“Do you mind if I ask you questions as they play? I’d like to know more about football.”
“Uh, sure, honey. I’ll do my best.”
So, that’s what I do. I watch Alex all while paying attention to things Dad is saying as the game goes along. Alex is doing amazing things on the field.
At least that’s what my dad keeps saying. I’ll have to take his word for it. Things like, “I think that Emerson kid is having the best game of his career.”
“Really?” I perk up.
“Yeah, really. He’s spectacular anyway, but something must really be making him push even harder today.”
“I wonder what that could be,” I say with a sly smirk. I know what that is.
It’s me.
“I don’t know, but the better he is, the better place he’ll end up in next year. Maybe Dallas or San Diego.”
Alarm bells ring in my head. “As in Dallas, Texas and San Diego, California?”
“Yep, that’s where those teams are based, sweetheart.” He nods as he turns his head and smiles at me.
“Oh.” I hadn’t given that any thought. He’s going to be gone soon. As in far away.
“What about the team in Chicago, Dad? The Cubs?”
“I think you mean the Bears, Stella. It’s a possibility, but I’m not sure they need a tight end, but anything’s possible.”
Okay, don’t panic, Stella. There’s a chance he’ll be nearby.I’ll just cross my fingers and hope it all works out for the best. It’s all I can do.
Oh, who am I kidding. By then, Alex will have moved on to someone new. I doubt he’s thinking about anything long-term with someone like me, especially now that I know he’s got a chance to go to some place like California.
“Why the sudden interest in football, honey?”
“Oh, you know, being at Northwestern made me want to root for my team. That’s all. I’m really only interested in Wildcat football.”
“I know the feeling, pumpkin.” My dad and mom are both Northwestern alums, so it’s natural he’d root for his alma mater.
We sit together in companionable silence as the game is played. I ask questions periodically and listen to him as he talks to the television. It’s funny to see my dad like this. He’s usually so collected and calm, like a seasoned lawyer should be, but he lets loose during these times. I like it.
The game is still on the television when Bradley and his mom, Vicky, arrive for dinner. Bradley steps into the family room to say hello. When he sees what we’re watching, a scowl appears on his face and he turns toward the kitchen.
“Brad, the game’s on,” my dad yells.
“Yeah, I know. I’m just going to see if they need any help in the kitchen. I’ll be in later.”
Bradley never makes an appearance in the family room, and in the end the Wildcats beat Penn State handily. Not surprising. Alex had an amazing game. Dad said he caught ten passes for over a hundred yards. He also scored a touchdown. I’m proud of Alex, and I’ll be sure to tell him when I talk to him tonight. It’s something to look forward to—unlike the family firing squad that I’m about to face.
Mom has outdone herself tonight with the dinner. It’s hard to believe she had time to cook dinner with all of her barbecue party planning she has going on, but she made lasagna with salad and breadsticks.
In front of everyone, Mom says, “Stella, I warmed you up a Lean Meal. Don’t worry, it’s lasagna too so you don’t feel like you’re eating something different than the rest of us. Plus, there’s fat-free dressing in the small dish next to your plate.”
“Great. Thanks, Mom,” I say in the most insincere, monotone voice I can muster.
“You’re welcome,” she says sweetly—way too sweetly. “You need to be careful of the freshman fifteen, Stella. But knowing you, it’ll be more like the freshman twenty-five.” She snorts.
And… there it is. My mom just can’t help herself when it comes to how I look. And why does she have to do that in front of company? Granted, it’s only Vicky and Bradley, but could it be any more embarrassing? Seriously? Does everyone at the table need to know that I get special diet food or that she predicts I’m going to gain twenty-five pounds my first year of college? Her passive-aggressive way of talking to me is getting old, but it’s not worth arguing about right now.
The dinner conversation is going on like it usually does. Dad and Vicky talk about the office since Vicky works with my dad at his law firm. Mom talks about the party and all of her other activities. They ask Bradley how things are in his fraternity and how his classes are going. They avoid me like the plague. That is until the dinner portion ends and Mom brings out a double chocolate layer cake.
