Chapter Three It was a hot New Mexico evening. Joshua walked his father over to the colonial house next door. Josh was carrying his skateboard Maria Viaggio opened the door. "Honey, glad you and your son could make it. The pasta and meatballs are on the stove, and cocktails are in the living room." Sam sat down on the blue leather couch, while his son went to find out where Kelly was. "I have a feeling about those to," Maria said. "I think they both like each other a bit too much." Sam remember that how once in a different history back when he was young, he was the one to be dating Kelly. "Aren't they too young to be dating?" "Not really. They're both thirteen and only go out in a group, so it's ok by my standards." Two young men came laughing from the basement. "Al, did you study for your final yet?" "Oh, doctor, I didn't know that you were here," Al said. "I thought you already took your physics exam," Maria asked her adopted son. "Well, ---" Al answered, resting his hand on his downward facing blond head. "Actually, I caught him cheating this afternoon in class," Sam told her. Al shot Sam a glance of sheer fury. He wished that his teacher would not tell his foster mother anything. "That's it, Albert!" Maria said giving up. "You're not going out tonight." "Tough luck," the teenager said. "I'm eighteen, old enough to vote and be legally an adult, and I don't need you telling me what to do anymore, ma." "I don't care how old you are, Albert! You're going to stay home to study." "Whatever!" Albert stampeded out the front door, hopped on his motorcycle and zoomed off to a date with a nameless girl. Maria went to the front door, and called for him to come back. Al didn't hear her, and, if he did, he did not turn the bike around. "Do you know where your friend went?" Sam asked David. "Another date with whoever is the flavor of the day," Kelly answered, coming down the stairs with Josh. They were up in her room playing the latest video game. She and Josh had just gotten their first French kiss. David smiled, guessing that his little sister was probably right. "What's to eat?" David asked. diana beckett (formally Monica Briggs) (C) June, 2002