January 1972, New Year's Day: How the Mighty Can Fall

"But Mike, we had that planned for ages! Don't be such a spoilsport. Besides, I'm travelling back to college tomorrow, so today will be my last opportunity." Jeannie was dismayed. "We were supposed to go last Monday but you kept Steve working late. You promised you'd make it up to me!"

"Of course, sweetheart, but why does it have to be ice skating? Why don't you kids go to the cinema or if it has to be something cold, go for an ice cream instead?"

Jeannie's face showed no signs of relenting.

"How about cinema and ice cream, my treat?" her father offered.

His daughter still looked very cross and her foot tapped an angry rhythm on the floor of the kitchen where the three were sitting over a late breakfast.

"Steve, say something will you?" Mike begged.

His partner only grinned. "What am I supposed to say? I promised to teach Jeannie how to skate and a promise is a promise. Don't you trust me with your daughter?"

"I trust you with my life, buddy boy but you know, you've had the flu and then the other virus and you're still not really well…"

"In other words, you don't trust me to catch your daughter if she slips!"

"No, but… yes but! Darn it, with the bad luck you've recently had, I'm afraid something will happen to the both of you!"

Jeannie laughed out loud and kissed her father on the cheek. "You old worry wart. What should happen to us on the ice rink?"

Mike was ready to capitulate. "You could fall or Steve could catch another cold or… Okay, I give up, but under one condition: I'm coming with you!"

Steve looked uncomfortable and Mike eyed him suspiciously. "Am I interfering with your hidden agenda, mister?"

Steve feigned a look of annoyance. "Mike, what do you think I am? I have no doubt in my mind that I'll be physically capable of catching Jeannie, but I don't think I could hold you up when you fall…"

"If I fall! Did I never tell you about all the ice skating I did in my younger years? We obviously haven't done enough stake-outs together!"

Steve was still not quite convinced. "In your younger days…"

Mike grabbed him by the neck and shook him. "Cheeky, aren't you? Let's go then and see who takes the first fall. First one to go down pays for the coffee afterwards!"


Jeannie, with Steve's arm firmly placed around her, soon began to enjoy herself immensely. She almost felt sorry when Steve pronounced her steady enough to be held by the hand only. Mike, in the meantime, reacquainted himself with the slippery ice. Boy, oh boy, I don't remember the ice being so slippery when I went skating with Helen. It must be the modern skates or maybe the way they treat the ice nowadays.

He let go of the barrier tentatively but grabbed hold of it again. He watched Steve and Jeannie going around in steady circles and he was almost overwhelmed with pride. How fast his little girl had picked up skating and Steve - fair play to the kid, he had let go of her waist as soon as she was steady. Unlike some other young man we once knew, Mike, he reminded himself.

Jeannie beamed and beckoned towards her father to come and join them as they glided past him. Mike took a deep breath and pushed himself off the barrier. After a few wobbly strides he found his balance and skated towards Steve and Jeannie. Not too bad for an old man, he congratulated himself as he approached the two young people. He even picked up a little speed when all of a sudden he realized he was coming too close too fast with no brakes. He crashed into the couple and all three landed in a heap on the ice. Steve disentangled himself first and hoisted the helplessly giggling Jeannie up. He led her towards the barrier, where she stood, doubled over laughing. Then he went back for Mike, who was still sitting on the ice, looking a bit shamefaced. "Well, at least I wasn't the first one to hit the ice, buddy boy. I think you may have landed there a fraction of a second earlier," he joked.

"Yeah, because you slammed into me like a tank engine, just to keep the record straight. Here, let me help you up." The younger man held out his hand.

Mike hesitated.

"Come on, I was only joking when I said I couldn't hold you. "

Mike still didn't move and Steve was getting concerned. "Mike, are you alright?"

He answered, slightly irritated. "Yes, I'm alright but my left ankle isn't, but don't you dare to make any funny remarks now, my hands are in excellent working order!"

Steve snorted and averted his face quickly. "Okay, Mike, in spite of your hands being in working order, I think I'll better stand behind you and try and lift you up that way."

After a few efforts, Steve managed to haul the injured man to his feet, or rather to his foot. The left ankle couldn't bear any weight at all. Supported by Steve, they covered the short distance to the exit. Steve urged Mike to sit down on a bench as he kneeled down in front of his friend to take the boot off.

"Be careful! What do you think you're doing?" Mike hissed through clenched teeth.

"Taking your boot off, Mike, before we have to cut it off. I'm sure you wouldn't want to pay for a replacement, would you?" Steve was unfazed.

"Sorry, buddy boy, don't mind me!" Mike felt sorry for his outburst already. No fool like an old fool. He thought ruefully.

In the meantime, Jeannie had skated carefully towards the exit and looked at the scene playing out in front of her. Wide eyed, her urge to giggle suddenly vanished as she caught the pained expression on her father's face and the look of concern etched on his protégé's.

"Steve, what can I do?" She asked immediately.

"Take the skates off and see if you can get me some ice from the first aid kit in the main office to cool the ankle. Then could you get our shoes and stuff from the locker so we can go to the hospital as soon as possible."

She nodded and went about her tasks straight away.

"Hospital! Don't be ridiculous now, Steve," Mike grumbled.

"The ankle needs to be x-rayed and at least strapped up properly." The younger man tried to fight back the laughter that was rising deep in his belly, when he remembered a similar conversation a few days ago. "May I remind you, Mike? Just for once, do what I say and don't argue!"

Mike kept quiet and acknowledged that this round went to Steve.

"But, Mike!" Jeannie wailed. "How can I go back to college when you need help!"

"Need help? Whatever for? All l I did was sprain my ankle!" Mike grumbled.

"Jeannie, he's right!" Steve supported his mentor. "He'll need a bit of a hand hobbling around for a day or two and some help with driving. Nothing I couldn't do! You know I have a dab hand with the can opener and nobody beats me at ordering take out!" This time Steve didn't hold back his wide grin. "You know, Mike has been so dedicated looking after me when I was sick, I really can't wait to pay back his kindness!"

Mike thought he detected an evil twinkle in Steve's eyes…