Biscotti - 8. Chapter 8

Soon, my cousins were there, and since the stone was hot, I joined them. Most of them just liked to play card games or sit around and talk. The younger ones wanted to play games like hiding and seek and wanted me to play as I knew the coolest places to hide.

Mom brought the bread up to bake. “Mom, could we build one of these at home?”

“Sure. You can build it and take care of it. I’ll teach you how to make bread, and then we can have stone-oven baked bread.”

I think she thought I was kidding, but I wasn’t. I checked some of my reference books, and I found a section on round ovens built by the early people in England. The trick was to get the right kind of stone. I knew before the summer was over, I would have an oven, and I knew who would help.

Dinner was great, and I knew I had overeaten again. After helping with the cleanup and getting my hugs, Dad drove us home.

Mom looked at me: “Too much wine? How much did you have?”

“When we got there, Pa had me taste his new wine. Then we went to clean out the oven, and I had a glass. After we started the new fire, I had my last glass. I hoped my uncles took care of the rest.”

“I told Nonna and Pa about you liking boys.”

“And?”

“He’s ok with it. I think he was a little upset with me that I was making a big deal out of it.”

“So, Nonna and Pa are ok with it. Did you ask about bringing Brad’s family next Sunday?”

“No, I didn’t. I’ll ask during the week.”

Well, I’m going to go there for lunch with Brad. I need to provide the food and let them know I’m coming with a friend.

Monday came, and, surprisingly, I had no headache. I mentioned that to Mom, and she said I hadn’t drunk that much. “Mom, it might be a good idea to invite Nona and Pa to dinner Saturday.”

I was a little on edge as I entered the school building. Not sure how the interaction was going to be when I’d see Brad. I shouldn’t have worried. I opened my locker, put some books in, and took my morning books out. As I closed the locker, I saw Ronnie and Brad with their female guards. Ronnie yelled, “Hi, Teach!” I waved back. Before I had a chance to move in the opposite direction, Ronnie was there with a smiling Brad.

“Brad said he didn’t know who ‘Teach’ was, so, Teach this is Brad – Brad, Teach. If you have any school problems, Teach is the one to help you.”

“Any time, guys. Ronnie, you can tell him how it works. Got to get to class, I’m on the top floor, and I don’t play football.”

I waved goodbye, smiling as I jogged to the third floor. The rest of the morning went as usual. One of the students asked if I could help him, and we agreed to have lunch together.

I got through the morning; now, I had to get through lunch. I waited outside the lunchroom for the student that needed help. Every once in a while, I would look into the lunchroom to see where Brad and the football team sat. I was going to head in the opposite direction.

“You ready? Do you have your book? Good - let’s get some lunch, and then we can see where you’re having problems.”

I went through the line, got a salad and a drink. Sitting at an empty table in the corner, I noticed he had brought his lunch but didn’t have anything to drink. “Take this. I wanted water and picked up the wrong bottle. No, seriously, take this: I’m going to get some water.”

“Ok, where are you having problems?”

For the rest of the lunch period, we worked on his problem. “OK. Now, remember: try and break it down into small bits. Don’t move on until you understand that bit. See how you do tonight, and we could meet again tomorrow.”

He smiled as he offered his hand, which I shook. I looked over at Ronnie, and he made a one in the air, laughing. I just shook my head and left to get my books for my next class, which just so happened to be with Ronnie, Brad, and a couple of other football players. This would be a test.

I was the first one in the class. My seat is the second in the row next to the windows. The football jocks generally sit toward the back and along the other wall. There was enough space between us, and hopefully, that would stay that way.

The class resumed, and everything went well. I relaxed - maybe we could pull this off.

I was so glad that school was over. That is when someone ran into me at my locker. I knew who it was without looking. He slipped a note into my locker. I quickly grabbed it and put it in my pocket. I took the books I needed and headed home. I was going to walk home when Dad asked if I wanted a ride. Brad was in the front seat. Looking around and not seeing anyone, I accepted the ride.

“Today was torture. I wanted to grab you so many times.”

“We only have four more months, and then we don’t have to worry about other people.”

“Have you had any more scouts checking you out at practice?”

“The coach told me that a scout would be at the game on Friday.”

“I work until seven that day. The game will be over by the time I’d get there.”

“Come anyway. I always play better when you’re there.”

“I’ll see. Maybe I could get my dad to drop me off.”

“Could you stay at my place Friday night?”

“I would like to, but I work Saturday from 7 to 3. My grandparents know about us, my mom told them. My grandfather wants to meet you. So, we could have lunch with them. It’s about a 15-minute walk from the school.”

“What day?”

“Maybe tomorrow. I’ll need to go to the store and buy some food for them to make us lunch. Lunch is their big meal of the day.”

“Your grandparents are Italian, right?”

“Yes, I’m half-Italian, no comments… Dad, make a right turn at the light. After you make the turn, you’ll see a house with flower beds in front. Dad isn’t home, so you can pull into the driveway.”

“Who takes care of the flowers?”

“That’s my project. Want to stop in and say hi?”

“Come on…Dad, 5 minutes.”

“Alright, 5 minutes - no more.”

“You know how I joke around, so don’t get excited.”

I watched Brad stop and, with his small knife, cut a rose.

“Mom, I thought you said Brad and his parents were coming to dinner Saturday. They are here now.”

Mom came hustling out of the kitchen. Then she saw just Brad and his dad. She went and tried to slap me on the head. I ducked. “Come on, Brad. I’ll show you my library.”