Adam's POV:
"I wish you weren't even in the picture. You're ruining everything," Charlie had yelled.
Those words hurt. I wasn't even sure what I had did to set him off. I was finding it hard to believe that he had actually said them. What did he think? That I had gone out of the way to have my Dad disown me so I could move in with Coach Bombay. I hadn't asked for any of that stuff to happen it just had. And all because my Dad didn't want me skating with the Ducks and I had refused to quit. Refused to walk out on my friends just because they were a JV team and weren't rich. At least I had thought Charlie was a friend. Right now he wasn't acting any better than my father had been lately.
And as for taking Charlie down in the game, that had been an accident. I wasn't even completely sure how it had happened. Somehow I had tripped myself up and had taken both of us down. It probably had something to do with the way I had been feeling lately. I was starting to wish more and more that I had stayed home this afternoon.
I wanted to tell Charlie that I was sorry. To make him understand, but I didn't trust myself to speak. I was afraid that if I tried to talk I would start crying. So instead I headed to where my stuff was and stated unlacing my skates so I could leave. I definitely wasn't going to hang around here any longer.
"Adam don't listen to him. Whatever is going on between Ms. Conway and Coach Bombay you have no control over," Guy said as I took the first skate off and put on one of my snow boots.
"Yeah, Charlie was out of line with what he said," Fulton chimed in.
I knew they were trying to make me feel better and it was nice to know not everyone was going to turn against me this time but I didn't know what to say. Truth is I was trying to stay angry at Charlie to try and keep from crying.
As I was untying my second skate, Jesse, Connie and a lot of the other Ducks started to gather around me. I just barely heard my brother calling Charlie a jerk and then I couldn't make out what else he told him. Part of me was waiting for Anthony to go after Charlie but I was relieved when Anthony skated away from Charlie and joined the rest of us.
Connie had sat down on the bench next to me and tried to put her arm around my shoulders. I shrugged her off. I just wanted to be left alone. I wanted to get out of there. I quickly put my other boot on and stuffed my skates in my bag. I stood up grabbing my bag and headed toward Bombay's apartment building. It didn't take me long to realize that I had forgotten to pick up my hockey stick but I just kept walking. I couldn't face anyone again right now. I knew that someone would grab it and make sure it got back to me.
It wasn't long before my brother caught up to me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw that he was carrying my hockey stick along with his own.
"Adam," he started to say more but I cut him off.
"I don't want to talk about it," I said quickly.
"Okay," he said and we finished the walk back to Gordon's place in silence.
I headed inside with my brother right behind me. I opened the apartment door and went inside. Gordon wasn't home yet. I headed right for my room and sat my bag on the floor by the door and laid down on my bed.
I heard Anthony lean the stick up against the wall and then he came over and knelt down beside the bed.
"Are you sure you don't want to talk?"
"Positive," I told him.
"Okay, then. I'm going home. You know how to get a hold of me if you change your mind," Anthony told me and then he stood up and left. The apartment was quiet after he had gone and it didn't take long for me to drift off to sleep.
Gordon's POV:
I dropped Casey off at the dinner around five o'clock that night. We had planned on going out to dinner but she had gotten a call asking her if she could work. I knew Casey worked hard to provide for herself and Charlie and could use the money so when she asked if it was okay to cancel our date I had told her that was fine. Yes I wanted to spend time with her but I didn't want to crowd her. I knew she had grown very independent over the years raising Charlie by herself and she wasn't going to stop being that way over night just because I came around. I knew that unless we were married she wasn't going to accept financial help from me. When I had left her apartment earlier this afternoon I had told her I'd come back and drive her to work so we could spend a little more time together today.
"I'm sorry Gordon," she said as she got out of the van.
"It's not a problem, Casey," I told her with a smile.
"How about getting coffee tonight after my shift?"
"Sounds like a plan. You get off at what eleven tonight?" I asked her. I'd take anything I could get.
"Yeah," Casey said.
"Okay, I'll pick you up at eleven then."
"Thanks Gordon," she said and leaned in for a quick kiss.
I waited until she disappeared into the dinner to drive off. Then I headed home. I parked the van in the parking lot on the side of my apartment building and walked toward the entrance. On the front steps of the building though I met up with Anthony who was leaving. He seemed upset about something which got me worried.
"Is everything okay?" I asked him.
"No," he replied and then told me about what had taken place at the pond. I couldn't believe that Charlie had said that. And I couldn't help but wonder where he got the idea that Adam was keeping his Mom and I apart. That wasn't true. Yes Casey and I had discussed taking things a little slower than we had originally been planning but she had understood my feelings after I explained them to her and we were cool. I knew I needed to have a talk with Casey about Charlie but right now I couldn't worry about that. Right now I had Adam to worry about.
I said good-bye to Anthony and tried to reassure him that everything would be okay and then headed upstairs to the apartment. I hung up my coat and then made my way back to Adam's room. I knocked on the door. When I didn't get an answer I tried the door knob which turned.
"Adam," I said as I opened the door. I still didn't get a reply. As I walked into the room I understood why.
Adam had already fallen asleep. Trying not to disturb him I took off his shoes and then got an extra blanket and covered him up with it. I then quietly left his room pulling the door shut softly behind me. It looked as if that conversation was going to have to wait too.
