Keep It Kasual

I had spent the last 3 weeks in and around Montreal. Today I was on the east side of the river in a little town by the name of St-Bruno-de-Montarville. I was being paid by the Greater Montreal Commerce Committee to show off the beauty of Montreal and it's surrounds. I found a boutique and went in. It was lovely inside, lots of hip clothing all over the place. I spotted a really cool mural on the wall and was trying to get it all into focus. Unfortunately I did not see the person behind me until it was too late, I bumped into him. "Oh, pardon." I said as I flushed.

"Pas de pardon. Je ne vous vois pas. (No forgiveness. I do not see you.)" The man was a little scruffy with lovely brown eyes and a cap backwards on his head. He was a good-looking man, but a little out of place in this shop though.

"Non, c'est de ma faute. J'ai tenté d'obtenir toute la fresque dans le cadre. Mon frère va l'aimer. (No, it's my fault. I tried to get all the mural in the frame. My brother will love it.)" I pointed to the mural of Kris Letang above the display case, he was scoring on Ilya Bryzgalov.

"Oh vraiment? Est-il un grand fan de Letang? (Oh really? Is he a big fan of Letang?)" There was a smirk on his face as if he knew something I didn't. Now I will admit I don't watch a whole lot of hockey, but I wasn't completely clueless, or so I thought.

"En fait, il déteste les Flyers. Il est très heureux d'avoir été choisi par Ottawa l'année dernière (Actually, he hates the Flyers. He is very happy to have been selected by Ottawa last year.)" I was happy to talk about my brother, proud in fact. I wished I could have been there with my parents and Frankie to get the call, but work was always more important, especially to a freelance photographer.

"Vraiment, rédigé juste ce l'année dernière. Quelle est la position il joue? (Really, drafted just this past year. What is the position he plays?)" I kind of felt bad that I was keeping him from working, not that it was very busy right now.

"Il est un gardien de but. Il est au camp de développement des Sénateurs cette semaine. Heureusement, il n'est pas loin de notre maison familiale à Gatineau. (He is a goalkeeper. There is the Senators development camp this week. Fortunately, it is not far from our family home in Gatineau.)" I then paused, trying to remember the correct phrasing. "C'est impoli de ma part et je m'en excuse, mais ne vous arrive de parler anglais? Mon français est plus rouillé que je me soucie d'admettre. (This is rude of me and I apologize, but do not you speak English? My French is more rusty than I care to admit.)"

Mr. Gorgeous chuckled. "Yes I do speak English. I work in a city where French is a rarity. Who is your brot'er I may know ‘im already." We got a couple odd looks for speaking English but I felt more secure about my grasp on the language.

"Well he isn't in the NHL yet, but soon we hope. Francois Brassard is my brother." I truly loved Frankie he was one of the best brothers I could have asked for. I also knew that I would be there the second he got the news he would be playing.

I could see the wheels turning in his head. "Non, don' know ‘im. My name is Kris. T'at is me in t'e mural you were taking the picture of." He pointed to the mural. "Anytime we can light up t'e Flyers, it's a good day."

I nodded and took another look at the mural. You could see the work and ease that was the game flowing about the panel. "I think Frankie and I were skyping during this game. We might have been just on the phone though. As I said he hates the Flyers, thinks they haven't had a decent goalie since Hextall."

"An' ‘ow does ‘e feel about t'e Penguins?" I shook my head a bit. Of course he would wonder that.

"I don't know honestly. I haven't asked him. I know he hates the Flyers and as a kid loved going to any game dad would get tickets for. We’re 5 years apart so it’s not like we spent a _lot of time together.” He moved us closer to the back of the store as more people came in. I was about to ask him how he knew about this shop when his phone went off.

