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“ Ugly as Hell. I have pictures and a whole bunch to tell you. How about I pick up Chinese food on the way home?”“ I’ ll call and order in thirty minutes.”“ Cool,” Eddie said and sped out the driveway. Driving like his wife was about to have a baby, in the pre-rush hour traffic, put Eddie at the Chinese restaurant in three quarters of an hour. He had to wait for the food. The cab of his truck filled with the various aromas as he drove homeward. He pulled into the driveway and carried the bags inside.“ I’ m home. Dinner is here,” he yelled up the stairs, put the food on the table and went out to get the computer and camera. The new case was recognized immediately by Tanya as she came down the stairs.“ Eddie you only worked three days and spent over four hundred dollars. A computer has not shown up on the bank statement yet.”“ Rodney loaned me his old one. It was all stuff I needed. Besides I’ m getting two paychecks for three weeks. I really haven’ t quit my other job yet. I have one weeks vacation coming and the company held back two weeks pay when I started, before we were married.”“ I’ m sorry. It’ s just that we spent the little cushion we had and it makes me nervous,” Tanya said and began to run the numbers in her head.“ We can put the cushion back,” she said.“ I don’ t have to pay for gas and my new job pays two hundred dollars a week more.”“ The gas guzzler that drinks a hundred dollars a week?”“ My company gas card also pays for oil changes anywhere in Texas.”“ Oh my God! Eddie, I’ m really sorry. I just saw what was going out. I didn’ t realize how much was coming in,” she said, stepping into his arms and kissing her prosperous husband.“ Food is getting cold,” he smiled.
The rumble on the stairs announced the arrival of their two children. They converged on the dining room. Eddie began to unload the bulging, white cardboard containers and ordered the children to help their mother with plates, silverware and drinks. The cartons threatened to burst at the seams. Steam rose from the center of the table as Eddie open the boxes. The table was set quickly, food was passed and plates were filled. Eddie asked Justin when he was supposed to play basketball against the teachers.“ Two weeks ago,” Justin said, offering no more.“ Did you play?”“ Yes.”“ Who did you team up with?” Eddie noticed this conversation was going as usual. Pulling teeth would be easier.“ Ryan.” he said, between mouthfuls.“ How did you do?”“ We lost.”“ If one of your friends asked about the game what would you say?” Eddie asked irritably. The look he received from his son said,“ Why are you torturing me like this?” Tanya stepped in and saved her son. She gave the facts as she had heard. Her son had given them a run for the money, Ms. Jorgensen commented she was glad Justin and Ryan had been the first pair they played instead of the last.“ I told Ryan we should go last, but he wanted to be the first to kick her butt. She played in college. Afterward she took us aside and told us to keep the ball moving. Don’ t stop. Don’ t hesitate. Know your next move. She said we lost because we started trying to figure out how to win, instead of expecting to win, like we did when the game started,” Justin spoke more than he had all year.“ What do think about what she said?” Eddie asked, noticing, after two weeks, the valuable information, not just about basketball, was still rolling around in his son’ s head. Justin shrugged and went back to his food. Eddie speared a snow-pea from his plate.“ What’ s new with you. Nicole?”
“ I got an“ A” on my math test, but I lost my virginity,” she answered casually. Tanya sprayed a mouthful of water onto her plate and Eddie nearly choked on the snow-pea. Justin’ s eyes darted back and forth.“ Just kidding. But I wasn’ t sure you were listening,” Nicole said.“ You have our undivided attention,” Tanya assured.“ Hardly ever.”“ What is this really about?” Tanya asked quietly.