London Calling

Chapter 4

“Dada, are you sure you and Daddy are coming to my Winter Festival tonight?” Bree asked with disbelief in her tone.

Brian and Justin had just picked up Bree and Patrick from school. They were going to have an early dinner so that later in the evening the whole Edna’s Treasures family could drive over to the school for the concert. Gus was staying at Edna’s Treasures until the moms and JR drove up to their own cottage on the weekend. The siblings wanted to spend some of the holiday together before Gus flew off to New York to spend New Year’s with Ray and his family.

“Yes, Squirt, that’s the plan. Why?”

“Becauuuuse,” Bree whined as they pulled up in front of Edna’s Treasures. Brian parked, turned off the engine then twisted around in his seat so that he could glare at his daughter. Brian didn’t like his statement questioned. Justin and Patrick waited silently for the inevitable clash of the titans.

“Briana,” Brian said softly, “because why?” Bree saw the seriousness in his father’s eyes and decided that honesty was the best policy. She took a deep breath before answering.

“Sheldon’s gonna have a very important part in the band and his daddy can’t come because Uncle Teddy has important work and you and Uncle Teddy do important work together and I think our Winter Festival is important and I want to make sure you and Daddy come and Sheldon is sad cause his daddy can’t come.”

“I see,” Brian said. “Mr. Harmon has important work for Uncle Ted.”

“Yes, Dada.”

“Hmm,” Brian murmured. Before the heat could leach out of the car, Brian grabbed Justin’s wrist to see the time. He then quickly took out his cell and punched in a very familiar number.

“Schmidt!” Brian growled into his cell. The occupants of the Cherokee could hear Ted’s voice murmuring in Brian’s ear.

“Yes, boss!”

“I hear that Harmon has important work to do today...”

“Uh...”

“So important that he is unable to go to the Winter Festival at the school tonight to see his son play...” Brian looked at Bree.

“The triangle, Dada!”

“So important that he can’t see his son play the triangle tonight. Tell me this is all some big misunderstanding, Schmidt.”

“M..m...misunderstanding. Oh yes, Brian, a very big misunderstanding. As a matter of fact I was just about to call over to my office and urge Albert to leave now so that he could get home in time to enjoy dinner with his family and then get to the school!”

“That’s what I thought you’d do, Theodore.”

“Anything to preserve the sanctity of family, Bri.”

“Very good, Theodore.”

“Anything else, boss?”

“That’s it for now, Schmidt,” Brian said as he snapped his cell phone shut and smiled at Bree and Patrick.

“Who’s up for hot cocoa?” Justin asked as he looked over at the kids.

“MEEE!” Bree and Patrick responded cheerfully and loudly. Brian and Justin quickly unsnapped the kids out of their seat belt and booster seat so that they could run into the house.

“Rage saves the day,” Justin said as he snaked his arm around his spouse’s waist as they walked through the front door. Justin hung up his coat then went to make the hot chocolate. The holiday break was coming soon so the children had little homework to do. Besides, they were very excited to be participating in their concert.

“Maybe,” Brian mumbled as he excused himself for the privacy of his bedroom. As he took off his coat, Brian redialed his phone.

“Brian, I just spoke to Albert; he’s packing it up as we speak. He’ll make it to the concert,” Ted reassured his boss.

“Ted...”

“I’m sorry, Brian, I didn’t realize how important the Winter Festival is to Harmon and his family.”

“Teddy...”

“It won’t happen again, Bri.”

“Schmidt!”

“Yes, boss,” Ted automatically answered, waiting for the dressing down he assumed he was going to get.

“Thank you.”

“Th..thank you?”

“Yes, Ted, thank you. I know this is a tough time for your clients. Year end tax shelters, deductions and 401K stuff. I’m sure you really needed to have Albert there doing whatever you number crunchers do at this time of the year. But Bree had doubts that Justin and I are going to attend her concert tonight.”

“Why?”

“She made the association that since you and I work together on important matters and that you and Albert work together, since he couldn’t attend...”

“Ah! I see. May I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

“When I spoke to Albert he mentioned that several employees were in similar situations. Of course, Albert is the only one with the long commute. The rest live in the neighborhood and are able to attend their own children’s school activities. As you are aware, I have no children.”

“Thank the gods.”

“Be that as it may, I’d like to think I’m a considerate employer. You always seemed to know when someone has a special event, and you arrange a flexible work day. How do you do it?”

“I ask, Schmidt.”

“You ask?”

“Yes, I ask. And if possible I request a copy of the school calendar. School holidays don’t always coincide with the more traditional or national holidays. Sometimes accommodations and compromises must be made. We’re one of the lucky ones, Ted. We’re in a business that allows for this. And...”

“And, what, Bri?”

“Family is important. Believe it or not, you’re a big part of my family. If I could’ve invited all of Liberty Avenue to Bree’s first concert, I would have. But it’s a small auditorium so it’s just us.”

“Is Gus going?”

“Yes.”