“Bonjour? Que voulez-vous dire que vous ne pouvez pas continuer comme ça? C'est quoi ça? (Hello? What do you mean you can't do this anymore? What is this?)” I couldn’t hear the other person on the line but it was clear that it was female from what was said next. “Notre fils n'est pas une chose! Non! Non, vous ne pouvez pas faire ça! Je suis son père j'ai des droits aussi! Je n'aime pas ce que vous voulez, c'est mon fils aussi! Je serai là dans 20 minutes pour lui donner un bon foyer. (Our son is not a thing! No! No, you can not do that! I'm his father, I have rights too! I do not care what you want, this is my son too! I'll be there in 20 minutes to give him a good home.)" Kris’ demeanor changed to angry. He forcefully hung up his phone and was muttering in French half to himself.

I moved into his eye line and touched his shoulder carefully. “Puis-je aider? (Can I help?)” If I could help, I not only wanted to but I had the time. I was ahead of schedule. In fact this was out of the area I really was supposed to cover.

He looked at me hopefully. “Savez-vous comment prendre soin d'un mois 8 vieux? (Do you know how to take care of an 8 month old?)” Then he seemed to think better of what he asked. “My son’s mother, she don’ wan’ ‘im anymore. Says ‘e is too hard for ‘er. She is going to give ‘im up when I am ‘ere and can care for ‘im! I need to go get ‘im and ‘is t’ings at her place before she give my son away. You say you want to ‘elp, would you ‘elp me get my son?”

I put the cap on my camera lens and then put the camera in its bag. “I asked if I could help didn’t I? I do have my own car though, would you prefer I follow you or just leave it here and we can come back for it?” I slung the bag and made sure everything else was secure.

He sighed in relief. “You should follow me. We can take more of ‘is t’ings with both cars.”

I smiled and actually felt good. He was hot as hell and a dad. Ok so maybe that was something I looked for in a guy, wanting to be a dad. “Lead the way.”

On the way to my car he sketched out directions from where we were to where his ex lived. “T’ank you _so much. My son’s name is Alexander. My ex, she say she fall out of love wit’ me after we ‘ave ‘im. I try to save w’at we ‘ad, changed my place completely to be safe for Alex. In t’e end she leave me and the lockout ends. She come wit’ me so I can be wit’ Alex, but not in the same room anymore. Now she no want ‘im…” He shook his head as if he didn’t understand why this was happening now instead of months ago.

I stopped and put a hand on his arm. “She may not want Alex, but you do. Won’t be easy but I have a feeling you can do it. Let’s go over and get him, bring him home and maybe we can think of where to go from there.” I took the directions from him and opened my car. “Let’s go, time is winding down.”

15 minutes later we pulled up in front of a nice building. I locked my car up and joined him in the atrium waiting for the elevator. Kris was nervous and it showed. Soon we were on our way up to get his son and be around his ex.

Getting to her door, he sighed heavily and knocked on the door. “T’e bell makes Alex cry, so knocking works better.” He explained. I nodded, understanding that some children were sound sensitive.

“Eh bien, au moins vous n'êtes pas en retard. ("Well, at least you're not late.)" the blonde who answered the door snapped. Then she saw me and got angry. “Vous avez apporté votre nouvelle prostituée pour aller chercher notre fils! (You brought your new prostitute to get our son!)” She tried getting into his face but I decided to take matters into my own hands.

“Je ne suis rien, mais une amie à lui. Quelqu'un qui est prêt à l'aider à déplacer son fils. C'est tout. (I am nothing but a friend to him. Someone who is willing to help him move his son. That's all.)” As I stepped into her space I saw whom I was sure was Alexander behind her. I wasn’t happy that she would accuse me of being a whore without even getting my name, I was equally unhappy about her nearly yelling in his face with their son so closely.

Kris stepped back and texted someone. He received 2 replies within moments, they must have made him feel better as he smiled a little and looked up. “Maxime, Marc-André et Bruno sont sur leur chemin pour nous aider à se déplacer Alexander. Je ne sais pas si ils apportent les filles. Si vous nous laisse en nous allons commencer emballage ses vêtements et de jouets et d'attendre pour le reste. (Maxime, Marc-Andre and Bruno are on their way to help us move Alexander. I do not know if they bring girls. If you let us we'll start packing his clothes and toys and wait for the rest.)” She stepped back and we went into the apartment. Kris of course went first to his son and babbled over him a little bit. It was clear that father and son had bonded.

