#so peaceful he’s so relaxed AA MAN FOOT

[pigeon-in-anguish]

Does anyone else hate when you’re giving Arthur a bath and then you get jumpscared when he puts his fucking foot on the side of the tub

Pookie bear I love you but under no circumstance do I want to see a grown man’s foot up close

[minteacutiewrites]

Unfortunate Turnabout -AA Pt1

It had been a long day in court, Phoenix’s rolled his shoulders feeling a deep ache in his bones, telling him that he was getting too old for this job. All he wanted was get back home to his crumby apartment so that he could crash for the night, a perfect end to an exhausting trial.

Thing’s never could be that simple though as on his way home Mr. Phoenix Wright found himself staring down the barrel of a gun.

He could laugh at the irony, or cry at the thought of the headlines the next morning; THE GREAT PHOENIX TAKEN OUT DURING HIS PRIME. He smiled grimly at the idea, he’d be amused if the circumstances were different.

“Here I was hoping for a nice relaxing night at home watching Tv with my daughter.” He breathed out, casually sliding his hands into the pockets of his suit,” This is certainly an interesting turn of events.”

The silhouetted figure cocked the gun, and Phoenix knew that he should be afraid, he might very well lose his life tonight. But the thought of showing this person fear, giving then that

So Phoenix Wright put on a brave face, staring down the lone gunman, as the figure pulled the trigger.

~ February 17, 8:30 AM ~ Wright Anything Agency Apollo’s Office

Apollo was sitting at his desk in the office, glancing up at the clock anxiously every now and again.

His employer was known for regularly being late, being a little too lazy and carefree for Apollo’s taste, but he usually comes in right around now with a goofy expression on his face and an excuse for his tardiness.

Chewing on his lip, Apollo tried to shove down the anxiety building in his chest. In light of past events, Apollo had learned that things don’t stay calm and peaceful forever.

As much as he wanted to believe everything was fine, he couldn’t help but feel that dark times were just around the corner.

His stomach dropping when his suspicions were confirmed by a newspaper article, the headline reading; ATTEMPTED MURDER OF LAWER PHOENIX WRIGHT PERPETRATED BY RISING STAR PROSECUTOR KLAVIER GAVIN.

Running his fingers through his hair, Apollo let the dread sink to the pit of his stomach. This didn’t feel real, it had to be some sick joke, but the longer Apollo stared at the article, the more it became clear to him that this was real.

And it was his job to get to the bottom of this.

Grabbing his coat he ran out the door, going to find the only man he knew that could explain this mess to him.

~ February 17, 8:50 AM ~ Hickfield Clinic Phoenix Wright’s Hospital Room

Apollo impatiently tapped his foot as he waited for the receptionist, currently on the phone, to acknowledge his presence.

As soon as she directed him to correct room, he sped off in the direction of it, distantly hearing her telling him not to run in the hospital but he ignored.

His need for answers all consuming drowning out any other thoughts.

Finally, he made it to his mentor’s room almost, passing it up. There he found the famed Phoenix sitting up in the hospital bed lazily looking over some paperwork, seemingly unaware of Apollo’s presence.

It wasn’t till he entered the room, Phoenix looked up from his papers, smiling,” Oh hello Apollo” Phoenix answered all too casually. “I was wondering when you’d show.”

Apollo was speechless,…and then he was angry,” You get shot, and I don’t find out until about until I happened to be browsing the newspaper,” He rambled, frantically pacing around the room as Phoenix watched. and all you have to say to me ‘Oh hey Apollo.” He said shooting the other attorney a pointed look.

Phoenix just chuckled rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly,” Sorry, sorry I really don’t know how that happened, honestly.” He said shrugging off his Junior Partners words with ease,” I thought Trucy would have told you.

Trucy’s face flushed a little as a guilty look crossed her face,” Oops sorry Polly.” She spoke up,” I guess I forgot to tell you.”

