The Eskimo Slugger by Brad Boney

Author:Brad Boney [Boney, Brad]
Language: eng
Format: epub

THE NEXT morning Trent drove Brendan to work and confirmed that he would pick him up at four. He went home and found two messages on his machine, one from Lillis and the other from the front office.

Trent called the Astrodome. “Good morning, Sandra. It’s Trent Days. Can I speak to Bob, please?”

“Why, yes indeed, Trent. How are you feeling?”

“Better. I’ll be back next week.”

“Oh, that’s good to hear. We miss you. Okay, hon, one sec. I’ll put you through to Bob’s office. I just saw him head down that way.”

The line clicked and then clicked again. “Trent?”

“Hi, Coach.”

“What in the hell did you say to Harrison? He was sulking around the dugout last night, cursing anyone who got in his way. I may have to pull him out of the rotation, the way he’s fucking up.”

“Please, Coach. Don’t do that yet. Wait until I get back.”

“Your twenty-one days isn’t up until the thirtieth. Today’s the fifteenth. That’s two weeks away, kid.”

“I can come back to Houston next week. I can help him then, even if I can’t play.”

“You know you can come back now, don’t you? I just thought it’d be a good idea, getting away from it all. You looked like you needed a break from the whole Eskimo Slugger circus.”

“You were right. It was a good idea. I needed some perspective. So I’m going to take a few more days, if that’s okay.”

“I want you back here no later than the twentieth. That’s next Wednesday. You’ll need at least ten days of reconditioning.”

“You got it, Coach.”

“Get some rest and check in with the front office on Monday. Just to let them know you’re alive.”

“I’ll do that. Thanks, Coach.”

Trent hung up the phone and thought about calling Kieran, but decided against it. He called his father instead.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Dad, it’s me.”

“Trent? How are you doing, son?”

“It’s a mixed bag right now. How’s Barrow?”

“Oh, you know. It’s summer, so Stephen’s home from college, and Jeffrey’s getting ready for his freshman year at Anchorage. Mickey has a girlfriend. Now that he’s sixteen, he thinks he doesn’t have to listen to his father anymore.”

“Is Mom there?”

“No, she’s over at your Naga’s. Are you okay? You sound like you’re in trouble.”

“I can’t get into it, Dad. Not right now.”

“Are you going to jail?”

“No, sir. Nothing like that. We’ll have a long talk once I figure things out. I just wanted to hear your voice.”

“Okay, son. If it ever gets to be too much, you can always come home. You know that, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I know that. Thanks. It helps a lot. Don’t say anything to Mom, okay? She’ll only worry.”

“I can’t stop your mother from worrying.”

“I know. Just tell her I’m fine and I’ll call her next week. Is Mickey there?”

“Hold on a second.”

“Wait. I love you, Dad.”

“Thanks, son. I miss hearing that. I love you too.”

Trent heard his father call for his youngest brother, who moments later took the phone and said, “What?”

“Don’t give Dad a hard time.”

“Why do you care? You’re never here.

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