In Another Life

Chapter 17: Mia

"Mia!" Vicy yells from downs stairs.

I'm trying to braid my hair and walk down the wooden staircase in sock feet. Slipping and sliding and almost falling, twice. I'm wearing most of my rugby uniform, I can't find my mouthpiece or cleats or wrist brace. I play eight man (my number is eight if you didn't get it), I'm back row in the scrum. I make it down the stairs without dying and make it to the doorway of the kitchen.

"Yeah--Jesus Christ!" I yell as I run into the solid oak doorframe.

Vic takes one look at my attire and gives me a stupid look.

"Where are you going dressed like that?" She asks.

I look down at my royal blue and black uniform with a devil on the breast. Matching black shorts and one black sock and a royal blue sock. I roll my eyes.

"A civil war reenactment." I say and the boys nearly die laughing. "I have a game, Victoria use your fucking head!"

"Where's your cleats and brace?" Vic asks.

"Wish I knew, sweetheart." I say and she smiles. "Why were you yelling for me?"

"Oh!" She starts pressing buttons on the phone. "Do you know what this is?"

She plays a message that was left on the phone. I recognize it as my grandmother in Ireland. She doesn't speak a word of English, only Gaelic so it sounds like gibberish to my dear American friends.

"Hello songbird. I'm just calling to check up on you. Your mum said you have been ignoring her calls. I know you lot don't see eye to eye all the time but you know she isn't well. We're not sure how much time she has left, luv. Anyways its something to think about. Have you been going to mass? You should be. Fair well, songbird."

My mom hasn't been listening to the doctors in rehab, she was sent there after my dad died in '84. I have been ignoring her calls because I don't want to talk to her, she wasn't a very good mother. Vicy doesn't know about my mom.

"Umm, it's my grandmother." I say as I finish braiding my hair.

"What kinda language was that?" Bret wonders with a smile.

"Gaelic." I say.

"What was she talking about?" Vic wonders.

If I were to tell her, she'd make me go see her. It's not worth it.

"Wanted to make sure I was going to mass." I say as I dig through my gym bag. "She's crazy Catholic."

I find my cleats, one of my many mouth guards, and my wrist brace. I struggle with the brace, trying to put in on my dominant hand for a while before Vicy does up the Velcro. I zip up my bag and look up.

"What time do you play at?" Rikki wonders.

"Not until one but I gotta be there in ten minutes to start warm up." I say as I look at the clock.

"I'm coming!!" CC announces. "I love seeing my sister kick ass. Planning in getting in the Sin Bin?" I half smile.

"I never plan on it, it just kinda happens." I admit and they laugh. "Okay I'm going to be late so, see ya." I say as I start to walk out the door.

"What the hell is that?" CC's voice stops me.

"What?" I say as I turn around.

"This!" CC lifts up the tail of my jersey revealing my Minnie Mouse tattoo.

"What does it look like?" I ask sarcastically. "It's what happens when you leave for eight years." I mumble as I walk out the door.

God he drives me insane sometimes.