Chapter 12: Jealousy

The next day I was out at Hannah’s house an hour before Steelers’ kickoff.

As I was milling around the kitchen, Aunt Janet said to me, “Hey Joe, I know you guys were expecting a big buffet for game day, but I’m just not up to it. How about I give you some money, and you go down to D’Arc’s for some pizza?”

I pondered her request for a moment then shrugged. “Yeah, I can do that—as long as you’re paying!”

She chuckled and grabbed her purse.

Hannah had been refusing to make eye contact the whole time, but then with unexpected enthusiasm, she piped up. “I’ll go with you!”

I gave her a sly look, but she smiled and nodded her head.

We hadn’t made it more than a block when she pointed at the curb and demanded, “Pull over. We need to talk.”

I switched off the car and turned to face her.

“So, are you going to tell me about this ‘Katie’ that you were flirting with?”

“We weren’t flirting, we’re just friends,” I insisted.

She squinted and wiped her cheek. “Damn it, Joe! You were staring into her eyes as she held your hand!”

“She was chewing me out because I so out of it over the Pirates losing their third fucking game.”

Hannah rolled her eyes. “Oh, I can imagine the emotional wreck you must’ve been.”

“She was upset that I was bowling like shit, my brain off in la-la land. But...

“But what?”

“ ... she just likes to do that touchy thing, which is why I told her - I already had a girlfriend.”

“So, you got aroused?”

“Well, yeah,” I admitted sheepishly. “That’s why I had to tell her — I already had a girlfriend!”

Hannah sighed and motioned for me to continue. “Okay ... tell me the whole story.”

I took a deep breath and began. “So, we met about six weeks ago, the first week of bowling. Her dad was on our team last year. I thought she was attractive...”

Hannah couldn’t contain her laughter. “Yeah, with tits like that!”

“Hey - I’m much more into butts and especially gorgeous faces like yours,” I said with a smile.

She rolled her eyes then again gestured for me to continue.

I glanced down, took a breath, and replied, “Well, she has this habit of touching people when she talks to them. At first, I thought it was a little weird...”

“But later?” Hannah prompted.

“I kind of got used to it, but after I missed that week to go to see Grandpap in the hospital, she threw her arms around me and hugged me when I got back.”

“Wow - are you sure she doesn’t have the hots for you?”

I looked her right in the eyes. “Well, that’s what I suspected—and I didn’t want to cheat on you, so that night I told her...”

She shook her head slowly. “I know, ‘I already have a girlfriend.’ And what did she say?”

“She laughed at me,” I admitted. “She thought it was funny that I got the wrong idea.”

Hannah frowned. “All those clues that I gave you, that you never noticed...”

“I’m bad at reading girls” I sighed. “And she said bowling was her only free time between school and the hospital.”

“What does she do at the hospital?”

“Nursing student,” I replied.

“So, she’s the same age as you?”

“Yeah, a year younger - but I’ve never seen her on campus. We don’t have any classes together.”

“Oh, she goes to school with you too?”

“Apparently, but, as I said, our paths have never crossed,” I explained.

Hannah raised an eyebrow. “Uh-huh.”

I put my hand on her shoulder. “Please, I have you, I love you. That’s enough.”

“Not even anyone at your school, your age, who isn’t your cousin?” she asked skeptically.

“She’s just a friend,” I reassured her. “I will never leave you, for anyone!”

Hannah pursed her lips and looked down for a moment before meeting my gaze again. “Joe, what scares the hell out of me...” She took a deep breath. “Is that you’ll meet a girl who doesn’t have the baggage.”

“What...”

“That you find someone you can kiss in front of her parents and walk down the street holding her hand.” She closed her eyes and shook her head slowly. “It sucks so bad that we can’t do that.”

I took her hand in mine and wiped tears from her cheek with my other. “Remember what I told you that night in your room when you asked me about all my other girls?”

She chuckled weakly. “Yeah, that really short list.”

I took a deep breath and swallowed hard. “And why I was in love with you — because of how you complete me. Despite whatever is thrown against us, we belong together. A matched set. No one else can do that for me.”

Hannah leaned forward and rested her head on my shoulder. “You still make me so mad sometimes.”

When she eventually looked up, I pushed the hair back off her face and kissed her on top of her head. “We better get going before our pizza gets cold.”

We made it back with ten minutes to spare. Dave came over to grab some slices and I looked back towards the couch. “Where’s Susie? Haven’t seen her yet.”

