Chapter Four of Football

Spiral

"Dammit Jim, he won't listen to me, can't you do something about it before it gets worse?"

"Joan, I'm sorry, my hands are tied, that unless he goes totally rogue there is nothing I can do. I thought, and still think, that you could help him. And I do think that you have. But he's always been a stubborn rascal, it may take some time for even you to help him. But you know, I know, we all know he loves you."

"But Jim he's just hurting himself."

"I'm sorry. And I know you're upset because you care about him. But he's still doing a very good job, if you stick with him, maybe he will get a grip before long."

"Well Jim, all I can do is try. But you want to hear something funny before you go?"

"certainly, we've been way too serious tonight."

"He's actually going to accompany me to a bazaar we're having at work Friday night. It ought to be the most boring event of the year!"

Superintendent Jim Strange couldn't help but smile at the thought of how miserable Morse would be at such an event. "Well, be careful that he doesn't spike the punch."

"I'll make sure he doesn't Jim"

"I hate to run, but my pager just went off, duty calls'

"Of course Jim….and Jim, thanks for listening."

"Good night – and Joan, in the end it's up to him to help himself."

"I know it is Jim, I guess I'm just worried for him. Good night"

This had all the looks of being one of the longest evenings of my life. If it hadn't been that Joan had asked me, I wouldn't have attended this event on bet. As it was, I would have to make the best of it. Of course we had to be there before the event officially started, as Joan had to make sure that everything was in order. Then she had to introduce me to all her co-workers. A group that I couldn't imagine having anything in common with. So even before the event started the muscles in my face were beginning to feel the strain.

I suppose its normal at events such as this to have to engage in mindless small talk but that wasn't the worst part. There were various games and raffles, I suppose to raise money for whatever cause they were supporting. Inevitably there were times when I would be left on my own while Joan did her bit for the cause. During those times I was trying to figure out if I could safely slip away and take a nap. Failing that perhaps I could put my mind to use and pretend to be invisible. Obviously, I wasn't succeeding as I was always jostled by somebody.

On one occasion Joan stole up behind me, gave me a playful poke and made me jump, that brought a laugh from her. "Are you having fun yet?"

"hmm"

"you didn't spike the punch while I was gone did you? Jim told me to be on the lookout for that."

"umm, Jim's got a lot of room to talk"

She squeezed my elbow at my lack of enthusiasm "regardless, thank you for coming with me tonight, I appreciate it"

"you're welcome. When did you say it was over?"

"10, and then I've got to help, at least a little bit, with the cleanup."

"oh my word."

"well if you want to you run along, I'm sure I can get a ride."

"I'm sure. I hate it when you do that, you know I'm not going anywhere and leave you here."

She didn't bother to answer that she knew she had the advantage of me.

"did you make an appointment with the doctor yet?"

"I forgot." The look in her eyes told me that wasn't the right answer. "OK, I'll do it I promise"

Fortunately at that time she was summoned over to resolve a crisis at one of the games tables but before she left, she gave me a look of exasperation along with "Morse, what do I have to do? you need to take care of yourself."

I watched her as she walked away knowing that I hadn't heard the end of this. She wasn't the type of woman to give up on something that was important too her. And to my continued surprise I was evidently important enough for her to want to get her way.

The door opened, and Joan stepped in and gave her surprised father a quick hug. "Hi dad"

"Hello Joanie, what are you doing here?"

"Just thought I would stop by and see how you were doing….it's been a couple of weeks now"

"you didn't need to do that. But I'm glad to see you."

Mr. Thursday looked around outside before closing the door behind his daughter. "He didn't come with you I see, don't tell me…."

"NO DAD!" …"he's working, Some case that they must be getting close to closing."

"eh?, "anything interesting?"

"Dad, you know him, he's almost as bad as you were about talking about a case."

"a good habit for a copper to have"…"he treating you right is he?"

"we are fine." "let me fix us some lunch."

"You don't need to go to that much trouble, besides are you sure you have time?"

"come on dad, it's the weekend, Debbie's with the kids, and Morse is working. So I'm all yours for the afternoon."

