Junior executives chatted up their bosses, made connections with possible clients, cut deals, drank too much afterward and dreamed about the day they would ace the par three fourteenth or break 90. They’d stare at him without saying anything. Men in narrow-lapelled suits and ties would arrive and change in the locker room into clothing equally as ugly. On the tedious drive home, Stan thought about the time when he first started playing golf. “You forgot to mention you’re ugly too,” Mel cracked. Who’s gonna want to play with a half-blind 80-year-old?” You’ve still got Shirley and the grandkids. “Yeah, but I’ll send you better emails than Walt. “Thanks, but Sonia has arranged for a car.” Stan took a gulp from his scotch and rocks and stared at his hands. “I’ll miss this.” Mel motioned with trembling hands to the room and the golf course. But Jesus, why are all my friends moving north? Doesn’t anyone like the SoCal sun anymore?” You know it’s been tough since Lilly died.” They’ve got a big place and … and I’m gonna need more help. “That should be fun … Turkey Day in the great north woods. “My daughter wants me to come to Medford for Thanksgiving.” The two sat silently for moments before Mel spoke. “I’ll get it, I’ll get it,” Stan murmured and slid from his stool and retrieved the cane. Other golfers seated at tables stopped chattering and stared. Mel turned on his stool to face Stan, in the process knocking one of his canes off the lip of the bar. He takes the bus downtown to the library and hangs out at the Pike Place Market.” “Yeah, they built him a little grandpa unit attached to the house. “Still living with his oldest son’s family in Seattle?” “Yeah, what’s good ole Walt up to?” Stan asked. “I heard from Walter yesterday,” Mel said over cocktails. The cart bumped down the path toward that afternoon’s final strokes, then the hour spent at the clubhouse’s bar, exchanging family news and recalling past games and the people they had shared the courses with. When Walter Nguyen joined them, they had most of the diversity bases covered, at least for old guys. The funny-looking duo faded into the crowd. But as time passed, the end-of-the-alphabet generations changed things and Tiger Woods made front-page news. Stan stood out as too tall, Black, with a weird upper lip. At first they’d been outliers at the club, Mel gnomish and Jewish, playing with a set of clubs that looked like they were made for a 12-year-old girl. They’d been playing golf together for over 35 years, beginning as two seasoned businessmen with kids gone and the blush of romance off their marriages.
#IF I CRACK OPEN A COLD ONE IN ONE YARD AND MILKSHAKE ZIP#
Basin’s cold November air burned Stan’s bare arms and he pulled on his jacket and helped Mel zip up his own. Mel moved toward the cart, his hands shaking with the palsy of Parkinson’s disease. “Hey, it beats daytime TV,” Mel said and chuckled, “but not by much.”īoth men laughed. I’m just glad you come out, even if it’s just to watch me chase par.” “At least my eyes work … and when I could play I’d beat your ass.” Perfectly good reasons for Ben to be outside at night.“Yeah, but too bad my eyesight is kaput and I need a duffer like you to spot for me.” He liked helping out magical girls in his small way. From their first patrol there’d been a feeling, like a finger tapping the back of his head. She hadn’t said anything to the contrary. Plus, he was pretty sure Steffi still wanted him out there. But he was still useful! He helped them coordinate patrols, checked in on other teams, even did some light research. She was safer now, and Techno seemed like a sensible girl. That was a good reason!Īfter Techno and Swing joined the team, his parents asked him why he still needed to accompany Steffi. It was a good reason.īesides, was it that much of a risk, even? Civilians go out with magical girls all the time, and they almost always come home fine. If he couldn’t fight, he could at least stop her from biting off more than she could chew and getting hurt. She’d struggle to get on a team, probably even insist on soloing like some big hero. He knew she’d object, as would his parents. When Steffi got The Dream, Ben insisted on patrolling with her. This is a fanfic based on Sleepless Domain, a magical girl webcomic by Mary Cagle.