Albany Park Read Online Free Page B

middle of the night. He listened carefully as Ma held the phone.
    “Oh my God,” she gasped. “Are you sure he’s okay?”
    By now Pa was at her side. Vic and Flo crowded behind them.
    “What happened?’’
    Ma, held her hand up, signaling them to be quiet, paused,. “Oy, I don’t believe it. Do you know where he is?” she said, nodding as she listened.
    “What’s going on?” Pa said in a low voice. Ma waved him off. “Wait, I want to tell Pa.”
    By now Faith and Lilly, in their nightgowns, were standing there too.
    With her hand on the mouthpiece, she turned to Pa. “Frank is gone; he just disappeared about an hour after they went to bed.”
    “What do you mean, he’s gone?”
    “She said he got up and got dressed, telling her he had to get out and would be back in a little while.”
    “And?” Pa wanted to know.
    “After about an hour, she got dressed and went to look for him. No one in the hotel could help her. They told her to go back to the room and they would call her when they found him. That was over an hour ago.”
    Pa took the phone. “Sally, it’s Pa, don’t worry, I’m coming right down. I’m sure he’s alright, just maybe a little scared after being gone for such a long time. Please, Sally, just try to stop crying and stay where you are. I’m coming and if you hear anything, call Ma right away. I’m on my way. Here, talk to Ma,” he said, handing over the phone.
    Looking at Vic, he said, “C’mon with me to find your brother.”
    Five minutes later, he returned fully dressed and whispered to Ma, “Keep her on the phone.” Motioning to Vic, he started out the door. ‘We’re on our way. I’ll call when I get there,” he whispered.
    They stopped at the front desk of the elegant, high-ceiling lobby and asked to see the security people. They were told that they had found Frank in a bar just off the lower level corridor on the Wabash side, and he’d told them he was okay, but just wanted to be alone. He also had asked them not to say anything to his wife and that he would go upstairs after he had a few drinks.
    The small, dark bar was almost empty when Pa and Vic found him. Music was playing softly and the stale smell of cigarettes was in the air. Only one other stool was occupied with a man in a suit who looked like he had been there for several hours. The bartender was washing glasses and glanced up as he heard Pa and Vic walk in. Frank, in his uniform, was sitting quietly with a drink in front of him and did not notice them.
    Walking up to him, Pa held his hand up to the bartender to let them alone.
    “Are you alright, Frank?” Pa said in a soft voice.
    Frank looked up without saying anything. He turned back, focusing on the drink that he cradled in his hands on the bar.
    Vic stood behind Pa remaining quiet as he took in the intense scene that was unfolding in front of him in the dark bar. Just hours before they all were celebrating and now his family was being torn apart by a sudden crisis between Sally and Frank.
    “Yeah,” Frank said finally, his shoulders drooping.
    Pa moved closer and put his hand on the bar so that he was almost facing Frank, “So, what’s up? Sally’s upstairs crying her eyes out .”
    “How did you find me?”
    “She called about a half-hour ago and I rushed down here.”
    “Pa,” he said stifling a sob. “I can’t do this. I don’t want to be married. I’m not ready. I’ve seen too much and I gotta’ be by myself for awhile.”
    Except for the soft music and the clinking of glasses as the bartender dried and stacked them, the bar was quiet.
    “Frank, Sally loves you. She’s been waiting; don’t you think you should try ?”
    “You don’t understand Pa. Nobody does. I can’t do this. It’s not like before. Please don’t make me do this. I don’t want it.”
    “Frank, are you sure?”
    “Yeah, Pa, I’m sure.”
    “Okay, stay here and try to lay off the booze. I’m going to go upstairs and talk to Sally. I’ll call her