From A Child's Plate
Part One
An Appetizer
Note: Just a little one shot, a couple of chapters about Samantha and Nala and Salem. Rios has his hands full juggling the trio and keeping the peace. I'm guessing that Nala is around six or so in "Dirty Money" in 2005 so I'll put this in '07. Let's just say she's eight and he father's daughter. I'll stick to the events in my Breath of Evil story arc as far as Samantha's demeanor and Salem's past which is still unknown to Tyson at this time.
Warnings: None really, a little language.
Tyson Rios plopped down into his lawn chair and pulled out his phone while he watched Nala jog across the soccer field kicking her ball out ahead of herself. He jabbed a thick index finger on number two, tuned out his grumbling wife and listened to it ring.
"Salem?"
"Yo, Salem where you at, remember you have snack duty, you up? You sounded rough last night."
"What, yea 'course I'm up. It's soccer day, championship day, sure I'm up Tyse, driving, I'm driving only about a half mile away; snacks have been obtained."
"You're late. Are you drunk still? Because if you're drunk still from last night, Salem it'll be a pain in my ass. Put your seat belt on Elliot."
"No, Tyse, no, just a little slow getting up was a shitty night. Be there in ten minutes. Salem out."
"So he's still drunk? If he is I don't want him here Ty. Forgot the snacks too, I'll bet."
"I don't know Samantha and so what if he is; it's not like you've never shown up here for one of Nala's games still drunk and unlike you, Salem's damn sure never walked across the street to a bar during an away game and gotten shit faced while the girls played. Remember that fiasco, Samantha, the DUI the…should I go on? That was great phone call to get in a hotel 3500 miles from home. And yea, he has the snacks that's probably why he's running late. He can never decide what to get then gets way too much. Just chill out and ignore him. He loves coming to see her play; it's not like he has anybody else to hang with."
"Yes Ty, and there's a good reason for that. The man is a menace nobody else wants him. Why you can't see that, won't admit it defies reason. Can't Giddy or Heckler take him every now and then?"
"Take him, take him? We aren't his baby sitters. For Christ's sake Sam, he's grown and no they can't take him they have families."
"Families!" Samantha screeched launching out of her lawn chair, straightening to her full height of six feet tall and glaring down at Rios. "Families and just what the hell is this, me, you, Nala the three of us, is that not a family, Tyson!"
"Sam sit down you're making a scene. I just meant…"
"I know what you meant. Maybe if you'd finally stand before God and marry me you'd take us being family a bit more seriously. Answer me Tyson are we a family or are we not?"
Rios stood, grasped her by the left elbow and forced her gently away from the sideline of the small soccer field a few paces. Stand before God, was she serious; the church would implode. He might marry her one day but not in a church. He might not be the most devout man in the world but he was not going to risk eternal damnation by taking soiled vows in a church.
"Quiet you'll embarrass Nala. Yes we are a family, and yes he's part of it, ours, mine not theirs so get over it."
"I remind you Tyson that you had me long before him. Don't forget it."
"And I'll remind you, he's Nala's godfather, he's been to every single game this season that we were home for, and that you, you have only made it to three aside from having to bring her when we were out of country last month. Four counting today and just because you decided to choose today, the championship day, to drag your ass out of bed for it and skip your spa appointment doesn't mean I'm not going to let him come."
"He can sit alone."
"He sit's where he sits every Saturday, right next to me. This conversation is over, Samantha."
"Ty, Tyson, Tyson Rios!"
Rios ignored her squalling and returned to his chair.
"Everything ok, Tyson?"
The fellow sitting beside him asked. His child, Bree, played on Nala's team and the pair had become friendly over several seasons.
"Yea, Frank, just another day in paradise." Tyson mumbled taking a sip of his soda.
"Not my business man, but you can do better, deserve better, hell maybe she'll just haul ass, and not stay."
"Nah, she's probably just getting something to drink, won't let me off that easily."
"Too bad, Salem's a good guy and Nala loves him. All the girls love him. It's sad that she has to see the tension between the three of you."
"We don't fight in front of her about him."
