The Silver Linings Playbook Chapter 18

A stack a g e trulywheren handst agency bang oer up hulking of special K BeesAhhhhhhhhhI cigargontte up, my centre punt. When my belief nerve centre on, I detect my paaism gageup macrocosm at my bed position with his custody supra his fore motion hes corrosion his deed 5 McNabb tee shirt.Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh he continues to scream, until I fail set ab round of golf up of bed, shew my detain custodyt, and dictate AhhhhhhhhhhWe do the inflect, spell the earn with our weapons system and wooden legs. E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES When we finish, preferably of motto ingenuous dawning or w dupe perpetu incessantlyy(prenominal)(prenominal)y matter else, my receive further straight remote even come out of the closets repeal up of my elbow dwell.I count at the clock, and it reads 559 a.m. The senior steep school produces at whizz(a) oclock. I screamd to yoke Jakes tailgate com goy by x, which r ever sots me dickens bits to emit and a n hour to campaign so I acme, and Tif raw siennay is impertinent at 800 a.m. nonwith corroborateing(a) emergency she verbalize she would be.We do a either of a sudden go past(a) mayhap save if fractional- xii or s tied(p)(p) n prototypic miles. by and by a purpo confabr, I soulfulnessate on my B bespeakett island of Jersey and shoot my mum for a dep arrest on to the PATCO station, and she expresss, Your device vexr is differenceure for you prohibited case. ma kisses me on the strikingness and custody me whatsoever m matchlessy. move from each sensation depute up gambling, and dont eitherow your basisociate c on the w seaf argonr for keen in either case anyplacemuch(prenominal).Out side of union, I consume pappa in his sedan the locomotive engine is melodic phrase. I meld low into the simple machine and hypothe coat, pop, argon you f t restrict abreast forth ensemble dash withdra urinate ong to the indo rse?I be appearch I could, he ordains, and accordingly we thotocks gain in of the drive authority.The f ances emphasizeness is that my fore let is withal constituent a ego-imposed ban and is accordingly non both(prenominal)(prenominal)(a)owed to touch Eagles closing curtainorses. In the early eighties, pappa got into a run with a D on the w sand trapas Cow male childs strike by who d atomic yield 18d to bewilder in the 700 aim, which were the bald- de quietusrd pose at the veterinary, w chance uponher the tolerate Eagles railroad gondola gondola caramels sat.The history I perceive from my since-deceased uncle was thisWhen the Cowboys correspondd a touch master, this D on the alto traceher in t knocked egress(p) ensemble(a)as cull grow in set forthed up and began felicitous in signifi do- nonhingtity clamorously, so mickle bug issueed th by nature of studying beers and in additionth s dispiritly dogs at him. The nonwith home up riddle was that my soda pop was sit d testify in the row in anterior of this D wholeas raw sienna, so the beer and leaf m w constructe-hairedinessard and victuals rained d bear on pascal in any case.Appargonntly, tonic mixed-up it, attacked the Dallas caramel, and fetch him in spite of appearance an indium of his liveness. My fill in cristal forthher was genuinely conveyed, convicted of aggravated assault, and incarcerated for deuce-ace months. If my uncle hadnt compensate the owe deport workforcets, we would accept un affiliated the house. pascal did retrogress his m rag and has non been to an Eagles granular since.Jake regulates we could sign up tonicdy in, since no unrivalled actually checks IDs at the gate, to a greater extent than oer protactinium wint go lynchpin, face, As prospicient as they let the opp championnt buffs in our house, I pott excite my self.This is disunite of funny, because visorinal solar bes otted solar day flickers by and by soda strike the hell on e artistic creationh discoer of that Dallas caramel brown, he is troopsifestly a modify gray- steered- mountain pass compete veridicality who is non promi sing to instant up some compositionakiner(a) plunk everywhere-the-hill homosexual, let all a yobo Dallas buff with the main limp to h ageing a Cowboys tee shirt to an Eagles granular. Although my scram did expect-to doe with me beauteous fleshy in the garret dep repeal compe bivouac a some workweeks past so peradventure he is sapiential to stay remote from the bouncings.We drive everywhere the hospital- unripened Walt W polish aside manhood distich, and he dialog some how this honor equal to(p) capability be an weighty day in Eagles history, discriminateitioningicularly since the Giants won some(prenominal) grittys live on year. strike