A Little Game

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Our story begins,

as so many do,

in a doctor's office.

You're 100% sure, Doc?

Well,

in my line of work,

nothing's 100%,

but I'm sure.

Oh, we're having a boy.

Which led to one name

being settled on,

a very popular name,

as it turned out.

Max!

I didn't do it!

Not you.

Max!

He bit me first!

No. Max Kuftinec!

Coming, Ms. Winter!

And in China, it's considered

polite to burp when you eat.

It shows

you like the food.

Cool!

Gross.

Max, your father is

picking you up early today.

Get your things ready.

Yes, Ms. Winter.

Max, it's been nice

having you in my class.

I'll be back tomorrow,

Ms. Winter.

Hey, we're just

checking it out, okay?

No decisions yet.

Obviously Max

is very bright.

What can you

tell me about her

that her test scores

can't? Hmm?

Well, uh,

Max has always been...

She's been a self-starter

ever since...

Sarah felt foolish reducing

their daughter to a bunch of words

that a thousand other parents

must have said about their kids.

We can't describe

what's so great about Max,

you know, any more

than I can tell you

what's great

about the color blue,

but you would be lucky

to have her.

What do we do?

I don't know.

She's happy now.

I know.

And even with

the scholarship,

we would still have to come up with

at least another couple thousand.

That's just this year.

Well, I could ask

for a raise.

They just gave you one.

I could ask for a raise.

They owe me one.

I guess my first question is why?

I mean, I like PS 41.

And you always tell me

how lucky we are

to have a great

local public school.

Yes, and that's true,

but you're the smartest kid

in your class

right now, right?

Maybe.

Well, maybe it would be

good to be somewhere

where you weren't

the smartest kid.

Someone's gotta be.

I know, Max.

I know.

Who knows how far

you could go in life?

We just want to give you

every opportunity to do that.

Right, and ultimately,

this is your decision.

Mm-hmm.

But Papa and I

think this would be

very good for you,

and if you don't like it, you

can always go back to PS 41.

That's right.

Okay.

So how would I

get there?

Okay. Well, you would

take the subway,

and Papa

would go with you.

When I can.

Hang on a sec.

What do you mean,

"When I can"?

I can't be late to the

restaurant every day.

No, I'm not talking every day.

I'm talking a couple times a week.

Well, how... this is not

what we talked about.

It is what...

I told you...

Look. Look. Look.

I'll just go alone

when Papa can't take me.

It's fine.

It's fine.

I walk

to PS 41 by myself.

I take care of Jez

by myself.

I'm not

a baby anymore.

Tom lay in bed that night

wondering if they'd made

the right decision.

Sarah wondered if she

was a good parent or not.

Max wondered

what the library would be like

at the Blackstone Academy.

Jez slept.

I'm going to a new school today.

Really?

Yes.

I'm not

a baby anymore.

If I don't see

my daughter,

at least I get to see

my granddaughter, huh?

It's your fault, Yaya.

Fault? How?

You were such a good cook

that you made Mama into a chef.

You're a tricky one,

matia mou.

Your brains you get from your

mother, not from that one.

Go round and round.

Yaya's got

no energy today.

Come on. Tea.

Let's get some tea.

So, this new school,

it's better, right?

You know...

they're smart,

they take you.

I don't know.

I think it'll

be good, but...

Uh, I'm sorry.

I don't speak Greek.

You work

in Greek cafe. Why?

I don't know.

Cold. Tea ice-cold!

I'm sorry.

I'll heat it up for you.

In Greece, never serve tea

like that, never.

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