Since the announcements of who made it it the play the first practice was held the following Wednesday. Nothing was to actually go on but more so introductions o who would be leading what and what to expect during their time. It was important to get started right away as there was a short period of time until the spring play to begin with.
Professor History was the first to be in the auditorium. He was a mess as none of his brothers had confirmed they were still participating as active leaders for the performance. As he waited people began to show up after their classes. He sat on the edge of the stage as the seats filled up with the chorus, actors, orchestra, stage crew as well as other people in support / help.
Rubbing his hands together he anxiously looked around for his brothers to show up. Normally they would have come with him to help along the first practice / introductions.
As he looked the sound of laughed filled his ears from behind him. He leaned back to look just off stage but saw nothing. The noise was coming from behind the curtains.
History stood up and walked just off stage in the wings. He saw the piano for tryouts pushed to the back open and being played by Susan. She was laughing alongside Thriller who was using Lucy's paws to play the keys.
"A real natural," Susan laughed. "We were all wrong, Lucy is the real star."
"You're damn right she is!" Thriller laughed back.
History felt some relief seeing his brother there, as well as Lucy. This meant they possibly, no, probably were going to participate in this years play. The question that came to mind was why Susan was there.
He turned and walked back out into the stage to see Professor Invincible sitting on the edge of the stage with his laptop open on his lap.
"Vinny?" An astonished History spoke up as he walked towards his brother, "You came?"
Invincible looked up for a moment then back down at his computer, "Yeah, you should kiss the ground I walk on."
He sat down next to his brother, "I'm really thankful. You have no idea. What made you change your mind?"
"Well," He closed his computer, "two things, one, Susan Walters brought up a good point about you, you may be an asshole but you're not always an asshole, and two, you wont find a better dance instructor than me."
"Susan convinced you?"
"She didn't tell me to do it, but her words lingered with me. Despite it all, you're my brother, and I love you." He lightly shoved him.
"Do you know if Bad is coming?"
"No, I don't, I don't know if anyone else is coming, we didn't talk about it." He put away his computer, "But, we'll work through it regardless."
Six PM came around and most if not all in the play had arrived. Without saying a word Thriller and Dangerous came out to join them on stage as History began his normal announcements for the play.
Meanwhile behind stage Susan laid with Lucy on the floor looking through an official stage set log. Here items could be ordered for the plays such as fake smoke for fires, fake glass bottles that could break easily to not hurt anyone. Thriller has explained they use this book to make their own items but ordered as needed.
All the while she spoke to Lucy about her life as if the dog could actually understand. She told her about her mom, her grades, and what she would do after college. While speaking to the dog, Lucy's ears perked up, as well as her tail wagging. Susan looked behind her to see Professor Bad standing at the wing peaking out at his brothers.
"Professor Bad?"
"Shh! Keep your voice down."
Susan stood up and approached him with Lucy just behind her, "To be honest, I didn't think you'd be coming."
"I could say the same thing about you. Why are you here anyway?"
"Joined stage crew, and you?"
Bad rolled his eyes then sighed, "My brother is an asshole."
"And that's why you came?"
"No, but this whole thing means a lot to him, and it's a family things — and — I shouldn't be here. I really shouldn't."
"I have no siblings so I can't really put in my two scents." Susan shrugged.
"Aren't you mad at him? At all? Why would you want to help him?"
"Oh I won, and knowing makes me feel incredible." She stood next to him and gazed out at his brothers, "The thing is though, it's not all about him, I mean look at all those kids out there ready to put in so much work. I'm sure they certainly don't do it for him or any of you at that."
"That doesn't answer my question though."
She took a breath, "Distractions, I need something to do than hermit my life away behind a computer screen."
Bad looked back out at everyone then his brothers sitting side by side on the edge of the stage.
"You know, it must be kind of cool, having so many brothers." Sue crossed her arms.
"Yes, I'm a large fan of seven of us being named, Michael." He continued his gaze out at the crowd.
"Beats being a family of two."
He looked back at her, "Two?"
"Well, I have aunts, uncles, cousins, but they all live far away. After my parents divorced my dad moved back to Italy, so, it's just my mom and I." She looked down then smiled, "Not that I don't appreciate it. It's nice, but I always wondered what it would be like to have siblings, you know?"
"A pain in the ass is what it is."
Suzy laughed a little, "On another note, you said seven of you named Michael, but there's only six of you?"