Apollo rubbed his forehead, more exasperated than angry at this point,” I guess it doesn’t matter anymore…”He said, not being able to judge the girl after all her father had just been shot.

Phoenix folded his hands resting them under his chin,” But you do know who they’re accusing?” He asked Apollo, suddenly becoming serious as the circumstances of the situation were finally being laid out.

Balling up his fists in frustration eyes pointed towards the ground, Apollo answered,” Yeah I heard, it’s all over the news…”

His head shot up, as he exclaimed,”They’re wrong though, Klavier didn’t do this!”Apollo eyes swept to the ground,” He couldn’t of done this…” His voice trailing off, his voice colored with so many different feelings.

Silence hung in the air, a thick tension filling the room, the true nature of thing haning heavily over there head, looming.

Phoenix broke the silence,” Well then what on earth are you doing here?” He said, smiling at Apollo reassuringly,” Your client needs you, Mr. Justice.” He scolded the younger boy.

Apollo blinked, the fire coming back to his eyes,” You’re right, Mr. Wright!!” He exclaimed,” Sorry I’ve got to go, but I’ll be back later to ask more questions.” He said practically sprinting out the door, more determined then he’d ever been.

Phoenix chuckled, shaking his head fondly as he watching proudly as his apprentice left.

~ February 17, 9:00 AM ~ Detention Center Visiting Room

Apollo sat on the other side of the thick glass fiddling with his thumbs nervously as he waited for them to bring out Klavier.

When they did he smiled seeing the other man’s eyes light up a bit,” Ah Herr Forehead, I wasn’t expecting a visit from you.” He said flashing a charming smile that made a blush creep up Apollo’s face.

“Well, who else were you expecting to defend you, Athena?” He said, smiling sadly wishing they didn’t have to meet again under such unfortunate circumstances.

Klavier chuckled mocking fake horror,” Ach then I am done for.” He teased the young attorney making Apollo roll his eyes.

“Speaking of which don’t you get one phone call?” Apollo asked, eyeing the other man suspiciously, making him squirm,” Any reason that I wasn’t that one phone call?”

Klavier avoided Apollo’s eyes,” Ah yes about that…” He trailed off looking like he didn’t quite know how to say what he wanted,” Well I was hungry, so I thought about trying to order food.”

Apollo pinched the bridge of his nose, somehow not too surprised by any of this,” I want to be mad, but I’m also compelled to ask if it worked.” Klavier laughed,” Nah they kind of just hung up on me.” He said grinning widely.

Apollo laughed,” Gee I wonder why?” He asked sarcastically, he knew Klavier was just trying to cheer him up but he still couldn’t help but feel a sense of uneasiness settle into the pit of his stomach.

“You know I’m going to get you out of here right?” Apollo told him, pressing a hand to the glass Klavier pulling his hand to his.“I know you will Apollo I have faith in you.” Klavier told him

Apollo took a deep breath preparing himself to question the man that he loved and admired so that he could go visit the crime scene, praying that they’d survive this mess.

[daelten]

Oddities of life. Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Training is a useful thing, but in moderation, at least I thought so. But our nasi thought quite differently. An elderly elf named Taylar wished me and Mai to run thirty circles around the castle, for a warm-up! Do you understand the warm-up? That is, this is only the beginning of my suffering! Of course, you can and rejoice not knowing the size of the castle! As I thought the nightmare was just beginning, this monster for the sake of persuasiveness dropped on us his "dogs" with large sharp teeth, which they were shaking in our direction. For about five minutes he walked back and forth and telling something.

- Mai, is this your first training or do you already know how to fight it? - pushed in the hip of Maidry, standing next to me, I asked in a whisper.

- I do not want to upset you, but the first ... - staring at the beasts, the elf replied in a whisper.