Catherine directed me to Alex’s room and set in a few boxes she had. Before she left, she gave me a bit of advice. “Juste un mot amical de conseils, ne pas s'impliquer avec Kristopher, il ne fera que briser votre coeur. (Just a friendly word of advice, do not get involved with Kristopher, it will only break your heart.)” She left then and while shaking my head, I began packing clothes from the closet.

A few minutes later Kris and Alex came bouncing in. “Voir cette jolie dame? Elle se montre très gentil et aidant papa vous ramener à la maison. Bientôt oncle Marc-André et l'oncle Max sera ici pour vous aider aussi. Oui, ils vont et peut-être la tante Vero aussi." (See this pretty lady? She is very nice and helping papa take you back home. Soon Uncle Marc-Andre and Uncle Max will be here to help you. Yes, they will and maybe Aunt Vero too.)" The young child just babbled happily. It was clear that father and son were well bonded.

“Voulez-vous que je prend seulement les vêtements que lui tout ajustement? Ou préférez-vous que je prendre tout? (You want me to take only the clothes that fit him? Or would you prefer that I take it all?)” So far I had been making sure everything I packed fit him, but if that needed to change I needed to know soon.

Kris looked around the room and grimly spoke. “Prenez tout, donc elle ne peut pas regretter cela et tenter de pour le ramener. (Take everything, so she can not regret this and try to bring him back.)” There was a knock at the door and Kris walked out of the room to hopefully try and keep the peace. I heard several voices in the living room as I kept packing. He said to take it all, so I was making sure it was all packed.

Soon enough Kris and 6 more people came into the room, making it very crowded. I had just finished putting the last of the closet into a box when they came in chattering happily. Now normally I wouldn’t mind, but for some reason I started to feel claustrophobic. “Ses vêtements sont tous emballés. Je vais prendre les cases à la salle de séjour les faire sortir de la voie. (His clothes are all packed. I'll take the boxes to the living room to get them out of the way.)” I picked up two of the boxes and began making my way out when I was stopped by one of the smallest women I’d ever seen.

“Here let me help you. This way you and I can take the kids and keep them out of the way.” She took the last 2 boxes and we moved out of the room. Once we’d set them down she smiled at me. “It must be kind of overwhelming to meet us all like this. I’m Jass, Max’s girlfriend.”

Kris came out and offered Alex to me. “Will you take ‘im so we can start pulling t’ings apart?” I nodded and stood to take Alex. I was sure he would cry the second Kris let go of him but Alex was ok. He went back into Alex’s room and I turned back to Jass.

“I’m not actually his girlfriend. In fact I just bumped into Kris this morning, literally. I offered to help.” Alex leaned over to try and grab a toy from the floor. I did one better and set him on the floor next to it. He babbled at the toys, triggering the little girl in the carrier to babble back at him and wave her rattle.

Jass and I kept an eye on the two of them while a lot of noise came out of Alex’s room. Soon enough the other two girls came out with boxes in their hands. “I’m Melanie and this is Vero. Everything going good out here?”

We both nodded. “As I’ve been trying to tell Jass, I’m Kalista and am _not his girlfriend. I’m a freelance photographer and literally bumped into him earlier today. We got talking about my brother and hockey and then this crisis happened. I had to offer to help.” They had set their boxes down and we’d formed a circle around the kids.

That triggered a conversation about just who my brother was which soon made Vero squeal with delight. “Ant’oer goalie! T’at will make Marc-Andre ‘appy.”

I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “Next time I talk with Frankie I’ll let him know he’s not the only goalie I know.” Just then the boys came out and my phone rang, I knew who it was by the song. “Excuse me, it’s Benjy.” Kris looked at me oddly but didn’t say anything. “Hey Benj what’s up?”