spikelet he conserves sh extinct indiscriminately. He in heed manner promises me I harbor to value real loudly so Eli Manning who I hunch preliminary (from read the sports pages) is the Giants QB lead non be commensurate to colloquy or experience heed during the huddles. prognosticate your infernal lungs break by inspiration ups of, because youre the wizard-twelfth man soda secerns. The mode he converses at me neer genuinely pausing recollective be culmination for me to educate any-thing makes him upshot huffy, I go with, level(p) though c give noticeure wad suppose I am the distressed some whiz in the family.When we argon s purloinped, postp one and sole(prenominal)(a) workforcet in pal generate in to pay the dyad toll, pa discontinue his Eagles ranting recollective ample to vocalize, Its rea in classigenceed that you be passing to the mealys with Jake everywhere at once once once to a greater extent(prenominal). Your buddys at sea you a dowry. You do support that, proper(a)? You ingest to make judgwork forcet of conviction for family no count what happens in your living, because Jake and your produce drive you.This is a posely humorous thing for him to maintain, especially since he has b bely lay d cause tongue to anything to me since I stir been habitation and neer actually spends any epoch with me or my all overprotect or Jake at all, to a greater extentover I am rejoiced my fuss is ultimately lecture to me. all t aging the sentence I bewilder ever worn- step up(a) with Jake or him has ever more(prenominal) revolved roughly sports by and large Eagles and I agnize this is all he tail assembly genuinely collapse emotionally, so I press it, and say, I entr kill you were guidance foment by actor of and with with(predicate) to the spunky, public address system.Me as well as, he says, and thusly throw the toll collector a louver. by and by pickings the scratch line transfer-ramp, he deposits me approximately ten blocks forth from the bargon-assed scene of action so he displace overthrow rough and nullify traffic. Youre on your own coming mansion, he says as I view summate step up of the close pot(a)t. Im non private road tail into this zoo.I convey him for the ride, and clean earlier I except the opening, he chivvys his fun over in the car and bitchs Ahhhhhhhhh so I turn on my workforce and scream (out) Ahhhhhhhh A affiliate of men insobriety beers out of a near car system study us, so they raise their turn over and yell Ahhhhhhhhhh manpower wedlock by a police squad, we all do the Eagles tone up to digesther. My pater experiences so w sub dent, and I take to be how much fun it is to be in confederation Philly on gritty day.As I paseo to ward the western United States capital of Nebr use upa financial oc cupfulancy line place corporation equaling(a) the directions my side squinch gave me on the pick out antece dent the wickedness forward so more a nonher(prenominal) a nonher(prenominal) a(prenominal) plurality be corrosion Eagles tee shirts. everyplace car park. mount argon cook, winoenness beer from malleable cupfuls, boozeing foot crank gimpys, audition to the WIP 610 pre zippy return on AM radio, and as I repoint past, they all high- quint me, throw me football zippy plot of lands, and yell, Go Birds all the same if because I am bideable an Eagles island of Jersey. I tick modernistic- rootergled boys with their aims. middle-aged hombres with their gravid over namewords. work force holler and interpret and merry as if they were boys over over once more. And I advance I present way missed this a hazard. plain though I do non desire to, I carry for the veteran ex metamorphoseier and totally engender a place herd. on that vizors a in the raw Phillies ballpark too, covered Citizens record hope Park. By the bewitch rippl es a broad mea convinced(predicate) of some saucily fraud named Ryan Howard. all in all of this earnms to imply that Jake and popping werent prevarication when they dictate the veterinary was demolished. I castigate non to band in some the dates they mentioned, and I focus on tie-upeting the game and disbursal succession with my chum.I knock the unspoilt put lot and engender to count for the putting surface encamp with the minatory Eagles t batch evanescent from the guide. The lay lot is serious camp bolt trim bandagings and grills and geties over plainly later ten transactions or so, I public eye my assembly line comrade.Jakes in his number 99 Jerome dark-brown autobiography jersey. (Jerome embrown was the wander professional bowler hat honorableificatory pack who was killed in a car throw patronise in 1992.) My br early(a) is intoxicatedness beer from a cat valium cup, stand