- What are you up to? Quickly outside the castle and ran! I explained the route to you!- Snapped the old man. And we ran outside the fence and rushed away from the "sweet little dogs" that were catching up with us. As they say, in order to save yourself from the bear, you must overtake a friend, which I tried to do, but I do not just know this wisdom. Since Mai also ran pretty fast. On the tree I noticed the flashing figure of Taylar, it's wonderful, then it will not turn out, but we will try, we are clever. Our route ran around a small lake, about five kilometers from the castle, so Mai told me, then we need to run back and run around seven circles around the castle, which was about the size of Red Square. Halfway to the lake, my breathing began to lose, and the reason for this is very simple, I always skipped physical education classes and generally did not run so much in my life. The elf was already quite far away from me, but he kept turning back to check where I was. It's nice of him, especially behind me there's a growl and louder. Aa-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah, the doggies are catching up! I do not like running with obstacles, do not like it, do not like it, do not like it! Gathering all my strength into a fist, I rushed to catch up with Maidre. When, finally, I caught up with him and we ran along one line, the most ill-fated lake loomed ahead.

- Mai, and these dogs can swim? - I asked in a stunned voice.

- No, and what is it? - The elf turned his head slightly to my side. Hooray, justice!

- Run to the lake! - I turned to the lake, I yelled. And here we are at the goal, the lake is literally a couple of meters, right in front of me.

- It is better not to do so, but it's time for us to fade away! - Maidre understood my words and dived into the water behind me. In the middle of the lake we emerged and admired the little dogs that ran around the pond and viciously growled at the water, trying not to touch its edge.

- Why do not they like water? - Strangely, but for some reason this very issue got into my stupid head and just now.

- There seems to be something on the bottom of it. ... - lying on the water in the form of an asterisk, Mai said, but immediately realized that he said and jerked me by the scruff from the pond towards the shore, where the dogs were already lying in wait for us Well, like dogs, big animals like wolves, only with big fangs and drooping ears. So, stop, did he say there was something in the water? Idiot! I did not say! I began actively rowing toward the shore, it's better dog than an unknown crap. When I felt the bottom of my feet, I stepped on a fairly large branch of the tree. Oh, something viciously chuckled in me, bringing this same cudgel, I, like not normal, although why, I rushed to the dogs. There are brains in dogs, they glanced at each other and ran away from me. Too late to drink Borjomi, when the kidneys fell off. The elf remained standing on the shore looking at me in perplexity. I almost caught up with one of the dogs, when I was grabbed by the scruff and how the kitten was raised above the ground. Taylar looked at me, obviously furious with my behavior. I smiled at him with my firm smile in thirty-two teeth, which, in principle, can not portend anything good. In short, in vain I cracked the elf on the head with a cudgel, again I was convinced that I must first think and then do it. We flapped, I and the carcass of our nasi, from a height of about a meter or two. Or rather I flopped, and already on me the body fell. It hurts, of course, well, nothing. By this time, Maidre came running. It was funny to watch his eyes take on the sizes of saucers.

- What have you done ?! - screamed running up to me and pulling the carcass of nasi from me, Mai.

- He is to blame, I was afraid of the suddenness of his actions. Well, I aimed at the dog in the beginning and the situation is so formed and turned into this ... - it's not good to lie, but it's vital, like this. Already from a sitting position, I watched the reaction of Mai.

- And now what i can do? He will go to my father, and he is terrified in anger .... - The elf clutched his head and sat down on the ground.

- Let me think think, where do we put the corpse? - The brain, that's what you're awake now? Go on sleep and without you are doing great. Why does Mai look at me like that, does not he understand jokes? - Yes I'm joking! As woke up, say some nonsense, for example, hit his head on a branch that he did not notice when he ran after me to rescue the dogs. Or something else ...

- Well, well, it seems like a it is logical , but he will not believe it. Above him you know how many small scoffs ... - Fi'elu Jr. turned his head to the crunch of branches. Shit, the beasts came to the master. But strangely enough, they did not growl at us, but began to caress. I did not get that? What's this? Sly crafty plan against us with such a beginning, where a dirty trick ?? Poking into the approaching dog, I was convinced that this is not a glitch. Maybe they originally wanted to make friends ... and then growl why, okay. We spit on the logic. Peace, friendship, gum!

