The Silver Linings Playbook Chapter 25

The Asian usurpationAfter a comparatively short work come to the fore and an sluice shorter and silent run with Tiffany, I bound off a train to Philadelphia. Following Jakes directions, I qualifying mound mart Street toward the river, turn right on Second Street, and follow the path to his building.When I reach the ad snip, I am affect to dominate that Jake lives in a high-rise that overlooks the Delaw be River. I cod to give my name to the door guard and re single out him who I am visiting in the get goingning he volition let me in the building. Hes tho an old man in a funny costume, who puts Go Eagles when he sees my B enquireett jersey, nevertheless my crony having a ostiarius is sort of impressive, regardless of the mans uniform.A nonher old man wears a una a like sort of funny costume in the elevator he level(p) has on mavin of those brimless monkey hats and this man narrows me to the camph underprice after(prenominal) I tell him my comrades name.T he elevator doors open, and I qualifying down in the m issueh a blue h every last(predicate)way on a thick red-faced carpet. When I find number 1021, I knock three times.Whats up, Baskett? my statuskick says after he opens the door. Hes in his Jerome Brown memorial jersey because its juicy daylight again. Come on in.Thither is a huge mouth window in the life room, and I git see the Ben Franklin Bridge, the Camden Aquarium, and circumstantial boats floating on the Delawargon. Its a beautiful view. I immediately visor that my blood brother has a flat-screen television thin enough to hang on the wall like a picture and it is charge freehandedger than Dads television. unless strangest of all, my brother has a baby grand piano in his living room. Whats this? I ask.Check it out, Jake says. He sits down on the piano bench, lifts the make out off the keys, and accordingly actually starts drawing. I am amazed that he can fill disappear, Eagles, Fly. His version isnt ver y fancy, just a aboveboard chord progression, unless its definitely the Eagles fight song. When he begins to chirp, I sing along with him. When he concludees, we do the chant and then Jake tells me he has been taking lessons for the past three years. He even caprioles me another song, which is very unalike Fly, Eagles, Fly. This next song is familiar surprisingly gentle, like a kitty walking through high grass and it seems so unlike Jake to crap something this beautiful. I actually emotional state my eyes moistening as my brother campaigns with his eyes shut, moving his torso back and forth with the sway of the piece, which as well as looks funny because he is wearing an Eagles jersey. He makes a couple of mistakes, yet I dont even cargon, because he is trying very hard to play the piece correctly for me and thats what counts, right?When he finishes, I clap aloud and then ask him what he was playing. satinyhetique. Piano Sonata number 8. Beethoven. That was part of th e wink movement. Adagio cantabile, Jake says. Did you like it?Very much. Truthfully, I am amazed. When did you learn to play?When Caitlin moved in with me, she brought her piano, and shes sort of been teaching me all more or less euphony ever since.I start to feel dizzy because I lead never heard mention of this Caitlin, and I commemorate my brother just told me she lives here with him, which would bring forward astir(predicate) my brother is in a serious alliance I whap nothing well-nigh. This does not seem right. Brothers should know about each others lovers. Finally I manage to say, Caitlin?My brother takes me into his bedroom, and theres a big wooden poster bed with two matching armoires that look like guards facing each other. He picks up a framed written language photo from the bed stand and hands it to me. In the photo, Jakes cheek is wet against a beautiful womans. She has short blond hair, cut al or so like a mans, and she is very delicate- feel, nevertheless p retty. She is in a white dress Jake is in a tuxedo. Thats Caitlin, Jake says. She plays with the Philadelphia Orchestra sometimes and does a lot of recording in New York metropolis too. Shes a classical pianist.Why take for I not heard about Caitlin before?Jake takes the portrait from my hands and stands it up on the dresser. We walk back into the living room and sit down on his leather couch. I knew you were up denounce about Nikki, so I didnt urgency to tell you that I was well happily get hitched with.Married? The enunciate hits me like a giant wave, and suddenly I am streamlined with sweat.Mom actually tried to get you out of that put in Baltimore for the Mass, except it was when you were first admitted and they wouldnt let you out. Mom didnt want me to tell you about Caitlin yet, so I didnt at first, but youre my brother, and now that youre home, I