Thwack!

Another shot hooks right from the jump.

I mumble a curse and put another ball on the tee.

Thwack!

Slice left.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

Thwack!

Right.

Thwack!

Left.

Thwack!

It's army golf.

Left! Left! Left, Right, Left!

I swallow my desire to wrap my 5 iron around the nearest pole and put it in my bag.

Hitting some long will make me feel better.

Tee up.

Ping!

It goes generally straight, but tailed off to the right in the end.

I'll take it.

Ping!

Oh lord no.

That was like a laser beam left.

I take a step back and adjust my glove and stance.

Ping!

Kinda better.

Duck hook.

Golf is one of my weird hobbies. I'm not very athletic, so I'm not good at normal sports like basketball or football. Golf is a technical game.

A numbers game.

It takes a lot of practice, but I don't mind. I could be here all night.

It's not night actually. It's around 6:30, 7.

I might actually be here for awhile. Megan's not home tonight. She's having an all nighter at a friend's apartment.

Well, let me rephrase my night statement. It's almost dark. It's in the trees right now.

Sorry, back to Miss Megan.

We're better, I guess. Nothing much has happened since I cooked her dinner. She's been deluged by work, and I have been doing interviews.

Hired one person. Not really impressed with most of the applicants. I'm not in a rush, Deka said for me to hire who I want, not because I had to hire someone.

That's how mistakes are made.

Cat's been the more interesting one. She actually went to a baby doctor a day or two ago. Told me that the doc said the baby was about 2 inches. And that it was a ball of energy right now. Apparently it's movement time. Nerves and reflexes are going 90 miles a minute.

Cat only feels indigestion and heartburn.

She mentioned she's wearing basically all oversized shirts and sweatpants. She cannot fathom stuff like leggings or tight jeans.

Makes me wonder if she's gaining weight.

I haven't seen her in person in about 2 weeks.

But that's not the important thing. She's healthy, happy and in good spirits.

Apparently the doctor was impressed by her. Another good sign I'd say.

The only unsatisfactory thing was that I didn't get to be with Megan much, even though she's been home all but one night. It's either working on a paper or long phone calls.

I don't get why she doesn't just go see whoever she's been talking to.

I stretch my neck and unsheath a hybrid, while placing my driver back in my bag.

Hybrid's my favorite club. Well, clubs. Use them all the time when I play on the course, which isn't much.

Whack!

Straight as an arrow.

I smile and peek behind me to see a 10 or 11 year old kid, mesmerized by me.

He's staring.

I politely gesture hi and he takes a step forward.

"Hi." I smile.

"Hi…what's that club?" He asked shyly.

"It's my hybrid."

"Hybrid?"

"Basically a 2 iron, but easier to hit." I explain, flipping it around so he can see the face.

"It looks like a pregnant putter."

I laughed.

"I guess it does."

"Would you mind if I see you take a shot with it? It looks easy to hit."

"Yeah, sure. And that's half the battle my man. All about confidence." I smiled.

He nervously stepped back.

Whack!

Dead straight again.

Haven't swung in 2 months, but I still got it dammit.

"Wow." He said. "Thank you."

"Of course man." I smiled, then he walked off.

I hit another couple of shots, basking in the glory of my exhibition to the kid.

So much better than the looks I get from people when I say "I play golf."

They usually almost laugh in my face.

Beck and Andre are victims of that.

You know how people usually get a graduation present when they graduate high school? Well in LA, it's supersized. And glamorous. Like most of LA.

Downtown LA. I'll let the suburbs and various wards in the inner city speak for themselves.

But most people get something big, like a car. That's normal. People get cars when they get to be 16 and start driving. Brand new ones too. Then a couple of years later, they get another, more expensive new car.

I wasn't expecting a new car when I turned 16. I didn't really drive until halfway thru that year.

But when I graduated, my parents ponied up the money for brand new golf clubs.

I love them. They're freaking perfectly aligned and fitted for m

But when the question was asked by Beck, king of the RV, what I got as a graduation gift, he, Andre and Tori snorted their disapproval.

My reply? And I'm prouder of this now than I was then.

Hybrid thru Tori's back 2 windows. Of her fancy brand new Camero.

For whatever reason she parked in a funny spot, and I wasn't planning it. But when I saw it, I knew what I was doing.

The ball went right thru both windows and bounced off a fence. After expecting to hear a car alarm and not getting one, I grabbed my golf ball and went home.

Never got implicated by Tori.

Unfortunately when I went golfing a couple of weeks later, I accidentally slipped it back into my bag. Fittingly, I donated it to the fishies.

Oh well.

After 3 to 4 more hybrid shots, I use the rest practicing my full iron shots.

Similar to the one that I dunked my Tori vengeance ball.

I've learned that the best way to practice is to dream up a scenario and block out all but a circle of grass. Goal is to get in on there, otherwise I dunked it in the water.

Bye bye ball.

I know that they retrieve it, but it helps me focus. Because I've zoned thru entire buckets of balls, just hitting.

Tonight I was expecting to be more rusty, but I came out sharp and my iron shots turned out decent. Only lost 2.