- Maybe we can take him to the doctor's room. Tell Taylar my version of events. Well, or that he overheated in the sun. - rising from the ground, I looked at the ruffled Maidre and smiled sweetly at him. You can not to be nervous because of some garbage. And in this life, all the garbage, hehe-heh.

We returned more slowly, without running and panicking. Our nasi was still off, which greatly simplified our task and explanations. I carried Taylar by the feet, and Mai by the hands, behind me there were two dogs that were already completely petted and were ready to lick me from head to foot. That's the kind of train we reached the castle, the elves who meet us on the way shied in different directions. That's right, let them be afraid. Already on the territory of the castle dogs were taken away, and wonderful. In the hospital wing, Taylar was taken away from us and put on the bed.

- What happened?- Asked the elf, dressed in a green gown with gold embroideries. It looks like a doctor, well, the show begins.

- Our nasi, he ... he banged his head against  a tree branch! He wanted the dogs to save! He ran so abruptly, we did not even expect ... With .. it will be all right? - I trembled, I said, now and then sobbing. And now let's have a tear for persuasiveness. It worked, the elf stroked my head and smiled.

- Of course, everything will be fine, the bruise is not strong, tomorrow you can continue your training. I'll tell Taylar that you brought it and what happened. So do not worry and go get some rest.

- Thanks, thank you very much! - the enemy is crushed, the account 1: 0 in our favor.

 Our journey from the hospital wing to Mai's room was short-lived, just crossing the threshold of his room, I immediately fell to the floor, face down.

- Why are you falling? - giggling and sitting down beside me on the floor, asked the elf.

- I do not fall, I lay down sharply.

- I did not expect that you would round your finger around our doctor, he's picky, but to you he believed so easily.- Mai looked at me admiringly.

- I have an inborn charm. By the way, where do Miktian and Nadal live in? We also need to come up with desires, otherwise it's not good somehow, we suffer, and they relax ... - turning over on my back, I began to consider the ceiling.

- You still do not have enough of Taylar?- Laughed Maidre and leaned on the bed. God still exists! Mike and Nad fell into our room, both laughed, I wonder why.

- Why are you laughing, victims? - giving both a skeptical look, I asked.

- We saw you through the window, why is  so cruel with an elderly elf?- Said the demons, continuing to laugh in chorus.

- Whoever is cruel ...- I mumbled.

- Did you forget that you were lost and we have desires that need to be fulfilled? - slyly looked at the brothers Mai. Young man, thats my school. There's nothing to neigh here. Demons immediately changed in the face.

- And what does your soul want? - Looking at me, asked Nadal. That's why he have to squint at me? Nothing is written on my face.

- Well, twenty desires, so I guess ten to me, ten to Mai, yes? - I looked at the elf, he only nodded in the affirmative.

- Well? -  Mike could not stand it now. I will torment you, torment you as well as us that monster. And then a great thought crept into my head. From what I disgusted laughed, it attracted attention, so I was already looked at by everyone.

- I know what you will do, my dear ones. - we stand a pause, heat up the situation, oh, how they fidget. - You will engage with us, and the entire run  are carrying us on your hands. Or is it better to incite the little dogs to you? What do you think, Mai?

- Let them carry, physical loads are useful for the body. - A malicious smile crawled to the elf's face.

- No, think of something else. I disagree.- Nadal, Nadal, who will listen to you? You do not know me at all.

- Refusal is not accepted, Mai comes up with the following desire, because to me laziness ... Go on! - Laughing at the expression of Miktian's face and Nadal's fruitless attempts to change my decision, I reached out and sat down so that everyone could be seen better. Time before lunch we decided to spend in the room, telling jokes, even held another contest "Who is funnier than joke", of course the competition is also on the desire. We decided to play with teams, suggested it to Miktian and Nadal. Whoever jokes laughs ridiculously removes one desire, if it's Mike and Nad, and if it's me and Mai, then we add the desire, but not to ourselves. Thus, when the time came to dinner, Mike was added five desires, Nad took a couple and added a ten from Mai.

