"Oh, I've been a little preoccupied lately and it slipped my mind. I'll reach out to Collins when my schedule clears up..."
Mike casually made up an excuse to deflect SJ's interrogation.
Although Collins was aesthetically pleasing, the distance between St. Mary's district and Medford was suboptimal.
Moreover, Mike had no shortage of female companionship in his immediate vicinity. There was no logical reason to exert effort seeking distant resources when local options were abundant.
"I also heard about your school's performance in the Spring Invitational. Defeating last year's runner-up team is statistically impressive..."
SJ didn't pick up on Mike's dismissal. He continued chatting with familiar ease. "By the way, I haven't congratulated you on becoming a Texas celebrity. I've seen your newspaper column and the posters."
"Just between us: Collins has collected a significant amount of data on you—posters, clippings, everything. She is definitely infatuated."
"Also, my parents are aware of her interest. Judging by their attitude, the probability of you successfully dating my sister is extremely high..."
Within moments, the precocious SJ had completely sold out his sister.
He made it sound as if all Mike had to do was nod, and a beautiful girlfriend would materialize instantly.
"SJ! Who are you talking to?"
Just as SJ was matchmaking, a girl's sharp voice came through the receiver.
Clearly, SJ had been caught red-handed meddling in his sister's romantic life.
"Abort mission! Collins is here. You talk to her..."
To a little brother, an older sister is a demonic entity, especially when he's caught doing something shady.
After a brief chaotic scuffle on the other end, Collins' voice came on the line. "Hello? Is this Mike? Did SJ say anything weird to you?"
"Negative. We were merely engaging in casual conversation," Mike graciously covered for the little guy.
He had heard the distinct lack of gentleness in Collins' voice when she confronted her brother.
"Oh, good..." Collins paused for a moment, sounding relieved, as if a heavy weight had been lifted.
Then, she continued, "Congratulations on your team's performance in the Spring Invitational. I saw the data in the newspaper. You are a frequent topic of discussion at our school..."
Mike's image and narrative were currently trending high among the teenage demographic.
"Thank you," Mike responded politely.
"By the way, do you remember Big Mike?" Collins steered the conversation proactively.
Compared to her shyness in person, she seemed much more articulate over the phone.
"Of course. St. Mary's core player. He left a strong impression..." Mike replied honestly.
"Actually, Big Mike is adopted by my parents. He's technically my brother now. He's incredibly gifted at football and just passed the tryouts for the University of Mississippi..." Collins was intentionally finding common ground.
Big Mike getting noticed by Ole Miss was partly due to Mike's influence.
"Project Star Maker" had drawn scouts from out of state to Texas high schools.
While St. Mary's overall season wasn't stellar, a physical anomaly like Big Mike stood out immediately.
Consequently, like Captain Aaron, Big Mike had attracted attention from top-tier universities.
Grateful for the opportunity, Big Mike chose the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), which happened to be the alma mater of his adoptive parents, the Tuohys.
"Big Mike is currently struggling with his high school graduation exams. My parents hired a private tutor for him..." Collins shared her brother's struggles like she was chatting with an old friend.
Unlike Aaron, Big Mike had a traumatic childhood, bouncing between foster homes.
His lack of social interaction led to a withdrawn personality, and his academic proficiency was roughly equivalent to that of an elementary school student.
Combined with his massive size, the description "all brawn, no brains" wasn't entirely inaccurate.
So, securing the "ticket" to Ole Miss—his high school diploma—was going to be a grueling process for him.
Mike silently offered two seconds of sympathy for the academically challenged giant.
Collins, now controlling the conversation, shared more about her family.
Without the pressure of face-to-face interaction, she seemed to have endless things to say to Mike.
She was acting like a total fangirl.
"Collins, this data exchange has been pleasant. Let's resume this conversation another time, alright?" Mike found an opening to terminate the call.
While he didn't dislike chatting with Collins, this wasn't the optimal time for a lengthy discussion.
After all, dinner at the Cooper house was likely concluding.
"Sorry, I seem to have exceeded the standard conversational limit..." Collins realized she had been too eager, breaking her usual composure.
"By the way, do you have an account on any messaging platforms? We could communicate online." Before hanging up, she seized one last opportunity.
Facebook hadn't been invented yet, but with the proliferation of personal computers, online chat rooms and instant messaging were becoming popular.
Mike provided his chat handle before ending the call.
"Mike, you're a busy man. Come sit down and eat..." Meemaw teased him with a smile as he returned.
Most of the table had finished their main course and were leisurely enjoying dessert.
Mike sat down to eat his dinner and noticed that the atmosphere among the three Cooper children was significantly more harmonious than before.
This was highly anomalous.
"Did they reach a consensus?" Mike whispered to Paige, who was sitting next to him.
"Yes. We decided your moniker shall be 'The Tornado.' I will be drafting a letter to the newspaper shortly..." Paige explained with a smile.
"The Tornado" was Paige's brainchild.
A force of nature that destroys everything in its path—it fit Mike's playstyle perfectly.
Thus, when Paige proposed it, she successfully persuaded the other three children.
"The Tornado? That is an excellent proposal. Did you generate that?" Mike asked curiously, noting the hint of smugness on Paige's face.
"Mmhmm," Paige nodded, smiling.
As evidenced, Paige's capacity for pride was no less than Sheldon's.
Especially when it involved Mike.
With the initial conflict resolved, the atmosphere at the table became much warmer.
"Mike, if my memory serves, your sixteenth birthday is approaching. How do you intend to celebrate?" Meemaw asked suddenly while sipping her beer.
Turning sixteen was a significant milestone, marking a step toward adulthood.
Families with means usually held a formal celebration or rite of passage.
Mike's birthday was in mid-May, just a few days away.
"Perhaps we could reserve a private room at a restaurant for a celebration," Mike suggested. He now had sufficient liquidity to fund it.
To him, the practical reality of being an adult was more important than the ceremony.
Therefore, he didn't feel the need for an elaborate event.
"Going out for such an important birthday is unacceptable," Meemaw smiled and countered. "How about we host a bonfire party? I'll make my modified specialty barbecue."
"Connie is right. Celebrating at home provides a better atmosphere. I can assist with food preparation," Mary chimed in.
It was palpable that she already considered Mike family.
everyone looked at Mike, awaiting his decision.
"A bonfire party seems excessive. Let's compromise with an outdoor barbecue party," Mike selected the middle ground.
After all, the household already contained two "Master Grillers" (George and Meemaw). It was logical to utilize available resources.