Connie's POV:
After Charlie, Adam, and Anthony had left everyone was quiet. I'm not sure anyone knew what to say let alone completely understood what had just taken place. I know I sure didn't.
Charlie's outburst had seemed to come out of nowhere. We all knew Adam would never do what Charlie had accused him of. Yes Adam always got involved in the game. He always had. And when he skated against us on the Hawks back in Pee-Wees he was a little rougher than was called for but he never would have outright take someone out like that and Charlie knew it. Something else was bothering Charlie but I had wasn't sure what it was and I don't think Adam did either. However, I was wondering if it had something to do with what Charlie had told me the night before about him wanting Coach Bombay to really be a part of his family. I was starting to think that maybe Charlie was getting jealous because ever since Adam's father had disowned him, the bond that Adam already had with our coach was getting stronger. My feeling was that Charlie was feeling threatened by that. I made a mental note to call Charlie later that night.
"What was that about?"Tammy asked breaking the silence. By that time we were all changing out of our skates and back into our shoes. I wasn't about to say anything. Charlie had confided in me and it wasn't my place to say anything.
"Is there something going on that we don't know about?" Jesse asked.
"Believe me, you're not the only one that don't know what is going on," Guy answered. "Charlie and Adam had been getting to be pretty good friends."
"Anyone think maybe some of us should try talking to them?" Fulton asked.
"I"m not going anywhere near Charlie until he cools off some," Averman replied.
"And I think Adam wants to be left alone," Jesse said.
"So much for our happy little reunion," Peter commented. His comment actually broke the tension as most of us laughed. Peter had a point. Today was suppose to be fun.
Everyone started talking after that. I heard Goldberg, Tommy, Karp, Fulton and Averman making plans to go the movies. I heard Averman ask Jesse and Terry to join them but they had to do something with there family. On one side of me Tammy and Peter were planning on going out to dinner together.
"Hey Connie, why don't you and Guy join us?" Tammy said. "We can make it a double date."
"What do you think Guy?" I asked Guy who was sitting on the other side of me.
"Sounds good to me. I'm not really looking forward to going home this early anyway."
"Great," Tammy said cheerfully.
"How about we just go now. We can leave our stuff at someone's house and then pick it up afterwards," Peter suggested. Tammy and Guy just nodded at his suggestion.
"I volunteer my house," I replied. "I need to take Cecily home."
"That works," Peter said.
The four of us gathered up our stuff and said good-bye to the others. Peter and Tammy held hands as we walked. Guy and I had Cecily in between us but we were use to it. I had always included her in some of the stuff Guy and I did and she and Guy got along pretty well.
"I have to warn you guys, my Dad is acting a little weird these days," I said as we walked up the sidewalk to my house.
"Yeah. He's become Mr. Mom," Cecily commented.
My friends looked at me and I just nodded. I really didn't want to go into a detailed explanation right then and they picked up on that and didn't ask any more questions. I had a feeling they might find out for themselves in a few minutes.
I opened the door to the house and ushered my friends inside. Cecily quickly dissapeared up to her room. My Mom was sitting in the living room crocheting an afghan.
"Hi, honey," she said looking up and then seeing my friends she said hello to them. I think she was a bit surprised to see Tammy and Peter because I hadn't hung out with them a lot lately.
"Hi Mom," I said. "We're all going to go out for dinner," I told her. "Is it okay if everyone leaves there stuff here while we're out?"
"Yeah sure," she said. "Why don't you all sit it over there in the corner out of the way." As we sat our stuff where she had indicated, I figured I'd take my stuff to my room when I came back, she asked "Do you know where you're going?"
"Ah, we haven't really decided," Peter said. "Is that a problem?"
"No, I was just curious. Connie just make sure you're home by nine o'clock."
"I will," I told her. "Let's go guys." I was hoping maybe we could get out of the house before my Dad appeared. I didn't get so lucky. As we turned to head for the front door my Dad came out of the kitchen in his apron again.
"Hi everyone," he said cheerfully. I could see Guy glance over at me. He could already tell something was up. "Sure you guys don't want to stay and have dinner here. I'm just getting started."
"Ah, no," I said quickly. " We really just want to hang out together a little longer. Guy and I haven't seen Peter and Tammy in awhile and we have a lot to catch up on."
"Well, okay. Your loss. I'm trying a new recipe tonight. Should be good."
"I'm sure it will be Dad. I'll try it some other time though. We need to be going."
"Okay. You kids have fun," he said and then headed back to the kitchen.
I quickly ushered my friends out the front door.
"Your Dad cooks?" Peter asked as we headed down the sidewalk.
"Recent development," I told him. I filled Tammy and Peter in on my Dad's recent medical problems. "He's even taking us all to church on Christmas morning which I'm sure my Mom is happy about but I'm still not sure how I feel about it. I just hope they don't start making me go to church every Sunday I'm home," I said finishing up.
"I don't know," Guy commented. " I think I like him better that way. It almost seems as if he doesn't mind me going out with you."