"You don't have to man; you can't hide that stuff from kids. She knows and I'd bet Sam gives her an earful whenever possible. You know she asked her grandma for money for lighting a candle for a special prayer after mass last Sunday; then asked that God make Samantha love Salem too. My wife and I overheard her. It was sweet. You should come to mass with them Tyson, hell might bring the three of you closer as a family."
"No thanks Frank but thanks for offering again. I don't need mass, I need a muzzle."
Out in the parking lot Salem dropped the tailgate of his red four wheel drive F-250 and pulled the heavy cooler toward it. Despite Rios' scolding he wasn't really late. Nala needed to be at the field thirty minutes early and when him and Rios took her together the trio typically arrived there a bit ahead of that.
The drunk part though, he might fail on that account; despite chugging a huge mug of coffee, and a quart of Gatorade Salem was still paying for his over indulgence the night before. Saturdays were for Nala and Salem made extra effort to keep it that way. He turned down offers to party, turned down dates and typically on Fridays he locked himself down at home or hung out with Rios if Samantha was out with her girlfriends. At home was exactly where he was the night before. He was just sitting home alone, watching television and dutifully cutting up orange and apple slices for game snacks when Rios called to let him know Samantha was going to the game after all and that he'd need to drive himself. The news irked him. It was the end of season championship game and now Samantha would expect him to sit alone and not share the day with Rios and Nala. He'd finished the snacks, paced around his apartment for a while then slammed out of the door and made straight for the bar; stumbling home around closing time. The night would have been peaceful except his temper got the better of him and he'd called Rios. As he lugged the cooler toward field number eight he recalled their brief conversation and prepared himself for the big man's reprimand.
"What? Whatever it is I'm on my way. Where are you Elliot?"
"Salem?"
"I know it's you Salem. It's also three a.m. What?"
"Just wanted to say fuck you and fuck Samantha too and if you want I'll just drop the snacks, the fruit part too, off in the clubhouse early with Raul, I won't ruin the day for you'll."
"You'll? You're drunk, Salem. You only you'll when your drunk."
"So. Maybe I am but I'm damn sure not as fucking depressed now."
"Elliot," Tyson squeezed the bridge of his nose. "Try and get some sleep, Ellie; I'll see you in the morning. Game's at eleven, Nala…"
"I know, I know, half an hour early. You sure, Tyse?"
"Wouldn't have it any other way buddy, love you man; now get some rest and try to sober up."
"Ok but like I said fuck the both of you."
"Damn you Salem why do you always have to have the last word?" he muttered to himself.
As he neared the field he noticed Rios and Samantha arguing. Rios had her by the elbow and was leading her away from the other parents. She was livid as usual and Salem knew all too well why. For a moment he paused and again considered dropping the cooler with Raul in the concession stand and having the man deliver it; but then he saw Nala look up from her stretching and seeing him, she waved. So committed he trudged forward passing a glowering Samantha along his way hating that she was taller than he was.
"Here's the snacks, Boss." He said softly as he came up behind Tyson.
He called the big man Boss sometimes out of deference to his authority. They were for the most part equals but Elliot understood that Tyson would always be the leader and Boss was his way of showing that he respected that.
"Boss today, Ellie? Kissing up?"
"Yea, s'pose so. You want to carry them over or should I?"
"Stop sounding so contrite, Elliot it doesn't become you. Let's both take it. The cooler has two handles. Put your chair here first."
He slid Samantha's over then pointed to the spot.
"Samantha's spot?"
"Your spot."
Salem shrugged and opened his bright pink folding chair up. Nala's team colors were pink and silver gray, with purple pinstripes and Salem had purchased the brightly colored chair with its matching equally vivid umbrella to show his support. The girls loved it and Salem both. Between his pink chair, pink team jersey with Nala's number on it, pink hat that the girls recorded their goals on with a permanent marker after each game and matching high top Converse All-stars the man was hard to miss sitting on the sideline.
The chair in place the two friends headed across the field with the cooler.
"Damn Salem how much did you buy? The cooler weighs fifty pounds or more."
"The usual; drinks and water for now, the orange and apple slices, four flavors of Fruit Roll Ups and sugar free ones for Bree, plus treat drinks for after. Let's see, oh they had some cool looking, slushy, fruity tubey things, Boss; I ate one while I was browsing, berry-berry lime flavor and it tasted great so I got three flavors of those. Oh and two kinds of the little kid sized Gatorades, and Capri Suns they taste good too. Should be plenty."
