“Well I guess it was my Uncle Bill. I don’t know if you ever met him, my dad’s oldest brother. All of my dad’s brothers stepped up after he you know but Uncle Bill was the fun one.”

“I met him a couple times at Lorraine’s. Bushy eyebrows.”

“Right, right he had mellowed by then before the cancer took him. He got me into baseball. Beyond the majors, Uncle Bill loved to scout the minor leagues. He said that is where the guys still played with their whole chest, right. The Blue Rocks, Fightin’ Phils, IronPigs, we even hit Jersey for the BlueClaws. Uncle Bill loved allthe double A’s and the triple AAAs.”

“Your gran told me Bill was a bit of a gambler and loved to tote you around to the bookies. She worried about Bill’s influence on you. What made it special for you?”

“I guess I can see why she’s worry. These weren’t legit dudes. I remember eating a lot of peanuts and drinking Shirley Temples in bar backrooms. Hell I could roll joints before I could properly tie my shoes. But I remembered loving it. Frawley Stadium off Shipyard had the best hotdogs, real casings. I remember the snap with French’s. The menthol smell of Uncle Bill’s car’s leather seat. They’d burn my legs in shorts in the summer time. We’d talk stats on the way to the ballparks. He’d asked for my opinions and debate plays and players. Uncle Bill treated me like a friend not a stupid little kid he had to take care of but a welcome addition to his day. My mom was busy with work and my little sisters. Uncle Bill focused on me. I’d wait on the curb for his metallic green rustbucket to turn onto our street. His face all stubbly with gray hairs would have the biggest smile for me. Once in a while Uncle Bill was late but he never blew me off.”

“Wow. Charly can you remember how we met? Really remember details?”

Charly paused, his head tilting. Quickly he took a sip of his water to buy time. Uneasy, Charly signalled the waitress. His wife leaned back in her seat and folded her arms.

“Yeah, Jen, sure I do. Like at a party. Not like a real party but a get together at one of my buddy’s house.”

“What I wore? What we first talked about? How you felt about me that first night? What was that song Tamara kept playing on her boombox? Because it was her favorite.”

Charly took another sip and prayed for the earth to swallow him whole. Date night was tanking and they hadn’t event ordered the main course.

“Charly, I know you love me and I love you. We have been together since freshmen year. I’m not trying to be mean. I just want someone to light up when I come into the room. I’m worth being looked forward to,” Jen said.

“Can I get you guys something to get started with,” the waitress asked. "the crab cakes are to die for.”