Story 15 – Part 4 – Full of Spirit

Carmine watched as Tech nervously tapped his foot. It had taken his nephew nearly a minute to get the courage just to knock on the apartment door. Apologizing to a friend was one thing, but apologizing to the friend’s parents for your own stupidity was pretty frightening. Carmine was proud that his nephew was still going through with his decision even though he was incredibly nervous.

“What is it?” the woman answering the door asked.

“Mrs. Renoe,” Carmine said with a smile. “How are you doing? Sorry to interrupt, but my nephew asked me to come and translate for him.”

“Translate what?” Mrs. Renoe asked as she gave Tech a long look.

“ ‘I’m really sorry that Don got in trouble because of me,’ ” Carmine translated as Tech looked Mrs. Renoe in the eyes while he signed. “ ‘I messed up and Don got in trouble because of me. I’m really sorry. If you do not want me to talk with Don again, then I’ll understand.’ ”

That was a bit of a statement for a teenager to tell the parents of his best friend. Mr. Renoe came to the door to see what the fuss was all about, and Carmine repeated the message again. Both parents stood in the doorway. While Mrs. Renoe kept glaring at Tech, Mr. Renoe looked at Carmine as if he was trying to remember something. Carmine kind of hoped that he would not have to worry about his trump card.

“Tech!” Don called as he ran up to the door and tried to see around his parents. “What are you doing here?”

--Apologizing for getting you in trouble,-- Tech signed.

“It’s not all your fault,” Don said. “Oh, and why are you here, Carmine?”

--He’s translating for me,-- Tech answered.

“You’re too young to be him,” Mr. Renoe said quietly. “Sorry, but you look a bit like a Carmine that I once met.”

“Ah, really?” Carmine rubbed the back of his head, wondering if he should say anything or not.

--Makes sense,-- Tech signed. --If he met you he must have met your father. Your dad’s name is Carmine, right?--

“Wait,” Don interrupted. “You’ve met my dad?”

“You can’t be,” Mr. Renoe said with surprise. “Are you really that little boy, Donny?”

“Ah, what?” a girl squealed from the front room and ran to the door. “This is the person Don was named after? He’s cute.”

“Stop listening in on other people’s conversations,” Don snapped.

“Ah, I really shouldn’t have come,” Carmine said, feeling embarrassed. “It’s really no big deal.”

“I owe you my life,” Mr. Renoe stated. “You and your father really helped a lot and I have never been able to repay you.”

“Really, it’s no big deal.”

Carmine sighed but kept the smile on his face. He had really hoped that this sort of situation could happen without a lot of drama, but that did not seem to be the case. He had never been a fan of hyped up emotions, but now that everything had exploded like this Carmine tried his best to play down the situation. This was possible the first time he had realized how big of an impact he had on this man’s life when he was only a child.

“I’m so glad to be able to meet you again,” Mr. Renoe said. “Please, I must find a way to repay you.”

“Let me date him!” Don’s sister called out.