Escaping The Pocket- A Romantic Mystery

No longer on the clock, first round draft pick Trevor Danza arrived at Empire State Stadium, early to prepare for the Christmas Day holiday spectacle. Inside the locker room the rookie quarterback slipped off his finger, the special ring that conferred collegiate gridiron success, reaching the highest peak and ending when all the academic credits were earned.

As he did for the whole season Trevor, known in the papers as TD, secured the jewelry and carefully used the varsity jacket’s deep pockets before closing, locking the metal door.

A few hours later following affluent taxi service, a former student bulldog style reporter, Jennings wearing a mink parka entered the security gate, showing identification and proceeded to her assigned seat. Once comfortably staged, the second set of eyes pulled out binoculars scanning the practicing athletes. Suddenly, a brush back sensation touched her shoulders, “PKM, Merry Christmas” she hollered, and the Italian, dressed formally in a suit occupied the space next to Jennings.

“How is our boy doing?” PKM inquired.

“Mighty fine,” Jennings answered keeping focused on number 17, Trevor Danza the latest conversation piece brewing throughout the rural cosmopolitan coffee houses.

“Here,” PKM laughed handing a gourmet popcorn box with a buried surprise.

“What am I supposed to do with this?”

“It’s lunch,” PKM answered, “we are doing lunch, and I can use that box as a tax write off next week.”

“Why is this place called the ‘Empire State Stadium’? PKM,”

“It’s the largest stadium in the city, maybe the country,”

“Chicago has that beat,” Jennings referenced her hometown.

Tearing the seal Jennings, picked one popped kernel before returning to surveillance duty. “Who is that cheerleader? Trevor is talking to,”

“That is Charismatic, her first year,”

“And what is the cheerleaders purpose?”

“Keep the chains moving in our favor,” PKM made perfectly clear when Jennings found the gimmicked feature.

“Looky here a plastic ring” Jennings announced, “I have a plan.”

When the final whistle signaled another Trevor victory the town’s toast hustled back into the quiet confines where festive well-wishing masses assembled with the intention to congratulate. In a short time period things quieted down and Trevor transitioned back into being a human being.

Discreetly, Jennings proceeded down the elevator, encountering the dark corridor, before seeing the crowd spark electricity defending the area from being industrial depressed. Positive cheering erupted as Trevor emerged wearing street clothes searching for one-on-one attention. Spotting Jennings, he smiled as she skipped up to him quickly giving a hug while placing one hand into the pocket, grabbing the contents,

“Good game, honey,” she mentioned.

Arching his arm around her shoulders Trevor and Jennings escorted each other and noticed Charismatic back among the groupies, the VIP date politely stated, “Merry Christmas,” to the seductively dressed dancer wearing team colors.

“You know we still have to do our stockings,” Jennings reminded Trevor, “at your parents’ house.”

Crossing over the line, returning to the public sector, Trevor found his brand-new automobile and pressed the fob unlocking all doors. Once situated the engine started, warming the moment, while Jennings found the commercial free holiday song’s radio station.

“Wait, I almost forgot,” Trevor felt immediate shock not finding the small box where he left it. Tapping the steering wheel button, magically the dial tones replaced the music.

“What are you missing?” Jennings acted worried.

“My ring!”

“I do not have a ring; you do not have a ring and does that thing ever stop ringing?” Jennings bluntly commented, no longer being entertained with festive tidings.

“My College championship one,” Trevor clarified, “PKM can you check my locker and see if my championship ring, is there?”

A few seconds elapsed, “No,” PKM voice proclaimed.

Phone calls constantly invaded the drive home enchanting experience, as Trevor sent out the small relic search party. Finally reaching their destination the pair approached the front door slowly opening the blockade, “there is chicken parmesan in the refrigerator,” a voice shouted from the bedroom over the seasonal movie channel presentation.

Trevor went straight for the kitchen and Jennings broke away heading into the living room finding the stockings over the fireplace. Identifying Trevor’s by his mother’s needlepoint, Jennings stuffed the achievement object as far down as it could go towards the bottom.

“Do you want me to bring your stocking into the kitchen,” Jennings heard the microwave sounding everything done.

“Sure,”

Placing the prop on the table, Jennings sat down,

“Here is your stocking,” Jennings presented.

“You filled this for me?” Trevor displayed appreciation, “you know I didn’t get any presents this year,”

“You had plenty of gift wrap scoring opportunities,” Jennings reported, “you were very lucky.”

Slowly Trevor pulled out many odd trinkets that his mother collected throughout the year and then, “Hey what is this?” He exclaimed.

“Did Santa sneak pass something by you?”

“It’s my ring!”

“Maybe Santa is trying to send you a message.”

Big game weekend took up residency, and Trevor headlined the dream like production. Strolling down the boulevard where the fountains danced, the fortunate one proposed, “can I ask you a question? Jennings,”

“What?”

“You once stole my heart, then you once stole my ring, can I give you my championship acknowledgement as a relationship commitment gesture?”

“What do you think? You are going to get another ring? Tomorrow?”

“Well, yeah,” Trevor confirmed.

“Yes, I will accept that token,” Jennings agreed “then next year we are going to come back here after we exchange vows and have an encore ceremony at one of those small wedding chapels here.”

“What is exchanging vows?”

Placing the ring on her special finger Jennings rolled her eyes knowing that Trevor in reality was a lost soul, desperately needing her company. To survive.