Hey Rog! Frank is parking the car.”
“Ethel Grace, Grace Ethel she is my brother’s fiancé and that is their baby.” Roger pointed at her belly, regretting doing it after it.
“Hi nice to met you both and that was weird dude.”
“Just a little Rog but it’s ok you are entitled to be weird if you are going to be an uncle.”
“Come in Frank can let himself in.”
Greg, Sarah, Rose and Alex saw Ethel, Max has told them about the baby. Hugs and congratulations where exchanged.
“So how weird is it to think you have someone growing inside of you?” Sarah had always a strange way to look at things.
“Not that much right now but I’ll let you know as soon as it gets weird.”
Domino, who was supposed to be in the backyard and had managed to get himself inside, ran through the living room and opened the door to go for a run but found Frank instead, and something on him caught the dog’s attention.
“Domino get back here! Hey Frank, Domino get off him.” Roger came running through the door, ready to go run after his dog and along came Ethel, Alex and Max.
“Hey bro, not a problem you got quite the sniffing dog here.” Domino was quick sniffing through Frank’s clothes, until he reached the right pocket of Frank’s jacket. “Ok get him off.” Frank was getting a little angry with the dog.
“Domino get off, common that’s enough.” Roger was pulling the dog from the collar but he wasn’t letting go on what he had find.
Finally the dog seemed to take something as Roger was finally able to take him off his brother.
“I’m sorry Frankie, he is often never like this well he is but sorry; hey you crazy dog give that, what is that? What did you take from Frank?” Domino had a plastic bag in his mouth, plastic bag he was refusing to give.
“Rog, Rog take that from him, take it off Rog.” Frank was getting anxious.
“Calm down Frank, What is that?” Ethel had never seen Frank behave like this she was a little worried.
“It’s nothing, just hand it over Roger.” Frank almost never called his brother by his name.
Roger said nothing he was struggling with Domino to take Frank’s bag off of the dog’s mouth, luckily for him Domino suddenly saw something across the street and went to chase after it, squirrel, cat or dog it didn’t matter at the moment.
The bag dropped to the floor and Roger went to pick it, since it had been in Domino’s moth it obviously had holes in it leading the bag’s content to came out when roger took it.
“Frank what is this?” Roger knew what it was, but he would need to hear it from his brother.
“Frank?” Ethel had taken off the bag from Roger.
Alex and Max said nothing; Alex had his hand over Max’s shoulder.
“Frank are you using this?” Roger was remembering what Alex had told him, now it was making sense.
Frank wasn’t saying anything yet.
“Frank answer us, are you using this?” Ethel had never used a high tone with Frank.
“I’m not using it, although is not of anyone’s business.”
“Your brothers? The mother of your kid? The people who love you don’t get a say when you are lying to us and screwing up your life, screwing up ours?” Roger had never heard or seen Ethel as angry as she was right now.
“Oh sorry for the inconvenience, I don’t need this.” Frank took the bag from Ethel and took off, not said another word he just walked away, they heard the car engine of Frank’s car turning on and driving away.
“Hey why is everyone outside? What is going on?” Grace came out and found everyone speechless trying to figure out what had just happen.
“Party is over.” Roger took Ethel’s hand, she had her other hand over her baby bump and her eyes fixed on the driveway.