Page 49 of A Very Miller-Cooper Life

Charlie

The Middle School Years (11-13)

“All right. Get together, everyone. Say middle school,” Reagan said as she held her phone out in front of her and made an exaggerated smile as if the kids didn’t know how to do it.

Then again, maybe she was right since the only one currently doing what she said was Carter. Ronan had his arms crossed in front of his chest and Olivia was, to no one’s surprise, rolling her eyes.

“This is so lame,” Ronan whined.

“Yeah, really. We’re too old for first day of school pictures,” Olivia said.

“Well, you better get used to it.” I pointed to Reagan. “I’m pretty sure your mom is going to make you take one up until your first day of college.”

“And on the first day of your first adult job,” Reagan joked.

Except, knowing her, I wasn’t so sure it was a joke. The older she got, the more sentimental she became, especially when it came to the kids.

“If you smile, we’ll do something fun after picking you up.”

“Can we go to the batting cages?” Ronan asked, a smile finally coming to his face.

“Seriously?” Olivia asked. “The batting cages aren’t nearly as fun as mini golf. What do you think, Carter?”

For a second, Carter looked like a deer caught in the headlights, most likely due to the fact that she unfortunately wasn’t used to her opinionated siblings asking for her input. Then she looked at me and shrugged. “Why can’t we do both?They are at the same place. Plus, it’s right next to the bookstore. That way, we all get to do something we enjoy.”

Reagan pointed at Carter. “See. That’s why she’s the smart one!”

Olivia scowled at Reagan. “We’re all smart.”

“She’s obviously joking,” I said. “Now please smile so we can take this picture and get to school.”

The kids smiled as if they were perfect little angels and Reagan snapped the picture. If I was like too many other parents my age, I would’ve posted the picture on social media and pretended that the minutes leading up to it weren’t filled with fighting and bribes. Instead, I took Reagan’s phone and sent it to the chat we had with her family and added, “Only had to bribe them with batting cages, mini golf, and the bookstore to get this picture.”

Within seconds, Reagan’s brother replied with, “I love how it’s so easy to figure out who each of those bribes are for.”

***

When we picked them up from school, the kids were buzzing with excitement. It was hard to figure out what any of them were saying when they were all talking at the exact same time.

“And they already told us when the first dance is going to be,” Olivia said, loud enough to be heard over the other two voices. “It’s only two weeks away. Marty and CJ both asked me to dance with them as soon as they found out. After the dance, I’m going to decide which of them gets to be my boyfriend.”

“Boyfriend?” Reagan asked, aghast. “We’re in the boyfriend years already?” She pointed between Ronan and Carter. “Are you two getting boyfriends too?”

Ronan shook his head. “I only like girls.”

“Dope. Me too.” Reagan held her hand out for a fist bump, which Ronan reluctantly returned. “How ’bout you?” she asked Carter. “Any boyfriends or girlfriends?”

Carter’s face became serious as if she was considering the question. “I only really care about school and friends right now.”

“But,” Olivia wrapped her arm around Carter. “We’re going to try out for the soccer team together.”

Olivia’s soccer playing days didn’t even last up until the time of the first dance, when she decided she would rather cheer for sports than play them. Carter had made the team and decided to stick with it, but I had a feeling that was only because she was determined not to quit and probably wouldn’t do it again the next year.

The one thing all three kids could agree on was that they were very excited for the dance. All for different reasons of course. Carter wanted to hang out with some of the new friends she had made, Olivia wanted to decide which suitor would get the pleasure of being her first boyfriend, and Ronan wanted to play basketball in the gym.

Once they were ready, Reagan took their picture and we drove them to the school together. “Their first dance,” Reagan said with a sigh after they were out of the car.

“I know, right? I feel so old.”

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