She took both my hands. Pepper. Huh. . They usually contained an odd trinket Dad had bought or occasionally one of his random personal belongings he wanted me to have. Even if I wanted to, I cant just pause my life and go on a wild goose chase. Probably true, but still, how did he find you? You sure he doesnt want money or something? Maybe he thinks youre loaded because you helped your dad when he needed it. For alls we know hes alive somewhere. Dad drove us east through Shreveport, Jackson, Mobile, and across the Florida Panhandle. When I was young, Mom said they were so dark because I was an only child. Have you heard from im? Not lately, no. Five four? Lower Ninth, son. Wright) (Originally published at GoArticles and reprinted with permission of the author, Jason F. Were prayin it. Not at the end of the quarter. If theyd had more children the effect would have spread across the other kids. My father is dead. So youre going, she asked. Your dad was living in New Orleans.
This number on my caller ID, its yours? Its one of the clubs cell phones. I hadnt noticed how sore theyd become from my leaning forward and craning toward the TV hour after hour. Armstrongs kid. Been livin here in New Awlins for bout a year. Dad wasnt always a drunk. Mom let me ride up front for most of the trip while she read or slept in the backseat of our white Saab. So this is what it feels like to be an orphan. Few things are more exhilarating for a thirteen year old than providing forbidden bubblegum to a teammate. Jerome Harris callin from New Awlins. And once again I was drawn back to the memories of September 11th and felt the toll the constant coverage had taken on my mind and soul. I just cant. Ill call you back, I said. Still, Luke, Id ask. Just before my sophomore year of high schoolthe year before Grandma diedthe three of us took a road trip to Yankees spring training at Legends Field in Tampa Bay. Youve hardly told me a thing about him. He winked. We picked at our sesame chicken and brown rice. Tracks from the Boston Pops, some Mozart, newly added songs from a Jenny Oaks Baker CD that Jordan had given me for my birthday. But service is hit and miss, know that. Ill go with you. The pain. He let the words have impact. I bet this will find a special spot in your room, wont it, dear? Sure will! Dad bought us matching, old school, cotton Yankee baseball caps. That night I sat in my apartment with Jordan and listened as she repeated back to me the details of Jeromes call. Point taken. Ill call back. She looked down at her Diet Dr.
My staples were Twinkies, Ho Hos, and Big League Chew, the only bubblegum worthy of a little leaguer. I have to wonder, how did he get your number? You should ask him that. The words carried unexpected uneasiness. Livin in a place in the five four. Youve got to go, Luke. Thats spectacular! Mom took the ball from me and pretended to examine it. An hour later I hugged Jordan good bye at the elevator in my building and got ready for bed. So Mrs. Not long after Mrs. Wont someone just call me when hes found? You kiddin? You must not got a TV. Its funny, I used to tease Mom about her addiction to those little bags of Nibs. When I asked, hed said he just wanted me to have those things in case something ever happened to him. You never know when you might run low. Right? I dunno yet. Not since last time we spoke. I moved through the crowded afternoon streets toward the subway. When I was particularly tired or stressed I looked like Id been popped in both eyes. I guess he thought I should know what that meant. Call it anytime. I dunno. Id always wondered if sending old car keys or a lucky dice keychain from Vegas was his way of making peace. No need. I cant even remember his name anymore. Youve got closings to push through. Were hopin he is. Like all the others packages, it was stacked in a corner of my apartment buildings storage closet. Yes I do, but Id go with you if you asked.
Maybe I watched so much TV during the days following Katrina because I couldnt turn off my photographers inner lens. I killed the lights, put in my headphones, and for a moment Jennys majestic violin transformed my room into a concert hall, drowning out the steady stream of horns and sirens below. Then do it for his fiance. (Excerpt from Recovering Charles and reprinted with the permission of the author, Jason F. I never imagined Id be sitting in a Peruvian restaurant. What can I do for you? Your father is Charles? Yes. Your daddy is missin, Luke. Im sorry to hear that, sir. Armstrongs ban took effect, Dad stopped at a Circle K on the way to practice and came out with three packs of Big League Chew. Howd he find you? I agreed it was a smart question and promised to pose it when I called Jerome back. I dont remember riding it home. Get on down here and find im. That realization made my eyes hurt. I remember him dropping a few peanuts at a time to the bottom of every can as Mom playfully teased, Youre gross. Her name is Jez. Even the good meanin guys down here dont have the time for much of that. The mans low smokers voice was unfamiliar. Hes been teachin and playin with me and my guys at a place on Chartres Street for on about seven months. Jordan, its not a scam.
