Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Whining, Growling, Roaring

"What a bullshit penalty!" Perry's roar was mixed with the protesting voices of other customers in the bar, "That's not a blocking foul at all!" The bar was packed with disgruntled fans and boos were everywhere.But the table where Perry and Bill sat was noticeably looser and less crowded.Perry's eyebrows were frowned and his eyes were slightly closed. The expression was exactly the same as the expression he subconsciously showed on the football field.The customers at other tables cast cautious glances at him from time to time, as if this thick hunk was like a predator, ready to pounce on him at any moment.

The 10-foot-wide TV projection screen in the scorer's bar highlights the San Francisco 49ers' crimson jerseys and gold helmets against the Green Bay Packers' traditional yellow-and-green uniform.Slow-motion replays show the ball arcing gracefully through the air as it falls into the Packers' hands, but the 49ers defensive back rushes up to snatch the ball away. Perry started snarling at the screen, "Did you see?" He turned his face again, staring at Bill, who was calmly sipping Budweiser, "See?" "I'm fine with the call," Beal said, "but, yes, it's rape in your eyes."

Perry protested angrily, splashing beer out of his mug with his hands moving so much as he spoke. "Hey, are you crazy! Of course the defender has the right to block the ball. Now the Packers player has a chance, and the 49ers have to step back 15 yards." "Hold your glass," Bill said, and took another sip from the bottle. Perry wiped the spilled wine with a napkin. "Sorry, I just see those referees upset, they decided the final winner just like that." "It's just cruel and unfair, man," Bill said. "Even in sports, we can't escape the injustices of life."

Perry put the mug back on the table and stared at the screen, his right hand scratching his left arm automatically.At this time, a flanker of the 49ers quickly bypassed the Packers left offensive lineman and raided the team's quarterback, making the 49ers recover a 7-yard loss. Perry shakes his clenched fist at the screen, "Man, well done! It's so good to watch! I hate quarterbacks, fucking sissy! Seeing someone beat the crap out of a quarterback on the field , It's really cool!" Bill turned his head away and raised a hand at him as if to say "Enough."Perry smiled, leaned back and gulped down the rest of the beer in one gulp, then scratched his thigh.

"Does beer give you a rash?" Bill asked. "What did you say?" "Have the fleas started biting you again? You've had five beers already, and the more you drink, the harder you scratch." "Oh," said Perry, "it's all right, it's just a bug bite." "I wonder if we're grasshoppers on a string?—I don't want to get lice, too." "You're being rude again." Perry signaled the waiter to come over, "Bill, do you want another drink?" "No, thanks," Bill said, "I've got to drive home later. You better take it easy—you're starting to get a little excited."

"Oh, Bill, I'm fine." "Okay, that's all we'll drink. You know what happens when you drink too much, so let's call it a night." Perry frowned slightly, suddenly feeling inexplicably annoyed by Bill's order.What kind of onion is Bill, who dares to call him back and forth? "What did you say?" Without even thinking about it, he suddenly got up and approached Bill with a hint of contempt on the corner of his mouth. There wasn't any panic on Bill's face, "Do you know that you look like your father when you frown like that?"

Perry's eyes widened involuntarily, as if someone had slapped him across the face.He sat there, drooping his head.He felt his cheeks hot, flushed with guilt.He pushed the mug aside. "Sorry," Perry said, looking at Bill pleadingly, "Bill, I'm really sorry." Bill had a reassuring smile on his face. "Take it easy, man. You've got yourself under control. It's okay." "No, it doesn't matter. I can't speak to people like that—especially to you." Bill leaned forward, his voice soft and strong, "Take a break, Perry. You've been holding that string for years."

Perry stared at the air in a daze, "But I'm still worried that I might be careless sometimes. If I don't pay attention, I may blow other people's heads, and I don't realize what I'm doing. Or something like that Bar." "But you never hit anyone. Not in a long time. Take it easy, your sad story is bringing tears to my eyes." Bill smiled understandingly. This isn't the first time Perry has prayed to God for having a friend like Bill Miller.If it weren't for Bill, he might have been in jail long ago. Bill stroked Perry's shoulder, "Perry, you have to believe in yourself. You are nothing like your father. You've put everything about your father behind you. You just have to be careful now." - You have a bad temper, man, so get yourself under control. Now can we stop smirking coyly like little girls and start watching the game? It's halftime, what do you think the Packers are going to do ?”

Perry looked at the screen.He stopped thinking about what had just happened, his father's endless violence.It was always easy for him to get caught up in the game of football. "I bet they're going to be anti-blocking this time. They're going to try to get the 49ers open and get in there, but they haven't been able to stop the 49ers inside linebacker. The kid has to steal the tackle Flip the Packers serve -- but he'll have to watch carefully, or the Packers will feint and throw the ball behind him when he comes running." Bill's soothing touch made Perry's arm itch again.He clutched it absent-mindedly as he watched the Packers runner manage to evade a 49ers inside linebacker for two yards.

Bill took a swig of beer and looked at Perry's arm. "Dude, I know your high caveman-like browbones show your high IQ, but you need to drop your dissatisfaction with the medical profession and see a doctor." "Doctors are liars, they are all peddlers." "Really? You must have seen Elvis Presley come back to life in the RV park on the corner last night, hanging out with a bunch of hot alien chicks? You went to college, for God's sake, you don't have a good impression of a doctor." Stay at the stage where you are slashed open with a razor and sucked out of your blood with leeches?"

"I don't like doctors," Perry said. "I don't like them and I don't trust them." On screen, the Packers quarterback catches a serve and makes a pass fake. The 49ers inside linebacker took a step forward, which left a gap in the middle, and Perry saw it, and of course couldn't escape the quarterback's eyes - he stood upright in the circle, steadied a little, Throws the ball hard to the baseline just a few yards behind the inside linebacker.The receiver swooped for the ball, giving the Packers a 22-20 lead with 14 seconds left in the game. "Fuck," Perry said, "I hate quarterbacks." He felt the jealousy that gnawed at him when he saw someone screw up an offense he could have easily fixed.It is always painful for him to watch the weekly rugby game, because he clearly knows that the field belongs to him, and he clearly knows that he is not only competitive on the field, but even the leader of the game.He began silently cursing the injury that ended his athletic career. "First the Lions lost, now it's the 49ers, plus the Pullman network problem you haven't figured out yet," Beal said. "Looks like you're out of luck this week." "Yes," Perry scratched his arm again, sighing helplessly, "you're right."