He shrugged. “She said she has something she has to do with her parents, but she’ll be over later.”

I nodded then grabbed a plate of my own, a couple slices of sausage, onions and peppers and a can of Sprite. I settled in at the dining room table and started in on the pizza.

Hannah looked over from the couch and patted the empty space beside her. “Joe, get your butt over here, I won’t bite your head off.”

“What about my food?”

“Just put it on the coffee table, like always.”

As I was headed over, Dave was arriving at the far end of the couch and asked, “What did he do this time, Sis?”

Hannah grinned at me. “Oh, I caught him making out with Miss Big Tits at the bowling alley last night.”

Indignantly, I replied, “I wasn’t making ... Oh, c’mon, stop it.”

Dave chuckled. “She’s got you by the short hairs, bud.”

I winced. “Don’t I know it!”

I felt the back of Hannah’s hand rubbing up and down my thigh. She leaned over and whispered, “Just say, ‘I love you forever and ever.’”

I swallowed. “I love you forever and ever.”

She quickly squeezed by my knee and replied, “and don’t you forget it.”

As the players took the field on the television, I said, “Man, this should be a blowout. Cincy is oh and six. On the radio, Myron Cope always call them the ’Bungles.’”

The Bengals won the toss and elected to receive the ball. On the very first play, Ken Anderson threw an interception, and the Steelers were in business. I jumped up and pointed at the t.v. “Look at that! I told you!”

The Steelers ended up with a field goal for a three-nothing lead, and later the Bengals went down the field for a touchdown, going up seven to three as the game moved into the second quarter.

With a little over ten minutes left before the half, Cincy punted, giving the Steelers the ball at their own twenty. John Stallworth grabbed a pass from Bradshaw for twenty-five yards, but when he was hit the ball popped out and the Bengals recovered the fumble. Five players later the Bengals ran in another touchdown and after missing the extra point led thirteen to three.

I shook my head and muttered, “Shit!”

Hannah elbowed me in the side. “I thought you said this would be easy.”

Dave responded, “Any given Sunday.”

I looked at both of them. “Oh, shut up, there’s still a lot of game left.”

Larry Anderson waited at the goal line for the Bengals kick off. As the ball settled into his arms, he hesitated, then sprinted forward when he saw a hole - but was slammed into as he crossed the ten, leaving the ball on the turf where a Bengals player scooped it up and ran into the end zone for another touchdown.

I was stunned. “Five seconds? Two touchdowns in five seconds?”

Anderson took a knee in the end zone on the next kickoff and the ball was at the twenty. On third down with just a yard to go, Franco Harris ran the ball to the left, got stacked up - and a Bengals player was sprinting down the field. Another fumble. Another touchdown.

Dave yelled, “What the fuck?”

From the kitchen we all heard Aunt Janet respond, “David! Language!”

“Sorry, Mom.”

I was holding my head in my hands. “This is just like the Pirates this week - unfreaking real!”

Hannah rubbed my leg, but I got up and headed to the kitchen, trying to ignore the game.

My aunt grinned. “That bad?”

I just shook my head. “Oh my God, yes! It’s that bad.” I glanced around and asked, “Is there any more pizza?”

She nodded. “Yeah, there should be some more in the box. I’m making hot dogs and mac and cheese for later, during the Pirates’ game.”

I stood in the kitchen until the half, slowly eating the last slice of the sausage, onions and peppers.

I heard footsteps from the garage. Susie came through the door and walked past me to where Dave was seated on the couch. She kneeled in front of him and dropped her face into his lap.

’What the... ‘

Hannah and I jumped to our feet as Dave pulled Susie into his arms, her head buried against his chest. With a panicked look on his face, he asked, “Susie, what’s the matter?”

She pulled back and gazed up at her boyfriend. “My dad’s being transferred.”

“What does that mean?”

“The company is sending him to Baltimore, before Christmas. Oh, God ... I’m not allowed to say anything, but ... next month they are announcing massive layoffs, here and at mills around the country. They’re going to reorganize, and he’s been named to be part of the new management team in Baltimore.”

Dave’s jaw dropped after staring at Susie the whole time. “You’re leaving?”

She cried for a minute before composing herself. “I don’t know ... it looks that way. I can’t leave you, with us so close to graduating!”

Dave pointed to the couch. “Here, sit.” As she sank into the cushions, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, his fingers brushing her hair while she sobbed against him.

