Chapter 25 The day he hopes to come back

I must tell you when was the last time I saw my mother while she was alive, and what I did. That was eight years ago, at her seventy-ninth birthday party.Earlier, she joked that everyone better come to the birthday party, because she will stop telling people that I am having a birthday next year.Of course, she said this when she was sixty-nine, fifty-nine, or even twenty-nine. One Saturday afternoon, she held a birthday party at home.My wife and daughter and I are a family of three, my sister Roberta and her husband Elliott with their three children (the youngest Rosanne is only five years old, and she wears ballet shoes everywhere), plus 20 years ago His old neighbors, including several old ladies whose mother helped wash and do their hair.These old ladies are all in poor health, and one of them came here in a wheelchair.Despite their ill health, their hair was all done and sprayed, and they looked as if they were wearing steel helmets.I was thinking that maybe the purpose of my mother's birthday party was to give old ladies a reason to dress up.

I want grandma to do my makeup, is that ok?Maria came hopping toward me, her fourteen-year-old body like a pony, underdeveloped and uncoordinated. Why?I said. Because I want to.She said, as long as you agree, she will help me make up. I look at Catherine.She shrugged.Maria punched me in the arm. Please, please, please, please. I've said a lot about how bleak my life was when I stopped playing baseball.But I should mention that Maria is the only exception.I find the greatest joy in her.I try to be a good dad.I try to pay attention to details.She finished her fries and I wiped the ketchup off her face.I sat at her small desk, pencil in hand, and helped her with her math homework.When she was eleven, she came downstairs in a little sleeveless vest tied at the back of the neck with a string, and I told her to go upstairs and change.I would often throw the ball to her, and I would always immediately agree to take her to swim lessons at the nearby YWCA.I'd love for her to just be a boyish naughty girl.

I later learned that since I withdrew from her life, she was writing sports articles for the student newspaper in college.In her essays that blend language and physical activity, I found that, whether you like it or not, your parents pass something on to your children through you. At the birthday party, cups and cups were mixed, and music was melodious.The sound of chatter filled the room.Mother read aloud what was written on the birthday cards she received, and even the cheapest, pastel-colored ones with bunnies on the cover were mistook for a congratulatory message from a high-ranking foreign official (just to jump in Say hello to your birthday!) When she finishes reading, she opens the card for everyone to see.Then, she blew a kiss to the person who wrote the card.

When the card was read but before the cake was eaten or the gift was opened, the phone rang.The phone at my mother's house can ring for a long time because she doesn't rush to stop what she is doing and answer the phone right away.She had to vacuum the last corner of the floor or spray the last pane of glass with cleaner before answering the phone, as if all the rings before answering the phone didn't count. No one answered the phone, so I did. If I could start my life over again, I'd keep that phone ringing. Hello?I shout in a noisy environment. Mother still has an old telephone.The phone cord was twenty feet long because she liked to walk around while talking on the phone.

Hello?I spoke again and pressed the microphone to my ear. Hello? I'm going to hang up.At this moment, I heard a man clear his throat. Then, my dad said: Chick, is that you? At first, I didn't answer.I was stunned.My mother's phone number never changed, but it's hard to believe my father would call here.He left this house suddenly and left as soon as he said it, causing great damage and injury.Hearing his voice now makes me feel as if a man has returned to the scene, into a building that has been burned down. Yes, it's me.I whispered. I have looked for you.I'll call your home and your office.i guess you might be here

Today is my mother's birthday. Oh yes.He said. do you want to talk to her Immediately I came up with this sentence.I could feel my father rolling his eyes. Chick, I'm looking for Pete.Garner talked. Peter.Kano Pirates people. Yeah? I took the microphone and walked away from the guests.I circle the microphone with my other hand.Meanwhile, two old ladies were sitting on the couch, eating tuna sandwiches with paper plates in their hands. Didn't they play in the Veteran's Memorial Game?Father said: Pete told me, FreddieGonzalez withdrew.Something is wrong with the application file.

I don't understand why It's too late for them to call for a replacement now.So I said to Pete: Chick is nearby. Dad, I'm not around. You can be around.He doesn't know where you are. Veterans Memorial Game? Then he said: Oh, really?Is Chick there?I said: he is here.And he's in good shape. dad so peter said dad I know where this conversation is going.I knew it right away.There is only one person who is more reluctant to give up my baseball career than myself.That man is my father. Pete said they'd put you on the roster.you just need Dad, I only hit from here

six weeks of big leagues It was about ten o'clock in the morning. I only played Then Veterans Memorial Game can't be played like this What's your problem, Chick? I hate this question.What is your problem?There is no good answer to this question, you can only say that I have no problem.But this sentence is obviously not true. I sigh.They said they'd put me on the roster? that's what i just said Let me play? Are you deaf?I just said that. when? The team will arrive tomorrow, and then tomorrow? It's tomorrow.How about it? But it's three o'clock in the afternoon

You walk into the dugout.You meet these guys by chance.You open your mouth and talk to them. Who do I stumble across? Anyone can do it.Anderson.Molina.Or Mike.Junaz, he's the trainer, the bald guy, remember?Find a way for me to meet them and make friends with them.You have to talk to them, you never know how things will turn out. What's the meaning? An opportunity may arise.A coach's absence, or a hitting trainer's absence, or someone's job in the minor leagues.so you put one foot in the door why would they want me that's how these things are I've never hit the field before, in

That's it, that's how it happens, Cheek.you step in the door first but I Which talents you know are the key to bringing job opportunities Dad, I have a job now. Father paused.My dad was the best at hurting people with pauses that I know. Listen, he took a breath: I cheated this opportunity, do you want it or not? His voice changed.The fighter got angry and clenched his fists.He completely ignored my current life, and took it away hastily.I wish I could be like him too.This made me recoil, curl up in a ball, and at that point, of course, my battle was lost. Get up and get the hell out the door, you hear me?He said.