"Yea, Salem for a small incursion into the Congo. Good thing you don't do our supplies. We'd need porters. Uh oh they've seen you, look out."
The men sat the cooler on the end of the bench and greeted the swarm of squealing pink clad, seven and eight year old girls.
"Uncle Elliot, Uncle Elliot you came!" Nala shouted, launching into his outstretched arms.
"Of course I'm here. I wouldn't miss the championship game for anything in the world, Nala. So are you stretched, loose as a goose and ready to trounce those measly pea green Giants?" He asked setting her down and tightening her dark brown pony tail with a deft tug just above the hair band.
"Yup, it's gonna be Elliot's Pink Elephants all the way!"
"Good, that's what I want to hear, And a Half; now go out there and get 'em."
Nala pulled him down stood on her toes and whispered in his ear.
"Please don't let mommy ruin your day. I'm happy you came and I love you."
"No worries, sweetie you just keep those girls in line and play a good game. See ya at half time."
"Will you start our cheer now?"
Salem started the cheer, led the girls through it twice and once it was over completed their pre-game ritual.
"Ok, my little Pink Elephants who's gonna get to write goals on my good luck hat today?"
He took the cap off and swirled it around above his head while the kids leapt for it squealing and shouting out a chorus of me's and I am's.
"I hope so! Now get 'em out there and make 'em play a great game, And a Half."
"Roger that, Corporal Salem, And a Half out. Bye dad wish me luck."
"Bye, baby good luck and be careful."
Back across the field Samantha sat stone faced in her relocated chair. Salem greeted her politely, as he always did and plopped down into his pink one. The girls came onto the field and gathered in a group. Then on cue they started into their team cheer, once again ending in a shrill go Pink Elephants! Samantha hated the name.
"I still do not understand the name. Pink Elephants? Elliot's Pink Elephants. Why did she put that up for the vote, Ty? Why not Tyson's Tigers or Samantha's Scorpions, Elliot's Elephants. She's not even his kid."
Rios groaned, it always began like this and it never ended well. Samantha starts picking, then Elliot gets the jitters and the Rios steps in and the ensuing meltdown is nothing short of catastrophic.
"I do have to say though it is fitting. If you stopped drinking for more than five minutes Elliot you'd probably see pink elephants."
"No Samantha, I only see them when I drop acid. I figure Nala will be old enough to trip…what say next year. That's about the age you started right."
"Fuck off, Salem."
"Be my pleasure, when are you available, I hear there can be quite a wait."
"Ty are you going to let him get away with that?"
"They're kicking off be quiet." Rios snapped but Samantha pulled about her phone, dialed her girlfriend and continued to rail on about Salem.
Rios tuned her out again and looked over at Elliot. Despite looking haggard he was pleased to note that Salem seemed happy enough. But more importantly instead of listening to Sam gripe he'd jammed a straw into one of the Capri Suns, sipped at it and focused on the game, shouting instructions to whichever Pink Elephant was nearest. Rios laughed to himself. When Nala had begun soccer four years ago Elliot didn't know which end of a soccer ball to kick. The young man was completely clueless, yet now he could cite chapter and verse of the rule book according to age group. When the Elephants trundled down toward the goal for the first time, in clear possession of the ball, Salem jumped to his feet and started shouting support. Nala dribbled the ball in and passed it to Bree who shot it into the net. Salem leapt for joy and as she ran back to center Nala stuck out her hand and high fived him along the sideline. The teenaged volunteer referee, familiar with Salem's often unbounded enthusiasm, called him out.
"Hey you, pink dude, I've got your number and I'm watching you, sit down."
"Yea, yea sure you are; just keep your eyes on the game you over ripe banana. See that, Tyse, did you see And a Half she's the best! Did you see her center the ball and Bree was right there, I bet she set that up. The kid takes after you, Boss a real tactical genius. Damn they're good and mean too I love that. I'm guessing four to one, Pink Elephants. I put a hundred bucks on them, at that spread with the guys in Hannigans last night."
"At least Elliot, now listen to the man and sit down. A hundred bucks are you crazy?"
