Bonds Built, Bonds Broken, Part IV: The Talk

Logan Tact sat in the home office of his father, Larry, where he awaited what he expected was an awkward conversation. Following the overcast day in Manhattan, thunderstorms had begun rolling through. The thunderclaps that rang out were audible even though this office had no windows. Logan guessed his father used the silence of being siloed, but he couldn’t imagine how it helped. He would be driven mad at some point. His father was no maniac, but he certainly developed a stern demeanor from somewhere. It could have been years of sitting in offices without windows, for all Logan knew.



At the moment, Logan was waiting for his father to speak first. He was taught that was the tactful thing to do, but in this case, the younger Tact wasn’t really sure how he would start this conversation. Prom was coming up, and while Logan had never displayed any erratic or partying tendences – towards his parents, at least – he figured this had something to do with the event. Logan feared it would be a teenager’s awkward nightmare: the dreaded ‘Birds and the Bees’ talk. He figured he could get by alright with his father having that discussion. But if his mom ever decided she needed to take it on? Logan shuddered inside. She was a great mom and he was inspired by her willingness to go above and beyond to help him at times. This was one thing he wouldn’t want to see her attempt. The only time she alluded to it was when they were on vacation in a pharmacy. For some ungodly reason, she noticed condoms in a display case behind the counter.



“Those are a little visible for the kids, aren’t they?” she had pointed out to the cashier, who was probably college aged, himself.



“The cigarettes?” he had mistakenly looked over the wrong shoulder.



“The condoms.”



“Oh,” the kid had turned a little red. “We just keep them back there so no one, um, steals them.”



“Well, it looks like a solicitation more than a caution,” Cindy Winstead chided, before turning to Logan. “You don’t need to worry about that for a while, honey.” She then turned to the cashier, a hand to the side of her mouth as if Logan couldn’t hear her. “He’s still, you know… inexperienced.” Wink.



He was fourteen at the time.



The cashier looked at Cindy for a beat, then to Logan – who scowled – and back to Cindy, his face turning a light shade of beet. “Oh yeah, uh… kids… heh… um, that’ll be $23.28.”



Logan had enough and snatched the plastic bag of snacks they were supposed to be there for. He stomped out of the store, his mother confused by why her son was suddenly upset. Sometimes she didn’t get how oblivious she was. Since then, he hadn’t wanted to imagine if she ever tried giving an actual conversation about having sex, like a couple of his friends’ parents had done. All he knew is that it would be awful.



That’s why he expected, and hoped, he would hear it from his father instead. Prom would be at a banquet hall near Pier 23 on Manhattan’s West Side, not far from a sports complex Logan had taken part in a few intramural sports leagues at. When his friends had told him they were booking a hotel bloc in midtown for the after party, Logan had pitched that very subway fact to his parents. They weren’t keen on letting their son stay overnight with his friends – and dates… *ahem* not that they knew that part *ahem* – at a hotel on prom night., but Logan knew they weren’t total hardasses, either. He guessed they may have needed a little coaxing, so he crafted a story about having a chance to squeeze some information about college recruiting from a couple of the guys going. It was somewhat true; he had a couple friends with family connections in positions at universities and colleges. Logan had been taught by his father that if you needed to lie, it never hurt to fit in a kernel of truth. That was a heart-to-heart talk they had following Larry cutting a promo for an event one time. Logan felt like he would always remember interesting stuff like that.



At present, Larry had his hands steepled in front of his face, elbows on his knees, as he sat in his plush black leather chair. He used it when he wasn’t using the standing desk. Logan sat on the leather sofa that was against a wall, but he kept a straight posture so he could appear focused. He was really trying to remember how many people would be going to the after party, and how much weed they’d need if everyone was going to take some. Larry finally leaned back in the seat, allowing his hands to settle near his knees, “Logan, I want you to know that your mother and I trust your judgment. We raised you, we sent you to good schools. There’s really no reason why you shouldn’t be equipped with the know-how to handle serious situations.”



“You and mom,” Logan began, but realized he shouldn’t be trying to extend the conversation with a lot of back-and-forth, but instead keep it short. “Look out for me. I know, I appreciate it.”