Hannah laid her hand on my thigh as we silently watched them embrace. After a few minutes I leaned back into the couch and closed my eyes, my hand on top of Hannah’s.

After all of us sat in silence for a while, Dave sighed and asked. “You said before Christmas. How long do we have?”

Wiping away a tear, Susie sat up and said, “Forever, if I have any say in it. Dad’s going to have to get settled into the job and house shop before Mom and I go down, but I’m turning eighteen in February and once we graduate in June, I don’t have to legally stay with them.”

Dave kissed her on her head and whispered, “I love you. I’ll raise holy hell if I have to, to get Mom and Mickey to let you stay here.”

We all sat quietly, if not somberly, on the couch for the rest of the game. When the clock finally ran down to zero, Dave said, “How the hell does a team cough up the ball nine times in one game?”

Susie frowned and then stood. “I think I’m gonna get going.”

Dave pleaded, “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’ll call later.”

They shared a brief kiss and once Susie was in the kitchen, Aunt Janet asked, “Can I give you a ride?”

Her head still down, Susie said softly, “Sure, thank you.”

After they closed the door to the garage, Dave yelled out, “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” then stomped upstairs.

I glanced around and smirked at Hannah. “Looks like we’re all alone.”

She scowled and said, “Oh, shut up - no time for that.”

I raised my hands in surrender. “I’m not the one with my mind in the gutter.”

Hannah glared at me. “This is not the time for jokes.”

I sighed. “It’s ... maybe I should be going too.”

“No, Joe - stay, please. The Pirates are on in twenty minutes.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, like them getting eliminated is going to make this day so much better.”

She pointed to the couch and raised her voice just a bit. “Joe, just get your butt over here and sit with me! Please?”

“I can’t sit too close. Your mom will be back soon.”

Hannah turned the t.v. to channel four as I settled in a couple seats away.

During the pregame neither of us spoke but kept stealing glances at each other. As the players were coming onto the field, she finally broke the silence. “You better not ever move out and leave me behind.”

I shook my head. “Don’t worry. I have another year and a half before graduation.”

“And after that I’ll still have two more years of high school. Is your dad going to let you sit around and wait for me?”

I hung my head and frowned, without answering her.

A few moments later, Hannah’s hand went to her mouth as she said, “Oh my God, did you hear that? Chuck Tanner’s mother died this morning!”

I sighed. “Wow, that’s gotta be tough. I heard she was sick, but to go out there and be faced with a must win game in that situation?”

We watched Bill Mazeroski, the hero of the 1960 World Series, threw out the first pitch from the first base stands, but Hannah and I had little to be happy about.

No one even knew Jim Rooker was going to be the starting pitcher for the Pirates until right before the game, but he got three quick outs in the first inning, and then in the second, and again in the third.

“Nine up, nine down” I said to Hannah.

She glanced over at me. “You know, Rooker looks just like you. All you need is a mustache.”

I chuckled. “So, If I grow a mustache, I’m Jim Rooker, then if I keep the mustache but shave my head, I’m G. Gordon Liddy?”

“Exactly! I can’t help it that you’re such a manly man!”

Chuckling, I said, “Oh, does that mean you want me to see me with a mustache?”

She narrowed her eyes and started at me for a few seconds while trying not to bust out laughing. “No ... I don’t want to get any hair in my mouth when I kiss you!”

We were both still laughing when Aunt Janet came in from the garage and asked, “What’s the score?”

I replied, “Nothing-nothing, bottom of the third.”

“Okay. I’ll be starting supper soon.”

Hannah whispered to me, “She was gone a long time. I wonder if she was talking to Susie’s parents.”

I nodded, then asked, “Speaking of being gone, Where’s Donna been?”

“Oh, she went with Mickey to help with a couple open houses today.” Glancing at the clock, she added, “They should be back soon.”

The Pirates went down quickly against Mike Flanagan, bringing the Orioles back up to bat in the fourth. With one out Benny Ayala watched a three-one changeup float outside then trotted down to first. I threw my hands in the air. “Eh, ten in a row and he walks a guy. There goes the perfect game.”

Hannah shook her head at me. “The Pirates still have to get a run, or it won’t matter.”

“Oh, don’t be such a spoil sport!”

“Me? Never!” she shrugged. Looking over to her mother in the kitchen, Hannah turned back to me and whispered, “Now that we’ve wasted our opportunity of having the house to ourselves, when are we going to see each other again?”

