12. Chapter 12
Frank
About a half hour before the end of the day, I heard little feet running through the empty gym and Matt popped his head into my door.
“Hey, Doc.”
“Hey yourself.” I looked over the rim of my readers. “What brings you here?”
“I kinda need to talk to someone.”
I motioned to the metal folding chair on the other side of my desk. “Come on in, son.”
He stepped in and sat down, swinging his legs and picking at his nails. “I’d talk to my family, but I don’t know if they could help me.”
I sat back in my chair. “This sounds serious.”
“Well … yeah.” He nodded. “Remember when I asked you about your dad?”
“I do.”
“Okay, so like I really, really, like, really want a dad. You know? Someone to play football with and take me to games. Sometimes my uncle takes me, but that’s cos’ he wants to pick up girls.”
Pretty smart of Gene.
“I’m with ya so far.”
“My mom doesn’t never go out. Unless it’s with my aunt. And when I asked her why she doesn’t date, she told me I was man enough, but I’ve heard the grown-ups talkin’. They all think it’s because of me that she doesn’t.” He stood up and paced. “You know, not because I’m man enough. But because I’m a kid.”
Scratching my beard, I waited to see where he’s going with this.
He let out a big sigh and his shoulders slumped forward. “This isn’t working.”
“What’s not?
Matt shook his head. “The environment. We need some privacy. Anyone could come in here.” Looking up at me, his blue eyes perked up. “Hey. Can I buy you a drink?”
“I’m sorry?”
Buy me a drink?
“Yeah. A drink. We could meet after school at That One Place. The diner.” His head bobbed. “We could have a milkshake or even coffee. Then we can talk.”
Wasn’t sure what this kid was up to, but he had me curious.
“I can do that.”
And maybe I would see Edie.
“Great. I’ll meet you at the diner after school. Do you know where it is?”
“I do.” A smile hit my lips. “They make really good coffee.”
“Coffee it is, Doc. See ya there!” He bounced as he ran out of my office and back through the gym.
I sat there staring at the door, letting my mind wander.
The best way to describe myself was as a creature of habit. So far, I’d eaten at the diner for two meals a day during the week and on the weekends.
Edith hadn’t said two words to me since our night together, and she avoided serving me when I was there.
That wasn’t sitting well with me.
And one night wasn’t enough.
I’d texted her daily, with mixed results. Sometimes she’d answer, sometimes she’d leave me on read.
Pushing her from my thoughts, I went back to getting next week’s lesson planning done. Even though I was just a gym teacher, I think kids liked knowing what we’d be doing each day. Not to mention, I loved my job.
The kids were great, the other teachers were nice, and you couldn’t beat the hours. The bell rang, and I shook my head.
I can see awkward call in my future.
After shutting down my computer, I locked my office up, made sure all the closets were locked and then made my way to the diner.
I hope Edie’s there.
Seeing her would make the awkward conversation I was about to have better.
Once I got there, the only patron in the place was Matt, and he was waiting for me at the counter.
“Doc!” He sat up and waved.
I walked over as Evie came through the door from the back. “Hey Mattie, is your teacher here?” She stopped and her jaw dropped open.
“Aunt Evie, that’s my gym teacher, Doc.”
Her face was priceless, and I’d never seen Evie speechless.
From the back I heard a plate drop breaking and Big E looked through the window, pale. “ That’s your teacher?”
Matthew looked confused. “Yeah. Doc.”
Evie pointed behind her and stuttered. “Um, I’ll buh bee right back.” She darted back through the swinging door and Matt flipped over two coffee cups.
I took a seat at the counter. “You like coffee?”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “How do you take yours?” Matt hopped down and went to get the coffeepot.
“Black.”
“Gotcha.” He filled my cup first, then filled his halfway. “I need to leave room.”
“For cream and sugar?”
He nodded and put the coffee pot back and climbed back up to sit beside me as Evie came back through the door, smiling like the cat who ate the canary. She put the small dish of creamer on the counter and shook her head.
“Matt, does your mom know why you’re here?”
“No.” He folded his hands. “Please don’t tell her Aunt Evie. I need to talk to Doc, man to man.”
“Oh. Okay.” She nodded slowly. “Can I get you men anything else?”
“No thank you.” He spun in his seat to face me. “Unless you want something, Doc?”
“I think I need me some nachos.” I winked at Evie.
“And you both need me to keep Edie away?” She cocked her hip.
Good Lord. She’s about to help him out.
“Please.” Matt had his eyes on his aunt, wide and innocent.
“Because I love you, and you didn’t tell your mom I let you eat ice cream for dinner this weekend.” She nodded and called over her shoulder. “Need an Edie at the counter!”
“I heard that.” Big E leaned forward. “Did you know?”
I shrugged. “Let’s say I had my suspicions.”