“We have your best interests in mind, Logan. I don’t know exactly what the parents of your friends do, or if they’re even all still together, considering the divorce rate in this country… atrocious… people should be committed to the vows they take– but nevermind that,” Larry shook his head. “What we tell you is the best advice you can receive. So if we tell you something, you should take it seriously. You understand me?”



“Of course, I do,” Logan replied, tempted to call out Larry for a few times he wasn’t exactly giving all the information on a subject. Resist. Resist.



“Good. Then understand we’re considering pulling you from your team sports after this season,” Larry stated bluntly.



“Wait, what?!?” Logan exclaimed. “I need to keep going with the teams so I can get a scholarship! I can’t get it if I quit, what the hell?”



“Logan, did you not just say you understood what I was telling you? We’re looking out for your best interest,” Larry explained, a little miffed he needed to issue a reminder.



“Okay, yeah, but this is my teams! Come on, I’ve been on them for years, worked at building up my profiles, especially for colleges,” Logan huffed. This came from left field, and he had not seen where it was coming from. Then a thought dawned on him. “Is this to do with what you were saying last month? About unexpected things coming up that could keep me from finishing my school sports? Were you planning on doing this already? What the hell did I do?!” He was fuming inside, and trying to hold it back, but this sucked!



“Hey, chill out,” Larry shot back, ”I didn’t plan on this. We feel it’s in your best interests to not be spending time making all the team trips. You could be using that time to study, or work. You haven’t even had a job since I got you one your freshman year with your uncle.”



“First of all, that doesn’t make any sense. I haven’t had a job because I’ve been busting my ass doing school sports, year round, to boost my chances at a scholarship!” Logan didn’t understand what his father was saying. Typically he had a reason to make some sudden shift, but this was ridiculous. There was something else, Logan knew it. “Second, I don’t even know if that ‘job’ was legal. I was helping kids roll dough, and serving them pizza, for ‘baking birthday parties’ he was hosting at his shop. They were super annoying, and for some reason they were all hungry. It’s like their parents didn’t feed them before bringing those little monsters there. That was the worst.”



“Well, it was off the books work, technically. The only thing that wasn’t legal was you, working. But it taught you some valuable lessons, like doing things you don’t want to. Anyway, now I’m sure you can pick up a different job somewhere.”



“No, I don’t want to get another job. I want to keep playing basketball, football, and wrestling so I can make scholarship. How is that suddenly not important to you? What did I do??” Logan demanded, although he may not have masked a hint of pleading in his voice. Playing sports was where he made most of his friends, and it would absolutely suck to lose that time with them. He’d miss out on too much.



Larry considered, “What do you think you need a scholarship for? It’s something your mother and I wanted you to shoot for, yes. But we can pay your way through college, don’t worry about that. Unlike your friends, who may be hard up from their father’s day job at Walmart and night job at Senor Frog’s – lugging their housewife mom along – we have the savings. You’re very fortunate that your mother worked as a lawyer and I, well, I’ve got my wrestling career and Tact Enterprises, of course.”



“Yeah, that’s great, but I want to have a career, too. Maybe as a basketball player, maybe in football? Hell, maybe I’ll still be interested in wrestling despite how you’ve been ‘setting the example,’ ”



“Excuse you, what was that, boy?” Larry halted him with the terseness of his tone alone. Logan knew he shouldn’t have said it as soon as the words came out, but he was pissed. He hadn’t cared about poking the beast. Larry leaned in and his eyes took on a gleam of focus that Logan could best describe as ‘boring into him.’ “You don’t know all that went into the years, a generation of time that I’ve spent in wrestling. What is it with people wanting to taint my legacy and all I’ve done?” Larry stopped himself, taking a breath, then another. “You know what? Screw it, this is pointless. You’re practically a grown man. And just so you know, by the time I was your age, I was already training to become a professional wrestler with my friends. If you want to be a wrestler, you’d for damn sure better have your mind set on it.”



Amidst his confusion, Logan didn’t have the wherewithal to respond to that jab. “Wait, back up, what do you mean this is pointless?”



