Page 21 of Nerdy or Nice
"What, you wanted me to chop some wood?" Clint said. "A fat lotta good that'll do when the fireplace is gas."
"If you want to chop something," Drake said, "maybe you should hit that tree farm off the parkway. I hear you can cut your own Christmas tree."
"What, you think I won't?"
"No. I think youwill," Drake said. "That's why I mentioned it."
Listening, I couldn't help but smile. Growing up, my own house had been filled with plenty of conflict, but none of it had felt likethis.
Thatconflict had been stressful. In contrast, there was something warm and comfy about the way Drake and his grandfather argued, like they would always love each other no matter what.
They were still going back and forth when a crash sounded from somewhere behind me. I whirled to look and spotted Tango sitting atop the same side table where Drake had placed the poinsettia.
I stifled a gasp.The poinsettia wasn't there anymore.Instead, the whole plant was lying sideways on the wooden floor just below the table, with its soil spilling out in all directions.
I cringed at the sight. Maybe Ishouldhavegone with a loaf of bread.
And now, Clint was telling Drake, "Itoldyou not to put it there."
Drake replied, "No, you didn't."
"You sure? Huh. Imeantto. Good thing it wasn't glass."
Drake gave me an apologetic look. "Sorry about that. But don't worry, it's fixable."
I gave the plant another glance. "Technically, you don't need to be sorry. I mean, itisyours."
"Yeah, well it's not Tango's," Drake said. "But try tellinghimthat."
From the recliner, Clint said, "Hey,Itell him that all the time. But the cat never listens."
Drake gave a low scoff. "I wonder where he getsthatfrom."
"Hey, it's not fromme,"Clint said."Allcats are like that. They got dignity, you know?"
Again, I turned to look at Tango. Sometime within the last few seconds, he'd jumped off the side table and was now flopped amidst the dirt, licking his backside.
Drake stood. "Yeah, real dignified." He circled the couch and headed toward the plant. But then, he stopped and turned back. Looking to me, he said, "But speaking of cats, there's something I meant to give you earlier."
Clint got to his feet. "You don't need to tellmetwice."
"To do what?" Drake asked. "Clean up the mess?"
Clint laughed. "No. To make myself scarce." He flicked his head toward the plant. "That'syourmess, not mine."
"How is it mine?" Drake asked. "It'syourcat."
"Yeah, but it'syourflowers. And I could've told you not to put 'emthere."
"Yeah, except you didn't."
"I shouldn'tneedto tell you," Clint said. "If you haven't figured it out by now, you're not as smart as you used to be." Clint looked to me, and his eyes crinkled at the corners. "Since he won't tell you himself,Iwill." He flicked his head toward Drake. "He graduated summa from U of M."
Wow.I turned to look at Drake. "You did? Seriously?"
His eyebrows lifted. "Yeah, shocking, huh?"
Itwasshocking, but judging from his expression, I should've done a better job of hiding it. My face warmed all over again as I said, "Sorry. It's just really impressive, that's all."