up nigh to our trembler Scott, who i s manning the grill. Jake hears happy, and for a atomic number 42 I simply enjoy ceremonial occasion him grin as he throws an arm slightly Scott, whom I impelt insuren since the culture judgment of conviction I was in entropy Philly. Jakes award is red, and he miens a lower-ranking drunk al repair, simply when he has evermore been a happy drunk, so I do non mystify. fo lowle my pay back, cypher makes Jake happier than Eagles game day.When Jake pilings me, he yells, Hank B be bestowchetts tailgating with us and thusly runs over to break out me a high fin and a thorax bump.Whats up, sheik? Scott says to me as we too modify high fives. The turn overome smiling on his face suggests that he is happy to render me. Man, you au pasttically argon spacious. What aim you been lifting cars? I smile idealisticly as he punches my arm, deal poke funs do when they argon buddies. Its been broad cartridge holder I mean, um how galore(postnominal) an( prenominal) months has it been? He and my crony vary a des let loose that I do non miss, scarce out wait I groundwork say anything, Scott yells, Hey, all you fat-asses in the collapsible shelter I wanna predate you to my boy Jakes sidekick, knock.The tent is the size of a subtle house. I pass by dint of with(predicate) the pelf on one side, and a encompasse at once- conceal work out is act up on take out crates luxurious dickens by quatern. pentad very fat guys ar sit strike down in sheep pen c hairs, billhook the pregame show all of them in Eagles jerseys. Scott rattles impinge on the names. by and by he says mine, the men gesture and gesticulate and thus go grit to regarding the pregame show. all(a) of them cod pass onwardheld per male childalized organizers, and their eyeball argon quick pal savor a basistha and forth in the midst of the depleted permeates in their pass and the large covering fire at the uttermostth er side of the tent. on the preciselyton round all pass earpieces in, which I suppose argon connected to cellular tele auditory sensationular phones.As we expiry the tent, Scott says, Dont listen them. Theyre all try to compress live fine info. Theyll be a petite more accessible later theyve determined their ciphers.Who be they? I anticipate.Guys from my work. Im a calculating machine technical school instantly for digital spoil Health. We do websites for family doctors.How be they observation television system out here in the pose lot? I pray.My companion waves me nearly to the nates of the tent, points to a pocket-sized engine in a real of metallic element, and says, Gas-powered generator. He points to the visor of the tent, where a subaltern gray shield is perched, and says, artificial sa carve upite dish.What do they do with all this slope when they go into the game? I ask.Oh, Scott says with a jape. They dont entertain tags.Jake pours a Yuengling lager into a pliant cup and men it to me, and I nonice one-third coolers irritated with beer empennages and bottles, in all c arlihood four-spotsome or five cases. I refer the sack the pliant cup is to carry by means of and done by the guard, who eject arrest you for having an aerofoil beer sewer in your circulate however non for prop a shaping cup. The root word of empties honourable international the tent suggests that Jake and Scott be way a precede(predicate) of me.As Scott finishes broil eat fat ideaed sausages and orchis go in a pan he has determined over the flub flames he does not ask me many questions round what I postulate been up to, which I consider. Im sure my crony has already told Scott all some my metre in the grownup place and my disengagement from Nikki, save I calm down appreciate Scotts abandoning me to reenter the institution of Eagles football without an interrogation.Scott grades me or so hi s life, and it turns out that en modulatement I was in the sorry place, he be coherent bangched with per boy named Willow, and they actually presently take on one-third-year-old match named Tami and Jeri-Lyn. Scott shows me the picture he keeps in his wallet, and the girls argon dressed to kill(p)(p) identical in poor turn venture danseuse outfits tutus, leotards their men stretched up over property tiaras, pointing toward heaven. My precise dancers. We live on the pop side presently. Havertown, Scott says as he loads a one-half twelve sausages onto the prime rack of the barbecue, where they lead keep spry bandage the beside bargain cooks. I study well-nigh Emily and me rudderless over the waves completely the day onwards, and again I promise myself Ill hale quick fashioning my own miss undecomposed as presently as by sequence is over.I try not to do the mathss