“It’s not about your playing sports or not,” Larry admitted. “In fact, I’m the one who wants you to keep playing. It’s your mother, she’s just set on not having you out on your own,” he sighed.



“What? Why can’t I be out on my own? That’s all I’ve been doing for two years, traveling with the teams. Anyway, it’s not like we don’t have coaches and chaperones. You’ve been a chaperone.” Logan was trying to recover his chill so he could reason with his father, and find out what was really going on. He knew there was something going on!



“Oh, I remember my chaperone experiences. One time I had to talk with your buddy’s father, Mr. Snickers. He couldn’t help relaying countless stories of the ‘fun’ times when people thought he invented Snickers bars, and he played along. I thought I was going to drive my car off the road before we made it up to Rochester. Or stop on the side of the road and submit him unconscious, so I wouldn’t need to hear him,” Larry rubbed his face with his hands. “Anyway. There’s someone who’s apparently taken an interest in our family. He could be a danger to you, even, and that’s not something I’m saying lightly. This guy met with me in a secured facility, for chrissakes. I’m not even sure how he got in, but he did. It isn’t a stretch to imagine that he would be able to get onto school grounds, or somewhere your teams are traveling to. If you hear from a Salazur Catt, don’t take a call, Logan. If a stranger named Salazur approaches you, just walk away. Find someone you can trust and get home immediately.”



The name struck Logan like a thunderbolt. He tried to hide the expression on his face, but it was too late: his father had caught his dumbfounded look. “What is it? Have you ever been contacted by a Salazur? Logan, tell me now,” Larry stood, insistent.



“N-no, I don’t know anyone like that. I’d remember if there was someone around with a goofy name like that,” Logan said on impulse. He looked at his father, who stared back. Logan continued, “I just… I’m just surprised you don’t trust me to do that anyway! Come on, I’m not a dumb kid anymore. Like you said, I’m practically grown up. I wouldn’t just go along with some rando dude. But you wanted to cut me out of school sports because you don’t trust me?” he tried to reach back for his outrage, but it wasn’t easy. What did Salazur do?



Larry continued to stare for a bit longer, then sat back down. “This isn’t some bully who’s out to get you, son. The guy could legitimately be looking to harm us, including you. I told you we needed to think of your best interests, and while school sports are great and all, they aren’t worth risking your safety,” Larry reiterated. “I’ll tell you what. Because I respect you as a young man, I’m going to give you a choice. If you want to stick with sports, you can. However, you had better be giving us updates every hour, after school hours. I don’t mean a text. You’re going to airdrop us a location pin. You can’t be running around wherever, whether you’re with friends or the team, without letting us know. It’s not permanent, but we do need to enforce that until I figure out who we’re dealing with. Believe me when I say, it’s not fun for any of us, and I’m working on getting it resolved.”



Logan nodded as Larry gave his condition, relief washing over him. “Yes, okay, I will. Just let me keep playing, please.” His father gave a stiff nod and released his hand, which Logan took as his ‘free to go’ signal. At the door, he turned and looked at his father, who was still watching him. “Do you seriously not care if I make scholarship for college? That’s just…”



“Logan, of course I care,” Larry was taken a little aback, and sounded a little hurt, but persisted. “It’s been on my mind for two years, since you made junior varsity. I’ve watched you develop, and I know you’re a phenomenal athlete. You have a great shot at getting a full-ride, even. But you know, there are more important things than getting some free money, kid. Like your health and well being. This is serious stuff, we have to be alert.”



In that moment, Logan felt some of the accusations he made towards his father overwhelmed by a swell of affection. He had avoided saying it for months, out of spite, but couldn’t resist just then: “Thanks, dad. I know you’re looking out for me.”



“That’s my job, kid. I mean, aside from the other stuff. Don’t ever think you aren’t my priority, Logan,” Larry said. “Oh, shoot, I almost forgot…”



Logan tilted his head, “What?”



“Your mother wanted to make sure I told you, y’know, before prom night? I mean, look, I know you know already, but don’t do anything dumb, okay? You got condoms?” Larry asked plainly.