I wondered if this call might come. Sorry. That is, unless you were crazy Mrs. I hadnt bothered to open it. Luke, shes my kid sister. She scratched my back. It was the most recent in a string of packages that arrived every six months or so from some new zip code. Wright). The coverage, the networks slick graphics and official storm logos. Many cried with their mouths too, cursing at camera crews and pleading for rescue. The rest of the time I looked like a raccoon. . I misplaced mine a couple months later and never found it again. How long it been? Two years, maybe more. On that spring training vacation, Mom sat reading in the stands for hours while Dad and I jostled for autographs and fought professional sports memorabilia hounds and little kids alike for signatures and foul balls. Excuse me? Its why Im callin. But all she had to do was slip me a handful of licorice and Id pledge to keep her secret for another leg of the trip. I havent sent Dad money in a long time. As was my custom, I carried my camera along. Dad said some things werent worth fighting over. Soon? Yes, sir. Not much to tell. I hung up and stepped out of the restaurant and into the noise of the city.It was hard not to think of 9/11. Dont be sorry, Luke. Good bye. She made a big show one day at practice that Big League Chew was a gateway candy to those fake cigarettes, then real cigarettes, then real snuff. *** Mom wasnt always unhappy.
Some also cried with cardboard signs: WHERES FEMA? PAGING BUSH & CHENEY! LOOTERS WILL BE SHOT KATRINA KILLED MY BABY NAGIN LIED During a commercial I sat back on the futon and relaxed my neck and shoulders. And thanks. What if this is some sort of scam? I see this a lot. Gettin married sometime fore Christmas. Just to know, for sure, youve got to. Armstrong was a sweet woman who just had a few issues. Sometimes, when he and the other coach were working with the infielders, Id take a couple guys behind the dugout and give them a wad of the shredded pink gum from its tinfoil pouch. Each stop brought a little history from Dads AAA guidebook, a keychain for Moms collection, and snacks. Come find your father, Luke Millward. It saw more than the water and filth, it saw the survivors eyes crying for help. I cued up a classical playlist on my iPod. I imagined his body was one of those rotting in a public restroom or floating facedown and bloated under a bridge somewhere. Whats this about? I asked the man. Night before Katrina. Most our cell phones arent workinhe could be hurtin somewhere, or in San Antonio or up north. I didnt even like licorice. Hello? I answered. Just then I remembered a larger than usual package Id received a couple of months ago from Dad. Armstrong banned it from the dugout and told her son, Magic Mikey, our only left handed pitcher, that shed make him chew a hundred packs at once if she ever again caught him with the stuff. We returned to our Chinese food while the Killers Hot Fuss played on the living room stereo. I was sitting in Pio Pios in Jackson Heights when my cell phone rang and displayed an unfamiliar number from area code 504. I was only a right fielder. I switched my cell phone from one ear to another. I havent talked much about my mother either.
Here it comes, I thought, closing my eyes. The death toll. He paused. Yuck. Who is she? I thought. Come again? I switched my cell phone back to the other ear. I didnt know what shocked my system more: my fathers probable Squishy slow rising toys death or a woman marrying a practicing alcoholic who had a premonition problem. Thas right. Dads official travel treat was Tab cola and Planters salted peanuts. I didnt. Who puts peanuts in their soda? Even Dad couldnt explain the appeal, but I dont recall a single mile of that trip, or any other for that matter, when Dad didnt have a can in his hand or at the ready in his cup holder. Jez. She seemed to hear things in the story I hadnt said. I always threatened to tell when Mom stole sips as Dad pumped the gas or checked the tires. My dad told me that Mrs. This Luke Millward? It is. Nobodys seen im since a couple Sundays ago. She smiled so kindly when I arrived at our spot above the third base line with a ball Id caught off a rookies splintered bat. The bathroom mirror reminded me of the dark circles under my eyes that Id inherited from my father. Id forgotten Id ever told her that. The walk was energizing. . My father was engaged? To a wonderful one. Just in case. This guy, Jerome, he was your dads best friend. I bet Mom ate fifteen pounds of licorice on that trip. I decided some fresh air and lunch in Little India would serve me well. You cant leave right now, Jordan. My mind dropped sheets over the images of Katrinas wrath. Who knows? And your dad is getting married to this guys sisteror was anyway