“Tech, please calm down,” Carmine said as he followed his nephew down to the lobby. “What’s wrong? And don’t ask me to read your mind. You know I can’t do it.”
--It’s not fair,-- Tech angrily signed. --It totally sucks.--
“What?” Carmine asked.
--Don’s parents have banned him from the trip!--
Carmine raised his eyebrows at the sharp jerking movements that Tech was making. His nephew was incredibly upset. It was slightly understandable since Don was Tech’s best friend and they were both looking forward to the world-wide road trip. Still, Carmine was having a hard time getting the whole story from a very livid Tech. His nephew rarely got this worked up and, from what Carmine could tell, Tech felt responsible for the punishment his friend was receiving.
Tech flopped on the lobby couch and continued to pout. Carmine sat on the couch opposite and waited for his nephew to being talking. Tech was not going to make any coherent statements until he calmed down. In the meantime, Carmine used the silence to study his nephew. Chances were that he would have most of the story figured out by the time Tech had relaxed.
--Our math teacher hates us,-- Tech signed.
--I heard from your mother that you and Don were caught signing during a test,-- Carmine signed back.
--We had both already finished the test and turned it in,-- Tech snapped. --We weren’t even talking about the test but the teacher ripped up our tests anyway. How could we be cheating if the tests were already turned in?--
--You were still talking during a test,-- Carmine pointed out.
--There were ten minutes of class left,-- Tech protested. --Only eight people still had their tests and none of them understand sign language.--
--Keep in mind that a teacher needs to enforce rules,-- Carmine said.
--Who’s side are you on?-- Tech demanded.
Carmine leaned his head back and sighed. “I’m playing angel’s advocate.”
--Don’t you mean devil’s advocate?--
“Nope,” Carmine grinned. “Angel’s advocate tries to give the other party the benefit of the doubt.”
Tech glared at his uncle and continued to skulk on the couch. Tech was not going to leave the lobby, but he did not seem to want to talk anymore. Still, the situation was such that with absolute silence Tech had no choice but to think about the situation. Carmine watched as gradually his nephew’s body language changed from resentment to guilt.
--I started it,-- Tech finally admitted. --Don was telling me that we shouldn’t talk. He shouldn’t be the one getting into trouble.--
--Did you tell anyone that?-- Carmine asked.
--I tried,-- Tech explained. --The teacher was all ‘rules are rules’ and wouldn’t back down in the situation at all.--
--How about to Don and his parents?--
--Don already knows, and his parents won’t let me talk to him. Not to mention that don’t understand sign language.--
--So what are you going to do now?-- Carmine asked.
Tech did not answer for a while as he thought the situation over. Carmine was pretty sure what was going to happen next, and he wondered if he would end up playing a trump card in order to get Don’s parents to allow him to go on the trip again. Tech did not have many friends his own age because of his headstrong tendencies he got from his mother. Still, Tech had also gotten his loyalty from his mother as well and Carmine could tell his nephew was not going to let Don get a punishment he did not deserve.
--Will you come over to his place with me?-- Tech finally asked.
Aw. Poor Tech.
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