Bad's face went completely white at her question. Instead of answering his feet began to walk straight out onto the stage to join his brothers by their sides'. He sat down next to Thriller and pat his shoulder then took one of the papers everyone had.
"Huh..." She knew being a Psychology major was going to pay off in one way or another and his mannerisms made her curious. "Seems like I struck a cord, Lucy."
oOoOoOoOo
Saturday morning had rolled around. It was the beginning of the homecoming celebration that would go on all through next week. Susan, along with Carol and the RA's planned for weeks to make this day especially perfect.
On main campus tons of tents stood tall with stands from students of all walk of life. This event was not only huge for the university but also the entire town and towns nearby. Homecoming was a town wide fun fair lead by the school but events held all around.
Knowing this, paired with the fact the Jackson brothers were going to be at their tent meant Susan could make the money for her kids, more than enough.
"When are they coming?" Harper followed Susan who carried a box of paper plates to another table.
"Soon, Harp. Relax." She laughed a bit.
"You can't blame me for being nervous. They're jerk-offs. If they don't show we're done for."
"Well, the dean gave me his word they would come, and I'm sure as the big brother he'd kick their asses otherwise."
"You still gonna serve them like a slave," Carol teased as she placed a box next to hers."
Susan rolled her eyes, "If I offer to get them food or water I'm not a slave. Now go get your t-shirt on and match the rest of us."
"Aunt Suzy!" Dylan ran up to her with a giant white poster, "Look! We got another poster printed for the event."
"Good, go put there near the main road to town. Maybe it'll draw in more people," She laughed a little.
As the person in charge everyone involved automatically came to her first which was tiring itself. After setting up the tent shades for the brothers she finally sat down at the head table and pulled out her phone.
There were not texts from any of the Jackson's, from the ones who's number she had anyway. There was something about all of them being there at once that made her nervous. Idealy one or two, possibly three would be easy to handle but all five at her disposal?
"Susan," Dylan sat next to her, "I got more of those alumni phone numbers."
"More?" Susan smiled.
"I have my kids on the 6th floor calling everyone. I cannot believe how many people had the Jackson's."
"More so Invincible, he's been here the longest. He'll be ruined by the end of it." She smiled. "And without a doubt you'll have your new room items."
"SUSAN!" Harper yelled.
"WHAT?!" She yelled back.
"Where are the towels?"
She leaned back on her chair, "Go into the rec room and they're on the chairs."
"Do you want kids after school?" Carol laughed siting next to her.
"Every day, less and less, at least not a bunch o 18 year olds in a single building." She looked at the 5 chairs set up in front of her, then, the sound of barking filled her ears.
Lucy came barreling towards the cash table, a bandana with the school colors around her neck. She ran under the table then climbed up onto Susan's lap.
"Lucy!" She laughed petting the large golden retriever.
The dog licked her face all over.
"I am so sorry, Susan!" Professor Dangerous approached quickly reaching over the table and grabbing her leash. "I thought it would be okay if I brought her."
"No no! It's fine!" She looked up to see D wearing jeans and a long sleeve T-shirt with the schools bear on it. "D, it's like 70 degrees outside."
"I'm alright." He smiled, "I'll be in the shade anyway."
Susan then noticed she'd been abandoned by Dylan and Carol. She'd have to be the communication between the teachers and participants.
"Where's History?"
"He's parking the car behind the building." He signaled to the back, "Go easy on him."
"I didn't plan on being hard, is everything okay?"
"I heard him talking to DJ the other night about how awful he feels." Dangerous laughed a little, "And DJ saying it sucks to suck."
She laughed a bit, "Is DJ coming today?"
"I know he'll be around campus to see the stands. I'm sure he'll be here at some point."
"Susan!" Another voice called out.
Dangerous and her looked up to see History approaching. He wore a light jacket with a school T-shirt under and jeans.
"Another heat stroke victim approaches," She joked, "Good Morning Professor History,"
He immediately handed her an envelope, "Here, put this with your funds."
She wrinkled her brow and opened up the paper to see 5 100$ bills in it, "Professor, what are you doing?"
Susan attempted to hand it back to him, he refused.
"What did you give her?" D spoke up.
"Nothing," He quickly answered, "Where do I sit?"
"He just dumped 500$ on me. History, take this back."
"It's a donation," He argued. "It's going to charity right?"
Suzy glanced at Dangerous then smiled, "Right, it is, we appreciate it."
History nodded and chose a chair to sit in. Dangerous joined the seat next to him.