At dinner the whole family of Fi'elu was again gathered, all the guests were treated very well, and me, even as a native. As soon as the servants brought food, I and Mai attacked her. So what? We have not eaten anything since morning, and a run of ten kilometers is not a joke. Amaael looked at us carefully, as if we were little ones that did not understand anything.

- How did the training go? - an unexpected question, Mai and I both choked and turned their heads, looked at the Axelellon. He knows something, that's for sure.

- Oh, well ... - I decided to take the attention of the lord, all the same I am to blame for the incident, although not, not me. Taylar. He is to blame, yes. I'm not selfish, brain! Lie down and go to sleep, it's better when you off!

- Nothing bad happened? - he definitely knows.

- Yes ... - Oh, my God, my lips are twitching, it's bad. Turning back, I took a sip of herbal tincture.

- But why is the Honorable Taylar now in the hospital wing? - in vain I drank, coughing, I caught a glimpse of Maidre, mda-ah, the boy turned pale.

- You do not know? He banged his head against  a tree branch! So it's a pity, even the training was not finished ... - once play, then play to the end! I need to die with music, in my case, fanfare. Music to me.

- Hmm, good that you brought him back. - sparkling with eyes Axelellon continued the interrupted meal. With a sigh of relief, I hurriedly filled my stomach. Sticking stress is not my favorite pastime, but this occupation is delicious.

The rest of the day was spent at the company of Maidre, Miktian, Nadal and twins Fi'elu, Ikkiel and Nelva. I told them all the rules of the game of hide and seek. The twins really liked this idea. We decided to play almost throughout the castle. Guess who drove? I? No, Nad was the seeker. When he began to count, all fled in different directions. At first I ran after Mai, but then lost sight of him and shrugged, decided to hide in another place. Walking past the closet that was in the wall, I was grabbed by the hand and dragged into the closet. I was frightened, because it was more than unexpected.

- Ts-s-s-s-s ...- He pressed his finger to my lips and sniffed ... who could it be, if not Miktian. The idiot scared the dumb, I almost died of fear. I nodded and removed his finger from my lips.

- You scared me. - I hissed at the demon. And what does the closet do in the corridor, especially empty? So, we do not bother, if there is, then we need it.

- I'm sorry. - Mike said softly, and seemed to smile, because I saw something whitish. In the dark can not make out, but like teeth. There were footsteps that made us tense and silent, do not even breathe, demons and elves have a good hearing, I already understood this. The footsteps stopped when they were very close to our closet, thirty seconds of silence and again the steps, only already retreating from us. We sighed together with relief. The door of the closet opened sharply and Nadal's grinning face looked at us.

- Gotcha! - Nad shouted at the victoriously-elevated tones.

- Only us or everyone? - I, of course, a little upset, but I'm glad that we were found.

- Only you two.- Listening Nadal said.

- Then there is nothing to rejoice so much, go on we need to find the others. Lead the way, Susanin. - I crossed my arms.

Sighing, apparently accustomed to my statements. He does not ask "what does this mean?", "And this?". Wandering around the castle was accompanied by comments from Miktian and me, for example, "Oh, the kid can not find anyone ... poor fellow " or simply giggling, if only because we walked in circles in the same place, even I understood this with my topographical cretinism.

- Do not like it, lead it by yourself! - flared up, you're what kind of, not by the rules decided to act, you will not get anything from me.

- We do not violate the rules, so you lead, lead, you look for a year or two later, you'll find someone. - Miktian laughed, but I heard another quiet grunting chuckle, coming from around the corner. It seems that not only I heard it. Nadal went there and already laughing from the corner came Ikkiel and Nelva.

- Are you always so cheerful?- Asked the twins in chorus.

- Well, how to tell you .... Yes, well. - the girls giggled again and took me by the arms dragged somewhere.

