The One I Love

“I do need some information though,” I say.

“There it is. You haven’t been to see me in months. I knew you needed something.”

I didn’t realize Paulie paid attention to my visits and feel a little guilty.

“I didn’t realize you cared so much. I’ll start coming more often”

“Don’t do me any favors,” he grunts, “I’m just fine on my own.”

I make a mental note to come see him once a week and bring him lunch.

“Tell me about these guys,” I point to a picture of his grandsons wrestling a puppy in a green yard.

He lights up and tells me about each one forgetting that he’s miffed with me. After I listen intently for about twenty minutes I realize it’s four and I’m going to be late to teach the kids if I don’t get the information I need.

“I need to ask you something.” I started easing into my questions. “I was attacked by some men in a bar the other night and they were pretty mad at dad. I asked him, but you know how they don’t ever give a straight answer?”

“I do,” Paulie said but didn’t offer up anything else.

“Tell me what happened, please. Why are they so angry?”

“So, you must be talking about all the boys that worked with him for years. No offense boy, your dad has been good to me, but his loyalty is lousy.” Paulie stands and opens the little refrigerator again taking out a can of soda.

“Tell me about it. Do you know why they were let go?” I ask looking up towards the building where a man in a suit has just walked out. He does the hand pat thing on his jacket until he finds his keys. I breathe a sigh of relief when I am sure it’s not my father.

“Well, the official reason is he found a company that will use machines to create the storage containers, but I talked to Miss Sherrie, your father’s secretary.” He leans in and lowers his voice making his eyebrows go way up. I take this to mean, he’s about to tell me a secret.

“Go on,” I find myself leaning in too.

“She said he’s sending the work overseas. The people over there will work cheaper and ship the boxes. He’s saving a fortune,” he tells me. “Don’t know why she’s so impressed, he’d probably ship her in for a cheaper model if he could. No offense Charlie.”

“No worries,” I say and think for a minute. “So,” I start carefully, “the men don’t know he’s shipped the work away. They just think he’s bringing in machines.”

“I guess he figured they’d be less mad with that excuse.” Paulie shrugged and took a long drink from his can.

“So, my dad is a pillar of the community. A supporter of local business and the people in this fine town, and he just sold out.”

“Pretty much. It’s nearing five o’clock and your dad goes for a jog."

"Oh, he still runs."

"He does, listen kid. I'd be careful if you are messing with your dad's businesses. I don't know what's going on, but those men are not the only people mad at him if you know what I mean."

"I do, Paulie. Dad's a dick."

"Okay, I'm not getting into it, but you're a smart boy."

“Yeah, I gotta go anyway. Teaching the kids. I’ll come by next week.”

I walked back to the parking deck quickly so I could avoid my dad. I heard Paulie mumble something like “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

The studio I teach at was built for me by my grandpa. He was one of the only family members in my life who believed in my music. He was also the one who brought Thomas into my life. My grandpa had been great friends with a music producer back in the day. He told me of all the parties they’d attended. I smile at the memory. My grandpa loved to tell those stories.

The studio is in a small shopping center next to the boardwalk. It’s next to a building my father used to ship out of right after he inherited the company. It was much bigger than the space grandpa bought but dear old dad refused to let us fix it up.

My little studio is nice. The parents of the kids I teach feel comfortable with the location and space. I’m about three minutes late so they’ll be waiting with their kids to get in the door. I only have four.

There are the twins Brady and Braleen, they’re five. There’s Austin my ten-year-old quick learner and Sophia, an adorable little brunette with a shy personality. All of them are from wealthy families and live in the upper part of town in the same area as my parents. They pay a lot for me to teach music to their children so I take it seriously.