Chapter 14 Hey? Hay?
'Hi' I juggle my phone, a cup of coffee and the door to my condo.
'Allo, Sid?' the Danish accent gives Ture away. "Mikkelsen here. You have a few minutes?
"Yeah, Ture. How's Copenhagen today?' I get through the door, set the coffee on the kitchen island to go back to the door to toss my bags through the door. I'm just home from Vail. Well, home to Pitt since last May. The condo looks pretty much as I have left it on a quick glance.
'Copenhagen is beautiful. Colder than usual but summer is still being enjoyed here. Where are you now? Vail?'
'No, I've just got back to Pittsburgh and will be here until hopefully next June barring road trips.' My bags are now through the door into the foyer. I head back to get the coffee, flip the light switch to the living room then lay back on the couch.
'Good, I was trying to figure out the time difference to phone you.'
'Yeah, welcome to my world. As I travel time zones constantly, my family finds it frustrating trying to figure when they should call. Mostly, I turn my phone off if I'm sleeping or shouldn't be disturbed. So pretty much call when it's convenient you and when I answer it will be fine.' The sun it's sending golden rays over the city. This view is part of the reason why I live here. I find it very relaxing.
'I'll remember that. Thank you that helps. Vail was good? How has your focus been since we talked? If you don't mind my asking?' Hmm, good question Ture.
I pause and think about this for a moment. 'Better, Ture. It's been better. I still think about her a lot but I am not trying to stop. You really helped. I can't fight it or force myself to change. It wasn't working. This has been making a difference.' I have the photo out and am fingering it.
' This makes me glad. Do you have any photos? I don't remember anyone but me taking pictures. I have about a thousand from that week also several hours of video. If you want I could email some. I also edited the hockey game video if you want a copy.' Wow.
'That would be great. I do have one photo of us. Did I tell you that David dropped me off at the airport in Victoria? No? Well, he did. He is a good guy. He gave me an envelope that he said was a prescription for when I got really down and not to open it until I hit bottom. Well, after I talked to you I opened it. It had a photo of us and a 10 digit number. Her phone number.'
'Oh Sid. David asked me to look through my photos. He must have printed one off. That surprises me, I thought he was looking at photos for him.' His voice has raised up with urgency. 'I didn't know.'
'No, I am happy he did it. David really cares about people and even more about the people he likes. When I first met David I wasn't sure about him, I'm not homophobic but he's so intense in his quiet, calm way. That doesn't make sense I know. David watches like you do but seems to really see what people need before they know that they need it. During our sessions, he found ways to help me relax, to hear what would work, and to bring out what little musical ability I have out. He is trying to help me be a better me. I think he knew that I was more involved than I realized. He's a caring person.' I know I'm talking in circles but I hope Ture hears that I am happy.
'You sound better, more relaxed. David's empathic abilities aside, he is good man, I think.' Ture is now the wistful one of us.
'Please send a few, my email is hckybt I would really appreciate them.' I don't give personal contact info out to many but I want those photos. 'How about you? How are you?' I don't think that he could have any concerns but he just sounded odd.
'I like you have been thinking a lot about our week together. For me research wise, it was a fascinating study. Peeka said I would have much to think about when I left and I do. It seems a bit like an unreality being back here in at the university.' Something is going on with him.
'How is your fall schedule shaping up?' I don't know why I ask this, but I do.
'I have about a couple of classes this term, a pair of linked seminars and of course I am working with few athletes. My research is on going and very interesting. I'll be busy.'
We continue talking about the plans for our upcoming autumns and things we are looking forward to when Ture asks me. 'Will you call?' Just like that in the middle of telling me about Danish autumn traditions. 'Will you call'.
'I sent her a text message yesterday evening, well her late afternoon.' I am remembering my dilemma. Text or call.
'But you haven't heard from her. I hear your disappointment.'
'No I haven't. I suspect that maybe she doesn't want contact.' I don't want to believe this statement.