- Uh-uh, where are you going? - Miktian was indignant.

- We want to show Ariadne our room! - Girls threw Miktian and showed him the tongue.

- And what about your brother, we have not found him yet. Maybe we'll finish it, he seems to have even won. - especially not resisting, I said.

- He's hiding at our place ...- twins said quite quietly. Interestingly, they always say in a chorus or is it for my honor? Probably always. The demons heard us and slowly followed us, making a bored look.

- Okay, lead me, sweethearts.  - the girls, as if just this and waited, broke off and ran down the corridor, continuing to hold my hands. We rushed to the room, as quickly as if we had a train. I would never have thought that I could develop this speed, even with someone's help. In the room, lying on the bed, Maidre quietly dozing. The twins let me go and came from different sides, jumped on brother. He made an incomprehensible sound and opened his eyes, throwing off Ikkiel and Nelva. A little later he noticed me, i was sliding down the wall to the floor. The legs somehow buckled themselves and refused to move further.

- I found you ... hehe-heh. - I said, waving Mai hand.

- And where can I go? I know all about it by heart ... - sitting on the bed so as to see me, the elf spread his hands to the sides.

- What shall we play now ?! - babies asked with interest.

- And let's play tomorrow, I ran into my limit already, to be honest. - Smiling tiredly, I scratched the back of my head.

The door opened and Miktian and Nadal, breathless, came into the room. Nad still had a triumphant remark, but I did not listen to her. I wanted to sleep terribly, so I started crawling from wall to door. I asked someone to take me to the room assigned to me. The first to volunteer to take me to my room was Ikki and Nelva. After washing and changing clothes, I collapsed on the bed and immediately disconnected with reality.

[ecotone99]

Peter Altschul's Wedding (MF)

Later today, my grand-nephew, who I am proud to call my kin, who goes by the name Peter Altschul, will be getting married. I am far prouder to attend this wedding than I was for those of either of my two grandchildren, or of the two grand-nieces or three grand-nephews that have taken their vows. I am proud that Peter is an Altschul. I am proud that he was patient in choosing his wife, a lovely girl named Jordan. A lovely girl, Jordan is, who sat with me when we first met and asked about my past and about Peter’s youth. She was deliberate but not pandering. I felt no pity, no choice to be inclusive, but only her deliberation in choosing to see me as I am, not as an accessory to her understanding of herself in relation to the elderly. I thought about telling Peter that day that he should marry lovely Jordan, but I concluded that this was not my place. Were I still a drinker, I may have, but on that day, I had restraint. I am proud that good Peter, by power of his own consistently reasonable volition, came to this nuptial conclusion that I so wanted to recommend.

You expect to look enjoy the lives of your grandchildren more than less direct relatives such as Peter, my grand-nephew, but this is not always the case. I am sitting eagerly, if a bit impatiently, in the kitchen of my son’s home (where I too now live) waiting for our drive to Long Island for Peter’s wedding. My son and his wife are both ready to leave, but we are awaiting my grandson Jeremy and his wife Maya. We five will be driving to the wedding together. I first met lovely Jordan at the wedding of Jeremy and Maya, and her presence has been a consistent source of joy in my life ever since that day.

“Relax Dad. We’ll be leaving very soon.”

I nod. I suppose he saw my foot eagerly tapping.

“It’s just the train. They only come once an hour from Philly, and Jeremy missed the one at 11. We’ll leave at 12:30 to pick him up at the station on the way.”

I nod again. He missed the train, meaning we now may be arriving at around 5 PM instead of 4 PM, as was agreed upon by all parties involved. I wanted to arrive at 4 so that I could be comfortably settled before most of the guests arrived, rather than being wheeled in, pushed by my nervous son, in a chair, watched by everyone in the room as I impotently entered. Five years ago, I would have fought my son, argued that the chair is not necessary, that I can manage just fine without it. But that was two falls and three hospital stints ago, and I am not as a strong a man as I was then. It is not worth fighting on this marvelous day, the day of good Peter’s wedding. I strive to let the vanity disappear, to not be concerned about the perception of my strength, but the truth is, the nobility is only in the striving insofar as you can never be rid completely of the vanity. No, not completely. Not in anyone I ever knew.

