Jake told me he would like to follow in his father’s footsteps and wants to join the Coast Guard after college. I did phone the Coast Guard Academy ...nd discussed Jake’s interest in them with their basketball coach. I told him of the interest that these other schools had expressed in Jake and the offers they have made. The coach said it is not that often that a second team All-American basketball player wants to come to the Academy so I think the Crosby family will be surprised when the coach. It was perfect.My birthday was coming up in a few weeks and Katy, being the imaginative minx she was, wanted to make it special. She quizzed me on what I wanted for a gift, where I wanted to go, and if there was anything I wanted Diane to do for me. I half joking told her I wish Diane was nicer to the Three Amigos. They were geeks, but it bothered me that she still had an attitude toward them, even after out talk.Katy listened quietly but didn’t say anything. She had been able to get Diane to. "Was I this stupid when I was his age?" asked Michael rhetorically."I didn't know you then," said Gayle, "but you probably were."My dad grunted and nodded."Thanks a lot, both of you," grumbled Michael.Finally, it was time to leave. With one last adjustment of my tie and a kiss on the cheek from Gayle, I headed out.I drove over and parked the car in the driveway. I got out, gave my tuxedo jacket a tug to make sure it was unwrinkled, and walked to the front door. I knew her parents would want to. "You got gypped if you paid more than a buck for it. It's pretty cheap made."Brian's opponent appeared to be a year or so older than he. He was a tall, skinny, watery eyed young man who looked to be anywhere from fifteen to eighteen. He wasn't any older because eighteen was the break off for the next older players. "You got a smart mouth on you. I have half a mind to smack some manners into you." Yup," Brian answered him, "Half a mind is just about all you can handle. You start anything with me.