heard his mom mumbling about the 'goddamned van.

on?" Xander as

the van. I have to make c

made most of the drapes for their new home. Cr

you his plans?

counter," his mo

way, Xander would have a place to store stuff he didn't want anyone else to see. His little sister knew no boundaries, and the last

our grandparents are t

d him the death glower. Xander actually

aid as he darted upst

tairs, all decked out in Western

eresting look

ge," Izz

y for interacting with t

," Xander s

cowboy hats. His favorite of them-a black leather one that had seen better days-he'd gotten for free at a garage sale. T

have some oil I can give you to ma

t on anyway. If he tilted it back slightly

nd his grandparents drin

adorable?" Grand

ady set for Halloween,"

o have to draw down o

ch was his and hi

ut of hand, let's g

n. He spotted Pam there with her family. She saw him and came over, and they

ion?" Pam asked, givi

he wanted to dress u

," Pam said and moved a

w, Kelly hadn't shown any interest in boys, so dances weren't a big deal. It seemed their neighbor, John Tyler, had asked Kelly to meet him at

t door, Kelly suddenly sto

he's kissing a cowbo

ndsome, rugged young man who looked like a cowboy. As far as Jill knew, Pam had never even been on an actual date. Pam was li

he needed to give Brenda, Pam's mom, a heads-up. Th

end, with Jill following closely. Jill felt it was her duty to figure out

ed because they parted. For a boy his age, he had a nice, slim figure and an incred

u must be Kelly's mom. Pam never told me h

typical teen boy who would've been mortified at bei

buzzed with

d. Do you want to

do," Kelly

ced his mom, sister, and grandparents to Jill and Kelly. Then he announced that

Pam said to get

asked, "Are any of your other fr

" Kelly proud

to discuss what was going on. She also planned to invite Xander's mothe

e job site and continued to deal with the giant pile of cut-down trees. He was

insisted I attend a

happen. After all, this was a small town, and par

t be becau

Why have I been summ

cusation, 'What have you done!?' That would be followed up with him bei

meet me at the dance as

een talking to the guys and sho

t the dance instead of pick

it was uncool for their mommy to drive th

ing Pam in the parkin

w

alk,'" his mom decide

ung to do anything more than a quick kiss and dancing. There'll be chaperones at the d

om ch

hat to do with them. I wish someone had asked me to go to a dance at that age. It would'v

ked you," Xander said,

ght be time

t," Xander said, lettin

ve any questions, do

questions," Xand

death glower, which

nder said, ending the conve

ge space in West Fork to use until he had time to build a shed at the house. Tha

ly, Izzy was already in bed when his mother returned and found him watch

l: you're a b

w s

ghts into the little pr

ade hi

they think their children are as innoce

nfecting this town. It won't be long before we have a rash of pregnancies," his mom said and giggled

nt. Xander had never thought of himself as good-l

lling to teach me what I need

just g

feeling she

m. His mom must

d get you to bed,

p me

walked his mo

nd take an aspirin,

pped and lo

what to do to pre

op

they show people

mom said as he clos

ring if being the town's

velopment. As yet, the transformation hadn't been pronounced; he'd grown an inch taller and looked to be

ized it would be years before he gained any chest hair. Combine th

e mornings. They worked out a rotation of whose mother would take them

iddle school was hard because anyone who paid even half attention could pass without studying.

a rotating game. The following weekend, it would be at his house. Xander was working on his grandfather to let him play. Xander had no doubt he

e future. Whatever he got had serious strings attach

riends, either. This time, Xander made good friends before Donnie showed up. He was sure Donnie had recognized Xander's lac

wnstairs. Izzy sat at the kitche

Do you want me to

ed up an

kes, p

idge and looked

es. You want those or choco

rup over chocolate chip panc

m stum

the table. She glanced up at Izzy and said,

making a smart comment. That was something

syrup. The ratio was 2 to 1, blueberries to corn syrup. He put that in a pot t

nce off the walls from all the sugar she'd just consumed. Xander talked his sister

e even had to give a brief introduction to the class, something Xa

parents and I just moved here because they're opening a pharm

ginal that it almost brought a

rise was finding his mother w

ing I need to kn

nteered to be a chaperone

mom had her sarcasm

e only response tha

der on the dating front, I should be there to m

something out of bo

ly should

hat you won't act like you know

not ha

ven it

m late fo

y to lunch as a reward," his

you accompany me

e him the d

k's winner was armadillo. The brown l

s," his m

g him in for a big hug and goodby

m new here. Donnie Wilson," h

and you have no idea where tha

meet you,

she didn't sh

at. I have leftover chocolate chi

n turned and walked to the cafeteria. He no

r deal?" Xa

s hoping you'd introduce them to me.

mom's witty li

he could do not to turn back to see the confusion on

ust a step below pizza day in the lunch pecking order. Donnie was right

seat's taken,

m a funny look, but

man. We have o

Donnie said, go

l that about

y. All I'll say is if they are true, you'll wan

you do to have all of our moms get

mom caught Pa

s starte

his hand to slo

etter, I'd say you soun

Now, spill the

KJ had to be five feet nothing and might weigh ninety pounds. The only thing that

oker hand of seven, two, to a board of king, queen, jack, and a big bet. He even told them his mommy would chaperone the dan

nst the wall. There was a table with some weak-ass punch. It tasted like a premix that ha

, a middle school dance wouldn't have that many country songs, and it was

they tried to mak

l. The guys danced from foot to foot, trying their best to maintain some semblance of dignity. Their herky-jerky gyrations caused them

ther around!" Xa

his guys formed a circl

you rock from foot to foot. Let your girl b

eyes. They could do that. From there

actor song that made no sense, driving everyone off the d

wn. People are wat

th glower from

want to learn eve

f that, he did something his

hen it comes to ... erm ... sex ... is that they rush things. We guys usually have a one-track mind

But I bet if you asked just about anyone who's done stuff, they wou

can't kiss you a

pping his hand around Pam's

and gave her

n," his m

der said as he gaz

ivate. People are watching, and I don't

them permission to go make out, but to find a better

said to his mom as he grabbed Pam's

some stuff, and the first thing he taught her was how to French kiss.

high while his hands roamed up and down her sides and her back. He'd not been bold

he liked that, so he kissed his way to her earl

Pam com

icked what h

off to," Donnie said from the d

d to Pam, then strode over to Do

kily, they were two scrawny kids, so they hadn't done m

il Pam approached him and slapped his vile words out of his mout

just be Xander kicking your ass: every guy in this s

ie n

ee if your mom will give

lder was the queen bee of West Fork Middle School. If she had

ates, who now looked ready to kick Donnie's ass. Xander had to gather the guys around

eft them on the front porch while she stepped inside and

became boyfriend and g

ted to hear. He was sure it was because it gave Pam status in her group a

to tell her mom. Five minutes later, his

ting the talk wh

just