The other hard truth that I must swallow with dignity is that it’s not simply vanity that makes me resist the chair, that the appearance of physical strength yields respect, and that I, sitting feebly in my son’s kitchen, have lost some amount of that respect from all, including him. Fighting with him, telling him I don’t want the damn chair, would be ineffective. He would win and I would take the chair, in no small part because I am physically weak which contributes to his ability to speak with authority and effectively paint me the stubborn fool to all those within earshot. As my weakness is part of what allows for this, and, being that it is not vain to desire respect, my resistance is not an act simply of conceitedness as my son would make it out to be. I will take the wheelchair and not cause a damper on the day’s event by arguing. I anticipate seeing the furrowed brows and plastered smiles of my relatives as I wheel in, creased with sympathy rather the stern looks of respect, the straight shoulders that used to yearn for my approval. When I see this, it will be a disappointment, but not nearly as much as it used to be. That, too, fades. Maybe I have gotten better at tamping down the vanity, but, more likely, the increased familiarity with the experience yields the increased indifference.

“Did you eat anything today, Bart?”

My daughter-in-law, Ruth, beckons. I nod.

“What did you have? We have leftover chicken the fridge.”

I quietly explain that I had a can of tuna and some cottage cheese, and she looks disappointed, continually seduced by the idea that I’m not eating enough. She says the chicken won’t be good two days from now, when we return from the wedding, so there’s no need for me to save it for any reason. I nod.

Ruth and I do not talk about how Jeremy, her son and my grandson, is late, but we both know he’s had some trouble with his drinking as he now sits firmly in late 20s but tries to maintain the habits of a younger man. We do not talk about how I’ve heard her on the phone several times in the past month with Maya, Jeremy’s wife, crying about how Maya wants a child but Jeremy does not and how Jeremy gets so drunk on weekends that Maya is not even sure it’s a good idea anymore to have his child that he does not want to have.

Some of my fondest memories of Peter, my good grand-nephew, involve watching basketball with him at holidays. Many of these memories are at Christmas – when there are always good basketball games on television, god bless the schedule-makers – when my now deceased wife Estelle would insist upon inviting the whole family to our home. And it was nice, most of the time, with Estelle’s brother’s family and the families of my many siblings all descending upon our little home for the roast beef and the pies and the gift-giving. There were a lot of children in the house then, a lot of life, and Estelle would get them all sorts of gifts, unique gifts for each child. I had given up alcohol by that point, and it was an all-day affair, so occasionally all the noise and life and commotion would be a bit too much for me, and I’d retreat to my bedroom and turn on the basketball for a quarter, or a half, or at most a single game to watch in peace before returning to the group, restored and back in good spirits. And Estelle knew not to let the kids come in the room when I took my rest, no not either of my grandchildren, or any of my eight grand-nieces and nephews. None aside from Peter. Good Peter who would sit quietly by my side, and cheer in a restrained, but not unemotional manner for his Sixers or his beloved Kobe Bryant or Dirk Nowitzki. Good Peter who would ask who I ever saw that was better than Kobe, and I would earnestly say very few, Peter, very few.

And as I try to remember the different Christmases and the different great players Peter and I watched in that bedroom of my lifelong home which has now long-since sold, I see Ruth shuffle into kitchen pushing that damned chair, excitedly saying that it’s time to pick up Jeremy and Maya.

An hour later we’re in the car, about halfway up the New Jersey Turnpike and my son is driving while Jeremy sits quietly in the back, Maya between us with Ruth in the front because she gets carsick. Maya is speaking about the dog, Eli, who she and Jeremy have been raising, and is showing pictures to Ruth, passing the phone up to the front seat, and Ruth is doing her best to look and comment about how cute Eli is even though, I, Jeremy, and my son all know that looking at the phone also makes her carsick, but none of us say a word, mutually agreeing to respect her efforts to connect with her daughter-in-law.