"as long as you're sure"

"of course I'm sure, why don't you sit down, and I'll fix up something for lunch then we can catch up"

Fortunately Joan had picked up some groceries on the way because there wasn't much in. She prepared a salad, some tuna and put the tea on. Fred prepared the table and they sat down to eat.

"So Dad are you doing ok?"

"Doing fine, trying to keep myself busy, I think that's the hardest part."

"are you still working part time at the grocery?"

"yes, but I'm not sure for how much longer, I'm not as young as I was, you know."….he reached out and put his hand on hers briefly, then withdrew it. "but Joan, I don't want to talk about me today."

"Ok, what do you want to talk about?"

"do you hear from Robert?"

She glanced down, briefly before answering. "just through his attorney."

"have you thought about taking him back?" by the look on her face he knew her answer. She was his daughter, stubborn, and once she had made her mind up it wasn't likely that she would change it.

"no dad, it was over between us long before we decided to separate."

"and your children, do you think this is the best for them?"

"ideal? No. But it was getting worse and that was affecting them as well. This is the best way"

He huffed a derisive snort "with Morse?"

"dad, what's happened to you, he was your rising star for years, the man you were hoping would take your place!"

"that was before he did what he did to you! I can't forgive him for that."

"I'm sorry for that, but it doesn't change the fact that we are friends"

"hah, friends, sleeping together is for more than friends."

"dad, I'm a big girl and I will take whoever I want to my bed." "And for your information he's not well and I blame you!"

"What! How am I to blame for anything about him?

"because its his blood sugar, its off the chart! which comes from his drinking too much. And who started him back to drinking? you"

"me? I bought him a beer! Not my fault if he liked it too much!"

"and all those lunches in the pubs, a bottle in your desk. You should have seen where it was going!"

"we had a job to do, and we did it"

"are you going to marry him after the divorce?"

"Dad, you're impossible!"

Debbie answered the door before Joan could use her key.

"Welcome home"

"Thanks Deb, I'm exhausted, how were the kids?"

"They were fine, Fred's feeling his oats a little bit, but nothing to worry about, would you like a cuppa?"

"he's the one I worry about the most, of course I would love one, let me just sit down a minute, dealing with Dad is getting to be more and more difficult"

It was only a couple of minutes later before Debbie bought Joan her tea. "if you don't mind, I'll join you in a cup before I go."

"of course, that would be lovely… Debbie, why are all the men in my life a pain in the butt?"

Debbie almost choked on her tea at that one. Regaining control of her saucer, she managed to set it down while coughing and gagging the tea which had gone the wrong way. Finally she was able to get out the words although they sounded more like a croak. "How so?"

"simple, there are really just three grown men that I care about, two if you exclude Robert. And both of them are determined to make my life difficult."

"How so?... I assume you are talking about your Dad and Morse?"

"Exactly,….. Dad can't or won't let go of his dislike for Morse,

"why?"

"because of the way he acted at the end, right before we were to get married, being mad then was understandable but I'm a big girl."

"and Morse?"

She took another sip of her tea, looked into her cup for a moment before answering. "he drinks too much, and its damaging his health. I've begged him to go to the doctor, and he won't do it. Even if he does, I don't know that he will follow their advice."

"I never see him look too….ugh, …much the worse for wear."

"no, not around me, or the kids, and Jim Strange says he's fine on the job. But that leaves a lot of time, doesn't it?"

"the answers simple… spend more time with him so he won't drink as much."

"Deb, don't start that….." although she had to smile behind her cup.

"Joan, not my place to ask but you do love him, don't you?"

"yes, but I'm worried about him. And it frustrates me that he won't let me help him."

"I suppose that leads to rows?"

"Occasionally some world class rows, Debbie."

"but I suppose he's been that way for a while now." She saw Joan raising a questioning eyebrow. "Stubborn I mean."

That elicited a small huff from Joan. "oh yes…..OH YES."

Debbie put down her saucer, stood up and said "well let me wash these before I go."

"No need, leave it, I'll take care of them. Thank you for keeping the kids" "And Deb…..thanks for listening."