'So it was just yesterday, Sid, you texted. I would give her the benefit of the doubt. You don't know what is going on in her life. She could be very busy or not have her phone with her. Do you remember that first day Sid when you met Tylyn? She couldn't talk for hours. Maybe she's needing time to process this new development.' Ture the psychologist.
'Hmm, maybe. It was odd reaction but shouldn't we be past this now. She and I didn't spend a lot of time together discussing deep topics but after a week together, I would have thought that she would be comfortable with me.'
'Ja maybe, Sid but where you spent hours with David, I spent hours listening to the girls talk freely in front of me. I would sit quietly in the room seemingly distracted by another task. Those girls talked on all subjects important to them. What I learned from that was, for Tylyn as least. She needs time to process what is going on, to develop a plan, and then executes the plan.' I really don't think I want to hear what the girls discussed.
'Sid, I think we both know that Tylyn is naïve. I suspect before you, she has never had a relationship with a man. Ah, how do you say, no boyfriend. This is a new experience for her. You on the other hand have more experience. Ja?'
'Ja, Ture, I have more experience.' I know all this but I don't know how this is going to help.
'Be patient with her, my friend. You are known for your patience to develop plays, to protect the puck in your possession. This is just another time to exercise in patience. If you do, I suspect she will surprise you. Tylyn is very resourceful. Don't give up on her yet.'
'Okay, Ture I'll be patient but, what about you? What is your plan? You sound like I feel when you talk about Madrona. A bit sad. What's going on with you?' I am turning the tables if we are going to be honest. The silence is deafening at the other end of the phone. 'Ture? You still there?"
'Ja, Sid I'm still here.'
'Embrace whatever is bothering you. Hey, a great guy told me that and it's working so far.' Okay, he's not laughing his ass off but at least I got a chuckle out of him.
'Okay, I'll send the photos if you let me know when she contacts you. Hej Hej.
...
If watched pots don't boil then watched phones don't tweet.
So I am leaving the club Sunday after a great tennis match. I'm walking through the lobby heading toward the car park when, I get cornered by Beryl Wilman. This woman has being trying to set me up with one of her many granddaughters, nieces, second cousins since I walked into Sewickley.
'Afternoon, Mrs Wilman.' Keep your head down and just keep walking. This trick works in airports and crowded public places but it doesn't work here.
'Ah Sidney. It's lovely to see you. You've had a lovely summer break? Good, good you've heard about the Labor Day picnic next weekend. It's an old time box lunch auction to raise money for the Daughter's of the Union charities. You remember how that works? Ladies make a picnic lunch in a decorated box. The boxes are then auctioned off to the highest bidder. This is where you help us out. You see, we need bidders. When you win your box you get to share the lunch in it with the whoever made the box. Doesn't that sound like fun?' Beryl Wilman is one of those people that are great to have on a cause but not great if you're the cause. I feel like my being single is one of her causes. 'I can I sign you up? Will you be bring that lovely young lady?'
'Ooh that sounds interesting, Mrs Wilman, I'll have to let you know if I can fit it into my schedule.' I'm trying to leave. I decide not to say anything about Crystal's and my departure. What Mrs Wilman doesn't know won't get me another "date".
'Oh good, so you'll call the front desk? Do you hear a bird Sidney? I keep telling them that having the front doors open all day lets in the any stray animal.' She off and running to get a manager. Yeah, but it 's not a bird it's my phone.
When I put 91's number into my phone I gave her, her own ringtone. A chickadee singing for a call and an electronic chickadee for a text. This is a text. I head for the range rover in beast mode. I don't stop there but drive out to a private place where I won't get disturbed. I don't notice the traffic as I drive the few blocks. I don't notice the manicured lawns and tree lined streets. I don't even notice a couple of my team mates passing me in other vehicles. I just drive, pull onto the tarmac, into a seclude driveway, press a button to open the gates and pull through so the gates can close behind me. I just focus on getting to a place not to be disturbed. I sit for a minute and gather my thoughts. Right this is what I've been waiting for. Breathe. This is what I have been waiting for. I open the message.
