Chapter Text
When Lindsay and Tobias said they'd be going on a family vacation and asked Gob to take care of things, he had just assumed they meant watering the plastic plants or keeping the liquor cabinet filled. What Gob was not expecting was to have to take care of Maeby all on his own. And sure, Michael cooked most of the meals, and woke the kids up in the morning, and helped them with their homework. Plus, Maeby was a rather independent kid and seemed busy most of the time. But still, he had been left with the hardest task of all: attending her parent-teacher conference.
Completely unaware of what he was supposed to do, Gob sat through rather bad meetings with her teachers. They all agreed that, while she was a smart girl, she lacked the discipline and incentive to try to do well in her classes.
By the time he had his last meeting, he was exhausted. Perhaps that is the reason why, as soon as he walked in the room and saw the lit teacher, Mr. Wunderlich, facing away trying to retrieve something from a cabinet too high for him, Gob exclaimed, "Wow, I'd kill for that ass."
The teacher turned immediately, red as a tomato, cleared his throat and said, "Hi. You must be Mr. Funke."
"Oh, God, no," said the Bluth as he approached him, "I'm Maeby's uncle". And while standing incredibly close to the teacher, he reached up and handed him the file he was trying to get.
"Gob Bluth" he said with a charming smile that was still inches from the shorter man's face, taking his hand to shake it.
"Anthony Wunderlich. Nice to meet you. Please, take a seat."
Gob plopped down on the chair inelegantly and braced himself for the review.
"Listen, Mr. Bluth,"
"Please, call me Gob. Mr. Bluth is my brother."
Mr. Wunderlich nodded in agreement before squinting at that last part.
"And I know what you're going to say: Maeby has potential but doesn't follow through. I've heard it a lot today."
"Actually, Mr. Bluth- Gob," the taller man nodded at the self-correction, "Maeby is an outstanding student. Her report on The Old Man and the Sea was the most insightful I've read in a while."
"Isn't it called The Young Man and the Beach? I swear I saw the trailer for that."
Mr. Wunderlich looked confused, "Well, anyway, yes, she should pay more attention in class, but whatever you're doing at home to motivate her, keep doing that. She could go places."
Gob smiled at that, feeling proud of himself for nailing the interview (and of Maeby, sure) and thanked the teacher. They shook hands once more and he experienced a new rush, probably out of the delayed pride surge for his niece. Surely.
--
Back at the model home, Gob was doing his daily reading when his brother started inquiring about that day's meetings.
Engrossed in his magazine, Gob replied, "I should be in this Poof."
"Don't be rude, Gob, you shouldn't call Mr. Wunderlich that. Please, tell me you d idn't do it to his face."
The older man was struck by sudden realization, "Wait, the lit teacher is gay?" Michael nodded, "Oh, he's going to think I was hitting on him."