My dad had always given Guy a hard time since we started going out. Every time Guy had come over my Dad had given him the third degree. I didn't really think that my Dad didn't like Guy but it was just that his girl was seeing someone. I had always reassured Guy that it wasn't him. That my Dad would have been the same way to anyone I happened to date.
"I guess it could be worse," was all I said. I still wasn't sure how to take this new side to my father.
Charlie's POV:
When I got home the apartment was quiet, which was fine with me because the way I felt I didn't really want to be around anyone. I put my hockey gear in my room and then headed for the kitchen. I found a note on the refrigerator from my mother that she had picked up a shift at the diner and would be there until eleven tonight. She had also left a tuna casserole in the refrigerator for me for dinner. I then glance over at the phone and saw the light flashing indicating that there was a message on the answering machine.
I poured some ice tea into a glance and then headed over to the phone to check the message. The message was from my Mom. She said that she and Coach Bombay were going out for coffee after her shift so she would be home late. I erased the message and then went out in the living room and turned on the tv.
I tried not to think about what had just happened at the pond. I didn't want to dwell on it because the more I thought about it the more I felt bad about it. I wasn't sure what I had been thinking and evidently my Mom and Coach Bombay were still interested in each other. Maybe I had taken their conversation wrong. I shouldn't have been listening to them anyway. I considered calling Adam and apologizing but part of me was still angry at him. I knew that if I called him I would probably just say more things that I would regret. In fact I really didn't want to talk to anyone still.
I ate some of the casserole my mom had left me around six thirty and then went back to watching tv. I thought about putting together the tree which was still sitting in the box where I had left it earlier when I went out looking for candy canes but I just couldn't bring myself to get up and do it. I just wasn't really in the Christmas spirit.
Around eight o'clock the telephone rang. I got up and checked the caller id. The name on it was Gerald Morreau so I knew it was Connie who was trying to get a hold of me. I had thought I didn't want to talk about what had happened but I was glad she was trying to call me. At least I knew I hadn't completely pissed off all of my friends.
"Hello," I said picking up the phone.
"Hi, Charlie," I heard Connie said. "You want to talk?" she asked me cautiously as if she thought I might go off on her next. By this time though I had calmed down quite a bit.
"I guess," I said. " I guess everyone's pretty mad at me for going off on Adam and ruining the game."
"No, just concerned. They're all wondering what's going on with you. Oh, and you scared a few of them. Averman said he wasn't going anywhere near you until he knew you had calm down a bit."
"You can tell him its safe," I said with a laugh. "Has anyone talked to Adam?"
"Not that I know of. He left right after you did and didn't seem to want to talk to anyone. I think Jesse might try calling him sometime tonight but I'm not sure," she told me. "What's going on with you Charlie. I know you can't really be mad at him for knocking you down today. That was probably an accident like Adam said it wasn't. Adam wouldn't do something like that on purpose."
"I know," I said. "I don't know what got into me this afternoon," I told her. "I wasn't really even thinking when I said those things to him. I was angry at him but it wasn't that incident that got me angry it just happened to be the trigger."
"Did something happen between your mom and Coach Bombay?" Connie asked.
With a sigh I told her about the conversation I had overheard. "I know I shouldn't have even been listening but I was."
"Charlie you can't really blame this on Adam. He's not trying to sabotage you're mother and Coach Bombay or your relationship with Bombay. And Bombay didn't say he wanted to not see your Mom anymore just take things a little slower. You've waited four years for them to get together what's a few more months or another year. If its going to happen its going to happen no matter if Adam's with Bombay or goes back with his family," Connie was telling me reasonably. "And if you and Adam aren't getting along that might just make Bombay think even harder about marrying your Mom. If you ask me, I think Coach Bombay feels responsible for Adam's falling out with his Dad and he's going to put Adam's happiness over whatever he wants for himself."
At first Connie's words made me angry again but I was able to hold my tongue and the more I thought about what she was saying the more her words made sense. After all my Mom had said she was going out with Bombay tonight so it wasn't as if they were going to stop seeing each other. I couldn't help but wonder what Coach would think about my outburst when he found out.
"You have a point," I told Connie reluctantly.
"Where's you Mom right now?" Connie asked me.
"At work but she said she's going out with Coach Bombay, for coffee, after her shift is up."
"You see," Connie said excitedly. "They still want to spend time together. Let them go at their own pace. I'm sure they know what they're doing. Families can be complicated."
"Yeah, speaking of that, how are things going at your house."
"Weird," Connie said. She started telling me about how her Dad was acting lately. "I think I might actually like him better this way once I get use to it," she confided to me. "Its weird having Mom work so much though and I'm not looking forward to spending Christmas morning in Church."
"It could be worse," I told her.
"Oh, how's that?"
"He could have chosen a religion that didn't celebrate Christmas."
"Very funny Charlie."
I talked to Connie for quite awhile after that. By the time we said good-bye it was after nine thirty. I figured I'd wait until the next day before trying to call Adam to apologize. I turned around and looked at the Christmas tree in pieces in the box. I might as well get started, I thought to myself and started sorting out pieces.