Evie giggled. “I’ll be in the back.”
I watched as she went back through the doors and then took a drink of my coffee.
Folding his hands on the counter, he faced me. “Now. As I was saying. I’m looking for a date for my mom. Sweetest’s day is coming up and I think it would be good for her to go to dinner and maybe some dancing.”
Big E hung out in the window listening in.
“I see.” I took another drink. “Do you have someone in mind?”
Nodding, he stirred cream into his coffee until it’s almost white and took a drink. “I do.”
“Yo, homeboy, who you tryna’ set your mama up with?”
“I got someone in mind.” He waved his hands at his uncle. “Don’t you worry.”
“Who?”
Yeah. Who?
“You sound like an owl.” Matt deadpanned and then looked back at me. “This is where I need your help.”
“I’m all ears.”
“Well. You’re a man. I’m a man. How would a man go about setting up a date?” His little face was serious, and I brought my hand up to hide my smile.
I cleared my throat. “Can you cook?”
“Um. Yeah.” He nodded. “I can make some good things.”
“You could always invite the man over for dinner and then surprise your mom with dinner being made.” I coughed. “And a date.”
“Oh. That’s a good idea.” He nodded.
Big E came through the doors with a plate of nachos, and I looked at the boy. “Matthew, I think you might be wrong about your family.”
“Wrong about what?” Big E leaned back on the counter.
“He didn’t think you would help him with this?” I smiled as I popped a loaded chip into my mouth.
“That’s because you guys always tell me I’m just a kid. And it’s not my business.” Matthew frowned.
“Matt, I’m going to point out the obvious here. You are a kid.” I took another healthy bite of my food.
“Well, I know that.” He shrugged. “I’m only nine years old. But at home I’m the man of the house. I really want a dad.” His eyes looked up at his uncle and I saw my friend melt.
“Little man.” Big E smiled. “I think my sister and you deserve a good man.” He sighed. “I’m sorry you felt you couldn’t talk to me.”
“It’s okay, Uncle E.” Matthew licked his lips, looking at my nachos.
“You want some?” I pushed the plate towards him.
“Thanks, Doc.”
“Mattie, if you got a dad wouldn’t he be the man of the house?”
“I see your point.” He tapped his finger on his lips, thinking. “I think … if he was a good dad, I could be okay with that. Then he could take out the trash.”
Evelyn came back out front. “Need refills?”
“Aunt Evie, you’re a woman.”
“Uh, just noticing that?” She motioned down her body.
“No, silly. What day of the week do you like for dating?”
“I see.” She smiled. “What you really want to know is what would be best for your mom?”
He nodded. “Please?”
“Depends. Your mom is usually off on Saturday nights.” She refilled our cups. “But if you need me to cover a Friday I will.”
“You’re the best.” He smiled. “Don’t ever let mom tell you you’re not.”
She frowned. “Pfft. I’m the best baby sister.”
Big E snorted with laughter.
Matthew shook his head. “Thanks for your help, Doc.”
“Anytime, kiddo.”
“I better get home before mom wonders where I am.” He hopped down and spun to face his aunt and uncle. “Remember. You didn’t see me.”
They gave him a thumb’s up, and she bounced towards the door. “See ya at school tomorrow!”
Once the door closed, Evelyn busted out laughing so hard she fell to her knees.
The door swung open, and the rest of Edie’s family came out laughing as well.
“You guys don’t give him enough credit.”
“What do you mean?” Big E asked, trying to contain the laughs.
“Kid told me he’s heard talk that she needs to date but doesn’t because of him.”
Their mom shook her head. “You’re right, Francis, we didn’t consider how much he understood.”
“What I wanna know,” her dad got himself a cup of coffee. “Is who my grandson has in mind.”
“I can’t believe that he wants to set Edie up with someone.” Evie wiped tears from her cheeks. “Edie will never go for that.”
Gene got a drink and sat down on the other side of me. “Guys, I’d lay money down that the man he has in mind is Frank.”
“He talks about you all the time.” Big E nodded. “Doc is the best teacher ever. I want a dad just like Doc. Doc understands kids. Doc this, Doc that.”
Miss Irene’s face softened. “My Edith has no clue you are Doc.”
“In all fairness, Ma, none of us did.” Big E walked back through the door and took his place in the window. “Frank, why do they call you Doc?”
“Last name’s Holliday.” I looked around at her family. “Gene, I heard you take Matt to games to pick up women?”
“Are you still doing that, Eugene?” Irene crossed her arms over her chest. “You know Edie hates that.”
I finished my coffee and stood up. “I’m going to clean up and get out of these sweaty clothes.”
“You coming back?” Evie yelled after me.
“Is Edith working dinner?”
“Of course.”
“There’s your answer.” I gave her a wink and left the diner.