precious you to know about my life, and Caitlins the best part. Ive told her all about you and if you want you can visu alize her nowadays. I had her go out this morning slice I broke the news to you. I can call her now, and we can rescue lunch before we go down to the Linc. So, do you want to meet my married woman?The next thing I know, Im at a itsy-bitsy swanky cafe off South Street, sitting across from a beautiful woman who holds my brothers hand under the table and smiles at me unceasingly. Jake and Caitlin learn the conversation, and it feels a lot like when I am with Veronica and Ronnie. Jake answers most of the questions Caitlin asks me, because I do not say much at all. No mention is made of Nikki or my time at the bad place or just how bizarre it is that Caitlin has been married to my brother for years, yet I had never met her. When the waiter comes, I say Im not hungry, because I dont wear very much money on me unaccompanied the ten bucks my spawn gave me for the subway, since I already spent five bucks on the PATCO ticket. But my brother orders for all of us and says he is treatin g, which is overnice of him. We eat fancy gammon sandwiches with some sort of sunbathe-dried tomato paste, and when I finish, I ask Caitlin if the ceremony was a nice one.What ceremony? she says, and I catch her looking at the little white scar above my right eyebrow.Your hook up with ceremony.Oh, she says, and then looks lovingly at my brother. Yes. It was truly nice. We had the Mass at St. Patricks duomo in New York metropolis and then a small reception at the New York Palace.How long prolong you been married?My brother shoots his wife a look that I do not miss.A succession now, she says, which makes me feel crazy because everyone present knows that I do not confide the last couple of years and because she is a woman, Caitlin knows exactly how long she has been married to Jake. It is obvious she is trying to protect me by being vague. This makes me feel awful, even though I perform Caitlin is trying to be kind.My brother pays the bill, and we walk Caitlin back to thei r apartment building. Jake kisses his wife by the entrance door, and his love for her is so obvious. But then Caitlin kisses me right on the cheek, and with her face only a few inches from mine, she says, Im glad I finally got to meet you, Pat. I entrust well become good fri residuums. I nod because I dont know what else to say, and then Caitlin says, Go BakerIts Baskett, dummy, Jake says, and Caitlin blushes before they kiss again.Jake hails a taxi and tells the driver, City Hall.In the taxi I tell my brother I dont have any money to pay for the taxi ride, but he says I never have to pay for anything when I am with him, which is a nice thing to say, but his saying it makes me feel sort of strange.Underneath City Hall, we buy subway tokens, spin a turnstile, and then wait for the south Orange Line.Even though it is only 130 p.m. and rootage is not for seven hours yet, even though it is a Monday, a day when most people have to work, legion(predicate) men in Eagles jerseys atomic number 18 already waiting on the platform. This makes me realize that Jake is not working today it makes me realize I do not even know what Jake does for a living, which really starts to freak me out. I think hard and remember that my brother was a messiness major in college, but I cannot remember where he works, so I ask him.Im an options trader, he says.Whats that?I play the stock market.Oh, I say. So who do you work for?Myself.What do you mean?I work for myself and do all my business online. Im self-employed.Which is why you could take off early to hang out with me.Thats the best part about being self-employed.I am very impressed with Jakes ability to choke himself and his wife by playing the stock market, but he doesnt want to talk about his work. He thinks Im not smart enough to gain what he does Jake doesnt even try to explain his work to me.So what did you think of Caitlin? he asks me.But the train comes, and we join the herd of boarding Eagles fans before I can answer.W hat did you think of Caitlin? he asks again after we find seats and the train starts moving.Shes great, I say, avoiding eye contact with my brother.Youre mad at me for not telling you about Caitlin right outdoor(a).No, Im not. I want to tell him all about Tiffany following me when I run finding the Pat box how Mom is still on strike and dirty dishes be in the sink and Dad turned his white shirts pink when he did the wash how my therapist falling off says I demand to stay immaterial and not get involved in my p bents marital problems but only focus on improving my own mental health but how can I do that when Dad and Mom be quiescence in separate rooms and Dad is always telling me to ransack the house and Mom is telling me to leave it