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The original was posted on /r/nosleep by /u/Federal_Machine692 on 2024-11-28 14:54:51+00:00.

Luke sucks at soccer. I have to admit it. I know as a dad that is a terrible thing to say. But it is the truth.

My eight year old son is much better at math than running about dribbling the ball on the pitch. But he has the time of his life every time he steps on the soccer field. His enthusiasm, often rubbing off on his teammates and, many times, even the coach.

Whether it is a practice session during the weekdays or a game on the weekends, Luke gives it his all, even if the end result is not to his liking.

And today would be a good example of that.

His team the Trailblazers got their behinds razed in typical lawn mower fashion with a 0-7 drubbing.

While Luke secretly likes to address himself and his teammates as ‘Messi’s Boys’, the game today was messy alright, just like it had been all year round. The kids are yet to open their account this season.

But I honestly didn’t mind. I was just happy to see my son pursue something with passion.

While he did sit and brood at the end of each game, it never dampened the zest he had for life. And the losses only made him more determined.

  So, it has become customary for me to treat a sulking Luke to an ice cream at his favorite joint after every Sunday game, where he would sit and go over the game specifics, in the hopes that a change of tactics would somehow lead to a change of outcome in the next.

His attention however changed midway when he suddenly spotted a large limousine stop at a construction site nearby.

“Dad, do you drive one of those?” he asked, his gaze fixed on the car while he slowly licked his ice cream.  

I wasn’t surprised at the question since I worked as a driver for a car rental agency. But we no longer had those stretch limousines at our shop anymore. Its popularity had waned over the years, and a lot of travelling businessmen now find them tacky to use in the New York financial circles at least.

“No buddy. But your grandpa did. In fact, he used to pick me up from school in that car often, and we used to go on long drives.” I said.

“I would like to travel in that too someday”, Luke replied back, his eyes still fixed on the car.

“Well, maybe you can take your date to prom in that thing in a few years. Hopefully you will learn to kiss a girl before that,” I said teasingly, while Luke shrivelled his nose in mock disgust.

The sight of the limousine however stirred up mixed feelings in me. My dad, Henry Pritchard walked out of my life when I was 10 years old. I remember it vividly even today. He approached me one day and announced that he was traveling abroad for a little while. He emphasized that I was to be the man of the house until his return, and instructed me to take good care of Mom in his absence.

When he picked up his suitcase and left the apartment, I ran to my room to look through the window that overlooked the driveway. There, I saw a large red-colored limousine parked out in front.

Dad approached the car and then turned around to look at me. He knew I would be watching him from behind the curtains. He simply raised his hands and waved at me one last time before entering the car. I never saw or heard from him again.

 My thoughts were suddenly interrupted when I felt my phone ring in my pocket, it was from my Boss Gary Mehicus.

“Hey Matt, we got a new booking today. Big fish by the looks of it. He’s booked us for the whole month. Insisted on you being the wheelman, said you came highly recommended. You think you can handle it for the entire time?” he asked me.

 “Sure Boss. Just tell me when and where,” I responded.

“Great. Take good care of him Matt. He might just tip you a sack of gold” Gary said laughing. ”Oh, and take Roy out for a spin” he added, before ending the call.

Roy, a custom-ordered Rolls Royce Phantom, is our best car at the rental agency. He is reserved exclusively for our top clients.

Gary and I visited the manufacturers and spent a few of days meticulously selecting every detail for Roy, from Arctic white leather seats to discreet bullet-proofing, wood veneers to upholstery, and every other amenity to achieve the best blend luxury and security.

Gary and I go back a long way. In fact, he was best friends with my dad, and they both used to work for the same rental agency. Gary is also my godfather, and when my dad went missing, he went the extra mile to fill the void in my life.

I developed a rebellious streak in my early teens, angry that dad had abandoned me and mom as a family.

For the first few months after his disappearance, I made it a point to peek at the window every day, sometimes for hours, hoping he would eventually turn up—a habit that never stopped and still continues subconsciously to this day, although I know better now.