I sighed. “It won’t be that long.”

“I don’t have cross country anymore, and sometimes between today and Wednesday the Pirates will play their last game. Are we going to be limited to Sundays when the Steelers play?”

I held my hand it in her direction. “No ... I don’t ... let me see.” I closed my eyes for a moment, then looked back at her and asked, “Do you like volleyball?

She nodded. “Yes.”

“Well, I have some friends in the Christian Fellowship on campus, and they play volleyball in the gym on Friday evenings. We could go to that.”

“And hang out with the Bible thumpers?

I rolled my eyes. “I know some of them, they’re nice kids.”

“Sure, I could bump into you being all sweaty, but it’s not like we’re going to make out in front of them!”

I sighed and shook my head slowly. “Just because they’re Christians doesn’t mean they don’t hold hands or kiss.”

Hannah smirked. “Just no toe curling blow jobs before marriage?”

I chuckled. “That sounds about right.”

“Okay. If we do that on Friday, how are we going to handle me going to bowling on Saturday?”

Just then Gary Roenicke led off the fifth for the Orioles and bounced a double off the wall in left center. I winced and said, “Well, there goes the no-hitter.” DeCinces followed with a single to right to put runners at the corners with no one out.

“Joe! What about Saturday?”

“Oh, yeah!” I turned back to her. “How about you come over to the house around noon. We can say we’re studying. Is there anything you need help on?”

“I get better grades than you. Maybe I should be the tutor!”

Dauer hit a one-hopper to second, with Garner throwing to second then Foli to first to complete the double play, bur Roenicke came in to score. I sighed. “Shit, they got a run.”

“So, we help each other with our schoolwork?”

“Sounds good. Then we have dinner, and you can come up to the lanes with me and Mom so you can hang out with Katie. I’ll bring you home after.”

Hannah nodded to the t.v. “Meanwhile, I think they better pull your doppelganger. He just walked the pitcher.”

Rooker did get the next batter to get out of the inning but was pinch hit for when the Pirates came up in the bottom of the fifth. Despite a couple of singles, they failed to score.

When Bert Blyleven came on to pitch in the sixth for the Pirates, she commented, “I hope he pitches better than he did on your birthday.”

I noted, “They just said this is his first relief appearance in seven years.”

“If they lose today then everyone goes golfing tomorrow, so it’s all hands on deck.”

Blyleven had an easy top of the sixth, then Foli coaxed a rare walk to lead off the bottom of the inning for the Pirates, followed by a sharp grounder up the middle for a single by Parker. I took a deep breathe. “Two on, nobody out!” When Robinson held his bat over the plate I yelled, I yelled, “Oh my God, why’s he bunting? The guy had twenty-four homers this year!”

Nonetheless, he dropped down a perfect sacrifice, advancing both runners into scoring position and Stargell immediately smacked a fly ball to right-center, allowing Foli to score the tying run. As I pumped a fist, Hannah chided me. “See how that bunt manufactured a run?”

I stuck out my tongue at her, but then Madlock lined the ball to center. I jumped to my feet and yelled “Get down! Get down”!” and then “Yes!!!” when it did, giving the Pirates a two to one lead.

Hannah was on her feet as well and gave me a high five.

I saw Mickey and Donna coming from the garage. He had his hand on her back as he directed her into the kitchen, then he went over to Aunt Janet and kissed her on the cheek.

Janet then called out, “Joe, Hannah. I’m starting supper, it’ll only take a few minutes.”

I waved in confirmation then returned to the couch. With two outs in the top of the seventh, I was mid-bite into a hotdog when Rick Dempsey doubled to center to put the tying runner at second - but Pat Kelly, batting for the pitcher Flanagan, went down swinging at a big curve from Blyleven to end the threat.

Moreno was on second with two outs in the Pirates half of the inning when Foli hit a liner just over the head of the second baseman, but the outfielders were playing shallow, and the ball rolled all the way to the wall. I was yelling, “Go! Go!” as Foli made it to third with a triple, giving the Pirates a two-run lead. Three pitches later Parker ripped a double into left-center, and we were up four to one.

They added three more runs in the eighth and Blyleven closed it out in the top of the ninth for a seven to one victory. As it was the final game in Pittsburgh, fans ran onto the infield to join the players in celebration.

