Setting some ground rules

Well of course it would be difficult for a single guy to take on the responsibility of a teenager.  The trick is to use humor when you lay down the law.  At least that's what Andy thinks.  It's a good thing Ami has an equal sense of humor.

By the time she was cleaned up and ready, breakfast was on the table.  She enjoyed the simple meal of bacon, eggs, and toast with jam.  It was comforting to go through a normal morning routine.  Andy set some ground rules for the house.  It was all the usual stuff: no boys, no loud parties, no letting strangers in the house, no bon fires, no wondering alone in the woods… no wondering alone with boys in the woods.  She interrupted him at that point to tell him that she wasn’t stupid.  “Don’t do anything illegal, dangerous, or embarrassing if it ends up on the front page of the paper.  I got it.”

He laughed out loud.  “Okay, okay.  I’ll lay-off unless something goes wrong.  We’ve got to head down to the school today and make sure all your paperwork is in order.  Then Nora wants to meet you at Ruby’s for Lunch, so I’ll just drop you downtown.”

“Ruby’s?”  Ami looked up from her toast.

“Ruby’s Ribs is the barbeque place just across from the docks.  You can watch the boats while you eat.”

“Ah.”  She nodded.  “So what’s a girl do for fun around here?  I mean besides lighting bonfires and wondering alone through the woods.”

“Ha-ha.  You’ll have to ask Nora.  I don’t make a very good girl.”  Andy scratched his stubbly chin.

“I don’t know.  A little make-up, a shave…”  Ami got up and washed her plate and fork in the sink while Andy groaned and clutched his chest...

As Ami walked out, she saw Nora and Jean walking in.  Ami gave Andy a questioning look, but he put his finger to his lips.  Ami smiled and accepted Nora’s overzealous hug, and then left her as she skipped up to the receptionist.

Andy met her at the door and followed her outside.  On the other side of the door, Ami turned around.  “She can’t be more than 10-years-old.  What’s she doing in High School?”

Andy pointed at the sign over the door they had just exited.

Aurora Bay High

Home of the Gargoyles

Offering Gifted Programs since 1943

“Obviously,” Andy replied, “You’re not the only gifted child in the Universe.”  Ami blushed a little and then stomped off toward the green Gremlin.