Robofootball: Doublespin

“Let’s go up to Grayling, they have a BC Pizza, I’m tired of Buccilli’s,” said Carly. The summer of 2018 was ending quickly, but today was a beautiful sunshiny Saturday afternoon in August.

“Hey, what’s wrong with Buccilli’s?”

“Nothing really, we just go there all the time. I want to drive, we never take my car very far, and it’s nice outside, we can put the top down.”

“Okay,” said Jess, “As long as your mom doesn’t mind.” When your girl friend’s ride is a new 2018 Chevy Camaro convertible in bright cherry red with black racing stripes, one seldom turns down an opportunity to be seen in one, especially when one’s own ride is a 17 year old pickup with all of its best years behind it. The shape of the car reminded him of Bumble Bee in Transformers, slick smooth lines with virtually everything except the Transformers logo and bright yellow color. Carly had informed him that they once sold a Transformers addition model with special trim, but it had been discontinued many years ago. It was a bonus too that her mother let her drive the car, at least in nice weather. Winter was not that far off and the Camaro would end up back in the garage in favor of the much less flashy bright blue Cruze.

“I’ve got plenty of money too,” she added.

“You know, my dad gave me $100 this morning, I guess he had a good night at cards.”

“Oh yeah?” Carly said with a frown on her face.

“Well, I had practice yesterday and was going to cut the grass since I didn’t have to work until this morning. I got home but we were out of gas.”

“Uh huh…”

“I guess I complained a little. Usually he fills the portable cans. I did go and do it myself. Cost me $20 to fill both cans.”

“I see, at least he reimbursed you.”

“Yeah, I bought some things for the fridge too.”

“Oh?”

“As usual, we were out of milk, and either low or out of margarine, eggs, and catsup too.”

“Well, I suppose it’s good that you learn to do these things.”

“Yeah, I guess I er both of us just relied on mom to always take care of these things.”

“How about laundry?”

“Yeah, I’m getting better at it. I finally picked up some softener like you suggested. Before that, the loads of towels came out like sandpaper!”

“I’ll bet,” Carly laughed and then grew serious, “Is your dad doing any of this stuff?”

“No, not really, he just seems….,” Jess paused for a loss of words.

“Like what?”

“Out of it I guess.”

“He looks thinner, unhealthy,” Carly stated. “I’m not an expert, but I think it’s better to be a few pounds overweight than under. Does he eat anything?”

“It doesn’t seem like it.”

“How about drinking?”

“Plenty of that.”

Carly paused, “Do you think he’s an alcoholic?”

“I don’t know, maybe. I find bottles all over the house now, not just beer, but that cheap MD or Boones Farm wine. He doesn’t even use glasses any more. Maybe a little rum and vodka too.”

“That’s not good Jess. Ever think of pointing him to AA?”

“I don’t know,” Jess was clearly uncomfortable. It was a difficult position for a kid when a parent was a substance abuser.

“Tough thing I guess, referring your own parents or parent.”

“What would you do?”

Carly sighed, it was a good question. “I guess I’m not sure either. It’s like those advice columnists, I mean, how hard is it to solve someone else’s problems?”

“See.”

“Yeah, I suppose I do. It’s a much different can of worms when they’re your own problems. You just have to hang on Jess, one more year, then we’ll be off to college.”

“Did you see the for sale sign on the Jeep in the front yard?”

“Oh yeah, I meant to ask you about that.”

“Dad thinks that he can get more or just as much money for it than mom’s Malibu even though it’s 4 years older.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard that Wranglers hold their value pretty good. When dad gets one on a trade-in, they don’t seem to stay on the lot very long. Why is he selling it?”

“Says he doesn’t need both vehicles. The Jeep is paid off but the Malibu isn’t.”

“Well the Malibu is only 2 years old right?”

“Yeah.”

“I suppose he’d take a beating on it, they depreciate fast.”

“I think he needs the money.”

“Oh?”

“I’ve noticed some things and he had an argument with Uncle Larry last week.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Larry was mad because dad took a loan out on the land and isn’t making the payments. You know, we’ve always farmed it together, but now it looks like the banks are going to foreclose on the property, the 40 acres that my dad owns.”

“I see, Larry owns the other 40 acres, half of the 80.”

“Yeah, Uncle Larry is not happy about it.”

“What else?”

“Most of mom’s jewelry is gone now, I think he pawned or just sold it.”

“Even her wedding ring?”

“No, I think he kept that, just the other stuff like bracelets, necklaces, rings, and earrings.”

“What’d he do with her other things, like clothes?”

“I think he just gave those to the Salvation Army or St. Vincent de Paul.”

“Maybe he didn’t want that many reminders of her around. It’s not like you have any sisters that he could pass anything down to.”

“I guess, but there are other things too.”

“Like what?”

“You know he had a lot of CD’s, quite a few DVD’s too.”

“Uh huh, go on.”

“He’s been selling them off, you know, to those used or 2nd hand stores.”

“That doesn’t sound good either. Is he at least paying the bills?”

“Some, but I’ve seen some of our mail, there’s an occasional envelope marked ‘Late Notice’ or ‘Second Notice’.”

“Hmm, the power and water are still on aren’t they?”

“Yeah, and I know he’s never late on the cable TV bill. He watches sports constantly.”

“That’s because he bets on them right?”

“Yeah, he sits by the TV with a notepad and marks off scores.”

“So he’s got a drinking and a gambling problem, that’s not a good combination.”

“I know.”

“I’m not sure what you can do about it.”

“Me neither.”

“Maybe you can talk to Uncle Larry?”

“I’ve tried, Uncle Larry doesn’t come by much anymore, he just says that my dad’s in a bad place.”

“Yeah, but for how long?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, you could move in with your uncle if things got really bad, couldn’t you?”

“Maybe, but they live over by Midland.”

“I see, probably mess up your sports career. Damn Jess, you just have to make it one more year.”

“I suppose,” he said somewhat depressed.

“Cheer up, we’re just a few weeks away from your first game.”

Jess brightened as his mind swung in another direction, “Yup, 3 weeks from yesterday!”

“Don’t forget the Clare County Fair is next week.”

“Sure, we’ll go, you always smash me on the Scrambler.”

“The Octopus too!”

“Yeah,” they both laughed.

What was left of the summer flew by for them. There was the fair with Carnival rides, pizza, drives out to the lake for swimming and paddle boating, moonlit nights, a convenient empty house for them every Friday night, and the sex became better, especially for Carly after she discovered a way for Jess to carry on a little longer. There is hardly any love that can compare to young love, and the magic of the summer of 2018 for them would have been the envy of many hippies back in 1969.

“I am tired and sick of war. Its glory is all moonshine. It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, more vengeance, more desolation. War is hell.”

William Tecumseh Sherman, June 19, 1879, Graduate address at the

Michigan Military Academy.