Adam's POV:
When I woke up again it was dark in my room. I didn't remember taking off my shoes or covering up with a blanket. I heard the tv on in the livingroom outside of my room and wondered if Gordon was responsible. I glanced at my alarm clock on the bedside table nearby. It was almost ten o'clock I had slept for almost five hours and I still felt exhausted. I also ached all over. I would have thought it was just from the fall I had taken earlier today but my throat hurt and I felt hot like I had a fever. At first I just tried to ignore how I was feeling and go back to sleep.
However, after laying in bed for ten minutes I started to think that wasn't going to happen. As much as I didn't want to bother Gordon I didn't think I could hide that I wasn't feeling well anymore. I slowly got out of bed and headed for the door. I opened up the door to my bedroom and stepped out into the living room.
"Coach," I said and Gordon looked up at the sound of my voice.
Gordon's POV:
I was in the living room watching tv when I heard Adam's voice.
"Coach," was all he said and all he had to say. He looked horrible. His face was pale and even in the dim light I could see that the glands in his neck were swollen. I quickly got up from the couch and crossed the room to where he was sitting.
"How do you feel?" I asked him as I put a hand to his forehead. He was hot to the touch. I didn't need a thermometer to tell he had a fever.
"I hurt all over, and my throat hurts," he said quietly.
"How long have you felt this way?" I asked leading him over to the couch and having him sit down.
"I've felt worn out for the last few days but I just thought I was tired or that I was coming down with a cold. I just started feeling like this though."
"I'm taking you to the ER to get you checked out," I told him and then headed to his room for his shoes. As Adam put on his shoes I grabbed my keys and put on my winter coat. I then grabbed Adam's coat and helped him into. I lead him out to the van and headed for the ER.
The waiting room for the ER had only a few people waiting it in. With any luck it wouldn't be long until Adam was seen. I checked in with the receptionist at the desk and then Adam and I found seats on the one side of the waiting room away from the other people waiting.
It wasn't long before Adam had drifted off to sleep with his head resting on my shoulder. I watched as one of the people waiting was called to the back by a nurse. Trying not to disturb Adam, I got my cell phone out and dialed the Banks's home phone number. The phone rang about six times and then I heard someone pick up the phone and then immediately hand it up again. I figured that Philip Banks had probably checked the phone and saw my name on the caller id. Suppressing the urge to curse I flipped through the phone book on my cell phone and called Angela Banks cell phone. On the third ring I got her voice mail. I left her message to call me as soon as she got the message. I started to put my cell phone back into my coat pocket but then my eyes fell on the clock on the wall. It was ten forty! I had forgotten that I was suppose to pick Casey up after her shift at eleven.
I quickly punched in the number for the dinner.
"Mickey's Dinning Car, how may I help you," said a female voice when the phone was answered.
"Could I speak to Casey Conway, please?" I asked.
"Hold on," the woman said. There was silence and then I heard Casey's voice.
"Hello," she said.
"Casey, its Gordon. I'm calling to tell you I'm not going to be able to make it tonight. I'm at the ER. Adam woke up not feeling well almost an hour ago."
"Is it anything serious?"
"I don't know but I hope not. He hasn't been seen yet and I don't know when we'll get through here. Are you going to be okay getting home?"
"Yeah, sure. I'm sure Diane will give me a ride," Casey said. "Would you like me to come to the ER and wait with you?"
"No, that won't be necessary but thanks anyway."
"Okay, but please call me as soon as you know anything no matter how late it is."
"Okay. I love you Casey."
"Love you Gordon," she said and then I heard the soft click as she hung up the phone.
"Adam Banks," I heard a nurse call as I put my cell phone away. I quickly woke Adam up and walked back into the ER with him.
The nurse took his temperature and other vital signs and then told us that a doctor would be with us shortly. Five minutes later a doctor came in and introduced himself as Dr. Carter. I tried to wait patiently as he examined Adam but I really wanted to know what was wrong.
"Well, it could be a couple different things. I'm going to draw some blood and that should tell us exactly what he has," Dr. Carter said.
He took the blood sample and then told us, "It'll probably be about twenty minutes until we get the results back from the lab. Meanwhile I'll have a nurse bring some Tylenol in for him and we'll try to get the fever down a bit."
I don't know about Adam but for me those twenty minutes seemed to take forever. Adam kept drifting off to sleep for a few minutes and then waking back up. I was just hoping that whatever it was they wouldn't have to admit him. Its bad enough be sick over Christmas but spending Christmas in the hospital would be even worse.
"Well, I have good news and bad news," Dr. Carter said as he walked back into the curtained off area where we had been waiting. "The good news is that Adam won't have to stay here. You can take him home. The bad news is that he has mononucleosis. Other than taking Tylenol for the fever and headache there is nothing else we can do for him. Its important that he stays in bed and rests until his glands and throat are back to normal."
"How long will that be?" Adam asked.
Dr. Carter paused slightly before he answered him. "Most people recover within three weeks but it could last up to six weeks or longer. It depends on how the virus affects you." After telling this Dr. Carter turned to me. "I'd recommend calling Adam's regular doctor and setting up an appointment after the holiday."
"I will," I told him and shook his hand as he left.
Adam and I left the hospital after that and headed back to the apartment. After I got Adam settled in bed I picked up the phone to call Casey. It was already after midnight and I knew she was probably waiting up for me to call.
