Getting Schooled (The Wright Brothers #1)(12)
“Man, I hope Jordan Johnson keeps up this type of energy all season,” Justin said around a full mouth, catching an olive from his pizza slice before it could hit the floor. “Connecticut loves getting their wide receivers from BSU, huh?”
Both brothers looked at me, but I shrugged. “Man, I guess. What do I look like, the BSU expert or something?”
“Well Blakewood is going to be your alma mater isn’t it, college boy?” Joseph mushed the side of my head as he passed me heading into the kitchen, and I couldn’t help it – I smiled. I may have complained about it being a “boring” Friday night, but I mean… these were my brothers.
I sat through a few more minutes of playful ribbing before I acknowledged that BSU did consistently put out some of the best wide receivers in the league. Jordan Johnson, Tariq Evans, and there was a kid whose name I couldn’t remember getting ready to win a Heisman – also a product of Blakewood State University. A couple of moments after that, my father came jogging down the stairs, and I let out a low whistle.
“Daaamn. What’s the occasion Pops?” I asked, putting a bottle of beer to my lips.
“Yeah,” Justin added. “I thought we were watching a football game, not posing for GQ.”
Joseph Sr. had come downstairs in dark slacks, dress shoes, and a deep blue, form-fitting tee shirt that showed off his successful avoidance of a beer belly. He had a blazer in his hands, and shook his head as he started to put it on.
“The occasion,” he said, adjusting his lapels, and tugging his sleeves down, “Is that your old man has a date.”
For about five seconds, a thick silence filled the room. I looked back and forth between my brothers, and they looked exactly like I felt – stunned.
My mother’s death had hurt all of us, deeply, but nobody felt it like my father did. “Cilla”, as he called her, was the love of his life, and for the first year after she passed, he was a complete wreck. I took the longest amount of leave I could to come home, and together, my brothers and I had taken care of him, because he wouldn’t do it for himself. The business, his health, nothing. We’d had to step in to basically keep him alive.
The second year was a little better. He was functioning, but it was obvious he missed her. The third year brought a major improvement, and this year, he actually seemed to be coming alive again. But this was the first we’d heard of a date.
All three of us hopped up, and all started talking at once.
“Who is she?”
“When did this happen?”
“Are you sure you’re ready?”
“Where are you going?”
“When are you coming home?”
“I thought you were kicking it with us tonight?”
My father shook his head, grabbing his keys from the hanger beside the door as he smiled. “Y’all grown asses don’t need a chaperone to watch TV, I’m coming home when I get ready to come home, and I met her at the dealership yesterday. I’m taking her to the little jazz spot downtown, and… no, I’m not sure I’m ready. But only one way to find out.”
We were silent for another few moments as we absorbed the answers to his questions, and then I nodded. “Aiight. I think I like it. It’s time you got back out there.”
“Agreed,” Joseph said. “What’s her name? Did you look her up?”
Dad scowled. “Look her up? I’m old school, son. We didn’t need any TweetBook, and Facegram, and Insta-google, and all that crap. You see a pretty girl, you ask her out, you show her a good time. Call her on the phone. Woo her. That’s all. What am I looking her up for?”
“Uh, to find out about her?” Justin’s expression was confused as he eyed my dad, and my dad’s expression was confused as he eyed Justin.
“Or,” he said, “I could – and this is just the crazy notion of an old man – talk to her. Ask questions. Get to know the woman in her own words.”
Joseph scoffed. “People lie all the time. What if this woman is a gold-digger or something?”
“That would be great. I need somebody to help me dig, maybe we’ll find some.”
I chuckled at Joseph and Justin’s baffled expressions, then turned to my father, clapping him on the shoulder. “Hey… is she fine?”
His eyes lit up, and a goofy sort of grin spread across his lips. “Oh yes. Fine as bumblebee fuzz. Fine as a well-aged Bordeaux.” He glanced down at his wrist. “And I do not want to keep a woman like that waiting, so… I’ll see you boys later.”
“Wait a minute,” Joseph said, holding up a hand. “You haven’t told us her name.”
“Because it’s not your business.” Joseph Sr. smiled, and then gave us a little salute. “Don’t wait up.”
My brothers kinda stood there for a few seconds after the door closed behind him, both looking shell-shocked. I just shook my head, making my way back into the living room, grabbing a fresh beer, and piling my plate with wings before they got too cold.
Justin and Joseph joined me a moments later, still looking dazed.
“Y’all chill,” I said, chuckling as I turned my attention back to the game. “I’m sure she’d just some sweet church lady that came by for a car. He’s growner than all of us. He’ll be fine.”