Later that night Shani, Jesl, Con, and I sat the table for dinner.

"Brook had on the cutest shoes today. . ." Jesl said.
She had returned to her normal talkative self since our talk earlier.

Con, on the other hand was acting very strangely. He wasn't talking, and he wasn't eating either. He was looking at me. At first I would stare back at him, hoping that would make him turn away. However, when I did that, he would smile at me and then I would feel my lips tugging up to smile back at him. Which was not what I wanted, so now I was at trying to completely ignore him. I wasn't sure how well that was working either.

"Con," Shani called to him. He snapped out of his stupor and finally took his eyes off of me.

"Yes Mom?" Con responded.

"Are you alright? You've hardly touched your food."

"Yeah I'm fine. I just . . . I just wanted to take the time to appreciate the food."

We all gave him funny looks, but Shani shook it off first.

"Well you can better appreciate the food by eating it before it gets cold."

"Yes Mom." He sighed before he picked up his fork and took a bite of the food.

"So," Shani started, "I hear the spring dance is coming up."

Con and Jesl looked at each other then away as they avoided eye contact with their mother.

"So Con, have you asked anybody to the dance?"

"HA," Jesl blurted out, "She got you first this time."

"Ahh Mom," Con groaned.

"I'm sorry, it was just a question." Shani apologized.

"No, I haven't asked anybody yet," Then he looked at me, "I like this one girl, but I'm afraid to ask her."

"Well, not that you asked me, but if you want my advice; I say ask the girl. The worst that can happen is that she says no." Shani encouraged.

His eyes lit up and he smiled to himself. Then he smiled at me.

"Thanks Mom, I'll try it."

"Or . . ." I began, " she could embarrass you in front of the whole school."

And just like that, the smile dissappeared and the light from his eyes was snuffed out. I smiled with the pride at my newest victory. Jesl and Shani were now giving me funny looks.

"I'm just saying. It could happen." I explained.
Once again Shani recovered first.

"So Jesl, has anyone asked you to the dance yet?"
We all looked at Jesl, who looking at the floor.

"Well, one guy asked me," Jesl began.

"Congradulations!" Shani cheered.

" . . . but I told him no." Jesl finished.

"Why?"

"Because he's a total dweeb, Mom" Jesl stated matter-of-factly.

"Better a dweeb than a jerk." Con said with a little sneer.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Shani asked.

"It means that if she's waiting for that Suprek guy to ask her, she can forget about it. I don't want him anywhere near her." Con snarled.

"Why don't you just mind your own business Con?! And I wasn't waiting for Suprek!" Jesl shouted. "What do you think Bree?"

What an awful time to drag me into the conversation! Con was smiling at me again. He had already heard my "protect the family" speech, but I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of having me prove him right.

"Your brother has a right to look out for your best interests . . ."
Jesl groaned and Con's smile widened.
" . . . but, in the end the choice is yours." I finished.

"Excellent advice Bree." Shani commended me.

"Thank you." I replied. "So what's so bad about this Suprek guy?"

"Only the fact that he's a rich spoiled brat; he's the most sexually active guy in our school; and he hits girls!" Con listed.

"Is this true Jesl?" Shani asked.

"I'm sure not all of it is true, besides it doesn't matter. I don't want him anyway." Jesl sighed.

Her sigh told me she was lying. Her expression told me that this was not the time nor the place to bring it up. I figured I would talk to her later about this.