noisome and I was having a hard time keeping it together before I order out my brother plays the piano and trades stocks and is living with a beautiful thespian and I have missed his gala wedding and therefore will never see my brother marr y, which is something I very much cherished to see, because I love my brother. But instead of saying any of this, I say, Jake, Im sort of worried about seeing that Giants fan again.Is that why youve been so quiet today? my brother asks, as if he has forgotten all about what happened before the last home grainy. I doubt a Giants fan will show up at the Green bay spirited, but were going to set up in a divers(prenominal) pose lot anyway, just in case any of the assholes fri closing curtains are looking for us. I got your back. Dont worry. The fat guys are setting up the tent in the lot behind the Wachovia Center. No worries at all.When we arrive at Broad and Pattison, we exit the subway car and climb back up into the afternoon. I follow my brother through the thin crowds of diehards who like us have begun tailgating seven hours before kickoff, on a Monday no less. We walk past the Wachovia Center, and when the fat mens room green tent comes into view, I cant believe what I see . The fat men are outside of the tent with Scott, and they are yelling at someone hidden by their collective girth. A huge school bus painted green its running, and the driver is inching toward our tent. On the hood of the bus is a portrait of Brian Dawkinss bust, and the likeness is incredible. (Dawkins is a fifty-fifty Pro Bowler who plays free safety for the Birds.) As we get closer, I make out the words the asian invasion along the side of the bus, which is full of brown-faced men. This early in the afternoon, put spaces are plentiful, so I wonder what the argument is about. soon I recognize the voice, which argues, The Asian invasion has been parked in this very fare for every home secret plan since the Linc was opened. Its good luck for the Eagles. We are Eagles fans, just like you. Superstition or not, our parking the Asian Invasion bus in this very spot is crucial if you want the Birds to win tonight.Were not moving our tent, Scott says. No rump way. You should have go tten here earlier. The fat men reiterate Scotts sentiment, and things are getting heated.I see Cliff before he sees me. Move the tent, I say to our friends.Scott and the fat men turn to face me they look surprised by my command, almost bewildered, as if I have betrayed them.My brother and Scott shift a glance, and then Scott asks, Hank Baskett destroyer of Giants fans says, Move the tent?Hank Baskett says, Move the tent, I say.Scott turns and faces Cliff, who is shock to see me. Scott says, Hank Baskett says, Move the tent. So we move the tent.The fat guys groan, but they begin to break down our tailgate party, and soon it is moved three parking spaces over, along with Scotts van, at which time the Asian Invasion bus pulls anterior and parks. Fifty or so Indian men exit each one of them wearing a green number 20 Dawkins jersey. They are like a small army, and soon, several barbecues are going and the sapidity of curry is all around us.Cliff played it cool and did not say hell o to me, which I realize was his way of saying, Its your call, Pat. He but faded away into the other Dawkins jerseys, so I would not have to explain our relationship, which was kind of him.When we have our tent resituated, when the fat men are inner(a) watching television, Scott says, Hey, Baskett. Why did you let the dot heads have our parking spot?None of them have a dot on their head, I say.Did you know that little guy? Jake asks me.Which little guy, me?We turn around, and Cliff is stand up there with a sizzling platter of vegetables and warmheartedness cubes skewered on sticks of wood.Indian kabobs. Quite delicious. For allowing us to park the Asian Invasion bus in its usual spot.When Cliff lifts the platter up, we each grab an Indian kabob, and the meat is spicy, but delicious, as are the vegetables.And the men in the tent would they also like one?Hey, fat-asses, Scott yells. Food.The fat men come out and partake. Soon everyone is nodding and complimenting Cliff on his de licious provender.Sorry for the trouble, Cliff says so nicely.Hes been so kind even after hearing Scott call him a dot head that I cant help claiming Cliff as a friend, so I say, Cliff, this is my brother, Jake, my friend Scott, and I forget the fat mens names, so I just say, Friends of Scott.Shit, Scott says. You should have just told us you were friends with Baskett here and we wouldnt have given you any trouble. You want a beer?Sure, Cliff says, putting the empty tray down on the concrete.Scott hands everyone a green waxy cup, we all pour bottles of Yuengling Lager, and then I am drunkenness beers with my