"I wish you weren't even in the picture. You're ruining everything," Charlie had yelled.
Those words hurt. I wasn't even sure what I had did to set him off. I was finding it hard to believe that he had actually said them. What did he think? That I had gone out of the way to have my Dad disown me so I could move in with Coach Bombay. I hadn't asked for any of that stuff to happen it just had. And all because my Dad didn't want me skating with the Ducks and I had refused to quit. Refused to walk out on my friends just because they were a JV team and weren't rich. At least I had thought Charlie was a friend. Right now he wasn't acting any better than my father had been lately.
And as for taking Charlie down in the game, that had been an accident. I wasn't even completely sure how it had happened. Somehow I had tripped myself up and had taken both of us down. It probably had something to do with the way I had been feeling lately. I was starting to wish more and more that I had stayed home this afternoon.
I wanted to tell Charlie that I was sorry. To make him understand, but I didn't trust myself to speak. I was afraid that if I tried to talk I would start crying. So instead I headed to where my stuff was and stated unlacing my skates so I could leave. I definitely wasn't going to hang around here any longer.
"Adam don't listen to him. Whatever is going on between Ms. Conway and Coach Bombay you have no control over," Guy said as I took the first skate off and put on one of my snow boots.
"Yeah, Charlie was out of line with what he said," Fulton chimed in.
I knew they were trying to make me feel better and it was nice to know not everyone was going to turn against me this time but I didn't know what to say. Truth is I was trying to stay angry at Charlie to try and keep from crying.
As I was untying my second skate, Jesse, Connie and a lot of the other Ducks started to gather around me. I just barely heard my brother calling Charlie a jerk and then I couldn't make out what else he told him. Part of me was waiting for Anthony to go after Charlie but I was relieved when Anthony skated away from Charlie and joined the rest of us.
Connie had sat down on the bench next to me and tried to put her arm around my shoulders. I shrugged her off. I just wanted to be left alone. I wanted to get out of there. I quickly put my other boot on and stuffed my skates in my bag. I stood up grabbing my bag and headed toward Bombay's apartment building. It didn't take me long to realize that I had forgotten to pick up my hockey stick but I just kept walking. I couldn't face anyone again right now. I knew that someone would grab it and make sure it got back to me.
It wasn't long before my brother caught up to me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw that he was carrying my hockey stick along with his own.
"Adam," he started to say more but I cut him off.
"I don't want to talk about it," I said quickly.
"Okay," he said and we finished the walk back to Gordon's place in silence.
I headed inside with my brother right behind me. I opened the apartment door and went inside. Gordon wasn't home yet. I headed right for my room and sat my bag on the floor by the door and laid down on my bed.
I heard Anthony lean the stick up against the wall and then he came over and knelt down beside the bed.
"Are you sure you don't want to talk?"
"Positive," I told him.
"Okay, then. I'm going home. You know how to get a hold of me if you change your mind," Anthony told me and then he stood up and left. The apartment was quiet after he had gone and it didn't take long for me to drift off to sleep.
Gordon's POV:
I dropped Casey off at the dinner around five o'clock that night. We had planned on going out to dinner but she had gotten a call asking her if she could work. I knew Casey worked hard to provide for herself and Charlie and could use the money so when she asked if it was okay to cancel our date I had told her that was fine. Yes I wanted to spend time with her but I didn't want to crowd her. I knew she had grown very independent over the years raising Charlie by herself and she wasn't going to stop being that way over night just because I came around. I knew that unless we were married she wasn't going to accept financial help from me. When I had left her apartment earlier this afternoon I had told her I'd come back and drive her to work so we could spend a little more time together today.
"I'm sorry Gordon," she said as she got out of the van.
"It's not a problem, Casey," I told her with a smile.
"How about getting coffee tonight after my shift?"
"Sounds like a plan. You get off at what eleven tonight?" I asked her. I'd take anything I could get.
"Yeah," Casey said.
"Okay, I'll pick you up at eleven then."
"Thanks Gordon," she said and leaned in for a quick kiss.
I waited until she disappeared into the dinner to drive off. Then I headed home. I parked the van in the parking lot on the side of my apartment building and walked toward the entrance. On the front steps of the building though I met up with Anthony who was leaving. He seemed upset about something which got me worried.
"Is everything okay?" I asked him.
"No," he replied and then told me about what had taken place at the pond. I couldn't believe that Charlie had said that. And I couldn't help but wonder where he got the idea that Adam was keeping his Mom and I apart. That wasn't true. Yes Casey and I had discussed taking things a little slower than we had originally been planning but she had understood my feelings after I explained them to her and we were cool. I knew I needed to have a talk with Casey about Charlie but right now I couldn't worry about that. Right now I had Adam to worry about.
I said good-bye to Anthony and tried to reassure him that everything would be okay and then headed upstairs to the apartment. I hung up my coat and then made my way back to Adam's room. I knocked on the door. When I didn't get an answer I tried the door knob which turned.
"Adam," I said as I opened the door. I still didn't get a reply. As I walked into the room I understood why.
Adam had already fallen asleep. Trying not to disturb him I took off his shoes and then got an extra blanket and covered him up with it. I then quietly left his room pulling the door shut softly behind me. It looked as if that conversation was going to have to wait too.