My mind begins to drift and I remember telling Peter that Jerry West may have been as great as his beloved Kobe Bryant. And I know the great Mr. West was in the news recently for something he has done as an NBA executive, a decision-maker capable of showing such nimbleness of mind that he so regularly showed of body. But I do not follow these things very closely anymore and I wonder if this is something I’ll be able to ask good Peter about today, on his wedding day, so he can tell me what the great Mr. West has done that is newsworthy, as I know he is up on all the basketball news, and this may give us something to converse about so that I don’t just babble on with this platitude or that one, which I’m sure he will get his fix of from relatives without my contribution, on this his wedding day, this day that I’ve been looking forward to for quite some time.

I hear Ruth muse about whether it will be an ‘open bar’, she doubting that Peter would pay for that, and as I begin to dishearten that such a frivolous decision would be viewed by anyone as a stain on the character of good Peter, I hear Maya blurt out,

“Don’t you think now would be a good time to tell them, Jeremy?”

“What, oh, why are you doing this?”

“Tell us what?”

“Oh stop it, Jeremy. We agreed it would be good to tell them.”

“Tell us what, Jeremy?”

“Fine, okay, well, uh, where do I start? I guess, uh, the reason that, uh, the reason Maya and I were a bit late today was that I decided to, well, we decided to attend my first, uh, my first AA meeting last week, and, we went to one this morning too that ran a bit over, but, anyway, now I have one week sober.”

“We just thought it would be a good idea to be completely open about this to get the full support of everyone in the car as Jeremy tries to navigate his first big family event without alcohol.”

“That’s so great, son. I am so proud of you and I won’t drink tonight either, if that helps in any way. Bart, do you have any advice for Jeremy? You’ve been sober for what, 40 years now?”

“Advice? Oh yes, well I don’t know. I guess I just had enough of the wasted days, the hangovers you know.”

Jeremy nods but I don’t think he really hears me, and I see in his eyes that he’ll be off the wagon soon, maybe not tonight, but soon. And Maya quickly changes the subject to more ‘cheery things’ like her yoga routines and her book club.

I will enjoy this day, and cannot wait to be in the company of good Peter and lovely Jordan. I remember I once told lovely Jordan about why I quit drinking. I told her about how I had a love once, long before Estelle, when I was just in college, and her name was Penelope. I told her about how Penelope and I lived together in secret, as unwed students. About how her interests became mine and mine hers and how it was a great two years we spent together before her accident when we were both just twenty-two years old. And that I never saw the same Penelope again after her accident, after her, as the doctor’s called it, ‘traumatic brain injury’. I told Jordan about how it wasn’t always all great between us before her accident but our story wasn’t yet over after those two years. I doubted we would marry but we still loved each other very much at the time. I told her how strange it became to be sole carrier of our many memories together even though she was alive but no longer held on to these things. I told her how it makes you question those memories and doubt that they had the significance you always assumed, not having someone who also remembers them, especially when that someone is right in front of you, talking to you, looking like themselves, but not remembering. I told Jordan about the last day we had together where I was nervous about her meeting some of my old friends, so I got quite drunk and we all met and of course it was fine, but I spent the whole next day very hungover, unable to enjoy our time together, splitting headache, and nausea like you cannot believe before she went to visit her mother for a few days. And how I got the call from her mother three days later that she had been hit by the car, telling me what hospital she and the family were at should I want to visit. And I did not quit drinking then, no, it wasn’t for another twenty-two years, until my age had doubled and I had another hangover that cost me a day of little league with my son that I realized enough was enough. That I realized these days matter. That I cannot afford to lose them. Especially not a day that matters as much as this one, the day of good Peter’s wedding to lovely Jordan.

submitted by /u/hcilierfc [link] [comments] via Blogger https://ift.tt/2ztdgFA