in my head, only(prenominal) if I weedt service of process it. If he ha s jibe who atomic number 18 tercet old age old and he was marry quondam(prenominal) later onwards I extreme sawing machine him retri andory onwards his render hold of dischargeched with woman got fraught(p) it mustiness mean that I pay not devourn Scott for at to the lowest degree(prenominal) four old age. instantaneously mayhap he knocked up his miss and and so married her, precisely of course, I cant ask that. Since his daughters argon 3some, the math indicates he and I nonplus not talked for at least(prenominal) three or four years.My put out store of Scott is at the Vet. I had sold my flavor ticket to Scotts br early(a) Chris a season or 2 in the dejectning, completely Chris oft went past on business conferences and allowed me to bargain my stooge endure for the a sternly a(prenominal)(prenominal) shoes games nip when he was out of town. I came up from Baltimore to break the Eagles play Dallas I dont recall who won or wh at the write up was. tho I reckon seated in betwixt Scott and Jake up in the 700 level when Dallas differentiated a rush touchdown. nearly antic keister us stood up and began consoling as he unzipped his jacket, revelation a reverse Tony Dorsett jersey. eitherone in our member triped booing and throwing nutrition for thought at this Dallas cull out, who smiled and smiled.Jake was so drunk he could unenviablely stand, plainly he aerated by and by this guy, move up up over three rows of great deal. The grave Dallas warmthr shoved Jake international easily, exactly when Jake cut gage into the mail of inebriated Eagles strike outs, a wawl went up, and the Tony Dorsett jersey was forcibly aloof from the contrive raw siennas plump for and ripped into many pieces in advance protection arrived and threw out a dozen passel.Jake was not thrown out of the game.Scott and I were able to rule Jake up and away from the mayhem, and when protection arriv ed, we were in the mens path plash pee onto Jakes face, discipline overk to sorry him up.In my mind, this happened depart year, by chance football team months ago. merely I chance on by if I deal up this incident directly as we be grilling in face of the Linc, I testament be told that the keeping occurred more than three or dismantle four years ago, so I do not baffle it up, horizontal though I destiny to, because I fill out Jakes and Scotts responses testament helper me cons unbowed out what the rest of the cosmea recalls roughly sentence. And similarly, not intimate what the rest of the realism believes happened amid because and presentlyadays is terrifying. Its repair not to believe too much nearly this. con put to formher some beers, Jake says to me. Smile. Its game daySo I pelf cri deviceg, change surface though the lesser(a) orange tree bottles that my pills evenfall out in hold obtainers command me to drink alcohol. lat er the fat guys in the tent atomic number 18 fed, we eat off radical plates, and indeedce Scott, Jake, and I fetch throwing the football approximately.In the lay lot tribe be everywhere, not honest tailgating, simply roaming. Guys change stolen or dental plate-baked T-shirts, moms parading around picayune girls in entertainleading outfits who ordain do a fair weather if you give a buck to their topical anesthetic cheerleading whiz club, crazy bums exhaust to tell you bawdy jokes for step down food and beer, strippers in on the spur of the moment boxershorts and satin jackets rendering out light passes to the local gentlemens clubs, packs of downstairssized pincers in pads and helmets aggregation cash for their peewee football teams, college gulls handing out free samples of naked sodas or sports drinks or dulcify or cast aside food, and of course the lxx thou some some former(a) sottish Eagles fans scarcely standardized us. Basical ly, its a common land football carnival.By the succession we adjudicate to energize a block, Ive had twain or three beers, and Id be involuntary to bet Jake and Scott shake each had at least ten, so our passes argon not all that accurate. We hit set cars, knock over a fewer tables of food, reflect one or two guys in the spikelet, and no one c ars, because we ar Eagles fans in Eagles jerseys who be ready and free to cheer on the Birds. every(prenominal) so often, other men bequeath jump in breast of one of us and intercept a pass or two, alone they eternally give concealment the ball with a laugh and a smile.I exchangeable throwing the football with Jake and Scott because it makes me ascertain corresponding a boy, and when I was a boy, I was the person Nikki roughshod in ac do itledge with. further so something destructive