"I can't sit, how can you sit? How can he make me sit? This is exciting; it's everything. Just sitting sucks. Hear that yellow dude, sitting sucks!"
"Don't say sucks in front of the kids, Ellie."
"Oh geeze Tyse, they're eight; they probably curse better than you do, bro. Kids these days are not all polite like what you were, way back when you were a kid; lighten up."
The game continued and then just before the half ended Rihanna, a big girl for her age, and fast, stole the ball and drove toward the goal. One of the Green Giants tripped her just outside of the net to break up the play. She flew up, came down hard on her left shoulder and stayed down. Salem was up and screaming at the referee and Tyson jumped up to stop him. But before he could, he heard Samantha scream Nala's name and turning back to the field watched his daughter, also a big girl for her age, charge and tackle the offending Green Giant then start pummeling her. Both men ran onto the field, dragged the furious girl away from the downed Green Giant and carried her thrashing and screaming, much to Rios' dismay very adult like expletives, to the bench.
Once the referee achieved order, and Rihanna was cared for the referee reprimanded the girls for their behavior. The Green Giant received a red card, and Nala a verbal warning. Salem and the Green Giant's father nearly came to blows after the man argued the punishment but Rios calmed Salem down and the game continued without incident after Bree successfully took the penalty kick. The Pink Elephants won five to four.
The team and parents celebrated at the bench digging into Salem's snacks and singing the team song. Rios watched Salem with the kids and as he always did, marveled at the man's ability to hold their attention considering he'd never been around kids and his own childhood had been less than nurturing. The girls pushed and shoved to be near him and jumped at the chance to write their names on his pink hat and chalk up their goals. The other parents, used to Elliot's odd hold on the team, stood aside and let the girls maul him, using the time to make plans for a celebratory pizza party on the following Saturday. The group finally had to clear the way for the next team and the party broke up.
At the parking lot Salem headed straight for his truck with his chair and the empty cooler, stowed them and slid behind the wheel. He was tired. He always shouted and applauded the girls' play and on several occasions over the years the referees had scolded him for being overzealous. The games wore him out although he truly didn't understand why. He sighed pulled out of the parking lot; five miles later he took out his phone.
"Call Tubby."
While he waited for Rios to answer he prepared himself to hear the words he was dreading. 'No, the cook out's off Elliot. Sam's pitching a fit; see you Monday at work.'
"You took off in a hurry, Ellie, what's up?"
"Nothing, look am I still on for today and tonight, still coming over to cook out? I'll under- stand if it's a no go Tyse, Samantha's over me for today and And a Half's all stoked about winning I don't wanna start anything and ruin it."
Tyse could hear the hurt in Salem's voice and it broke his heart; the whole situation was a mess and he didn't know how to fix it. Rios looked across his truck at Samantha who was on her phone with her mother retelling the fight story and blaming Nala's aggression on Salem. The woman would be shocked to discover that while Salem might have a shorter fuse temper wise, Rios had by far the greater mean streak. In the mirror he saw Nala scowling. She could hear her mother's disparaging words and hated her for them. Nala started yelling and he snapped back to reality.
"Stop it mom! It's not Uncle Elliot's fault. It's my fault and I'd get her again for hurting one of my team mates; that's what team mates do! So stop saying mean stuff! I hate you. I hate that you hate him, I…"
"Nala, enough now, hush, Uncle Elliot's on the phone, just relax baby, just relax."
"But daddy…"
"Shhh, no Salem everything's ok and yea man you're grilling the ribs remember. You started them soaking day before yesterday. It's the same plan as we talked about; grill, you stay over then the beach tomorrow. Just come on out. I'm on my way now. Salem come on, you sound like hell and you don't need to sit around moping all alone. Just get your ass to the meat store, pick up the steaks and stuff and then come over, Nala expects you there."
"Tell him I have a surprise for him at dinner, daddy."
"She says she has a dinner surprise for you."
Salem put on his blinker, slipped the big truck into the left lane and passed a slower moving vehicle.
"Ok, ok roger that, Boss, I'll be there in about an hour. Just start the fire though, ok Tyse; that would be a big help."
"Consider it done, Kermit. Put your seat belt on and drive safe."