I placed my small travel bag on the end of the queen bed. The room was fairly large, I was surprised. I had a view onto the back garden with a small green gate leading to a beaten path. I had asked dad why we couldn't stay in a hotel, but he insisted that Uncle Jay wanted us to stay with him. I hadn't seen Uncle Jay in years, I had almost forgotten about him. Dad and he were roommates in college and had stayed in touch ever since. I knew they also often met up on fishing trips with other alumni.
"How do you like the room?" I jumped not having noticed Jay enter. "Sorry boy, didn't mean to startle you there."
"It's nice." I looked over Uncle Jay. I couldn't believe how they had maintained their friendship all these years. Where dad was always immaculately dressed Jay wore a thin T-shirt that barely covered his protruding belly, a pair of cargo shorts and flip flops. I had always thought Jay was goofy looking, his body was disproportionately built, apart from his belly he was actually pretty lanky with large hands and feet. His face might have been handsome if not for a big nose obstructing it. No wonder the poor man was still a bachelor.
"Danny-boy is sleeping in my pink room. I thought a young man like you would want something a bit manlier." A funny comment considering even though this room was blue the powdery shade made it lose all masculinity.
"Where does that gate lead to?" I pointed to the green gate in the back garden trying to change the subject.
"It goes to a small beach only a few locals know about. Hopefully we can visit it during your stay. Your dad says you're a swimmer."
"Merry University is offering me a swim scholarship." I said with pride. I had gotten into every college I applied for. Now it was time to choose which one to say yes to. Dad and I had been on this road trip for the past week looking at my options. "We're meeting the coach today."
"Well good luck." One of Jay's large hands patted my shoulder. As he left the room, he winked at me.
I met my father in his guest room. It surely was pink. White lace curtains draped the window. Dad didn't seem to mind as he finished unpacking. The one benefit to dad's room was a large private bathroom. I had to use the common one all the way down on the first floor. Jay must have a private restroom of his own.
"I didn't realize Jay had such a nice house." I sat on my father's bed. "What does he do for a living?"
"He's a very successful lawyer."
"In shorts and a T-shirt?"
"He can be very charming when he wants to be." I furrowed my brow at the comment. I would have to see that to believe it. "Anyway, we can't take long, the college will be waiting for us."
Dad changed his shirt he had been driving in all day. He never looked unprofessional, even on days off and he had been making sure to exude professionalism when accompanying me on my endeavors. He chose not to wear a blazer in the hot weather and instead rolled up his sleeves to expose his toned arms. We were built very similarly, though I was happy to have outgrown his height by half an inch, something I could tease him about. He placed a pink tie around his neck, it matched the room's walls. I was surprised I had not seen this tie before. I thought he had only brought a couple for the trip and that I had seen them all. I didn't want to comment on it.
As we made our way to the car, we came across Uncle Jay sitting on the front porch legs up with a book in hand. It was almost noon on a weekday, shouldn't he be at work?
"I see you're wearing my present." He smiled at dad who touched the necktie. That's why he was wearing it.
"Thank you, Uncle Jay." Replied my dad in an amused tone.
"Oh, get outa here before you distract me any more Danny-boy" Distract him from what exactly? Uncle Jay slapped dad's ass from his seated position. I would have found this normal if it weren't for the embarrassed face dad made afterwards. All the guys I knew did this.
We finally got in the car to the university.
"You didn't seem to like when Jay slapped you back there."
"Oh, I don't mind, he's just got big hands that one." After that I let the subject go even if I noticed dad's face redden ever so slightly.
The head swim coach met us for lunch at one of the school's dining spots. We talked about the opportunities that the school offered both in terms of sports advancement and what kind of career I was looking for. We then toured their facilities; the college was well equipped with a state-of-the-art training center and multiple pools. I was impressed but not convinced. When the coach left us we got the opportunity to get a tour of the rest of the college from a member of the administrative office. By the time we had dinner and drove the forty minutes back to Uncle Jay's house we were tapped out. We found Jay on the porch as if he hadn't left it all day.
"The boys are back!" He said a beer in hand. We went to sit on the porch with him. "Danny-boy grab us all some beers from the fridge, I'm empty." Dad, without question, headed into the house.
"I'm not old enough for a beer Uncle Jay."
"You're old enough to vote, you're old enough to drink in my books. But if you're looking to keep up that physique I understand." He pat his belly. Dad returned with three beers. Offering me one, I refused.
"I think I'm going to bed. It's been a long day." Dad nodded and after giving Uncle Jay the now surplus beer gave me a kiss on the cheek. I swore I saw a glint in Jay's eyes as he did so.
"Goodnight boy. See you tomorrow morning." He waved at me from his chair.
I collapsed on the bed. There had been no way to work out today, I would have to make sure and do so tomorrow. I set my alarm for 7am and spent an hour browsing on my computer before falling asleep. As my mind wandered off, I heard the footsteps of Uncle Jay and dad walking up the stairs.