They seemed content for the time being allowing her to see how everything else was coming together. It didn't help over half the help was drinking for the day. Though for the most part they seemed to be masters at working under the influence.
"Susan, hey," Carol approached.
"Yeah, thanks for ditching me."
"I didn't want to interrupt the conversation with you and your boyfriend."
"Shh! Carol," She laughed a bit, "What do you need?"
"We're getting a line already, what should we do?"
"What do you mean, where?"
Carol lead her just over to the side to see Harper setting up a sign reading "Line starts here" which already had 20 people standing behind it.
"Oh jeez," Susan breathed. "It's not even time yet."
"Do you remember the opening of Ducktails?" Carol began making swim motions, "Except it's all green baby."
"If the others get here soon we can open early. Make sure there's people on standby to go to the store if needed."
"You got it boss." Carol saluted before heading off.
Just as she did Susan received a phone call from Professor Bad.
"Hello?" She answered.
"We are lost in a sea of stands and students, where are you?"
"And Professor Thriller doesn't know either?"
"Otherwise we'd be there Susan. Also his brain is the size of a walnut."
"Hey!" Thriller called in the background.
"Uhh, it's close to the fountain with the fake mountain and waterfalls. Tents are red." She looked to see more people getting in line. "Just follow the line of people waiting to pie all of you."
"Are you kidding me? That's what this line is?"
She moved out to the middle of the isle of tents to see Bad on the phone with Thriller just behind him. As soon as he saw her he put his phone away and continued walking up the grass.
"You've got to be kidding me," Bad spoke as soon as he was close enough. "This line is for us?"
"You're popular! For all the wrong reasons," She laughed a bit, "At least you're dressed like its hot out, sort of."
Both he and Thriller wore short sleeve t-shirts and jeans to match.
"Where do we sit?" Bad spoke up.
"Oh! Under the other red tent, D and History are here." She pointed.
"Do you need any help, Susan?" Thriller offered. "Maybe carry something or drive somewhere?"
"Buddy it'll be more than enough help just sitting there and taking it all."
He smiled at her, "If you need anything let me know."
Thriller pat her shoulder then walked off to join his brother.
Suzy walked back to the money table to make sure the RA's were set up for the day. Lucy seemed to like being at this table and even took a seat on one of the foldable chairs. Everyone was ready but one was missing, Invincible.
As she finished her rounds Susan approached the boys present whistling loud to get their attention, "Question."
They all looked at her before Bad spoke up, "What's up?"
"Where's Vinny?"
Each looked at one another shrugging.
"We kind of want to open up early, will someone reach out to him?"
"Got it," Dangerous called out, "I'll give him a call."
"Thank you, Michael." She smiled before walking away.
In that moment History could have sworn he saw Dangerous blush from her. He kept the thought to himself and continued to converse with his brothers.
As Susan walked off once more she was redirected by Dylan as he placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her towards the supply table.
"Yes, Dylan?"
"Aunt Suzy we got you something."
He stopped and pulled out a box under the table then opened it revealing water bottles.
"Hurray for hydration, I guess." She looked closer to see 'S' on the top of some bottles. "Wait.."
He grabbed one and handed it to her, "Sure, hydrated. Drink up."
Keeping an eye on him she opened the bottle and took a swig of it then realized it was Sprite and vodka.
"And the whole box is like this?"
"Different initials for different RA's, and don't worry! We'll be careful. The biggest tattle tales on campus are in front of us. We know."
She smiled then took another drink, "Fine, fine, but you're responsible for this. DJ finds out, I had no idea."
"All blame can go to me, BUT we won't have to worry."
"Good, now, if you'll excuse me I have to find Professor Invincible, hopefully."
She left Dylan with her alcohol in hand only to be stopped once more but this time by Dangerous.
"Good news I hope?"
"Him and DJ got lost," D explained, "But he's coming!"
Sue sighed, "Alright, no worries. It's not time yet anyway."
"Are you alright?" He laughed a little.
"Yeah, I'm just kind of — running the show despite all the help. This is big, you know?"
"Do you want to call Vinny yourself? Maybe explain where the tent is?"
"Yeah, here, put his number in my phone, I'm sure he won't care." She handed her phone to Professor Dangerous.
"Just don't tell him I gave it to you and delete it when this is over, alright?" He pressed in the numbers and called out handing her the phone. "I'm going back in the shade, let me know if you need help."
She nodded holding the phone up to her ear.