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Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, they are the property of many people besides me, including NBC and MGM entertainment. This was written without permission, but please do not sue me, as I am making no profit, and only love the idea.
Author's note: I'm in a really hyper mood today...it explains the disclaimer...and a few other things...although I suppose that that might just be because I'm insane...anyway, I finally got back on the net to post this, hope everyone likes is, feedback is certainly appreciated...
Ordinary Encounters III
Broots
By Spectra
It was a perfectly ordinary day, in which I was merely trying to make it through until five o'clock, which is when I get to go home. It was 4:59 on the dot, and I was impatiently waiting for Debbie's father, Mr. Broots, to come and pick her up. Debbie looked as if she'd cry at any moment. And, well, maybe I better start at the real beginning.
Debbie has been somewhat of a problem since the first day she walked into my classroom. Okay, to be fair, it's not her fault. It's her father's. Oh, he's a nice guy, and shows up at most of the teacher parent conferences, and is very devoted to his daughter. But you wouldn't know it if you just saw how often he disappoints Debbie. I know he tries, but you know how they say that trying isn't quite enough? Well, that's how this is. When he's around, he's the best father anyone could ever ask for. But he travels a lot for his job, which I'm still not sure exactly what he does, and I don't think Debbie knows either. I'm not sure if Broots himself knows. That's beside the point. Whatever he does, his boss (a woman, I found out from Debbie, who admires her for some reason or another) is always dragging him halfway across the country and back again. All I know is that he doesn't ever really know where he's going, or how long he'll be gone, more than five minutes ahead of time. However, her dad took her to France for her birthday last year, so Debbie is either the luckiest girl in the world, or the least lucky. She never knows where her dad is, and that creates some problems, like this one.
So we were standing around, waiting by the door, and Debbie was looking more and more like she was going to cry. Sighing, I told her, "If your dad doesn't show within five more minutes, I will take you home myself."
She brightened a little at this, although she was still depressed at her dad not being there. We waited the five minutes I had promised, and then I told her to get her stuff. We walked to my car, and I pulled out my keys, when this car, a black, very expensive, car very nearly screeches into the parking lot, and stops in the spot next to mine. Debbie literally squealed, and hopped out of my back seat.
Out of the back of the car I saw Broots step out, and Debbie throw herself into his arms. I walked over slowly, even more slowly when I saw the woman who got out from behind the driver's seat. She was tall, and beautiful, although she looked tired, frustrated, and sad. Broots walked over to me, still holding his daughter's hand, and shook my hand.
"I'm so very sorry, Miss Kimball, but our plane was delayed, and we just couldn't make it back in time," he managed to stutter out, glancing rather nervously at the woman. As I glanced her way, I noticed that one other person had also gotten out of the car. Another man, who looked about the same age as the woman, and who looked like her, too.
"It's alright, Mr. Broots, I was just going to take her home," I stated, with what I am sure was a disapproving look on my face.
Broots turned toward Debbie, "I'm so sorry honey, you know that I would have been here sooner if I could have been, right?" Debbie nodded.
"If we've got the girl, can we get going?" remarked the younger man.
I didn't like him. I decided that after that remark, although I hadn't liked him, not really, from the moment I saw him. I decided to risk their anger, just to spite this man because he had annoyed me by being late in the first place, and spoke up. "Actually, I did have something that I wanted you to see," I rushed on, ignoring the angry look from both the young man and the woman. "It's kind of important, and since you are here..." I trailed off. Broots was already exchanging a pleading look with the woman.
For the first time since they had arrived, she spoke up, "Oh fine, but make it quick. I'd like to get home sometime this century." It was funny, really, she sounded so much like I had just minutes before, but she must have had some soft spot inside her heart, because she was obviously the leader, and she had been the one who drove here like a maniac, presumably to be on time.
Anyway, I unlocked the door, and we walked back to my classroom, in which time I was wondering how in the world I would explain all this to the angry people behind me. I frantically searched my mind for something that would explain my need to speak with Broots. Thankfully, Debbie supplied the means.
"Miss Kimball? Do want me to get the permission slip from my bag?" She was grinning at me like the cat who had eaten the canary, obviously enjoying the show. Oh, she was clever, and she knew it, too. She not only saved me from totally losing any self-respect I had left, but she would also get to go on the field trip the next day. It seemed that Broots had forgotten to sign it yesterday, and Debbie, without it, would have had to stay at school while the others went to the Science Museum. I mouthed a thank you at her, and she grinned. I think the woman noticed, and almost smiled, like she knew I had done this only to spite the man with her.