“Let him film it. I’d love to see it at Christmas and I’m sure Albert would like a copy. Gus is a wonderful cinema photographer. Who wouldn’t want a Gus Kinney film?”

“Good idea, Ted. You have a good night and we’ll see you at Christmas.”

“You can count on that, Brian.”

“Count on it?”

“A little accounting humor, Bri.”

“Very little, Schmidt.”

“Night, boss.”

“Later, Ted.” As Brian cut the connection, Justin came into the room.

“Everything okay?” Justin asked as he had a hug for his Rage.

“Fine, Sunshine. Any hot cocoa left for me?”

“Plenty,” Justin said as they tenderly kissed. They broke apart then touched foreheads. “Come on, I’ll pour you some,” Justin whispered. Brian nodded then hand in hand they walked to the kitchen.

 

*****
 

“Whose idea was it to design such hard uncomfortable seats and make little kids sit in them? Not to mention that my ass isn’t very happy either sitting here,” Brian griped. John had driven the family back to the school after dinner for the final festival program run through. They decided to stay instead of driving all the way back home. They would have only had to turn around right away to make it in time for the start of the performance. That meant spending extra time seated on the hard folding auditorium chairs.

“And the way these things flip up! I almost lost a finger. I need all my fingers,” Brian grumbled.

“Brian, you’re a pain in the ass, do you know that?” Justin scowled at his grumpy mate.

“No, this chair is a pain in the ass,” Brian countered.

“If you didn’t have such a skinny bony ass, you wouldn't have this problem,” Justin snapped back.

“We can’t all have your padding, Sunshine,” Brian snarked.

“Boys!” John growled at the two of them then gave them a very convincing death glare. The glare worked and there was no more talk about asses and uncomfortable seats.

“Mr. Kinney?” the principal called out as he walked up the aisle to where they were all sitting.

“Principal Johnson?” Brian stood as he answered.

“Mr. Kinney...”

“Brian.”

“Brian. The concert is about to begin and we’ve just learned that the photographer we hired to film this year’s concert has the flu. This young man is your son?” Principal Johnson asked, indicating Gus. Gus had been getting some candid shots of the kids during the rehearsal.

“Yes, he is,” Brian replied.

“The same young man who is associated with Mr. Taylor’s fractal movie?”

“The very same,” Brian said proudly.

“Would it be possible for...?”

“Gus.”

“For Gus to film the concert. We’ll pay him the same rate we agreed to pay the original photographer.”

“I can’t take money for this,” Gus was quick to say.

“Young man, before I became the principal, I was an art teacher. I have had the pleasure of seeing the fractal movie several times. It’s a remarkable film. I hope you’re doing something with your talent.”

“I’m in a dual program at Penn and at PIFA,” Gus admitted quietly.

“I’m glad to hear it. And college students need extra money, so if you agree to film the concert, you will be paid.”

“Yes, sir,” Gus said with a big smile. “Is that okay with you, Pop?”

Brian’s smile was just as big as his son’s. “Go forth and film, Sonny Boy,” Brian decreed with a wave of his hand then sat back down in his seat. All thoughts of discomfort were immediately forgotten as the principal ushered Gus to his vantage point.

“Dashing through the snow
In a one horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bob tails ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to laugh and sing
A sleighing song tonight

Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh”

Bree, being small in stature but not small in voice, was in the first row as her class sang their rendition of Jingle Bells. Patrick with his bells and Sheldon with his triangle, were seated in the orchestra pit along with the rest of the band, accompanying the singing class. Each participating class was going to perform a seasonal song and then for the finale, all the kids were going to get back on the stage to sing “America The Beautiful.” Gus filmed it all.

“Dada! Daddy! Did you see me? Did you see me?”

“We saw you, baby girl!” Justin answered as he scooped up his daughter and gave her a big hug. Brian reached over Justin’s shoulder to give his daughter a kiss.

“We saw both of you,” Brian said as Patrick came over to his proud fathers. He ruffled his nephew’s hair. “You were both wonderful.”

“We’re so proud of you!” John said beaming with pride and touching fists with his son. Bobby couldn’t help hugging his son.

“Pop!”

“Hey, Sonny Boy, you have what you need to edit the film?”

“Yep!” he said as he patted his front pocket. “Mr. Johnson let me use the school’s digital camera. I have the memory card. I told him that it’ll be easier for me to edit the film on my laptop. I’ll burn copies for us and a master copy for the school. I think they’re going to use the film for fundraising.”

“Can you get this done before Christmas?” Brian asked. The family was going to be very busy shortly.

“Piece of cake, Pop!”

“Then let’s get this show on the road,” Brian said, encouraging the family toward the main exit so they could go home. They almost made it.

“Mr. Kinney!” a somewhat harsh voice called out. When Brian turned he saw Winona marching toward them followed by a very large woman. Brian paled.

“Sunshine, if you love me, you’ll help me out here,” Brian mumbled out of the side of his mouth.

“See, Mommy, I told you Briana’s Dada was handsome,” Winona declared. Bree and Brian both sighed as John, Bobby and Justin snickered.