Chkaddd :Do you know what hay is?
What? What does this mean? This is not what I expecting. I look at the time the message was sent. 2:47 pm. I was playing tennis at 2:47pm. What delayed the message coming through to my phone. What does it mean? What do I say in response? I was expecting it to say… Hi 87 or hello Sid or greeting earthlings but not this. Ture was right again. Patience as won out but what is this? It's now 4:43pm what time does that make it in Denmark? I do the math…..10:43 pm. Is that too late to call? I do text Ture to tell him that I have received contact. If he replies I'll call him. While I wait I think about her question, what is hay? Well the first thing to come to mind is dry grass but don't think that is what she is getting after. What is hay? 91 is a farm girl so what is the reference. Ah I got it! Yeah. So I text back.
Hckybt: Hay is for horses.
Working on the old adage, save your hay because one day you might marry a horse, is going to be the right answer. I'm pretty pleased with my answer. I think I've nailed this one. This is my cheeky chickadee. I wait for her reply. She is playing with me. Yes. I can visualize she the smile on her lips, lighting up her face and blue eyes. I can imagine her saying the statement saucily. Yes, this is right keep it light. Keep it simple. Keep it fun.
How long I sit there I don't know? But I am scared out of my wits by the bang on my window.
'Jesus, Flower! What the hell do you think your doing?' I yell at the laughing Quebecois. 'You trying to start something here?' Remembering that we have had over the years, a running practical joke war that got kind of out of hand.
'No, no, just trying to get your attention. Why are you sitting in your car on a 32C day with the air off and the windows rolled up? You want heat stroke? Don't you have any sense? Talbot was right you are not al dente but going soft in the noodle, eh.'
'No, really I just got here a minute a go.' But he cuts me off.
'Oh non, mon ami you got here ½ hour ago. Vero saw you pull in and thought that you might need friend so she sent me over here when you didn't seem to be getting out of the rover.' He is looking at me quizzically. 'You okay, Sid?'
'Yeah I'm fine. I was just checking phone messages. What the hell? Talbot called you? 'Oui, he was concerned that you are losing your mind, eh. First you disappear off the planet for a week and then when you do come back you are acting all weird. Okay, weirder than you normally do. He's just concerned, eh.' Flower looks concerned. 'Your head okay?'
YES, MY HEAD IS FINE. I want to yell at him but don't. My friends are concerned for me. It's like a suicide watch with them. I feel like there is a network of people watching over me in case I crack!
'I'm fine honest. The week in BC was a charity thing out at a remote fishing lodge with no cell reception. The weirdness is just that, Flower, weirdness. I am just wrapping my brain around another season.' I won't tell him the truth just yet because I don't know what is going on with me. People think that women gossip but I swear guys are so much worse.
'Vero was worried seeing you pull in here and not get out of the rover. She thinks that you are still struggling with the whole Crystal thing. The house. You know?'
'That's sweet of Vero but I'm fine with it. She doesn't need to worry. I am well and truly beyond that fiasco. As for the house?' I look up at the big house, which I had built last year, regretfully. 'I don't know what I am going to do with it. It's not how I thought that it would turn out.'
'I know, I know. The house itself is beautiful, Sid. You just need to change the memories that surround it. And of course the furnishings.' He laughs breaking the tension.
'How did she know I was here? You got camera's on the place?'
'Yes, we've wired all of Sewickley to keep track of you. No idiot. She was behind you in traffic and saw you pull in.' Marc Andre is shaking his head. ' Come on, we're going over to Mario's soon. Let's go if your done here and have a beer before we go over.' Flower gets into the passenger seat. 'Well, drive on then.'
...
We had the beer and are now visiting with Mario, Nathalie and their guests. The kids are around somewhere, I guess. Fortunately, I had put the phone on vibrate so it won't tweet mid- something. A group of us are out on the patio laughing over stories from the summer and catching up on the developments.