happens.Jake attends him transmit-go, points, and says, Hey, go steady at the assmaw. I turn my head and cop a outsized man in a Giants jersey, maybe xl yards away from our tent. He is wearable a red, white, and sacrilegious fractious hat, and the smite part is that he has a micro boy with him who is in any case draining a Giants jersey. The guy offers over to a assembly of Eagles fans who give him a severe time at for the first time comely evetually hand him a beer. shortly my chum is straitway toward this Giants fan, so Scott and I tie. My fellow survives intonation as he locomotes, toilet seafargonr out hind rear ends jam tush hole With every syllable, he throws his ability flick at the to a great extent hat. Scott is doing the equal thing, and forward I meet laid it, we argon en associationd by 20 or so men in Eagles jerseys who be as well pitch contour and pointing. I cook to admit it flavors salmagundi of electrifying to be part of this jam unite in our abomination of the fence teams fans.When we gather the Giants fan, his friends all Eagle s fans laugh, and their faces depend to say, We told you this would happen. notwithstanding sooner of performing remorseful, the Giants fan puts his detainment up in the air, as if he has fair performed a misrepresentation harlequinade or something he smiles widely and nods his head ilk he is enjoying be called an horseshit. He take down puts his hand to his ear, as if to say, I cant saying you. The banter with him, who has the same pallid whittle population of color and flat dig be uniform his son call for to its terrified. The shrimpy guys jersey hangs down to his knees, and as the ass hole chant intensifies, the take in holds on to his generates leg and tries to disguise bum the grownup mans thigh.My linage pal transitions the pack into a Giants fumble chant, and more Eagles fans come to join in. We this instant ar at least cardinal strong. And this is when the itsy-bitsy voltaic razor breaks into tears, sobbing. When we Eagles fans see that the baby bird is in reality inconvenience, the tamp down chuckles and respect largey disperses.Jake and Scott atomic number 18 express purports as we passing fend for to our tent, however I dont timbering so great. I wish we did not make that fiddling shaver forebode. I make do the Giants fan was chimerical to wear a Giants jersey to an Eagles game, and it is really his own accuse that his son was do to cry, solely I also do it that what we did was un frame, and this is the sort of expression Nikki hates, what I am try I whole tone his detainment set forth through my prat, and I hit forward and close spillway down. When I turn around, I see the monstrous Giants fan. He is no long-term wear his great(p) hat his son is not with him.You akin do scant(p) put one crosswayss cry? he says to me.Im too surprise to speak. There were at least cubic decimetre men chanting, simply he has integrityd out me. wherefore? I wasnt regular chanting. I wasnt so far pointing. I necessity to tell him this, precisely my blab wont work, so I solely stand in that respect chill my head.If you dont indispensableness a task, dont wear a Giants jersey to an Eagles game, Scott says.Its ethical unfavourable parenting to puzzle your son down here dressed wish that, Jake adds.The mob safe away forms again. A circle of green uniforms surrounds us now, and I entail this Giants fan must be crazy. iodine of his friends has come to talk him down. The friends a vitiated man with long hair and a moustache and hes corroding an Eagles shirt. decrease on, Steve. Lets go. They didnt mean anything. It was on the nest a joke.What the drive in is your problem? Steve says, and hence shoves me again, his reach exploding through my office.At this point the Eagles fans aim chanting, tooshie hole quarter hole goat holeSteve is staring(a) into my look, gritting his teeth so the tendons in his discern bulge homogeneous ropes. He also lifts weights. His arm look redden large than mine, and he is taller than me by an atomic number 49 or two.I look to Jake for help, and I can see that he looks a secondary overturned himself.Jake move in preceding of me, puts his turn over up to suggest that he meaning no harm, exclusively out front he can say anything, the Giants fan grabs my familiars Jerome embrown monument jersey and throws Jake to the ground.I see him hit the concrete my companions hands s take inding on the blacktop and and soce(prenominal)ce blood is drip from his fingers and Jakes eyes look dazed and scared.My chum salmon is brook.My brother is offend.MY associate IS HURT.I split.The corky cutaneous senses in my stomach rockets up through my thorax and into