“Hi, Winona,” Bree and Patrick singsonged. Winona made little acknowledgment as she and her mother stood in awe of all things Kinney.

“And who is this?” Winona’s mom asked as she caught a good look at John, the other handsome Kinney. Brian snickered.

“John Anderson, ma’am,” John said politely, shaking the hand that was thrust in front of him.

Seeing that the dads had no clue how to make a clean getaway, Gus came to the rescue.

“Pop, we’re on a tight schedule, remember. Editing, Christmas, London and stuff,” Gus said with wide eyes and cocking his head toward the door.

“Ah, yes, right you are. Stuff! Much stuff. Ladies, it’s been real, but we gotta go. Have a good night.” Grabbing Justin and Bree’s hand, Brian made a hasty retreat. “Come along, Squirt, Sunshine, places to go, people to see,” Brian murmured as he led his family out to the parking lot. John smiled at the ladies, grabbed his redheads and made tracks right behind his brother. Gus easily kept up, laughing all the way.

 

*****
 

“Thank you for rescuing us from those … women, Sonny Boy,” Brian said as they pulled out of the parking lot.

Gus laughed. “You looked like you could use a little help.”

“Winona’s not a woman,” Bree piped up.

“She will be when she grows up, and her mother certainly is.”

“Don’t you like Winona and her mother?” Bree questioned. There was no response. “Dada?”

Brian looked over at Justin hoping for some help from that direction. Justin merely shrugged. Brian scowled and tried to think of how he might answer Bree’s question.

Gus stepped in once again, seeing his father’s dilemma. “I think Winona’s kind of pushy, and so’s her mother.”

“Pushy?” Bree asked.

“Yeah, she likes to have her own way and do whatever she wants.”

Bree looked thoughtful. “That’s pushy?” Gus nodded. “Then Winona’s pushy.” Gus smiled at her. Bree sat thoughtfully for a minute as they drove along. “Gus,” she said after a bit.

“Yes.”

“Am I pushy?”

“You have your moments,” Gus said honestly.

Bree frowned and then her face gradually took on a sad look. Gus waited for her to say something, but she didn’t.

The silence began to feel oppressive to Gus. “Bree, are you okay?” he asked. Bree shrugged. “I’m sorry if you didn’t want me to say that you’re pushy.”

Bree remained silent. Brian was watching the interaction in the rearview mirror. Justin was listening intently even though he tried to look nonchalant.

“Bree?”

“What?”

“Are you mad at me?” Gus asked.

“No, but I don’t want to be pushy. That means nobody will like me. You said I’m pushy, so I’m just like Winona. Nobody likes me.” She felt a big tear well up in her eye and trickle down her face.

“Bree, I didn’t mean to upset you. I was just explaining why we wanted to get away from Winona and her mother,” Gus said, trying to backtrack and get himself out of the mess he had created.

“But I like to have my own way and do whatever I want. That makes me pushy, and nobody likes me.”

Gus heaved a sigh. “Pop, Justin, I think I screwed this all up. Help!”

Justin decided it was time to get involved. “Gus, do you like to have your own way and do whatever you want?”

“Um, yeah,” Gus admitted. “Everybody does,” he added for good measure. He wondered where Justin was going with this.

“How about you, Brian?”

Brian raised an eyebrow before replying. “Has there ever been any question that I like my own way?”

Justin chuckled. “I’ve never had a problem knowing that you like to have things all your own way.” That earned him a glare.

“Your point?” Brian asked.

“I’m going to England in a few days. Do you want me to go?”

“No.”

“Then why aren’t you making a huge fuss about it, so that I’ll stay home and you’ll get what you want?”

“Because … I love you, and I know it’s for the best that you go,” Brian said slowly.

Justin smiled at him and squeezed his thigh. “So, you put me and your family ahead of your own wants and needs?”

“I guess so,” Brian replied.

“I know so!” Justin declared. “And that’s the difference, Bree. Winona and her mother, from what little I’ve seen of them, never put anyone in front of what they want. That makes them selfish and pushy. It’s okay to be pushy. You don’t get anywhere if you don’t stand up for yourself. But you also need to know when to forget what you want and do what’s best for your family and for people that are important to you. You are pushy sometimes, Bree, but you also know when Patrick or Ashley or Gus or any of our family need your help, and then you put them first. Do you understand what I’m saying, Bree?”

Bree wiped the tear from her face and looked into her father’s eyes. “I share,” she said. That was her simple way of acknowledging the lesson she had learned a long time ago. That was how she had learned about the way to treat family and friends, and even people who might be strangers but who needed something from her.

“Exactly,” Justin said. “And we all love you as a result. Even more, we like you. You’re a wonderful little girl.”

“And the best sister,” Gus said.

“The best daughter a man could ever have,” Brian added as John pulled up in front of the cottage. “I’m a very lucky man to have such wonderful children and such a smart mate.”

“Love you, Daddy, Dada, Gus,” Bree said, smiling once again, as she hopped down from the back of the SUV.

“And a Merry Christmas to us all,” Brian said as they headed inside.
 

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