Chapter 9

"Guess who's going to be home for awhile?" Tyler asked his mother that evening as they had dinner.

"Did you get in trouble at school?" Sandy inquired. "Let's have the story, young man."

"No, Mom, it isn't me! Paul's going to be off the road for about a month."

"Who told you that?"

"Miz Evans. She said Paul messed up his ankle and is going to be off for awhile. You didn't see him at the hospital? He was at the ER practically all day."

"Can't say I did. As for the ER, unless one is near death, a long wait should be expected. But did Winona say if it was anything serious?"

"No, it isn't broken or anything like that. He says it really hurts sometimes, though."

"Tyler, you didn't go down there and pester that poor man, did you?"

"I just checked in on him and then went with Miz Evans to get some stuff for him at the store."

"I suppose he could use some help in the next few weeks or so."

"Paul also wants to know when you're coming down. He says you haven't seen the place since we moved here."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. I think he really digs you, Mom."

"Tyler, I'm sure it is just his nature to be nice to all the ladies, considering the profession he's in and he probably had proper upbringing at home."

"Yeah, but he doesn't ask all the ladies to see his place, does he?"

"Very funny, young man. Now help me clear this table."

"So you going to go down and see him or not?" Tyler wondered.

"If the man's been at the ER practically all day, don't you think it would be fair to let him rest awhile?"

"Yeah, good point," Tyler shrugged.

"Go ahead and load the dishwasher," Sandy told him as the phone rang. "I'll get the phone."

Yeah, Tyler grinned to himself. I can guess exactly who's calling, and it isn't Granny this time.

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"I guess you heard, huh?" Paul said on the other end.

"You should know if it's anyone who's good for news, it's Winona Evans. Are you doing all right? Tyler says you may be off for awhile," Sandy responded.

"Thirty days," Paul groaned. "What the hell will I do in the meantime?"

"I'm sure we can find something," Sandy reassured him. "And I'm sure you'll do some kind of rehabbing in the meantime, right?"

"Yeah, but that isn't always a barrel of laughs either. But talking to pretty ladies cheers me up a bit."

"I'm sure you won't have any trouble finding any of those, especially being off hurt. Some sweet young thing will be happy to take care of you."

"Oh, you're volunteering?" he teased.

"Well, it would be rude of me not to check on you now and again," Sandy replied.

"Good. So what are you doing later? Tyler will probably have a shitload of his friends over for ECW tonight like he always does, right?"

"Jesse, Adam and Janice usually come over if you call that a 'shitload' of friends."

"In any case, how about hanging out with an actual adult?"

"You really are bored, aren't you?" Sandy laughed.

"A little," he confessed.

"Well, injured reserve or whatever you are on aside, how do you spend your time when you're not wrestling?"

"Working out….guess that's out of the question for a bit. Of course, I can hang out with a few friends from around here, but I have buddies all over the country too. Anyway, I watch movies more than any man should; I guess I can catch up on some of those too. Maybe come over and see one with me tonight?"

He's not going to let up, Sandy thought.

But she guessed it wouldn't hurt; Tyler was a pretty responsible boy to spend some time with his friends without worrying her, and Sandy did feel a little bad for Paul being alone with a bum ankle.

"Sure, why not?" she finally said. "Would eight o'clock be all right?"

"Works for me. And I promise I won't bore you to death."

"You a bore? I doubt that would ever happen," she laughed. "I'll be down at eight."

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When she hung up, Sandy told Tyler she would be down at Paul's later, and to call her on her cell phone should anything come up, there were plenty of snacks in the cupboard for Tyler and the other kids, and to please not tear the house down in the process.

"Does this mean we can watch ECW on the big screen TV tonight?" he asked eagerly.

"Yes, but clean up after yourselves. I don't want this place looking like a barn when I get back."

"No problem!" he grinned. "So what's Paul got in mind tonight?"

"Something about a movie."

Tyler raised an eyebrow and gave a knowing smile. "Sounds very interesting."

"Don't even start," Sandy shook her head. "And if you're having your friends over, make sure you take out the garbage before they get here."

"Sure, Mom," he said, still smiling, knowing they all would have something to talk about that night.