A Lethal Legacy Read Online Free Page B

occasion, but it looked old and worn next to Uncle
Philip's flashy attire.
    I noticed the
different expressions on their faces as I approached them. My uncle carried the
smile of victory while my father looked at me through squinted eyes and curled
lip. I imagined he would have rather been out with his cronies sucking down a
few beers and bragging about his son than actually being there in person with
me.
    My father had never
gone to college and began working in the automobile factories right after high
school. Eventually after the Willow Run plant between Ypsilanti and Detroit
began making automobiles instead of bombers after the war, Stanley managed to
make it as foreman. However, my parents had never known the kind of success that
had come so easily for Claire and Philip. My father didn't know how to manage
his money, or he would have moved us from our small boring tract house years
ago. Instead, he ended up squandering many paychecks at the racetrack and local
bar.
    "What a game, Ed!"
My uncle slapped me on the back heartily. "You really showed those
bastards who's boss."
    "Philip!"
Aunt Claire said. "Watch your language! People are listening."
    "Really, Philip,
keep your voice down," Aunt Susan said.
    "Who cares? My
nephew here just played the greatest game ever played in this town, and I'll
say what I want. Right, Stan?"
    My father just
grunted and begrudgingly held out his hand to me. "You did all right, son.
I still say you're crazy not to take that scholarship." My father could
never pay me a full compliment.
    "Dad,
please." I didn't want to discuss my future right there in the lobby of
the school.
    "Stanley, leave
the boy alone," my mother said while reaching up to give me a kiss on the
cheek. "I'm very proud of you, Edward."
    "Thanks,
Mom." I smiled down into her hopeful face and winced when I noticed the
moth hole on the collar of her best winter coat.
    "You're the
bestest and mostest, Ed." Aunt Claire overshadowed my mother's small frame
as she came into view and grabbed me for a big bear hug. The collar of her fur
coat brushed my nose causing me to sneeze.
    "Bless
you," she said.
    "Whadda ya say,
Cuz!" Gary came out of the crowd toward me with two girls on his arm.
"Great game!"
    "Thanks,
Gar." We shook hands grinning at one another. Even though Gary would have
to suffer through Philip's remarks about my game during the next few days, Gary
was genuinely proud of me. We always banded together against the idiosyncrasies
of our parents in order to survive.
    "Bye, Gary. See
ya later, I hope." Gary's girls went off giggling and whispering as we
walked outside toward Uncle Philip's Cadillac parked in front of my father's
plain black Ford.
    After our celebratory
dinner, the two families came back to our house for coffee and cake. Philip and
Claire rarely visited us because of our small, cramped home, but tonight we went
to a restaurant in Ypsilanti, so it only made sense that we come back to our
house instead of driving into Ann Arbor to the large sprawling home of the
other Townsend family.
    Gary and I took a
long walk around the neighborhood to get away from the badgering of our
parents. Since both of us were only children, in our presence our fathers
wouldn't leave us alone. When Philip and Stanley began drinking whiskey, we
both knew the assault on our shortcomings would be substantial.
    "Have you ever
gone all the way?" Gary asked me when we had been walking only a short
while.
    "With a
girl?" I asked.
    "Of course with
a girl, dummy, what else?" Gary punched my shoulder while smiling at me.
    "Have you?"
I wanted to avoid answering as long as possible.
    "I asked you
first, but yeah, last weekend."
    "Who?" I
asked.
    "Just some girl
from school. Cindy's her name. Been all over me all year long, so I thought,
what the heck. What about you?"
    "Not all the way,"
I said.
    "But
close?"
    "Well, I guess.
I know I've wanted to go further, but it never happened. So how was it?"
    "That's the
thing." Gary paused and looked at me