Today is mom's birthday. But not tomorrow. Looking back on that conversation, I wish I had asked him more questions then.Does he care about his ex-wife's birthday?Did he want to know how she felt?Who will come to celebrate her birthday?What does the house look like?Did she miss him?If she misses her, is she thinking of intimacy, or is she unhappy?Or did she not take him to heart at all? Many things, I wish I had asked him that day.But I didn't ask.All I said was, I'll call him again.I hang up.I let the opportunity my father tricked me fly around in my head. While I was thinking about that opportunity, my mother cut open the vanilla cake and put it on a paper plate piece by piece.She unwraps presents; I think about that opportunity.Catherine, Mariah, and I were taking a picture next to her, and Maria was wearing purple eyeshadow, and I was still thinking about that opportunity.Mother's friend Edith took the camera and said: One, two Oh, wait a minute.I can never figure out how to do this stuff. Even when we were standing there smiling, all I could think about was the way I was swinging. I try to concentrate, back in front of my eyes.I tried to be part of my mother's birthday party.But my father, who was a thief in many ways, took my attention away.Before everyone had finished eating their cakes and leaving their paper plates behind, I was down in the basement and on the phone.I booked the last flight of the night and was ready to leave. My mother used to start her conversations with sentences like this: Be a good boy, like be a good boy and take out the trash, or be a good boy and go to that store and buy something.However, with just one phone call, I, who had been a good boy for many years, ran away and let another child take my place as a good boy. I had to lie to everyone present.It's not difficult.I wear a beeper for work.I dialed the pager number on the downstairs phone and immediately went upstairs to wait.The pager rang in front of Catherine.I grimaced and complained that they were bothering me on Saturdays. I pretend to call back.Pretend to be disappointed.Pretend I have a client who can only have meetings with me on Sundays and I have to fly there.I said, isn't this annoying? Can't they wait?mother asked. I know this is ridiculous.I said. But we're going to have a later breakfast together tomorrow. You said, what do you want me to do? Can't you call them back and tell them? No, Mom.My tone was decisive: I can't call back. Her eyes moved down.I took a breath.The more you defend your lies, the more angry you feel. An hour later, the taxi came.I grab my luggage.I hugged Catherine and Maria, who forced a smile but were actually frowning.I shouted goodbye to the group.They also shouted: goodbye bye good luck Finally, I heard my mother's voice drawn out over the others: Love you, Cha. Halfway through the conversation, the car door slammed shut. I never saw her again after that. ◇◇◇ When my mother stood up for me But, how much do you know about running a restaurant?my wife said. This is a sports bar.I said. We sit at the dinner table at home.My mother is there too.She played hide-and-seek with the immature Maria.By this time I was no longer playing baseball.A friend approached me as a partner to start a new business. Isn't it hard to run a bar?Catherine said: There are some things you have to know how to do, don't you? He knows how to do those things.I said. What do you think, Mom?Catherine asked. Mother held Maria's hand and shook it up and down. Do you have to work at night, Charlie?she asked. What? night.Do you have to work there at night? I'm an investor, Mom.I'm not going to be a waiter. That's going to cost a fortune.Catherine said. You can't make money if you don't invest first.I said. Besides this, are there other factors to consider?Catherine said. I took a deep breath.In fact, I don't know what else to consider.When you play, you train yourself not to think about anything else.I can't imagine myself working at a desk.But this time it's bars; I know bars.By this time I had come to rely on alcohol as a part of my life.And I didn't tell anyone, the fact that I had alcohol at hand was very appealing to me.Besides, the name of this store includes the word sports. Where is the shop located?mother asked. It's about half an hour's drive from here. How often do you have to go? I have no idea. Don't you need to go tonight? Why do you keep asking if you want to go at night? She wiggled her fingers over Maria's face.Charlie, you are a man with a daughter. I shake my head.I know, Mom.OK? Catherine stood up and cleared the dishes.This thing scares me.that is it.I'm just being honest. My body fell backwards.I stare at the ground.When I raised my eyes again, I found my mother was looking at me.She put a finger to her chin, then lifted it a little, and in her way told me I should do the same. do you know what i thinkShe said: "I think you should try all kinds of things in your life.Don't you think so too, Charlie? I nodded in agreement. Faith, love and hard work As long as you have these three, you can do anything. I sit up straight.My wife shrugged.The atmosphere changed.The chances of success increase. A few months later, the sports bar opened. Two years later, it closed its doors. You obviously need more than those three things.At least in my world, those three are not enough.Maybe it would work in her world.