[legendsport]

Egypt, GA: December 25, 1919:

Christmas with the Barrells. Well, most of them anyway, reflected Rufus Barrell. Jack was absent, the NAHC season having just begun. With the OSA having started work on scouting hockey, Rufus had yet another reason to keep up on Jack's progress with the Dukes.

Joe was on hand; he and Edna had bundled up the twins and made the trip from Ohio. Rollie and his wife Francie were also there, her parents having gone to Detroit to spend the holiday with Dick, his wife (the once-derided Millie Snyder, now Millie York) and their newborn son.

Danny and Claudia had also come to Georgia. Claudia, now seven months into her pregnancy was outwardly cheerful, though Alice worried about her true state of mind. Their stay would be short as Danny needed to return to school just after the New Year. Rufus was pleased and proud that his fifth son was fully invested in year-round athletics, having joined the basketball team in addition to being committed to baseball, football and track & field. "Maybe he should join the bowling team, too," Rollie quipped.

Fred was parading around the house in his brand-new Washington Eagles cap. When T.R. Goins had been made the #1 overall pick earlier that month by Washington, Fred had celebrated that a catcher had "finally" (the draft was only seven years old) been the top pick. And since Goins was an Eagle and Rufus had - briefly - been employed by the club, Fred became an overnight fan.

The younger boys were awash in the special glow a child has after opening gifts on Christmas. Harry had already fallen asleep in a corner near the tree, his arm wrapped around a brand-new football.

Betsy, who had cried when Bobby had received a new baseball glove, was now carrying around Bobby's old glove. Despite being the only girl, the youngest Barrell did not desire to be left out of the annual arrival of new sporting goods.

"She'll grow out of it," Rufus tried to reassure his wife. Alice was dubious, but did say, "Maybe we can push her towards golf," as she looked at Francie who was chatting with Edna on the sofa. "Or tennis... obviously baseball is out."

"If she's anything like you, I doubt we can push her anywhere," Rufus said with an impish grin. Alice swatted him on the arm.

Joe sauntered over to his parents, a sheepish look on his face.

"Hey Mom... Pop... I wanted to talk to you about something," he said. Behind him, Alice noticed Edna watching, though she was still chatting with Francie.

"What's on your mind, son," Rufus asked.

"Well... I've been offered a lot of money to play football in New York next season."

Rufus frowned. "New York? I didn't think there was a pro team there."

Joe explained, "Apparently it's a new thing. The scuttlebutt is that some bigwigs are trying to put together a serious pro league. Instead of all the independent operators. Something modeled on Whitney's blueprint, presumably."

"OK, what's the problem?" Alice asked, having perceived there must be *something* of which Joe thought his parents (or Edna... or both) wouldn't approve.

"The team is partially - only partially - owned by the Bigsbys." Joe mumbled.

Rufus sighed and frowned. "Which Bigsby? Miles? Or one of the youngsters?"

"Sam, I think," Joe replied, then admitted that the guy he'd been "working with" wasn't a Bigsby himself.

"Well... I've heard that Sam is more, uh, independent than Miles or Mike."

"Who's Mike?" Alice asked.

"Oh... he's Miles' son. Sam is old Charlie's boy."

"And Charlie and Miles, they're the crooks?"

Rufus chuckled and said, "Alleged crooks. Well... Miles anyway. Charlie died in Sing Sing." He paused then added, "I've heard Mike is more like Charlie than Miles and Sam is more like Miles than Charlie." He shrugged and finished, "Family. It can be strange."

Alice looked around the room, smiled and agreed. "Yep."

"What's Edna think?" Rufus asked his son.

Joe frowned. "She thinks I should say no. She has something... I don't know what... against the Bigsbys."

Rufus took a deep breath. "Well, I won't try to tell you what to do. But... I've heard through my own channels that there might be a midwestern group also trying to start a pro football league. There's a good chance your Akron club would be a part of that."

Joe nodded. "Yes, I've heard those rumors too. But the Mid-Ohio boys are quiet about it. So I don't know. And the New York people are talking about doubling my salary."

Rufus whistled and said, "Money's never been a problem for the Bigsbys."

Alice chimed in with, "You need to talk this out with Edna. Your father and I can offer advice, but this is your decision."

Joe nodded in response. Alice continued, "Having said that, my opinion is that you should go to New York."

Rufus' eyebrows shot up and he spluttered, "What? I thought you hated the Bigsbys?"

Alice admitted that she did have reservations but finished by saying, "The money is the thing - make it now while you can."

Rufus frowned but reluctantly said, "Your mother's right. An athlete's career can be short. Make money where and when you can, it can only help down the road."

Joe was surprised. "I actually expected you guys to tell me to stay in Akron."

Rufus smirked and said, "We're just full of surprises, son."

---------------------------------

Meanwhile, on the couch, Edna was talking to Francie about the same thing.

"I don't want Joe working for that family," she said.

Francie asked why, pointing out that the money sounded great.

Edna lowered her voice and said, "Back when Joe was about to fight at the Oval?"

Francie had heard about this from Rollie, so she nodded.

"Well... Sam Bigsby got fresh with me in the tunnel. I had to slap him. If Joe ever found out... he'd probably kill him."

Francie looked at Joe, who had Bobby hanging off his right arm and Harry off his left, and was lifting them off the floor by sheer strength while his little brothers giggled and screamed "higher!"

She said, "Yeah, I can see where that might present a problem."