"Night Robbie." Said the club pro, who gave me lessons back when I began years ago said as I headed to the door.

"Night." I smiled.

I take the back streets home, trying to avoid the end of the rush hour traffic. It's 8 but I know the main lanes are loaded.

I don't know the catchy song that played when I parked.

What am I going to make for dinner?

I'm kind of hungry.

I think we have…

Door's unlocked.

Dang it. I forgot to lock it again.

Thankfully they have a ton of security here, so I know nothing got tak—

…

Huh?

I'm standing in the doorway, door just closed.

Lights are all on.

And Megan's here.

"Hey, what's going on?" I ask.

It smells like she's been cooking.

She turned around, face placid.

"There you are. Finally."

She's mad.

"Uhh…what's going on? I thought you were going to be studying at a friends tonight." I ask, walking up and seeing she's been eating in front of the TV.

Hold up.

Mashed potatoes, roast, green beans. Glass of wine.

She fixed me with a glare.

"No. I told you that I was making dinner tonight."

Oh crap.

"Really?" I ask, trying to process this shock to my system.

I swear, SWEAR she said she was studying all night at a friend's place.

That's why I went golfing.

I didn't have to be home at a set time. It was a bachelor night.

She just looked livid.

"Yes. Thanks for not listening."

"I…I swear you said—"

"Well I did. And you picked a bad day to chill with Cat."

I begin to retort but she cuts me off.

"Oh whatever. Food's in the kitchen."

…

"Ok, can I sit with you?" I ask.

I've got to make nice.

So much for the dinner I cooked at the beginning of the week.

"No, table."

"Fine…why are you sitting there then?" I asked.

"Don't go questioning me. You know better than that when I'm PMS-ing!" She bit at me.

"Geez, sorry. How am I supposed to know?" I say, walking away to grab some food.

"Don't try to have the last word and walk away from me!"

My god.

She's mad.

I'm starting to think that this was supposed to be a surprise.

"Sorry babe. I feel really bad I was late." I try to compromise.

No reply by her.

I load up my plate and move towards the couch, intending to still sit with her.

She'll cave.

She loves it when I eat her cooking. Which is good.

"No! What did I say?! You NEVER listen!" She yelled manically, pushing me away at the thigh.

"Ok…sorry." I say quietly, sitting at the table meekly.

I eat quietly and after glaring for a bit she returned her gaze to the Housewives show.

This is good.

"How was your day?" I ask.

She didn't react.

I wait and take another bite before asking again.

Again nothing.

I change tactics.

"This is really good, thank you."

I saw her move her jaw like she was about to reply.

But no reply came.

I quickly finish my plate then sit next to her.

"Why are you mad? I didn't know you were going to be here, otherwise I would have come! I thought you said you were going to be gone!"

"But that gives you an excuse to not be here?"

"Megan…you're making too big a deal out of this."

"No, you don't see where you messed up. I did say that I was going to be gone, but I wanted to surprise you with a nice dinner! And what do you do? You come rolling in almost an hour late! All because of stupid Cat!"

"It's not about Cat!" I snap. "I haven't seen her in person in a couple of weeks, since you started acting all…"

"All what?" She heatedly demanded. "Finish what you were saying!"

"I haven't seen her in 2 weeks! And you're acting horrible! This isn't the girl I was just dating!"

"Yeah it is! And why are you shirking your duties with her? You found a THIRD girl?!"

"NO!"

"I don't believe you." She said darkly, then looked back to the TV.

"Megan…"

Nothing.

"Megan. Come on. Can we at least talk about why you're really mad?"

Again she gave no reply.

"Is it school?"

…

"Did I forget anything else? Or misremember?" I asked.

…

"Is it Cat again?"

She subtly bit down on her cheek this time. Her face went a little taut.

"Megan…talk to me. Come on now." I asked.

…

Silence.

I sighed and sat back until the rest of the episode passed. Couldn't have been longer than 20 minutes.

"I have to go work on my project." She said blountly, then got up and walked away.

"Ok." I said to dead air.

Might as well do the dishes.

That's exactly what I do. Running thru what I could have possibly done wrong this time.

I still think it's Cat.

But also this might have been a planned surprise.

After I finish the dishes, I decide to pass time to totally dismantle the kitchen and clean everything.

I've been needing to do it anyway.

When I finish and go back to the bedroom, it's locked and I can hear somebody on speakerphone and rapid typing.

Better find some other way to occupy myself.

I even up on my laptop, but I quickly feel drowsy.

This time when I go back it's unlocked, and the lights are dimmed.

But she's awake. Scrolling on her phone.

I move to sit down, but she put out her leg.

"No."

"Ok. Won't sit."

"No, leave."

"What?" I ask.

"Leave."

"Megan…" I say quietly.

"No. You're sleeping alone. Bed's mine. Sleep wherever. Not in this room."

She has a look on her face that's telling me I can't win this battle.

"Fine…"

"Close the door behind you."

"Ok." I reply.

The thud of the door bounced around the silent apartment.

I grab a blanket out of the spare closet and lie down on the couch.

To say I didn't sleep well wouldn't do it justice.