However, back then, it eventually turned to anger, and Mom had a difficult time controlling me as a kid.

My grades started falling, I would randomly pick fights with children in school, and I even tried my luck being an errand boy for drug peddlers in my neighborhood. Gary had to intervene and introduced me to his love for baseball and driving.

He took me on long drives once every month for an entire year, and showed me around the countryside. It felt like a soothing balm for the wounded soul.

But my happiest moment came when I was in attendance at the stadium with Gary, and Tino Martinez’s grand slam of '98 unfolded right in front of my eyes. We all went delirious with joy in the stadium, as I found myself hugging and celebrating with random strangers. That experience changed my life and I emerged transformed as a person.

Gary also obtained a signed jersey and cap from the players during his time chauffeuring them on tours, presenting it to me as a birthday gift. It remains my most prized possession.

So when he started his own rental agency, I decided to join him as soon as I was finished with school, and have been working for him ever since.

My own childhood experiences motivated me to be the best dad I could be to my son. Since his mother was no longer with us, I always went the extra mile to ensure he had a supportive and loving environment.

I also tried to inculcate in Luke my love for driving and baseball, but the kid gravitated towards soccer. Fortunately, we still do share a common love for cars, and he always looks forward to long drives on weekends.

My mind got diverted again when I heard my phone beep, Gary had just sent me the details about the next client.

I dropped Luke at home and went to the office garage to take Roy out for a spin.

 A couple of hours later, I arrived at the address I had received on my phone. Situated a little bit on the outskirts of the city, I got there half an hour ahead of time.

I parked my car near a diner and noticed a large man standing by the entrance.

Dressed in a perfectly tailored pinstripe suit, he appeared to be in his early fifties, around 6’4" in height, with broad shoulders and a heavy set build. His salt-and-pepper hair was slicked back, and his beard was neatly trimmed. He casually smoked a cigar while holding a walking stick in his other hand, adorned with a prominent goat-shaped carving at the top.

“Mr. Thomas Devlin?” I inquired as I stepped out of the car. He nodded, extending his hand while clenching the cigar in his mouth.

“And you must be Matt?” he declared, with a booming baritone voice. I could see a couple of gold teeth glint in the dark as he flashed a warm smile.

“Yes Sir. I’m Matt Prichard, your chauffeur for the evening. I hope I haven’t kept you waiting?” I inquired, feeling a tinge of embarrassment, despite being ahead of schedule.

“No young man. I usually like to stretch my legs and enjoy a cigar after a fine meal’” he said pointing to the diner behind him. Mr. Devlin looked a peculiar sight in this neighborhood, especially with the diner in the backdrop. 

Everything about him screamed money, so it did make me wonder why someone of his affluence would choose to visit this place, at this hour. But I could also sense an undeniable toughness in him, the kind of man who probably started from the bottom and had to work his way up the ladder.

A few minutes later, Mr. Devlin suggested we hit the road, and I promptly opened the car door, allowing him to ease into the backseat.

When I took my position behind the wheel, he handed me a gold card, which was the size of a normal government ID but much thicker.

It had a Trident symbol embossed on both ends. As I looked at it confused, he told me to simply place it on the GPS screen. I did as I was told, and the navigation system immediately sprang to life, displaying a new set of coordinates.

Mr Devlin realized my lingering confusion as I continued to stare at the card that was stuck to the screen.

“Probably a hidden chip embedded in that thing,” he joked from the backseat, his teeth glinting as I looked in the rear view mirror.

I quickly nodded in acknowledgment and began driving.

As we navigated through the city, Mr. Devlin shared that he was based out of Chicago and was currently in the city for a new business venture. He was not much of a conversationalist but instead showed more interest in my life, inquiring about my job and family.

It struck me as somewhat unusual for a businessman of his stature to delve into a chauffeur’s experiences. He particularly relished the humorous stories I recounted revolving Luke, often breaking into a smile.

While chauffeurs typically have anecdotes ready on hand for bo…

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