Meet the Nelsons 04
Matt found his father throwing their clothes into their bags.
"What are you doing?"
"We're gettin' outta here. I knew dis was a mistake. We don't belong wit dese people." Jack turned, grabbed his son's shoulders and tried to speak in an calm and reasonable tone. "We can catch de Long Island Railroad and be back in time for me ta go to de Pathmark and buy a chicken. Ya know a turkey's too much for the two of us. Ya like chicken; I like chicken, who needs turkey."
"Dad, you're cutting off the circulation in my arms." Matt stumbled when his father suddenly let go. He couldn't keep the worry and fear from his voice. "Dad, was it Foggy's grandfather?"
"No, no way," Murdock's heart revved up, telling his son it was George Nelson who made his brave father want to run like hide.
Matt calmed himself before he spoke. "Dad, if this is what you want, I'll do it. Just let me talk to Mr. Nelson and Foggy. Let'em know what's happening. Then I'll get the train schedule and we can be home before midnight." Jack Murdock's heart rate and respiration started to calm down immediately. Whatever had put the fear of God into his father was right here in this house and Matt needed to find out what it was. "The Nelson's seem like good people, I bet they'll understand."
Foggy jumped when he heard the sharp rap at his bedroom door. Opening that door revealed an upset Matt Murdock running his hand through his hair.
"Matt," Foggy gasped as he grabbed Matt's shoulder and pulled him into the room. "What's the matter?"
Matt shrugged, it didn't even register in his mind that he was being maneuvered to a chair. "Dad is having a fit. He went to see your grandfather and WHAM! I've never seen him like this before, not even when I was in the hospital."
Foggy's head whipped to his nightstand to check his alarm clock; it was almost dinner time. "Listen, nobody is going anywhere right this minute. There isn't another train to Penn Station 'til tomorrow morning." He looked at his blind friend and smirked. "I know you'd look real pathetic sticking out your thumb and hitchhiking back to the city. It might just work but it isn't something your Dad would do." That got Matt to smile so Foggy continued, "Come on, we'll let my Dad know what's going on. Maybe he can talk some sense into yours."
Jack Murdock had both bags packed and was dialing the Long Island Rail Road to get the time for the next train back to the city when he heard a knock at the door. He twisted his head round to see Edward Nelson come into the room and then turned back to the meager luggage on the bed.
"Jack, you haven't even had dinner tonight, surely the thought of our turkey tomorrow isn't sending you into a panic."
Jack grudgingly faced to Nelson, hoping he didn't look as flustered as he felt.
"I'm sorry, but I'm outta place here. I was thinkin' that maybe me and Mattie needed to have one more holiday just ourselves, ya know, cause when I win the title we ain't gonna have no privacy no more."
"So you talked to my father."
"Nyah, your old man had nothin' ta do wit' this."
Edward slowly shook his head. "Come on Jack, your boy is having a good time here. He's Franklin's best friend and they seem to be good for each other. I promise to take good care of your boy if you leave him here."
Jack dropped heavily on the bed. Matt had never had a holiday, let alone one like this. All he could do was to nod his head in agreement."
"You know what would make this even better for Matt," Nelson rose and put his hand on Murdock's shoulder. "That would be if you stayed with him."
Jack sighed, "I'm only doing this for my boy."
"That man is one scary old bastard." Nelson collapsed into the sofa.
Jack gaped at him.
"I know who my father is and what my father is. There's nothing you can tell me I haven't heard before."
Jack gave up any pretense of ignoring the man and sat heavily on the bed. "Your old man said I was a punk and a bum, no, don't interrupt 'cause basically he's right." Jack gazed down at his misshapen fingers. "A smart man knows when he should get outta the game, but I got nothin' else I can do that's got any chance of takin' care of my boy."
He stood up and motioned toward mirrored closet doors, the heavy furniture and the thick carpets. "I can't give my boy nothin' like dis. When he got hurt he was in a charity bed in a second rate hospital. I hadda carry him home, up four flights of stairs, when they kicked him out ta make room for more charity cases."
"You love your son." It was a statement, not a question.
"Can't help it," Jack smiled for the first time since Nelson walked in, "he's a good kid."
Edward Nelson looked at Jack Murdock with increased admiration. This semi-articulate man had put into words the depth of his love for his son.
"I'm not asking you to tell me what my father said or to do anything he asked you to, but I am asking you to take a good hard look at Georgie the Gimp. He's an old gangster whose out lived his power and his peers and his family only comes to visit when we have to show up. Frankly, I can barely stand to be in the same room as the man." Nelson stood up and extended his hand to Jack "Please stay. Your son makes my son very happy and the two of you make this place bearable. Come on, Mr. Murdock, we'll do it for our sons."
Murdock gave in. "Ya got me where it hurts, okay, for our sons."
"Well, tomorrow is turkey day," Foggy moaned as he lead to Matt to dinner. "If you think this is high drama wait until then. All the cousins will hide in the den and all the aunts and uncles will sit around and look like they're being forced to eat arsenic and Grandpa will pretend we are just one big happy family."
"Well, if nothing else, you've got a big family." Matt couldn't help sounding jealous.
"Hey, I got an idea, let's blow this joint and go somewhere nice, like Rykers Island or Sing Sing." He stopped in front of the dining room door. "Matt, I'm sorry about this. Usually holidays here are pretty cool, I don't know what happened this time."
Both Matt and Foggy heard the deep rumble of men laughing behind them.
"Dad?" they exclaimed simultaneously.
Jack Murdock and Edward Nelson both looked up; smiled and Jack actually elbowed Nelson in the ribs. "Speak of the devil," he said.
Sarah Nelson stuck her head out of the dining room and sighed in relief. "There you are… Candace, Father Nelson and I have been waiting for over fifteen minutes for you to show up. The roast beef is so over done its shoe leather."
"Don't call me Father Nelson, damn it. My name is George," the petulant whine from behind them hurt their teeth.
Sarah rolled her eyes as the men filed past her to the table. George fixed his hard eyes on Jack, daring the man to say something to him.
"Mrs. Nelson, ya couldn't do anyting but perfection." Jack Murdock smiled his first genuine smile since he had arrived. "Ed here was tellin' me how hard you was working ta make everything perfect for tomorrow."
Sarah Nelson blushed, "it's nothing, having you and your son here is a pleasure."
'Banter,' a smile spread across Matt's face as he heard his father banter with the Nelsons. He was putting on his Battlin' Jack Murdock persona and charming Foggy's mom and dad. Once more his heartbeat was strong and steady as he wrapped his arm around Matt's shoulder and seated himself at the centre of the action around the table. Tipping his head to the right Matt could hear Candace Nelson giggle when his father kissed her hand.
"Your Dad's not having a fit now; is he," Foggy's aside was meant for only Matt's ears.
"I don't know what your dad said, but it must have been something."
"Boys," Jack Murdock's voice stopped them cold. "It ain't polite ta whisper at the table. If ya got something to say, just say it."
Foggy Nelson looked around the table. His parents were relaxed and his sister had dropped her perpetual teen disaffection to join in the fun. Grandpa was being, well, Grandpa; but if you ignored him he would shut up soon. And as for Matt, his best friend, the guy positively glowed. If things went like this the rest of the weekend might end up being a good time.
"Well," he spoke up, "I guess all I have to say is I'm sorry and pass the mashed potatoes… please."
Fin