flipped. charlie conway

26

fortunately, the school year seemed to fly by and the spring weather was almost gone. as the summer break impeded on all the children, leah couldn't help but wonder what the next year would bring. it would be her last year of middle school - and that was a terrifying thought. these were the years of change!

leah observed her peers from her locker as they all flooded the science hallway. sadie betts was sure to continue frying her hair next year, and nicholas beck would likely stick to fogging up his boxy spectacle frames. but, did these aspects of them reflect how they would change as teenagers - if at all?

sure, leah yearned for grace duke's sleek long hair and dark eyes, but that was all grace cared about. she underwhelmed the potential of her personality by obsessing over looks.

or tom brunt on the other hand - he had no care for how he looked, yet was one of the smartest kids in the grade. leah commended him and his studious commitment.

leah thought back to that one conversation with her father in their backyard. from long before her chickens.

"is the whole greater or lesser than the sum of its parts?"

the parts of grace duke were great, but her whole was not more than her sleek hair - at least not yet.
tom brunt had poor hygiene, but his whole was greater than his lack of deodorant.

leah continued to ponder. what did it matter if someone was less than the sum of their parts? was she greater or lesser than the sum of her own parts?

if leah were honest, she certainly felt her parts were small and her sum were even lesser. she hoped adam made up for her lack, because he was certainly great all around.

"avert your beady chicken eyes, birdbrain." charlie conway scoffed, laughing at his own comment. he was the only one to continue seeking humour in the chicken comments, and leah didn't really mind. she eagerly awaited the melodic words that would flow out his mouth, words directed only to her, each day. oh, how his voice reverberated inside the walls of her heart.

that weekend, leah and adam made their way to central minneapolis. a large, blue coach overshadowed the young children and engulfed their small bodies in bitter shade.

all the ducks were lined up, shoulder to shoulder, against the final clusters of melting snow. after all, coach bombay had made the minnesota stars! the ducks couldn't wait to see him on the television competing in the minor league.

adam nudged his sister with a look of excitement. "maybe we'll make the minors one day."

"right, when we suddenly grow the muscles of the incredible hulk," leah rolled her eyes, "they're all really talented."

adam shrugged with a smug grin. "i reckon we'll make it, together."

leah let out a breathy chuckle.

terry quickly brought the ducks' attention to their coach, shuffling down the footpath with his black bag.

"coach bombay!" terry pointed out, initiating a chorus of excited greetings.

"hey, ducks," coach bombay grinned, "you came to wave me off?"

"of course!" dave exclaimed, patting his coach's arm.

gordon's eyes flickered over the children he'd befriended over the past few months. catching leah's beaming smile, coach bombay couldn't help but appreciatively sigh.

"what can i say? i'm flattered, guys."

"anytime, coach." peter winked, eliciting a few chuckles throughout the group.

the ducks lined up once again, allowing themselves to wish their coach luck one by one.

"look, don't take any bad dives, okay?" peter thankfully shook coach bombay's hand.

"just remember, keep your head up, man." jesse smirked, fist-bumping his coach.

"cake-eater." adam scoffed with a smile, as he too shook his coach's hand thankfully.

leah could only grin as her coach stopped in front of her. with great appreciation, she shook coach bombay's hand. "you'll always have a crowd supporting you."

"remember strength, not concentration." fulton joked. coach mustered a chuckle.

"and for god's sake, soft hands!" lester exclaimed, shaking gordon's hand gratefully.

swarmed with appreciation, coach bombay looked over his team of ducks. "anything else?" the soon minor-league player asked.

"yeah," charlie piped up, "have fun out there, coach." he spoke. leah smiled in agreement with the boy's advice, her heart swelling with the care he showed for their coach. he always knew what to say. gordon and charlie then embraced each other in a loving hug, swaying as leah's grin only widened.

"i must be crazy," gordon sighed, "a tryout with the minors. i'm going to be up against kids half my age."

casey conway nodded her head bashfully. "just have a good tryout, gordon. one step at a time."

"yeah, you're right." gordon gave a curt nod, before stepping toward casey and offering a chaste kiss.

the ducks cheered as charlie stood in astonishment. astonished that his mum found someone charlie actually liked. charlie hoped to find someone perfect for himself one day, even if they were halfway across the globe.

the two adults pulled apart, causing the ducks' cheers to simmer. coach bombay stepped onto the bus, stopping in the doorframe.

"hey ducks!" gordon silenced the crowd of children, "no matter what happens; i'll see you next season. we've got a title to defend."

once again, the ducks erupted into excited cheers. coach bombay took one final glance over his team, stopping on the girl who shone the brightest smile of appreciation. with a grin and a nod, the doors of the bus closed and gordon took a seat. as the bus drove away, the ducks waved happily with their final goodbyes.

leah and adam couldn't wait for the next season.

as the ducks began to disperse, leah and adam made sure to say goodbye to everyone. tammy and tommy were moving interstate, terry was moving schools, and peter and dave wanted to try basketball.

as leah gave terry a departing pat on the back, adam and charlie stood to the side.

"can't wait to play with you again, adam." charlie grinned, patting his friend on the shoulder.

"yeah, leah and i aren't going anywhere." adam smirked, lightly punching his friend back. charlie suppressed his distaste toward the other twin and hugged his friend happily.

as the final ducks departed, leah waved happily to charlie.

"see you after summer break, charlie!"

the conway boy rolled his eyes, pulling his mother in the opposite direction. leah banks never knew what to say.