***

That night, like most nights I was home, Beth was already asleep when I came to bed. Before coming upstairs I opened a few boxes of footballs autographed by Troy Aikman and Tony Romo. I opened a few boxes of designer jeans and belt buckles, and a few filled with digital gadgets that I didn’t know how to use. I opened an original animation frame from Steamboat Willie here, and a framed napkin with elder President Bush’s signature there.

Afterwards, I watched TV in one room but sweated on the leather couch so I went into the other room and watched TV there. I could only pay attention for so long before my headache became too overwhelming.

Beth was gently snoring when I laid next to her. The orange street light came through our shutters and lit up the room so I could watch the ceiling fan ride the air conditioner round and round until the sun rose and the street light went out. Until the birds chirped. Then, like most mornings, I got up before Beth, showered, kissed her goodbye, and drove myself to the airport.

***

In Tupelo I worked at a sub shop with guys who mixed pot into the oregano and served it to “uptight” customers who complained when their orders weren’t right.

At home Beth and I ate leg of lamb. She told me she saw a few job postings online that I might be interested in. That she’d keep an eye out for more.

In Scottsdale I worked as a valet. One guy was skimming from the tip jar because he needed a new crown for an upper left molar while another came back from a car saying, what are they going to do, tell the cops I stole their weed? I flew home with a bonus.

At home Beth and I ate goat cheese pizza. She said a friend told her they were looking for a new business administrator at her job and thought I might be interested. I could put that MBA to use. I could be home more and watch Marley grow up.

In Bloomington I worked as a groundskeeper for an apartment complex. The manager had fired all the Mexicans because she couldn’t understand their chatter, but after three-to-five days of hearing what her English speakers had to say, she just rehired them all.

At home Beth and I ate in complete silence.

A bar owner in Charlottesville called and said he was interested in my services. I told him I couldn’t work for him because I had already worked for a certain regional airline in Charlottesville and I never did two jobs in the same town. I told him if I were to run into someone who got fired because of something they told me, it would be really awkward for that person. Plus, I told him, I needed to spend more time with my wife and kid. I needed to get some rest. I needed to get rid of this headache once and for all.

“Whatever you get paid,” the bar owner said, “I’ll triple it.”