Connie's POV:
After Charlie, Adam, and Anthony had left everyone was quiet. I'm not sure anyone knew what to say let alone completely understood what had just taken place. I know I sure didn't.
Charlie's outburst had seemed to come out of nowhere. We all knew Adam would never do what Charlie had accused him of. Yes Adam always got involved in the game. He always had. And when he skated against us on the Hawks back in Pee-Wees he was a little rougher than was called for but he never would have outright take someone out like that and Charlie knew it. Something else was bothering Charlie but I had wasn't sure what it was and I don't think Adam did either. However, I was wondering if it had something to do with what Charlie had told me the night before about him wanting Coach Bombay to really be a part of his family. I was starting to think that maybe Charlie was getting jealous because ever since Adam's father had disowned him, the bond that Adam already had with our coach was getting stronger. My feeling was that Charlie was feeling threatened by that. I made a mental note to call Charlie later that night.
"What was that about?"Tammy asked breaking the silence. By that time we were all changing out of our skates and back into our shoes. I wasn't about to say anything. Charlie had confided in me and it wasn't my place to say anything.
"Is there something going on that we don't know about?" Jesse asked.
"Believe me, you're not the only one that don't know what is going on," Guy answered. "Charlie and Adam had been getting to be pretty good friends."
"Anyone think maybe some of us should try talking to them?" Fulton asked.
"I"m not going anywhere near Charlie until he cools off some," Averman replied.
"And I think Adam wants to be left alone," Jesse said.
"So much for our happy little reunion," Peter commented. His comment actually broke the tension as most of us laughed. Peter had a point. Today was suppose to be fun.
Everyone started talking after that. I heard Goldberg, Tommy, Karp, Fulton and Averman making plans to go the movies. I heard Averman ask Jesse and Terry to join them but they had to do something with there family. On one side of me Tammy and Peter were planning on going out to dinner together.
"Hey Connie, why don't you and Guy join us?" Tammy said. "We can make it a double date."
"What do you think Guy?" I asked Guy who was sitting on the other side of me.
"Sounds good to me. I'm not really looking forward to going home this early anyway."
"Great," Tammy said cheerfully.
"How about we just go now. We can leave our stuff at someone's house and then pick it up afterwards," Peter suggested. Tammy and Guy just nodded at his suggestion.
"I volunteer my house," I replied. "I need to take Cecily home."
"That works," Peter said.
The four of us gathered up our stuff and said good-bye to the others. Peter and Tammy held hands as we walked. Guy and I had Cecily in between us but we were use to it. I had always included her in some of the stuff Guy and I did and she and Guy got along pretty well.
"I have to warn you guys, my Dad is acting a little weird these days," I said as we walked up the sidewalk to my house.
"Yeah. He's become Mr. Mom," Cecily commented.
My friends looked at me and I just nodded. I really didn't want to go into a detailed explanation right then and they picked up on that and didn't ask any more questions. I had a feeling they might find out for themselves in a few minutes.
I opened the door to the house and ushered my friends inside. Cecily quickly dissapeared up to her room. My Mom was sitting in the living room crocheting an afghan.
"Hi, honey," she said looking up and then seeing my friends she said hello to them. I think she was a bit surprised to see Tammy and Peter because I hadn't hung out with them a lot lately.
"Hi Mom," I said. "We're all going to go out for dinner," I told her. "Is it okay if everyone leaves there stuff here while we're out?"
"Yeah sure," she said. "Why don't you all sit it over there in the corner out of the way." As we sat our stuff where she had indicated, I figured I'd take my stuff to my room when I came back, she asked "Do you know where you're going?"
"Ah, we haven't really decided," Peter said. "Is that a problem?"
"No, I was just curious. Connie just make sure you're home by nine o'clock."
"I will," I told her. "Let's go guys." I was hoping maybe we could get out of the house before my Dad appeared. I didn't get so lucky. As we turned to head for the front door my Dad came out of the kitchen in his apron again.
"Hi everyone," he said cheerfully. I could see Guy glance over at me. He could already tell something was up. "Sure you guys don't want to stay and have dinner here. I'm just getting started."
"Ah, no," I said quickly. " We really just want to hang out together a little longer. Guy and I haven't seen Peter and Tammy in awhile and we have a lot to catch up on."
"Well, okay. Your loss. I'm trying a new recipe tonight. Should be good."
"I'm sure it will be Dad. I'll try it some other time though. We need to be going."
"Okay. You kids have fun," he said and then headed back to the kitchen.
I quickly ushered my friends out the front door.
"Your Dad cooks?" Peter asked as we headed down the sidewalk.
"Recent development," I told him. I filled Tammy and Peter in on my Dad's recent medical problems. "He's even taking us all to church on Christmas morning which I'm sure my Mom is happy about but I'm still not sure how I feel about it. I just hope they don't start making me go to church every Sunday I'm home," I said finishing up.
"I don't know," Guy commented. " I think I like him better that way. It almost seems as if he doesn't mind me going out with you."
