Demise

East Lake, Tuesday 20 September, 6:17 a.m.-2

Johnny shook his head, amazed at the transformation. He ignored Rocco’s request. “If Jason plays today, do you want to come to his game? You can sit in the car and see the field at Jefferson.”

“Calcio?” Soccer.

“Yeah.”

“It’s too cold to sit.” Rocco’s head jerked to the left then, mechanically, back to the right, as if he were searching for something.

“Pop, you want some coffee?”

“Juice. I need juice with this pill. A little milk with this one. Then…” He lapsed, fumbled with his morning prescription bottles which Jason had aligned on the table. “Jason wraps my leg too tight.”

Johnny brought his father a small glass of orange juice, a second with milk, returned for a coffee mug and the pot to refill his own. “It’s gotta be pretty tight. Remember what the doctor said.”

“Not that tight!