Playing The Game

Old Wise Men

I decided to take a day for myself and visit my grandpa. I haven't seen the old nut since before school started. I could say I've been busy, but that's no excuse because family is the one thing I have right now. I need to clear my head and spend time with Grandpa, after all, the man is aging and won't be around forever. We must enjoy the allotted time we have.

I pull up to the gates concealing the property. People think Grandpa is like any other helpless old timer. Little do they know he's got eight German shepherds who are well trained to take out intruders. And he served a decade in the Army, put a gun in his hands and you're dead.

"I've missed Grandpa." Cash says from the back seat.

"Yeah, me too." I agree.

I ain't no greedy fool, I don't mind Cash and Austin calling Grandpa, Grandpa. My grandparents are the only ones who these boys have known. Mothers dad died when she was a little girl and she refuses to speak about her own mother. As you know my dads mom passed long ago also, but Grandpa lives on.

So, I have one grandparent, and I'm not afraid to share. Cash and Austins mom walked out on them when they were in diapers, and their dads parents just aren't good folks. Grandpa Skinner has been there for them, and me. It makes me smile that they welcome Grandpa into their lives and treat him with such high regards.

As we get out of my car, Grandpa steps through the wooden screen door.

"You trespassing haloogines. Why, I outta shoot ya. Coming to my home like you own the place." Grandpa says.

I grin, "Nice to see you too, Grandpa."

I walk up the stairs and kiss his wrinkled cheek.

"Grandpa Skinner." Cash follows suit and hugs him.

"Atticus." Austin has always used Grandpa first name, which sets him off. Even as kids Austin referred to Grandpa that way. Maybe because Austin feels uncomfortable calling someone who isn't a blood relative by something they aren't?

I don't know.

"Which of yous is gunna explain why my cellular telephone has been going crazy. Something about Avery, Austin, Ivy, football, baby. Make any sense?"

I hold the door open, "It's a long story."

*

I reach for another piece of sticky bread, "And now everyone knows."

Grandpa cleans his buttoned up shirt of crumbs, "Wow. Kids must hate y'all."

Cash cokes on his coffee, "No kidding."

"Not just kids, Grandpa, but everyone."

"Let me get this straight. Ivy's pregnant with Austin's baby. You've been playing football for Austin, thinking it would stay quiet, now people know."

I nod, "Pretty much."

"Bitching."

"Grandpa." I scold. The man is wiser then most, yet he's a teenager stuck inside a wasting body.

"And how does Austin feel?" Grandpa asks.

We all turn to stare out the window, where we see Austin under the hood of a tracker. Grandpa has either Austin, Cash or some other young man to do farm chores that Grandpa can't himself. He pays them well enough, but I think he just wants to be lazy.

"I have no idea." I gaze at Cash.

"Like he tells me anything." Cash rolls his eyes.

"What do you think of me playing football?" I blurt. Originally I planned on the more subtle side of this approach, but I guess not.