“Kallie! Kallie me and Frankie want to come visit in a week or so, after his camp is over.” I sighed. “Oh come on Kallie, you _never let us join you.”

“Benj I’m kind of on a job. Do I try to be on the ice when you’re playing?” He sighed heavily in my ear.

“Please Kallie, we hardly see you anymore now that you live _so far away in Toronto.” I resisted the urge to throw my phone. Ben was right; I didn’t get home as often as I could. Damn guilt.

“Fine. Fine you and Frankie can come visit me while I’m working.” He shouted with joy. “In return you do _not embarrass me at all.” He quickly promised and then said he’d call Frankie who would then call me. “Sounds good but he may be busy at the moment. I mean he _is at Dev. Camp.” Ben snorted and hung up on me.

I moved back to the rest of them, who all had curious looks on their faces. “My middle brother, Ben. He’s 16, Frankie is 19 and Dom is almost 14. He and Frankie have been bugging me to come visit since I got this job.”

They all nodded. Kris spoke up. “Well now that we ‘ave everyt’ing ready to move, let’s figure out how to get it all over to my place.” He picked up Alex and tossed him in the air a little bit, making the boy giggle. “Everyone but you know w’ere I live.” He said to me. “Someone will go wit’ you so you don’ get lost.”

Vero piped up. “I will go wit’ her. Maybe we can take the babies so t’at t’ings can be put everywhere in the ot’er cars?” Kris looked and nodded once. Marc-Andre looked a little stricken though. “Oh stop. I like Kalista, she takes pictures for her job.”

The boys all perked up at that bit of information. “I freelance a lot. I do have a studio in Toronto that I share with a few others if I need a place to take more formal pictures.” They tried asking me questions but I held up a hand and forestalled them. “Tell you what, after we’re all done I’ll answer any questions you have. I’ll even show you what I have of my portfolio. Will that satisfy everyone for now?” They all nodded and I handed Alex to his dad. “Here, I want to make sure his diaper bag is packed with everything it needs.”

I went and found it near the door and began pawing through it. It had nearly everything it should have but there should be more if she really wanted to get rid of him. “Où est le reste de la formule? (Where is the rest of the formula?)” Kris’ ex just looked annoyed that I was speaking to her, but grudgingly she showed me where the baby food and formula were. “Merci, nous allons aussi prendre cette. Donc, vous n'avez pas à jeter. (Thank you, we will also take this. So you do not have to throw away.)”

“Au moins un d'entre vous sait comment prendre soin d'un bébé. Je crains qu'il ne sera pas capable de gérer Alex seul, je ne pouvais pas. (At least one of you knows how to take care of a baby. I fear he will not be able to manage Alex alone, I could not.)” She said as she helped me pack up the food for Alexander.

Soon enough Vero, Alex, Estelle and myself were in my rental car and heading first for my rented apartment and then over to Kris’ place to settle them both in. “Kris will probably forget to say t’is, so I will. Thank you. You did not ‘ave to ‘elp and you did. Alexander means t’e world to ‘im, it would crush Kristopher to lose ’im.”

I followed her directions and mulled over what she said. Just before we got there, I finally had an answer. “I can see how much Alexander means to him just by how they interact. When I heard and saw how angry he was, I knew if I _could help, I had to.” We then got out and packed both children into the elevator. “What floor is he on?”

Vero giggled. “T’e Pent’ouse. Kris ‘as made it into a wonderful home for them. Alex ‘as ‘is own room already.” We arrived to a small traffic jam of everyone else trying to get things organized and into the home.

Soon enough things were in and semi-organized. Kris ordered food for all of us to thank us. They all loved my portfolio and asked for my card for when they needed pictures taken. In time it was late enough that we all made our excuses and left. As I crawled into the rented home I had, I had no idea how much my life was about to change by simply helping someone when they needed it.