therapist. I am afraid Cliff will yell at me for drinking when I am on medications, but he doesnt.How do you guys know each other? one of the fat guys says, and then I realize that by you guys, he means Cliff and me.I am so happy to be drinking beers with Cliff that I say, Hes my therapist, before I can remind myself to lie.And we are friends too, Cliff quickly adds, whic h surprises me but makes me feel pretty good, especially since no one says anything about my needing a therapist.What are your boys doing? Jake asks Cliff.I turn around and see ten or so men rolling out huge sheets of Astroturf.They are rolling out the Kubb field of studys.What? everyone says.Come on, Ill show you.And this is how we came to play what Cliff calls the Swedish Viking game while tailgating before Monday Night Football.Why do a bunch of Indians play a Swedish Viking game? one of the fat men asks.Because its fun, Cliff replies, so cool.The Indian men are quick to share their food and are also so knowledgeable regarding Eagles football. They explain Kubb, which is a game where you throw wooden batons to knock down your opponents kubbs, which are wooden blocks set up on opposite baselines. The knocked-down kubbs get tossed to the opponents field and set up where they land. To be truthful, I am still not exactly authorized how it all works, but I know the game ends when yo u clean the opponents field of kubbs and knock down the kubb king, which is the tallest block of wood, set up in the effect of the Astroturf.Cliff surprises me by asking if he can be my partner. wholly afternoon he tells me which blocks to aim for, and we win many games in surrounded by bouts of eating Indian kabobs and drinking our Yuengling Lager and the Asian Invasions India Pale Ale out of green plastic cups. Jake, Scott, and the fat men assimilate into the Asian Invasion tailgate party very nicely we have Indians in our tent, they have white guys on their Kubb fields and I think all it really takes for different people to get along is a common root interest and a few beers.Every so often one of the Indian men yells Ahhhhhhhh and when we all do the chant, we are fifty or so men strong, and our E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES is deafening.Cliff is deadly with his wooden batons. He mostly carries our team as we play Kubb against various groupings of men, but we end up winning the money to urnament, in which I did not even know we were playing until we won. One of Cliffs boys hands me fifty dollars. Cliff explains that Jake paying my entry fee, so I try to give my brother my winnings, but Jake will not let me. Finally, I decide to buy rounds of beer inside the Linc, and I stop arguing with my brother over money.After the sun sets, when it is just about time to go into Lincoln Financial Field, I ask Cliff if I can talk to him alone, and when we walk away from the Asian Invasion, I say, Is this okay?This? he replies, and the glassy look in his eyes suggests he is a little drunk.The two of us temporary removal out like boys. What my friend Danny would call representing.Why not?Well, because you are my therapist.Cliff smiles, holds up a little brown finger, and says, What did I tell you? When I am not in the leather recliner Youre a fellow Eagles fan.Damn right, he says, and then claps me on the back.After the game I catch a ride back to Jersey on the Asian Invasion bus, and the Indian men and I sing Fly, Eagles, Fly over and over again because the Eagles have beaten the Packers 31 9 on national television. When Cliffs friends drop me off in front of my house, its after midnight, but the funny driver, who is named Ashwini, hits the horn on the Asian Invasion bus a special recording of all fifty members screaming E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES I worry that maybe they have woken up everyone in my neighborhood, but I cant help laughing as the green bus pulls away.My vex is still awake, sitting on the family-room couch watching ESPN. When he sees me, he doesnt say hello, but loudly begins to sing, Fly, Eagles, fly. On the road to victory So I sing the song one more time with my father, and when we finish the chant at the end, my dad continues to hum the fight song as he marches off to bed without so much as asking me a single question about my day, which has been extraordinary to say the least, even if Hank Baskett only had two catches for twenty-seven yards a nd has yet to find the end zone. I think about cleaning up my fathers empty beer bottles, but I remember what my mother told me about keeping the house filthy while she is on strike.Downstairs, I hit the weights and try not to think about missing Jakes wedding, which still has me down some, even if the Birds did win. I need to work off the beer and the Indian kabobs, so I lift for many hours.