One Two Punch - Chapter Four: "After School Special"

Just finished... Danny and Mike meet after school and talk about a few things.

Chapter Four: “After School Special”

As I was traveling home, I realized I completely forgot to tell Danny about the father-son tournament. Oh well, I see him in class every day.
So the following Monday as I’m dismissing class I decide to ask if Danny can meet me after school. “Danny, if I could have a word, please?” I ask him.
He hears my voice and says “Yeah, sure, what’s up?”
“I know you must be still all freaked out, but I never got to say thank you for not telling your dad I’m your father. That would have been a little awkward and frankly, now is not the right time,” I tell him.
“Yeah, no problem. It’s just weird, my dad is my history teacher. I’ve been meaning to ask you, who’s my mother? Is she also a teacher here?” he asks.
“No, no,” I tell him. “I think we need a long talk together. How about since you have to get to your next class, you meet me at three o’clock after school here in this room?”
“OK, that’s perfect, I don’t have any clubs today.”
“Great, see you then, Danny.” He leaves for his next class while I prepare for my next.
All while teaching my next classes I am distracted by what I am going to tell Danny. How much should I tell him? Before I know it, the sixth and final period bell has rung, signaling the end of the day. Danny shows up early, not to my surprise.
“Hey Danny. Why don’t you take a seat in the front there?” I ask him. He obliges. “I know you must be bustling with questions but I have one for you too. Just one, though. But to be fair, I’ll let you ask yours first.”
“Who is my mother? What is she like?” he asks.
“Her name as I knew her was Jennifer Widmore. She was very pretty and she was captain of the cheerleading team… at this school, by the way,” I tell Danny. What a small world we live in.
“Really? So both my parents went here?”
“Yep. In fact she and I dated in senior year and got pregnant with you. We foolishly did not use a condom.”
“I thought you must’ve been young to have had me,” he comes up with.
“Yep, in fact I was your age. But we had to put you up for adoption, because we couldn’t afford you. In fact, your mother becoming pregnant is kind of the reason we broke up. I kind of ditched her after I learned she was pregnant.”
“What? How could you do that? That’s horrible,” Danny tells me. What am I, five years old?
“What can I say? I was eighteen and stupid and scared. But I will say this, it’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever done in my life, by far. Anyway, since I wasn’t involved in the adoption process, I didn’t know who your parents would be,” I say.
“Oh. So why do you need to speak to me?”
Shoot! What did I need to speak to him about? Oh right! “Oh right! Er… listen, Danny. The reason I contacted you is because I’m having a bit of trouble—financially.”
“So, what, you want me to give you money?” he asks. No, Einstein, I want you to steal money for me.
“No, no I wouldn’t want you to do that. While I was leaving school one day I noticed a flyer put up—maybe you’ve seen it—it’s for a father-son basketball tournament, and the winning team gets $25,000,” I say as I hand him the flyer.
“Wow. So you want me to compete in it with you,” he says. How slow is this kid?
“Yes.”
“But I can’t, I mean I don’t play sports,” Danny replies. “I’m probably not very good, either.”
“Danny, listen to me. There’s a reason I coach the boys basketball team here,” I tell him.
“You do?”
“Yeah. Um, only a few of the teachers and Principle Wexler know this… I played college basketball at USC and I was pretty good,” I say.
“So why aren’t you playing professionally?”
“Because I had a severe knee injury that sidelined me for pretty much my career. I’ve had four surgeries on it. But it’s ok now. Of course, I’m a little old for the NBA now, especially for someone with no experience.”
“Ok.”
“So what do you say Danny? I’m a great teacher of basketball. The kids on our basketball team would be terrible if it weren’t for me. Well, maybe not terrible, but you know what I mean.”
“What’s in this for me?” he asks.
“Well, since I only need $20,000, you would get the extra $5,000.”
“Yeah, if we win,” he reminds me.
“So does that mean you’re in?”
Danny sighs, and it looks like he’s thinking about it. Finally, he says, “Yeah.”
Yes! “Great! I’ll just need your birth certificate; your dad has it,” I say.
“I don’t think he’ll approve of this,” he worries.
“So, sneak it out, do what you have to do. When you’re playing in the tournament, tell him you have some Foreign Language club or something to go to,” I tell Danny.
“All right, fine, but I hate lying to my dad. I’m only doing this because I need that extra bit of money for college,” Danny says.
“Great Danny, thanks,” I say, finally relieved.
“So is that all?” he asks me.
“Yep, pretty much. Oh, except for… if you’re going to compete in this tournament with me, you’re going to need some practice. How about this Saturday, you and me, at the gym here at school?”
“Sounds great, I’ll see you then… Dad,” Danny says.
“Hang on, before you go, quick question. What college are you planning on going to?” I ask him.
“Well, I first considered Stanford, but that’s a little ways away, so I’m leaning towards USC, actually.”
“That’s great, Danny. It’s a great school, you’ll love it.” He leaves.