The rest of Duncan’s Saturday was mostly spent with some self-imposed chores - his garden - and football practice.  The funny thing about the garden was that he used to hate gardening.  Now he actually enjoyed it and took a little pride in it - not that he had the world’s best green thumb.  In fact, it was actually a little on the not green side.  Some crops did well; some did not.  He had a feeling it was the soil.

Football practice went about like he thought it would.  Their first game had been sloppy.  So it was going to be a back-to-basics gruelling day.  Well, for most of the team it was.  For him, a Kicker, not so much.  But then everyone knew about his injuries.  And he went as far as he could manage.  One new thing he introduced was a rotation of mentoring program where the team members would take turns mentoring the junior varsity and middle school teams.

After football practice he dropped by the library at the college.  He had begun working on his PhD course work and was trying to get the academics under his belt.  It was going well.  He had always been a self starter.  But he was having trouble concentrating and stopped early.  He didn’t want to admit it, but the new neighbors had a little something to do with it.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BxokA0dBKb4pUHBBa1NXR2tGd0k

When he arrived it was getting dark.  He had missed dinner, but then he had called ahead.  He pulled up in what could only be described as an experimental car.  It was, in fact, his personal science experiment, a project built as a team effort with his foster father.  Before he had met the Millers he hated hated working on cars.  Jonathan Miller undid years of damage caused by Duncan’s stepfather with his first attempt to bond.  All they were doing was changing oil.  Duncan had stripped the bolt.  He had expected his new father to get upset.  But he didn’t He just smiled and said is was nothing that couldn’t be fixed.  Duncan insisted on fixing it himself despite his Dad telling him it wasn’t necessary.

Now Dr Miller could easily have found a junkyard and picked up a new oil pan and bolt.   However, Duncan did fix the problem and in a way Jonathan never expected.  Duncan used his father’s 3D printer to fill in the hole, then re-drilled it and created a new bolt from scratch.  It was overkill, but the boy was so proud of himself, Jonathan just congratulated him.  Then he asked the kid if he wanted to try a little bit more of a challenge.  As it turned out, the word “challenge” was a trigger.  The third “challenge” proved to be helping with rebuilding a classic muscle car, one of Jonathan’s hobbies.  (Isabelle Miller allowed the hobby on one condition.  No more than one at a time.)  Of course, her allowing Jonathan the occasional “hobby expense” was grounds to spend a little on herself from time to time.

Duncan had never liked the garage door opener.  He just never trusted the things.  They were a security weakness in his eyes.  And his father knew it and agreed.  Duncan waited for the garage door to open.  At least it didn’t squeak.  That was something Duncan had learned his father would fuss over until it worked right.  Then he drove his car in and parked it behind his pickup.  It was kind of funny.  He had two cars.  His parents each had one (not counting Dad’s hobby).

Then he walked out and closed the door.  He glanced over.  His eyes hadn’t missed the fact the new neighbors had turned the light on at the front door.  Food.  They were getting delivery.  No big surprise there.  Who’d want to cook after a day of moving?  

+++++++++

Inside the house, the Millers were still waiting for Duncan.

“I wonder what’s keeping him,” Isabelle wondered aloud.  “This late you’d think he be battering down the front door to get food.”

Jonathan chuckled.  “I still remember that first sushi night.”  That brought a round of laughter.  “He inhaled two rolls of eel avocado when I blinked.  I turned around to snag a few pieces and there was one roll left.  He looked at me and swallowed hard.”

Memory had Isabelle almost in tears with laughter.  “Well, we discovered he loved sushi.  Although I am never sure if he takes time to taste it.”

Masumi smiled gently.  “I am thinking you hired me to save money on sushi.”  That observation set the Millers to laughing again.  “But I think I know the delaying factor.  I believe he’s hoping to catch a glimpse of one of the neighbors.”

Isabelle Miller looked sharply, with a glint of hope in her eyes.  “Oh?”

Masumi nodded.  

Duncan’s familiar noisy entrance interrupted the discussion.  From the front hall he spoke up.  “Did everyone notice we got in new neighbors?”

+++++++++

Duncan inhaled enough food to feed an army and excused himself to head upstairs to study.  He asked if anyone would mind he he played the Martin (acoustic guitar).  He always played the Gibson with earphones so as not to disturb anyone.  He promised not to get too carried away.

Duncan’s room, as it so happened was as remote from the family as he could get.  That meant his room faced the new neighbors.  Well, he didn’t want to be accused of being a … well, you know.  So he closed the curtain.  It wasn’t complete opaque.  He’d still be a silhouette.