groovygamers.com

OOC:  had to correct the subject line

Right after Thanksgiving holiday ends, Sammy takes Elrod with her when she goes to train with Jack.  She has warned Jack ahead of time that she'll be bringing a guest.

Jack invites them in the Wayne Foundation House and leads the way to the living room.  He offers assorted snacks and drinks as he sits down.  "So, what's up?"

"We want to offer you a summer job.  Elrod has a band, and he wants me to be part of it.  That means I have to travel around for days at a time, which means overnights, and that's making my parents really nervous.  Their schedules will make it pretty much impossible for at least one of them to be with me all the time.  I thought if I could find an acceptable  chaperone, maybe they'd agree to it.  Do you want to hear more about it, or are you going to break my heart right away?"  She's giving him the puppy dog eyes in a full frontal assault.

"That look must work wonders with your dad.  Try to keep in mind I've never been a dad, so it's effect on me will be somewhat unpradictable."  Jack gets a soda from the fridge.  "Tell me more."

Elrod lays out the general plan, and is even able to provide several dates for gigs for the first part of the summer.  He explains that he generally covers room and board for the whole group, and they get a full share of the take.  It's basically a summer job program sponsored by a rich kid.

When Elrod is finished Jack smiles, "You're gonna go far in life Elrod, and not just because you have money.  You sound like someone who will get things done, even if it's not true, don't ever let anyone know.  It'll serve you well in your life."

"So, does this mean you're interested in doing it?  Or at least interested enough to think about it some more?"  Puppy dog eyes are shut off, and she hits him with pure sincerity tinged with the sense that she really wants to do this.  "Because if you're not interested, I need to know so that I can start looking for someone else who might pass their inspection.  I'm doing my damnedest to keep up my end of the bargain with my folks, but without a chaperone they can trust, even doing the rest perfectly won't be enough.  I can perform for you if you want, just to prove that I'm not going along just for a chance to run off with an older boy for weeks at a time.  I think I have actual talent with my horns, and my voice is getting better since I got someone to coach me.  I have good lungs, so I have lots of power behind the horns and the voice."

"Well, since I'm only going to be here to train you guys for the school year, I see no reason why I can't go along.  Let me meet the rest of the band, and then talk with all the parents.  If they're okay with me then I can be okay doing the job."

Sammy grimaces.  "So far as I know, I'm the only one who needs a babysitter.  I'd rather call you my bodyguard though, if you don't mind?  It would make me feel less freakish, and its a fairly accurate job description.  Your job will be to make sure my body comes back in as pristine a condition as it is when it leaves home."

"Ah."  Jack nods, "I get it.  Sure, not a problem.  Why don't I give your folks a call and sit down with them, take their tempature on this thing and try to put them at ease."

Sammy is very grateful, and looks like she wants to hug him, but settles for shaking his hand.  "Thank you so much!  It means a lot to me."  She turns back to Elrod.  "One less objection in the way!  Now I just have to behave myself and keep my grades up, and that I should be able to do unless too many bad guys go wacky again in our neighborhood."