Chapter Twenty-One
His cell phone rings as he slips the key into the door lock. He flips open the phone and recognizes the number, "Hey kiddo, what's up?"
"I got placed today, 6-9 precinct, sound familiar?"
"Sure does," he opens the car door. "Have you met your partner yet?"
"Yeah," Tony says with elation. "He's a ten year veteran, name of Jim Gregory. Ever hear of him?"
"No," he smiles as he shakes his head. "Can't say that I have."
"Where are you? Can I buy you dinner?"
"Just getting in my car," he closes the door. "And yes you can buy me dinner."
"Oh," he says solemnly.
"Oh….what the hell was that?"
"Well being Friday and all I thought….you know….you would be going out with Alex."
"We don't go out just because it's Friday." He says sharply.
Moment of silence on Tony's part, "I….sorry I didn't mean to…."
"No, it's cool. When do you report?"
"Monday 8 to 4 shift."
"Listen ah….you know I'm not a brass kisser but remember what the commissioner said, be safe and be smart."
Christ I haven't even started yet, "Yeah, I know….I will."
"Meet you at Liberties," he states firmly.
"Perfect, later."
Bobby's Place
The Next Day
He shuffles through his mail as he uses his foot to close the door, "Bill, bill….hey a postcard." He turns it over, "No I don't need my lawn serviced." He tosses the pile that he has read onto the kitchen table, "A letter? Who?" He flashes a quick smile as he recognizes the handwriting, "Tony?" He loosens his tie then tosses the remaining pile onto the table. Hastily he opens the letter.
Hey Bobby,
I have never written a letter in my life so you should feel honored to be the first. I was going to write LOL at the end of that but I knew that would just piss you off. Shit I wrote it anyway didn't I?
He chuckles softly as he pulls out the chair, shaking his head as he wonders what is this all about, he sits down.
Lately, I'm not sure why but I can't get the day that we first met out of my mind. I shiver when I look back at that little kid, that kid….me. I may have seemed totally out of it at but in reality, I could tell, at first anyway, that you were glad that you finally found me. Was I scared? Damn right I was but at the same time, I was relieved. I didn't like the streets at all….I knew I had a home to go too and I knew I had a Mom who loved me. I was ashamed of who I was….Yeah an eleven year old who was so full of anger and hate, for who…at the time I had no clue.
When I raised my head and saw you, I remember thinking, shit this guy is fuckin' huge.
Bobby smiles as he rubs his chin.
Piss him off and he'll put you through the wall. I bet in the years that followed you thought of doing that, didn't you?
"No," he states then unconsciously looks around the room. "Well….maybe sometimes."
However, I didn't have enough energy to fight I just wanted to disappear. Find a hole and jump in, so I wouldn't hurt anyone anymore.
It was amazing to me how your animosity that day turned into caring within a moment's time. It was weird and I was grateful then and now for everything that you have done. Not just for me but my Mom. Yes sometimes she would enable me; I saw it and I used it against her. You were the anchor for us, you kept her focused, she knew it, as do I.
I had some major problems in my life, no doubt about that. Was I a bad kid?
Bobby smiles slightly, "Nah just a mixed up one."
That judge thought I was but you didn't or my Mom. I wonder how many kids thank the guy who arrested them?
He scratches the back of his head as if it will help him to know the answer.
I never told you this but….you probably figured it out anyway. I would look forward to your visits when I was in Spafford. Some of our talks were very interesting to say the least. Yes, that is just it. You talked to me, listened to me. My Mom would visit, and if I remember correctly, you talked me into that. I didn't want her to see me there. She would talk to me but she had no clue as to what I was going through but you did. Even though you have kept most of your past to yourself, I know that in a way you went through the same things I did. You never said it but….you saw yourself in me.
I know you got a raw deal as a kid and you overcame that. You wanted and needed me to see that I could overcome the demons in my life. (I hope that one day you will crush all those demons, you deserve it.) You saw strength in me that I never knew was there. You made me focus on it and I learned a great deal from you, to not only respect and trust others but to respect myself.
It took me awhile to understand all that you did. What did you do? You cared and you never gave up on me. No matter how many times I fucked up, you were there. I remember the first time you gave me hell, I thought to myself this guy has some nerve. He's not my Dad or even an Uncle but after all is said and done you helped me through the toughest time of my life, Childhood.
I barely remember my father, not that it was his fault. The memories I have of him were of a quiet and gentle man who loved to take me for walks. Even though I call you by your given name, you are and will always be my Dad….I love you man.
Tony
He begins to re-read the letter but he has trouble focusing on the words, his eyes are blurry, a single tear falls onto the paper. Just missing the word Tony, he wipes it with his finger. He folds up the letter then gently replaces it in the envelope. He stands and using a napkin, he wipes his eyes and blows his nose. As he walks across the room toward his bedroom, he removes his jacket and tie, securely clutching the letter in his large hand. He sets the letter upright on top of his dresser. Taking quick glances at it as he unclips the cell phone from his belt. As he places the phone down it rings, he doesn't look at the caller ID.
"Hello," he says then sniffles.
"Hey it's me….are you alright?"
He wipes his eyes, "Yes of course, why?"
"You sound funny are you catching a cold?"
"Ah, yeah."
"Do you have fever?"
"No just….my eyes are….I'm a little congested."
"Get some rest I'll talk to you tomorrow then."
"No, no it's….yeah all right; I'll see you tomorrow, bye Alex."
"Goodbye Bobby, oh," she says excitedly. "Do you have any cold medicine in the house?"
She cannot see the large grin on his face; yes Mom, "I think I have a bottle of Nyquil."
"That's good stuff, take that and lay down," she says with authority.
His grin turns into a frown; you are getting too good at this shit, lying to her. It's not right. You should tell her….tomorrow, tell her tomorrow. "I will, don't worry I'll be fine."
"I got it," she exclaims.
Slightly startled he asks, "Got it….got what?"
"You woke up in the arms of the beer guy."
She can hear a laugh that fades away from the receiver. She then hears a cough, "The beer….guy?"
"I didn't say you did anything just that you woke up."
"Must admit that is certainly a good one but….that's not it."
"Damn, can't trap you. I'll have you know it's driving me crazy."
"Think of it as life's little mysteries, like why are we here? Who really built the pyramids….why.…?"
She cuts him off, "Ok, ok I get it. Damn you are good. I give up. Go get some rest and I'll see you tomorrow, for breakfast. The diner down the street from you?"
"Yes, what time?"
"I'll be at your place between 8 and 8:30."
"Great, see you tomorrow and thanks."
"Get some rest now, bye Bobby."
"I will, I will, bye." He closes up the phone, chuckling softy, "She is so damn cute sometimes." He tosses the phone onto the dresser, "Things are definitely looking up for you Goren." He checks his look in the mirror, "Bout fuckin' time."
A/N: This was one of the hardest chapters for me to write. Yes a Mom with three kids trying to think and write a letter from a twenty-year-old man to another man. If there were bits of corniness in here my apologies.
I'm going to end it here, be back soon with an update.
The Mominator