"No, Debbie, I have an extra right here," I finally managed to creak out of my mouth.
"Miss Parker, do you want to see my desk?" I was astonished at Debbie for being so forward with the woman. Miss Parker, contrary to what I had thought she would do, said, "Sure, why not?" and walked over to Debbie's desk in the second row. I must have gaped at her, because Broots said,
"Miss Parker adores Debbie. Don't think about it too much, you'll only be more confused." I was even more astonished to see him also smiling, until the other guy, the one I didn't like said, "Broots..." in a warning tone. He then stuttered, "W-what did you want again?"
I handed him the permission slip. "Debbie really wanted to go, and when she didn't have it this morning I was surprised..."
He signed it, first reading it over, which made me smile, few parents actually read what I send home and it was really nice to see this man do so, even with these strange people breathing down his back. He spoke again, "I'm really sorry about all this, these last couple of days have been...hectic."
I caught part of a mumble from both of my visitors, "You got that right." Realizing they had said the same thing they glared at each other.
The man laughed, "Well, sis, it looks like the twin side is finally rearing its ugly head."
Miss Parker snapped back, "The key word, Lyle, being "ugly.""
I almost burst out laughing. If it hadn't been so tense in the rooms, I probably would have. That one exchange made me doubt that there ever was camaraderie between them, but it was so funny, because they seemed like the kind of people who wouldn't let anything phase them at all, and yet they were behaving like five-year-old siblings. Anyway, Broots apparently didn't see anything funny in it, and he merely said, "We really should be going. Thank you again, Miss Kimball."
They left. When they got to their car, Miss Parker and Lyle fought over who would get to drive. Broots didn't even try, he just climbed into the back seat with Debbie. When I was sure they were gone, I collapsed into my chair, puzzling over the whole encounter from beginning to finish. When I thought about Miss Parker acquiescing to Debbie and the fight between Miss Parker and her brother (I was pretty sure of the fact that he was her brother) I couldn't contain it any longer. Even though it really wasn't all that funny, I laughed until I saw what time it was, and quickly gathered my stuff, not forgetting Debbie's hard-earned permission slip, and drove home. It will forever remain as one of the strangest encounters I have ever had.
Author's note: I'm in a really hyper mood today...it explains the disclaimer...and a few other things...although I suppose that that might just be because I'm insane...anyway, I finally got back on the net to post this, hope everyone likes is, feedback is certainly appreciated...
Ordinary Encounters III
Broots
By Spectra
It was a perfectly ordinary day, in which I was merely trying to make it through until five o'clock, which is when I get to go home. It was 4:59 on the dot, and I was impatiently waiting for Debbie's father, Mr. Broots, to come and pick her up. Debbie looked as if she'd cry at any moment. And, well, maybe I better start at the real beginning.
Debbie has been somewhat of a problem since the first day she walked into my classroom. Okay, to be fair, it's not her fault. It's her father's. Oh, he's a nice guy, and shows up at most of the teacher parent conferences, and is very devoted to his daughter. But you wouldn't know it if you just saw how often he disappoints Debbie. I know he tries, but you know how they say that trying isn't quite enough? Well, that's how this is. When he's around, he's the best father anyone could ever ask for. But he travels a lot for his job, which I'm still not sure exactly what he does, and I don't think Debbie knows either. I'm not sure if Broots himself knows. That's beside the point. Whatever he does, his boss (a woman, I found out from Debbie, who admires her for some reason or another) is always dragging him halfway across the country and back again. All I know is that he doesn't ever really know where he's going, or how long he'll be gone, more than five minutes ahead of time. However, her dad took her to France for her birthday last year, so Debbie is either the luckiest girl in the world, or the least lucky. She never knows where her dad is, and that creates some problems, like this one.
So we were standing around, waiting by the door, and Debbie was looking more and more like she was going to cry. Sighing, I told her, "If your dad doesn't show within five more minutes, I will take you home myself."
She brightened a little at this, although she was still depressed at her dad not being there. We waited the five minutes I had promised, and then I told her to get her stuff. We walked to my car, and I pulled out my keys, when this car, a black, very expensive, car very nearly screeches into the parking lot, and stops in the spot next to mine. Debbie literally squealed, and hopped out of my back seat.
