the weed whacker to clean things up and edged, and then got out the leaf blower and

worn-out, sweaty mess, and a little worried about being in such p

zy excitedly spent three-quarters of the meal regaling them with everyth

rother a chance. W

uth full, so he quickly finishe

in

f the ordinary

, and we sat around and did a bunch of nothing," X

on the bus?" Izzy asked, sticking

n. I think I surpri

ual Karen,' he thoug

your new g

ld've offed his little sister much sooner beca

have the talk?"

t that," Xan

is dad asked, sudd

nd unsure how a talk would help me. For that matter, I'm no

his mom, who shr

the bus?" Xander asked Izzy

zy said and took off

r suspected that wasn't the las

fe, he'd run large projects, and that mode kicked in. He needed to take st

e'd let it go too far. The question was whether, if asked, he could find

d stuff strewn everywhere. Xander's old self was embarrassed by the mess he faced. For once,

t had to go there. As he filled it, he'd put the clothes he'd worn to mow the lawn on top, and they stan

When he came down, he found his mom in the laundr

rong?" Xa

ather put h

never done a load of laundry until he went to college. He'

d it," Xa

hut off the w

t the clothe

n the bottle," Xander said

d told a little white lie, hoping it would get him off the hook

ed it into the laundry sink. She made about a buck and a quarter by emptying his pockets, s

x his junior year: it must have been the condom wrapper he'd stuffed

ot you, but I didn't want to burden y

curious look but

l down, and I'll

e, I can help,

im promise to come get her when he start

bit grossed out when he found a bunch of crusty tissues stuffed between the wall and his

trip his bed because h

s. Once he finished, he gazed around his bedroom; Xander doubted the room ha

ll his own, except for the change in his piggy bank. That limited his possibilities. A good project ma

ror so he could make an honest assessment of his body. He saw a scraw

m five-ten when he started his freshman year of high school. But he was disappointed tha

ly developed down there. He realized his equipment would mature along with his growth spurt, so he didn'

in his junior year-one of only four juniors to do that. So he expected he wo

cation, Xander should start some kind of exercise program. If for no other reason than not to b

head at the majority of it. He'd obviously learned it well enough to pass, but sixty years into the future, much of it made no sense. At least now, Xander recognized wh

der wished to relive his life, to be more confident, and not t

busy. Xander realized his list was only a sta

d stray towels he'd found. He then strolled into the den to watch TV with his parents. Xander wanted to be sure he would be the one to

lped him bring it all upstairs. When

ppened i

was probably shock

making changes.

with you about cleaning your room. I never

lean, but I'm tired of liv

Mom said, sounding more like she was talking to

r help with my laundry. Nex

utched her chest like som

ll believe it," sh

a hard worker. Her father was also a contractor, and she came from a family of four kids, including an older sister

e inside of their house, anothe

at the girl Xander had recently broken up with was pregnant. She'd dumped Xander to date her ex

Xander's responsibilities in the matter. Thankfully, he hadn't been part of the

their go

d simply shoved stuff into the dresser. He pulled everything out and put it back i

uld give it all to his mom to donate. He imagined his poor sister would be a recipient of some of his castoff

little leer and patted the empty seat next to him when

o that?" Bri

r. If you do anything, and I mean anything to her, I'll c

lking about. I was just trying

fuck you are. Just remember what I said," Xander sa

d about him. Xander knew most high school boys had confidence issues, and h

leave Izzy alone, which Xander suspected would be the case. If Brian really was a pedo

the shit out of Xander. While that might be true of his old self, Xander had 'old man' knowledge. Not that he claimed

ad zero stamina and, in a real fight, would get annihilated. An old man's only option was to strike first and end it as so

as he walked back because Karen

e there would be a fight, so

ttle sister, so I set hi

's in grade school! You're joking, ri

nt that they act irrationally. If they perceived something as being wrong, even if the

nd give him a piece of her mind. And she did it in front of the entire bus, loud enough

en he saw the look of horror on Brian's face, Xander almost felt bad for him

f point. The schools were next to each other, so the few high sch

ng at him the whole time. Once they were off, it took a beat for everybody to realiz

t happen. He was surprised wh

et off, or you'll have to wal

y, but he'd be late for ho

then got up and rushed off befo

r brother, found Xa

s that a

irst one in the planned subdivision would be the Millers'. Tim and his family would move in around the first of the

th my sister. I think she read more

C. I heard my parents talking, and Brian's browser history was a bit disturbing. Those w

ot experienced Brian exposing himself in the first go-around, Xander might not have thought a

ug in her ear," Xande

would do. It might have been cleaner to have had the fight. That way, it

at an alarming rate. He'd read somewhere that sixty pe

g his sister-and avoid getting his ass kicked-if

. If Brian gets too upset, who knows what he might do? It

d with more venom t

he bell rang. He and Tim gave each ot

a prime table. Pam spotted him when she entered the lunchr

to myself," Xander sai

d him as s

rain on yo

ve a dram

r going to do

o with one ... nothin

f you're a good boy, I'll let you c

poor guys who carry their girl's pur

mpty seats. They weren't aware that Xander had invited Pam to lunch, so they all looked at him curiou

nch is the new guy's dream come true. Now every girl at our

lanky brunette,

looking. I guess I can b

looked like a tombo

you," she told Barb. "I think he

r Thor

o had big brow

all about

tacy a pre

He asked me

is happen?"

the bus, so I

ed back and forth

t?" Kell

Pam ... to ... lunch," Xander said

using Kelly's face to turn

s. We even talked on the phone last night, and you d

am said. "It's not like we're dating or anyt

e need someone who can tell us what g

. "I'm not your innocent gay

ant a real guy to t

Peggy. Finally, Kelly asked, "

of you. We've only had dumb jocks brave enough to try to sit with us. They a

es," Barb said w

. I get first s

r parents home? I could get off at your stop," Xan

one, Pam," Kelly sai

hadn't even met yet said hello and smiled. Sitting with the 'Princesses,' as Xander learned t

m. As Xander slowly walked toward him, Karen appeared

fat bitch!" Brian sa

on because who hadn't wanted to exact a similar form of

m. He took two quick steps and figuratively kicked two balls forty yards down the field. Brian's eyes rolled back, and he coll

ot on. Everyone was out of their seats with their face

pointing to her red cheek as th

n old man,' Xander thought

regained his strength by doing isometric exercises. His doctor had suggested that type of rehab because he wasn't in good

five exercises: planks, dead hangs, isometri

ander was just starting to get into shape, and

raight out behind him so his body was straight. The goal was to hold that position for 30 s

a pull-up bar, so he reached up, grasped

s two largest books and curled them toward his shoulders. The goal was t

th his feet on the floor. He then lifted hi

. He slid down until he was in what looked like a seated position

uld feel it when he finished. Once he could easily

dishes in the dishwasher. He glanced around

I need to m

s dad, if he found out Xander had any

er, if he decided to buy something, he would do it without consul

. Xander loved the outdoors, but camping with his dad was always stressful. Once he went to college, Xander firmly believ

need money fo

t saving some money. Maybe you can open a sa

e examples,"

ant to take a young lady out on a date. Another

dad would never pay for a car, even though, after his parents divorced

arked in the drive. It was for his cousin, and there wasn't one for him. He had to smi

ls,

equal, but I've read some blogs, and it seems th

rstand why they have

d full well why

stuff you can do for him. He can also open the account for y

s, so there might be something Xander could do after school and on wee