My dad had always given Guy a hard time since we started going out. Every time Guy had come over my Dad had given him the third degree. I didn't really think that my Dad didn't like Guy but it was just that his girl was seeing someone. I had always reassured Guy that it wasn't him. That my Dad would have been the same way to anyone I happened to date.
"I guess it could be worse," was all I said. I still wasn't sure how to take this new side to my father.
Charlie's POV:
When I got home the apartment was quiet, which was fine with me because the way I felt I didn't really want to be around anyone. I put my hockey gear in my room and then headed for the kitchen. I found a note on the refrigerator from my mother that she had picked up a shift at the diner and would be there until eleven tonight. She had also left a tuna casserole in the refrigerator for me for dinner. I then glance over at the phone and saw the light flashing indicating that there was a message on the answering machine.
I poured some ice tea into a glance and then headed over to the phone to check the message. The message was from my Mom. She said that she and Coach Bombay were going out for coffee after her shift so she would be home late. I erased the message and then went out in the living room and turned on the tv.
I tried not to think about what had just happened at the pond. I didn't want to dwell on it because the more I thought about it the more I felt bad about it. I wasn't sure what I had been thinking and evidently my Mom and Coach Bombay were still interested in each other. Maybe I had taken their conversation wrong. I shouldn't have been listening to them anyway. I considered calling Adam and apologizing but part of me was still angry at him. I knew that if I called him I would probably just say more things that I would regret. In fact I really didn't want to talk to anyone still.
I ate some of the casserole my mom had left me around six thirty and then went back to watching tv. I thought about putting together the tree which was still sitting in the box where I had left it earlier when I went out looking for candy canes but I just couldn't bring myself to get up and do it. I just wasn't really in the Christmas spirit.
Around eight o'clock the telephone rang. I got up and checked the caller id. The name on it was Gerald Morreau so I knew it was Connie who was trying to get a hold of me. I had thought I didn't want to talk about what had happened but I was glad she was trying to call me. At least I knew I hadn't completely pissed off all of my friends.
"Hello," I said picking up the phone.
"Hi, Charlie," I heard Connie said. "You want to talk?" she asked me cautiously as if she thought I might go off on her next. By this time though I had calmed down quite a bit.
"I guess," I said. " I guess everyone's pretty mad at me for going off on Adam and ruining the game."
"No, just concerned. They're all wondering what's going on with you. Oh, and you scared a few of them. Averman said he wasn't going anywhere near you until he knew you had calm down a bit."
"You can tell him its safe," I said with a laugh. "Has anyone talked to Adam?"
"Not that I know of. He left right after you did and didn't seem to want to talk to anyone. I think Jesse might try calling him sometime tonight but I'm not sure," she told me. "What's going on with you Charlie. I know you can't really be mad at him for knocking you down today. That was probably an accident like Adam said it wasn't. Adam wouldn't do something like that on purpose."
"I know," I said. "I don't know what got into me this afternoon," I told her. "I wasn't really even thinking when I said those things to him. I was angry at him but it wasn't that incident that got me angry it just happened to be the trigger."
"Did something happen between your mom and Coach Bombay?" Connie asked.
With a sigh I told her about the conversation I had overheard. "I know I shouldn't have even been listening but I was."
"Charlie you can't really blame this on Adam. He's not trying to sabotage you're mother and Coach Bombay or your relationship with Bombay. And Bombay didn't say he wanted to not see your Mom anymore just take things a little slower. You've waited four years for them to get together what's a few more months or another year. If its going to happen its going to happen no matter if Adam's with Bombay or goes back with his family," Connie was telling me reasonably. "And if you and Adam aren't getting along that might just make Bombay think even harder about marrying your Mom. If you ask me, I think Coach Bombay feels responsible for Adam's falling out with his Dad and he's going to put Adam's happiness over whatever he wants for himself."
At first Connie's words made me angry again but I was able to hold my tongue and the more I thought about what she was saying the more her words made sense. After all my Mom had said she was going out with Bombay tonight so it wasn't as if they were going to stop seeing each other. I couldn't help but wonder what Coach would think about my outburst when he found out.
"You have a point," I told Connie reluctantly.
"Where's you Mom right now?" Connie asked me.
"At work but she said she's going out with Coach Bombay, for coffee, after her shift is up."
"You see," Connie said excitedly. "They still want to spend time together. Let them go at their own pace. I'm sure they know what they're doing. Families can be complicated."
"Yeah, speaking of that, how are things going at your house."
"Weird," Connie said. She started telling me about how her Dad was acting lately. "I think I might actually like him better this way once I get use to it," she confided to me. "Its weird having Mom work so much though and I'm not looking forward to spending Christmas morning in Church."
"It could be worse," I told her.
"Oh, how's that?"
"He could have chosen a religion that didn't celebrate Christmas."
"Very funny Charlie."
I talked to Connie for quite awhile after that. By the time we said good-bye it was after nine thirty. I figured I'd wait until the next day before trying to call Adam to apologize. I turned around and looked at the Christmas tree in pieces in the box. I might as well get started, I thought to myself and started sorting out pieces.