Out of the back of the car I saw Broots step out, and Debbie throw herself into his arms. I walked over slowly, even more slowly when I saw the woman who got out from behind the driver's seat. She was tall, and beautiful, although she looked tired, frustrated, and sad. Broots walked over to me, still holding his daughter's hand, and shook my hand.
"I'm so very sorry, Miss Kimball, but our plane was delayed, and we just couldn't make it back in time," he managed to stutter out, glancing rather nervously at the woman. As I glanced her way, I noticed that one other person had also gotten out of the car. Another man, who looked about the same age as the woman, and who looked like her, too.
"It's alright, Mr. Broots, I was just going to take her home," I stated, with what I am sure was a disapproving look on my face.
Broots turned toward Debbie, "I'm so sorry honey, you know that I would have been here sooner if I could have been, right?" Debbie nodded.
"If we've got the girl, can we get going?" remarked the younger man.
I didn't like him. I decided that after that remark, although I hadn't liked him, not really, from the moment I saw him. I decided to risk their anger, just to spite this man because he had annoyed me by being late in the first place, and spoke up. "Actually, I did have something that I wanted you to see," I rushed on, ignoring the angry look from both the young man and the woman. "It's kind of important, and since you are here..." I trailed off. Broots was already exchanging a pleading look with the woman.
For the first time since they had arrived, she spoke up, "Oh fine, but make it quick. I'd like to get home sometime this century." It was funny, really, she sounded so much like I had just minutes before, but she must have had some soft spot inside her heart, because she was obviously the leader, and she had been the one who drove here like a maniac, presumably to be on time.
Anyway, I unlocked the door, and we walked back to my classroom, in which time I was wondering how in the world I would explain all this to the angry people behind me. I frantically searched my mind for something that would explain my need to speak with Broots. Thankfully, Debbie supplied the means.
"Miss Kimball? Do want me to get the permission slip from my bag?" She was grinning at me like the cat who had eaten the canary, obviously enjoying the show. Oh, she was clever, and she knew it, too. She not only saved me from totally losing any self-respect I had left, but she would also get to go on the field trip the next day. It seemed that Broots had forgotten to sign it yesterday, and Debbie, without it, would have had to stay at school while the others went to the Science Museum. I mouthed a thank you at her, and she grinned. I think the woman noticed, and almost smiled, like she knew I had done this only to spite the man with her.
"No, Debbie, I have an extra right here," I finally managed to creak out of my mouth.
"Miss Parker, do you want to see my desk?" I was astonished at Debbie for being so forward with the woman. Miss Parker, contrary to what I had thought she would do, said, "Sure, why not?" and walked over to Debbie's desk in the second row. I must have gaped at her, because Broots said,
"Miss Parker adores Debbie. Don't think about it too much, you'll only be more confused." I was even more astonished to see him also smiling, until the other guy, the one I didn't like said, "Broots..." in a warning tone. He then stuttered, "W-what did you want again?"
I handed him the permission slip. "Debbie really wanted to go, and when she didn't have it this morning I was surprised..."
He signed it, first reading it over, which made me smile, few parents actually read what I send home and it was really nice to see this man do so, even with these strange people breathing down his back. He spoke again, "I'm really sorry about all this, these last couple of days have been...hectic."
I caught part of a mumble from both of my visitors, "You got that right." Realizing they had said the same thing they glared at each other.
The man laughed, "Well, sis, it looks like the twin side is finally rearing its ugly head."
Miss Parker snapped back, "The key word, Lyle, being "ugly.""
I almost burst out laughing. If it hadn't been so tense in the rooms, I probably would have. That one exchange made me doubt that there ever was camaraderie between them, but it was so funny, because they seemed like the kind of people who wouldn't let anything phase them at all, and yet they were behaving like five-year-old siblings. Anyway, Broots apparently didn't see anything funny in it, and he merely said, "We really should be going. Thank you again, Miss Kimball."
They left. When they got to their car, Miss Parker and Lyle fought over who would get to drive. Broots didn't even try, he just climbed into the back seat with Debbie. When I was sure they were gone, I collapsed into my chair, puzzling over the whole encounter from beginning to finish. When I thought about Miss Parker acquiescing to Debbie and the fight between Miss Parker and her brother (I was pretty sure of the fact that he was her brother) I couldn't contain it any longer. Even though it really wasn't all that funny, I laughed until I saw what time it was, and quickly gathered my stuff, not forgetting Debbie's hard-earned permission slip, and drove home. It will forever remain as one of the strangest encounters I have ever had.