“Uh, I uh… I mean, I’m sure one of the guys will,” Logan sputtered.



“Just bring a couple packs, you never know what the knuckleheads are thinking. I doubt any of you will be thinking much, by the time night falls. Just be smart, son. Don’t think with the wrong heads, if you know what I mean?”



“I hear you, dad,” Logan replied, feeling his ears getting a little hot.



“Here,” Larry reached into a desk drawer and tossed Logan a box of Trojans.



“Dad! That’s like, a lot of… I mean, nobody wants me to walk in with this.”



“Trust me, kid. Your friends will thank you, if they forget, and you’ll be all set. Just divide them amongst yourselves and keep them in your sock, or something. It’ll be fine,” he advised, then muttered under his breath, “I don’t need a Matt Knox in the family,”



“Okay, I guess I can do that,” Logan said, not hearing the last part. “Goodnight, dad.”



“’Night, kid. Love ya.”



“Love you.”

---

Larry Tact sits inside a conference room of an unknown venue. It isn’t nearly as lavish as the executive board room of Tact Enterprises, but will do. Larry had on a pinstriped navy blue suit and sat on the end of the table. The Level Up Power Championship laid on the table. He reaches a hand over to the Power title, his fingers tracing the gem as the drone cam continues to center on Larry.



“I imagine the Developer may have been surprised, but not disappointed to see the Game Changers come up short at winning yet another Championship. Don’t worry, though, because we never take a setback too much to heart. This week, Eli and Brody have the unfortunate task of being across the ring with myself and EAB. Make no mistake, bastards: this will not go the same way as last week.”



He picks up the Power title and slings it over his shoulder, a smirk at the edge of his mouth.



“I mean, for one thing, there’s no silly triple threat rules. You two, on the other hand, need to deal with me and EAB this week, and it’s a whole different ballgame. Two men who are driven towards success, domination, and when the mood strikes us… excessive humiliation. Just ask ole Dionysus, who’s probably needing a vino IV hooked up to him in the hospital right about now.”



Larry chuckles, full of conceit.



“Eli, you and I have been in the ring together before. You know that I won’t hesitate to take advantage of a wrester’s weakness – be it physical, moral, or otherwise. So we should have a pretty clear understanding of who we’re dealing with… or do we? See, I understand you, Eli. You’re a boy scout with a tendency to get irritated by the circumstances you’re in. Sometimes you’re able to channel it in a positive way, like recently, as you’ve strung together wins and now, a title. However, it wasn’t always like that. When we first met a couple times last year, you were a frustrated little bitch. You had a broken arm, sure, but you chose to get in the ring, too. I exploited that weakness and you got upset. Then, at the end of the year, what did you do when you saw a possibility that you may have to face me again? You took your ball and went the hell away. You went to whatever hole you could call a home, and avoided Larry Tact from humiliating you again.”



“Well, this week I’m going to take you down memory lane, for a trip to nightmare alley, Eli. It won’t be like last time, no… it’s going to be even worse. Because while I understand you, Eli, you still seem to be blinded to what I’ve become. You may have seen the type of acts I’m willing to pull against my opposition. I’m sure you noticed me in The Last Of Us, since my appearance involved me directly, and that’s mainly who you care about in your little book of Eli. But I’ve gotten more strategic, more vicious, and more… powerful. Not to mention, I’ve got someone else who’s on the same page as me, in Mister EA Blizzard. Your nightmare streak against me will not be broken, this week, Goode-y boy.”



He stands and puts a hand in a pocket while the other holds onto the title.



“Brody, I’ve only seen a few of your matches. That’s to say, it’s all the work you’ve had here. But from those, I’m fairly confident I’ve seen enough to know you’re going to need to be a lot more unpredictable to tangle with me, and not be sent flat on your ass. I’m the goddamn Power Champion. If I were you, I’d be studying up real good, because EAB and I are feeling our mean streaks lately. We’re not here to play nice, and your in our way. Don’t fuck up like you did versus Eli, and cost the both of you any chance of standing upright in the process, by the end of the night.”



“Gentleman, just one more thing: humbly go fuck yoursefves sideways.”