It's A Tradition

Teddy had just sat down at the bar. “Just a pint of ya local lager, please.” He requested, taking his denim, sherpa-lined coat off.

The bartender, wearing a jersey under a nice leather apron, nodded and manned his tap station. A chilled mug with a nice head of lager slid in front of him. Looking at the frosted pint with a little beer running down the side, Teddy felt a glimmer of joy.

“Open or closed?” The bartender shouted over the noisy bar.

“Open. I’m here for the game!” And a game it was. February 4th, 2018, the Philadelphia Eagles were facing off against the New England Patriots in the Eagles' third Super Bowl appearance. The dimly lit sports bar was starting to fill up, as kickoff was only a little over an hour away. There was only one other barstool left available, directly to Teddy’s right. And, as predicted — was only open for a few minutes. A man similar to his age walked in and sat next to him.

“Live around here?” An old man sitting on his left inquired.

“Just in town visiting for the game.” Teddy kindly replied.

“I believe you visited the wrong town.” Teddy and the man chuckled. The Super Bowl was actually eleven hundred miles away in Minneapolis.

“That’s what I used to tell my dad.” He smiled thinking back. “Every year we visit the city of the team we’re pulling for in the Super Bowl. Kind-of-a tradition to watch the game there. This game is a little more special — I grew up an Eagle’s fan.” He said, taking a sip of lager.

“Well you’re in good company.” The man said with pride in his voice. “So ya’d just choose some random pub?”

“Actually, yea. That’s the idea.” He paused for a moment. “We’ve never had enough money for tickets to the game.” Teddy finished as he pushed his empty pint towards the bartender.

“You’re telling me! What I wouldn’t give to be there screaming for my Eagles… A foot.. Maybe both my feet — I’d give ‘em.” He confirmed with confidence.

“Haha, I think a lot of people here probably feel that way.” Teddy replied with a quick look around the room.

The bar was covered in green: newer jerseys, throwback jerseys, full on eagle costumes. Positioned in three separate corners were the only tv’s in the joint. With a capacity around seventy five, it felt like twice that. And that’s exactly why he chose to be there — a local spot off the beaten path. ‘Full of life!’ That’s what his dad would say. There’s little chance you’d know about this place unless you lived there. And if you did just so happen to pass by, its facade wouldn’t have lured you in.

“So tell me more about this tradition. I’m not sure I’ve heard anything like it.” The wrinkly old man pointed out.

Teddy had told this story many times. Just not like this, this time was different. “Not having much money, dad had the idea that the next best way to watch the game was to do this.” He gestured with an open hand. “Regardless of what city hosted the game, that didn’t matter. It was the energy that he was after.”

The old man nodded slowly. “You know, that’s really cool. It’s not somethin’ you would typically think to do. Like somethin’ outa the movies, ya know?”

“Yea.. Yea, dad always had a cool perspective on things.”

Teddy noticed that the bartender had overheard their conversation. It was the quick glances he shot Teddy in between making and serving drinks. But he wasn’t the only one who heard the story, a couple of people around had also listened in. Including the young man on his right, who was strangely writing in some small black notebook.

“Where’s your pop? I wanna shake this man’s hand.” A well served patron exclaimed.

Teddy glanced behind him with a half smile to see who was asking. “He passed a couple months ago. Heart attack, then a stroke shortly after.”

The tall man stood in arms length, staring at Teddy with cold eyes. For a second it looked like he was gonna punch him.

“What was his name?” The intimidating man grumbled.

“Frank.” Teddy responded.

“Evrabody! Raise ya glasses fer Frank!” He rallied.

“To Frank!” Everyone who was around them clinked their glasses high. Drinks spilled to the floor, and a few more “To Frank” bellowed out.

Teddy’s heart swelled. For a moment he had to reach deep to push the emotion back down. I’m not crying in a pub… Not in Philadelphia. He washed the knot in his throat down with a big swallow of lager. He had planned on doing more thinking and less talking, but these locals weren’t having it. By the second half, Teddy was pretty much family. He had even been invited to one man’s wedding.

“My father recently passed as well.” The lone penman sitting to his right uttered. This was the first thing he had said all night.

Teddy turned to him as the man took a drink. “Not a fun thing to go through, is it?” He looked at Teddy.

“Oh, it sucks. I’m sorry to hear that you lost your father.” Teddy consoled.

“Thanks, but it’s cool. I loved my father, but he and I were never really close — not like you and… Frank?”

“Yea, Frank.” Teddy turned his attention back to the tv to watch the Eagles score a touchdown. The sea of green in the little pub erupted.

“You know the worst of it? If mourning the loss of a loved one isn’t bad enough, then you have to spend what little money you have on an expensive funeral… insult to injury.”

“Mmm. It’s ridiculous what they cost these days.” His new friend shook his head in disgust.

“I didn’t want to make this trip, but I made a promise. In the hospital before his stroke, he told me I had to go no matter what. The money he saved for this trip was ‘not to be spent on anything else’.” Teddy vented.

“I think you made the right decision. When you look back on this time, you will be glad you listened to him. Your dad is with you too, you just don’t know it yet.” He stood up, shook Teddy’s hand and walked out of the bar.

After the big win, Teddy decided to head back to his budget motel while he was still in decent shape. Minus Frank not being here, this was the best Super Bowl trip to date. “Franny’s Pub. Who’d a thought.” He mumbled with a smile. There it was, just up ahead was his lovely hole in the wall. Reaching inside his coat pocket to get his motel key he felt some paper. Startled, he pulled it out.

“An envelope?” He was starting to feel a little worried — he hadn’t brought an envelope. The folding tab was tucked inside the envelope with a rubber band wrapped around it once. Sliding the rubber band off and peaking inside, his heart began to race. Twenty thousand dollars was looking right at him. Wild thoughts flurried through his mind, as he barely noticed a little piece of paper in front of the money. Jabbing his hands and envelope inside the coat pockets he hurried to his room — room 107. Frantically he got his key out and tried opening the door. Wrong room! Room 106, come on Teddy, head in the game!

Busting through the door he immediately locked the deadbolt. He slowly removed the little piece of paper and placed the envelope on the bed. Unfolding it, he realized it was a note addressed to him.

Teddy,

This is a gift from me to you. My father left me a lot of money when he passed. Of all the things he could have told me in his will, he simply said “Try and think of others first.” Feeling guilty, I’ve been carrying this money around for weeks trying to figure out how to use it for good. I had actually forgotten it was in the coat I had on tonight. The story about your tradition with your dad really touched me. I always wanted that, but never had it with my father. I sincerely hope this helps with everything you’re going through.

Your Friend,

Frank, coincidentally

Teddy’s head collapsed into his hands and he sobbed like a baby. The love he experienced in that moment was overwhelming. No one had ever done anything like that for him. And he knew his dad was there with him, he could feel it. Heck of a night. There was no doubt in his mind that keeping his promise was likely the best decision he ever made. After gathering his composure, he immediately realized — he did in fact cry in Philadelphia… But thank God it wasn’t in the pub.