Both Hannah and I were on our feet, and I gave her a fist bump. I said, “The Pirates live another day.”

“So, what are the odds of pulling this out?”

I smirked and she watched as my left hand appeared as if it was drawing on an imaginary blackboard. “Assuming the teams are of equal quality and factoring in home field advantage for the Orioles in both games, I say the Pirates have a twenty percent chance of winning the Series.”

She frowned. “Not good.”

I shrugged and opened my arms, inviting her for a hug. As I wrapped myself around her, I whispered, “Just enjoy the moment.” Stepping back, I added, “Don’t forget to ask you mom about Saturday.”

I returned my empty plate to the kitchen and offered my aunt a hug as well. “Thanks for having me over.”

“Gotta keep you out of trouble somehow.”

“Me?”

She gave me a playful slap on the arm. “Oh, get out of here. Your mom probably misses you by now.”

On Monday, I was home from school by three-thirty. In my room, I paced before sitting on my bed, tapping my foot impatiently, as I waited another half an hour to call Hannah. Slipping into my parents’ room, I sat on the floor and leaned against the wall, phone in my lap, as I waited for someone to pick up. Smiling as I heard her voice, I asked, “Hey, any news about Susie?”

She sounded upbeat as she told me, “It looks like her mom is willing to stay in the house with her until she graduates next summer.”

“I bet Dave feels a lot better about that.”

Hannah giggled. “Yeah, he wasn’t ready to snap anyone’s head off today.”

“That’s gotta be tough. Do they have any plans for college?”

She paused before continuing. “I don’t know how serious Dave is about going. He took his S.A.T.’s and did okay, but that was when we were down in Texas, so he didn’t get his scores sent to any schools up here. I heard him mention a community college in Maryland where he thought he could play baseball, but that’s it.”

“Anywhere close to Baltimore?”

“I think he said Cumberland, or maybe Frostburg.”

“Eh, that’s nowhere near Baltimore. Out west, much closer to here.”

She shook her head. “I wasn’t sure.”

I sighed. “So, he doesn’t even know yet what he’s doing after graduation?”

“Not that he’s told us.” There was a moment of silence before I heard her take a deep breath. “Joe, what are you planning on after you get your degree?”

I stared at the wall as I tried to gather my thoughts. “I’d love to stay in town, but I have to research what kind of jobs there are here for econ majors. I know it’d be easier in the government, for example, but I still get so uptight thinking being out there, somewhere, on my own.”

Hannah’s voice sharpened, “Wait - why do you think you’d be on your own? What about me?”

I felt my face flush. “I’m sorry, I ... I didn’t mean I’d be alone. I meant having to get a job, a place to live, pay the bills—everything.””

Sarcastically, she snapped, “It’s called being an adult. You’re twenty.”

I sighed once again. “Yes, dear! But that doesn’t mean it’s easy.”

“Life’s a bitch and then you die” she deadpanned.

I laughed, “Oh! You’re so encouraging” but knew she wasn’t entirely joking.

“I try” she giggled.

I smiled and I shook my head as I left the thought hang in the air. “I guess I’m not going to see you until Friday?”

“Yeah. Swing by and ask Mom. I can’t wait to see you playing volleyball, exerting yourself and getting all sweaty.”

I chuckled. “I thought I did that after the movie. You seemed satisfied.”

In a mocking tone she replied, “Oh, you did? I can be so forgetful sometimes. You’ll have to remind me what it was like.”

I closed my eyes and giggled. “Down, girl. Control those hormones. Oh, I will call you Wednesday if the Pirates win the Series.”

“Just don’t wake me up.”

“You best be watching!”

“Oh, I wouldn’t miss it. Even if I did, you’d tell me all about it.”

“Say goodnight, Gracie!”

“Who’s Gracie? And it isn’t even dinner time yet!”

I shook my head as I laughed. “It’s an old joke my dad tells. See you later!”

It was just before eight-thirty on Tuesday evening when Mom poked her head in my bedroom door. “Game’s ready to start. You coming?”

“Oh, yeah. I’ll be right there.” As I settled onto the love seat beside her, I clapped my hands together and said, “Okay, let’s do this!”

“What’s got you so chipper tonight?”

“Tired of all the gloom and doom. It’s time for a new attitude! Let’s get this done.”

She patted my thigh and chuckled. “Oh my, is this a new Joe?”

“I hope so!”

