The Middle

Peer pressure-- It can lead you to do stupid things.

Sometimes you smoke, sometimes you drive too fast, and

sometimes you get stuck gluing flowers onto an old, rusty

station wagon after a whole day's work trying to sell old,

rusty station wagons.

Looking good, Frankie.

Thanks so much for helping out with the homecoming float.

Aw, hey, we're neighbours.

It's not like I can just screen your phone calls, right?

You see me in my driveway.

So... you ready for Friday?

Oh, I'm always ready for Friday.

Usually around 9:00 A.M. Monday morning.

Am I right?

What about Axl?

Is he nervous for the big test?

Test?

Oh, I don't know.

He hasn't seemed nervous.

My son is a wreck.

The PSATS are a huge deal.

Wait, what?

The PSATS?

Darrin's been prepping for months.

Oh, Sean, too.

We bought all the practice books.

Okay, 57 messages about decorating a float, not one about the PSATS--

Just saying.

Come on, let's not freak Frankie out.

I mean, the PSATS aren't the only thing that help a kid get into college.

That's why Greg volunteered in the Gulf last summer, cleaning

the oil off baby pelicans.

Ohh.

And Sean interned at the capitol.

Okay, come on, guys.

They're juniors.

Isn't this all a little nuts?

I mean, we didn't do any of this stuff when we were kids, right?

Oh, it's much different now.

Did you hear about what happened to Doug Hornburg?

He did everything right-- Great grades, community service, nailed his SATS.

He applied to ten schools and didn't get into one.

Now he lives at home and works for the city, picking up dead animals.

What a shame.

- I heard his mother shops... - Terrible.

Look, I'm not worried about Axl.

It's gonna be fine.

For all I know, he's been prepping for the test for months.

I'm sure he's on top of it.

What about me makes you think I'd be on top of it?

What about me makes you think I'd be on top of it?

You are way behind here, Axl, way behind.

All your friends are totally prepared.

So?

You always say if my friends jumped off a bridge, it doesn't mean I should.

This is not a bridge situation.

This time you should have been doing exactly what your friends were doing.

It's your fault!

You're supposed to nag me about important stuff like this.

That's the system I'm used to.

Did you know that they've been offering practice tests on

Saturday mornings at your school?

Nancy donahue told me they've mentioned it numerous times

at your morning announcements.

I don't listen to the morning announcements.

That's my texting time.

You know what?

You don't even deserve to go to college.

Fine!

I won't!

Oh, you're going to college!

And as soon as we figure out who our congressman is, you're

going to meet him!

Go ahead, Sue.

Tell your mom what you just told me in the car.

Well, after considering all my choices for all the teams I

could join in high school, I've decided to try out for cheerleading.

Aah!

I know what you're thinking.

I'm a cross-country person.

That's what I'm known for.

But x.C. Isn't the only sport in the world, and the whole point

of high school is that it's a fresh start.

No one is gonna judge me on my past.

Everyone is gonna judge me on my cheerleading talent alone.

She keeps saying that like it's a good thing.

I think what your dad means is, there are so many other teams to try out for.

If you only go out for cheerleading, you might miss out on something more, you

know, makeable.

I'm going for it, mom.

After all, you always tell me I should aim high!

Did you say that to her?

Does it sound like something I would say?

Hello?

Oh, yes.

Well, sure.

Is everything all right?

No, of course, we'll be right down there.

Well, that was the school.

Brick's in the principal's office, and they want us to come down for a meeting.

What'd he do?

I don't know, but she said she just wants to talk to us.

Well, if Brick aimed too high on something, I think we know who to blame.

Now I'm sure you're aware of the situation, and I wanted you

to know that there has been a suspension.

Brick!

Oh, no, not Brick.

The other boy.

Oh, good.

Wait.

What other boy?

The boy.

- There's a boy? - You've been getting bullied?

Yep.

Well, I think you'll both be happy to know that through

all of the bullying, Brick never fought back.

- Thank God. - Mmh.

It wasn't that bad.

It was pretty standard bullying.

Wait. What does that mean? What happened?

He put you in the trash?

It's okay.

I know how to get myself out.

I don't mind it that much.

Sometimes when I'm in the trash, I get a little light-headed,

but today I did find half a banana in there.

Brick!

How many times have I told you we don't eat out of the garbage?

I saw you eat cake out of it once.

I gave you a dollar not to talk about that.

Well, that could not have gone better.

I got to tell you, I am really impressed with the way

the school handled that whole situation.

Yeah?

Well, I think it stinks.

What meeting were you at?

I mean, we were in and out of there in 20 minutes.

They handled everything.

She even said it was a pleasure speaking to us.

A pleasure, Mike.

We're a pleasure.

How are you not overjoyed right now?

My kid's been living in a trash can for the past two weeks.

Give me some room.

I'll do a cartwheel.

Mike, he was the victim of a bully.

Finally we're the parents of the victim and not the perp.

This is a good day.

I don't know.

I think Brick needs to learn to toughen up.

Lot of trash cans in the world, and not all of 'em are

gonna have a half a banana in 'em.

We got to teach him to stand up for himself.

Okay, now you're just looking for work.

Besides, if we're gonna worry about anybody's future, it should be Axl's.

I'm not worried.

Sean Donahue's gonna be successful.

He'll give him a job someday.

Actually, as it turns out, the person we should have been

worried about was Sue.

Rock it up, rock it down, rock it all around.

Go, thundering hens!

Whoo!

Got it?

Okay, now we're going to be taking you one at a time.

You'll do the cheer you were taught and then a self-cheer.

We won't be evaluating you to your face, 'cause that would be,

like, really awkward, but if you make the team, you'll be

getting a phone call from us by 6:00 tonight.

And if you don't get a phone call, thank you so much, and

better luck next year.

Good luck.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.

Come here, come here.

I feel like I've dropped the ball on this whole college

thing, so we really need to get ahead of the game, and not just

with the PSATS.

So come on.

Let's talk.

All right?

So... what are your goals?

I don't know.

What were your goals?

I wanted to live in a tiny house and sell cars.

We're not talking about me.

God, mom, chillax.

I can decide where I want to go later.

You don't just get to decide where you want to go, Axl.

Other people decide if they're gonna let you in, and they're

not gonna let you in if you're not prepared, so... this is a practice PSAT guide.

I want you to really go through this stuff.

Whoa.

Pump the brakes.

The test isn't until Friday.

I'll look it over on Thursday.

No, Axl, this is what I'm talking about.

You have to change your attitude.

You want your whole life to be like that dream where you show

up for the test and you forgot to study?

What dream?