Page 38 of Five Alarm Love
That screeching, happy laugh lifted Tuli’s heart.Gordy might have gotten a rough draw in life, but every day the fellow managed to be positive.
Tuli could do well to learn from him.
Mr.Wright chuckled.“What are you hoping to do with this hobby?”
For some reason, Lou’s dad’s opinion mattered.“It’s more than a hobby.It is an activity I hope will one day be a full-time job.Or open doors to other career options.”
“Why do you do it?”
Wow, talk about the nth degree.Despite the cool evening air, sweat prickled the back of his neck.“On the most basic level, it’s fun.I enjoy creating.I’m not shy.It’s nice to meet new people and share with them how amazing Yukon Valley is.”He motioned to the gathering.“Look around.There are new faces here tonight.There were more tourists during last summer than before.How much of that has to do with the Chamber of Commerce or general Alaska interest and how much that has to do with my social media efforts on The Real Alaska, I can’t say.I’m just glad there are more customers in town, spending their money here.”
Mr.Wright’s eyes narrowed.“So, you think that the influx of tourists is your doing?”
“I’m not saying it’s not.”
“Interesting.”He took another sip of tea.“Anyway, it’s not a real career, but it sounds fun.”
Tuli flinched like he’d been slapped, but kept his mouth shut.
Lou’s dad continued, “Hopefully, now that you’re recovered, you can get back to your other, more substantial work.”
“Sir?”
“All of this”—he motioned with his hand—“is entertaining, but it’s no way to support and raise a family the right way.Is it?”
“I—” He was so stunned by the question he couldn’t come up with an answer.
Steve Wright had cut him off at the knees as surely as his injury.
“If I don’t see her, please say hi to your grandmother.Good night.”
He nodded at someone nearby, stowed his tea in the holder next to the wheelchair handle, and walked away, pushing Gordy.
Tuli knew only a small percentage of average-Joe influencers made a living out of their work.He knew it was a long shot.But that was why he tried so hard to make it successful.So that one day, hecouldsupport and raise a family with his efforts.
Unbidden, an image of himself and Lou, with a pair of cute, dark-haired children, flooded him until the air didn’t move from his lungs.
Then his gut churned.Raise a family the right way,her dad had said.
Tuli’s passion was social media.Connecting with people.Making lives better on a bigger scale than what he could do as a firefighter.Helping his community.
Tuli thought that people appreciated what he did to support the town.
He did it because, deep down, he always believed that if he worked hard enough, he could compensate for the parts of his life he wanted to hide from others.He could be successful on his own terms and gain respect.
But Steve Wright didn’t have respect for Tuli’s dreams and goals.For some reason, that man’s opinion mattered.
Tuli halfheartedly waved at his grandmother, who was sitting and laughing with other tribe members at a table nearby.He glanced down at himself, dressed in his work gear, looking professional.He’d look great on a social media clip right now.
Not a real career.
Steve Wright’s opinion mattered.
Because…
No.He couldn’t mentally go to that place of future dreams.
Raise a family the right way.
