Page 72 of Puck with Karma
My cell phone starts ringing in my hand. I bring it up, only to see that it’s the man in question calling. I debate if I should answer or not. I am not in the mood for whatever hate he has to spew at me again. At the same time, I can’t afford to create more drama.
“I didn’t think you’d answer.”
His voice sounds a lot calmer than I’d expected. I’m not sure if I should be worried about it or not.
“How can I help you?”
I sound angry, which is good, because I am.
“Your mother just got off the phone with Janie,” he starts, and my shackles raise even more. I am now ready for battle, because there’s no way that he didn’t just call me to tell me I’m wasting money.
“And?” I prompt him when he doesn’t continue.
He doesn’t say anything for the longest time, and neither do I. The call is still connected, and I don’t want to be the one hanging up this time.
“I’ve never heard Janie this excited before,” he finally says. He sounds thoughtful, almost surprised.
“Is this about me inviting her to my game in New York?” I ask for clarification.
“With Mallory,” he adds.
“Yes, with Mallory,” he sighs. But he doesn’t sound upset, which surprises me to no end.
“Do you have a problem with it?” I don’t understand why else he would be calling to talk about it.
“None at all,” he chuckles. “I’m just regretting not involving Janie in any of our trips from before.”
Janie and Mallory became best friends on their first day of kindergarten. Of course, them living next door also helped. Janie hanging out at their house all the time became the norm. And when we had to travel for my games, my mom always worried that Janie would be missing too much school.
Mallory’s parents were more than happy to keep my sister since they only had one child and worried about her being alone all the time. It was a win-win situation for all involved.
The only time I can remember that my hockey interfered with their social life was for their prom. I had a big game that night, and my PR person thought it was important for the sponsors to see my family there. That included my sister. She missed her prom, and I don’t know that she ever forgave me for it, even though she would never say anything to me about it.
“Are you calling to complain about me spending money on my sister and her best friend?”
I hate it so much that he’s been in control of all my finances for all these years. I was never able to make any spontaneous purchases without running them by him again. It’s never been aproblem until now. I am done with all of it. I am ready to fight for my financial independence.
“No.” He sigh he lets out sounds long and painful. “I’m calling to say… good job. You’re a good brother to her.”
His reply is supposed to make me feel good, but it does the opposite.
“I would’ve been an even better brother to her had you been a decent father to both of us!”
My voice raises and echoes in the large hallway, reminding me that this is not the right place to do this. I expect my father to lash back at me, tell me all the ways I am an ungrateful son, never having appreciated all the sacrifices my parents made for me to play at the level that I do.
I wait, but the harsh words never come. Instead, he sighs again.
“We need to get together,” he tells me. “Go over the whole business side of our relationship, and finalize the transfer of ownership of the accounts.”
My eyebrows go up in surprise. This is the last thing I thought he’d tell me.
“Uh, yeah,” I agree. “Let’s do this when I get back from New York.”
“Sounds good, sounds good.” He seems to be happy with my response. “Maybe we’ll all go out to dinner one night, too. You, Janie, me and your mother.”
I’ve never been this surprised in my entire life.
“It’s a plan.”