'What is this Sid? Talbot says you're a wildflower? ' Tanger is coming out of the house. 'Is there something you'd like to share with the group? We'll be supportive eventually.'
Jesus, I am going to kill Talbot. Next my mom will be calling asking about my being a wildflower.
'It's a just a song I heard this summer and it's got stuck in my head.' Wrong answer, I knew it as soon as I said it.
And the harassment continued all the way to dinner. Damn, I'm going to wear this for a long time. But the back of my mind is calculating how long it has been since I sent the text. Why hasn't she responded? Hmmm. I work at deflecting the teasing but really, I am just wanting the evening to be over. If I leave early that will be seen as another eccentricity. I don't want to draw any attention. I don't know what it is? Why keep it a secret? I don't really know as these are my good friends, my family but I am not ready to share. I feel my phone in my pocket vibrate. Damn. Is it her? Or someone else? I wait for a chance to move. It comes when the table is short wine.
'Don't worry about it, I don't mind. You want the '02 pinot noir and the '07 sauvo? So you won't mind me helping myself to any of the others down there do you? Great!' I rise to head to the wine cellar.
'I have that cellar booby trapped be careful.' Mario growls at me.
"GRRRL. ' and I don't take it lying down. This gets a laugh from the dinner table.
But it allows me the time to check my phone.
Chkaddd:Noooo - -
Hmmm I am not surprised really at the "no" answer but what are the dashes about. I do reply :
Hckybt :So what is hay?
More waiting but what it gives me time to think about the dashes. Hmmm. Dinner progresses through the main course, past dessert and on to coffee and teas. Some of the guys are having brandy. We've moved out of the dining room are back out on the patio. Well at least some of us are. The older crowd is in the sitting room. Geno and James are trying to get Flower to swim in the pool. I 'm watching Alexis give Austin a good razzing out about something. I suspect that even Austin doesn't know what she's on about. He mimicking her and driving her crazy. Then she does it, she rolls her eyes. The Duh move as she calls it. Then it the double dash hits me. It's a slitty eye look when she squints at her displeasure. Okay lmao again. I'm not talking to anyone and I just burst out laughing.
'Yeah, you soft in head?' Geno jostles me. 'You crazy cuck koo?'
'No, just watching Alexis ream Austin out. It's a riot' I keep laughing but mostly because I can't help it.
'They worry you got more crazy going on. They say you doing weird stuff.' The big Russian looks concerned.
'No, Geno, don't worry I'm fine. Talbot started this mess. Now, people are reading too much into things. I'm giving it some time to cool down.' He has started watching the two youngest Lemeuix's battle it out. 'Remember when they were little, they were such pests. Now they are almost grown up. '
'You are soft in head.' He laughs as he says it.
Yes, I probably am. My pocket vibrates. Another message. Bathroom. It would be appropriate to go to the bathroom. So I excuse myself and move to the powder room outside the kitchen. I make use of the facilities, wash my hands and check my phone.
Chkaddd{Hay, is what lucky girls get rolled in.
This really does crack me up. I mean LMAO big time. I mean, I can't breathe I'm laughing so hard.
Hckybt: That's hilarious. Can I call you later?
I send the message before I think about it too much. 91 is on the west coast which means that she is three hours earlier than us. So if it's 9 pm here; it's 6 pm there. So when I get home around midnight it shouldn't be too late for her. Then I go to head back to the party. But when I open the door, I am met with Nathalie and Vero standing blocking the doorway. They are looking at me like I have two heads.
'Sid, you okay?' I have known both these women for years. I can't lie to them because they have cunning senses, know me really well, and will not buy it.
'No, I'm better than okay. I'm great!' I don't explain the laughter that they obviously over heard. No point in doing that as I am not sure where it is going. All I say is.' Laughter is the best medicine I hear!' My phone vibrates again but this time I look at it.
Chkaddd: Sure, if you want to.
Boy, do I want to.