A nice surpise

As the boys walked to the bench, KC called out, “Chad, you shoot ‘em.”

Chad nodded, a look of grim determination on his face. 

I had seen Chad’s parents, Betsy and Bob, walk into the gym before the start of the game.  I had expected them to confront KC and me for sneaking Chad into practices. They hadn't, and I hadn't noticed the rest of Chad’s family walking in behind them.  His grandmother, who used threats of suicide to manipulate the family sat next to his grandfather.  Chad’s grandfather called his wife “Bluffy the Empire Slayer” because he was convinced dealing with her threats had kept him from building up a successful business. 

Chad’s uncles filled the row behind his grandparents.  Paul had torn himself away from his basement porn palace to attend.  To his left sat Chad’s twin uncles, Matt and Mark, who abused pills prescribed to them by ‘Doc,’ their younger sister, a psychiatrist. 

I was only surprised they had gotten the whole dysfunctional family together for a basketball.  I was stunned the youngest of the brothers, Sam, came with them.  He was somewhat estranged from the family because he refused to support his oldest sister Betsy’s gambling addiction.

Doc wasn't there, but Chad’s aunt Suzanne sat with her husband Mikey, my gym buddy.

Chad turned to look at his family.  I could see his anxiety from twenty feet away.  His father must have seen it too.

 “Love you buddy,” Bob yelled.  Maybe Bob was drunk, but he said the right thing at the right time.  Chad smiled, some of the anxiety draining from his face.  Bob quieted all but one idiot in the crowd.

Today I will be grateful when people do the right thing, especially if I never expected them to. 

Life on Life’s Terms II © 2015 by Ken Montrose

(Just a reminder: LOLT II is a work of fiction.  Any resemblance to anyone you might know is purely coincidental.)