Page 180 of The Legend
I knockedCasten off his chair when he got to laughing so hard he snorted his cereal.“See if you can get the next flight to Nashville then. I really want you homefor tomorrow night.” I hinted without saying why.
He knew meto well and let out a sarcastic laugh.“What for?”
“It’sChristmas Eve, why else?”
“Why wouldyou want me there so badly?” he asked again with apprehension mixed equallywith irritation.
He knew meto well at this point.
I decidedbased on some internal debt that I would use his mother for this one. “Well momwanted everyone together for Christmas and Casten volunteered our house.”
Castenlooked up at me from the floor. “You dirty liar.” He whispered but smiled whenI through a cookie at him.
“Why isCasten laughing?”
“Whenisn’t Casten laughing?” I added trying to compose myself.
“Goodpoint but I don’t understand why he would offer up our house.” Casten heard himand starting laughing and then said, “I didn’t dad, she’s lying!”
Before Icould reach the little shit, he was running away from me.
Trader.
“Tsk, tsk,tsk.” Jameson clicked his tongue. “You shouldn’t lie to me honey.”
“Ohreally, why is that?” The snow had just started to fall when I heard a loudcrash in the family room followed quickly with Casten saying, “I’m sorry, I’llbuy you another one.”
Jamesonmust have heard that. “I swear to god Sway, if he broke another window, I’mgonna kick his ass.”
“Will youjust get on the goddamn plane?”
“Fine.”He letout a huff. “But I expect some dirty—”
“All rightyou, just get on a plane. Let me worry about the making up.”
Jameson chuckledlightly.“Getting on the right plane now.I’ll be homesoon.”
When ourfamily started to arrive, Casten was in heaven. Turns out he didn’t break awindow but the television. He wouldn’t admit to how but he did run out and buyanother one before Jameson found out.
Castenwas, harassing everyone as he did best. He enjoying himself because not onlywas Tommy and Williewerethere, but they also broughta date that in turn brought her daughter who just happened to be in his agerange. I say range because she was a little older than him, by three years butCasten liked them older for some reason.
I laughedat him when he came into the kitchen for another beer with a huge smile on hisface and a little flushed. I kicked him when he walked by. “You’re nottwenty-one kid. Matter of fact, you’re not even sixteen. How will this look toour guests?”
He smiledthat same boyish grin he always had. “I will be sixteen in a week or so, I’mgoing to try to be responsible and keep the drink count out of the double digits.”
“Oh well,hell. Forget I said anything.” I replied sarcastically rolling my eyes at him.
I heardhim shuffle back into the family room once I started peeling the potatoes fordinner. Tommy asked him where Cole was, the two were seldom apart.
“Fuck if Iknow.” Casten chuckled. “Last night he showed up in my room as three in themorning wearing plastic gloves and a table cloth. I didn’t ask for anexplanation; just let him crash on the floor.”
“Is hestill there?” Tommy asked.
“Nope.When Iwoke up he was gone, cap an all.”
It’s funnyto me that when you’re younger you think your parents never did the shit youdid but our kids knew better. We wrote the book on how “not” to be. As Charlieonce told me, “If you can’t be a good example for today’s youth, be a horribleone. Either way, you’re helping out.”
Quietly, Ilaughed to myself at my crazy father’s antics when I felt familiar warm handswrap around my waist. His breath, just as warm, blew lightly over my necksending goose bumps down my spine. “Do I get to hear the joke?” he asked softlykissing the shell of my ear and then across my neck.
