“I want to ask you something.”
“Sure.”
“What position do I play?”
His smile remained for half a second too long.
“Football.”
“What position?”
He glanced toward Mom.
She said nothing.
“Come on. I haven’t exactly had a chance to catch up yet.”
“Okay.”
I nodded.
“What college am I applying to?”
His jaw tightened.
“Your mother kept me out of your life.”
Mom drew a sharp breath.
I raised my hand.
One more.
I pointed toward Ray.
“What subject almost kept me from passing last year?”
My father looked at me.
“How would I know that?”
“You wouldn’t.”
Across the street, Mrs. Patterson had stopped watering her flowers.
I didn’t care.
My father extended the keys toward me again.
“Look, I know I missed things. That’s why I’m here. I’m trying to make up for it.”
“With a car?”
“It’s a pretty good start.”
He looked at Ray.
“Better than anything he got you, I’d bet.”
I glanced toward the house.
“Wait here.”
I went inside.
The wooden box remained on the kitchen table.
When I brought it outside, Ray’s expression changed.
“Jake.”
I ignored him.
My father stared at the box.
“What’s that?”
“My birthday present.”
He actually laughed.
“That’s what he gave you?”
Ray’s face turned red.
I opened the lid.
“No.”
I pulled out the statements.
“This is.”
My father frowned.
I gave him the first one.
He read the deposit.
“Forty dollars?”
“Turn it over.”
He did.
“Boots can wait.”
I gave him another.
“Truck service next month.”
Then another.
“Brought lunch all week.”
My father’s smile vanished.
“What is this?”
“My college account.”
“Okay.”
“Ray and Mom opened it.”
I found the statement I was looking for.
“Danny needed new glasses. I’ll make it up next month.”
Then the next one.
“Made up the $40 I missed, plus this month: $80.”
I held them toward him.
“Those are Ray’s kids. Danny and Cara.”
My father said nothing.
“He pays child support. He helps Mom with our bills. And every month, he still saves something for me.”