Two pitches into the game, I was on my feet and yelling at the T.V. as the Pirates had runners on second and third with nobody out.

Two pitches after that, I had my hands on my hips as there were two outs and neither runner had budged. John Milner was the fifth batter and didn’t swing at the first pitch, but still managed to softly bounce out to the pitcher to end the inning.

Mom shook her head. “Well, that was something...”

“Something bad!”

“Hey, what happened to ‘Positive Joe’?”

“Patience! I’m trying.”

The Orioles got a pair of hits off John Candelaria in the bottom of the first and it was starting to look like a continuation of his previous start, but a double play got him out of the inning. The Pirates loaded the bases in the third with two outs, but the pitcher Candelaria went down swinging to put an end to that threat.

Mom asked, “On Sunday, nobody scored until the fifth. How long are they gonna go tonight?”

Both pitchers were on a roll as it seemed nearly every batter made soft contact and was put out quickly. Still without a score as the game went into the seventh, with one out Omar Moreno laced a sharp grounder into right field for a single. He’d led the National League in stolen bases, but the Pirates hadn’t swiped a bag the whole series. On the t.v., Howard Cosell speculated, “Let’s see if Moreno is going here.”

With two strikes, he did indeed take off for second, but Tim Foli hit a bouncer over the mound, right to the shortstop who was already at the base to take the throw on Moreno’s steal attempt - but then I screamed as the ball went under Garcia’s glove, to be tracked down by the second baseman, as both runners were safe on what was ruled an infield single.

Then on a one-one pitch Parker hit a one-hopper to the right of the second baseman, which glanced off his glove and into the outfield for another hit, allowing Moreno to score the first run of the game. Mom and I jumped to our feet, arms around each other in a tight hug to cherish the moment. A pitch later Foli scored after Stargell lifted a high fly to deep left, and the Pirates were up two runs.

They were at it again in the eight, as a single, double, fly ball and then another single by Moreno tacked on two more runs.

Tekulve came on in the seventh and retired the last seven batters with ease, ending it with a wave at strike three from DeCinces.

As soon as World Trade let out at half past twelve, I bolted across the quad to the Student Union, slowing to a walk as I scanned the half-filled Tuck Shop for Matt.”

As I approached the table where he was feasting on some meatloaf, corn and mashed potatoes, Matt glanced up and exclaimed, “I figured I’d be seeing you. Sit down and catch your breath.”

“Dude, I can’t believe it - Game Seven! It’ll be all over tonight.”

“Indeed, that was some game last night.”

I slowly shook my head. “It’s been eight years. I was only twelve the last time they won the Series.”

Matt leaned in, grinning. “Anything short of a championship is a failed season, right?”

“Ah, man - don’t do that to me! We’re gonna win, I know it.”

He shook his head and laughed. “I’m sure it’s been a whirlwind of emotions.”

“God, you should’ve seen me Saturday when they went down three games to one.”

“You’ve got to learn about an even keel.”

“But that wasn’t the worst of it. I was bowling for shit and Katie got in my face to straighten me out...”

“What part of you was getting straight?”

“Damn it, that’s not funny! That was right when Hannah walked in with her mom and thought Katie and me were ready to suck face or something.”

Matt leaned back and his eyes went wide. “Oh...”

“Yeah. When I got her to talk to me, she was crying her eyes out in between calling me unrepeatable names, all while trying not to let her mother know.”

“You guys ... still?”

I took a deep breath and leaned my forehead into my fingertips. Looking back up, I said, “Scared the shit out of me. I thought I’d blown it, but we talked it out in the car before the Steelers game. I told her everything—why I love her, how much she means to me. It wasn’t easy, but it was the truth.”

“She okay? You know, I like that girl.”

“Yeah. I ended up doing a lot of emoting, explaining why I love her - but it was all the truth!”

Matt sucked on his lower lip while nodding slowly. “Yeah, men aren’t built for all that squishy stuff.”

“Tell me about it.” I glanced up at the clock, then said, “Hey I’m going to grab a sandwich and eat it on the way. Glad I caught up with you.”

“Yeah, you’ve been too scarce lately. See you in Database.”

I stared at the clock in my room until the digital displayed roll over to eight twenty-nine, then took a deep breath and crossed the hall into the t.v. room. I could hear Howard Cosell talking to a player. Dad was in his recliner, reading the paper, while Mom was already on the love seat, patting the space beside her when she saw me enter.