Sometimes I slip, and say something I shouldn't, like the other day at my son's football game. My Daniel walked off the field with his chest out and a smile on his face, covered in grass stains and drenched in sweat. He's not as big as the other boys, but he's very fast, and makes a fantastic quarterback. Today was the first time I got to see him make a winning touchdown, and he was so excited. I work a ton of hours and don't always get to see his games. I don't have much to show for it except the clothes on my two babies, and a warm house.
"How was that mom, am I as good as dad was?" he asked.
"You were amazing sweety, I'm so proud of you!" I replied.
And I was.
Daniel has always had the softest; most lighthearted personality, and never complains about anything. His father took off when he was only five years old, and he's never so much as complained in thirteen years. He still loved his momma when I had to leave him with grandma to work at the call center every night, and he loved me when I got out of the hospital after my breakdown. He even loved me when Eric was born and had to become the big brother.
As we made our way to the parking lot I looked at him and smiled salaciously.
"Football isn't the only thing you're good at sweetheart" I said.
Almost as fast as it left my lips, I realized not only did I say it loudly; but in the presence of coach Wally, whom had to have heard it! Daniel looked at me dumbfounded and I felt like a complete idiot, but I had no idea the man had seemingly snuck up behind us. I felt my stomach sink, completely uncertain of what he was about to say.
"Helen, I wanted to tell you that Daniel's had one hell of an impact on the White Hawks, and we're sure going to miss him after graduation. You should be pretty darn proud of him. -Great game, kid." he added as he bonked Daniel's shoulder pad with his clipboard.
He left so abruptly I didn't even have to say anything!
"Whew!" I whispered as I opened the back door for him to load his pads and duffle bag in.
Daniel slid into the car and started guzzling his water bottle as we started on our way home. He smelled like freshly cut grass, and his skin was wet and sweaty. Its been so long since I saw his father that I know he resembles him, but I can barely remember his face. Every once in awhile as I was driving, I would glance over at him just to look at his sandy blond hair and dark blue eyes. He's such a handsome boy at eighteen, and his smile melts me. Sometimes I purposely ask him redundant questions while he's texting his friends, just to see how cute he looks, trying to be polite when I know he's getting flustered.
It was almost 8:00 o'clock when the game was over and I didn't feel like cooking, so we stopped at his favorite place and I got him Pirozhki rolls from a Russian pastry shop in the center of town. I sat with him at the kitchen table, sipping on my decaf tea while he ate his dinner. He told me about his day, and how hard his math test was, while I sat there daydreaming about his 18th birthday; the day things really changed.
The day he turned 18, I had one of the most horrible days of my life; having recently lost my father, and then listening to my boyfriend breaking up with me over the phone because I had some emotional issues at the time. I had to work a double until 9:00 at night, and I was exhausted by the time I got home. I remember walking through the door and hearing his voice.