"Hey Matt, come on, we're going to go take care of the clothes I'm giving away" Mom said. I was sitting on the L shaped couch in the family room, reading a book called "The Ghost Chronicles", and drafting a book I wanted to call "Ghost Boy". It was a Friday night, and the rain was coming down hard on the windows. The last thing in the world I felt like doing was driving out to a clothes bin in the middle of bum nowhere. "Alright, let's go" I sighed.
I was the one to load all the crap into the back of mom's grey Ford Expedition, because really, did I expect anything different? Anyway, as Mom and I drove along, the topic of conversation gradually turned to my cousin Kate. "I don't know if she told you, but she didn't make the school tennis team" Mom began. "What?! She wasted her whole summer practicing for that! I remember, because every time I asked her to hang out, she politely shot me down because she was practicing tennis! And she didn't make the team?! Are you freaking serious?!" I shouted. "Well, she made the developmental team for tennis" Mom hesitated. "Mom, the developmental team is an insult! It's a punch in the face! Oh hey, you didn't make the team, but we'll let you come hang out with the team" I said, full to the brim with sarcasm. "Well, she likes it. And she's taken up cross country" Mom replied. "Wait a minute, wait a minute. Let's back up for a second" I said, cutting in. "Are you telling me that first, her asshole coach for track didn't put her in at any events, so she dropped track? Then, she wasted her entire summer training for tennis, which ended up being a big waste of time? And finally, she takes up cross country? Am I understanding that chain of events correctly?" I asked. "Yes" Mom answered. 'Anyway, listen, I was going to give her these turtle doves of friendship Christmas ornaments made by Hallmark, and I was just wondering if you think that's appropriate" I said. "Well, she's not really into that stuff, you know? She doesn't share those deep feelings of affection for you that you do for her, you know?" Mom asked as we finally arrived at the clothes bin. "Mom, let me remind you of something" I said as we got out of the car and started tossing stuff into the bins. "The very day we buried Poppy, your loving father, I told her right then and there that I love her like a baby sister, the sister that I never freaking had. I spend twenty five dollars of my own, hard earned money the very day after that on a twenty five dollar Amazon gift card, bought the doves, and paid for two free day shipping. I knew from the moment I told Kate that that the doves would be perfect. And they are. And when Kate opens them, it will be perfect. And I'm going to wrap it myself, and buy a good, quality card, and I'll keep one, and I'll give her the other one" I said. It was eight o'clock at night when we got home. Feeling inspired, I placed two quick phone calls. The first of these two phone calls was to Kate's track coach. "Listen, this is Matt McShane, Kate Grauer's older cousin. I don't know what your problem is with her, but you have GOT to be freaking blind to not notice the gift she has for running. Ok? She has a legit gift from God. The Flash doesn't have anything on her, understand?" I asked. '"What's your point?" Coach Thompson asked. "Put her in at your track meet next Friday. You'll see just how powerful she can really be" I demanded, then I hung up. Then, of course, I called Kate. I forgot that Kate had had a track meet earlier in the day, and she was exhausted. "Oh, hi, Matt, what's going on?" she groaned. "You're getting up tomorrow at the crack of dawn, and I'm training you to prepare for the track meet next Friday for school. I had a little chat with your coach, and he's decided to give you a second chance" I told her. "You're kidding, right?" Kate asked. "No, I'm as serious as a shark attack, kid. You have a natural gift from God for running long distances, and it's about time you realized that. And I'm gonna help you" I replied. "Why do you feel that you owe me like this?" Kate asked. "Because that's what cousins are for" I concluded.
3 Comments
10/7/2018 02:53:24 pm
"Listen, this is Matt McShane, Kate Grauer's older cousin. I don't know what your problem is with her, but you have GOT to be freaking blind to not notice the gift she has for running. Ok? She has a legit gift from God. The Flash doesn't have anything on her, understand?" I enjoyed this scene. I don't think I can do the same thing if I was in the same situation.
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10/8/2018 07:41:18 pm
That's so sweet that you care so much for your cousin! It was so brave of you to call and confront her track coach too.
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melinda
10/8/2018 08:47:20 pm
Hi I'm in comp 1 class and read your blog I liked the dialogue throughout the blog and the positivity. I see you were a encouraging cousin. I enjoyed your blog.
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Matt McShane
I will use this work to explore the written word. Archives
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