Adam's POV:
When I woke up again it was dark in my room. I didn't remember taking off my shoes or covering up with a blanket. I heard the tv on in the livingroom outside of my room and wondered if Gordon was responsible. I glanced at my alarm clock on the bedside table nearby. It was almost ten o'clock I had slept for almost five hours and I still felt exhausted. I also ached all over. I would have thought it was just from the fall I had taken earlier today but my throat hurt and I felt hot like I had a fever. At first I just tried to ignore how I was feeling and go back to sleep.
However, after laying in bed for ten minutes I started to think that wasn't going to happen. As much as I didn't want to bother Gordon I didn't think I could hide that I wasn't feeling well anymore. I slowly got out of bed and headed for the door. I opened up the door to my bedroom and stepped out into the living room.
"Coach," I said and Gordon looked up at the sound of my voice.
Gordon's POV:
I was in the living room watching tv when I heard Adam's voice.
"Coach," was all he said and all he had to say. He looked horrible. His face was pale and even in the dim light I could see that the glands in his neck were swollen. I quickly got up from the couch and crossed the room to where he was sitting.
"How do you feel?" I asked him as I put a hand to his forehead. He was hot to the touch. I didn't need a thermometer to tell he had a fever.
"I hurt all over, and my throat hurts," he said quietly.
"How long have you felt this way?" I asked leading him over to the couch and having him sit down.
"I've felt worn out for the last few days but I just thought I was tired or that I was coming down with a cold. I just started feeling like this though."
"I'm taking you to the ER to get you checked out," I told him and then headed to his room for his shoes. As Adam put on his shoes I grabbed my keys and put on my winter coat. I then grabbed Adam's coat and helped him into. I lead him out to the van and headed for the ER.
The waiting room for the ER had only a few people waiting it in. With any luck it wouldn't be long until Adam was seen. I checked in with the receptionist at the desk and then Adam and I found seats on the one side of the waiting room away from the other people waiting.
It wasn't long before Adam had drifted off to sleep with his head resting on my shoulder. I watched as one of the people waiting was called to the back by a nurse. Trying not to disturb Adam, I got my cell phone out and dialed the Banks's home phone number. The phone rang about six times and then I heard someone pick up the phone and then immediately hand it up again. I figured that Philip Banks had probably checked the phone and saw my name on the caller id. Suppressing the urge to curse I flipped through the phone book on my cell phone and called Angela Banks cell phone. On the third ring I got her voice mail. I left her message to call me as soon as she got the message. I started to put my cell phone back into my coat pocket but then my eyes fell on the clock on the wall. It was ten forty! I had forgotten that I was suppose to pick Casey up after her shift at eleven.
I quickly punched in the number for the dinner.
"Mickey's Dinning Car, how may I help you," said a female voice when the phone was answered.
"Could I speak to Casey Conway, please?" I asked.
"Hold on," the woman said. There was silence and then I heard Casey's voice.
"Hello," she said.
"Casey, its Gordon. I'm calling to tell you I'm not going to be able to make it tonight. I'm at the ER. Adam woke up not feeling well almost an hour ago."
"Is it anything serious?"
"I don't know but I hope not. He hasn't been seen yet and I don't know when we'll get through here. Are you going to be okay getting home?"
"Yeah, sure. I'm sure Diane will give me a ride," Casey said. "Would you like me to come to the ER and wait with you?"
"No, that won't be necessary but thanks anyway."
"Okay, but please call me as soon as you know anything no matter how late it is."
"Okay. I love you Casey."
"Love you Gordon," she said and then I heard the soft click as she hung up the phone.
"Adam Banks," I heard a nurse call as I put my cell phone away. I quickly woke Adam up and walked back into the ER with him.
The nurse took his temperature and other vital signs and then told us that a doctor would be with us shortly. Five minutes later a doctor came in and introduced himself as Dr. Carter. I tried to wait patiently as he examined Adam but I really wanted to know what was wrong.
"Well, it could be a couple different things. I'm going to draw some blood and that should tell us exactly what he has," Dr. Carter said.
He took the blood sample and then told us, "It'll probably be about twenty minutes until we get the results back from the lab. Meanwhile I'll have a nurse bring some Tylenol in for him and we'll try to get the fever down a bit."
I don't know about Adam but for me those twenty minutes seemed to take forever. Adam kept drifting off to sleep for a few minutes and then waking back up. I was just hoping that whatever it was they wouldn't have to admit him. Its bad enough be sick over Christmas but spending Christmas in the hospital would be even worse.
"Well, I have good news and bad news," Dr. Carter said as he walked back into the curtained off area where we had been waiting. "The good news is that Adam won't have to stay here. You can take him home. The bad news is that he has mononucleosis. Other than taking Tylenol for the fever and headache there is nothing else we can do for him. Its important that he stays in bed and rests until his glands and throat are back to normal."
"How long will that be?" Adam asked.
Dr. Carter paused slightly before he answered him. "Most people recover within three weeks but it could last up to six weeks or longer. It depends on how the virus affects you." After telling this Dr. Carter turned to me. "I'd recommend calling Adam's regular doctor and setting up an appointment after the holiday."
"I will," I told him and shook his hand as he left.
Adam and I left the hospital after that and headed back to the apartment. After I got Adam settled in bed I picked up the phone to call Casey. It was already after midnight and I knew she was probably waiting up for me to call.