You know about Hemingway’s Iceberg Theory, right? How all the good stuff is what’s left unsaid, the subtext lurking just beneath the surface?
Yeah, well, the old man drank a lot, too.
Yeah, well, the old man drank a lot, too.
Checking In on Pop by Jen Conley
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Hey, Pop.
Hey, son.
I got you some coffee.
Thanks. Add some of that vodka in
here.
Your hands are shaking.
Yeah, I know. Just pour that in
for me.
It’s a little early for alcohol.
Pour it.
All right . . . is that good?
Yeah.
You want me to help you? Hold it
to your mouth? You’re gonna spill it.
I got it.
You sure?
Yeah.
This happen every morning now?
The shaking?
Hit me again.
Really?
Hit me again.
Fair enough . . . That good?
Yep.
It’s a beautiful morning, isn’t
it?
Yeah.
You should get out. Walk around a
bit.
Maybe.
Or sit outside. Enjoy the sun. Read
the paper. I brought you the Daily News.
I know you like reading the sports section.
Thanks.
Yep.
I came over to check on you but
also because I need to pay your bills but I don’t know the password on your
bank account.
You trying to take my money?
No, Pop. I’m trying to pay your
bills. Keep the lights on. I got my own money and I wouldn’t take yours.
How’s your mom?
Good.
What she up to?
Nothing.
She still with Joe?
Yeah. They’re going down to South
Carolina to visit Gina.
Your sister is living in South
Carolina?
She moved there last month. Charleston. Her boyfriend lives there.
Hit me again.
Pop, that’s three shots of V. You
need that much?
One more.
You gotta tell me what the
password is on your bank account.
One more.
Fine.
Cheers.
Where’s the password?
It’s on a sticky note. Your
sister is living with her boyfriend?
Yeah. Matt. He found a job down
there. They like the South.
I hate the South. Too hot. Your
mother and me went down there, I can’t remember when. You and your sister were
small.
I don’t remember that trip.
No, no. You guys didn’t go. Me
and your mom went to a wedding. A friend of hers. I got drunk and she left me
on the lawn in front of the restaurant. I woke up to a beautiful morning.
Like today?
Just like today. Hit me again.
I need the password, Pop.
Hit me again.
No, I won’t.
Give me that bottle.
Fine. Let me pour it.
Salud.
The password, Pop.
I’ll get it for you.
You need help getting up?
Leave me alone. I got it.
If you tell me where the sticky
note is—
It’s in my brain. Right in my
head.
Okay. What is it?
Elizabeth22.
That’s Mom’s name.
Yeah. We met when we were
twenty-two. That’s how I remember it.
All right. Just sit down and I’ll
try the password.
Okay. I’ll sit.
Good. I’m gonna give it a try on
my cell, okay?
Yep.
What’s the username? I forgot to
ask you.
Pop, this is important.
Wait. I gotta think.
Okay.
Shadowbrook.
Shadowbrook?
Yeah. I took your mother there
for dinner and afterwards, while we were strolling around the gardens because
it’s a beautiful place, I asked her to marry me.
Sounds like a nice proposal.
Girls don’t like bad proposals.
Right. That’s funny, Pop.
I’m a funny man. Still.
Have you called any of your guys?
Someone to come over and help you get to a detox, help you get to a rehab or at
least back to the meetings?
No. They don’t need to see me
this way.
What about that kid you sponsor?
He probably found someone else.
I can get you set up with a
rehab.
Don’t want it right now.
But when you do, you got my cell
number. Right?
Yep.
Let me try the username and
password.
Go ahead. I know they’re right.
They work, Pop.
Told you.
Okay. I’ll be back tonight to go through
your bills and figure out what needs to be paid.
Thanks. Hit me again.
Pop, I can’t do that.
Then give me the bottle.
Pop, no.
One more hit and then help me to
bed.
Fine. Here. I’ll pour it.
You’re a good boy. You always
were.
Pop, I hate to see you this way.
You had three good years. You can do it again.
I like drinking. I like being
sober. I like drinking. It’s my problem. It’s the way it is. And I ain’t
drinking because of your mother and Joe. Don’t care.
Pop, let’s get you into bed.
I miss what I had.
You should sleep.
You know?
Let’s get you to bed.
All right. Put the TV on. I like
that channel. Home improvement. The one with the brothers. They make a mess out
of things.
Careful, Pop. It’s just down the
hall.
You still fixing up that little
house? Remember when I’d come by and help you?
Yeah. Still working on it. Watch where you’re going.
I can come by. Tomorrow. You need help with them counters. In the kitchen.
I finished that, Pop. My buddy
helped me.
Ah, shit. I’m a crap father. I
should be dead.
Careful, Pop. Lay down now.
You got the TV on?
Doing it now.
Channel 42. That brother show.
I know. I got it.
Good.
Well, I’ll see you Pop.
I love you, son.
I know. I love you too but I have
to go to work.
I love you, boy.
I know. I love you, too, but you
gotta let go of my hand.
Don’t let me die this way.
You won’t die. Sleep it off and
when I come back tonight we’ll get you set up for a detox and rehab.
I don’t want to go.
I know. Let go of my hand, Pop.
I love you, son.
Let go of my hand.
I can’t. Don’t leave me.
I love you.
I’ll be back later.
Okay.
That’s it. Watch your show. I’ll
be back tonight.
Yep.
See you, Pop.
Yep.
Yep.
