"Mike, when are you planning to depart?"
At the Cooper dinner table, Georgie asked.
"Tomorrow morning." Now that Mike had secured his vehicle, he naturally wanted to head back as soon as possible to claim his inheritance and put his mind at ease.
"Cool..."
However, Georgie seemed to have misinterpreted the situation. He assumed Mike's trip was simply a leisurely road trip.
Still riding the high from his test drive earlier, Georgie continued enthusiastically, "I wonder what kind of car I can buy with my savings. I also want to go out and see the world this summer..."
Thanks to the snow globe business last Christmas, plus his saved allowance, Georgie estimated he had about three thousand dollars on hand.
Seeing Mike embarking on such a cool road trip made Georgie restless.
He decided he wanted to buy a car and go on his own epic journey.
Next, he excitedly started discussing the used car models he was eyeing.
Three thousand dollars wasn't a fortune, but it was enough for a decent used car.
With some luck, he might score a pickup truck in fair condition or maybe an off-brand SUV.
"Enough, Georgie. You don't even have your driver's license yet. We'll discuss buying a car later." Mary, already in a foul mood due to her youngest son leaving home, found herself inexplicably irritated by her eldest son's chatter.
"I've already asked Robin for help with the license. I should have it in a couple of days. The only missing variable is the car..." Deep in his road trip fantasy, Georgie failed to notice his mother's emotional volatility.
He kept blabbering about cars and road trips.
Robin was Pastor Jeff's second wife and worked at the DMV. Getting a license through her was convenient and expedited.
Mike's license had been procured through the same internal connection.
"Stop talking about the car. You are not going anywhere this summer." Mary didn't care about the license or the car. As a mother, she stubbornly refused to accept the reality that her children were leaving the nest.
It was a feeling most mothers eventually experienced.
"But this is about the car..." Georgie still didn't understand why his mother was snapping, but given her accumulated authority, he swallowed his dissatisfaction and only dared to mutter under his breath.
---
"Mike, are all preparations for your departure complete?" On the walk back after dinner, Meemaw asked with concern.
"All set. I just need to pick up some supplies for the road tomorrow," Mike replied.
Traveling solo didn't require much prep. Two changes of clothes and some snacks and drinks for the road were sufficient.
"Get some rest early. Drive safe, and remember to call me anytime if anything happens..."
Even after they returned home, Meemaw continued to fuss over Mike's travel details.
Perhaps watching both Mike and Paige leave made Meemaw, who now considered them family, feel a bit down.
"Mmhmm, understood. You get some rest too..." Mike accepted her concern, then pulled out the Ferrari key. "Also, while I'm gone for the next few days, could you please look after my Ferrari?"
"OK! Leave the Ferra—I mean, looking after it to me. I guarantee no issues..." Touching the Ferrari key, Meemaw's mood instantly brightened.
Seeing this, Mike smiled and shook his head. He washed up quickly in the bathroom and retired to his room.
Just as he was about to drift off to sleep, he received a call from Collins.
"Collins? Is there an emergency at this hour?" Mike asked.
Since their first phone conversation facilitated by SJ, Mike and Collins had been communicating with increasing frequency.
They chatted online and over the phone regularly.
However, receiving a call this late was a first.
"Mike, you know about my brother receiving his acceptance letter from Ole Miss, right?" Collins asked tentatively.
Big Mike managed to scrape by with passing grades and secure his admission, a fact Collins had shared in previous chats.
Mike also knew that Collins had been accepted to the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) as well, with excellent grades.
Unlike the athletic recruit, she had easily gotten into the highly competitive Financial Management program.
"You mentioned this previously. What is the context?" Hearing her hesitation, Mike couldn't quite grasp her intent.
"Since both Big Mike and I got into Ole Miss, my father is taking the whole family to Hawaii to celebrate..." Collins paused here, then seemed to summon her courage. "I wanted to invite you to join our family vacation. Do you have time?"
Sunshine, beaches, girls...
This was indeed an excellent opportunity to advance their relationship.
Moreover, Collins was a catch—well-mannered, intelligent, and extremely beautiful.
Plus, her family was wealthy. She was the total package.
Mike wasn't dense. Through their numerous conversations, he had clearly sensed her special affection for him.
Unfortunately, this summer, Mike had business more critical than a vacation.
"Apologies, Collins. I am preparing to return to Minnesota soon. I'm afraid I cannot make the trip." After explaining, Mike added softly, "I hope you and your family enjoy your vacation."
"Oh... okay. You focus on your business then. We can... try again another time..." Collins' voice dripped with disappointment.
It was understandable. After this summer, she would be heading off to college.
Barring any unforeseen events, separated by distance, they might not have a chance to meet again for a year, or perhaps ever.
For Collins, who was experiencing her first love, this was a hard pill to swallow.
But there was nothing she could do.
After a few more minutes of listless small talk, she hung up the phone, clearly disheartened.
Mike understood Collins' intent perfectly. If circumstances allowed, he would have been quite willing to engage in deeper "interactions" with her.
But again, the timing was suboptimal.
"Perhaps another time..."
Mike, currently not lacking in female companionship, briefly lamented missing out on Collins' body before drifting off to sleep, gathering energy for tomorrow's journey.
---
At the same time, Sheldon, having moved into Dr. Sturgis's home, also successfully fell asleep.
Despite being notoriously picky about his sleeping arrangements, he slept surprisingly peacefully.
In fact, Sheldon was highly satisfied with his new life.
Dr. Sturgis, a lifelong bachelor, had unique social habits.
He welcomed Sheldon but adhered to a principle of mutual non-interference.
Even dinner tonight had been eaten separately.
This lifestyle suited Sheldon perfectly.
However, two eccentric geniuses living together in such a peculiar manner was clearly not a sustainable long-term strategy.
Especially when one of them was a child who required supervision.
In the middle of the night, Sheldon woke up needing to use the bathroom. Looking at the unfamiliar surroundings, panic began to creep in.
"This is nothing... I can do this... I just need to activate the illumination..."
Sheldon, who should have called for help, chose to handle the problem independently to maintain the "non-interference" protocol he had with Dr. Sturgis.
But lacking independent living skills, he fumbled in the dark for a long time. Not only did he fail to find the light switch, but in his panic, he also smacked his head against something hard.
"This is... blood..."
Feeling the warm, sticky liquid on his hand, Sheldon knew he was facing a problem he couldn't solve.
Terror instantly overwhelmed him. Helpless, he screamed at the top of his lungs. "HELP!!! DR. STURGIS!!! I REQUIRE ASSISTANCE!!!"
Dr. Sturgis, a light sleeper, was jolted awake by the cry for help. Hearing the distress in Sheldon's voice, he rushed out of his room in a daze.
"What happened? Sheldon!"
Panic breeds chaos. In his haste, a loud crash echoed in the hallway, followed by Dr. Sturgis's cry of pain.
"My leg! I believe I have fractured my tibia!!"
"Do not worry, Sheldon. I am coming to locate you..."
Even through the pain, Dr. Sturgis tried to comfort Sheldon.
But the chaotic noises in the hallway only terrified Sheldon more as he stood in the dark, confused and bleeding.
A nine-year-old child, even a super-genius, cries when he's scared.
And Sheldon cried loudly.
For a while, the house was filled with a cacophony of wails and groans of pain.