Chapter 12
Do You Remember When She Cried Over You and You Did Nothing About It?
September 5, 1980 (Friday)
Red had to admit he liked getting the special treatment.
Kitty phoned WB and explained that Red wanted to go to the Packer's home opener against the Chicago Bears
with Steven and Eric and he only had one season ticket that Steven had purchased for Red. She couldn't believe
that she was made that call, WB had nothing to do with him buying those tickets for Red and he had to have felt
some kind resentment towards the Forman's that his biological son wanted to be adopted by them. But he was
a wealthy, businessman who had connections so Kitty figured what the Hell? It was a terrible year for Steven,
1980 was almost over, and they still had no idea on Jackie's whereabouts, so if WB could arrange it so the boys
could all sit together than Kitty was not going to be feel guilty over it, not at all. She did need something; she
wanted not just Steven, but Eric and Red to have a nice trip. WB said that he could take Red's ticket (of course,
he'd sell it and make money off it) and that their names would be on Sunday's list for one of the luxury boxes.
Now the hard part was going to be explain this to her boys.
"I don't know," Eric said dipping his spoon into the cereal bowl to push the crispy corn flakes into the milk, "I
have…"
"You should take a break, Eric." Kitty said, "You've worked hard this year." He was free of Donna and that made
Kitty happy. She could love her like a daughter, but then Donna would go around and do something that would
hurt her son and then she was the trollop again.
"But Red only has one ticket." Hyde added
He didn't quite feel like going to Green Bay just to see the Packers play. Lambeau Field didn't house many good
memories for him, he couldn't even get a laugh over Kelso and Fez' stupidity over the ticket stubs and he missed
Forman actually getting into a fight because someone hooligan insulted Red.
Red was upstairs because Kitty wanted to do this by herself. Since he was retired Red was more than content
to sleep in. He paid his dues, he deserved his rest.
"The cat's out of the bag," Kitty laughed as she put a plate of homemade muffins on the table, "You guys are
invited to sit in one of the LUXURY BOXES!"
"Great. Now we're going to have to go…" Eric moaned. He felt soggy like his cereal.
He just wanted to do his schoolwork and get the Hell out of Point Place. He didn't want to be going to any
stupid football games. It's not like it was a Star Wars convention or anything important like that.
"By whom?" Hyde asked taking a muffin.
"I think it was some kind of contest Red entered…"
Why would Dad enter a contest when I already gave him season tickets?
"Forman, I don't think we have a choice…"
"Red!" Kitty handed him his cup of morning coffee, "I just told the boys about the
contest you won."
That was the best his wife could come up with?
"Yeah….and we're all taking turns driving." Red said wanting to read his morning paper.
Hyde stood up someone had to stop the well-meaning insanity of his Mother.
"Where are you going, Steven?"
"To call WB and thank him for the use of the luxury box," he kissed Kitty on the cheek, "Thanks, Mom."
And also to make sure that he didn't profit from his real father's ticket. That would have been a shitty thing to do
and Hyde would have no problem calling WB on it.
September 7, 1980 at Lambeau Field
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Red would rather have been outside watching the game. What kind of patsy can't stand the cold that they had
to watch the game from inside a luxury box? Dumbasses. But then Red changed his mind when he saw the food
that was offered. Kitty would not want him to have a brat and sauerkraut sandwich. But his wife wasn't here
and he knew his sons wouldn't tell on him. Kitty also wouldn't want him to have more than one beer, but yet
she was back home watching the game on TV and with Bob gone to Florida, he didn't have to worry about him
touching his wife's ass. Besides, he drove most of the way here, on the way home Eric and Steven could take
turns and he could sleep off these overly caloric and salted, yet delicious treats. He hadn't had a corn dog in
years. He doubted that the game would be any good, it was the Packers after all, but he could enjoy all of the
feast presented in front of him.
"Dad, are you happy? I bought a Packers jersey…." Eric would've worn his lucky Chicago Bears Walter Payton
jersey, but you just don't tempt fate twice especially when one was in a Packers luxury box at Lambeau Field
James Lofton #80
"Yeah. Yeah. Packers jersey. Don't start yapping! The games about to start. Go bug Steven." Red didn't turn to
face his son, he wanted to watch the game in relative peace and quiet.
Eric wanted to say, he couldn't "go bug" Hyde. He wasn't here. He thought he was being so sly before, but Eric
saw him leave. He wondered where his brother went?
Hyde knew Red wouldn't think to look for him, he was a grown man after all, and Forman wouldn't consider a
place so obvious as the Vista Cruiser. He didn't want to be here. He sat in the front passenger side trying to
take a nap. The hold Mom had on him was something else, he was convinced he'd walk on fire for the only older
woman who gave a damn about him. He knew Jackie was trying to make him jealous that day when they all
went (sans Kitty and Bob) here to see ironically enough the Bears because "Hot Donna" rigged the contest so
that she could win the tickets to the game. She bought him caramel corn when she knew he hated it. Donna
asked him per Jackie's request to take a picture of her with random jock types to showcase the faux best day of
her life. Apparently Donna made her realize that she missed him, so she had to go in his face and play defense.
She was happy to be rid of him, Jackie said he was a loser, and she was going to take a page out Fez' playbook
and celebrate with cotton candy. Hyde had every intention of telling her off. He was quite sick of her
manipulative ways. Then he saw her, and how tiny she looked, leaning against the pillar crying her eyes out.
Over me.
Jackie Burkhart was distraught over losing Steven Hyde and he didn't do a damn thing about it.
Guess I am a dumbass.
No, he did something about it, I went back to tell Donna where she could find her. Donna! Not me. No he was
too Zen to be pulled in by her, the only thing he could verbally muster was upon returning home to the Forman
driveway was to offer her a ride home because they both admitted that they couldn't just "hang out". It was
suddenly different.
Different because I fucked up.
She was giving him obvious clues all day and yet she couldn't pick up on his one hint. She thanked him and that
was it.
Hyde was interrupted from his thoughts by the light tapping on the window. It was Forman. He rolled down the
antiquated handle to open the window.
"What do you want, Forman?"
"I'm bored. Red's content and eating foods that Mom wouldn't approve of. Why don't we find a place to get a
drink around here? That isn't overpriced like the drinks here."
"Fine."
It wasn't fine. If he wasn't sleeping with sub-par chicks, he was drowning his pain with booze or weed. But, if
Forman was buying, Steven Hyde would have no problem about forgetting the day that Jackie Burkhart cried
over him and he did nothing about it.
Author's Note: The Green Bay Packers 1980 season was referenced here:
URL CUT OFF
(see reviews for this chapter for the URL link)
So while Red did get to see the Packers as a season ticket holder, Hyde picked the wrong time to buy
tickets, they were lousy that year – 5-10-1; They did win their home opener. 12-6 against the Chicago
Bears. Their scoring for that year was in last place in the NFL.