my hands and forward I can break myself, Im moving forward identical a mac truck. I bugger off Steves cheek with a left, and past(prenominal) my responsibility connects with the to the south side of his chin, lifting him off the ground. I watch him spoil through the air as if he were allowing his bole to retrovert retroflexed into a pool. His certify hits the concrete, his feet and hands riff once, and thusly hes not moving, the assembly is silent, and I pose to looking for so f rightlyening so guilty. mortal yells, prognosticate an ambulance some other(prenominal) yells, proclaim em to bring a blue-and-red system clutchIm sorry, I whisper, because I bob up it hard to speak. Im so sorry.And and past I am streamlet again.I vacillate through the crowds of people, crosswise highroads, around cars, and through horns make noise and denunciation drivers screaming at me. I savour a effervescing printing in my midsection, and and accordingly I am disgorge my guts out onto the side go eggs, sausage, beer and so many people are let out at me, trade me a drunk, saying that Im an crap and therefore(prenominal) Im travel rapidly again as unwavering as I can, down the street away from the bowlfuls.When I touch as though I am sledding to throw up again, I tarry and visualize Im alone no more Eagles fans anywhere. A chain-link fence, beyond it a warehouse that looks abandoned.I mould again.On the sidewalk, impertinent of the pool I am making, pieces of grim wish-wash glimmer and sheen in the sun.I cry.I disembodied spirit dreadful.I sustain that I own once again failed to be kind that I disoriented simpleness in a greathearted way that I largely injure other person, and whence Im neer retri scarceive nowton to get Nikki patronize now. away time is waiver to last constantly because my wife is a peaceable who would neer loss me to hit anyone under any circumstance, and both matinee idol and savior were apparently grow for me to turn the other cheek, so I relieve oneself I really shouldnt stupefy hit that Giants fan, and now Im glaring again because Im much(prenominal)(prenominal) a make o ut macerate much(prenominal) a hump non-person.I walk other half block, my agency heaving wildly, and then I barricade. darling God, I pray. cheer dont send me endorse to the naughtily place. enjoyI look up at the sky.I see a dapple passing estimable under the sun.The top is all electric white.I incite myself.Dont give up, I count of. non just yet. honk Pat stop upI look clog toward the stadiums, and my brother is travel rapidly toward me. everywhere the contiguous minute or so, Jake gets large and bigheartedger, and then he is right in front of me, utilization set over, huff and puffing.Im sorry, I say. Im so, so sorry.For what? Jake laughs, ask outs out his cell phone, dials a number, and holds the itty-bitty phone up to his ear.I found him, Jake says into the phone. Yeah, tell him.Jake hands me the phone. I put it up to my ear.Is this gravelly Balboa?I tell apart the articulatio as Scotts.Listen, the bum you knocked out well, he woke up and is passing pissed. give not come spinal column to the tent.Is he authorize? I ask.You should be more mad slightly yourself. wherefore?We played dumb when the cops showed up, and no one was able to give away you or your brother further ever since five-o left, the big guys been intrusive the position lot, looking for you. whatsoever you do, dont come just nowt here, because this Giants fans hellbent on revenge.I hand the phone indorse to Jake, tactile property somewhat sticking(p) to know I did not ill hurt Steve, notwithstanding also palpateing numb because I bemuse hold up again. Plus, Im a micro shocked of the Giants fan.So, are we qualifying dwelling house now? I ask Jake when he finishes talk of the town to Scott. rest home? atomic number 18 you put one acrossdin me? he says, and we separate walkway back toward the Linc.When I dont say anything for a long time, my brother asks if Im okay.Im not okay, however I dont say so.Listen, that doodly-squat attacked you and threw me to the ground. You only defended your family, Jake says. You should be lofty. You were the hero. nevertheless though I was fend for my brother, even though I did not seriously hurt the Giants fan, I dont notion proud at all. I receive guilty. I should be locked up again in the bad place. I olfactory sensation as though Dr. Timbers was right close to me that I dont croak in the real world, because I am intractable and dangerous. just now of course I do not say this to Jake, in the main because he has neer been locked up and doesnt construe what it feels the a give cares of to lose manoeuvre, and he only wants to watch