Author's Note: Written for the Livejournal community, HA Prompts, on April 27, 2007. The prompt was "handshakes".
This piece focuses on Bob's relationship with Helga. No one seems to like writing about Bob as anything but an abusive jerk, and here, well, I decided to show that's he's only human. Humans make mistakes. Written as if Bob's doing his autobiography in 3rd person.
This takes place in a future for the Pataki family where Helga never got help and possibly never got Arnold, thus one of the reason for her distance and cold, calculating demeanor.
Impressions: What Your Handshake Says About You
One of the first things taught in business management seminars is that you should have a firm handshake. Lets your clients know that they can count on you, lets your competition know that you'll be one tough SOB to beat. No one is a bigger believer than Big Bob Pataki in this practice. He always let his hands do his talking for him; they say he's a surefire go-getter, and he will stop at nothing in order to get his way. A good, strong manly man.
Everyone he does business with in his little city knows that.
He uses his hands to read others, too, in return. Take for instance, Marty Green, who came in earlier today to purchase a cell phone for his young apprentice, Harry-something-or-other, so they can easily reach each other when they need to. Man grabs yours with a good solid grasp and shakes three times, always. Not sure if the three thing is some sort of superstition of his, but you can be sure that something is not quite right if it's a little off.
Then there's that old woman who runs the local flower shop...something Vitello. She's a business owner, so you'd think she knows about the handshake thing, but nah. She may put on airs that she knows what she's doing, that she's in charge, but Big Bob's no fool. She may seem prim and proper, but he can tell by one shake that she's a wacky old bird who's never anything but nervous. She's been that way since her husband died.
Yeah, the handshake thing even extends to his own family. There's Miriam, who won't even fully take a hand into hers, and it wouldn't even matter anyway because she's always off in some world of her own. Her hand just kind of...droops...whenever he tries to hold it. She never used to be this way, and he can't figure out what's wrong with her. Eh, women. Must be that "going through the changes" junk.
Then there's Olga, and as much as he wishes she would follow in his footsteps, he's resigned himself to understand her desire to teach. He's known for years, really, because she always giggles when she takes his hand into hers, ever so lightly. She's a frail thing, and she takes after her mother, but she's his little girl, just the same.
But then...then there's...the girl.
He can't read her, and he hates to admit it. Maybe that's why he brushes her off so much. Even when she was a baby, she held his fingers tightly, as if she was afraid that he'd disappear. And she had this look in her big blue eyes that he couldn't describe.
When she was younger, she was Daddy's little girl, just like Olga. She'd grab his hand in hers and wouldn't let go. She would draw him pictures and pick him flowers, and he'd think it was cute. Then Olga would come in with something else wonderful she'd done, and he'd thank whomever for giving him such good girls...and oh yeah, he'd like a son, too. Then the girl would get that same look in her eyes, and it would haunt him in his dreams.
As she got older, she started to pester him to play ball with her or they'd hunt for frogs in Tina Park. They'd curl up together on the couch at night and watch Wrestlemania, and then she'd look up at him with that piercing stare. Say something like, "I love you, Daddy," sniffle, and then he'd push her off –- joking, just joking with her, of course! -- and say, "Why do you have to be such a...such a girly girl?"
She didn't laugh...but one day, after he did their usual routine, she looked at him oddly and then...slowly smiled. But it wasn't a happy smile.
He didn't put much thought into it. By God, he had more important things to worry about. And the girl shouldn't be so blasted emotional; she's a Pataki, after all! All of Big Bob's girls have got to be strong!
Things are growing worse. They're at each others' throats about something, constantly. Why the hell can't she be more like Olga? Stop putting her head in those journals of hers and actually do some school work! Be someone, someone important like him!!
Why can't she be sweet like she used to be? Why can't she stay Daddy's little girl?
They shook hands over a deal made the other day. She agreed to come in and start helping with the family business, so she can learn the ropes. She may not be as bright as Olga, but he thinks she's got a lot of Big Bob's infamous spunk in her. In return, he agreed to get off her back about the writing thing. He didn't care to make the deal because she'll see things his way soon enough, and she'll stop thinking about wanting to be a writer. Be someone important, someone successful like him.
Her grip's still strong, after all this time, like she's still that baby who's afraid that he'll disappear if she lets go, but her eyes are different now. They aren't those innocent, loving eyes that he remembers. Instead, they're penetrating and cold. She reminds him of that guy, what was his name? Something Sheck. Yeah.
Now he can't read her at all...and he really hates it.