Free Divisions (Dev and Lee) by Kyell Gold

my life, you know, but I manage a restaurant. I go to parties. I have no family of my own, nothing to leave behind. So I want to do something that will…that will matter, that is making a difference. This center in Moskva, it is a wonderful thing. It makes a difference.”
    I catch the spark in Lee’s eye, the wistful tone, when he says, “That’s great. Making a difference in people’s lives. My dad helps people plan their retirements, save money, make ends meet.”
    “Like Gregory,” Dad says, and I follow his eyes across the room to where my brother, still angry, slumps against the wall next to his wife. “Fighting for people who need help.”
    The last two cases I can remember hearing about were on behalf of small businesses defending themselves against individuals. Property claims, tenant disputes, something like that. I know Gregory’s specialty is corporate law, and I used to think that meant he would be fighting for people against big companies. I think he thought that too.
    My sympathy is pretty low for him after the way he yelled at Lee, but I keep my mouth shut and let my dad use him as an example. Lee’s the one who really did fight for people, once upon a time. He doesn’t say anything, but his ears are down just enough that I know he’s thinking about the stuff he did in college with his activist friends.
    Me, I’m fighting for the people of Chevali who have never had a football champion in their town. That’s kind of lame compared to what Lee did and what Auntie Za is going to do, so I keep my mouth shut about it.
    “So Dev’s brother is a lawyer,” Lee’s dad says to my dad.
    “Yes. He has been with this company, this law firm, for two years now, and he continues to be assigned cases. This year he has been in charge of twelve cases by himself, and won nine of them.” He sets his jaw. “This is good.”
    Lee’s dad nods. “How’s the auto shop doing?”
    “Business is good…”
    Auntie Za cuts across the conversation. “Oh, business. I want to know how this fox put you in the hospital, Misha.” She turns to Lee. “Growing up, you know, I never won a fight with him, not once. Not even when I was five and he was three.”
    Lee flicks his ears. “It was luck,” he said. “He tripped and hit his head.”
    Dad looks between his sister and Lee, and finally coughs. “This fox is clever. He makes me lose my temper.”
    “I’m not sure it’s cleverness,” I say. “He does that to a lot of people.”
    “That’s for sure,” his father says.
    Lee looks around at all of us, but it’s me he elbows in the side. “Aren’t you supposed to defend me?”
    I nudge him back, making him lose his balance. “When you need defending, sure.”
    Auntie Za laughs her boisterous laugh again. “So you are willing to fight for my nephew. Good, good. I can leave the country with peace in my heart now.” She winks at her brother. “Now I know there is someone who can keep Misha in line.”
    “I wouldn’t presume to do that,” Lee says lightly. “I’m just happy to be here, meeting more of Dev’s family. Do you have any embarrassing stories from when he was a cub? His mother already told me one.”
    “Well,” I say loudly, “I think Mom needs some help clearing up some glasses. Lee, why don’t you help me for a minute here?”
    “Later,” Auntie Za says to Lee with a wink, and how the heck am I going to keep him away from her until she leaves?
    I pick up glasses and Lee follows me, doing the same until both our paws are full. We take them to the kitchen, where my mother scolds us and tells us to go back out and be social. But I’m a little weary of my family now, so I just lean against the wall outside the kitchen.
    Lee leans back at my side, his tail brushing the backs of my legs. He’s quiet, reflective, and then shakes his head as though dismissing some other thoughts and smiles up at me. “Your Auntie Za is awesome.”
    “She’s pretty cool.” We both look across the room.