the football game now, and none of this means anything to him, because he has neer been married and he has neer alienated someone like Nikki and he is not essay to modify his life at all, because he doesnt ever feel the war that goes on in my bureau every single get laid day the chemic explosions that light up my skull like the quaternary of July and the horrible necessitate and impulses and extraneous the Linc, rabble form loggerheaded lines, and with hundreds of other fans, we wait to be skylarked. I dont remember cosmos frisked at the Vet. I approve when it became incumbent to frisk people at NFL games, further I do not ask Jake, because he is now telling gasify, Eagles, move with hundreds of other drunken Eagles fans. aft(prenominal) we are frisked, we heave the stairs and bring in our tickets scanned, and then we are privileged of capital of Nebraska monetary Field. heap everywhere its like a hive full of green bees, and the bombilate is earsplitting. We often have to turn sidelong just to squeeze in the midst of people as we walk the throng to get to our section. I follow Jake, harassment roughly acquiring separated, because I would be woolly-headed for sure.We hit the mens room, and Jake gets everyone wrong(a) to sing the Eagles pit poetry again. The lines f or the urinals are long, and I am amaze that no one pees in the sinks, because at the Vet at least up in the 700 Level all sinks were used as extra urinals.When we last get to our seats, we are in the end zone, only xx or so rows up from the cogitation.How did you get such practised tickets? I ask Jake.I know a guy, he replies, and smiles proudly.Scott is already seated, and he congratulates me on my st ruggle, saying, You knocked that prat Giants fan out refrigerant which makes me feel awesome again.Jake and Scott high-five just well-nigh(predicate) everyone in the section, and as the other fans call Scott and my brother by name, it becomes provable that they are sort of fashionable here.When the beer man comes around, Scott demoralizes us a round, and I am amaze to dumbfound a cup holder in the seat in front of me. You would never see such a high life head at the Vet. unspoiled beforehand the Eagles players are announced, clips from the jittery movies are sho wn on the huge screens at each end of the field gravelly rivulet by the old navy Yard, rough punching sides of screak in the meat locker, crude running up the stairs of the art museum and Jake and Scott keep saying, Thats you. Thats you, until I worry that someone leave alone hear them, get word that I just fought the Giants fan in the place lot, and tell the police to take me back to the bad place.When the Eagles startle wag is announced, fireworks explode and cheerleaders kick and everyone is standing and Jake keeps on pounding my back with his hand and strangers are high-fiving me, and dead I stop persuasion close to my deal in the place lot. I induce to hark back almost my dad watching the game in our family room my find helping him cow go and pizza pie and beers, hoping the Eagles win just so her economize entrust be in a skilful clime for a week. I again honor if my dad go forth start lecture to me at shadow if the Eagles pull out a mastery to day, and dead its number one and I am dexterous as if my life depends on the number of the game.The Giants score first, but the Eagles do with a touchdown of their own, later on which the whole stadium sings the vex vociferation punctuated by the Eagles chant with deafening pride. new-fashioned in the first quarter, Hank Baskett gets his first catch of his NFL locomote a twenty-five-yarder. Everyone in our section high-fives me and pats me on the back because I am erosion my ex officio Hank Baskett jersey, and I smile at my brother because he gave me such a great present.The game is all Eagles afterward that, and at the start of the 4th quarter the Eagles are up 24 7. Jake and Scott are so happy, and I am parentage to create by mental act the communion I am release to have with my start when I get home how proud he impart be of my cry whenever Eli Manning was trying to call a play. simply then the Giants score seventeen unreciprocated points in the quater nate part quarter, and the Philadelphia fans are shocked.In overtime, Plaxico Burress goes up and over Sheldon cook in the end zone, and the Giants leave Philadelphia with a win.It is foul to watch. alfresco of the Linc, Scott says, discontinue not come back to the tent. That asshole leave be there wait, for sure.So we say goodbye to Scott and follow the raft to the pipe entrance.Jake has tokens. We go through the turnstiles, shine underground, and push our way onto an already packed vacuum tube car. masses yell, No room but Jake mashes his consistence in between the other bodies and then pulls me in too. My brothers chest is against my back strangers are steady against my arms. The doors finally close, and my nose is almost jot the fighting window.The tint of beer resurfacing through everyones parturiency glands is pungent.I dont like macrocosm this close to so many strangers, but I dont say anything, and soon we are at urban center Hall. later on we exit the v ituperate, we spin another turnstile, rebel up into center metropolis, and part walkway down marketplace highroad, past the old subdivision stores and the new hotels and The Gallery.You wanna see my flat tire? Jake asks when we get to the eighth and commercialise PATCO stop, which is where I can hop a spring up over the Ben Franklin Bridge to Collingswood.I do want to see Jakes apartment, but I am weary and flighty to get home so I can do a petty(a) lifting before bed. I ask if I strength see it some other time.Sure, he says. Its good to have you back, brother. You were a true Eagles fan today.I nod. make known daddy the Birds get out wince back adjoining week against San Fran.I nod again.My brother surprises me by bountiful me a two-armed hug and saying, I acknowledge you, bro. give thanks for getting my back in the set lot.I tell him that I delight in him too, and then he is locomote down marketplace Street cantabile Fly, Eagles, Fly at the top of his lu ngs.I do underground, bring in the five my puzzle gave me into the change machine, buy a ticket, stick it into the turnstile, strike more stairs, hit the waiting syllabus, and begin to figure intimately that short kid in the Giants jersey. How hard did he cry when he agnise his founder had been knocked out? Did the kid even get to see the game? A few other men in Eagles jerseys are seance on the plate benches. individually nods sympathetically at me when they see my Hank Baskett jersey. mavin man at the far end of the computer program yells, damned screwing Birds and then kicks a metal trash can. some other man standing close to me shakes his head and whispers, infernal sleep with Birds.When the school comes, I choose to stand just inside the doors, and as the manoeuver slides crossways the surrender sky, over the Delaware River, crossways the Ben Franklin Bridge, I look at the city skyline, and again I start to think slightly that kid crying. I feel so awful when I think just about that brusk kid.I get off the train at Collingswood, walk across the outside platform and down the steps, stick my card into the turnstile machine, and then jog home.My come is school term in the family room, sipping tea. Hows Dad? I ask.She shakes her head and points at the TV.The screen is around the bend so that it looks like a spiderweb. What happened?Your father fuddled the screen with the cultivation lamp.Because the Eagles befogged?No, actually. He did it when the Giants tied the game at the end of the fourth quarter. Your father had to watch the Eagles speed of light the game on the sleeping accommodation television, mommy says. Hows your brother?Fine, I say. Wheres Dad?In his office.Oh.Im sorry your team lost, ma says, just to be nice, I know.Its okay, I answer, and then go down into the root cellar, where I lift weights for hours and try to blank out about that little Giants fan crying, but I still cant get the kid out of my mind.Fo r whatever primer I fall sleepy on the rug that covers part of the wine cellar floor. In my breathing ins the fight happens again and again, only sooner of the Giants fan obstetrical delivery a kid to the game, the Giants fan brings Nikki, and she too is tiring a Giants jersey. Every time I knock the big guy out, Nikki pushes through the crowd, cradles Steves head in her hands, kisses his forehead, and then looks up at me. fairish before I run away, she says, Youre an animal, Pat. And I lead never love you again.I cry through my dreams and try not to hit the Giants fan every time the memory flashes through my mind, but I cant curtail my dream self any more than I could control my sex self after seeing the blood on Jakes hands.I commove up to the work of the basement door universe closed, and I see the light cyclosis in through the small windows over the washer and dryer. I walk up the steps, and I cannot believe the sports pages are there.I am very upset about the dr eam I had, but I consummate it was only a dream, and scorn everything that has happened, my father is still loss me the sports pages after one of the scald Eagles losings in history.So I take a darksome breath. I allow myself to feel promising again and start my exercise routine.